crownes of the sunne that they thought it the best part of their securitie to absent themselues The yeere 35. Sir Iohn Dudley Vicount Lisle high Admirall of England with a Nauy of 200 saile passed the seas into Scotland in despight of all the power the confederates could raise and not onely performed actions beyond expectation but taught them the true knowledge of English shipping and mariners The next yeere the French Nauy came into Sussex but vpon very short warning were dissipated and in a sudden encounter felt the smart of presumption Presently as in diuers aduantages of such petty roades and excursions they landed at Portsmouth and the I le of Wight but with what successe or satisfaction I cannot compare it better than to a bowle of water spilt irrecouerably to be gathered vp againe For they neuer durst aduenture when our ships looked bigg vpon them but vnderstanding of their imployment abroad and sequestration farre off then hurried they suddenly vpon vs yet I hope neither found vs vnprouided nor returned backe againe with true cause of insulting In the 3. of Edw 6. the French Kings gallies and Caricks invaded Gernsey and Iersey but with what face fortune looked vpon them the losse of a 1000 men with the spoile of their greatest ships and gallies suddenly discouered Why may I not name here our iourney to Newhauen in the 4. of Queene Elizabeth when through the power of our Nauy at which both French and Spaniards began to repine the Earle of Warwicke made the seas wanton with iollity and affrighted the land with those small troopes of old souldiers from the Garison at Barwick vnited to others raised from the willing musters of our country and although some enuious hand would stop the mouth of report from ecchoing our applause at this time yet I am sure Count Ringraue and his armie felt the smart of affliction and the sorrow of many defeatures and dare auouch that the seas lay open vnto vs in despight of opposition or any encounter our enemies durst or could prepare to invite vs to In the 18. yeere was Forbishers first voyage and by reason that this glorious Queene had as it were tied the obseruation of all Nations to her actions and gouernment a peace being generally contracted diuers presumptuous persons tooke aduantage of the same and filled the narrow seas with rouers and pirats who ranne vp and downe without controll like vntamed colts scorning all enclosures and bounds ' vntill Captaine Holstock with 4. good ships and two pinaces was appointed the reformer of these abuses who presently brought into the schoole of correction 200 rouers 8 Flushingers diuers Barks and Pinaces and pacified the outragiousnes of these petty thefts The 19. Forbishers second voyage The 20. Forbishers third voyage with many other of famous memory amongst whom Hawkins Drake Candish and such worthy sea-men preuailing in all their explorations as they attempted great matters deserue as great commendation About the 23. that famous busines of Desmonds rebellion breathed insolencie into those people by reason the Pope and Spaniard had fortified themselues in Smirwick in Ireland and with a sufficient number of ships blocked vp the hauen vntill certaine of her Maiesties Nauie and the Deputies forces at land being then the forward Lord Grey behaued themselues with such good order and successe that all the passages of victory to vs and miserable discomfiture to them were set open and we triumphed with a plenary satisfaction to our endeuours In the 24. Monsieur returned into the Low-countries to bee invested with the Duchy of Brabant but when he beheld our glorious fleete and iudiciously looked vpon their strength and brauery he burst out into a passionate applause and sware that howeuer men were enemies to our peace they were enemies to truth if they did not acknowledge it without comparison The yeere following Captaine Borough with one ship and a small Barke went to sea against Rouers and although the Councell at that time suspected vs ouer-weake to withstand an vnited desperatenes yet the fight continued against 7 or 8 and all men can witnes our memorable successe in that encounter The triumphs of 88 are of such renowne and worthy celebration that the world still remembers our illustrious Nauy and admirable victory but this secret was not fully reuealed that wee were not prouided nor throughly furnished so that as true hearts praied for vs the great God of heauen fought for vs. The yeere following the Portingall voiage and as it were set on degrees Cales voiage the Iland voiage Sir Richard Leusons noble exploits and his place since supplied by Sir William Mounson haue set forward our reputation to runne the race of vnresistable preuailing and hold vp our glorious countenances in despight of any confronting looke or repining eyes Nor doe I heare reckon vp our Merchant Aduenturers and the sundry times encountring with greater and more aduantagious forces witnes the Marchant Royall in those times when Iohn King was Master which alone encountred with 3 ships and 10 gallies and came off with such iollity as they fretted to be so disappointed and we triumphed to welcome home so well deseruing a man Since when although those of Malta Florence the confederates of the Arches and many desperate Pirats haue conspired against our traphique and made our iourney into the Leuant somewhat dangerous yet we haue still gone forward and could not bee pull'd backe by any wrenching arme whatsoeuer especially in those daies of tryall when we stood on our guard and made our warlike