easilie prooved in this manner Al-be-it it bee so that onelie GOD can multiplie the Earth yet it is of veritie that wee since the dayes of our Predecessours haue multiplied the Fruites of the Earth so farre that for everie three Plough gate of Land as wee doe call it manured which was in Scotland an hundreth Yeares by-gone there are foure now And if yee answere that the People are multiplied proportionallie to that so that I should not esteeme it to be encrease of Ritches which doeth bring with it encrease of People to consume them I will reply to you that is the point I intende to prooue for Multitudes of People industrious are both the Ritches and Strength of a Countrey and that vvee doe exceede our Antecessours both for numbers of People and of Moneyes yee shall vnderstand it this way They wanted first the two Seminaries for breeding of People which wee haue everie one knoweth that the Multiplication of Ground-Labourers and Husband-men as wee call them haue peopled the Land-warts of Scotland farre aboue that it was ancientlie for wee see now vpon a Maines that of olde was laboured by a Barron him-selfe twentie or thirtie severall Families of those Retite Husband-men vvhere-of everie one hath a good number of Children Next againe it is well knowne to bee the Sea Trade which hath peopled our Maritine Townes and that also our Predecessours wanted so farre that I may say there bee now twentie Ships of Trafficke amongst vs for everie one that was in their dayes Then who doeth not know that by the Trafficke of the Seaâ— our Countrey hath twentie times more Moneyes than was an hundreth yeares by-gone or if yee doe doubt of it yee may soone learne that our Grand-Fathers could haue bought as much Land for one thousand Marks as wee can doe for twentie thousands and farre more Farther our Predecessours had a meanes for stopping the growing of Multitudes and encrease of People that wee want and it was by the great numbers of Men and Women who tooke them-selues to the Caelibate and Monasticke lyfe of whom there was no Off-spring And if yee would know of what great importance that was doe but consider how manie Bishoprickes Abbacies Priâ—ries Nunueries with the number of their Convents Arch-deanries Deanries Personages and places of cure for secular Priests was into Scotland in time of Pâ—perie and when yee haue taken vp their number doe conferre them with the 70 of the house of Iacob who went into Aegypt and how in the fourth Age there-after there came foorth 600000 fighting Men besides Women and Children all descended of them Which vvhen yee haue consideratelie done I thinke yee shall bee affrayed of the hudge Multitudes that before now should haue issued from the professed religious of Scotland if they had followed the Matrimoniall life If yee will yet insist to object the Povertie of our Countrey by reason of the broken Estates of Noble-men and Gentle-men who haue our Lands morgadged for great Debts of Money I answere to you that by the contrarie it is an Argument of the Ritches of our Countrey for if the Noble-mans Grand-father by Predigalitie Pryde wilfull pleying in Law or anie other such Misgovernment had brought him-selfe to neede the like Summes of Money twentie Lords could not haue gotten so much then as one can get now And I will finde now a base-borne Man advance to a Noble-man in prest 30 40 or 50000 Pounds whose Grandfather and all his Parentage was not valiant of the twentie part there-of Ergo the personall Distresses of Noble-men and Gentlemen doeth not argue the Povertie of the Countrey in generall Wee see into Nature that her severall Members as of Plantes Beasts and Men doe daylie decay and die and others doe shoot vp in their Rowmes vvhilst Nature it selfe remaineth in entire and full strength In the dayes of our Predecessours there were in Scotland but Victuall Rents where-as now by the vertuous Trades vvhich haue beene since introduced a great part of Men doe liue by Silver Rents Things being manifestlie so shall wee refuse to furnish out and mayntayne two or three thousand Souldiours to so just and necessarie Warres Certaynlie it caÌ„not be heard abroad without our great Ignominie which is worse adding of Cowrage to our Enemies when they shall know vs to be so base and degenerose Well let vs not be vngrate towardes GOD. It is true indeed that Nature and Tyâ—â—e doe favour the growing of Monarchies namelie vvhere they are just and temperate as being the viâ—e Image of GOD for Governament of the World But it is also true that vnthankfull People doe procure short Periods of great Kingdomes The Throne of Israell was established in the person of David after manie toylsome and laborious years of the preceeding Rulers of that People and great sheeding of Blood and so much in David his owne tyme that GOD would not suffer his bloodie Hand to be put to the building of the Temple but the Glorie Peace and Prosperitie there-of did expyre with the death of Salomon his Sonne There-after the LORD did set manie wicked Kings over that wicked People The greatest Punishment that GOD threatneth to inflict vpon a rebellious Nation is to giue them evill Kings vvhere-vpon the Divines doe note that it is the highest Transgression vvhereof a People can be guiltie before GOD When by their Ingratitude they make Princes of their nature perhaps serenâ— and temperate to turne to tyrannous Governament and to lay vpon their Neckes the Yoake of perpetuall Grudge and Murmuration and so not onlie them-selues transgresse agaynst GOD but make their Kings also to doe the lyke who most of all Men should obey feare the LORD so that often tymes a wicked People maketh a wicked King But to returne If wee doe question for small thinges now vvhat would we doe si Hannibal astaret portis if our Enemies were at the Ports of our Countrey or within the Bowels of it We would be forced to doe even as the Romanes did against Hannibal to run and offer all our Moneyes and our Iewels and our Eare-rings for safetie there-of Wee would vndoubtedlie say as that famous VVarriour did the late King of France vvho after the recoverie of Cain from the Spanyard by transaction after hee had spended a great part of his lyfe in VVarres hee saide they were not wyse who would not make a Bridge of Gold for their Enemies to passe out vpon But as we say It is better to hold out than to put out Durius ejicitur quam non admittitur hostis Haue wee not seene our Kinges vse all possible Practises for procuring of Peace all this tyme by-gone by toyling of Ambassadors to and froe by super-spending their Rentes exhausting their Coffers and indebting of them-selues Are vve not naturall Members as they are naturall Heads Are they more bound to doe for vs than we for our selues Al-be-it the Kings Spheare hee higher and greater than ours yet
