can not be vnpleasing that Amasis King of Egypt made vti singuli apud praesides prouinciae ostenderent vnde viuerent That is in England on capitall head of many manifolde vices when men may liue by what meanes they can onely answearing vnto publicke accusations whereas how they get what they spende how they spende what they get how they outface meaner Magistracie how they blinde greater in causes of danger how they find many and the Common-wealth few friendes how they shift causes and the Iudge neuer heates of them for these how much God is angrie their courses how easie it is in beginngs to preuent if counsaile of Counsellours finde other thinges more vrgent to their wisedomes I remember what I wish the Common-wealth should haue cause to thanke them for These people will goe as neare Iustice and Lawes and scape them as Domitian could shoote neare through by a Boyes fingers and misse them This reuerend counsell for hauing liued in Coutts may they be more honored then to be reuiled in Woodes So let them know their seruices rewarded in lyuing that dead they be not abused by the lyuing And if they may be amongst vs who would be wise like them let vs not put them from amongst vs who haue more experience and haue had more priuitie then wee Zenophones Colophonius who was called Homeromastixe in lamentation of his pouertie told a King of Cecely that he was scarce able to keepe two Seruantes Yet quoth the King he whom you rayle vpon feedeth 10000. being dead so are worthy men by meane ones defaced so pratchantnesse knowes not it is sawcie so come faultie humours to be vnpunished because not seene and not seene because not regarded In Rome it is written Rutilius and Scaurus had petition for a Consulship and at last Rutilius gaue way to Scaurus Scaurus accused Rutilius of Canuace because in Rutilius his Tables was written A. F. P. R. which Scaurus did interpret as signifying done by the fayth of Publius Rutilius actum fide Publij Rutilij as if Rutilius had corrupted the voyces and Scaurus could not haue been made Consull without Rutilius had renounced vnto him But Rutilius made this interpretation ante factum postea relatum that first it was had afterwards restored as if Scaurus had by his name framed his Office and he had been but the pronouncer of his reputation Caius Caninius a Romaine Knight being on the part of Rufus notwithstanding held that neither interpretation was true vpon those Letters but that they imported Aemilius fecit plectitur Rutilius Aemilius did it and Rutilius suffered for it that was tooke the repulse But I thinke both then for neither are heere now In that time where was the curtesie passed betwixt Largius and Caelius when they two spent the day so in commending one another either for others worth to be elected Dictators that scarce either of them could be appoynted on the second day of their choyce Where was then that humanitie which Pompey shewed who being appoynted vnto Metellus his charge because Metellus was elder and more noble in glorie would not accept his preferment appoynted vnto him vnlesse Metellus would desire his companie in taking share of his care This case had much other pleading when it was and howsoeuer Rutilius was stucke vnto yet Cicero gaue not all to that speaker but in decision of the cause hauing iudicially delyuered turned his countenaunce vpon a worthy man of his fauour concluding directly in the behalfe of Scaurus More did not Tully in any day shew himselfe maister of his eares nor better at any time commaunde his tongue to vtter his iudgement Yet was that tryall onely brought in to take experience of duetie fully necessarie for greater causes soone after to be propounded This onely being like Alcibiades Dogge sent through the Cittie of Athens with his tayle cut off vpon purpose That as it was to try what woonderors were there in that body so this to discerne whether free tongues were walking or not walking in your free Cities But howsoeuer had Angustus his Iudgement been helde as good as Claudius his benefite the decision had found authoritie not the authoritie decision Then might the Souldier haue come to Caesar to aske his rewarde of pleasuring him in a fitter time then after he had lost one of his eyes at Munda But it may be in times foregoing it hath been thought that cleane obseruance was more worth then holy duetie to be honored rather skilfully then deuoutly coli scite quam sancte Yet doubt I that word Cleane had drunke too lately in the Low Countries and signified rather litle in the scite then mannerly in the obseruaunce Or else as it befell Martiall would haue his rule of louing accept Familiaritie but admit no reuerence Tu vis coli Sexte volebam amore Sed si te colo Sexte non amabo If otherwise which I well beleeue and you great Cities may happely heare of that not want of particuler duetie but care of generall good makes refusall of that for the Countries cause wherein a Kinges commaund had otherwise readely preuayled ouer his Subiectes while the euent of the ones desire the others refusall stood vpon vncertaine successes and the fathers care might be thought impartiall touching his owne lawfull Children though issued from diuers venters what Vigil could not scite Virgill what Watchman could not discerne day then in view then to follow his collours with Nil desperandum Teucro duce et auspice Teucro Nor could it be sayd O socij neque enim ignari sumus ante malorum for of the contrarie wee haue had experience lamentable of this which would haue yeelded comfort such hath been our vnhappinesse though the Histories can tell you how sought neuer occasion to any could wee take Better directions then happie directions men can not receaue such as either are affected to be followed for loue by hope or men are wonne to imbrace by reason vpon ground Him examine by his owne remember his life past so blessedly runne through so mischieffously attempted take view of his estate present of our hopes of blessednesse by him and thereby frame coniecture how fortunate his Highnesse may be in these his desires not withstood but submitted to by those who must leese liberties as deare as life thereby And should you not take him Kingly but Philosophically the rule for his condition fittes him as his Scepter for a King becomes him A body strong fortunes ritch the heart stoute and braines learned Milesius thought to be the seate of happinesse Plato he platted fiue kindes of Felicities good Counsell good Health good Fortune good Reputation good and falsely esteemed but neuer before other louers of Wisedome loued them better then Philosophers aboue all Goodes Goodes I might add to make these goodes better as greater for their qualitie maketh not their price more then their quantitie aduaunceth their reputation euen goodes hanging vpon Ropes Of which kinde to leaue the Kinges Maritine riches
