many wayes And namely to make a Breach between Scotland and England her Majesties Forces were again in the year 1582. by the Kings best and truest Servants sought and required And with the Forces of her Maâ—esty prevailed so far as to be possessed of the Castle of Edenborough the principall part of that Kingdome which neverthelesse her Majesty incontinently with all Honour and Sincerity restored After she had put the King into good and faithfull Hands And so ever since in all the Occasions of Intestine Troubles whereunto that Nation hath been ever subject she hath performed unto the King all possible good Offices and such as he doth with all good Affection acknowledge The same House of Cuise under Colour of Alliance during the Raign of Francis the second and by the Support and practâ—â—â— of the Queen Mother who desiring to retain the Regency under her own Hands during the Minority of Charles the ninth used those of â—uise as a Counterpoise to the Princes of the Bloud obtained also great Authority in the Kingdome of France whereupon having raised and moved Civill Warrs under preâ—ence of Religion But indeed to enfeeble and depresse the Ancient Nobility of that Realm The contrary Part being compounded of the Bloud Royall and the Greatest Officers of the â—rown opposed themselves onely against their Insolency And to their Aides called in her Majesties Forces giving them for security the Town of New-Haven which neverthelesse when as afterwards having by the Reputation of her Majesties Confederation made their Peace in Effect as they would themselves They would without observing any Conditions that had passed have had it back again Then indeed it was held by force and so had been long but for the great Mortality which it pleased God to send amongst our Men. After which time so far was her Majesty from seeking to sowe or kindle New Troubles As continually by the Sollicitation of her Embassadours she still perswaded with the Kings both Charles the 9th and Hen. the 3d to keep and observe their Edicts of Pacification and to preserve their Authority by the Union of their Subjects which Counsell if it had been as happily followed as it was prudently and sincerely given France had been at this day a most Flourishing Kingdome which is now a Theater of Misery And now in the end after that the Ambitious Practises of the same House of Guise had grown to that Ripeness that gathering further strength upon the weakness and Misgovernment of the said King Hen. 3d He was fain to execute the Duke of Guise without Ceremony at Bloys And yet neverthelesse so many Men were embarqued and engaged in that Conspiracy as the Flame thereof was nothing asswaged But contrarywise that King Hen. grew distressed so as he was enforced to implore the Succours of England from her Majesty Though no way interessed in that Quarrell Nor any way obliged for any good offices she had received of that King yet she accorded the same Before the Arrivall of which Forces the King being by a sacrilegious Iacobine murthered in his Camp near Paris yet they went on and came in good time for the Assistance of the King which now raigneth The Justice of whose Quarrell together with the long continued Amity and good Intelligence which her Majesty had with him hath moved her Majesty from time to time to supply with great Aides And yet she never by any Demand urged upon him the putting into her Hands of any Town or Place So as upon this that hath been said let the Reader judge whether hath been the more Just and Honourable Proceeding And the more free from Ambition and Passion towards other States That of Spain or that of England Now let us examine the proceedings reciproque between themselves Her Majesty at her Comming to the Crown found her Realm entangled with the Wars of France and Scotland her nearest Neighbours which Wars were grounded onely upon the Spaniards Quarrell But in the pursuit of them had lost England the Town of Calice Which from the 21. year of King Edward 3 had been possessed by the Kings of England There was a meeting near Burdeaux towards the end of Queen Maries Raign between the Commissioners of France Spain and England and some Overture of Peace was made But broke off upon the Article of the Resâ—itution of Callice After Queen Maries Death the King of Spain thinking himself dischaâ—ged of that Difficulty though in hoâ—our he was no lesse bound to it then before renewed the like Treaty wherein her Majesty concurred so as the Commissioners for the said Princes met at Chasteau Cambraâ—ssi near Cambray In the proceedings of which Treaty it is true that at the first the Commissioners of Spain for form and in Demonstration onely pretended to stand firm upon the Demand of Calliceâ— but it was discerned indeed that the Kings Meaning was after â—ome Ceremonies and perfunctory Insisting thereupon to grow apart to a â—eace with the French excluding her Majesty And so to leave her to make her own Peace after her People Had made his Wars Which Covert Dealing being politickly looked into her Majesty had reason being newly invested in her Kingdom And of her own Inclination being affected to Peace To conclude the same with such Conditions as she mought And yet the King of Spain in his Dissimulation had so much Advantage as she was fain to do it in a Treaty apart with the Frâ—nch whereby to one that is not informed of the Counsels and Treaties of State as they passed it should seem to be a voluntary Agreement of her Majesty whereto the King of Spain would not be party whereas indeed he left her no other choice And this was the first Assay or Earnest penny of that Kings good affection to her Majesty About the same time when the King was sollicited to renew such Treaties and Leagues as had passed between the two Crowns of Spain and England by the Lord Cobham sent unto him to acquaint him with the Death of Queen Mary And afterwards by Sir Thomas Challenor