vvas a braue Embleme for Kings vvhich Cyrus had of putting his foote vpon the midst of a hard and dry hyde vvhere-by he kept it close at earth for if he had set his foot vpoÌ„ the borders or extremities thereof the vvhole should haue revolted to note the Golden Rule of the Mid-way in Governament forbearing of Extremities and to shovv that Kingdoms are never sure to Princes vntill they be in the middest of the Hearts of their People and guarded round about vvith their Affections Your Majestie seeth hovv the example of David is a perspicuous Mirrour for Kings to looke vnto of vvhom vve reade 2. Sam. 7. When the king sate in his house and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies he said vnto Nathan the Prophet Beholde Idwell in a house of Cedar trees the Arke of God remaineth within the Curtaines Hee resolved to provide for building of the Lord's House Therefore can vvee not deny Sir that the Orient of Your Majesties Reigne doeth breake vp in just holy Actions in favours of the House of GOD by setting out a Navie against the mightie Enemies of Christian Peace and true Religion and by vvhom the over-throvv there-of hath bene so directly sought in these Your Majesties Kingdomes that numbers of vs yet liue vvho did see their proude Armada put even to the parts of our Countrey for that ende Your Majesties Intentions at Home to restore the Mayntaynance and Splendor of God's Worship doe argue the like zeale and vvho doubteth but God vvill grant to Your Majestie the same spirit of wisdome vvith David rightly to choose your tymes for offices of Peace offices of warres The prudence and happie successes of Actions doe consist in discret sure application of Circumstances With a little Tyme Patience your M. vvill get your good Subjects not only to contribute after your desires to the House of the Lord to the CoÌ„mon-wealth vvorks of Pietie but to doe it vvillingly as those Israelits did vnto David 1. Chron. 29. Then the people rejoyced for that they offered willingly because with a perfect heart they offered willinglie to the Lord. And David the king also rejoyced with great joye And then Sir their Sacrifices shall bee savorie vnto God vvhen they come not from Hearts dyed into Murmuration Grudge or Blacknesse like vnto the Swan vvhich for the same cause vvas anciently forbidden to bee sacrificed to the gods I doe most humbly recoÌ„mend these my Christian Endevours to your M. patronage protection If they be acceptable to your M. I hope they shall displease none of your faithful Subjects If they doe not fully correspond the judicious quicknesse of your M. great spirit it is not my fault my smal Vessell could hold no more The Lord vvho is the giver of all good thinges and vvho hath sovven into your M. Heart these Seedes of Royall Pietie and Vertue Hee may be pleased to nourish them vvith the daylie influence of His Grace vntill they grovv to that glorious and fruitfull Harvest vvhich they doe novv prognosticate and promise in their Spring That God vvho hath set your M. over a great and mightie People Hee may blesse your M. vvith the true vvisdome of Governament the trustinesse of faythfull Counsellers the vpright loue of your Subjects and a prosperous fortunate Reigne vnto the ende Your M. most humble faythfull and affectionate Subject and Serviture PETER HAY. TO THE READER COurteous Reader I speake to as manie as bee vpright Subjects of this Kingdome of which number I am sure there is not one to whome the principall scope of this Discourse will not bee gracious and plausible If some Passages doe perhaps displease it is for too narrow compting in your Particulars And if I haue toutched these points moderatelie and haue in them also my interesse equall with yours it doeth absolue mee from anie meaning to wrong you and sheweth that the acting hereof hath not beene intended for you or mee or for another but for the Common-wealth Wee haue spent our whole Yeares gone to our Private Studies Pleasures or Emolument without the meanest distraction by anie sort of Tyrannie or State-Calamitie Our dayes haue beene like vnto that jubilant age of the Romane Empyre vnder Augustus of whom sayeth the Poâ—t Ille meos errare boves ut cernis ipsum Ludere quae vellem calamo permisit agresti Ille erit ille mihi semper DEVS But now this Tyme doeth require vs to carrie publicke and not private Mynds which is the reason why I doe finde my selfe in this action pene thâ—m quam antea There is sayeth SALOMON a tyme for Peace and a tyme for Warre a tyme to gather and keepe and a tyme to cast away and GOD doeth these things that men should feare before Him The golden tyme of Peace and collection that wee haue enjoyed vnder our late King of blessed memorie hath so besotted our Myndes with Securitie that wee are even Ignorants of the ordinarie vicissitude of the World so farre that the verie first threatnings of change doe confound vs where as by the contrarie they should make vs turne to our GOD and feare before Him resolving to accept at His Hands patientlie and thankfullie after so long Prosperitie the Corrections for our sinnes proper to vs and in the nature of thinges common with vs to all People I haue presented before you in this Treatise as vpon a Board a summarie Portract of the estate of this tyme and of the dangers where-of wee are so much affrayde which if yee shall diligentlie contemplate it will helpe both your knowledge and your resolution As for some few particulars that for the first face may bee some-what disagreeable with you yee shall finde here also conjoyned with them their soveraigne remeadies and solaces If yee will but ascende a while with mee vpon this Stage to agitate the cause of your Prince your Countrey your Common-wealth and Religion when wee shall looke backe vpon the invincible couerage of our Predecessours against so manie mightie Nations for the standing of this Kingdome before they were Christians and that more than humane magnanimitie of the Heathen Codrus of Athens and others lyke to him the Bruti of Rome deciosque caput fatale voventes and these heroicke Decij how in sacred extasies of resolution they did devote and sacrifice their lyues for safetie of the States where-of they were members such speculations shall make vs ashamed of some of our discontentments and languishing amidst so great exigence and appearance of publicke distresses I know there is no generose spirit but will bee much delighted with this subject nor anie wise-hearted man who will not esteeme it a vertuous and laudable part to bee fore-seeing of so capitall dangers With-in these three or foure Yeares the Palatinate did lesse dread the Spanyard than wee doe now Tum tua res agitur paries dum proximus ardet If wee doe feare the LORD obey our
