and amongst our selves then ever wee had with the Scots that therefore the concorde and peace which our Nation did enioy vnder our Soveraigne Queene it cannot be sound and that it were much easier to make a perfect amitie and vnion with the Scots then that wee coulde be brought to bee faithfull and true hearted friendes with our selves Well the times and seasons doe change and all thinges doe by them alter and turne so as nothing can possiblie stand at one stay except that God that turneth the wheeles of all thinges stay the same we are therefore to labour to change to the best and seeing by Nature we are so carelesse to be constant in good things let vs never endevour to be constant in bad things for he that by diversitie of Religion can set the father against his owne sonne can by the power and efficacie of his true Religion make of mortall enemies most faithfull friendes and having so made them hee can continue them so Let God be iustified in his truth and men manifested to bee lyars when God is obeyed and his ordinance followed it shall haue a blessing contrarie to the expectation of men for it is to be thought that he may moue the harts of anie subiects who doth at his pleasure command the hearts of all Princes And trulie in the sight iudgemeÌ„t of man it may seeme that at this present God hath a purpose to vnite vs having in his provideÌ„ce disposed of so many effectual means amongst vs all which do concurre most forciblie to accomplishe that worke vnitie of true Religion which never doth want the bond of the spirit vnitie of language likenes of discipline and manners the long peace and concorde of the Princes and countries the often next descent of the Scottishe king from the bloode royall of England his rare wisdome and loue of Religion with sound knowledge and iudgement in matters of the same doeth divine some extraordinarie charge imployment from God for graces are never given but to fitte some place and calling answearable to them the propagation from vs of manie of their noblest families and no small number of their meaner houses which doe carrie our surnames to this present day doeth in a manner invite vs to bee of one familie or houshold The removall of the moste wise heroicall and popular competitors and their favourers which might haue opposed doeth smooth and plaine a way for him to come in And the two countries by seas not dis-vnited but making one IlaÌ„d doth wish the two nations to make vp one people Other means there are which I doe heere omit of which a part are verie well set downe in the late Scottishe proclamation full of affection and loue to vs set out for making preparation against the Spaniards and for the maintenance of peace of the borders penned as I am crediblie informed by the king himselfe The last inconvenience which is alleadged to be mervailous and to bring more contempt danger to the English state then all the other three is this The Scottishe king will be more affected to the Scots and will advance them to the chiefe places of credite and confidence about him so the English which hath hitherto beene accustomed to command and rule other nations and not to obey or be ruled by anie shall become subiect not only to the king but also to the Scots whom once they did conquere And this no English heart can indure Besides the greatest commoditie that England can looke for is like to bee none other then the increase of more subiects If this were true as it is alleadged it were contempt domage and danger I confesse and could no waies be pleasing to any Englishman to be subiect to those whome they count their inferiors But it may be more trulie answered theÌ„ it is obiected that we need not doubt of his future affection whose favour from time to time hath beene formerlie proved by good evidences to all such of our nation as hath stoode in need of it I haue heard divers of them openlie confesse that they had better hearing more gracious aunsweres and speedier dispatches from him then anie of his owne subiectes coulde get or yet they themselves could ever get of the Queen and speciallie one whose sute for an other Englishman that was committed to prison and condemned to be hanged the king though much busied patientlie heard red his petition and protesting that he had rather hang twentie of his owne knaues then the poore man should take anie harme gaue present direction for his enlargement though manie reasons were alleadged to the contrarie by some of his Nobility that were most gracious with him This matter fel out verie lately as he that heard it of the petitioner himself did assure me Yet this is nothing in respect of that which hee hath shewed during al the space of aboue tweÌ„ty yeres So as I hope hee is of that princelie nature that wee shall never be able to overcome him with kindenes And I woulde know what iust occasion haue we thus to imagine and thus to ghesse what his affection and inclination must bee at anie or at all times hereafter as though everie man without possibilitie