Estate domestique or inward or matter of the Law is divided into these three maine heads following The first that the alteration of the name of the King doth inevitably and infallibly draw on an erection of a new Kingdomâ— or estate and a dissolution and extinguishment of the old and that no explanation limitation or reservation can cleare or avoid that inconvenience but iâ— will he full of repugnancy and ambiguity and subject to much variety and danger of construction The second is an enumeration or recitall of the speciall or severall confusions incongruities and mischiefes which will necessarily and incidently follow in the time present As in the summoning of Parliaments and the recitals of Acts of Parliament In the Seals of the kingdome Jn the great Officers of the kingdome In the Lawes customs liberties and priviledges of the kingdome In the residence and holding of such Courts as follow the Kings person which by this generality oâ— name may be held in couâ—â—land In the severall and reciproque oathes the onâ— of his Majestie at his Coronation which is neveâ— iterated the other in the oathes of allegiance homage and obedience made and renewed from time to time by the Subjects All which Acts instruments and formes of policy and government with multitude of other forms of Records Writs pleadâ—gs and instruments of a â—eaner nature run now â—n the name of England â—â—d upon the change would 〈◊〉 drawne into incertainâ— and question The third is a possibiâ—â—ty of alienation of the â—rowne of England to the â—ne of Scotland in case 〈◊〉 Majesties line should determine which God of â—s goodnesse defend for if it be a new erected kingdome it must goe in tâ— nature of a purchase 〈◊〉 the next heire of his Majesties fathers side The matter of Stâ—forreine or matter of 〈◊〉 â—â—tercourse and commerâ—â— consisteth of these thâ—â—â— points following The first is the League Treaties forreine Fredomes of trade and trâ—fique forreine contraâ—â— may be drawne in quesâ—â—on and made subject quarrell and cavillation The second is that the Kings precedency before other Christian Kings which is guided by antiquiâ—â— of Kingdomes and not â—y greatnesse may be enâ—angered and his place turned last because it is â—h newest The third is that the â—lory and good acceptation of the English name and â—ation will be in forreine â—arts obscured The matter of honouâ— and reputation standeâ— chiefly upon these fouâ—â—maine heads or points following The first is that 〈◊〉 worldly thing is more deâ— to men then their name 〈◊〉 as we see in private famâ—â—lies that men disinheriâ— their daughters to conâ—nue their names mucâ— more in States and wheâ— the name hath been famous and honourable The second is that the contracted name of Briâ—aine will bring in oblivion the names of England and Scotland The third is that whereas now England in the stile 〈◊〉 placed before Scotland â—n the name of Britaine that degree of priority or â—recedence will be lost The fourth is that the change of name seem harsh at the first in the popular opinion and something unâ—leasing to the Countrey THese precedent objections and many other pretended against the happy uniting of these two famous kingâ—omes of England and â—cotland the Reader shall finde sufficiently answered in the ensuing Treatise by the Author to his full satisfaction and content THE â—E-MARRIAGE Of two famous Kingdomes ENGLAND and SCOTLAND â—â—duced into one Great Brittaine â—y the providence of one God the â—iety of two Kings the unity of â—oth Nations By way of answer 〈◊〉 former Objections BY IOHN BRISTOL IT was long before the Objections against the â—ntended happy union of both the Realmes came to my hands bâ— having read them 〈◊〉 could not hold mâ— hand from writing 〈◊〉 remove cleare them esteeming them only 〈◊〉 great shew of big loâ—â— laid in the way bâ—â—tween the two emineâ—â— markes shot at by tâ— soveraign Vnitor namely honour and happinesse the one inseparably inherent in his mâ— royall person the otheâ— assuredly intended 〈◊〉 Subjects benefit whiâ—â—â—hings in apparant utiâ— or urgent necessity â—e Objectors desire to â—e shewed them for whose satisfaction I have briefly examined and answered every obâ—â—ction The Objectors finde â—o president at home â—or abroad of uniting 〈◊〉 contracting of the names of two severall Kingdomes or States â—nto one name where the Vnion hath growne â—y marriage or blood and say that the examples which may bee alleged are but in case 〈◊〉 Conquest But I remember that Charles 〈◊〉 France the eighth 〈◊〉 Comineus mentioneth taking to wife the heiâ— of little Brittaine annexed it to the Crowneâ— France ruled it 〈◊〉 lawes customes aâ— priviledges of Franâ—â— and gave the Noble thereof place in Parliament in France 〈◊〉 union is a strong keep of Imperiall Soveraignty and is the very siâ—ewes of Weale pubâ—â—que But as Tacitusâ—ith By divers lawes â—er diverse Nations â—â—bject to one King â—uicquid est authoritatis â—ebis destruitur contraâ—â—ctionibus Charles the fifth uniâ—â—d in the common â—ame of Spaine divers â—ther his kingdomes â—hereof two of them â—amely Aragon and â—astile descended to him in right of blood For he well knew that the most emineÌ„t in dignity is most honored 〈◊〉 Vnity and that this truly called Prudence even the electing or rejecting the continuing or changing of formeâ— and uniting kingdome according to time plaâ—â— or persons which greâ—â— vertue is not alwaiâ— contained in certaiâ— and the same bound but altereth it selfe 〈◊〉 occasion serveth in respect of forenamed circumstance But the Objectors acknowledge uniting of Kingdomes in case of Conquest I marvell they doe it not much more by right of blood for in that Vnion of constraint there is ever doubt and dread for continuance thereof as is well said Malus cuâ—tos diuturnitatis metus but in this by right of â—lood God giveth blesâ—ing to natures work First in the great majesty of the high at supreame Governouâ— where one mighty Monarch is of more command and power the a King of divers distiâ—guished Kingdomes Secondly in 〈◊〉 more facility of the government where people under like law are more easily rule than under divers law And thirdly in tâ— more security of the gâ—â—verned who being with like equity of â—wes will one love and strengthen the other but being divided â—oe oftentimes underâ—ine and practise subâ—ersion one of the oâ—her Vires imperii in â—onsensu sunt obedientiâ—m tolle unitatem â—mnis imperii contextus in â—ultas partes dissidet Which consideration made King Henry the â—ighth rightfully assuming the title of King of Ireland by voluntary Vote in Parliament oâ— the Lords and Comâ—mons of that Kingâ—dome albeit the King of England were beâ—fore that time but calâ—led Lords of Irelandâ— yet now changing hiâ— Stile to endeavour bâ— just lawes to cause the Irish change as welâ— their apparell as lanâ—guage and divers theiâ— old formes and formeâ— lawes and to reducâ— them into forme oâ—
is the selfe same as if we feared that without Vnion the king would hold personall Courts in Cornwall or as if we doubted that such Courts when our former Kings were personally in France were not for all that kept a◠Westminster The sea◠of judgement is the sea◠of the house of David thither the Tribes goe up and there the peoples feet stand even in the gates of Ierusalem which Ierusalem is a City that is at unity in it selfe at unity concerning matters of religion at unity in matters touching publike justice and government therefore the King began his Psalme 122. I was glad when they said to me We will goe c. Lastly the exception taken against Vnion because of the Kings oath at his Coronation which is never iterated is grounded on the selfe same reason as if it were also alleadged that because his Majestie sweareth to maintaine ancient and fundamentall lawes therefore upon circumstance of time and occasion he might not alter any Law but let it be remembred that the Kings oath concerneth the Lawes and not the title and we know the Lawes may be preserved though the title be altered And as for Subjects I doubt not but they may without danger at the pleasure of the King sweare their allegeance and doe homage and obedience after restitution of title reformation of law and Vnion of Kingdomes And ancient Records doe no more leese their force by the change of England into Britaine then by change of King IAMES into King CHARLES And there is no more incertainty of pleadings instruments and writs than when a plaintife deceaseth after seven yeares suite his heire is put to begin commence his suite anew in other name The heart of objections against Vnion being halfe broken let us enter into the third consideration of matter of State inward where is objected a possibility of alienation of the Crowne of England to the Crowne of Scotland in case his Majesties Line should determine But blessed bee God our gracious Soveraigne King is blessed with a plentifull issue and hath yet much farther hope And I hope for which I pray night and day that his Majesties royall Issue shall not faile so long as the Sun and Moone endureth Neverthelesse if some will not labour of the common bane of good wits which is rather to dispute than obey and rather to reason beyond reason than yeeld to reason more magis quà m judicio they may herein also easily answer themselves that in uniting the two kingdomes the second place in stile may be rather drawne to the next of blood in our Land than the kingdome of England bee transferred to one farther off frō the Seem Which thing neither Henry the seventh nor Henry the eighth doubted the one seeking to marry his eldest daughter Lady Margaret to King Iames the fourth of Scotland hoping if his heire male failed by that meanes to unite Scotland to England And the other having his whole drift to match his Sonne Prince Edward to Queen Mary foreseeing in his providence the inestimable benefit of uniting the two kingdomes for which cause many of the Nobles of Scotland gave faith to doe their best endeavours But it is a strange doubt and cast beyond the Moone to imagine that Vnion of the two kingdomes doth so confound the State and change the tenure to bring it so into case of purchase as it will necessarily subject England to Scotland especially if his most excellent Majesty of his singular tenderness and love to this his Realme of England be pleased to effect and establish that in case his Royall Issue which Almighty God of his infinite mercy defend should faile that then by this happy intended Vnion the Realme of Scotland should for ever be and continue indissolubly united and annexed to the lawfull and rightfull inheritance and succession of the Crowne of England in the blood royall of the same Now touching matter of State forreine in answer to the first objection I am well assured that our forreine affaires were at worst in the opinion of all at the decease of our late Queen and our entercourse utterly decaied with many Princes so as we need a kind of present renewing which may be cōcluded as wel under title of King of all Britain as of England To the second it is easily answered that the King loseth no precedency of place as is imagined specially antiquity as in the Objections is alleadged guiding it and not greatnesse For the Successor to King Arthur of Britaine will bee worthy in the opinion of the whole world of better place then King Egbert of England To the third that if the name of England as is imagined be obscured the name of famous and great Britain will be illustrate memorable in times past to all the then knowne Nations of the earth Touching matter of Honour it is certaine and evident that the name of England though it hath beene worthily most famous and great yet is not equall to the title of great Britaine when England and Scotland are reunited either by reason of honor or of power All Histories remembring unto us that the Britaines long time resisted the mighty force of Romaines Lords and Conquerours of the world And albeit some fathers can be content to disinherite their own daughters to continue their names as is inferred in the objections and therfore inforced shold be much more in States specially where the name hath beene famous yet for my part I account such parents unkind and unnaturall where self-love of their name maketh them forget themselves and forsake their owne flesh I will not urge here the law of God of nature and of most nations where daughters inherite names grow extinguished But this is a vaine respect only of name wherof is spokē to get a name on earth and to think their name should never be put out whereas so many countries so many people so many persons have either lost or left their former name and most willingly have been called by another name Gaudet cognomine terra Virgil Eneid lib. 6. That countrey rejoyced to be called by a new name how much more should our Land imbrace this name of Britaine and yet not new but indeed his old proper name renewed and as it were redivived and restored from the dead Or be it simply losse only of a bare transitory name yet as the Prophet Esay speaketh Chapter 56. ver. 3. Let not the Eunuch say Behold I am a dry tree my name shall perish with mee Let us rather regard that name which God promiseth to them that serve him saying Esay 65. ver. 5. Even unto them will I give in my house and within my pallaces a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters I will give them an everlasting name which shall not be put out The argument of Oblivion deserveth no answer but silence and forgetfulnesse and yet I doubt not but famous acts of Noble English men will as well
