names if they write matters of fact 't is a sign they cannot make them good and all men are agreed to reject their Testimony except such as resolve to deny others common justice but the ill opinion of these prejudic'd persons can no more injure any man than their good opinion will do him honor Besides other reasons of mentioning my suppos'd designs one is to disabuse several people who as I am told are made to believe that in the History of SOCRATES I draw a Parallel between that Philosopher and JESUS CHRIST This is a most scandalous and unchristian calumny as will more fully appear to the world whenever the Book it self is publish'd for that I have bin som time about it I freely avow yet not in the manner those officious Informers report but as becoms a disinterested Historian and a friend to all mankind The Inscription on the Monument of Sir JAMES HARRINGTON and his three Sons at Exton in Rutlandshire HERE lieth Sir James Harrington of Exton Kt. with a And Sister to Sir Philip Sidney Kt. Lucy his Wife Daughter to Sir William Sidney Kt. by whom he had 18 Children wherof three Sons and 8 Daughters marry'd as follows THE eldest Son Sir b Who was afterwards created Ld Harrington and his Lady was Governess to the Queen of Bohemia His Family is extinct as to Heirs Male One of his Daughters was marry'd to the Earl of Bedford and was Groom of the Stole to Q. Ann. The other was marry'd to a Scotch Lord whose name was Lord Bruce Earl of Elgin his Grandson now Lord Alisbury John marry'd the Heiress of Robert Keylwoy Surveyor of the Court of Wards and Liverys The 2 d Son Sir c Who happen'd to be President of Ireland and from him descended my Lady Fretchavil's Father my Lady Morison and my Lord Falkland's Lady Henry took to Wife one of the Coheirs of Francis Agar one of his Majesty's Privy Council in Ireland the 3 d Son James d Afterwards Baronet To him were born Sir Edward Harrington Sir Sapcotes Harrington and Mr. John Harrington who had Issue both Sons and Daughters Harrington Esq had to Wife one of the Coheirs of Robert Sapcotes Esq The eldest Daughter Elizabeth was married to Sir Edward e Who was Father to the Lord Montague the Earl of Manchester and Lord Privy Seal and Sir Sidney Montague who was afterwards created Earl of Sandwich and to the Earl of Rutlana's Lady and Judg Montague Montague Kt. The 2 d Frances to Sir William f Who was afterwards created Lord Chichester and Earl of Dunsmore and marry'd one of his Daughters to the Earl of Southamton by whom he had the present Lady Northumberland And his other Daughter marry'd her self to Col. Villâ—rs and is now Governess to the Lady Mary the Duke of York's eldest Daughter Lee Kt. The 3 d Margaret to Don g Which Dukedom afterwards fell to him and by this Lady he had one sole Daughter and Heir who is said to have marry'd the Duke of Ferio and by him to have had one Daughter who is marry'd to a King of Portugal Bonitto de Sisnores of Spain of the Family of the Dukes of Frantasquo The 4 th Katherine to Sir Edward h Of Lincolnshire the King's Standard-bearer Dimmock Kt. The 5 th Mary to Sir Edward i An antient noble Family in Kent Wingâ—ield Kt. The 6 th Maball to Sir Andrew k Now Lord Cambden Owner of the place where this Monument is â—oell Kt. The 7 th Surah was marry'd to the Lord Hastings Heir to the Earl of Huntingdon The 8 th Theodosia l One of whose Daughters marry'd the Earl of Hume in Scotland and had by him two Daughters one married my Lord Morrice and the other my Lord Maitland now Duke of Lauderdale The other Daughter of my Lady Dudley was Heir to the Honour of Dudley Castle of whose Issue by the Mother's side is the present Lord Dudley to the Lord Dudley of Dudley Castle THE same Sir James and Lucy were marry'd fifty years She died first in the 72 d year of her Age he shortly after yielded to Nature being 80 years old in the year of our Lord 1591 and of Queen Elizabeth's Reign 34. their Son James being made sole Executor to them both who that he might as well perform to his Parents their Rites as leave a Testimony of his own Piety to Posterity hath erected and dedicated this Monument to their eternal Memory The Mechanics of Nature OR An Imperfect Treatise written by JAMES HARRINGTON during his sickness to prove against his Doctors that the Notions he had of his own Distemper were not as they alleg'd Hypocondriac Whimsys or Delirious Fancys The PREFACE HAVING bin about nine months som say in a Disease I in a Cure I have bin the wonder of Physicians and they mine not but that we might have bin reconcil'd for Books I grant if they keep close to Nature must be good ones but I deny that Nature is bound to Books I am no study'd Naturalist having long since given over that Philosophy as inscrutable and incertain for thus I thought with my self Nature to whom it is given to work as it were under her Veil or behind the Curtain is the Art of God now if there be Arts of Men who have wrought openly enough to the understanding for example that of TITIAN nevertheless whose excellency I shall never reach How shall I thus sticking in the Bark at the Arts of Men be able to look thence to the Roots or dive into the Abyss of things in the Art of God And nevertheless Si placidum caput undis extulerit should Nature afford me a sight of her I do not think so meanly of my self but that I would know her as soon as another tho more learn'd man Laying therfore Arts wholly and Books almost all aside I shall truly deliver to the world how I felt and saw Nature that is how she came first into my senses and by the senses into my understanding Yet for the sake of my Readers and also for my own I must invert the order of my Discourse For theirs because till I can speak to men that have had the same Sensations with my self I must speak to such as have a like understanding with others For my own because being like in this Discourse to be the Monky that play'd at Chess with his Master I have need of som Cushion on my head that being in all I have spoken hitherto more laid at than my Reason My Discourse then is to consist of two parts the first in which I appeal to his understanding who will use his Reason is a Platform of Nature drawn out in certain Aphorisms and the second in which I shall appeal to his senses who in a Disease very common will make further trial is a Narrative of my Case A Platform or Scheme of Nature 1. NATURE is the Fiat the Breath and in the
