There are many political and satirical prints by R. de Hooghe, &c. in which the portrait of Parsons is introduced. Robert Parsons, born in Somersetshire in 1546, was educated at Baliol College, Oxford, which he left after resigning his fellowship, and went to Cales and Antwerp. He studied physic and civil law at Padua, which he soon relinquished and went to Rome, where he was admitted into the society of Jesus, went through the various studies, and returned to England with Campian and others. He frequented the houses of Catholics in disguise, to inspire them with seditious and rebellious sentiments. Campian being seized, Parsons returned to Rome, in hopes of a cardinal's hat; but was disappointed, and died of grief 1610. His writings are very numerous. See Wood's Athenæ. EDWARD OLDCORN. Bouttats sc. Edward Oldcorn, alias Hall, was born in Yorkshire, received part of his education in the college of Rheims, and finished it at Rome. He came over to England with Father Gerard, and was sent by Garnet into Worcestershire; where, on an accusation of being concerned in the powder-plot, he was apprehended, tried, and executed, 1606, Æt. 45. CLASS V. COMMONERS IN GREAT EMPLOYMENTS. SIR RALPH WINWOOD, secretary of state; Et. 49. Mierevelde p. 1613. Vertue sc. 1723; h. sh. Another by Henry Hondius. The former is before his "Memorials." It was engraved for the Duke of Montagu. Sir Ralph Winwood, who was a man of eminent ability and unblemished integrity, was not sufficiently polished as a courtier, as there was "something harsh and supercilious" in his demeanour.* When he was resident at the Hague, he delivered the remonstrance of James I. against Vorstius the Arminian, to the assembly of the States; to which they seemed to pay very little attention. Upon this the king proceeded to threaten them with his pen; and plainly told them, that if they had the hardiness "to fetch again from hell, ancient heresies long since dead, &c. he should be constrained to proceed publicly against them.+" It is certain, that his majesty wrote a pamphlet against Conr. Vorstius, which was printed in 1611: he dedicated it to Jesus Christ. Sir Ralph Winwood died in 1617. See a SIR EDWARD HERBERT, ambassador to France. See a description of his portrait in the next reign, Class IX. Sir Edward Herbert had too much spirit and fire for the phleg matic and pacific James; and was better qualified to threaten, than to remonstrate. His spirited behaviour to the insults of the constable de Luisnes, the French minister, was the occasion of his being recalled, and he was replaced by the gentle Earl of Carlisle. SIR THOMAS SMITH, knt. late ambassador from his majesty to the great emperor of Russia, governor of the honourable and famous societies of merchants trading to the East Indies, Muscovy, the French, and Summer Islands company, treasurer for Virginia, &c. S. Passæus sc. 1617. Prefixed to his Voyage to Russia," 4to. SIR THOMAS SMITH, knight. W. Richardson. SIR THOMAS SMITH, with autograph. Thane. Sir Thomas Smith, of Bidborough, in Kent, was second son of Thomas Smith, esq. of Ostenhanger, in the same county.‡ He Birch's "Historical View of the Negotiations between England, France, and Brussels," p. 296. + Idem, p. 715. See the genealogy of his family, No. 1 and 147 of Dr. Buckler's "Stemmata Chicheleana" whence it appears, that he descended from a brother of Archbishop Chichele, and that Sir Sidney Stafford Smythe is descended from his second son. was farmer of the customs in the preceding reign; and distinguished himself by his knowledge of trade, which was much cultivated by Elizabeth. He was, soon after the accession of James, appointed ambassador to the Emperor of Russia; and published an account of his voyage to that country, to which his portrait is prefixed. He was a different person from Sir Thomas Smith of Abingdon, in Berkshire, who was master of requests, and Latin secretary to James.* SIR DUDLEY CARLETON, inscribed, "Illust. excell. ac prudent. Domino, Dudleyo Carleton, equiti, Magnæ Britanniæ regis apud Confæderatarum Provinciarum in Belgio, ordines, legato, &c. Pictoria artis non solum admiratori, sed etiam insigniter perito. Sculptor dedicat." M. Mierevelt p. W. Delff sc. dated 1620; 4to. There is another print of him by Sturt.His portrait is at Christ Church, in Oxford. SIR DUDLEY CARLETON, Viscount Dorchester. Rivers sc. In " Noble Authors," by Park; 1806. SIR DUDLEY CARLETON. Harding. Sir Dudley Carleton, afterward viscount Dorchester, was ambassador in Holland, and at Venice, where he was chiefly resident. The negotiations of this accomplished minister, lately published, relate, for the most part, to the synod of Dort, in which King James deeply interested himself. In the next reign, he was constituted secretary of state; and was upon the point of being sent to the Tower, for barely naming the odious word excise, in the last parliament but ́one, that met at Westminster, before the long parliament. Ob. 15 Feb. 1631-2. In vol. iii. p. 118, of Winwood's "Memorials,” is the following passage: “Our East India merchants have lately built a goodly ship of above 1200 tun, to The launching whereof the king and prince were invited, and had a bountiful banquett. The king graced Sir Thomas Smith, the governor, with a chaine, in manner of a collar, better than 2001. with his picture hanging at it, and put it about his neck with his own hands, naming the great ship Trade's Increase; and the prince, pinnace of 250 tun (built to wait upon her), Pepper Corn." |