crownes of the sunne that they thought it the best part of their securitie to absent themselues The yeere 35. Sir Iohn Dudley Vicount Lisle high Admirall of England with a Nauy of 200 saile passed the seas into Scotland in despight of all the power the confederates could raise and not onely performed actions beyond expectation but taught them the true knowledge of English shipping and mariners The next yeere the French Nauy came into Sussex but vpon very short warning were dissipated and in a sudden encounter felt the smart of presumption Presently as in diuers aduantages of such petty roades and excursions they landed at Portsmouth and the I le of Wight but with what successe or satisfaction I cannot compare it better than to a bowle of water spilt irrecouerably to be gathered vp againe For they neuer durst aduenture when our ships looked bigg vpon them but vnderstanding of their imployment abroad and sequestration farre off then hurried they suddenly vpon vs yet I hope neither found vs vnprouided nor returned backe againe with true cause of insulting In the 3. of Edw 6. the French Kings gallies and Caricks invaded Gernsey and Iersey but with what face fortune looked vpon them the losse of a 1000 men with the spoile of their greatest ships and gallies suddenly discouered Why may I not name here our iourney to Newhauen in the 4. of Queene Elizabeth when through the power of our Nauy at which both French and Spaniards began to repine the Earle of Warwicke made the seas wanton with iollity and affrighted the land with those small troopes of old souldiers from the Garison at Barwick vnited to others raised from the willing musters of our country and although some enuious hand would stop the mouth of report from ecchoing our applause at this time yet I am sure Count Ringraue and his armie felt the smart of affliction and the sorrow of many defeatures and dare auouch that the seas lay open vnto vs in despight of opposition or any encounter our enemies durst or could prepare to invite vs to In the 18. yeere was Forbishers first voyage and by reason that this glorious Queene had as it were tied the obseruation of all Nations to her actions and gouernment a peace being generally contracted diuers presumptuous persons tooke aduantage of the same and filled the narrow seas with rouers and pirats who ranne vp and downe without controll like vntamed colts scorning all enclosures and bounds ' vntill Captaine Holstock with 4. good ships and two pinaces was appointed the reformer of these abuses who presently brought into the schoole of correction 200 rouers 8 Flushingers diuers Barks and Pinaces and pacified the outragiousnes of these petty thefts The 19. Forbishers second voyage The 20. Forbishers third voyage with many other of famous memory amongst whom Hawkins Drake Candish and such worthy sea-men preuailing in all their explorations as they attempted great matters deserue as great commendation About the 23. that famous busines of Desmonds rebellion breathed insolencie into those people by reason the Pope and Spaniard had fortified themselues in Smirwick in Ireland and with a sufficient number of ships blocked vp the hauen vntill certaine of her Maiesties Nauie and the Deputies forces at land being then the forward Lord Grey behaued themselues with such good order and successe that all the passages of victory to vs and miserable discomfiture to them were set open and we triumphed with a plenary satisfaction to our endeuours In the 24. Monsieur returned into the Low-countries to bee invested with the Duchy of Brabant but when he beheld our glorious fleete and iudiciously looked vpon their strength and brauery he burst out into a passionate applause and sware that howeuer men were enemies to our peace they were enemies to truth if they did not acknowledge it without comparison The yeere following Captaine Borough with one ship and a small Barke went to sea against Rouers and although the Councell at that time suspected vs ouer-weake to withstand an vnited desperatenes yet the fight continued against 7 or 8 and all men can witnes our memorable successe in that encounter The triumphs of 88 are of such renowne and worthy celebration that the world still remembers our illustrious Nauy and admirable victory but this secret was not fully reuealed that wee were not prouided nor throughly furnished so that as true hearts praied for vs the great God of heauen fought for vs. The yeere following the Portingall voiage and as it were set on degrees Cales voiage the Iland voiage Sir Richard Leusons noble exploits and his place since supplied by Sir William Mounson haue set forward our reputation to runne the race of vnresistable preuailing and hold vp our glorious countenances in despight of any confronting looke or repining eyes Nor doe I heare reckon vp our Merchant Aduenturers and the sundry times encountring with greater and more aduantagious forces witnes the Marchant Royall in those times when Iohn King was Master which alone encountred with 3 ships and 10 gallies and came off with such iollity as they fretted to be so disappointed and we triumphed to welcome home so well deseruing a man Since when although those of Malta