to butt at and beate one the other where held both together in like yoke one cannot easily offend or force the other Sic enim immensa multitudo authoritatis quasi spiritu regitur And where it is of the nature of man not to endure all servitude nor all liberty but to strive to shake off the one and to be weary of the other it is certaine that equity and equability of like lawes to a divers people united in one will make them which otherwise feare servitude to enjoy freedome and those which seeme most free by former priviledges immunities to feare servitude if they transgresse their bounds for such Vnion and equity is communis custodia principatus reipublicae But faction and ambition are the father and mother of intestine calamity Civill war and deadly feud Who so loveth this will never like that neither is he of the body but of the toes and feet of that image which Nebuchadnesar dreamed of Dan. 2. whose head was of fine gold whose breast and armes of silver whose belly and thighes of brasse whose legs of Iron and whose feet part of Iron and part of Clay Silver Brasse and Iron are metals easily mixed but Iron and Clay will not by any meanes melt and joyne together Kingdomes divided are prefigured in the Iron and Clay they are partly warlike and well governed partly weak factious and seditious they agree not to the King their golden head and though they as the Text saith verse 43. mingle themselves with the seed of men yet joyn not one with another but are as Iron and Clay which will not be mixed together The Poets call this latter age Ferrea let us which live in it prove them Poets and not Prophets that so being joyned to our golden head in all obedience and duty in all love and zeale to our Countrie and in Vnitie among our selves God may still showre down his wonted favours upon Church and Common-wealth and that wee may still bee thankfull returning him the glory FINIS A SECOND PART to the precedent TREATISE THE State of England and Scotland may bee resembled to the condition of Israel and Iuda not only for emulation who have most right to the Royall person of the Kings Majesty for their defence and government but also for that the two kingdomes were at first both but one Besides God as he speaketh by his Prophet Hosea Chapter 11. did also at first alike leade both them and us With Cords of a man even with Bands of love And as it pleased God for sinne of people to breake those Bands even both the Staffe of bands and of beauty to dissolve the brotherhood of Israel and Iuda as saith the Prophet Zach. 11. so for the iniquity of our forefathers God brake the Staffe of bands signifying mutuall love and also Staffe of beauty signifying order of government and brought in upon them and upon their posterity even to these our later daies as Esay saith Chapter 9. A staffe of division and yoke of burden upon theirs and our shoulders which now for all that out of the riches of his mercy he hath also broken in pieces making all one againe as hee spake by his Prophet Ezekiel concerning Israel and Iuda Chapter 37. saying I will make them one people in the land upon the mountaines of Israel and one King shall be King to them all and they shall be no more two peoples neither be divided any more henceforth into two Kingdomes This foundation laid as project of our whole purpose The truth sheweth it self how two kingdoms severed in place not much differing in lawes nor dissonant in language but only disagreeing heretofore in neighbourhood may be comprehended under notion of one name specially seeing when one ruleth both and both become Subject to one they are no more two but one body linked in like duty and knit together in one band of obedience To doubt this is in Strangers ignorance but in Subjects a great offence For who so considereth that many Shires with the principality of Wales heretofore made one England cannot but confesse that likewise England and Scotland with all their territories Islands Shires and Countries make now one great Britaine and all the people of both the mighty Nations Britaines and that the Kings Majesty hath done as princely an Act in uniting both the kingdomes into one name as he did in uniting the Armes of both the Realmes into one Scutchion having a like right in both For all great Britaine being his Majesties inheritance all his Subjects within that continent are Brittaines Iust and reasonable was the demand of Annius chiefe Governour of Latines in uniting Romanes and Latines saying Ex utraque gente unum oportet esse populum unam fieri rempub eandem imperiisedem idemque omnibus nomen And albeit the Latines were content for sake of Weale publike to prefer Romanes before themselves and be called by their names as the History there farther reporteth Quoniam ab alter utra parte concedi necesse est quod utrisque benè vertat sit haec sanè patria potior Romani omnes vocemur neverthelesse the case not standing so with us that Scottish should be called by our name nor we by theirs methinkes a third name of great Britaine might easily and equally please both otherwise as King Deiotarus cut off all his children saving one because he would leave the kingdome but to one so should English swallowing up name of Scottish or Scottish drowning name of English prove such a Vine which to bring but one grape to ripenesse is content that all branches be cut off but one But the question here is not which of the branches should best prosper but how all the branches may flourish which abide in the Vine and verily the question carrieth in it selfe his answer Abide in the Vine This Vine is but one though of many branches and much fruit And thankes be given to God that his Majesty K. Iames of blessed memory by publique Proclamation divulged the inserting and fast grafting of each branch and all fruit into his owne Royall person as into a fruitfull and flourishing Vine even into the head of the whole body of how many soever parts consisting Wherein his Highnesse laid the first stone as he was the true and only foundation of happy union and yet as yet like Apelles fashioning only the exquisite and most excellent beauty of Venus in the head but I hope also and will pray for perfection in the rest that the saying may be true Rex velit honesta nemo non eadem volet◠and that an universall union may be as happy in successu as it is most just by Proclamation in inceptu That the head going before the whole body may follow after in imitation to worke out perfection of the desired happy union That it may be verified quod diu parturivit tandem peperit and what God had in his providence long purposed is fulfilled
Northward is Britaine beyond Twede yet both on this side and that all but one Britaine non nos mare separat ingens exiqua prohibemur aqua as all France hath formerly been divided into two parts the one beyond the Alps the other within the Alps and all India Westward within the River Gange and Eastward beyond Gange And all Scithia within Imaus and without Imaus And though the Island hath beene long time divided into two Kingdomes yet England it selfe hath oft times of divers been called Britaine as by a Sirname and if pars pro toto might have that denomination much more ought the whole being now made one Therefore Linacre and Grocinus of the one part called themselves Britaines and Iohannes Major of the other affirmed that the Kings of England and Scotland wanted good Councell to advise them to marry together so to make of both one kingdome of Britaine and that only envious men and they who neglected the Weale publique did hinder this union of peace Which thing King Henry the seventh and King Henry the eigth wisely foresaw seeking by marriage to unite both kingdomes into one Discordantis saepe patriae non aliud est remedium quam si ab uno regeretur Therefore the wise men have most religiously observed two beginnings of things one of evill divisible imperfect manifold called duallity or Binarius numerus Another of good indivisible perfect and in name and nature alwaies one called unitas If Duallity or Binarius as cause efficient beare sway then in the aire breed intemperature if in Cities Families or Kingdomes wars and discord if in the body diseases if in the minde of men vice and wickednesse But where union possesseth chiefe place her fruits are to the aire wholsome temper to Cities Families and Kingdomes mutuall love and joy to the body health and strength and to the mind vertue godlines For unity admitteth no duality knoweth no contrariety and by consequence noâ— infirmity But Duallity seduced Adam in disobedience seeking to know as well evill as good who before was sole Monarch of the whole earth and was wholly good and perfect both in Body and Soule untill he drew with a double twisted cord of contrarieties unto his body in stead of health sicknesse and infirmities and unto his soul in stead of Righteousnesse sin and misery needing now to strengthen his body bread and to repaire his soule grace even for body and soule Gods mercy For so he turned the Monarchy of perfect good into a Monomachy or duellum of good and evill sinne and righteousnesse peace and war joy and sorrow sicknesse and health yea life and death And now when the sole Monarch of the whole earth left off to abide in the common obedience and universall union of all things to his Creator albeit all the creatures were before in voluntary subjection united also to their sole Monarch Adam on earth yet now every creature lifteth up himselfe against his sole earthly Soveraigne and against his Succession for ever The earth will not yeeld Adam bread but by the sweat of his browes the beasts become wilde and cruell yea the earth openeth her mouth against the succession of disobedient Adam and swalloweth up Corah Dathan and Abiram the waters drowne the whole world except eight persons the poore flie can and doth sometimes choake a man having before neither power nor will to doe it Lice can devoure and eate up Herod even the vilest and weakest creatures can and often do destroy the greatest Tyrants of the earth And in the opinion of some the holy Ghost seemeth in mystery to open this matter to a man of understanding forbearing in the second daies worke to say all was good as is plainely said of all the other five daies and he saw all things good not but that the worke of this day was also good for all his works are and were exceeding good but because of waters which in many places of the Scripture signifie troubles yea intollerable afflictions and because of division of waters in that daies worke God being a God not of division but of peace therefore the holy Ghost seemeth to forbeare to say in that place And it was good And yet would not these bee mistaken in their curiosity as if they included the division of waters in that dayes worke not to be good seeing that waters in the clouds divided from the Seas are upholden by Gods providence not to poure downe and overwhelme the earth for they approve divisions of constructions to be good as the dividing the light from darknesse the day from night and of whatsoever into parts for ornament and beauty of the forme divided but utterly condemne divisions of destructions or of distractions which is frangere non dividere comminuere non distinguere to part the body from the head or the members from the body to bring order to confusion unity to distraction forme to a Chaos and eâ—s to privation such division was that whereof Caselius answered the Merchant Navem si dividis nec tu nec socius habebit and such division the unnaturall harlot entended requiring the living childe to be cut into two parts 1 Kings 3. Let it be neither mine nor thine but divide it Where two or three are made one there is the image of God of truth of peace of fortitude of praise and of perfection but where one is drawne divided and torne asunder there breaketh forth falshood warre feare dishonour and confusion They which are of God embrace the one and they which are of the devill the other For God both in the Center and Circumference of truth is in simplicity and perfection one but the devill neither dwelling in this Center nor sitting in this Circle is carried in duallity nay contrariâ—ety of numbers opposing evill against good whose Center being falshood the circumference cannot bee truth his is a kingdome divided and must fall being not a Monarchy it cannot stand And yet we reject not the number of two so they continue and persist in union as it is written they shall be two in one flesh but reprobate is that duallity that maketh war in peace begetting and ingendring division and contrariety controversie and confusion and either of ambition senslesness hatred quarrell open discord or rebellion hindreth that sweet Harmony of union most pleasing to God most profitable for men of whom saith Tacitus In publicum exitiosi nihil spei nisi per discordias habent tamen libertas praeciosa nomina praetexuntur But doe we not see by this unfolding of things how the perpetuall course of truth and unity throughout all in the world doth even now conduct and lead me by the hand to the matter now in hand And verily I will follow thee sacred union whither soever thou leadest me and into whatsoever Region of vertue thou intendest I will not leave thee being never unlike thy selfe alwaies well accompanied adorned and beautified with diversity of things and never
