two The greatest part of the Reformed Churches of France doe holde it after the Mynd of the learned Calvine vvho hath left behinde him the same Opinion to the World in his Treatise vpon Iob vpon the 18 of Nuâ—s Vers. 20 Sed eas à Laiâ—is occupari quo passus fuisset Papa si jure divino ut inâ—â—lse garriunt sacra fuisseut Cleri hereditas Which Opinion is thought to haue begun from the old Valdenses who did inhabite there about vvho seeing the great Abuse of Tythes vnder the Church of Rome did hold that Tythes vveremeere Almesâ— and no vvay belonging to the Church This also vvas the Mynd of Iohn Huâ— And that great Divine Perkins on Gal. 3. and 25. The Allowance of Tythes sayth he standeth not in Force in this and other Common-wealths by the Iudiciall Law of GOD to the Iewes but by Positiue Lawes of Countreys These Men thinke it no fault to giue Tythes to the Church but hold it not necessarie from anie Warrand of the Gospellâ— they doe allow of a sufficient Church Mayntaynance but not the same Quetum And when it is objected to them Why should these Beggarlie Iewish Rudiments and that perishing Priesthood of the Law haue so ritch a Patrimonie and the Glorious Revelation of the Gospell a poore and necessitous Ministrie They doe answere Because their Ritches and Formes are diverse and perhaps contrarie that consisting in Show and this in Substance that being altogether Earthlie and this altogether Spirituall and being in this Point too much possessed by Puritane Humours they doe not admit that Splendor and Decorement of Churches nor that externall Pompe and Majestie of Publicke Worship which in my Mynde is not discommendable in the Popes Church Where-vnto they are in all things opposed as well in the best Points of Government and Indifferent Ceremonies as in the Maine Grounds of Fayth And farther it is not to bee doubted of but that so Profound a Divyne as Calâ—â—ne vnderstanding so well as hee did the Arts of the Papall Pryde hee thought it a good Way for destroying of Superstition and Tyrannie in the Church to deny her anie Right of Tythes other than by Donation and Charitie of Christian Princes so long as she should remaine free from Heresie and wicked Abuses and otherwise might bee taken from her Now I come to the Circumstance of the Quotum to consider if there might haue beene anie matter of Sanctitie Ceremonie or Type in the number of 10 why GOD choosed the Tenth Portion to bee sacred vnto Himselfe rather than the ninth eleventh or twelft and whether Abraham did light vpon that number by anie instinct of Nature common to other People And first I will tell you that there was never hitherto anie Nation heard of so Barbarous in whose Hearts Nature did not ingraue this Law to adore the DEITIE by externall Ceremonies of Worship consisting in statelie Temples costlie Altars and Images daylie Oblations of sumptuous Sacrifices and Mayntaynance of multitudes of Sacrificators that it is admirable to beholde how Geâ—tiles in externall Zeale haue gone beyond even true Worshippers so farre that manie of them did allot and dedicate to Religious Service much more than Tythes Wee reade in Dionys. Halicarn that Romulus the first Foundâ—â—r of Rome divided the whole Territories there of in three parts one for the Priests and Publicke Worship another for the Domaine of the Common-wealth the third for the People there being of People for that time 3000 and 18000 Iugera of Land where-of were reserved 6000 for the Sacrifices and Sacrificators And that this Division of Romulus according to Diadorus was an Imitation of the Aegyptians who in like manner did originallie make a Tripartion of the Revenewes of the Land where-of the first was for the Priests and Sacrifices the second for the King and Publicke Charges of the State the third for the Calasyres who were Souldiours and Men of Armes And from the most esteemed Histories of Antiquitie wee haue numbers of Testimonies that the Gentiles knew by the Light of Nature that Tythes were Sacred vnto GOD namelie of their Spoyles and Victories and therefore did offer and sacrifice them vnder the Name of Victimae quasi vi ictae Herpocration Dydymus and Pausamas doe witnesse that the Greeks gaue the Tenth of their Spoyles in VVarre vnto their Gods Cyrus the Lesse gaue the Tenth of his Money taken from Captiues to Apollo and Diana at Ephesus Agis gaue his at Delphos Agesilaus in two yeares aboue 100 Talents of Tythes to the same place Plinie relateth that the Sabeans might not sell their Frankincense vnder the paine of Death vntill the Priests had their Tythes The Aethiopians divided with a Staffe the Bundels of Caunell and Casia and first gaue GOD His part Plutarch is Author that Hercules did sacrifice everie Tenth Bullocke that hee tooke from Geiron by force The Tenthes of the Spoyles of the Platean VVarres were dedicate to the Gods Socrates hath in his Ecclesiasticall Kalendars that Alcibiades gaue commandement for Tenthes to the Gods from all those that sailed from Pontuu When the Veii were taken Prisoners and the Romanes made Peace with the Vâ—lfians Camillus made the Romanes to pay to Apollo the Tythes of their Spoyles and it was allowed of the Senate Plutarch writeth of Lucullus that hee became incomparablie Rich because hee observed the paying of Tonthes to Hercules Xenophon witnesseth that others payed in the Countreyes about their Tythes to Apollo Festus sayeth Decima quaeque veteres Diis suis offerebant Which so vniversall a Practise doth show some Evidence to haue proceeded from the True Light of Nature before the Written Law and from the dayes of Noa to haue beene deâ—yved to all Nations otherwise how was it possible that such a Religious Due so a-nearing vnto the Trueth of GOD'S VVorship could haue beene so generallie followed of the Gentiles It beeing so wee are not to doubt but that Abraham with this Dâ—ke Light of Nature common to the Gentiles where throgh hee did see as with the Left Eye his Religious Duetie concerning Tythes hee had also the Divyne Light which as a Right Eye did demonstrate vnto him the Secret of that Mysterie wherefore the LORD GOD did choose His owne Portion vnder the Number of 10 as most Holie and most Perfect in it selfe And heere I will borrow for more clearing of the Nature of Tenthes a little of your Patience for a pleasant Intercourse to set downe as I haue found it in the Remote and Mysticke Theologie the Reason of the Number 10 and of the Holie Respect and Perfection that is into it and which hath beene naturallie ingraven into the Hearts of Men even amidst the greatest Darknesse of Gentilisme We reade in the Scripture that God in the Creation of the World did imploy an instrumentall Wisdome Omnia fecisti Domine in numero pondero mensura which is called The created Wisdome of GOD Where-of it is saide
and Tennants and preasseth them by Lawes that hee may know their Holdinges yea and some-times by Manages and Threats force them to quite their lawfull Ritches although they were their neare Kins-men Alwayes what wise Vassall or Tennant will not stryue to over-come his Lord with reverent and humble Carriage and there-by to moue him to accept the tenth part perhaps of that which he did demand for Entrie and shall it not bee borne with in a great King that which is ordinarilie done by his Subjects Bis duo dena pet as his duo sena feres What if a young Prince haue gotten too large Information touching these or if his Inforâ—ators be mistaken in their judgement there-anent shall there not bee Patience granted and time to digest and condescend And shall not our Behaviours be in the meane-whyle correspondent to that Loyaltie Loue and Obedience that Subjectes ought vnto their naturall Prince and that should procure His Compassion Kyndnesse towards all the Members of this Kingdome With GOD'S Blessing let vs be doing so and let vs expect nothing but Christian and Vpright Dealing from a King in vvhome there is so great Appearance of Good and Iust Meaning and let vs haue still in our Mouthes that Word which now prayse to GOD for it our Noble-men begin liberallie to professe That let him bee holden accursed who will not contribute to his verie Shirt for the safetie of His Majestie and of the Countrey Alwayes for the Point of Revocation who doubteth but three thinges may justlie fall vnder the Consideration of young Princes First whether this kynd of Gracious and Divinâ— Bountie exercised by their Predecessours giving Extraordinarie Thinges for Ordinarie Services or for Private Affection haue bene too Exorbitant Secondlie what may bee the Merit or Worth so such as haue pocked them Lastlie what is the Exigence of the Tyme and howe these things may be wanting vnto Princes But otherwyse we finde in all Christian Histories that Crowne-Lands haue bene alienated given away by Kings for one of three Causes vvhich to this Day haue remayned vnquarrelled by their Successours One is for Reward of those who haue exposed their Lyues to manifest Danger for the Safetie of Their Persons As for Example The Landes given by His Majestie our late Soveraigne for Services done agaynst the Traytors of Gourie or for Practises of Discoverie and Prevention of the Powder Treason at London another for Valiant and Personall Services done for Preservation of the Countrey agaynst Invasion of Forraigne Enemies or of the State from Intestine as we reade of our braue King Malcolme the second who seeing the Magnanimitie of the Scottish Gentrie agaynst the fierce and enraged Danes by fiue or sixe Bloodie and Desperate Battels in diverse partes of the Countrey where he him selfe did assist in Person therfore in a Publicke ParliameÌ„t he did divide almost the whole Crown-Lands in Baronies dispone them to the Gentry In publico ordinum conventâ— says my Text cunctas â—pes agrosque regios pene omnes meritoruÌ„ habita rations distribuit regno in partes quas Baronias vocaÌ„t divisio In regard wherof those Barons as by Compaction did at that same time annex to the Crown the Wardes and Reliefes of their Lands which together with the other Casualities and Dues belonging to the Crowne was esteemed and accepted as a sufficient Mayntaynance then of the Royall Dignitie If either of those two should bee revocable Kings Countreyes and Common-wealths should not bee compted so Sacred as they ought to bee Thirdlie Princes haue mortified their Crowne Patrimonie to Pietie and Devotion as King David the first of Scotland for Plantation of fifteene Abbayes foure Bishoprickes riâ—chly Rented Such are recalled in this latter Age because of the Nefaâ—tious Damnable Abuses wherewith the Possessours of them were commonlie polluted And O how greatlie it were to bee wished That neyther King David nor other Christian Kinges had beene so prodigall of their Crowne Patrimonies in Favours of Church-Men for the World knoweth it nowe that by so doing they did â—urne Religious Priests into Temporall Princes and did put into their Hand that Sword vvherewith to this Day they not only doe cut the Throats of Kinges and their Authoritie but haue spoyled the Puritie and Pietie of the Church of GOD and in Place there-of haue introduced this Pollution Pryde Avarice Superstition which shall