writes of him, His homebred Abilities perfected by Travel with foreign
accomplishments, and a sweet Nature, set a gloss upon both. _Stow_ in
his _Annals_, calleth him, a most valiant and towardly Gentleman.
_Speed_ in his Chronicle, That worthy Gentleman in whom were compleat
all Virtues and Valours that could be expected to reside in man: And
Sir _Richard Baker_ gives him this Character, A man of so many
excellent parts of Art and Nature, of Valour and Learning, of Wit and
Magnanimity, that as he had equalled all those of former Ages, so the
future will hardly be able to equal him.

Nor was this Poet forgotten by the Poets; who offered whole Hecatombs
of Verses in his praise. Hear first that Kingly Poet, or Poetical King,
King _James_ the first, late Monarch of Great _Britain_, who thus
writes,

_Armipotens cui jus in fortia pectora_ Mayors,
_Tu Dea quæ cerebrum perrumpere digna totantis,
Tuque adeo bijugæ proles_ Latonia _rupis
Gloria, decidua cingunt quam collibus artes,
Duc tecum, & querelis_ Sidnæi _funera voce
Plangite; nam vester fuerat_ Sidnæus _alumnus,
Quid genus, & proavos, & spem, floremque juventæ,
Immaturo obituraptum sine retexo?
Heu frustra queror? heu rapuit Mors omnia secum?
Et nihil ex tanto nunc est Heroe superstes,
Præterquam Decus & Nomen virtute paratum,
Doctaque_ Sidneas _testantia Carmina laudes._

Thus translated by the said King: