by the hand of amasement to magnifie and extoll the heroicke spirits of our nation Againe in the 38. yeere of the King the French King the King of Cyprus and the King of Scots came all into England and made pleasure proude that it had good occasion to welcome them Besides 1367. Peter King of Spaine was disseised by his bastard brother Henry but comming into England made such impression in the compassionate soule of EDW. the blacke Prince that he assisted him in person and re-established him in his kingdome Shall I remember you of that glorious celebration of Himmeneus triumphs when Duke Tussus and many Princes of Boheme and Hungary brought that magnificent Lady ANNE daughter to the King of Bohemia and married her to King RICHARD the 2. of England during whose life such was the royaltie of our Court and State that in the 8. yeare the King of Armenia came into England for coadiutement against the Turkes In the 12. yeare the Earle of Saint Paul and many Princes out of France and other Countries came to a Iusts in Smithfield and made a iust estimation of our vnualuable glory In the 16. yeare the greatest Lords of Scotland came to our triumphes in England and checked their owne presumption for confronting vs with a supposition of equality In the 20. yeare the Dukes of Burbon and Barre brought ouer Isabell of Fraunce to be a Queene in England and glad was that Prince of Europe that had beene an eye-witnesse of our glory yea that magnificent workemanshippe concerning the exornation of the Hall of his Pallace now Westminster and by community and disparaged alteration vnregarded was as it were a magnes to draw ouer the seas thousands of people and hundreds of Princes and Noble lords to looke vpon the wonder of the world In the 4. yeare of HENRY 4. King of England the Emperour of Constantinople came of purpose as the Queene of Sheba to Salomon to set report on the touchstone of truth and see whether custome had enlarged our fame or no and here he was entertained with all the sumptuous and attractiue showes and delights that Arte and expences could deuise to satiate the minde of man But when Dame IANE Dutches of Britaine came ouer to marry our King HENRY I hope our enemies will imagine her traine and Attendants to bee much augmented with the company of many forraine Princes and Potentates And if you steppe forward to the 8. yeare of his raigne the Earle of Marre and the great lords of Scotland came to solace themselues and made their triumphes both at Tilt and Turney acceptable to the beholders The like was performed the 10. yeare when the Seneschall of Hennault with all those Princes reputed the Court of England a very Schoole of chiualry and put in practise accordingly all the braueries of marshall discipline But when the Lady LVCIA the Dukes sister of Millane came to marry EDMVND Earle of Kent both citie and pallace was so furnished with strangers and the concurses of people so well ordered that inferiours were amased at so extraordinary attraction and the better sort gaue a plaudite to our glory If you ouer-looke the time of Henr 5. surnamed the Champion of Honor though it was lamentable for the breuitie yet was it vnmatchable for the royalty For after his coronation he was scarse three yeeres in his own Kingdome and yet in the third of his raigne he welcommed the Emperor of Almaine and King of Rome and presently after graced the daughter of France and all her retinue with many forreine Princes who would not returne till they saw their Lady Katherine Queene of England To which if you adde the entertainment of the Duke of Holland and many Princes of those countries especially Freesland you cannot chuse but make vp a plentifull breuiary of Heroicke Maiesty and worthy princelines About the yeere of Grace 1502. and the 17. yeere of the raigne of Henry 7. the expectable Prince Arthur maried Katherin daughter to Ferdinando King of Spaine and his eldest sister Margaret was affianced vnto Iames King of Scots at whose inauguâ—…tion the concurse of strangers and amongst them of the choisest Princes was so great that all other adioyning Kings as much magnified our royalty as feared our power insomuch that the very report of our Kingdomes brauery draue Philip King of Castile and his wife into England About the end of August 1546. Flawd high Admirall of France was so royally entertained in England that the King lying at Hampton-Court the Prince of Wales met him comming to haue audience with a 1000 horse whereof 500 were in one liuery the coates of veluet halfe embrodered with gold and one sleeue of cloth of gold let other Princes acknowledge this magnificence Holinshed saith 2000 horse In the beginning of Henry the 8. Lewis the 12. of France maried Mary the Kings yongest sister and 1520 the great Emperor Charles the 5. came into England to visit his Aunt and within two yeere after made a second returne to view London and bee acquainted with our country from whose example Christiern King of Denmarke and his wife about the 15 yeere arriued in England and was welcommed to the pleasures of our country and variety of our pastimes The Prince of Salerne and diuers of Naples about the 30. c. Shall I name you King Philips mariage with