of a person they are oft mistaken for they do it by the appearance only and Men upon designs affecting popularity put on Masques and Disguises which is the ground of Vulgar error in these things but if they take upon them to judge of what is reasonable the common voice has generally less error than that of particular men When a man appears virtuous they commend him and when vitious they decry him so then the wavering proceeds not from the people who are constant always to the commendations of virtue but from the subject who changes the course of his actions and is himself variable in this life or at least has a different outward shape Now as a good Goveenment may justly challenge the preheminence of the three necessaries before mentioned so good Laws may bear the greatest reputation therein They will Execute themselves and the Executive part is usually most defective Laws dispose men in their natures to good or bad are the causes of faelicity or misery according as they are made and alter the very form of mens manners The Romans excelled herein which I count was the principal foundation and durance of their Victories and Prosperities Suetonius takes notice that Caesar did especially observe the strength of body in the choice of his Souldiers depending doubtless on the Roman Discipline which was a branch of their Law to encline their minds to Valour and conduct Alexander being in this particular not altogether so happy did chiefly insist upon a good election in respect of Judgement regular Affections and Experience Being upon the point of Laws let it not be thought amiss to mention these few observations In a Commonwealth there ought not to be too many Laws because they cannot then be well remembred by them to whom they are a Rule nor those who are to Judge by them The Penalties ought to be equal to the Offence if they be too little it renders the Law frivolous as are many of our Antient Paenal Statutes by the rise of the value of money in these later Ages by the pleasure of our Kings but more considerably by the fall of the value of Silver occasioned by the plenty of it from the Western World not long since discovered and some made of late are rendred useless upon a like reason They are not to be too great because of the Infirmities of Mankind but an error of this last nature is on the right hand A just Action is what is done by a Rule or Law and Justice by way of excellency is that which is done by the Rule or Law of Reason Now the determination of controversies which is a doing of Justice ought to be near the residence of the parties and with small if any charge to the concerned persons but what is voluntary otherwise it will become a burden to the greater number and intollerable to the poorer sort and in cases of a small value to all The common objection that the Law brought into the Country would make it differ in many places is idle sithence by experience in the Sessions of Justices of the Peace and Courts of Record in Corporations through all England we find the contrary To pass on when the Laws are made who shall compare the actions of men with these Rules or Laws that is shall be Judge of the breaches and observances of them Many cannot well perform this part in a common course because there may be wanting a resolution one may be of opinion by a certain fact such a Law or a branch thereof is transgress'd another not a third may differ from both for the same fact may be thought Murder by one Manslaughter by another and Se defendendo by a third so to prevent a delay in Justice it is generally well committed to a single person who may appoint substitutes with an appeal to himself If the Laws are well made and Judgement regularly given yet without a Coercive power Men will not obey them the placing thereof ought not to be in a major voice because they may be of so many several minds and consequently by delay and want of resolution Justice may be imperfect two have the same unaptness therefore it is well reposited in the hands of a single person Thus in England the foundation of Judicature and power is in the King and did appear more perspicuously heretofore when they sate usually on one of the Benches and are both well plac'd in the same person seeing no one of either can be so well executed alone it is called with us the Executive power as his other with the praevious assent of the Lords and Commons the Legislative If inquiry be whether he ought to be elected we answer no for these reasons A major voice in the choosers may not be because many men may be of various minds and think of several persons and the common good thereby neglected as is oft seen for want of a Governour if we say by Lot the nominations may be so large and chance so great to which may be added in both corruptions by Money and other jugling devices that men of worth are not like to be chosen as is of frequent experience and when an election is made the Elected's natural affections to himself and Family will make a different Center to the interest of the publique The next question may be whom and out of what Family that also must be determined by the Law of God which is of Reason or of Nature The first cannot do it because God Almighty having made all Families equal no reason can be given why one simply considered in it self should be praefer'd before another which consideration taken alone has caused much mischief in the World But we must hasten off and not stay here Let us then have recourse to the other branch of the Law of God which is the Law of Nature and there possession gives a Title So then that Man or Family which has got possession