never haue an ende so long as they remayne so ritch as they are Devotio peperit divitias filia devoravit matrem Devotion sayth Gerson bred Ritches and the Daughter devoured the Mother Next it were to be wished that when those Lands of the Church anciently belonging to the Crowne vvere agayne dissolved from the Church and annexed to the Crowne by our late Soveraigne of blessed Memorie that they had bene suffered to remayne therewith for the avoyding of so great Discontentment and Confusion as is lyke to grow thereof if they should nowe bee taken in to the Crowne vvithout Restitution to so manie Gentle-Men and others as haue employed the best parte of their Meanes for buying of those things from the Newlie-Erected-Lords without anie Warrandize at all for their Money Which albeit it doe greatlie perplexe the Mynds of manie good Subjects yet we are vndoubtedlie to hope for Reparation some way of these since we liue vnder a Christian Prince who is alreadie honoured of the World for the Equitie of his Myndâ— and who hath alreadie declared his Iust Intentions there-anent There is beside another Cause that maketh our Noble-Men and Gentrie to thinke themselues the sibber to the Church-rents and this is it Because their Predecessours did also enjoye them in effect albeit not Titularlie as well then as they doe now Their Sonnes were presented by the Kings to the Benefices of the Church Themselues did often tymes feede at their Tables and gather vp the Super-plus of the Rent The Sonnes of Meane Gentle-Men vvent to the Monasticke Lyfe everie where If they had manie Daughters they did sende some of them to the Religious Convents of Women vvhich was a singular Disburden and Reliefe both of Greater and Smaller Houses speaking civillie in Civill Respects And this is yet the chiefest Cause vvhy the Ritches of the Papall Church are so tollerable by Princes and People of that Profession so that whyles numbers of Men and Women of all sortes were nowrished anciently by the Church Revenewes in Scotland it would bee thought strange to bestow them vpon so few Church-Men as now be vvho I confesse are worthie of Augmentation But that they should bee made so Ritch or Great wee see what a pestilent Gangrenâ— that hath beene alreadie And it is sure enough that the same Causes will ever produce the same Effects The Worlde is aye lyke to it selfe and Men are still Men Et omnia vertuntur in Circulum There is not of Humane Things a more Extravagant and Rare Contemplation than to consider how Princes States and People
doe flowrish so slowlie This Prince did purge Granada Valenza Sainct Lucar and Cartagena and planted diverse Bishops seates ritchlie rented This Prince vvas after his death not onlie of Christians but even of Infidels so honoured that Halamar one of their Kings did yearlie sende an hundreth great Torches vvith numbers of his Friends to assist a commemoratiue Celebration vsed to bee yearlie of his Funerals Hee vvas so modest in acceptation of Honours vvhilst hee lived that vvhen the Barrons of his Kingdomes had resolved to erect some Statues to remaine as famous Ensignes of his glorious Victories hee vvould not suffer it to bee done saying it vvas to ascrybe to Man the honour vvhich is onelie due to the LORD of Hoastes For the fourth I vvill make mention of the Spanyards Predecessoures maternall Alphonso the fift King of Portugall vnder vvhom vvere discovered possessed and made open for Christian Traffique the Coasts of Aethiopia the Yles of Capo-verde Arguim Medera Sainct Thomas those of Terzere vpon the Coast of Africke Hee made conquest of Alcazar and Arzilla vvith their Territories After these hee did Knight fiue of his Sonnes for their great and hardie Adventures about these exploits and before their instalment of Cavallerie hee did publicklie in a Church oblish them by a Sacramentall Oath to hard points of pious Magnanimitie for giving their lyues if neede vvere for their Fayth their Honour their Countrey their Prince their Friends and all Oppressed This Prince vvas often heard to say that it importeth â—othing to the Common-wealth of Christendome vvhether this or 〈◊〉 Province vvere vnder the Dominion of Spayne or France or of Almaignie or anie others provyding all vvere good Christians For the fift I vvill say some-vvhat of Emanuell King of Portugall Alphonso the first did cleanse vvhole Portugall from the Moores Alphonso the fift as I haue sayde did vvarre against them in Afrik And this Emanuâ—ll did persecute them even to Asia and manage hote Warres against them vvith extraordinarie good fortune and is counted amongst the most nominate and glorious Kings that haue beene in anie Age who without removing his Person from Portugall did place the Trophees of his Victories in Africke Arabie Persia and the Indees and fill the Earth with the splendor of his Name Hee made him-selfe full Master of the Barbarian Occean and of the Indish Traffique hee over-threw diverse of their Kings and did over-run the Levant as the Stories show even to the Ports of China hee daunted the Aethiopians about the Cape of Bona-speranza hee built the Fortresses there called Sofala and Mozambi discovered and made Tributaries the noble Yles of Sainct Lorenzo Quiloia and Socotera fortified the Yle of Ormus and made the King Homager and Vassall of Portugall Hee planted a Colonie in Goa which at this day is esteemed one of the most opulent Cities of the Levant Hee tooke in Moluca and frequentlie assaulted Calicute hee did brooke the things left to him in Afrike and super-adjoyned there-to Safin and Azamor Hee bestowed one of the hundreths of all his Revenewes and the tenth part of the Tributes of his Conquests for plantation of the Fayth amongst them Hee sent learned Church-men to the King of Congo vvith vvhom hee vvas in friendship and procured the comming of the saide King his Sonne Brother and diverse Noble-men to Portugall vvhere they vvere taught and received to the Christian Fayth Hee sent Priests into Brasilia And briefe their Histories presume to equall this Prince to Salomon Of this Emanuell Charles the fift Emperour did marrie a Daughter of vvhome is descended the present King of Spayne Charles did follow the same Foot-steps of the Christian Ambition of his Predecessours against the Infidels Hee conquered the Kingdom of Peru where-fra hee brought into the Countreyes of Europe 〈◊〉 infinite Number of Golde and Silver vvhich did on the suddâ—e as yee will finde noted heere-after alter the Manners Estates and Traffiques of Merchandise vniversallie of all men Hee restored the King of Tunis and made him Vassall of the Crowne of Spaine Hee did employ mightie Forces at sundrie times against Solyman the great who did then gape most greedilie for to haue devoured Germanie But aboue all the memorie of him doeth rest most sacred for the longsome Toyles and Troubles endured by him and Worlds of Money which hee spent for the pacification of Christian Religion and reformation of the Church of Rome If this fatall and wretched Emulation and Iealousie of Neighbour-Princes had not made King Francis the first to oppose and marre him and if that same had not like-wise made the Pope his Cardinals and all the Prelates and Princes Catholicke of Germanie his Enemies fearing both the greatnesse the good naturall and sinceritie of this Prince of whose fraudelent and vnchristian proceedings with him the Historie of the Counsell of Trent published with-in these few Yeares hath the full and perfect Deduction Alwayes not-with-standing that hee was a rare King whose fame and credite is aboue Envy full of Royall Magnanimitie religious toward GOD and fortunate to Greatnesse a-like to whom there hath beene in these latter Ages if some yet surelie not manie Never-the-lesse I say even in him began to bee seene the markes of this Inclination of the Spanish Ambition to vniversalitie of Empyre in Europe the testimonie where-of was by his owne direction publicklie set vp vpon the Ports of such famous Cities as hee conquered as I my selfe haue seene vpon those of Naples and Milan that too superbe and glorious Superscription Carolus 5. Imperator ad colligenda regna dispersa plantaudam fidem Christianam à DEO destinatus Charles the fift Emperour destinated by GOD to collect together dispersed Kingdomes and to make plantation of the Christian Fayth I confesse indeede that hee in his time went about this designe of Vniversall Dominion by more laudable and Christian wayes than his Successours haue done since that is to say by seeking to curbe the Papall Tyrannie and to revnite the Church of GOD in one Fayth one Governament vnder one Civill Law and I warrand vnder one Prince if hee could And to giue him his due assuredlie hee hath had a most braue and heroicke minde like to that of Alexander the Great of whom sayeth Plutareh to his immortall fame Ni DEVS ille qui Alexandri huc animam demiserat eam praepopere revocasset haud scio an lex una cunctos homines regeret unumque jus veluti commune Lumen ad omnes pertineret O blessed Ambition of those braue Princes before mentionatedâ— now-a-dayes their Successours doe exhaust their Treasures their Wits their Forces to make desolate Christian States as is said and to destroy Christian People whilst their Predecessours did seeke vnder Heavens vnknowne to finde out Desarts vnpeopled or else plenished with Savages and haue reduced them to fruitfull Agriculture civill Policie and Christian Discipline O damnable and cursed Iealousie of Christian Kings and States which doe not permit thir Ambition to
