voluntary cripples We reade Acts 27.12 of an Haven in Crete which lay towards the South-West and towards the North-West strange that it could have part of two opposite points North and South sure it must be very winding And thus some mens souls are in such intricate postures they lay towards the Papists and towards the Protestants such we count not of a moderate judgement but of an immoderate unsettlednesse Nor is it a lukewarmnesse in those things wherein Gods glory is concernd Herein it 's a true Rule Non amat qui non zelat And they that are thus lukewarm here shall be too hot hereafter in that oven wherein Dow-bak'd cakes shall be burnt But it is a mixture of discretion and charity in ones judgement Discretion puts a difference betwixt things absolutely necessary to salvation to be done and believed and those which are of a second sort and lower form wherein more liberty and latitude is allowed In maintaining whereof the stiffnesse of the judgement is abated and suppled with charity towards his neighbour The lukewarm man eyes onely his own ends and particular profit the moderate man aims at the good of others and unity of the Church Yet such moderate men are commonly crush'd betwixt the extreme parties on both sides But what said Ignatius I am Christs wheat and must be ground with the teeth of beasts that I may be made Gods pure manchet Saints are born to suffer and must take it patiently Besides in this world generally they get the least preferment it faring with them as with the guest that sat in the midst of the table who could reach to neither messe above or beneath him Esuriunt Medii Fines bene sunt saturati Dixerunt stulti Medium tenuere beati Both ends o' th' table furnish'd are with meat Whilst they in middle nothing have to eat They were none of the wisest well I wist Who made blisse in the middle to consist Yet these temporall inconveniences of moderation are abundantly recompenced with other better benefits for 1 A well inform'd judgement in it self is a preferment Potamon began a sect of Philosophers called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who wholly adher'd to no former sect but chose out of all of them what they thought best Surely such Divines who in unimporting controversies extract the probablest opinions from all Professions are best at ease in their minds 2 As the moderate mans temporall hopes are not great so his fears are the lesse He fears not to have the splinters of his party when it breaks flie into his eyes or to be buried under the ruines of his side if supprest He never pinn'd his religion on any mans sleeve no not on the Arme of flesh and therefore is free from all dangerous engagements 3 His conscience is clear from raising Schismes in the Church The Turks did use to wonder much at our English men for pinking or cutting their clothes counting them little better then mad for their pains to make holes in whole cloth which time of it self would tear too soon But grant men may doe with their own garments as their phancy adviseth them yet woe be to such who willingly cut and rend the seamlesse Coat of Christ with dissentions 4 His religion is more constant and durable being here in via in his way to Heaven and jogging on a good Travellers pace he overtakes and out-goes many violent men whose over-hot ill-grounded Zeal was quickly tired 5 In matters of moment indeed none are more Zealous He thriftily treasur'd up his spirits for that time who if he had formerly rent his lungs for every trifle he would have wanted breath in points of importance 6 Once in an age the moderate man is in fashion Each extreme courts him to make them friends and surely he hath a great advantage to be a Peace-maker betwixt opposite parties Now whilest as we have said moderate men are constant to themselves Violent men reel from one extremity to another Who would think that the East and West Indies were so near together whose names speak them at diametricall opposition And yet their extremities are either the same Continent or parted with a very narrow Sea As the world is round so we may observe a circulation in opinions and Violent men turn often round in their tenets Pride is the greatest enemy to Moderation This makes men stickle for their opinions to make them fundamentall Proud men having deeply studied some additionall point in Divinity will strive to make the same necessary to salvation to enhanse the value of their own worth and pains and it must be fundamentall in religion because it is fundamentall to their reputation Yea as love doth descend and men doat most on their Grandchildren so these are indulgent to the deductions of their deductions and consequentiall inferences to the seventh generation making them all of the foundation though scarce of the building of religion Ancient Fathers made the Creed symbolum the shot and totall summe of Faith Since which how many arrearages and after-reckonings have men brought us in to which if we will not pay our belief our souls must be arrested without bail upon pain of damnation Next to