of the Crown has a good title by the Law of God and Reason tells us the elder possession is to be preferred before the younger to prevent Contention which is the Nurse of War and consequently a destruction to Mankind and if any should now set on foot a supposed elder than the now King of Englands a long and peaceable possession is to be praefer'd before a more antient pretence sithence that is well known and this can be but guess'd at time having worn out a certain knowledge It follows one would think that he which has possession of the Crown may dispose it to whom he will and so he might by the Law of Nature but the Law of Reason comes now in again and tells us that Salus Populi is Suprema Lex therefore seeing the discovery of his mind in many cases especially near his death when his reason and senses decay some interpreting it one way others in a different manner would be difficult to know which would destroy the people by division designing men
almost constantly with success but was not without violencies of lust and ambition in the prosecuting his designs not shewing at all times that due reverence to the Power above or respect to man-kinde as became a Person of his endowments from nature After great contendings amongst his Country-men not without a large effusion of blood and slaughter being arrived at a high pitch of Power and fame in the glory of the Roman state the Senate House in the close of all his labours and toiles when he expected to have received some fruits of his sweat and pains he was murdered at the foot of his Son-in-Law Pompey's Image whom not long before he had ruined with above twenty wounds his neer relation Brutus whom once he intended a great share of his estate being a principal contriver and that Brutus the Son of Servilia supposed to be his base Childe giving him a mortal stab in the bottome of his belly The State of Britain during the time of Augustus Tiberius and Caligula UPon the return of Caesar as was before mentioned to the Continent the civil Wars of Rome hapned the principal of their Common-wealth falling out about dividing the plunder and riches which in several Ages their Country-men had been acquiring during which time the Britains had respite from their Invasions Upon the death of Caesar Augustus after he had contended with M. Anthony and became Superior not only to him but all of a contrary faction in Rome did affect a quiet and peaceable life supposing it not convenient as he gave out to enlarge the Romane Empire big enough for management already and thereupon the Britains had stil the greater security But the tribute set down by Julius Caesar being neglected to be paid twice or thrice he intended an Invasion disdaining to be baffled by a Country of little note in those days but being on his march in Person was diverted by revolts on some other remote borders of his Dominions and withall pacified by some British Embassadors who renewed their conditions Tiberius who succeeded him had the same resolutions but was on different reasons moved to it choosing rather to attend his lust and cruelties at home than look abroad into forreign Countrys Him followed Caligula in the supream Authority a Prince dissolute and abounding in vain conceits as do witness his solemn message to the Senate of Rome of the Conquest of Britain when neither he or any of his Officers ever set foot thereon The colour was the receiving of Adminius a fugitive Britain the Son of Cunobeline a Prince in this Island who fled from his Fathers angel and submitted himself to Caligula In his Raign nothing fell out worthy to be reported in the British History unless one should remember his frivolous attempt upon the Ocean at such time as all Men did generally presume he intended to imbarque for Britain the Story whereof take from Suetonius in his own words thus translated Last of all as if he were undertaking a War marching with his Army on the Sea shoar and placing his Engines of battery no Man knowing or imagining what he was about to do on a sudden commands them to fill their Helmets and their Laps with Shells calling them the Spoils of the Ocean of right a due to the Capitol and Palace and as a Trophy of his Victory erects a most high Tower out of which as from a Pharus Fires might every night shine to direct the course of Sea-men and having declared a donative of a hundred donaries to every Man as if he had exceeded all examples of liberality bids them depart now joyfull depart with plenty Vnder Claudius by the conduct of A. Plautius ALI this while it appears not to the contrary but that the Britains who paid their tribute enjoyed aswell as the rest of their Country-men their Laws Customes and Liberties During this long intermission from disturbance being divided into many petty Kingdomes and Nations they were frequently among themselves at War in one place or another one Interest prevailing sometimes and at another a different and upon Victory many of the adverse party either were banished or fled of themselves And so it fell out that Glaudius succeeding Caligula one Berieus being a British fugitive instigated him to make an attempt on the Island which Glaudius did well like of and thereupon sent Orders to A. Plautius to transport those Souldiers which he then commanded in Gallia into this Country the Souldiery were very unwilling to go and trifled away their time in a kinde of mutiny insomuch that Caesar hearing thereof sent Narcissus his freed man to hasten their imbarquing which he accordingly did but not without disdain in them and a contempt of him in respect of his former condition having been once