extende it selfe to the glorie of GOD the encrease of their owne Dominions and their immortall Fame This Globe of the World lyeth abroad by 360 degrees in Longitude and as manie in Latitude The English haue made Navigation to within 77 toward the North and the Portugals and Castilians to within 56 toward the South so there doe rest 228 to discover and what a fairer Field or richer Spoyles can bee wished for Christian Ambition or Avarice than this Yet what shall I say of this Emulation of neare and Neighbour-Princes It seemeth to bee fatall in effect and what is fatall is necessarie for fatall wee call Quasi fatum sive dictum a DEO A thing pronounced by GOD to bee For if wee shall take a view of His whole Works wee shall see nothing but a temperament and contrapoysing of naturall Extremities in such equalitie of Ballance that none bee able to excrease to the over-throw of the other The Heavens are placed into that Equilibrie that everie side is jumpe with the other and may not over-shoot it The contrarie motions of the Heavens doe not confound nor impede one an-other The coldnesse of Saturne and the heate of Mars doe not eate vp one another because Iupiter commeth betweene as the Axiltree of their Contrapoyse by the serenitie of his temperature So is it in the Elements the Fyre and Water are kept from desperate conflicts by the Ballance kept by the Ayre attempered to both So it is amongst Beastes where-of those that bee of fierce and savage kindes least vsefull vnto Man as Lyons GOD hath made them more barren Those agayne of the weaker sort which be more necessary and serviceable for Man He hath made more broodie and foecund to the end the Stronger should not be able to destroy that which is more infirme but the multitude of weake ones should bee sufficient to contrapoyse the paucitie of the mightier There is no Beast which is not afrayd of the Lyon trembleth at his presence yet some-thing hath he to contrapoyse his awfulnesse for he may not abide himself the crying of the Cocke but is astonied there-by So the Bellicose Elephant whom all the terrors of Battell cannot make afrayde he may not endure the cry of a Swyne but presentlie fleeth as is said in Eccles Intuere opera omnia Altissimi videbis semper unum contra aliud Doe contemplate all the workes of the most High you shall find aye one against another Even amongst the intellectuall Creatures the good Angels agaynst the bad GOD this way showing the Height and Deepnesse of His vnsearchable Wisedome by lodging and ruling of so manie contrarie things peaceablie within this one House of the Vniverse Shall wee not thinke then but the LORD who hath so moderated and brydled everie extreame contrarietie who hath placed Mountaines and steepe Shores to keepe in the raging Sea that shee rise not over her Marches and ordinarie Bankes but hee hath like-wise in the governament of the World by severall great Kingdomes and Monarchies appointed and allowed the same Contrapoyse that no Prince become so mightie as to devour his Neighbour that no Pryde or Insolencie doe excrease without Limitation certaynlie I thinke it hath a Warrand in Nature and Reason telleth vs That as it is lawfull to with-stand Force by Force it is also lawfull to provide if we can that no Case come that may constrayne vs to doe so or that may put vs to the employing of Force or Violence So that it seemeth lawfull to Princes or States to impede so farre as they can suspected Neighbour Grandour lest it become at length to master them Hieronimus King of Syracuse beeing demaunded as Polibius wryteth why in the meane-tyme of his beeing Confederate and Friende of Rome hee did ayde and supplie the Carthagenians against them Hee aunswered That it was to the ende hee might brooke the friendship still of the Romanes whome if hee shoulde suffer to over-throw the Carthagenians then of his Friends they should become his Masters Or will a wyse King within his owne Dominion permit a particular States-Man to carrie away the whole sway of Governament by too much of Authoritie no but he will contrapoyse him with a Colledge of a contrarie Disposition to keepe him in order Hence is it that the LORD GOD in all Ages hath suffered one Nation to combate with an-other one King to beate an-other and one man to holde in the Hornes of an-other that nothing should shoot out aboue that just proportion which doeth corresponde to the communion of Nature yea if wee should come to consider and weigh the particular Fabricke of everie one man's Bodie if the like equilibrie of Contra-Ballance did not attemper our contrarie Humours of Complexion certainlie our Constitution were not able to subsist but either the Choller shall burne vp the Flegme or the Flegme extinguish the Choller if the interjection of these median Humours of Sanguinean and Melancholicke did not impede that Conflict And hence are all the Leagues of Mutuall Defences amongst weaker States contracted against the more mightie Having thus shortlie shewed how the Ambition of Castile and Portugall was vertuous and laudable vnto the death of Charles the fift I come now to Philip his Sonne and Successour who did spot the Glorie of his noble Predecessours by turning his Thoughts to the Conquest of Christian People Hee it was who did complot and conduct all the Tragedies which thence-foorth haue beene acted in Christendome This King finding him-selfe debouted of his designe to the Crowne of England by the death of Marie Queene thereof who was his Wyfe returning into Spaine his first Practise was for excluding the Light of the Gospell which then began to breake foorth over all to strengthen against Christians that fearfull Inquisition which his Antecessours had erected against the Infidels Iewes and Moores where-of this farre may bee affirmed that if Satan him-selfe had beene King of Spaine hee could not haue brought from the bottomlesse Pit a more horrible Plague more cruell more Barbarous and beyonde all Humanitie the wicked Invention where-of no Words can suffice to expresse in sort that it doeth rather resemble Hell it selfe than that wee can finde anie Example ever heard of the like vpon the face of this Earth where innocent Men yea Good and holie Men after being straitlie incarcerate diverse Yeares spoiled of their Lands and Goods afflicted with Famine rent with Tortures and in ende falselie and vnjustlie condemned to the number of 800 in one Yeare vnder that King were brought to publicke Spectacles to bee burnt with Buckels and Bullets in their Mouthes to stop all Apologeticall speaches and againe and againe casten in the Fyre and taken out of the Fyre It is hard that anie Christian should thinke of it without Trembling and Teares the farther Discourse where-of were but vnpleasant heere al-be-it most necessarie for Demonstration of that hatefull Tyrannie and who so is curious to
