IX. Secretary Walsingham, an extraordinary man in Queen Elizabeth's time, towards the conclusion of his days, in a letter to his fellow-secretary Burleigh, then lord-treasurer of England, writes thus: "We have lived enough to our country, our fortunes, our sovereign: it is high time we begin to live to ourselves, and to our God." Which, giving occasion for some court-droll to visit and try to divert him: "Ah!" said he, "while we laugh, all things are serious round about us; God is serious, when He preserveth us, and hath patience towards us; Christ is serious when He dieth for us; the Holy Ghost is serious, when He striveth with us; the whole creation is serious, in serving God and us; they are serious in hell and in heaven: and shall a man, that has one foot in the grave, jest and laugh?" O that our statesmen would weigh the conviction, advice, and conclusion of this great man, and the greatest man, perhaps, that has borne that character in our nation! For true it is, that none can be serious too soon, because none can be good too soon. Away, then, with all foolish talking and jesting, and let people mind more profitable things.
X. John Mason, knight, who had been privy-counsellor to four princes, and spent much time in the preferments and pleasures of the world, retired with these pathetical and regretful sayings: "After so many years' experience, seriousness is the greatest wisdom; temperance the best physic; a good conscience is the best estate. And were I to live again, I would change the court for a cloister, my privy-counsellor's bustles for a hermit's retirement, and the whole life I lived in the palace, for one hour's enjoyment of God in the chapel. All things else forsake me, besides my God, my duty, and my prayers."
XI. Sir Walter Raleigh is an eminent instance, being as extraordinary a man, as our nation hath produced; in his person well descended; of health, strength, and a masculine beauty; in understanding quick: in judgment sound; learned and wise, valiant and skilful; a historian, a philosopher, a general, a statesman. After a long life, full of experience, he drops these excellent sayings, a little before his death, to his son, to his wife, and to the world, viz.: "Exceed not in the humour of rags and bravery, for these will soon wear out of fashion: and no man is esteemed for gay garments but by fools and women. On the other side, seek not riches basely, nor attain them by evil means: destroy no man for his wealth, nor take anything from the poor; for the cry thereof will pierce the heavens: and it is most detestable before God, and most dishonourable before worthy men, to wrest anything from the needy and labouring soul: God will never prosper thee, if thou offendest therein; but use thy poor neighbours and tenants well." A most worthy saying. But he adds, "Have compassion on the poor and afflicted, and God will bless thee for it: make not the hungry soul sorrowful; for if he curse thee in the bitterness of his soul, his prayer shall be heard of Him that made him. Now, for the world, dear child, I know it too well to persuade thee to dive into the practices of it; rather stand upon thy own guard against all those that tempt thee to it, or may practise upon thee; whether in thy conscience, thy reputation, or thy estate: resolve, that no man is wise or safe but he that is honest. Serve God; let Him be the Author of all thy actions: commend all thy endeavours to Him, who most either wither or prosper them: please Him with prayer; lest if He frown, He confound all thy fortune and labour, like the drops of rain upon the sandy ground. Let my experienced advice and fatherly instructions sink deep into thy heart: so God direct thee in all thy ways, and fill thy heart with his grace."
Sir Walter Raleigh's Letter to his Wife, after his Condemnation.