a Slave The Army was divided into three bodies intending thereby that if they were obstructed in one place by the difficulty thereof or the strength of the Enemy they might some of them land in another Having put to Sea they met with cross Winds and foul weather which was the cause of great disturbance but a light darting toward the Island from the place whence they put to Sea certain who had good wishes for the journey interpreted it as a direction from some God that favoured their enterprize and so encouraged the Fleet which strugling with the violence of the Tempest they at last landed on the British Coasts The Britains not suspecting their arrival because of the disorder they heard was among the Roman Army in Gallia which was before mentioned did not oppose their landing moreover their civil contentions being lately sharp they could not suddenly make such a confederacy as might probably encounter with a good expectation the force of the Romans at peace and marvelously strong in all parts So they retired into places that were woody and full of bogs expecting as Dion says to weary out the Romans as Cassibelan their former General had done heretofore with Julius Caesar Plautius bestows great labour in finding out their scattered Forces and meets with some to wit with Cataratacus and Togodumnus the two Sons of Cunobeline lately dead whom he easily dissipates and withall practises to head some of their factions against the other following the example of Julius Caesar a thing not difficult in a Country divided into such a multitude of Nations as Britany then was And he finds one proper for his purpose amongst the Boduni or Dobuni seated about Oxford and Glocester shires whom he receives into his protection having been before subject to the Catuellani a Nation about Buckingham and the Country of Hartford Leaving a Garrison among them he marches to a River intending a passage over to finde out certain other Britains who lay in security beyond it suspecting likewise nothing because they thought the Romans could not get to the other side being the Water was deep and that there was no Bridge but Plautius having Germans with him who were accustomed to Swim through Rivers in Arms
to be temperate in Meat Drink or Venery on the the same cause is not a virtue To be valiant upon the warmth of wine or by the natural heat of the brain a wearisomeness of the world upon greater skill in a weapon than another upon strength of body a bruitish nature or an absurd fear of being accounted Cowards if they refuse to put their lives upon the chance of a Die as many do with unmanly weapons is not true Valour nor oft accompanied with the courage of Nature nor practised in well govern'd Commonwealths or amongst the truly Valiant and Victorious sort of people and is at this day in greater esteem no where than amongst the most effeminate Men and Nations Neither is it a virtue to be just and temperate when the design is to purposes of ambition but then are men said to do an act of virtue when they have respect alone to the command of Almighty God either revealed or found out by reason Hereupon likewise we do count Children Fools Madmen and such as are of non sane memory by Sickness or Age exempt from the Law of God which is of reason and generally through the whole world in humane Laws they are not punished no more than Beasts when they do mischief because for the time they are deprived of their reason they are in like condition with other Animals If a man in a capacity to reason do not reason aright this seems no sin in him nor if he acts according to his reason for no man can be expected but that he should do according as he judges But if a man shall reason aright and not do accordingly to him it is sin and again to reason aright and act from thence is a virtue to reason wrong and from thence do wrong may be called a good meaning or to reason wrong and do differently may be said an ill meaning but enquire whether they be virtuous or sinful actions It follows further that to punish men barely for their opinions is unjust and unreasonable but if they endeavour to divulge them though they are conceited that so they ought to do if that may prove mischievous to a Commonwealth they are to be restrained notwithstanding as one ought to take a sword out of a Madmans hand or as he that is infected with the Plague ought not to be punish'd for having a Disease yet if he will go abroad to endanger others the Laws of this Land do reasonably justifie the punishing of him even in some cases to death upon this ground chiefly to prevent danger in others and they that pretend an opinion but are not thereof perswaded designing under that colour to disturb a Nation and raise advantages to themselves ought to have inflicted on them heavy penalties Furthermore seeing by reason we find out that there is a God by the like reason we are taught we ought not to speak or act irreverently concerning him or to set up any seigned Godhead against or equal with him seeing he made the world and continues it in a wonderful order in case of evil or mischief happened or impending he is we may conclude most able to relieve us Hereupon it follows that we ought to desire help of him reason tells us he will succour us the rather for so doing and that we ought to be humbly thankfull for what mercies he shews which is our duty toward God Come we then to what we owe toward Man By the Law of Nature we do suppose that every man may have a right to every thing but by the Law of reason no more than an equal right to all things in the first case man may have what he can get which is the