and no water shall bee able to quench it in Bethell Where it may be thought more fit to set aside al difference of former names vt exoneremus rempub vano for san metu as it is said of one quod nihil est metuit metuit sine corpore nomē And if any account the feare of name nothing be it also say I nothing yet a man cannot be to careful or feareful of that which is counted even nothing seeing it is said Qui cavet vix etiam cavet dum cavet Let former destructions bee present instructions Offensiue distinction of names hath bred much wo. In Italie faction of Guelphs and Gibelines arose for name sake In Englande much blood for the white and red Rose In Iustinians time feareful division betweene the Veneti and Prasini about colours blew and greene In which grievous contentions arising first of small or no cause but only of difference in name and diversitie of colours deadly hatred is oft times kindled among former friends as against sworn enemies After Phalarides death the Agrigentini made a decree that none should vse glauca veste because the Tirants did vse glaucis subligaculis for they hated whatsoever might remember them of former Tiranny And the Romanes publiquely ordained that no Romane should be ever called after the name of Manlius for because his remembrāce Liv. 1. Dec. 6. lib was displeasing they would haue his name vtterly perish I wish that nomen or mentio ipsa the names English and Scottish borders former feud warres and bloudshed betweene the two nations were not once mentioned within our lips but as nomen Pelopidarum vtterly put out abolished and never heard of as that which is laid vp in silence in the Graue even now that not the least occasiō be left no not in sport or inter ludicra certamina as we haue a name of plaie amongst vs called prison base one part striving for England and an other for Scotland representing vnto vs the variance betwixt both nations lest it proue as that betwixt them two brethren Demetrius and Perseus king Phillips sonnes who in ludicio certamine opposite one to the other with their companies divided on both sides fell in earnest vnto a maine deadly warre one against the other I say as neere as may be these opposite tearmes of Scottish and English should cease except they remaine as only they oughte remaine Epithits pertaining to one name of great Brittaine and to one people Brittaines as al the Iewes of al the several Tribes were called Iacob Gods people and Israell his inheritance And herein seeing as Vegetius saith principis est pro salute Reipublicae nova excogitare antiqua restituere both nations ought ioyfully applaud the late proclamation and in al humblenes of duety submit themselues to the kings Maiesties good pleasure seeking thereby the common good of Weale publique and not his owne glory as they doe who cal their lands after their owne name to get a name vpon earth as Valens the Emperor desired according to his ambitious vaine-glorious humour to call this whole Continent Valentia after his owne name for which thing also Henoch the Son of Caine building Gen. 4. a Cittie was first noted but as a king most gracious not natus sibi sedpatriae as Hadrian the Emperour professed before al ita se rempublicā gesturum vt sciret populi rem esse non propriam thinketh only on the ancient name non tam mutans quam aptans so to roote out remembraunce of former hatred and to vnite both into one Pastor populi non suum ipsius sed Subditorum quaerit commodum officio suo semper fungitur vtilitati consulens societati Chaunge of names hath ever beene thought meete in policie even where men formerlye Strangers and of diverse kingdomes were to bee trained vp togither and framed in fashion one to the other as were giuen to Daniell Hananiah Dan 1. Mishaell and Azariah new and other names And Daniell was called Baltasar and Hananiah Shadrah and Mishaell Mesach and Azariah Abegnego of purpose by changing their names to make these forget themselues their country and if it were possible the God of their fathers And so the Turkes haue from time to time in their pollicie changed the olde names of those places they now possesse which before professed Christianity and when vpon any Conquest they take into their government Christians they impose on them new names to liue like them and as one people among them shal we thinke it a wrong or inconvenience that if a Grecian Prince or other Christian king recover against the Turke they afterward abolish a name imposed on them and calany province people or city after their old and ancient name Et si hoc in arido quid in viridi If this be done ex facto by the children of this world vnto an evil end may not his Maieiestie in his princely wisedome fas estet ab hoste doceri exiure for the vndoubted good of the children of light cal to remembrance and put in Dio. 52. execution the wise councel of Maecenas to Augustus to take away al differences whatsoever even of the meanest thinges which might bee thought on whither of name or apparell or anie thing else to the intent all thinges might bee throughly composed in one vniforme fashion conformitie among al his Subiects to their vndoubted good It hath beene often observed that parva scintilla neglecta magnum saepe excitavit incendium And sores