Florence the confederates of the Arches and many desperate Pirats haue conspired against our traphique and made our iourney into the Leuant somewhat dangerous yet we haue still gone forward and could not bee pull'd backe by any wrenching arme whatsoeuer especially in those daies of tryall when we stood on our guard and made our warlike preparation a very paire of tarriers to the Spaniard For in those daies the Conuoy for his westerne treasure was so toilesome troublesome chargeable and dangerous vnto him that one million defraied but the charges of another and by that time it came to distribution there was a strange account cast vp of losses and defatigable expences Thus had our hopes still life and our spirits grew stronger and stronger with honorable expectation and noble implâ—…t And now it hath pleased his Maiestie to shut vp the brazen dores of contention and we haue reason to sound out his excellent Motto of Beati pacifici CHAP. XXVI An other excellencie of ENGLAND consisteth in the number riches endeuours and extraordinary worth of our Marchant IN the ouer-looking as it were the map of the worlds busines I must needes confesse that neuer Monarchy was established or inlarged but by the power of the sword yet alas when I consider the inconveniences impending the affrightings of people the demolition of Cities the deuastation of Countries the slaughters of Armies the rapes murthers and terrors of the world in the best conquests and victorie I cannot but lament the condition of man that doth extract his glory from tyrannie and curses from confusion and turmoyle from blood and death For thus doe wee boast of our auncestors and the very women doe esteeme no man noble or worthy that cannot relate the victories of his forefathers and dare
not himselfe set furie on worke to the killing of his enemie nay to the murthering of his Competitor whether for loue or displeasure But if you will truly consider the admirable composition of Commonwealths and extraordinary glorie of Kingdomes it consisteth in sedation of troubles and in the enriching of priuate men yea euen Salomons greatnesse was raised to a stupendous mountaine of amasement from the effects of a well compacted peace in which his Temple was built his Pallaces were finished his Cities disposed of his Souldiers maintained and his glory spred abroad with sufficient fulnesse For horses were brought him out of Arabia fine linnen from Aegipt perfumes and odours from Aethiopia spices from India precious stones from the Ilands gold from Ophir beasts and strange fowle from Affricke and many other things both for exornation and pleasure from the remotest parts of the earth But how by the industry of Merchants and worthy endeauours of men disposed to honour their Countrey and aduance themselues As for corruptions of life couetousnesse vaine-glory ambition pride emulation cunning and infinite of this kinde they are not to be named by way of Character or personating any particular condition of man whatsoeuer For from a Prince to a Peasant no body liues but may be traduced in the selfe same kinde that you would lay imputation on the shoulders of the Merchant therefore I will absolutely conclude that the true Merchant-aduenturer as he is one way the supporter of politicall States by commerce conuersation and bringing in of wealth so is he another way the Atlas of honour and magnificent maiesty by his customes filling the store-houses of a Court supplying the wants of a pallace pleasing the desires of nouelty cooling the heates of pride and satiating the vanitie of wishes nay if you would and the Ilands explored Virginia Norrembega Guiana and other coasts and made a trade with these Indians for diuers commodities so that from one place or other of our Countrey we haue not so few as a 1000. sailes of shippes abroad nor so small a number as a 100000. persons disperced vnder this acceptable title of Marchant For so I must tell you that except you aduise with your selfe for this denomination in many places of the world the excuse of curiositie will not serue your turne For you shall be taken for a Spie and a dangerous Hypocrite such is the iealousie of Kingdomes toward wanton Trauellers and the necessitie of entertainment for well imploied men And thus much for some speciall excellencies wherein England excelleth all other Nations CHAP. XXVII Another excellency of ENGLAND may be drawne from this obseruation that we haue had more glorious persons and famous Kings and Princes to visit our Countrey then any other Nation c. AMongst other spreading boughes of prerogatiues drawing sappe from the tree of Englands glory I may not leaue out this obseruation that wee haue had since the Conquest more seuerall magnificent entertainments of forraine Princes and voluntary progresses of famous Kings and Emperors some for pleasant iournies others for necessary imploiment then any Nation of Europe not that I meane to trouble you with vaine or tedious repetitions of Embassadors Legats Cardinalls or other ordinary Liegers as is customarie in all Princes Courts and concurses of State but meerely of extraordinary solemnities and occasion of resplendant showes triumphs and festiuall inuitations