not himselfe set furie on worke to the killing of his enemie nay to the murthering of his Competitor whether for loue or displeasure But if you will truly consider the admirable composition of Commonwealths and extraordinary glorie of Kingdomes it consisteth in sedation of troubles and in the enriching of priuate men yea euen Salomons greatnesse was raised to a stupendous mountaine of amasement from the effects of a well compacted peace in which his Temple was built his Pallaces were finished his Cities disposed of his Souldiers maintained and his glory spred abroad with sufficient fulnesse For horses were brought him out of Arabia fine linnen from Aegipt perfumes and odours from Aethiopia spices from India precious stones from the Ilands gold from Ophir beasts and strange fowle from Affricke and many other things both for exornation and pleasure from the remotest parts of the earth But how by the industry of Merchants and worthy endeauours of men disposed to honour their Countrey and aduance themselues As for corruptions of life couetousnesse vaine-glory ambition pride emulation cunning and infinite of this kinde they are not to be named by way of Character or personating any particular condition of man whatsoeuer For from a Prince to a Peasant no body liues but may be traduced in the selfe same kinde that you would lay imputation on the shoulders of the Merchant therefore I will absolutely conclude that the true Merchant-aduenturer as he is one way the supporter of politicall States by commerce conuersation and bringing in of wealth so is he another way the Atlas of honour and magnificent maiesty by his customes filling the store-houses of a Court supplying the wants of a pallace pleasing the desires of nouelty cooling the heates of pride and satiating the vanitie of wishes nay if you would and the Ilands explored Virginia Norrembega Guiana and other coasts and made a trade with these Indians for diuers commodities so that from one place or other of our Countrey we haue not so few as a 1000. sailes of shippes abroad nor so small a number as a 100000. persons disperced vnder this acceptable title of Marchant For so I must tell you that except you aduise with your selfe for this denomination in many places of the world the excuse of curiositie will not serue your turne For you shall be taken for a Spie and a dangerous Hypocrite such is the iealousie of Kingdomes toward wanton Trauellers and the necessitie of entertainment for well imploied men And thus much for some speciall excellencies wherein England excelleth all other Nations CHAP. XXVII Another excellency of ENGLAND may be drawne from this obseruation that we haue had more glorious persons and famous Kings and Princes to visit our Countrey then any other Nation c. AMongst other spreading boughes of prerogatiues drawing sappe from the tree of Englands glory I may not leaue out this obseruation that wee haue had since the Conquest more seuerall magnificent entertainments of forraine Princes and voluntary progresses of famous Kings and Emperors some for pleasant iournies others for necessary imploiment then any Nation of Europe not that I meane to trouble you with vaine or tedious repetitions of Embassadors Legats Cardinalls or other ordinary Liegers as is customarie in all Princes Courts and concurses of State but meerely of extraordinary solemnities and occasion of resplendant showes triumphs and festiuall inuitations to delight and contentment No sooner had the Normane setled his Conquests and established his sonne William Rufus in the throne of greatnesse as well appeared by his ambitious desires to fill all Europe with the report of his exaltation especially after his returne out of Normandy and that he found fault with the smalnesse of Westminster-hall being yet the remarkeablest roome for State greatnesse and capacity in the world But Malcolme King of Scots and the two Princes of Wales came to doe homage vnto him about the third yeere of his raigne yea Robert Duke of Normandy with many Princes of France acknowledged his eminent glory and maiesticall Kingdome although the said Robert was his elder Brother and made way to his peace and amitie This likewise continued toward Henry the first and for addition the Kings his adioyned neighbours assumed nothing to themselues but what stood with the good liking of the King of ENGLAND for which purpose they many times came in person to gratifie him To which if you vnite the aduantagious marriage of Henry Emperour of Rome to his daughter I hope it may passe for a reasonable beginning and giue life to after hopes for the augmentation of