matter to vnite and keep them togither who liue vnder the same climate of heaven are of like language manners countenance lawes customes forme of bodie fashiō of behavior yea and religion à religando Rightly called the chiefest band of hearty vnion For though the Hand Salamis bee controverted betweene Aelian 7◠the Athenians Megarenses yet must it be adiudged to the Athenians because they lived after the same fashion and lawes as now the skilful in the lawes of this land easily acknowledge what congruity and affinity is betweene most of the ancient lawes of both our kingdomes more then is to be found betweene those of any other two nations And albeit the Towne Sidas be controverted Athene 1◠betweene the Athenians Beotians yet Epominondas wil adiudge it to the Beotians and not to the Athenians because the Athenians called an apple malum punicum but the Beotians called it Sidas There is betweene English and Scottish smal or no difference nay now none at al in vnion al being Brittaines not so much as betweene Gileadites and Ephraimites in pronouncing Shibboleth or Sibboleth but al are of one language even of one Canaan language only a little River Twede is common limit or rather imaginary bounde to both and al from Twede Southward is Brittaine within Twede and al frō Twede Northward is Brittaine beyonde Twede yet both on this side that al but one Brittaine non nos mare seperat ingens exiqua prohibemur aqua as al France hath formerly bin divided into two parts the one beyonde the Alps the other within the Alps and all Jndia Westward within the River Gange and Eastward beyonde Gange And all Scithia within Imaus and without Imaus And though the Iland hath bin long time divided into two kingdomes yet England it selfe hath oft times of divers bin called Brittaine as by a Surname and if pars prototo might haue that denomination much more ought the whole being now made one Therefore Linacre Grocinus of the one part called thēselues Brittaines and Iohannes Maior of the other affirmed that the kings of England and Scotland wanted good Councel to advise them to marie togither so to make of both one kingdome of Brittaine that only envious men and they who neglected the Weale publiq ue did hinder this vnion of peace Which thing King Henry the seventh and King Henrie the eighth wisely forsaw seeking by mariage to vnite both kingdomes into one Discordantis saepe patriae non aliud est remedium quam si ab vno regeretur Therefore the wise men haue most religiously observed two beginnings of things one of evil divisible imperfect manifold called duallitie or Binarius numerus Another of good indivisible perfect and in name and nature alwaies one called vnitas If Duallitie or Binarius as cause efficient beare sway then in the aire it breedeth intemperature if in citties families or kingdomes wars and discorde if in the body diseases if in the minde of men vice and wickednes But where vnion possesseth chiefe place her fruites are to the aire wholsome temper to citties families kingdomes mutual loue and ioie to the bodie health and strength and to the minde vertue godlines For vnitie admitteth no duallity knoweth no contrarietie and by consequence no infirmitie But Duallitie seduced Adam in disobedience seeking to know aswel evil as good who before was sole Monarch of the whole earth and was wholly good and perfect both in bodie and Soule vntil hee drew with a dubble twisted corde of contrarieties vnto his body in steede of health sicknesse infirmities and vnto his soule in steede of Righteousnesse sinne and miserie needing now to strengthen his body bread and to repaire his soule grace euen for body soule Gods mercy For so he turned the Monarchy of perfect good into a Monomachie or duellum of good and euil sin and righteousnes peace and war ioie and sorrow sicknesse health yea life and death And now when the sole Monarch of the whole earth left of to abide in the common obedience and vniuersal vnion of al things to his creator albeit al the creatures were before in voluntary subiection vnited also to their sole Monarch Adam on earth yet now everie creature lifteth vp himselfe against his sole earthly Soveraigne and against his Succession for euer The earth wil not yeeld Adam bread but by the sweat of his browes the beasts become wilde cruel yea the earth openeth her mouth against the succession of disobedient Adam and swalloweth vp Corah Dattan 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 wil to doe it Lice can devoure and eate vp Herod euen the vilest and weakest creatures can and often doe destroy the greatest Tirants of the earth And in opinion of some the holy Ghost seemeth in misterie to open this matter to a man of vnderstanding forbearing in the second daies worke to say all was good as is plainely said of al the other fiue daies and he saw all things good not but that the worke of this day was also good for al his workes 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 therfore the holy Ghost seemeth to forbeare to say in that place and it was good And yet would not these bee mistaken in their curiositie as if they concluded the diuision of waters in that daies worke not to be good seeing that waters in the clowds diuided from the Seas are vpholden by Gods prouidence not to powre down and over whelme the earth for they approue divisions of constructions to be good as the diuiding the light from darknes the day from night and of whatsoeuer into parts for ornament and beauty of the forme diuided but vtterlie condemne diuisions of destructions or of distractiōs which is frangere non dividere comminuere non distinguere to part the body from the head or the members from the bodie to bring order to confusion vnitie to distraction forme to a Chaos ens to privation such division was that whereof Caselius answered the merchant Navem si dividis Macr. 2. sa◠nec tu nec socius habebit such diuifion the vnnatural harlot entended requiring the liuing childe to be cut into two partes let it bee neither 1. King 3. 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 of perfectiō but where one is drawn diuided and torne a sunder there breaketh forth falshood war feare dishonor confusion They which are of God embrace the one and they which are of the deuil the other For God both in the Center and Circumference of truth