opportune and commodious for great Navies the People manie and malicious against their Conquerers and having their Sores yet open and quicke To come to their other Subjects wee heare that the Arragonees haue their Myndes in like sort wounded with the remembrance of the late Conquest made of them and to speake generallie of all the Nobilitie of Spayne yea even of those of Castile it selfe It hath beene ever so that as Thieues haue beene studious to provide Backe-Doores so great Noble-men vnder Kings in all Ages haue wished that some adjacent Prince might bee in Tearmes of Emulation with their Master to whose protection they might haue recourse in Case at anie time they should happen to fall vnder their Masters wrath by their Ambitious and insolent carriage things familiar eneugh to potent Subjects in everie Countrey Now Spaine being as it is at this day conjoyned vnder one Crowne in manner of an Yland where-fra the Princes and Lords there-of cannot easilie with-draw them-selues in such a Case they are by that meanes brought vnder greater Feare Slaverie and Subjection When there were severall Kingdomes in Navarre Arrogone and Portugall the Castilian Nobles vpon anie distraction or variance with their King did finde easie retract and protection with some of these Neighbour-Princes perhaps with more Honour and Preferments than at home by reason of Neighbour Iealousies and Contention the examples where-of are most frequent in anie Historie as in our owne wee finde that before the vnion of Great Britane it was more easie and secure for Scottish Noble-men to offende their Princes and leape out from their obedience having so neare a Sanctuarie in the Hospitalitie and Armes of England by reason of Neighbour Distractions than it is now when their nearest refuge should bee Spaine or Flanders And as ancientlie that advantage did often a-wake the Pryde of our great Men and giue way to Rebellion against their Kings So the solide Incorporation that now is hath put a Brydle into the Teeth of that kinde of Ambition that no stirre can bee heere to trouble a King vnlesse it were by generall revolt of the whole Countrey or receiving of Forraigne Armes with-in our Bowels and joyning with them And as the supposed prowde and tyrannous Governament of Spaine is thought to enstrange the Hearts of their Nobilitie from their King and to make them more practizable to rebellions if they should see the occasion faire so there is no doubt but dure and rigorous Governament should even in this Kingdome or anie other else produce the like Consequences Al-wayes the Nobilitie of Spaine at this day doeth want this Sanctuarie of Refuge that the skurviest Marshall is able to arrest the greatest of them and now with much griefe they doe resent the effectes of that which was prognosticated vnto them when King Charles the fift began to extende the Wings of his Domination for the which cause they did show them-selues notablie displeased with the conjunction of Portugall as Don Francisco de Ivara a noble man of Castile being Ambassadour at Paris during the League Anno 1579 hearing by a French Gentle-man newlie come from Africke that the Moores were in feare having intelligence that King Philip did put together great Forces for to conquer them vnder pretext to revenge the slaughter of Don Sebastian King of Portugall for so did Philip make the World belieue when hee did conveane his Armies against Portugall But the saide Francis did answere this Gentle-man saying It is well that the Moores bee in feare but it is better that your Master the King of France vnderstand the intention of that Armie to bee against Portugall which if hee doe conquere your Master and the Pope and all the Princes of Europe may lay compt by length of time to bee his Tributaries Which speach doeth well enough demonstrate the aversnesse of the Spanish Nobilitie from the fearfull Greatnesse of his Empyre The State Ecclesiasticke indeede doeth more affect him yet I haue tolde you that hee doeth skumme the Fat of their Pâ—t but of this Weaknesse which wee gather of discontented humours of their Nobilitie there is no advantage to bee gayned by secret Practises because of the terrour of the Inquisition His Iesuites and perfidious Ambassadours get libertie with other Princes to traffique to traytor at their pleasure whereof wee haue late experiences to our owne Coastes but none dare adventure that kynde of doing in Spayne Al-wayes out of those it may bee surelie enough presumed of the Nobilitie namelie of their late Conquests of Spaine that when they should see a puissant Enemie amongst them the Fyre of their indignation should breake foorth so much more violentlie by how much it hath bene long masterfullie suppressed amongst the Ashes of their Servitude sayeth Scip. African in that Oration to the Senate for sending of Forces in Africke during Hanniballes being in Italie Non speraverat Hanniball fore ut tot populi in Italia ad se deficerent post Cannensem dedem quanto minus quicquam in Africa firmum aâ— stabile sit Carthaginensibus infidis sotiis gravibus dominis Hanniball did not looke for so great revolting of People with-in Italie from the honest and generous Romanes after his victorie at Cannas how much lesse can things bee firme and sure in Africke to the Carthagenians a Nation treacherous and vntrustie to their Associates and tyrannous to their Subjects which Saying howe properlie it may bee applyed to the present Purpose anie man doeth see it Next it is thought that there bee small store of Armes in Spaine the numbers of Cities and People considered partlie because they goe for the furnishing of his Warres abroade and partlie because it is not thought expedient by his Counsell that Multitudes but latelie conquered whose Myndes are yet suspected should bee armed at their pleasure remembering well vvhat had almoste befallen KING PHILIP the third if the Moores called Nâ—vos Christianos vvho then had a neare Designe agaynst him had not beene suddenlie disarmed and cast foorth of the Countrey Moreover the prowde and tyrannous nature of the Spanyard is no small point of Weaknesse for why the LORD GOD doeth humble the Prowde and punish the Oppressour Tolluntur in altum ut lapsum graviora cadâ—nt I doe not onelie speake of that dominant and Monarchicall Pryde mayntayned by so manie Cruelties Perfidies and Impieties bore-saide but vniversallie of the verie vulgar pryde chiefelie of the Castilians Even as the fumes of strong Wyne doe inebtiate and make giddâ—e the Braines of Man transporting them from the centre of their place so doeth Pryde blynde and confuse the Vnderstanding and as seldome Prudence doeth accompanie Youth-head Even so is Wisdome rarelie conjoyned with too much Prosperitie Neither shall it bee out of purpose to speake a few wordes of the Spanish Nature in generall They are extreamelie melancholious which everie â—ot of their carriage doeth verifie their graue Apparell their sober Dyet their Dauncing their Musicke