our credits and exaltation of our prerogatiues Anno 1184. about the 31. of Henry 2. Heraclius Patriarch of Hierusalem came into our Countrey to desire aide against the Turke 1201. and the 3. of King Iohn at a solemne entertainement in Lincolne William King of Scots and diuers of his Nobles did homage vnto him in person to which if you adde his marrying of Lady IANE his bastard daughter to Leuelin Prince of Wales who was in those times a turbulent and ambitious man you may easily iudge what reputation our Countrey had got in the world when the Pope was more affrighted at the starting aside of little ENGLAND then if whole Spaine had at that time falne quite away from his supportation or if you will Antichristian vsurpation Anno 1224. about the 8. yeere of the raigne of Henry 3. Iohn de Brennes King of Hierusalem came into England for aide and assistance against the Saracens and from that vnimitable example of Richard 1. called in those times the flower of chiualry that wunne Cyprus and Acon in person well hoped to finde the other branches of that kingly off-spring full of the sappe of the same roialtie but when I remember how the chiefest Potentates of Europe came to elect Richard Earle of Cornwall his brother Emperour and King of the Romans I am more then satisfied for maintaining this vnanswerable position of our excellency in this kinde If you ouerlooke the life of Edward 1. you shall finde it a very mappe of honour and be able to tell the world that besides many forraine Potentates the Prince of Wales and his brother Dauid reioiced in his acceptation of them and Iohn Baliol King of Scots was glad to be named and established by him But come a little forward and at the naming of Edward the 3. me thinkes all English hearts should leape for ioy For 1334. Edward Baliol King of Scots did him homage the Prince of Wales was glad to kisse his hands and the Electors of Germany 1348. inuited him to the chaire of the Empire nay such was our royaltie that Henry Pichard Vintner and Maior of London feasted EDW. of England IOHN King of France the King of Cyprus comming to see our worthinesse DAVID King of Scots EDW. Prince of Wales Duke of Aquitane Guien and Cornwall all in one day Besides at diuers triumphes and Iusts these forraine Princes were led as it were
the Princes be so many so mighty so beloued that they attend in Court at pleasute raise their forces at pleasure contest with the Emperor in many cases at pleasure and supply his wants and demands for impositions at pleasure The Townes againe are so strong so priuiledged so populous that out of obstinate finding fault with taxes and imperious restraints they many times oppose against their principall lords and in hostile manner exclude them from the benefit of commaunding like royall Princes indeed witnesse the many contentions of Colleine with the Noble men and Byshops and at last with the Byshop and the people the power of the DVKE of Saxony in maintaining of LVTHER against both Pope and Emperor the repining of diuers Cities and Princes when the Lantsgraue of Hesse was imprisoned vnder Charles the 5. The last contention betweene the Duke of Brunswicke and the Citie and the generall cause of the Protestants protected in euery place inuita fortuna yea against Ecclesiasticall curses and temporall menaces Of all Europe it is the greatest Countrey with the best and richest store of Cities Townes Castels and religious places in that decorum and order for in a manner view one Towne and view all as if there were a vniuersall consent to raise our admiration from their vniformity To which is added a secret of Nature that the people generally for honesty of conuersation probity of manners assurance of loyaltie and confidence of disposition setting apart their imperfect customes of drinking exceede our beliefe as being vnoffensiue conuersable maintainers of their honours and families wherein they step so farre as if true Gentry were incorporate with them and had his principall mansion in Germany And although they repine at any strangers intrusion and will not suffer new Nations to bring in new customes no not artificers and seeme withall fantastique in apparrell and gaudy with deuises yet doe they hate formalitie of Courtiers and of all other things beware of that horrible deceit of vaparous promises common protestations open embraces palpable flattery and hypocriticall bindings of obseruation from inferiours when the heart is corrupted yea ready to leape into his Masters mouth and tell him that he lies when it heares him sweare what he neuer meant thus can they with Lucan exclaime Exeat aula Qui vult