drive more from him then Nassaw's courtesie invited to him His popular nature was of such receipt that he had room to lodge all comers In peoples eyes his light shined bright yet dazled none all having free accesse unto him every one was as well pleased as if he had been Prince himself because he might be so familiar with the Prince He was wont to content those who reproved his too much humanity with this saying That man is cheap bought who costs but a salutation I report the Reader to the Belgian Histories where he may see the changes of warre betwixt these two sides We will onely observe that Duke D'Alva's covetousnesse was above his policy in fencing the rich inland and neglecting the barren maritime places He onely look'd on the broad gates of the countrey whereby it openeth to the continent of Germany and France whilest in the mean time almost half the Netherlands ran out at the postern doore towards the sea Nassaw's side then wounded Achilles in the heel indeed and touch'd the Spaniard to the quick when on Palm-sunday as if the day promised victory at Brill they took the first livery and seasin of the land and got soon after most cities towards the sea Had Alva herein prevented him probably he had made those Provinces as low in subjection as situation Now at last he began to be sensible of his errour and grew weary of his command desiring to hold that staff no longer which he perceived he had taken by the wrong end He saw that going about to bridle the Netherlanders with building of castles in many places they had gotten the bit into their own teeth He saw that warre was not quickly to be hunted out of that countrey where it had taken covert in a wood of cities He saw the cost of some one cities siege would pave the streets thereof with silver each city â—ort and sconce being a Gordian knot which would make Alexanders sword turn edge before he could cut thorow it so that this warre and the world were likely to end together these Netherlands being like the head-block in the chimney where the fire of warre is alwayes kept in though out every where else never quite quench'd though rak'd up sometimes in the ashes of a truce Besides he saw that the subdued part of the Netherlands obeyed more for fear then love and their loyalty did rather lie in the Spanish Garisons then their own hearts and that in their sighes they breathed many a prosperous gale to Nassaw's party Lastly he saw that forrein Princes having the Spaniards greatnesse in suspicion desired he might long be digesting this break-fast lest he should make his dinner on them both France and England counting the Low-countreys their outworks to defend their walls wherefore he petitioned the King of Spain his Master to call him home from this unprofitable service Then was he called home and lived some years after in Spain being well respected of the King and employed by him in conquering Portugall contrary to the expectation of most who look'd that the Kings displeasure would fall heavy on him for causing by his cruelty the defection of so many countreys yet the King favourably reflected on him perchance to frustrate on purpose the hopes of many and to shew that Kings affections will not tread in the beaten path of vulgar expectation or seeing that the Dukes life and state could amount to poore satisfaction for his own losses he thought it more Princely to remit the whole then to be revenged but in part or lastly because he would not measure his servants loyalty by the successe and lay the unexpected rubs in the allie to the bowlers fault who took good aim though missing the mark This led many to believe that Alva onely acted the Kings will and not willed his acts following the instructions he received and rather going beyond then against his Commission However most barbarous was his cruelty He bragg'd as he sate at dinner and was it not a good grace after meat that he had caused eighteen thousand to be executed by the ordinary minister of justice within the space of six years besides an infinite more murthered by other tyrannous means Yea some men he killed many times giving order to the executioners to pronounce each syllable of torment long upon them that the thred of their life might not be cut off but unravell'd as counting it no pain for men to die except they dyed with pain witnesse Anthony Utenhow whom he caused to be tied to a stake with a chain in Brussells compassing him about with a great fire but not touching him turning him round about like a poore beast who was forced to live in that great torment and extremity roasting before the fire so long untill the Halberdiers themselves having compassion on him thrust him through contrary to the will both of the Duke and the Spanish Priests When the city of Harlem surrendred themselves unto him on condition to have their lives he suffered some of the Souldiers and Burgers thereof to be starved to death saying that though he promised to give them their lives he did not promise to find them meat