became I praye you of Harolde that by briberie aÌ„d helpe of his kiÌ„red vsurped the crowne against the foresaide yonge Eadgar as I haue saide aÌ„d as the olde monumeÌ„rs of our historiopraphers do plainlie testifie was the trewe aÌ„d lawful hâ—ire Cui de iure debebatÌ„ regnuÌ„ Anglo ruÌ„ Io. â—od in chronic Angliae Coulde he thincke you enioye his ambitiouse aÌ„d nawghtie vsurpinge one whole aÌ„d eÌ„tier yeare No suerlie eare the first yeare of his vsurped reigne turned aboute he was spoyled aÌ„d turned owt bothe of crovne aÌ„d †Rex Edvvardê° misit c. Vt velâ—pÌ„e Edvvardê° vel filiae eâ—ê° sibi succedereÌ„t c. Rich. Cicest vid vvil Malmesb de regi Ang. l. 2. c. 45. l. 3. cap. 5. his lief with all FadeÌ„ verba sunt in Mat. vvestmo 1Ì„ flor hist Anâ—o 1066. Yea his vsurpatioÌ„ occasioÌ„ed the coÌ„queste of the whole realme by williaÌ„ Duke of NormaÌ„die bastarde Sonne to Roberte the sixte duke of the same And maye we thincke all saufe aÌ„d sownde nowe from like danger yf vve shoulde treade the saide vvroÌ„ge steppes vvithe Harolde forsakinge the right aÌ„d highe vvaye of lavve aÌ„d iustice What shall I nowe speake of the crevvell aÌ„d ciuill vvarres betvvene kinge Stephen and kinge HeÌ„rie the secoÌ„de Which vvarres rose by reasoÌ„ the saide HeÌ„ry vvas vniustlie kepte froÌ„ the crovne devë to his mother mavvde aÌ„d to him aftervvardes The petifull reigne of the saide IohnÌ„ vvho doth not lamente vvith the lamentable losse of Normandie Aquitanie and the possibilitie of the Dukedome of Britanie What cala mities fell to this real me by the vsurpiÌ„g of kinge Harrold K. Stephen and IohnÌ„ aÌ„d vvith the losse of our other goodlie possessions in Fraunce Wherof the crovvne of Englande vvas robbed and spoiled by the vnlavvfull vsurpinge of him againste his nephevve Arthur Well let vs leaue theys greauouse and lothsome remembrances and lett vs yet seake yf vve maye fynde any later interpretation either of the saide statute or rather of the coÌ„mon lavve for our purpose And lôa the greate goodnes and ê“uidence of God vvho hathe yf the foresaide exaÌ„ples wolde not serue prouided a later but so good so sure so apte and mete interpretation for our cause as any reasonable harte maye desier The interpretation directlie tovvchethe our case vvhiche I meane by the mariage of the Ladye Margaret eldest davvghter to kinge HeÌ„rie the seaveÌ„the vnto Iames the fowrthe kinge of Scotlande and by the opinion of the saide most prudente Prince in bestowinge his saide dawghter into Scotlande A matter sufficieÌ„t inoughe to ouerthrowe all those cauellinge inuentions of the aduersarie For what time kinge Iames the fowerth senâ—e his ambassadour to kinge Henrie the seauenthe to obteine his good vvill to espouse the saide Ladie Margaret Polid. 26. there were of his counsaile not ignorante of the lawes and customes of the realme Kinge H. vvith his cownsaile ys a good interpÌ„tour of our present cause that did not vvell like vppon the saide mariage sayenge yt might so fall ovvte that the right aÌ„d title of the crovvne might be deuolued to the Ladie Margaret and her children And the realme thereby might be subiecte to Scotlande To the vvhich the prudente and wise kinge ansvvered that in case any suche deuolution shoulde happen yt vvolde be nothinge preiudiciall to Englande For Englande as the cheif and principall and worthieste parte of the Isle shoulde drawe Scot lande to yt as yt did Normandie from the time of the coÌ„queste vvhiche ansvvere was vvonderfullie vvell liked of all the counsaile And so coÌ„sequentlie the mariage toke effecte as appearethe by Polidor the historiogropher of this realme And suche a one as vvrote the actes of the time by the instructioÌ„ of the kinge him self I saye theÌ„ the vvise worthy SalomoÌ„ foreseinge that suche deuolutioÌ„ might happen was an interpretatour with his prudent and sage consayle for our cause for eles they neaded not to reasoÌ„ of any suche subiection to Scotlande Yf the children of the Ladye Margaret might not lavvfullie inherite the crovvne of Englande For as to her husbande vve coulde not be subiecte hauinge him self no right by this mariage to the title of the crovvne of this realme Where vpon I maye well inferre that the saide nevve maxime of theis men whereby they wolde rule and ouer rule the succession of Princes was not knowen to the saide wise kinge neither to any of his counsaile Or yf yt were yet was yt taken not to reache to hys bloudd royall borne in Scotlande And so on everie side the title of Quene Marye ys assuerid So that nowe by this that we haue saide yt maye easelie be seen by what light and â—klender consideration the adversarie hathe gone abowte to straine the wordes Enfants or childreÌ„ to the first degre onlie Of the like weight ys his other consideration imageninge aÌ„d surmisinge this statute to be made by cawse the kinge had so manye occasions to be so often over the sea vvith his spowse the Quene As thowghe diuers kinges before him vsed not often to passe over the seas As thowghe this were a personall statute made of speciall purpose and not to be taken as a declaration of the coÌ„mon lawe Whiche to saie ys moste directlie repugnaÌ„te and contrarious to the letter of the saide statute Or as thowghe his children also did not verie often repayre to owterwarde contreies as IohnÌ„ of Gawnte Duke of Lancaster Polid Polychr Froserd that Maried Peters the kinge of castilles eldest dawghter by whose right he claimed the crovne of castill as his brother Edmunde The mariages of k. E. 3. sones Erle of camebridge that maried the yongeste dawghter as lionell Duke of clarence that maried at Millain Violane Dawghter and heire to Galiatius Duke of Millan But especiallie Prince Edwarde whiche most victoriouslie toke in battaile IohnÌ„ the Frenche kinge and browght hym into Englande his prisoner to the greate triumphe and reioicinge of the realme whose eldest sonne Edwarde that died in shorte time after was borne beyonde the seas in Gascoigne and his other sonne Richarde that succeded hys grandfather was borne at Burdeauxe As theis noble kinge Edwardes sonnes Married withe forrainers So did theye giue ovvte theire dawghters in Mariage to forraine Princes As the Duke of Lancaster his dawghter Philippe to the kinge of Portingale and his dawghter Katherin to the Kinge of Spaine And his nece IohaÌ„ dawghter to his sonne Erle of Somersett was ioined in mariage to the Kinge of Scottes IohaÌ„ dawghter to his brother Thâ— mas of Wodstocke Duke of GloÌ„cester was Quene of Spaine And his other dawghter Marie Duches of Bretaigne Nowe by thys mans interpretation none of the issewe of all theis noble womeÌ„ coulde have enioyed the crowne of Englande wheÌ„ yt had fallen to them thowghe they had bene of the neareste royall bloudd after the deathe of theire Auncesters Which suerlie had bene against the auncientâ— presidentes and examples that we