esse pius virtus summa potestas non coeunt and thus doe they endeauour themselues in all honest courses to liue of themselues which questionlesse proceedes from some worthy caution concerning their miserie who eate meate vnder the repining eyes of another and herein no doubt they lay a great imputation on many English whose profession of libertie by base and seruile attendancy is ouerthrowne or if they seeme glorious in casting off the yoake of obedience yet are they besmeered with the frothy corruptions of verball vaine-glorious Courtiers who haue with the viciousnesse of time so abused this profession of moralitie that an honest and vnsubiected heart is afraid to come neere them For although Liberalitie and Charity haue equall properties to the opening if it were possible the gates of heauen although the fauour of Kings must be purchased by duty and obsequiousnesse and although the maiestie of a Court must not be depressed by admitting euery man at pleasure yet hath the errors of life so traduced worthy men for swelling too bigge with wealth and aduancement that their power and authoritie growes tedious and the depending on another is a very excruciation of minde which made the Poet exclaime against the protraction of good deedes with Gratia ab officio quod mora tardat abest which made the Italians murmure with Dono molto aspettato è venduto è non donato which made Berzelay say vnto the King I am old I will go a litle way ouer Iordan but returne to my owne house liue with my people and be buried in the sepulchre of my fathers In these things are the Germans worthy of all commendation yet me thinkes wanting an hereditarie succession of Princes and hauing an Emperor sometimes by partiality of election sometimes by factious strength and sometimes by the absolute commaund of the Pope they should a little abate their ostentation concerning his MAIESTIE or their owne glory As for their formall custome of denominating all the sons of Arch-Dukes Dukes Earles Barons according to their fathers titles and paternall honours it keepes corespondencie with the name of Caesar amongst them and the Italians hold it so ridiculous that in their facetiae as we terme it they ieast it thus The Earles of Germany the Dons of Spaine the Monsiers of France the Byshoppes of Italy the Knights of Naples the Lardes of Scotland the Hidalgos of Portugall the Noblemen of Hungary and the younger brethren of England make a very poore company But if you are curious indeed and would search in natures storehouse for the furniture that Germany holds or know in what manner she distributeth her blessings you shall finde corne vines riuers of fish fruite hot waters bathes minerals mines of all sorts and very good cattle If ambition transport you to view the palace of Honour they can bring you into well fortified Cities wherein you shall haue munition armor and the very Burgers trained with martiall discipline they can cary you into the fields of Bellona and delight you with a beautifull sight of 20000. horse diuided into seuerall batalions and squadrons with cornets penons and sufficient equipage they can conduct you into the very walkes of Princelines and show stately palaces pleasant hunting and hawking turniaments iusts riding horses and other exercises befitting a Gentleman If you descend to more moderate expectations you shall then haue notice how most men eate vnder their owne vines how the Citizen liueth in quiet how the women are blessed in their children how faults are pardoned scandals remooued and euery man appeares like a faire shining Planet in his owne Orbe without disturbance On the north from Callis to Dantske in Prussia lieth part of the seuenteene Prouinces and Pomerania On the East Brandenburg and Silesia I might haue named Hungarie and Transiluania to the South as farre as the Alpes Austria Bauaria Sweuia and Heluetia on the West â—…ranconia Hessia and Munsterland as a core in the midst Westphalia Saxonia Brunswicke Thuringia Misina the well compacted kingdome of Bohemia circumcepted with â—…gra Silua and Morauia with many other diuisions of Principats Dukedomes Lordships and Clergie men that to number them would be more tedious then satisfactorie consider Munster their owne Countrey-man hâ—…th described them at full and taken so much paines thereâ—…n as if he studied nothing more then to set out the honour and dignitie of the Nation wherein hee was borne Amongst these are seuen Princes sequestred to a speciall lifting vp the Emperor into his throne the three Byshops of Colleine Ments or as some will haue it â—…agunse and Treuers the three Seculars Duke of Saxony Marquâ—… of