Dominions The second thing to bee observed by the former Discourse is the prowde Designe and large Extent of the Spanish Ambition when this King of whom I treat Philip the second durst together and at once adventure to set him-selfe a-worke for the purchase of Portugall France the Netherlands England and Scotland who should doubt or call it in question that by length of Tyme they intende not to subjugate the whole Estates of Christendome Wee finde it written by them-selues that when hee was about the taking in of Portugall being demanded by one of his greatest Favourites what was the reason why hee did neglect his thinges of East India and suffer Friezland and so manie good Townes to bee invaded and possessed of Heretickes his Enemies and all to maintaine the League and Civill Warres in France Where-vnto hee aunswered That those might bee forgotten for a tyme because the setling of Portugall did import no lesse to him than the securitie of his whole Empyre which once done hee would easilie make all those his Neighbours to become his Homagers and Tributaries yea it was the common Theame of Discourse amongst his Captaines and Souldiours both in Italie Flanders and France or where ever they were That since Portugall was now theirs that France and England could not escape them And more which is a publicke Testimonie the Wryters of the Spanish Storie affirme thus farre That if it had not beene that the saide King Philip had resolved before anie thing to brydle Portugall hee should haue before then sufficientlie daunted France and haue put strong Armies in England Farther the Extent of this Ambition of Spayne is clearlie seene by their Authoritie vsurped over the Consistorie of Rome where they haue made them-selues perpetuall Dictators which is one of the surest Fundaments of the encrease of their Grandour now-a-dayes that Consistorie being as the Alembicke where-in are fyned all the Counsels Projects and Designes of Christendome and the Pope arrogating to him power at his pleasure to excommunicate and consequentlie depose Christian Princes and to transferre the Succession of their Crowns where-of onlie the Riches must belong to that Catholicke King as of England and Yreland to Philip the second by Pius Quintus who did excommunicate Queene Elizabeth of â—England and of Navarre to his Predecessours by the same Title of beeing Heyre and Successour to excommunicate Princes keeping still in their owne hand the raygnes of the Papall Election and invading of their Patrimonies as that of Sicilie and being in effect Popes them-selues governing at their will the Church Rents thorow-out their Kingdomes exacting a verie great part vniversallie of all for their owne vse The third point of Observation vpon the preceeding Discourse is the Iusidiation and Latent Attempts of this Ambition by godlesse Perfidies and Treacherie where no Fayth is kept nor Conscience nor Religion nor Humanitie nor Vereâ—unditie where Neighbour-Princes cannot brooke their lyues by reason of the excessiue Rewards and Honours promitted to trayterous Executioners of Claudestine Murthers What shall I say of Enemie Princes no I say of what-so-ever persons publicke or private suspected Enemies to their prowde Tyrannie sparing neither Papist nor Protestant Pope nor Cardinall Bishop nor Priest nor nearest Kinsfolkes nor their most faithfull Counsellers or most fortunate Generals if they but once vpon the lightest Occasion become jealous of them no not their owne Children when their blood may bring the smallest accession vnto the strength of that diabolicke Ambition they doe murther poyson embotch and bewitch at their pleasure So that this same Philip of whom I speake hee caused to bee made away in his tyme as Wryters haue observed more than 200 nominablie recorded in diverse Histories whereof I will remember but seaven of the most abominable Paricidies I will call them all so ever heard of and yet best knowne King Henrie the third of France a Christian Prince of equall qualitie with him-selfe to whome hee was bound by that Fraternitie and by the vnion of one Fayth besydes some degrees of Blood yet it is well knowne that hee did contryue the death of this King as truelie as hee did plot the League against him Pope Sextus the fift whome hee professed to bee Head of the Church and his holie Father because that Pope fearing the Spanish Tyrannie if his Conquest of France had proved good hee did favour the said Henrie the third in his last Distresses Philip made him away by Poyson a thing so well vnderstood that they haue it for a common speach yet at Rome which I haue heard with mine eares That if a Pope doe enter without the approbation of Spaine hee will goe the way of Sextus the fift Hee did betray to the Eyes of the World Don Sebestian King of Portugall his Cousin Alexander Farnesse Duke of Parma his Kins-man and Generall in Flanders that valiant and renowned Captaine who had done him so great Services immediatelie after the misfortune of his Armada set out for England 1588. which hee did impute to the slownesse of the saide Duke hee fell into a lingering Disease and died by Poyson ministred from Philip the World doeth know it Don Bartholomew Carenzae Arch-Bishop of Toledo who had beene the Preceptor and Father of his owne Youth-head as Seneca to Nero because hee would not publicklie maintaine his Title to the Crowne of Portugall hee also did dispatch him His Brother Don Iohn de Austria whose great and ambitious spirit hee began to suspect hee was stricken with the Plague of Pestilence immediatelie after the receit of a Letter from Spaine whilst there was no Post in the Countreyes about and where-of hee died But aboue all that most deplorable and nefarious Paricidie publicklie committed avowed by himselfe authorised by the Church the murthering of Prince Charles his owne eldest Sonne Hee did price the life of Don Antonio at 100000 Crownes and of Elizabeth Queene of England and of the late Prince of Orange at as-much a-piece Hee was not ashamed to receiue certaine Townes from the King of Moroco vpon Bargaine to betray as hee did Don Sebestian King of Portugall his Cosin nor to render vnto those Infidels Arzilla which his Predecessours had noblie conquered vpon condition they should not furnish in preste to Don Antonio 200000 Crownes as they had promised to doe at the Intercession of the saide Queene of England These are not mine Assertions but taken and collected from Spanish Wryters Of all the fore-sayde Perpetrations the killing of his Sonne Prince Charles being in it selfe most fearfull and execrable of the whole it is also most clearlie verified not onlie by the Histories of Neighbour-Countreyes as by the French recordes of Majerne of Matthew of Paris of Thuanus but so stood to by the Church of Rome that into that deede they doe place the Triumph and Glorie of the Pietie of the saide King advancing his Fayth aboue that of Abraham who did onelie offer to sacrifice his Sonne and comparing
him to GOD Him-selfe witnessed by Hieronimus Catena wryting vpon the life of Popius Quintus the which Pope by a publicke Panegyricke did celebrate the praises of the sayde Philip for that fact saying E cosa multo notabile stupenda ch' el re facesse sacrificio d'ella carne sua del suo sangue à DIO dicendo che ' non come Abrahamo ma come DIO stesso Propter salutem Ecclesiae non pepercit vnico filio That is to say It is a thing most notable and admirable that this King did sacrifice vnto GOD his owne Flesh and his owne Blood for nought like vnto Abraham but like vnto GOD Himselfe for the safetie of the Church hee would not spare his onlie begotten Sonne Farther it is affirmed by the English Wryters namelie Sir Francis Hastings in his Watch-Word to Queene Elizabeth against the Spanish Insidiation that the same Philip did by his Agents the Count of Fuentes then Generall in the Low-Countreyes and Secretarie Ibarra induce Doctor Lopez a Iewish Physician at London for fiftie thousand Crownes to poyson Queene Elizabeth which he him-selfe vpon his triall did confesse and two others Manoel Lois and Stephen Ferraires did depone and all three suffered Death for it as the processe criminall led against them and yet extant will verifie What shall I say vpon this fearfull kinde of Policie Ah for pitie Quid non mortalia pectora cogit regâ—andi dira libido What is that so odious which the loue of domination will not perswade the ambitious heart to perpetrate The publicke crueltie of the Inquisition on the one part and the covert Crueltie of Ambushes practised by the King and his Iesuites on the other part seeme to bee a chiefe Misterie of this Ambition as two Arch-pillars which doe for the time sustent the great Spheare of their Empyre and the wicked Source where-fra haue flowed so manie Chastels Clements Ravillacks Babingtons Fauxes Garnets c. as haue beene Actors of the wofull Assassinates Sorceries Pests Powder Treasons Poysons c. that haue surprysed the liues of so manie anointed Kings and others of lawfull Authoritie and doe still lye in waite for the like Executions against those who are present or to come heere-after And heere is a Case to bee lamented eternallie that those Parricidies committed now in Spayne after the manner of the Mahumetane Superstition not as Crymes to bee repented but as Religious Traditions and Deeds of great Merite when the life of one Man or a few Men if it were of our Brethren or Children are taken and sacrificed for preservation of the publicke Tranquillitie both of Church and State chiefelie in great and Monarchicall Kingdomes where Religion doeth shoot out with a growing and flowrishing Empyre Alace is not this the Fyre of Moloch and the sacrificing of our Children to those bloodie and savage Gods This is a Fascination and stupiditie of the Mynde in the highest Degree And heere it is where that powerfull Circe of Superstition hath transformed those Kings reallie into Beastes that wittinglie and willinglie they haue cast off both Sence and as it were Shape of Humanitie that the greatest Vlysses of the World is not able by anie Oratorie to reclaime them In the meane-time it is a Case that doeth admonish Neighbour-Princes to bee of constant Pietie and Devotion towards GOD and their Domesticke Servants to bee vigilant and studious for the avoyding of that kinde of claudestine Dangers And O what great cause wee haue to render thankes to the MOST HIGH for that that our late Soveraigne of blessed memorie did escape the Insidiation and bloodie Knyfe of such Butchers hee who was the most conspicuous Marke whereat they did shoot and of whom their curious casters of Horosâ—ops and malignant Astrologues did so often prognosticate that his ende should not bee peaceable Fourthlie wee are to weigh the Strength and Soliditie of this great and growing Empyre to see if wee can explore should not furnish in preste to Don Antonio 200000 Crownes as they had promised to doe at the Intercession of the saide Queene of England These are not mine Assertions but taken and collected from Spanish Wryters Of all the fore-sayde Perpetrations the killing of his Sonne Prince Charles being in it selfe most fearfull and execrable of the whole it is also most clearlie verified not onlie by the Histories of Neighbour-Countreyes as by the French recordes of Majerne of Matthew of Paris of Thuanus but so stood to by the Church of Rome that into that deede they doe place the Triumph and Glorie of the Pietie of the saide King advancing his Fayth aboue that of Abraham who did onelie offer to sacrifice his Sonne and comparing him to GOD Him-selfe witnessed by Hieronimus Catena wryting vpon the life of Popius Quintus the which Pope by a publicke Panegyricke did celebrate the praises of the sayde Philip for that fact saying E cosa multo notabile stupenda ch' el re facesse sacrificio d'ella carne sua del suo sangue à DIO dicendo che ' non come Abrahamo mâ— come DIO stesso Propter salutem Ecclesiae non pepercit vnico filio That is to say It is a thing most notable and admirable that this King did sacrifice vnto GOD his owne Flesh and his owne Blood for nought like vnto Abraham but like vnto GOD Himselfe for the safetie of the Church hee would not spare his onlie begotten Sonne Farther it is affirmed by the English Wryters namelie Sir Francis Hastings in his Watch-Word to Queene Elizabeth against the Spanish Insidiation that the same Philip did by his Agents the Count of Fuentes then Generall in the Low-Countreyes and Secretarie Ibarra induce Doctor Lopez a Iewish Physician at London for fiftie thousand Crownes to poyson Queene Elizabeth which he him-selfe vpon his triall did confesse and two others Manoel Lois and Stephen Ferraires did depone and all three suffered Death for it as the processe criminall led against them and yet extant will verifie What shall I say vpon this fearfull kinde of Policie Ah for pitie Quid non mortalia pectora cogit regnandi dira libido What is that so odious which the loue of domination will not perswade the ambitious heart to perpetrate The publicke crueltie of the Inquisition on the one part and the covert Crueltie of Ambushes practised by the King and his Iesuites on the other part seeme to bee a chiefe Misterie of this Ambition as two Arch-pillars which doe for the time sustent the great Spheare of their Empyre and the wicked Source where-fra haue flowed so manie Chastels Clements Ravillacks Babingtons Fauxes Garnets c. as haue beene Actors of the wofull Assassinates Sorceries Pests Powder Treasons Poysons c. that haue surprysed the liues of so manie anointed Kings and others of lawfull Authoritie and doe still lye in waite for the like Executions against those who are present or to come heere-after And heere is a Case