and Sir Thomas Chamberlain successively Embassadours Resident in his Low Countries Who had order divers times during their Charge to make Overtures thereof both unto the King and certain principall persons about him And lastly those former Motions taking no effect By Viscount Montacute and Sir Thomas Chamberlain sent unto Spain in the year 1560 no other Answer could be had or obtained of the King but that the Treaties did stand in as good Force to all Intents as new Ratification could make them An Answer strange at that time but very conformable to his Proceedings since which belike even then were closely smothered in his own Breast For had he not at that time some hidden Alienation of Mind and Design of an Enemy towards her Majesty So wise a King could not be ignorant That the Renewing and Ratifying of Treaties between Princes and States do adde great Life and Force both of Assurance to the parties themselves
Lordships Legitimate Issue And the Publishers and Printers of them deserve to have an Action of Defamation brought against them by the State of Learning for Disgracing and Personating his Lordships Works As for this present Collection I doubt not but that it will verifie it self in the severall Parcells thereof And manifest to all understanding and unpartiall Readers who is the Authour of it By that Spirit of Perspicuity and Aptnesse and Concisenesse which runs through the whole Work And is ever an Annex of his Lordships Penne. There is required now And I have been moved by many Both from Forrein Nations and at Home who have held in Price and been Admirers of this Honourable Authours Conceits and Apprehensions That some Memorialls might be added concerning his Lordships Life Wherein I have been more Willing then sufficient to satisfie their Requests And to that End have endeavoured to contribute not my Talent but my Mite in the next following Discourse Though to give the true Value to his Lordships Worth There were more need of another Homer to be the Trumpet of Achilles Vertues WILLIAM RAWLEY THE LIFE OF THE HONOURABLE AUTHOR FRANCIS BACON the Glory of his Age and Nation The Adorner and Ornament of Learning Was born in York House or York Place in the Strand On the 22th Day of January In the Year of our Lord 1560. His Father was that Famous Counseller to Queen Elizabeth The Second Propp of the Kingdome in his Time Sir Nicholas Bacon Knight Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England A Lord of Known Prudence Sufficiency Moderation and Integrity His Mother was Ann Cook one of the Daughters of Sir Anthony Cook unto whom the Erudition of King Edward the Sixth had been committed A choyce Lady and Eminent for Piety Vertue and Learning Being exquisitely Skilled for a Woman in the Greek and Latin Tongues These being the Parents you may easily imagine what the Issue was like to be Having had whatsoever Nature or Breeding could put into Him His first and childish years were not without some Mark of Eminency At which Time he was endued with that Pregnancy and Towardness of Wit As they were Preâ—ages of that Deep and Universall Apprehension which was manifest in him afterward And caused him to be taken notice of by several Persons of Worth and Place And especially by the Queen who as I have been informed delighted much then to confer with him And to prove him with Questions unto whom he delivered Himself with that Gravity and Maturity above his years That her Majesty would often term Him The young Lord Keeper At the ordinary years of Ripeness for the university or rather something earlier He was sent by his Father to Trinity Colledge in Cambridge To be educated and bred under the Tuition of Doctor John White-Gift then Master of the Colledge Afterwards the Renowned Arch-Bishop of Canterbury A Prelate of the First Magnitude for Sanctity Learning Patience and Humility Vnder whom He was observed to have been more then an Ordinary Proficient in the severall Arts and Sciences Whilst he was commorant in the University about 16. years of Age As his Lordship hath been pleased to impart unto my Self he first fell into the Dislike of the Philosophy of Aristotle Not for the Worthlesnesse of the Authour to whom he would ever ascribe all High Attributes But for the Unfruitfulnesse of the way Being a Philosophy as his Lordship used to say onely strong for Disputations and Contentions But Barren of the Production of Works for the Benefit of the Life of Man In which Mind he continued to his Dying Day After he had passed the Circle of the Liberall Arts His Father thought fit to frame and mould him for the Arts of State And for that end sent him over into France with Sir Amyas Paulet then Employed Ambassadour Lieger into France By whom he was after a while held fit to be entrusted with some Message or Advertisement to the Queen which having performed with great Approbation he returned back into France again With Intention to continue for some years there In his absence in France his Father the Lord Keeper died Having collected as I have heard of Knowing Persons a considerable summe of Money which he had separated with Intention to have made a competent Purchase of Land for the Lively-hood of this his youngest Son who was onely unprovided for And though he was the youngest in years yet he was not the lowest in his Fathers Affection But the said Purchase being unaccomplished at his Fathers Death there came no greater share to him than his single Part and Portion of the Money dividable amongst 5. Brethren By which meanes he lived in some streits and Necessities in his younger years For as for that pleasant Scite and Mannour of Gorhambury he came not to it till many years after by the Death of his Dearest Brother Mr. Anthony Bacon A Gentleman equall to him in Heigth of Wit Though inferiour to him in the Endowments of Learning and Knowledge Vnto whom he was most nearly conjoyned in Affection They two being