Queene Mary I hope then I must trouble you with a tedious solemnitie and tell you that many strangers knew not the way home againe into their owne countries a long time and if the peace of their soules as they vainely imagined might haue bin added to the delight of their bodies the happines of England had bin the subiect of their tongues and the obiect of their eyes In the second yeere of her raigne Ecmondine a Prince of Germany and other Embassadors were sent from the Emperor In the third yeere Emmanuel Prince of Piemont with other Lords came into England and the next moneth the Prince of Orange landed at London But let mee passe forward to the mirror of all times Queene Elizabeth how proud was the Prince of Sweden that he was graced in England with so glorious entertainment at the beginning of her raigne Not long after 1565 Christopher Prince and Marquesse of Baden came of purpose to haue his childe borne amongst vs and reioyce in the fortune of such a godmother About the 11. yeere of her raigne anno 1568 Mary Queene of Scots though shee was surprized in her flight to France and defeated in her maine proiects yet for a long time misliked not her imprisonment and was glad to confesse the prerogatiues of her natiue soile and country In the 14. yeere Francis Duke of Memorancy and Betrawde de Saligniers Knights of the order of St Michael came both into England with other great Princes to gratulate her Maiestie and acknowledge her worthines In the 21. of her raigne 1578. Cassimirus Count Palatine and Duke of Bauaria was entertained the better
beautified with embattelled Churches of many seuerall fashions frequented with entercourses of people adorned with handsome markets and priuiledged by ancient immunities faires solemne festiuals and neighbourly meetings besides granges castles religious houses towres and Yonkers mannor-places The aire seemeth moyst especially of Holland and Zeland with the sea-coasts of Brabant and Flanders yet not preiudiciall to the health of the inhabitants for in the champaine of Brabant men liue an hundred yeeres The Countrey is euery where visited with nauigable riuers nor come they empty handed but affoord delicate water and excellent fish but what talke I of fish when the large Ocean is so nigh out of whose store-house a man may take without being called in question or repining It is beautified with many woods affoording timber to build withall and the pleasure of hunting It is smally or not at all mountainous except about Namurs Luzenburg or Henault It is fruitfull of corne grasse and herbs fit for pasture for cattle and medicine for health yet in some places of Brabant and Gelderland full of heath which notwithstanding is not so barren but cattle are fatted with the same and their flesh hath an extraordinary sweet taste It is free from those creatures which are either noysome or dangerous to man and wanteth none of those blessings wherewith the God of all blessing marketh a Countrey but a noble Prince vnity of religion and a quiet gouernment The Countrey of Limburck hath many names and is a prouince full of villages it containeth part of the Dukedome of Boloigne the Marquisate of Franckmount the Earledome of Haspengo and Lootes with many other Baronies There are brought into the lists 24. great townes amongst whom we begin inprimis with Leege situated on the Mase as hauing a Bishops See a delicate castle many well-ordred edifices the dorps are reckned 1700. besides Abbayes and religious houses toward the North adioyning to Brabant it flourisheth in corne hath some vines Toward the South neighbouring France and Lutzenburg it is more barren as intermingled with hils and woods the remainder of that great forrest of Ardenia of which so many fabulous accidents are recorded It containeth diuers mines of marble and cole and in such goodnesse of euerything that a prouerb raiseth it selfe to haue bread better then bread fire hotter then fire and iron harder then iron The Dukedome of Lutzenburg is for the most part mountainous and full of wood in the rest well tilled and where they haue stocked vp the trees excellent ground what neighboureth France conserueth both their language and customes the rest speake Dutch The names of the Prouince and principall City haue one sound but it is ill diuided part on a hollow by the riuer Essa part on a rocky mountaine so that it proposeth no great vniformity but yet yeeldeth a gracefull obiect and in retaining the authority of a Parliament hath a preheminence of many greater and prouder townes The next is Arlunum quasi ara Lunae as supposed that they heere worshipped the Moone The rest are sutable some for strength as Thion on the Mosell some for commodity as Baston the mart of the Countrey and adiacent to the forrest and some for contentment and orderly conueniency as 26. others The countrey of Henault is sutable to the rest and marcheth with the same equipage of plenty and pleasure the cheefe cities are Mons and Valenciens To Mons is attributed the precedency for antiquity strength and riches yet is it almost neere the center of the Land and on a little riuer called Trulla whose visitation makes the common people wealthy and industrious especially