is in my Opinion the most perfect Form of Popular Government that ever was so this with his other Writings contain the History Reasons Nature and Effects of all sorts of Government with so much Learning and Perspicuity that nothing can be more preferably read on such occasions LET not those therfore who make no opposition to the reprinting or reading of PLATO's Heathen Commonwealth ridiculously declaim against the better and Christian Model of HARRINGTON but peruse both of 'em with as little prejudice passion or concern as they would a Book of Travels into the Indys for their improvement and diversion Yet so contrary are the Tempers of many to this equitable disposition that DIONYSIUS the Sicilian Tyrant and such Beasts of Prey are the worthy Examples they wou'd recommend to the imitation of our Governors tho if they cou'd be able to persuade 'em they wou'd still miss of their foolish aim for it is ever with all Books as formerly with those of CREMUTIUS CORDUS who was condemn'd by that Monster TIBERIUS for speaking honorably of the immortal Tyrannicides BRUTUS and CASSIUS TACITUS records the last words of this Historian and subjoins this judicious Remark The Senat says he order'd his Books to be burnt by the Ediles but som Copys were conceal'd and afterwards publish'd whence we may take occasion to laugh at the sottishness of those who imagin that their present Power can also abolish the memory of succeding time for on the contrary Authors acquire additional Reputation by their Punishment nor have Foren Kings and such others as have us'd the like severity got any thing by it except to themselves Disgrace and Glory to the Writers But the Works of HARRINGTON were neither supprest at their first publication under the Vsurper nor ever since call'd in by lawful Authority but as inestimable Treasures preserv'd by all that had the happiness to possess 'em intire so that what was a precious rarity before is now becom a Public Good with extraordinary advantages of Correctness Paper and Print What I have perform'd in the History of his Life I leave the Readers to judg for themselves but in that and all my other studys I constantly aim'd as much at least at the benefit of Mankind and especially of my fellow Citizens as at my own particular Entertainment or Reputation THE Politics no less than Arms are the proper study of a Gentleman tho he shou'd consine himself to nothing but carefully adorn his Mind and Body with all useful and becoming Accomplishments and not imitat the servil drudgery of those mean Spirits who for the sake of som one Science neglect the knowlege of all other matters and in the end are many times neither masters of what they profess nor vers'd enough in any thing else to speak of it agreably or pertinently which renders 'em untractable in Conversation as in Dispute they are opinionative and passionat envious of their Fame who eclipse their littleness and the sworn Enemys of what they do not understand BVT Heaven be duly prais'd Learning begins to flourish again in its proper Soil among our Gentlemen in imitation of the Roman Patricians who did not love to walk in Leading strings and to be guided blindfold nor lazily to abandon the care of their proper Business to the management of Men having a distinct Profession and Interest for the greatest part of their best Authors were Persons of Consular Dignity the ablest Statesmen and the most gallant Commanders Wherfore the amplest satisfaction I can injoy of this sort will be to find those delighted with reading this Work for whose service it was intended by the Author and which with the study of other good Books but especially a careful perusal of the Greec and Roman Historians will make 'em in reality deserve the Title and Respect of Gentlemen help 'em to make an advantageous Figure in their own time and perpetuat their illustrious Names and solid Worth to be admir'd by future Generations AS for my self tho no imployment or condition of Life shall make me disrelish the lasting entertainment which Books afford yet I have resolv'd not to write the Life of any modern Person again except that only of one Man still alive and whom in the ordinary course of nature I am like to survive a long while he being already far advanc'd in his declining time and I but this present day beginning the thirtieth year of my Age. Canon near Bansted Novemb. 30. 