and no water shall bee able to quench it in Bethell Where it may be thought more fit to set aside al difference of former names vt exoneremus rempub vano for san metu as it is said of one quod nihil est metuit metuit sine corpore nomē And if any account the feare of name nothing be it also say I nothing yet a man cannot be to careful or feareful of that which is counted even nothing seeing it is said Qui cavet vix etiam cavet dum cavet Let former destructions bee present instructions Offensiue distinction of names hath bred much wo. In Italie faction of Guelphs and Gibelines arose for name sake In Englande much blood for the white and red Rose In Iustinians time feareful division betweene the Veneti and Prasini about colours blew and greene In which grievous contentions arising first of small or no cause but only of difference in name and diversitie of colours deadly hatred is oft times kindled among former friends as against sworn enemies After Phalarides death the Agrigentini made a decree that none should vse glauca veste because the Tirants did vse glaucis subligaculis for they hated whatsoever might remember them of former Tiranny And the Romanes publiquely ordained that no Romane should be ever called after the name of Manlius for because his remembrāce Liv. 1. Dec. 6. lib was displeasing they would haue his name vtterly perish I wish that nomen or mentio ipsa the names English and Scottish borders former feud warres and bloudshed betweene the two nations were not once mentioned within our lips but as nomen Pelopidarum vtterly put out abolished and never heard of as that which is laid vp in silence in the Graue even now that not the least occasiō be left no not in sport or inter ludicra certamina as we haue a name of plaie amongst vs called prison base one part striving for England and an other for Scotland representing vnto vs the variance betwixt both nations lest it proue as that betwixt them two brethren Demetrius and Perseus king Phillips sonnes who in ludicio certamine opposite one to the other with their companies divided on both sides fell in earnest vnto a maine deadly warre one against the other I say as neere as may be these opposite tearmes of Scottish and English should cease except they remaine as only they oughte remaine Epithits pertaining to one name of great Brittaine and to one people Brittaines as al the Iewes of al the several Tribes were called Iacob Gods people and Israell his inheritance And herein seeing as Vegetius saith principis est pro salute Reipublicae nova excogitare antiqua restituere both nations ought ioyfully applaud the late proclamation and in al humblenes of duety submit themselues to the kings Maiesties good pleasure seeking thereby the common good of Weale publique and not his owne glory as they doe who cal their lands after their owne name to get a name vpon earth as Valens the Emperor desired according to his ambitious vaine-glorious humour to call this whole Continent Valentia after his owne name for which thing also Henoch the Son of Caine building Gen. 4. a Cittie was first noted but as a king most gracious not natus sibi sedpatriae as Hadrian the Emperour professed before al ita se rempublicā gesturum vt sciret populi rem esse non propriam thinketh only on the ancient name non tam mutans quam aptans so to roote out remembraunce of former hatred and to vnite both into one Pastor populi non suum ipsius sed Subditorum quaerit commodum officio suo semper fungitur vtilitati consulens societati Chaunge of names hath ever beene thought meete in policie even where men formerlye Strangers and of diverse kingdomes were to bee trained vp togither and framed in fashion one to the other as were giuen to Daniell Hananiah Dan 1. Mishaell and Azariah new and other names And Daniell was called Baltasar and Hananiah Shadrah and Mishaell Mesach and Azariah Abegnego of purpose by changing their names to make these forget themselues their country and if it were possible the God of their fathers And so the Turkes haue from time to time in their pollicie changed the olde names of those places they now possesse which before professed Christianity and when vpon any Conquest they take into their government Christians they impose on them new names to liue like them and as one people among them shal we thinke it a wrong or inconvenience that if a Grecian Prince or other Christian king recover against the Turke they afterward abolish a name imposed on them and calany province people or city after their old and ancient name Et si hoc in arido quid in viridi If this be done ex facto by the children of this world vnto an evil end may not his Maieiestie in his princely wisedome fas estet ab hoste doceri exiure for the vndoubted good of the children of light cal to remembrance and put in Dio. 52. execution the wise councel of Maecenas to Augustus to take away al differences whatsoever even of the meanest thinges which might bee thought on whither of name or apparell or anie thing else to the intent all thinges might bee throughly composed in one vniforme fashion conformitie among al his Subiects to their vndoubted good It hath beene often observed that parva scintilla neglecta magnum saepe excitavit incendium And sores sleightly cured break forth into greater danger And if I might boldly write my mind without mistake I would vndertake sufficiently to proue that if the name had not beene chaunged into great Brittaine it might be feared we should not long as we ought ever continue one that loue being not without dissimulation we would among our selues as is vpbraided to the inconstancie of another nation now not to be here named Ridendo fidem frangere and so loue as that we would hate againe For as a chiefe inhabitant and commander in privernum being asked in the Senate at Rome what peace they should expect Livi. 1. d ee 8. lib auswered sibonam dederitis fidam perpetuam simalam haud diuturnam So here may it be saide if vnion in name bring also in deed a good composition and faithful coniunction bona fide it will doubtlesse by Gods goodnes last ever but otherwise I feare which God forbid may againe rent in sunder and make the newe breach worse then the former And therefore wise was that saying eiusdem iuris esse debent qui sub eodem rege victuri Curt. 10. sunt and that practise of Romulus renowned who by vnion of divers nations eodem nomine et Liv. 1. Dec. 1. lib eodem iure latinos vocavit And hereof grew the Italicum bellum because the Latines vnited in other respects were not ioined eodem iure with the Romanes To speake plaine wee