to bee lamented eternallie that those Parricidies committed now in Spayne after the manner of the Mahumetane Superstition not as Crymes to bee repented but as Religious Traditions and Deeds of great Merite when the life of one Man or a few Men if it were of our Brethren or Children are taken and sacrificed for preservation of the publicke Tranquillitie both of Church and State chiefelie in great and Monarchicall Kingdomes where Religion doeth shoot out with a growing and flowrishing Empyre Alace is not this the Fyre of Moloch and the sacrificing of our Children to those bloodie and savage Gods This is a Fascination and stupiditie of the Mynde in the highest Degree And heere it is where that powerfull Circe of Superstition hath transformed those Kings reallie into Beastes that wittinglie and willinglie they haue cast off both Sence and as it were Shape of Humanitie that the greatest Vlysses of the World is not able by anie Oratorie to reclaime them In the meane-time it is a Case that doeth admonish Neighbour-Princes to bee of constant Pietie and Devotion towards GOD and their Domesticke Servants to bee vigilant and studious for the avoyding of that kinde of claudestine Dangers And O what great cause wee haue to render thankes to the MOST HIGH for that that our late Soveraigne of blessed memorie did escape the Insidiation and bloodie Knyfe of such Butchers hee who was the most conspicuous Marke whereat they did shoot and of whom their curious casters of Horosâ—ops and malignant Astrologues did so often prognosticate that his ende should not bee peaceable Fourthlle wee are to weigh the Strength and Soliditie of this great and growing Empyre to see if wee can explore and finde out anie Weaknesse Breach or Advantage to bee gained since they are our Capitall and mightie Enemies of whom it is not likelie that long wee shall bee fred Al-be-it it be true that it is not so much governed by the Sword as by Graue and Sage Councell which is never a whit diverted from their Plots and Purposes by the death of anie King where-in standeth no Question a chiefe point of the Firmnesse and Perpetuitie thereof Yet it cannot bee denyed that for aboundance of Money for militarie Discipline and for great numbers of good Souldiours which three bee as the Nerves Veines and grosse Bodie of the Warres they too farre exceede their Neighbours Alwayes for the first I say that the light of Reason sheweth mee that the greater Fortitude doeth aye consist in the greater Vnion Vis vnita fortior There is no perfect Strength but in GOD because there is nothing meerelie and simplie Vnike but GOD The Strength of Nature dependeth from her Compaction Vnion and Sympathie of her well-conjoyned Members This made Augustus to abandone and neglect the Longinque Provinces beyond Caucasus and Taurus and here in Great Britane by mayntaynance where-of they did receiue greater domage than could bee countervalued by anie Benefit to bee had there-fra in time of Peace saying that as there were two Defaultes that made the naturall Bodie imperfect that which was too small and vnder a proportion naturall and againe that which was aboue too big superstuous and vnwealdie called by the Physitions Plethera and Endeiat Even so it was in the Civill Bodie of the State and there-fore did hee recommend to his Successor the Limitation of the Empyre vnited and consolidated within the Marches of Euphrates Danubius and the Westerne Occean forbearing to haue more care of the most remote and disjoynted Provinces which did not other but teach the Discipline militare to barbarous Nations who were ignorant of it Where-vpon sayeth Tacitus Longa oblivio Britanniae etiam in pace consilium id Augustus vocavit maxime Tiberius Henrie King of Castile who died Anno 1217 without Children having two Sisters of whom the elder had beene married to Lewes the eight of France the youngest to Alphonsus King of Leon in Spaine The Castilians by publicke Parliament did declare the youngest to the Crowne of Castile albeit against their Law yet convenient in the nature of things sayde they seeing Castile and Leon were Cosines and easilie did incorporate they had one Language and Manners nothing different where-as France was naturallie divided from them by the Mounts Pirenees of diverse Languages and discrepant Manners thinges difficill to bee vnited vnder one King Of Examples of this kynde the Histories bee full of Princes and States who stryving to possesse thinges farre removed and dis-joyned from them and disconvenient in Nature albeit their Titles to them were just yet after manie yeares enjoying of theÌ„ with much Warre Trouble they haue bene in end forced to quite them being things altogether improfitable aâ— the English of Aquitane and Guyen the French of Naples the Venetians of Pisa and some Territories of Genua the Germane Emperour of some Cities in Italie of all which they haue nothing this day but the Burials of their Predecessours in which respect to returne to the purpose I may say of the Spanyard that it is not all Gold that glistereth his great Empyre is patched of things dismembred discommodious and disconvenient in Nature hee hath Navarre divided by the Pirenees in part and naturallie incorporate to the mightie Kingdome of France hee hath Milan divided by the Alpes Naples by both those and by the Apemmie too and both but members of the bodie of Italie Flaunders separated by interjection of France and Switzerland the Indees by the great Occean that if wee shall consider all the mightiest Monarkes wee shall finde none so weake and obnoxious in that behalfe so farre that it is more easie for France England Holland and Denmarke to put into Spaine 50000 Souldiours than for Spaine it selfe to transport thither from their owne Provinces 20000. Againe Kings are set aboue their People as the Sunne aboue the Earth and Seas who draweth vp the Moistures where-with hee doeth partlie feed his owne Flames and partlie converteth them in Raines to refresh the Seas and nowrish the Earth yet it is thought that hee beholdeth his Provinces often-times as Clowds without Raine hee draweth nothing from them but glorious and airie Titles of Ambition yea hee must goe search the Bellie of the Earth vnder another Hemispheare to sucke the Vapours that must entertaine them for if it were not by his Treasures of the Indees it is judged that hee were not able to brooke them The yeare of their last Pacification with Holland I did heare into Brusels by some of his entire Counsellours that since the first entrie of those VVarres hee had spended of his proper Fiances aboue the Rents of Flaunders 60 Millions I did heare about that same tyme at Naples and Milan by those of good intelligence in his Affaires that his whole Revenewes there were morgadged and that hee was greatlie indebted aboue and that hee was often-tymes so scarced of Moneyes that at Antwerpe Genuâ— and other Bankes hee did pay more than
to haue the more high and noble Mynde who doeth it than hee who refuseth by as farre as Hope is more heroicke than Despare Rome was not builded in one day and manie glorious works haue beene founded vpon doubtfull and difficill beginnings although manie of vs doe holde it an ydle Project yet vnderstanding Men haue seene and contemplate the Countrey who intende to returne and remaine there-in certaine it is more ydle and more vnreverend with-all to thinke that GOD hath placed a Region vnder a degree so temperate which hee will not suffer to bee peopled by tyme. Al-be-it Men haue often builded Houses and never dwelt into them much lesse haue plenished them it is not so with GOD whose endes are infallible For my part I doe holde that that insearchable Wisdome hath framed no part of this whole Globe which is not capable of Man and sufficient for the mayntaynance of his Lyfe But as touching the nature and condition of Warre such are the Distresses that come by Warres that even the best Fortunes of the Victors doe seldome contrapoyse them In pace causas merita spectari ubi bellum ingruat innocentes ac impios juxta cadere sayeth one What Warre was there ever in the World which was not damnable for desolation of Cities exterminion of noble Houses spoyle of poore People rape of Women violation of Churches and of Holie Things And happie is that Warriour whose Sword hath not beene defiled with Christian Blood Augustus that mightie Emperour did abhorre Warre and adore Peace his Successour Tiberius did arrogate to him as the greatest of all his Glories when hee had pacified anie Tumult rather by practising than by Warre The Emperour Adrian did compare Peace to Argent Content and his Forces were most strong and when hee could quyer his bordering Nations vvith peaceable wayes jactabat palam sayeth Aurelius Victor plus se ocio adeptum quam armis caeteros hee bragged openlie that hee had done more in Peace and Quietnesse then his Neighbours had by Armes I know farther that when GOD hath brought a State to a sort of Maturitie and Perfection that it is as compacted and limited naturallie as presentlie is this Monarchie of GREAT BRITANE consolidate with-in it selfe and confyned with-in the Occean that then it is good to feare the instabilitie of thinges And seeing what-so-ever thing is vnder the Moone yea the Moone it selfe is subject to ordinarie changes It must bee an heroicke and more than an humane yea a divine worke the mayntayning of great Kingdomes to great length of tyme and this is not done but by a prudent warinesse and moderation when States are once come to a maturitie for reasonable greatnesse or for Antiquitie as this Kingdome I say againe of Great Britane It is written of Scipio that when hee had ruinated Carthage and destroyed Numantia the two Competitors and Emulators of Rome then hee did not so much wish the farther increase as the continuation of the Romane State So farre that beeing himselfe Censor a whyle there-after and making the Lustrum at the pubilcke Sacrifice the Master of their religious Ceremonies according to their forme hee prayed for the daylie growing of their Empyre Scipio did correct and change the Style of that Invocation Satis inquit bonae ac magnae sunt res Romanae itáque Deos precor vt eas perpetuo incolumes servent ac protinus in publicis tabulis ad