fome in print, and more in private Libraries, written with his own Hand (particularly in Anno the Library at St James's) feveral of his pret- 1544. ty, elegant Latin Fpiftles, to the King, his Father; to Queen Katharine Par, his Motherin-Law; to the Duke of Somerset, his Unkle; to Crammer Archbishop of Canterbury, his Godfather, and to his two Sifters, when he was as yet very Young, as likewife other of his Exercifes; which fhew both his own forwardnefs in his Learning, and the Diligence of his Inftructers. Nor did he intermit his Studies, when he came to wear a Crown; but Cheke was always at his Elbow, both in his Clofet, and in his Chappel, and where ever elfe he went, to inform and teach him. And that with fo much sweetness and eafinefs, that he took a pleasure and delight in his Book; and obferved his fet Hours conftantly at his Study. So that in fine, one that knew Cheke and Cook well, writing to the latter had thefe Words, That Divine Youth drew that Inftruction 'from you both, Qua neq; Cyrus nec Achilles, neq; Alexander, neq; ullus unquam Regum poli-, tioremq; Sanctioremq; accepit; i. e. Than 'which never did Cyrus, nor Achilles, nor Alexander, nor any other Kings, receive more polite and holy. With which, could he 'have but grown up to Man's Eftate, and ar'rived to the Government of the Kingdom, 'what Kingdom in Earth had been more happy? What Nation ever extant more bleif 'ed? Gelius Secund. Curio. Epit. Ded.c. aute libr. de Pronuntiat. But Anno 1544 But if we look back to the University, what a want Cheke left there, is not easily to be spoken; being a Man that feemed to furpafs the reft not only in Learning, but in the free Communication of it, and that accompa→ nied with a marvellous Affability and Ob. ligingness, and a moft holy and virtuous Behaviour; whereby he became a publick Pattern and Example to the Youth there. This lofs of Cheke may be better understood by a part of a Letter, one of his University Friends wrot to him not long after he was gone to The want of Court. My Condition faid he, is harder Cheke in than the reft. They faw how you excelled ' in Parts and Learning; I not only well knew bridge. this too, but was throughly acquainted with Int. Haddon. Epift. your more interior Ornaments, which diffufed themselves through all the Parts of your Life. Which when I then duely 'weighed, how great they were in you, I do 'fo much the more want them now, and fo "much the lefs am able to bear the Trifles, the 'Levities, and the Ignorances of many of our 'Men. But, because this was owing either to your Happiness, that you should especi Cam ally be there, where your Diligence might 'flow abroad most extensively into the Com'monwealth; or to our Unhappiness, that 'we fhould undergo the lofs of your Divine 'Mouth, the loud Trumpet, as one may call 'it, of all good Discipline, our Trouble ought 'to be abated, left if we appear over much difquieted, we may feem either not to love 'the Commonwealth enough, or our felves 'too much. It was a very good Thought of 'your Plate, that fome Changes of Common 'wealths wealths are natural, that when there happens an Alteration in the State of our Af- Anno 'fairs, we fhould not be much moved. And 1545. 'altho' your Body be fnatched from us, yet 'your obliging Behaviour, your Wit, your Study, your Eloquence, and Learning is prefent in all our Schools, and in each of our private Thoughts. King Henry, having lately new founded Made Ca non of King the College of St. Fridefwide in Oxford, (foun- Henry's ded firft by Cardinal Wolfy) granted Cheke one College, of the Canonries of that Church foon after Oxon. he became Tutor to the Prince, as fome Reward and Token of his Favour towards him. Which was about the Year 1544, when according to the Regifters of that Univerfity, he was incorporated into Oxford, and ftudied there fome Time. But the Rents of the Canons decaying, the King, Anno 1545. added fpecial Penfions to fome of them; as to Peter Vannes, the learned Italian, and fometime Ambassador for the King into Italy; Richard Croke, S. Th. P. employed alfo abroad by the King, and our Cheke. Which faid Penfions were 26 13 s. 4 d. to each. By this Preferment we may conclude him to be now in holy Orders. Cheke, as he had now great Opportunities Cheke's by the place wherein he was pur, fo he had deign to as great Defigns of making himself uteful to render himthe Publick. For he fet before himself, how felf uf-ful. that he was now to inftruct a Prince, that was one Day to take on him the Government of a mighty Kingdom. And therefore he fuited his Readings and Difcourtes with the Prince thereunto; that he might go out of his Hands Anno Hands an excellent Monarch, and become a true Father of his Country. But befides this, 1545. confidering how his Office required him to be always about the Princes Perfon, whereby he should have the Opportunity of having his Ear frequently, he refolved to improve it not fo much to his private Benefit, as to the Benefit of the Publick, of the University, and of the deferving Men there; to get them removed, and placed about the Nation in Church and State; that by their Influences Truth and Virtue might every where be promoted. Thus he spent his Time and Cares at Court. And ever was a faft Friend, and gave his helping hand to Learning and Religion. Which appeared more manifeftly afterwards, when his Royal Scholar, by the Death of his most noble Father,was advanced to the Crown. His Letter Butts be ing Sick. SECT. 2. His Offices to his Friends. N OR did this learned Man in the midft of the Splendors of a Court, neglect 10 Dr. his private Studies, nor his Offices to his Friends. Dr. William Butts, M. D. ( and a Knight according to his Monumental Infcription) Domestick Phyfician to King Henry, had taken notice of Cheke from his Youth, and been always a Favourer of his hopeful Parts, performing the part of a Father to him, and Cheke ftiled himfelf his Son. By this Phyfician's Interest he feems to have been firft made known to the King, and to have received from him thofe Marks of Royal Favour beftowed upon him, while he lived in the Univerfity; and afterwards by him preferred to the the Court. For Butts was a Friend to good Religion and Learning. While Cheke was at Anno Hertford, (where the Prince's Court was moft- 1545. ly kept, in the latter Times of his Father) this Gentleman in the Year 1545. was feized with an Afflicting, dangerous Fit of Sickness; which gave a concern to his grateful Friend; who compofed a pious, confolatory Epiftle to him, futable to his Condition: Which being fo expreffive of his Gratitude to the Doctor, and withal of Piety, and a sense of God, and of his Difpenfations, I cannot but here tranfcribe it, as from whence fome Character may be taken of the Writer. The Original by time is somewhat defaced in fome places, which I have been fain to fupply by fome words, which are put in Roman. Johannes Checus, D. Guilielmo Butts, N° M. D. On dubito quin hanc perturbationem vale-Cheke to tudinis tuæ, Vir Ornatiffime, imitatione Dr. Butts. Chrifti aquiffimo animo feras. Nam qui fide intelligunt illum omnia adminiftrare, iis nibil po-J Foxii, test malum videri, quod ab illo proficifcitur. Mss. Et qui Deum Sapientiffimum ac optimum judicant, fciunt confilio cun&ta ab illo gubernari, & bonis ab illo ad Salutem mitti. Et quanquam agritudines aut alii cruciatus pios vexent, non ita autem iis cafu aliquo objiciuntur, fed divinitus mittuntur hominibus a Patre eorum cælefti. Nam prudentisme Propheta dixit, non est malum in civitate & ego non feci. Et alio loco feri. bitur, Dominum mortificare & vivificare, deducere ad inferos & reducere. Ut negari non forest, D |