the sole Male Issue of a second Venter Being returned from Travaile he applyed himself to the study of the Common Law which he took upon him to be his Profession In which he obtained to great Excellency Though he made that as himself said but as an Accessary and not as his Principall study He wrote severall Tractates upon that Subject Wherein though some great Maisters of the Law did out-go him in Bulk and Particularities of Cases yet in the Science of the Groundsâ— and Mysteries of the Law he was exceeded by none In this way he was after a while sworn of the Queens Counsell Learned Extraordinary A Grace if I err not scarce known before He seated himself for the Commodity of his studies and Practise amongst the Honourable Society of Greyes Inn Of which House he was a Member where he Erected that Elegant Pile or Structure commonly known by the Name of the Lord Bacons Lodgings which he inhabited by Turns the most part of his Life some few years onely excepted unto his Dying Day In which House he carried himself with such Sweetnesse Comity and Generosity That he was much revered and loved by the Readers and Gentlemen of the House Notwithstanding that he professed the Law for his Livelyhood and Subsistence Yet his Heart and Affection was more carried after the Affaires and Places of Estate For which if the Majesty Royall then had been pleased he was most fit In his younger years he studied the Service and Fortunes as they call them of that Noble but unfortunate Earl the Earl of Esâ—ex unto whom he was in a sort a Private and free Counseller And gave him safe and Honourable Advice Till in the end the Earl inclined too much to the violent and precipitate Counsell of others his Adherents and Followers which was his Fate and Ruine His Birth and other Capacities qualified him above others of his Profession to have
Ordinary Accesses at Court And to come frequeâ—tly into the Queens Eye who would often grace him with private and free Communication Not onely about Matters of his Profession or Businesse in Law But also about the Arduous Affairs of Estate From whom she received from time to time great Satisfaction Neverthelesse though she cheered him much with the Bounty of her Countenance yet she never cheered him with the Bounty of her Hand Having never conferred upon him any Ordinary Place or Means of Honour or Profit Save onely one dry Reversion of the Registers Office in the Star-Chamber worth about 1600 l. per Annum For which he waited in Expectation either fully or near 20. years Of which his Lordship would say in Queen Elizabeths Time That it was like another Mans Ground buttalling upon his House which might mend his Prospect but it did not fill his Barn Neverthelesse in the time of King James it fell unto him Which might be imputed Not so much to her Majesties Aversenesse or Disaffection towards him As to the Arts and Policy of a Great Statesman â—hen who laboured by all Industrious and secret Means to suppresse and keep him down Lest if he had riseâ— he might have obscured his Glory But though he stood long at a stay in the Dayes of his Mistresse Queen Elizabeth Yet after the change and Comming in of his New Master King James he made a great Progresse By whom he was much comforted in Places of Trust Honour and Revenue I have seen a Letter of his Lordships to King James wherein he makes Acknowledgement That He was that Master to him that had raysed and advanced him nine times Thrice in Dignity and Sixe times in Office His Offices as I conceive were Counsell Learned Extraordinary to his Majesty as he had been to Queen Elizabeth Kings Solliciter Generall His Majesties Atturney Generall Counseller of Estate being yet but Atturney Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England Lastly Lord Chanceller Which two last Places though they be the same in Auâ—hority and Power yet they differ in Patent Heigth and Favour of the Prince Since whose time none of his Successours did ever bear the Title of Lord Chanceller His Dignities were first Knight Then Baron of Verulam Lastly Viscount Saint Alban Besides other good Gifts and Bounties of the Hand which his Majesty gave him Both out of the Broad Seal And out of the Alienation Office Towards his Rising years not before he entred into a married Estate And took to Wife Alice one of the Daughters and Co-Heires of Benedict Barnham Esquire and Alderman of London with whom He received a sufficiently ample and liberall Portion in Marriage Children he had none which though they be the Means to perpetuate our Names after our Deaths yet he had other Issues to perpetuate his Name The Issues of his Brain In which he was ever happy and admired As Jupiter was in the production of Pallas Neither did the want of Children detract from his good usage of his Consort during the Intermarriage whom he prosecuted with much Conjugall Love and Respect with many Rich Gifts and Enâ—owments Besides a Roab of Honour which he invested her withall which she wore untill her Dying Day Being twenty years and more after his Death The last five years of his Life being with-drawn from Civill Affaires and from an Active Life he employed wholy in Contemplation and Studies A Thing whereof his Lordshâ—p would often speak during his Active Life As if he affected to dye in the Shadow and not in the Light which also may be found in severall Passages of his Works In which time he composed the greatest Part of his Books and Writings Both in English and Latin Which I will enumerate as near as I can in the just Order wherein they were written The History of the Reign of King Henry the Seventh Abecedarium Naturae or A Metaphysicall Piece which is lost Historia Ventorum Historia vitae Mortis Historia Densi Rari not yet Printed Historia Gravis Levis which is also lost A Discourse of a War with Spain A Dialogue touching an Holy War The Fable of the New Atlantis A Preface to a Digest of the Lawes of England