if they set their hearts vpon righteousnesse and call vpon the name of the most highest For vnto this precious gift of temperance their nature is most neare because their braines are lesse prouoked by the distemperature of their inferior irascible and concupiscentiall parts The complection therfore most eligible is sanguine aubourne haire of a meane stature vertuously instructed healthfull and long liued And these vnlesse some other defect or violence against nature peruert the same are for the most part endowed with much wisedome and wit of which excellent kind we read in the bookes of the Kings that king Dauid was as faire and ruddie with a comely countenance body well shaped of a meane stature Howbeit we find that he many times through those concupiscenciall motions was excited to sinne yet had God so blessed him that he did not loose that habite of vertue which was put vpon him with that blessing when choise was first made of him to be the seruant of God and vicegerent to rule his chosen people In election of counsellors according to Pliny it was obserued that no man vnder thirtie yeeres of age should be permitted to consult in principall causes of the Commonwealth nor men very aged as after the terme of sixtie yeeres according to Vâ—…rro Which Seneca likewise confirmeth limiting the seruice of soldiers to fiftie yeeres and of Senators to sixtie Per legem annariam For according to that Law the Romanes well knew when they might in respect of their yeeres sue to be Tribunes Quaestors Dictators Consuls or in other offices as it was limited appearing by this of the Poet Ovid. Finit aque certis Legibus est atas vnde petatur honos That age by which men may sue for honors or promotions is confined within certaine Lawes For if in respect of their experience by many yeeres old men be regarded it must be respected that by course of nature they be timerous suspicious incredulous couetous and so much more froward and fearefull as they bee more wasted in yeeres impatient of labour and paine obliuious by which defect diuers occasions are neglected talkatiue obstinate in opinion their vnderstanding dull their heate which is the spurre of action wasted Yong men are likewise void of experience much subiect to vicious affections and pleasures of nature to passions and perturbations of minde so distracted with heat of youth heedlesse temeritie and surcuidrie that they cannot obserue any temper in grauitie neither will the people cleaue vnto their counsells And as that excellent Morallist Seneca writte Iuuenile vitium est regere non posse impetum It is a vice naturally graffed in youth not sufficiently to bridle appetite Men therefore of middle age are to be chosen whose humours are plausible and temperate whose inward affections are delayed with some experience and discretion which can dispose remember and execute matters with a proportionable strength courage and grauitie whose memorie will richly serue them for things past whose vnderstanding to iudge of things present according to truth and whose imagination participating of them both can presage or prouide things to come such men are importuned with thronging multitudes for counsell and are to be chosen as I set downe before by the prince himselfe vpon good experience had of their sufficiencies Yong men admitted to that place are fitly called abortiue counsellors and certaine of theÌ„ like summer fruits of the first season soone ripe fit for the administration of weightie matters but naturally decay quickly some long before they be come to be sound in iudgment but hauing attained perfection in knowledge are the men indeed fitt for aucthoritie most excellent aboue others their wisdome continuing long with them yeelding a faire and commendable light euen to the last spiracle of their naturall life so long as the least droppe of oyle is remaining in their earthly lampes As that most reuerende Father in Christ Iohn Whytgift late Archbishop of Canterbury and the right sage and euer-worthy Lord Treasurer William Cecill declared long after the terme of sixtie yeeres euen to the last period of their breath Such yong towardly plants as are like by the gifts of nature and pleasantnesse of their wit to proue fit in time for such seruice must first be diligenly taught in Schooles and Vniuersities after good knowledge in arts commended with honest and faithfull Tutors attending them into forreine countries there to note and learne good fashions of people with their Languages and such things as I spoke of before in peregrination and then towardes the three or foure and twentieth yere of their age when firmer strength may beare it exercised and practised some-deale in the warres which is a great glory to noble yong spirits and groundeth them in the loue of vertue when armes are exercised with a perfect heroicall resolution and to good purposes as Cicero writeth Prima est adolescenti commendatio ad gloriam si qua ex bellicis rebus compaâ—…ari potest The best