preparation a very paire of tarriers to the Spaniard For in those daies the Conuoy for his westerne treasure was so toilesome troublesome chargeable and dangerous vnto him that one million defraied but the charges of another and by that time it came to distribution there was a strange account cast vp of losses and defatigable expences Thus had our hopes still life and our spirits grew stronger and stronger with honorable expectation and noble implâ—…t And now it hath pleased his Maiestie to shut vp the brazen dores of contention and we haue reason to sound out his excellent Motto of Beati pacifici CHAP. XXVI An other excellencie of ENGLAND consisteth in the number riches endeuours and extraordinary worth of our Marchant IN the ouer-looking as it were the map of the worlds busines I must needes confesse that neuer Monarchy was established or inlarged but by the power of the sword yet alas when I consider the inconveniences impending the affrightings of people the demolition of Cities the deuastation of Countries the slaughters of Armies the rapes murthers and terrors of the world in the best conquests and victorie I cannot but lament the condition of man that doth extract his glory from tyrannie and curses from confusion and turmoyle from blood and death For thus doe wee boast of our auncestors and the very women doe esteeme no man noble or worthy that cannot relate the victories of his forefathers and dare
to their opinion which supposed it impregnable and not to be taken by force But what men cannot in the Lyons they compasse with the Foxes skin and thus farre deride both the strength of souldiers and pride of fortifications that where the minde may be corrupted vpon any tearmes of disloyalty neither wals ramparts nor manhood can preuent the power and deceit of bribery This appeared in the disposition or Bernardine and Philip of Fresques whom the cunning of Triuulce and the disbursing 20000. crownes quickly diuerted from their first resolutions and made a breach in the Citadle without mine or battery Thus was the French possessed of this Duchy without competition or diffidence and Lewis the 12 made his royall entry accordingly But marke the vicissitude of all things Millane reuolts againe and Sforza recouers all as easily as he lost it in which busines the Swisses proued very disloyall to the French and the lookers on were amazed to behold fortune proud of inconstancy so that this vse may be raised thereby How euer men satisfie ambition for the time yet are they certaine of nothing vnder the sunne Againe when by indirect courses designes are concluded they must stand the better on their guard and prepare their patience when any alteration startleth resolution thus fared it with Millane againe For as you see a glooing heat in Aprill changed on the sodaine to bitter blasts and cloudy tempests so was Sforzas iollity reuersed himselfe surprized taken and caried prisoner to Lions where denied the benefit of a princely execution and resolued nothing can be so acceptable to a man in misery as a noble death worthy the name of a Romane hee dies at once whether for griefe or great heart it matters not yet doth the King of France pardon Millane and at last keeps all in quiet But the warres of Naples are renewed 1501. and the kingdome is diuided betweene France and Aragon so that great alteration happens in Italy and within two yeeres there is a generall ouerthrow of the French with the taking of the Castle at Naples by the Spaniard yet is not Beniamin discomfited but calleth his brethren together and with more setled courages reintegrate their estates and so the French make head againe attending the good hower of a better prosperity About this time in August died Pope Alexander the sixt of poyson which he had prepared for the Cardinals but his taster by mistaking the flagons tooke away both his life and the pride of his expectation concerning Caesar Borgias glory or his further desires to set the fuell of Italy on a blaze After him to stint the strife of many Nations expecting the Papacie old Francis Piccolamini Cardinall of Sienna was chosen Pope by the name of Pius the third in memory of Pius the second his Vnkle who made him Cardinall but a yong man must prepare himselfe to dye and an old man cannot liue long so he continues scarce a moneth leauing his roome and the glory of all Rome to the Cardinall of S. Pierre who was made Pope by the name of Iulius the second 1504. in which yeere Naples wrested her head out of the French coller and seemed more glad to be supported by Arragon nor was this sufficient but vpon a supposition to extinguish the light of the lamps of France in Italy a new league 1511. was corroborated by the vnstedfast Italians against the French which when the King perceiued and that he coniectured how his barke must bee driuen to dangerous streits by the vncertaine windes of alteration he transported his Court and Councell from Florence to Millane and from Millane to Lions determining to weary them with tedious iournies and attendance so is Italy perplexed and the Nobles repine without remedy till at last the Emperor Maximilian spreadeth the wings of the Aegle and clocketh the Princes of Italy vnder her sides whereupon with the help of the Spaniard called the holy league warre is made against Lewis and the Duchy of Millane recouered againe to the vse of Maximilian Sforza grand-childe to Lodwick who was inuested Duke by the Cardinall of Sion about the end of December yet by the Swizzes assistance and loyalty the Castles of Millane