when David his Soveraigne Lord and King fled before Absalon said unto him As the Lord liveth and as the Lord my King liveth in what place my Lord the King shall be whether in death or life even there surely will thy servant be THE SECOND BOOKE Of the Love and Dutie wee all owe to our Native Countrie I Am now to intreate of the second Dutie which everie man oweth to his native Countrie and the Common-wealth wherein hee liveth and inhabiteth But ere I proceed let me expound the meaning of this word Patria or Countrie because there are sundry opinions â—…oncerning this point some affirme that We ought to take this Vniversall world for our true and Nâ—…tive Countrie of which opinion Socrates was for on a time being demanded what Countrie-man hee was made this answer The world is my Countrie and of that opinion were many other considering what small certainety there is in the dwelling of any man in any one place and the often revolution vicissitude or alteration of things and therefore would without naming any place in particular take the wide world for it All the earth is a vertuous mans proper dwelling place as the Sea is of fishes The Philosopher Anaxagoras one the other side being asked what Countrie-man hee was answered pointing up to heavâ—…n with his finger there is my Countrie adding withall as Lactantius reporteth that hee was borne onely to contemplate upon heaven his native Countrie whither he was to returne againe The Ecclesiasticall Historie maketh mention of a man called Sanctus who being brought before a Magistrate for the profession of the Christian Religion and there examined what his name was and of what Countrie I am said he a Christian that is my name my Countrie my parentage and all in all But I must as Plinie adviseth every writer cogitare titulum remember the subject I am in particular to entreate of without exspatiation therefore here I must take a mans Countrie to be the place of his birth not onely in a Kingdome of Province whereon hee depends but also of a Citie or any other particular place of Government where it was the will of God he should be borne yea of the place where hee personally dwelleth and inhabiteth with his wife children and family and where he hath his goods and maintainance for the sustaining of his livelihood for every mans Countrie saith Cicero is where he is best pleased to live and hath his meanes about him according to the French Proverbe Là où sont nos biens là est nostre pays that is where our substance and wealth are there is our Countrie which is most true therefore every man is bound to defend and preserve it against all invasion either of domestike or foâ—…aine foes even as his owne life wife children family or what else is most deare unto him So in briefe I affiâ—…me the place of our aboad as well as of our birth to be rightly called our Coâ—…ntrie which Countrie of ours ought not to have the last place as some would in our affection and love but rather the first Art thou so foolish saith Plato as thou knowest not thaâ—… thy Countrie ought to be preferred before thy parents and kindâ—…d and that thou oughtest to love it more then fathâ—…r or mother The love of our Countrie Common-wealth said Theognis the Poet Is and ought to be no lesse sacred then that â—…hich is 〈◊〉 a father and his child And 〈◊〉 saith If a fâ—…er 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 his oâ—…ne sonne should 〈◊〉 keepâ—…â—…is â—…sell but at the first dissâ—…ade him if he prevailed 〈◊〉 tâ—…en to rebuâ—… hiâ—… if he at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 is neither blood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 place 〈◊〉 unto us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to us then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it ought to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 love of our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or affect for in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and if it be wasted 〈◊〉 destroyed who 〈◊〉 have any pleasure in any thing that he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 said Pericâ—… Hee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ease and plentifully is withall ruined and undone on the contrary when it flourisheth the poorest man feeles no discommodity but fareth the better if a Country or Common-wealth be affrighted and terrified said Caesar there is not any one man therein be hee never so stout or wary of himselfe but hee will stumble and fall with the ruine thereof but in the welfare and flourishing of the same the meanest shall find wherewith to make himselfe merry therefore wee should be wanting in nothing that might redound to the honour land profit of our Country Cato Vticensis well knew how to put this in practise and withall to certifie so much unto Cicero who thanking that grave and wise man for that in the Senate he had defended Fabia Terentia Cicero's wives sister against Pâ—…blius Clodius who had accused her falsely It is not unto me said Cato that you ought to give thankes but rather