and averse from Iustice than the verie Name Nature of an Heritable Magistrate nor anie thing more absurd in Policie than the Administration of Iustice to be perpetuate and tyed to one House or Clan where-in Women Children or Fooles may come by tyme to succeede all which three are vncapable of that kynde of Charge And if the best of them who haue the Right Heritable of a Magistate doe put in the Place some of their ignorant Kins-men to exercise the same who can doe nought but practise Trickes of lewd base Oppression these must be comported by the Bodie of the common People and often times by the better sort why because my Lord is Heritable Shyreffe the King cannot remoue him Is not this to suffer some Subjectâ—s to play the Prince over their Neighbours Or can anie thing bee more derogatiue to the Royall Soveraignitie For why it taketh away one of the proper Marks-there-of which is inseparablie annexed vnto it that is of placing chiefe Magistrates a thing onelie due to the Prince States-Men and Counsellers may nominate but the free Election belongeth to the King And in tymes when Factions are pregnant Princes are even to bee jealous of the trustinesse of Primè States-Men in that Poynt For Ambition is often tymes more curious to fortifie it selfe than the Common-wealth Alwayes if Heritable Offices haue bene ancientlie granted for great and speciall Services done to the King or Common-wealth by particular Men from whom such Rights haue descended to their Posteritie then Conscience Aequâ—tie and Royall Magnanimitie doe requyre that such Persons bee condignlie satisfied for their Dimissions according as His Majestie hath alreadie condescended As on the other part if such a Subject should be difficill or intractable with his Prince in a Poynt of that Qualitie it should bee thought contrary to the modestie of Mynd and Carriage which in duetie he ought to his King and should argue in him too much Loue of Soveraignitie The lyke may certaynlie bee sayde of the laâ—e Lords of Church-Lands no we rather call them Petite Princes so much Power doe they arrogate to them selues over those who bee within their Lordship preassing to exercise the same Bastard Domination over their Tennantes by the tyrannie of their Heritable Courtes which ancientlie the Pope and his Abbots did practise who did mierlie appropriate to them selues the Vassallage Homage of so manie of the King's Subjects as were within the Purpryze of their Lands They did so before and nowe the New-Erected-Lord doeth the same and much worse Nec Dominium vitavimus sed Dominum We haue changed the Dominator but are not fred from that Bastard Dominion The olde Abbot and his Convent ancientlie following the Monasticke Lyfe exempted from publicke Offices or travelling to Court or Session or any else-where abroad they were content with the Payment of their Rentall in easiest manner and often tymes with lesse did bestow great part there-of in Hospitalitie to the Payers and albeit their poore Tennants were oblished to them for Service of Harriage and Carriage yet they did impeach them no more but once a Yeare to leade in to their Clostâ—r vpon the Clâ—strall Châ—rges some Fleshes Fishes Fewell this vvas all But nowe vvith the change of the Lord the Tennant hath changed the Happinesse of his poore Condition For vvhy to speake sincerelie the tyrannie of the Papall Abbots vvas exercised most in that Case against their King by spoyling from Him the Vassallage of His naturall Subjects otherwyse they were most bountifull and indulgent to their poore Tennantes vvho nowe by this Change are brought to as pittifull Slaverie as the Israelites vvere vnder Pharaoh Their Lord hee is not a Church-Man nor of the Clostrall Profession he hath continuall a-doe vvith Court and Session he hath daylie occasion of sending Carriages bringing from abroad the basest of his Servants must not goe a foot he must be carried if it vvere vpon the Necke of his poore Tennant hee must labour his Lord's Vine-yards and make his Bricke vvith much Hunger in his Bellie the meane vvhyle The King cannot helpe him because his Lord hath the Authoritie of an Heritable Court is absolute over him he will not lead his Tithes but still he must haue more than the worth in Bolles when it is so greater Pryces than be ordinarie if he haue to send thorow the Countrey his Cookes the poore Man must bring his Horse from the Harrowes al-be-it the Season were never so faire and a number of like things vvhich if they bee not presentlie done hee taketh Decreets to him-selfe in his owne Courts vvhich no Christian King doeth and sendeth his Officers to poynd the poore Creature vvith such Rigour that if there vvere no more in his House but the Pot vvhere-in his sillie Portion of Meat is preparing it must be taken from him that verie sure it is that Christian People bee not so oppressed vnder the Turke I vvish that His Majestie vvould deliver His Subjects from the Yoake of their grievous Servitude and Oppression and extinguish the Tyrannie of Heritable Courts to the ende that Gentle-men and others haue but one Master to looke vnto and one Sunne to draw their light from and this is most necessarie to bee although His Majestie should suffer them to brooke the Lands For vvhether the Domaine of the Crowne vvhere-from those Lands vvere given bee alienable or vvhether being devoted to the Câ—urch they may returne to the Regall Patrimonie al-be-it I vvill not take on mee to define yet according to my knowledge I shall deliver mine Opinion vvith Reverence and Correction That the Domaine of Republicks is not alienable it is certaine and hath beene so maintained by the chiefest of them to vvit Athens and Rome where two Pryme-men Themistocles and Cato the Censor did take backe as vvee reade in Plutarch brevi manu what-so-ever had beene alienate of the Publicke Domaine although manie yeares before holding that the Prescription of an hundreth yeares vvhich doeth qualifie and assure all Possessions cannot take away the Publicke Patrimonie because there is no Prescription saide they of Men against GOD nor of Particulars against the Common-wealth but vvhether the Royall Soveraignitie going aboue them in manie absolute Points doeth also goe aboue their in that kinde of Priviledge one would thinke it some-what incertaine because of thâ— diverse Practises of Princes in that behalfe according to their Humours to the Condition of the Time and to the weightinesse of Services done by those to vvhom they haue beene bountifull Some Princes haue esteemed the Domaine Publicke so sacred and inviolable that vvee reade of that Romane Emperour Pertinax how hee caused to bee defaced and put away his Name and Image that was engraven vpon the publicke Pallaces saying that the Houses belonging to the Common-wealth ought not to beare anie Markes of Impropriation to him And of Antonini called the Pious that hee did not for the same respect