1699. THE LIFE OF James Harrington 1. JAMES HARRINGTON who was born in January 1611 was descended of an Antient and Noble Family in Rutlandshire being Great Grandson to Sir JAMES HARRINGTON of whom it is observ'd by the * Wright's Antiquitys of the County of Rutland p. 52. Historian of that County that there were sprung in his time eight Dukes three Marquisses seventy Earls twenty seven Viscounts and thirty six Barons of which number sixteen were Knights of the Garter to confirm which Account we shall annex a Copy of the Inscription on his Monument and that of his three Sons at Exton with Notes on the same by an uncertain hand As for our Author he was the eldest Son of Sir SAPCOTES HARRINGTON and JANE the Daughter of Sir WILLIAM SAMUEL of Vpton in Northamtonshire His Father had Children besides him WILLIAM a Merchant in London ELIZABETH marry'd to Sir RALPH ASHTON in Lancashire Baronet ANN marry'd to ARTHUR EVELYN Esq And by a second Wife he had JOHN kill'd at Sea EDWARD a Captain in the Army yet living FRANCES marry'd to JOHN BAGSHAW of Culworth in Northamtonshire Esq and DOROTHY marry'd to ALLAN BELLINGHAM of Levens in Westmorland Esq This Lady is still alive and when she understood my Design was pleas'd to put me in possession of all the remaining Letters and other Manuscript Papers of her Brother with the Collections and Observations relating to him made by his other Sister the Lady ASHTON a Woman of very extraordinary Parts and Accomplishments These with the Account given of him by ANTHONY WOOD in the second Volum of his Athenae Oxonienses and what I cou'd learn from the Mouths of his surviving Acquaintance are the Materials wherof I compos'd this insuing History of his Life 2. IN his very Childhood he gave sure hopes of his future Abilitys as well by his Inclination and Capacity to learn whatever was propos'd to him as by a kind of natural gravity whence his Parents and Masters were wont to say That he rather kept them in aw than needed their correction yet when grown a Man none could easily surpass him for quickness of Wit and a most facetious Temper He was enter'd a Gentleman Commoner of Trinity College in Oxford in the year 1629 and became a Pupil to that great Master of Reason Dr. CHILLINGWORTH who discovering the Errors Impostures and Tyranny of the Popish Church wherof he was for som time a Member attackt it with more proper and succesâ—ful Arms than all before or perhaps any since have
years and yet die in peace ALEXANDER his Son succeded famous for little except som Expeditions against our King JOHN som Insurrections and a Reign two years longer than his Father's His Son was the third of that name a Boy of eight years old whose Minority was infested with the turbulent CUMMINS who when he was of age being call'd to account not only refus'd to appear but surpriz'd him at Sterling governing him at their pleasure But soon after he was awak'd by a furious Invasion of ACHO King of Norway under the pretence of som Islands given him by MACBETH whom he forc'd to accept a Peace and spent the latter part amidst the Turbulencys of the Priests drunk at that time with their Wealth and Ease and at last having seen the continu'd Funerals of his Sons DAVID ALEXANDER his Wife and his Daughter he himself with a fall from Horse broke his neck leaving of all his Race only a Grandchild by his Daughter which dy'd soon after THIS Man's Family being extinguish'd they were forc'd to run to another Line which that we may see how happy an expedient immediat Succession is for the Peace of the Kingdom and what Miseries it prevents I shall as briefly and as pertinently as I can set down DAVID Brother to K. WILLIAM had three Daughters MARGARET married to ALLAN Lord of Galloway ISABEL married to ROBERT BRUCE Lord of Annandale and Cleveland ADA married to HENRY HASTINGS Earl of Huntingdon Now ALLAN begot on his Wife DORNADILLA married to JOHN BALIOL afterwards King of Scotland and two other Daughters BRUCE on his Wife got ROBERT BRUCE Earl of Carick having married the Heretrix therof As for HUNTINGDON he desisted his claim The question is whether BALIOL in right of the eldest Daughter or BRUCE being com of the second but a Man should have the Crown he being in the same degree and of the more worthy Sex The Controversy being tost up and down at last was refer'd to EDWARD the First of that name King of England He thinking to fish in these troubled waters stirs up eight other Competitors the more to entangle the business and with twenty four Counsellors half English half Scots and abundance of Lawyers fit enough to perplex the matter so handled the business after cunning delays that at length he secretly tampers with BRUCE who was then conceiv'd to have the better right of the business that if he would acknowlege the Crown of him he would adjudg it for him but he generously answering that he valu'd a Crown at a less rate than for it to put his Country under a foren Yoke He made the same motion to BALIOL who accepted it and so we have a King again by what Right we all see but it is good reason to think that Kings com they by their Power never so unjustly may justly keep it BALIOL having thus got a Crown as unhappily kept it for no sooner was he crown'd and had don homage to EDWARD but the ABERNETHYS having slain MACDUF Earl of Fife he not only pardon'd them but gave them a piece of Land in controversy wherupon MACDUF'S Brother complains against him to EDWARD who makes him rise from his Seat in Parlament and go to the Bar He hereupon enrag'd denies EDWARD assistance against the French and renounces his Homage EDWARD immediatly coms to Berwiâ— takes and kills seven thousand most of the Nobility of Fife and Lowthian and afterwards gave them a great Defeat at Dunbar whose Castle instantly surrender'd After this he march'd to Montrose where BALIOL resign'd himself and Crown all the Nobility giving homage to EDWARD BALIOL is sent Prisoner to London and from thence after a years detention into France While EDWARD was possest of all Scotland one WILLIAM WALLACE arose who being a privat man bestir'd himself in the Calamity of his Country and gave the English several notable foils EDWARD coming again with an Army beat him that was already overcom with Envy and Emulation as well as Power upon which he laid by his Command and never acted more but only in slight Incursions But the English being beaten at Roslin EDWARD coms in again takes Sterling and makes them all render Homage but at length BRUCE seeing all his Promises nothing but smoke enters into League with CUMMIN to get the Kingdom but being betray'd by him to EDWARD he stab'd CUMMIN at Drumfreis and made himself King This man tho he came with