to delight and contentment No sooner had the Normane setled his Conquests and established his sonne William Rufus in the throne of greatnesse as well appeared by his ambitious desires to fill all Europe with the report of his exaltation especially after his returne out of Normandy and that he found fault with the smalnesse of Westminster-hall being yet the remarkeablest roome for State greatnesse and capacity in the world But Malcolme King of Scots and the two Princes of Wales came to doe homage vnto him about the third yeere of his raigne yea Robert Duke of Normandy with many Princes of France acknowledged his eminent glory and maiesticall Kingdome although the said Robert was his elder Brother and made way to his peace and amitie This likewise continued toward Henry the first and for addition the Kings his adioyned neighbours assumed nothing to themselues but what stood with the good liking of the King of ENGLAND for which purpose they many times came in person to gratifie him To which if you vnite the aduantagious marriage of Henry Emperour of Rome to his daughter I hope it may passe for a reasonable beginning and giue life to after hopes for the augmentation of our credits and exaltation of our prerogatiues Anno 1184. about the 31. of Henry 2. Heraclius Patriarch of Hierusalem came into our Countrey to desire aide against the Turke 1201. and the 3. of King Iohn at a solemne entertainement in Lincolne William King of Scots and diuers of his Nobles did homage vnto him in person to which if you adde his marrying of Lady IANE his bastard daughter to Leuelin Prince of Wales who was in those times a turbulent and ambitious man you may easily iudge what reputation our Countrey had got in the world when the Pope was more affrighted at the starting aside of little ENGLAND then if whole Spaine had at that time falne quite away from his supportation or if you will Antichristian vsurpation Anno 1224. about the 8. yeere of the raigne of Henry 3. Iohn de Brennes King of Hierusalem came into England for aide and assistance against the Saracens and from that vnimitable example of Richard 1. called in those times the flower of chiualry that wunne Cyprus and Acon in person well hoped to finde the other branches of that kingly off-spring full of the sappe of the same roialtie but when I remember how the chiefest Potentates of Europe came to elect Richard Earle of Cornwall his brother Emperour and King of the Romans I am more then satisfied for maintaining this vnanswerable position of our excellency in this kinde If you ouerlooke the life of Edward 1. you shall finde it a very mappe of honour and be able to tell the world that besides many forraine Potentates the Prince of Wales and his brother Dauid reioiced in his acceptation of them and Iohn Baliol King of Scots was glad to be named and established by him But come a little forward and at the naming of Edward the 3. me thinkes all English hearts should leape for ioy For 1334. Edward Baliol King of Scots did him homage the Prince of Wales was glad to kisse his hands and the Electors of Germany 1348. inuited him to the chaire of the Empire nay such was our royaltie that Henry Pichard Vintner and Maior of London feasted EDW. of England IOHN King of France the King of Cyprus comming to see our worthinesse DAVID King of Scots EDW. Prince of Wales Duke of Aquitane Guien and Cornwall all in one day Besides at diuers triumphes and Iusts these forraine Princes were led as it were by the hand of amasement to magnifie and extoll the heroicke spirits of our nation Againe in the 38. yeere of the King the French King the King of Cyprus and the King of Scots came all into England and made pleasure proude that it had good occasion to welcome them Besides 1367. Peter King of
at dissensions by recording the mischiefe formerly acted But to proceede From Scithia to the prouince of Tangut they liue in troopes called Hordas and remoue from place to place according to the temperature of the season plenty of feeding and conueniencie of accommodating one another nor before the yeere of Redemption 1212 as I said did we in Europe heare of the name of a Tartar but Scithians Sarmatians Albanians and such like who were all idolaters worshipping their gods in trees hanging vp their dead on nether boughes and by way of auguring diuining their happines or damnation which custome is still reteined amongst the barbarous sort in the remotest places They are generally men of square stature broad faces hollow eyes thin beards owgly countenances and tye vp their haire to the crowne of their heads in rolles like a Snailes shell to which you may adde swarthnes of complexion not that the Sunne kisseth them with that feruencie but the aire and their sluttish customes corrupts both their blood and bodies yet hath nature preuailed ouer these outward inconueniences in the distribution of valour swiftness of footmanship vigilancie and patience to endure the many encombrances of trauell hunger and want of sleepe They loue Horses and from that loue accustome themselues to a sauage drinking of their blood practising a cunning theft herein which being vnpunishable occasioneth many prety changes both in keeping their