and Cremona hold still for the French and the imbers are not so extinguished but fire appeares and yeeldeth this comfort that if they moderately proceed a greater heat and more quickning light may be made In the midst of which convulsions of Italy Pope Iulius dies and Iohn Cardinall of Medices succeeded him by the title of Leo the 10. whereby a second truce was ratified betweene Lewis of France and the King of Arragon so that Lewis made great benefit of this interim and cessation confederating with the Venetians by whose assistance he brought a royall Armie into the Duchy of Millane but the Pope hauing sent 40000 ducats amongst the Switzers quickly weighed downe their former stedfastnes and so when Millane and Cremona was stored with them they were corrupted to be traitors to their first masters and accordingly against all expectation with an odious reuolt encountred the French in as cheerefull a manner as euer before they had entertained the crownes of the sunne against the Italians so that ere the yeere went about the Castles of Millane and Cremona returne to the obedience of the Duke and King Lewis held nothing in Italy but the lanterne of Genes which afterward the Genouais razed to the ground both to preuent the occasion of future tyranizing ouer them and to manifest their inveterate malice against the flower-de-luce though it glistered neuer so gloriously in an azure field Now dyes Lewis 1514. but corruptio vnius generatio alterius For Francis the first suruiues and renewes the warres of Italy passing the Alpes the yeere following and surpassing considering his Royall Armie into the Duchy of Millane against the Emperor Arrogonians Sforza and the Switzers contract a league and aduance a strength to shoulder the new French King from any firmenes nay if it may be footing in Italy but like a Cedar of Libanus he standeth vpright enduring the shaking of these tempestuous stormes and so proceedeth to a warlike tryall whereby the 13 of September in a gallant encounter at Marignan he preuaileth against the Switzers besiegeth the new Duke Maximilian Sforza in Millane and coadiuted by the Duke of Burbon wrested this composition that Maximilian shall bee the Kings pentioner in France and the Switzers to depart with bagg and baggage Thus are the French once againe welcommed into the pleasures of Lombardy and Francis the first is Lord of this vnquiet Duchy which now is detained with a seeming securitie because the Pope applauded the successe and according to the superstition of those times and policie of temporizing blessed the royall standard of Valoies But about the 20 of Iune 1519. the Emperor Maximilian paies his tribute of life to the first enlarger of breath and Charles of Austria competitor with the King of France is preferred by the name
yea sometimes it happens that when the aged father or eldest brother is contented to admit of his sonne or yonger to the coparcinary of administration or if you will absolute power in the Empire by reason of impotency age lunacy or other naturall defects they are most inhumanly rewarded with death as Zelimus poysoned his father Baiazet and the sonnes of Soliman the Magnificent shouldred one another into the pit of destruction Concerning the subiect nobility they neuer suffer in continuall discents nor permit any man to grow rich mighty or popular otherwise then may stand with the pleasure of the Emperour which is apparant by the destruction of many worthie Bashawes and Seruitours who when the Doctors of the Law haue concluded the matter by priuate conference are commonly carried by a confessing that Mordecai had not bin rewarded but secret politicians supplied the roome intimating still and still matter against him which kindled the fire of the Emperors ielousie to such a blaze that nothing but his personall appearance could quench the same When the Viceer perceiued the danger of such ouer-watchings and began to be acquainted with too many princely messages he absented himselfe a while and with dilatory excuses laid as it were open his suspition of the Emperors ielousie against him whereupon followed an obstinate deniall of comming lest the affaires of the kingdomes might be intermitted and when that serued not the turne he determined to stand on his guard till at last the Gran Signeur was aduised not to regard him at all whereupon the Mufti was called to councell which is their principall Churchman who together with diuers Doctors of their law resolued that he was too dangerous to liue and yet policie must be vsed in cutting him off When the foundation of this building was laid letters were contriued from the Prince vnto him deceitfully importing thus much That he had great cause to be thankfull to the great Prophet Mahomet for his indulgent care ouer the house of Ottoman euen in these suspitious times to prouide that a man of such courage wisdom and magnanimity gouerned the sterne of the ship of his affaires like a discreet pilot knew how to conduce the barke of the Common-wealth to safe harbour He accordingly assumeth the glory to himselfe with full resolution that either the yong Prince durst not finde fault or nothing was fault-worthy like Aesops asse who supposed that the Lyon would be terrified with his braying For at last he came to the Emperors presence into the Seralio who was taught to entertaine him with a politicall acceptation which lasted a while and with the continuance of 14 daies seemed to wipe out the print of former vnkindnes But when the day of his fatall destruction approched