THE IOIEFVLL AND BLESSED REVniting the two mighty famous kingdomes England Scotland into their ancient name of great Brittaine By JOHN BRISTOLL SAPIENTIAE ET FELICITATIS ACADEMIA OXONIENSIS Printed at Oxford by IOSEPH BARNES are to be sold in Paules Church yarde at the signe of the Crowne by Simon Waterson TO THE KINGS MOST EXcellent Maiestie IAMES by the grace of God King of great Brittaine France Ireland defender of the faith THE ioyfull and happie proclaimed vnion of your Maiesties two famous kingdomes England and Scotland into the name of Great Brittaine in one dutifull obedience of all to one Royall Rightful Soveraigne over all is the very Treasurie of the whole State where your Maiestie is sole high Treasurer of weale publique your soveraigne authoritie beautified with Iustice for executing lawes with wisedome for determining Right with mercy and grace for releeving distressed Subiects is the glorious abundant Treasure it selfe And albeit I haue in my two bookes like the poore widdowe offered into your Treasury but only two mites yet I hope for that doe most humbly pray your gracious favor that your highnesse will bee pleased in goodnes to accept my humble service duty to lay vp my two mites with the rest of the rich Treasure though in the account they be scarcely reckoned for a farthing I haue with that care and caveat as is meete only observed the Tenor of your highnes proclamation and with dutiful and due regard left all other incident circumstances and great considerations to the wisedome of the Honorable Commissioners authorized by your Maiestie in both your Parliaments As for all others which dislike mine industrie and distaste my zeale esteeming my labours lost and better left vndone then my reputation left vndone amonge them I esteeme them only tanquam Pedarios Censores trampling on truth and carying their eies in their heeles and not in their head neverthelesse I desire if may be to avoide their kicking and spurning if not yet because I knowe my farthing good silver able to indure touch and triall I haue without other respects in publishing this booke scattered abroad the fire of my zeale to shew it felfe in its own shine and placed my happynesse in your Maiesties approving mine endevours knowing that the king of kings acknowledged the poore widdowe to haue cast in more into the Teasury then al the rich men Me selfe verily doe cast in all that I haue and for my part doe iudge it everie mans part to depart from all where hee oweth all To this I can only adde my dayly praiers and doe presently and will still powre them forth to the God of all glorie and mercie lifting vp hands heart that his manifold and dayly blessings may bee multiplyed vpon your sacred person vpon our gracious Queen and vpon your Royall Seede for ever and that all your kingdomes may flourish to your owne hearts desire for terror of foes and endlesse comfort of all your loving Subiectes Your Maiesties faithfull Subiect and humble servant Io. BRISTOLL THE IOYFVLL AND HAPPY vnion of the two famous kingdomes England and Scotland into the name of Great Brittaine THE State of England and Scotland may bee resembled to the condition of Israell and Iuda not only for emulation who haue most right to the Royall person 2. Sam. 19. of the Kings Maiestie 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 did also at first alike leade both them and vs with Gords of a man euen with Hose 11. Bands of loue And as it pleased God for sinne of people to breake those Bands even both the Staffe of bands and of bewtie to dissolue the brotherhoode Zach. 11. of Israell and Iuda so for the iniquitie of our forefathers God brake the Staffe of bands signifying mutuall loue and also Staffe of bewtie signifying order of government and brought in vpon them vpon their posterity even to these Is 9. our latter daies a staffe of diuision and yoke of burden vpon theirs and our shoulders which nowe for al that out of the riches of his mercie he hath also broken in peeces making al one againe as he spake by his Prophet Ezechiel concerning Israel Ezec. 37. and Iuda saying I wil make them one people in the land vpon the mounetaines of Israell and one king shall be king to them all they shall be no more two peoples neither be diuided any more henceforth into two kingdomes This foundation laide as proiect of our whole purpose The trueth sheweth it selfe howe two kingdomes severed in place not much differing in lawes nor dissonant in language but only disagreeing heretofore in neighbourhoode may bee comprehended vnder notion of one name specially seeing when one ruleth both and both become Subiect to one they are no more two but one body lincked in like duety and knit togither in one bande of obedience To doubt this is in Strangers ignorance but in Subiects 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 Scotland with al their territories Ilands Shires and Countries make now one great Brittaine and al the people of both the mighty nations Brittaines and that the Kings Maiestie hath done as princely an Act in vniting both the kingdomes into one name as hee did in vniting the Armes of both the Realmes into one Scutchion hauing a like Right in both For all great Brittaine being his Maiesties inheritance all his Subiects within that continent are Brittaines Iust and reasonable was the demande of Annius chiefe Governour of Latines in vniting Romanes and Latines saying Ex vtraque gente vnum Liv. 1. Dec. 8. lib. oportet esse populum vnam fieri rempub eandē imperij sedem idemque omnibus nomen And albeit the Latines were cōtent for sake of Weale publique to preferre Romanes before themselues and bee called by their names as the History there farther reporteth Quoniam ab alter vtra parte concedi necesse est quod vtrisque benè vertat sit hat sanè patria potior Romani omnes vocemur neverthelesse the case not standing so with vs that Scottish should be called by our name nor we by theirs me thinks a thirde name of great Brittaine might easily equally please both otherwise as King Deiotarus cut of al his children saving one Plut. 3. mor because he would leaue the kingdom but to one so should English swallowing vp name of Scottish or Scottish drowning name of English prooue such a Vine which to bring but one grape to ripenes is content that all Branches bee cut of but one But the questiō 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 carieth in it selfe his
answere Abide in the Vine This Vine is but Ezec. 37. 19 one though of many branches and much fruite And thanks be given to God that his Maiesty by publique Proclamation hath divulged the inserting and fast grafting of each branch and al fruite into his owne Royal person as into a fruitfull and flourishing vine even into the head of the whole body of howe many so ever partes consisting Wherein his Highnesse hath laid the first stone as he is the true and only foundation of happy vnion and yet as yet like Apelles fashioning onlie the exquisite and most excellent beauty of Venus in the head but I hope also will pray for perfection in the rest that the saying may be true Rex velit honesta nemo non eadem volet and that an vniversal vnion may be as happie in successu as it is most iust by proclamation in inceptu That the head going before the whole body may followe after in imitation to worke out perfection of the desired happy vnion That it may be verified quod diu parturivit tandem peperit what God had in his providēce long purposed is fulfilled in these our happy daies And that by no meanes that of the Poet may be imputed to vs either by disobedience to our head or disagreeing among