not when there ys a lawfull and ordinarie succession As vvas euen amonge the Iewes from kinge Dauidis time albe yt he and kinge Saule before him came in by goodes and the peoples speciall election Wherfore I do admitt your principle to be vvell grownded vpon scripture that the choise and election of Princes muste be directed aÌ„d measured by godes holye worde will and pleasure What then I wolde fayne knowe by what logike by what reason a man maye thus conclude We owght to chose no stranger to our prince Ergo a stranger thowghe he be the iuste and nexte inheritour to the crowne muste be displaced The one dependethe of our owne free will and election Greate difference betwene succession election which we maye measure and rule as vve see good cause The other hangeth onlye vpon the disposition and prouidence of God There we maye picke owte choice Here we muste take suche as God sendethe There consente bearethe the stroke Here proximitie of bloude bearethe the swaye There vve offer no iniurie to any partye in acceptinge the one and leauiÌ„ge thother Here do we iniurie to God that dothe sende and to the partie that ys by him sente And to saye the trewthe it is but a maleparte controulemente of godes owne direction and prouidence For in the former parte we be the chosers and muste directe and gouerne our choice by reason and disctetion by the merite and worthines of the person Here all the choice all the voices are in godes hande onlie As good right hathe the infante in the svvadlinge clowtes as hathe any man called at hys perfecte age aÌ„d wisedome Yt ys a trewe saieÌ„ge Christiani fimus August de merit remis pec coÌ„tra Pel. l. 3. â— 8. 9 tom 7. iÌ„ questi ex nouo test c. 8. tom 4 we are made christian men we are not borne christian men Non nascimur But in this case of succession Reges nascuntur non fiunt meÌ„ are borne and noâ— made kynges Let this fellowe therefore coÌ„clude as strongelie as he can or will againste the chosinge of straÌ„gers Yet yf he briÌ„ge forthe no place oute of scripture against the succession of a stranger claiminge by proximitie of bloude Royall as farre as the man shotethe he shotethe to shorte to hitt the marke But lorde what an yll fauored shorte shote will yt be accoÌ„pted yf she be fownde no stranger at all Yt ys verye probable that in this place the scripture meanethe of a mere forener and stranger suche as were neither borne in Iurie nor of the Iewishe bloude For with suche aliens they were forbidden also to cople in mariage by reason they were Idolatours aÌ„d might thereby theÌ„ selues be occasioned as they were often times in deede abaÌ„done and forsake theire trewe and sincere religion Suche a straÌ„ger I am well assured this Ladie ys not to vs yf she be any stranger at all The Scottes and we be all christians and of one Ilande of one tongue almoste of one fashions and manners customes an lavves So that we can not in any wise accompte them amonge suche kinde of strangers that this place of Moyses mentionethe namelie the Ladye Marie the Quene of Scottes beinge not onlie in harte well affectioned and minded to all Englishe men as hathe by manie experimentes bene well knovven But also by disceÌ„te and Royall bloude all Englishe which she takethe from the noble kinges longe before the coÌ„queste and after the conqueste from the worthye Princes Henrie the firste and Edwarde the thirde and of late dayes from the excellente Prince kinge Henrye the seaventhe and hys davvghter Ladye Margaret her grand mother All vvhiche causes withe some other in suche number concurrante The Quene of Scottes no straÌ„ger ovvght rather to enforce vs to thincke and to take her as no stranger to vs then to estrange her from vs by the onlie place of her Natiuitie Whiche ys yet neverthelesse vvithin the fovver seaes and verie nighe to Englande by Osbrede bovvndinge at Sterlinge bridge Laste of all tovchinge the foresayde chapter of Deutronomye we affirme that yt ys vntrewe that ye saie aswell that this lawe of gouernemeÌ„te bindeth our kinges to the havinge and followinge of thys lawe as we have saide vnlesse to omitt other thinges ye wolde bynde our kynges also to receaue the deuteronomie at the haÌ„dâ—s of the leviticall tribe as that ye saie that God gave here a lawe to the Iewes to make or chose a kiÌ„ge and so coÌ„sequentlie all your illatioÌ„s owte of thys place seame to be of small force For to saie the trewthe as god neither gaue theÌ„ this or anye other lavve for chosenge of a kinge nor did â—idde or will them to chose a kinge so did the people moste grevouselie offende God in demandinge a kinge 3. Politic. For thowghe by the IudgemeÌ„te of Aristotle aÌ„d other Philosophers a Monarchie wel aÌ„d orderlie vsed ys the beste kinde of all other regimentes which God dothe also well like yet wolde he have no suche magistrate amonge the Iewes But as he chose them for his proper peculier and selecte people and ruled them aswell in the deserte as in Iudaea by a severall peculier aÌ„d distincte order aÌ„d governemeÌ„te from other natioÌ„s and after suche woÌ„derfull and miraculouse sorte as the like was never harde of in anye regimeÌ„te besides so wolde he also reserue to him self onlie the saide supremacye and monarchye Neither was he a â—itle angree with the Iewes nor they coÌ„mited any small fault but as yt were renovvnced and reiected godes ovvne monarchie in cravinge a kinge as holie scripture plainelye and openlie testifiethe 1. Reg c. 8. Non te inquit reieceruÌ„t sed me ne regnem super eos And the people afterwardes acknowledged theire fault Addidimus vniuersis peccatis nostris malum 1. Reg. 12. vt peteremus nobis regem God therefore did not bidd them or will them to chose a kiÌ„ge but foreknovvenge longe before by hys eternall foresight what they vvolde do thovvghe contrarye to hys blessed vvill and pleasure did in this as in other matters beare vvithe theire vvekenes and condiscended vnto the same And foretolde them in this sayde 17. chapter that in case they vvolde nedes haue a kinge of what kinde aÌ„d sorte he sholde be And therefore immediatelye before the wordes that ye recite thowe shalt make him a kinge over them ys this texte Cum ingressus fueris terram quam dominus Deus dabit tibi possideris eam habitauerÃsque in ill a dixeris CoÌ„stituam super me regem sicut habent omnes per circuituÌ„ nationes euÌ„ coÌ„stitues c. And vvheÌ„ thowe shalt come into the laÌ„de vvhich the lorde thie God geaveth the aÌ„d shall possesse yt aÌ„d dwell therin yf thovve saye I vvill sett a kinge over me like as all the natioÌ„s that are abowte me then thovv shallt make hym kinge over the whom c. Which wordes makinge for the illustration