in weauing of a stuffe called Sayes which heere exceede all the townes of the Low-Countries Valenciens is better sited on the riuer Scaldis and is very spacious well walled and full of ancient buildings the Citizens are great trades-men and gaine much by the making of fustians the rest are brought into the account with the number of 22. Amongst whom Binchium might haue showne you a goodly palace erected by Mary sister to Charles the fift and beautified with gardens of pleasure to these vses To beguile idle houres to countenance a solitary retiring from the great encombrances of the world to quicken meditation with a corresponcency of time and place and to inuite the body to a better aire then commonly populous cities affoord it was yet destroyed some would faine say defaced by Henry the second King of France in those times of desolation when intestine mutinies could not be appeased without effusion of bloud and the rage of Princes exasperated one another to sore reuenges Heere is also the ancient towne of Baâ—…aies which flourished in the time of Constantine the Emperour The rest are Charlimont Manburg and Philips towne wherein the first founders or rather re-edifiers made strong defences against the eruptions of the French and were resolued to diuide the house of Burgundie for euer from the Flower-de-luce Many other townes with the villages might be spoken of but because there are few memorable things in them I passe all ouer with such a slightnes as is required in a man that maketh haste out of an idle iourney till he come to his place of rest and better consequence The countrey of Artois did once absolutely belong to the Flower-de-luce as by the antiquitie and scituation may appeare But afterward in the contract 1529 it was patible of diuision when the Emperor and the French King were weighed in the ballance of successe to set forward the renowne of eithers preuailing so that when France was found too light in regard that the false hand of fortune turned the scale on tother side twelue pretty townes fell from the King as stones pull'd from a ruinous wall leauing the whole Prouince in hazard of falling too had not the other part of the countrey succor'd it selfe vnder the supportation of Picardy and now telleth vs of good corne many riuers much wood and reporteth of the raining wooll by the testimonie of Saint Hierome and others who set it in the account of wonders The Prouince of Namurs is plentifull of all things that belongeth to the vse of man as if the horne of Achelous were not onely reserued here for a monument but distributed abundance by reason of the vertue following the possession it hath many iron and cole mines of whose nature and condition this is obserued that whereas other coales are extinguished with water and enflamed with oyle these are set on fire with water and rebated in their heat with oyle It hath onely fowre walled Townes who dare thus lift vp their heads aboue water to keepe the bodies from sinking 1. Namurs scituated on the two riuers Mosa and Scambra vnited by a well compacted bridge of stone retayning a Bishops sea and keeping the solemnitie of a Parliament 2. Bouinum on the banke of Mosa much defaced by the warres being of late a rich stately and populous Citie
beholding to peace and prosperitie that he tempred his warlike spirit from affecting either forreine or domesticke dissention yet did he consecrate many famous workes to the memory of his quietnes and out of a swelling of princely greatnes thought Westminster Hall the wonder of the world for a roome in a house too litle for so great a Maiestie Robert of Normandy went in person to Ierusalem and for his Heroicke successe and exploits might haue bin rewarded with the Diadem howeuer he was diuerted to returne home againe into the fields of peace Henry the first was setled in the loue of his people tamed the French pacified Normandy looked after Ireland terrified his foes corroborated his friends loued learning and was a Maecenas of all worthy conditions either in himselfe or others and howeuer the ielousie of soueraigne points intercepted the amitie of the brethren yet was his worth many waies expatiated and diuers particulars of estimation extracted from his gouernment Henry the second obtained the dominion of Ireland brought to happy period many conflicts in France stopped the breath of gaping hostilitie in England lashed the sides of his vnruly children with stripes of discomfiture and liued in great honor and estimation insomuch that he neuer exacted imposition of his people nor wanted in his warres yet left a treasure of aboue 200000 pound in ready coine besides iewels and plate which was much in those daies What thinke you of Richard the first Were not his voyages conquests titles and surname of Cuer de Lyon for his valour and exceeding courage markes of true honor Would not his life make a memorable story Shall not his actions be registred in the court of eternitie Did he not proue a worthy champion of renowme Ciprus was wonne Acon conquered Ierusalem established the confederate Princes ielous of his glory and all the countrey full of his memory so that considering his tedious iourneyes the perill of his person