sleightly cured break forth into greater danger And if I might boldly write my mind without mistake I would vndertake sufficiently to proue that if the name had not beene chaunged into great Brittaine it might be feared we should not long as we ought ever continue one that loue being not without dissimulation we would among our selues as is vpbraided to the inconstancie of another nation now not to be here named Ridendo fidem frangere and so loue as that we would hate againe For as a chiefe inhabitant and commander in privernum being asked in the Senate at Rome what peace they should expect Livi. 1. d ee 8. lib auswered sibonam dederitis fidam perpetuam simalam haud diuturnam So here may it be saide if vnion in name bring also in deed a good composition and faithful coniunction bona fide it will doubtlesse by Gods goodnes last ever but otherwise I feare which God forbid may againe rent in sunder and make the newe breach worse then the former And therefore wise was that saying eiusdem iuris esse debent qui sub eodem rege victuri Curt. 10. sunt and that practise of Romulus renowned who by vnion of divers nations eodem nomine et Liv. 1. Dec. 1. lib eodem iure latinos vocavit And hereof grew the Italicum bellum because the Latines vnited in other respects were not ioined eodem iure with the Romanes To speake plaine wee
is in simplicitie and perfection one but the Devil neither dwelling in this Center nor sitting in this Circle is carried in duallitie nay contrariety of numbers opposing evil against good whose Cēter being falshood the circumference cannot be truth his is a kingdome divided and must fal being not a Monarchie it cannot stand And yet we reiect not the number of two so they continue persist in vnion as it is written they shall be two in one flesh but reprobate is that duallitie that maketh war in peace begetting and ingendring diuision and contrarietie controuersie and confusion and either of ambition senslesnes hatred quarrel open discorde or rebellion doth hinder that sweete Harmony of vnion most pleasing to God and most profitable for men of whom saith Tacitus In publicum exitiosi nihil spei nisi per discordias habent tamen libert as praeciosa nomina praetexuntur But do we not see by this vnfolding of things how the perpetual course of trueth and vnitie throughout al in the world doth euen now conduct and lead me by the hand to the matter now in hand And verily I wil follow thee sacred vnion whither soeuer thou leadest me into what soeuer Region of vertue thou intendest I wil not leaue thee being never vnlike thy selfe alwaies wel accompanied adorned and beautified with diversitie of things and never alone and yet stil but one It is thy doing that Prudence the chiefe head and governour of vertues the rule and direction of al wel doings and prescribing to every vertuous action the manner order and course of doing wel doth so knit and ioine togither al moral vertues as that by thy secret influence they al may be found iointly in al wife Subiectes and in everie one particulerly with one heart to performe that duety which both yeeldeth right to the king and maintaineth peace and loue among men Siquidem communis vitae societas in vnione consistit And seeing it hath pleased his Maiesty by publique proclamation to assume the name and stile of King of Great Brittaine iure haereditario it is meete that al loving Subiects not only acknovvledge the clearenesse of his right but ioyfully applaude and cheerefully follow him herein least murmuring they like evil and base minded souldiers follow their Emperor with an evil wil according to that saying malus miles imperatorem Senec. sequitur gemens We see some noble men yea the gentlemen in our State daily to purchase vnite Land to Land and Lordship vpō Lordship to seeke by al meanes to shake of the Tenure in Capite and to hold al their Lands in some other one more free Tenure And it cannot bee denied that to al their several Courts al Tenants and free holders willingly performe their several services or els are fined by the Lord of the Mannor or by his Steward And may the inferiour Lord expect more homage from a Tenant then a King require both of Lordes and Tenants al Subiects to him and holding al they haue from Tac. 1. Hist by and vnder him pacis interest omnem potestatem ad vnum referri But al gaine-sayers murmurers qui contumaciam potius cum pernicie quā obsequium cum securitate malunt are not vnlike Mesech and Kedar spoken of in the Psalme in respect of whom the good King complained to God and to himselfe saying woe that I dwel with Mesech and Kedar I labour for peace and they prepare them to battell I studdy vnion and they Liv. 1. Dec. 2. lib. striue to make division Non placeo concordiae author said that good Valerius But alas why should Ephraim beare evill vvillto Iuda or Iuda vex Ephraim fratres'enimsumus should not they rather both togither vnited nowe into the name of Esa 11. Britaines as into the name of the beloued Israel of God flee vpon the shoulders of the Philistines and make spoile of their enemies so that the Idumites Moabites and Ammonites euen al their enemies might be subdued vnto them Duo enim sunt quibus omnis respub servatur in hostes fortitudo domi concordia And verily the