The Netherlanders used to fright their children with telling them Duke D'Alva was coming and no wonder if children were scared with him of whom their fathers were afraid He was one of a lean body and visage as if his eager soul biting for anger at the clog of his body desired to fret a passage through it He had this humour that he neglected the good counsel of others especially if given him before he ask'd it and had rather stumble then beware of a block of another mans telling But as his life was a miroir of cruelty so was his death of Gods patience It was admirable that his tragicall acts should have a comicall end that he that sent so many to the grave should go to his own die in peace But Gods justice on offenders goes not alwayes in the same path nor the same pace And he is not pardoned for the fault who is for a while reprived from the punishment yea sometimes the guest in the inne goes quietly to bed before the reckoning for his supper is brought to him to discharge FINIS Maxime 1 * Comineus lib. 4. cap. 8 Rodinus De Repub. lib. 5. p. 782. 2 * Erasmus Dial. in nausragio 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. * August confess lib. 9. c. 8. * August confess lib. 9. c. 9. * August confess lib. 6. c. 2. * August lib. 1. De ordine c. 8. * August confess lib. 9. c. 10. Maxime 1 * Plin. Nat. hist. lib. 10. cap. 62. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 * 1. Sam. 1.11 Maxime 1 * Eccles 12.11 2 3 * Giveâ— each child a part Versteg Oâ— decayed intell cap 3. 4 * Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. 8. c. 18. 5 6 * Exod. 2.4 7 8 9 Maxime 1 * Stapleton in vita Tho. Mori cap. 1. 2 *
the rock and commanded by God onely to speak to it with his rod in his hand being transported with anger smote it thrice Thus some Masters which might fetch penitent tears from their servants with a chiding word onely shaking the rod withall for terrour in their fury strike many blows which might better be spared If he perceives his servant incorrigible so that he cannot wash the black-moore he washeth his hands of him and fairly puts him away He is tender of his servant in his sicknesse and age If crippled in his service his house is his hospitall yet how many throw away those dry bones out of the which themselves have suckt the marrow It is as usuall to see a young serving-man an old beggar as to see a light-horse first frō the great saddle of a Nobleman to come to the hackney-coach and at last die in drawing a carre But the good Master is not like the cruell hunter in the fable who beat his old dogge because his toothlesse mouth let go the game he rather imitates the noble nature of our Prince Henrie who took order for the keeping of an old English mastiffe which had made a Lion runne away Good reason good service in age should be rewarded Who can without pity and pleasure behold that trusty vessell which carried Sr. Francis Drake about the world Hitherto our discourse hath proceeded of the carriage of Masters towards free covenant servants not intermedling with their behaviour towards slaves vassals whereof we onely report this passage When Charles the fifth Emperour returning with his fleet from Algier was extremely beaten with a tempest and their ships overloaden he caused them to cast their best horses into the sea to save the life of many slaves which according to the market price was not so much worth Are there not many that in such a case had rather save Jack the horse then Jocky the keeper And yet those who first called England the Purgatory of servants sure did us much wrong Purgatory it self being as false in the application to us as in the doctrine thereof servants with us living generally on as good conditions as in any other countrey And well may masters consider how easie a transposition it had been for God to have made him to mount into the saddle that holds the stirrop and him to sit down at the table who stands by with a trencher CHAP. 8. The good Servant HE is one that out of conscience serves God in his Master and so hath the principle of obedience in himself As for those servants who found their obedience on some externall thing with engines they will go no longer then they are wound or weighed up He doth not dispute his Masters lawfull will but doeth it Hence it is that simple servants understand such whose capacity is bare measure without surplusage equall to the busines he is used in are more usefull because more manageable then abler men especially in matters wherein not their brains but hands are required Yet if his Master out of want of experience injoyns him to do what is hurtfull and prejudiciall to his own estate duty herein makes him undutifull if not to deny to demurre in his performance and chusing rather to displease then hurt his master he humbly represents his reasons to the contrary He loves to go about his busines with cheerfulnesse One said He loved to heare his carter though not his cart to sing God loveth a cheerfull giver and Christ reproved the