and government of consanguinity to her her selfe still holding primacy over all as England and Scotland are chearefully looking one towards the other in the name of great Britaine and as the two Cherubins did looke one towards the other in one propitiatory And thy royall state O great Britaine is as the anointed Cherub Ezek. 28. And as in the heart of man is placed fortitude in his liver temperance and in his minde Iustice and yet all these with all other vertues are annexed to Prudence the common ligament of all so is great Britaine by uniting all his kingdomes principalities countries and honours the compleat proportioned forme of all and all in it both universally and particularly are fashioned and made fit on every side for happy conjunction and mutuall correspondence For this renowned name of great Britaine standeth in stead of a Loadstone drawing all into one chaining them together with links of love as Lisippus made an image of foure mettals mixed together gold silver brasse and iron expressing hereby absolute perfection of vertue putting in gold to signifie Prudence silver Iustice brasse Fortitude and iron Temperance whereof they are altogether ignorant as if they had never seene vertue so much as painted who to overthrow union in the name of great Britain bring no union of vertues even excellencies of many Countries to this so excellent worke But skilfull Zeuxes going about to depaint an absolute worke of a perfect virgin took not only view of one womans beauty but had variety of many the fairest to accomplish out of all these a more excellent and consummate forme of body Shall we not thinke the Kingdome of France containing Pickardy Normandy the Isle of France Champaigne Averne Dalpheny Bry Bloys Turin the Dutchy of Anâ—ow Xantoâ—n Burgundy and uniting â—o it little Britaine to be more glorious in all these being made one then if but one only of all these were that Kingdome Doe we not see that the enlarging of the dominions of Spaine in uniting and establishing divers kingdomes and territories as those of Aragons Castile and that of Portugal with others hath so enlarged that Kingdome as that the like hath not befallen other Christian Potentates Hath not the King of Denmarke beside the Cimbrian Chersonese where Holsatia Theutomartia the Dukedome of Sletia Flensburgh Friesland and Iuthland doe lie other spacious Islands fifteen in number all comprehended under the name Denmarke and united to that Crowne Did not Iagello taking to wife in the yeare 1380. the Princesse Hedingee the last of the blood Royall of Polonia after he was enstalled King there unite all his owne principalities of Lithuania and Samotgathia Provinces of Russia to the Kingdome and Crowne of Poland Did not Ahasuerus Esther 1. raigne from India to Ethiopia over an hundred twenty and seven divers Provinces And was not he so mighty by reason of this variety subjected and united to his sole government that he was an hundreth and fourescore daies shewing the riches and glory of his Greatnesse to all his Princes and to the mighty men of Persia and Media But to take example of one only Rome for all How hath it been renowned through the whole world by joyning all Nations of the world into one even to it selfe Herehence it was called Terrarum dea gentiumque Roma communis patria mundâ— compendium As Propertius Omnia Romanae cedant miracula terrae Natura hic posuit quicquid in orbe fuit But the Majesty of this Empire grew so great by adjoyning other nations and bringing them all into one Haec est in gremium quae victos sola recepit Humanumque genus communi nomine fovit Matris non dominae ritu civesque â—ocavit Quoâ— domini nexuque prâ— longinqua revinxit And againe Fecisti patri em diversis gentibus unam Dumque offers victis proprii consortia juris Vrbem fecisti quod prius orbis erat And so may we say of this renowned name of great Britaine comprehending us all of divers nations in one under our gracious King Hujus pacificis debemus moribus omnes Quod cunctigens una sumus I could set forth and confirme by sundry examples this uniting of many into one and thereby shew that the enlarging of dominion consisteth in uniting all together into one name and establishing divers Territories under one Soveraignty and government and that the greater States and Imperiall powers of larger extent and far spreading domination are the more durable and that the Monarchy of great Britaine is like to bee hereafter of more durance strength and honor as partly comming under our Kings government without conquest or constraint Nam errat longe mea qui dem sententia qui credat imperium stabilius aut firmius quod viâ— adjungitur quam quod facilitate clementia so now especially it being united in the whole then heretofore divided in parts his contexture being of a greater frame than before holding by more then one naile anâ— upholding its owne greatnesse even as great buildâ—ings endure and subsist by their owne weight as the Poet speaketh Pondere tâ— suo est But I thinke it here as needfull to lay open the great fault imputed to Conâ—stantine dividing the Emâ—pire among his Children whereby of one Empire he made three and withall a memorable diminution of of his authority and forces which part Brutus also played dividing this whole Empire of great Britain among his three Sons of which though two parts afterward namely England Wales were againe in good time united yet Scotland stood till now divided from the rest and the rest from it till God in speciall goodnesse restored to former name and government all into one againe for which Kings Iames may challenge more glory by uniting all into one then Brutus or Constantine dividing it from one and though Constantine the great was counted the glory of Britaine as being borne and made Emperour here yet may that commendation better fit King Iames than Constantine Tu nobiles fecisti Britanias quod illic ortâ— factusque es imperator The Platan tree hath many goodly Branches and boughes and leaves in one body and therefore Xerxes in Herodotus crowned him with a golden Garland doubtlesse there is a deserved glorious garland due to the name of great Britaine bringing forth many goodly boughes and branches like to the faire and well spread Platan tree or rather for the height of his honour like the â—all and goodly Cedar in whom the dreame of Nebuchodonosor hath been verified for he saw a tree in the middest of the earth great and strong whose height reached unto the heaven and the sight thereof to the end of the earth whose leaves were faire and the fruit thereof much Dan. 4. in which was meat for all yea the beasts of the field had shadow under it the fowles of the aire dwell in the boughes thereof and all flesh fed of it But Nebuchodonosor heard also a watch crying out mightily hew downe
is Saxons nation Redit ad authores genus generosa in ortus exurgunt semina suos And verily names and titles are matters of great consideration unlesse like Varro not caring for name we should also say that the God whom the Iews 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 union of the Sahins and Romanes as Eutropius reporteth this was especially agreed upon that the Sabins and Romanes should assume one anothers name promiscuously so that by no meanes they should be distinguished by name And albeit among us custome hath begotten prescription yet we may remember what is well said in the Comedy Nunquam ita quisquam benè subducta ratione fuit quin res aetas usu◠aliquid apportet novi ut quae prima putes post in experiendo repudias As in the Romane story when it was objected that innovations were dangerous to the state and nothing was to be done whereof formerly there was no president saith Canuleius Quid postea nullane res nova institui debet quod nondum est factum multa enim nondum sunt facta in novo populo ea ne si utilia quidem sint fieri oportet Whilest we of England were put apart from Scotland it was reason we should have a name divided and distinguished from them and retaine that name and condition as pleased fortune to impose as Andromache saith to her Son Sume quod casus dedit but being restored in integrum and every part knit together it is a like reason we returne to our old name and say as in the Prophet I will goe and returne to my former husband for at that time it was better for me than now Hos. 2. And no man when he hath tasted the new wine but saith the old is better So that as the Romane Empire first was a Monarchy afterwards governed by two Consuls and so a long passing through divers kindes of governments till it returned to his former state of Monarchy to be as it was at first even so the state of great Britaine first was as a Monarchy all governed by one since it was divided but now it returneth to his Monarchy againe Moribus antiquis res stat Romana virisque For men waxe weary in time of their present condition and Rome mole laboravit sua or rather and more truly God setteth bounds to all things which they cannot passe even the mightiest powers have their periods And all worldly kingdomes thus changing after long experience say the first is best and so likewise Vt rerum ita verborum interit usus quem penes est rerum vis norma loquendi But in this case neither the thing nor the name being changed but we lawfully recovering that which was lost renuing the title of great Britain enjoying our country as we did before calling all Britaines and holding all things in the same safety and security under name of great Britaine as before under names of England and Scotland say all and each to other Pascite ut ante boves pueri submittite tauros It is a good and gracious deed to provide for reall agreement in all equall conjunction and mutuall 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 uniting both kingdomes into the name and stile of great Britaine for as he complained Tirannus occidit Tirannis vivit So if the old enmity of English and Scottish be removed and yet the names still remaine I feare that the very names would 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 deadly hatred with the very 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 enemy even as in Rome when all things were accorded and all parties pleased only a name which was in dislike among them was thought hinderance to their mutuall concord and content saying Non placere nomen id periculo sum esse id officere id obstare libertati and therefore the Sanate perswaded Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus otherwise in all respects approved and beloved of all even for his names sake to forsake his office saying Absolve beneficium amicus abi exonera civitatem vano forsan metu This I speake lest retaining former name of English and Scottish which heretofore hath been offensive to each other we call as before is spoken the ill disposed to former opposition as between fire and water even to Kindle such a fire in Iacob as will devoure in Israel and no water shall be able to quench it in Bethel Where it may be thought more fit to set aside all difference of former names Vt exoneremus rempub. vano forsan metu as it is said of one Quod nihil est metuit metuit sine corpore nomen And if any account the feare of name nothing bee it also say I nothing yet a man cannot be too carefull or fearefull of that which is counted even nothing seeing it is said Qui cavet vix etiam cavet dum cavet Let former destructions be present instructions Offensive distinction of names hath bred much woe In Italy faction of Guelphs and Gibelines arose for name sake In England much blood for the white and red Rose In Iustinians time fearefull division betweene the Veneti and Parsini about colours blew and greene In which grievous contentions arising first of small or no cause but only of difference in name and diversity of colours deadly hatred is oft times kindled among former friends as against sworne enemies After Phalarides death the Agrigentini made a decree that none should use glauca veste because the Tirants did use 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 remembrance was displeasing they would have his name utterly perish I wish that nomen or mentio ipsa the names English and Scottish borders former feud wars and bloodshed between the two nations were not once mentioned within our lips but as nomen Pelopidarum utterly put out abolished and never heard of as that which is laid up in silence in the Grave even now that not the least occasion be left no not in sport or inter ludicra certamina as we have a name of play amongst us called prison base one part striving for England and another for Scotland representing unto us the variance betwixt both nations lest it prove as that betwixt them two brethren Demetrius and Perseus King Phillips sons who in ludicio certamine opposite one to the other with their companies divided