and Tennants and preasseth them by Lawes that hee may know their Holdinges yea and some-times by Manages and Threats force them to quite their lawfull Ritches although they were their neare Kins-men Alwayes what wise Vassall or Tennant will not stryue to over-come his Lord with reverent and humble Carriage and there-by to moue him to accept the tenth part perhaps of that which he did demand for Entrie and shall it not bee borne with in a great King that which is ordinarilie done by his Subjects Bis duo dena pet as his duo sena feres What if a young Prince haue gotten too large Information touching these or if his Inforâ—ators be mistaken in their judgement there-anent shall there not bee Patience granted and time to digest and condescend And shall not our Behaviours be in the meane-whyle correspondent to that Loyaltie Loue and Obedience that Subjectes ought vnto their naturall Prince and that should procure His Compassion Kyndnesse towards all the Members of this Kingdome With GOD'S Blessing let vs be doing so and let vs expect nothing but Christian and Vpright Dealing from a King in vvhome there is so great Appearance of Good and Iust Meaning and let vs haue still in our Mouthes that Word which now prayse to GOD for it our Noble-men begin liberallie to professe That let him bee holden accursed who will not contribute to his verie Shirt for the safetie of His Majestie and of the Countrey Alwayes for the Point of Revocation who doubteth but three thinges may justlie fall vnder the Consideration of young Princes First whether this kynd of Gracious and Divinâ— Bountie exercised by their Predecessours giving Extraordinarie Thinges for Ordinarie Services or for Private Affection haue bene too Exorbitant Secondlie what may bee the Merit or Worth so such as haue pocked them Lastlie what is the Exigence of the Tyme and howe these things may be wanting vnto Princes But otherwyse we finde in all Christian Histories that Crowne-Lands haue bene alienated given away by Kings for one of three Causes vvhich to this Day haue remayned vnquarrelled by their Successours One is for Reward of those who haue exposed their Lyues to manifest Danger for the Safetie of Their Persons As for Example The Landes given by His Majestie our late Soveraigne for Services done agaynst the Traytors of Gourie or for Practises of Discoverie and Prevention of the Powder Treason at London another for Valiant and Personall Services done for Preservation of the Countrey agaynst Invasion of Forraigne Enemies or of the State from Intestine as we reade of our braue King Malcolme the second who seeing the Magnanimitie of the Scottish Gentrie agaynst the fierce and enraged Danes by fiue or sixe Bloodie and Desperate Battels in diverse partes of the Countrey where he him selfe did assist in Person therfore in a Publicke ParliameÌ„t he did divide almost the whole Crown-Lands in Baronies dispone them to the Gentry In publico ordinum conventâ— says my Text cunctas â—pes agrosque regios pene omnes meritoruÌ„ habita rations distribuit regno in partes quas Baronias vocaÌ„t divisio In regard wherof those Barons as by Compaction did at that same time annex to the Crown the Wardes and Reliefes of their Lands which together with the other Casualities and Dues belonging to the Crowne was esteemed and accepted as a sufficient Mayntaynance then of the Royall Dignitie If either of those two should bee revocable Kings Countreyes and Common-wealths should not bee compted so Sacred as they ought to bee Thirdlie Princes haue mortified their Crowne Patrimonie to Pietie and Devotion as King David the first of Scotland for Plantation of fifteene Abbayes foure Bishoprickes riâ—chly Rented Such are recalled in this latter Age because of the Nefaâ—tious Damnable Abuses wherewith the Possessours of them were commonlie polluted And O how greatlie it were to bee wished That neyther King David nor other Christian Kinges had beene so prodigall of their Crowne Patrimonies in Favours of Church-Men for the World knoweth it nowe that by so doing they did â—urne Religious Priests into Temporall Princes and did put into their Hand that Sword vvherewith to this Day they not only doe cut the Throats of Kinges and their Authoritie but haue spoyled the Puritie and Pietie of the Church of GOD and in Place there-of haue introduced this Pollution Pryde Avarice Superstition which shall never haue an ende so long as they remayne so ritch as they are Devotio peperit divitias filia devoravit matrem Devotion sayth Gerson bred Ritches and the Daughter devoured the Mother Next it were to be wished that when those Lands of the Church anciently belonging to the Crowne vvere agayne dissolved from the Church and annexed to the Crowne by our late Soveraigne of blessed Memorie that they had bene suffered to remayne therewith for the avoyding of so great Discontentment and Confusion as is lyke to grow thereof if they should nowe bee taken in to the Crowne vvithout Restitution to so manie Gentle-Men and others as haue employed the best parte of their Meanes for buying of those things from the Newlie-Erected-Lords without anie Warrandize at all for their Money Which albeit it doe greatlie perplexe the Mynds of manie good Subjects yet we are vndoubtedlie to hope for Reparation some way of these since we liue vnder a Christian Prince who is alreadie honoured of the World for the Equitie of his Myndâ— and who hath alreadie declared his Iust Intentions there-anent There is beside another Cause that maketh our Noble-Men and Gentrie to thinke themselues the sibber to the Church-rents and this is it Because their Predecessours did also enjoye them in effect albeit not Titularlie as well then as they doe now Their Sonnes were presented by the Kings to the Benefices of the Church Themselues did often tymes feede at their Tables and gather vp the Super-plus of the Rent The Sonnes of Meane Gentle-Men vvent to the Monasticke Lyfe everie where If they had manie Daughters they did sende some of them to the Religious Convents of Women vvhich was a singular Disburden and Reliefe both of Greater and Smaller Houses speaking civillie in Civill Respects And this is yet the chiefest Cause vvhy the Ritches of the Papall Church are so tollerable by Princes and People of that Profession so that whyles numbers of Men and Women of all sortes were nowrished anciently by the Church Revenewes in Scotland it would bee thought strange to bestow them vpon so few Church-Men as now be vvho I confesse are worthie of Augmentation But that they should bee made so Ritch or Great wee see what a pestilent Gangrenâ— that hath beene alreadie And it is sure enough that the same Causes will ever produce the same Effects The Worlde is aye lyke to it selfe and Men are still Men Et omnia vertuntur in Circulum There is not of Humane Things a more Extravagant and Rare Contemplation than to consider how Princes States and People