succession after the deathe of the parentes that dye intestate ys duë to the children vvhiche succession apperteinethe as vvell to degrees remoued as to the firste L. luciê° ff de heredi Instit. l. iusta et l. natoruÌ„ l. liberoruÌ„de verbor signifie Yea in all causes fauorable as ovvrs ys this vvorde Sonne Filius conteinethe the nephevve thowghe not by the propertie of the voice or speache yet by interpretation admittable in all such thinges as the lavve disposethe of As tovvchinge this worde Ensans in Frenche vve saye that yt reachethe to other descendants L. 2. §. Si mater ad S. C. Tertu l. filiê° ad S. C. as well as to the firste degree Wherein I do referre me to suche as be exê‘te in the saide toÌ„gue We have no one worde for the barenes of * Enfants in franche couÌ„teruailethe thys vvorde liberi in laten our englishe tongue to counterpaise the saide frenche worde Enfans Maced l. senat de ritu nupt l. ê™ si nepotes ff de test tutel cuÌ„ notaâ—is ibidem or the laten worde Liberi Therefore do we supplie yt as well as we maye by this worde children The Spaniardes also vse this worde InfaÌ„tes in this ample sorte wheÌ„ they call the nexte heire to the heire apparente the infante of Spaine Eaven as the late deceased lorde Charles of Austriche was called his father and grandfather then livinge Yf then the originall worde of the statute declaringe the saide rule maye naturallie and properlie appertine to all the descendants why shoulde we straine and binde yt to the firste degree onlie otherwyse then the nature of the worde or reason will beare For I suppose verelie that yt will be verie harde for the adversarie to geave any good and substanciall reason d. l. liberorum whie to make a diuersitie in the cases But towchynge the contrarie there are good and probable considerations whiche shall serve vs for the seconde cause As for that the grandfathers call they re nephewes The grandfathers cal theire nephevves sonnes· as by a more pleasante plausible name not onlie theire chyldren but theire soÌ„nes also for that the sonne beinge deceased the grand father surviuinge not only the grand fathers affectioÌ„ but also the suche right title and intereste that the sonne hathe by the lawe and by proximitie of bloudde growe and drawe all to * L. Gallus §. instituens ff de libert post l fi C. d. impub. alijs subst cap. iaÌ„ 1. q. 4. The father and sonne are coÌ„pted in person and fleshe inmanicre one the nephewe Who representethe and suppliethe the fathers place the father aÌ„d the sonne beinge compted in parson and in fleshe in manier but as one Whie shall then the bare and naked coÌ„sideration of the externall and accidentall place of the birthe onlie seuer and sonder suche an intire inwarde and naturall coniunction Add there vnto the manye and greate absurdities that maye herof springe and ensewe The greate absur litie that might followe in excludiÌ„ge the trâ—we and right successor for the place of his birthe onlie Diuerse of the kinges of this realme as well before the time of kinge Edwarde the thirde in wose time this statute was made as after him gaue theire dawghters owte to forraine and some tymes to meane Princes in mariage which thei wolde never soo ofteÌ„ times have done if they had thowght that while thei wente abowte to sett forthe and aduaÌ„ce theire issewe theire doinges shoulde haue tended to the disheritynge of them from so greate large and noble a Realme as this ys Whiche might have chaunced yf the dawghter hauinge a sonne or dawghter had died her father liuiÌ„ge For there should this supposed maxime have bene a barre to theire children to succedde theire grand father This absurditie wolde have bene more notable yf yt had chaâ—â—ced abowte the time of kinge Henrie the seconde or this kinge Edwarde or kinge Henrie the firste and sixt when the possessions of the crowne of this realme were so amplie enlarged in other contreyes beyonde the seas And yet never so notable as yt might have bene hereafter in our freshe memorie and remembrance yf any suche thinge had chaunced as by possibilitie yt might haue chaunced by the late mariage of kinge Philippe and Quene Marie For Admittinge theire dawghter married to a Forren Prince shoulde have died before them she leauinge a sonne survivinge his father and grand mother they hauinge none other issewe so nighe in degree then wolde this late framed maxime haue excluded the same sonne lameÌ„tablie and vnnaturallie from the succession of the crowne of Englande and also the same crowne from the inheritance of the realmes of Spaine of both Sicilies with theire appourtenances of the Dukedome of Millaine and other landes and dominions in Lumbardie and Italie as also from the Dukedomes of Brabante Luxembourge Geldres Zutphan Burgundye Friselande from the contreyes of Flaunders Arthois Hollande Zelande and Namours and from the newe fownde landes parcell of the saide kingdome of Spaine Whiche are vnlesse I be deceaued more ample by doble or treble then all the contreyes nowe rehearsed All the whiche contreyes by the foresaide mariage shoulde haue bene by all right deuolued to the saide sonne yf anye suche childe had bene borne Yf either the same by the force of this iolie newe founde maxime had bene excluded from the crowne of Englande or the saide crowne from the inheritance of the fore saide contreyes Were there any reason to be yelded for the maintenaÌ„ce of this supposed rule or maxime in that case Or might there possiblie rise any coÌ„moditie to the realme by obseruinge there in this rigorouse pÌ„tensed rule that shoulde by one hundred ê‘te counteruaile this importable losse aÌ„d spoile of the crowne and of the lawfull inheritour of the same But perchance for the auoidinge of this exceptioÌ„ limited vnto the bloude royall some will saye that the same was but a priuilege graunted to the kinges children not in respecte of the succession of the crowne but of other landes An evasion avoided preteÌ„dinge the priuilege of the kinges childreÌ„ not to be in respecte of the crovvne but of other laÌ„ds descendinge to them from theire Auncettours Whiche altowghe we might verie well admitte and allowe yet can yt not be denied but that the same privilege was graunted vnto the kinges children and other descendants of the bloudd royall by reason of the dignitie and worthines of the crowne which the kinge theire father did enioye And the greate reverence which the lawe geuethe of dewtie therevnto And therefore yf ye wolde goe abowte to restraine and withe drawe from the crowne the privilege which the lawe geuethe to the kinges children for the crownes sake ye shoulde do therein contrarye to all reason and against the rules of the arre of reasoninge which saiethe that propter quod vnuÌ„quodque illud magis Propter ê™ vnuÌ„ quodque illud
magis Beside that I wolde faine knowe by what reason might a man saie that they of the kinges bloudd borne owte of the allegiance of Englande maye inherite laÌ„des with in this realme as heires vnto theire Auncetours not beinge able to inherite the crowne Trewelie in myne opinion yt were against all reason But on the coÌ„trarie side the verye force of reasoÌ„ muste driue vs to grauÌ„te the like Yea more greate aÌ„d ample priuilege and benefitt of the lawe in the successioÌ„ of the crowne For the royall bloude where soeuer yt be fownde The royall bloud bearethe hys honour withe yt wheresoeuer yt be will be taken as a praecious and singuler Iewell and will carrye with yt his worthie estimation aÌ„d honour with the people and where yt ys dewe his right with all By the ciuill lawe the right of the inheritance of priuate persons ys hemmed and ynched with in the baÌ„des of the tenthe degree Vide Ant. CorsetuÌ„ de potest excell regia q. 106 The bloude royall ronnethe a farther race and so farther race aÌ„d so farre as yt maye be fownde where withe the greate aÌ„d mightie coÌ„querers are gladde and fayne to ioyne with all euer fearinge the weaknes of theire bloudie sworde CoÌ„querers gladde to ioynewith the royall bloude in respecte