Pharisees for disfiguring their faces with a sad countenance Fools who to perswade men that Angels lodged in their hearts hung out a devil for a signe in their faces Sure cheerfulnesse in doing renders a deed more acceptable Not like those servants who doing their work unwillingly their looks do enter a protestation against what their hands are doing He dispatcheth his busines with quicknes and expedition Hence the same English word Speed signifies celerity and successe the former in businesse of execution causing the latter Indeed haste and rashnesse are storms and tempests breaking and wrecking businesse but nimblenesse is a fair full wind blowing it with speed to the haven As he is good at hand so is he good at length continually and constantly carefull in his service Many servants as if they had learnd the nature of the besoms they use are good for a few dayes and afterwards grow unserviceable He disposeth not of his masters goods without his privity or consent no not in the smallest matters Open this wicket and it will be in vain for masters to shut the doore If servants presume to dispose small things without their masters allowance besides that many little leaks may sink a ship this will widen their consciences to give away greater But though he hath not alwayes a particular leave he hath a generall grant and a warrant dormant from his master to give an almes to the poore in his absence if in absolute necessity His answers to his master are true direct and dutifull If a dumbe devil possesseth a servant a winding cane is the fittest circle and the master the exorcist to drive it out Some servants are so talkative one may as well command the echo as them not to speak last and then they count themselves conquerours because last they leave the field Others though they seem to yield and go away yet with the flying Parthians shoot backward over their shoulders and dart bitter taunts at their masters yea though with the clock they have given the last stroke yet they keep a jarring muttering to themselves a good while after Iust correction he bears patiently and unjust he takes cheerfully knowing that stripes unjustly given more hurt the master then the man and the Logick maxime is verified Agens agendo repatitur the smart most lights on the striker Chiefly he disdains the basenesse of running away Because charity is so cold his industry is the hotter to provide something for himself whereby he may be maintained in his old age If under his master he trades for himself as an apprentice may do if he hath covenanted so before-hand he provides good bounds and sufficient fences betwixt his own and his masters estate Iacob Gen. 30.36 set his flock three dayes journey from Labans that no quarrell may arise about their proprietie nor suspicion that his remnant hath eaten up his masters whole cloth CHAP. 9. The life of ELIEZER ELiezer was Steward of Abrahams houshold Lieutenant generall over the army of his servants ruler over all his Master had the confidence in his loyalty causing the largenesse of his commission But as for those who make him the founder of Damascus on no other evidence but because he is called Eliezer of Damascus they build a great city on too narrow a foundation It argues his goodnesse that Abraham if dying without a sonne intended him his heir a kinsman in grace is nearest by the surest side
seeing Grace doth not cut of the affections of nature but ripen them the rather because Christianity is not naild to Christs crosse and mount Calvary nor Piety fastned as we may say to the freehold of the land of Palestine But if any Papist make her a pattern for pilgrimages let them remember that she went from Rome and was it not an unnaturall motion in her to move from that centre of Sanctitie She with her daughter Eustochium began her journie and taking Cyprus in her way where she visited Epiphanius she came at last to Judea She measured that countrey with her travelling and drew the truest mappe thereof with her own feet so accurately that she left out no particular place of importance At last she was fixed at Bethlehem where she built one monasterie for men and three for women It will be worth our pains to take notice of some principall of the orders she made in those feminine Academies because Paula's practice herein was a leading case though those that came after her went beyond her For in the rules of monasticall life Paula stood at the head game and the Papists in after ages desirous to better her hand drew themselves quite out Each monasterie had a chief matrone whilst Paula was Principall over all These societies were severd at their meat and work but met together at their prayers they were carefully kept apart from men not like those Epicoene monasteries not long since invented by Joan Queen of Sweden wherein men and women lived under one roof not to speak of worse libertines Well were Nunnes called Recluses which according to the true meaning of the word signifie those which are set wide open or