Pride popular Applause is the greatest foe Moderation hath and sure they who sail with that wind have their own vain glory for their Haven To close up all Let men on Gods blessing soundly yet wisely whip and lash Lukewarmnesse and Time-serving their thongs will never flie in the face of true Moderation to do it any harm for however men may undervalue it that Father spake most truly Si virtutum finis ille sit maximus qui plurimorum spectat profectum Moderatio prope omnium pulcherrima est CHAP. 21. Of Gravity GRavity is the ballast of the soul which keeps the mind steddy It is either true or counterfeit Naturall dulnesse and heavinesse of temper is sometimes mistaken for true Gravity In such men in whose constitutions one of the tetrarch Elements fire may seem to be omitted These sometimes not onely cover their defects but get praise Saepe latet vitium proximitate boni They do wisely to counterfeit a reservednesse and to keep their chests alwayes lock'd not for fear any should steal treasure thence but lest some should look in and see that there is nothing within them But they who are born Eunuchs deserve no such great commendation for their chastity Wonder not so much that such men are grave but wonder at them if they be not grave Affected Gravity passes often for that which is true I mean with dull eyes for in it self nothing is more ridiculous When one shall use the preface of a mile to bring in a furlong of matter set his face and speech in a frame and to make men believe it is some pretious liquour their words come out drop by drop Such mens visards do sometimes fall from them not without the laughter of the
a masculine word to so heroick a spirit She was very devout in returning thanks to God for her constant and continuall preservations for one traitours stabbe was scarce put by before another took aim at her But as if the poysons of treason by custome were turn'd naturall unto her by Gods protection they did her no harm In any designe of consequence she loved to be long and well advised but where her resolutions once seis'd she would never let go her hold according to her motto Semper eadem By her Temperance she improved that stock of health which Nature bestowed on her using little wine and lesse Physick Her Continence from pleasures was admirable and she the Paragon of spotlesse chastity what ever some Popish Priests who count all virginity hid under a Nunnes veil have feigned to the contrary The best is their words are no slander whose words are all slander so given to railing that they must be dumbe if they do not blaspheme Magistrates One Jesuit made this false Anagram on her name Elizabeth Iezabel false both in matter and manner For allow it the abatement of H as all Anagrams must sue in Chancery for moderate favour yet was it both unequall and ominous that T a solid letter should be omitted the presage of the gallows whereon this Anagrammatist was afterwards justly executed Yea let the testimony of Pope Sixtus Quintus himself be believed who professed that amongst all the Princes in Christendome he found but two which were worthy to bear command had they not been stained with heresie namely Henry the fourth King of France and Elizabeth Queen of England And we may presume that the Pope if commending his enemy is therein infallible We come to her death the discourse whereof was more welcome to her from the mouth of her private Confessour then from a publick Preacher and she loved rather to tell her self then to be told of her mortality because the open mention thereof made as she conceived her subjects divide their loyalty betwixt the present and the future Prince We need look into no other cause of her sicknesse then old age being seventy years old Davids age to which no King of England since the Conquest did attain Her weaknesse was encreased by her removall from London to Richmond in a cold winter day sharp enough to pierce thorow those who were arm'd with health and youth Also melancholy the worst naturall Parasite whosoever seeds him shall never be rid of his company much afflicted her being given over to sadnesse and silence Then prepared she her self for another world being more constant in prayer and pious exercises then ever before yet spake she very little to any sighing out more then she said and making still musick to God in her heart And as the red rose though outwardly not so fragrant is inwardly farre more cordiall then the damask being more thrifty of its sweetnesse and reserving it in it self so the religion of this dying Queen was most turn'd inward in soliloquies betwixt God and her own soul though she wanted not outward expressions thereof When her speech fail'd her she spake with her heart tears eyes hands and other signes so commending herself to God the best interpreter who understands what his Saints desire to say Thus dyed Queen Elizabeth whilest living the first maid on earth and when dead the second in heaven Surely the kingdome had dyed with their Queen had not the fainting spirits thereof been refresh'd by the coming