alteratiō might growe hauing called his citisens together he made thē publikly know that true it was he had bin āgry with his childrē for that they had not agreed to their fathers desires but afterwards it seemd good to his fatherly piety to descēd into their opiniō therefore he would haue the city to take knowledge that the issew of the king were accordāt vnto the wil of the father So was that good Pisistratus driuē rather to giue away his own interest then to let others take auātage of their dissentiō Touching whō if the father shold haue said as Diogenes answered the poticary how shold he not beleeue that ther were gods when he knew him enimy to them Why it shold not be feared that oppositiō to greatnesse in a cause indifferent might teache greatnesse how great it is in a cause that were iust be you Iudges quo iure quaque iniuria But it may be in your great cityes and amongst your followers and friendes there are diuersities of resolutiōs though not quot capita tot sensus For it may bee some cannot finde meanes of deliberation vnlesse their respites of iudgement may be enlarged to quantum diutiùs cogito Others happily may fulfill you with so many reasons as vpō some kinde of inditement might hang a subiect had but half an one more ben added so fruitfull they seem to be of cōceits though their reuenues of reasons in this cause to be spent would hardly maintaine an army to fight with arguments an whole yeare in open battail against this vnion But many had those need to be could refuse a natiō so welcom at an imbracement so necessary Why should we sticke vpon needlesse feares Degeneres animos timor arguit Why should we being grown into the peace of Ireland say that anguis latet inter herbas odoriferas An wholsome country breeds no serpent no fraud lurks in honest meaning But these improuisions to this vnderstāding are to be attributed to late times foregoing wherein the sexe could not by any indeuor meditate things so proper for the estate as improper for their persons neither were their opportunities alike whose fortunes suffered enemies to their gouernment as are his who is offered friends for his own sake for his Queens bloud to his country nôw more respected Yet let vs admit the bounty of Semiramis toombe on which was in a written direction expressed that those who wanted mony might take there what they would within notwithstanding was opposed that vnlesse men were ill vnsatiable of coin they would neuer dig vp the coffins of dead persons for it So keen they were in those dayes to intice the worlde to take out this lesson That affection should not alwaies aduenture the vttermost that liberty giues shewe to haue geuen allowance for Yet let calumny be set apart in your cities the matter not reuiled with the infamy of the worde S. George shall not go so long on foote vpon this arraunt that the most naturall English man shall finde him surbated in his journey Be not deceiued yee cityes your friendes for these are but sclender aydes offered to any when their assistaunces makes only the furtheraunce where the encrease brought addes nothing to the strength settled Who speakes in you either finde your applause or leaue their arguments helpelsse Your pleasing countenances hauing made the first speech seem sound the rest encrease as Hydraes heads multiplyed Hee who sittes down amongst you happily hath seriously thought vpon what he deliuers therinto hath wouen his affection and reason together do not you approoue it till you haue adiudged the one disseuered the other One man happily the good sound of his owne words well placed another the mirth of his iest well formed hath seduced in their iudgementes of their owne discourses by whose errors shold your wisedōes be vndermined it wold be said happily you were eyther cōcordant by clamor or allured for fancies Shal you who haue bōfir'd pageāted for a king are the glories of his state now scāt him his honor in appointing your goods Shal it be said of you who haue so wel fashioned out this triūph hitherto that you can not maintain your selues out as incōstant or for disability must in extremo actu deficere Then bring the honest yong mā the modest yong maid together let them wooe their frends for them let them be made sure by a contract in forme let the cheer bee made ready the day appointed friends inuited fidlers called giue take you parents children on both sides eate drink dāce court make more matches til day half night be spēt then refuse your bridegroō for what mariage was instituted There are many deuises to blind good mening in these ages supposed catholikes may be attempted to be supposed puritanes a factiō in alliāce may make offer to arraigne an honest mās argument With these be not you deceiued but let your appetits be only your goods your wils your weales Think fit that Soueraigns in their weldoings should be pleased and not in theyr good affections diseased Know that a Monarch is but one as alone the discourses and arguments brought into you many And wil not you expect that so many wisedoms as inhabite and ride vpon you shall drawe one propositiō framed for your good to the content of him to whom the thankes is due Shall not you like of a state framed to honor a King who brings a King a true honor to a state Tell them who dislike most they shall haue more habilitie and be better defended when you shal be all your selues then now when a few prime men either in parts or partaking seeme to nicke vp vpon their opinions the iudgements of so many graue and wise men as are said to hold consort with them in their voyage Can any men fear the King of Englands place hereafter to be lost not inough care for the King of Britaines loue now to bee retained That though for his constancy hee cannot withdraw for his place he may not ought he not so to be regarded for it as it may be retained in him with his comfort Is it feared that by this appellatiue we shall be made fellows to the Brittons the theeues rather are we not doubly by this meanes instiled of Fraunce where dwell the canuascoats I call you to witnesse wee put not Stangatehole out of Huntington shire Shooters-hill out of Kent nor other places of robberies out of English shires nor our selues leaue to be called of that countrye if wee had birth or haue landes in them notwithstanding the robberies done vpon them as odious as are the robbers They who haue hability to speake against this Vnion that it may not bee cannot they thinke you defend it when it is the inconueniency being all that is pretended or disproportion of affection the dishonesty nothing the vnlawfulnesse not otherwise discerned then knowne as little The vse of all things is all the