after the yong Prince had bin a hawking and meeting with certaine inhabitants of Bogdonia and the borders of Russia who made petition vnto Him for diuers redresses gaue them a kinde of audience hee was sodenly sent for to a priuate conference which he verily supposed according to some speciall inferences tended to that purpose nor did he once rebate the glory of his former iollity but went at least with 300 Ianisaries and his other officers toward the gates of the Seralio where by the way the Haga or Captaine of the Ianisaries met him to tell him how the Prince was retired to a Caska by the sea side and he must goe through the garden and enclosure of Roe-bucks vnto him which he performed accordingly and neuer seemed once staggering in his resolutions till he came to the yron gate and saw his company prohibited to enter and the gate fast barred as soone as he was admitted Here he must needs passe through a guard of Capogies who demanded his Semiter which he furiously denied and with increase of rage and choller railed vpon them all But they being too well instructed to forbeare any such opprobrious speeches spared a reply of words and tooke an opportunitie to ouer-master him with the company who most cruelly cut him all to peeces yet some would raise the Emperors ielousie from a suspition of loue to his mother who taking a fitting opportunitie as was imagined came with him to admonish her sonne from his pederastria or accompanying with boyes but belike they performed it with vnseasonable wisdome for in his furie he spurned her away and bad him remember he was but a slaue Some report that the first motiue of the Emperors displeasure was occasioned by reason of his buildings which ouer-looking some priuate walkes in the Seralio was both irkesome to the maiestie of the Prince and a dore to let in his euerlasting hate to which there wanted not the seuerall suggestions of many flatterers and temporizers But let his death and the cause be what it will there is no gaine-saying their wilfulnes nor moderating their rage and tyrannie witnes his fathers killing of his elder brother a Prince of great expectation but comming one day though he did it with reuerence and teares in his eyes to put him in remembrance of the Ottoman glory and inlarging the Empire which euery Prince had done sauing himselfe the admonition was so vnsauoury or the ielousie of his vertues so forcible that he beat him to death with his owne hands to the amase of all the Ianisaries and soldiers insomuch that the grandmother a woman of excellent parts who is yet liuing had like to haue perished in the hurly-burly To which may be added this yong Princes dislike of one of his Concubines whom he shot to death in his gardens I could here insert many other stories of their cruelty and tyrannous supplanting one another murthering Bashawes destroying Princes and letting loose the streames of all rage wilfullnes and distemperature but you will say I gleane but out of anothers haruest and time is too pretious to spend it in idle relations I will therefore leaue you to the originall and only for the strangenes make a breuiate of Mustapha's tragedy who was so cruelly murthered by an intemperate Prince intoxicatedby the cunning of a malitious strumpet The famous historie of MVSTAPHA SVltanus Soliman surnamed the Magnificent amongst many others had one beautifull Concubine called Rozza or Roxalana but more properly Hazathia on whom he so doted in his later times that all amarous dalliance with the rest was neglected for her sake as if pleasure and delight attended her though shee were but his slaue Thus he so followed the humors of this wanton woman that at last the noble Prince Mustapha his eldest sonne was prohibited his presence and his former children slightly regarded in respect of hers which when shee had fully apprehended and politikely entertained the next businesse was to make vse of the same yea such vse as cunning fauourites and newly aduanced officers contriue who suspecting some sudden alteration and perceiuing the Prince cannot last long care not by what meanes they enrich themselues and many times runne in the race of indirect courses
not himselfe set furie on worke to the killing of his enemie nay to the murthering of his Competitor whether for loue or displeasure But if you will truly consider the admirable composition of Commonwealths and extraordinary glorie of Kingdomes it consisteth in sedation of troubles and in the enriching of priuate men yea euen Salomons greatnesse was raised to a stupendous mountaine of amasement from the effects of a well compacted peace in which his Temple was built his Pallaces were finished his Cities disposed of his Souldiers maintained and his glory spred abroad with sufficient fulnesse For horses were brought him out of Arabia fine linnen from Aegipt perfumes and odours from Aethiopia spices from India precious stones from the Ilands gold from Ophir beasts and strange fowle from Affricke and many other things both for exornation and pleasure from the remotest parts of the earth But how by the industry of Merchants and worthy endeauours of men disposed to honour their Countrey and aduance themselues As for corruptions of life couetousnesse vaine-glory ambition pride emulation cunning and infinite of this kinde they are not to be named by way of Character or personating any particular condition of man whatsoeuer For from a Prince to a Peasant no body liues but may be traduced in the selfe same kinde that you would lay imputation on the shoulders