the successe of his actions and the noble end of his atchieuements let the proudest of the Othoman race be compared and spare not The troubles of King Iohn the Barons warres the plantation and buildings in Ireland the discouerie of the Clergies corruption the calling in of Lewis the dismissing the French backe againe and the turbulency of those times may ranke themselues with the fame of very proud Monarks Henry the third subdued the Welchmen made sundry voiages into France had many conflicts with his owne Barons set forward a notable expedition to Hierusalem shewed diuers effects of an heroicke and magnanimous spirit raigned gloriously 56 yeeres and in the interims of his peace brought many ostentous buildings to perfection Edward the first went diuers times into Scotland disposed of that Crowne as he thought good subiected them to England conquered the Welchmen appeased them with a Prince of his owne sonne borne in Carnaruan setled his estate and ended a famous life with a glorious death to which when renowne and victorie was added the applause rang through the world Edward the third and the blacke Prince haue engrossed the fame and renowne of the vniuersall earth and many memorable actions are aduanced vp as trophees of their vnimitable glory so that they may march to the palace of maiestie with the proudest Emperors For what worthy atchieuements so euer haue bin perpetuated in England Wales Scotland Almaigne and Flanders in their owne persons they haue brought to passe as if they had bin borne to shew some wonder of nature and exposed as rare examples to succeeding times And for his other sonnes step into the proudest house of Austria and tell me who can match them Iohn of Gaunt went twise into Spaine and conquered Castile in the right of his wife Lionell Duke of Clarence passed the Alpes into Italy maried the daughter of Millane reuelled in those parts with extraordinary cost pompe and attendants and wrought both a reuerence and loue toward his person from forreine people Edmond of Langley Duke of Yorke was so wise and reposed that the gouernment of England kept it selfe warme vnder the ouer-spreading of his embraces Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester was so true a louer of his country and champion of honor that he contested with Maiestie for degenerating from her owne properties and durst tell his nephew King wherein he wandred from his paternall renowne Henry the fourth when he was but Earle of Hertford went into Africke bare his father company into Spaine and obtained the diadem through popular loue and respect of the people And although King Richard the second was an vnfortunate Prince yet did he surpasse both auncestors and successors for brauery in apparell costly expences sumptuous fare glorious courtship noble company princely reuels and magnificent estimation For all the while Queene Anne of Bohemia liued the fame of England was dispersed ouer the world and the King had 8 or 10000 continually in his Court whereby his pompe and port surpassed other Princes But would you wonder indeed Then looke into the 9 yeeres of Henry the fift and you shall see such a vnitie of vertues consent of graces entertainment of valour perfection of industry militarie brauery and fulnes of generous designes that his very enemies gaue way to the report of his worthy life and France in his death was left as a comfortles widow or desolate orphan I might recite the fame of Edward the fourth for reuenging his fathers death many conflicts before and after he was King his voiages into France his distastings against Burgundy his troubles at home and other princely dispositions I could also bring into your good opinion the valour of Henry the seuenth his miraculous deliuery his noble establishment his buildings and sumptuous monuments his riches and wealth his wisdome and politicke contriuing of affaires the stately disposing of his Palace and many other remarkable actions but I am affraid that I am too weakly furnished to enter into the lists with iudicious censurers nor shall be able to wrastle with opinion and seuere examination which will rather condemne me for slight extenuation in the attempt than entertaine the discourse as a befitting subiect or adapted explication of princelines Henry the eight wan Turwin and Turnay entertained the Emperor Maximilian welcommed Charles the fift compounded at his pleasure with France made voiage after voiage conquered Bulloigne had almost obtained the Empire was maiesticall in all things and died as it were in the armes of kingly reputation Queene Elizabeth deserues a whole story of her life maiestie and gouernment For the very Heathen and Mahumetans the Persians and Idolaters the Aethiopians and Muscouite doe name her with reuerence CHAP. XXII An other excellencie of ENGLAND casting vp an account of her antiquitie in one vnited Monarchy before other Nations AS no country in Europe did euer aduance vp so many excellent parts together toward the building the frame of perfection so is it apparant in nothing more liuely than in Englands antiquitie in one vnited