our selues humano capiti vartas inducere formas Grammarians doe obserue that Metallum is so called quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is post 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is aliud because there is scarcely found no veine of Mettal where is not more of that sort adioyning to it so among English and Scottish they are not to bee thought of the true metalline Mine but as drosse canker corrupting consuming each other which ioine not in the vniversal name of great Brittaine so to continue and dwel togither to grow vp and agree togither seeing nature hath made them all of one kinde forme complexion habit and language growing togither And verily divine is the mistery of vnion whether the provident wisdome of nature from God hath ingendred it or the skil of mans reason hath observed it where one of and in it selfe doth out of it selfe powre foorth innumerable formes of things as Brittaine doth even two kingdomes the principalitie of Wales with many Shires Rivers Ilands and people and yet conteineth 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 whither we respect vnion or division And this doubtlesse is a divine power or celestial vertue not only for our purpose but compassing passing through the whole world making things either simple or coniunct but one subsisting by vnder the divine essence which is one and consisting in all his members parts vnited but one where each every part of this vniversall world respecteth the whole otherwise innumerable but brought by vnion to a number without number even beginning of numbers which is but one And this is most agreeing to the conceipte of wisest Philosophers skilful in natures Secret teaching all whatsoever is to be but one and that in the vniversal nature of things there is an agreeing amitie and intermixed affinitie where all the partes of the whole world accorde by one transfused continuat spirit among them being compact togither with one and the selfe-same agreeing force forceable agreement of nature proceeding from one beginning continued by one meane and referred to one end everie particular being knit togither with the whole vniversality diversity of things wrapt vp in one round orbe togither that as partes of this worlde they may dwell in one Center or Circle togither To shut vp many things in few and to shevve how certainely all things are contained in one one doth comprehende all verily in Schooles of Philosophers it is an infallible Maxime that all things are communicated in one Vnum hoc praeque omnibus vnum This one is al in al. Ruunt autem omnia vbi vnitas non firmamentum diffluunt vbi non coagulum The demonstration in our entended purpose is plaine Many villages make one Shire many Shires one kingdom many kingdomes one Imperial Monarchy all which is Brittaine and Brittaine al these and the Kings Maiestie possessing governing Brittaine possesseth and governeth al these and the Subiect knovving Brittaine knoweth al and every of these for al these are one and this one is al these That as this excellent workemanship of Vnion sheweth it selfe in the mightie Masse and fabricke of the whole worlde so much more particulerly and plainely doth it appeare in a modell of the same even in the name and honour of great Brittaine where every Subiect ought cleerely to see in him selfe that though he be tearmed the little world and compact of infinite varietie and multiplicity of things yet is he not two but one man Here let the neere neighbourhoode and coniunction of man and man in mutual societie and participation of profites 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 in deede doe with idem velle idem nolle enioy the fruition of heaven with the same aspect 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 State of the world is vphelde with one and the selfe same power life wherewith the vniversall world consisteth So now it concerneth al every one Subiect both of England and Scotland to participat in the cōmon obedience transfused into al vnder the governmēt of one which duety is neglected of him vvho against the kings designement right against his owne incorporation reiecteth his vniting into the name of Brittaine And in this vnion qui non colligit dispergit Where sacred vnitie is guide and director there even from distinct of nature vse of mutuall societie and good of weale publique many are knit togither inseperably and great and infinite numbers of all Sorts of people are contained in one narrow compasse of neere coniuuction for so the most populous and powrefull kingdomes though two or mo vnder one Soveraigne seeme to be but as one whole body And the whole body of Weale publique in subiection and obedience but as one man sic enim omnes aquoiure parent omnibus imperature And as in al things so specially in this are we bound to render al praise and thanksgiving to that thrice sacred Vnity from whom as from the first author and fountaine is sowen abroad in the world that fruitful seede of cōstant vnitie whose force draweth many of one houshold to be of one minde and is ever doing good in its owne nature keeping Israel togither like a flocke of sheepe Neither is it an hard
brother it was subiect to storme ful of contentions war shedding of bloud but ioined with his brother it flourished with peace and at this day is blessed in the vniformity of government there established And in mine opinion it is well observed in the Cronicle of Wales how God was not pleased with the first change of the name of Brittaine into the name of England for presently followed the terrible and cruel invasion of the Danes after that the conquest of the Normans But memorable is it that the Brittaines ruled al the whole I le togither with the out Iles of VVight Mon 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 Brittaines and of the noble race of Troians Which when in succeeding age many mightie famous Kings of England considered they laboured by al meanes to recouer and resume the name and stile of Kings of great Brittaine accounting it dishonorable to leese any iot of the honor of there most princely progenitors And therefore King Knute King of England mighty in his dominions of Swethen from Germany to the North poles with Norway and Denmarke having obtained prosperous successe in warring against Scotland is recorded after his death the mightiest prince in the West parts of the world and of al the noble I le of Brittaine And so VVilliam the Conquerer for the good successe he likewise had in Scotland is recorded king of al Brittaine Henry the second surnamed Curtmantle is also for like successe recorded king of al Brittaine And if they be Renowned and honored with name and stile of Brittaine which by rightful descent or by conquest were inheritours but to one part only though by their fortunes in warre they also claimed the