honour of a yong man proceedeth from his perfection in armes And according to Plato Liberum hominem maxinè decet armoruÌ„ disciplina equitatio c. Martiall discipline and horseman-ship most honoureth a Gentleman By these meanes hauing well broken the inordinate heate of youth with some manly moderation and experience they may be chosen if the Prince thinke it fit into counsell imployed in publike affares of policie till sixtie yeeres be past and then let them take leaue of their Prince returning to their quiet for the better purifying and rectifying of their consciences seeking after their soules health studying how to die a blessed death and hauing their honors and reuenues enlarged by the Princes great bene ficence towards them The Soueraigne which is the fountaine of these counsels needeth not any rules concerning his apport or carriage in administration of graue and weightie businesses of his kingdomes and state for so much as it should bee presupposed that all the wise consultations and actions of his immediate ministers issue from him as being the fountaine or Loadstarre of their direction in whom all glorie which is attained by the mature deliberations and seruices of them that attend his counsels remaineth And therefore I craue pardon herein if vnhapily some shall imagine me so foolishly presumptuous as to prescribe rules of policie for any princes not hauing sufficient in my selfe to serue those priuate purposes that are required in a single man of meane condition for well I know QuaÌ„ difficile atque asperuÌ„ sit consiliuÌ„ regi aut imperatori dare postremo cuiquam mort alium cuius opes in excelso sunt quippe cum illiâ—… consultoruÌ„ copia sunt I know that it is difficult and harsh to minister counsell vnto a King or Emperor or to any mortall man whose riches are huge and honorable because such persons are plentifully furnished with choise of counsellors Onely this in briefe the respects importing his princely care
and that being hereafter published vnder that high Title many learned eyes and curious fingers not so much for the matter forme of the Treatise as for the Maiestie patronizing it would peruse these yong rules in this vnperfect accedence to gouernment and percase beare them through diuers of your Maiesties Kingdomes I haue also through my whole discourse as occasioÌ„ serued in diuers places made a continuall Apostrophe to your Maiestie which I beseech your Highnes eueÌ„ as it is in sinceritie so to refer it vnto the true meaning of my most dutifull immaculate hart towards your Grace and not to any vaine singularitie nor presumption in my self The God of al true light coÌ„tinue that illumination brightnes and wisedom which appeareth in your true graces by that figure of the Sun confirme that piercing inspection apprehension prenotion of all princely deuises wisdoms practises which may be bent in opposition to your Maiestie by forren kings decyphered in that imperial Eagle corroborate that true fortitude to the confusion of Gods of your Highnesses enemies which is expressed in the royal Lyon so that your kingdoms being susteined amplefied conserued by Iustice prudence fortitude froÌ„ posteritie to posteritie through many generations so long as it shall please God euenly to susteine this earth in her owne place within the firmaments such serenitie may beame forth from your gracious wisedome as foreuer may moue the peoples hearts of these your Kingdomes of all your confederates and contributories to daunce inwardly with praise and thankefulnesse vnto God for that blessing which through your Graces speciall goodnesse infinitely succeedeth to Gods people vnder your imperiall Scepter Your most high Maiesties most humble and obedient Subiect BARNABE BARNES To Master Barnabe Barnes this Madrigall vpon his Booke IF all the world were sought from Malta to Mone From candid Gaule to black-brow'd Calicute No frame more various mought haue been made one In eu'ry ioynt or point like absolute For as some Spirits while they haue beene attent On states of Princes and on earthly right Haue follow'd the wordly side with that intent And yet vnmindfull of the highest Sprite Others againe too much I ween yblent With heauenly zeale and with Religion Haue for the same the Secular forwent So if a meane there be as meane but one To twine the Crossier with the sword atone O let me then with licence to avow T' will right Paladine be by onely you W. Percy MVSOPHILYS Spes calamo occidit In honour of the Author by Tho Campion Doctor in Physicke To the Reader Though neither thou doost keepe the Keyes of State Nor yet the counsels Reader what of that Though th' art no Law-pronouncer mark't by fate Nor field commander Reader what of that 〈◊〉 not this Booâ—… for if thou mind'st to be Vertuous and honest it belongs to thee Here is the Schoole of Temperance and Wit Of Iustice and all formes that tend to it Here Fortitude doth teach to liue and die Then Reader loue this Booke or rather buy EIVSDEMAD AVTHOREM