left at libertie though that Barbarous age mistook the sense of the word for such as were shut up and might not stirre out of their Cloyster They used to sing Halelujah which serv'd them both for a psalm and a bell to call them all together In the morning at nine a clock at noon at three a clock in the afternoon and at night they had prayers and sang the psalmes in order This I believe gave originall to canonicall houres The Apostles precept is the plain song Pray continually and thus mens inventions ran their descants upon it and confin'd it to certain houres A practice in it self not so bad for those who have leisure to observe it save that when devotion is thus artificially plaited into houres it may take up mens minds in formalities to neglect the substance They rose also at midnight to sing psalmes A custome begun before in the time of persecution when the Christians were forced to be Antipodes to other men so that when it was night with others it was day with them and they then began their devotions These night-prayers begun in necessitie were continued in Paula's time in gratefull remembrance and since corrupted with superstition the best is their rising at midnight breaks none of our sleep These virgins did every day learn some part of the holy Scriptures whereas those Nunnes which pretend to succeed them learn onely with post-horses to run over the stage of their beads so many Ave Maries and Pater nosters and are ignorant in all the Scripture besides Such as were faultie she caused to take their meat apart from others at the entrance of the dining-room with which mild severitie she reclaimed many shame in ingenuous natures making a deeper impression then pain Mean time I find amongst them no vow of virginitie no tyrannicall Penance no whipping themselves as if not content to interre their sinnes in Christs grave they had rather bury them in furrows digg'd in their own backs They wrought hard to get their living and on the Lords day alone went out of their monasterie to hear Gods word Yet was she more rigid and severe towards her self then to any of them macerating her body with fasting and refusing to drink any wine when advised thereto by Physicians for her health So that as an holy man complained of himself whilest he went about to subdue an enemie he kild a subject she overturned the state of her bodie and whilest she thought to snuff the candle put it quite out Yea S. Hierome himself what his Eloquence herein doth commend in her his Charity doth excuse and his Judgement doth condemne But we must Charitably believe that these her fastings proceeded out of true humiliation and sorrow for her sinnes otherwise where opinion of merit is annexed to them they are good onely to fill the body with wind and the soul with pride Certainly prodigious Popish self-penance is will-worship and the purest Epicurisme wherein pain is pleasant for as long as people impose it on themselves they do not deny their own will but fulfill it and whilst they beat down the body they may puff up the flesh Nor can her immoderate bounty be excused who gave all and more then all away taking up money at interest to give to the poore and leaving Eustochium her daughter deep in debt a great charge and nothing to maintain it Sure none need be more bountifull in giving then the Sunne is in shining which though freely bestowing his beams on the world keeps notwithstanding the body of light to himself Yea it is necessary that Liberality should as well have banks as a stream She was an excellent text-woman yea could say the holy Scriptures by heart and attained to understand and speak the Hebrew tongue a language which Hierome himself got with great difficultie and kept with constant use skill in Hebrew will quickly go out and burn no longer then 't is blown yet she in her old age did speedily learn it She diligently heard Hierome expounding the old and new Testament asking him many doubts and Quaeres in difficult places such constant scouring makes our knowledge brighter and would not suffer his judgement to stand neuter in hard points but made him expresse the probable opinion Most naturally flie from death Gods Saints stand still till death comes to them Paula went out to meet it not to say call'd death unto her by consuming her self in fasting she died in the fiftie sixth yeare of her age and was solemnly buried in Bethlehem People of all countreys flockt to her funerall Bishops carried her corps to the grave others carried torches and lamps before it which though some may condemne to be but burning of day was no more then needed she being buried in a cave or grot as an eyewitnesse doth testifie Psalmes were sung at her buriall in the Hebrew Greek Latine and Syriack tongue it being fit there should be a key for every lock and languages to be understood by all the miscelany company there present Eustochium her daughter had little comfort to be Executrix or Administratrix unto her leaving her not a pennie of monie great debts and many brothers and sisters to provide for quos sustentare arduum abjicere impium I like not