of the greate streÌ„gth and force of the same For this cause was Henrie the firste called for his learninge aÌ„d wisdome Beauclerke gladde to consociate and cupple him selfe with the Auncient royall bloude of the Saxones Henrie the first which coÌ„tinewinge in the princely successioÌ„ from worthy kinge Alured was cutt of by the deathe of the good kinge Edwarde And by the marienge of Mathildis beinge in the fowrthe degree in liniaâ—l discente to the saide kinge Edwarde Was reuiued and revnited From this Edvvarde the Quene of Scottes as vve haue before shewed takethe her noble anciente petigrevve Theis then and diuers other reasons cavses moo maie be alleaged for the vvayeÌ„ge aÌ„d settiÌ„ge forthe of the trevve meaniÌ„ge inteÌ„te of the saide l. vve Novve in case theis tvvo cavses coÌ„sideratioÌ„s vvill not satisfie the adversarie We will adioyne ther vnto a thirde Whiâ—he he shall never by any good honeste shifte avoide And that ys the vse aÌ„d practise of the realme aswell in the time foregoinge the saide statute as after vvarde We stande vpon the interpretatioÌ„ of the coÌ„mon lavve recited declared by the saide statute And hovve shall vve better vnderstaÌ„de vvhat the lavve ys therin l. fi ff de le theÌ„ by the vse and practise of the saide lavve CoÌ„moÌ„ vse aÌ„d practise the beste interpretation of the lavve For the beste interpÌ„tatioÌ„ of the lawe ys custome But the realme before this statute admitted to the crovvne not onlie kinges children and others of the first degree but also of a farther degree And suche as vvere plainely borne ovvte of the kinges allegiaÌ„ce The foresaide vse and practise appearetheâ— EodeÌ„ Anno Rex cuÌ„ in diebus suis ê“cessissâ—â— AeldreduÌ„ VigornieÌ„sem EpÌ„um ad regem Hungar. traÌ„smitteÌ„s reuocauit inde filiuÌ„ fâ—is sui EdmuÌ„di Edvvardum cuÌ„ tota familia sua vt vel â—pse vel filij eiê° sibi succederent in regnum Flor. â—ist An. 1057 â–ª Flor. hist. 1066. vell before as sithens the time me of the conqueste Amonge other kinge Edvvarde the coÌ„fessour beinge destitute of a lavvfull heire vvith in this realme sent iÌ„to HuÌ„garie for Edward his nepheve surnamed Owtlavve sonne to kinge Edmunde called IroÌ„side after many yeares of his exile to retorne into EnglaÌ„de to the intente the saide Ovvtlavve shoulde inherite this realme which neverthelesse came not to effecte by reason the saide Ovvtlavve died before the saide kinge Edward his vncle After vvhose deathe the saide kinge appointed Eadger EtheliÌ„ge soÌ„ne of the saide Ovvtlavve beiÌ„ge his nexte cosen aÌ„d heire as he vvas of right to the crovvne of EnglaÌ„de And for that the saide Eadgar vvas then but of yoÌ„ge and reÌ„der yeares aÌ„d not able to take vpoÌ„ him so greate a gouernemente the saide kinge coÌ„mitted the protection asvvell of the yonge PriÌ„ce as also of the realme to Harold Earle of kente vntill suche time as the saide Eadger had obteined perfecte age to be able to Weilde the state of a kinge Aelred RhievaleÌ„s de regib Which Harolde neverthelesse coÌ„trarie to the truste supplaÌ„ted the saide yoÌ„ge Prince of the kingdome Anglor ad regem Henr. 2. aÌ„d putt the crovne vpoÌ„ his owe head By this yt ys apparante that forrain birthe was not accompted of before the time of the coÌ„queste a iuste cause to repell and reiecte any man beinge of the nexte proximitie in bloude from the title of the crowne And thowghe the saide kinge Edwarde the confessors will aÌ„d purpose toke not suche force aÌ„d effecte as he desidered and the lawe craued yet the like successioÌ„ toke place effectuouslie in kinge StepheÌ„ and kinge Henrie the seconde Kinge Stephen and k. H. 2. as we haue alredie declared Neither will the aduersaries shifte of forriners borne of father and mother which be not of the kinges alleageance helpe him For as muche as this clawse of the saide statute ys not to be applied to the kinges childreÌ„ The adâ—er saries seamed by imaginatioÌ„ that kinge HeÌ„ry the 2 shouldecome to the crowne by compositioÌ„ aÌ„d not by ê“ximitie of bloudâ— but to others as appearethe in the same statute And theis two kinges Stephen and Henrie the seconde as they vvere borne in a forraine place so theire fathers and mothers vvere not of the kinges alleageance but mere aliens and strangers And hovve fonde notoriouse a vaine thinge yt ys that the aduersarie vvolde persvvade vs that the saide kinge Henrie the secoÌ„de rather came in by force of a composition then by the proximitie and nearenes of bloude I leaue yt to everie man to consider that hath any manner of fealinge in the discourse of the stories of this realme The composition did procure him quietnes aÌ„d reste for the time vvith a good and suer hope of quiet aÌ„d peaceable entraÌ„ce also after the death of kinge StepheÌ„ And so yt follovved in * Rex Stepha nê° cuÌ„ hereâ—â— viduatuspÌ„ter solummodo duceÌ„ HenricuÌ„ recogâ—ouit in coÌ„ueÌ„tu â—piscopoâ—uÌ„ alioruÌ„ de regno optimatuÌ„ ê™ dux HeÌ„ ius hereditariuÌ„ in regnuÌ„ Angliae habebat dux benigne concâ—ssit vt Rex Stephanus tota vita sua suuÌ„regnuÌ„ pacifice possideret â—ta tameÌ„ coÌ„firmatuÌ„ est pactuÌ„ qd ipse rex ipsi tune pÌ„seÌ„tes cuÌ„ caeterisregni optimatibus iurareÌ„t qd dux H. post morteÌ„ regis 〈◊〉 superuiueret reguuÌ„ fine aliqua contradictione obtineret deede but there grevve to him no more right thereby theÌ„ was duë to him before for he was the trewe heire to the crowne as appearethe by Stephen his aduersaries ovvne confession Henrie the firste married his davvghter Mathildie to Henrie the Emperour by vvhom he had no children
of this place ye have omitted Wherefore as this place servethe nothinge for any absolute electioÌ„ of a kinge the which you seame especiallie to regarde aÌ„d grownde your self vpoÌ„ so dothe yt as we have shewed as litle relieve you to prove thereby your conclusions especiallie againste the ordinarie succession either of a straÌ„ger or of a woman that ye wolde gather and coÌ„clude owte of the same Thus have we sufficientlie answered the place of Deuteronomie for this one purpose The other two aucthorities maye be muche more easelie answered The people mente nothinge else by theire sayde wordes spoken to David An anssvvere to the secoÌ„de of Samuel c. 5. but that they were of the seede of Abraham Isaac and Iacob as well as he and intended with trevve and sincere hartes vnfainedlie to agnyse him as theire cheif lorde aÌ„d Sovereigne For at that time the tribe of Iuda onlie wherof kinge Dauid came by liniall discente did acknowledge hym as kinge Novve the residevve which before helde vvith Saules sonne did also incorporate aÌ„d vnite them selues to the saide kingdome Yf this man loke well vpon the matter he shall finde I trowe that the Quene of Scottes maye aswell call her seâ—f the bones and fleshe of the noble Princes of Englande as this people call them selves the bones and fleshe of kinge Dauid But yet the greate terrible batteriÌ„ge caÌ„noÌ„ Athalia ys behiÌ„de She beinge in possessioÌ„ of the kiÌ„gdome seaueÌ„ yeares was iustlie thrust owte by cause she was an alien we maye then sayethe this man iustelye denye the Quene of Scottes before hande the right of that which yf she had in possession she coulde not iustelye