The Beginning of the History of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth De Augmentis Scientiarum Or the Advanccment of Learning put into Latin with severall Enrichments and Enlargements Counsells Civill and Morall Or his Book of Essayes likewise Enriched and enlarged The Conversion of certain Psalms into English Verse The Translation into Latin of the History of King Henry the Seventh of the Counsells Civill and Morall of the Dialogue of the Holy War of the Fable of the New Atlantis For the Benefit of other Nations His Revising of his Book De Sapientià Veterum Inquisitio de Magnete Topica Inquisitionis de Luce Lumine Both these not yet Printed Lastly Sylva Sylvarum or the Naturall History These were the â—ruits and Productions of his last five years His Lordship also designed upon the Motion and Invitation of his late Majesty To have written the Reign of King Henry the Eighth But that Work Perished in the Designationâ— meerly God not lending him Life to proceed further upon it then onely in one Mornings Work Whereof there is Extant An Ex Ungue Leonem already Printed in his Lordships Miscellany Works There is a Commemoration due As well to his Abilities and Vertues as to the Course of his Life Those Abilities which commonly goe single in other Men though of prime and Observable Parts were all conjoyned and met in Him Those are Sharpnesâ— of Wit Memory Judgement and Elocution For the Former Three his Books doe abundantly speak them which with what Sufficiency he wrote let the World judge But with what Celerity he wrote them I can best testifie But for the Fourth his Elocution I will onely set down what I heard Sir Walter Rauleigh once speak of him by way of Comparison whose Iudgement may well be trusted That the Earl of Salisbury was an excellent Speaker but no good Pen-man That the Earl of Northampton the Lord Henry Howard was an excellent Pen-man but no good Speaker But that Sir Francis Bacon was Eminent in Both. I have been enduced to think That if there were a Beame of Knowledge derived from God upon any Man in these Modern Times it was upon Him For though he was a great Reader of Books yet he had not his Knowledge from Books But from some Grounds and Notions from within Himself Which notwithstanding he vented with great Caution and Circumspection His Book of Instauratio Magna which in his own Account was the chiefest of his works was no Slight Imagination or Fancy of his Brain But a Setled and Concocted Notion The Production of many years Labour and Travell I my Self have seen at the least Twelve Coppies of the Instauration Revised year by year one after another And every year altred and amended in the Frame thereof Till
Countrey and in his own House Concerning which I will give you a Tast onely out of a Letter â—ritten from Italy The Store-House of Refined Witts to the late Earle of Devonshire Then the Lord Candish I will expect the New Essayes of my Lord Chancellâ—r Bacon As also his History with a great deal of Desire And whatsoever else he shall compose But in Particular of his History I promise my Self a Thing perfect and Singular especially in Henry the Seventh Where he may exercise the Talent of his Divine Understanding This Lord is more and more known And his Books here more and more delighted in And those Men that have more than ordinary Knowledge in Humane Affaires esteem him one of the most capable Spirits of this Age And he is truly such Now his Fame doth not decrease with Dayes since but rather encrease Divers of his Works have been anciently and yet lately translated into other Tongues both Learned and Modern by Forraign Pens Severall Persons of Quality during his Lordships Life crossed the Seas on purpose to gain an Opportunity of Seeing him and Discoursing with himâ— whereof one carried his Lordships Picture from Head to Foot over with Him into France As a Thing which he foresaw would be much desired there That so they might enjoy the Image of his Person As well as the Images of his Brain his Books Amongst the rest Marquis Fiat A French Nobleman who came Ambassadour into England in the Beginning of Queen Mary Wife to Charlesâ— was taken with an extraordinary Desire of Seeing him For which he made way by a Friend And when he came to him being then through weaknesse confined to his Bed The Marquis saluted him with this High Expression That his Lordship had been ever to Him like the Angels of whom he had often heard And read much of them in Books But he never saw them After which they contracted an intimate Acquaintance And the Marquis did so much revere him That besides his Frequent visits They wrote Letters one to the other under the Titles and Appellations of Father and Son As for his many Salutations by Letters from Forraign Worthies devoted to Learning I forbear to mention them Because that is a Thing common to other Men of Learning or Note together with him But yet in this Matter of his Fame I speak in the Comparative onely and not in the Exclusive For his Reputation is great in his own Nation also Especially amongst those that are of a more Acute and sharper Iudgement Which I will exemplifie but with two Testimonies and no more The Former When his History of King Henry the Seventh was to come forth It was delivered to the old Lord Brooke to be perused by him who when he had dispatched it returned it to the Authour with this Eulogy Commend me to my Lord And bid him take care to get good Paper Inke For the Work is Incomparable The other shall be that of Doctor Samuel Collins late Provost of Kings Colledge in Cambridge A Man of no vulgar Wit who affirmed unto me That when he had read the Book of the Advancement of Learning He found Himself in a case to begin his Studies a new And that he had lost all the Time of his â—tudying before It hath been desired That something should be signified touching his Diet And the Regiment of his Health Of which in regard of