RAPTA TATIO THE Mirrour of his Maiesties present Gouernment tending to the Vnion of his whole Iland of Brittonie Martiall Rumpatur quisquis rumpitur inuidia AT LONDON Printed by W. W. for S. Waterson 1604. Ignibus vnionis arden S. To the Right Honorable and famous Cities London and Edenborough Yorke in the way not vnsaluted and to their Inhabitantes and Friendes of all conditions BEcause in you especially be the newses of all Common-wealthes causes I choose you to whom to dedicate the Discourses vpon the Vnion debated Of other natures are other Recordes likewise interserted as argumentes moderne in your dayly vses Bee you all strong Friendes to this great good of your estates and no partie shall be thought able to withstand you and your followers My selfe begge nothing of you nor seeke to borrow vpon credite though I know you trust much and in so doing giue it when you are not payde But if I once see Bonfiers in you for this new Coniunction yours wil be the Chiefest benefite mine a share of the Comfort That if it happen to be concluded burne my Bookes then as part of Ioyes Fewell If that misse good euent and mine affection shall be suspected or argumentes neglected a badde Birdes ill Egge I know will not haue worse fortune Howsoeuer my Zeale is such to you and to this Case as I referre it and my selfe humbly to your Censures willing to make my selfe better knowne then when I shal be assured I can deserue well of you till which time come gladdest if it were quickly I rest Euer at your commaunde Your Country-man and a Brittaine The explanation of the Title and application thereof WHEN the Romaines for continuance of their people and common-wealth made Vnion with their Neighbours the Sabines and the rest by taking their Daughters though against their willes at first to wiues whom afterwardes proofe shewed they could not better haue bestowed the chiefest of the rest was reserued for Tatius The credite of whose name was of such authoritie that not the very enemies would make resistaunce That if they then yeelded to for a Noble mans fancie in his affection let a generall good now be more powerfull for a Kinges desire of a Common-weale Hoc tantum inspice qui nobis paratur An possit fieri vetus sodalis The Title RAPTA TATIO Haec facies testatur amorem Anagram AT AT PATIOR Nec facies placet cui gelasinus abest Vpon both Praeda datur Tatio mea miles vulnera porto vt verè dicam dum potior patior Sed modicum patiar quia nisus nomine tanto et tanto fultus numine tutus ero Rapta Tatio HAuing you great Citties and your friendes and followers since I saw all vse of my poore endeuors spared or rather found disabilitie in them to afforde vse to the state or person of my dread Soueraigne or of his royall Queene or ishew sequestred my selfe from either sawcie intrusions or shamelesse suites I thought I should so haue been forgotten and might also haue been suffered without offence to forget But so full are all thinges euery where of his Maiestie as euen in my retiredest priuatenesse by Subiectes who could not iudge of ought but what the Subiect enabled them to neither take much ioy in any thing but in Haruestes Mariages and Holydayes nor speake for much more then Nature and the Countries vocation giues direction for I haue been assaulted with their welcome yet vehement endeuours of expressing their ioyes for him their comfortes in him their hopes from him their dueties to him in deed their admiration of not onely what they see but what they feele themselues euen warmed and comforted by not to all men in able Iudgement visible but euery where by some vertue or other sensible no lesse then they professe his Maiesties Proclamations to their vnderstandings notable his caryage and manage of himselfe and his iudgement in treasons so little deserued by Subiectes no whit iustly agreeued taken to mercy besides all law but that which his owne heart and vnderstanding inuentes and affoordes not a little rare yet very royall Aboue all it may be for being last in memorie they seeme full of a speech his Highnesse made in the beginning of the Parliament for place in such a session for vtteraunce so delyuered vpon further suite and neede thereof so reitterated the argumentes so gratious for vse so necessarie seene euen before proofe so iudiciall as when they of their kind could finde vnderstanding to commende fulnesse to vtter it so farre set on fire my spirit to giue my selfe satisfaction about as whether scorne to be ouermatched by those in that argument or new desire enflamed to apprehend so glorious a world gaue the instigation I know not vp rose againe those spirits which had faythfully borne zeale and that without fault otherways to his Highnesse when communitie knew him not in dayes when Nobilitie treated but sparingly of him and the time had kept him in breeding in a countrey fit to make him wise and hardy as any of his auncestours lesse soft and delicate then many of his progenitors Pardonable then I hope it shall be esteemed if to ioyne with the rest or salute their gratulations to him first what came from him comes for him the meditation of Subiectes wishes the vnderstanding of many their senses directed to acknowledge how vnworthy they are so gratious so good a King who publikely professeth to thanke them for that for which God and he himselfe is to be thanked in that he was borne and refuseth not his ende for which who professeth peace feareth no warre standeth stifly to religion with a prudent discretion seekes vnions for vnitie giues his owne for the Common-wealthes cause the most and yet accomptes to it for what he giues doth all things as doubting which vpon tryall are surely placed And though my selfe be too vnworthy to explaine what his Maiesties hidden prouisions are of those which haue open shew for his Kingdomes good and know how neare flatterie and grosse adulation plaine deliuerie and trueth comes yet since they be good desires in others none ill in my selfe which haue stirred me vp to this presumption and Vertue may be as confident to challenge her owne as Vice is apt to borrow of insinuation I aske leaue that I represse not my thoughtes in silence neither spare to lay them downe so insufficiently in so able an age But yet daring no further you may be pleased as Dionisius made Aristippus beleeue that his eares were in his feete to heare with your heeles or if the worke be not worthy to be taken vp it can not be vile enough if it shall not be otherwise censured hauing loue duetie zeale and care of countrey therein to be trodden vpon And here in what I shall discourse as I haue caught it by vulgar relations and remember it happely but vnfittingly for the vse should be made of it so if either I had had direction to