enioye Yet Syr yf the Quene of Scottes be no alien as we have sayed then ys your cannon shotte more fearefull then dangerouse We denie not but that Athalia was lavvfullie deposed but we beseache you to tell vs your authours name that dothe assigne the cause to be suche as ye alleage Suerlie for my ê‘te after diligente searche I finde no suche authours Truthe yt ys that Iosephus writeth as ye do Iosep. Iud. antiq li. 9 c. 6. that she discended by the mothers side of the Tyrians and Sydonians yet never thelesse he assignethe no suche cause as ye do And as ye are in this your pretie poisoned pamflett the firste I trowe of all christian men I Will not excepte eyther latine or greke vnlesse yt be some fantastycall fonde and newe vpstarte Doctours as Maistre Knoxe or some the like neyther Iewe Chaldyan nor Arabyan that hathe thus strangelye glosed and deformed this place of the holie scripture againste the ordinarie succeffion of vvomen Princes so are you firste also A nevve fovnde aÌ„d mad inter pretation who ys an alieÌ„ made by the aduersarie of all either deuines or lawiers throughe owte the world that hathe sett forthe this newe fownde folishe lavve that the kinges childe muste be counted an AlieÌ„ vvhose father and mother are not of the same and one coÌ„trey Yf the Frenche or Spanishe kinge chance to marrye an Englishe vvoman or the kinge of Englande to marrie a freÌ„che a Spanishe or any other coÌ„trey woman theire children by this newe Lycurgus are Aliens aÌ„d so coÌ„sequentlie in all other nations all suche as haue bene shal be aliens by this your newe oracle For vvhat other cause shewe you that this Athalia was an alien but by cause her mother vvas an alien Genus ducens Iosep. li. 9. cap. 7. say you a Tyrijs Sidonijs coÌ„minge by liniall discente by the mothers side from the Tyrians and Sydonians Kinge Achas maried her mother dawghter to Ithoball kinge of the saide Tyrians and Sydonians This Athalia vvhom Iosephus callethe Gotholia Achas dawghter married Ioram kinge of Iuda her brother called also Ioram beynge kinge of Israël after the decease of his father Achas Athalia was no alieÌ„ amoÌ„ge the Iewes So then ye see that this Athalia vvas no more an aliâ—n amoÌ„ge the Iewes then kinge Edbaldus was the sonne of Bertha a Frenche womaÌ„ and of kinge Ethelbertus the firste christian kinge of the Englishe nation No more then vvas the noble kiÌ„ge Edward the thyrde borne of a Frenche vvoman No more then Quene Marie vvas No more then shoulde haue bene the issewe of the saide Quene Marie or our gratious Souereignes issewe shulde be in case she maried with any forren PriÌ„ce I ê‘ceaue that your fellowes that wolde faine make kinge Shephen and kinge Henrie the seconde and Arthure nephewe to kinge Richarde the firste aliens had but rude dull and grosse heades in comparisoÌ„ of your fine subtile and highe fetches Yf I shoulde nowe desire your patience not withstandinge the allegatioÌ„s of all your diuinitie to be conteÌ„te a while and towchinge this matter to hearken to the moste excellente ciuilian Vlpian thowghe he were an Ethnick ye wolde parchance make litle accompte of him and be angrye withe me for producinge a prophane witnes against you And yet trewlye in this I offerre neither to you nor yet to godes holye vvorde any iniurie in the vvorlde For Christe his highe and deuine doctrine dothe not subuerte nor impugne humane oâ— ciuill policie beynge not repugnaÌ„te to his expresse worde wyll Let vs then heare whoÌ„ the saide Vlpian maketh an Alien Who is an alieÌ„ by Vlpian whoÌ„ he definethe to be an Alien He ys a Campane sayethe this Vlpian that ys borne of father and mother beinge Campanes Yea yf his father be a Campane and his mother be a Puteolane yet ys the childe a citezin or burgesse of Campanie And then he shewethe farther that in some contreyes as amonge the Ilians the Delphians and them of Pontus the childe shal be cownted to be origiginallye of the mothers and not of the fathers contreye His wordes in latine as he wrote them are theis L. 1. ff ad muni c. 1. pec Qui ex duobus Campanis parentibus natus est Campanus est Sed si ex patre Campano matre Puteolana aequè municeps Campanus est nisi forte priuilegio aliquo materna origo censeatur tunc enim maternae originis erit municeps vtopte Iliensibus concessum est vt qui matre Iliensi est sit eorum municeps Etiam Delphis hoc idem tributum conseruatum est Celsus etiaÌ„ refert ponticis ex beneficio Pompeij Magni compepetere vt qui PoÌ„tica matre natus esset Poticus esset Whiche his sayenge ys directe against you for this your strange declaration of Alienigenâ— an alien Well yf neither the declaration of Vlpian nor yet the practise of the worlde most conformable also to reason nor any thinge else will satisfie you vnlesse yt be deriued and taken owte of holye scripture we are coÌ„tente to ioyne issewe with you aÌ„d to be tried by the same onlye Matt. 1. Iosue 6. Christe came liniallie of Booz whoÌ„ SalmoÌ„ begatt of Raab as the moste coÌ„mon opinion of writers ys that
Baracke willinge him to muster the people and with tenne thowsande men to sett vppon Sysira Iabins capitaine The greate victorie of Debora But Baracke wolde not go vnlesse she weÌ„te also well sayeth she I wyll go with the. WheÌ„ they shoulde haue buckeled Baracke and the Israëlytes fearinge the huge multitude of the enemyes wolde have recoyled backe into some saulfer and surer places Naye sayeth Debora departe not plucke vp your hartes for all ys ours And vppon this they encountred with the enemie and beholde there fell sodenlie vpon the enimies faces so vehemente à storme of rayne aÌ„d hayle that yt toke from theÌ„ theire sight and did so sore beate them that for verie coulde and weakenes they were not able to holde theire weapoÌ„s in theire haÌ„des There vpon beinge wonderfullie discowraged breakinge theire arraye they toke them to theire feete and in fleinge some were slaine by the Israëlites some by theire owne horse men and chariottes Sysiâ—a him self was also slaine I speake not this of Debora by cause I thincke warlike matters properlie and so well to apperteine to women as to men I knovve do vvell allowe the sayenge in Homer of Hectour to his wyfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iiad 6. I speake yt to this purpose onelie to shewe that a women maye not onlie have ciuilll regimente in other thinges but maye intermedle also when the case requirethe vvith vvarlike matters The ceremonies that kiÌ„ges of EnglaÌ„d vsed in theyr coronation and be presente vvith the armye in the felde And this also amonge other aunciente and soleÌ„me ceremonies the gyrdinge of our Souereigne at her coronation vvith a sworde the settinge of a paire of Spurres to her heales maye well signifie Which ceremonies thovghe they haue bene vsed from the time of kinge Edwarde the confessour at least Vide speculuÌ„ histo Richa Cicest lib. 3. cap. 3. or from the noble Allured and that vpon kinges onelie except our ovvne time Yet the reason and significatioÌ„ of the same maye and dothe take place in womeÌ„ Princes also and in our Souereigne All be yt â— Ambr. li. de vid. thinketh her to haue bene a widove aÌ„d Barach to be her soÌ„ne saiÌ„ge strenuos