altar was odious vnto them and vntill his later falling away from God which was reuenged with the falling away of 10. Tribes from his sonne there was no mention made of idolatry and the very sound was a harsh kinde of discord In Muscouia they are both ignorantly superstitious and ambitiously affected to superiority for although in that poore knowledge they haue they euer depended vpon the authority of the Greeke Church as by their Saints may appeare which be Saint George Demetrius and Nicholay to whom is consecrated one of the richest Abbies of the world yet haue they presumed in the assumpting the same to themselues boasting of a bargaine by commutation wherein the Patriarch of Constantinople was contented to resigne to the Metropolitane of Mosco all his authority and supremacy for a great summe of gold But see the iust iudgement of God as he returned into Greece he was robbed of the same and most treacherously murthered Thus yet doe they presume of the glory of the Church amongst them and in Russia thinke it sufficient to cry out IESV thou sonne of God as for the Scriptures in some places they haue the Greeke Testament onely and heare of the Bible a farre off For preaching or interpreting they know not what it meanes and the common people beleeue any thing their Priests tell them allowing of nothing but some ridiculous ceremonies strange fasts and idle feasts Concerning their Princes oh how farre are they from the reciprocall duties between themselues and subiects and those excellent prescriptions which Samuel prescribed to Saul and Salomon practised to his eternall honour For such hath beene the confused and disordred intrusion of these Emperours that they haue without care of posterity conscience or the Common-wealth shouldred one another from their thrones by treasons murthers deuises and publique hostility For euer since that old Iuan Vasellowich grew odious to his subiects horrible stratagemmes haue succeeded and euen Poland like a neighbour hath feared the burning of his owne house when the next hath beene on a blaze especially in the vsurpation of Borris Pheordiwich who to aspire to the dignity made away Demetrius the second sonne to Vasellowich and so from other monstrous effects of policy obtained the Diadem wherein at the first by his bounty and worthy promising demeanor he in a manner blotted out the print of his former vniust proceedings and taught them as it were away to forget the wrongs done to their lawfull Princes till at last growing odious to the subiect a new search was made and a further hurliburly about another Emperor confounded all estates and for many yeeres hath turmoiled the Countrey round about Concerning the gouernment there is onely some forme of iustice punishing of adultery but so far from Salomons magnificense Salomons pallace Salomons prouision Salomons nauy Salomons Nobles Salomons tranquillity and peace and Salomons worthines in euery thing that I am ashamed to name them for Christians For the common people though they lie not with other mens wiues yet they change their owne as often as they list and howeuer the better sorte mainetaine many wiues yet doe they practise nothing more then gurmondize and incontinency with Strumpets and Concubines whom they resorte vnto in certaine stoues or hot houses as the hotter Countries haue Balnea's and washing places Concerning their Citties in a word both their Citties and townes are subiect to such bestialitie and confusion that they seeme rather so many smoakie cotages and Irish cabbines then hansome dwellings or conuenient places of aboad and in Mosco it selfe for all her populousnesse and large extension of ground there is not any thing worthy the admiration or imitation more then the markets of furres and some rich ornaments of the skinnes of beasts as for the Citizens or Countreymen I rather resemble them to some scattered troupes of a discomfited army then men orderly disposed to the managing affaires either for mutuall commerce or noble trade of Merchants And thus could I runne ouer all other particulars but that I shall ouer-runne my owne discourse considering there is nothing but a meere disparity betweene them and our example CHAP. X. AETHIOPIA compared AS the distempered climate of cold and vnseasonable weather seemed a barre of separation betweene Muscouia and hansome Prosperity or true happinesse of a kingdome so is orderly plenty and necessary prouision affrighted to come neere Aethiopia least the scorching heate and burning sunne should consume the same and not only turne their corne into cinders but stifle their cattle for