his Universall Insight into Nature he may perhaps be to some an Example For his Diet It was rather a plentifull and liberall Diet as his Stomack would bear it then a Restrained Which he also commended in his Book of the History of Life and Death In his younger years he was much given to the Finer and Lighter sort of Meats As of Fowles and such like But afterward when he grew more Iudicious He preferred the stronger Meats such as the Shambles afforded As those Meats which bred the more firm and substantiall Juyces of the Body And lesse Dissipable upon whiâ—h he would often make his Meal Though he had other Meats upon the Table You may be sure He would not neglect that Himself which He so much extolled in his Writings And that was the Vse of Nitre Whereof he took in the Quantity of about three Grains in thin warm Broath every Morning for thirty years together next before his Death And for Physick he did indeed live Physically but not miserably For he took onely a Maceration of Rhubarb Infused into a Draught of White Wine and Beer mingled together for the Space of half an Hour Once in six or seven Dayes Immediately before his Meal whether Dinner or Supper that it might dry the Body lesse which as he said did carry away frequently the Grosser Humours of the Body And not diminish or carry away any of the Spirits As Sweating doth And this was no Grievous Thing to take As for other Physick in an ordinary way whatsoever hath been vulgarly spoken he took not His Receit for the Gout which did constantly ease him of his Pain within two Hours Is already set down in the End of the Naturall History It may seem the Moon had some Principall Place in the Figure of his Nativity For the Moon was never in her Passion or Eclipsed but he was surprized with a sudden Fit of Fainting And that though he observed not nor took any previous Knowledge of the Eclipse thereof And assoon as the Eclipse ceased he was restored to his former strength again He died on the 9th Day of Aprill in the year 1626â— In the early Morning of the Day then celebrated for our Saviours Resurrection In the 66th year of his Age At the Earle of Arundells House in High-gate near London To which Place he casually repaired about a week before God so ordaining that he should dye there Of a Gentle Feaver accidentally accompanied with a great Cold whereby the Defluxion of Rheume fell so plentifully upon his Breast that he died by Suffocation And was buried in Saint Michaels Church at Saint Albans Being the Place designed for his Buriall by his last Will and Testament Both because the Body of his Mother was interred there And because it was the onely Church then remaining within the Precincts of old Verulam Where he hath a Monument erected for him of White Marble By the Care and Gratitude of Sir Thomas Meautys Knight formerly his Lordships Secretary Afterwards Clark of the Kings Honourable Privy Counsell under two Kings Representing his full Pourtraiture in the Posture of studying with an Inscription composed by that Accomplisht Gentleman and Rare Wit Sir Henry Wotton But howsoever his Body was Mortall yet no doubt his Memory and Works will live And will in all probability last as long as the World lasteth In order to which I have endeavoured after my poor Ability to do this Honour to his Lordship by way of conducing to the same SPEECHES IN Parliament STAR-CHAMBER Kings Bench CHANCERY AND OTHER-WHERE Of the Right Honourable FRANCIS BACON
And was not without some other Seditions and Troubles As namely the great Contestation of his Prelates King Henry 2. his Happinesse was much deformed by the Revolt of his son Henry after he had associated him and of his other Sonnes King Hen. 3 besides his continuall Wars in Wales was after 44. years raign unquieted with Intricate Commotions of his Barons As may appear by the Mad Parliament held at Oxford and the Acts thereupon ensuing His Son King Ed. 1. had a more flourishing Time then any of the other Came to his Kingdom at ripe years and with great Reputation after his voyage into the Holy Land And was much loved and obeyed contrived his Wars with great Judgement First having reclaimed Wales to a setled Allegeance And being upon the point of Vniting Scotland But yet I suppose it was more honour for her Majesty to have so important a piece of Scotland in her hand And the same with such Justice to render up Then it was for that worthy King to have advanced in such Forwardnesse the Conquest of that Nation And for King Edward 3. his Raign was visited with much Sicknesse and Mortality So as they reckoned in his dayes 3. severall Mortalities One in the 22. year Another in tâ—e 35. year And the last in the 43. year of his Raign And being otherwise Victorious and in Prosperity was by that onely Crosse more afflicted then he was by the other Prosperities comforted Besides he entred hardly And again according to the Verse Cedebant ultima primis His Latter Times were not so prosperous And for King Henry 5. as his Successe was wonderfull so he wanted Continuance Being extinguished after 10. years Raign in the Prime of his Fortunes Now for her Majesty we will first speak of the Blessing of Continuance as that which wanted in the Happiest of these Kings And is not only a great favour of God unto the Prince but also a singular Benefit unto the People For that Sentence of the Scripture Misera Natio cùm multi sunt principes eius is interpreted not only to extend to Divisions and Distractions in Government but also to Frequent Changes in Succession Considering that the Change of a Prince bringeth in many Charges which are Harsh and Vnpleasant to a great part of Subjects It appeareth then that of the Line of Five hundred and fourescore years and more containing the Number of 22. Kings God hath already prolonged her Majesties Raign to exceed sixteen of the said Two and Twenty And by the end of this present year which God prosper she shall