owne and purloyning from others as if some ciuill Artist had instructed them with the Lacedemonian toleration in this kinde for the better animating one another in the spoyling their enemies yet for all this by reason they liue in tents and haue small defences for their furniture and goods theft of petty things is seuerely punished amongst them as also adulterie or if you will lying with another mans wife which is most odious vnto them because they are tyed to the trusting of one another as I said within dores and no man is debarred any entercourse it were therefore a double treachery to deceiue the trust reposed and either purloyne the goods which lye open or abuse the women which admit you so friendly They are gouerned in their trauels and remouings by the starres and obseruing the North pole settle according to her influence They liue free from couetousnes and are thus farre happy that the strange corruptions of wealth especially gold and siluer breed no disorders amongst them yet haue they a kinde of trafficke and by way of exchange continue mutuall commerces louing presents and can be contented to be flattered euen in their barbarisme and herein I thinke all the Easterne people are delighted from a receiued tradition of our Patriarkes But howsoeuer I can assure you Tartar Chrim himselfe who is the most likeliest to be spoken with of all others as being the neerest will not admit of any Christian without a gratuitie and present worthy of his fauour You must now step a litle forward toward the East and with the Sunnes rising see their glory arise For Tangut is a wealthy Prouince affording many things befitting Europes magnificence especially Rheubarb a simple of that prerogatiue as if the whole world were beholding for this distribution and had a sauing health by vertue of the same In Cathaia amongst many others the great Citie of Cambala will excite admiration if you measure a quadrant of 30 mile about and ouer-looke at euery corner a Tower 40 furlongs in circuit erected for a Seralia or Arsenall wherein the Emperors munition armour and prouision for war are secured but he himself is sequestred to the priuacie of another stately Pallace and is a strange Meteor amongst them seldome seene but for some portentous accident In Mangia as Queene of the rest is the Citie of Quinzai hauing a circumference of a 100 mile by reason a great Lake of 30 mile diuideth the streets into channels ouer which are numbred 1260 bridges some opening the arches so high and wide that a good ship vnder saile hath a passage of ease but things a farre off are quickly reported yet hardly beleeued and sometimes ouer-beleeued vpon easie report as you may perceiue by the trauels of Sr Iohn Mandeuile the writings of Munster and the constant asseueration of moderne Pilgrims who all tell of so many monstrous shapes of men in these parts that our ciuill people are affrighted at the hearing and many times come flocking to see such Trauellers as haue escaped the dangerous passages and sauage immanitie For my owne part I would perswade you that the world is a stage of variety and wonders whereon are placed more strange things of truth then the wit and policie of man can invent to seeme fabulous but as at a stage the spectators onely are a few in number to the infinite multitudes for the time excluded so in the exploration of Countries not one amongst ten thousand either take the paines or haue the iudgement to looke into the wonders of the world and therefore I would be loth to exclude all enlargements of histories from the closet of truth yet concerning those fabulous reports of Pigmies and Cranes of men with long eares one eye one foote and such like the Iudicious take vp the bookes to read as if they would excite laughter and I dare be bold to maintaine there are no such men or people in the world but all Gods images are miraculous in this distinction of voice reason and an erected countenance with a proportion of shape and what is not thus established is meerely a monster or a beast But because I am sure whether true or false there is nothing amongst them worthy respect or challenging any prerogatiue of happinesse or imitation I will leaue them to their vast territories and desist from amasing you with the almost incredible particulars of those places especially Cathaia and Mangia CHAP. II. The Monarchy of CHINA ON the second step of the earths Throne is the Country of CHINA mounted and diuided into eight seuerall Kingdomes ouer whom one principall Monarch controuleth by those high and illustrious titles of MVNDI DOMINUS and COELI FILIVS as if indeed their challenge to all natures immunities were a matter of consequence their boasting of many things before Adam true and canonicall The principall Citie is now called Faquin neighbouring Tartary out of which the Emperor neuer issueth but in time of warre which is as it were an exercise amongst them and challengeth the attendance of euery nation as if an hereditarie duty challenged the sonne to the fathers obedience one succession receiued of another what belonged to the setling their estates by attending their principall Commanders For as you haue read in England that from the Twede betweene 〈◊〉 Westmerland and Scotland euen to the Irish Seas there was a wall of a 100 mile long called Picts 〈◊〉 are at certaine spaces fortified with watch-towers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hollow trunckes placed within the curtaines receiued aduertisements one of another so that 〈◊〉 a
