Christ. Catholicae Ecclesiae Episcopus ss Then his Seal or Signet engraven within Sanctus Petrus †Sanctus Paulus and this Motto about Ad Dominum cùm tribularer clamavi Exaudivit Me. Then the subscription of 27 Cardinals on both sides of the Signet the Cardinal Bishops on the right-hand of the Signet and close to it then on their right-hand the Priests-Cardinals and on the left side of the Signet as it is accustomed in all Bulls and other Public Instruments the Deacon-Cardinals have their place and precedence King Henry's Book against Luther was presented to the Pope in full Consistory by Sir Iohn Clerk then Ambassador at Rome for the King with a long solemn Oration the Original of which Book is yet to be seen in the Vatican at Rome with this Inscription written with King Henries own hand Anglorum Rex Henricus Leoni XÌ„ mittit Hoc Opus Fidei testem Amicitiae Henry King of the English sends this Work to Leo the Tenth as a Witness both of Faith and Friendship And as the Kings of England themselfs have such super-eminent Titles so their First-born Sons have a Title not inferior to any Royal Heir apparent in Christendome which is Prince of Wales and this Title is many years more ancient then that of Dauphin in France Moreover whereas other Kings Sons come so naked to the world that they have not of their own wherewith to buy them Clouts or pay their Nurses but what they have from their Parents The First-born of the King of England ipsissimo instante the very same instant that he is born is Duke of Cornwal and is presuppos'd by the Law to have Livâ—…ry and Seisin then given him of the said Duchy with all the Lands Rents and Honors therunto annex'd T is tru that the conferring of the Title of Prince of Wales depends meerly upon the Kings Plesure which was done out of a Political consideration to keep the Kings first Sons still in awe and within the bounds of a greater Obedience Nor is there any Queen also lives in a greater State and Dignity or hath more Prerogatives and greater Joyntures then the Queen of England For though Aliens at first and still under Couvert Baron yet they may pourchase Lands by Fee-simple They may make Leases and Grants without the King They also must be petitiond unto first before any can implead them in point of right We will proceed now to the fourth Paragraph Touching the Martial Exploits and Achievments which the Kings of Great Britain have performed from time to time c. TO proceed in this Paragraph we must make Retrosvects a far off we will begin with Brennus that bold Britain who in the Government of Consuls took and sack'd Rome 364 yeers before Christ and did notable feats afterwards in Greece and Asia insomuch that the Welch in honour of that Heroe their Country-man call a King from his Name Brenin to this day Cataracus overthrew a mighty Army of the Romanes and Boadicia slew 70 thousand of them in one Battel as their own stories declare King Arthur is rank'd among the Nine Worthies for he discomfited the Saxons in twelve several Battails and erected the first Order of Knighthood There was one English King and three Kings Sons went to the Wars of the Holy Land What Exploits did Richard coeur de Lion perform there so much to the envy of the King of France who therfore returnd before him He conquerd the Iland of Cyprus where Marrying Berengaria he transferrd the Kingdome to Guy Lusignan who had right to the Crown of Ierusalem which in exchange he resignd to King Richard But the French are they whom the English did so often rout subdue and subjugat with the Grey-goose Wing wherwith they did so often penetrat the very heart of France in so many glorious Victories that can be hardly paralleld take all circumstances We will instance in some of the most famous and begin with that of Cressy the first great Battel The Battail of Crâ—…ssy in France That Heroyk King Edward the third having been provoked by divers Affronts that Philip of Valois the French King had offeâ—…'d him goes over in person to France with an Army of 80000 men at Arms and 10000 Archers as Froissard hath it He takes with him his Son the Prince of Wales and Duke of Guyenne being but 15 years of Age calld afterwards the Black Prince to train him up in feats of Arms. Landing in Normandy he carries all the Country before him as far as Poissy within ten miles of Paris and after divers Skirmiges a Battail was appointed King Edward had incamp'd neer a Village calld Cressy where he divided his Army to three Battalions the first was led by the Prince of Wales the second by the Earls of Arundel and Northampton in the third was the King himself The Battail thus orderd being mounted upon a White Hobby he rides from Rank to Rank encouraging evry man to the performance of his duty and to have a regard to the Honor of his King and Country The French Kings Army was at least twice the number consisting of above 60000 Combatants with all the flower of the French Chivalry whereof the chief were the Duke of Alanson the Kings Brother the King of Bohemia the Duke of Lorrain the Earl of Flanders and Savoy with other great Princes The Vangard was led by the Kings Brother the Reer by the Earl of Savoy the main Battail by the King himself The French King was so fierce in assurance of Victory that he wold scarce admit of any counsel The old King of Boheme advis'd that the Army shold receive some refreshment before and that the Infantry of Genowais whereof ther were 15000 Crossbows shold make the first Front and the Cavalry to follow which being agreed on the Duke of Alanson did stomack that the Genowais shold have the honor of the first Rank so in a kind of fury he caus'd them to change place which bred such a discontent that they were more incensd against their Leader then against the Enemy but in the interim ther fell such a showre of Rain that wetted their Bowstrings which they had not the wit to cover all the while as the English did that for the limmerness therof when they came to action they grew useless At the ceasing of the showre the Sun did shine full in the face of the French therby dazzling their eyes but on the back of the English King Edward being got into a Windmil all the while whence as from a Sentinel he might explore and behold the face of the Enemy and discovering the disturbance that was made because the Genowais were put to change their place instantly gave order to charge that part which made the discontented Genoway to recoyl Alenson perceiving this rides on in a rage crying out Sa sa on on let 's make way ore the Bellies of these Genowais for they do but hinder us So riding through them he came
going out Among Artificers and Men of Trade the Civilians say that each one is to precede according to the Dignity of the Stuff wheron they work Moreover when Publik Instruments are made that Kingdom in whose Right t is made hath the Precedence so somtimes Scotland is namd before England c. General Precedences do differ according to the Genius of some Nations as among the Turks to go on the left hand is more honorable sedendo incedendo in sitting and going then on the right and the reson is good because he may seaze upon his Companions Sword at plesure In Spain the Pages and Laquays go before and the Lords follow And in some cases t is so in France as in going over a Bridg a Plank or a River the Man goes before the Master according to the old Proverb En Pont en Planche en Riviere Valet devant Maitre derriere Concerning Ambassadors ther is a way that they shall never clash which is to make them Parallels viz. that the Ambassadors of those Kings who stand in competition for Precedence do never meet unless it be in visiting one another And the Mathematician tells us That Parallelae etiamsi ducantur in infinitum nunquam concurrent Parallels although they be drawn in infinitum they will never meet and if Ambassadors never meet they will never jussle or jarr J. H. THE Civilians Antiquaries and Historians BOTH Latin English British Italians Spanish and French That were Consulted and Cited in the Compilement of this WORK GOldastus Cassanaeus Besoldus Valdesius Francisco Vasquez Volaterranus Bodin Boterus Albericus Gentilis Lansius Augustin Caranato Thesaurus Politicus Ant. Corsetus Camillo Borrello Boccolini Sleidon Dr. Gaspar Bragaccia Paschalius Don Ant. de Zuniga Mariana Garibai Fredericus de Marselaer Carolus de Grassaliis Du Haillan Comines Pierre Matthieu The Bishop of Rhodes Du Serres Versâ—…egan Il Conte Losco The Lord Coke Bishop Usher Sir Thomas More Sir Walter Raleigh Sir Robert Cotton Sir Henry Spelman Sir Richard Baker Sir Iohn Finet Sir Iohn Price Iudg Doddridge Humphry Lloyd Iudg Ienkins Mr. Campden Mr. Selden Mr. Fabian Philipps Barclays Argenis Matthew Paris Polydore Virgile Sir Henry Wotten Sir Isaak Wake Mr. Minshew Besides these Authors many Ancient Records and Manuscripts have bin consulted and the perusing of old Parchment-Records is a hard and harsh Work it may be said to be like the peeling of old Walnuts ANALYSIS Totius Operis TOuching the Matter and Method in framing this Work it is by dividing it into four Compartments viz. into four Sections The first three treat of the Precedence of Kings The fourth of Ambassadors Evry one of the Sections is subdivided into ten heads or Paragraphs containing still new matter The first Section consists of the Resons of the King of Great Britain c. First That He had to his Predecessors as ancient Kings as France and Spain and as famous among others Mulmutius Dunwallo who raignd here many hundred yeers before the Romans came in and he was so great a Legislator that his Laws are calld Leges Mulmuntinae and stand upon record to this day Moreover his Majesty now Regnant is the hundred thirty ninth King of Britain and the hundred and ninth of Scotland wheras neither Spain or France can shew a Catalog of half the number 2. The King of Great Britain had to his Predecessor the first Christian King that ever was upon earth viz. King Lucius according to the concurrent Opinion of all Antiquaries for St. Peters Church in Cornhil was built by him as a Record yet extant shews and this was many hundred yeers before France or Spain had any Christian King which made England to be entitled in all dispatches from Rome Primogenita Ecclesiae the first-born Daughter of the Church Now it is a Canon among the Civilians Summa Ratio quae ducitur à Religione and Grotius hath also a Principle Qui primò Christianismum professi sunt Praecedant c. 3. The King of Great Britain hath a Merum immixum Imperium he hath as absolut Possession and Authority and more Independent then France or Spain take Spiritual and Temporal together 4. The King of Great Britain for Eminence of Royal Dignity for State and Titles hath as fair Flowers He hath as rich Jewels in his Crowns as any other He hath as Noble Arms the Cross and the Lyon who is King of Animals 5. The King of Great Britain had to his Predecessor the first Christian Emperour Constantin and the first Christian Worthy Arthur the first Founder of Martial Knighthood whom ther is Truth enough to make Famous without that which is thought Fabulous 6. The King of Great Britains Predecessors were the first who freed themselfs from the Roman yoke long before France or Spain and this is one of the greatest Arguments that those Kings do produce for a Precedence one of another 7. The Kings of Great Britain had Precedence adjudgd Them both of France and Spain in General Councils as also by the Decrees of Popes as it will appeer in the following Discours 8. The King of Great Britain is Souverain of as Noble an Order of Knighthood as any in Christendome wherof eight Emperours and well neer eight times as many Kings have bin and is more ancient then the Royal Orders of France or Spain 9. The King of Great Britain hath had as Martial and Magnanimous Progenitors as any of the other two who performd great Acts both far and neer and touching Exploits in the Holy Land the Kings of Spain had little share in them 10. The King of Great Britain hath as free-born and strong sturdy Peeple of four several Nations to make Soldiers of as either France or Spain He hath the best Mariners the stoutest Men of War the Noblest Haven for so Milford is accounted by all Geographers He hath the Inaccessiblest Coasts with the greatest Command and Power at Sea both Defensive and Offensive of any King whatsoever The second Section Consists of Reasons and Arguments why France doth pretend and challenge Priority of Place which Reasons under favor may be appliable also to the King of Great Britain and the world knows why But for to make the King of Great Britain come after the King of France is to make him come behind himself which is no less then an absurdity The third Section Consists of the Reasons and Arguments which Spain alledgeth for Precedence at least of an Equality with the two forementiond Kings extracted with as much fidelity as carefulness out of her own Authors as Don Diego de Valdez D. Francisco Vasquez with others The fourth Section Consists of a Discours of Ambassadors T is tru ther are some who have written of this subject already yet not any under this Meridian But those Forreners who have discoursd therof do amuse the Reader with such general Notions that the Breeding and Qualities which they require as also the Monitions Precepts and Instructions which they prescribe may fit any
community and free use of the Sea challenging no Dominion at all Ther are divers States in Italy that claim a particular command and propriety in some Seas as the Duke of Tuscany challengeth a Dominion of the Tyrrhene Sea the State of Genoa of the Ligustique Venice claims a right to the Adriatic as symbolically to a Husband for she marries him upon Ascention-day evry yeer the Duke going in procession with great solemnity in the Buantoro to that purpose and throwing a Ring into the water and She hath power to do in that part of the Sea which she calls her Gulph as much as she can do in Venice it self in point of laying Impositions and Gabels and to cause what Mercantile ships she please to unlade their Cargazons at the City of Venice it self God and Nature hath much favoured the King of Denmark with the command of a Neck of Sea I mean the Sound for it is the strongest Sinew of his Crown by the Tolls he receaves of those who pass and repass into the Baltik He commands also at large the Norwegian or Hyperborean Sea But among all if we observe his Title the King of Portugal hath a greater Maritime command then all these which Title runs thus Dom Manuel por Graca de Deos Rey c. Senhor de Guinee da Conquista Navigacaon Comercio d' Etiopia Arabia Persia da India à Todos c. Don Emanuel by the Grace of God King c. Lord of Guiney and of the Conquest Navigation and Commerce of Ethiopia Arabia Persia c. These are the Princes who have most command of Sea but they command only the Strands and Ports or Maritime Tract They cannot be said to command the Sea it self as the King of Great Britain doth for he commands no less then four Seas which are circumfluent about his Territories and the Law says The Sea is of the Ligeance of the King as any other thing He is Protector as well as Lord of them He takes both the Dominion and Defence of them also he scowres and secures them from Pyrats and Praedatory Rovers He makes all ships whether Merchants or Men of War Forreners or Subjects to dash their Colours and strike their Topsayls not onely to his Castles but to any of his ships Royal as they pass and repass Which mark of Dominion the Republic of Venice hath not though she also hath her Gallies always in cours to scowre and secure the Gulph from Cursaries and Robbers which is one of the chief Regalia's St. Mark hath though the Sea she thus commands be scarce 30 Leagues in extent for it is but fourscore Italian Miles Nor doth the King of Great Britains Dominion terminat in his own Seas but as most Civilians hold it extends as far as the shoares of his Transmarin Neighbours and as far North as the Artic Circle which Grotius did once acknowledg and publish to the world though another Caprichio came into his head afterwards in the Panegyrike he sent King Iames at his Inauguration when he says Rerum Natura Creatrix Divisit populos metas ipsa notavit Sic juga Pyrenae sic olim Rhenus Aspes Imperii mensura fuit Te flumine nullo Detinuit nulla nimbosi verticis arce Sedtotum complexa Parens hic terminus ipsa Substitit atque uno voluit sub limite claudi Te sibi seposuit supremo in gurgite Nereus Finis hic est qui fine caret Quae meta Britannis Littora sunt aliis Regnique accessio tanti est Quod ventis velisque patet We will put a period to this Paragraph with a Request to the Reader That having well weighed the Power of the King of Great Britain and joyn'd that of the Sea with the Land as also the Reasons of the preceding Paragraph with this to judge whether it be fit that He shold go or come in the Arriere to any King whatsoever We will now to the third Paragraph Touching the Eminence and Royal Dignity the State Grandeur and Titles of the King of Great Britain Corsetus a known and well-accounted Author divides Kings into Illustres and Super-Illustres He gives the King of England the second place among the Super-Illustres and one of the Reasons are that he is an Anointed King whereas the King of Spain and others are not unless the King of Spain may claim it as he entitles himself King of Ierusalem and Sicily for besides the Kings of England and France they two are onely capable of being Anointed The King of England hath a Gift also to cure the Strumatical Disease call'd therefore in England The Kings Evil ab effectu sanationis whereas in French 't is call'd Les Ecrouelles and Los Lamperones in Spanish c. Some have written that the King of England hath a Vertu to cure this Disease as he is King of France but that 's a vulgar Error for King Edward the Confessor was us'd to heal that way which was 300 years before Platina makes the King of England Filium Adoptivum Ecclesiae the Emperour Filium Primogenitum and the French King Filium natu minorem One the Adopted Son the other the First-born the third the Cadet or younger Son Volaterranus is related by Philippus Honorius in a well-known Work of his call'd Praxis Politicae prudentiae anno 1610. that Iulius 2. gave the Precedence to the English Ambassador before him of Spain Hen. 2. was King of Ierusalem and Edward 3. was made Perpetuus Vicarius Imperâ—…i which is no mean Title The Spanish Ambassador never questioned the Precedence of the English Ambassador till in the Council of Basile and touching the Contest twixt them in the Council of Constance ther was at Lovain Anno 1517. a Book entituled Nobilissima disputatio super dignitate magnitudine Regnorum Britannici Gallici habita ab utriusque Oratoribus in Concilio Constantiensi where you see he puts Britains King before the French in the very Frontispice and the chiefest Reasons asserted therein are found in this Discours Hen. 6. employed Thomas Polden Bishop of Chichester with others in quality of Ambassadors to the Council held at Siena to claim his session otherwise he would protest and poursue the Protestation In the Raign of Hen. 6. ther was a Public Instrument put forth by Ericus King of Sweden and Denmark wherein he puts England before France which Instrument â—…uns thus Caveant omninò Mercatores alii quicunque homines subditi Reg. Angliae Franciae ne de caetero sub poena amissionis vitae Bonorum visitare praesumant Terras Islandiae Finmarchiae Halghalandiae seu alias quascunque Terras prohibitas aut Portus illegales in Regnis Daniae Sueciae Norwegiae An authentic Copy of this Instrument was brought by the Danish Ambassador to Breme 1562. and shew'd to the English Delegates there at that time from Queen Elizabeth about the great business of the Hans Towns In the Capitulations of Peace twixt Hen. 7.