A DISCOVRSE SHEWING THE GREAT HAPPINESSE that hath and may still accrue to his Majesties Kingdomes of ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND BY RE-VNITING them into one Great Britain In two parts BY JOHN BRISTOL LONDON Printed by R. H. for CHARLES DUNCOMB dwelling in Little-Britain 1641. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE the ESTATES now assembled in both houses of the high Court of Parliament THE sacred Mottoes upon the Coins of our late Soveraigne and Solomon King James Faciam eos in gentem unam and Quae Deus coâ— junxit nemo separetâ— might have deterreâ— some turbulent spiâ—rits of England and Scotland from vioâ—lating their peace cutting off the bridâ— from Twede and hindering that inâ—tercourse of amity which to Heavens and Britaines glory we no lesse happily than long enjoyed but Tongues and Pens I wish I could not say Swords have beene too busily imployed to untie that Gordian-knot which a good God and a pious King had made so firme Some in these Earth-quakes of State have laboured to underprop the houses of both Realmes others to pull them downe saying as of Jerusalem Downe with it downe with it even to the ground Nay I feare the same hand that hath held a Spade pretending to build a Wall hath held a Sword to kill a Subiect Wee need not send to Ireland for poyson to kill two kingdomes we have too much within our selves Poetry and Oratory such is the corruption of wit can make Candida de nigris de candentibus atra like Dogs they can either bite the sore or licke it or like Knives that can both spread a plaister for a wound and make a wound for a plaister The Poet Juvenal speaking of Alexander the great comming to see Diogenes Sensit Alexander testa cum vidit in illa Magnum habitatorem c. takes away the title of Magnus from the King and gives it to the Cynicke and have not we those that strive to make great Britaine Little putting Alexander from his Bucephalus and setting beggars on horse-backe I feare we have There are too many Empiricks among us whose delight is rather to kill than cure but You who are the Colledge of Physitians for the preservation of the body Politicke will make no Anatomies but of condemned persons by Law executed and by inquiry into the bad labour for the safety of the good Let it not be said that this day a Tribe is wanting in our Israel What though as judicious Weemes saith the Scots and English be as Samaritans and Jewes We have no Rehoboam why should we have a Jeroboam We have no rigor why should we have a revolt There may bee a good Samaritan which may take charge of the wounded man when a Priest and Levite may passe by on the other side Let not the Union of Britaine be cut off if it may bee preserved binde up the bones that are broken and make them whole so shall God binde up your souls in the Rowle of the living I doubt not but much good may bee gotten by a serious perusall of this ensuing Tractate Sure I am it will not be wholly uselesse to candid pious unprejudiced mindes who shall finde it as fit as necessary for these times I say no more but with heart and hands lift up to heaven pray that as you are Treasurers of the Weale-publique God will be pleased to crowne your publique endeavours to the everlasting peace and welfare of this Church and Common-wealth that his sacred Majesty and Royall Off-spring may ever bee glorious and that all his Kingdoms and Provinces may flourish to the terror of Foes and the endlesse comfort of all true loving Subjects THE EPISTLE to the READER IT was no blessing but a curse when the ten Tribes revolâ—ed from Rehoboam Division is good iâ— Musicke ill in Kingdomes and if confusion of Tongues ruinâ— a Babel confusion 〈◊〉 Hearts will ruine Bethel Scotland maâ— say to England 〈◊〉 Lot to Abraham We are brothers yeâ— when love cannot continue except their bodies discontinue the â—e of necessity must â—e to Sodome a 〈◊〉 and destinated for â—ire and Brimstone â—ingle Kingdomes â—ke fooles bolts are one shot away but â—njoyned as in a â—eafe not easily broâ—en It was the hapâ—inesse of our late Soâ—eraigne King James 〈◊〉 blessed memory to a bridge oveâ— the Tweed not 〈◊〉 Wood or Stone bâ— of English and Scoâ—â—tish hearts cementeâ— with strong affection It was indeed a haâ—â—pinesse to make twâ— spots of Earth twâ— little Kingdomes oâ— Great Britain the in building a secoâ— story makes a Hov◠〈◊〉 House though there â—e neither painted â—or carved Image in â—t no fretted roofe no â—old nor ivory Caâ—or and Polluxâ—rung from one Egge â—nd their signe is one Gemini Thus is â—e Vnity of Brethren â—xalted even to a â—onstellation That â—hich some years since was a motion breâ— some few moneth since a commotion namely a necessity 〈◊〉 separation between England and Scoâ—â—land which diffâ—â—rence might betteâ— have beene decidâ— with an Olive branâ— than a Sword as 〈◊〉 hope time ere long wiâ— make manifest Whâ— happinesse hath the Vnion of two Houses brought forth in this â—ne Kingdome and â—f there bee such hapâ—inesse in the Vnion of Houses what will there be in the Vnion of Kingdomes a thing which might bee â—s easily continued as compassed if some turbulent spirits did not disturbe the peacâ— of Sion This ensuing Treatise I could not bâ— publish as knowing to be so soveraigne Medicine for the Maladies of these Times Wherein Gentle Reader â— thou finde as much benefit as I delightâ— Thanke God and the Author I have my reward Farewell SVNDRY OBIECTIONS against this ensuing Treatise THE Objections pretended against this Treatise are divided into foure severall natures or kindes The first objection iâ— matter of generality 〈◊〉 common reason The second is matter of Estate domestique anâ— inward or matter â— Law The third is matter 〈◊〉 Estate forreine or maâ—â—ter of intercourse 〈◊〉 commerce The fourth is matter 〈◊〉 Honor or reputation The matter of generaâ—lity or common reason as concerning all in generall is also divided into two parts First that there is nor can be pretended no cause â—f the change Secondly that there is â—o president of like change neither ancient nor moderne forreigne or domestique The first Objection therefore is that in constituting or ordaining of any innovation or change here ought to bee considered either a generall necessity or evident utility but that we finde no grief in our present estate anâ— foresee no advancemenâ— to a better condition by this change and desire that it may be shewed untoâ— us The second Objection that we finde no presidenâ— at home nor abroad oâ— uniting or contracting of the names of two several Kingdomes or States intâ— one name where the Vnion hath growne by marriage or blood And that those examples which may be alleadged as far as wee can finde or understand are but in the ease of Conquest Matter of
by Chronicle bee remembred to posterity as the glory of renowned Britaine Record remaineth to this day neither will either be forgotten to the worlds end The Stile of England now placed before Scotland doth no way prejudice the Vnion by losse of precedency for when all is one there is no subsequence onely Honor is due to him who is to be honoured and much honour to him that is much to be honored which thing in the Vnion may easily bee provided for and other pretended inconveniences prevented Lastly the Prejudicating the popular opinion to whom as is objected change of name will be harsh and unpleasing is in mine opinion a wrong done and imputation laid upon the people who I know for the most part being a wise nation and I am sure most loving subjects to the Kings Majesty have learned obedience and duty and will therefore rather joy in the content of their good and gacious King then any way murmure at his demand knowing that the Empire as Livie speaketh is firmissimum when eo gaudent obedientes who doubtlesse with one voice and heart submit themselves and say to their Soveraigne Esto nobis solus arbiter rerum jure nomine regio And as for Harshnesse of the strange name use will easily make it familiar As Horace saith Multa renascentur quae jam cecidere cademque Quae nunc sunt in honore vocabula si volet usus This pretended unpleasing harshnesse is no more than the nicenesse of a Virgin who is as loth and maketh it dainty to leave her fathers name yet afterward married to a husband taketh greatest comfort in the name of her husband in whom shee glorieth and by whom shee enjoyeth all her worldly joy And yet need not England be so nice as if she were a virgin who like a widdow hath so oftē changed her name but may take pride as widows do to bee called by her most honourable and most glorious name Thus having briefly run over the objections and withall carried in open view in mine answer due consideration both of evident utility and urgent necessity I will be bold with additions of more reasons yet a little farther to proceed in the perswasion of this desired happy Vnion God alwaies blessed and to be honoured for evermore who is Trinity in Vnity and Vnity in Trinity three persons and but one God doth by influence of his holy Spirit give divers gifts and graces to beleevers of what country or condtion soever they be governes them by holy Law and uniteth them in the same faith though diversly scattered among all the Nations of the Christian world that hereby the gods on earth whom he hath placed to rule over many and divers kingdomes upon earth might learne by the same Lawes in things humane and same religion in matters divine to preserve Weale publike and Christian Society among men But the ambition and frowardnesse of many desirous rather to be distracted into divers names and countries and to be ruled by divers lawes and customes doe oft times hazard the Common good and peace of the Weale publike where two kingdomes so divided under one Soveraigne are not unlike the rich treasures of pearle and gold laid up in one Ship by contrarieties of divers windes to be driven upon rocks with extreamest danger as is said in Tully of dividing and distinguishing desires into severall parts and members in such diversities and differences Hoc est dissipare non distinguere frangere non dividere Which thing is to be feared by not uniting but keeping the two kingdomes still in parts when upon every discontent in Scotland as at a backe doore passage may be given for a forreine enemy soone to weaken a divided power as Cyrus the Persian soone emptied that great and deep river otherwise unpassable for his soldiers by drawing it into divers channels And why should not we feare such and greater evils if as Virgil laid infamy upon us calling us toto divisos orbe Britannos so we be content to adde greater infamy to our selves and become toto in orbe divisi divided within our selves in the sight and view of the whole world But I hope and wish for better things that by Vnion in name of Britaines we may leave to be any longer divided into English and Scottish as rivers of divers names meeting in the Sea receive one and the same name the rather because the elements of fire and water of earth and aire being of repugnant qualities yet joyned in one body doe agree in one forme as in a Medium uniting and mixing them together much more divers kingdomes oft times heretofore at war and discord yet now being united into one body of one name and nature qualified by equall mixture of Law Manners Honors Marriages and such like may be made perfect in one forme and have a beeing not as English and Scottish but as Britains knit together in that third and renowned name that the Maxime may be verified in us Qua in aliquo tertio conveniunt optime conveniunt I confesse that some lawes of ours may bee thought too streight for them and some liberties of theirs unfitting us but let all be wrested alike pulling some up and letting some downe and in pleasing harmony we shall find as Tully saith Commune aequabile inter omnes jus where will be no strife as was betweene Esau and Jacob undermining and deceiving one the other of blessing and patrimony but all love and unity and concord and content as if all were not twins but one man even one heart in one body And now if Iphicrates that valiant Leader were againe living and asked whether he were under the now imperiall Majesty this or that English or Scottish or among or over them an horseman an archer or a Leader he might truly answer as sometimes he did in like case No not any of these but I am he who knoweth under him whom I serve to command and governe all these as if they were but one man Vnius Ducis imperium simul sentiunt omnes copiae Thus in warre and tumult much more in quiet peace may it be said Divers subjects ad nutum unius Regis ejusdem legis omnes simul respondent So powerfull is the force of Vnion that una Via being director for law and Cor unum performer for obedience the law enjoyning obedience and obedience executing Law the Prince cannot command what the people will not obey and the people will obey what the Prince commands and Vnity among them will uphold all Vnum imperii corpus unius animo regendum videtur so likewise Ejusdem juris esse debent qui sub eodem Rege victuri sunt But rule of two kingdomes without uniting them is to give occasion to either part to look backe for an olde grudge Vbi antiqui odii pertinacia in publicum stimulat exitium which I feare would be as the going backe of two Rammes more fiercely