other what rightful title must we then acknowledge most iustly now to belong to his most excellent Maiestie in the imperial crowne of both who by lineal descent inheriteth both Which thing seemeth in his highnesse late proclamation to be strongly and truely enforced for that his Maiesty doth not covet any new affected name but assumeth a title warranted by authentical charter and records of great antiquity not borrowed of forraine nations but from the actes of his progenitours both before and sithence the conquest who had not so iust nor great cause as his Maiestie hath Causa iubet superos melior sperare secundos Here I wish I had as many eies as Argos to looke into their devises who seeke to divide England from Scotland Scotland from England renouncing the name of great Brittaine least ioined in one they might as the forenamed stars appeare togither shine togither and bring ioy togither I would then not spare to lay open as Cneius Flavius did reveale to the world the tricks and misteries of Lawyers of that time and therefore was said to put out their eies and to cut their purses how also these Adamants hinder the natural power and vertue of the load stone whom I cal Adamants aswel for repugnant qualities as that they be truely Adamants even Sonnes of Adam practising rather in disobedience dissention and ruine of al to lay hands vpon that is forbidden then to draw the yron nay golden chaine of lincks of loue in obedience to the king and for common peace and preservation of men But herein such imitate the devise of Q Fabius Labeo Val. 3. 3. seeking to haue the ship of common weale divided in partes as when by compact of league with Antiochus he ought to receiue halfe part of Antiochus shippes cut them al in the middest craftely so to defraude Antiochus of his whole Nauy or else imitate they Cyrus Herod 1. dividing great Rivers into many litle Brookes til they be not only passable but even dried vp for so these seeke to stay the maine mighty Streame of great Brittaine by dividing it and in dividing to make it of sundry kindes vnlike it selfe Such dividing into parts is disioyning of the parts by disioyning dismembring and by dismembring spoyling making Plin. 36. 17. the stone Scyros which whole and firmely compacted doth swim and floate aboue the waters to sincke and be drowned because it is divided But our two famous kingdomes with al their provinces shires and Countries vnited into the name of great Brittaine are like the goodly and pleasant river Danubius which passing by many Countries keepeth his name til it enter into Illiricum where receiving into it sixtie other rivers of diverse other names leeseth not only his owne and al their other names of parts but is called Ister one for al containing al. Here I require both of English and Scottish is either of them now as a people disiointed one from the other Or as Sande 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 Brittaine is renowned that King Iames and his Royal issue doe gather togither that which was scattered and vnite that which was divided and restore that which vvas lost and saue that which was endangered even by this meanes vniting al in one name of Brittaine as it was saide of Rome vniting so manie Countries into it selfe al parts which disagreed heretofore are now well agreeing Heerevpon Rome was said to be anchora a fluctuanti mundo as he faith in Tacitus regnae bellag per Gallias semper fuêre donec in nostrum ius cōcederetis So happily doeth this vniversal coniunction of all vnder one head take away al discorde and maintaine coniunction of loue for everlasting continuance Onely they which wil be alone and not contained vnder one name of great Brittaine are not bound vp with the sheaues nor carried home into the Barne and therefore are like gleanings after harvest left behinde in the field subiect to storme they come not two and two into this arke and whatsoeuer remaineth alone extra arcam perit Such are not vnlike that captaine whom Xerxes Herod ◠rewarded with a garland for escaping aliue when al other Souldiers were slaine and yet because he came alone without the rest he hanged him and as the Athenians in the warre with the Herod 5. Aeginetae when one returned without his fellowes ranne al vpon him and killed him asking where were the rest And what can such I pray you as seperate themselues from the happy vnion of al Brittaines answere for themselues if they be called to account Can any be English not Scottish can any be Scottish and not English Let that outcry against the Romanes be ingeminated against such saying Quintilius Varus restore vs our Legions where are our souldiers what is become of them Where are the English where are our Scottish let al restore themselues each one the other to the name of Brittaines And so I say to al and everie one of both
called Camberaec which could never be extinguished by anie attempts of Romanes Saxons Danes Normans that famous Citty London is stil by them called Trenwith of Brutus first named Trenovantō And the Countrey it selfe is called Cambria of Camber Brutus Sonne though we cal it VVales a word imposed by Saxons naming thē VValshe which is strange and many mountaines rivers cities are among thē stil retaining British names extremos pudeat redijsse let vs be ashamed to bee last or backward seeing another Arthur king of all great Brittaine raigneth least we stil seeme overawed and captivated to the Conquerour Egbert his wil and by his beating vs to bee made as base vassals forgetting our selues our names and our Countrie and not daring to challendge or acknowledge them even as that base Slaue Sosia was enforced to yeeld to his Master Mercury Plau. Amph. and say pugnis me fecisti tuum etsi sum ego tamen non credomihi nomen simul abstulit cum forma Neither doe I esteeme the change of name a matter of indifferencie as if it were all one whither we were called Brittaines or cōtinued English and Scottes But in my Iudgement it is reason to alter all into Brittaines because it was our most ancient and is the more honorable name except we wil weare the Badge of slaverie on our sleeue to brag to the world that we are not ashamed to be conquered so to shew our nakednesse and shame which Adam sought to cover when he once saw it Neither in mine opinion is it reason that the now Nobles or Gentlemen of England should delight in name imposed by that Saxon seeing the whole race of Saxons is for the most part rooted out by the Danes and Normanes and none of Saxons blood that vvas Noble or almost but Gentil is left and seeing as Chronicle reporteth it was counted in the daies of the Conquerour a reproach to be called an English man or to ioine in mariage with any of the English which in my vnderstanding is Saxons nation Redit ad authores genus generosa in ortus exurgunt semina suos And verily names and titles are matters of great consideration vnlesse like Varro not caring Aug. de civ 1. 