"You shall receive, my dear wife, my last words, in these my last lines. My love I send you, that you may keep when I am dead; and my counsel, that you may remember it when I am no more. I would not, with my will, present you sorrows, dear Bess; let them go to the grave with me, and be buried in the dust: and, seeing that it is not the will of God that I shall see you any more, bear my destruction patiently, and with a heart like yourself. First, I send you all the thanks which my heart can conceive, or my words express, for your many travails and cares for me; which, though they have not taken effect as you wished, yet my debt to you is not the less; but pay it I never shall in this world. Secondly, I beseech you, for the love you bear me living, that you do not hide yourself many days; but by your travails seek to help my miserable fortunes, and the right of your poor child: your mourning cannot avail me, who am but dust. Thirdly, you shall understand, that my lands were conveyed, bona fide, to my child; the writings were drawn at Midsummer was at twelvemonth, as divers can witness: and I trust my blood will quench their malice who desired my slaughter, that they will not seek to kill you and yours with extreme poverty. To what friend to direct you, I know not, for all mine have left me, in the true time of trial: most sorry am I, that, being surprised by death, I can leave you no better estate: God hath prevented all my determinations, that great God, which worketh all in all. If you can live free from want, care for no more, for the rest is but a vanity. Love God, and begin betimes; in Him shall you find true, everlasting, and endless comfort: when you have travailed and wearied yourself with all sorts of worldly cogitations, shall you sit down by sorrow in the end. Teach your son also to serve and fear God, whilst he is young, that the fear of God may grow up in him; then will God be a husband to you, and a father to him; a husband and a father that can never be taken from you. Dear wife, I beseech you, for my soul's sake, pay all poor men. When I am dead, no doubt but you will be much sought unto, for the world thinks I was very rich. Have a care of the fair pretences of men; for no greater misery can befal you in this life, than to become a prey unto the world, and afterwards to be despised. As for me, I am no more yours, nor you mine: death has cut us asunder, and God hath divided me from the world, and you from me. Remember your poor child, for his father's sake, who loved you in his happiest estate. I sued for my life, but God knows, it was for you and yours that I desired it: for know it, my dear wife, your child is the child of a true man, who in his own respect despiseth death, and his misshapen and ugly forms. I cannot write much. God knows how hardly I steal this time, when all are asleep, and it is also time for me to separate my thoughts from the world. Beg my dead body, which living was denied you; and either lay it in Sherborne, or in Exeter church, by my father and mother. I can say no more; time and death call me away. The everlasting God, powerful, infinite, and inscrutable, God Almighty, who is goodness itself, the true light and life, keep you and yours, and have mercy upon me, and forgive my persecutors, and false accusers; and send us to meet in his glorious kingdom. My dear wife, farewell; bless my boy; pray for me; and let my true God hold you both in his arms.
"Your's that was, but not now mine own,
"Walter Raleigh."
Behold wisdom, resolution, nature, and grace! How strong in argument, wise in counsel, firm, affectionate, and devout! O that your heroes and politicians would make him their example in his death, as well as magnify the great actions of his life. I doubt not, had he been to live over his days again, with his experience, he had made less noise, and yet done more good to the world and himself. It is a sad thing to consider, that, men hardly come to know themselves or the world, till they are ready to leave it.
XII. Henry Wotton, knight, thought it the greatest happiness in this life, "to be at leisure to be and to do good;" as in his latter end he was wont to say, when he reflected on past times, though a man esteemed sober and learned, "How much time have I to repent of, and how little to do it in!"
XIII. Sir Christopher Hatton, a little before his death, advised his relations to be serious in the search after "the will of God in the holy word:" "for," said he, "it is deservedly accounted a piece of excellent knowledge, to understand the law of the land, and the customs of a man's country; how much more to know the statutes of heaven, and the laws of eternity; those immutable and eternal laws of justice and righteousness; to know the will and pleasure of the great Monarch, and universal King of the world: I have seen an end of all perfection, but thy commandments, O God, are exceeding broad."
Whatever other knowledge a man may be endued withal, could he by a vast and imperious mind, and a heart as large as the sand upon the sea-shore, command all the knowledge of art and nature, of words and things; could he attain a mystery in all languages, and sound the depth of all arts and sciences; could he discourse of the interests of all states, the intrigues of all courts, the reason of all civil laws and constitutions, and give an account of all histories; and yet not know the Author of his being, and the Preserver of his life, his Sovereign, and his Judge; his surest refuge in trouble: his best Friend; the support of his life, and the hope of his death; his future happiness, and his portion for ever; he doth but sapienter descendere in infernum, with a great deal of wisdom go down to Hell.
XIV. Francis Bacon, lord high-chancellor of England, some time before his death, confessed, that, to be religious, was to live strictly and severely; for if the opinion of another world be false, yet the sweetest life in this world is piety, virtue, and honesty; if it were true, there be none so wretched and miserable, as loose, carnal, and profane persons.