of divorce were so wedded to one affection that no thing could alter or change it when as we see that men of wisdome and of vnderstanding doe rule and frame their affections according to the better respectes and as they see greater reason Therefore wee may the more safelie conclude that hee that is now perhaps more tenderlie affected to his owne because he is more bounde to them by the rules of conscience and nature will hereafter be more or at least no lesse affected to vs if there be the like or greater respectes and precepts of conscience and nature why hee should do so Neither can his present affection and favour be a sufficient rule or square by which you may measure and iudge what his affection shall bee at all times to come We are fully throughlie taught even by the instinct of nature that the vilest monster which she bringeth out or the cruellest beast which shee nourisheth will favour and fane vp those of whome they haue good And will not he to whom the heavens are so beneficiall in furnishing him with rare graces and gifts of bodie and minde advaunce preferre and make much of those who haue or shall chearefullie and willinglie advance preferre him before al others even of their own nation To whom may we thinke can hee more safelie commit his person his state then to them who for the confidence and assurance which they doe repose in him haue committed to his trust their livinges liberties liues and all that ever they can haue Nay it is wiâ—hout all question that he who is so often and by both his parents descended of English blood wil in England becom English and a favorer cheiflie of Englishmen according to the speech if not the prophecie
protest before the Almightythe searcher of al harts that true and heartie loue first towards God and his true Religion secondlie a loyall and dutifull affection towardes your highnes person preseruation lastly a minde by all lawfull meanes vnfainedly wishing the good peace prosperity of this our natiue country of England and no other respectes whatsoeuer haue moved and stirred vs vp first to deuise and write and nowe to offer and deliuer vnto your Maiestie this short discourse following Whereby though it might be feared we shall incurre your graces displeasure are not ignorant that the anger of a Prince is as the roaring of a Lyon and euen the messenger of death because it is so said in the Scripture yet notwithstanding the former respects haue so preuailed with vs that wee durst not but aduenture thus far forthough the matter which herein wee labour to perswade you vnto be such that by great likely-hood it wil at the first prouoke you to wrath and kindle your displeasure towards vs yet wee nothing doubt but that we shall make it appeare to bee a thing moste necessarie profitable and honorable for your highnesse The knowledge of the second person necessarie before God and man to yeeld vnto both before God and man and the most safe meane for your Maiesties present preseruation also We therefore presume and therewith wee haue encouraged ourselues that such is your graces wisdome and gratious disposition that in the end this our enterprise both will be well taken and fauorablie construed For our consciences beares vs witnesse before God that we aime at nothing else herein but his glory your safety The writers purpose most allowable the good of the Church and profite of this noble Realm according to which our meaning we humblie craue that all that we haue written may be expounded For as loath are we needlesly and wilfullie to offend your Maiestie as any poore subiects you haue But yet you knowe such is or ought to be the faithfull loue of euerie true hearted Christian subiect towards his soueraigne that feare to offend A true subiect regardeâ—â— the saiftie of his Prince more then the feare of his vnâ—ust cause him may not stay vs from performing of a necessarie profitable and honorable seruice vnto God our Prince countrie Wee beeing therefore perswaded and fullie resolued that euen such is this present now tendred seruice of ours we hope we shall not be blamed of you Meere regard of consciâ—nce to God glorie and the good of the Prince hath eâ—â—â—â—ced â—he Author â—o hiâ— dâ—â—course sithence a desire to shewe our selues true louing and faithfull subiectes to God and to your Maiestie hath ouerweighed with vs all humaine feare Wherfore we in the behalfe of all your true and faithfull subiects do lye euen prostrate before your Graces feete most humblie and heartilie beseeching your Maiestie to peruse these fewe leaues following and as the matter therin handled is waightie so to consider accordingly what we your faithfull and loyall subiects haue therein vttered vnto you In perusing whereof this we woulde wishe to be still in your Maiesties minde that if we a fewe of the insufficientest of many thousands of your subiects haue saide thus much that then very much more it is that can and may be saide to this end The Lord of heauen earth who hath the harts of al Princes