22. for name we should also say that the God whom the Iewes worshipped was but the same Iupiter and common God of other Countries though otherwise called nihil interesse censens quo nomine nuncupetur dum eadem res intelligatur But in the vnion of the Sabins and Romaines as Eutropius reporteth this was especially agreed vpon that the Sabins and Romaines should assume one an others name promiscuously so that by no meanes they should bee distinguished by name Andalbeit among vs custome hath begotten prescription yet we may remember what is wel said in the Commedie nunquam it a quisquam benè subduct a ratione fuit quin res at as vsus aliquid apportet novi vt quae prima putes post in experiendo repudias As in the Romane storie when it was obiected that innovations were dāgerous to the state and nothing was to be done whereof formerly there was no president saith Livi. 1. Dec. 4. lib Canuleius Quid postea nullane res nova institui debet quod nondum est factum multa enim non dum sunt facta in novo populo ea ne sivtilia quidem sint fieri oportet Whilest we of England were put a part from Scotland it was reason wee should haue a name divided and distinguished from them retaine that name and condition as pleased fortune to impose as Andromache saith to her Sonne sume quod casus dedit but being restored in integrum and every part knit togither it is a like reason we returne to our old name say as in the Prophet Hose 2. I will goe and returne to my former husband for at that time it was better for me then now And no man when he hath tasted the new wine but saith the old is better So that as the Romaine Empire first was a Monarchie afterwardes governed by two Consuls and so a long passing through divers kindes of governments til it returned to his former state of Monarchie to be as it was at first even so the state of great Brittaine first was as a Monarchie al governed by one since it was divided but nowe it returneth to his Monarchie againe Moribus antiquii res stat Romana virisque For men wax wearie in time of their present condition and Rome mole laboravit sua or rather and more truely God setteth bounds to al things which they cannot passe even the mightiest powers haue their periods And al worldly kingdomes thus changing after long experience say the first is best and so likewise vt rerum it a verborum interit vsus quem penes est rerum vis norma loquendi But in this case neither the thing nor the name being changed but wee lawfully recovering that which was lost renewing the title of great Brittaine enioying our Coūtry as we did before calling al Brittaines holding al things in the same safety and security vnder name of greate Brittaine as before vnder names of England and Scotland say all and each one to other pascite vt ante boues pueri submittite tauros It is a good and gracious deede to provide for real agreement in al equal coniunction and mutual participation But in my simple opinion it had beene verbo tollere reipsa relinquere only in shew to take away difference but not in deed without vniting both kingdomes into the name and stile of great Brittaine for as he complained Cic. Ep. ad Att. Tirannis occidit Tirannis vivit So if the olde enmity of English and Scottish be removed and yet the names stil remaine I feare that the verie names woulde ever put ill men in minde of olde grudge and incite new variance as is said of one that he was Romani nominis inimicus at deadlie hatred with the verie name where the name is taken for the very cause of hatred As eo nomine hostis for that cause even for name sake he is an enemie even as in Rome when all things vvere accorded and all parties pleased only a name which was in dislike among them was thought hinderance to their mutual Concorde and content Liv. 1. Dec. 2. lib saying nō placere nomen id pericule sum esse id officere id obstare libertati and therefore the Senate perswaded Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus otherwise in al respects approved and beloved of al even for his names sake to forsake his office saying absolve beneficium amicus abi exonera civitatem vano for san metu This I speake least retaining former name of English and Scottish which heretofore hath beene offensiue to each other we cal as before is spoken the ill disposed to former opposition as betweene fire and water even to kindle such a fire in Iacob as wil devour in Israell
patriaeque remittat And to conclude in nomine omine Concordiae to consummat this structure of vnion and to consecrate it to all eternity as the Romanes did their Temple of concord Behold now is the time Liv. 8. of vniting both nations togither as he saide Si quando vnquam consociandi imperij tempus eptastis en hoc tempus adest virtute vestra deûm benignitate vobis datum Heretofore as C. Marius said he could not audire ius prae strepitu armorum so by reason of civil discord betwixt both nations the name of vnity was but as a pleasant song touching the eare but not entring into the heart or serious consideration of either part And so vntill this day this contagiō hath crept in every where The name of Brittaine seemed as a brutish name al commixtion betwixt vs seemed confusiō any mutation for vnion sake an vtter subuersion of all the state But now the matter is come extra Rubiconem iacta 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 al the honorable Cōmissioners on both sides thinke every one of them selues not to be imploied in this so great busines only as pro Consule and in his own person but pro Consulibus in commune omnium therfore will bee assembled like wise Romanes who after long dissention and part takings made ful reconcilement concord perpetuall for all matters in Aede Concordiae And I doubt not but al Subiects wil in all places as the Graecians did after long variaunce embrace that ioyful 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 agreed on for good of al not for fashion sake as among heathen but for conscience sake as among such which truely know and feare God who is author of Vnity but one God that so there be henceforth a perfit and perpetuall establishment according to the lawes of Medes Persians which may not nor cannot be altered remembring inimicitias mortales amicitias immortales esse debere Only yet I would set before all mens eies that worthy speech of the renowned Tullus Hostilius king of Romanes in the reconcilement of Rome and Alba represented vnto vs in vniting England Scotland by our gracious king Quod bonū Liv. 1. Dec. 1. lib faustum felixque sit populo Romano ac mihi vobisque Albani populum omnem Albanum Romā traducere in animo est Civitatem dare plebi primores in patres legere vnam vrbem vnam Rempublicam facere vt exvno quondam in duos populos divisa Albanares est sic nanc in vnum redeat And now also concerning the name I recite only a poetical fable yet moralized no fable that whē Neptune Pallas did striue whether of them should giue name to Athens it was agreed that hee or shee should name the Citty who could bring the best guift for common good Wherefore Neptune did strike the Shore it brought forth an horse fore shewing that Athens should be warlike but Pallas gaue the Cittie an Oliue signifying peace that the Citty should flourish by peace where vpon peace being more profitable then warre Neptune was enforced to yeelde his interest and Pallas gaue the name Oh how blessed are the peace makers Howe beautiful are their feete How glorious and ioyfull the light of their countenance pax optima rerum Quas homini novisse datū est pax vna triumphis Innumeris potior King Iames doue-like bringeth the Oliue branch sheweth that the vvaters are abated anger a ppeased dangers escaped forrows fled and that salvation and ioy entereth the Arke of great Brittaine God saue the King JOHN BRISTOLL