of England and Iohn 2. of Denmark and Norway 1490. England is put before France as for example Sancitum est quod Mercatores Homines Ligii Piscatores quicunque alii Reg. Angliae Franciae subditi liberè possint temporibus futuris in perpetuum ad Insulam Tyle i. e. Islandiam c. Augustus de Cavallis who is no obscure Author infers the Queen of England from her Ancestors both in respect of Inheritance Conquest and Gift to be Queen of France de Iure In the Treaty twixt Hen. the 7. and Philip of Castile 1506. the English Commissioners subsign'd first As also in the Treaty of Marriage with Queen Mary Anno 1533. the first Signature is given to the English Ambassadors When Queen Elizabeth employed the Earl of Derby the Lord Cobham Sir Iames Crofts Doctor Dale and Doctor Rogers in quality of Ambassadors with their Assistants to Ostend anno 1588. Dignitatis Praerogativa incedendo sedendo The Prerogative of going and sitting was given her Ambassadors In the Treaty at Bullen twixt England and Spain for renewing the Burgundian League Queen Elizabeth sent Sir Hen. Nevil Sir Iohn Herbert Robert Beale and Tho. Edmunds who in their Instructions had command in no case to give Precedence to the Spanish Ambassadors but being met ther was a Contest happend The English produc'd a Certificat procur'd privatly from Rome out of the Book of Ceremonies there which according to the Canon giveth the Rule in such cases That the King of England is to have place before the King of Castile That the English quietly held this Right in the Councils of Basil Constance and others They alledg'd also that the Kingdom of Castile which is the Spaniards first Title is but an upstart-in regard of England for it had no Kings but Earls till the year 1017. Moreover Pope Iulius 3. gave sentence for Hen. 7. of England against Ferdinand of Spain in this particular c. Furthermore for Eminency of Title Great Britain is oftentimes calld an Empire by Forren Authors nay Pope Urban terms it a World of it self at the Council of Clermont almost a thousand years since wherin the Archbishop of Canterbury is call'd Alteterius Orbis Papa The Pope of another World What wold he say now that Ireland and Scotland are added Some of the Saxon Kings stil'd themselfs Emperours as Ego Ethelredus Ego Edgarus Anglorum Induperator c. William the Conqueror writ Ego Willielmus Rex Anglorum ab incarnatione Domini 1089. 2 Anno mei Imperii This is found upon record in his Charter to the Monastery of Shaftsbury In Hen. 8. Raign the eighth year thereof England was declar'd an Empire in Parlement where he had also these Epithets Metuendissimus Praepotentissimus and London was call'd the Imperial Chamber But most memorable is that of King Edgar in the Charter that he gave the Church of Worcester Which Charter is yet extant and runs thus Altitonantis Dei largifluâ clementiâ qui est Rex Regum Ego Edgarus Anglorum Basileus omniumque Regum Insularum Oceanique Britanniam circumjacentis cunctarúmque Nationum quae infra Eam includuntur Imperator Dominus Gratias ago ipsi Deo omnipotenti Regi meo qui meum Imperium sic ampliavit exaltavit super Regnum Patrum meorum Qui licet Monarchiam totius Angliae adepti sunt à tempore Athelstani qui primus Regnum Anglorum omnes Nationes quae Britanniam incolunt sibi Armis subegit nullus tamen Illorum ultra ejus fines Imperium suum dilatare aggressus est Mihi autem concessit propitia Divinitas cum Anglorum Imperio omnia Regna Insularum Oceani cum suis ferocissimis Regibus usque Norwegiam Maximamque Partem Hiberniae cum sua nobilissima Civitate Dublinia Anglorum Regno subjugare Quos etiam omnes meis Imperiis colla subdere Dei favente gratia Coegi Quapropter ut Ego Christi Gloriam laudem in Regno meo exaltare ejus servitutem amplificare devotus disposui per meos Fideles Fautores Dunstanum Archiepiscopum Ayeliolanum ac Oswaldum Archiepiscopos quos mihi Patres Spirituales Consiliarios elegi magna ex parte disposui c. Facta haec sunt anno Dom. 964. Indictione 8 Regni Ego Alfrye Regina consensi signo Crucis confirmavi ✚ This being so ancient a Record and of so high a Tenure I thought good to render it into English for the satisfaction of the Common Reader By the clemency of the high-thundring God who is King of Kings I Edgar King of the English and of all Kings of Ilands and of the Ocean circumjacent to Britain and of all Nations which are included within her Emperour and Lord I give thanks only to Almighty God my King that he hath amplified and exalted my Empire above the Kingdome of my Fathers who although they had obtain'd the Monarchy of all England from the time of Athelstan who was the first that subdued the Kingdom of the English and all Nations who inhabit Britain yet none of them attempted to dilate his Empire beyond its bounds But propitious Divinity hath granted unto me to subjugat together with the Empire of the English all the Kingdomes in the Iles of the Ocean with their most ferocious Kings as far as Norway and most part of Ireland with her most Noble City of Dublin All whom I compell'd to bow their Necks to my Commands the Grace of God so favouring me c. This King Edgar though very little of stature was so magnanimous and successful that he was Row'd upon the River of Dee by four subjugated Kings whereof Kennad King of Scots was one Ther is also a very remarkable and authentic story of King Canutus afterwards who being upon Southampton-Strand at the flowing of the Sea he sate in a Chair of State which was brought him upon the sands and the Billows tossing and tumbling towards him he gave the Sea this command Thou art my Subject and the Earth wheron I sit is mine and ther was none yet that ever resisted my Command who went unpunish'd Therefore I command Thee that Thou come not up upon my Earth nor presume to wet the Garment or the Body of thy Lord. But the Sea continuing his cours dash'd and wetted his feet and thighs illfavouredly without any reverence or fear whereupon the King stepping back declar'd That none is worthy of the Name of a King but only He whose Nod both Sea and Earth observd And as the story hath it he never wore the Crown of Gold again but being fix'd to a Cross did consecrat it to the Image of our Saviour Ther have been also Titles of Dignity given to our Kings in the Abstract which hath more of State and Substance in it then the Concret as Celsitudo Tua Magnitudo Tua given by the Pope in his Letters to Ed. 2. And Edward the 4. was us'd to write Nostra Regia Majestas though indeed that word
meum apponerem consuetum Testes qui fuerunt praesentes ad ista unà mecum sunt Dom. frater Martinus Lupi Magister Militiae Domus de Alcantara Ordinis Cistern Rogerus Dom. de la Wara Gomeicus dicti Dom. Regis Magister Paulus Gabrielis Civis Ispalensis Iohannes Guttern Decanus Ecclesiae Segobien Magister Robertus Fregand Notarius Cancellarius Domini Principis Aquitaniae Walliae supradicti Then the Great Seal of Castile and Leon was affixd By vertue of this Charter legally made to King Edward and the Prince his Son and to their Heirs and Successors Kings and Princes of England for ever it is therby granted that whensoever it shold please them to be in person in the Wars with any King of Castile against the King of Granada or any other Enemy of the Christian Faith They shold have the First place in the Vangard above all other Princes of Christendom and although neither of them were present yet ther shold be always provided by the Kings of Castile and their Successors a Standard of the Arms of England to be born in the same place This Instrument was made after that the Black Prince had done the Work and restord Don Pedro to his Kingdom therfore he passd it as a Monument of eternal Gratitude unto him But before the Prince uudertook the business ther was also a Bond from the King to pay so much money for defraying the Princes Army and in consideration also of this undertaking it was legally agreed that the Prince shold have the Castle of Vermeo de la Quet Bilbo Biscay and the Castle of Ordials A tenir perpetuellement à li ses Heirs Successeurs pour doner là où luy plerrà to be held perpetually by Him and his Heirs and Successors and to give to whom he pleasd All which was ratified under the Great Seal of Castile and confirmd by Oath upon the holy Sacrament in the great Church of Burgos The Original of which Instrument remains yet in Thes. Regio apud Westm. We will pass over the Exploits done in Armorica or Little Britany and cross over to a tougher Peeple the Scot who though Conterranean and our neer Neighbours yet they did always confederat with the French against England and England still boar up single and victoriously against both of them For when Scotland was at the highest pitch of power when she had active and boysterous Kings to her Generals and the French for her Coadjutors and Auxiliaries as also the Danes in Ages past yet the English carried away many fair Victories with divers of their Kings Prisoners As will appear by a short Survay we shall take of such Battails and Warlike Encounters which intervend from time to time twixt the two Nations We will begin with that famous Battail twixt King Athelstan and them when they had a great Army of Danes joynd with them and being twice in number more then the English yet King Athelstan obtaind a signal Victory both by Prowess and Policy for the two Armies being ready to joyn the English made semblance to flee away leaving their Bagage behind which as the Scot and Dane were a sharing the English did suddenly wheele about by the advantage of a Woody Hill and finding them in disarray and laden with Booty they rushd upon them with such a Resolution that above 40 thousand of them and as Buchanan their chief Chronologer hath it the flower of their Nobility perishd there at that time The first Fire-ball of War which was thrown twixt both the Nations since the Norman Invasion was in William Rufus his Raign when the Scot having made divers Incursions into the English Borders Moubray Earl of Northumberland was sent against them who incountring their King Malcolm with his eldest Son in the Field they were both slain and the whole Army overthrown In King Stephens days Thurston then Archbishop of York was sent with an Army against the Scot who meeting the King himself in the head of his Forces utterly routed him with the death of above 10000 of his Men. Henry the second employd only the Knights of Yorkshire as Humphry-vile Scuttvil and Vescy to make head against the Scot which they did with such Valour and Success that they took the King in the Field and as a Trophy of their good Service and Victory they presented him Prisoner to the King at Northampton whence he carried him along to attend him in his French VVars William the Scots King attended Richard the Lion-hearted at his second Coronation when he returned from the Holy Land and carried the Sword before him bare-headed Edward the first calld in story and as his Tomb in Westminster tells us Scotorum Malleus the Hammer of the Scots summond King Baliol to Newcastle to swear Fealty unto him but fleeing afterwards to the French King at his return King Edward summons him again to Berwick where he re-submitted himself with all his Nobles in open Parlement which King Edward held there and for Caution brought Baliol along with him leaving the Earl of Surrey Warden of Scotland Then started up a notable Blade one Wallis who notwithstanding that King Baliol was Prisoner in England gatherd such a strength that causd King Edward to go again in person and at Fonkirk Battail killd outright 200 of their Nobles and Gentry with about forty thousand Common soldiers Then he summons a Parlement at Edinburgh where all the Scots Nobles swore Fealty to him and then he carried away thence their Great Charter calld the Ragman-Roll the Black-Cross and the Stone wherein they believe the Fate of Scotland is fixd Then ther was a third Provocation offer'd for le Bruce was crownd King of Scotland wherupon the Earl of Pembrook was sent against him who utterly defeated him at Iohnston yet all was not quiet but King Edward was forcd to make a fourth expedition thither in person when he constraind le Bruce to flee away to Norway where he blew on his Nayls while King Edward liv'd But Bruce being come back and Usurping during Edward the seconds time who we read was so infirm and infortunat a King his Father Edward the third restord Baliol by force of Arms and made him swear Fealty to England again But some yeers after King Edward being deeply engagd in the French Wars David the next Scots King rush'd into England with about sixty thousand men being confederat with the French King to divert the War there But Queen Philippa with the Archbishop of York and the Lords and Knights of the North encounterd this huge Army and utterly defeated it one Copland taking the Scots King Prisoner whom he he reservd for a present to give King Edward when he came from France and to keep company with Iohn the French King who also was taken Prisoner by the Black Prince And there were but six weeks difference of time twixt both Victories In Richard the seconds Raign the French King sent his High Admiral with a thousand
whatsoever He did being done by fear duresse and compulsion was of no better force then a Covenant extorted by violence or made in prison by a private man which when he is at liberty he is not bound by Law to perform if it tend to his damage To this t is answerd That the case is far different twixt Souverain Princes and privat men for between the one ther fall out but Processes and Suits in law if they disagree or not perform what is a greed upon But between Princes bloud and Wars fire and Sword death and destruction somtimes of whole Countries and millions of human soules do Ensue Therfore when a King by the propitiousness of Heven and his own prowess by the hazard of his life loss of his peeple with infinit pains and expence of Tresure hath gaind a Victory by the justness of his Cause and Divine decree or reduâ—…d his Enemy to a streight All the Civilians concur in one unanimous opinion that he may make the best advantage he can of his good successes and reduce his Enemy to what terms he please And the Articles which shall then be capitulated consented and sworn unto are to be exactly performd otherwise there wold be no end of any War Now rhe French Chroniclers themselfs acknowledg that Henry the 5. might at that conjuncture of time and fortune have destroyed the whole Realm of France and taken the King prisoner or driven him quite out But he was so far from doing so that he sufferd him to enjoy the Kingdom while he livd and by taking his daughter to wife made her Issue therby capable not only of the French but also of the English Crown with all the Dominions thereunto annexed Whence some Authors observ that the English have bin usd in all Treaties and Stipulations to be over-reasonable merciful plain and downright But the French crafty double minded inhumane high and subdolous upon all advantages Insomuch that t is a question which was sharper the English blade or the French brain I will conclude this digressive discours with another argument of the French viz. That Charles the sixth could not legally disinherit his eldest son being Heiâ—… apparent to the Crown of France To this may be answerd that neither Charles the sixth was rightful King nor consequently his son heir apparent for since Edward the third of England all the French Kings were but Usurpers they were Kings de facto not de jure Moreover ther are many Examples how the eldest sons of the Kings of France have bin disinherited We read that Robert made his second son Henry King of France by disinheriting Robert his eldest who for compensation was made Duke of Burgundy Lewis le Gros with the consent of all the Peers and Estats of France made also Lewis his second son King and gave Robert his eldest the Earldom of Dreux Dagobert made Clouis his second son King of France by putting by Sigisbert his eldest son I have bin somwhat long in discours of this great Transaction twixt England and France because the chief aim of this Work being at Precedence the discerning Reader may regulat his judgment accordingly We will now go on to conclude this Paragraph the main scope wherof being Antiquity and continuance of Royal Bloud The Genealogical Tree of the Kings of this Iland as all other Countries hath had various Stems the first were Britains now calld Welsh who may contend for Antiquity and may be said to be coetaneous with the Iland it self yea before it was an Iland for ther want not some who hold that it was at first a continent or a peninsula tied to Gallia by an Isthmos or neck of land stretching from Dover to Bullen for the Rocks on both coasts being of a colour and shape look as if they were slented one out of the other Before the Romans took footing here which was neer upon 200 yeers before they could do it peaceably the Britains did still so bear up against them wheras Gallia or France was fully conquerd in less then 10 yeers I say before the Roman Eagle fixd his talons here ther had bin 65 Kings of the British Bloud But then that Race being interrupted by the Romans for above 400 yeers the Iland being freed of Them some of the old British Bloud came to be Kings again among whom some were very famous as 〈◊〉 and Arthur his son the chief Christian Worthy who was the first Founder of Warlike honour conferrd upon his Knights of the Round Table And this Race of the old British Kings lasted till the raign of Cadwallader Anno 689 yet ther were Welsh Princes that swayd still as among other Howel Dha the Great Legislator and stood stoutly for their Liberty until the raign of Edw. 1. in whose raign Leolâ—… the last Prince of the British Bloud being slain in battel his head was brought to King Edward who commanded it to be crownd with Iâ—…ie confessing that he had met with more valour in the Welsh then the Scots for he had fierce Wars with both But Cadwallader being dead the British Race was interrupted again till Owea Tewdors time who descended from Cadwallader as shall be shewd by a Gâ—…rman peeple inhabiting the lower Circuit of Saxony and so calld Saxons by the Welsh and Irish to this day They had a 〈◊〉 a long time but Egbert by conquest reduâ—…d them to a Monarchy and he was the first who calld himself King of England Then that English Race alâ—…o of Kings had two short Interruptions one by the Danes wherof ther raigned here three Kings but all their raigns extended not to â—…5 yeers Then by William of Normandy and that Interruption â—…asted about 40 yeers till Henry the first married the lady Matilda daughter to Malcolme King of Scotland by the Lady Margaret sister to Edgar Athelâ—…g wherby the English Bloud Royal was restord Then by a marvellous providence the British Royal Bloud after about 800 yeers Interruption was restoâ—…d by Owen Tewdor who married the Queen Dowager Katherine and so was Granfather to Hen. 7. which Tewdor by an exact 〈◊〉 that was made by the British Bards and confirmed by the English Heralds came lineally from the foresaid King Cadwallader and Leolin so ther were three Kings viz. Hen. 7. Hen. 8. Edw. 6. with two Queens viz. Mary and Elizabeth all Tewdors Then came in the Royal Race of Scotland by the Lady Margaret Tewdor eldest daughter to Hen. 7. and first branch of the two Roses Now by a due computation made of the premises it will be found that take British or English the source and series of the Bloud Royal of England is above a thousand yeers since And if from Cadwallader you go to the British Kings before the Romans interrupted the Royal succession therof it will be neer upon 3000 yeers which no kingdom â—…ls can say Moreover the Bloud Royal of Scotland some hundreds of yeers before was incorporated in the British for the mother of the first
