Britaine And so William the Conqueror for the good successe he likewise had in Scotland is recorded King of all Britaine and Henry the second surnamed Curtmantle is also for like successe recorded King of all Britaine And if they be renowned and honoured with name and stile of Britaine which by rightfull descent or by conquest were inheritours but to one part only though by their fortunes in war they also claimed the other what rightfull title must we then acknowledge most justly now to belong to his most excellent Majesty in the imperiall crowne of both who by lineall descent inheriteth both Here I wish I had as many eyes as Argos to looke into their devises who seeke to divide England from Scotland and Scotland from England renouncing the name of great Britaine lest joyned in one they might as the forenamed stars appeare together shine together and bring joy together I would then not spare to lay open as Cneius Flavius did reveal to the world the tricks and misteries of Lawyers of that time and therefore was said to put out their eyes and to cut their purses how also these Adamants hinder the naturall power and vertue of the Load-stone whom I call Adamants aswell for repugnant qualities as that they be truly Adamants even Sons of Adam practising rather in disobedience dissention and ruine of all to lay hands upon that is forbidden then to draw the Iron nay golden chaine of linkes of love in obedience to the King and for common peace and preservation of men But herein such imitate the devise of Q. Fabius Labeo seeking to have the ship of common weale divided in parts as when by compact of league with Antiochus he ought to receive halfe part of Antiochus ships cut them all in the middest craftily so to defraud Antiochus of his whole Navy or else imitate they Cyrus dividing great Rivers into many little Brookes till they be not only passable but even dryed up for so these seek to stay the maine and mighty Streame of great Britaine by dividing it and in dividing to make it of sundry kindes unlike it selfe Such dividing into parts is disjoyning of the parts by disjoyning dismembring and by dismembring spoiling making the stone Scyros which whole and firmely compacted doth swim and floate above the waters to sinke and be drowned because it is divided But our two famous kingdomes with all their provinces shires and countries united into the name of great Britaine are like the goodly and pleasant river Danubius which passing by many Countries keepeth his name till it enter into Illiricum where receiving into it sixty other rivers of divers other names leeseth not only his owne and all their other names of parts but is called Ister one for all containing all Here I require both of English and Scottish is either of them now as a people disjoynted one from the other Or as Sand without Lime Or scattered straw without binding Or as Sampsons Foxes running divers and contrary waies with fire brands of dissention among them Nay here in the glory of great Britaine is renowned that King Iames with our gracious King Charles and his Royall issue doe gather together that which was scattered and unite that which was divided and restore that which was lost and save that which was endangered even by this meanes uniting all in one name of Britaine as it was said of Rome uniting so many Countries into it selfe all parts which disagreed heretofore are now well agreeing Hereupon Rome was said to be anchora fluctuanti mundo and as he saith in Tacitus regna bellaque per Gallias semper fuere donec in nostrum jus concederetis So happily doth this universall conjunction of all under one head take away all discord and maintaine conjunction of love for everlasting continuance Only they which will be alone and not contained under one name of great Britaine are not bound up with the sheaves nor carried home into the Barne and therefore are like gleanings after harvest left behinde in the field subject to storme they come not two and two into this Arke and whatsoever remaineth alone Extra arcam perit Such are not unlike that Captaine whom Xerxes rewarded with a garland for escaping alive when all other souldiers were slaine and yet because he came alone without the rest he hanged him and as the the Athenians in the warre with the Aeginetae when one returned without his fellowes ranne upon him and killed him asking where were the rest And what can such I pray you as separate themselves from the happy union of all Britaines answer for themselves if they be called to account Can any be English and not Scottish can any be Scottish and not English Let that outcry against the Romans be ingeminated against such saying Quintilius Varus restore us our Legions where are our Souldiers what is become of them Where are the English where are the Scottish let all restore themselves and each one the other to the name of Britaines And so I say to all and every one of both nations Cedo alterum For I feare lest this name Cedo alterum mentioned in Taciâ—us be in scarely found