enim noÌ„ sexus sedâ—tus facit vid. caeter ibidem to putt her in remembrance to chastice and represse malefactours with conuenient Iustice Yea vvith speade to pursue not onlye by her vnder officiers but in her owne Royall person yf the necessitie of the time dothe require yt her maiesties inwarde or owterwarde ennemies vvherein she hathe a presidente in this vvorthie Debora This Baracke of whome we haue spoken by the consente of the moste parte of the expositors of holye scripture vvas Deboras husbaÌ„de Whereby ye maye see that the matrimoniall dewtye of the vvife to the husbaÌ„de dothe nothinge repugne to the publike administratioÌ„ office of the wife eache with other maye freÌ„delye and peaceablye agree She maye serue all turnes to the contentation of God her husbande of the commoÌ„ welthe For the respecte wherof the saide husbaÌ„de beinge but a member and percell of the same and as subiecte to his vvife in that respecte as any other She maye yea owght to coÌ„maunde the saide husbaÌ„de and as the case maye staÌ„de seuerelie to punishe his owteragiouse behauiour doinges tovardes the saide coÌ„mon wealthe This noble Debora therefore coÌ„demnethe your coÌ„clusioÌ„ bothe vnnaturall and derogatiue to holye scripture Neither will this euasion releaue you that some of your affinite for the maintenance of this so wronge an opinion haue vsed â–ª that this ys but one bare and an extraordinarye priueleged and ê‘sonall example One onlye exaple in scripture a sufficeÌ„te pÌ„â—idente hauiÌ„ge none other the like in scripture therefore not to be draweÌ„ to make therof a rule or presideÌ„te for womaÌ„lye gouernemeÌ„te Yf this your replie be effectuall then farewell the baptisme of yoÌ„ge childreÌ„ wherof yt wil be harde to finde more then one yf that one exaÌ„ple maye be fownde in all the holye scripture TheÌ„ fare wel a noÌ„ber of rightes ceremonies customes orders aswell iÌ„ ecclesiasticall as iÌ„ politicall affaires all which haue but one some no one example at all therein Yet yt so beinge that the vse therof ys not repugnaÌ„te to the saide holye scripture they haue bene they are maye well here after be kepte vsed and obserued And yet I knowe no cause but that the worthye Iudithe Iudith 13. maye be an other example also Wo thowghe she were not the gouernesse of the coÌ„mon wealthe at that time Iudith c. 8. but others Yet played she that parte that seamed moste abhorringe and strange to woman kinde in deuisinge yea and most manfullye and meruelouslye executinge in her owne ê‘son the renowned slawghter of the arrogante haughtye and prowde TyraÌ„te Holofernes The slawghter of Holofernes by Iudith As her stomacke and cowrage was manlye and stowte in that acte so vvas she not onlye a noble vertuouse womaÌ„ but a meruelouse vvise vvoman vvith all and so was taken iudged to be of all the people Whereby yt vvill follovve by good reason that in case she had bene the gouernesse of all the people her goâ—nemeÌ„te wolde haue bene aswell ê“fitable to the coÌ„mon welthe as coÌ„formable bothe to nature the holye scripture also Which example thowghe yt maye seame sufficiente to ouerthrowe your answere be yt neuer so artificiallye forged to Debora Yet to refute and to refell yt vtterlye not onlye by examples but eauen by plaine and full aucthoritie of holye scriptures lett me be so bolde as to demaÌ„de your answere to a questioÌ„ or two Firste whether if a man seased in landes and possessions die vvith owte issue male his dawghter by holy scripture shall enioye the saide landes and inheritaÌ„ce or no In case ye saye she shall not the plaine vvordes of the scripture euidentlye do reproue you Leuit. c. 6. Yf you graunte yt then aske I farther vvhat yf any ciuill gouernemente more or lesse be annexed and vnited to theis inheritances As yt ys not onlye in Empires and kingedomes but in manye Dukedomes Yt seameth plaiÌ„e by the rules and vvordes of holye scripture that a woman maye haue ciuill gouernemente Erledomes yea Lordeshippes also Whether she shal be excluded from the saide her inheritance Yf ye saye yea then do you saye against the scripture yf ye saye that the Inheritance muste remaine in her and the ciuill gouernemente to others then saye ye against all reason againste the vse manner and custome of the vvhole vvorlde Yt ys but your ovvne fonde folishe glose Where vpon I do inferre that vvomanlye gouernemente ys admitted not onlye by theys examples but eauen by the verye vvordes rules and decrees of the holye scripture And so I truste ye are â–ª or haue cause to be fullye satisfied as vvell towchiÌ„ge your allegatioÌ„ that vvomaÌ„lye
regimeÌ„te ys against nature as also touchiÌ„ge a brother to be choseÌ„ kinge Neither the lavve of God nor reason is against the Quene of Scottes right as the aduersaries pretendâ— And therfore I coÌ„clude agaiÌ„st you that neither the lawe of God nor of nature nor yet reason vpon the vvhiche also you grownde your self do reiecte the saide Qu. marie fraÌ„che successioÌ„ of the crowne of Englande Your reason ys that where the people erecte them self an head of theire owne kinred and nation there nature assuerethe the people of naturall gouernemente And vvhere a stranger cariethe opinion of vnnaturall tyranie yt assuerethe the ruler of naturall subiectioÌ„ To a stranger ys murmorre and rebellion threatened But nowe yf this excellente Ladye and Princesse be no stranger and be of our ovvne kinred and of the aunciente and late Royall bloude of this realme as vve haue declared then ys your reason also vvith all auoided which maye and dothe ofteÌ„times take place iÌ„ more streÌ„gers coÌ„minge in by violeÌ„t and forcible meanes But here as naturall a man as ye make your self ye seame to go altogether agaiÌ„st reasoÌ„ and against nature also Yf Princes children vvere to be counted strangers and aliens or to be suspected as enemies and TyraÌ„s succedinge to theire owne progenitours inheritance Yt vvas an vnnaturall parte a greate follye in the noble kinges of this and manye other realmes to geue ovvte theire dawghters to forren Princes in mariage in steade of pÌ„ferringe auancinge them by threire mariage procuringe therby freÌ„dshippe and amitie with other Princes to disable theire saide children from theire auncetours inheritances in those contreyes froÌ„ vvhence they originallye proceded And as it seamethe by your kinde of reasoninge to purchasse and ê“cure beside to them therby an opinion of ennemitie and tyranie This this I saye ys a frovvarde and an vnnaturall interpretatioÌ„ A frovvarde aÌ„d an vnnaturall interpretatioÌ„ of the aduersarie Nature mouethe and driueth vs to thincke othervvise and that bothe a a prince vvill fauour loue and cherishe the people from vvheÌ„ce he fetcheth his royall bloude and by vvhoÌ„ he muste novve mainteine kepe and defende his royall estate that the people likewise will beare singuler loue and affection to suche a one especiallye of suche knovven princelye qualities as this noble Ladye is adorned with all Suerly yt ys no more vnnaturall to suche a Prince descendinge from the aunciente and late Royall bloude of the kinges of EnglaÌ„de The Que. of Scottes no straÌ„ger to EnglaÌ„d to beare rule in Englande and as yt were