we think that Right to appertain still to the Crown of England notwithstanding that the Territories and Dominions of the Kingdome of Spain be propagated and amplified which in the right estimation of things prevails not or ought to prevail twixt Christian Princes touching this question For then other Kings and Princes would assume a right of Precedence above others to whom now they grant it ever and anon if their Dominions increase Moreover touching this present controversie about Precedence ther is another thing which doth not unworthily offer it self to be examined by your Judgements which is That one of Us which the most serene Queen our Mistress hath chosen her Ambassador to conclude this Treaty of Peace is one who daily resides in that quality in the Court of the most Christian King which Dignity with all Prerogatives he retains as long as he sojourns in France But the first of you although he be Ambassador to the Catholick King with the most serene Archduke and being out of the Dominions therof he puts off that quality and dignity We think also that our Ambassador in whom this Dignity is multiplyed and shines more ought by right to be preferred before any that is appointed by a single and bare title onely for this great Treaty Therfore if you please let this Question be pretermitted with deep silence and let this Prerogative remain and dwell in the most serene Queen our Mistress to whom it justly belongs and appertains so we shall more cheerfully apyly our selfs to the business for which we are come All this we desire may be candidly and frendly accepted according to the prudence and moderation of your illustrious and magnificent Lordships as proceeding from the Observances and Religion of our Office not with any dessein to consume time or raise contentions Bullen 26 Maii 1600. Henry Nevil Iohn Harbert c. The Spanish Ambassadors made an answer herunto which we reserve for the third Section wherin the Arguments of Spain for Precedence are set down wherof one of the strongest he urgeth is the Multiplication and encrease of Dominions which according to Besoldus and Cassaneus with other great Civilian Jurists is no Argument at all in regard it doth not hold among ordinary Nobility As for example He of Arundel is first Earl in England He of Angus in Scotland And He of Kildare in Ireland by the Laws of Heraldry and Hereditary Right Put case that some other of their fellow Earls in either Kingdome shold grow richer and have more Mannors Possessions and Lordships yet they will not offer to take place or precedence so the Argument may hold A minori ad majus For if it be so among Noble-men much more shold this Rule have validity among Souvrain Princes I will go on with a passage that happend in Paris a little above twenty years since Hugo Grotius residing at Paris in quality of Ambassador for the Crown of Sweden attempted to make his Coaches go before those of the Earl of Leicester pretending a right of Precedence because the King of Sweden whom he represented was King of the ancient Goths and Vandals c. which was under favor but a feeble Argument For ther were Kings of Great Britain thousands of years before the Goths or Vandals were scarce known to the Christian world nor do any stories make mention of them until a little after the declinings of the Roman Empire about the year 350 from the Incarnation nor came they to be Christians till a long time after And it is the Position of Grotius himself in his Book de Iure Belli Inter Reges quâ—… primo Christianismum professi sunt praecedunt Who first professd Christianity ought to precede Moreover the King of Denmark entitles himself King of the Goths and Vandals as well But my Lord of Leicester carried himself so like himself that our Swedish Ambassador was put behind with a Disgrace somewhat answerable to his Presumption and to the explosion of the Spectators Now Let the prudent and unpassionat Reader weigh with leasure the foregoing Particulars and reserve his Judgement till he hath run through the Reasons and Arguments of the other two Kings in order to a Precedency T is time now to cross over to France and produce the Arguments of that King faithfully extracted out of the most receavd and celebrated Authors who assert his Right to sit next the Emperour upon all occasions As Cassanaeus Ferhaut Besoldus Carolus de Grasseliis Hierome Bignon Pierre Matthieu c. And let this be a close to the First Section The second Section Consisting of the Reasons wherby the French King pretends and claims Priority of Place and Proximity of Session next the Emperour at all Solemn Meetings and in all publik Transactions of State c. Which Reasons In regard they lie confusd and scatterd in other Authors we will reduce to Ten Heads or Arguments wherof the first shall be drawn 1. A Nobilitate Regni from the Nobleness of the Kingdome 2. The second A Nobilitate Regionis from the Nobleness of the Country 3. The third A Noblitate Regiminis from the Nobleness of the Government 4. The fourth A Religione Nobilitate Ecclesiae from Religion and the Nobleness of the Church 5. The fifth A Nobilitate Gentis multitudine Subditorum from the Nobleness of the Nation and multitude of Subjects 6. The sixth A plenitudine Regiae Potestatis from the absolutness of Regal Authority 7. The seventh A Potentia ipsius Regni from the Power of the Kingdome it self 8. The eighth Ab opulentia ipsius Regni from the Riches thereof 9. The ninth A Fortitudine Rebus in Bello gestis from Valour and Exploits done in the War 10. The tenth and last Argument shall be drawn ab Exemplo Antiquitate from Examples and Antiquities Of the first Argument A Nobilitate Regni from the Nobleness of the Kingdome THer is a speech drawing neer to the nature of a Proverb Great Britain for an Iland France for a Kingdome Milan for a Duchy and Flanders for a County or Earldome are preferrable before all other They are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in their kind this shews the supereminence of the Kingdome of France Ther is also a signal saying of the Emperour Maximilian the first who being in some Critical Discourses with his Lords about the Dominions of Europe broke out into this high Encomium of France That if it could stand with the Order of Nature and the Plesure of the Almighty that any mortal Man were capable to be a God of the Elementary world and that I were He I would so make my last Will and Testament in the disposing of my Estate That my eldest Son shold be God after me but my second shold be King of France This saying or excess of speech must be interpreted with a sane sense for the Emperour meant nothing els hereby but to intimate his opinion touching that potent and noble Kingdom which Kingdom hath continued an Heredetary
first after the person of the Emperour who hath still preference given him before all secular Princes whatsoever Now the Question was never Sur le tapis was never controverted about Priority twixt France and Spain till the house of Austria started up to that enormous greatness And although before Charles the fifth ther were Six Emperours of that House and that the quality of Emperour gives precedence to any who legally possesseth the title be he of what Family soever yet that Prerogative is not given to any of their posterity being not calld to the Empire In regard in Electif States the Election adhering only to the person of the Elected gives the Eminence only to his person excluding all other yea his own Sons unless they be formally elected although in Successif hereditary patrimonial Estates t is otherwise Insomuch that the house of Austria hath no more right to the Empire then the house of Saxe Luxemburg or Brandenburg with other Families who were Caesars before them Another House which much strengthend that of Austria was that of Burgundy which yet was feudetary to France as also the Counties of Flanders and Artois though the rest of the seventeen Provinces which came to Spain by this alliance with Burgundy are Fiefs of the Empire The other Houses who did aggrandize Charles the fifth were Castile and Aragon Castile came to be a Kingdome but after the yeer 1000. And the Kings of England took always precedence of them Arragon was but a small State feodary to the Church of Rome until the Kingdome of Naples which is also a Fief of the Church was annexd unto it Hereunto as Fortune wold have it were added the West-Indies discoverd first by an Italian and offerd to the King of England Then by alliance with Portugal the East-Indies came also to the Crown of Castile This increase of Countries raisd the Spirits of the Spaniard to claim Precedence of France and England two of the most ancient Christian Kings And to go more methodically to work we will divide the State of the house of Austria to three times First to that which preceded the year 1519. when Charles was establishd in the Empire The second during his Raign until he retird to a Claustral Life Anno 1555 The third to his Progeny since Touching the first t is certain that notwithstanding the promotion of this Family to the Empire yet it continued still homageable to the Empire For Philip the Father of Charles the Emperour rendred solemn homage to the Chancellor du Rochefort and Charles after him for the Counties of Flanders and Artois Anno 1507. so that the said Charles being born in Gant was born a Vassal to the King of France That in the Interview of Lewis the twelfth and Ferdinand of Aragon Anno 1507. at Savona although King Lewis usd great civilities to Ferdinand coming to visit him upon his own Territories and so gave him Precedence yet the world knows that it was but by way of Complement But before Charles mounted the Empire this Dispute of Precedence never entred into the Spirit of Spain In the year 1519. Charles was created Emperour which Anno 1555. he resignd to his Brother Ferdinand and at the same time he made a voluntary and absolut Cession of all the rest of his Dominions to his Son Philip the second except the Archduchy of Austria and the dependences therof in Germany Philip though he succeeded in the Empire to which the Precedence only belongs yet he endevourd to keep it still under pretext that he succeeded the Emperour his Father in all his large her hereditary Dominions who always took place in all Assemblies Enterviews and Tretises specially in the great Council of Trent though it was confusedly because two qualities were in him of Emperour and King which could not be distinguished or separated But in the yeer 1555. when meditating upon a retirement he resignd the Empire to his Brother and all his Kingdomes to his Son Philip perceaving that his Son could not take precedence of the King of France because he was not Emperour He made use of another artifice for conserving this pre-eminence for his Son as well as for his Brother Before his retirement he revokd Don Francisco de Vargas his Ambassador in Venice who had always taken precedence of the French Ambassador without scruple Now after his resignation of the Empire he sends again the said Vargas to Venice as his and also his Sons Ambassador joyntly though indeed he was but Ambassador only to the King of Spain But he thought to over-reach the Venetian because he employd still the same man qualified in apparance as formerly Vargas demanded of the Senat the same precedence as formerly which the Bishop of Lodeve Ambassador at the same time to Hen. 2. of France opposd remonstrating to the Senat that Charles was no more considerable to the world being a reclusd person And if the Ambassador of Ferdinand to whom he had transferrd the Empire were present he wold yeild place unto Him but he wold not come after the Ambassador of King Philip. The Senat apprehending some ill issue from this Dispute orderd that neither of the Ambassadors shold be present at the Feast of St. Mark and so the business remaind at a stand by the irresolution of the Senat and the simplicity of the French Ambassador who at last was contented to give way to the Ordinance of the Republique in favor of Vargas But Anno 1558. Francis de Novailles Bishop of Acs succeeding him of Lodeve renewd the Dispute and the Ambassador of Ferdinand arriving about the same time Novailles demanded of the Senat to be maintaind in his Rights and to have the first place next the Imperial Ambassadors and so took it couragiously before Vargas who observing the cunning of the Emperour Charles who died in this conjuncture of time was discoverd and that he passd for no more then for the Ambassador of King Philip Vargas began to speak high of the Grandeur of his Master and to display the large Dominions and States he lorded over far more in numbee then those of the French King alledging that these Customs of Honor and Antecedences ought to be alterd according to the times That his Master was the greatest King of the world That he was able to assist the Republique with Arms Men and Mony more then the King of the French c. But the Bishop of Acs though much heat intervend obtaind of the Senat a Deerâ—…e wherby the precedence was adjudgd him before the Spanish Ambassador who loudly complaining therof the Senat made answer That the Republik did not trouble her self to examine the greatness of their Majesties but she found within her Registers that in all Acts both publik and privat in all Ceremonies Visits and Audiences the Ambassadors of France preceded those of Spain wherin she wold acquiesce This answer offended King Philip who therupon revokd his Ambassador But Michael Surianus Ambassador for the Republick in
ΠΡ Ο Ε Δ Ρ Ι Α Î’ Α Σ Ι Λ Ι Κ Η A DISCOURSE Concerning the PRECEDENCY OF KINGS Wherin the REASONS and ARGUMENTS Of the Three Greatest Monarks of Christendom Who claim a several Right Therunto Are Faithfully Collected and Renderd Wherby occasion is taken to make Great Britain better understood then some Forren Authors either out of Ignorance or Interest have represented Her in order to this Particular Whereunto is also adjoynd A distinct Treatise of AMBASSADORS c. Symbolum Authoris Senesco non Segnesco LONDON Printed by Ia. Coâ—…trel for Sam. Speed at the Rainbow and Chr. Eccleston at the middle shop under St. Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet 1664. TO HIS MAJESTY OF Great Britain France and Ireland c. SIR THer are many who have written of the Pre-eminences and Antiquity of the Power and Prerogatives of France and Spain in order to a Precedence or Superiority But while they magnifie their own Kings they derogat from other Moreover while they produce their Resons they often fall into such excesses of speech that they may be calld rather Rodomontados then Resons But ther is none who hath written yet of Great Britain in relation to this Point therfore t is the principal scope of this VVork wherin ther is an Endevour to make Her better understood and to prove by Relevant and lively Resons without offence to any That the Monark of Great Britain if He go not before at least He ought not to come behind any King whatsoever Now in regard t is a Theme of so sublime a Nature and depends chiefly upon ancient Records History and the Opinion of Civilians who have bin principally consulted the Author hath had a special Care and Caution to be very exact and tru in his Quotati ons of all kinds Lastly The Author most humbly under favor did deem Himself not altogether incapable of such a Task for having bin in most of the great Courts of Christendom For having Negotiated by Royal Commission above three years in the Court of Spain For having bin Orator in an extraordinary Ambassage to Denmark and divers Princes of Germany For having bin so often in France and sundry Courts of Italy c. He may be thought not to be Impar Negotio May all the Blessings and best Influences of Heven light upon Your Royal Head this New-Year and many many many more according to the due and dayly Devotions of the humblest of Calendis Januarii 1664. Your MAJESTIES Votaries Vassals J. Howel To the Discerning Reader THe Ingredients and Matter wherof this New kind of Historical Peece is composd may be said to be all of Crown-Gold the subject therof being Kings Whence it is worth the observing that History is a Lady of that Excellence that she hath Kings to her Subjects We well know what a ticklish and tremendous Task it is to treat of Kings who have power of Life and Death Ther must be as much Caution as Care usd therin It is as perilous as it is painful It is as walking upon the Ridg of a high House or dancing upon a Rope where unless one be well counterpoizd he is in danger to break his Neck Especially a task of this high nature that treats of Regal Precedence And we find that they who write too peremptorily thereof have done it with more offence then satisfaction And indeed ther was never any binding Determination made therof but where Decisions have bin made the Princes upon new occasions have excepted or protested against them Therfore the Author here doth not presume to determine the Question positively and definitively en dernier ressort for Tantas componere lites Non opis est nostrae Therfore he refers it to the Discerning Reader who is left free and evry way unsubornd to pass his Iudgment accordingly in mesuring evry King by the merit of his own Resons which are here fairly and faithfully exhibited and those of France and Spain exactly drawn out of their own Authors having not omitted any that hath any weight Now t is found among Historians that Contestations about Precedence of Session and Superiority with other Formalities Complements Visits and Ceremonies have bin very fatal to Christendom And t is observd also that the various Dignities in the Church hath multiplied them The great Clash twixt Rome and Constantinople twixt St. Peter and St. Andrew was the unhappy cause of the Defection and total Separation of the Greek Church from the Latin The hot Dispute for Precedence twixt the Emperour Frederiki and Pope Adrian 4. did put all the Christian world on fire The great Oecumenical Council at Lyons which concernd so much the interest of Christendom broke up about Punctilios for Precedencie The great Contest twixt Patriarks and Cardinals bred a great deal of confusion but at last the Patriarks had the better for they of Constantinople Hierusalem Antioch and Alexandria precede the Cardinals though they be calld the Princes of the Church and have the Prerogative not to be tryed without 72 Witnesses I mean the Bishop-Cardinals 44 Witnesses the Cardinal-Priests and 30 the Deacon-Cardinal One of the 24 Causes and it proved the greatest that the English lost France was a Clash that happend at St. Omers twixt the Duke of Bedford and Burgundy about Punctilios of Complement and Precedency That hopeful Trety of Peace at Bullen twixt Queen Elizabeth and her Brother-in-law Phil. 2. King of Spain after a long lingring War by Sea and Land broke off for question of Precedence or rather for the peevishness of the Spanish Ambassadors who had no other Argument that had any probability of reson but that the Catholik King was encreasd in Territories wheras the Civilians say that Supervenient and Accessory Dominions with accumulation of Titles have no force twixt Princes all the while they continue still in eodem gradu dignitatis Nor could they give any answer at all to the Arguments the English Ambassadors producd wherof one was that of Volaterranus who doth plainly relate how the Pope did adjudge the Prerogative of Precedence to Hen. 7. of England before Ferdinand of Spain as it will appeer more at large in the following Discours Now ther have bin divers means found by prudent Mediators from time to time for accommoding and reconcilement of differences in point of Precedence somtimes by dilatorious ways somtimes by Alternatif Determinations yet Jure Partium integre reservato As the great clash twixt Warwick and Buckingham in England was composd that they shold precede alternatim evry three yeers so the hot contest twixt the Ursini and the Colonnas two of the antientst Families in Rome was reconcild that the elder of the two who were living shold precede which makes the younger never come to the Popes Chappel where they take place next Kings Ambassadors The difference Inter Scherensem Wolfeggianam Familiam in Germany was reconcild that the one shold carry the Pomum Aureum the Golden Apple of the Empire going in the other at
at Mahomet the thirds Circumcision which lasted 40 days there being then in Constantinople the Ambassadors of the greatest Monarchs upon Earth yet the Ambassador of Rodulphus the Emperour had the Precedence of them all All this is but Collateral to the main Designe of the intended Discourse which aims chiefly at Kings whereunto we now hasten but we will first give a few Hints or Prolegomenas of the Original of Kingly Government Of Royalty or Kingly Government THere is a Saying in France Pape par voix Empereur par Force Roy par Nature Pope by Choice Emperour by Might King by Nature viz. Successive and Hereditary Kings who ought to have the Precedence of Elective Whence may be inferred That Kingly Government is most agreeable to Nature Now 't is a tru and elegant Principle That Naturam sequi est Deo obsequi To follow Nature is to obey God Concerning the Character or Title of King it is of a more ancient date then that of Emperour For they who grope at Government before the Floud speak of Kings in Chaldee and Egypt Rome began with Kings and it may be said that it was more the Peeples Wantonness then Tarquin's which put them down Afterwards the Name of Emperour was given to that person who was Commander in chief of the Army or Praetorian Bands and Legionary Soldiers it was not a Title of that Sublimity and Transcendence as it proved afterward Among the Greek Authors the Names of Monarchs Kings and Emperours are taken promiscuously But all Writers that pretend to Policy acknowledge that Kingly Government of all other as it is the most ancient and may be said to begin with Adam so it hath most conformity with that of Heaven whence the best patterns for all Humane Actions are to be fetch'd and 't is no presumption to do it Moreover of all kinde of Ruling Powers Royalty is the prime for in it as the Civilians say there is formalis completa gubernandi ratio the most formal and compleat Essence of Government Royalty also hath the easiest the fewest and certainst Principles if any certain can be found for there is no Knowledge so subject to confusion and incertitudes as the Art for Man to govern Men It could never yet be brought to a Science which consists of general and tru Apodictical Demonstrations The Reason may be the various Inclinations Caprichio's and Humours of Peeple proceeding from the diversity of Climes and Coelestial Influences as also from that World of Contingencies which attend Human Negotiations likewise from the diffring Positions of Earth for those Laws and kinds of Government which may be proper for the Continent will not fit an Insulary Peeple nor those Laws of a Maritime Country can sute with meer Inland or Mediterranean Territories Therefore that Gran Senior of all Knowledge the Stagirite whereas he useth to be constant to himself while he gives Maximes for other Sciences when in his Politiques he comes to Human Government and beats his Brain how to prescribe certain Rules conducing thereunto He is not found onely at a loss and wavering to himself but he wraps his Scholars here and there in Clouds of Ambiguities Nor can we blame him and others to rove up and down in that manner upon this subject it being beyond the compass of Human Brain to enact such Laws may fit all times prevent all accidents and quadrat with the Genius of all Nations Some Peeple are so fiery-mouth'd that they must be rid with a Bit Curb and Martingale but a snafâ—…le and gentle hand will serve to manage others Now 't is observ'd that they who inhabit hard and barren Countries are more easily govern'd then those who live in fat and luxurious Soyls where being pamper'd with Plenty and Wealth they are apt to grow wanton and kick at or overthrow their Riders Yet it may be said that there is one certain and Universal Rule for Government and to keep a Peeple in a constant and exact Obedience and that Rule is For the Soveraign Prince to have always a standing and visible actual Power in motion as well to conserve as to curb a Peeple in case of any Commotion And 't is consentaneous to good Reason that the Subject shold contribut for this general Protection according to the saying Defend me and spend me that so evry one may rest under his own Roofs and sit at his own Fires in quietness and safety In sum All Statists concur in this That there is an Awe due to a King as well as Affection He must be a Dread Soverain as well as a Gracious and that Govermentâ—…s best temper'd where a few Drams of Fear are blended with the Peeples Love But now to our main Work Touching The Precedence of Kings And particularly of the great TRIUMVIRS OR The Three most Potent KINGS in Europe IN discussing this high Point we will first look Westward For there is a Story tells us That once when there were divers who stood in competition for the Kingdome of Persia it was agreed between them that the next morning they shold all meet in a great Plain and he who did first see the Sun rising and that his Horse did neigh shold be the King Being met on Horse-back at break of day as the rest stood gazing towards the East Darius one of the Competitors look'd always towards the West and at last finding a glance of the Solar Beams his Horse neighed whereat he suddenly turned back and so claim'd the Kingdome So to finde the truth of what is here sought after we will first look Westward towards Great Britain whose King may compare with any other whatsoever for these Reasons First for Antiquity of Predecessors and particularly of Christian Kings Secondly for an Independent absolute and unhomageable Possession and Authority both Spiritual and Temporal Thirdly for Eminence of Royal Dignity State and Titles Fourthly for Martial Exploits and Atchievments abroad Fifthly for a stout and strong sturdy freeborn Peeple with a plentiful Masculine Country and generality of Wealth Sixthly for a Royal long-lind Extraction and Blood Seventhly for Hospitality and a plentiful Kingly Court with number of Officers and stately Attendance Eighthly for diversity of Nations and diffring Maternal Languages As also that no Kings Face shines upon his Coyn in purer Metal Ninthly for Prudential Laws and Constitutions Tenthly for Greatness of Power by Sea and Land Defensive and Offensive With other Prerogatives I say that the King of Great Britain may hereby not onely claim an Equality with the other two but stand fair for a Precedence Now for proof of all the fore-pointed Particulars we will put evry one by it self and treat thereof in several Paragraphs and first Of the Antiquity of the King and particularly of the Christian Kings in Great Britain whereby we take A Jove Principium IT is observed by most Annalists who write of Countries and Nations that the Britains who were the Aborigenes the Primitive Inhabitants and may be said to be