disadvantage yet wanted neither Patience Courage nor Conduct so that after he had miserably lurk'd in the Mountains he came down and gathering together som Force gave our EDWARD the Second such a defeat near Sterling as Scotland never gave the like to our Nation and continu'd the War with various fortune with the Third till at last Age and Leprosy brought him to his Grave His Son DAVID a Boy of eight years inherited that which he with so much danger obtain'd and wisdom kept In his Minority he was govern'd by THOMAS RANDOLF Earl of Murray whose severity in punishing was no less dreaded than his Valor had bin honor'd But he soon after dying of poison and EDWARD BALIOL Son of JOHN coming with a Fleet and stâ—engthn'd with the assistance of the English and som Robbers the Governor the Earl of Mar was routed so that BALIOL makes himself King and DAVID was glad to retire into France Amidst these Parties EDWARD the Third backing BALIOL was Scotland miserably torn and the BRUCES in a manner extinguish'd till ROBERT after King with them of Argile and his own Family and Friends began to renew the claim and bring it into a War again which was carried on by ANDREW MURRAY the Governor and afterwards by himself So that DAVID after nine years banishment durst return where making frequent Incursions he at length in the fourth year of his return march'd into England and in the Bishoprick of Durham was routed and fled to an obscure Bridg shew'd to this day by the Inhabitants There he was by JOHN COPLAND taken prisoner where he continu'd nine years and in the thirty ninth year of his Reign he dy'd ROBERT his Sisters Son whom he had intended to put by succedes and first brought the STUARTS which at this day are a plague to the Nation into play This man after he was King whether it were Age or Sloth did little but his Lieutenants and the English were perpetually in action He left his Kingdom to JOHN his Bastard Son by the Lady MORE his Concubin whom he marry'd either to legitimat the three Children as the manner was then he had by her or else for old Acquaintance his Wife and her Husband dying much about time This JOHN would be crown'd by the name of ROBERT his own they say being unhappy for Kings a wretched inactive Prince lame and only govern'd by his brother WALTER who having DAVID the Prince upon complaint of som Exorbitancys deliver'd to his care caus'd him to be starv'd upon which the King intending to send
against the Act perswaded most of the Nobility to make him King so that MILCOLM the Son of KENNETH and he made up two Factions which tore the Kingdom till at length MILCOLMS Bastard Brother himself being in England assisting the Danes fought him routed his Army and with the loss of his own Life took away his they dying of mutual Wounds GRIME of whose Birth they do not certainly agree was chosen by the Constantinians who made a good Party but at the Intercession of FORARD an accounted Rabbi of the times they at last agreed GRIME being to enjoy the Kingdom for his Life after which MILCOLUMB should succede his Father's Law standing in force But he after declining into Leudness Cruelty and Spoil as Princes drunk with Greatness and Prosperity use to do the People call'd back MILCOLUMB who rather receiving Battle than giving it for it was upon Ascension-day his principal Holy-day routed his Forces wounded himself took him pull'd out his Eyes which altogether made an end of his Life all Factions and Humors being reconcil'd MILCOLUMB who with various Fortune fought many signal Battles with the Danes that under their King SUENO had invaded Scotland in his latter time grew to such Covetousness and Oppression that all Authors agree he was murder'd tho they disagree about the manner som say by Conâ—ederacy with his Servants som by his Kinsmen and Competitors som by the Friends of a Maid whom he had ravish'd DONALD his Grandchild succeded a good-natur'd and inactive Prince who with a Stratagem of sleepy Drink destroy'd a Danish Army that had invaded and distrest him but at last being insnar'd by his Kinsman MACKBETH who was prick'd forward by Ambition and a former Vision of three Women of a sour human shape whereof one saluted him Thane of Angus another Earl of Murray the third King he was beheaded THE Severity and Cruelty of MACKBETH was so known that both the Sons of the murder'd King were forc'd to retire and yeild to the times while he courted the Nobility with Largesses The first ten years he spent virtuously but the remainder was so savage and tyrannical that MACDUF Thane of Fife fled into England to MILCOLM Son of DONALD who by his persuasions and the assistance of the King of England enter'd Scotland where he found such great accessions to his Party that MACKBETH was forc'd to fly his Death is hid in such a mist of Fables that it is not certainly known MILCOLUMB the third of that name now being quietly seated was the first that brought in those gay inventions and distinctions of Honors as Dukes Marquesses that now are become so airy that som carry them from places to which they have as little relation as to any Iland in America and others from Cottages and Dovecotes His first trouble was FORFAR MACKBETH'S Son who claim'd the Crown but was soon after cut of Som War he had with that WILLIAM whom we call falsly the Conqueror som with his own People which by the intercession of the Bishops were ended At length quarrelling with our WILLIAM the Second he laid siege to Alnwick Castle which being forc'd to extremity a Knight came out with the Keys on a Spear as if it were to present them to him and and to yield the Castle but he not with due heed receiving them was run through the Ey and slain Som from hence derive the name of PIERCY how truly I know not His Son and Successor EDWARD following his Revenge too hotly receiv'd som Wounds of which