of all other Orders and therefore by canon to go last will never go in Procession with other Orders because they will not come behind them Sometimes the Paternall inheritance falls to them who never hoped to rise to it Thus John sirnamed Sans-terre or Without land having five Elder Brothers came to the kingdome of England death levelling those which stood betwixt him and the Crown It is observ'd of the Coringtons an ancient familie in Cornwall that for eight lineall descents never any one that was born heir had the land but it ever fell to Younger Brothers To conclude there is a hill in Voitland a small countrey in Germany called Feitchtelberg out of which arise foure rivers running foure severall wayes viz. 1. Eger East 2. Menus West 3. Sala North 4. Nabus South so that he that sees their fountains so near together would admire at their falls so farre asunder Thus the younger sons issuing out of the same mothers wombe and fathers loyns and afterwards embracing different courses to trie their fortunes abroad in the world chance often to die farre off at great distance which were all born in the same place The Holy State THE SECOND BOOK CHAP. 1. The good Advocate HE is one that will not plead that cause wherein his tongue must be confuted by his conscience It is the praise of the Spanish souldier that whilest all other Nations are mercenary and for money will serve on any side he will never fight against his own King nor will our Advocate against the Sovereigne Truth plainly appearing to his conscience He not onely hears but examines his Client and pincheth the cause where he fears it is foundred For many Clients in telling their case rather plead then relate it so that the Advocate hears not the true state of it till opened by the adverse party Surely the Lawyer that fills himself with instructions will travell longest in the cause without tiring Others that are so quick in searching seldome search to the quick and those miraculous apprehensions who understand more then all before the Client hath told half runne without their errand and will return without their answer If the matter be doubtfull he will onely warrant his own diligence Yet some keep an Assurance-office in their chamber and will warrant any cause brought unto them as knowing that if they fail they lose nothing but what long since was lost their credit He makes not a Trojan-siege of a suit but seeks to bring it to a set battel in a speedy triall Yet sometimes suits are continued by their difficulty the potencie and stomach of the parties without any default in the Lawyer Thus have there depended suits in Glocester-shire betwixt the Heirs of the Lord Barkley and Sr. Thomas Talbot Viscount Lisle ever since the reigne of King Edward the fourth untill now lately they were finally compounded He is faithfull to the side that first retains him Not like Demosthenes who secretly wrote one oration for Phormio and another in the same matter for Apolidorus his adversary In pleading he shoots fairly at the head of the cause and having fastened no frowns nor favours shall make him let go his hold Not snatching aside here and there to no purpose speaking little in much as it was said of Anaximenes That he had a flood of words and a drop of reason His boldnesse riseth or falleth as he apprehends the goodnesse or badnesse of his cause He joyes not to be retain'd in such a suit where all the right in question is but a drop blown up with malice to be a bubble Wherefore in such triviall matters he perswades his Client to sound a retreat and make a composition When his name is up his industry is not down thinking to plead not by his study but his credit Commonly Physicians like beer are best when they are old Lawyers like bread when they are young and new But our Advocate grows not lazie And if a leading case be out of the road of his practice he will take pains to trace it thorow his books and prick the footsteps thereof wheresoever he finds it He is more carefull to deserve then greedy to take fees He accounts the very pleading of a poore widows honest cause sufficient fees as conceiving himself then the King of Heavens Advocate bound ex officio to prosecute it And although some may say that such a Lawyer may even go live in Cornwall where it is observed that few of that profession hitherto have grown to any great livelihood yet shall he besides those two felicities of common Lawyers that they seldome die either without heirs or making a will find Gods blessing on his provisions and posterity We will respit him a while till he comes to be a Judge and then we will give an example of both together CHAP. 2. The good Physician HE trusteth not the single witnesse of the water if better testimony may be had For reasons drawn from the urine alone are as brittle as the urinall Sometimes the water runneth in such post-hast through the sick mans body it can give no account of any thing