nst
him in that last Parliament 1640, whose eares were opened, nay itching
after such complaints. Nay even after the King's being driven from
London, he remained at his house, belonging to his Bishoprick, in
Fulham, and sometimes was visited by some of the Grandees, and found
respect from all, and yet walked steddily in his old paths. And
he retained so much of his Master's favour, that when the King was
admitted to any Treaty with the two Houses Commissioners, he alwayes
commanded his attendance on him: for he ever valued his advice. I
remember, that the King, being busy in dispatching some letters with
his own pen, commanded me to wait on the Bishop, and to bring him back
his opinion in a certaine affaire: I humbly pray'd his Majestie, that
I might rather bring him with me, least I should not expresse his
Majestie's sense fully, nor bring back his so significantly, as he
meant it; and because there might be need for him further to explain
himselfe, and least he should not speake freely to me: to which the
King replyed, _Go, as I bid you, if he will speak freely to any body,
he will speak freely to you: This_ (the King said) _I will say of him,
I never gott his opinion freely in my life, but when I had it, I was
ever the better for it_. This character of so judicious a Prince
I could not omitt, because it carried in it the reason of that
confidence, that called him to be his Majestie's Confessor before his
death, and to be his Attendant on the scaffold at his death; so as all
Persons concurring thus about this good Prelate, wee may modestly say,
he was an eminent man.

28.

THE MARQUIS OF HERTFORD.

_William Seymour, second Earl of Hertford 1621, created Marquis of
Hertford 1641, and Duke of Somerset 1660._

_Born 1588. Died 1660_.

By CLARENDON.

The Marquis of Hartforde was a man of greate honour, greate interest
in fortune and estate, and of a universall esteeme over the kingdome;
and though he had receaved many and continued disobligations from the
Courte, from the tyme of this Kings comminge to the Crowne as well
as duringe the rainge of Kinge James, in both which seasons more
then ordinary care had bene taken to discountenance and lessen his
interest, yett he had carryed himselfe with notable steddinesse from
the beginninge of the Parliament in the supporte and defence of the
Kings power and dignity, notwithstandinge all his Allyes, and those
with whome he had the greatest familiarity and frendsh