to retorne to the head and fowntaine from whence originallye she sprange Then yt ys for all flouddes and riuers which as homer sayethe flowe ovvte of the greate OceaÌ„ sea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 21. Iliad To reuerte Ecclesiastes cap. 1. returne and reflovve againe to the sayde Ocean This coherence coniunctioÌ„ copulation inclination and fauour runinge interchangeablye betwixte suche a Prince and the people ys no more strange to nature then ys the coÌ„iunction of the tree and the rote therof then of the fowntaine and the riuer issuenge from thence then of the sonne and the sonne beames finallie then ys the coniunction betvvixte the olde ancient louinge graÌ„d mother and her yoÌ„ge and tender dawghter Neither do I well knovve howe I maye better call noble England then a louinge grandmother to this good gentle Ladie whom vve I do not dowbte yf euer God call her to the Royall seate therof shall not onlye finde a louinge aÌ„d gratiouse maistresse but a most deare aÌ„d tender good dawghter For theis and other considerations the lawes of the realme do not nor euer did estraÌ„ge suche princes from the succession of the crowne of the realme Which by reason of the saide naturall inclination and beneuolence of the one to the other standethe vvith the lawe of God nature with all good reason And therefore your coÌ„clusioÌ„ ys againste Godes lawe nature and all good reason Whereby you full vngodlye vnnaturallie and vnreasonablie do conclude an exclusioÌ„ of the Quene of Scotlande pretendinge her to be a straÌ„ger to that right that God nature and reason and the trevve hartes of all good naturall Englishemen do call her vnto as the deare sister and heire apparente to our noble Quene Elizabethe The which her saide iuste right title and intereste we truste we haue nowe fullye proued and iustified and sufficientlie repulsed the sondrie obiections of the aduersaries And as theis beinge the principall ovvght to breade no dowbte or scruple in any man so manye other folyshe fonde and fantasticall obiections not worthye of any ansvvere that busie quarrelinge heades do caste forthe to dishable her right or to disgrace and blemishe either her honour or thys happie vnion of bothe realmes yf God shall sende yt in takinge our gratiouse Sovereigne from vs withowte issue vvhich God forbide ovvght muche lesse to move any man Whos 's maiestie God longe preserve and shylde and blesse her yf yt be hys pleasure vvith happie issue But yf yt please hym eyther to bereave vs of hyr maiestie or her maiestie of all suche issue then yet that we maye not be altogether lefte desolate confortlesse thys happye vnion vvill recoÌ„pence and supplie a greate parte of thys our distresse An happie vnion I call yt by cause yt shall not onlie take avvaye the loÌ„ge mortall enemitie The greate coÌ„moditie that shall come to Englandeâ— aÌ„d ScotlaÌ„de by the vnion of theÌ„ in case this successioÌ„ chaÌ„ce the deadlie hatred the most cruell sharpe vvarres that have so manie hundred yeares bene continued betwixt our neighbours the Scottes and vs but shall so entierlie consociate and conioyne and so honorablie sett forthe and aduaÌ„ce vs bothe and the vvhole Ilande of Britanye as neither toÌ„gue can expresse the greatenesse of our felicitie and happines nor harte vvishe any greater The olde enemitie hathe trodeÌ„ downe kepte vs bothe vnder fote and hathe geuen occasion to the coÌ„mon enemie as the Danes aÌ„d other to spoyle vs bothe Yt hathe caused for theis thowsande yeares and more so infinite and so ovvgelie slavvghter as it Will greaue and pittie any mans harte to remember and yet neither to the greater augmeÌ„tation of our possessions at this daye nor to theire muche losse They hauinge loste nothinge of theire olde aunciente inheritaÌ„ce sauinge Barwikle onlie Yf this coniunction on s happen and yf we be on s vnited and knitt together in one kingedome and dominion in one entire brotherlie love and amitie as we are alredie knit by neighbourhode by tongue and almoste by all maÌ„ners fasshioÌ„s and behaviour then will all vnnaturall and butcherlie slawgher so loÌ„ge hyther to practised cease TheÌ„ will reste quietnes welche and prosperitye encrease at home TheÌ„ will all owtewarde Princes our FreÌ„des reioyce and be coÌ„forted our enemyes dreade vs. Then wyll the honour fame and maiestye of the Ilande of Albyon daylye growe more and more and her power and streÌ„gth so greatelie encrease as to the freÌ„de yt wil be a good shilde And to the enemye an horrible terrour The shall the owtevvarde enemye litle endomage vs. Then shall we with our children after vs reape the pleaâ—â—â—te fruites of this noble coniunction wrovvght this to our haÌ„des by Godes good and gratiouse prouidence vvithovvte expeÌ„ce force or slawghter which hitherto a noÌ„ber of our covvragiouse vvise and mightie Princes haue theis thovvsande yeares and vpvvarde sovvght for but in vaine as yet vvith so excessiue charges vvithe so greate paynes vvith so manye and mayne armies and vvith the bloude of so manie of theire subiectes Then shall vve moste fortunatelie see and moste gloriouslie enioye a perfecte and entire monarchie of this I le of Britanie or Albion vnited and incorporated after a moste maruelouse sorte and in the vvorthie and excellente person of a Prince mete and capable of suche a monarchie As in vvhose person beside her vvorthie noble and princelye qualities not onlye the Royall and vnspotted bloude of the aunciente and noble kinges of Scotlande but of the Normans and of the Englishe kinges with all as well longe before as sithens the conqueste yea and of the Britaine 's also the moste aunciente inhabitans and lordes of this Ilande do wonderfullye and as yt were eauen for suche a notable purpose but the greate prouidence of God moste happelye concurre The euidente trewthe wherof the sayde Quenes petigrewe dothe moste plainelie and openlie sett forthe to everie mans sight and eye Then I saye maye this noble realme and Ilande be called not Albion onlye but rather Olbion that ys fortunate happye and blessed Whiche happye and blessed coniunction when yt chauncethe yf we vnthanckefullye refuse We refuse our healthe and welfare and Godes good blessinge vppon vs. We refuse our dewtie to God who sendethe our dewtie to the partie whom he sendethe and our dewtie to our natiue coÌ„trey to whom he sendethe suche a person to be our Maistresse and suche commodities and honour with all coÌ„minge thereby as I haue sayde to whole Albion as greater we can not wishe for And finallye we procure and purchase as muche as in vs liethe suche disturbaÌ„ce of the coÌ„mon wealthe suche vexations trobles and warres as maye teÌ„de to the vtter subuersioÌ„ of this realme From which dangers God of his greate aÌ„d vnspeakeable mercie defeÌ„de preserue vs kepe ê“tecte defeÌ„de this realme with our noble Quene Elizabethe and the saide Ladie Marie Quene of Scotlande with the nobilitie subiectes of bothe the realmes in mutuall frendshyppe and godlie amitye with longe prosperouse estate and all good quietnes Amen FINIS Imprinted at London in Flete strete at the signe of Iustice Royal againste the Blacke bell by Eusebius Dicaeophile anno D. 1569. and are to be solde in Paules churche yearde at the signes of Tyme Truthe by the Brasen SerpeÌ„t in the shoppes of Ptolomé and Nicephore Lycosthenes brethren Germanes â§