memorable in the passage though the most judicious eye examine it Yea the sick man may be in the state of death and yet life appear in his state Coming to his patient he perswades him to put his trust in God the fountain of health The neglect hereof hath caused the bad successe of the best Physicians for God will manifest that though skill comes mediately from him to be gotten by mans pains successe comes from him immediately to be disposed at his pleasure He â—ansells not his new experiments on the bodies of his patients letting loose mad receipts into the sick mans body to try how well Nature in him will fight against them whilest himself stands by and sees the battel except it be in desperate cases when death must be expell'd by death To poore people he prescribes cheap but wholesome medicines not removing the consumption out of their bodies into their purses nor sending them to the East Indies for drugs when they can reach better out of their gardens Lest his Apothecary should oversee he oversees his Apothecary For though many of that profession be both able and honest yet some out of ignorance or haste may mistake witnesse one of Bloys who being to serve a Doctours bill in stead of Optimi short written read Opii and had sent the patient asleep to his grave if the Doctours watchfulnesse had not prevented him worse are those who make wilfull errours giving one thing for another A prodigall who had spent his estate was pleased to jeer himself boasting that he had cosened those who had bought his means They gave me said he good new money and I sold them my Great-great-grandfathers old land But this cosenage is too too true in many Apothecaries selling to sick
by turning stones into bread Conquest and good husbandry both inlarge the Kings Dominions The one by the sword making the acres more in number the other by the plough making the same acres more in value Solomon saith The King himself is maintained by husbandry Pythis a King having discovered rich mines in his kingdome employed all his people in digging of them whence tilling was wholly neglected insomuch as a great famine ensued His Queen sensible of the calamities of the countrey invited the King her husband to dinner as he came home hungry from overseeing his workmen in the mines She so contrived it that the bread and meat were most artificially made of gold and the King was much delighted with the conceit thereof till at last he called for reall meat to satisfie his hunger Nay said the Queen if you employ all your subjects in your mines you must expect to feed upon gold for nothing else can your kingdome afford In time of famine he is the Ioseph of the countrey and keeps the poore from sterving Then he tameth his stacks of corn which not his covetousnesse but providence hath reserv'd for time of need and to his poore neighbours abateth somewhat of the high price of the market The neighbour gentry court him for his acquaintance which he either modestly waveth or thankfully accepteth but no way greedily desireth He insults not on the ruines of a decayed Gentleman but pities and relieves him and as he is called Goodman he desires to answer to the name and to be so indeed In warre though he serveth on foot he is ever mounted on an high spirit as being a slave to none and a subject onely to his own Prince Innocence and independance make a brave spirit Whereas otherwise one must ask his leave to be valiant on whom he depends Therefore if a State run up all to Noblemen and Gentlemen so that the husbandmen be onely mere labourers or cottagers which one calls but hous'd beggers it may have good Cavalry but never good bands of foot so that their armies will be like those birds call'd Apodes without feet alwayes onely flying on their wings of horse Wherefore to make good Infantry it requireth men bred not in a servile or indigent fashion but in some free and plentifull manner Wisely therefore did that knowing Prince King Henry the seventh provide laws for the increase of his Yeomanry that his kingdome should not be like to Coppice-woods where the staddles being left too thick all runs to bushes and briers and there 's little clean underwood For enacting that houses used to husbandry should be kept up with a competent proportion of land he did secretly sow Hydra's teeth whereupon according to the Poets fiction should rise up armed men for the service of this kingdome Chap. 19. The Handicrafts-man HE is a necessary member in a Common-wealth For though Nature which hath armed most other creatures sent man naked into the world yet in giving him hands and wit to use them in effect she gave him Shells Scales Paws Claws Horns Tusks with all offensive and defensive weapons of Beasts Fish and Fowl which by the help of his hands in imitation he may provide for himself and herein the skill of our Artisan doth consist His trade is such whereby he provides things necessary for mankind What S. Paul saith of the naturall is also true of the politick body those members of