want of water sending them braying as the Hart to the riuers vp and downe after refreshing springs For although Aegipt hath bin counted the garner of corne and that the watrey Nilus hath dispersed her rivulets ouer many Countries yea comming out of Aethiopia hath taken along sundry swelling fountaines to accompany her into the Mediterranean sea so that diuers Historiographers haue numbred 6000. Citties on the bankes of the same and boasted of the glory of their Emperors and mightinesse of their armies yet not once speaking of the barrennesse of the rest could any of these places take vpon them any glorious exaltation of a well compacted Common-wealth or terrestriall happinesse of a Nation For you may read that when it flourished in the height of prosperity as when there was a generall famine in many Countries there was corne in Aegipt Saba the Queene of Aethiopia came to visit Salomon in his roialty and went away with admiration when she saw the difference betweene her owne Countrey and the blessednesse of Iudea so that the particular relation of the Court and gouernment was occasioned from this Empresses willingnes to be instructed and desire to gratifie the King for his extraordinary magnificense and administration of the Common-wealth whereby I am not incredulous of their information that report how that many times the Parents sell their children to Merchants for corne and at all times send the people to the market for slaues which are bought vp at easie rates and dispersed ouer the world nor will I much contradict their opinion that haue fashioned their Common-wealth out of an vnfashionable gouernment without law terrour of disobedience ciuill institution orderly precepts and sociable louing of one another For since they marched vnder the colours of Christianity it hath not beene much better and except it be such as are borne vnder the same Climate no man of a temperate Countrey can liue amongst them Their manners and customes I haue partly described and could here adde that howeuer they boast of their antiquity as being the first Countrey inhabited by Chus the sonne of Cham which in the Hebrew tongue signifieth blacke and that afterward they changed their name from the sonne of Vulcane I cannot finde either any setled gouernment or state worthy the imitation or noble enterprises befitting a story or slender praise Howeuer they are commended for the first acknowledging a diuine power and entertaining a religious Priesthood and
by the hand of amasement to magnifie and extoll the heroicke spirits of our nation Againe in the 38. yeere of the King the French King the King of Cyprus and the King of Scots came all into England and made pleasure proude that it had good occasion to welcome them Besides 1367. Peter King of Spaine was disseised by his bastard brother Henry but comming into England made such impression in the compassionate soule of EDW. the blacke Prince that he assisted him in person and re-established him in his kingdome Shall I remember you of that glorious celebration of Himmeneus triumphs when Duke Tussus and many Princes of Boheme and Hungary brought that magnificent Lady ANNE daughter to the King of Bohemia and married her to King RICHARD the 2. of England during whose life such was the royaltie of our Court and State that in the 8. yeare the King of Armenia came into England for coadiutement against the Turkes In the 12. yeare the Earle of Saint Paul and many Princes out of France and other Countries came to a Iusts in Smithfield and made a iust estimation of our vnualuable glory In the 16. yeare the greatest Lords of Scotland came to our triumphes in England and checked their owne presumption for confronting vs with a supposition of equality In the 20. yeare the Dukes of Burbon and Barre brought ouer Isabell of Fraunce to be a Queene in England and glad was that Prince of Europe that had beene an eye-witnesse of our glory yea that magnificent workemanshippe concerning the exornation of the Hall of his Pallace now Westminster and by community and disparaged alteration vnregarded was as it were a magnes to draw ouer the seas thousands of people and hundreds of Princes and Noble lords to looke vpon the wonder of the world In the 4. yeare of HENRY 4. King of England the Emperour of Constantinople came of purpose as the Queene of Sheba to Salomon to set report on the touchstone of truth and see whether custome had enlarged our fame or no and here he was entertained with all the sumptuous and attractiue showes and delights that Arte and expences could deuise to satiate the minde of man But when Dame IANE Dutches of Britaine