VIII. Sir Philip Sidney, a subject indeed of England, but they say chosen king of Poland, whom Queen Elizabeth called her Philip; the Prince of Orange, his master; whose friendship the lord Brooks was so proud of, that he would have it part of his epitaph, "Here lies Sir Philip Sidney's friend;" whose death was lamented in verse by the then kings of France and Scotland, and the two universities of England; repented so much at his death of that witty vanity of his life, his Arcadia, that, to prevent the unlawful kindling of heats in others, he would have committed it to the flames himself: and left this farewell amongst his friends, "Love my memory, cherish my friends; their faith to me may assure you that they are honest; but above all govern your wills and affections by the will and word of your Creator. In me behold the end of this world, and all its vanities." And indeed he was not much out in saying so, since in him was to be seen the end of all natural parts, acquired learning, and civil accomplishments. His farewell seems spoken without terror, with a clear sense, and an equal judgment.
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.