PErsonas proprijs rectè virtutibus ornas Barnesi liber hic viuet habet Genium Personae virtus vmbra est hanc illa refulcit Nec scio splendescat corpus an vmbra magis To my singular good friend Master Barnabe Barnes GRaue Architector of a Commonweale Well trauail'd in the mysteries of state Vouchsafe me roome among the rest some deale Thy loftie frame to view and wonder at And where the workemanship doth please mine eye To say t' was wrought with painefull industrie That 's euery where for all doth merit praise The forme the firme foundation and the frame The forme Quadrangular most meete to raise A Pallace sacred to eternall fame Founded on wisedome builded vp on high With goodly lawes and Christian policie Vp held with foure strong Piles whose bases ar Sage Counsell awfull Iustice armed Might Aboundant Treasure sinewes of the war These make it strong to last and faire to sight Where soure such pillers doe the bulke sustaine What feare we thunders tâ—…pests winds or raine Heere maist thou fix with bold Alâ—…mena's sonne NIL VLTRA as the farthest continent That wisest statist euer yet did runne Within this world of ciuill gouernment And as the woorke so doth the style excell That of Boterus Bodin Machiauell Tho Michelborne R. H. In commendation of the Author Some vncouth Muse which mountes vpon the wings Of siluer fountaines or sweet breathing windes Chaunt out her notes when she diuinely singes To dignifie the state of these foure kindes Which Treasurers to moderation bindes And gracious prudence to graue men of State Where Themis rules of sacred Iustice findes Where fortitude doth sword-men animate O let some potent muse these great designes relate And let bright fame whose worthy spirit pearceth The worlds whole center and those heaueuly speeres Assume this taske for him which here reherseth These morall Offices of States and Peeres And thou that soundest in the prudent eares Thy golden trumpet of rich Oratorie Gracious Thalia let these learned Queares Be graced as thou doest each gracious Story That BARNES may liue by them in euerlasting glorie Robert Hasill Iohn Forde in commendation of his very good friend the Author Not to adorne but to commend this Frame Drawne by the curious hand of iudgements art Nor to commend for this commends the same But solace to thy labours to impart A worke of thankes out liuing terme of fate In briefe prescriptions of a formall State Great were thy paines but greater is thy fame Lock't in the Iewel-house of precious treasure Which doth by Counsailes wisedome reare thy name In equall Iustice of well-ballac't measure Thou teachest souldiers discipline of fight And they againe defend thy merits right Write on rare Myrrour of these abiect dayes Thy good example others will aduise Thy subiect values loue thy Studies praise A president to youth life to the wise So euer shall while times and Empires last Thy workes by thee thou by thy works be grac't Verba decor grauitas confirmant denotat ornat 〈◊〉 lepidum re grauitate manu Iohannes Forda Encomiastes Barnabe Barnes his Preface to the honourable and discrete Reader I Haue apportioned my foure bookes of Offices wherin certaine speciall qualities and principles are expressed for generall gouernement and the choise both of ciuill and martiall ministers in euery Commonwealth vnto the foure vertues cardinall For as much therefore as royall treasure being the maintenance of euery state without which no principalities can consist or augment ought to be mistically couched within the diuine treasure Temperance which is the moderator guide of her other three sister vertues ensuing I therefore haue placed Temperance in this first Paralel considering the resemblance which it should haue with a Princes treasure so well in the manner of getting leuying as in the sauing disbursing of mony by discrete moderation which office of Treasurers possesseth the first booke of
nations by generall suffrages and ioyfull vnanimitie Such was the election of Deioces amongst the Medians of Samothes amongst our auncient Brittaines and amongst the Gaules of Minos in Crete of Numa Pompilius the successour of Romulus who being absent was chosen king of the Romanes vehemently persuaded and vrged to take vpon him that Soueraignetie which hee most peremptorily refused a long time for a true king is the viue patterne and Idaea of all vertues reuerenced amongst his people subiects and vassales as a god vpon earth whose regall authoritie being receiued from the most great and ineffable prouidence grace and secret charter of God vnder the blessed seale of his omnipotencie ought by him in all humilitie to be continually ascribed and reacknowledged to his incomprehensible deitie For God of himselfe being most wise most iust and most good would haue a most wise a most iust and a most good vice-gerent to rule his people in all righteousnes and equitie Yea the barbarous rabble did so wonder and adore their first kings in those former ages that they did