in these our happy daies And that by no meanes that of the Poet may be imputed to us either by disobedience to our head or disagreeing among our selves Humanâ— capiti varias iâ—ducere formas Grammarians doe observe that Metallum is so called quasi {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that is post {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that is aliud because there is scarcely found no veine of Mettall where is not more of that sort adjoyning to it so among English and Scottish they are not to bee thought of the true metalline Mine but as drosse and canker corrupting and consuming each other which joyne not in the universall name of great Britaine so to continue and dwell together to grow up and agree together seeing nature hath made them all of one kinde forme complexion habit and language growing together And verily divine is the mistery of union whether the provident wisdome of nature from God hath ingendred it or the skill of mans reason hath observed it where one of and in it selfe doth out of it selfe poure forth innumerable formes of things as Brittaine doth even two kingdomes and the principality of Wales with many Shires Rivers Islands and people and yet containeth them all within it selfe one having many many making one where one of many is not divided against it selfe and the many in one make no division to overthrow the whole but all are the same whether we respect union or division And this doubtlesse is a divine power or celestiall vertue not only for our purpose but compassing and passing through the whole world making things either simple or conjunct but one subsisting by and under the divine essence which is one and consisting in all his members and parts united but one where each and every part of this universall world respecteth the whole otherwise innumerable but brought by union to a number without number even beginning of numbers which is but one And this is most agreeing to the conceit of wisest Philosophers skilfull in natures Secret teaching all whatsoever is to be but one and that in the universall nature of things there is an agreeing amity and intermixed affinity where all the parts of the whole world accord by one transfused continuate spirit among them being compact together with one and the self-same agreeing force and forceable agreement of nature proceeding from one beginning continued by one meane and referred to one end every particular being knit together with the whole universality and diversity of things and wrapt up in one round orbe together that as parts of this world they may dwell in one Center or Circle together To shut up many things in few and to shew how certainly all things are contained in one and one doth comprehend all verily in Schooles of Philosophers it is an infallible Maxime that all things are communicated in one Vnum hoc praeque omnibus unum This one is all in all Ruunt autem omnia ubi unitas non firmamentum diffluunt ubi non coagulum The demonstration in our intended purpose is plaine Many villages make one Shire many Shires one Kingdome many Kingdoms one Imperiall Monarchy all which is Britaine and Britaine all these and the Kings Majesty possessing and governing Britaine possesseth and governeth all these and the Subject knowing Britaine knoweth all and every of these for all these are one and this one is all these That as this excellent workmanship of Vnion sheweth it selfe in the mighty Masse and fabricke of the whole world so much more particularly and plainly doth it appeare in a modell of the same even in the name and honour of great Britaine where every Subject ought clearely to see in himselfe that though hee be termed the little world and compact of infinite variety and multiplicity of things yet is he not two but one man Here let the neare neighbourhood and conjunction of man and man in mutuall society and participation of profits which man hath with man where two friends are but one and not parting meum and tuum confesse that though they are in person two yet indeed doe with idem velle and idem nolle enjoy the fruition of heaven with the same aspect and the commodities of the earth with the same minde where all things are common to both and yet proper to each one All which things are alleadged to shew that as every kingdome and State of the world is upheld with one and the self-same power and life wherewith the universall world consisteth So now it concerneth all and every one Subject both of England and Scotland to participate in the common obedience transfused into all under the government of one Where sacred unity is guide and director there even from distinct nature use of mutuall society and good of weale publique many are knit together inseparably and great and infinite numbers of all sorts of people are contained in one narrow compasse of neere conjunction for so the most populous and powerfull Kingdomes though two or moe under one Soveraigne seeme to bee but as one whole body And the whole body of Weale publique in subjection and obedience but as one man Sic enim omnes aequo jure parent omnibus imperaturo And as in all things so specially in this are we bound to render all praise and thanksgiving to that thrice sacred Vnity from whom as from the first author and fountaine is sowen abroad in the world that fruitfull seed of constant unity whose force draweth many of one houshold to be of one minde and is ever doing good in its owne nature keeping Israel together like a flock of sheep Neither is it an hard matter to unite and keep them together who live under the same climate of heaven and are of like language manners countenance lawes customes forme of body fashion of behaviour yea and religion à religando Rightly called the chiefest band of hearty union For though the Island Salamis be controverted between the Athenians and Megarenses yet must it be adjudged to the Athenians because they lived after the same fashion and lawes as now the skilfull in the lawes of this land easily acknowledge what congruity and affinity is between most of the ancient lawes of both our Kingdomes more then is to be found between those of any other two nations And albeit the Towne Sidas bee controverted between the Athenians and Boetians yet Epaminondas will adjudge it to the Boetians and not to the Athenians because the Athenians called an apple Malum punicum but the Boetians called it Sidas There is between English and Scottish small or no difference nay now none at all in union all being Britaines not so much as between Gileadites and Ephraimites in pronouncing Shibboleth for Sibboleth but all are of one language and even of one Canaan language only a little River Twede is common limit or rather imaginary bound to both and all from Twede Southward is Britaine within Twede and all from Twede
this tree breake off his branches shake off his leaves scatter his fruit that both beasts and fowles may be put from him neverthelesse leave the stump of his rootes still in the earth So was the ancient honour and glory of great Britaine great and mighty high to heaven faire and fruitfull and of power over the whole Land from one end to the other but the highest who hath power over all did for the sin of the inhabitants hew downe this goodly tree yet left the stumpe of the rootes in the earth And out of it the tree is growne up againe to former beauty that we might learn to magnifie the K. of heaven as did Nebuchadnesar restored to the honor of his kingdome to his glory and beauty againe to his Counsellors and Princes and to the establishment of his Throne with augmented glory And here let us now consecrate to all eternity the ancient name of famous great Britaine as a Pantheon of all blessings in peace prosperity and honour for as Pantheon was a Temple at Rome round and like to the capacitie of heaven wherein were put all the images of their gods So I say in the name and stile of great Britaine as in a Pantheon are placed all worldly blessings like Stars shining from heaven and having their influence into the whole body of common weale even perfection of beauty in Sion Superstitious antiquity framed false Gods one indued with this vertue and another with that this a wise that a warlike and another a just God yea for so many vertues they framed so many goddesses where one Temple might not be consecrated to two goddesses but distinct vertues must be worshipped with distinct worship So as Marcellus dedicating one and the same Temple to Honour and Vertue was thought to offend against religion But our happy and better instructed age reducing all to one truly to worship one true and only God so in civill things and government it offereth only one above and for all that whatsoever is separate and distracted from it may bee counted as anathema excommunicate divorced or as a barren handmaid to bee sold to the Vsurer unprofitable imperfect or as it were not at all And now as union into the name of great Britaine is like a Pantheon and bringeth manifold abundant blessings meeting together and concurring in one so let us account our selves most blessed in our Soveraigne unitor King Iames in whose Royall and princely Successor our gracious K. Charles and his noble Progeny is laid up all our obedience and dwelleth all our happinesse even as that worthy Scipio is said therefore to be borne that there might be one in whom all vertue should shew it selfe effectually and absolutely perfect Hic est Scipio quem dii immortales nasci voluerunt ut esset in quo se virtus per omnes numeros efficaciter ostenderet This is the voice of truth it selfe England and Scotland are so naturally united in the name of great Britain that the one nearely allyed to the other can no longer bee an alien or stranger one to the other except it may bee said that Quia meus est non est meus ipsaque damno est mihi proximitas So this naturall conjunction should bee no union because it is both naturall in the Soile and reall in the Subject But albeit the Romanes put into the Temple called Pantheon that precious gem named Vnio divided and cut in two yet we with all our goods and geare ought willingly be borne into the bosome of great Britaine quae fundit in omnes imperium not distributing union into parts but knitting up all parts into one as Cicero's Oratour all sciences and Aristotles good man all vertues as Cato was counted like perfect in all vertues or as the divine Plato sealed up in man the lesser world whatsoever vertue was in the whole world or rather as Eden the plentifull garden of God sealing up the summe of all perfection and glory Ezek. 28. was freight and deckt with all manner of precious stones the Ruby the Tapaze and the Diamond the Chrysolice the Onix and the Iasper the Saphir the Emerande and the Carbuncle and gold Even now may it be said of this universall name of Britaine as it was said of Rome Imperii virtutumque omnium lar and virtutum omnium latissimum templum In ancient time it was counted ominous if a stone fell or a dog came among brethren And Socrates was wont to curse those who by self-conceits and head-strong opinion attempted to set asunder those things which nature coupled together And now if any factious Tribune of the people interpose himselfe to divide us and to disturbe the peace of Israel thinking there is good fishing in troubled waters and that the honours and benefits they hunt after are attained in Perturbata Republica whereof they utterly despaire in a peaceable State Quia in concordia ordinum nullos se usquam esse vident verily such are not unlike Medea who so dispersed her brothers limmes that they could not be gathered againe Cujus etiam vultu laeditu pietas as the Mariners at Sea well observe in the two Stars Castor and Pollux that if one without the other appeare they foresee a troubled Sea but peaceable and quiet without storme and without danger in the sight of both together The principality of Wales shall witnesse this truth which never received any thing any more beneficiall for the people there then uniting that Countrey to the crown kingdome of England For whilest it was alone without his brother it was subject to storme full of contentions war and shedding of blood but joyned with his brother it florished with peace and at this day is blessed in the uniformity of government there established And in mine opinion it is well observed in the Chronicle of Wales how God was not pleased with the first change of the name of Britaine into the name of England for presently followed the terrible and cruell invasion of the Danes and after that the conquest of the Normans But memorable is it that the Britaines ruled all the whole Isle together with the out Isles of Wight Men in English Anglisee Manaw in English Man Orkney and Ewyst 1137. yeares before Christ and after the yeare of his incarnation 688. even to the death of Cadwallader the last King of Britaines and of the noble race of Trojans Which when in succeeding age many mighty and famous Kings of England considered they laboured by all meanes to recover and resume the name and stile of Kings of great Britaine acccounting it dishonorable to leese any jot of the honour of their most princely progenitors And therefore K. Knute King of England mighty in his dominions of Swethen from Germany to the North poles with Norway and Denmarke having obtained prosperous success in warring against Scotland is recorded after his death the mightiest Prince in the West parts of the world and of all the noble Isle of