within a few days he dy'd DONALD BANE that is in Irish White who had fled into the Iles for fear of MACKBETH promis'd them to the King of Norway if he would procure him to be King which was don with ease as the times then stood but this Usurper being hated by the People who generally lov'd the memory of MILCOLM they seâ— DUNCAN MILCOLM'S Bastard against him who forc'd him to retire to his Iles. DUNCAN a military Man shew'd himself unfit for Civil Government so that DONALD waiting all advantages caus'd him to be beheaded and restor'd himself But his Reign was so turbulent the Ilanders and English invading on both sides that they call'd in EDGAR Son of MILCOLM then in England who with small Assistances possest himself all Men deserting DONALD who being taken and brought to the King dy'd in Prison EDGAR secure by his good Qualitys and strengthen'd by the English Alliance spent nine years virtuously and peaceably and gave the People leave to breathe and rest after so much trouble and bloodshed His Brother ALEXANDER sirnam'd ACER or the Fierce succeded the beginning of whose Reign being disturb'd by a Rebellion he speedily met them at the Spey which being a swift River and the Enemy on the other side he offer'd himself to ford it on Horseback but ALEXANDER CAR taking the Imployment from him forded the River with such Courage that the Enemy fled and were quiet the rest of his Reign Som say he had the name of ACER because som Conspirators being by the fraud of the Chamberlain admitted into his Chamber he casually waking first slew the Chamberlain and after him six of the Conspirators not ceasing to pursue the rest till he had slain most of them with his own hands this with the building of som Abbys and seventeen years Reign is all we know of him HIS Brother DAVID succeded one whose profuse Prodigality upon the Abbys brought the Revenue of the Crown so prevalent was the Superstition of those days almost to nothing He had many Battels with our STEPHEN about the Title of MAUD the Empress and having lost his excellent Wife and hopeful Son in the flower of their days he left the Kingdom to his Grandchildren the eldest wherof was MILCOLUMB a simple King baffl'd and led up and down into France by our HENRY the Second which brought him to such contemt that he was vex'd by frequent Insurrections especially them of Murray whom he almost extirpated The latter part of his Reign was spent in building Monasterys he himself ty'd by a Vow of Chastity would never marry but left for his Successor his Brother WILLIAM who expostulating for the Earldom of Northumberland gave occasion for a War in which he was surpriz'd and taken but afterwards releas'd upon his doing Homage for the Kingdom of Scotland to King HENRY of whom he acknowledg'd to hold it and putting in caution the Castles of Roxboro once strong now nothing but Ruins Barwic Edinburg Sterling all which notwithstanding was after releas'd by RICHARD Coeur de Lyon who was then upon an Expedition to the Holy War from whence returning both he and DAVID Earl of Huntingdon Brother to the King of Scots were taken Prisoners The rest of his Reign except the rebuilding of St. Johnston which had bin destroy'd by Waters wherby he lost his eldest Son and som Treatys with our King JOHN was little worth memory only you will wonder that a Scotish King could reign forty nine
his Son JAMES into France the Boy was taken at Flamburg and kept by our HENRY the Fourth upon the hearing of which his Father swounded and soon after dy'd His Reign was memorable for nothing but his breaking with GEORGE Earl of March to whose Daughter upon the payment of a great part of her Portion which he never would repay he had promis'd his Son DAVID for a Husband to take the Daughter of DOUGLAS who had a greater which occasion'd the Earl of March to make many inrodes with our HENRY HOTSPUR and a famous Duel of three hundred men apiece wherof on the one side ten remain'd and on the other one which was the only way to appease the deadly Feuds of these two Familys The Interreign was govern'd by ROBERT who enjoying the Power he had too much coveted little minded the Liberty of his Nephew only he sent som Auxiliarys into France who they say behav'd themselves worthily and his slothful Son MORDAC who making his Sons so bold with Indulgence that one of them kil'd a Falcon on his fist which he deny'd to give him he in revenge procur'd the Parlament to ransom the King who had bin eighteen years a Prisoner This JAMES was the First of that name and tho he was an excellent Prince yet had a troublesom Reign first in regard of a great Pension rais'd for his Ransom next for domestic Commotions and lastly for raising of Mony which tho the Revenue was exhausted was call'd Covetousness This having offended ROBERT GRAHAM he conspir'd with the Earl of Athol slew him in his Chamber his Wife receiving two wounds endeavoring to defend him THIS JAMES left the Second a Boy of six years whose Infancy by the misguidance of the Governor made a miserable People and betray'd the Earl DOUGLAS to death and almost all that great Family to ruin but being supplanted by another Earl DOUGLAS the King in his just age suffer'd Minority under him who upon displeasure rebel'd and was kil'd by the King 's own hand Afterwards having his middle years perpetually molested with civil Broils yet going to assist the Duke of York against HENRY the Sixth he was diverted by an English Gentleman that counterfeited himself a Nuncio which I mention out of a Manuscript because I do not remember it in our Storys and broke up his Army Soon after besieging Roxburg he was slain by the bursting of a Cannon in the twenty ninth year of his Age. JAMES the Second left a Boy of seven Years govern'd by his Mother and afterwards by the BOYDS thro the persuasions of Astrologers and Witches