faine and comment how they were not dead but translated into heauen amongst their prophane gods Many write that the three speciall vertues of a king are Sapience Iustice and Concord which without doubt are three of the foure triumphant wheeles of his renowned and euerlasting glorie but certaine it is that hee which is verely valiant magnanimious and industrious and he that with assiduitie vigilancie iustice and equitie doth well gouerne his people committed to his faith and sapience after the manner of good shepheards which carefully guide and attend their flockes doth doubtlessely discharge his function by iust meanes well and faithfully Finally these three properties are they which sanctifie him amongst his subiects and through the whole world Clemencie which is the iewell of princes Mercy the Sun-shine of kings and Lenitie being as it were the milke of maiestie The third one people including the Commonwealth which also should acknowledge one only God and one king considering the corporeall resemblance which is betwixt him and God both of them soueraigning ouer our soules and bodies in ecclesiasticall and ciuile lawes for so much as wee be naturally borne vnder that obedience as those other two former by their proper power beare domination ouer the nations of this earth God hauing his vertue of himselfe infinite omnipotent and limitlesse the king holding his authoritie by the deputation grace and sufferance of the most high God as his immediate steward to direct and to see them instructed in his holy Scriptures and commaundements as also with his owne ciuile and politicke sanctions to gouerne them that they might liue in loue peace and vnion together as one flocke obedient and answering vnto the voyce of their spirituall and temporall pastors without wandering or straying from their obedience like lost sheepe which growing wild acknowledge not any shepheard This third estate is diuided into the nobler sort including as well ministers and magistrats immediat and mediate vnder God and the king as the commons and folke out of which are framed all inferior politicke corporations trades and mysteries as I partly touched in these Morals before From those three the sanctified reasonable and absolute bodies of all Commonweales are deriued their soules being drawne from the perfect and authenticall religion deliuered and approued in sacred Scriptures which hold mens hearts in loue feare worship and obedience vnto God to their princes and towards all sorts of people This soule ought as I haue partly declared in the Morals of my third booke like iustice equally to peize it selfe without wauing either to the right or to the left hand further than is warranted by the written word vttered from Gods holy spirit by the mouths of all our Patriarchs the Prophets and Apostles This is the mightiest and most excellent charge which rideth vpon the wings of euery good kings soule presenting him sanctified and without blemish before the precious throne of God The king gouerning and preseruing in peace and good order those nations and people which are by Gods blessed ordinance laid vnder his scepter is properly called the head of this bodie beeing the noblest member thereof and placed in the toppe containing that rich treasure of all the sences exterior and interior as of imagination vnderstanding memorie and common sence whereas all other members beeing subiect and obedient thereunto be partakers of touch onely It likewise giueth liuely faculties to the whole bodie as the Spring head doth to those other riuers which are naturally deriued from it And therefore euery body without a head wanteth his life and sence whereas though it want both legges and armes it may liue and haue his being though lame and miserable In like sort all waters not abounding from a Spring are fennes pooles and marishes mortified and without motion whereas if diuerse armes and riuers braunching from the head were taken away yet would a liuely facultie remayne alwayes in the Spring And therefore the best Philosophers and Physitions as Aristotle and Auicenne accord herein that all sence and motion beginneth in the braine which being temperate maketh a good memory which is gotten by quietnesse by which the memorie groweth rich with knowledge In such similitude and order all the perfect sences and motions of the Commonwealth begin in the prince who being temperate in himselfe shall attaine that rich wise memorie which is by the Morallists and sage Poets called very properly the mother of their nine Muses and thereby like king Salomon become perfect in all sapience and prudence This match is made by tranquilitie for so much as the zealous care and studie to purchase peace maketh euery king blessed and reuerend and in the presence and sight of God and of his people Out of which the glorious renowne honour and good memorie of euery vertuous prince groweth famous in the knowledge of all posteritie for euer euen as for their golden gouernment