not himselfe set furie on worke to the killing of his enemie nay to the murthering of his Competitor whether for loue or displeasure But if you will truly consider the admirable composition of Commonwealths and extraordinary glorie of Kingdomes it consisteth in sedation of troubles and in the enriching of priuate men yea euen Salomons greatnesse was raised to a stupendous mountaine of amasement from the effects of a well compacted peace in which his Temple was built his Pallaces were finished his Cities disposed of his Souldiers maintained and his glory spred abroad with sufficient fulnesse For horses were brought him out of Arabia fine linnen from Aegipt perfumes and odours from Aethiopia spices from India precious stones from the Ilands gold from Ophir beasts and strange fowle from Affricke and many other things both for exornation and pleasure from the remotest parts of the earth But how by the industry of Merchants and worthy endeauours of men disposed to honour their Countrey and aduance themselues As for corruptions of life couetousnesse vaine-glory ambition pride emulation cunning and infinite of this kinde they are not to be named by way of Character or personating any particular condition of man whatsoeuer For from a Prince to a Peasant no body liues but may be traduced in the selfe same kinde that you would lay imputation on the shoulders of the Merchant therefore I will absolutely conclude that the true Merchant-aduenturer as he is one way the supporter of politicall States by commerce conuersation and bringing in of wealth so is he another way the Atlas of honour and magnificent maiesty by his customes filling the store-houses of a Court supplying the wants of a pallace pleasing the desires of nouelty cooling the heates of pride and satiating the vanitie of wishes nay if you would and the Ilands explored Virginia Norrembega Guiana and other coasts and made a trade with these Indians for diuers commodities so that from one place or other of our Countrey we haue not so few as a 1000. sailes of shippes abroad nor so small a number as a 100000. persons disperced vnder this acceptable title of Marchant For so I must tell you that except you aduise with your selfe for this denomination in many places of the world the excuse of curiositie will not serue your turne For you shall be taken for a Spie and a dangerous Hypocrite such is the iealousie of Kingdomes toward wanton Trauellers and the necessitie of entertainment for well imploied men And thus much for some speciall excellencies wherein England excelleth all other Nations CHAP. XXVII Another excellency of ENGLAND may be drawne from this obseruation that we haue had more glorious persons and famous Kings and Princes to visit our Countrey then any other Nation c. AMongst other spreading boughes of prerogatiues drawing sappe from the tree of Englands glory I may not leaue out this obseruation that wee haue had since the Conquest more seuerall magnificent entertainments of forraine Princes and voluntary progresses of famous Kings and Emperors some for pleasant iournies others for necessary imploiment then any Nation of Europe not that I meane to trouble you with vaine or tedious repetitions of Embassadors Legats Cardinalls or other ordinary Liegers as is customarie in all Princes Courts and concurses of State but meerely of extraordinary solemnities and occasion of resplendant showes triumphs and festiuall inuitations to delight and contentment No sooner had the Normane setled his Conquests and established his sonne William Rufus in the throne of greatnesse as well appeared by his ambitious desires to fill all Europe with the report of his exaltation especially after his returne out of Normandy and that he found fault with the smalnesse of Westminster-hall being yet the remarkeablest roome for State greatnesse and capacity in the world But Malcolme King of Scots and the two Princes of Wales came to doe homage vnto him about the third yeere of his raigne yea Robert Duke of Normandy with many Princes of France acknowledged his eminent glory and maiesticall Kingdome although the said Robert was his elder Brother and made way to his peace and amitie This likewise continued toward Henry the first and for addition the Kings his adioyned neighbours assumed nothing to themselues but what stood with the good liking of the King of ENGLAND for which purpose they many times came in person to gratifie him To which if you vnite the aduantagious marriage of Henry Emperour of Rome to his daughter I hope it may passe for a reasonable beginning and giue life to after hopes for the augmentation of our credits and exaltation of our prerogatiues Anno 1184. about the 31. of Henry 2. Heraclius Patriarch of Hierusalem came into our Countrey to desire aide against the Turke 1201. and the 3. of King Iohn at a solemne entertainement in Lincolne William King of Scots and diuers of his Nobles did homage vnto him in person to which if you adde his marrying of Lady IANE his bastard daughter to Leuelin Prince of Wales who was in those times a turbulent and ambitious man you may easily iudge what reputation our Countrey had got in the world when the Pope was more affrighted at the starting aside of little ENGLAND then if whole Spaine had at that time falne quite away from his supportation