beholding to peace and prosperitie that he tempred his warlike spirit from affecting either forreine or domesticke dissention yet did he consecrate many famous workes to the memory of his quietnes and out of a swelling of princely greatnes thought Westminster Hall the wonder of the world for a roome in a house too litle for so great a Maiestie Robert of Normandy went in person to Ierusalem and for his Heroicke successe and exploits might haue bin rewarded with the Diadem howeuer he was diuerted to returne home againe into the fields of peace Henry the first was setled in the loue of his people tamed the French pacified Normandy looked after Ireland terrified his foes corroborated his friends loued learning and was a Maecenas of all worthy conditions either in himselfe or others and howeuer the ielousie of soueraigne points intercepted the amitie of the brethren yet was his worth many waies expatiated and diuers particulars of estimation extracted from his gouernment Henry the second obtained the dominion of Ireland brought to happy period many conflicts in France stopped the breath of gaping hostilitie in England lashed the sides of his vnruly children with stripes of discomfiture and liued in great honor and estimation insomuch that he neuer exacted imposition of his people nor wanted in his warres yet left a treasure of aboue 200000 pound in ready coine besides iewels and plate which was much in those daies What thinke you of Richard the first Were not his voyages conquests titles and surname of Cuer de Lyon for his valour and exceeding courage markes of true honor Would not his life make a memorable story Shall not his actions be registred in the court of eternitie Did he not proue a worthy champion of renowme Ciprus was wonne Acon conquered Ierusalem established the confederate Princes ielous of his glory and all the countrey full of his memory so that considering his tedious iourneyes the perill of his person the successe of his actions and the noble end of his atchieuements let the proudest of the Othoman race be compared and spare not The troubles of King Iohn the Barons warres the plantation and buildings in Ireland the discouerie of the Clergies corruption the calling in of Lewis the dismissing the French backe againe and the turbulency of those times may ranke themselues with the fame of very proud Monarks Henry the third subdued the Welchmen made sundry voiages into France had many conflicts with his owne Barons set forward a notable expedition to Hierusalem shewed diuers effects of an heroicke and magnanimous spirit raigned gloriously 56 yeeres and in the interims of his peace brought many ostentous buildings to perfection Edward the first went diuers times into Scotland disposed of that Crowne as he thought good subiected them to England conquered the Welchmen appeased them with a Prince of his owne sonne borne in Carnaruan setled his estate and ended a famous life with a glorious death to which when renowne and victorie was added the applause rang through the world Edward the third and the blacke Prince haue engrossed the fame and renowne of the vniuersall earth and many memorable actions are aduanced vp as trophees of their vnimitable glory so that they may march to the palace of maiestie with the proudest Emperors For what worthy atchieuements so euer haue bin perpetuated in England Wales Scotland Almaigne and Flanders in their owne persons they haue brought to passe as if they had bin borne to shew some wonder of nature and exposed as rare examples to succeeding times And for his other sonnes step into the proudest house of Austria and tell me who can match them Iohn of Gaunt went twise into Spaine and conquered Castile in the right of his wife Lionell Duke of Clarence passed the Alpes into Italy maried the daughter of Millane reuelled in those parts with extraordinary cost pompe and attendants and wrought both a reuerence and loue toward his person from forreine people Edmond of Langley Duke of Yorke was so wise and reposed that the gouernment of England kept it selfe warme vnder the ouer-spreading of his embraces Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester was so true a louer of his country and champion of honor that he contested with Maiestie for degenerating from her owne properties and durst tell his nephew King wherein he wandred from his paternall renowne Henry the fourth when he was but Earle of Hertford went into Africke bare his father company into Spaine and obtained the diadem through popular loue and respect of the people And although King Richard the second was an vnfortunate Prince yet did he surpasse both auncestors and successors for brauery in apparell costly expences sumptuous fare glorious courtship noble company princely reuels and magnificent estimation For all the while Queene Anne of Bohemia liued the fame of England was dispersed ouer the world