came ouer to marry our King HENRY I hope our enemies will imagine her traine and Attendants to bee much augmented with the company of many forraine Princes and Potentates And if you steppe forward to the 8. yeare of his raigne the Earle of Marre and the great lords of Scotland came to solace themselues and made their triumphes both at Tilt and Turney acceptable to the beholders The like was performed the 10. yeare when the Seneschall of Hennault with all those Princes reputed the Court of England a very Schoole of chiualry and put in practise accordingly all the braueries of marshall discipline But when the Lady LVCIA the Dukes sister of Millane came to marry EDMVND Earle of Kent both citie and pallace was so furnished with strangers and the concurses of people so well ordered that inferiours were amased at so extraordinary attraction and the better sort gaue a plaudite to our glory If you ouer-looke the time of Henr 5. surnamed the Champion of Honor though it was lamentable for the breuitie yet was it vnmatchable for the royalty For after his coronation he was scarse three yeeres in his own Kingdome and yet in the third of his raigne he welcommed the Emperor of Almaine and King of Rome and presently after graced the daughter of France and all her retinue with many forreine Princes who would not returne till they saw their Lady Katherine Queene of England To which if you adde the entertainment of the Duke of Holland and many Princes of those countries especially Freesland you cannot chuse but make vp a plentifull breuiary of Heroicke Maiesty and worthy princelines About the yeere of Grace 1502. and the 17. yeere of the raigne of Henry 7. the expectable Prince Arthur maried Katherin daughter to Ferdinando King of Spaine and his eldest sister Margaret was affianced vnto Iames King of Scots at whose inauguâ—…tion the concurse of strangers and amongst them of the choisest Princes was so great that all other adioyning Kings as much magnified our royalty as feared our power insomuch that the very report of our Kingdomes brauery draue Philip King of Castile and his wife into England About the end of August 1546. Flawd high Admirall of France was so royally entertained in England that the King lying at Hampton-Court the Prince of Wales met him comming to haue audience with a 1000 horse whereof 500 were in one liuery the coates of veluet halfe embrodered with gold and one sleeue of cloth of gold let other Princes acknowledge this magnificence Holinshed saith 2000 horse In the beginning of Henry the 8. Lewis the 12. of France maried Mary the Kings yongest sister and 1520 the great Emperor Charles the 5. came into England to visit his Aunt and within two yeere after made a second returne to view London and bee acquainted with our country from whose example Christiern King of Denmarke and his wife about the 15 yeere arriued in England and was welcommed to the pleasures of our country and variety of our pastimes The Prince of Salerne and diuers of Naples about the 30. c. Shall I name you King Philips mariage with Queene Mary I hope then I must trouble you with a tedious solemnitie and tell you that many strangers knew not the way home againe into their owne countries a long time and if the peace of their soules as they vainely imagined might haue bin added to the delight of their bodies the happines of England had bin the subiect of their tongues and the obiect of their eyes In the second yeere of her raigne Ecmondine a Prince of Germany and other Embassadors were sent from the Emperor In the third yeere Emmanuel Prince of Piemont with other Lords came into England and the next moneth the Prince of Orange landed at London But let mee passe forward to the mirror of all times Queene Elizabeth how proud was the Prince of Sweden that he was graced in England with so glorious entertainment at the beginning of her raigne Not long after 1565 Christopher Prince and Marquesse of Baden came of purpose to haue his childe borne amongst vs and reioyce in the fortune of such a godmother About the 11. yeere of her raigne anno 1568 Mary Queene of Scots though shee was surprized in her flight to France and defeated in her maine proiects yet for a long time misliked not her imprisonment and was glad to confesse the prerogatiues of her natiue soile and country In the 14. yeere Francis Duke of Memorancy and Betrawde de Saligniers Knights of the order of St Michael came both into England with other great Princes to gratulate her Maiestie and acknowledge her worthines In the 21. of her raigne 1578. Cassimirus Count Palatine and Duke of Bauaria was entertained the better