in the whole common Weale it is wholly and in every part thereof whither it be of English or Scottish entire Tota in toto tota in qualibet parte As a shining light it sheweth a way for common good and as a reasonable soule giveth vnderstanding to the blindest body to see the full fruition of al worldly happinesse let no man shut his eies against the Sun nor refuse a living soule for his Carcas If I could expresse the image of this vnion in liuely colours I would surely make her a Goddes faire and beautiful having a garland crowne of al blessings vpō her head sitting in a Chaire of State with al good fortunes vertues and graces attending her and as a Goddes in triumphant chariot going into the capitol or temple of mighty Iupiter where also the Poets haue found her but called by another name even Pallas who is also named Monas that is vnitie because having Macrob. one only parent shee resideth in Iupiters braine even in the chiefe seate of his wisedome where al the Muses are her companions so called Musae quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is altogither in one where al the Graces go hand in hand congratulating to vnion their mutual societie where al vertue and knowledge are neere of affinitie but Iustice and government of cōsanguinity to her her selfe stil holding primacy over al as England Scotland are cheerefully looking one towards the other in the name of great Brittaine as the two Cherubins did looke one towards the other in one propitiatory And thy royal state ô great Ezech. 28. Brittaine is as the annointed Cherub And as in the hart of man is placed fortitude in his liver temperance and in his minde Iustice yet al these with al other vertues are annexed to Prudence the common ligament of al so is great Brittaine by vniting al his kingdomes principalities countries and honours the compleate proportioned forme of al and al in it both vniversally and particulerly are fashioned and made fit on every side for happy coniunction and mutual correspondence For this renowned name of great Brittaine standeth in steede of a Loadstone drawing al into one chaining them togither with links of loue as Lisippus made an image of fowre mettals mixed togither gold silver brasse and yron expressing hereby absolute perfection of vertue putting in gold to signifie Prudence silver Iustice brasse Fortitude and yron Temperance whereof they are altogither ignorant as if they had never seene vertue so much as painted who to overthrow vniō in the name of great Brittaine bring no vnion of vertues euen excellencies of many Countries to this so excellent worke But skilful Zeuxes going about to depaint an absolute worke of a perfit virgin tooke not onlie view of one womans beautie but had varietie of many the fairest to accomplish out of al these a more excellent and consummate forme of bodie Shal we not thinke the kingdome of Fraunce containing Pickardy Normandie the I le of France Champaigne Averne Dalphenie Bry Bloys Turin the Dutchie of Aniow Xantoin Burgundie and vniting to it little Brittaine to be more glorious in al these being made one then if but one only of al these were that kingdome Doe we not see that the enlarging of the dominions of Spaine in vniting and establishing diverse kingdomes and territories as those of Aragon 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 Ilands fifteene in number all comprehended vnder the name Denmarke and vnited to that Crowne Did not Iagello taking to wife in the year 1380. the princes Hedingee the last of the blud Royal of Polonia after he was installed king there vnite al his owne principalities of Lithuania and Samotgathia Provinces of Russia to the kingdome and Esth 1. Crowne of Poland Did not Ahasuerus raigne from India to Ethiopia over an hundred twenty and seaven diuerse Provinces And was not he so mightie by reason of this varietie subiected and vnited to his sole government that hee was an hundreth and fowrescore daies shewing the riches and glorie of his Greatnesse to al his Princes and to the mightie men of Persia Media But to take example of one only Rome for all How hath it beene renowned through the whole world by ioyning al the nations of the world into one euen to it selfe Herehence it was called terrarum dea gentiumque Roma communis patria mundi compendium Omnia Romanae cedant miracula terrae Propertius Natura hîc posuit quicquid in orbe fuit But the Maiestie of this Empire grew so great by adioining other nations and bringing them all into one Haec est in gremium quae victos sola recepit Humanumque genus communi nomine fovit Matris non dominaeritu civesque vocavit Quos domuit nexuque pio longinqua revinxit And againe Fecisti patriam diversis gentibus vnam Dumque offers victis proprij consortia iuris Vrbem fecisti quod prius orbis erat And so may wee say of this renowned name of great Brittaine comprehending vs all of diverse nations in one vnder our gracious King Huius pacificis debemus moribus omnes Quod cuncti gens vna sumus I could set forth and confirme by sundry examples this vniting of many into one and thereby shew that the enlarging of dominion consisteth in vniting altogither into one name and establishing diverse Territories vnder one Soveraignetie and government and that the greater states and Imperial powers of larger extent and far spreading domination are the more durable Arist Pol. and that the Monarchie of great Brittaine is like to be hereafter of more durance strength honor as partly comming vnder our Kings government without conquest or constraint nam errat longè mea quidem sententia qui credat imperium stabilius aut firmius quod vi adiungitur quam quod facilitate clementia so now especially it beeing vnited in the whole then heretofore divided in parts his contexture being of a greater frame thē before holding by more then one naile and vp-holding it s own greatnes even as great buildings endure and subsist by their owne weight as the Poet speaketh Pondere tuta suo est But I thinke it here as needeful to lay open that great fault imputed to Constantine dividing the Empire among his Children whereby of one Empire hee made three and withal a memorable diminution of his authoritie and forces which part Brutus also played dividing this whole Empire of great Brittaine among his three Sonnes of which though two parts afterward namely England Wales were againe in good time vnited yet Scotland stood till now divided from the rest the rest from it till God in special goodnes nowe restored to