or if you will Antichristian vsurpation Anno 1224. about the 8. yeere of the raigne of Henry 3. Iohn de Brennes King of Hierusalem came into England for aide and assistance against the Saracens and from that vnimitable example of Richard 1. called in those times the flower of chiualry that wunne Cyprus and Acon in person well hoped to finde the other branches of that kingly off-spring full of the sappe of the same roialtie but when I remember how the chiefest Potentates of Europe came to elect Richard Earle of Cornwall his brother Emperour and King of the Romans I am more then satisfied for maintaining this vnanswerable position of our excellency in this kinde If you ouerlooke the life of Edward 1. you shall finde it a very mappe of honour and be able to tell the world that besides many forraine Potentates the Prince of Wales and his brother Dauid reioiced in his acceptation of them and Iohn Baliol King of Scots was glad to be named and established by him But come a little forward and at the naming of Edward the 3. me thinkes all English hearts should leape for ioy For 1334. Edward Baliol King of Scots did him homage the Prince of Wales was glad to kisse his hands and the Electors of Germany 1348. inuited him to the chaire of the Empire nay such was our royaltie that Henry Pichard Vintner and Maior of London feasted EDW. of England IOHN King of France the King of Cyprus comming to see our worthinesse DAVID King of Scots EDW. Prince of Wales Duke of Aquitane Guien and Cornwall all in one day Besides at diuers triumphes and Iusts these forraine Princes were led as it were
same or worse courses with the Iewes and by degrees became flat Apostates so that God was weary of them likewise gaue a third nation power to thrust them from their firmenesse and disiointed their established foundation of religion and happinesse which was acted by the hands of Turkes who succeeded them and had likewise their Prophet Mahomet to instruct and direct them to loue the great God of heauen more religiously than the others from whose supportation the maiesty you now behold spreadeth the wings of glory ouer the imperiall Citties both of Iewes and Christians namely Ierusalem and Constantinople nay if you looke into Asia we haue Tauris and Babilon and in Egipt possesse Cairo or Memphis and Alexandria so that no doubt we shall multiply blessing vpon blessing if wee continue confident toward him and his elected Prophet otherwise some strange and barbarous nation shall expell and extirpate vs as we haue vsurped ouer others Thus then you see with what successe these three religions haue bin caried in the current of estimation both with God and man namely the Iewes who haue Moses to make intercession for them The Christians who haue IESVS their Mediator and Mahumetans who depend vpon the merits and exaltation of Mahomet But for you that are of no religion nay haue denied the faith wherein you were borne and baptised there is sure no redemption but the Deuill himselfe to fetch you away Which answere was so distasting although as you heard it went vnder safe conduct that the tyrannous Lord not onely commaunded him to be broken on a wheele to shiuers but inflicted many Christian slaues in his house with the like punishment and thus much for their crueltie amongst themselues now you shall see their behauiour toward Strangers CHAP. VII The indirect proceedings of Turkes against Christians contrary to all religion or morality WHen Mr BARTON was Agent for the English in Constantinople as he passed along to the Viceers vpon occasion of busines the great Empresse this mans Grandmother For Amurath the third his father was but a young man when he died came of purpose to see him formerly moued with a commendatory report of his virtues and personage by diuers iudicious Turkes Whereupon she promised her fancy some satisfaction which not to be performed without a formall looking vpon him she was somewhat appeased that this occasion was ministred but finding it farre short of a fulnesse another interueiw was contriued and the Scene acted in the house of a Iewe to whose wife she came disguised to bargaine for certaine pearle after which in the affaires of the Merchants she countenanced him extraordinarily and had at last priuate conference with him giuing so way vnto their opinion that supposed the secret passages of kindenesse betweene them which was no sooner published and entertained amongst the Bashawes for current but shortly after he died not without suspition of poison and our English affaires had vntoward alteration as the hanging of our Consull at Alexandria the imprisoning of diuers in the blacke Tower a place neere Pompeis pillar at the mouth of the euxine sea especially Arnald and Stranguish who lay there long for their ransome the terrible insulting ouer slaues committing all to their gallies without respect of persons the denying of our former right in the admitting of Merchants into the sacra Porta vnder the bandiers of England and giuing the precedency to France the raising of customes the office being farmed by the Iewes the abusing of Trauellers and other of our Countrey men by Ianisaries and Mechanicks of Stanbole the customary