hunc modum carmen emendari voluit sayth the Historie Hee would haue the Gods to be invocated only for the continuation of the Empyre because it was alreadie great enough and hee would haue that Phrase of Prayer to remaine there-after in the Bookes publicke of their Priests In which case I say it were madnesse for vs of this Yle to cry for VVarres out of Pryde or for extention of Empyre The mightiest Kings of England as I haue before touched did finde their Forraigue Ambition but troublesome and fruitlesse that after the possession of manie Ages they were contented to quyâ—e the things that they and their Predecessours had lawfullie justlie and long brooked in France But now it is one thing to wish VVarre and another thing to embrace tymouslie a most necessarie and inevitable VVarre Omne bellum necessarium est justum said that Captaine of the Volsques in Livius when the Romanes had determined to conquer his Countrey And no Man can deny it that VVarre which is necessarie is just because wee defyne necessarie that which can bee no other-wyse The Volsques behooved to quyte their Countreyes Libertie or fight with the Romanes Againe that VVarre which is mooved to procure Peace and is defensiue it is a just VVarre GOD and Nature doe warrand that So I say for ought I see wee are to embrace a VVarre most just in all these three Respectes and I show it by this Argument To doe that which may stop the comming against our Countrey a mightie Enemie whose designe to conquer vs is hereditarie to him it is both necessarie defensiue and tendeth to purchase Peace But to make VVarre to such an Enemie within some part of his owne Dominions is to impeach and stop his comming Ergo the mooving of VVarre against him is just defensiue and tendeth to procure Peace The Major of this Syllogisme is so cleare that it needeth no probation the light of Reason doeth show it The Minor is verified by the ordinarie experience of all Ages gone and Histories bee full of Examples of the same where-of I will alleadge for Brevities cause but three or foure of the most famous and most frequentlie cited by everie Man vpon this kynde of Theame The noble Yland of Sicilia seated betwixt Rome and Carthage the two mightie Emulators for the Empyre of the VVorld was long stryven for and often-times assaulted by them both as a thing that would downe-swey the Ballance of their Emulation and draw after it vniversalitie of Dominion Amongst others Agathocles King there-of beeing hardlie besiedged with-in his Towne of Syracuse by the Carthagenians hee did closelie convoy him-selfe foorth and went with an Armie into Africke by meanes where-of they were forced to lift the Siedge and turne home for defence of their owne Countrey Which exploit Scipio Afriâ— did object in these Termes to Fabius Maxintus who went about in the Senate to hinder the sending of an Armie with Scipio against Carthage during Hanniball his beeing in Italie Car ergo Agathocâ—eâ—â— Syâ—â— regem 〈◊〉 Sicilia punico bello vexaretur transgressum in hanc eandem Africam avertisse eo bellâ—â—n vnde venerat non rofers There-after the Romanes perceiving that Amilcar the Father of Hanniball was likelie to adjoyne Sicile to Carthage therefore to prevent that a conquering People should not spreade over their Armes to Italie they resolved to make VVarre with them in Sicilâ—a it selfe From the same ground the Carthagâ—nianâ— after the fulling of Sicile into the handes of the Romanes fearing lyke-wyse their comming
had not beene to prevent the falling of our Crowns Succession into the person of some Papisticall Prince to the dangering of the Libertie Evangelicall and Vnitie of this Kingdome of Great Britane of both which the LORD hath made Him-selfe the Instrument to establish them Our latest Histories doe record that Scotland England and Ireland haue alreadie beene almost devoured by Forraigne Ambition by way of Marriages with Papall Kings as of Queene Marie the Grand-mother of our present King with the Dolphin of France of Marie Queene of England to Philip the second King of Spayne vvhere-of vvhat Blood-sheeding Cruell Warres and Persecution of the Professors of the Gospell did follow even to publicke Martyrdome the Stories doe mention at length vvhich moved our Proto Reformator Iohn Knoxe to publish that Treatise agaynst the Regiment or Reignes of Women If so be that the onlie Daughter of Great Britane and of that King capable of the greatest Marriage in Christendome vvas couched in so narrow Bounds out of the holie Projects of her Father to assure the Peace and Liberties of this Kingdome to vs our Successours then can anie Quarrell in the World be so deare to vs more pricke our Consciences and Honour nor the Restitution of her Estate although the Spanyard were resolved to march his Ambition there and come no farther Having treated thus farre concerning VVarre or the necessitie of Warre with Spaine I come now to speake of things that may breede into vs Distraction of Myndes or Coldnesse of Affection towards this Businesse And first because it is most easilie answered vnto I vvill remember how it did sticke in manie Mens Teeth and could not at the first bee digested that vvee did not know no not the Lords of our Counsell vvhat vvas the Course of His Majesties Navie that a publicke Fast and Praying vvas enjoyned for the successe of vvee know not what and that this Fast vvas not limitated but during the King's vvill contrarie the Custome of the Scottish Church and diverse from anie Example to bee found in Scripture The last of these two being a Question Theologicall and impertinent to this Discourse I will not touch But for the first I say and it is approved in all Ages that nothing doeth more advance great Enterpryses than Secrecie so farre that Secrecie is the verie Soule of the Actions of Kings and their Secrets once published are but lyke vented Wyne which can no more be drunken And most actiue Princer haue brought to passe amongst puissant Enemies most noteable Exploits onlie by meanes of Secrecie as wee doe finde speciallie in the lyues of Iulius Caesar Charles the fift Emperour Lewis the eleventh of France whose cover Plots secret Friendes Voyages Dyets and Dayes of Battell were kept in their Breasts vnto the time of present Execution which kinde of doing was the chiefest thing that made them so redoubted and feared of all their Enemies as the Spanyard even to this day delighteth to holde his Neighbours in perpetuall feare by this secrecie of Counsels and Courses Withall I doe confesse that such doing requireth a solide wisdome in Princes and that other-wise it vvere verie dangerous in the meane time it is sure that wee who bee private Subjects are not to craue a Compt of their Counsels no more than the Members of the Bodie doe question for that which they are commanded to doe by the intellectuall Reason that lodgeth in the Head The next Point shall bee to consider of our Doubts and Feares Domesticke as I did terme them in the beginning and first touching the Reformation or Innovation of Counsell and Session intended by His Majestie It is certaine that Princes both may and ought to reforme and if they please innovate where there is neede there being no meanes in this corruptible World to keepe things in due temper but after long progresse of Time and growing of Abuses to reduce them to their first Institution Plato holdeth that an the length GOD shall reforme the Worke of the whole World and reduce it to the first Puritie and that other-wise it is not able to endure and stand I know not how that accordeth with Sainct Iohn Apoc. who sayeth That wee shall see new Heavens and a new Earth And a great Politicke saide That if some late reformed Franciscan Friers and the late Order of the austere Caputchines bad not risen to maintaine some credite to the Pope's Church that it had beene before now disgustfull even to all the World by reason of his obstinate denyall to reforme his Church against the nature of thinges But to the Purpose◠There is indeede no small importance in the Auncietie of Senators long experienced in the Mysteries of a State and with the Humours and Conditions of a People◠and these are onelie they who can bee called Olde Counsellers And diverse of the wisest Emperours sayde it was more dangerous to haue an olde King and a young Counsell nor a young King and an olde Counsell Where of wee see the good experience in the Spanish Government where the death of a King doeth no more interrupt the Course and prosperitie of that Empyre than it were of anie private person The verie Name it selfe of a Senator doeth signifie Agednesse as a Senectute The Greekes called the Senate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to show that both Greekes and Latines did choose aged Men to their Counsellers yea suppose they could haue found numbers of young Men Wyse Graue and of good Experience yet they would not haue them to bee Senators because that were said they to turne their Senate into a Iuvenat Solon and Lycurgus did prohibite by a Law the comming of anie vpon the Senate with-in the age of 40 although they were never so sufficient But to leaue them the Scripture telleth vs which is a Warrand infallibl◠that in the setling of the Iewish Governamēt GOD commanded to choose 70 not of the best nor the most learned nor of greatest experience but sayeth the text Of the most Aged to whom Hee gaue the Spirit of Wisdome in aboundance Yet whilst it is so even good Politickes of the latter Tymes and consequentlie of greater Experience will holde the Opinion that it is expedient for the Common-wealth to change and innovate Magistrates and for it they doe bring this Reason They tell vs that the ende of good Governament is Vertue and the scope of everie prudent Prince should bee to render his Subjects Vertuous and therefore the Rewards of Vertue which are publicke Offices of the State ought to bee patent to everie vertuous Mynde and the Hopes of them set before it as the Marke where-at it must aime which cannot bee if Offices of State be lyfe-rentallie established in the Persons of a Few who whilst they and onlie they doe enjoy the publicke Honours and Emoluments it doeth beget an Heart-burning and Envy into other good Spirits who finde themselues neglected and so doeth breede