state common to other Animals and in the second there ought to be an equal division in convenient proportions which is peculiar to rational creatures and having been made we ought to be content with our parts and not either by strong hand or cunning circumventions take from our Neighbours their shares In some sort also we have a duty toward other Animate Creatures for by the Law of Nature we may make use of them but to afflict them especially when we have no benefit thereby as it is not agreeing with reason but against it so is it abominable even to the nature of man 5. ANother faculty of the Soul is to be delighted and pained if they be not divers The things which cause the first are called good and on the contrary those that occasion the other evill and in the abstract good and evill and according to their degrees are they said to be more or less so Now if the question be asked what is the chiefest good before we answer we must distinguish and say if it be meant of the Original cause doubtless God Almighty if it be spoken to the means as to our own furtherance we may reply a virtuous life if to the thing it self the greatest pleasure is that which is largest in extent duration and freedome from evil and is the center of our designs and end of our labours But let our endeavours be never so capacious without a special providence of Almighty God Virtue can rarely if at all make a happy man in this world when fortune is wanting which is the state of a thing without design and of all contingencies that is most conducible when one lives amongst a happy people for an unfortunate Nation like the rapid motion of the eighth Sphere spoken of by some Philosophers forceth against their proper motion all Inferiour Orbes to a confusion of them and a necessary yeilding to that first great Circle And a happy Country does much improve the Fruits of a virtuous life to all that live therein 6. THat then in the concerns of a mans life having so great a share in the next place let us enquire thereof The strength and happiness of a Nation seems chiefly to consist in these things that they have a good Government that the people be many in number and that they be conveniently provided of all necessaries The Graecians having their eye especially upon the chief men that governed the several Commonwealths in their Country which was divided into many and observing some were directed by one man principally others by many of better sort that is to say by the richer and some by the people generally did call the first kind a Monarchy the second an Aristocrasie the third a Democrasie for the reasons expressed particularly in the derivation of their several names and those denominations have been brought through the Romane Conquests to us at this day But this seeming to be too general there are them who do say that there be also mixt Governments The way of division we will chuse shall be this All Governments are either of an absolute Monarchy an absolute Republique where the Authority is divided or mixt By an absolute Monarchical Government I mean and as I take it it is the general acception of the word
marks of the greatness of an Estate for whosoever commands the Sea commands the Trade whosoever commands the Trade of the World commands the Riches of the World and consequently the World it self If with any other this being an Island in the midst of Trade betwixt the North and South East and West a temperate Clime upon the great waters of the World especially since relief may be received and sent with more certainty upon the invention of the Needle has manifest advantage Some men in certain Nations it must be confessed out of covetousness have in certain times abused the publique Revenue as did the Officers of the Greek Emperour Constantine when Mahomet besieged Constantinople Others out of envy to the glory of great and virtuous Commanders have puzzled business and obstructed necessaries as Hanno did to Hannibal in the course of his Victories against the Romans in Italy Others have been traiterous as was Bessus to Darius his Master in the time that Alexander invaded him And it did fall out to that Hanno the Ball was after toss'd upon African ground and consumed the envious obstructer his Family and Country to the Emperour who having try'd below his Imperial Dignity to ask money at the Doors of his Citizens for the necessary defence of him and them through a perverse and obstinate discontent at the former abuses though they had plenty within them that he was refused and so they perished together And to Bessus who depending on dealing with Alexander upon the ruine of his Prince of whom he had the greatest apprehensions did perish in the design And some heretofore out of arrogance and want of skill have endangered their Country But we must take great heed we be not too apt to think amiss of the actions of a Prince or his Officers which Men are too prone to complain of First because we cannot judge aright of them sithence they are at distance to most and secret to all the hearts of Kings are unsearchable Secondly We know not what they drive at for they rowe one way oft times and look another intending still the publique good Moreover they are but men and may have their failings and we ought to cover and not divulge much less expatiate on their Infirmities as we would not men should do so to us They have their hands full of business so that it is almost impossible but that deficiencies must be Adde to this that male contents do always magnifie the oversights of men in authority and vilifie their good deeds beyond a due proportion and by the reports