calling vs Christians dogges not daring once to returne an vnsauory answere with diuers such like exorbitant abuses In the time of Master Henry Lisso the Prouinces of Bogdonia and Moldauia were at strife about the establishment of a Gouernour but at last condescended to an vsurper which caused the banishment and flight of the true Princes whereby they were compelled to seeke for succour vnder English protection at Constantinople being Protestants or at least willing to admit of our reformation but whether feare or corruption preuailed he was to the great indignity of our Nation not onely discouered but taken away perforce euen out of our Embassadors house and very disorderly committed to the seuen Towers prisoner from whence by the helpe of Signior Gasparo Gratiano a man for speciall vses entertained amongst the English whose brother and sister were both taken and admitted amongst the Turkes being formerly Christians of Transiluania or Austria he escaped but some disastrous fortune returned him backe againe into the hands of apprehenders who with a more powerfull restraint sent him to the castells from whence once againe through the fauour of a Turkish woman he got his liberty and escaped into Poland but there hee taried not long both in regard of their iealosie of him to discouer their proceedings and his suspition of them for some treacherie against his life or at least his liberty and so he passed to the Emperour where finding small reliefe hee came through France into ENGLAND and there saw the difference between other Nations concerning the entertaining of strangers For he was not onely admitted with correspondency to his estate but had letters of credit to the Gran Signeur for his reestablishment with sufficient inducement to our merchants to lend him 10000. duckets vpon the least hope of his better successe In his absence his mother with great expence and gifts elaboured his restitution but greater summes as it should seeme weighed downe the other scale of his respect or the fortune of happier men preuailed against him For after she had spent 20000. duckets tasted the misery of contempt importuned my Lord Embassador I meane Sir Thomas Glouer in the busines and saw the affliction of Petitioners fed with dilatory excuses she very impatiently attended the good hower of her sonnes returne and was terrified to experience with what extremities men deiected must wrastle especially when he came indeed and was not onely repulsed in his suite but entertained with scorne and contempt Where is now the Turkish ostentation of supporting the innocent and distributing of iustice to all sorts of people When Soliman Catanea was Bashaw of Algier Master Christopher Willoughby a Gentleman and Merchant of LONDON had his shippe and goods seazed on most iniuriously to the valew of 50000. duckets whereof many complaints were made and diuers letters from the Councell of ENGLAND in his behalfe but still distasting answers were returned procrastinating the matter and affording much suspition of not preuailing in his recouery whereupon he went another way to worke and made the principall Viceer acquainted with the same betweene whom and Catanea he vnderstood was a little grudging so that when he had promised him 5000. pieces of gold and laide open his grieuances that they seemed vnanswerable he was remooued from his gouernment and by a missiue commission cited to Constantinople But it should seeme all this was
Countrey of Canaan as it was in the time of his prosperity and administration CHAP. XIV FRAVNCE compared with a discouery of her defects BVt what thinke you of France saies some iudicious Traueller is not your iourny now almost at an end and will not your searches be satisfied with the goodliest Kingdome of the world The answere shall not be a peremptory contradiction nor derogate from the merit of the least worth or vertue yet are they traduced for many defects and I beleeue will fall vnder our example howsoeuer I am sure it dares not abide the touch in the triall For setting the wisedome of Salomon aside whereof Fraunce could seldome make ostentation the Queene of Saba commended the obedience of the Princes the sitting of his seruants the ordering of the palace the furnishing of the tables the prouision for the houshold and the glory of his throne not so much for outward maiesty of the structure and princely magnificense in his attendants as the aduised care ouer his subiects and impartiall determining of controuersies In Fraunce the Princes contest with the King the Clergie affront the Princes the Gentrey murmure against the Clergie the Pages mocke the Gentlemen the Citizens complaine of the Pages and all sorts of people are proud of nothing but slouenlines familiarity and disorder so that with much adoe the Mechanicall man stands bare to the King and the Nobles sit at meate as Carriers in an hostery without any reuerence with vnmannerly noise with impudent snatching the dishes from the table by the Seruitors and confused trouble of commers and goers whereby a vild custome hauing got the vpper hand the maiesty of the Court and Kingdome is much depressed which otherwise redacted to an vniformity might indeede augment the