among many but I call aloud where art thou Cedo alterum give us thy selfe bring in thy friend yea yet another and another bee not wanting to the weale publique una navis bonorum omnium all good Subjects are contained in one Ship of common Weal numeruÌ„ non habet illa suuÌ„ one is not perfit without the other for Britaines Subject ought maintaine mutuall society for common good As for others disclaiming us and disjoyning themselves only I wish they may all be of the same consort and society with us for victrix causa dii placuit though victa Catoni And albeit many great and mighty Potentates on earth make a great shew of Copia verborum by copious recitall of many Provinces and Kingdomes as if his Majesty should entitle himselfe by all the severall shires under his dominions and not by one honourable Title of great Britaine comprehending all to shew how this misliked some it is recorded when the Emperours Embassador comming to the French King rehearsed the Emperours stile at large which consisted of many dominions and names of countries the French King willed his Herauld to repeate and say over the name of France as many times as the other had rehearsed the severall titles of his Masters dominions intimating that one name of France well compacted and united of many particulars into one generall name was better then divers particular names of many countries And when Quintius Flaminius heard how his army was terrified at the recitall of many his enemies forces of their diversity of names of countries of Armour and of multitudes Dahae Medi Cadusij Elemei Cataphracti c. Spearemen Horsemen Footmen Archers c. Oh saith he what a doe is here with numbers and diversity of numbers all these are but onely Syrians and make a great shew like
and mischiefes which in the Objections are in the second place of matter of Estate inward pretended I briefly answer that there is no feare of confusion in true and perfect Vnion Which thing the mighty Alexander renowned for fortitude and policy well knew who is much commended by Plutarke that where Zeno chiefe of Stoickes framed an Idea of best Common-wealth such as was not divided by countries and contrary customes but was as all one of one kinde of life and as one flocke feeding in one pasture under one shepheard Alexander I say put that in practise which Zeno but imagined for saith Plutarke not as Aristotle Alexanders Master taught him so did hee living as a father to the Grecians and cruell Commander over Barbarians respecting some and neglecting others but he reconciled all into one mixing mens lives lawes names and marriages together and perswading that none were Aliens and strangers among his subjects but such as were evill men accounting all good men as one man Now I conclude this point that there is no confusion incongruity or mischiefe to be feared in that Vnion where our most rightfull King sitteth not by conquest of sword but by right of royall blood in the seate of his most noble Progenitors and not as Alexander who by conquest sate in the seate of Darius among Persians nor as Xerxes who joyned Asia and Europa together with a woodden bridge over Hellespont but as all other most mighty Governours and the best kings have by a golden bridge of likenesse of love of equity of laws and of common comforts of society and joy all which were both profitable and needfull joyned together two or more kingdomes for their owne greater honor and subjects more undoubted happinesse Which thing likewise that noble and valiant Trojan Aeneas long sithence put in use who by Vnion even of divers nations Omnis eodem nomine eodem jure Latinos vocavit And thereby as Livie reporteth of him he made many and divers nations as one people most familiar and most friendly together Doe not divers Sun-beames come from one Sun and all they of one nature Are not divers lines drawne from one Center and all they of one fashion Are not divers boughes from one tree and all of the same substance And may not divers people under one Prince though they are divided in persons yet be united in Lawes and though they bee sundred in Countries yet be knit together in hearts specially if emulation cause no incongruity nor disorder confusion nor strife mischiefe only with saving each mans honor with continuance of each good custome and with furtherance and establishing the common good of weale publique The king is the countries Parent who by Vnion non servos sed cives cogitat and as Iupiter was said to be Rex omnibus idem so would his Majesty be idem omnibus one head to one body Wherefore if hee desire to unite the two kingdomes and to account them one and as one beloved sonne whose life is deare and whose happinesse joy to him that all subjects as one sonne in common apparant utility might participate common patrimony of just Lawes for Weale publike let none be so hardy with the harlot in the daies of Solomon to say to the King our common parent Divide the childe and cut it into two parts lest such division part that into two which