prelates and of the ecclesiastical courts: fugitives in foreign countries for pardon, which he granted, in consideration of the intelligence they procured him of the designs of the Popes, and of the King of Spain, against his country: the lieutenants of counties, for instructions and advice; the admirals, for fleets and supplies; in a word, the interests of the state abroad, and it's domestic tranquillity at home, were provided for and preserved to the latest hour of his life.

"At length, his dissolution approached by slow and easy gradations; and in fact his disease, properly speaking, was nothing more than the decay of old age, hastened by incessant labour and fatigue of mind and body.

"His death was not sudden, nor his pain in sickness great; for he continued languishing two or three months, yet went abroad to take the air in his coach all that time; retiring from the court, sometimes to his house at Theobald's, and sometimes at London. His greatest apparent infirmity was, the weakness of his stomach. It was also thought his mind was troubled, that he could not effect a peace for his country, which he earnestly desired, seeking to leave it as he had long kept it.

"About ten or twelve days before he died, he grew weak, and so was driven to keep his bed, complaining only of a pain in his breast; which was thought to be the humour of the gout (wherewith he was so long possessed) falling to that place, without any ague, fever, or sign of distemper, and that pain not great nor continual, but by fits; and so continued till within one night before his death. He expired on the fourth of August, 1598.

"Now might one see all the world mourning: the Queen, for an old and true servant; the council, for a wise and grave councillor; the court, for their honourable benefactor; his country and commonwealth, trembling as it were at one blow to have their head stricken off; the people, widows, and wards, lamenting to lose their protector, religion her patron, justice her true minister, and peace her upholder. His children bewailing the loss of such a father, his friends of such a friend, and his servants of such a master: all men rather bewailing his loss, than hoping ever to find such another. Yea, his very enemies, who in his life-time could not abide him, did now both sorrow for his death, and wish him alive again.

"He was the oldest, the gravest, and the greatest statesman of Christendom; for there was, before his death, never a counsellor left alive in Europe, that were counsellors when he was first made."

As to his person, it is thus described by his contemporaries. "He was rather well-proportioned than tall, being of the middle size, very straight and upright of body and legs, and until age and his infirmity of the gout surprised him, very active and nimble of body."

We subjoin his general character, as drawn by the learned Camden, who having flourished with him during the reign of Elizabeth, survived him many

years.

66

Having lived long enough to nature, and long enough to his own glory, but not long enough to his country, he resigned his soul to God with so much peace and tranquillity, that the greatest enemy he

VOL. II.

had, freely declared, that 'he envied him nothing but that his sun went down with so much lustre;' whereas, generally, public ministers are not blessed with such calm and fortunate periods.

"Certainly, he was a most excellent man; for he was so liberally furnished by nature (to say nothing of his presence and aspect, which had a commanding sweetness in them) and so polished and adorned with learning and education, that every way for honesty, gravity, temperance, industry, and justice he was a most accomplished person.'

"He had also an easy and flowing eloquence, which consisted not in a pomp and ostentation of words, but in a masculine plainness and significancy of sense. He was master of a prudence formed upon experience, and regulated by temper and moderation. His loyalty was true, and would endure the touch, and was only exceeded by his piety, which indeed was eminently great. To sum up all in a word, the Queen was happy in so great a councillor, and the state of England for ever indebted to him for his sage and prudent counsel.

"I shall forbear (adds this able historian) too lavish a commendation of him; but this I may venture to affirm with truth, that he was one of those few, who lived and died with equal glory: such a man, as while others regard with admiration, I after the an cient manner am rather inclined to contemplate with the sacred applause of silent veneration!"

"Lord Burghley," says Granger, "has been deservedly placed at the head of our English statesmen; not only for his great abilities and indefatigable application, but also for his inviolable attachment to the

interests of his mistress.* There needs no stronger proof, perhaps no stronger can be given, of his great capacity for business, than the following: Beside all business in council or other weighty causes, and such as were answered by word of mouth, there was not a day in term wherein he received not threescore, fourscore, or a hundred petitions; which he commonly read at night, and gave every man an answer the next morning as he went to the hall, whence the excellence of his memory was greatly admired: for when any of these petitioners told him their names, or what countrymen they were, he presently entered into the merit of his request, and having discussed it gave him his answer!""

His character indeed is, as it were, identified with the long reign, of which he might almost be pronounced the soul. Prudent in following, and resolute in executing, without any thing that indicated genius, he had all that wisdom of experience and that indefatigable application, which qualify the statesman for the management of great and complicated affairs, and seldom fail of insuring eventual success. If his politics appear to have been in some instances dark and crooked, they were perhaps rendered necessary

* Burghley, and the other great ministers of Elizabeth (it may be added) were absolutely of her own choice; and their characters and conduct were such, that nothing can be more just, than what Waller with his usual vivacity said in reply to James II., who in diminution of her personal merit allowed her to have an able council: "And when did your Majesty ever know a foolish prince to choose a wise one?" (Hist. View of Negotiations between England, France, and Brussels.) She brought out, indeed, beside Burghley and his brother-statesmen, Bacon, Egerton, Smith, Cooke, Parker, Grindal, Cox, Aylmer, Sandys, and Jewell.

by peculiar emergencies, and certainly well suited the disposition of Elizabeth, to whom he was ever, during the long course of nearly forty years, a most faithful servant. In his private character, he was enough of the courtier to maintain and improve the advantages offered him by circumstances, yet with a fund of probity which conciliated esteem. His man

ner of living, though splendid, was regulated by such a spirit of true economy, that he raised a considerable fortune; though not more than might innocently be acquired in the great posts which he had occupied during so extensive a period. His functions, as a statesman, did not permit him to distinguish himself in any other capacity. He is mentioned, however, as the author of a few Latin verses, and some historical and moral tracts: but there is no proof, that the celebrated libel, entitled Leicester's Commonwealth,' proceeded from his pen. A great number of his letters on public business are still extant: thirty-three in Pack's Desiderata Curiosa,' three in Howard's Collections,' and many others in Forbes', Haynes', and Murdin's 'State-Papers.' See also Birch's Memoirs of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth,' Harington's Nuga Antique,' and Hardwicke's Miscellaneous State-Papers;' beside many still unpublished compositions.

Lord Burghley left two sons. Thomas, the issue of his first wife, was created Earl of Exeter by James I., a title which in the loftier denomination of Marquis continues in the same family at the present day. The younger (by his second wife) Sir Robert, afterward Earl of Salisbury,* succeeded him in all his offices.

*This title, likewise, continues in the Cecil family.