and the King had 8 or 10000 continually in his Court whereby his pompe and port surpassed other Princes But would you wonder indeed Then looke into the 9 yeeres of Henry the fift and you shall see such a vnitie of vertues consent of graces entertainment of valour perfection of industry militarie brauery and fulnes of generous designes that his very enemies gaue way to the report of his worthy life and France in his death was left as a comfortles widow or desolate orphan I might recite the fame of Edward the fourth for reuenging his fathers death many conflicts before and after he was King his voiages into France his distastings against Burgundy his troubles at home and other princely dispositions I could also bring into your good opinion the valour of Henry the seuenth his miraculous deliuery his noble establishment his buildings and sumptuous monuments his riches and wealth his wisdome and politicke contriuing of affaires the stately disposing of his Palace and many other remarkable actions but I am affraid that I am too weakly furnished to enter into the lists with iudicious censurers nor shall be able to wrastle with opinion and seuere examination which will rather condemne me for slight extenuation in the attempt than entertaine the discourse as a befitting subiect or adapted explication of princelines Henry the eight wan Turwin and Turnay entertained the Emperor Maximilian welcommed Charles the fift compounded at his pleasure with France made voiage after voiage conquered Bulloigne had almost obtained the Empire was maiesticall in all things and died as it were in the armes of kingly reputation Queene Elizabeth deserues a whole story of her life maiestie and gouernment For the very Heathen and Mahumetans the Persians and Idolaters the Aethiopians and Muscouite doe name her with reuerence CHAP. XXII An other excellencie of ENGLAND casting vp an account of her antiquitie in one vnited Monarchy before other Nations AS no country in Europe did euer aduance vp so many excellent parts together toward the building the frame of perfection so is it apparant in nothing more liuely than in Englands antiquitie in one vnited
Monarchy without either claime or competition of forreiners vsurpation of intruders attempt of hostile invaders and desire of alteration amongst our selues whereas yet all the Kingdomes of the world especially within the reach of European knowledge within 400 yeeres haue had other titles bin subiect to strange disparitie of gouernment and religion and confronted many times with such Princes or fearefull subiects within their territories as haue made them ielous of soueraigne points yea the very losse of their cheefest crownes and dignities If you search the wounds of the Persian and Turkish gouernment as they seeme now to be healed you shall finde them badly cured and indeed festred so dangerously that they must bee better ouer-viewed or their inward putrefaction will on a sudden poyson the very entrailes For they haue bin tossed and tumbled with many alterations and euer since Tamberlaine descended out of Scithia amongst them suffred diuers concussions both in gouernment and religions so that howeuer the Persian is more noble yet he hath permitted a mixture of many barbarous people to the great disturbance of his former glory As for the Turke hee is meerely new to vs and a formidable intruder into such territories as he gripeth with a strong arme so that what you now behold amongst these Mahumetans is onely vpheld by tyrannie a band of no greater strength then power forces and reward can tye together wherein if any faile the gouernment is quickly let loose and the subiect at liberty taketh hold of euery innovation and although by tumbling and tossing like to heaps of snow rowled vp and downe they haue growne greater and greater while the frosty coldnes of our Christian Princes gaue them leaue to harden whereby they are increased to that stupendous heape you now see yet when a thaw comes and that rota fortunae is in Gyro it shall and will be subiect to diminution especially when the glorious sunne of successe shineth out the consent of our Kings to expulse them at least out of Europe if not from the vsurpation of the better parts of Asia The Kingdome of Hungary though but lately established and knowne by a different royalty from the Empires either of Greece or Germany yet as you see a prey seased on by a hawke or other tormenting vulture pull'd in peeces and cruelly rent a sunder hath suffered many dilacerations and besides the capitall enemy of Christendome her proppes sawed a sunder by some barbarous hands amongst themselues The Kingdome of Poland is not 300. yeere old For it retained in times past but the prerogatiue of a Dukes coronet and was euer in contention with Lithuania and the adioyning Princes vntill the Pope vndertooke the appeasing of those troubles and added the grace of a roiall inuesture to Sigismundus surnamed the great who at last vnited both Pomerania Prussia and Lithuania yet is not so established but the Election of the Peeres diminisheth the prerogatiue of the King and new Princes new lawes new confederacy new gouernment haue let confusion and alteration loose vpon the