Connatural with this Iland it self were by a special instinct much devoted to the contemplation of heavenly things For the ancient Druydes that were the first Divines or Professors of Religion who in lieu of Monasteries or Colleges were used to retire themselfs to Woods and solitary places to speculat the Works of God and Nature were renowned far and near beyond the Seas and the Emperour Iulius Caesar writes that the Gaules now French were wont to come over to be instructed by the British Druydes who as he saith elsewhere and is seconded by Cornelius Tacitus which spent part of his life here had more pregnant capacities then the Gaules Now in those times ther were divers Martial Kings here whereas they scarce make mention of any in Gallia To avoid prolixity we will instance onely in Boadicia that admired Virago and Cataractus who having maintain'd for many years this Kingdom from the Romanes more by the Bodies of Men and pure Natural Valour then by Arms was at last carried Prisoner to Rome where being not a whit daunted he reproach'd the Romanes yet with a kind of complement That he wondred how they having such stately Palaces at Rome wold take such long hazardous Journeys to dwell in homely Houses of Clay as those of Britain were in those days Before the Romans raigned here there had been very many Kings of this Iland for Cassibelan whom Caesar speaks of was the sixty third British King thereof when it pleased the Father of Light to display the early Beams of Christianity in this Iland which was very betimes for as Gregory the 15th says in his Letter to his late Majesty at that time in Spain which he was to receive in common civility as the Pope is also a Temporal Prince No sooner did the Roman Eagle fly over hither but the Standard of the Cross was inarborated and set up I say that then which may be said to be in the nonage of the Church Lucius Surius call'd in British Llei vab Coel Lucius the Son of Coel who was King before him sent to Eleutherius for his Laws to govern the Church by who returned him this answer Vicarius Dei estis in Regno vestro Gentes vestri Regni pulli vestri sunt c. Habetis penes vos legem Fidem Christi Habetis utramque paginam c. You are Gods Vicar in your Kingdome your Peeple are your Chickins you have the Law and Faith of Christ you have both the Testaments c. This King Lucius afterwards having frequent symptomes and fits of extraordinary Devotion forsook all earthly Pomp and Plesure and went on Pilgrimage to Rome where he employed the remnant of his life in the Theory of holy things and to study the Art of Mortification as Venerable Bede and Baronius with all Authors both Old and New do affirm Now this was a long tract of time before ther was any Christian King in France or Spain or indeed any where else 'T is true that St. Iames the Apostle was in Spain but as the Story says there were but nine persons that were converted but in Great Britain it may be said that as the Sun when he begins to appear and culminat in the East doth as it were in a moment enlighten the whole Hemisphere so the Rays of the Son of Righteousnes did with marvellous celerity and success leaping over as it were many other Countries illuminat this Western Iland first insomuch that when Austin whom many call The Apostle of the Saxons or English arrived here some Ages after ther were then in Bangor and elsewhere above 2000 Monks He found the Pentateuch of Moses the New Testament translated into British as also a Form of Divine Service which stand yet upon record The huge Continent of Germany with Norway and Denmark with divers other Countries acknowledg to have receiv'd the first light of Learning and of the Gospel from hence by Winfrid and Willebrod as an ingenious German-Poet confesseth in these Numbers Haec tamen Arctois laus est aeterna Britannis Quòd post Pannonicis vastatum incursibus Orbem Illa bonas Artes Graiae munera Linguae Stellarumque vias magni sydera Coeli Observans iterum turbatis intulit oris Quin se Religio multùm debere Britannis Servata latè circum dispersa fatetur Quis nomen Winfride tuum quis munera nescit Te Duce Germanis pietas se vera Fidesque Insinuans coepit ritus abolere prophanos Quid non Alcuino facunda Lutetia debet c. And as it is the consentient Opinion of all Antiquaries That the first Christian King who ever raign'd in Europe was of this I le so the first Christian Emperour Constantin the Great came from her Bowels being Son to Helena that renowned British Lady who bears one of the first places in the Catalogue of Saints and is called Elen luyddiog the Warlike Helen in Welcâ—… to this day These Premises being well weigh'd this Conclusion may be deduc'd That the King of Great Britain may well claim de Iure the title of The first Son of the Church Therefore under favor it may be justly question'd why the next King Eastward shold assume it for Clouis the first Christian King in France was neer upon 400 years after King Lucius as all Historians do assert Moreover t is well known that besides the title of Defendor of the Faith whereof we will speak hereafter the title of Christianissimus was sent to Hen. 8. with much solemnity by Pope Iulius the second accompanied with a Cap of Maintenance and a Sword which title was confirmed by Authority of the Lateran Council which great transaction was solemnly publish'd in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul and seconded with Justs and Tournements yet this was but the renewing of an old Title for among the Saxon Kings some were call'd so and ther are Records yet extant that King Oswald and Edward the third were stil'd so We will conclude this Paragraph with this Observation That Great Britain was the first Country in Europe who shook off the Roman Yoak and rais'd some of the former old British Blood to be Kings again for many Descents insomuch that the Romans here made but an Interregnum And this was before any absolut King was elsewhere in Europe upon the declinings of the Empire specially in France and Spain who continued but Roman Provinces many years after We will now to the second Paragraph Of the Independent Absolut and Unhomageable Possessions and Authority both Ecclesiastical and Temporal of the King of Great Britain FRom the precedent Paragraph it appears That Albion or Great Britain was a Royal I le from the beginning since there was any coalition or aggregations of mankind within her to govern For in the body of the British Laws made by Mulmutius Dunwallo which are yet to be read in fair British-Manuscripts ther are these words Un Goron arbennig y sydd y ynis Bridian One Monarchical Crown is held
in the I le of Britain Just according to the ancient Greek Poet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Many Lords are not good let there be but One. Now from that time to this the King of Britain had and hath as Souveraign and incontroulable a sway as any 'T is true that he admits others sometimes to share with him in Counsel but not in Power by a kind of Influence he gives Light and Command to others but he himself receives none from any In the Neighbouring Monarchies it cannot be said so and particularly in France and Spain where it may be said ther is Regnum in regno ther is another Power à Legatus de latere that in a Court of Plea sways ore the Ecclesiastiques who make a considerable part of the Peeple Touching the latter the King of Spain is Feodary either to the Pope the Emperour or to France for all the Countries he hath The Kingdomes of Navarre and Granada were made Feodary to the Pope under Iulius the second Aragon to Innocent the third as also Sardinia in formula fiduciae Sicilia is relevant from the Church as also both the Indies and the Canary Ilands For the Kingdome of Naples and Calabria he sends a Mule with a Purse-full of Gold as a Heriot to Rome evry year for fear of an Excommunication the next day at the receit whereof the Pope says Sufficiat pro hac vice He holds the Dukedome of Milan from the Empire and most of the Provinces in the Netherlands from France whereof he is a double Peer as he is Duke of Burgundy and Earl of Flanders Now 't is questionable among the Civilians whether a Feodary or Homager may be call'd an Absolut Prince specially when Appeals may be made from him to another Court as the Spanish Clergy may from the King to Rome in divers cases The Kings of ENGLAND are free from Subordinations of that kind as the Fundamental Laws of the Land and all the ancient Learned Judges do evidence 'T is a Principle in the English Laws which is confirm'd by Baldus and other great Forren Jurists That Rex neminem habet in Dominiis suis nec Superiorem nec Parem The King in his own Dominions hath neither Superior nor Equal He may be said to be both Caesar and Pompey There is another Omnes sub Illo Ille sub nullo All under Him He under none Another yet Satis habet Rex ad poenam quod Deum expectet Ultorem 'T is enough for the King that God is to be his Judge which is expressed in this Distic Subditus in Regem peccat Legemque Fidemque At Rex in Solum Rex quia nempe Deum Ther are divers others that are conducing hereunto As The King must not be put to do any thing per aspertè but of his free plesure The King never dies but the Heir apparent is King Inchoative as soon as the former dies and the Coronation is but a meer Ceremony not Essential for divers Kings as Hen. 5. and others had Alleageance sworn unto them before they were Crowned There are more Maximes yet That the King can do no wrong but his Ministers may through whose mouths he pronounceth sentence Moreover Nullum tempus occurrit Regi Ther 's no Immemorial or Prescription against the King It is High Treson not only to contrive but to imagine ill against the King By the Kings Prerogative Life it self may be leased c. But that Traverse twixt King Iohn and the Legat Pandolpho when they say he transferred the Crown to the Pope is much insisted upon wherunto t is thus answered That ther are four great things whereof the Records cannot be found The first is that wherin the Emperour Constantine gave Rome to the Pope The second is that wherin Venice hath the Dominion of the Adriatic or Illyrian Gulph The third is the Salique Law The fourth is that Instrument wherby King Iohn pass'd over his Crown and made the Pope Lord Paramount of England Sir Thomas More who was so far devoted to Rome that he is canoniz'd for one of her Martyrs denieth absolutly that King Iohn either did or could make England Feudetary to the Pope because without the consent of his Barons an Act so much prejudicial to his Royal Successors was not valid and that the Peter-pence which they hold to be a Tribut relating to the foresaid Act was but a meer Alms which was given by King Ina 500 years before Moreover put case ther had been such an Act yet it stands upon good record that Innocentius the third did give a Release in these words Per Praeceptum Domini Papae 7 Iulii Homagium relaxatur omninò The Rome-scot also was but Regis larga benignitas the Kings bountiful kindness Adde hereunto that when the Pontificial Power was here at the highest pitch no Legat de latere was allowed but the Archbishop of Canterbury his Subject who by his Dignity is perpetual Legat de latere He is Legatus natus as he of Toledo is in Spain and the Primat of Armagh in Ireland and in point of Precedence at the Council of Clermont anno 1096. a Prerogative was given him for ever to sit at all general Councils at the Popes right foot Pope Urban at that time declaring in these terms Includamus hunâ—… in Orbe nostro tanquam alterius Orbis Pontificem Maximum Let us include him in our world as Pope of another world 'T is true ther have been other Legats de latere upon extraordinary occasions admitted but it was with the Kings leave and with this Proviso That he hath no Authority to hold Plea in the Realm prejudicial to the Laws thereof or derogatory to the King Thus it appears that no Extern power hath any thing to do in Great Britain and as the Pope so the Peeple neither whether consider'd Diffusively Collectively Representatively or Vertually partake any thing of the Souverain Power ther is no power either Co-ordinat Co-equal Corrival or Collateral with it The Kings of England have had always by the known Laws of the Land a pure underived Power not depending upon Pope or Peeple or any other Prince whatsoever They are Kings by the Grace of God which implies no earthly Dependency It stands upon good record how King Ina in the Preamble to his Laws for he was a great Legislator begins I Ina by the Grace of God King c. and this was above a thousand years ago about two hundred years before Charlemain in whose time that stile of Dei Gratia came first in use in the Empire And as on Land the King of Great Britain hath such a Latitude and Independence of Supreme Power so by Sea he hath the like which is such that without disparagement much less any injustice to any I may avouch no other Prince hath the like The greatest claim of Sea-Dominion that France makes is to the Coasts of Armorica or little Britany and a few Leagues in the Mediterranean The Spanish Laws are for the
up to the English Battail where the young Prince was The fight grew hot and doubtful insomuch that the Commanders sent to the King to come up with more power The King asking the Messengers Whether his Son was hurt or slain and being answerd No he replies Then tell them who sent you that so long as my Son is alive they send no more to me for my Will is that he have the honor of the day So the Fight on both sides growing very furious the French King having his Horse kill'd under him withdrew which being known by the English it added so to their courage that they soon after won the Field This was the first considerable Battail the English had of the French which was so sanguinary that ther were none made Prisoners but all put to the Sword and the number of the slain French surmounted the whole Army of the English for the number of the slain were about 30000. the chief whereof was Alenson the Kings Brother the Dukes of Bourbon and Lorain the Earl of Flanders the Dauphin de Viennois Son to Imbert who after gave Dauphine to the King of France provided his First Son shold still be calld the Dauphin which hath continued ever since This signal Victory was seconded the same yeer about six weeks after with another the Queen of England got against the Scots then confederat with the French where David the Scots King was taken Prisoner but this is reserv'd for another place because for a more methodical order we will hasten to the second great Victory in France the Battail of Poitiers The Battail of Poitiers The Black Prince being taperd up now to a good growth was sent by advice of Parlement to Gascony whence the Truce being expird he oreran and ravagd all the Country as far as Tourayne Iohn the French King raiseth a potent Army more numerous then that at Cressy and going to find out the Prince of Wales found him about Poitiers having not much above 10000 effect if men in his Army wheras the French had six times as many whereupon being advisd to make for Bourdeaux he was prevented by the French Army on all sides so a Battail being intended two Cardinals came from the Pope to mediat a Peace but the French King wold hearken to none unless that he wold as a Vanquish'd Man send him four Hostages and give up himself and his Army to discretion The Prince answerd That he was willing to restore what places he had taken of His in good War but without prejudice to his Honor wherof he was accountable to the King his Father c. Iohn not hearkning to this but being resolvd to fight the Prince also resolvd to part with his Life upon as high a rate as he could being reducd to this streight therfore he providently makes use of the Position of ground and finding that the main Army of the French consisted in Horse he entrenchd among the Vineyards where when the French Cavalry entred being wrapd and encomberd among the Vines the English Archers did so ply and gall them that being therby disorderd and put to rout the whole Army was soon totally defeated But it seems this Battail was not so fierce as that of Cressy where no quarter was given for in this Prisoners were made among whom was King Iohn himself whom the Prince brought to England and as the French Historians themselfs confess he was so civil to him all the while that he knew not whether he was a Free King or a Captif Besides Lords ther were slain 2000 of the French Nobless as Froissard hath it in this Battail and as at Cressy more French slain then the whole English Army was in number We will now to Agencourt Agencourt Battail Henry the Fifth that Man of men and mirror of Princes being come to the Crown he did cast his Eyes presently towards France for claiming of his Title In order wherunto he alterd in his Arms the bearing of Semy de Luces and quarters the three full Flower de Luces as the King of France himself did bear them He sends the Duke of Exceter with the Archbishop of Dublin and sundry other Noblemen in a magnificent Ambassy attended by 500 Horse to Paris to demand the Crown but receiving no satisfactory answer but rather a kind of jeer the Dauphin sending him a Sack full of Racket-court-Balls to pass away his time He replyed That for evry one of those Balls he had so many fiery Bullets to shoot at the proudest Turrets in France as he shold shortly find And he was as good as his word for he presently got over and encountring the French Army at Agencourt he gave it an utter overthrow and took more prisoners then his own Army had Soldiers which was upon a Sunday-morning about Ten of the Clock whereof having sent notice to England before and that extraordinary Masses shold be sung then in all Churches he stood upon the defensive part till that hour but then making a Speech of encouragement to his Army and among other strains telling how all England was praying for them at that time he carried away a compleat Victory he himself leading the main Battail with the Duke of Glocester his Brother c. But besides the foresaid Piety ther was Policy also usd for the King to prevent the fury of the French Cavalry appointed divers Stakes studded with Iron at both ends of six foot long to be pitch'd behind the Archers and ordred that Pioners shold attend to remove them as they shold be directed which invention conduc'd much to the success of the Action The King himself charg'd the Duke of Alenson and beat him off his Horse who therupon was slain so ther was a compleat and glorious Victory obtain'd We come now to the Battail of Spurs so calld because the French-men trusted more to their Spurs in fleeing away then to their Swords and Lances It was before Terwin in Hen. 8. Raign when Maximilian the Emperour servd under his Banner and receavd pay Ther came 8000 French Horse to relieve the place and a hot Dispute happend but they were all routed and put shamefully to flight so the Town was taken by the English Ther were a world of other Warlike Encounters and Skirmiges twixt the English and French whereof the stories are full and t is observd that the English at most were but half in number to the French in all Engagements insomuch that by pure prowess and point of the Sword they possessd two parts in three of that great Kingdome We read that when the English were at the height of their power in France the Pope came then to keep his Court at Avignon and ther was a common saying among the Peeple which since is grown to be a kind of Proverb Ores le Pape est devenu Francois Iesus Christ est devenu Anglois The Pope is turnd French-man and Jesus Christ is become an English-man which was spoken in regard we had such prodigious