they spread up and down do give a discolouring to their actions So that for this very reason we must always allow many grains and if it were as bad as it may be sometimes made which without all dispute it is not as all men have their failings so have they oft their poculiar periods wherein they commit them sometimes gaining ground by such stumbles and make the more wary men upon the benefit of their experience 11. THe gradations means and manner how the English Nation came to such a greatness is the subject of the History of England of which the following Book is the first part and this the Sum. At the discovery hereof by Julius Caesar it was divided into a multitude of petty governments exceeding weak for that reason and more liable to the Roman Conquests Under them it continued some hundreds of years in that time designed in the nature of a Treasury out of which they might draw men and wealth for the purposes of the Roman interests On their Exigencies in the Continent they left it weak and subject to all Invaders being disabled by the policies and practises of their late Masters for what they had most apprehensions of they did most carefully endeavour to extinguish which was the power and strength of them whom having subdued they had desire to keep under In this condition habituated also for several Ages to a Slavish temper of mind they were the more easily conquered by the Saxons invited in to assist them upon the fresh affliction of their Northern Neighbours Under them it continued a considerable time divided into seven Nations commonly called the Saxon Heptarchy being then in somewhat better plight to defend themselves than formerly because they were reduced to a fewer number of principalities and were in no subjection the Danish inroads and the consequence thereof for some too considerable time excepted After divers contentions and great fluctuations it all resolved at last into one Monarchy under a West Saxon Prince and then far more considerable While it remained thus the Church of Rome and sereral of the Nobility who had large possessions here from the Roman policy in granting large immunities to some who yeilded to them in their Conquests consequently great interest did frequently perplex the Nation with civil diffention and by that very means principally it became a prey to the Norman Conquerour The same causes remaining the effects did not differ under the succeeding Kings in somuch that those victorious Attempts and Conquests that were made in several places especially in France were frequently distracted and at last utterly extinguisht by our contentions at home In the time of Henry the 4th The policy upon which great men kept and increased their estates beyond a moderate and competent bulk by advantage of a Statute they had gained in the days of Edward the First impowring them to Entayle all was frustrated by an invention at Law which could not be effected before upon divers designs in Parliament the issue of this was a bane to great possessions and consequently to such powers and interests as did frequently mate the Kings and disturb the people of England Henry the 7th followed the blow acting several things levelled to the same purpose and with benefit to them that in those days did not generally think so for by this means they were taken off from inclinations to a common mischief to which they were provok'd by their passions and the urgings of vain and necessitous men and in the calamity whereof they themselves and their Families had the most deplorable shares The Church of Rome together with the Doctrine of Salvation had impress'd in the minds of men an opinion that what is once given to the Church is Sacrilege to take away by which means it likewise having divers other arts to increase they kept their estates and became very formidable to the Kings of England but being undertook by Henry the 8th he tore from them with great severity those large possessions which rendred them dangerous to his interests Queen Elizabeth his Daughter by a long and prudent reign did fix her self and marvellously improve the Interest of this Nation wrapt up inseparably with the truest of the Crown And now did begin to appear the fruits of the Mariners Compass not long before invented the Trade and shiping of the world leaving the calmer and and setling in our more active Seas
the Shoar The Britains had placed their Battail and were numerous the Women their Hair hanging loose with Fire-brands in their Hands passing up and down and the Druids with their Hands lifted up to Heaven did pour forth many bitter execrations At this Novelty the Roman Souldiery at first seemed to have had some Consternation but after a while the Commander in Chief encouraging them and they also animating one another with Exhortations to this purpose That they should not be daunted at the sight of Women and Phanatick Men they advanc't and charged the Britains who not appointed with an equal advantage to resist them suddenly fled of whom they threw divers into certain Fires made hard by This done he plants Garrisons amongst them and to the intent they might be less subject to sudden Incursions causes their Woods to be cut down As Suetonius was in the Island about setling his Conquests there was News brought to him of a revolt of the Province the occasion that then offered it self was this Prasutagus Prince of the Iceni dyed leaving behind him great store of wealth and intending to secure his House makes Caesar his heir with his two daughters But this would not prevent the barbarous Lust and Covetousness of the Romans for they plundered his House