to whom he was strongly addicted he declin'd to Cruelty which so inrag'd the Nobility that headed by his Son they conspir'd against him routing his Forces near Sterling where he flying to a Mill and asking for a Confessor a Priest came who told him that tho he was no good Priest yet he was a good Leech and with that stab'd him to the heart A Parlament approv'd his death and order'd Indemnitys to all that had fought against him JAMES the Fourth a Boy of fifteen Years is made King govern'd by the Murderers of his Father a prodigal vainglorious Prince slain at Floddon Field or as som suppose at Kelsy by the HUMES which as the Manuscript alleges seems more probable in regard that the Iron Belt to which he added a Ring every Year which he wore in repentance for the death of his Father was never found and there were many the day of Battle habited like him His Successor was his Son JAMES the Fifth of that name a Boy of not above two years of age under whose Minority what by the misgovernment of Tutors and what by the Factions of the Nobility Scotland was wasted almost into Famin and Solitude however in his just Age he prov'd an industrious Prince yet could not so satisfy the Nobility but that he and they continued in a mutual hate till that barbarous execution of young HAMILTON so fil'd him with Remorse that he dream'd he came and cut of his two Arms and threaten'd after to cut of his Head And he displeas'd the People so much that he could not make his Army fight with the English then in Scotland wherupon he dy'd of grief having first heard the death of his two Sons who dy'd at the instant of his Dream and leaving a Daughter of five days old whom he never saw THIS was that MARY under whose Minority by the weakness of the Governor and ambition of the Cardinal the Kingdom felt all those Woes that are threaten'd to them whose King is a Child till at length the prevalency of the English Arms awak'd for her cause brought the great design of sending her into France to perfection So at five Years old she was transported and at fifteen marry'd to the Dolphin FRANCIS after King while her Mother a Daughter of the GUISE in her Regency exercis'd all Rage against the Professors of the pure Religion then in the dawn FRANCIS after two Years left her a childless Widow so that at eighteen she return'd into Scotland to succede her Mother then newly dead in her Exorbitancys I HAD almost forgot to tell that this young Couple in the transport of their nuptial Solemnitys took the Arms and Title of England which indiscrete Ambition we may suppose first quicken'd the jealousy of ELIZABETH against her which after kindl'd so great a flame IN Scotland she shew'd what a strange influence loose Education has upon Youth and the weaker Sex All the French Effeminacys came over with her and the Court lost that little Severity which was left DAVID RIZIO an Italian Fidler was the only Favorit and it is too much fear'd had those enjoyments which no Woman can give but she that gives away her Honor and Chastity BUT a little after HENRY Lord Darnly coming with MATTHEW Earl of Lenox his Father into Scotland she cast an ey upon him and marry'd him Whether it were to strengthen her pretension to England he being com of HENRY the Seventh's Daughter as we shall tell anon or to color her Adulterys and hide the shame of an Impregnation tho som have whisper'd that she never conceiv'd and that the Son was supposititious or som Phrenzy of Affection drew her that way certain it is she soon declin'd her Affection to her Husband and increas'd it to DAVID he being her perpetual Companion at board and managing all Affairs while the King with a contemtible Train was sent away insomuch that som of the Nobility that could not digest this enter'd a Conspiracy which the King headed and slew him in her Chamber THIS turn'd all her neglect of the King into rage so that her chiefest business was to appease her Favorits Ghost with the slaughter of her Husband poison was first attemted but it being it seems too weak or his Youth overcoming it that expectation fail'd But the Devil and BOTHWEL furnish'd her with another that succeded she so intices him being so sick
that they were forc'd to bring him in a Horslitter to Edinburg where she cherish'd him extremely till the credulous young man began to lay aside suspicion and to hope better So she puts him into a ruinous house near the Palace from whence no news can be had brings in her own bed and lys in the house with him and at length when the design was ripe causes him one Sunday night with his Servant to be strangl'd thrown out of the Window and the house to be blown up with Gunpowder her own rich Bed having bin before secretly convey'd away This and other performances made her favor upon BOTHWEL so hot that she must marry him the only obstacle was he had a Wife already but she was compel'd to sue for a Divorce which so great Persons being concern'd it was a wonder it should be granting so long as ten days Well she marrys but the more honest Nobility amaz'd at those Exorbitancys assemble together and with Arms in their hands begin to expostulat The newmarry'd Couple are forc'd to make back Southwards where finding but slender assistance and the Queen foolishly coming from Dunbar to Leith was glad at last to delay a parly till her Dear was escap'd and then clad in an old tatter'd coat to yield her self a Prisoner BEING brought to Edinburg and us'd rather with hate of her former Enormitys than pity of her present Fortune she receiv'd a Message that she must either resign the Crown to her Son JAMES that was born in the time of her marriage with DARNLY or else they would procede to another Election and was forc'd to obey So the Child then in his Cradle was acknowleg'd JAMES the Sixth better known afterwards by the Title of Great Britain THE