the body are much more necessary which seem most feeble Mean trades for profit are most necessary in the State and a house may better want a gallery then a kitchin The Philistins knew this when they massacred all the smiths in Israel who might worse be spared then all the userers therein and whose hammers nail the Commonwealth together being necessary both in peace and warre Or else his trade contributeth to mans lawfull pleasure God is not so hard a master but that he alloweth his servants sauce besides hunger to eat with their meat But in no case will he be of such a trade which is a mere Pander to mans lust and onely serves their wantonnesse which is pleasure runne stark mad and foolish curiosity Yet are there too many extant of such professions which one would think should stand in dayly fear lest the world should turn wise and so all their trades be cashierd but that be it spoken to their shame 't is as safe a tenure to hold a livelyhood by mens ryot as by their necessity The wares he makes shew good to the eye but prove better in the use For he knows if he sets his mark the Tower-stamp of his credit on any bad wares he sets a deeper brand on his own conscience Nothing hath more debased the credit of our English cloth beyond the seas then the deceitfulnesse in making them since the Fox hath crept under the fliece of the Sheep By his ingenuousnesse he leaves his art better then he found it Herein the Hollanders are excellent where children get their living when but newly they have gotten their life by their industrie Indeed Nature may seem to have made those Netherlanders the younger brethren of mankind allowing them little land and that also standing in dayly fear of a double deluge of the sea and the Spaniard but such is their painfulnesse and ingenuity hating lazinesse as much as they love liberty that what commodities grow not on their Countrey by nature they graft on it by art and have wonderfully improved all making of Manufactures Stuffes Clocks Watches these latter at first were made so great and heavy it was rather a burden then an ornament to wear them though since watches have been made as light and little as many that were them make of their time He is wiling to communicate his skill to posterity An invention though found is lost if not imparted But as it is reported of some old toads that before their death they suck up the gelly in their own heads which otherwise would be hardned into a pretious stone out of spight that men should receive no benifit thereby so some envious Artisans will have their cunning die with them that none may be the better for it and had rather all mankind should lose then any man gain by them He seldome attaineth to any very great estate except his trade hath some outlets and excursions into wholesale and merchandize otherwise mere Artificers cannot heap up much wealth It is difficult for gleaners without stealing whole sheaves to fill a barn His chief wealth consisteth in enough and that he can live comfortably and leave his children the inheritance of their education Yet he is a grand Benefactour to the Commonwealth England in former ages like a dainty dame partly out of state but more out of lazinesse would not suckle the fruit of her own body to make the best to battle and improve her own commodities but put them out to nurse to
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
of S. Katharin in Fierebois in Tourain Her first service was in twice victualling of Orleance whilest the English made no resistance as if they had eyes onely to gaze and no arms to fight Hence she sent a menacing letter to the Earl of Suffolk the English Generall commanding him in Gods and her own name to yield up the keyes of all good cities to her the Virgin sent by God to restore them to the French The letter was received with scorn and the trumpeter that brought it commanded to be burnt against the Law of Nations saith a French Author but erroneously for his coming was not warranted by the authority of any lawfull Prince but from a private maid how highly soever self-pretended who had neither estate to keep nor commission to send a trumpeter Now the minds of the French were all afloat with this the conceit of their new Generall which miraculously raised their Spirits Phancie is the castle commanding the city and if once mens heads be possest with strange imaginations the whole body will follow and be infinitely transported therewithall Under her conduct they first drive away the English from Orleance nor was she a whit daunted when shot through her arm with an arrow but taking the arrow in one hand and her sword in another This is a favour said she let us go on they cannot escape the hand of God and she never left off till she had beaten the English from the city And hence this virago call her now John or Joan marched on into other countreys which instantly revolted to the French crown The example of the first place was the reason of all the rest to submit The English in many