OBSERVATIONS ON A LIBEL. 457 



rest upon such conclusions, as her majesty in her own 

 wisdom determineth, and them to execute to the 

 best : so far hath he been from contestation, or draw 

 ing her majesty into any his own courses. And as 

 for the forenamed counsellors and others, with whom 

 his lordship had consorted in her majesty s service* 

 it is rather true that his lordship, out of the great 

 ness of his experience and wisdom, and out of the 

 coldness of his nature, hath qualified generally all 

 hard and extreme courses, as far as the service of her 

 majesty, and the safety of the state, and the making 

 himself compatible with those with whom he served, 

 would permit : so far hath his lordship been from in 

 citing others, or running a full course with them in 

 that kind. But yet it is more strange that this man 

 should be so absurdly malicious, as he should charge 

 his lordship, not only with all actions of state, but 

 also with all the faults and vices of the times ; as, if 

 curiosity and emulation have bred some controversies 

 in the Church; though, thanks be to God, they ex 

 tend but to outward things ; as, if wealth, and the 

 cunning of wits have brought forth multitudes of 

 suits in law ; as, if excess in pleasures, and in mag 

 nificence, joined with the unfaithfulness of servants, 

 and the greediness of moneyed men, have decayed 

 the patrimony of many noblemen^ and others ; that 

 all these, and such like conditions of the time, should 

 be put on his lordship s account ; who hath been, as 

 far as to his place appertaineth, a most religious and 

 wise moderator in Church-matters to have unity kept; 

 who with great justice hath dispatched infinite causes 