in like whereof no Prince in the world is knowne to equall him I may truely say as he is farre from taking aduantages vpon those from whose indiscreete and vnworthy vsages the haynousnesse of their crimes haue giuen their states and safeties away so might so much moderation in cause of iust anger haue giuen true tryall of none ouer great violence in matter of affection And were it not for the good of eyther since hee hath charge of both it would neither bee the draught of the one to what they seeke not nor of the other to what they like not that would make either Fancies seeme Faces or Reasons almost Treasons Nor can I gesse whence no better satisfaction groweth vnlesse Opinion may be helde of the highest estate to be as Pliny writeth of Fortune that shee is the Goddesse who in the whole world in all places at all howers with all voyces alone is called out vpon alone is named alone is accused who hath the onely guylt the onely estimation the onely prayse the onely blame and with inuectiues is worshipped with slaunder cherished in inconstancie thought constant to whose charge is layde the maintayning the vnworthiest the accompt of all expences the catalogue of all receites and the filling vp of each Leaues either part in the blottes of all reckonings and the setting vpon all Audits If not so with reuerence and loue may I speake it to your Cittie-assemblies Tables as you may thinke priuate and secure be too little prouident no lesse was the Frenches confidence who to shew their not fearing Alexander could instaunce in nothing to giue them doubt but in the heuens falling Yet certainely as Abimelech being hurt by a Stone from the Castle whereinto the Israelites fledde throwne downe by a Womans hand desired rather that a Souldier would kill him then that by so weake an hand he should perish So is it euer to be feared that greatnesse can no where suffer contradiction with content where the cause is reasonable and affection Royall in the vnderstanding It may be neuerthelesse that Pompilius thought a Circle scoared by a Rod could giue lymits to consultation as Intra hunc consule The intendment of such Circles were to combine mens seates and endeuours by freedomes to assist euery one the most he could not with liberties to forestall singular men peremprorily those propositions which come but newly into consultation being neither rashly nor meanely commended Those ends had no Celticke boldnesse appoynted to them they were not to be ioyned with contempt of safetie There was not intended that with the blood of Hanniball should be made strong the league with Rome There was no Priuiledge to engadge that offence which no memory could euer remit if the after successes should accuse the then resolued iudgements The Scottish in this age nor in those to come shall in this Kingdome get the best offices alone feare ye not nor let others affright you therewith But as the Kinges Maiestie contendes to haue the State generall and publique weale of the whole Iland to which he is equally by God appoynted in best order so propounds he that it may be free for the best man of those who are his natiue Subiectes borne and inhabiting within the same continent and none otherwise deuided by Tweede then others of his Subiectes are by Trent may haue place for his goodnesse to serue the Common-wealth in Such is his Maiesties royall disposition to chuse the best from the most and to get it enacted that the left hād though not so much heretofore vsed shall now bee knowne to bee a parte of the same body receiue the same nourishmēt by the same passages and do naturall seruices as none artificiall member But why we should so much doubt them see I not so much cause In all men now liuing is not the appetite of Diogenes deceased he being asked what kinde of wine he wold gladliest drinke of answered of another mans for of those there are many wil not change their own setlings too many who haue pensions elswhere already some are going further for better profits all of whome great offices in this kingdome doe not expect nor wold they euer be suters for them to sit about them Yet do you thinke it better and lesse dāgerous to admit too great hopes at home then safe for a common wealth to permitte too much certaintie of engagement abroad This was it of which Horace said that the hornes had hey vpon them flie those beastes Foenum habet in cornu longè fuge This Frenchman is black Hunc tu Britāne caueto Nay I may tell you that this nation is so well traueld hath so much addiction to see further as it wil well ioin to draw your looser abroad by encrease of strength your richer home with support of wealth And whether such dispositions are likely to hold they who haue traueiled can best discern who haue seen vs foraignly loue take parte against all natiōs ech with other when we liued domestickly scarce friends daily occasions giuen why we shold be more disjoyned Too much occasion hath ben geuē why secret remēbrances might hold some in act some in fact but so blessing of vs is God so gracious to vs is our King so prouidēt are they cā forsee this as the storye moderne may now be corrected as Martials epigrams might be amēded which whē many interlineations many scorings could not perfit vna litura potest spongia sola potest many apologies many periuries many simple denials many beings out of the way many facings to the teeth many accusatiōs of his better subjects many combinations of packes together though all these shold be many more can neuer or not alwaies hold all in or all men only this asks pardō saies nothing this takes reuenge doth good together Now let vs haue none aliens none attainders be al free as wee may bee noble as wee shold be Let the same hād which endeuored hurt or was mistaken heal be rightly vnderstood If there be impedimēts outward remooue them if imward aduise them Licurgus being demaunded how the enemies forces might be abādoned answered if they would continue poore which this age yeelds no disposition to if they woulde lay by ciuill dissentiōs which is best done where singuralities are auoided good only affected But if the best should come to the eagerest satisfaction yet it is lesse valew to defend then assault lesse hability to deny then to proue that very to do good is more suspected then ill doing deemed faulty the wisdome of Pisistratus must yeeld to the wilfulnesse of his childrē or else others must take aduātage by their debate The story saith that whē as Pisistratus had giuen right aduise vnto his children could not get theyr cōsent vnto it therby was vrged to stād in some question with them for their disobediēce finding his enimies reioiced therat as hopeful that frō that dissētion som