Britaine And so William the Conqueror for the good successe he likewise had in Scotland is recorded King of all Britaine and Henry the second surnamed Curtmantle is also for like successe recorded King of all Britaine And if they be renowned and honoured with name and stile of Britaine which by rightfull descent or by conquest were inheritours but to one part only though by their fortunes in war they also claimed the other what rightfull title must we then acknowledge most justly now to belong to his most excellent Majesty in the imperiall crowne of both who by lineall descent inheriteth both Here I wish I had as many eyes as Argos to looke into their devises who seeke to divide England from Scotland and Scotland from England renouncing the name of great Britaine lest joyned in one they might as the forenamed stars appeare together shine together and bring joy together I would then not spare to lay open as Cneius Flavius did reveal to the world the tricks and misteries of Lawyers of that time and therefore was said to put out their eyes and to cut their purses how also these Adamants hinder the naturall power and vertue of the Load-stone whom I call Adamants aswell for repugnant qualities as that they be truly Adamants even Sons of Adam practising rather in disobedience dissention and ruine of all to lay hands upon that is forbidden then to draw the Iron nay golden chaine of linkes of love in obedience to the King and for common peace and preservation of men But herein such imitate the devise of Q. Fabius Labeo seeking to have the ship of common weale divided in parts as when by compact of league with Antiochus he ought to receive halfe part of Antiochus ships cut them all in the middest craftily so to defraud Antiochus of his whole Navy or else imitate they Cyrus dividing great Rivers into many little Brookes till they be not only passable but even dryed up for so these seek to stay the maine and mighty Streame of great Britaine by dividing it and in dividing to make it of sundry kindes unlike it selfe Such dividing into parts is disjoyning of the parts by disjoyning dismembring and by dismembring spoiling making the stone Scyros which whole and firmely compacted doth swim and floate above the waters to sinke and be drowned because it is divided But our two famous kingdomes with all their provinces shires and countries united into the name of great Britaine are like the goodly and pleasant river Danubius which passing by many Countries keepeth his name till it enter into Illiricum where receiving into it sixty other rivers of divers other names leeseth not only his owne and all their other names of parts but is called Ister one for all containing all Here I require both of English and Scottish is either of them now as a people disjoynted one from the other Or as Sand without Lime Or scattered straw without binding Or as Sampsons Foxes running divers and contrary waies with fire brands of dissention among them Nay here in the glory of great Britaine is renowned that King Iames with our gracious King Charles and his Royall issue doe gather together that which was scattered and unite that which was divided and restore that which was lost and save that which was endangered even by this meanes uniting all in one name of Britaine as it was said of Rome uniting so many Countries into it selfe all parts which disagreed heretofore are now well agreeing Hereupon Rome was said to be anchora fluctuanti mundo and as he saith in Tacitus regna bellaque per Gallias semper fuere donec in nostrum jus concederetis So happily doth this universall conjunction of all under one head take away all discord and maintaine conjunction of love for everlasting continuance Only they which will be alone and not contained under one name of great Britaine are not bound up with the sheaves nor carried home into the Barne and therefore are like gleanings after harvest left behinde in the field subject to storme they come not two and two into this Arke and whatsoever remaineth alone Extra arcam perit Such are not unlike that Captaine whom Xerxes rewarded with a garland for escaping alive when all other souldiers were slaine and yet because he came alone without the rest he hanged him and as the the Athenians in the warre with the Aeginetae when one returned without his fellowes ranne upon him and killed him asking where were the rest And what can such I pray you as separate themselves from the happy union of all Britaines answer for themselves if they be called to account Can any be English and not Scottish can any be Scottish and not English Let that outcry against the Romans be ingeminated against such saying Quintilius Varus restore us our Legions where are our Souldiers what is become of them Where are the English where are the Scottish let all restore themselves and each one the other to the name of Britaines And so I say to all and every one of both nations Cedo alterum For I feare lest this name Cedo alterum mentioned in Taciâ—us be in scarely found among many but I call aloud where art thou Cedo alterum give us thy selfe bring in thy friend yea yet another and another bee not wanting to the weale publique una navis bonorum omnium all good Subjects are contained in one Ship of common Weal numeruÌ„ non habet illa suuÌ„ one is not perfit without the other for Britaines Subject ought maintaine mutuall society for common good As for others disclaiming us and disjoyning themselves only I wish they may all be of the same consort and society with us for victrix causa dii placuit though victa Catoni And albeit many great and mighty Potentates on earth make a great shew of Copia verborum by copious recitall of many Provinces and Kingdomes as if his Majesty should entitle himselfe by all the severall shires under his dominions and not by one honourable Title of great Britaine comprehending all to shew how this misliked some it is recorded when the Emperours Embassador comming to the French King rehearsed the Emperours stile at large which consisted of many dominions and names of countries the French King willed his Herauld to repeate and say over the name of France as many times as the other had rehearsed the severall titles of his Masters dominions intimating that one name of France well compacted and united of many particulars into one generall name was better then divers particular names of many countries And when Quintius Flaminius heard how his army was terrified at the recitall of many his enemies forces of their diversity of names of countries of Armour and of multitudes Dahae Medi Cadusij Elemei Cataphracti c. Spearemen Horsemen Footmen Archers c. Oh saith he what a doe is here with numbers and diversity of numbers all these are but onely Syrians and make a great shew like
time ever since the first division till this blessed day yet Britains common weale was but sick for a season till health returned into the whole body by the glory of the head So as now the first and ancient common weale of great Britaine is againe conformed to his prime estate sound the same and like it selfe and is likely so to continue and flourish so long as it retaineth the common band of community and individuall knot of unity As Socrates is said as long as he is Socrates to bee one the same Whether in childhood or manhood in in fancy or in age the same Socrates But Heraclitus denied because of the odaine change of men and things that one man could goe into the same river twice and ill debtors borrowing mony heretofore refuse payment because they thinke themselves not the same men and plead the day is past and cannot be againe deluding with that saying Ego non sum ego hodie heri But such conclusions or rather collusions are simple rusticall follies as he saith rusticus expectat dum defluat amnis at ille labitur labetur in omne volubilis aevum For howsoever times alter yet truth ever sheweth it selfe as the river Lycus running along under the earth for a long space breaketh forth againe and as is said alioque renascitur orbe The sleepers in Sardos when they awaked thought they had passed no time but we shall be more drowsie and sottish then they if now rowsed from our long sleep wherein the honorable name of great Britaine was forgotten we now not open our eyes to acknowledge the happinesse of these our dayes wherein our hearts may leap for joy to see that two of our most gracious Kings as Fathers of peace and procreators protectors and perfitors of Subjects joy sit in Royall seat of great Britaines most ancient and most absolute Monarchy whereby our strength peace wealth and honour is the more increased in that our Soveraigne is the more universally obeyed and we are doubtlesse hereby more blessed then all our fore-fathers of whom we say as Demaratus the Corinthian said that all dead Grecians are deprived of great joy in that they lived not to see Alexander in Darius Chaire But comfortably spake he in the Comedy Gaudeo cum video hujus generis reliquias and how joyfull is it for us to acknowledge one another Britaines as it was for them brethren in the Comedy which after so long time came to knowledge one of another yea now for us to know one another to bee Britaines by all signes and tokens Non naevo aliquo aut crepundiis sed corpore omni And though he may bee pittied which sitteth alone mourning and crying Nec mihi eognatus quisquam fuit isto nome yet may both English and Scottish rejoyce because neither sister is a widow but all their legitimate children are now of one name and one blood become and borne againe Britaines as it were by a Pithagoricall Palingenesia even twice Britaines as Hippolitus was called Virbius because he lived againe and was twice the same man Aeson miratur olim ante quater denos hunc se reminiscitur annos And surely as Pliny saith Sparsas laceraâ— gentilitates colligere conuectere est ut ita dicam renasci jubere Thus we say and thus we sing Redeunt Saturnia regna even the golden age of Britaines Monarchy is come againe Alter Tiphis altera quae vehat Argos delectos Heroas atque iterum ad Trojam magnus mittetur Achilles another governour and chief Master of the common weales Ship and another Arke or Argosie as before doth transport the Nobles and Commons both of England and Scotland to fetch the golden fleece which Egbert that Dragon held so long time in his jawes Quondam etiam victus redit in praecordia virtus Now then Siquid patriae virtutis if there be in us valour of men stirred up with remembrance of the name and honour of the name and honour of our Country Si quid antiquorum hominum if any drop of our Ancestors blood live in us Si quid humanitatis if any touch of brotherly kindnesse we cannot but readily imbrace each other as the ancient Romanes reconciled after long civill war and shedding much blood Iungebant Castra consalutabant Cives yea and triumph also as they did saying exurgere reviviscere Romani nominis memoria incipit gloria unlesse it may be said of us as of that base minded Vitellius Tanta torpedo invasit animum ut si eum principem fuisse caeteri non meminissent ipse oblivisceretur or it may bee said to us Britaines descended from Brutus as sometimes to another Brutus in another sense not here intended Dormis Brute non es Brutus Our country men and neighbours of Wales as Chronicles report derive themselves from ancient true Britaines and doe retaine the British tongue though somewhat mixed called Camberaec which could never be extinguished by any attempts of Romanes Saxons Danes Normans and that famous City London is still by them called Trenwith of Brutus first named Trenovanton And the Countrey it selfe is called Cambria of Camber Brutus Sonne though we call it Wales a word imposed by Saxons naming them Walshe which is strange and many mountaines rivers and cities are among them still retaining British names extremos pudeat rediisse let us be ashamed to be last or backward seeing another Arthur King of all great Britain raigneth lest we still seem over-awed and captivated to the Conquerour Egbert his will and by his beating us to be made as base vassals forgetting our selves our names and our Country and not daring to challenge or acknowledge them even as that base slave Sosâ—a was enforced to yeeld to his Master Mercurie and say Pugnis me fecisti tuum si sum ego tamen non credo mihi nomen simul abstulit cum forma Neither doe I esteeme the change of name a matter of indifferency as if it were all one whether we were called Britaines or continued English and Scots But in my judgement it is reason to alter all into Britaines because it was our most ancient and is the more honourable name except we will weare the Badge of slavery on our sleeve 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 Normans and none of the Saxons blood that was Noble or almost but Gentile 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 joyne in mariage with any of the English which in my understanding