skirmishes were worsted and defeated with few numbers But what shall we say when God intends a Nation shall be beaten he ties their hands behind them The French followed their blow losing no time lest the height of their Spirits should be remitted mens Imaginations when once on foot must ever be kept going like those that go on stilts in fenny countreys lest standing still they be in danger of falling and so keeping the conceit of their souldiers at the height in one twelvemoneth they recovered the greatest part of that the English did possesse But successe did afterwards fail this She-Generall for seeking to surprise S. Honories ditch near the city of S. Denis she was not onely wounded her self but also lost a Troup of her best and most resolute souldiers and not long after nigh the city of Compeigne being too farre engaged in fight was taken prisoner by the bastard of Vendosme who sold her to the Duke of Bedford and by him she was kept a prisoner a twelvemoneth in Rohan It was much disputed amongst the Statists what should be done with her Some held that no punishment was to be inflicted on her because Nullum memorabile nomen Foeminea in poena Cruelty to a woman Brings honour unto no man Besides putting her to death would render all English men guilty which should hereafter be taken prisoners by the French Her former valour deserved praise her present misery deserved pity captivity being no ill action but ill successe let them rather allow her an honourable pension and so make her valiant deeds their own by rewarding them However she ought not to be put to death for if the English would punish her they could not more disgrace her then with life to let her live though in a poore mean way and then she would be the best confutation of her own glorious prophesies let them make her the Laundresse to the English who was the Leader to the French army Against these arguments necessity of State was urged a reason above all reason it being in vain to dispute whether that may be done which must be done For the French superstition of her could not be reformed except the idole was destroyed and it would spoil the French puppet-playes in this nature for ever after by making her an example Besides she was no prisoner of warre but a prisoner of Justice deserving death for her witchcraft and whoredomes whereupon she was burnt at Rohan the sixth of July 1461 not without the aspersion of cruelty on our Nation Learned men are in a great doubt what to think of her Some make her a Saint and inspired by Gods Spirit whereby she discovered strange secrets and foretold things to come She had ever an old woman which went with her and tutoured her and 't is suspicious seeing this clock could not go without that rusty wheel that these things might be done by confederacie though some more uncharitable conceive them to be done by Satan himself Two customes she had which can by no way be defended One was her constant going in mans clothes flatly against Scripture yea mark all the miracles in Gods Word wherein though mens estates be often chang'd poore to rich bond to free sick to sound yea dead to living yet we reade of no old Aeson made young no woman Iphis turn'd to a man or man Tiresias to a woman but as for their age or sex where nature places them there they stand and miracle it self will not remove them Utterly unlawfull therefore was this Joans behaviour as an occasion to lust and our English Writers say that when she was to be condemned she confess'd her self to be with child to prolong her life but being reprived seven moneths for the triall thereof it was found false But grant her honest though she did not burn herself yet she might kindle others and provoke them to wantonnesse Besides she shaved her hair in the fashion of a Frier against God expresse word it being also a Solecisme in nature all women being born votaries and the veil of their long hair minds them of their obedience they naturally owe to man yea without this comely ornament of hair their most glorious beauty appears as deformed as the sunne would be prodigious without beams Herein she had a smack of Monkery which makes all the rest the more suspicious as being sent to maintain as well the Friers as the French Crown And if we survey all the pretended miracles of that age we shall find what tune soever they sung still they had something in the close in the favour of Friers though brought in as by the by yet perchance chiefly intended so that the whole sentence was made for the parenthesis We will close the different opinions which severall Authours have of her with this Epitaph Here lies Ioan of Arc the which Some count saint and some count witch Some count man and something more Some count maid and some a whore Her life 's in question wrong or right Her death 's in doubt by laws or might Oh innocence take heed of it How thou too near to guilt dost sit Mean time France a wonder saw A woman rule 'gainst Salique Law But Reader be content to stay Thy censure till the