This sister of Alexanders is not sought without leaue is not defiled without vertue hath her louer no lesse comely in parts and features In Aegypt it is written were great store of Crocodiles there the dogges for thirst driuen to drink did euer so lap in Nilus as they were euer remouing This iest was brokē vpō Anthony after the Mu tine flight that he caried himself like the dogs of Egypt Shal we then haue receiued this Nation with applause honored thē in our high Counsell of the Kings estate and of the estate of the Kingdome admitted them dignities admitted them honours in titles in possessions receiued them with loue into our houses crepte at their knees in the English Court haue put our money into their pockets put them into our fortes strengthes Castles and shall wee now make meū and tun̄ the Scottish the English our selues thēselues Nay rather let vs speake as heartily as the kinde man did in Terence Hos nisi mors nobis adimet nemo Let vs in name and vertue be the same let the good of both ioyne together and the good of both put downe the ill of either Some who neuer iudged aright what it was to liue so vnited may rashly say they had rather dye then bee vnited He was but an young man in Terence who vsed that perswasion for his affection onely emori malim but an olde man gaue this counsell out of long experience First learne what it is to liue if then that life displease when thou knowest it thou mayest bestowe this on thy selfe which thou now chusest Plato framed a definition of a man that he was a liuing creature going vpon two feete and without feathers which definition was mocked by shewe of a Cocke his feathers pulled off But the Authour of the tractate of the vnion hath giuen this man if you will hence deriue him foure legges to walke on So strongly therefore vnderset hee aduentured that discourse knowing belike that the perswasion of iust thinges pleased the Gods and that the people of Athens would not kill Phocion if they repented a little Mildly they yet proceed for they cal his iudgemēt his wit rather giuing a backward commendation of his labour spent then the cause vse of his arguments in behalfe thereof Sure hee was some great Councellor who gaue the King that aduice that he should not liue out of his Countrey wherein he was borne and from it that was not to let his Numen be felt in it together What though hee hath pleasured many of that Nation ought the well doing of a few be his onely care Is the rewarding of his seruants all that falles into a Kings studie for his cōmon wealthes good haue we had so much benefit by their comming and shall we deny them share of that we enioy by them They haue bred vs a King they haue brought him safe they haue brought him euery way perfect of nature good learning great vertues many of issue fruitfull and on his head a Crowne before he came here Matched most royally for the qualitie of her bloud gallantly for her person and aboue all for the goodnesse residing in her royal self her happines in her sweet issue descended from her And shall we now vse Scotland as an olde scabbard or a Kings cradle Vmditius a bond slaue in Rome for preuenting only by relation vnto a Cōsul the treasons of the sons of Treuitelij and of Brutus was not onely made free but a law made for the freedome of all bondslaues called Lex vindicia by which euer afterwards none of them could be taken by force or haue violence offered to them by allowance How much rather ought we to enact some memorable record vnto posteritie whereby this great blessing from that Nation may be acknowledged vnto it the rather they hauing demeaned themselues so honorably as to giue vs iust satisfaction of their valours An excellent cause now God will haue vs friends why we should loue entirely This is a course fitter for vs to embrace then our strengths refused by other aduersities to hope of our succours But now rather to speake a little in behalfe and for vse of our owne cōmon-wealth then to perswade their particular good in it As our lawes are the best or we must say so of them who liue vnder them of all Nations whereby our kingdome is gouerned so the ciuill lawes being no such strangers vnto them somewhat would soone be established whereby we might get the benefit of theirs by the assent of ours to the cōsent of both Which while it is in indeuor they by precise looking into ours wil get reformed some abuses crept in by time custome or misse-interpretation such as my Lord Chancellor in his integritie shewed daily and diuers of the graue Iudges and chiefely the chiefest of them as oportunities serue for conscience sake do amend as they apply them and but by such an occasion as this will hardly euer be moted vpon Of this argument for agreement of both lawes except I be deceiued a friend of mine and worthie to bee yours hath very lately verie shortly written comparing the Grandes the Titles the rules and right vse of both as his occasion led him so learnedly so fully and so experiencedly together as the two common Wealthes may soone bee taught that there is nothing disagreeing in essence betweene them nothing of the ones substance wanting to the other the termes and practises onely hauing giuen the shewe of difference hitherto But I cannot iudge whether hee will bee iudged woorthie any great imployments since Hanno was but vnthankfully dealt withall who first tamed a Lion It were pitie a Common-Wealthes man should haue more encouragement in his trauell then his conscience of well doing To returne to my purpose if for many seene benefits which wee cannot chuse but reape besides the satisfaction of our Soueraigne no way were motiue to a heartie Subiect there should ingrowe any inconueniences the Kinges desire standing in heede of the Acte Trimolius the true Corinth would take part against his owne brother for the good of the Common-Wealth But these doubtes stands like the Mountaines Anaxagoras was asked whether at the last they would not bee water whose aunswere was in time they would Tempus edax rerum c. Time doth worke what no man knoweth in the faithfull Turtle Doue Martial was very angrie with a fellowe who would needes knowe thinges vppon supposalles as how hee would behaue himselfe if hee were rich and shutting him off with this aunsweare if men can foretell how thinges shall succeede how wilt thou behaue thy selfe if thou becommest a Lion Quenquam posse putas c. Isocrates was troubled with the vncertaintie of the time how hee might behaue himselfe when hee might haue a boxe on the eare for then and not else hee would weare a Helmet This cause great Cities and your friendes from Story writers flying away so wilde sits now as gently by vs as Tubero the Pretors Pye did which came strangely to his hand and of which the Southsayers foretolde that much good would