of the Merchant therefore I will absolutely conclude that the true Merchant-aduenturer as he is one way the supporter of politicall States by commerce conuersation and bringing in of wealth so is he another way the Atlas of honour and magnificent maiesty by his customes filling the store-houses of a Court supplying the wants of a pallace pleasing the desires of nouelty cooling the heates of pride and satiating the vanitie of wishes nay if you would and the Ilands explored Virginia Norrembega Guiana and other coasts and made a trade with these Indians for diuers commodities so that from one place or other of our Countrey we haue not so few as a 1000. sailes of shippes abroad nor so small a number as a 100000. persons disperced vnder this acceptable title of Marchant For so I must tell you that except you aduise with your selfe for this denomination in many places of the world the excuse of curiositie will not serue your turne For you shall be taken for a Spie and a dangerous Hypocrite such is the iealousie of Kingdomes toward wanton Trauellers and the necessitie of entertainment for well imploied men And thus much for some speciall excellencies wherein England excelleth all other Nations CHAP. XXVII Another excellency of ENGLAND may be drawne from this obseruation that we haue had more glorious persons and famous Kings and Princes to visit our Countrey then any other Nation c. AMongst other spreading boughes of prerogatiues drawing sappe from the tree of Englands glory I may not leaue out this obseruation that wee haue had since the Conquest more seuerall magnificent entertainments of forraine Princes and voluntary progresses of famous Kings and Emperors some for pleasant iournies others for necessary imploiment then any Nation of Europe not that I meane to trouble you with vaine or tedious repetitions of Embassadors Legats Cardinalls or other ordinary Liegers as is customarie in all Princes Courts and concurses of State but meerely of extraordinary solemnities and occasion of resplendant showes triumphs and festiuall inuitations to delight and contentment No sooner had the Normane setled his Conquests and established his sonne William Rufus in the throne of greatnesse as well appeared by his ambitious desires to fill all Europe with the report of his exaltation especially after his returne out of Normandy and that he found fault with the smalnesse of Westminster-hall being yet the remarkeablest roome for State greatnesse and capacity in the world But Malcolme King of Scots and the two Princes of Wales came to doe homage vnto him about the third yeere of his raigne yea Robert Duke of Normandy with many Princes of France acknowledged his eminent glory and maiesticall Kingdome although the said Robert was his elder Brother and made way to his peace and amitie This likewise continued toward Henry the first and for addition the Kings his adioyned neighbours assumed nothing to themselues but what stood with the good liking of the King of ENGLAND for which purpose they many times came in person to gratifie him To which if you vnite the aduantagious marriage of Henry Emperour of Rome to his daughter I hope it may passe for a reasonable beginning and giue life to after hopes for the augmentation of our credits and exaltation of our prerogatiues Anno 1184. about the 31. of Henry 2. Heraclius Patriarch of Hierusalem came into our Countrey to desire aide against the Turke 1201. and the 3. of King Iohn at a solemne entertainement in Lincolne William King of Scots and diuers of his Nobles did homage vnto him in person to which if you adde his marrying of Lady IANE his bastard daughter to Leuelin Prince of Wales who was in those times a turbulent and ambitious man you may easily iudge what reputation our Countrey had got in the world when the Pope was more affrighted at the starting aside of little ENGLAND then if whole Spaine had at that time falne quite away from his supportation or if you will Antichristian vsurpation Anno 1224. about the 8. yeere of the raigne of Henry 3. Iohn de Brennes King of Hierusalem came into England for aide and assistance against the Saracens and from that vnimitable example of Richard 1. called in those times the flower of chiualry that wunne Cyprus and Acon in person well hoped to finde the other branches of that kingly off-spring full of the sappe of the same roialtie but when I remember how the chiefest Potentates of Europe came to elect Richard Earle of Cornwall his brother Emperour and King of the Romans I am more then satisfied for maintaining this vnanswerable position of our excellency in this kinde If you ouerlooke the life of Edward 1. you shall finde it a very mappe of honour and be able to tell the world that besides many forraine Potentates the Prince of Wales and his brother Dauid reioiced in his acceptation of them and Iohn Baliol King of Scots was glad to be named and established by him But come a little forward and at the naming of Edward the 3. me thinkes all English hearts should leape for ioy For 1334. Edward Baliol King of Scots did him homage the Prince of Wales was glad to kisse his hands and the Electors of Germany 1348. inuited him to the chaire of the Empire nay such was our royaltie that Henry Pichard Vintner and Maior of London feasted EDW. of England IOHN King of France the King of Cyprus comming to see our worthinesse DAVID King of Scots EDW. Prince of Wales Duke of Aquitane Guien and Cornwall all in one day Besides at diuers triumphes and Iusts these forraine Princes were led as it were