one with our selves And herein consisteth the nature of true mixtion whereat all Common weales should tend when every thing remaineth that was yet nothing as it was when many contrary things yeeld up their contrariety and plurality unto one consisting of all which participating of all their reconciled natures imposeth only a new name to their new manner of being which is to be one instead of many and that not by coacervation or apposition of things without farther mixtion remaining still distinct within themselves but by union of consociation which taketh nothing away from these things that were before distinct but their distinction Out of which mistion will arise excellent temperature which we hope long to see in our Brittish Common-Weale wherein no humour either of English or Scottish may be predominant but temperamentum aequabile and that ad pondus too Which as it is seldome found anywhere so it is alwaies found where it is found with perennity And concerning such mistion was that said of Romulus and Trajanus and now may it be said of King Iames and King Charles Diversas gentes ita commercio miscuit ut quod genitum esset usquam id apud omnes natum esse videretur And of such mixtion may that of Zeno be said alterius chorus major meus antem concinnior Another Kings Empire may be greater consisting of diversity of Nations but ours more compact and united in one And this mixtion of both our nations so mixed in one bringeth forth but one title of GREAT BRITAINE Vnum sed leonem as the proverb saith Which I the rather urge here against Polititians if any such be of this age who seeke to nourish faction and opposition in the State and Common-Weale and think nothing better Quam si in commune non consulant who ever have a Rowland for an Oliver where fearefull experience doth often shew the fruits of that Axiom Contraria contrariis curatur Which manner of keeping Subjects one opposite and offensive to the other is a flinty and fiery society even Societas lapidum fornicationi similima quae casura nisi invicem obstarent hoc enim ipso continetur And this practise wheresoever prevaileing is more then Machivelian even devillish sowing seed of dissention in parts to destroy the whole Therefore it being an infallible but woefull ground of truth Nulla salus bello It is meete that all and every Subject of great Britaine understand and professe the other part of that Verse Pacem te poscimus omnes For so I thinke this Axiome in a State is better for preservation of Weale publique Similima similimus nutriuntur And if I were worthy here would I advise all the Magistrates of great Britaine which either now do or hereafter shall beare rule under their high Soveraigne in any parts of his dominions to remember in all their high honours that Cleo and Themistocles tooke contrary courses and were both misliked in time of their Magistracy For Cleo called all his friends and old acquaintance together and renounced them openly giving them to understand that now he was so advanced they should expect nothing from him for former friendships sake And Themistocles answered one wishing him to be alike to all and not partiall that he would not sit in seate of honour and not doe more good to former friends than to others But truth is in a Common-wealth nor disdaine of former friends becommeth Cleo nor partiall favours Themistocles for community regardeth neither any man neither any cause for private respects but is as the Sun yeelding alike common comfort to all which thing I wish all as one man wisely to perceive and willingly performe And yet may Cyrus have in remembrance the very meanest of them with whom sometimes he lived And Ahasuerus looking into the Chronicles may remember those which have saved the King from any who sought to lay violent hands upon him And the Macedonians may not either grudge or disdaine that Alexander prefer the Persians before them of his owne Countrey Ecquis est qui vestra necessaria suffragia pro voluntariis serva pro liberis faciat But to returne into the Kings high way for the name of Britaine seeing his Majesty may say Non me Troja capit Scotland alone doth not containe my greatnesse and therefore speaketh also to England Salve fatis mihi debita tellus England is also the lot of mine inheritance and both England and Scotland will I make one Empire and renew their names into the first title of great Britaine as it were Ilium in Italiam portans though in removing all the gods out of the Temple to give place to Iupiter only that petty god Terminus refused and would not move yet let the Termini and bounds of both our Nations and all the people therein contained willingly give place to the just pleasure of their sole Monarch and even in this also acknowledge K. Charles their supreame head and governour where obedience in each Subject is like the reconciled Genius utriusque regni which though before was as angry Iuno much adverse to the Romanes yet now like Iuno out of her very image seemeth to speake aloud Romam se velle ire Anger is appeased displeasure forgotten and discord come to a perpetuall end Nec quenquam incuso potuit quae plurima virtus Esse fuit toto certatum est corpore regni And now the whole common-weale odiis saturata quiescit Neither may contention either of antiquity or any other dignity whereabout Albanes and Romanes so much contended and would not yeeld one to the other breake this common band of love among our selves or loyalty to our Soveraigne who imbraceth both Nations with equall and indifferent love But we ought to consider that both English and Scottish quis major aeque ambo pares making no question of difference for common goods sake without difference may challenge like interest in his Majesties favour Et vitula tu dignus hic to bee divided equally and graciously among all by Geometricall proportion as his Majesty shall be pleased to deeme meet Which thing may move all to mutuall kindnesse and reciprocate love one towards the other with an orderly conformity of both to live together in all peace and Christian charity affectioned to love one another with brotherly love and in giving honour to go one before the other Rom. 12. as it is said of Scipio and Lelius actuosae vitae iter aequali gradu exequebantur not grudgingly nor contentiously striving for prerogative of blessing and birth-right in his Majesties favour as if it might be said to his highnesse Hast thou but one blessing my father Gen. 27. for his Majesties abundance and overflowing measure of honour poureth forth as out of a fountain streames to fill up every empty channell Nemo ex hoc numero mihi non donatus abibit and where every one may be contented Cuncta aderunt animus si te non deficit aequus Herein let us
take example from the Romane Common Weale and surely for our instruction may it be said Nulla unquam respublica nec major nec sanctior nec bonis exemplis ditior fuit where Dyonisius Halicarnasseus giveth us a strange shew of two Consuls Largius and Claelius who both strove to give precedence one to the other preferring each other before himselfe and reckoning one anothers worth before his owne and this done two or three severall times neither presuming to goe before the other but still refusing and could by no meanes either be perswaded to take the preheminence one before the other But is any mans eye evill because the Kings eye in speciall and gracious aspect is good Doubtlesse when a King doth not all things ad voluntatem sed ad utilitatem omnium they which mislike and yet seeme of the same league and society with others doe notwithstanding like Nahaz the Ammonite 1 Sam. 11. joyne in common covenant with others but on condition onely that they may thrust out the others right eyes Hoccine in commune honores vocare quaenam ista societas quaenam consortio est But whosoever intendeth truely the common good let him remember that Solon said The onely way to keep subjects in unity is to maintaine an equality for all for motus as Plato saith is in inequalitate but status and quies in aequalitate which thing is spoken not to breed or maintaine parity in condition of men for that equality were true inequality nay iniquity so to confound the world But these things are alleadged to shew that our gracious Soveraign may herein I speake under favour be resembled to IANVS who had two faces to looke forward to looke backward for so his Majesty is set in the middest sole Soveraigne of all great Britaine to looke on England to looke back to Scotland and with princely and favourable aspect to countenance both Tros Rutulusve fuat nullo discrimine habebo where both being made one common Countrey that saying may well befit our common Emperour Hostem qui feriet mihi erit Carthaginensis quisquis erit And there is that equality before mentioned distilling from his Grace and Majesty in honouring and defending both alike lusta pari premitur veluti cum pondere libra prona nec hac plus parte sedet nec surgit ab illa where none ought strive contentiously lest they seeme to offer violence to the Kings Grace or to his honour or to both as the Mid-wife charged Pharez in making the breach betweene him and his brother by forcing his birth before his brothers through strife in his mothers womb whose name therefore was called Pharez which signifieth division But our brotherhood is not in strife as that of Cain and Abel Esau and Iacob Ismael and Isaac nor as that of Geta and Antoninus sonnes to the Emperour Severus after whose death their mother Iulia was forced to divide the Empire betwixt her sonnes severing and setting them asunder into separate governments with a sea betwixt them because of their hot contentions and implacable hatred And God forbid that we should by opposite contentions one against another provoke the common parent of both our Nations as those two brethren did their parent Iulia to cry out against us as she did against them O my sons you have found the way how to be severed and divided by sea and land into distinct regiments and ' as you say the water divides you one from the other but how will you divide me your mother How shall I bee divided between you both Will you dissect mee into parts also As them two lovers mentioned by Plutarke striving for their love Dum uterque ad se certatim rapere conatur rent her in pieces Let our strife rather be like that of Ephestion and Craterus who contended whether should love their King Alexander most in so much that Alexander was enforced to decide the controversie adjudging that Ephestion loved the King best and Craterus Alexander best So it pleased the King in his sentence equally to divide his love and so did they both equally strive to love and after this manner did the Iones and Chiâ— contend in love to Hercules and Iuda and Israel for David And so I doubt not but our contention is of the like love and duty towards our Soveraigne but as for hatred and malice amongst our selves so separating us that we cannot be mixed together Dii talia Graiis erroremque hostibus illum Seeing as he said no greater hurt can be wished to our enemies then to be disunited among themselves and if they will not bee at one with us that they may be at odds betweene themselves Maneat quaeso duretque gentibus si non amor nostri at certe odium sui Quando nihil jam praestare fortuna majus potest quam hostium discordiam And now farther to enforce this union into both Nations the rather because we are both alike under one head and governour hath not his Majesty two eyes to respect both kingdomes two eares to heare alike the cause of both two shoulders to beare alike the burden and care of both two hands to distribute honours alike to both and two feet to goe one before the other yet both alike to support but one body The inequality only is if we are not alike dutifull and thankfull neither doe we as the Apostle exhorteth Rom. 12. Carry like mindes one towards another nor make our selves in our owne conceits equall to them of the lower sort And where Xenophon calleth Magistrates and mighty men the Kings eyes the Kings eares the Kings shoulders yea also his hands and his feete it is not thereby meant that they should thinke they also had two eyes to envy one the other two eares to listen after advantages or offences one against the other two shoulders to shove at and shoulder out one the other two feet to out-runne and prevent one the other two hands to catch and snatch one from the other or to carry fire in one hand and water in the other or to build with the one and to pull downe with the other or with the one to offer a gift and with the other a stab Altera manu panem altera lapidem but that their eyes eares shoulders feete and hands are or should be mutuall helpers one to the other for the common good and publique service of the whole State And I perswade my selfe that all Magistrates under his Majestie of the one or other Nation united now in one common name of Britaines will for publique Administration of the common-Weale so see with their eyes heare with their eares beare up the head with their shoulders and walke uprightly Having pure and cleane hands that as the fingers in the hand are distinctly divided and yet do clap and clasp themselves together for more strength so all of command and in authority within great Britain though they have distinct offices yet will so concur and agree