them into Money goe to the place thou shalt bestow the Money for whatsoever thy soule lusteth after Oxe Sheepe wine or strong Drinkâ—â— thou shalt eat rejoyce before the Lord thou thy Familie thou shalt not forsake the Levite within thy gates nor the StraÌ„ger nor the Widow nor the Fatherlesse Al which things do smell a Ceremoniall Institution as we alleadge wherevpon there be great learned Disputes agitate by diverse of our Countrey-men amongst all which all that can be said for Tenths it seemeth to me that the truest Light is to bee drawne from the Practise of Abraham by which it appeareth they were Evangelicall before they were Mosaicall If long before the Ceremoniall or WritteÌ„ Law Abraham payed Tythes to Melchisedec how can we hold Tenths to be Ceremoniall albeit we had not that cleare Explication therof by S. Paul Heb. 7 where in the person of Melchisedec he proveth the Excellencie of Christ's Priesthood aboue that of Aaron He proveth Melchis to be a Priest froÌ„ two things from the Discharge of his Office He blessed Abraham and from that which was annexed to his Office He tythed Abrahum If any would object that Abraham did offer to him those Tenthes not of bound duetie but out of his private Charitie or from a Custome that was vsed before him or from the Light of Nature only wherof I shal speak somewhat herafter that were to annull the Proofe of Melchis his Priesthood set downe by th' Apostle yea it were to change the Text because the Actiue word is in the person of Melchis and not of Abrah For it is not said that Abr. tythed himselfe but that Melchis tyâ—hed Abrah Melchis decimavit Abrah And the Greeke word Vers. 6. of that Chap. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doeth import no lesse how-so-ever the English Translation is received Next again that by Melchis th' Apostle vnderstandeth Christ it is evident when he saith of Him Vers. 8. Here men die that do receiue Tythes meaning the Leviâ—s but there He receiveth them of whom it is written that He liveth which is vndoubtedly spoken of Christ for so are the words Vers 13. 14. He of whom these things are written pertayneth to another Tribe whereof no man serveth at the Altar for it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Iudah Farther it is plaine that the Priesthood there spoken of is an eternall Priesthood Thou art a Priest for ever according to the Order of Melchis WhervpoÌ„ it must follow that Tythes being the Due of an Eternal Priesthood must also themselues be eternall Abraham saw my day and did rejoyce saith CHRIST And I put the Case this Poynt were not so cleare as it is vvee might find another Ground wherby we should see our selues tyed to this Burden of Tythes Evangelicallie and that is by the Devoting of them done by Christian Princes People and States vvho wee may thinke before the Church I suppose could challenge them by anie Warrand haue beene moved to giue vnto her a Warrand by that same Spirit that moved Abraham manie Years before the Law was given out for Tenthes Constantine the Great and Charlemayne did begin this Plantation of the Church Rents Authoritie and Priviledges and others everie-where did follow them Then we know vvhat is the Nature of thinges once devoted to GOD Levit. 27. Vers. 28. No devoted thing that a Man shall devote to the LORD both of Man and Beast and of the Possession of his Fielde shall bee redeemed Everie devoted thing is holie vnto the LORD And Levit. 5. Vers. 15. If a Soule doe sinne through Ignorance in the holie thinges of the LORD hee shall make a mendes in the holie thing and shall adde a fift part there-vnto The Popes them selues haue acknowledged their Possession of Tythes to bee aliene from the Practise or Pleading of the Primitiue Church and that their Titles therevnto haue flowed from the onlie Devotion and Donation of Christian Kings as may bee seene in Can. futuram Ecclesiam cap. videntes 12. Q. 1. vvhich Bellarmine doeth stand to Tom. 1. contra 5. lib. 1. cap. 25. And we may try it to bee so by the Entrie of the Christian Fayth in Scotland Anno 203. King Donald the first did procure by his Ambassadour sent to Pope Victor the coÌ„ming of some Priests into this Kingdome for receiving of him his Familie Nobilitie to the Church by Baptisme where there is no Mention of anie Title pretended or anie Sute made by the sayd Pope for Tythes But vvhole foure Ages thereafter to wit Anno 578 our King Convallus vvithout Challenge or Requisition froÌ„ the Pope hee of him selfe did authorize the Terrour and Force of Excommunication established to the Church the Tenthes of Scotland Edixit ut decimas omnium terrae nascentium cuncti in SacerdotuÌ„ horrea deferrent by vvhich it appeareth that everie Man then had his owne Tythes Farther hee gaue to the Priests Mansions and Dwelling places neare to the Churches Praedium in Templi vicinia ubi secretus à vnlgo habitaret Withall two thinges are to bee vnderstood First that a great part of those Rentes were employed to the ritch decoâ—ing of Church Fabrickes Christi Templa valde ornari voluit Secondlie that before then there were multitudes of Religious people in Scotland that Age of the Occidentall World being as it were an Influence or Inundation of Pietie and Zeale to GODS Glorie for the Historie telleth that he sent to Yreland for that renowned Abbot Sanctus Columba by whose Advyce Contraxit Monachos sparsâ—s ad id tempus solivâ—gâ—s inunum indeque per Caenoâ—ia quae Convalli pietas struxer at distributâ—s 〈◊〉 vitanon vulgatae observationis instituit Where the Author to let vs see how the Devoting of Tythes and Foundation of Monasticke places vvent alwayes together hee maketh Mention of the Benedictine Order their Frequencie in Scotland before then manie Abbayes erected for them where it is most worthie Observation his Iudgement of the Revenewes and Ritches of the Church Plurima inter nostrates celeberrima suâ—t hujus ordinis Caenobla hactenus viris pietate clarissimis habitata virtute fortassis insigniori majorique veneratione apud posteros perseveratura si ad otium luxum Regum munificentia tanta sagina ea non oner asset that is to say There were then in Scotland manie famous Abbayes of the Benedictine Order hitherto inhabited by Men of singular Pietie and wherein the Sinceritie of Religious Vertue might haue 〈◊〉 flowrishing recommendable to all Posteritie if the too great Bountie of Princes did not over-bardeÌ„ them with the Fatnesse of Ydle-seat and Riâ—â—hes By this doing of Convaâ—â— I say it seemeth that the Church hath gotten a sufficient Warrand to our Tythes by Positiuâ— Christian Lawes albeit vve should repyne at the Warrandâ—s brought out of the Gospell And even the most Learned of the Protestant syde doe holde it the surest Title of the
that the Lyne of the Circumference goe about to cloze at the Point where-at it did begin this also is sensible true The beginning of Things was the Incarnate Word as sayeth Sainct Iohn In principiâ— erat verbum not the beginning Mosaicke which was but Principium principiatum the beginning of Tyme but Principium principiaus the beginnining that did begin all things Ex quo iu quo per quam omnia So CHRIST being the Beginning and as we know Man the last created of all things and hindmost made of GOD the Circular Lyne of Nature could never bee concluded vntill the First Point was joyned with the Last that the Beginning should be the Ende and the Ende the Beginning one Point both Alpha and Omega the Sonne of GOD who was the First conjoyned with Man who was the Last GOD becomming Man and Man becomming GOD did in the fulnesse of Tyme cloze this Circle in beeing the Holie and Perfect second Tenth of all thâ— Creatures now renewed and by descending and returning through these Ten Degrees which made Rabb Mos. Hardasan in mysterious Words to say of CHRIST whilst hee wryteth vpon Genesis and citeth this Text of David Psal. 50 Ostendam tibi salutare DEI. This is a Scripture sayeth hee of great weight and importance that the Salvation of Israel is the Salvation of GOD that is to say The preservation and perfection of His Works for GOD Himselfe shall bee the pryce and payment of His owne Redemption Vt qui non nihil frumenti ex seâ—onda decima reliquum habet id redemit as hee who had resting some Corne of his second Tythe hee did redeeme it This First and Second Tythe are even as that beginning Mosaicke and that of Sainct Iohn Principians principiatum CHRIST being the First Tythe predestinate in the Eternall Counsell of GOD and Man the second began with the beginning of Tyme where-of CHRIST issuing of Man according to His Humanitie is sayde by him to bee that Rest of that Second Tythe reserved by GOD for the Perfection and Glorification of whole Nature by the Pryce of his Precious Blood By those it seemeth that GOD who as the Scripture sayeth Omnia suaviter disponit Hee disposeth all things sweethe And as another sayeth Et mirabiliteâ— disponit adeo ut aliquid semper nisit humano captu majus Hee also disposeth them miraculouslie that still there is somewhat beyonde the Horizâ—n of humane sight It seemeth I say that GOD hath chozen that Portion of ouâ— Goods due to His Worship and Service to bee of that Perfect Number of the Perfect and Consummated Sacrifice of CHRIST into the full Quotient and Continent of Nature and that withall Hee hath respected the Number of People who were to liue vpon the Tenthes as Bellarmine doeth reason to prooue Tythes not Ceremoniall but Iudiciall De Clericis Lib. 1. Cap. 25. Nam non ordinantur immediate ad colendum DEVM sed ad aequitatem inter homines Hee sayeth That Tythes were commanded to bee payed to Levie because hee was about the tenth part of the People that there might bee a Proportion betweene his Estate and the rest Thus haue I broght in a â—iversitie of Opinions coÌ„cerning Tythes some holding theÌ„ onlie Iudiciall to the Iewes others that they belong to GOD by way of Alms but not to the Church Others that they appertaine to the Church but by Positiue Lawes of Princes others that they are so by the Law of Nature finallie some inclined to follow this Remote Naturall Theologie affirme that by all these Titles they are to the Church as Franciscus Iunius 〈◊〉 omni jure post omnem hominum memoriam DEO fuerunt sacrae For what lesse can omni jure import than a Law as well stamped naturallie in the Consciences of Men as approoved by Positiue Lawes of Princes and warranded by the Written Word of GOD But hitherto can I finde none to say that Tythes are Temporall or Civill Goods scarcelie wee who doe possesse them for why wee holde that whatsoever wee bestow to Mendicant poore People to necessitous Friends or Neighbours for Mayutaynance of the Ministrie or Schooles of Learning all that hath allowance for Tythes in the sight of GOD neither are wee oblished nor can bee to sustaine the Poore by anie Law other than by that of Tenthes this I doe hold albeit Ambitious Men to abuse the World with faire Colours will perhaps holde the contrarie But I doe not doubt but this New Reason which I doe put in from the Mysterie of the Number will bee thought of manie a â—apritâ—h or Raveriâ— of a Phantasticke Braine In the meane time if wee would possesse them still wee haue neede of some New Doctrine vnheard of for to qualifie our Possession and purge it from the Sacriledge seeing our owne Teachers whose other Opinions in everie thing numbers of vs do superstitiouslie follow and adore they doe affirme vs to bee Sacrilegious in this Point I meane Puritane Preachers and their Sectators It is of notable Observation to consider howe throughout this whole Yle there haue ever beene Opponents to Episcopall Governament and Rents two sorts I may say of Factious Men The Clergie factious and the Laicie factious The Clergie Factious haue striven for it That all the Church Patrimonie appertayneth vnto them their Presbyteries and Disposition And this Ground they haue so hardlie mayntayned that in a Supplication given in to a Parliament in England in Name of the Commonnalitie Anno 1585 they set it downe for an Article of Doctrine That all Abbay Lands once dedicated for sacred vses should by the Word of GOD remayne in that Condition for ever and may not bee taken backe Their Disciples agayne the Laycie Factious say That their Preachers ought to conforme themselues to the Mayntaynance of the Apostles who had no Silver nor Goldâ— nor Possessions nor Tythes nor Rents Wherevnto their Teachers doe aunswere That that is as much as who would say to the base popular That Noble-men haue more than their part in the World which they spend vpon Horses Halks Dogs Ryot of Lyfe whiles their Tâ—nnands doe sterue for Famine That in the Apostles tymes Men had all things in common Moneyes and Meanes were layde at their Feet and equallie distributed by them and that such Insolence and Wealth of Noble-men vvill but spoyle Pietie and Zeale if they be not reformed according to the Apostolicke tymes no Man can deny But this Proposition is as resonable as the other albeit both should bee but an Anabaptisticall Practise Alwayes out of a Treatise written by English Arch-Puritanes of Discipline Ecclesiasticke these haue I extracted ad verbum Whyles they meaning their owne Disciples beare vs speake agaynst Bishops and Cathedrall Churches it tickleth their Ears looking for the lyke Prey as they had before of Monasteries yea they haue alreadie devoured the Church Inheritance they care not for Religion they would crucifie CHRIST to haue His Garmentes they