in his hand to rule them as it pleaseth him so direct in his fauour your Royall heart herein that you may reade willinglie marke attentiuelie and performe spedilie and effectuallie the wholsome counsell ministred therein vnto you THe thinge most Gratious Soveraigne which wee and all true English hearts haue long wished which now wee would most gladlie perswade The aime and drift of this book and the method thereof your highnes vnto is this That it would please your Grace with all convenient speede in Parliament to cause all titles and claimes to the Crowne of England after your Maiesties decease throughlie to be tried examined And then forthwith by sufficient authoritie thereof to declare and make knowne to your subiects in whom the right to succeede you resteth Concerning which point as this discourse is like to want all kinde of eloquence so also it will want all order and methode First we will set downe the reasons and arguments which as we conceiue ought to moue your Highnes to yeelde heerevnto which done wee will confute all the obiections of anie force which wee can imagine haue beene or can be made to staye you from yeelding herevnto First we presume that you will easilie yeelde that it is your duetie to doe that The first argument Princes ought to obey God which God by his written word hath enioyned all Christian Princes to doe and that therein the setling of the Imperiall Crowne is enioyned to all such Princes as a most necessarie dutie plentifully and diuerslie it appeareth For first therin it is an vsuall thinge with the holy Ghost to cal you Princes Gods nursing Fathers Psal 82. Esay 46. 23. and nursing mothers vnto his Church What Princes are to learne in that they are called Gods and nurses by the holy Ghost Which names and titles as they proue the honorablenesse and lawfulnesse of your high callings against all Anabaptisticall spirites so they are giuen you to teache you your duties and what you ought to bee towardes the people committed vnto your charge Namely that your dutie towards them is to be as gods and naturall fathers and mothers for the resemblance that is betwixt the office of God towards man his creature and parents towardes their Children is the ground certaine cause why these high names are communicated and giuen vnto you by the spirit of God Now who is so simple but he knoweth and wil confesse that God not onlie careth and prouideth for his people for the present time or some certaine season onlie but also for al times seasons And it is most euident that nature hath taught parents to think that they do not their duties vnlesse they prouyde not onlie what they may for the good of their children whylest they them-selues liue but also for their wealth and prosperity to the vttermoste of their powers after their death Wherefore if your Maiestie would bee iustlie honoured with these high and regarde-full titles and haue right indeed vnto them then you see that it is not enough for the tyme present while you your self liue to prouide for the safetie and welfare of your subiectes what you may but also that you are bound to doe what lyeth in you for their peace safetie wealth and prosperitie after you bee gone And how can this be by anie meanes The conclusion of the first argument ioyned with an exhortation more conueniently then by yeelding to this motion yea if this be not yeelded vnto you beeing of that rare wisdom fore-sight that you are you
came after then went The Authors opinion concerning the true successor which was the second point that was demanded before a Parliament as I tolde my Lord Chancellor for this matter doth rather require the mouth of all England then of anie one man yet without preiudice to anie second person I will tell you trulie what I doe discerne and what I would speake if I were to reason this matter in a free Parliament But first I must confesse and you and manie of my friendes well know that I haue somewhat fleeted and altered concerning some pointes of this question yet at this present I am of that minde and so as I thinke shal be stil that the right shall be found in this king of Scots to succeede to her to whom we The King of Scots next lawfull successor to her Maiestie proved by the pedegree wish if it may please God the length of Noah or Methuselahs dayes my reasons I will first alleadge and then answere to such obiections as are to be met withall First I take this grounde as yeelded that you and everie loyal true hearted Englishman will freelie confesse if the Ladie Margaret the eldest sister of King Henry 8. were at this present aliue the line of her brother ceasing in our gratious Queene that she I say shoulde without all controversie be received and by all England acknowledged to be the onlie righteous and true heire to her Maiestie and that all others should giue place to that her right Now seeing the saide king is the very next in descent from her by a lawfull vnstained vnblemished line by both parents what conscience or reason can warrant vs