former name and government al into one againe for which our King Iames may challendge more glory by vniting al into one thē Brutus or Constantine dividing it from one and though Constantine the great was counted the glory of Brittaine as being borne and made Emperour here yet may that commendation better fit our King Iames then Constantine Tu nobiles fecisti Britanias quod illic ortus factusquees imperator The Platan tree hath many goodly Branches and boughes and leaues in one body and therefore Xerxes in Herodotus crowned him with a golden Garlande doubtlesse there is a deserued glorious garland due to the name of great Brittaine bringing forth many goodly boughes and branches like to the faire and wel spred Platan tree or rather for the height of his honor like the tall and goodly Cedar in whom the dreame of Nabuchodonoser hath beene verified for he saw a tree in the middest of the earth great strong whose height reached vnto the heaven and the sight therof to the end of the earth whose leaues were faire and the fruit thereof much in which was meate for al yea the beasts of the field had Dan. 4. shaddow vnder it the fowles of the aire dwelt in the boughes thereof and al flesh fed of it But Nabuchodonosor heard also a watch crying out mightily hew downe this tree breake of his brāches shake of his leaues scatter his fruit that both beasts and fowles may be put from him neverthelesse leaue the stumpe of his rootes stil in the earth So was the ancient honor and glory of great Brittaine great and mighty high to heaven faire and fruitful of power over the whole Land from one end to the other but the highest who hath power over al 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 vp againe to former beautie that we might learne to magnifie the King of heaven as did Nabuchodonosor restored to the honor of his kingdome to his glory and beautie againe to his Counsailours and Princes and to the establishment of his Throne with augmented glorie And here let vs now consecrate to al eternitie the ancient name of famous great Brittaine as a Pantheon of al blessings in peace prosperitie and honor for as Pantheon was a Temple at Rome rounde and like to the capacitie of heaven wherin were put al the images of their Gods So I say in the name and stile of great Brittaine as in a Pantheon are placed al worldly blessings like stars shining from heaven and having their influence into the whole body of common weale euē perfection of beautie 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 iust God yea for so many vertues they framed so manie Goddesses where one Temple might not be consecrated to two Goddesses but distinct vertues must be worshipped with distinct worship So Val. Max. 1 as Marcellus dedicating one and the same Temple to honor and vertue was thought to offende against religion But our happy and better instructed age reducing al to one as it teacheth vs in religion both nations to be one truely to worship one true and only God so in civil things government it offereth only one aboue and for all that whatsoeuer is seperate and distracted frō it may be counted as anathema excommunicate divorced or as a barren handmaide to be sold to the vsurer vnprofitable imperfit or as it were not at all And now as vniō into the name of great Brittaine is like a Pantheon and bringeth manifolde abundant blessings meeting togither concurring in one so let vs account our selues most blessed in our soveraigne vnitor in whose Royal person and princely Succession is laide vp al our obedience and dwelleth al our happynes even as that worthy Scipio is said therefore to be borne that there might be one in whō al vertue should shew it selfe effectually and absolutely perfect hic est Scipio quē dij immortales nasci voluerunt Val. Max. 6 9. vt esset in quo se virtus per omnes numeros efficaciter ostenderet This is the voice of trueth it selfe England and Scotland are so naturally vnited in the name of great Brittaine that the one neerely alyed to the other can no longer be an alian or stranger one to the other except it may be said that Quia meus est non est meus ipsaque damno est mihi proximitas So this natural coniunction should be no vnion because it is both natural in the Soile and real in the Subiect But albeit the Romanes put into the Temple called Pantheon that precious Macrob. 3. gemme named Vnio divided and cut in two yet we with al our goods and geare ought willingly be borne into the bosome of great Brittaine quae fundit in omnes imperium not distributing vnion into parts but knitting vp al parts into one as Ciceroes orator had al sciences and Aristotles good man al vertues as Cato was counted like perfect in al vertues or as the divine Plato sealed vp in man the lesser world whatsoever vertue was in the whole world or rather as Eden the plentifull Ezech. 28. garden of God sealing vp the summe of all perfection and glorie was fraight and deckt with all manner of precious stones the Rubie the Topaze and the Diamond the Chrysolice the Onix the Iasper the Saphir the Emeraude and the Carbuncle and gold Even now may it be said of this vniversal name of Brittaine as it was saide of Rome Imperij virtutumque omnium lar and virtutum omnium latissimum templum In ancient time it was counted ominous if a stone fell or a dogge came among brethren And Cic. Off. 3. Socrates was wont to curse those who by selfe cōceipts and head-strong opinion attempted to set a sunder those things which nature coupled togither And now if any factious Tribune of the people interpose himselfe to divide vs 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 vtterly dispaire in a peaceable State quia in concordia ordinum nullos se vsquam esse vident verily such are not vnlike Medea who so dispersed her brothers limmes that they could not be gathered againe cuius etiam vultu laeditu pietas as the Mariners at Sea wel obserue 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 togither The principality of Wales shall witnesse this truth which never receaved any thing more beneficial for the people there then vniting that Country to the crowne kingdom of England For whilest it was alone without his