Countrey The Emperour Princes Electors and principalities in Germany are almost of the same nature and condition but that many liberties of Cities haue beene bought out with mony and diuers franchises purchased to redeeme themselues from the tyrannie of wanton lords so that in particular many families haue beene chopped and changed honourable houses transmuted and new names and titles haue as it were thrust the old out of doores and in generall what with the French Germanes and the house of Austria there hath not a thought passed for hereditary succession but all things haue beene subiect to instabilitie and are still hurried in the current of preuailing as either the Pope Electorum placitus or militareius filling the sailes full of winde giueth them leaue to driue the barke of the gouernment forward The Princes of Italy in worse estate then they For except the Venetians some of their Dukedomes as Ferrara and Vrbin are fallen to the Papacy some of their Kingdomes as Naples and Sicilia possessed by the Spaniard with Millane and Genoa and the rest suspitiously standing on a guard of circumspection least they should betray one another to the stronger side and whereas the Venetians doe boast of 700. yeares continuance I am sure they neuer flourished but by the dissentions of the rest and in their first inchoation these Ilands were but receptacles for banished men yea compared to cauernus for simple beasts to shroude in whom the others of prey and rapine did not looke after For the Gothes and Lombards that infested Italy made no more account of them then we did of the stragglers in the mountaines of Walles or fastnesse in Ireland but they haue beene better coadiuted and taken successe by the hand to pace out the measures of prosperity as you now see their glory riches and augmentation The Kingdome of Spaine is so new that the other day there was a King of Portugali as absolute as himselfe a King of Arragon of sufficiency to contest with Castile a King of Granado Valencia within memory subiect to Paganisme and maintaining the new sect of Mahomet a King of Nauarre as fearefull to him as the rest and sundry other abridgments tending to the diminution of Maiesty howeuer at this instant he is blowne bigge with the winde of superfluity and greatnesse The Kingdome of France but a while ago compacted For Burgundy challengeth a roialty and had afterward a Duke maintaining his owne priuiledges The Earle of Flanders writ Comes Deigratia Normandy was another mans Brittaine in a Dukes possession Gascoine Guien and Acquitane our owne Daulphin and Prouince incorporated by gift and Rhene Duke of Loraine inuested with the Toialties of Naples and thus could I runne ouer all the rest if either they were of eminence sutable to the glory of these recited or consequence to store vs with obseruations and example only England for aboue 600. yeares I might recken from Edgar but that you will answer some 400. yeeres since the Prince of WALLES was onely an Homager and SCOTLAND in continuall opposition had fedde vpon the plenty of a flourishing Monarchy and beene fatted with the well fedde dainties of an exuberant Countrie diplaying the colours of her owne roialty in such a glorious manner that shee hath not onely spread her fame with an vncontroulable hand but brought the glory of other Nations vnder the adumbration of her canopy so that if I should adde her seuerall conquests of Ireland Walles Scotland France Cyprus Ierusalem and Castile it selfe it would torment vs with remembrance of our losses or augment our iealosie for hassarding our honour by negligence and corrupted peace which was once so worthily established by the proppes and supportation of merit and vertue CHAP. XXIV Another excellency of ENGLAND consisteth in the happy life of our Countrey-man and common people IF you looke on our example you shall finde that the chiefest part of Salomons glory extended it selfe from the
Spaine was disseised by his bastard brother Henry but comming into England made such impression in the compassionate soule of EDW. the blacke Prince that he assisted him in person and re-established him in his kingdome Shall I remember you of that glorious celebration of Himmeneus triumphs when Duke Tussus and many Princes of Boheme and Hungary brought that magnificent Lady ANNE daughter to the King of Bohemia and married her to King RICHARD the 2. of England during whose life such was the royaltie of our Court and State that in the 8. yeare the King of Armenia came into England for coadiutement against the Turkes In the 12. yeare the Earle of Saint Paul and many Princes out of France and other Countries came to a Iusts in Smithfield and made a iust estimation of our vnualuable glory In the 16. yeare the greatest Lords of Scotland came to our triumphes in England and checked their owne presumption for confronting vs with a supposition of equality In the 20. yeare the Dukes of Burbon and Barre brought ouer Isabell of Fraunce to be a Queene in England and glad was that Prince of Europe that had beene an eye-witnesse of our glory yea that magnificent workemanshippe concerning the exornation of the Hall of his Pallace now Westminster and by community and