write instruction of occurrents and priuitie to haue made right vse my paynes should haue been imployed to haue giuen that satisfaction to this cause which now I ayme at and but onely for the gladnesse of the popular duety to so gratious a Soueraigne I could not haue been thrust vpon And herein I will not deale with my loue to them as the Sleeper did with the Coniurer who hauing told him that a dreame of an Egge signified treasure sent him onely of siluer and gould whereof he had found some quantitie a portion of the siluer and put him to aske for newes of the Yolke numquid de vitello for euen all the substaunce in my Shell is wholly this argumentes and the more deuoutly since with Deiotarns our King is not building of Citties at the thirteenth houre of the day nor with Crassus at sixtie yeeres olde beginning to march against the Partheans but euen at his first entraunce doth so addresse himselfe to his gouernement as all are proude at this instant who spake well before and they who see him now find abilitie to speake for euer It shall not be sayd of him he beares his time well as if somewhat were to be allowed to his new enteraunce but he vseth his time well It was Damasippus fault to giue Cicero so much aduantage hauing bidden him to supper as by hauing kept his Wine fourtie yeeres in his house to be subiect to his guestes censnre that it bore the age well This Kinges time came when it should be vsed and is vsed when it is come England allured not him to it till it sent to him for it He hath taken a state Captiue by Gods prouidence and his Maiesties good vsage of his guifts was not taken prisoner as Policrates was by Eurotes Therefore he pertakes Gods blessinges not against the Fates but by direction of the Heauens Before his Highnesse is treasure in his comming hither some I hope will finde it behinde him if God blesse the golden Mynes in Scotland Cefellius Bassus applauded Nero for being deere vnto the Gods as in whose time onely Gold long time hidde came to light There are I cannot denie who are so vnhappie as to coniecture that some that hath seene light is gone that way to be hidde But neither shall fayle the vse of this Kingdome if God blesse the ones finding and graunt meanes to the others returning since now the King hath propounded that an vnion may be confirmed the only meanes to draw al vses from thence to the good of vs heere without our losse in any thing which with the gaine by this cause will not be well requited nor will it be long to the appearance thereof when his Maiesties subiectes shall be all conioyned which are borne and inhabite within one continent haue and long may they haue the same soueraigne suffer noe deuision nor which euer did other then what the Diuell drew on for the punishment of both and it seemes Gods sacred ordinance to mooue the Kings Maiestie to affect the amendes of for the good of either They haue reason to follow where their King is wee cause to imbrace them who come with him The Countrey besides is honored in his Highnesse which bredde such a King as liues to prooue hath not a bare testimonie of a thing forgotten more abilitie in him selfe then Darius on his Tombe was commended for I was a fâ—iend to my friends an horseman and bowman excellent I was best of Huntsmen and in my person could doe all thinges And shall not Cirus his counsaile to Cambises his sonne make vs more assured to haue a Scepter compacted of multitudes of Friends then of quantitie of Gold And how can we compact them but to make them like Niobees Tombe being the Marble This Tomhe hath no dead body this dead body hath no Tombe but the one is the other and either is each And if friendship be as Senica saith Negotiatio quae ad comodum accedit The King hath greatest cause if their ingratitude shall not giue him cause to be weary of both to ioyne them in strrct bandes of all comfortable all entire equall Loues betwixt them since the greatest profite which euer can come to either of them must be in seeing the welfare and enioying the lyfe of him alone Nor is it fitte that his friendes should not be vnited I presume to call his Subiectes his friendes as by a deare tytle as well as humble since better it is the King were not of agreeing harmonie in himselfe then where his friendes were naught the King himselfe were of good disposition And if the difference were any for the exchange some haue sayd Procul a loue et a fulmine the conuersations of Kinges haue euer been helde like the nature of the Flames warme further of and burning neerer The King shall better represse further off in this forme by this meanes giue greater scope to the Subiect neerer hand by that course his further people shal be made more ciuill I speake of the priuater of them these not so great flatterers I speake not much of the publicker of these whose so often kneelinges his Maiestie it is sayd hath so much forbidden as if he had seene Tiberius the Emperour fall on his face running away from a fellow who hung vpon him kneeling A Woman did the like vpon this our King at Royston whose Husband that he might liue disorderly with his Grey-hound against the Kings Proclamation left to liue orderly with his wife according to the institution of Marriage Yet as for the one I meane not altogether the men of the Lues part of whose Countrey I had hoped that ere this time the battered Garrison of Barwicke should haue had so I feare not much the other who can onely alledge Offa me monet the King hauing Subiectes of whom his Maiesties owne note is that they were borne to haunt shame and starue himselfe of able meanes to reforme them by cutting off allowaunces The condition of those I professe to be more dangerous who can amende mistakinges And to the question quid brachium can reply illud dicere volui femur who can either turne an Argument of strength into lasciuiousnesse or can alter with occasion and flatter euen vice if they could here find it But while ill thinges ought not to be commended ill men can be allowed no fitte praysers Seneca in his Tractate of the honest lyfe sayth Wee ought to be as much ashamed to be commended of bad men as if we were praysed for ill conditions Reuerend and Worthy men hath the King to heare as euer King was serued withall both graue and wise and wise and stoute such as of whom it can not be sayd that they haue lesse of Eloquence then of Fayth being as excellent speakers as carefull doers neither lesse Honor then may commaunde duetie being many by him selfe aduaunced others better then alwayes confirmed or more then before increased They are they to whom the Law