to the Common-wealth because all that I doe say or câ—…unsell is for the love of the common good of my Countrie Agesilam said as much to the King of Persia which King admiring the vertues of Agesilaus after such time as the peace was concluded betweene him and the Spartanes he sent unto him and requested that he might joyne friendship and amity with him yea and hospitality in living together Agesilaus refused it saying That the love and amity of the Common-wealth of Sparta did both content and suffice him and as long as it would last and endure he had no need to contract with any other for that was enough and the greatest glory of praise and commendations that ever Antiquity gave or could give to excellent men and the bravest spirits was for that which they did either for the preservation and defence of their Country or else for the enlargement or extension of the bounds and limits thereof and from this generous affection to their native Country have proceeded so many glorious acts and noble atchievements that they have afforded matter to the most learned pens that ever wrot to the admiration of all posterity There was never yet any good and noble spirit that did not love and affect his Country Nature herselfe having impressed in the hearts of such as are well borne a charitable love and a most sweet and deare affection toward it for men naturally love that ayre they first drew and with which Nature first refreshed them at their first comming into the world For hereby Nature hath a great interest in us yea we perceive her forâ—…e in plants herbes and other insensible things as there are plants that cannot endure to be transported out of their owne naturall soyle as Balme will grow no where but in Iudaea or Palestina and
the greater part of people killed the King and carryed the remnant of the people unto Babylon and made a golden Image commanding all men without exception to worship it upon paine of being burned alive in an hot fierie furnace and yet neverthelesse Danâ—… said thus unto him Oh King thou art King of Kings for the God of heaven hath given thee a Kingdome 〈◊〉 strength and glory and the Lord himselfe calls him his servant and the Prophet 〈◊〉 in his Letter written unto the Jewes who were captives in Babylon exhortes them to pray for the peace of the Citie whither they were carryed captives And the Lord commands all nations to put their necks that is to submit themselves under the yoake of the K ng of Babylon and that he will visit those Nations with the Sword Pestilence and Famine that will not â—…mit themselves to be Subject to Nabuchadâ—…ezzar and that those who would serve him should live Serve therefore saith hee the King of Babylon that ye may live Now concerning the benefit that Subjects reape by being loyall and faithfull to their Soveraignes Now let me speake in a word of the benefit the faithfull Subject receives for performing this dutie of Obedience First it gives a man great satisfaction in his conscience to God-ward hee may with alacrity and boldnesse either speake to or petition his Soveraigne in case of necessity or oppression hee shall thrive in his estate he shall live in safety and be protected from injuries and inconveniencies according to that of the Wise-man Hee that keepeth the Commandements shall know no evill thing On the contrary by their disobedience they repugne the Ordinance of God and infringe his Law which who so doth his life shall ever hang in feare before him and he shall be affraid even of a shaken leafe and many times the disloyalty and undutifullnesse of subjects toward God and their lawfull Princes draweth downe the vengeance of God upon the Land by taking those good Princes away and giving them more cruell and tyrannous in their roome from whom they must expect like the Israelites among the Aegyptians heavy and gâ—…ievous tasks both give their tale of bricke and gather the straw Subjects who sticke not to offend their Soveraigne should remember that Ira Principis est nuntia mortis the indignation of a King is not a small matter as many populous Countries have found to their cost It is the roaring of the Lion and againe saith the Preacher Where the word of the King is there is power I advise thee saith he to take heed to the mouth of the King yea the Lord for a good Kings sake sometime defers the punishment and misery he meaneth to inflict upon a stubborne and rebellious Nation as we read he did in the time of good Iosias when he said hee would 〈◊〉 the calamities preordained for the Israelites for their sinnes and Idolatrie for their Kings sake who walked uprightly before them let us therefore by all meanes seeke the favour of the King which as 〈◊〉 saith is like the dew upon the grasse yea a mans heart is as it were revived when his Princes countenance is favourable and pleasant toward him Let me give some examples of true love and loyaltie of some Subjects towards their Soveraigne Princes beginning with those of Great Alexander of whom it is written that they loved their Prince so dearely and bare such respect