them into Money goe to the place thou shalt bestow the Money for whatsoever thy soule lusteth after Oxe Sheepe wine or strong Drinkâ—â— thou shalt eat rejoyce before the Lord thou thy Familie thou shalt not forsake the Levite within thy gates nor the StraÌ„ger nor the Widow nor the Fatherlesse Al which things do smell a Ceremoniall Institution as we alleadge wherevpon there be great learned Disputes agitate by diverse of our Countrey-men amongst all which all that can be said for Tenths it seemeth to me that the truest Light is to bee drawne from the Practise of Abraham by which it appeareth they were Evangelicall before they were Mosaicall If long before the Ceremoniall or WritteÌ„ Law Abraham payed Tythes to Melchisedec how can we hold Tenths to be Ceremoniall albeit we had not that cleare Explication therof by S. Paul Heb. 7 where in the person of Melchisedec he proveth the Excellencie of Christ's Priesthood aboue that of Aaron He proveth Melchis to be a Priest froÌ„ two things from the Discharge of his Office He blessed Abraham and from that which was annexed to his Office He tythed Abrahum If any would object that Abraham did offer to him those Tenthes not of bound duetie but out of his private Charitie or from a Custome that was vsed before him or from the Light of Nature only wherof I shal speak somewhat herafter that were to annull the Proofe of Melchis his Priesthood set downe by th' Apostle yea it were to change the Text because the Actiue word is in the person of Melchis and not of Abrah For it is not said that Abr. tythed himselfe but that Melchis tyâ—hed Abrah Melchis decimavit Abrah And the Greeke word Vers. 6. of that Chap. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doeth import no lesse how-so-ever the English Translation is received Next again that by Melchis th' Apostle vnderstandeth Christ it is evident when he saith of Him Vers. 8. Here men die that do receiue Tythes meaning the Leviâ—s but there He receiveth them of whom it is written that He liveth which is vndoubtedly spoken of Christ for so are the words Vers 13. 14. He of whom these things are written pertayneth to another Tribe whereof no man serveth at the Altar for it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Iudah Farther it is plaine that the Priesthood there spoken of is an eternall Priesthood Thou art a Priest for ever according to the Order of Melchis WhervpoÌ„ it must follow that Tythes being the Due of an Eternal Priesthood must also themselues be eternall Abraham saw my day and did rejoyce saith CHRIST And I put the Case this Poynt were not so cleare as it is vvee might find another Ground wherby we should see our selues tyed to this Burden of Tythes Evangelicallie and that is by the Devoting of them done by Christian Princes People and States vvho wee may thinke before the Church I suppose could challenge them by anie Warrand haue beene moved to giue vnto her a Warrand by that same Spirit that moved Abraham manie Years before the Law was given out for Tenthes Constantine the Great and Charlemayne did begin this Plantation of the Church Rents Authoritie and Priviledges and others everie-where did follow them Then we know vvhat is the Nature of thinges once devoted to GOD Levit. 27. Vers. 28. No devoted thing that a Man shall devote to the LORD both of Man and Beast and of the Possession of his Fielde shall bee redeemed Everie devoted thing is holie vnto the LORD And Levit. 5. Vers. 15. If a Soule doe sinne through Ignorance in the holie thinges of the LORD hee shall make a mendes in the holie thing and shall adde a fift part there-vnto The Popes them selues haue acknowledged their Possession of Tythes to bee aliene from the Practise or Pleading of the Primitiue Church and that their Titles therevnto haue flowed from the onlie Devotion and Donation of Christian Kings as may bee seene in Can. futuram Ecclesiam cap. videntes 12. Q. 1. vvhich Bellarmine doeth stand to Tom. 1. contra 5. lib. 1. cap. 25. And we may try it to bee so by the Entrie of the Christian Fayth in Scotland Anno 203. King Donald the first did procure by his Ambassadour sent to Pope Victor the coÌ„ming of some Priests into this Kingdome for receiving of him his Familie Nobilitie to the Church by Baptisme where there is no Mention of anie Title pretended or anie Sute made by the sayd Pope for Tythes But vvhole foure Ages thereafter to wit Anno 578 our King Convallus vvithout Challenge or Requisition froÌ„ the Pope hee of him selfe did authorize the Terrour and Force of Excommunication established to the Church the Tenthes of Scotland Edixit ut decimas omnium terrae nascentium cuncti in SacerdotuÌ„ horrea deferrent by vvhich it appeareth that everie Man then had his owne Tythes Farther hee gaue to the Priests Mansions and Dwelling places neare to the Churches Praedium in Templi vicinia ubi secretus à vnlgo habitaret Withall two thinges are to bee vnderstood First that a great part of those Rentes were employed to the ritch decoâ—ing of Church Fabrickes Christi Templa valde ornari voluit Secondlie that before then there were multitudes of Religious people in Scotland that Age of the Occidentall World being as it were an Influence or Inundation of Pietie and Zeale to GODS Glorie for the Historie telleth that he sent to Yreland for that renowned Abbot Sanctus Columba by whose Advyce Contraxit Monachos sparsâ—s ad id tempus solivâ—gâ—s inunum indeque per Caenoâ—ia quae Convalli pietas struxer at distributâ—s 〈◊〉 vitanon vulgatae observationis instituit Where the Author to let vs see how the Devoting of Tythes and Foundation of Monasticke places vvent alwayes together hee maketh Mention of the Benedictine Order their Frequencie in Scotland before then manie Abbayes erected for them where it is most worthie Observation his Iudgement of the Revenewes and Ritches of the Church Plurima inter nostrates celeberrima suâ—t hujus ordinis Caenobla hactenus viris pietate clarissimis habitata virtute fortassis insigniori majorique veneratione apud posteros perseveratura si ad otium luxum Regum munificentia tanta sagina ea non oner asset that is to say There were then in Scotland manie famous Abbayes of the Benedictine Order hitherto inhabited by Men of singular Pietie and wherein the Sinceritie of Religious Vertue might haue 〈◊〉 flowrishing recommendable to all Posteritie if the too great Bountie of Princes did not over-bardeÌ„ them with the Fatnesse of Ydle-seat and Riâ—â—hes By this doing of Convaâ—â— I say it seemeth that the Church hath gotten a sufficient Warrand to our Tythes by Positiuâ— Christian Lawes albeit vve should repyne at the Warrandâ—s brought out of the Gospell And even the most Learned of the Protestant syde doe holde it the surest Title of the