following Ages The first whereof and first in the Actions of his Lyfe was his incredible Diligence in the Oppressing Extinction of Intestine Enemies For finding that the Clemencie of his Predecessor Iul. Caes. in pardoning his Capitall Foes in Dismission of his Personall Guards his Carelesse Carriage and Contempt of diverse Advertisements given him from his Friends of Treasons complotted agaynst his Lyfe having nothing more frequent in Mouth than this Non tam mea interest quam Rep. ut quam diuttssime vivam I say that Augustus finding that by these Errours his Predecessor had prepared an easie Way of his own Destruction he did with all Expedition make away the whole Enemies of Caesar without Mercy not so much out of Splene Vindication as for Establishment of thâ— State Safetie of his own Lyfe He kept 40 Legions vpon his Bâ—â—deâ—ing Provinces vnder the CoÌ„mandement of his most trustie Friends strong Guards about himself I know the Ods are great betwixt Your Majestie him because that was a New Conquest a Change of a Repub. into a Monarchie where the Doer could not be secure without Violence and Severitie of Governament But withall everie one doeth remember of the dangerous Stratagems and pernicious Attempts against the Sacred Person of Your Majestie 's Father often tymes intercepted We know that there be within the Bowels of Your Majestie 's Dominions Enemies to Your Governament even of Men who I thinke doe tender Your Lyfe as their owne I meane of Papists and Puritanes whereof the first is avowedlie opposed to Your Majestie 's Lawes and that the seconde is a perillous Enemie to Monarchall Governament yea most perillous it is knowne to all the Worlde by the Recordes of the Geneva Discipline vented over all manie yeares agoe and by our owne Histories of the Church of SCOTLAND written by our Proto-Reformtors and by our Iure Regni apud Scotos of Master George Buchanan and most clearlie of all by a certayne Treatise printed in LONDON Anno 1593 intituled Dangerous Positions published and practized within the Yle of BRITANE vnder Pretence of Reformation and for Presbyteriall Discipline Which I am perswaded if Your Majestie should take leasure to cast over yee would thinke it expedient to haue it current and publicke to the View of all Your Good Subjectes for the better Information of manie who bee ignorantlie affected therevnto Neyther doe I heere suggest anie thing that may irritate your Majestie to Rigour agaynst such And if it were asked me What then doe I meane This is it Sir Wee vnderstand that your Majestie hath many and mortall Enemies even of your Lyfe and Crowne and those of the greatest Potentates abroad and their insidious Instrumentes vvho lye in wayte to slyde into your Majestie 's Kingdomes vnperceiveablie vvhen they shall finde the Waters troubled In which Case the Vnanimitie of Subiectes especiallie in Matters of Religion and Ecclesiasticke Governament is the onelie BaÌ„d of our Securitie For even where Subiectes are naturallie loyall to their Princes destracted Myndes in such Poyntes are moste perillous And as whâ—n a great Disease or Evill doeth enter vpon the Bodie it invadeth first that parte or Member vvhich had anie Weaknesse or Contusion of before Even so vvhen Forraigne Treacheries or Intestine Seditions come to bee practized in a State they doe first assault those of vnstayed and divyded Myndes and namelie from the Pryde of Puritanisme haue sprung the Seedes of the most badde and bolde things that haue bene committed agaynst our Princes in these last Ages And I must say it out of the Sinceritie and Simplicitie of a most humble Affection to the Stabilitie of your Maiestie's Reigne there is not a more malignant Gangrena latent within your Bowels than that nor more able to quarrell the Credite of Royall Authoritie if thinges were never so little turned loose Your Majestie hath neede againe to set over the Ports of your Kingdome the Eyes of Argos to see that no Enemie doe enter The Iesuit is a Proteus vvho can transforme himselfe in anie Shape Hee can passe by your Majestie vnder Covert and Silence Hee is lyke to the Skeilling Goose vvho when shee flyeth alongst the Mount Taurus carrieth a Stone in her Bill to stoppe her Crye that shee should not be heard of the Eagles vvhich continuallie doe keepe the Toppe there-of Chiefelie your Majestie hath neede to be â—urious of your owne Court For as never Heresie did come into the Church vvhich began not amongst the Clergie Even so seldome are Treasons contryved agaynst Princes vvherevnto some of their Court are not conscious When Augustus had caused great numbers to die and thought himselfe free from Domesticke Fears he found Cinna a lurking Serpent in his Bosome therefore we say that Kings should bee vigilant lyke to the Lyon who is King of Beasts and sayd to be of such Sollicitude that he sleepeth vvith open Eyes And if Your Majestie should at any time discover Disloyall Practises then indeede the Example of Augustus were well to bee followed to punish such Persons vvithout anie Mercie at all As for Puritanes this I holde that Your Majesties doe admit none to Episcopall Governament vvho hunteth after it for loue of Ritches or Preferment and then doth nothing differ from the Puritane in all his Carriage thereafter and that no Bishop be bold to ordayne a Preacher vvho doeth not in his owne person obey and make his Flocke obey the present Discipline and authorized Ordinances of the Church Your Majestie of Clemencie may suffer to expyre in peace such olde Puritanes as had Tollerance and Conniâ—ence vnder Your Father provyded they be modest and reserved but that eyther Poperie should be endured or in anie Corner of the Countrey an Arch-Puritane to bring foorth Seminaries of his Sect for the Ministerie certaynlie that were to keep a Backe-Doore open for Anarchie and Confusion sometyme to re-enter both into Church and State For the present Your Majestie hath Watch-men over our Church approved enough by Your Blessed Father vvho did preferre them The second SIR notablie remarked in the Gubernatiue Wisdome of Augustus vvas the great Honour done by him to the Senators of his Counsell and his Confidence in them The principall thing that did comfort those Conspirators agaynst the Lyfe of his Predecessour being his Misregards to the Senate that he would not deigne himselfe to ryse from his Chayre when they came in and that by the Perswasion and Flattery of Cornelius Balbus puissing him too much to vndertake Emperial Dignitie Augustus by the contrarie did dispatch no matter of Importance but by the Advyce of the Senators vvhome hee did so greattie respect that after a perfect Setling of all his Difficulties hee did beare in his owne person the Office of a Consull another tyme of the Censor which both he did discharge faythfullie and paynfullie beyond anie that had exercised those Functions before him Your Majestie knoweth howe there haue not
Changes shall wee see The Light in everie Corner shall appeare No place for Shadowes thence-foorth shall there bee GOD shall triumph at that Great Iubilie Of Nature in her full Perfection Where Hee His Works shall whollie Glorifie And Darknesse throw into Confusion Since true Light and true Things are so remote And clozed inaccessiblie with GOD Take heede my Soule no Paintrie thee besot Which thou beholdest on this Worldlie Brod. But contrarie delight thee in the Night There are no Pictures to distract thee then Flie to the Citie of the Divyne Light That is aboue the Sight of Mortall Men. Expatiate into the Sacred Fieldes Of the expanded faire Infinitie Which Millions moe than Earthlie Beautie yeeldes The Pallace of the Blessed Trinitie Though narrow be our Myndes to comprehend One Point of GOD where each is Infinite Yet to that Search our Spirites may ascend By Visions which are to our Weaknesse fit There thou shalt see how GOD Hee is a Light With-in the which all Things subsisting bee Whole Nature's Birth thou shalt see at one Sight The Pleasant Object of the DEITIE Hee much delighteth in that Architype The Glasse where-in Hee on His Goodnesse 〈◊〉 The Boxe that dâ—eth the Seedes of Nature keepe And all His Workes recorded as in Bookes As Cunning Paynters gaze vpon that Face Which they pretende by Portract to present And Iakob's Sheepe lookt in that Watrie Glasse That Hee did for their Fruitfulnesse invent So doeth the Sprite of Nature thinges beget By looking in that Architype of All And there-from doeth these Images canceit That wee see set and spred through Natures Hall And there thou shalt comparatiuelie thinke Our Clearest Dayes to bee no thing but Night And that of Heaven this World is the Sinke Repleat with Sorrow Sinfull Care and Plight Or lyke a Caue polluted with the Smoake Of Chymicke Forges and Deadlie Mercurie Where Worke-men as Anatomies doe looke Who haue consum'd Themselues in Sophistrie O that thou mightst not Heere agayne returne But still shouldst liue into that Lights Fruition For on this Earth thou canst doe nought but Mourne Where Toyles Teares and Fears must bee thy Portion There thou shalt see CHRIST setled in HIS Throne As Golden Phoebus in His Silver Sphaero Amongst nyne Chores of Angels LORD alone Lyke Planets plac'd about HIS Royall Chayre Where Troups of Saincts lyke Starres doe moue astray As Skalie Squadrons sporte into the Deepe So in that Lightsome Ocean they play And still an Heavenlie Harmonie doe keepe Of Musicke that can never bee exprest Yet by a Sensible Similitude Wee may imagine that it is addrest By foure Chiefe Partes of Men so vnderstood And thâ—â— by severall Alternatiues A Mutuall and Mightie Melodie One Theatre t'another aye deryues Sounding the Glore of that GREAT MAIESTIE The Alto Angels sing as I suppose Of stablisht Ranke the Foremost Stage