Successes Before I part with France at present t is very fit the main subject of this Work being of Precedence to speak something of the Black Prince while he was Governor of Aquitane where he performd such notable Exploits and among other of that fa mous Charter of Precedence which was given to the Crown of England by Don Pedro King of Castile who being detruded out of the Throne by Henry his younger Brother fled for succour to the Black Prince in Gascognie who had at that time two other Kings in his Court viz. Ricaredo King of Navarre and Don Iayme King of Mallorca Which Charter being yet upon Authentique Record and not specified in the story of either Nations may very well deserve to be inserted here and it runs thus Petrus Dei gratia Rex Castellae Legionis omnibus praesentibus pariter futuris praesentes literas inspecturis lecturis aut audituris salutem fidem plenariam iisdem adhibere Cum in largitione donatione concessione privilegiorum libertatum franquesiarum ac honorum Praerogativa illis nos liberales gratiosiores reddere debeamus à quibus multiplicia beneficia honores nos recognoscimus recepisse Cumque Illustrissimus Rex Angliae Edoardus ejus primogenitus Princeps Aquitantae Walliae consanguinei nostri nos praedecessores nostros Reges Castellae retroactis temporibus fuerint favorabiliter prosecuti specialiter cùm nuper per Henricum quondam Comitem de Trestamare qui factâ cum quibusdam suis Complicibus coadunatione Regna nostra invasit usurpavit etiam occupavit more praedonico hostili ea indebitè detinet occupata de Regno in regnum de Dominio in Dominium loco ad locum ad mortem nos esset insecutus à qua persecutione per receptationem dicti Dom. Principiâ—… in Terra sua de nobis factam fuerimus liberati per ipsum gentes suas comfortati ac honorabiliter recepti tractati Nos memores dicti accepti beneficii in aliqualem praemissorum Recompensationem alias de nostra certa scientia speciali dono regia donatione potestate damus concedimus pro nobis haeredibus successoribus nostris Regibus Castellae per praesentes dicto Illustrissimo Regi Angliae Edoardo ejus Primogenito Principi Aquitaniae Walliae Quòd quandocunque idem Rex ejus Primogenitus qui nunc sunt aut eorum Haeredes successores Reges Angliae eorum Primogeniti qui pro tempore fuerint voluerint venire in propria persona ad Guerram quam nos habebimus aut Haeredes nostri Reges Castellae habebunt contra Regem Granatae aut alios Fidei inimicos quod iidem Reges eorum Primogeniti habeant primum bellum sive la Delantera ante omnes Mundi Christianos omni tempore Ita tamen quod Nos possimus Haeredes nostri Reges Castellae si voluerimus ponere vexilla nostra in dicto bello pariter cum vexillis Regis Angliae vel Ipsius Primogeniti Item quod si contigerit dictos Reges aut eorum Primogenitos ad Guerram quam Nos Haeredes nostri habebimus contra Regem Granatae aut Alios Fidei inimicos non venire aut nolle vel non posse venire volumus concedimus quòd unum vexillum de Armis Regis Angliae sit omni tempore in dicta guerra in primo bello sive in la Delantera honorificè prout decet nostris successorum nostrorum Castellae regum propriis sumptibus expensis Item quia Patria ejusdem nostri Consanguinei plurima damna expensa innumerabilia sustinuit tempore quo ipse pro nostro succursu exercitus suos congregabat prout oculis propriis conspeximus licet flebiliter gereremus in recompensationem praemissorum privilegiamus volumus concedimus quòd omnes homines incolae nobiles peregrini cujuscunque status sexus aut conditionis existant Regni Patriae dominii Angliae principatus Aquitaniae sint immunes ab omni pedagio leuda costuma maletota ceu aliis quibuscunque Impositionibus Exactionibus in Regnis nostris impositis seu in posterùm imponendis Ita quòd dicti homines dictorum Regni Patriae Dominii Angliae Principatus Aquitantae transeundo morando redeundo per Regna nostra per mare velper terram Costumam Pedagium Leudam Maletotam seu quamcunque aliam Impositionem vel Exactionem minimè solvere teneantur nisi dicti homines causâ Mercimonii vel pro emercimiando aliquid emerent Super quo an causa Mercimoniandi empta existant nec ne per officiarios nostros receptorum dictorum pedagiorum stare volumus dictorum hominum juramenta de quibus rebus causa Mercimoniandi emptis non compellantur solvere nec aliquid ultra ab iis exigatur quà m caeteri Mercatores solvere consueverunt Et juramus ad Sancta Dei Evangelia à nobis corporaliter manu tacta in verbo promittimus Regio concessiones donationes privilegia praedicta omnia singula in praesentibus Litteris contenta tenere complere inviolabiliter observare In quorum singulorum Praemissorum testimonium ad ipsorum Majorem firmitatem his praesentibus Nos manu propria Subscripsimus iisdem sigillum nostrum in pendenti duximus apponendum Volentes concedentes ac etiam requirentes vos Magistrum Iohannem de London publicum Autoritate Apostolicâ Notarium quatenus ad perpetuam omnium singulorum praemissorum memoriam vos cum praesentibus testibus subscribatis praesentesque Literas signo vestro solito consignetis Datum apud Liborniam Diocesi Burdegalensis die 23 Mensis 7 bris Anno Dom. 1366. Praesentibus praecharissimo Consanguineo nostro Domino Iohanne Duce Lancastriae Regis Angliae filio ac fratre dicti principis Reverendis in Christo Patribus Dom. Helia Archiepiscopo Burdegalensi Dom. Barnardo Episcopo Xancton Iohanne Electo Bathoniensi Wellensi Cancellario Aquitaniae Iohanne Shandos Constabulario Thoma de Felton senescallo Aquitaniae Nigello de Loereyn Camerario dicti Principis Balboyno de Frevilla senescallo Xancton aliis testibus ad praemissa Yo el Rey. I the King Et Ego Iohannes de London Cler. Winton Diocesis publicus Authoritate Apostolica Notarius undecima die mensis Februarii anno Domsupradicto Indictione quinta Pontisicatus sanctissimi in Christro Patris Domini nostri Dom. Urbani divina providentia Papae quinti anno quinto infra castrum Civitatis Baionae in capella ejusdem castri unà cum testibus infrascriptis fui praesens quando dictus Dom. Rex Petrus promissa omnia singula innovavit confirmavit juramento suo vallavit tangendo propriis manibus suis sancta Dei Evangelia quando ipse Rex manu sua propria se subscripsit me requisivit mandavit ut praesentibus Literis me subscriberem signum
choice men at Arms in a Fleet of 60 Sayl of Ships with Arms for 12000 men more into Scotland Therupon an English Army being raisd it struck into Scotland like a Whirlwind and piercing the very heart of the Country advancd as far as Dundee and returnd Victorious Henry the Fifth took Iames the first Prisoner and carried him over to attend him in his French VVars In Hen. 8. time the Scots King although his Brother-in-Law taking his advantage when he was in France battring the Walls of Bullen with the flower of the English Nobility raisd the greatest Army that Scotland could make for invading England therupon King Harry sent a Commission to the Earl of Surrey to raise Forces accordingly The two Armies met at Flodden-field where the Scots King and the Archbishop of Saint Andrews his Brother were slain with twelve Earls 14 Barons and 12000 more Not long after Solmosse Battail was fought where eight Scots Earls were taken Prisoners with 200 Gentlemen and others insomuch that as the story saith ther was never an English soldier but had his couple of Scots Prisoners Four and thirty yeers after the same day both of the month and the week as the Historians observe Musselborough-Battail was fought which because it was the last and one of the most signal and sanguinary great Battails from the Conquest that was fought twixt the English and the Scots I will here particularize but with as much brevity as may be The Duke of Somerset was General of the English the Earl of Warwik his Lieutenant the Lord-Admiral Clinton had 60 ships of War which were to hold cours with the Land-forces the whole Army consisted but of about 13000 Foot 1200 men at Arms 2500 Light-horse 16 Peeces of Ordinance evry Peece having a Gard of Pioners who came to about 1400. From Berwick they entred Scotland and marchd as far as Musselburgh far within the Country they seizd upon three small Castles as they passd and with infinit pains overcame the Natural and Artificial Difficulties of the Ways They understood that the Scots Army far exceeded them in number and ther came Recreuts dayly unto it For the Fire-cross was carried about by the Heralds through all parts which is two Firebrands upon the point of a Spear that all above sixteen and under sixty yeers shold repair to the General Rendevous insomuch that the Scots Historians themselfs do mention that ther were above thirty thousand in the whole Army which was twice the number of the English The Battail was fought with much resolution and cagerness on both sides yet notwithstanding that the Scot was at his own home and that the English were tir'd by a long difficult march they obtaind an absolute Conquest ther were slain of the Scots about 14000 out-right upon the place wherof ther were 3000 Kirk-men as Fryars and Monks Huntley with other great Lords were taken Prisoners 30 Peeces of Ordinance were taken and shippd for England with 30000 Iacks as the Record says and the English plunderd the Country five days march further and did what they wold We will conclude with the late Battail at Dunbar still fresh in memory where ther were not much more then 8000 English and the Scot had them at a great advantage yet the English making a Vertu of Necessity utterly overcame an Army of about 24000 Scots an Army that had been long a moulding and consisted of many of their Nobility and Gentry they lost both Bag and Bagage Artillery and Arms ther were above 3000 slain 10000 taken Prisoners whereof ther were 260 Officers 15000 Arms and 30 Peeces of Ordinance and neer upon 200 of their Colours were brought to hang in Westminster-Hall for Trophies Out of what hath been said this Inference may be made That in all those Traverses and Encounters of War that England had with Scotland which were neer upon an hundred since the Conquest take small and great together the English did always foyl the Scot except in Ed. 2. time as shall be said hereafter In some Battails we may find how they carried away more Captives then they were common soldiers themselfs driving them as it were like sheep before them And observable it is that the greatest Battails were fought in Scotland it self after that the English had been tir'd and dispirited by long marches over uncouth and strange places being ignorant both of the Advenues and Advantages of them Tru it is that in Ed. 2. Raign they won two or three Victories wherof that at Bannocks-Battail was the greatest where Gilbert de Clare Earl of Glocester and about 40 Barons with 700 Knights and English Gentlemen were killd In Hen. 8. Raign they got also a small Victory when Sir Ralph Evers was slain In the time of the Long Fatal Parlement they did likewise many Insolencies and rush'd far into England but those Invasions may be rather termd Invitations by some spurious and unworthy-degenerated English-men who had contrivd their coming in long before whose memories will stink in the Nostrils of all Posterity But the English have taken four of their Kings Captives killd two other in the field carried away their Crown with the chiefest Ensignes of Royalty c. Nor were such high Exploits performed by the Kings of England on Land only but by Sea they have been as glorious Historians say how King Edgar had a Navy of three thousand six hundred ships and bottoms of all sorts which he divided to three Fleets that usd to coast about and scowre the Seas as far as Norway evry year and he in person would go often Admiral himself and be all the Summer abroad Philip the French King not long before the Battail of Cressy to hinder Edward the thirds return into France got a mighty Navy in Equippage of 200 sayl of ships besides Gallies in the Haven of Sluce wherof King Edward being advertised prepared such another Fleet and encounters the French with such resolution and success having the Wind and the Sun for him that he utterly defeated the whole Navy slew about thirty thousand men and so returned with mighty triumphs and the admiration of all Europe Philip the second of Spain having as he conceavd endured divers Affronâ—…s and Injuries from Queen Elizabeth conceald his Discontents a long time until he had provided the Invincible Armada as it was calld wherewith he hoped to have swallowed all England It was three years preparing it consisted of above 150 sayl wherof most of them were Galeons they were mannd by 8000 Mariners they carried 20000 Listed soldiers besides Volunteers they had 1600 Brass Cannons 1000 of Iron and 120000 Granado's with other Fireworks of all sorts This Prodigious Fleet stood the King of Spain in 10 Millions first and last from the time that she set sayl out of Lisbonne as t is found in their Annals she lookd like a Forest at Sea as she steerd along Q Elizabeth had first news hereof from Hen. 4. of France But then how did that Masculine Queen
prolifical when they are past fifty years And for the Men it wold be Registred for a Miracle in Spain or France to finde ten men of a thousand years one with another as were found in Hereford about 60 years since within two miles compass of the town who were so vigorous strong and spriteful that they danced the Morice-dance in the Market-place for many hours with a Maid-Mariam of a hundred and three and a Tabourer of a hundred and five years old From the Fertility and Generousness of the Earth may proceed also the extraordinary Courage and Hardiness of the Peeple which hath been so well known and felt in other Countries beyond the Seas as the Examples in the former Paragraph do prove at so many signal and difficult famous Battails where the English Army was never half so numerous in any they got no not somtimes the third or fourth part in number to the Enemy and such an esteem they had in France that as their own stories relate when the Duke of Britany or Armorica was to encounter the French Army in a Battail he thought it a Policy to clothe a whole Brigade of his Soldiers after the English mode to make them appeer the more formidable to the French Nor doth that Primitive innate Courage languish a whit or decline in them as some think the World doth as we find it hath done in other Nations as the Iew and Greek with others but it continueth still at the same height as it appeerd in the year Eighty eight by Sea as was said before and in several Exploits in the Low-Country Wars as Newport the Retreat before Gaunt c. by Land Likewise by fresher Examples in the late Civil Wars twixt King and Parlement and since wherin the Power Strength and Wealth of England was never more discovered For the late usurper having such a Command over the Peeples purse and never wanting money made Spain and France strive who shold be his Confederat as also the Hollander the Swed and others I say in those times the ancient stoutness of the English appeerd in many Traverses of War as at Dunbar in Scotland and by Sea against the Hollander who were beaten and batterd into a Peace What a hazardous peece of service was performed when we invaded Barbary at Tunis but especially that desperat Exploit Blague did at the Canaries The French King confest that the Brigade of English before Dunkirk commanded by a little bold Britain though not the fifth part of the Army did contribut most to the late taking of that strong Praedatory Town And the King of Portugal acknowledgd that in this years great Defeat 1663. he gave Don Iohn of Austria neer Ebora that Brigade of English who servd there though not much considerable in number did perform the toughest part of the service and first shewd them the way of using the Rests of the Musquet to knock down the Enemy which made the French-men cry out Faisons comme les Anglois Let 's do as the English The Sixth Paragraph Touching the Ancient and Long-lind Extraction Decendency and Bloud-Royal of the Kings of Great Britain c. THe Races of Kings may be said to be like great Rivers that stream out into divers large Channels and Arms which become great Rivers of themselfs afterward Or like huge Trees which use to stretch their Branches beyond the Ocean where being inoculated and graffd they make divers other Royal Trees to sprout out of them in Forren Soyls Ther were divers Royal Ingraftings of this kind that Great Britain had with the chiefest Potentats and some of them Imperial The first was before the English took footing here between the Emperour Constantius and Helene a Britain born and Mother to Constantine the Great the first Christian Emperour for this Iland was held in such high esteem by the Roman Emperours when they had almost all the world besides that divers of them kept their Courts here among whom Severus and Constantius died at York which City may deservedly vaunt of two things viz. that two Roman Emperours were buried and a third born in her viz. Constantin the Great After the Saxons came this Iland also continued in such a repute that Ethelwolph Son to King Egbert Anno 830. married the Lady Iudith calld the Fair for her extraordinary Bewty and Daughter to the Emperour Charles le Chauue Granchilde to Charlemain The Emperour Otho the Great married the Sister of King Athelstan whose friendship was so much sought by all his Neighbouring Kings that they wooed for it by rich Presents which made the King of France send him the sword of Constantin the Great in the Hilt wherof ther was one of the Nails that fastned Christ to the Cross He sent him also the Spear of Charlemain The King of Norway sent him a curious Ship with a Gilt Stem Purple Sayls and the Deck garnishd all with Gold The Emperour Otho his Brother-in-law sent him a Vessel of precious stones artificially made wherein were Landskips with Vines Corn and Reapers so much to the Life that they seemd to move and act c. Ther have been eight Nuptial Conjunctions twixt Great Britain and France besides the Scots alliance with that Country The first was about the yeer 900. twixt Charles the first of France and the Lady Ogine Daughter to Edward Son to King Alfred that admired Saxon King who is so famous in story for divers signal things for He cleerd the whole Kingdome of the Danes who had so much infested and harassd it He Founded the University of Oxford Anno 895. He was the first who divided England into Shires Hundreds and Weapontakes He divided the Natural Day also into three parts eight hours for Recreation and matters concerning his Health as sleep c. eight hours for Meditation and exercise of Piety and eight hours in Council and the publick Affairs of his Kingdome He Founded also Shaftsbury-Abby Winchester-Church and Eldinsey-Monastery The second Marriage with France was twixt Hen. 3. of England and the Lady Margaret Daughter to Lewis the seventh of France The third was between Edward the first that great Hero of his time and the Lady Margaret Daughter to Philip the Hardy of France The fourth twixt Edward the second and the Lady Isabel eldest Daughter to Philip le Bell King of France Mother to Edward the third of England who by right of her claimd and carried afterwards the Crown of France The fifth was twixt King Richard the second and the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to Charles the sixth of France but she was but his second Wife for his first was the Lady Anne Daughter to the Emperour Charles the Fourth The sixth was between Henry the fifth of England and the Lady Katharine another Daughter to Charles the sixth of France The seventh was twixt Lewis the twelfth of France and the Lady Mary second Daughter to King Henry the seventh of England The eighth and last Inoculation twixt the Rose and the Flower
King of the Stuarts was a British Lady And as ther is a Register of 139 British and English Kings so there is an exact Catalog of 110 Scots Kings wheras all the three Races of the French Kings make but 64 Kings in all Nor did any of those three Royal Races continue much above 300 yeers in a Bloud but were quite extinguishd both Merovingiens Carlevingiens and Capevingiens The House of Valois extinguished in the late Queen Margaret first wife to Hen. 4. And this present King is but the Third of the House of Bourbon Spain cannot say so much for the furthest Line that Her Kings can draw is not much above 500 yeers ago from the Counts of Castile nor was ther ever any King of Castile till the yeer 1017. And touching the House of Austria it became Royal but about 300 yeers since To conclude this Paragraph his present Majestie of Great Britain in point of Royal Extraction and Linage is the Greatest born Prince that any Age can produce For wheras his Granfather and Father were allied only if you regard Forren Consanguinity to the House of Holstein and that of Lorain Charles the second of England bears in his Veins not only That Bloud but also the Blouds of all the Great Princes of Christendom being neerly linkd to the Houses of France and Bourbon To the House of Austria and consequently to the Emperour and Spain by the Maternal side as also to the Dukes of Savoy and Florence Moreover He is neerly allied to the King of Denmark and to all the prime Princes of Germany as the Saxe Brandenburg Bavaria the Palsgrave c. The seventh Paragraph Touching the Hospitality and plentiful Kingly Court with number of Officers and Stately Attendants of the King of Great Britain T Is ordinary for Latin Authors old and new to break out into the praises of Great Britain and their Elogiums are many but le ts hear what a great Greek Poet speaks of Her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 No Ile did ever dare With Britain yet compare Among other Encomiums of England she is much cried up for her wonderful fecundity and fulness of all things relating to the nourishment of mankinde all things that Earth Water or Air can afford which with the Divine benediction must be imputed to the temper of the Clime And besides ther be gentle breezes that are conveyd from the circumfluent Seas which refresh all kinde of animals both Brute and Rational The clouds there may be truly said to drop fatness dissolving into silver wholsom showers to soften and fertilize her Glebes In December and Ianuary there is commonly Frost enough to knit and corroborate the joynts of the earth In February ther is usually Snow enough to fill the Dikes and like a gentle white rugg to cover her plowd fields and keep the bed of the earth warm from the inclemency of the circumambient cold air It is observd that ther is not such a multitude of Volatils any where And touching her Seas ther are not any wher so great variety of Fish swimming in such huge shoals like mountains and taking their turns and seasons about the Iland once every yeer Her fresh rivers are also full of them Her Forests and Woods have not such ravenous beasts as other Countries use to have yet ther are store of savage beasts for Recreation as the Stagg the Hind the Hart the Hare the Otter the Fox and Badger c. The bowels of the earth are no where so pregnant of Metals Stone and Fuel c. The Sun which scorcheth other Countries may be said but to warm the English soyl with his gentle rays The Air is nothing so foggie and dull as in many other Regions but cleerd and attenuated ever and anon with refreshing blasts Nor is the body of the earth so subject to shaking Agues and Earth quakes to trepidation and quakings as other places are which are full of sulphurous bituminous concavities Touching store and superfluity of Corn with all sorts of Grain Britain in the times of the Romans was calld as Tacitus says the Barn and Granary of the Western world Take all these particulars together the Poet doth not much complement with England when he breaks thus into a Character of her Anglia Terra ferax Tibi pax secura quietem Multiplicem luxum merx Opulenta dedit Tu nimio nec stricta gelu nec sydere fervens Clementi Coelo temperiéque places Cùm pareret Natura parens variásq favore Divideret dotes omnibus una locis Sepofuit potiora Tibi Matremque professa Insula sis foelix plenaque pacis ait Quicquid amat luxus quicquid desiderat usus Ex Te proveniet vel aliunde Tibi This is the cause of that infinit Commerce she hath to all parts of the habitable earth as far as the Antipodes and the incredible benefit which other Nations make of her Commodities Insomuch that Guicciardine an Author well to pass relates that after the Articles of the Intercursus magnus were made with Flanders or the Netherlands the Annual Trade amounted unto above twelve Millions Sterling whereof the one half was in Woollen Manufactures wherby the 17 Provinces did wonderfully improve in Negotiation and Wealth Insomuch that the ground of the Order of the Golden Fleece established by the Duke of Burgundy related to the English Wool which proved so infinitely beneficial unto them From this marvelous exuberance and superfluity of substantial Staple-commodities proceed the luxe the plenty and profuseness of the Inhabitants for ther is no wher such frequent Invitations and Feasts in Town and Country which made one say That among others England hath an Inchanting kind of quality to make Forreners forget their own Countries when they have once tasted of the sweetness therof The Franklins Yeomen or Freeholders live like Gentlemen The Gentlemen and Esquires live like Noble-men The Noble-men like Princes The Lord Maior and Sheriffs of London have Tables most days of the week fit to entertain Kings Now touching the Royal Court which may be calld the Epitome of the whole Country Ther is no King whatsoever lives in that height of magnificence and plenty Ther was communibus annis servd in kind in provisions for his Majesties house by way of composition 3790 quarters of Wheat 1493 Oxen fat and lean 7000 Muttons 1231 Veals 310 Porks 410 Sturks 26 Boars 320 Flitches of Bacon 6820 Lambs 40 Barrels of Butter 145 dozen of Geese Capons cours 252 dozen Hens 470 dozen Pullets cours 750 dozen Chickins cours 1470 dozen Wax 3100 weight sweet Butter 46640 pounds Charcoals 1250 loads Talwood Billets Faggots 3950 loads Herrings 60 barrels Wine-cask from the Vintners 600 Tun c. Beer 1700 Tun c. This was for the first cours Now for the second cours innumerable sorts of Fowl and Fish according to the season which was exactly observd This made Bodin the great Critique to confess that considering all things ther was not a more magnificent and