him back his gifts againe In others they had good vse as when Fabius Maximus bestowed on Marsus a valiāt souldier no very great gifts to keep in very great spirits The antient boone of Leuidense none begs which was a warme but light yet cōmon garment Many now craue in many places not so much for want of sufficient as because though they know some haue more then inough yet they would bee loath to haue lesse then theyr fellowes striuing as Otacilius did to equall Torquatus of whom it is written that as the ox burst the toade so the one of them would split in emulation of the other vt bos ranam rumperat olim sic puto Torquatus rumpet Otacilium Milesius was wont to say there was no such way to make a man quietly suffer aduersity as the knowledge that his enemy was in worse prosperity and think you that emulatiō in this works not as much as in the other malice For this cause did the brethren of Ioseph sell the son of Iacob vnto the Arabian merchants For the other did Casselius find out that a Pyne tree nut was an apple if it were to be thrown at Vatinius his enimies head Horace bestoweth much description vpon those who wold haue none so great as thēselues and tels the tale of the toade vituli pede pressus who told her dam when she saw her swell to be as great as the calfe Non si te ruperis inquit Par eris But though it were vnfit in kings causes Martials counsell to Flaccus was vnhappy which aduised to keep that to himselfe which hee had purposed amongst others when as the offence of many who should not get was dangerous the bestowing vpon al burdensom Demeruisse duos votum est offendere plures vix tutum Cunctis mittere dona graue Our Soueraigne as his goodnesse is great so his rewards his gifts his aduancements haue not bin smal Tully had not so great cause to brag of his Quaestorship well discharged in Sicily when he came home to Rome as some giue shew of our Soueraigns bounty who passe from one of you to another Howsoeuer it may truly be said it hath rather bin a Royall king then an yeares Magistracy yet performed hath aduanced Tully to salute Roome so glorified from Sicily so enuyed at home Take it not ill then Tully if no body at Roome woulde talke to thee of thy Quaestorship of the news of thy cariage wherin thou thoughtst to haue found all men full And why should not such gifts as they cary be bestowed by him who hauing long staied for power ought now only to affect glory and good will Priùs said Antigonus mihi opus erat potentia nunc verò gloria et beneuolentia What other humane indeauour hath this worthy king more seriously taken in hand then the benifiting of his the countries friends the recōcilemēt agreemēt of the enemies of both whereof the one as they were made vp partely by his loue to his country his desire to honour it to aduāce hir faln nobility to requite such as had deserued best of her to giue many more then theyr own since the country had so gladly giuen him his own partly by those he brought with him who had some of them bin rescuers of his life som extraordinary assistants of his estate others such as he could not but reward here for seruices performed there where memory was the rewarde hee cold properly giue was all in their honors they would willingly take So enimies to kings do oftnest grow either by wāt of what ambition made them desire or for lacke of what expenses had drawn into waste Els some somtimes affect what blind zeal makes them think fit or fals iudgement rather false harts will not let them see pertinent proper But as his Maiesty hath no more then was fit rewarded the first vnlesse they can say to him as the yong man saith in Terence Nescis quid mihi obtigerit you cannot tell Sir what hath lighted vpon me So hath he mercifully spared the other insomuch that he hath neither cōfiscated them as Tiberius the Emperor did the kings of Spaine Sicily Greece ob leue impudensque calumniarū genus for any light or shamefull kind of slander nor fined them as Cassius did Sylla Calphurnius from one of whom he took quinquagies sestertiū frō the other sexagies Himselfe being for any riot he is addicted vnto as free frō wāt either of ought belonging to himself or for his couetousnes frō need of any thing others possesse But either at pe titions of faire Ladies none offenders or for som respects laid before him by his wiser Nobility either else for pure inclinatiō vnto mercy hath benefited Sylla been steward of his estate kept others vp who would haue kept others downe Thanks to so high discerning which found that when Soueraigntie could not represse liberty benefits could more strictly then treason take it prisoner Nor hath hee yet inflicted so much as exile vpon any of them knowing it a banishment that they forsooke his iustice And that he detaineth them is out of his mercy for boulder were they and of better countenāce could they be when each had his discontent then now when they haue proofe in themselues the world sees it apparātly how vnworthily they had placed it Marcellus the Ciuilian wrighting vpon a booke of the Digestes shewes three kindes of banishment either from certaine places or from al places besides certain either else a cōfining to some Iland And though all these be vpon them yet they had nothing of this punishment did not one certaine place restraine them may they be confined to an Ilād if further mercy shall deliuer further occasion shal not imploy them that Iland so prepared the one by their Soueraignes grace the other in his prudēce they are not only like to be inlarged to a country but find their country inlarged to them Touching whome pittie is it they rather were not free for this argument then bound by the other offēce There are of them whose births courages blouds experiences and conditions as they were noble before they lost them so nobly could they haue spoken of this argumēt I hope by this time haue found much cause to bee much forward hereabout Yet is there one of thē wold bring much griefe vnto me though I wish him all good in his weldoing if he or his abettor his Steward or Protector or his faction so many as are of the olde haunce for his cause should be able to preiudice me more for compassion then I could draw safegard to my selfe by refraining euill desart laboring good merit But howsoeuer these some of them much vnhappy before in this estate at this time haue all tryed the Kings Maiesties grace in their seuerall particulars in that notwithstanding they haue beene absent from the true ioyes of their Countrey and from the affaires in hand they may