vertues in your Quene her mercie and clemencie are singuler and peerelesse The Quene of Scotts full of mercie She seamethe vvell to haue learned that lesson of the ghospell Yf thy brother do offende the forgeve him not onelie seaven times but seventie times seaven times She vvill not onelie forgeve but forgett also She neither ys ignorante in vvhat state her realme standethe in nor that extreame severitie from the whiche she naturallie abhorrethe ys not of all other times nowe against suche as vvill imbrace mercie offered them to be shevved and practised She vvill rather like the lawe of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oblivioÌ„ aÌ„d forgetfulnes so muche of the olde Writers comended The greate benefitt wherof ye haue so often aÌ„d so aboÌ„dantlie receaved at her hands And therefore ye neade the lesse to feare the discontinuance of your highe and honorable estate and condition As for shame yt staÌ„deth in the euill doinge yt self and not in the amendinge and reforminge of yll deeds vvhiche amendemente and reformation yf ye ernestlie and trevvlie minde yt vvilbe to the greate contentation of your most gratiouse Quene and of all her louinge subiects And in so doinge you shall bothe highelie auance your honorable estate and estimation aÌ„d make her a good amends for that vvhich ys paste aÌ„d can not be reuoked But on the other side yf ye geue ouer and refuse this occasion novve presente and goo forevvarde vvith your rebelliouse entreprises and attemptes mindinge to abide and trie the vttermoste ye moste vvilfullie cut avvaye and exclude from your self all good hope of mercie and pardon and take a vvronge vvaye for your ovvne sauftie and preseruation For your cause ys navvght and so ye vvell knovve yt to be And therefore can ye not loke to haue and obtaine a good prosperouse successe and ende therof Well ye maye as hitherto ye haue done tosse turmoile aÌ„d tumble all things vpside dovvnevvards for a vvhile But be ye assured that gods hande Will fall aÌ„d light the heuier aÌ„d With a greater paise vpoÌ„ you at the lengthe therefore Yt ys easie to be seen by the course of all times The ende of rebelles euer vnhappie as vvell by your ovvne verye histories at home as by the cronicles of all other nations abrode to vvhat ende commonlie suche seditiouse conspiracies and treasons do come to that ys to the vtter ouerthrowe and confusion for euer of theis ê‘sons that vvorke attempt practise or mainteine the same They seame for a vvhile to beare greate svvaye and all the vvorlde for a vvhile to ruÌ„ne vvith them But in the ende they fayle and are cleane geaueÌ„ ouer What meruaile were yt yf a hovvse shoulde not longe continevve that ys builded but vpon a yeldinde sandie grovvnde Ye haue builded aÌ„d fovvnded all your doinges vpoÌ„ vntrue and lienge slaunders and treacherouse treasons agaiÌ„st your dreade Souereigne The sincere veritie vverof vve haue herein trevvlie doclared The vvhiche beinge ons throvvghlie detected aÌ„d euideÌ„tly knovven to suche as ye haue in Scotlande craftelie abused aÌ„d shamefullie circumueÌ„ted as suerlie yt dailie burstethe ovvte more and more ye shall se your self sodenlie lefte naked aÌ„d quite forsaken eauen of those vvho haue bene your greattest assisters aiders and furtherers For as the olde prouerbe ys truthe ys the Davvghter of time And as ye shal be lefte alone at home so can ye not loke fo maintenance and vpbearinge of forraine Princes They vvill not defyle them selues and theire honorable vocation vvithe helpinge so fovvle a cause and so daungerouse and perillouse a matter that maye tende to the molestation and hurte not onlie of theire ovvne state but of the states of all kinges christened Other PriÌ„ces vvill not suffer the Quene of Scottes to be iniuried by her subiectes Naye ye muste rather thincke that other Princes vvill iudge and take yt to tovvche them to nighe to suffer suche a villainie to passe and escape vnreuenged and so good a ladye to be lefte destitute and desolate The emperour vvill not beare yt France vvill not beare yt Spaine vvill not beare yt And especiallie our noble Quene of Englande vvith her vvorthie nobilitie vvill not beare or suffer suche outragiouse dealinges against her next louinge neighbour and deare sister yea againste the heire apparenre of this most noble realme Albe yt that ye vvithe your surmised lies the better to mainteine your vsurped and nevve erected kingedome make her to be in feare of her ovvne state in case she shoulde restore the saide innocente Quene to her crowne agayne The ende of the firste booke ⧠THE SECONDE BOOKE TOWCHINGE the right title and interest of the foresaide Ladie Marie Quene of Scotlande to the Succession of the crowne of Englande THE greate providence good Reader of the eternall God who of nothinge created al thinges did not onlie create the same by his ineffable povver but by the same power gaue a speciall gifte and grace also to euerie livinge thinge to coÌ„tinevve to renevve and to preserue eche hys ovvne kinde But in this consideration the condition of man amoÌ„ge and aboue all earthlie thinges hathe his peerlesse prerogatiue of vvitt and reason Man only hath the pÌ„rogatiue of witt reasoÌ„ amoÌ„ge all earthely creatures vvhere vvithe he onlie ys of God gratiouslye endewed and adorned By the which he dothe ê“vide not onlie for hys praesente necessitie and savegarde as do also naturalie after theire sorte all beastes all other lyuiÌ„ge thynges voide of reason but also by pregnancie of wytt and reasonable discourse doth longe afore foresee the dangerouse perilles that manie yeares after maye happeÌ„ either to him self or to hys contrey And then by diligence and carefull provision dothe inuente apte and mete remedies for the eschevvinge of suche mischeives as might ovvtragiously aftervvarde occurre And the greater the feare ys of greater mischeif the greater the deaper and the spedier care ys vvonte to be taken Men are moste bouÌ„de to the pÌ„seruation of theire contrey to praevente and cutt of the same Yt ys also moste certaine by the confession of all the vvorlde that this care ys principallie devve by eche man that hathe oportunitie to do good therein to hys Prince hys coÌ„try and to the comon vveale and good quiet of the cuntrey for the continuance and happie praeseruation of the same To the praeseruation vvherof as there are manie partes and branches belonginge so one principall parte ys for subiectes lovinglie aÌ„d revereÌ„tlie to honour A greate coÌ„moditye to the comoÌ„ vvealthe to knovve the heire apparente dreade and obedientlie to serue theire Sovereigne that chauncethe presentlie to rule and governe The next to foreknovve to vvhom they shoulde beare theire alleageaÌ„ce after the decesse of theirefore saide Prince and gouernour Whiche beinge ons certaine and assuredly knowen as yt procureth vvhen the time requirethe readie and seruiceable obedieÌ„ce vvithe the greate comforte and vniuersall reste and quietnes of the subiects So vvhere for the saide successour