two of the fairest flowers in the English Crown in lieu wherof it may be sayd ther is set in an ear of barly with a Chimney Wallflower ther is froth and fume given in exchange which doth so much sully the luster of it for as I intimated before the state and plenty of the Court was accounted the greatest glory of the Crown of England as Forren Authors of most Nations do acknowledg in their public Writings Now wheras some do affirm that the yeerly benefit of the Excise doth make a full compensation for the Court of Wards and tenures in Capite out of which ther was also computed fifty thousand pounds yeerly towards the Diet at Court It is too well known that the said Excise doth not make the King any Equivalent satisfaction for his Tenures alone if well managd much less for his Pourvoyances Preemptions and Carriages For ther was an exact account made by his Majesties special command of the last yeers expence that ther were Seventy three thousand six hundred and seven pounds fourteen shillings and seven pence spent more in the Court-diet and provision of the Stables then were in the time of Pourvoyance besides the extraordinary charge of Carriages for his Removes and Navy Royal. Now in expending those provisions that were servd into the Court by way of Pourvoyance and Composition ther was the greatest care and Oeconomical good husbandry usd that possibly could be for when ther were more Beefs and Muttons with other provisions servd in then the Court wanted The faithful Officers of the Green-cloth caused them to be Sould and with the moneys arising thence they were commonly usd to buy Napery and other Houshold-things for the service of the Kings House as also in paying the arrears of som of his Servants wages with the surplusages But now that we dance after the French Fiddle so fast as we always did so for the back and now begin to follow him also in things relating to the Belly by Board-wages c. I wish the time may not come that we do not follow him too farr As that one cannot put a grain of Salt in his pot unless he buy it of the King wherby in making Salt his own Commodity the French King raiseth by the meer Gabel which ariseth thence above 20 millions of Livres evry yeer which is two millions Sterling which sum is twice more then the King of Great Britain hath from all Incoms whatsoever as Crown-lands Customes and Imposts Excise and Chimney-money with other perquisits and casualities And as the French thus cannot put a grain of Salt in his pot so the Spaniard cannot put a corn of Peper into his Olla unless he hath it from the King Nor can he buy a pair of Cards or Dice to pass away the time withal unless he hath them of the King Nay he cannot buy half a sheet of Paper to write either Bond or Bill Acquittance or Receit or other legal Instrument but he must buy all of the King Which adds millions to his yeerly Revenues yet the peeple of Spain are cryed up for a free peeple But touching the Imposition of Excise which is given the King for his Royal Tenures and House-keeping I well remember the time that Excise was held such an abominable word that my Lord Carleton but only for naming it once in the Parlement-House yet to no ill meaning at all was violently cryed to the Bar and though a person of that eminence as being then a Privie Counsellor and principal Secretary of State he hardly escapd being committed to the Tower The Excise was then calld the Dutch Devil because it came first from Holland with other fine words as plunder storming c. which were all made free Denizons of England by that so longd-for Long Parlement And observable it is that the first imposing and use of Excise in England was to enable Rebels to make War against their King and Country Having thus briefly run over the Sumptuary part of the English Court we will now proceed to the Servants and Officers to the Attendance and State thereof which comes not behind any other Court whatsoever And this might be the ground of that ancient Proverb in England and nowhere els There is no Fishing to the Sea nor Service to the Kings The Court is the randevous of Vertu of Cadets and persons well qualified It is the Scale by which they rise the King being the fountain of Honour as well as of Bounty But before we come to speak of the Officers at Court and of their Diet and Bouche which by a pitiful corruption is vulgarly calld budg wheras it is bouche a mouth therfore it is a French phrase Il a bouche à la Cour He hath a mouth at Court viz. he hath a Diet I say before we come to speak of the Dishes and Diet at Court let the Reader take this small Advertisement in the way that evry Dish at Court was computed to cost the King viis modis at the years end 100 l. a dish But now since the Preemption and Pourvoyance is taken away evry dish doth stand in four times as much at least The Kings Court or Houshold The Lord Great Chamberlain and Earl Marshal are rather Officers of State and as it were extraneous in relation to the Houshold so in a manner are the four Officers of the Crown who use to have Houses abroad viz. The Lord Chancellor or Keeper of the Great Seal of England The Lord high Tresurer The Lord Privie Seal The Lord high Admiral But the properst Domestick Officers are as follow viz. The Lord Steward of the Houshold who hath allowed him evry day besides his Fee 32 dishes The Tresurer of the Houshold 32 dishes and besides his table he hath a Fee of 123 l. 14 s. 4 d. The Controuler besides thirty two dishes a day hath a Fee of 167 l. 17 s. 4 d. The Cofferer besides his Table hath 100 l. The principal Secretary of State hath besides his Table 100 l. The Secretary for the Latin Toung Fee 40 l. The Secretary for the French Toung Fee 66 l. 13 s. 4 d. The Clerks of the Signet Fee every one 40 l. Four Clerks of the Privie Council Fee evry one 50 l. Clerk of the Council in the Star-chamber Fee 26 l. 13 s. 4 d. Two Clerks of the Parlement Fee The first 40 l. Two Clerks of the Parlement Fee The second 10 l. Clerk of the Market Fee 20 l. Post-master Fee 20 l. Thirty standing Posts appointed by the Post-master evry one Fee 18 l. 5 s. Two Carriers To one 24 l. 3 s. 4 d. Two Carriers To the other 12 l. Officers above Stayrs Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold besides his Table of thirty two dishes a day hath a Fee 100 l. The Groom of the Stole who is always a Gentleman of the Bed-chamber hath evry day 32 dishes Vice-chamberlain Fee 100 Marks Knight-Marshal Fee 100 Marks The Gentlemen of the Privie Chamber whose
of the Ordnance fee 151 l. 11 s. 8 d. Two Clerks one per diem 10 d. Two Clerks the other 8 d. Surveyor fee 36 l. 10 s. One Clerk per diem 8 d. Riding-costs per diem 6 s. Lieutenant of the Ordnance fee 100 Marks One Clerk per diem 8 d. Boat-hire upon all occasions 8 l. Riding-costs 0 s. 0 d. Keeper of the great Store fee 40 l. Clerk per diem 8 d. Riding-costs 0 s. 0 d. Keeper of the small Store fee 40 Marks Riding-costs 0 s. 0 d. Clerk of the Deliveries fee 20 l. Master-Gunner of England fee per diem 2 s. 6 d. 〈◊〉 maker fee per diem 12 d. 18 l. 5 s. Saltpeâ—…er-maker fee 18 l. 5 s. Two Gun-founders 33 l. 9 s. 2 d. Gun-smith fee 6 d. per diem 9 l. 2 s. 6 d. Engin-Artificer fee per diem 4 d. 6 l. 1 s. 8 d. Master-Carpenter fee per diem 8 d. 12 l. 3 s. 4 d. Ordinary Gunners or Cannoneers one hundred and nine fee 1161 l. 18 s. 4 d. Yeoman of the Ordnance fee per diem 9 d. 13 l. 14 s. 1 d. The Tower of London Constables fee 100 l Lieutenants fee 200 l. Porters fee 9 l. 2 s. 6 d. Yeomen-Waiters or Warders fee 9 l. 2 s. 6 d. Allowance for Fuel 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. Keeper of the Lions c. fee 36 l. 14 s. 6 d. Carpenter fee 12 l. 3 s. 4 d. Keeper of the Wardrobe fee 12 l. 13 s. 4 d The Armary Master of the Armary fee 31 l. 18 s. 9 d. Armarers under the Master twenty one at 36 l. Five evry one at 20 l. Three evry one at 15 l. The rest evry one at 9 l. 2 s. 6 d. The Mint Master or Tresurer of the Mint fee 100 l. Controuler of the Mint fee 100 Marks Assay-master fee 100 Marks Clerk of the Mint fee 10 l. Auditor of the Mint fee 44 l. 6 s. 8 d. Allowance for Paper 〈◊〉 and other necessaries 10 l. Teller of the Money fee 33 l. 6 s. 8 d. Survayor of the Melting-house fee 26 l. 13 s. 4 d. Clerk of the Irons fee 13 l. 6 s. 8 d. Chief Graver fee 30 l. Chief Finer fee 10 l. Sinker of Irons fee 10 l. Three Melters fee evry one 13 l. 6 s. 8 d. Two Branchers fee evry one 13 l. 6 s. 8 d. Pourvoyer fee 10 l. Pot-maker fee 10 l. Porter fee 10 l. Diet to all these Officers by the week 1 l. 10 s. The high Court of Chancery Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England fee per diem 23 s. 419 l. For his attendance in the Star-chamber 200 l. More by name of Annuity 300 l. Robes out of the Wardrobe 40 l. Wine out of the Butlery twelve Tuns 72 l. Wax out of the Wardrobe 17 l. Sum. allocat per an 1048 l. Master of the Rolls fee 34 l. 15 s. 8 d. Livery out of the Hamper 28 l. 8 s. 4 d. Masters of the Chancery fee apiece 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. Clerk of the Crown fee 20 l. Livery for Summer and Winter 26 l. 13 s. 4 d. Protonotary fee 33 l. 13 s. 4 d. Clerk of the Hamper fee 43 l. 13 s. 4 d. Annuity 40 l. Livery for himself and his Clerk 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. Controuler of the Hamper fee 10 l. Enrollers of Evidences fee 20 l. Seal fee 6 l. 16 s. 10 l. Livery â—…0 s. Sargeant at Arms fee 18 l. 5 s. Cryer Fee and Livery 7 l. 16 s. 10 d. Chafer of Wax 7 l. 6 s. 7 d. Necessary charges of Wax Parchment Paper Riding Coats and other yearly Expences 220 l. The Privie Seal Lord Keeper of the Privie Seal fee per diem 1 l. Allowd for his Table at Court 345 l. Clerks of the Privie Seal fee apiece 50 l. Four Masters of the Requests fee apiece 100 l. The Kings Bench. Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench who holds his place onely by a short Writ not by Patent as others do for his Fee Reward and Robes 208 l. 6 s. 8 d. Wine two Tuns 10 l. Allowance for Justice of Assize 20 l. To three Justices assistants Fee Reward and Robes apiece 128 l. 6 s. 8 d. Allowance to evry one as Justice of Assize 20 l. Clerk of the Crown fee 10 l. Livery out of the Wardrobe 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. Protonotary fee 26 l. 13 s. 4 d. Keeper of the Writs and Rolls fee 8 l. Cryer fee 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. The Common Pleas. Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Fee Reward and Robes 141 l. 13 s. 4 d. Wine out of the Butlery two Tuns 8l Allowance for keeping the Assize of the Augmentation-Court 12l 10s Allowance for Justice of Assize 20l. Three coadjutant Justices Fee Reward and Robes to evry one 128l 6s 8d Allowance for being Justices of Assize 20l. Attorney-General fee 61l Allowance for being Justice of Assize 20l. Sollicitor-General fee 50l Keeper of the Writs and Rolls fee 4l Four Sargeants at Law to each Fee Rewards and Robes 26l 6s 8d Allowance as Justice of Assize 20l. Allowance for keeping the Assizes of the Court of Augmentations 12l 6s 8d Cryer fee 5l Chief Officers of the Kings Revenues and of the Exchequer The Lord High Tresurer of England fee 368l Robes out of the Wardrobe 15l 7s 8d Wine so many Tuns Impost free 0l 0s 0d Allowance for Diet 0l 0s 0d Chancellor of the Exchequer fee 113l 6s 8d Livery out of the Wardrobe 12l 17s 4d Tuns of Wine Impost free 0l 0s 0d Officers of the Exchequer-Court Lord Chief Baron fee 100l Livery out of the Wardrobe 12l 17s 4d Allowance for being Justice of Assize 20l. Tuns of Wine Impost free 0l 0s 0d The Barons of the Exchequer to each fee 46l 13s 4d Livery out of the Wardrobe 12l 17s 4d Allowance for being Justices of Assize 20l. Other Officers of the Exchequer The Kings Remembrancer fee 55l 17s 4d Livery out of the Wardrobe 4l 12s 4d The Lord Tresurers Remembrancer fee 46l 2s 1d Livery out of the Wardrobe 2l 13s 4d Clerk of the Pipe fee 65l 4s 2d Livery c. 2l 13s 4d Under-Tresurer of the Exchequer fee 73l 6s 8d Livery c. 4l 6s 8d Seven Auditors fee evry one 10l Forren Opposers fee 16l 13s 4d Clerk of the Extreats fee 15l Clerk of the Pleas fee 5l Clerk of the Summons fee 4l Two Marshals fee apiece 4l Two Deputy-Chamberlains fees apiece 2l 10s Two Secondaries in the Kings Remembrancers Office fee evry one 8l Two Secondaries in the Pipe-Office fee 5l Four Secondaries in the Tresurers Remembrancers Office fee evry one 4l Clerks of the Tallies fee evry one 17l 10s Clerk of the Pell fee 17l 10s Four Tellers fee evry one 13l 13s 4d Clerk in the Pipe-Office for offring Amercements fee 9l 13s 4d Clerk in the Office of the Kings Remembrancer fee for writing the Fines Issues and Amercements due to the King evry year 15l 6s 8d Clerk in
a Dialect of the Bascuence and Gascon That of Britany or Armorica is but a dialect of the ancient British continued so wonderfully in Wales after so many revolutions and changes of diffring Nations to this day Indeed the King of Spain hath an old Maternal Toung under his Dominions which is the Cantabrian or Bascuence all the rest are but several Idiomes or Dialects derived from the Latin and inlayd with a multitude of Morisco words The Castilian the Portugues the Catalan the Valenciano are Dialects of the Latin But the King of Great Britain hath two pure ancient Mother-Toungs within his Dominions which is the British or old Comraecan Toung And the Irish or Hibernian Toung which are subsistent of themselfs and have no derivation or affinity at all with any other Toung Ther are six Dialects also spoken in his Kingdomes The English which is a dialect of the Saxon or high Dutch Ther is the Scotish which is a sub-dialect of the English Ther is the Mankmen or they of the I le of Man which is also a sub-dialect of the Welsh Ther is the Highlander or Redshank which is a dialect of the British and Irish Ther is the Cornish which is a dialect of the Welsh And the Language of Iersey and Gernsey the only remains that are left us of Normandy which is a dialect of the French Now It cannot be soberly denied but that it is an addition of Honour to the King of Great Britain to have more Mother-Toungs reservd yet in his Dominions and as it were unconquerd then his two Neighbour-Kings Touching variety of Palaces and change of Royal Mansions he may compare if not out-go any of the other Kings For within half a days journey of London he hath eight several Houses and divers elswhere wheras the French King hath but the Louvre Fountainbleau Bois de Vincennes St. Germain de Laye and Madrid a small ruinous pile of stones which Francis the first causd to be erected in commemoration of his captivity so many yeers in Madrid in Spain in a small Brick House wherinto ther was a low little dore built by the command of the Emperour Charles the fifth of purpose to make the King stoop when he entred which he observing because he should not bow his head went in backward putting in his bum first The King of Spain hath but his Palace and La Casa de buen retiro in Madrid he hath Aranjuez with the Pardo between Madrid and the Escurial where he hath a Royal House yet it is but a Cantle of a Monastery t is but the handle of a Gridiron which that great structure resembles in memory of the Martyr St Laurence Philip the second having bin forced for the advantage of avenues to batter down a Convent dedicated to that Saint a little before the battail of St Quinten where he provd Victorious against the French and to perform a Vow he then made he built the Monastery of Saint Laurence at the Escurial Now touching all the foresaid Palaces in France and Spain Winsore-Castle may compare with any for Magnitude Majesty and State As Sir Thomas Roe who had bin Ambassador at the great Mogors Court at the Seraglio of the Gran Senior at the German Emperours at the French Polonian Danish and Swedish Courts I say Sir Thomae Roe did confidently and knowingly affirm that Winsor-Castle may not only compare but have the precedence of all the rest in point of Grandeur Majesty Situation and Stateliness Moreover the King of Great Britain hath Lodges and other places of plesure without number In regard of so many Forests â—…haces and Parks that are annexd to the Crown Touching Forests ther is no Potentat on Earth hath so many I may truly avouch Now a Forest is a Franchise of so Princely a tenure that according to the Laws of England none but the King himself can have a Forest if he chance to pass one over to a subject t is no more Forest but a Frank Chase. A Forest hath peculiar Laws of her own to take cognizance of and punish all Trespasses A Forest hath her Court of Attachments or Swainmote-Court where matters are as legally pleadable as at Westminster-Hall The Hart the Hind the Hare the Bore and the Wolf are Forest-beasts The Buck the Doe the Fox the Matron the Roe belong to a Chace and Park And all these kind of Recreations the King of Great Britain hath in so many Forests wherof ther are in England besides thirteen Chaces and seven hundred eighty one Parks these whose names follow alphabetically Forests name County 1. Applegarth Ebor. N. Rid. 2. Arundel Sussex 3. Ashdown Susses 4. Bear-Forest Hamp 5. Birnwood Buck. 6. Blackmore Wilt. 7. Blethvay Radnor 8. Bowland Lanc. 9. Braden Wilt. 10. Buckholt Hamp 11. Cantselly  12. Cardith Caermar 13. Chur. Hamp 14. Charnwood Leicester 15. Chul Wilt. 16. Coidrath Pembr 17. Copland Cumb. 18. Dallington Suff. 19. Dartmore Devon 20. Delamere Chesh. 21. Dene Gloc. 22. Dereford Salop. 23. Waterdown Suss. 24. Exmere Devon 25. Feckenham Wigorn. 26. The Forest. Cardig 27. Fromselwood Somers 28. Gaiternack Wilt. 29. Gautry Ebor. 30. Gillingham Dors. 31. Hatfield Essex 32. Harwood Salop. 33. Haye Heref. 34. Holt. Dors. 35. Huckstow  36. Inglewood Cumb. 37. Knaresburg Ebor. 38. Kings wood Gloc. 39. Knuckles Radnor 40. Leicester Leicest 41. St. Leonards Suss. 42. Lounsdale  43. Lowes Northumb. 44. Lune Ebor. 45. Leyfield Rutl. 46. Mallerstang Westm. 47. Mocktry Salop. 48. Narborth Pemb. 49. Neroch Som. 50. New Forest. Hamp 51. New Forest. Ebor. 52. Peak Derb. 53. Pewsham Wilt. 54. Pickring Ebor. 55. Radnor Radnor 56. Roscob Card. 57. Rockingham Northam 58. Sapler  59. Savernack Wilt. 60. Sherwood Notingh 61. Selwood Som. 62. Saucy North. 63. Wabridg Hunt 64. Waltham Essex 65. West Forest. Hamp 66. Westward Cumb. 67. Whichwood Oxf. 68. Winfield Westm. 69. Whitehart  70. Whittlewood Northam 71. Whitway  72. Wyersdale Lanc. 73. Winsore Bark 74. Wolmer  75. Wood. Ebor. 76. Worth Suss. 77. Wutmer Hamp This is the old number of Forests in England wherof a few as Blackmore in Wiltshire with others are deforested which Forests cannot by the Laws be in any ones hands but the Kings and the reason is because none hath power to grant a Commission for Justice in Eire but the King which Iustice is to keep a Court evry three yeers once but the Swainmoot-Court evry one yeer thrice Forests were at first for the Kings Princely delight Venery and plesure meerd with unremoveable marks and boundaries And the old Law is Omnis homo abstinent a Venariis meis super poenam vitae It was capital to hunt in any of the Kings Forests without leave Now if one shold make the Perambulation of all France and Spain he will not find half the number of Forests in both Kingdoms And whether this be not a notable advantage to the King of Great Britain in point of Honour let any unpassionat and sober-minded man determine