ravished his two Daughters whipt his Wife Boadicia The chiefest of the Nobility were turned out of their Inheritances and the Royal Family accounted as Slaves These Villanies committed in a Licentious and Insolent manner did move very much not only the Iceni but their Neighbours the Trinobantes as yet not having lost their ancient courage though they had been reduc't into the form of a Province and thereupon they hold secret Counsels with an intent to revenge themselves and if it were possible to put off that Yoak which the greedy Romans had Imposed Their hatred was most bitter against the Veterans at Camalodunum in the Colony there this Camalodunum was the now Maldon in Essex as is supposed because they had thrust the ancient Inhabitants out of their Houses and Inheritances calling them Captives and Slaves There was a Temple built and dedicated therein to Claudius to the Solemn Rites belonging thereunto were divers Priests appointed who under Colour of Religion did most greedily devour the Substance of the Neighbouring Britains to their Aggravations was added an opportune Season to wit the Roman General was absent with a considerable part of the Army and the Town was but ill fortified by the carelesness of the Roman Officers These accidents fell out a little before the Attempt the Image of Victory at Camalodunum fell down and turned backwards Women did sing of Destruction as if they had been Inspired Howling and Noises were heard in the Theatre and Court in the Arm of the Sea not far distant was seen a strange Apparition and upon the ebbe the Bodies of dead Men on the Shoar which occasioned a great terror to the Romans and comfortable expectations to the Britains The Veterans because Suetonius was far absent sent to C. Decianus a Procurator for Ayde but he furnish't them with only two hundred and those ill appointed So there being not many Souldiers in the Town the Chief of their dependance was on the strength of their Temple In this their distraction Boadicia Commander in Chief of the design valiantly sets upon them repaying their cruelty in a just retribution of fury and revenge Most of the Souldiery were got into the Temple where for two Days they continue and then it was forced with great Slaughter The Britains in the current of their Success march out and meet P. Cerealis with the ninth Legion and certain Horse coming to the Succour of the Veterans and fight them routing all and destroying the Foot but the Horse fly with Cerealis into the Camp and there secure themselves within the Fortifications Catus a Procurator hearing of this Slaughter and his Avarice in the Province which had caused him to be hated coming fresh into his mind he thought it convenient for himself to fly and accordingly pass't into Gallia as a Place of greater safety for such a hatefull memory as he had Suetonius hearing of these things hastens his return and with an honourable resolution Marches through the Britain Quarters to London a Place then famous for Merchandise and plenty of Provisions Here he consults whether it were good for him to make that the Seat of War or not but considering among other Reasons his Number was not great he resolved to march out and could not be perswaded to stay by the Importunacy Cries and Prayers of such as either Age or Weakness of Sex or a delight to the Place had urged to a stay resolving rather to adventure this Town though of Concernment then to put a general hazard on the whole Roman Interest whereupon he marches out several going with him the rest staying behind who without mercy were after by the Enemy put to the Sword The same fate fell upon Verulam a Town favoured by the Romans in their Liberties in this heat of revenge they destroyed in the places before mentioned and thereabouts at the least seventy thousand Romans and their Confederates giving no quarter but executing them with various deaths giving a full draught of vengeance for their barbarous covetousness and savage Lust Suetonius having with him about ten thousand Men which consisted of Legionaries Auxiliaries and Horse and observing the Resolutions of the Enemy and that he could not long avoid a Battail if they would force him to it very prudently takes in good time the advantage of an excellent place to his purpose and waits the coming of the Britains In the entrance it was strait and encompassed with Woods and he knew the Enemy was before upon a Plain where they could lay no Embascodo His Legionaries upon expectation of a Battail were close set together on each Wing were the Horse and the light Armed with missive Weapons placed round about The Britains transported with their late success and not enough aware of the disadvantage of a set-Battail though they had formerly and their Ancestors sad experience of it would notwithstanding fight them upon these unequal tearms for too great joy and a passion of revenge do equally as well as fear betray the Reason Suetonius as was said had chosen an excellent Place and put his Men in admirable Order considering the quality of his own Souldiers and those of the Britains for the Legionaries being close plac'd uncapable of being surrounded could meet with no more Enemies at one time then they themselves were in number and then being well Armed the other naked without some extraordinary contingency these must yield nor could a Victory be expected other ways to the Britains then either by some Stratagem great Error by the Romans or having a vast number of Men by such an opposition and slaughter of themselves as can hardly be imagined any Men can endure Boadicia did appear in the Head of a vast Army