vniting the two kingdomes into the name of Brittaine is not vnlike that chariot drawne with two horsemen Es 21. mentioned in Esay at sight whereof the watch-man cried Babilon is fallen Babilon is fallen all the images of her Gods are smitten down to the ground For so ' except we wil smother the childe of Vnion in his first birth both English Scottish wil soone heare him sound alow de into the whole world that al great Brittaine is like Ierusalem which is as a cittie at vnitie within it selfe and Babilon even divisiō disorder discord and confusion are confounded and overthrown and what King Egbert did write in Sand King Iames hath blotted out and troden vnder foote al the dishonour thereof and engraven as in a marble Srone the perpetual honor of great Brittaine by Royal restitution This verily commeth of the Lord of hosts which worketh with wonderfull wisedome and bringeth excellent thinges to passe Alexander asked King Porus his captiue how he would be entertained Porus answered like a King Alexander demaundeth againe Porus answereth againe in Kingly manner Alexander asketh what els Porus answereth nothing else for in this kingly manner euery thing els is cōtained And though God be praised for it the cause be not betweene English and Scottish in Conquest aud captivity as betweene Alexander and Porus but two famous kingdomes in right of bloud vnder one mighty Monarch yet our great Alexander in his high wisdome considering how these two might best bee governed hath in his owne roial heart best resolued it namely by vniting them into one Monarchie into one government and into one name and if any demaunde how els verily he must be answered no way else for in this vnion whatsoeuer else is contained Nā in istoc sunt omnia euen as the Stoiks who I thinke neither were in iest nor arrogantly conceited contained vnder Prudence both iustice and fortitude and temperance and whatsoever vertue els accounting also him who was perfectly wise an Orator a Poet a rich man a very King and an Emperour All blessings and graces may be thought attendants and companions to vnion who alone knoweth how to order al things in government and is a princely commander of Subiects obedience and subduer of gainsaiers ordering vnrulie affections bridling vntamed lustes restraining swelling pride composing rebellious appetites determining al doubts rights within the compasse of her iudgement and yet giving to euerie one his due by her discretion And therefore is like the Sunne in the middest of heauen among the Stars and as the Stars take light of the Sun so al blessings of Weale publique proceede from this sacred thrice happy vnion into the name of great Brittaine whose glorious light shineth to all and every one hath comfort thereby It is also not vnlike the Soule in the body of man for
called Camberaec which could never be extinguished by anie attempts of Romanes Saxons Danes Normans that famous Citty London is stil by them called Trenwith of Brutus first named Trenovantō And the Countrey it selfe is called Cambria of Camber Brutus Sonne though we cal it VVales a word imposed by Saxons naming thē VValshe which is strange and many mountaines rivers cities are among thē stil retaining British names extremos pudeat redijsse let vs be ashamed to bee last or backward seeing another Arthur king of all great Brittaine raigneth least we stil seeme overawed and captivated to the Conquerour Egbert his wil and by his beating vs to bee made as base vassals forgetting our selues our names and our Countrie and not daring to challendge or acknowledge them even as that base Slaue Sosia was enforced to yeeld to his Master Mercury Plau. Amph. and say pugnis me fecisti tuum etsi sum ego tamen non credomihi nomen simul abstulit cum forma Neither doe I esteeme the change of name a matter of indifferencie as if it were all one whither we were called Brittaines or cōtinued English and Scottes But in my Iudgement it is reason to alter all into Brittaines because it was our most ancient and is the more honorable name except we wil weare the Badge of slaverie on our sleeue to brag to the world that we are not ashamed to be conquered so to shew our nakednesse and shame which Adam sought to cover when he once saw it Neither in mine opinion is it reason that the now Nobles or Gentlemen of England should delight in name imposed by that Saxon seeing the whole race of Saxons is for the most part rooted out by the Danes and Normanes and none of Saxons blood that vvas Noble or almost but Gentil is left and seeing as Chronicle reporteth it was counted in the daies of the Conquerour a reproach to be called an English man or to ioine in mariage with any of the English which in my vnderstanding is Saxons nation Redit ad authores genus generosa in ortus exurgunt semina suos And verily names and titles are matters of great consideration vnlesse like Varro not caring Aug. de civ 1. 