God in nature first made one and now in his greater goodnesse hath restored in the royall person of our gracious King into one what God hath so joyned together let no man put asunder For hereof may arise plaine incongruity and fearefull inconvenience which may farther grow into confusion and mischief Only I pray them which object against the happy Vnion to set before their eyes and to consider with their hearts the grievous contention between the divers people of the kingdome of Israel and the kingdome of Iudah for albeit the two kingdomes were united in the person of David their king yet for want of more perfect Vnion in lawes and love there arose heart-burnings on both sides for Israel complained The men of Iuda have stolne the king from us and they of Iuda challenged that the king was nearer in blood to them than to Israel and Israel againe replyed that they had ten parts in the king and therefore had more right to him But what in the end grew of this contentioÌ„ emulation consider I pray and prevent such inconvenience and mischiefe there was not any one among the Tribes in the second generation that followed the house of David but Iuda only Omen avertas Deus When I was but a yong scholer I learned to call that aequivocation which was Corpuâ— monstrosum under one name of divers formes as homo pictus and homo vivus agree in the name of man but not in the same reason definition and nature so I can call the agreement of English and Scottish only in subjection to one Soveraigne but without farther Vnion of lawes and true love not lively and indeed but painted and in shew not substantiall â—ut aequivocall not reâ—ll but nominall nameâ—y in the King as in the head which is but one â—ut not in themselves â—s in the body which â—ikewise is or should be â—ut one This is true inâ—ongruity wherof may â—rise such farther fearefull inconvenience as I wish may bee to them â—hat hate the State and the experience thereof â—nto the K. enemies Touching the particulars of confusion c surmised by the Objeâ—ctors I briefly answer first that exception taken of summoning future Parliament is no worth answer for the stile and title of the kinâ— changed may changâ— also in future Writs Secondly the changâ—ing of the Seale is only charge of a new cut Thirdly the great old Officers of the kingdome when they yeâ— most worthy of office â—oe hereafter weare â—ut the kings Majesty â—hall afterward by this Vnion have more â—hoice to prefer the worthiest for his Maâ—esty by this Vnion shall â—gaine more choice for â—ll the publike services â—o be performed either at home or abroad Neither may it be reasonable for any man for private or particular respects to repine thereat like to Cato his son who feared lest by his fathers marriage hâ— might leese somewhaâ— of his patrimony and therefore murmured lest his father should beget more sons buâ— had his answer with a sound reply unanswerable Son I desire to have more sons like thy selfe good Citizens and serviceable for the Common weale Fourthly touching lawes customes liberties and priviledges â—t is to be wished that the rigour of ours were somewhat qualified â—nd the liberty of theirs â—omewhat restrained â—either is it a new â—hing in so large a â—ingdome that some should be more enabled and honoured with priviledges than others according to the Kings good pleasure â—n whom dwelleth â—nd from whom is deâ—ived all true honour Fifthly the feare of residence or holding in Scotland such Courts as follow the Kings person
time ever since the first division till this blessed day yet Britains common weale was but sick for a season till health returned into the whole body by the glory of the head So as now the first and ancient common weale of great Britaine is againe conformed to his prime estate sound the same and like it selfe and is likely so to continue and flourish so long as it retaineth the common band of community and individuall knot of unity As Socrates is said as long as he is Socrates to bee one the same Whether in childhood or manhood in in fancy or in age the same Socrates But Heraclitus denied because of the odaine change of men and things that one man could goe into the same river twice and ill debtors borrowing mony heretofore refuse payment because they thinke themselves not the same men and plead the day is past and cannot be againe deluding with that saying Ego non sum ego hodie heri But such conclusions or rather collusions are simple rusticall follies as he saith rusticus expectat dum defluat amnis at ille labitur labetur in omne volubilis aevum For howsoever times alter yet truth ever sheweth it selfe as the river Lycus running along under the earth for a long space breaketh forth againe and as is said alioque renascitur orbe The sleepers in Sardos when they awaked thought they had passed no time but we shall be more drowsie and sottish then they if now rowsed from our long sleep wherein the honorable name of great Britaine was forgotten we now not open our eyes to acknowledge the