glory of Europe The Kingdome of IVDEA and gouernment of CANAAN as soone as euer obedience had set in a foote amongst them admired the wisedome of their women as well as admitted the policy of the men and in no sort debarred the daughters neither from the princely throne nor fathers inheritances when the sonnes were extinct and the line failed in the males which all men know whose consciences are opened with the key of vnderstanding Gods truth For the daughters of Zelophaad came before Iosua and had their portion with the rest of the Tribes But in Fraunce the Law salicke debarreth the woman from her lawfull inheritance out of a wilfull position that the Flower-deluce may not go to the distaffe which I wonder at the rather because we haue such forcible instances both in Scripture and many other worthy Nations to the contrary For to enlarge our protasis a litle In the swelling fulnesse of the greatest and longest lasting Monarchy of the world I meane the Assyrians Sâ—…iramis raigned sole Empresse aboue 20. yeares When the Persians beganne to shrinke in their estimation the Kingdomes of Saca Sogdiana and Bactriana were subiect to Tamira and Tolmilanda two famous Queenes The barbarous Scithians admitted of Tomiris for their Soueraigne and how she conquered Cyrus a worthy Historiographer hath enlarged In Canaan Debora iudged Israell and Athalia was Queene of Ierusalem When Salomon had aduanced both the Temple and Palace Saba came as Empresse of Aethiopia vnto him and in the time of the Apostles Candauce gouerned the same Countrey When Caesar presaged his owne fortunes Cleopatra was sole Queene of Egipt and some write that Dido ouer-ruled Carthage and Africke In Bohemia euen of late daies Libussa and Velasca obtained the Diadem and when they supposed themselues seated in firmenesse they gathered a company of Ladies and vpon a light credulity that the story of the Amazons was to be beleeued would haue erected such a foolish Common-wealth Amongst our selues before the conquest we had a Gueudoline Queene of Brittaine a Cordelia Vaodicea and some other and since two Daughters of HENRY the 8. Amongst whom ELIZABETH was such a Prince that forrane report hath established her for the Miracle of all ages howeuer some of our selues haue beene too sparing in her admiration and enlarging her greatnesse In Italy we remember two Queenes of Naples who haue done such actions in the world that they will be remembred in despight of obliuion In Hungary the history of diuers Queenes hath startled euen men of resolution to be ashamed of their pusillanimity and incited diuers heroike persons to worthy imitation I might name the Queene of Cyprus taken out of the Monastery at Venice and so inuested with the Diadem which at last she laid prostrate before the feete of the Senate and they protected the same till a stronger arme wrested it out of their tuition Whereby I cannot but wonder that neither example nor precept can preuaile with them considering in all kingdomes with all sexes and at all times such inhibitions to debarre the right of kingdomes from the true and indubitate successors did not passe without the scandall of intrusion tyrannie and wrong Besides according to the Satyre Dum vitant stulti vitia in contraria currunt from an inconuenience as they suppose they haue fallen into a mischiefe and if I would vse it by way of personating whereas in submitting to diuine appointment in such cases they might please both God and man in ouer-ruling the truth they haue made their preposterous dealing ridiculous to all the world For howeuer they deny their owne naturall daughters this prerogatiue by a contrary fashion they admit of stranger women to bee more imperious ouer them as by the two late Queene mother Regents and both Italians of the house of Medices is made apparant by lamentable experience what the one contriued and how like a firebrand she had like to haue set all Fraunce on a blase the History is pregnant and the Legend of the Cardinall of Loraine composed by that true hearted Frenchman Francis de Lisle a man of honour is most apparant how the other is suspected is now no newes But to the rest Salomon made diuers nauies went in person to view his shippes had great custome from his Merchants loued and maintained good Marriners and pilots contracted leagues with forraine Princes making the confirmation of them honourable and performed all good offices that tended to the expatiating his glory France wanteth shipping is carelesse of nauigation raiseth few Saylors seldome attempteth voiages or discoueries and hath many times incurred the imputation of perfidious breach of faith vnder that diabolicall position fides non est conseruanda cum Haereticis as also that iesuiticall doctrine of equiuocation witnesse their horrible massacres the imprisoning the Princes of the bloud their tragicall warre the inhumane murther of the Admirall the Guisian pride and the terror Francis the third was put into when he was put into the Lovure Salomon had that good order and obedience in his townes and cities that he knew his cities of store his cities of traphique his cities of fortification his cities of refuge and his cities of composition But in