in of gratious King James She was of person tall of hair and complexion fair well-favoured but high-nosed of limbes and feature neat of a stately and majestick deportment She had a piercing eye wherewith she used to touch what metall strangers were made of which came into her presence But as she counted it a pleasant conquest with her Majestick look to dash strangers out of countenance so she was mercifull in pursuing those whom she overcame and afterwards would cherish and comfort them with her smiles if perceiving towardlinesse and an ingenuous modesty in them She much affected rich and costly apparell and if ever jewells had just cause to be proud it was with her wearing them CHAP. 16. The Embassadour HE is one that represents his King in a forrein countrey as a Deputy doth in his own Dominions under the assurance of the publick faith authorized by the Law of Nations He is either Extraordinary for some one affair with time limited or Ordinary for generall matters during his Princes pleasure commonly called a Legier He is born made or at leastwise qualified honourably both for the honour of the sender and him to whom he is sent especially if the solemnity of the action wherein he is employed consisteth in ceremony and magnificence Lewis the eleventh King of France is sufficiently condemn'd by Posterity for sending Oliver his Barber in an Embassage to a Princesse who so trimly dispatch'd his businesse that he left it in the suddes and had been well wash'd in the river at Gant for his pains if his feet had not been the more nimble He is of a proper at least passable person Otherwise if he be of a contemptible presence he is absent whilest he is present especially if employed in love-businesses to advance a marriage Ladyes will dislike the body for a deformed shadow The jest is well known When the State of Rome sent two Embassadours the one having scarres on his head the other lame in his feet Mittit populus Romanus legationem quae nec caput habet nec pedes The people of Rome send an Embassy without head or feet He hath a competent estate whereby to maintain his port for a great poverty is ever suspected and he that hath a breach in his estate lies open to be assaulted with bribes Wherefore his means ought at least to be sufficient both to defray set and constant charges as also to make sallies and excursions of expenses on extraordinary occasions which we may call Supererogations of State Otherwise if he be indigent and succeed a bountifull Predecessour he will seem a fallow field after a plentifull crop He is a passable scholar well travell'd in Countreys and Histories well studyed in the Pleas of the Crown I mean not such as are at home betwixt his Sovereigne and his subjects but abroad betwixt his and forrein Princes to this end he is well skill'd in the Emperiall Laws Common Law it self is outlawed beyond the seas which though a most true is too short a measure of right and reacheth not forrein kingdomes He well understandeth the language of that countrey to which he is sent and yet he desires rather to seem ignorant of it if such a simulation which stands neuter betwixt a Truth and a Lie be lawfull and that for these reasons first because though he can speak it never so exactly his eloquence therein will be but stammering compar'd to the ordinary talk of the
Natives secondly hereby he shall in a manner stand invisible and view others and as Josephs deafnesse heard all the dialogues betwixt his brethren so his not owning to understand the language shall expose their talk the more open unto him thirdly he shall have the more advantage to speak and negotiate in his own language at the least wise if he cannot make them come over to him he may meet them in the midway in the Latine a speech common to all learned Nations He gets his Commission and instructions well ratified and confirm'd before he sets forth Otherwise it is the worst prison to be commission-bound And seeing he must not jet out the least penthouse beyond his foundation he had best well survey the extent of his authority He furnisheth himself with fit Officers in his family Especially he is carefull in choosing 1 A Secretary honest and able carefull to conceal counsels and not such a one as will let drop out of his mouth whatsoever is poured in at his eare Yea the head of every Embassadour sleeps on the breast of his Secretary 2 A Steward wise and provident such as can temper magnificence with moderation judiciously fashioning his ordinary expences with his Masters estate reserving a spare for all events and accidentall occasions and making all things to passe with decency without any rudenesse noise or disorder He seasonably presents his Embassage and demands audience Such is the fresh nature of some Embassages if not spent presently they sent ill Thus it is ridiculous to condole griefs almost forgotten for besides that with a cruell courtesie it makes their sorrows bleed afresh it foolishly seems to teach one to take that which he hath formerly digested When some Trojane Embassadours came to