disparaged alteration vnregarded was as it were a magnes to draw ouer the seas thousands of people and hundreds of Princes and Noble lords to looke vpon the wonder of the world In the 4. yeare of HENRY 4. King of England the Emperour of Constantinople came of purpose as the Queene of Sheba to Salomon to set report on the touchstone of truth and see whether custome had enlarged our fame or no and here he was entertained with all the sumptuous and attractiue showes and delights that Arte and expences could deuise to satiate the minde of man But when Dame IANE Dutches of Britaine came ouer to marry our King HENRY I hope our enemies will imagine her traine and Attendants to bee much augmented with the company of many forraine Princes and Potentates And if you steppe forward to the 8. yeare of his raigne the Earle of Marre and the great lords of Scotland came to solace themselues and made their triumphes both at Tilt and Turney acceptable to the beholders The like was performed the 10. yeare when the Seneschall of Hennault with all those Princes reputed the Court of England a very Schoole of chiualry and put in practise accordingly all the braueries of marshall discipline But when the Lady LVCIA the Dukes sister of Millane came to marry EDMVND Earle of Kent both citie and pallace was so furnished with strangers and the concurses of people so well ordered that inferiours were amased at so extraordinary attraction and the better sort gaue a plaudite to our glory If you ouer-looke the time of Henr 5. surnamed the Champion of Honor though it was lamentable for the breuitie yet was it vnmatchable for the royalty For after his coronation he was scarse three yeeres in his own Kingdome and yet in the third of his raigne he welcommed the Emperor of Almaine and King of Rome and presently after graced the daughter of France and all her retinue with many forreine Princes who would not returne till they saw their Lady Katherine Queene of England To which if you adde the entertainment of the Duke of Holland and many Princes of those countries especially Freesland you cannot chuse but make vp a plentifull breuiary of Heroicke Maiesty and worthy princelines About the yeere of Grace 1502. and the 17. yeere of the raigne of Henry 7. the expectable Prince Arthur maried Katherin daughter to Ferdinando King of Spaine and his eldest sister Margaret was affianced vnto Iames King of Scots at whose inauguâ—…tion the concurse of strangers and amongst them of the choisest Princes was so great that all other adioyning Kings as much magnified our royalty as feared our power insomuch that the very report of our Kingdomes brauery draue Philip King of Castile and his wife into England About the end of August 1546. Flawd high Admirall of France was so royally entertained in England that the King lying at Hampton-Court the Prince of Wales met him comming to haue audience with a 1000 horse whereof 500 were in one liuery the coates of veluet halfe embrodered with gold and one sleeue of cloth of gold let other Princes acknowledge this magnificence Holinshed saith 2000 horse In the beginning of Henry the 8. Lewis the 12. of France maried Mary the Kings yongest sister and 1520 the great Emperor Charles the 5. came into England to visit his Aunt and within two yeere after made a second returne to view London and bee acquainted with our country from whose example Christiern King of Denmarke and his wife about the 15 yeere arriued in England and was welcommed to the pleasures of our country and variety of our pastimes The Prince of Salerne and diuers of Naples about the 30. c. Shall I name you King Philips mariage with Queene Mary I hope then I must trouble you with a tedious solemnitie and tell you that many strangers knew not the way home againe into their owne countries a long time and if the peace of their soules as they vainely imagined might haue bin added to the delight of their bodies the happines of England had bin the subiect of their tongues and the obiect of their eyes In the second yeere of her raigne Ecmondine a Prince of Germany and other Embassadors were sent from the Emperor In the third yeere Emmanuel Prince of Piemont with other Lords came into England and the next moneth the Prince of Orange landed at London But let mee passe forward to the mirror of all times Queene Elizabeth how proud was the Prince of Sweden that he was graced in England with so glorious entertainment at the beginning of her raigne Not long after 1565 Christopher Prince and Marquesse of Baden came of purpose to haue his childe borne amongst vs and reioyce in the fortune of such a godmother About the 11. yeere of her raigne anno 1568 Mary Queene of Scots though shee was surprized in her flight to France and defeated in her maine proiects yet for a long time misliked not her imprisonment and was glad to confesse the prerogatiues of her natiue soile and country In the 14. yeere Francis Duke of Memorancy and Betrawde de Saligniers Knights of the order of St Michael came both into England with other great Princes to gratulate her Maiestie and acknowledge her worthines In the 21. of her raigne 1578. Cassimirus Count Palatine and Duke of Bauaria was entertained the better