king Salomon and Octauius Augustus were whose glorie shall endure with this worlds memorie O what a comfort then may rest with the royall spirits and diuine sences of your mightinesse when all these blessings shall be plentifully poured down from God vpon your gracious head with that oyle of gladnesse and vpon the bodie of your kingdomes with that Angelicall Mánna of spirituall goodnesse which was proclaimed at the birth of Christ Iesus in the blessed dayes of Octauian when all the corners of the earth were in a long and deepe silence as after a strong suddaine tempest which excellent foode of peace your blessed Maiestie hath in your sapience from God preserued with grace and amitie to distribute amongst all the nations and princes of Christendome And 〈◊〉 these youâ—… Maiesties heauenly studies and contemplations for the weale and happinesse both of your owne and of other Christian pâ—…es your brethren and their people are infinite and alwayes waking so are we with a sacred and euer burning zeale strongly bound
laureate plough and in a ploughman which had borne triumph froÌ„ the warres Semblably we reade that Deiotarus king of Armenia was a most diligent husbandman and Xenophon obserueth in the life of Cirus how painefull hee was in tillage and rusticall labour For it is manifest that out of such folke very strong and apt souldiers are chosen and enabled for the warres because through laborious exercise their bodies are better knit and confirmed in health and strength then either merchants or artificers which dwell in the walled townes And hence was it that the Romanes erected without the city those temples to their saint of Medecine Esculapius constantly beleeuing and meaning that villagers were in better health then citizens or such as inhabited walled townes They which haue written of the dignities of agriculture and husbandrie were Chares Parius Hesiodus Apollâ—…dorus and Lemnius in the Greeke language amongst the Latines Cato Varro Columella Virgillius c. And in this order according to my weake inuention and iudgement haue I fashioned and appropriated the politike parts and members of a Common-wealth hauing also giuen soule and life vnto it Now for as much as it behooueth needfully that these members vnder one head and of one body should harmoniously conuerse and consent in loue and sympathie which nature teacheth in our owne bodies by the compassion and succour that one member hath of and in another by supplying health to the common defects and mutually mitigating the maladies in themselues with a kind of reciprocall tolleration passion and consent indifferently I will speake somewhat of that vnitie which God out of his infinite benignitie offereth and teacheth vnto vs of this nation so coupled and aduned vnder your highnesses sanctified scepter The lawes of nature as I said teach vs how pleasant and consonant it is with the spirit of life that all members accord in affection and mutuall aide one towards another Since therefore it hath pleased the true wisedome and omnipotent grace of God to make of these two kingdomes one bodie vnder one head meseemeth it should not sticke in any mans opinion how the same can any way prooue vnfit or vnprofitable Which diuerse more vpon peruerse opinion than any reasonable consideration impudently seeme to beleeue But the wiser sort which though fewest in number are soundest in iudgement perfectly know the contrarie In magna namquè repub multa varia ingenia sunt For the wits of people in a great Commonwealth be variable and many Yea such as are of repugnant opinions considering therefore that by nature euery bodie hath one head onely like one roote from which many braunches vnited in one tree doe spring if it be not a monstrous bodie so semblably should each head haue but one bodie for how deformed and horrible were it in the sight of nature that one head should haue two bodies especially whereas they bee knit by nature from the beginning as these kingdomes both in one roote being all members of one bodie from the first vnited then seuered againe by the great and most mysticall prouidence of Almightie God and now reunited in your Maiesties blessed gouernment for the accomplishment of Gods vnreuealeable and incomprehensible iudgement Since therefore we draw together in one yoake wee may not separate by dissent some with their stiffe neckes behind and others with their obedient heads before for oxen yoaked in such sort can neuer tyll the land nor tread out the corne but leaue it barren and out of order For it is impossible that the labour should succeede well when some kicke with their heeles when they should haue drawne with their heads making a distraction so much more violent through their disobedience by how much more force there is in them that are so distracted and from hence breaketh out the ruine and confusion of all good gouernment and policie which answereth to the saying of our Sauiour Christ Omne regnum in se diuisum desolabitur Euery