comfort Tiberius Cesar for the losse of his sonne dead well nigh a twelvemoneth before And I said the Emperour am very sorry for your grief for the death of your Hector slain by Achilles a thousand years since Coming to have audience he applyeth himself onely to the Prince to whom he is sent When Chancellour Morvill Embassadour from the French King delivering his message to Philip Duke of Burgundy was interrupted by Charles the Dukes sonne I am sent said he not to treat with you but with your father And our M â— Wade is highly commended that being sent by Queen Elizabeth to Philip King of Spain he would not be turned over to the Spanish Privy Counsel whose greatest Grandees were dwarfs in honour to his Queen but would either have audience from the King himself or would return without it And yet afterwards our Embassadour knows if desirous that his businesse should take effect how and when to make his secret and underhand addresses to such potent Favourites as strike the stroke in the State it often hapning in Common-wealths that the Masters mate steers the ship thereof more then the Master himself In delivering his message he complies with the garb and guise of the countrey either longer briefer more plain or more flourishing as it is most acceptable to such to whom he directs his speech The Italians whose countrey is called the countrey of good words love the circuits of courtesie that an Embassadour should not as a sparrow-hawk flie outright to his prey and meddle presently with the matter in hand but with the noble falcon mount in language soar high fetch compasses of complement and then in due time stoop to game and seise on the businesse propounded Clean contrary the Switzers who sent word to the King of France not to send them an Embassadour with store of words but a Treasurer with plenty of money count all words quite out which are not straight on have an antipathy against eloquent language the flowers of Rhetorick being as offensive to them as sweet perfumes to such as are troubled with the Mother Yea generally great souldiers have their stomachs sharp set to feed on the matter lothing long speeches as wherein they conceive themselves to lose time in which they could conquer half a countrey and counting bluntnesse their best eloquence love to be accosted in their own kind He commands himself not to admire any thing presented unto him He looks but not gazeth on forrein magnificence as countrey clowns on a city beholding them with a familiar eye as challenging old acquaintance having known them long before If he be surprised with a sudden wonder he so orders it that though his soul within feels an admiration none can perceive it without in his countenance For 1 It is inconsistent with the steddinesse of his gravity to be startled with a wonder 2 Admiration is the daughter of ignorance whereas he ought to be so read in the world as to be posed with no rarity 3 It is a tacit confession if he wonders at State Strength or Wealth that herein his own Masters kingdome is farre surpass'd And yet he will not slight and neglect such worthy sights as he beholds which would savour to much of sullennesse and self-addiction things ill beseeming his noble spirit He is zealous of the least puntillo's of his Masters honour Herein 't is most true the Law of honour servanda in apicibus Yea a toy may be reall and a point may be essentiall to the sense of some sentences and worse to be spared then some whole letter Great Kings wrestle together by the strength and nimblenesse of their Embassadours wherefore Embassadours are carefull to afford no advantages to the adverse party and mutually no more hold is given then what is gotten lest the fault of the Embassadour be drawn into president to the prejudice of his Master He that abroad will lose an hair of his Kings honour deserves to lose his own head when he comes home He appears not violent in desiring any thing he would effect but with a seeming carelesnesse most carefully advanceth his Masters businesse If employed to conclude a Peace he represents his Master as indifferent therein for his own part but that desiring to spare Christian bloud preponderates him for Peace whose conscience not purse or arms are weary of the warre He entreats not but treats for an accord for their mutuall good But if the Embassadour declareth himself zealous for it perchance he may be forced to buy those conditions which otherwise would be given him He is constantly and certainly inform'd of all passages in his own Countrey What a shame is it for him to be a stranger to his native affairs Besides if gulls and rumours from his Countrey be raised on purpose to amuse our Embassadour he rather smiles then starts at these false vizards who by private instructions from home knows the true face of his Countrey-estate And lest his Masters Secretary should fail him herein he counts it thrift to cast away some pounds yearly to some private friend in the Court to send him true information of all home-remarkables He carefully returns good intelligence to