22. for name we should also say that the God whom the Iewes worshipped was but the same Iupiter and common God of other Countries though otherwise called nihil interesse censens quo nomine nuncupetur dum eadem res intelligatur But in the vnion of the Sabins and Romaines as Eutropius reporteth this was especially agreed vpon that the Sabins and Romaines should assume one an others name promiscuously so that by no meanes they should bee distinguished by name Andalbeit among vs custome hath begotten prescription yet we may remember what is wel said in the Commedie nunquam it a quisquam benè subduct a ratione fuit quin res at as vsus aliquid apportet novi vt quae prima putes post in experiendo repudias As in the Romane storie when it was obiected that innovations were dāgerous to the state and nothing was to be done whereof formerly there was no president saith Livi. 1. Dec. 4. lib Canuleius Quid postea nullane res nova institui debet quod nondum est factum multa enim non dum sunt facta in novo populo ea ne sivtilia quidem sint fieri oportet Whilest we of England were put a part from Scotland it was reason wee should haue a name divided and distinguished from them retaine that name and condition as pleased fortune to impose as Andromache saith to her Sonne sume quod casus dedit but being restored in integrum and every part knit togither it is a like reason we returne to our old name say as in the Prophet Hose 2. I will goe and returne to my former husband for at that time it was better for me then now And no man when he hath tasted the new wine but saith the old is better So that as the Romaine Empire first was a Monarchie afterwardes governed by two Consuls and so a long passing through divers kindes of governments til it returned to his former state of Monarchie to be as it was at first even so the state of great Brittaine first was as a Monarchie al governed by one since it was divided but nowe it returneth to his Monarchie againe Moribus antiquii res stat Romana virisque For men wax wearie in time of their present condition and Rome mole laboravit sua or rather and more truely God setteth bounds to al things which they cannot passe even the mightiest powers haue their periods And al worldly kingdomes thus changing after long experience say the first is best and so likewise vt rerum it a verborum interit vsus quem penes est rerum vis norma loquendi But in this case neither the thing nor the name being changed but wee lawfully recovering that which was lost renewing the title of great Brittaine enioying our Coūtry as we did before calling al Brittaines holding al things in the same safety and security vnder name of greate Brittaine as before vnder names of England and Scotland say all and each one to other pascite vt ante boues pueri submittite tauros It is a good and gracious deede to provide for real agreement in al equal coniunction and mutual participation But in my simple opinion it had beene verbo tollere reipsa relinquere only in shew to take away difference but not in deed without vniting both kingdomes into the name and stile of great Brittaine for as he complained Cic. Ep. ad Att. Tirannis occidit Tirannis vivit So if the olde enmity of English and Scottish be removed and yet the names stil remaine I feare that the verie names woulde ever put ill men in minde of olde grudge and incite new variance as is said of one that he was Romani nominis inimicus at deadlie hatred with the verie name where the name is taken for the very cause of hatred As eo nomine hostis for that cause even for name sake he is an enemie even as in Rome when all things vvere accorded and all parties pleased only a name which was in dislike among them was thought hinderance to their mutual Concorde and content Liv. 1. Dec. 2. lib saying nō placere nomen id pericule sum esse id officere id obstare libertati and therefore the Senate perswaded Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus otherwise in al respects approved and beloved of al even for his names sake to forsake his office saying absolve beneficium amicus abi exonera civitatem vano for san metu This I speake least retaining former name of English and Scottish which heretofore hath beene offensiue to each other we cal as before is spoken the ill disposed to former opposition as betweene fire and water even to kindle such a fire in Iacob as wil devour in Israell
being like to one Cittie even one Ierusalem which is a Cittie at vnitie within it selfe Hoc verè Regium duos populos vnum efficere As the king of kings hath in mercy done to Iew and Gentile to Grecian and Barbarian fecit vtraque vnum he brake downe the partition Wall and hath gathered the people and kingdomes togither to serue him dissociata locis concordi pace ligavit And why should not many and moe then two kingdomes as well civilie abide in vnitie of Subiection as many Christian nations continue in vnitie of faith But that the one hath the spirit of God which is authour of peace and louer of concorde directing them and the other the spirit of Satan authour of contention and cause of confusion perverting them Which thing King David well perceaved praying God for his Sonne Solomon that hee might enioye the fuil possession of the whole dominion from sea to sea promised to Israel vnder Moses but not fully obteined till then because of the peoples sins And albeit for our manifold great sins this whole Iland hath been overlong divided into two and forced by former division to many battels much shedding of blood yet we praise God that in these our daies the ful possessiō therof is