kingdome diuided in it selfe becommeth desolate And if this should happen against which all good men should make their deprecations that God might auert the calamitie which would impend it Doubtlessely the same cannot but proceede from our owne maleuolence and peruerse distortion according to that true saying of Salust Vbi boni mores nunquam discordia nec auaritia vbi auaritia nunquam boni mores nec vera concordia c. Where good manners and honest fashions are vsed neither can discord nor auarice bee found but where auarice reigneth you shall neuer find good manners nor true charitie And therefore let vs watch and pray that wee fall not into discord at any time after this our blessed vnion composed by that sacred and most charitable hand of our liege soueraigne least by those disastrous means we become fearfull of those nations whoÌ„ otherwise we may retaine in due fear of vs. Turne we therefore with ioyfull vnanimitie one towards another and let vs which haue receiued much light and true glory from so gracious powerfull a king detest all malicious factions and distractions which assuredly breake out of minds and spirits bare of honour and abiect vnto themselues in all vnworthinesse which are persuaded that auarice and ambition are the truest dignities in man more than all his other mentall and intellectuall faculties Firmanda sunt igitur concordiae vincula discordiae mala expellenda Let vs therefore make strong the bonds of our concord and expell the mischiefes of discord For it hath beene our auncient honour and the Brittaine glorie recorded of this Nation by Cornelius Tacitus Commune periculum concordia propulsandum cognouere Britanni in vit Iul. Agricolae The Brittaines by their mutuall and intestine concord knew well how to repell all common dangers to themselues Vnite we therefore cheerefully for according to Socrates this vnion of a Commonwealth is the very worke and scope of friendship and such as are true friends Ettam â—…b vehementiam amoris cupiunt connasci vnum ex duobus fieri Desire euen in the vehement heate of their loue to bee borne together againe and one entire to be made out of two bodies Which vnion or communion of the lawes and liberties with other emoluments answerable to the rule of need and decencie is confirmed by discipline and discipline comprehended in the Lawes and in Philosophie When England and Scotland were separated yet were they brethren for in one Prouerbe they did consent That England was the elder and Scotland the younger brother And of late yeares their accord was so naturall prognosticating this indissoluble vnion that to the breake-necke spight of our enemies our late peace of Englands dauncing in spirituall consolation fed vpon that counsell which the diuine Psalmist vttered Ecce quà m bonum quà m iucundum est fratres habit are in vnum And in the dayes of our fathers when any iarres happened betwixt vs they were such cauils or emulations rather as commonly fall amongst brethren which though they
for onely by that grace the countenance which is the exterior pulchritude of this head is made cheerefull as saith Salomon by this the heart receiueth vigor and courage the liuer a long life the lights which are indeed the very lights of this politicke bodie receiue illumination and power for out of the mouths of very babes and sucklings the strength thereof shall be deliuered as it was by little Daniell By this the hands are made strong and the fingers ◅ght to breake a bow of steele this couereth the bodie with fatnesse girdeth the loynes with gladnesse and poureth marrow into the bones lastly this maketh the feete of that bodie like Harts feete swift and liuely for transportation and inuection of all commodities and earthly blessings making the whole bodie strong and lustie like an Eagle This is the consummation and perfection of all the first and last of Gods blessings in euery kingdome to preserue the soule being the true religion spotlesse and without schismes or heresies so neere as the princes wisedome can Which your sacred Maiesty to the most high pleasure of God to the Commonweale of his Church and to the vnspeakable comfort of your people haue done in your royall edicts and prouisions against the Papists and Puritanes within your realmes and dominions Without this zeale and studious worship of God we well know that all the mentall faculties which are guided by the light of naturall reason with all the vertues intellectuall and spirit of liuing are all of them mortified in man And therefore your Maiesties sanctitie and pietie shineth amongst the members of this bodie which are set to continuall care and diligence how to keepe a cleane soule within a sound bodie against the time when our annoynted Sauiour and shepheard shall call the kings of this earth which are his Officers vnder him to bring in their flockes then in the first ranke shall your Grace being one of his best stewards deliuer vp out of your two faire sheepefolds Brittaine and Ireland