wretched Mother flying after into England was entertain'd tho with a Guard by Queen ELIZABETH but after that being suborn'd by the Papists and exasperated by the GUIZES she enter'd into Plots and Machinations so inconsistent with the Safety of England that by an Act of Parlament she was condemn'd to death which she receiv'd by a Hatchet at Fotheringay Castle THE Infancy of her Son was attended with those domestic Evils that accompany the Minority of Kings In his Youth he took to Wife the Daughter of Denmark a Woman I hear little of saving the Character SALUST gives SEMPRONIA that she could dance better than became a virtuous Woman with whom he supposing the Earl GOWRY too much in League caus'd him and his Brother to be slain at their own house whither he was invited he giving out that they had an intent to murder him and that by miracle and the assistance of som men whom he had instructed for that purpose and taught their tale he escap'd For this Deliverance or to say better Assassination he blasphem'd God with a solemn Thanksgiving once a Year all the remainder of his Life WELL had it bin for us if our Forefathers had laid hold of that happy opportunity of ELIZABETH'S Death in which the TEUTHORS took a period to have perform'd that which perhaps in due punishment has cost us so much blood and sweat and not have bow'd under the sway of a Stranger disdain'd by the most generous and wise at that time and only supported by the Faction of som and the Sloth of others who brought but a slender Title and however the flattery of the times cry'd him up for a SOLOMON weak Commendations for such an advancement HIS Title stood thus MARGARET eldest Daughter to HENRY the Seventh was marry'd to JAMES the Fourth whose Son JAMES the Fifth had MARY the Mother of JAMES the Sixth MARGARET after her first Husband's death marrys ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS Earl of Angus who upon her begot MARGARET Wife of MATTHEW Earl of Lenox and Mother of that HENRY DARNLY whose tragical End we just now mention'd Now upon this slender Title and our internal Dissensions for the Cecilians and Essexians for several ends made perpetual Applications got JAMMY from a Revenue of 30000 l. to one of almost two Millions tho there were others that had as fair pretences and what else can any of them make the Statute of 25 Edw. 3. expresly excluding Foreners from the Crown and so the Children of CHARLES BRANDON by MARY the second Daughter Dowager of France being next to com in And the Lady ARABELLA being sprung from a third Husband the Lord STUART of the said MARGARET and by a Male Line carry'd surely so formidable a pretension it should seem that even that Iniquity which was personally inherent to her made her days very unhappy and for most part captive and her death 't is thought somwhat too early so cruel are the Persecutions of cowardly minds even against the weakest and most unprotected Innocence AND indeed his Right to the Crown was so unsatisfactory even to the most judicious of those days that TOBY MATTHEWS having suit about som Privileges which he claim'd to his Bishoprick which was then Durham wherin the King oppos'd him and having one day stated the Case before som of his Friends who seem'd to approve of it yes says he I could wish he had but half so good a Title to the Crown And 't is known that some Speeches of Sir WALTER RAWLEY too generous and English for the times was that which brought him to Trial and Condemnation for a seign'd Crime and afterwards so facilitated that barbarous Design of GUNDAMAR to cut of his Head for a Crime for which he was condemn'd fourteen years before and which by the Commissions he after receiv'd according to the opinion of the then Lord Chancellor and the greatest Lawyers was in Law pardon'd THIS may appear besides our purpose but we could not sever this consideration unless we would draw him with a half face and leave as much in umbrage as we exprest That which most solemniz'd his Person was first the consideration of his adhering to the Protestant Religion wheras we are to consider that those slight Velitations he had with BELLARMIN and the Romanists tended rather to make his own Authority more intrinsically intense and venerable than to confute any thing they said for he had before shak'd them of as to foren Jurisdiction and for matter of Popery it appear'd in his latter time that he was no such enemy to it both by his own compliances with the Spanish Embassadors the design of the Spanish Match in which his Son was personally imbarkt and the slow assistances sent to his Daughter in whose safety and protection Protestantism was at that time so much concern'd FOR his Knowlege he had some glancings and niblings which the Severity of the excellent BUCHANAN forc'd into him in his younger time and after conversation somwhat polish'd But tho I bear not so great a contemt to his other Works as BEN JOHNSON did to his Poetry yet if they among many others were going to the fire they would not be one of the first I should rescue as possibly expecting a more severe