restored giuen to our peaceable Solomon so as not only al his own subiects even from Sea to Sea of both the kingdomes are in him vnited into one but even the potent powerful neighbour kings seeke peace and make league with Israell even the kings of Tharsis of the Isles bring presents the kings of Sheba Seba brings guifts as in the daies of Solomon This change even the happiest chaunge that ever was from a people so divided from one by Gods eternal decree and special mercy to bee made one biddeth vs open our eies calleth vs a lowd come see speque fideque inquit maiora videbis For our Iland formerly for sin divided as the Echinades Insulae were fained by Poets once far seperate distracted for contempt of their Gods is now become like that Iland Delos which though it floated was tossed sometimes vpon the waters à gente in gentē as one waue forceth another was neverthelesse reported to bee afterwards truly firme and stable Doubtles that God which hath written in the waters the Sea legible for every eie to see read Mare Britannicū who hath continually carried in directing the pens pēsils of al Cosmographers Mapmakers or whatsoever Historiographers whō Alphon sus Siciliae calleth optimos Consiliarios mortuos not to alter the first old name but to cal it in all their writings descriptions Mare Britannicū hath graciously miraculously effected for the lande also that out of the dead ashes of olde great Brittaine should be raised evē the selfe same Brittain as the Phenix living and dying est cadem sednon Lactan. eadem quia ipsa nec ipsa est O admirable Metamorphosis happy change England Scotlād haue left though not lost their names both being preserved in the Bosome of great Brittaine nō duo sunt nec forma duplex but neutrūque vtrūque videtur and of both vs English Scottish being now Brittaines may it be said as of thē two brethren altervter vterque altervter est vterque vterque autem neuter Which I againe call that faire Phenix dying living eadem non eadem quia ipsa nec ipsa est In which excellent wonderful work the rather better to bring to passe the good purpose of vniting the two kingdoms people into one it hath seemed best to the godly wisedome of divine prouidence first long since to knit all our harts in one holy religion in the same service godly worship to make vs al like Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God renewed in Christ and reconciled into one body acknowledging but one God professing but one faith religion the hope of our vocation Whereby we learne cannot but confesse if as Ciprian saith consiliorū gubernaculum lex sit divina that that common Weale best pleaseth God which commeth neerest to the Church of God that wisest Politeans are best Christiās that best governments haue correspondence with Gods lawes that those kingdomes are best ruled the more blessed which are of one heart one obedience even as al are one in Christ who is the head al vnder his government are by one spirite but one bodie Wherfore the good Emperors Theodosius Valentinianus writing to Cipriā Bishop of Alexandria were bold to cōmende their government according to the platform before described saying A pietate quae in deū est Reipublicae nostrae cōstitutio pendet multa vtrinque est cognatio societ as c. Which most excellent patterne and forme of government is after the example of Christ vniting al into one this the Psalmist resembleth to that precious ointment powredon the head of Aaron running down his beard even to the skirts of his cloathing for so doth sweete and precious vnion rest chiefly in the heade which is but one from thence run al along alike to al the parts of the people which are but one But shame on Schisme whither it be civil or ecclesiastical for it renteth the seamlesse Coat of Christ both in the Church and in the Civil state even in the doctrine ceremonies of the one against the truth of God in christian charitie common civillity of the other against the peace of mē Wherfore whosoever opposeth himselfe against the one or other is more vnreasonable may be thought more cruell then the souldiers which would not divide Christs seamlesse Coat but castlots whose it should be saying sortiamur cuius sit For it caunot be denied but that they which divide great Brittaine to haue it divided within and against it selfe divide that for which they cannot say sortiamur seeing cuius is known sit cannot be denied but sortiamur cuius sit must wholly and only be left to king Iames to his royal succession for ever Only let our contention be as was that of Israell and Iudah who should be forwardest in bringing our king vnto the seate of his kingdome so nowe to preserue the possession of his kingdome sartum tectum inseperably vnited to the king iointly vnited and vndivided within it selfe Vnus rex vna lex vnus pater vna communis patria vnum caput vnum corpus Let not privat respects hinder a common good let every man be as one man of one hart one soule vnited to the kings designe for the everlasting good of every one If the king had commanded thee a great thing wouldest not thou haue done it How much more then when he saith be you all of one minde to liue agreeably togither in one vniforme gouernment for your owne vndoubted good Cedat ius proprium regi