The Law presupposeth that he sits not only at the Kings Bench but in other Courts of Judicature for the Writs go Teste meipso And because the Law sayth that the King must govern in Mercie and Justice the sole power of Pardoning is in Him Moreover the power of Coinage is only in the King with the enhancing or decrying the price of money He is the sole Gran Master of the Mint wheras in France others partake with the King in this high Prerogative Nor doth any Kings Face shine in purer Metal for it shines onely in pure Gold and Silver and that of the finest Standard Mixture and Allay of any in Europe wheras I have seen and felt the face of the French King in Copper and Brass with other mixt mongrel stuff As also of the King of Spain's though he terms himself the Monark of Gold and Silver Mines yet the common currant Coyn twixt Merchant and Mechanick is Copper wherin the Hollander by his cunning hath done him a world of mischief from time to time by counterfaiting that Copper Coyn and â—…oysting it in by divers artifices as in a ship laden with Lead and Tin ther wold be somtimes divers Sows of Lead hollowed and crammd with quartils as also in hollowed Masts with other inventions Insomuch that one time when all the Vellon or Copper Coin was calld in and a scrutiny made how much had bin coynd ther were many millions more found to be brought in and counterfaited then had bin stampd in the Kings Mint By the Common Law of the Land the King of Great Britain hath three Royal Ensignes which cannot belong to any other He hath the Crown the Scepter and the Polemical Sword as I have mentiond in another Treatise and is proper to touch here By the first He reigns by the second he makes Laws by the third viz. the Sword He protects them Concerning the Crown or Royal Diadem the Laws of England assert that it descends upon his head by a right Hereditary line though through dâ—…vers ancient Royal Races wherof some were Conquerors The Crown is His as much as any mans Cap 's his own And ther is no Crown stuck with fairer Flowers I mean Royal Prerogatives wherof divers were spoken of before Concerning the Scepter it may be calld an Individual Copartner or a Royal Appendix to the Crown It doth capacitate the King to Enact Laws for before his Assent all the Results and Determinations of Parlement are but Bills they may be said to be but abortive things and meer Embryos nay they have no life at all in them till the King by his breath infuseth vigour and animation into them and the ancient Custom was for the King to touch them with the Scepter then they are Laws and have a virtue in them to impose an universal obligation upon all sorts of peeple Now it is an undeniable Principle of the Law of England That nothing can be generally binding without the Kings Royal Assent nor doth the Law take notice of any thing without it This makes Them to be calld afterwards the Kings Laws and the Judges are said to deliver the Kings Iudgments nay he himself is always Lord Chief Justice of England which Title is not assumable by any Subject Now before an English Law is made ther is mature and mighty long deliberation goes before for first the business is agitated and canvasd many days in the House of Commons which represents all the peeple of England till it comes to the ripeness of a Bill The Bill being drawn is read thrice in the House and having passd the brunt of all Exception t is engrossd and transmitted to the Lords and there also t is read thrice and debated with much deliberation Then by concurrence of both Houses t is presented to the King who consults with his Learned Counsel whether ther be any thing therin derogatory to his Prerogatives if not He gives his Royal Assent and then t is created a Law and generally binding Touching the power of the Sword it is more proper to treat of it in the next Paragraph Moreover the Lex Terrae the Common Law of England makes the King the Fountain of Honour nay without any disparagement or offence be it spoken He can confer Honor upon other Kings and Souverain Princes as he is Souverain of the Order of Saint George wherof ther have bin eight Emperors five Kings of the French four of Spain seven of Portugal two of the Scots four of Denmark three of Naples one of Poland and another of Sweden two Dukes of Urbine one of Millain one of Ferrara one of Savoy one of Calabria one of Holland one of Gueldres four Princes of Orenge seven Counts Palatin of the Rhin two Dukes of Brunswick two of Holstain one of Brandenburgh and one Duke of Wittenberg with divers other Forren Princes Now among all Orders purely Military ther is not any now remaining in the Christian world either more ancient or honorable then the Noble Order of Saint George wherof the Garter is a Symbole therfore are they calld Equites periscelidis Knights of the most Noble Order of the Garter which Order was first instituted by that Victorious King Edward the third who was offerd to be Emperour Anno 1350. which was threescore yeers wanting one before the Institution of the French Order of S. Michael by Lewis the eleventh and 229 yeers before the Order of St. Esprit by Henry the third and full fourscore yeers before the erection of the Order of the Golden Fleece by Philip Duke of Burgundy It is also 209 more ancient then the Order of the Knights of the Elephant which was devisd by the Kings of Denmark and much more then that of Amaranta excogitated by Sweden c. Now observable it is that among all these Orders l'ordre del toison d'or the Order of the Golden Fleece related to the English Wools which were transported to Flanders by our Merchants wherby all the Provinces adjoyning did so infinitly enrich themselfs And this Order of the Golden Fleece as it is one of the highest Esteem so it hath most affinity with our Order of St. George in point of Regulation as also that ther are so few of it For our Order is accounted far the Nobler because it hath constantly kept it self to the same number of Knights viz. 26. since the primitive Institution wheras the French Orders have multiplied so fast in number of Knights that one said the Order of the French Knighthoods are now become Collers for every Ass to wear about his neck And as this high Order of St. George hath the precedence of all other now worn by any King in point of Antiquity so the ground and designe of it was very Noble For when the first Idea of erecting a new Order of Knighthood entred into the head of the foresaid Heroick King Edward the third his thoughts reflected upon King Arthur who indeed was the first founder of Knighthood not only
and cleer Waters London may be said to have as good Blood running through her Veins as any other by those Aqueducts Conduits and conveyances of fresh Waters round about to serve for all Uses What an Herculean work was that of Sir Hugh Middletons to bring the River of Ware threescore miles by Compasses to run through her streets and refresh her houses as also to preserve them from firing for which ther are divers ingenious useful Engines besides Concerning Universality of Trade ther is no City upon the surface of the earth goes beyond Her For ther are no Seas that any of the two and thirty winds blow upon from the Artik to the Antartik Pole from the Orient to the setting Sun but London by her Navigations findes them out and makes rich returns by way of Barter or Emption Touching solid and useful Wares that she hath of her own what a substantial Commodity and of what high esteem all the world over is her Cloth her Kersies and divers kinds of Woollen Manufactures Adde herunto her Lead and Tin which she transmutes to Forren Gold and Silver For Healthful Corporal Recreations and harmless Pastimes London may go in the Van to any place that ever I saw Go and walk in her Fields you shall see some shooting at long Marks some at short some bowling upon cheerful pleasant Greens some upon Bares and Alleys some wrastling some throwing the Bar some the Stone some Jumping some Running some with their Dogs in Duck-ponds some at a Bear-baiting some at the Bull some Riding upon Naggs some in Coaches to take the fresh Air some at Stool-ball others at Kittle-pins with variety of other For a stately Cathedral Temple and general Dome of Devotion the time was and I hope will be yet within a few years that London did not yeild to any City in this particular Saint Pauls Church being esteemd by all Nations to be one of the eminentst visiblest Temples one of the most glorious piles of stones that ever was reard taking all the Dimensions together with the conspicuous site thereof being about the centre of the City and upon a rising Ground She hath also this singular property to be founded upon Faith by having a large Parish-Church of that name supporting her and directly under her Chancel Touching a rare huge Bridge and Navigable River London is not inferiour to any other City whatsoever Concerning the first what a rich Rent hath it to preserve it self yearly what a vast Magazin of Corn is ther always in the Bridge-house against a Dearth as well as in many other places What a number of Officers look to the reparations therof and are hansomly maintaind therby Touching the second viz. The River of Thames she hath not her peer if regard be had to the length and straightness of her cours running from West to East without so many Meanders as other Rivers have Her convenient distance from the Sea to prevent all Surprisals The Amoenity of the Soyle on both Banks The wholsomness of her water which makes the best Beer in the world being so much transported by other Nations and sold as dear as Wine The diversity of her Fish the fatness of her Mudd c. For number of Humane Souls in City and Suburbs London is nothing inferior to Paris whose last Cense as is said before came to about a Million But in the year 1636. command being sent to the Lord Mayor to make a scrutiny what number of strangers were in the City he took occasion therby to make a general Cense And ther were of Men Women and Children neer upon seven hundred thousand that livd within the Bars of his Jurisdiction And this being 27 years ago t is thought that London hath since more by the third part in all probable conjecture Now for Westminster the Strand Bedford Berry St. Martins-lane Long-acre Drury-lane St. Giles of the Field High Holborn with divers other thick-peepled places which are so contiguous and make one entire peece with London it self I say take all these Buildings together the forenamed number of Seven hundred thousand may well be thought to be double so many Touching the shape of London I find nothing to assimilat it unto more properly then to a Lawrel Leaf that is far more long then t is broad which may be a cause she doth not appeer so populous as Paris her passengers not encountring so often as they wold if she were of a round Figure Touching her length take all Buildings that are adjoyning one to another from the utmost point of Westminster to the utmost point beyond the Tower she may be well thought to be five Miles long about half so much in latitude and in Circuit about twelve Italian miles To conclude touching the Defensive and Offensive Power of the City of London in point of Arms of all sorts of Artillery Ammunition Arsenals and Docks on both sides the River Her Traind Citizens and expert Firelocks neither France or Spain hath her equal It is recorded that in King Stephens Raign the City of London raisd 60000 Foot and 20000 Horse how many more were she able to do now in case of necessity For to compare her in statu quo nunc to what she was then were to compare a Giant to a Dwarf in point of proportion and strength The Record hath it also that Anno 1293. London was able to put out a Fleet of 95 Ships to scowre and secure the Seas from Depredations and Pyrates c. which she was often usd to do Such an Imperial Chamber such such a potent and well appointed City hath the King of Great Britain always at his command And if some of the Roman Emperours about Fifteen hundred years ago in their Diplomata's or Edicts stild her Augusta which was always a name of Magnificence and State how much more may she deserve that name in the condition she now is arrivd unto Thus have we discoursd though in weak imperfect Expressions of the Power and Military Might of the King of Great Britain not including all this while his two Kingdoms of Scotland and Ireland which being cast into the Balance may make his Power so much more Touching his Maritime Power t is spoken of in another Paragraph going before wherunto we will add that the King of Great Britain hath such a Haven that neither France or Spain or indeed any part of the world can parallel which is Milford Haven wherof the most famous ancient Authors not only Latin but Greek make most honourable mention calling it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the thousand foorded Haven One other passage we will adde which is but fresh that besides the reducing of the Hollander the very last year a few of the King of Great Britains Frigats did beat those desperat Pyrats of Barbary into a Peace wheras neither France or the Dutch could do it And this year those few English that are in Tanger did also force Guyland the great Morocco Rebel to Articles
of Peace As I was writing this me thought I had whisperd in my ear that the French King hath one kind of Power that transcends any of the King of Great Britains which is that he may impose what Taxes he please upon the peeple by his Edicts alone T is tru he can and he may thank the English for that power for when they had coopd him up in a corner of France in Berry the Victorious English being Masters of the rest That Power which before was in the Assembly of the three Estates of laying Impositions was invested in the King himself pro tempore during the Wars because the three Estates could not assemble But this Power makes him a King of Slaves rather then of Free Subjects and if they may be calld Subjects they are Subjects of an Asinin condition which cannot have any tru manly courage in them or a competency of wealth to bear it up which is the cause that though France be a rich and self-sufficient Country yet some think ther are more Beggers in Her then in all Christendome besides Now it is a Principle in the Civil Law That Dominum habere nobiliorem confert ad dignitatem Vassalorum nobiliorum habere populum confert ad nobilitatem Principis To have the nobler Lord conduceth to the dignity of the Vassal and to have the nobler Peeple conduceth to the dignity of the Prince By this Axiome the King of Great Britain is the more Noble because he is Lord of a free-born wealthy peeple and not of Slaves and Beggers Yet it cannot be denied but that it is one of the greatest advantages of power and repute for a King to be Rich provided he come not to be so by grinding the faces of his Subjects The Republik of Venice and the Seat of Genoa carry that high esteem in the world because the one hath the Tresury of Saint Mark and the other the Bank of St. George The Duke of Florence is stild the Grand Duke more then other Dukes who have larger Territories because he hath always a rich Tresury Therfore I will draw towards a conclusion of this Paragraph with this most humble Intimation to the great Council of England now Prorogued that at their Re-access they wold please to consider that wheras the fame of being Rich and to have the Coffers of his Crown well ballasted conduceth so much to the Repute of a King and so by Reflexions upon the whole Nation As also to make Him redoubtable both abroad and at home And wheras the contrary fame exposeth him to contempt Insultings and Pasquils as some frisking French Wits have bin lately too busie and bold that way and likewise our Neighbour Hans who daily offers us such insolencies which makes me think of an Italian Proverb which though homely yet it comes home to this purpose Cavagliero ò Principe senza quatrini è come un muro senza croce da tutti scompisciato A Cavalier or Prince without money is like a Wall without a Cross for evry one to draw upon Therfore I am bold to reiterat the foresaid humble Intimation I will not presume to say Advice though it may be well calld so to the Honorable House of Commons when They reassemble That in their great Wisedoms they wold have a sense of the present condition in this particular of their King so miraculously restord unto Us by a pure Act of the Omnipotent And that wheras the Two Neighbouring Kings have of late yeers enhancd their Revenues and Incomes far higher then they were formerly They wold be pleasd to think it not only agreeable to the Rules of tru Policie but most necessary for the Honor and safety of the whole Nation to make the Monarck of Great Britain to correspond and bear up in a hansome proportion this way with either of Them as He doth in all other things besides A Corollary to what hath bin said in this first Section IN the preceding Paragraphs it appeers by luculent and cleer proofs how the King of Great Britain Had to his Predecessor the first Christian King that ever was upon earth He had to his Predecessor the first Christian Emperour and Empress He had to his Predecessor the first Christian Worthy and the first Erector of Military Knighthood He had to his Predecessors some of the most victorious Kings that ever were His Predecessors were the first who freed themselfs from the Roman Yoke both in Temporals at first and in Spirituals afterwards It hath appeerd how He is Sovrain of the Noblest Order of Knighthood that any King hath It hath appeerd that his Ambassadors had the Precedence given Them in divers General Councils It hath appeerd how the King of Great Britain hath as Free-born and valiant Subjects as any other It hath appeerd that He hath the most plentiful and hospitable Court of any other King That He hath as independent Authority as any other King It hath appeerd that He hath the stoutest Men of War The Noblest Haven The Inaccessiblest Coasts with the greatest Command and Power at Sea of any other Which makes the English Merchants to be so highly respected abroad above other Nations having more Privileges at the entrance of the Baltik in the Sound as also in Hamborough and Holland where they have Houses like Palaces provided for them gratis and free from Excise In Ligorne in Constantinople and the gran Mosco they are more esteemd then any other Merchants And t is well known how his Subjects the Scots have the privilege of Preemption in the Vintage at Bourdeaux with divers other Immunities in France above other Nations Wherfore if any King may be calld 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 t is the King of Great Britain to whom that famous Verse of the Father of Poets may be applyed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Scepter is given Thee to be Honord by all To these particulars we will subjoyn the Reasons that Sir Henry Nevill with the rest of the English Ambassadors sent by Queen Elizabeth in a joynt Legantine Commission to Bullen in France to negotiat with Don Balthasar de Zuniga and others sent Ambassadors from Philip the second of Spain and the Archduke Albertus I say we will insert here the Reasons which the English Ambassadors gave then for prerogative and right of Antecedence in the contest that happend then with those of Spain by a Remonstrance which they sent the said Ambassadors in these words as t is extracted out of the Record it self Illustres Magnifici Domini Perlegimus scriptum quod Illustres Magnificae personae vestrae ad nos heri miserunt Illa capita quae substitutionis potestatem sigilli vigorem attingunt statuimus non ulteriùs prosequi confidentes de sinceritate serenissimi Domini Archiducis acquiescentes integritate Illustrium Magnificarum vestrarum personarum quae nobis pollicentur bonam fidem in hoc quod agitur negotio summo cum candore humanitate conjunctum Clausulam vero
Barrels and t is worth the observation what a world of variety of Wines grow up and down for one can scarce go twenty miles but ther is still a differing sort of Grape In some places in Burgundy and Champagne ther are Wine-vessels as big as some houses in height not inferior to those vast Vessels of Heidelberg Tubinga and Groninghen as the ingenious Lansius hath it Touching Hemp and Flax the third Staple Commodity of France what mighty rich Procedes come thereof For though it be a despicable Vegetal in sight and unsavory in the handling yet it is of such virtue that it can remove Rome to Hercules Pillars Egypt to Italy the East and West Indies into England a Vegetal that can controul Eolus and overmaster Neptune himself I mean the impetuous Whirlwinds of the one and the tumbling Waves of the other Now where doth this most useful Commodity grow more plentiful then in France Nor doth she hereby furnish her Neighbors far and neer only with Sayls for their ships but with shirts for their backs sheets for their beds and napery for their tables Touching the last great Staple Commodity of France which is Salt t is so savoury in the Kings Coffers that he draws twenty Millions of Livres evry year from the Gabel of it besides that incredible proportion which is spent in France it self what Millions of Mesures are laden out for other Countries Spain also hath this Commodity to a superfluity but her Salt is more corroding and acrimonious then the French Therfore when the Emperour Charles the fifth as Lansius relates had put out a Placart prohibiting that no French Salt shold be brought into the Netherlands the Country was like to mutiny for that tart Proclamation because the Spanish Salt which was permitted only to be imported was not so sweet and vigorous as the French specially as that of Rochel wherwith if Flesh be salted and a Ship victualld with it to the furthest part of the East-Indies it will eat as sweet at the return of the Ship as it did at first as t is found by the frequent experience of our Navigators Concerning the Air and Clime of France it is the most cheerful and temperat of any other under the Canopy of Heven which makes the inhabitants therof so spritful and debonnaire T is rare to find a French-Woman melancholy which was the ground of the Proverb To make a compleat Wife let her be English to the Neck From the Navil to the Knee Dutch From the Knee downward Spanish But from the Neck to the Navil French which relates to the Heart and to the merry disposition therof Nor are the French-women spriteful and merry most of any but they are also wise and judicious for Cassanaeus relates in his Catalogo Gloriae Mundi that in the famous old League which was struck twixt Hannibal and the Gaules it was capitulated that if any Gaule was wrongd by a Carthaginian a Carthaginian Magistrat shold be his Judge but if any Carthaginian shold be wrong'd by a Gaule Gallic Women shold be Judges therof I will conclude this Argument with the quaint Verses of Baptista Mantuanus an Italian Ignea Mens Gallis Lactea corpora nomen A candore datum populis Muliebra tingit Ora color Tyrius Paphium meditata colorem Ex geminis fecit Natura coloribus unum Laeti alacres lusu choreis carmine gaudent In Venerem proni proni in Convivia proni Ante Dapes adsacra Deum servire jâ—…gumque Ferre negant fugiunt figmenta hypocrisin Ore Liberi ingenuus mos est Tetricosque perosi c. The third Argument A Nobilitate Regiminis from the Nobleness of Goverment THe form of Goverment in the Kingdome of France is partly Civil partly Polemical It is a mixt Goverment between Peace and War composd of Military Discipline as well as of Civil Justice in regard that France having so many open Frontires and powerful Neighbours by Land they cannot as other Countries joyn Peace and Security together Touching their Martial Goverment t is very exact ther are divers Regiments of Horse and Foot in perpetual pay being inrolld and always ready for any occasion of Service Moreover in all the Provinces and places of strength ther are Governors and Garisons dispersd up and down which is very advantagious for the preferment of the Gentry Now the Governors are so cautiously disposd of by the King that not any of them hath means to betray or deliver up a Province into the Enemies hands the commands therof being so divided For though the Governor commands the Country in general and commonly the chief Town yet ther is a Lieutenant that holds also by Patent immediatly from the King and not from the Governor and betwixt these two ther are some emulations and umbrages ever and anon Then most part of their Towns Castles and Fortresses have particular Governors not subordinat to the Governor of the Province but deriving their power expresly from the King so that in many places the Town hath one Governor and the Castle another Indeed the Country of Provence only was usd to have a Privilege that Her Governor held it without a Lieutenant The Noblesse or Gentry in France are the sole body which participat in some fort with the Prerogatives of the Crown for from it they receave Privileges above other men and a kind of limited Regality upon their Tenants besides real Supplies to their Estates by divers Employments Pensions and exemption from Tallies upon their own Demeans and Lands as long as they manure them by their own servants but what Lands they let out to Tenants is presently Talliable which causeth proportionable abatements in the Rent and in compensation for this They onely owe the King the service of the Ban and Arriereban which is to serve him or his General three months within the Land at their own cost Now as in time of War the Noblesse undergo most part of the danger so is their power then more peremptory above the rest of their fellow-subjects wheras in time of Peace the King is ready to countenance inferiour persons against them and is contented to see them wast one another by contention in Law or otherwise for fear they grow too rich Because it is a principle of State in France That as the Noblesse use to do him the best service so They only misapplyed can do him most harm Now the ancient French Gentry was much diminished in the Croisades or Wars of the Holy Land because that to enable them for the service divers of them did hipotheque or morgage their Fiefs and Lands to the Church which are not redeemd to this day Insomuch that it is thought by sundry Computations which have bin made that the Gallican Church possesseth the third part of the fattest Fiefs in France Now upon the foresaid diminution the French Gentry have been repaird and made up since from time to time of Advocats Financiers and Merchants wherof a