and honour unto him that they did worship and reverence him as if hee had beene a God And after his death his 〈◊〉 never sat in Counsell about the affaires of the Empire of Macedonia and of other Provinces by him conquered but they had in their Tents or Counsell chambers the Image of this great Monarch their Soveraigne lively drawne out as to â—…reate and deliberate of State affaires in his presence The Persians loved Cyrus their first King 〈◊〉 well that in memory of him and for his sake they loved all those that were crooked nosed nay they would not permit any to sit in his Throne but such kind of men Wee doe thinke said they that the holiest ordinance which we have is that which commands us to honour and love our King neither more nor lesse then the Image of our God because there was never or ever shall be a better King then Cyrus was And Zenâ—…phon for his sake wrote his Cyropadia to give the world a patterne of a good and excellent Prince exhorting all others to imitate him Xerxes another King of Persia who came with that mighty Army consisting of more then a million of men to conquer Greece was no lesse beloved of his Subjects then Cyrus and after him Darius as may appeare by this ensuing Historie Herodotus discoursing of the divers and sundrie opinions that men had of that cowardly retraite or plaine flight of Xerxes after that his Army was vanquished saith that he was faine to embarque himselfe in a ship of of Phoenicia and to direct his course for Asia when being surprized with a dangerous storme the wind standing Northward and the ship so full of people and over-charged many of the Persians being cast away in their flight The King much affrighted herewith demanded of the Pilot if there were any hope or meanes of saving their lives who answered hee saw none at all unlesse many of the passengers were cast into the Sea which Xerxes hearing said thus unto them My friends I beseech you that some of you would have a care of your Kings safety seeing his life and death is in your hands at which words many of his faithfull subjects rising up and doing him low reverence presently threw themselves headlong into the Sea so by this meanes the ship being light ned Xerxes arrived safe in Asia There cannot be a more reall proofe and truer touch-stone of love and loyalty then when men doe lose their lives freely and willingly for their Prince as these men did surely it is an example worthy of eternall memorie Menander King of Bactria was also so well beloved of his Subjects that when hee dyed all the Cities and chiefe Townes under his Dominion held severall Obsequies and made shewes of a funerall for him yeelding him after his death all the honour and respect that they could possible imagine a manifest token of their extraordinarie affection they bare unto him in his life time yea more to manifest their love when his body was to be consumed with fire as was then the manner of those people a great contention arose among the forenamed Cities which should be honoured with his Sepulcher in the end after much strife and debate it was agreed and consented unto betweene them all that each Citie should have an equall portion of his ashes to be kept as an holy relique in their Temples which was an apparant signe how desirous they were to have had him alwayes to be among them After the death of Pelopidas who
who seing him much perplext in mind because he could not take in the City of Babylon which was revolted from under his obedience and knew how difficult it was to recover it againe resolved neverthelesse with the perill of his life to reduce it againe unto his Soveraignes subjection therefore to effect his designe â—…hee cuts off his owne nose eares and lips and withall caused his servant towhip him so extremely that he 〈◊〉 so mangled and disâ—…gured that few could hardly know him then he went unto Darius who was astonished at the fight of him and acquainted him with his plot which done away he goes to Babylon and there related unto the Citizens how cruelly Darius had used him whom before them hee threatneth with great protestation that hee would be 〈◊〉 on him These 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seeing his pitifull and miserable estate beleeved all that he said to be true and knowing him to be very valiant and a brave Souldier made choyce of him to be their Commander and Generall which authority and place 〈◊〉 so discretly and cunningly managed that in a short â—…ime he brought his designes to effect surrendring the Citie into the posseâ—…ion of Darâ—… who had 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 two 〈◊〉 yeares together without hope of 〈◊〉 taking it To conclude these examples only one more out of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where I observe the great love of the Israelites to King David their Soveraigne as being ready to hazard their lives upon one word which he spake yea in a manner a thought This King having his Army by the Cave of 〈◊〉 and the Army of the 〈◊〉 his enemies in the valley of Rephâ—… having also their