happinesse of these our dayes wherein our hearts may leap for joy to see that two of our most gracious Kings as Fathers of peace and procreators protectors and perfitors of Subjects joy sit in Royall seat of great Britaines most ancient and most absolute Monarchy whereby our strength peace wealth and honour is the more increased in that our Soveraigne is the more universally obeyed and we are doubtlesse hereby more blessed then all our fore-fathers of whom we say as Demaratus the Corinthian said that all dead Grecians are deprived of great joy in that they lived not to see Alexander in Darius Chaire But comfortably spake he in the Comedy Gaudeo cum video hujus generis reliquias and how joyfull is it for us to acknowledge one another Britaines as it was for them brethren in the Comedy which after so long time came to knowledge one of another yea now for us to know one another to bee Britaines by all signes and tokens Non naevo aliquo aut crepundiis sed corpore omni And though he may bee pittied which sitteth alone mourning and crying Nec mihi eognatus quisquam fuit isto nome yet may both English and Scottish rejoyce because neither sister is a widow but all their legitimate children are now of one name and one blood become and borne againe Britaines as it were by a Pithagoricall Palingenesia even twice Britaines as Hippolitus was called Virbius because he lived againe and was twice the same man Aeson miratur olim ante quater denos hunc se reminiscitur annos And surely as Pliny saith Sparsas laceraâ— gentilitates colligere conuectere est ut ita dicam renasci jubere Thus we say and thus we sing Redeunt Saturnia regna even the golden age of Britaines Monarchy is come againe Alter Tiphis altera quae vehat Argos delectos Heroas atque iterum ad Trojam magnus mittetur Achilles another governour and chief Master of the common weales Ship and another Arke or Argosie as before doth transport the Nobles and Commons both of England and Scotland to fetch the golden fleece which Egbert that Dragon held so long time in his jawes Quondam etiam victus redit in praecordia virtus Now then Siquid patriae virtutis if there be in us valour of men stirred up with remembrance of the name and honour of the name and honour of our Country Si quid antiquorum hominum if any drop of our Ancestors blood live in us Si quid humanitatis if any touch of brotherly kindnesse we cannot but readily imbrace each other as the ancient Romanes reconciled after long civill war and shedding much blood Iungebant Castra consalutabant Cives yea and triumph also as they did saying exurgere reviviscere Romani nominis memoria incipit gloria unlesse it may be said of us as of that base minded Vitellius Tanta torpedo invasit animum ut si eum principem fuisse caeteri non meminissent ipse oblivisceretur or it may bee said to us Britaines descended from Brutus as sometimes to another Brutus in another sense not here intended Dormis Brute non es Brutus Our country men and neighbours of Wales as Chronicles report derive themselves from ancient true Britaines and doe retaine the British tongue though somewhat mixed called Camberaec which could never be extinguished by any attempts of Romanes Saxons Danes Normans and that famous City London is still by them called Trenwith of Brutus first named Trenovanton And the Countrey it selfe is called Cambria of Camber Brutus Sonne though we call it Wales a word imposed by Saxons naming them Walshe which is strange and many mountaines rivers and cities are among them still retaining British names extremos pudeat rediisse let us be ashamed to be last or backward seeing another Arthur King of all great Britain raigneth lest we still seem over-awed and captivated to the Conquerour Egbert his will and by his beating us to be made as base vassals forgetting our selves our names and our Country and not daring to challenge or acknowledge them even as that base slave Sosâ—a was enforced to yeeld to his Master Mercurie and say Pugnis me fecisti tuum si sum ego tamen non credo mihi nomen simul abstulit cum forma Neither doe I esteeme the change of name a matter of indifferency as if it were all one whether we were called Britaines or continued English and Scots But in my judgement it is reason to alter all into Britaines because it was our most ancient and is the more honourable name except we will weare the Badge of slavery on our sleeve to brag to the world that we are not ashamed to be conquered so to shew our nakednesse and shame which Adam sought to cover when he once saw it Neither in mine opinion is it reason that the now Nobles or Gentlemen of England should delight in name imposed by that Saxon seeing the whole race of Saxons is for the most part rooted out by the Danes and Normans and none of the Saxons blood that was Noble or almost but Gentile is left and seeing as Chronicle reporteth it was counted in the daies of the Conquerour a reproach to be called an English man or to joyne in mariage with any of the English which in my understanding