to defeat him her next heire of that right which by iust devolution is come to him and which we by our own confessions stand bound to haue yeelded to her if shee had at this day beene living to haue received it Now to come to the obiections which Obiections made by Dolman and others aganist the king of Scots answered are made against this reason and which seeme to be of some value they are handled at large by the Bishop of Rosse in his former book but better in a late treatise privilie put out in his name and in my small iudgement wel in that book which at our last conference you had in your hands I will therefore deale with such points as none of the former haue fullie satisfied or were not acquainted with with such as carryes some weight with some of our freinds And these Sir are of two sorts either such as directly assault his right or then such as yeelding that he hath the best right doe notwithstanding maintaine that the Parliament may for great regarde respectes importing this Realme transfer his right from him to some other whome it shal think good to make choise of The impedimentes that are alleadged to barre his right are three the first generall against his countrie and forraine birth the other two are particular against the two braunches of his fathers and mothers lines 1. Obiection of forraine birth The impediment by reason of his birth is grounded vpon a statute made anno 25 Edwar. 3. which though by Rosse and the rest it bee verie well answered yet two difficulties to such as vnderstand not the statute seeme to remain The first is that notwithstanding divers praesidents may bee brought of strangers who haue obtained the crowne before the making of the said statute yet none can be alleadged who since the making of the same hath got it The other is that her Maiestie within these fewe yeeres hath taken the opinion of some Iudges and Sergeants at lawe concerning the meaning of the wordes Enfants du Roy which as is said they expounded to be no further extended then to the first degree For answere to the former the reason is plaine why no stranger came to the crown since the making of this statute not because the statute was or could be anie let but because there was no stranger since that time before the nowe king of Scots that coulde make anie claime to the crowne To the second with reverence to the places of the said Iudges be it spoken if their resolution was such the proviso or exception of Enfants du Roy in the first degree that is the Kings immediat children carries neither sense nor reason for they can not be said in anie respect to be begotten of Parents out of the kings alleageance being indeed begotten of the King himselfe of whome it were verie absurde to say that hee were vnder or out of alleageance but if you say they meant by the first degree the kings sonnes children or his nephewes why I pray you shuld they more be called Enfants du Roy then his Nephewes children or their Nephewes seeing there is the like reason for both Now for ful answere to this obiection of his countrie I will set against this opinion of the Iudges and Sergeants and all other private opinions or expositions of anie men whatsoever a publick iudgement of the Lordes Iustices of both benches given in the Kings bench Term. Michael 13. and 14. of the Queene concerning a Scottish-man who was arrained in the said bench vpon an inditement of rape hee having pleaded not guiltie a Venire facias being adwarded a Iurie retourned and three of his Iurie sworne hee did then pleade that hee was a Scot borne and praied in regarde hee was a stranger as he did alleadge for himselfe the benefite which by our Lawes is afforded to strangers to wit to haue Medietatem linguae that is the halfe of the Iurors to be of his owne countrie-men But by the iudgement of the saides Iustices hee was denied it for that a Scot was not to be accompted in England for a stranger but rather a subiect and also that the language of the Scots is no strange lāguage but meere English c. And this iudgement thus given with these reasons is extant Term. Mich. 13. 14 Reg. Eliz. 51. and to be seene in M. Dyers cases as the meanest studēt in the Innes of Court knoweth Against his Fathers line is obiected that Ladie Margaret Douglas his grandmother The 2. obiection concerneth a staine in his fathers line by alledged bastardise of Lady Margaret Douglas fully answered was base her father Archebald Earle of Angus having a former wife at the time of his mariage with her mother the Ladie Margaret Teuther for which cause also the said Ladie Margaret Teuther did afterwardes sue a divorce and tooke to husband one Henrie Steward who was afterwards created Lord Methven For answere the allegation of the former mariage and it to be the cause of the divorce which ensued cānot choose but seeme ridiculous to everie man that shall heare of it For to what purpose should so noble an Earle without anie cause haue formerly maried in a corner or who will once think that his wife alleadged