together that though there appeare among them and their distinct publique services as in digitis divisio it shall not be ab unitate praecisio And verily the two kingdomes are like two hands warming and enfolding each other continuing two yet in one body where if the right hand challenge more necessary use and service in the body then the left or the left hand more than the right and one not readily yeeld to joyne with the other as is meete the head may in his good pleasure make choice and use of either as in the Romane Story when Tribunes disagreed for chiefest honour Quintus Servilius Consul of much lesse dignity and authority than a King tooke the matter into his owne hands saying Patria Majestas altercationem istam dirimet Here Prudence among Subjects hath need intermeddle with all other vertues and shew the power of union in her selfe where Justice demandeth right fortitude tollerateth what ought be borne temperance reformeth will subdueth anger moderateth passion and represseth ambition and all in unity of obedience coupled together bring forth plentifull fruit for society honour and joy Which thing well pleased Marcus Furius Camillus Dictator of Rome seeing all the Senate and Subjects of Rome not only accord in the common execution of each office for common good of all but willingly and lovingly both highest and meanest to embrace one the other saying that the Common-Weale was flourishing and most happy Si tales viros in magistratu habeat tam concordibus junctos animis parere atque imperare juxta paratos laudemque conferentes potius in medium quam ex communi ad se trahentes whereof the Senate Consuls and Tribunes gave testimony and good proofe when they all submitted all authority to Camillus perswaded in themselves Nec quicquam de majestate sua detractum quod majastati ejus viri concessissent In Britaines union England may not exalt it selfe above Scotland nor Scotland strive against England but both as members of one and the same body under one and the same head ought to have the same care one for the other as if one member suffer all suffer with it and if one be honoured all the members rejoyce with it and as in the Church so in the common-Weale one is my Dove one is my darling shee is the only beloved of her mother and deer to her that bare her so I know there are diversities of gifts and differences of administrations and divers manners of operations in both and God hath set the members of the whole body every one of them severall in the body as it hath pleased him but omnia ab uno ad unum All from one head and to one end Hee that is wise will consider this Qui vero curiosiores sunt quam capatiores quaedam magâ—is contentiose objectanda quam prudenter consideranda esse arbitrantur And now seeing I have waded so far in the union of Britaines English may not mislike that Scottish beare Office among and with them as if they were of a farre Countrey hunting after others Treasures serving the King of Babylon and not as the same Subjects to Hezechias for they are of and for England as we and we of and for Scotland as they and both for both being made one Nay rather we ought desire their society and rejoyce in this community setting before our eyes for example that saying of Austin of the communion of Saints made fellow heires with Christ through the mercy of our good God Deus cum baberet unicum noluit esse unum sed habere fratres And if in humane matters humane examples more move remembring that Scipeo was as glad of his brothers preferment as of his owne and that Castor would not be a god without his brother Pollux but would be only Semideus that his brother might partake with him as is well said Habent oculi in corpore magnum honorem sed minorem haberent si soli essent In the time of Claudius the Emperour when it was consulted that the Senate should bee supplyed with more Senators the Peeres and Nobles of France long before enfranchised free denizens of Rome sought also to participate in honours magistracies and dignities with Romanes and the matter being handled on both sides with great consideration the Romanes alleadged against the French that Italy wanted no sufficient men within it selfe for it selfe And that there was no reason to incorporate others with them who had beene at so deadly hatred and bloody warres against them What no private men not the common People not Strangers but enemies taken into the Senate Was it not counted for a wonder that the Athenians did take onely Anacharsis into their City Would the Lacedemonians admit the Tyrrheni to participate in their honors though they had done them service And had their mothers also Athenian women But the good Emperour replying said to the Senators that he would assume into the Senate of all his Subjects such as he found most worthy of what Countrey soever alledging that his owne Ancestors were descended from the Sabins and made of Nobility and Senate of Rome and that the Iulij were taken from Alba Coruncani from Camerium the Porcij from Tusculum Etruria and Lucania and from all parts of Italy chosen into the Senate And that by this meanes Italy was extended and greatly enlarged so as not onely the people but all their possessions had their dependance upon the state of Rome and grew into one Nation and people of Rome And that a setled state chiefly flourished when the people inhabiting even beyond the River Padus were received into the community of Romane Citizens And lastly that nothing was more hurtfull to the Lacedemonians and Athenians then refusall to encrease the common-weale by accesse of new and other people What Shall not they be admitted because they and Romanes have had deadly feud one against another So the Aequi so the Volsci And yet are now all one and the same people of Rome This forcible speech pierced their hearts and prevailed so as that all submitted their judgement to the Emperours wisedome Which thing I thought good here to remember not forgetting also what Anna said to Dido Quam tu urbem soror hanc cernes quae surgere regna Connubio tali Troum Comitantibus armis Punica se quantis attollet gloria rebus Which if we consider as we should wee cannot then but ingenuously acknowledge that good and praise-worthy was the speech of Paedaretus who uederstanding he was not chosen into the number of the Trecenti who chiefly bare rule said he did glory there were so many his betters in the Common-weale And no lesse commendable was his saying who wished hee could raise froÌ„ the dead many moe such excellent Citizens as Quintus Fabius well advertised Titus Octacilius Nec tu id indignari possis aliquem in civitate Romana meliorem haberi quam te Doubtlesse the Common-Weale is more happy and doth there
great Britaine should be raised even the self same Britaine as the Phenix living and dying est eadem sed non eadem quia ipsa nec ipsa est O admirable Metamorphosis happy changel England and Scotland have left though not lost their names both being preserved in the Bosome of great Britaine Non duo sunt nec forma duplex but neuâ—runque utrunque videtur and of both us English and Scottish being now Britaines may it be said as of them two brethren alteruter uterque alteruter est uterque utâ—rque autem neuter Which I againe call that faire Phoenix dying and living eadem non eadem quia ipsa nec ipsa est In which excellent and vyonderfull work the rather and better to bring to passe the good purpose of uniting the two kingdomes and people into one it hath seemed best to the godly wisedome of divine providence first and long since to knit all our hearts in one holy religion and in the same service and godly worship to make us all like Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God renewed in Christ and reconciled into one body acknowledging but one God and professing but one faith and religion the hope of our vocation Whereby we learne and cannot but confesse if as Ciprian saith consiliorum gubernaculum lex sit divina that that Common Weale best pleaseth God which commeth neerest to the Church of God that wisest PolititiaÌ„s are best Christians that best governments have correspondence with Gods lawes and that those kingdomes are best ruled and the more blessed which are of one heart and one obedience even as all are one in Christ who is the head and all under his government are by one spirit but one body Wherefore the good Emperors Theodosius and Valentinianus writing to Ciprian Bishop of Alexandria were bold to commend their government according to the platforme before described saying A pietate quae in deum est Reipublicae nostrae constitutio pendet multa utrinque est cognatio societas c. Which most excellent patterne and forme of government is after the example of Christ uniting all into one and this the Psalmist resembleth to that precious ointment powred on the head of Aaron and running downe his heard even to the skirts of his cloathing for so doth sweet and precious union rest chiefly in the head which is but one and from thence run all along and alike to all the parts of the people which are but one But shame on Schisme whither it be civill or ecclesiasticall for it renteth the seamlesse Coat of Christ both in the Church and in the Civill state even in the doctrine and ceremonies of the one against the truth of God and in christian charity and common civility of the other against the peace of men Wherefore whosoever opposeth himselfe against the one or other is more unreasonable and may be thought more cruell than the souldiers which would not divide Christs seamelesse Coat but cast lots whose it should be saying Sortiamur cujus sit For it cannot bee denied but that they which divide Great Britaine to have it divided within and against it selfe divide that for which they cannot say sortiamur seeing cujus is known and sit cannot be denied but sortiamur and cujus and sit should wholly and only be left to his Majestie and to his royall succession for ever Only let our contention be as was that of Israel and Iudah who should be forwardest not only in bringing our King unto the seate of his kingdome but also now to preserve the possession of his kingdome Sartum rectum inseparably united to the King and joyntly united and undivided within it selfe Vnus rex una lex unus pater una communis patria unum caput unum corpus Let not private respects hinder a common good let every man be as one man of one heart and one soule united to his Majesties gracious intentions which are for the everlasting good of every one If the King had commanded thee a great thing wouldest not thou have done it How much more then when he saith bee you all of one minde to live agreeably together in one uniforme government for your owne undoubted good Cedat jus proprium regi patriaeque remittat And to conclude in nomine omine Concerdiae to consummate this structure of union and to consecrate it to all eternity as the Romanes did their Temple of concord Behold now is the time of establishing the unity of both Nations together as he said Si quando unquam consociandi imperii tempus optastis en hoc tempus adest virtute vestra deûm benignitate vobis datum Heretofore as C. Marius said he could not audire juâ— prae strepitu armorum so by reason of civill discord betwixt both Nations the name of unity was but as a pleasant song touching the eare but not entring into the heart or serious consideration of either part And so for many yeares this cogitation crept in every where The name of Britain seemed as a brutish name all commixtion betwixt us seemed confusion any mutation for union sake an utter subversion of all the state But now the matter is come Extra Rubiconem jacta est alea the matter is proceeded in Aut nunquam tentes aut perfice Such a matter of state is not slightly to be intended And I know that all the honourable Commissioners on both sides thinke every one of themselves not to be imployed in this so great businesse only as pro Consule and in his owne person but pro Consulibus in commune omnium and therefore will be assembled like wise Romanes who after long dissention and part takings made full reconcilement and concord perpetuall for all matters in Aede Concordiae And I doubt not but all Subjects will in all places as the Graecians did after long variance embrace that joyfull {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} agreed on for good of all not for fashion sake as among heathen but for conscience sake as among such which truly know and feare God who is author of Vnity and but one God that so there bee henceforth a perfect and perpetuall establishment according to the lawes of Medes and Persians which may not nor cannot be altered remembering inimicitâ—as mortales amicitias immortales esse debere Only yet I would set before all mens eyes that worthy speech of the renowned Tullus Hostilius King of Romanes in the reconcilement of Rome and Alba and represented unto us in uniting England and Scotland by our two gracious Soveraignes Quod bonum faustum foelixque sit populo Romano ac mihi vobisque Albani populum omnem Albanum Romam traducere in animo est Civitatem dare plebi primores in patres legere unam urbem unam remupb facere ut ex uno quondam in duos populos diversa Albana res est sic nunc in unum redeat And now also concerning the name I recite only a Poeticall fable yet moralized no fable That when Neptune and Pallas did strive whether of them should give name to Athens it was agreed that he or she should name the City who could bring the best gift for common good Wherefore Neptune did strike the Shore and it brought forth an horse fore-shewing that Athens should bee warlike but Pullas gave the City an Olive signifying peace and that the City should flourish by peace whereupon peace being more profitable than war Neptune was enforced to yeeld his interest and Pallas gave the name Oh how blessed are the peace-makers How beautifull are their feete How glorious and joyfull the light of their countenance pax optima rerum Quas homini novisse datum est pax una triumphis Innumeris potio K. Iames first Dove-like brought the Olive branch shewing that the waters were abated anger appeased dangers escaped sorrows fled and that salvation and joy entered the Arke of Great Britaine And it is and hath long been his most sacred Majesties desire to encrease and establish the Vnity of both Nations happily begun by his father King Iames of blessed memory wherefore let it be the daily prayers of all true Subjects that God in mercy will still continue the sâ—me to his Majesty and his posterity for ever FINIS