attain to be equall with two more During which time there have deceased four Emperours As many French Kings Twice so many Bishops of Rome Yea every State in Christendome except Spain have received sundry Successions And for the King of Spain he is waxed so infirm and thereby so Retired as the Report of his Death serveth for every years News whereas her Majesty Thanks be given to God being nothing decayed in vigor of Health and strength was never more able to supply and sustain the weight of her Affairs And is as far as standeth with the Dignity of her Majesties Royall State continually to be Seen to the great comfort and Hearty Ease of her People Secondly we will mention the Blessing of Health I mean generally of the People which was wanting in the Raign of another of these Kings which else deserved to have the second place in Happinesse which is one of the great Favours of God towards any Nation For as there be three Scourges of God War Famine and Pestilence so are there three Benedictions Peace Plenty and Health Whereas therefore this Realm hath been visited in times past with sundry kinds of Mortalities as Pestilences Sweats and other Contagious Diseases it is so that in her Majesties Times being of the continuance aforesaid there was only towards the Beginning of her Raign some Sicknesse between Iune and February in the Citty but not dispersed into any other paâ—t of the Realm as was noted which we call yet the Great Plague Because that though it was nothing so Grievous and so Sweeping as it hath been sundry times heretofore yet it was great in respect of the Health which hath followed since Which hath been such especially of late years as we began to dispute and move Questions of the Causes whereunto it should be ascribed Untill such time as it pleased God to teach us that we ought to ascribe it onely to his Mercy By touching us a little this present year but with a very Gentle Hand And such as it hath pleased him since to remove But certain it is for so many years together notwithstanding the great Pestering of people in Houses The great Multitude of Strangers and the sundry Voiages by Seas All which have been noted to be Causes of Pestilence The Health Vniversall of the People was never so good The third Blessing is that which all the Politick and Fortunate Kings before recited have wanted That is Peace For there was never Forreiner since her Majesties Raign by Invasion or Incursion of Moment that took any footing within the Realm of England One Rebellion there hath been onely but such an one as was repressed within the space of seven weeks And did not wast the Realm so much as by the Destruction or Depopulation of one poor Town And for wars abroad taking in those of Leeth those of New-Haven the second Expedition into Scotland the wars of Spain which I reckon from the year 86 or 87 before which time neither had the King of Spain withdrawn his Embassadours here residing neither had her Majesty received into protection the united Provinces of the Low Countries And the Aid of France They have not occupied in time a third part of her Majesties Râ—ign Nor consumed past two of â—y Noble House whereof France took one and Flanders another And very few besides of Quality or Appearance They have scarce mowed down the overcharge of the People within the Realm It is therefore true that the Kings aforesaid and others her Maiâ—sties Progenitours have been Victorious in their Wars And have made many Famous and Memorable Voyages and Expediâ—tions into sundry parts And that her Majesty contrarywise from the bginning put on a firm Resolution to content her self within those Limits of her Dominions which she received And to entertain Peace with her Neighbour princes which Resolution she hath ever since notwithstanding she hath haâ— Rare Opportunities Iust Claims and pretences and great and mighty Means sought to continue But if this be objected to be the lesse Honourable Fortune I answer that ever amongst the Heathen who held not the Expence of Blood so precious as Christians ought to do The peaceable Government of Augustus Caesar was ever as highly esteemed as the Victories of Iuliuâ— his Uncle and that the Name of Pater Patriae was ever as Honourable as that of propagator Imperii And this I
end And in this Case she continued but a few dayes So as it cannot be called the Last Act of her Life but the First step to her Death For as it is a Miserable Condition to see the Facultieâ— of our Body buried before us And to survive long after them So it is a Faire and Naturall Conclusion of our Life when the Senses are by little and little layd asleep that the Dissolution of the whole should immediatly follow I will adde one Thing more to make up the full Measure of her Felicity which is that she was not only most Happy in her own Person but in the Abilities and vertues of her Servants and Ministers For she was served by such Persons as I suppose this Island never brought forth the like before her Times Now when God beareth a love to Kings no doubt he raiseth up the Spirits of Wise Servants as a concurrent Blessing There are two faire Issues of her Happinesse born to her since her Death I conceive not lesse Glorious and Eminent then those she enjoyed a live The one of her Successour The other of her Memory For she hath gotten such a Successour who although for his Masculine Vertues and Blessing of Posterity and Addition of Territories he may be said to exceed her Greatnesse and somewhat to obscure it Notwithstanding he is most zealous of her Name and Glory And doth even give a Perpetuity to her Acts Considering both in the Choice of the Persons and in the Orders Institutions of the Kingdome he hath departed so little from her So as a Son could hardly succeed a Father with lesse Noise or Innovation As for her Memory it hath gotten such Life in the Mouths and Hearts of Men as that Envy being put out by her Death and