moue the valiant wyse King Robert Bruce in his Testamentall Counsels to his private Friends it being the Minoritie of his Sonne to leaue this Direction Tanquam arranum imperii vel domus Augusti That there shold never be a Lord nor great Man in the Yles but they shold remaine perpetuallie impropriate to the Crown Ea-enim oportunitate saith the Writer sitae sunt eaque incolaruÌ„ mobilitas ut levissimam 〈◊〉 causam ad rebellionem impelluntur nec deficientes facile reducantur As much I say of our Hie-Landes That in all Ages by-gone haue beene the Strong Refuge of Bloodie Traytors and those vvho haue violated the Sacred Lyâ—es of our Kinges for the which Cause we reade very neare to the beginnings of this Kingdome that Evenus the second who was but the fourteenth King from the first having with much Businesse repressed the Tyrannie of Gillus who pretended to be King and trusted himselfe to the Rebellious Hie-lands and Yles Thereafter for the better assuring of that Barbarous People and reducing of them to Civill Knowledge and Carriage hee builded two Cities in two severall Countreyes Ennernesse which is to this day a flowrishing Towne in the Northerne partes and Ennerlochtie vpon Loch-Tay And in our owne tymes we haue seene amongst them such Proude and Incorrigible Oppressions of Neighbour People such Cruelties and Nefarious Perpetrations as if they did not feare eyther GOD or the Devill Whyles the Romanes were so politicke in Britane is it not much more easie for His Majestie who now governeth here to reforme that 〈◊〉 by frequent Plantation of GOD'S VVord which of all thinges is the greatest Dauâ—ter of the Mynd Certaynlie it is more easie by twentie to one more necessarie for His Majestie to performe than it was for the Romanes then The Perfect Plantation chiefely of these Yles with Burgall Cities Civill People and Christian Clergie were a most Glorious and Emperiall VVorke For besides the clozing of that Backe-Doore to the Suretie of the Crowne and Quietitude of the Kingdome it should be the Meanes to erect the Fishing of our Scottish Seas a Ritch Trade esteemed sufficient for the Employment of 50000 Persons a thing of great Consequence for our Countrey wherein there be even Swarmes of Indigent Necessitous People and a thing of greater Importance to the yearlie Finances of the Crowne than anie that hath bene excogitate in tymes by-gone The Discourse of the Nature of Tythes hath carried mee too farre from the Poynt thereof which is most proper for this Treatise that is Of what Discontentment may justlie aryse to vs by reason of the Reformation intended by His Majestie of Tythe-Abuses or Oppressions done by Tythe-Masters vvhere-in I neede not to insist much to debate it for if Oppression bee a Crying Sinne it will speake for it selfe I haue onelie two Words If the Noble-man can put a Bridle in a Gentlemans Month by any Right to his Tenthes although hee were his Nearest Kinsman hee can as everie Man seeth command him as his Horse Hee causeth the Poore Labourers of the Ground to leade his Tythes to a Milne perhaps to his Barne-Yard too and whereas they vvere illuded in the beginning of Reformation of Religion in Scotland and made to belieue that they should pay but the Fifteenth Sheaffe now it is so rigorouslie exacted that if there bee a Stucke ruffled with the Weather or with the Beasts that the Tenth-master will not haue hee must haue the best And in place to shaue the Poore Man's Haire gentlie by a Violent Pull hee bringeth with him a Portion of his Hyde If Reformation of these bee intended it is no Matter of Discontentment but of Common Ioye yea even to Noble-men it should bee so that the Wayes of Oppression bee stopped for stopping the Current of GOD'S Wrath against them or their Posteritie I doe reverence the Iudgements of GOD and will not take on mee definitiuelie to pronounce wherefore Hee doeth inflict them a Case oftentymes hidden from the Eyes of Men But surelie it is great Pittie to see the Desolation of so manie Honourable Houses as haue beene overthrowne in this Land since the first casting downe of Churches and Religious Houses and turning of Tythes into Temporall Goods And if Noble-men were to brooke them still they shall doe well to agree to the Reformation of Abuses or which were better in my Opinion for them and all others to submit our selues to GOD and to the goodnesse of our Prince who hath alreadie by publicke Declaration manifested the Benignitie of his Meaning towards these things that all Rights of his Subjects lawfullie purchased shall bee confirmed everie Man shall haue his Tythes vpon easie Conditions which seemeth agreeable to their first Institution by GOD where the Payer and his Familie were admitted to the Participation of Tythes and that all Men shall bee fred from Servitude and forced Dependances And since Tythes are Bona Eceles Bona Pauperum Bona Reip. there is no doubt but a Christian King who is Father of the Church of the Poore of the Common-wealth may dispense and dispose of them and of Ecclesiasticke Effayrs as David did and Salomon and the Christian Emperours in the Primitiue Church which is the Reason why in their Coronation they were anoynted with the Oyle of the Priesthood why the Kinges of England were at their Inauguration cloathed Stola sacerdo tall to testifie their Ecclesiasticke Power The CHURCH is sacred and so is the Common-wealth the CHURCH being served and the Poore who be Members of the CHURCH and Schooles provided for the Prince may employ the Superplus as they shall please for the Common-wealth But now because the speciall Scope of this Treatise is to show as well the Necessitie of makeing Warre as the Meanes to doe the same therefore I must speake of one thing vvhich appeareth to bring a notable Inconvenient and Diâ—tresse to this Tyme if it bee not prevented and that is the great Scarcitie that shall bee of readie Money in this Countrey before it bee long by reason that the greatest part of our best Coyne is either exported by Merchands or looked vp in their Hands and by reason of the exorbitant Summes that His Majestie must of necessitie daylie sende beyond Seas for mayntaynance of the Warres where-anent before I set downe my Opinion touching the Stabilitie or Iustabilitie of Money-Pryces in Scotland I will say some-what of the Nature thereof in generall for Disquisition vvhereof I vvill goe no farther backe in Antiquitie than to the Romanes vvho before their first Punicke Warres to vvit Anno 490 of their State had no other Coyne but of the Asse in Brasse because the Septentrion Regions wherin there be Mines of Silver but not of Golde the Indees where there bee both of Silver and Golde were vnknowne to them at that time some yeares before they had Gold but neither in Coyne nor in Quantitie Camillus beeing Dictator when Rome was taken by the Gaules Anno