the fairest and goodliest troupe in obedience and number with cleere white fleeces of pure wooll sound and entire before the blessed Lambe immaculate that your Highnesse may with thē receiue the wages of eternall life before the most high and euer-liuing God which great audite how soone it will bee summoned and how suddaine since it is hidden in that vnreuealeable booke of Gods incomprehensible mysteries from humane knowledge it behooueth all princes that they haue their accounts readie least they beeing taken vnprouided bee cast out with the wicked and reprobate sheepheards of Israell Since therefore God hath preuented your Grace with the blessings of goodnesse and hath set a crowne of pure gold vpon your head since hee hath graunted vnto you long life euen for euer and euer since your honour is in his saluation onely since this worship and glorie is imposed vpon your Highnesse since hee hath giuen you euerlasting felicitie and made you glad with the ioy of his countenance because your Grace his annoynted did put your whole confidence in him Certaine it is which hee promised by the spirit of his kingly Prophet That his boundlesse mercie shall not suffer you to miscarrie euen when so many shepheards of his people shall be consumed in your sight by the spirit of his nosthrils vanishing like smoake out of the presence of his iustice the angels of Gods sword and indignation scattering them and in all diligent obseruation of wise men which by the computation of times and conference of prophecies as well those that were first deliuered from the spirit of God in the Patriarks and holy Prophets as by the diuination of our Sauiour Iesus Christ himselfe in the Gospels and in all humane ◅dence and Mathematicall iudgements of Philosophers by the course and motions of nature it is apparant that this world gaspeth and languisheth as being readie to be dissolued and as I may fitly compare it in the taste of a sapient palate to Vinum fugiens which is alreadie spent vnto the lees Since therefore your most royall Maiestie reuiueth in your owne person and posteritie this old Brittaine league as a second Cadwallader but doubtlesse vnder the ioyfull and propitious comfort of the Gospell like to bee most fortunate in your domination vnlike to the first Cadwallader who was the last and vnfortunate king of great Brittaine that reigned before your Highnesse and fled from the wrathfull countenance of Gods deuouring Angell which then with plague and pestilence vnpeopled this land What more happinesse can wee wish or meditate vpon in this mortall life than after the time of our corruption and sinfull seruitude to be ioyned all in one flocke vnder Christ Iesus euen as in this life wee liue and breathe together after that happinesse vnder the blessed pasturage of our annoynted shepheard vnder God Doubtlessely were it not a vaine prophecie mee seemeth that should bee performed in your Grace which was long-since presaged of Arture king of the great and lesse Brittaine who was a most zealous captaine in the cause of Christ that a little while before the consummation of the world hee should come againe perfecting all that goodnesse to the Christian Church which by his taking away was then newly begun What is he that shall in these later times sacke these proud wals of Antichrist Shall not he first arise out of the North Certaine it is that if any shall demolish that proud tower of Babell and supplant from the lowest foundations that synagogue of superstition by casting out the Symoniacall money-changers from the Temple by purging all cleane for the great audite and euerlasting supper of our soules it is your sacred and highly renowned Maiestie and as Carl. signifying Charles which interpreteth noblenesse and magnanimitie is one of your Maiesties names well according with your most gracious and heroicall nature so doth your most excellent highnesse as a right renowned champion in the cause of God want nothing towards the execution and consummation of this euer triumphant enterprize but perfection of time to make all absolute Gird then thy sword vnto thy thigh O thou most mightie according to thy worship and renowne Good lucke haue thou with thine honour ride on because of the word of truth of meekenesse and of righteousnesse and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things for thine arrowes are sharpe and will subdue those people that are thine enemies thy seate is euerlasting and thy scepter righteous for thou louest equitie loathing iniquitie therefore hath God annointed thee with the oyle of gladnesse aboue thy fellowes Hence is it that thou art fairer than the children of men hence is it that thy lippes ouerflow with grace because God hath euerlastingly blessed thee Then with a valiant courage and diuine spirit from aboue wee may liue to see your blessed Grace aduauncing your selfe in the name of God like Iudas Maccab◅s in his holy warres against Gods enemies which arose and like a gyant harnessed