he shall not leave or give to any one of them in Marriage or otherwise for her Portion above the value of one thousand five hundred Pounds in Lands Goods and Monys Nor shall any Friend Kinsman or Kinswoman add to her or their Portion or Portions that are so provided for to make any one of them greater Nor shall any man demand or have more in marriage with any Woman Nevertheless an Heiress shall enjoy her lawful Inheritance and a Widow whatsoever the Bounty or Affection of her Husband shall bequeath to her to be divided in the first Generation wherin it is divisible according as has bin shewn SECONDLY For Lands lying and being within the Territorys of Marpesia the Agrarian shall hold in all parts as it is establish'd in Oceana except only in the Standard or Proportion of Estates in Land which shall be set for Marpesia at five hundred Pounds And THIRDLY For Panopea the Agrarian shall hold in all parts as in Oceana And whosoever possessing above the proportion allow'd by these Laws shall be lawfully convicted of the same shall forfeit the Overplus to the use of the State AGRARIAN Laws of all others have ever bin the greatest Bugbears and so in the Institution were these at which time it was ridiculous to see how strange a fear appear'd in every body of that which being good for all could hurt no body But instead of the proof of this Order I shall out of those many Debates that happen'd e're it could be past insert two Speeches that were made at the Council of Legislators the first by the Right Honorable PHILAUTUS DE GARBO a young Man being Heir apparent to a very Noble Family and one of the Counsillors who exprest himself as follows May it please your Highness my Lord ARCHON of Oceana IF I did not to my capacity know from how profound a Counsillor I dissent it would certainly be no hard task to make it as light as the day First That an Agrarian is altogether unnecessary Secondly That it is dangerous to a Commonwealth Thirdly That it is insufficient to keep out Monarchy Fourthly That it ruins Familys Fifthly That it destroys Industry And last of all that tho it were indeed of any good use it will be a matter of such difficulty to introduce in this Nation and so to settle that it may be lasting as is altogether invincible FIRST That an Agrarian is unnecessary to a Commonwealth what clearer Testimony can there be than that the Commonwealths which are our Cotemporarys Venice to which your Highness gives the upper hand of all Antiquity being one have no such thing And there can be no reason why they have it not seeing it is in the Soverain Power at any time to establish such an Order but that they need it not wherfore no wonder if ARISTOTLE who pretends to be a good Commonwealthsman has long since derided PHALEAS to whom it was attributed by the Greecs for his invention SECONDLY That an Agrarian is dangerous to a Common-wealth is affirm'd upon no slight Authority seeing MACCHIAVEL is positive that it was the Dissension which happen'd about the Agrarian that caus'd the Destruction of Rome nor do I think that it did much better in Lacedemon as I shall shew anon THIRDLY That it is insufficient to keep out Monarchy cannot without impiety be deny'd the holy Scriptures bearing witness that the Commonwealth of Israel notwithstanding her Agrarian submitted her neck to the arbitrary Yoke of her Princes FOURTHLY Therfore to com to my next Assertion That it is destructive to Familys this also is so apparent that it needs pity rather than proof Why alas do you bind a Nobility which no Generation shall deny to have bin the first that freely sacrific'd their Blood to the antient Libertys of this People on an unholy Altar Why are the People taught That their Liberty which except our noble Ancestors had bin born must have long since bin bury'd cannot now be born except we be bury'd A Common-wealth should have the innocence of the Dove Let us leave this purchase of her Birth to the Serpent which eats it self out of the womb of its Mother FIFTHLY But it may be said perhaps that we are fallen from our first Love becom proud and idle It is certain my Lords that the hand of God is not upon us for nothing But take heed how you admit of such assaults and sallys upon Mens Estates as may slacken the Nerve of Labor and give others also reason to believe that their Sweat is vain or else whatsoever be pretended your Agrarian which is my Fifth Assertion must indeed destroy Industry For that so it did in Lacedemon is most apparent as also that it could do no otherwise where every Man having his 40 Quarters of Barly with Wine proportionable supply'd him out of his own Lot by his Laborer or Helot and being confin'd in that to the scantling above which he might not live there was not any such thing as a Trade or other Art except that of War in exercise Wherfore a Spartan if he were not in Arms must sit and play with his fingers whence insu'd perpetual War and the Estate of the City being as little capable of increase as that of the Citizens her inevitable Ruin Now what better ends you can propose to your selves in the like ways I do not so well see as I perceive that there may be worse For Lacedemon yet was free from Civil War But if you imploy your Citizens no better than she did I cannot promise you that you shall fare so well because they are still desirous of War that hope it may be profitable to them and the strongest Security you can give of Peace is to make it gainful Otherwise Men will rather chuse that wherby they may break your Laws than that wherby your Laws may break them Which I speak not so much in relation to the Nobility or such as would be holding as to the People or them that would be getting the passion in these being so much the stronger as a Man's felicity is weaker in the fruition of things than in their prosecution and increase TRULY my Lords it is my fear that by taking of more hands and the best from Industry you will further indamage it than can be repair'd by laying on a few and the worst while the Nobility must be forc'd to send their Sons to the Plow and as if this were not enough to marry their Daughters also to Farmers SIXTHLY But I do not see to com to the last point how it is possible that this thing should be brought about to your good I mean tho it may to the destruction of many For that the Agrarian of Israel or that of Lacedemon might stand is no such miracle the Lands without any consideration of the former Proprietor being survey'd and cast into equal Lots which could neither be bought nor sold nor multiply'd so that they knew wherabout to have a Man But