They fill To Celebrate HIS Providence They choose And Divine Names belonging there-vntill The Tenor by the Voyce of Saincts resounds The Prayses of HIS Sanctitie they sing And this Echo from Stage to Stage rebounds HOLIE HOLIE Is Our Almightie KING The Basse is tun'd by Harmon of the Sphaeres The Sweet Consent that wee see them among The True Characters of HIS Wisdome beares And Learned holde them vocall in their Song The Hallelu of the Church Militant Mounts vp to make the Counter-basse perfyte With Loftie Straynes of Musicke resonant HIS Goodnesse and HIS Mercie they endyte The Subtill Alchymist can separate The Quintessence and make it to ascende Soâ—are the Church Prayers Alembicate By that Great SPRITE who doth Her still defende My Soule bee ravisht with these Visions And They shall make thy Nights more Splendescent By True Light and not by Illusions Than are Estivall Dayes most Relucent High ESSENCE of the Inaccessible Light Whose Sacred WORD the Darknesse did command To cloathe Her selfe into this Beautie bright So dayntilie Portrayde by Natures Band. Say LORD vnto the Dungeon of myne Heart Let there bee Light and strayght it shall bee so Blynde Ignorance and Pryde shall then depart And in the Light securelie shall I goe Possesse Sweet Light the Temple of my Breast Thy Lampes may feede of Multiplyed Oyle Which since my GOD Thou hast made mee a Priest Still on the Altar of myne Heart may boyle Those Starrie Vaults that Round our Night about As Curtayns full of Flaming Eyes where-by Thyne Holie Angels constantlie looke out And all our Dangers surelie doe espy Grant mee O LORD to trust to Thy Reliefe That whylst the Organes of my Soule doe sleepe It may bee fred from the Nâ—cturâ—all Thiefe That no Vncleannesse in my Bosome creepe Enioye my Soule the Beautie of True Light Count not of Paynted Shadowes that are heere Those are the Clowds that keepe thee from that Sight Which vanish then when wee holde Them most Deare So when thy Stage is finallie concluded As Floods returne vnto their Ocean Thou of this Bodie fullilie denuded Shalt bee reduced to thy Light agayne Though for a Wish possesse a World thou might Yet to the Ende doe wish nothing but LIGHT FINIS Index of the chiefe Things contained in this Treatise THE Preamble meerelit Metaphysicall pag. 1. 2. The death of the late King of blessed memorie 3. The occasion and order of the Treatise 4. The Pope and King of Spaine troublers of Christian States 5. The Ambition of the ancient Kings of Spaine and Portugall vertuous and heroicke with particular narration of the most nominate and famous amongst them 6. Charles the fift Emperour the first projecter and founder of the Spanish Ambition ovâ—â— Europe 10. Contrapoyse jealousie of Christian Princes warâ—anded by Nature 12. The Spanish Inquisition and practises of Philipâ— the second against neighbour States 14. Hee did negotiate intelligence with the Protestants of France being of head of their enemies the holie league 16. The Voyage of the English Navie vnder Queen Elizabeth to Portugall in favours of Dan Antonio 17. Antonio Peres doeth wrong the English in his narration of that Voyage ibid. Strict limitation of Generals in Warre 19. The greatnesse and swift progresse of the Spanish Empire ibid. The large extent of the Spanish Ambition 21. The insidiation of Spaine by claudestine and fearfull arts of murthering 22. Patricidie practisedin Spaine as amongst the Turkes by a religious tradition 25. The stabilitie of the Spanish Counsell never intercepted by the death of a King doth assure the stabilitie of their Empyre 26. What weaknesse in the Spanish Empyre by reason of dis-joyned Provinces 27 Dis-vnited conquestes vnprofitable and examples there-of ibid. Traffickable Countreyes and Veâ—tuous people the onelie true treasure of Princes The evils resulting of the being of great Treasures in the hands of Princes 28. Kinges haue manie necessarie occasions of profitable debursments nor knowne nor to bee enquired of Subjects 31. It is a Weaknesse of the Spanish Empyre to bee feared of all and hated of the greatest part 32. The Pope and Catholicke
States of Germanie against Charles the fift 33. Cardinall Baronio against Philip the second ibidem Why the Nobilitie of Spaine doe hate their King 34. A Weaknesse supposed in Spayne for want of Armes and why it is so 36. Their naturall Pryde a Weaknesse ibid. Description of the Spanish nature 37. Spayne to bee opposed by making Warre with-in their owne Dominions 38. Plantation of Nova Scotia 39. When a Kingdome is perfect and naturallie compacted in it selfe then to bee slow to Warres 41. The definition of a just Warre and our Warres against Spayne proved to bee just 42. Emulation of the Romanes and Carthagenians for vniversall Empyre 43. Agesilaus being but a poore King did invade the Persian Empyre ibidem First confederacie of the Scots with the French sought by Charles Mayne 44. How the Spaniard is proved to bee our enemie ibid. How Scotland is furnished of Men for Warre 46. Nature of leagues with examples auncient and moderne 47. Confederates against Spayne 48. Whether small or grosse Armies to bee sent to Enemie-Countreyes shewed by contemplation of the Turkish Warres 49. The Palatiâ—â—te the most honourable seat for Warres against Spayne 51. King Alexander Hannibell and Iulius Caesar did leade their Armies to more remote Countreyes ibid. Going of His Majestie in person to Spaine 52. The English auncientlie victorious in Spaiâ—e 53. The VVest Indees in the possession of a great Monarch proved to bee an infallible meanes of vniversall Empyre by length of tyme 55. Money the Nerue of Warre and greatest Monarches and States much distressed for want thereof 56. The hudge Moneyes gotten by Charles the fift in Peru 57. The naturall humours of the French Nation ibid. Speculation of Neighbour Calamities during our Peace in this Age going and of our Predecessours troubles many Ages by-gone 58. More of Money and of Men in Scotland now than in the dayes of our Antecessours and the proofe thereof 61. A wicked People doe make a wicked King 63. A Bridge of Golde to bee made for Enemies to passe out vpon ibid. Great Ransome payed by our Predecessors for King David Bruce 64. The Palatinate detained to make a Way for the conquest of Germanie and England 65. A remarkable Conference of Coronell Semple with the Author of this Treatise ibid. Iohn Knoxe against the Regiment of Women 67 The going of His Majesties Navie to Portugall and what a great point is Secrecie in great Enterpryses and the Examples thereof ibid. The Reformation or Innovation of Magistrates and the Commodities or Inconvenients following thereon 68. Plato holdeth That after the current of that great Yeare GOD shall reforme the whole worke of Nature and reduce it to the first puritie ibid. Vtilitie of the Censor amongst the Romanes 70. Commission for Grievances ibid. Great Men not to beare Offices where they dwell 76. Two of one Familie not to bee of one Session of Iudges 77. Reformation of Advocates most necessarie of anie thing with the Examples of Kings and States Enemies to the Trade of Advocation 78. Lewis the eleventh of France did revoâ—ke and annull Heritable Shyreâ—â—ships 81. Abuses of late erected Lordships of Church Landâ—s necessarie to bee reformed 82. If the Domaine of Regall Crownes or of Republickes bee allienable 83. Noble Men are the Shadowes and Reflects of Kings 84. Why the Lyues of Kinges are so precious 85. The last Convention of the Estates of Scotland and His Majesties Revocation 86. The first Donation of the Crown Lands and division of them in Baronies ibid. Ritches did spoyle the Pietie of the Church 89. Before the separation of the Church of Rome made by Luther the hundreth part of Christian People did possesse more than the tenth part of the Revenewes 90. The number of Ecclesiasticall Prelasies Benefices Churches Curies of France ibid. The nature of Tenthes 91. The first Dedication of Tenthes in Scotland 94. Puritanes foolishlie opposed to the Pope's Church in good things 96. Mysterie of Number 98. The Vnitie doeth represent GOD 99. The Number 7 is proper to the Creation Induration and finall Glorification of the World 100. The Novenarie doeth comprehende the whole Species of Nature Man excepted 101. Ten is the Quotient or fulnesse of Nature 102. Man was the first Tenth ibid. CHRIST was the second and perfect Tenth 103 Two sort of Puritanes opponents to Episcopall Rents and Governament discordant amongst themselues 106. Persecution of Iulian worse than of Dioâ—lâ—sian 107. Plantation of our Northerne Yles and Hielards a most Royall and most necessarie Policie 108. Battell of Hare-law 109. Abuses and Oppressions by way of Tenthes to bee reformed 110. Discourse of the Nature and Course of Moneyes 112. What Benefite or Inconvenient vpon the heighting of Money 113. What Order to bee taken with Moneys kept vp in the Hands of Merchands 117. Decay of our Shipping how to bee restored 118. Prodigall Persons ancientlie interdicted and punished by Lawes 119. Against the vse of Silver Plate and guilding 120. Ferdinandus Magnâ—s of Spayne Charles the ninth of France and manie great Princes did sell their Silver Plate or reduce it in Coyne 121. Prescription for Dyet and Apparell practised by great States in time of publicke Distresses 122. Speach to the King's Majestie 123. Wisdome of Augustus in making away of his Enemies 124. Who are Enemies to His Majesties Person or to his Governament ibid. Vigilance necessarie over the admission of Bishops and Ministers in the Church 126. Honour done by Augustus to the Romane Senate ibid. Condition of Senaters chosen by Augustus 127. Great Affection of King Darius to an olde faythfull Counseller 128. Mechanicke Vertues and Diligence of Augustus 129. Watchfulnesse of the Parsian Monarches over their Finances ibid. Supplication in Favours of the Subjects of Scotland 132. The admirable Magnanimitie of Alexander the Great whilst he wanted Moneys 133. Finis Tabulae Death of our late Soveraigne His late Majesties death followed with great feares of his Subjects Causes of our feares what these be The King of Spayâ—e and the Pope troublers of Christian Princes Ambition of Spaine different from that of the Romanes Different from that of their Predecessours The origine and Antiquitie of the present house of Spayne Notable punishment of Lust in Princes Pelagius Pelagius honoured of the World Ferdinandus Magnus Ferdinando Santo Charles the fift Emperour Contrapoyse of Christian 〈◊〉 warranded in Naâ—ure Hieron King of Syras Philip the second King of Spaine his first action his Marriage in England Spanish Inquisition his second action His third action the betraying of the King of Portugall his Cosin His fourth action was to plot the holie Leâ—gue in France against Don Antonio Philip did also practise the Protestants of France Elizabeth Queene of England The Voyage of the English Navie to Portugall vnder Queene Elizabeth Antonio Peâ—es wrongeth the English in in his relation of that Voyage Too strict limitation of Generals in VVarre hurtfull The Patience and Wisdome of Fabius Maximus The first thing to bee observed of the former