Garrison in the Towne of Beth-lehem it happened that David as it were longed for some of the water of Beth-lehem when hâ—…e said Oh that one would give me to drinke of the well of Beth-lehem which is by the gate then three of his mighty men brake into the Host of the Philistims and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate and tooke and brought it to David but he would not drinke thereof but powred it downe to the ground because they had brought it with the perill of their lives saying O Lord be it farre from me to doe this is not this the blood of those men who went in jeopardie of their lives to bring it Neverthelesse the act was a most certaine proofe of the great love and affection which they bare unto their Soveraigne Wonderfull strict and hard is that obedience and duty the Turke exacteth from his Subjects true love is volountary not compelled oderunt quem meâ—…uunt among the Christian Nations England and Spaine honour and reverence their Soveraignes as one writeth above all others What greater love and affection could be showne or exacted from Subjects then that Queene Elizabeth of happy and blessed memory received from the heartie votes of her people who could never be weary of viewing her person and with generall acclamations praying for her long life in fields streets high-wayes which way soever shee went in time of her ' Pro gresse and in other times the like reciprocall love she returned them againe with God blesse you my good people every one I will protect you all to the utmost of my power c. And blessed be God we now live under a most gracious mild and mercifull Prince as ever raigned in England our deare and dread Soveraigne King Charles of whom why may I not say as much as the Romanes did of their Titus that he was Humani generis delitiae therefore by so much the more deserve all disobedient Subjects laesae Majest 〈◊〉 is rei to be severely punished by how much his goodnes and lenity is abused but hereof enough I will now draw toward a conclusion of this Discourse heartily desiring unity and peace between all Christian Princes and their Subjects and that Kings as Soveraigne Lords would have faith and truth in all their actions with wisedome and Justice for the well governing and guiding of their people which is the greatest motive to cause their Subjects to love and honour them more and more and with their goods to be ready to lay downe their lives for them especially when they doe regnare lenta manu governe with mildnesse a vertue so requisite in a Prince that it doth comprehend and containe in it selfe all others vertues as we read how that great King 〈◊〉 being wonderfully incensed against the Jewes upon the false accusation of wicked Haman when Queene Hester came and made request unto him in the behalfe of her people it is written that God turned the Kings heart into mercie and mâ—…ldnesse and saved the lives of all the Jewes who were then at the very point to be put all to death if this change of his rigour into mildnesse and mercy had not beene which is indeed an especiall gift of God And for Suâ—…jects their love should be shewed by the honour and respect which they beare to their Soveraignes Therefore they should alway be endued with patience constancie and diligence being borne to that estate or calling Saint Peter willeth us to submit our selves unto all manner of Ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be unto the Kng as unto the Superiour or unto Governours as unto them that are sent of him for the punishment of evill doers and for the praise of them that doe well and Saint Paul saith Give unto all men their duty tribute to whom tribute is due Custome to whom Custome is due honour to whom honour and to shew that we ought to submit our selves not onely to good Kings and Princes but also unto all in generall whom God hath ordained over us the same speakes againe in these words Yoe must be subject not because of wrath onely but also for conscience sake for even as a Prince is obliged to maintaine by force of Armes and by the Lawes his Subjects persons goods and families in safety so the Subjects doe owe by a reciprocall obligation to their Prince Allegeance sidelity subjection obedience succour all ayde and helpe that lieth in their power They ought to consider that hee that angers his Prince endangereth his owne life for saith Salomon Hee that provâ—…kesh the King to anger sinneth against his own soule Let us therefore love him with all our hearts Let us feare him as wee ought to doe that is to say with a feare full of honour and respect and let us study to continue in his favour grace then shall we fulfill and performe that which God requires of us yea commands 〈◊〉 to do in his holy Word My 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Saint 〈◊〉 the like Honour all men love brotherly fellowship feare God honour the King Last of all let us have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that we walke via â—…na joyne hearts and hands and now or never imitate that good Subject Ittai the Gittiâ—…e who