her Fame lighted I cannot say whether the Felicity of her Life or the Felicity of her Memory be the greater For if perhaps there fly abroad any factious Fames of Her raised either by Discontented Persons or such as are averse in Religion which notwithstanding dare now scarce shew their Faces and are every where cryed down The same are neither true neither can they be long liv'd And for this cause especially have I made this Collection such as it is touching her Felicity and the Marks of Gods Favour towards Her That no malicious Person should dare to interpose a Curse where God hath given a Blessing Now if any Man shall alledge that against me which was once said to Caesar We see what we may admire but we would fain see what we can commend Certainly for my part I hold true Admiration to be the highest Degree of Commendation And besides such Felicities as we have recounted could not befall any Princesse but such an one as was extraordinarily supported and cherished by Gods Favour And had much in her own Person Rare Vertues to create and work out unto her self such a Fortune Notwithstanding I have thought good to insert something now concerning her Morall Part Yet only in those things which have ministred occasion to some Mallicious Tongues to traduce her This Queen as touching her Religion was Pious Moderate Constant and an Enemy to Novelty First for her Piety Though the same were most conspicuous in her Acts and the Form of her Government yet it was Pourtrayed also in the common Course of her Life and her daily Comportment Seldome would she be absent from Hearing Divine Service and other Duties of Religion either in her Chappell or in her Privy Closet In the reading of the Scriptures and the writings of the Fathers especially of Saint Augustine she was very Frequent She composed certain Prayers her self upon emergent occasions Whensoever she named God though it were in common discourse she would for the most part adde The Title of Maker saying God my Maker And compose both her Eyes and Countenance to a Submisnesse and Reverence This I have often my self observed being in her presence Now whereas some have divulged her unmindfulnesse of Mortality in that she would never endure any Mention either of her Age or Death it is most false For she would often and that many years before her Death with a great deal of Meeknesse professe that she found her self grown an old Woman And she would sometimes open her self what she liked best for an Inscription upon her Tombe Saying That she loved no pompous or vain-glorious Titles but would onely have a Line or two for her Memory wherein her Name and her Virginity and the years of her Raign and her Establishing of Religion and her Maintaining of Peace should be in the fewest words comprehended It is true that whilest she was in her vigorous years and able to bear Children if at any time she were moved to declare her Successour she would make Answer That she would never endure to see her winding sheet before her Eyes And yet notwithstanding some few years before her death one day when she was in a deep Meditation and as it may be ghessed in that of her Mortality One that might be bold said unto her Madam there are divers Offices and great places in the state which you keep too long void She arose up in some displeasure and said I am sure my Office will not be long void As for her Moderateness in Religion I shall seem to be at a stand in regard of the Severe Lawes made against her Subjects of the Romish Religion Notwithstanding that which I shall say is no more then what I know for certain and diligently observed Most certain it is that it was the Firm Resolution of this Princesse not to offer any violence to Consciences But then on the other Side not to suffer the State of her Kingdome to be ruined under pretence of Conscience and Religion Out of this Fountain she concluded First That to allow Freedome and Toleration of two Religions by publick Authority in a Nation Fierce and Warlike And that would easily fall from Dissention of Minds to Siding and Blowes would bring inevitable Ruin to this Kingdome Again in the Newnesse of her Raign when there was a generall distrust she singled out some of the Bishops of the most Turbulent and Factious Spirits and commiâ—ted them to free Custody And this not without the warrant of Former Lawes As for the Rest either of the Cleargy or Laity she did not ransack their Consciences by any Sevâ—re Inquâ—sition but rather secured them by a gracious Connivency And this was the State of Things at the first Neither did she depart from this Clemency when the Excommunication of Pius Quinâ—us came Thundâ—ing against her which might both justly have provoked her and have ministred occasion to new Courses But howsoever she followed her Royall Nature still For as a wise Lady and of a high Courage she was not a whit terrified at the Roaring of a Bull Being well assured of her Peoples Love and Fidelity towards her As also of the Disability of the Popish Faction
Territory hath been rather matter of Burthen then matter of Strength unto them yea and further it hath kept alive the Seeds and Roots of Revolts and Rebellions for many Ages As we may see in a fresh and notable Example of the Kingdome of Aragon Which though it were united to Castile by Marriage and not by Conquest And so descended in Hereditary Union by the space of more then an 100. years yet because it was continued in a divided Government and not well Incorporated and Cemented with the other Crowns Entred into a Rebellion upon point of their Fueros or Liberties now of very late years Now to speak briefly of the severall parts of that form whereby States and Kingdomes are perfectly united They are besides the Soveraignty it self four in Number Vnion in Name Vnion in Language Vnion in Lawes Vnion in Employments For Name though it seem but a superficiall and Outward Matter yet it carrieth