98 The Life of William, Duke of Newcastle 



observation of things, that he sees beforehand what will 

 come to pass, and orders his affairs accordingly. To which 

 purpose I cannot but mention, that Laud, the then Arch- 

 bishop of Canterbury (between whom and my Lord interceded 

 a great and entire friendship, which he confirmed by a legacy 

 of a diamond, to the value of ^200, left to my Lord when he 

 died, which was much for him to bequeath ; for though he was 

 a great statesman, and in favour with his late Majesty, yet he 

 was not covetous to hoard up wealth, but bestowed it rather 

 upon the public, repairing the Cathedral of St. Paul's in Lon- 

 don, which, had God granted him life, he would certainly 

 have beautified, and rendered as famous and glorious as any 

 in Christendom) : this said Archbishop was pleased to tell 

 his late Majesty, that my Lord was one of the wisest and pru- 

 dentest persons that ever he was acquainted with. 



For further proof, I cannot pass by that my Lord told his 

 late Majesty, King Charles the First, and her Majesty the now 

 Queen Mother, some time before the wars, that he observed, 

 by the humours of the people, the approaching of a civil war, 

 and that his Majesty's person would be in danger of being 

 deposed, if timely care was not taken to prevent it. 



Also when my Lord was at Antwerp, the Marquess of Mon- 

 trose, before he went into Scotland, gave my Lord a visit, and 

 acquainted him with his intended journey, asking my Lord 

 whether he was not also going for England ? My Lord an- 

 swered, he was ready to do his Majesty what service he could, 

 and would shun no opportunity, where he perceived he could 

 effect something to his Majesty's advantage ; nay, said he, if 

 his Majesty should be pleased to command my single person 

 to go against the whole army of the enemy, although I was sure 

 to lose my life, yet out of a loyal duty to his Majesty, and 

 in obedience to his commands, I should never refuse it. But 

 to venture (said he) the life of my friends, and to betray them 

 in a desperate action, without any probability of doing the 

 least good to his Majesty, would be a very unjust and uncon- 

 scionable act ; for my friends might perhaps venture with me 

 upon an implicit faith, that I was so honest as not to engage 

 them without a firm and solid foundation ; but I wanting 

 that, as having no ships, arms, ammunition, provision, forts, 

 and places of rendezvous, and what is the chief thing, money ; 

 to what purpose would it be to draw them into so hazardous 