come with her were shee accepted if otherwise much ill to the Pretor her hee pulled in peeces but not without his owne mischiefe In Phrigia and Silenus was a great earthquake which consumed many houses and mortalles The Oracle saide some rich thing must bee throwne into it Death of a Kinges Sonne onely stopped the gaping of the earth in those places Here is no earth-quake but heauens shine here is life and renowne to our Kings Sonne our worthy Prince ours and many more kingdoms hope The Oracle sayes not dye sonne but liue all friendly together Tully in the dreame of Scipio saith that all they who haue saued their Countrey haue helped their Countrey haue encreased their countrey haue in heauen a place appointed them where euerlastingly they shall ioy That was the cause why the Ambassadors of the Carthagenians and the Sirenenses were contented to make the condition of being buried quicke where they challengd their bounds So great was their loue to the inlargement of their Countrey a desire euer prosecuted and neuer but weakely by Darius in Quintus Curtius his time only gaine-said that a kingdome might be too great On the other side remember but how Themistocles dealt with Zerxes for the ouerthrow of al Greece because his countrey had ingratefully respected him And had not Artaxerxes hung vp my Hamon Mardocheus had beene betrayed in his owne Countrey beyond the Kings disposition but that did I beare though it cost me deare As I forgiue so I forget and returne to this If the English haue not generall peace which they shall not till they bee knowne generally strong for yet forreiners may bee suspected but to prye into our state to breake or holde resoluing neither but by the first instructions they will ere long grow so vnanswerable of Taskes and Subsidies that the Collectors shall finde them as in another common-wealth was seene playing in the streetes a shrewd signe that they be no money keepers But if they once see our fortune sitting they will then thinke she will so finde the benefit of her ease as shee will euer be knowne where to bee found Now is our ground ready what seede wee sow we shall reape This cause talkes nothing of inconuenience yet the man though good though iust though innocent is feared vir bonus iustus innocens timetur pouertie is pretended saith Martiall it is not pouertie to haue nothing Non est paupertas Nestor habere nihil The fault sure is this the poore seekes friendships vnworthy affections quòd colit ingratas pauper amicitias Nay they haue their peculiar riches where they are in as large a maner as we make account of ours here But this is to tennice freely but not to denise kindly Many I see knowe how to counsell few finde I who can tell how to make the Consull The King should haue long hands as farre reaching as Kent and Kentile and would you haue the King feed with one gloue on another off It would be said of him Totus in toto per totum totus omnis Esse omnis dū vis incipis esse tuus that he then beginneth to be his owne when he will be all and in all and by all and all euery where And though some pretend fables how the Wolfe by at the first getting an house to breede in at the last hauing many litters helde it by strength against the owner Yet what can these things moue in ordered cōmon wealthes where no more interest is attained then the lawes admit right to Tully in his pleading for Roscius shewes how many wayes the lawes punish those whose demaundes are greater then the lawes doe allow The like doth Crassus in Tully Our lawes will maintaine vs in our owne well enough though our conditions I hope will not make them pay so deare as the English did when they went to fetch the King and Queene from Scotland This may be giuen to the King for them indeede to them for vs the rest they shall enioy as the lawe will for what they buy by the law they may call their owne Demurre then no longer my great and deare friendes vpon this argument but returne this aunsweare that Neptune did by the Raine-bowe Terram esse communem Which though he durst not defend against Iupiter yet you haue Iupiter on your side against whome to contend were madnesse as with an equall doubtfull with an inferiour base Seneca sayth of power that if it inuite to any thing nay if it intreate ought it compelles it Easie it is not to write against him in his gouernment who can score a man out of his gouernment Non facile est in eum scribere qui potest proscribere Fauorinus the Philosopher admitteth Hadrian the better iudgement because he commaunded thirtie Legions The matter then being euen let vs not contend vnequally for had not nature seated this kingdom within you you might well haue helde it without you Well had Scipio Emilian discharged this Censorship had the Quirites giuen him a fellow Pretoorr not giuē him one Think not vpō what Cato saith that it is not to be marueiled at if what a man thinkes an excellent good he be loath to share with another But let Plutarch teach you to gaine authoritie and power with expedition so neither smoake shall make the fire vnpleasant in the kindling nor enuie lay snares to impeach glorie by in the framing If longer you stay vpon further deliberation this businesse hauing beene determined by the Comittee in heauen Scipio Emilian must nedes tell the Senate that neither of the Consules is fit for the seruice of the Common-Wealth For Seruius Sulpitius Galba was poore and had nothing and Valerius could neuer thinke he had enough Yet since the men on both sides are seruiceable make their conditions as agreeing amongst themselues so fit for the Common-Wealth let the one inioy more the other couet lesse so shall both encrease apace and Rome be well serued If any obiect their affections bee vnlike ours that comes not out of nature but custome As the Ayre is tempered sayeth Tully in his Diuination so are the children spirited their wittes formed their maners their minds their bodies and the actions of their life Looke in the English and Scotchmens faces see whether Caucasus haue begot them vpon hard rockes Our climate is the same our temperatures alike if any thing within our gouernment make vs differ it is but custome They haue not so many Cities as we they followe feeds which we do not yet finde I not but we are prickers as well as they and if it be obserued what store of Ritters we haue got it may be feared that two Cheuallers being not Castor and Pollux may be driuen to one Chiual to ride on besides the saddle But let Herodotus write as much as he will of the kingdom of custome