much Impression and Enchantment The Generall and common Name of Grecia made the Greeks alwaies apt to unite though otherwise full of Divisions amongst themselves against other Nations whom they called Barbarous The Helvetian Name is no small Band to knit together their Leagues and Confederacies the faster The common Name of Spain no doubt hath been a speciall meanes of the better union and Conglutination of the severall Kingdomes of Castile Aragon Granada Navarre Valentia Catalonia and the rest Comprehending also now lately Portugall For Language it is not needful to insist upon it because both your Majesties Kingdomes are of one Language though of severall Dialects And the Difference is so small between them as promiseth rather an inriching of one Language then a continuance of two For Lawes which are the Principall Sinnewes of Government they be of three Natures Iura which I will term Freedomes or Abilities Leges and Mores For Abilities and Freedomes they were amongst the Romans of four Kinds or rather Degrees Ius Connubii Ius Civitatis Ius Suffragii and Ius Petitionis or Honorum Ius Connubii is a thing in these times out of Use For Marriage is open between all Diversities of Nations Ius Civitatis answereth to that we call Denization or Naturalization Ius Suffragii answereth to the Voice in Parliament Ius Petitionis answereth to place in Counsell or Office And the Romans did many times sever these Freedomes granting Ius Connubii sine Civitate And Civitatem sine suffragio And suffragium siâ—e Iure Petitionis which was commonly with them the last For those we called Leges it is a Matter of Curiosity and Inconveniency to â—eek either to extirpate all particular Customes Or to draw all Subjects to one Place or resort of Iudicature and Session It sufficeth there be an Uniformity in the Principall and Fundamentall Lawes both Ecclesiasticall and Civill For in this Point the Rule holdeth which was pronounced by an Ancient Father touching the Diversity of Rites in the Church For finding the Vesture of the Queen in the Psalm which did prefigure the Church was of divers Colours And finding again â—hat Christs Coat was withâ—ut a seam he concludeth well In veste varietas sit Scissura non sit For Manners a Consent in them is to be sought industriously but not to be enforced For Nothing amongst People breedeth so much peâ—â—inacy in holding their Customes as suddain and violent ofâ—er to remove them And as for Employments it is no more but in indifferent Hand â—nd Execution of that Verse Trâ—s Tyriusque mihi nullo discrimine agetur There remaineth only to remember out of the Grounds of Nature the two Conditions of Perfâ—ct mixture Whereof the former is Time For the Naturall Philosophers say well that Compositio is Opus Hominis and Mistio Opus Naturae For it is the Duty of Man to make a fit Application of Bodies together But the perfect Fermentation and Incorporation of them must be left to Time and Nature And Vnnaturall Hasting thereof doth disturb the work and not dispatch it So we see after the Graft is put into the Stock and bound it must be left to Time and Nature to make that Continuum which at the first was but Contiguum And it is not any continuall pressing or Thrusting together that will prevent Natures season but rather hinder it And so in Liquours those Commixtures which are at the first troubled grow after clear and setled by the benefit of Rest and Time The Second Condition is That the greater draw the lesse So we see when two Lights do meet the greater doth darken and dim the lesse And when a smaller River runneth into a greater it looseth both his Name and Stream And hereof to conclude we see an excellent Example in the Kingdomes of Iudah and Israel The Kingdom of Iudah contained Two Tribes The Kingdom of Israel contained Ten King David raigned over Iudah for certain years And after the Death of Isbosheth the Son of Saul obtained likewise the Kingdom of Israell This Union continued in him likewise in his Son Salomon by the space of 70. years at least between them both But yet because the Seat of the Kingdom was kept still in Iudah and so the lesse sought to draw â—he greater upon the first occasion offered the Kingdomes brake again and so continued ever after Thus having in all Humblenesse made Oblation to your Majesty of these simple Fruits of my Devotion and Studies I do wish and do wish it not in the Nature of an Impossibility to my Apprehenâ—ion That this happy Vnion of your Majesties two Kingdomes of England and Scotland may be in as good an Houre and under the like Divine Providence as that was between the Romans and the Sabines CERTAIN ARTICLES OR CONSIDERATIONS TOUCHING THE UNION OF THE KINGDOMES OF ENGLAND and SCOTLAND Collected and dispersed for His MAIESTIES better Service YOUR Majesty being I do not doubt directed and conducted by a better Oracle then that which was given for Light to AEneas in his Peregrination Antiquam exquirite Matrem hath a Royall and indeed an Heroicall Desire to reduce these two Kingdomes of England and Scotland into the Unity of their Ancient Mother Kingdome of Brittain Wherein as I would gladly applaud unto your Majesty or sing aloud that Hymne or Antheme Sic itur ad Astra So in a more soft and submisse voice I must necessarily remember unto your Majesty that Warning or Caveat Ardua quae Pulchra It is an Action that requireth yeaâ—â—nd needeth much not only of your Majesties Wisedome but of â—our Felicity In this Argument I presumed at your Majesties first Entrance to write a few Lines indeed Scholastically and Speculatively and not Actively or Politickly as I held it fit for me at that time when neiâ—her your Majesty was in that your desire declared Nor my self in that Service used or trusted But now that both your Majesty hath opened your desire and purpose with much Admiration even of those who give it not so full an Approbation And that my self was by the