body And surely this could not be the Devil as some poor shallow-braind Authors do assert all Spirits of the Air to be Go to the Bowels of France and she is full of Mines and Marble in many places with great plenty of Iron the best and worst thing belonging to humane use Look upwards towards Heven and you shall see the Air throngd with Volatils of all sorts Nor is ther any Country on earth so conveniently waterd as well with Sources and Sanative waters as with great Navigable Rivers which makes evry part of the Country communicable one to the other in point of mutual commerce for all the great Towns are situated upon some Boat-bearing Rivers And besides they are so delightful that some of them are said to be embroderd with Swans borderd with Crevices and pavd with Troutes with all sorts of delicat Fish Insomuch that ther is nothing which Air Earth or Water can affoord as well for Voluptuousness and Luxâ—… as for necessity and common sustenance but France affoords it in a kind of exuberance Paris is such a place of infinit provision that Monsieur Vigner said If he were to give a Treatment to the most luxurious Feasters among the Romans were they alive as Apitius Lucullus Pompey with many more he wold desire but one days warning to do it and they shold be so servd that they wold confess they never found the like in Rome How many Ordinaries are ther in Paris of Pistol-price and the Tables servd all in Plate Which makes the Italian Poet break out very ingeniously into the praises of France thus Gallia Terreni pars est non infima mundi Sed longè latéque patens Terra Hominum Frugúmque ferax Armenta Gregésque Uberiùs pascens plebis non languida Coelo Tabifico Non mortiferis infecta venenis Ut Lybiae non perpetuis adoperta pruinis Sicut Hyperborei Montes non torrida ab aestu Qui faciat steriles ut decolor India campos Non etiam noctis pallens semestribus umbris Quale sub Arcturo positum Mare ultima Thule Sed nec ut Egyptus quia fusa palustribus undis Sed Coelo tenerae faecunda uligine Terrae Venatu Aucupio campos Montana lacusque Sallicitant bellandi usu laetantur Equorum Terga fatigantes loricae hastilia arcus Deliciae Genti sub dio ad sydera somnum Carpere fuscari sole ferrugine pulchrum est Pulvere conspergi graviùs sudare sub Armis Pro Patria pro Cognatis pro Regibus ire In pugnam gladios morti occumbere dulce est The ninth Argument A Fortitudine Rebus in Bello actis from Valour and Exploits performed in the War IT is recorded in good Story that Alexander the great Founder of the third Monarchy viz the Greek hearing much of the Fortitude of the Gaules and it seems having read of the great Exploits performd both in Italy by ransacking Rome as also in Greece her self under the conduct of Brennus that valiant Britain the Cadet of Mulmutius Donwallo the famous Legislator and first King that wore a Crown of Gold in Great Britain many hundred years before the Romanes entred I say that Alexander hearing so much and reading of the Martial Achievments of the Gaules now French sent to know of Them What they feard most They answerd Ne Coelum rueret Lest the Heven shold fall A magnanimous answer And the French Nation must by natural inclination be magnanimous and Martial because the Astronomers who are so conversant with Hevenly Bodies and their virtual power in relation to Earth affirm that the Planet Mars is the Ascendent of France and hath a peculiar influence upon that Nation more then upon any other To pretermit for brevities sake many other victorious Kings who had raignd formerly what a triumphant Hero was Charlemain He vanquishd the Saracens in the Holy Land He freed Spain from them He was a mighty Champion of Christ and of the Roman Church For He restord two Popes viz. Adrian and Leo the one being besiegd the other banishd and living in exile This was the Prince who repaird the Western Empire being almost mouldred into dust and raysd it to as high a pitch of sublimity as ever it was by congregating the scatterd Dominions therof This was He who overthrew the Tyranny of the Longobards which his Father Pepin had begun and quite freed Italy of them where they had lived and lorded above two hundred yeers He subdued the Empire of the Huns securd England tam'd Bavaria subjugated Spain and possessd Italy He drive the Moors out of Corsica the Carthaginians out of Sardinia the Saracens from the Baleares Insulae Malliorca c. This was he who trounc'd the Bohemians checkd the Impiety of the Danes broke the fierceness of the Sclavonians and reducd the Saxons to Civility This is He whom all the Oriental Princes admird as well as the West receaving their Ambassadors laden with rich presents and desiring a frendship and confederacy with him This is He who was the founder of the University of Paris being very learned himself by the Instructions he receavd from Alcuin that famous English-man This was that pious Prince who confirmd the Donation which Constantin the great his predecessor made unto the Holy Father the Vicar of Christ of the City of Rome and conferd also upon Him the Exarchatship of Ravenna Therfore was he as deservedly as gloriously Crownd in Rome Emperour of the West and the Title of Christianissimus given Him the Empire continuing in his Race by direct Line above a hundred and ten yeers What glorious Expeditions have bin made since in the Holy Land by five several Kings of France in person Me thinks I behold Godefroy of Bouillon being countenancd and assisted by the French King and having morgagd some part and sold the rest of his Duchy for that Enterprise marching with a huge Army through Germany Hungary and Greece and so passing to Asia to encounter the Forces of Solyman the Ottoman Emperour and Chalypha the Soldan of Egypt with other Infidel Kings whom he put to flight making himself Master of Nice of Antioch and Hierusalem her self with the Holy Sepulchre of Christ. Me thinks I see Him when he was to be crownd King of Ierusalem throwing away the Crown of Gold and taking one of Thorns in imitation of our blessed Saviour Me thinks I see all the Princes therabouts Tributaries unto him and bringing him rich presents though He himself went clad but in the habit of a common Gregarian Soldier wherat some of the said Princes being astonishd askd How comes it to pass that so great a Conqueror who hath shaken all the Eastern world shold go so plain and homely But to draw to a conclusion of this Argument let 's descend lower to some of the Modern Kings of France and the two last will afford matter enough to confirm the Fortitude of the French Nation viz. Henry the Fourth and his Son Lewis the Thirteenth Concerning
the first Valour and Fortune may be said to contend which shold entitle him Henry the Great They both strivd for mastery in Him and which shold overcome He was Conqueror in four signal Battails In thirty five hot Skirmiges In above a hundred personal Encounters with the siege of about three hundred several places wherin He provd always Victorious which makes his memory to continue still fresh in France and makes new impressions from Fathers to Sons to render it eternal Ther is scarce any considerable Town but hath his Statue in Brass or Marble and Pictures innumerable insomuch that one said Una Henrici Oblivio erit occasus Humani generis The Oblivion of Henry alone will be the end of Mankind But for a tru Character of him I will insert here that which is engraven on the Cheval de bronze the Brasen Horse on the Pont-Neuf in sight of the Louvre his most Royal Castle in Paris which character runs thus Ie suis Henry grand Honneur de la Terre Astre de Paix Foudre de la Guerre L'Amour de Bons la Crainte de Pervers Dont les Vertus meritoient l'Univers Henry I am the Glory of Mankind The Star of Peace and Thunderbolt of War The spur of Vertu scourge of Vice A Mind That merited to sway more Scepters far Touching his Son and immediat Successor Lewis the Thirteenth he also did mighty things He began to bear Arms and wear Buff almost when he was no higher then a Sword at which height they say the Kings of France are out of their Minority but before he came out of His he repressd two ill-favourd Commotions in Poitou and Britany He continued Conqueror all his life-time nor did He know what it was to be beaten He bangd all his Neighbours round about him He clammerd twice with his Armies ore the Alps and came back again having done the business he went for He climd likewise with his Troops up the Pyreney Hills and establishd a Viceroy in the Kingdome of Catalonia He crossd ore the Meuse and made many deep Hacks in the Ragged Staff His Horses foorded ore the Rhine and helpd to cuff the Eagle ilfavouredly in the German Air. And lastly He foyld the English at the I le of Rhe. These were Exploits abroad At home also within his Kingdome He did marvailous things by suppressing so many Civil Insurrections and lastly by debelling the Hugonots which his five immediat Predecessors could not effect though they attempted it many ways Then which Action nothing could conduce more to the security and improvement of the power of the French Crown and the tranquillity of the Country The tenth and last Argument Ab Exemplo Authoritate Historicâ from Examples and Historical Authority THe Arguments which went before may be said to be Embroderies and Florishes of Reason yet those Florishes were wrought upon good Substantial stuff but this last Argument hath more of solidness legality and weight in it for it consists of Examples and Historical Authentik Proofs of Antiquity which the Logitian tells us is one of the strongest way of Argumentation We will not make such over-curious Retrospects as to look on the times before Charlemain though ther be divers examples that ever since the time of Clouis who was the first Christian King of France which was above 300 years before which prove that the Kings of France had Prerogatives of Session and Precedence both of Place and Person next to the Emperour But since Charlemain had the title of Christianissimus given him ther be divers cleer and convincing proofs how after the Empire was devolvd from Charlemains Race to the houses of Saxony Suevia and Austria nay since Austria came to the highest cumble of greatness and multitude of new Dominions the Kings of France have still had the Antecedence both in General Councils in assisting the holy Offices of the Church and in attending the Popes Person Now t is known that the Court of Rome with the Rules and practice therof is fittest to determine this Question of Precedence Mausonius and others have it upon good record how Anno 1564. Pope Pius the fourth passd a solemn Decree That the Kings of France ought to have the Precedence of any other King Nor indeed in former Ages did any King contend with him herabouts but the King of England The Spaniard did but of late years stand for it it is but since the Raign of Charles the fifth And as the Kings of France before claimd it as succeeding Charlemain so the Kings of Spain wold challenge it as succeeding Charles the Fifth Yet in the famous Treaty at Vervins 1598. after long Concertations and canvassing of the point Pro Con the Spanish Ambassadors made a Cession of Precedence to the French And Baldus the great Civilian as Purpuratus relates affirmeth categorically Nemo praesumat Honorem super vexilla Invictissimi Franciae Regis It is tru that some Writers rank Kings thus The King of Hierusalem the King of France the King of Sicily and the King of England which four are the only Anointed Kings And for this they shew an old Manuscript of the Church of Rome calld Provincialis Saint Gregory writes to Childebert Quanto caeteroâ—… homines Regia Dignitas antecellit tanto caeterarum gentium Regna Regni vestri culmen excellit As far as Royal Dignity excels all other men so far doth the glory of your Kingdome excel others Hâ—…norius the third says Reges Gallorum opposuerum se tanquam marus inexpugnabilis pro populo Christiano The Kings of France opposd themselfs as an inexpugnable Wall for the Christian People Gregory the ninth saith Regnum Galliae est quasi Phaâ—…etra quam Christus sibi circa femur accinxit ex qua sagittas electaâ—… extrâ—…hens 〈◊〉 â—…t sibi gentes Regna subjiciat in arcum brachii potentis emâ—… France is a Quiver which Christ tied to his thigh whence he draws Arrows for the subduing of Nations and Kingdomes c. Now touching the point of Precedence the notablest Contests that France hath had have been with Spain in the Council of Trent which lasted so many long years by intermissions the relations wherof lie scatterd up and down in divers Histories but we shall endeavour to give here a distinct and uninterrupted Narration thereof but first we will speak of a signal Contest in Venice The famous Contest twixt the most Christian and Catholique Kings in Venice as also in the Council of Trent IT is well known how that before the rearing up of that huge Colosse of the House of Austria which was Anno 1516. when Ferdinand of Aragon died Charles rendred himself very potent both in Italy as well as in Spain But he encreasd more strength after the death of Maximilian being chosen Emperour in his place at which time he was mounted to the highest pitch of sublimity and power I say t is well known how till that time the Kings of France were acknowledged the
the Spanish Court defended the Decree of the Senat very vigorously and in some mesure appeasd the spirit of King Philip who notwithstanding advancd this question upon all occasions The greatest endevours he usd was four years after in the Council of Trent which was the greatest Theatre of Religion and Honor that had been seen above a hundred years before wherof we shall give an exact Relation as followeth Of the Council of Trent A General Council after the Revolt of Luther Anno 1517. was desird by all Christians and often proposd by Charles the fifth and Francis the first of France to Pope Leo the Tenth Clement the seventh and Paul the third who at last convokd an Oecumenical Free Council to be held at Trent which was also kept at Bolonia some part of the time and ther were ten Sessions made in eighteen months Then it ceasd until the death of Paul the third 1549. The Cardinal Iohn Maria de Monte who had bin first President of the Council under Paul 3. succeeded by the the name of Iulius 3. who presently made an Indiction of the Council again which recommencd at Trent Anno 1550. and lasted also under this Pope above 18 months during which time ther were six Sessions but being summond again by the same Iulius it ceasd under Marcellus 2. who held the Pontificat but 22 days Then it continued under Paul 4. Anno 1559. Pius 4. succeeding him made a new Indiction of the Council again which began 1561. under whom it lasted two years during which time the nine last Sessions were made Insomuch that the whole Council by intermissions lasted about eighteen yeers from the year 1545. to 1563. but the Council sate together in deliberation but five years take all the Adjournments together Now to understand the Right of the Precedences of Ambassadors we must know that in the said Council three kinds of Assemblies were made viz. Congregations General Particular Congregations and Sessions In the particular Congregations the Doctors assisted by some Bishops examined Questions of Faith and Reformation according to the distribution that was made them and in this ther was no consideration had of Precedence or Ceremony They were Actions intra privatos parietes within privat Walls In the General Congregation all the Prelats assembled and the Legats presided who proposed what ought to be treated in the particular Congregations There the Theologians were heard and Ambassadors of Princes had audience after their Commissions had been examined In brief all things were concluded there which were to be promulgated in the following Session and Ambassadors had their places there according to their Rank At last the Session was the solemn day at which after the Mass of the Holy Spirit and a Sermon preachd by some Prelat or great Theologian the Prelat Officiating pronounced aloud the Decrees already resolvd upon which had been approvd by the Fathers by this Canonical word Placet Now all Ambassadors had their seats of honor in those Sessions and at Mass and this Honor appeerd by the places where they sate as also by the Censer and Pax which were given them to kiss during the celebration of the Mass. In the Council held by Paul 3. and Iulius 3. Charles the Fifth was Emperour and without any the least contradiction his Ambassadors preceded all others though the French scarce appeerd there and in the 16 first Sessions ther was hardly any Prelat of France so there was no dispute of any precedence at all the Emperour having the first rank and ther was no occasion at all for any Ambassador from the King of Spain because it was involvd then in the Empire yet ther intervend some things which declard the Prerogatives of the King of France First in the Bull of indicting the Council by Paul 3. the King of France is namd expresly after the Emperour and all other Princes spoken of in general terms without any name in these terms Charissimos in Christa Filios nostros Carolum Romanorum Imperatorem semper Augustum Et Christianissimum Regem Franciscum duo praecipua Christiani Nominis firmamenta atque fulchra or are atque obsecrare instituimus Then a little after Supra autem dictos Imperatorem Regemque Christianissimum nec non caeteros Reges Duces Principes quorum praesentia si alias usquam hoc quidem tempore maxime Sanctissimae Christi Fidei Christianorum omnium futura est salutaris rogantes atque obsecrantes per viscera misericordiae Dei c. We have appointed to desire and pray our most dear Sons in Christ Charles Emperour of the Romans always August and Francis the most Christian King the two chiefest Supporters and Props of Christianity c. So that ther is no other Prince particularly namd in the Bull but the Emperour and the King of France the other Kings and Princes go under one general notion which is a great advantage of Honour to the Kings of France Secondly From the entry of the Council 1545. Francis the first of France had appointed for his Ambassadors Claude d' Urfé Seneshal of the Forests Iacques de Ligneres President of the third Chamber of Enquests and Dean Peter Danes afterwards Bishop of Vaur but being advertisd by some Bishops which were at Trent how ther were but little hopes that the said Council was like to have good success he revokd the said Ambassadors who appeerd not at all in the Council But Anthony Filiolo Archbishop of Aix being there and demanding that in the publik Prayers which were made for all Christian Princes the King of France shold be expresly nominated as he was in the Bull of Indiction the Legats eluded this demand insomuch that the Pope and the Emperour were only namd in the Prayers and all other Princes conceavd in General terms In the yeer 1546. King Francis 1. sent Peter Danes Bishop of Vaur for his Ambassador to the Council where making an eloquent Oration he represented the sad state of Christendome and the disorders which were crept into the Church yea into the Roman Court wherupon one Bishop laughd saying Gallus cantat The Cock crows Danes replied suddenly Utinam illo Gallocinio Petrus ad resipiscentiam fletum excitetur I wold to God that by this crowing of the Cock Peter wold be raisd up to repentance and tears And this saying was afterwards in evry ones mouth In the yeer 1547. Paul 3. in regard of the Plague and Wars then in Germany transferrd the Council from Trent to Bolonia but this he did Communicato etiam Consilio cum Imperatore Christianissimo Rege aliis Regibus ac Principibus Christianis where the King of France is particularly namd In the yeer 1551. when Iulius 3. had re-established the Council again at Trent although Hen. 2. the King of France had entred into a hot War against Pope Iulius for the Affairs of Parma yet he employd Iaques Amyot Abbot of Belosana and afterwards Bishop of Auxerre with a Letter bearing this
name of the King of France was omitted ran thus The Cardinal said aloud Caroli quinti Imperatoris serenissimorum Regum qui hoc universale Concilium promoverunt protexerunt Memoria in Benedictione sit Let the memory of the Emperour Charles the fifth and of the most serene Kings who have promoted this universal Council be always Blessed Then Serenissimo Imperatori Ferdinando semper Augusto Orthodoxo Pacifico omnibus Regibus Reipublicis principibus nostris multi anni Many years to the most serene Emperour Ferdinand ever August Orthodoxal and Peaceful and to all our Kings Commonwealths and Princes Then the Fathers answerd Pium Christianum Imperatorem Domine conserva Imperator Caelestis Terrenos Reges Rectae Fidei conservatores custodi O Lord conserve the Pious and Christian Emperour O Coelestial Emperour defend Earthly Kings Conservers of the Right Faith The first Acclamation was for the Dead wherin the Cardinal forgot to express the name of Francis the 1. and Hen. 2. who had contributed their care and zeal for the good of the Council The second was for living Princes wherin he also omitted the name of Charles 9. for which the said Cardinal was blamd at the King of France his Council He excusd himself that it was for the fear he had to put division between the two Kings and withal that Charles of France being yet a minor he was like to be troubled about matters of Religion in regard of the Hugonots and might have need of King Philip therfore it was no wisdom to exasperat Him Thus have you a kinde of Epitome of the great Council of Trent specially of the celebrous Contests Intrigues Competitions and Artifices twixt France and Spain in point of Prerogative of Place and Priority of Session The next Contest was at the Congress of Ambassadors in Vervins 1598. touchd at before where the French Ambassadors receivd an Accommodation by the moderation of the Cardinal of Medici The manner of this Accommodation was thus The Cardinal Legat being under a Cloth of State at the end of the Table where the Treaty was to be held had upon his Right-hand the Nuntio and next Him the Spanish Ambassadors upon his Left-hand the Legat had the French Ambassadors and in that posture they proceeded to negotiat and Treat without any exception or animosities wherby the Business producd peaceful and blessed effects wherof all Christendome did reap very wholsome fruit After this ther happend a tough competition upon the same account of Precedence in the Court of Rome and when the Spaniard could not prevail there He went to the Emperours Court Maximilian the second his neer Kinsman wher his Ambassadors had the Prerogative of Place before the Ambassadors of Charles the ninth King of France wherupon Gaspar Coligni protested loudly against this apparent injury and that it was a sufficient cause to denounce War But Mendosa the Spanish Ambassador being much pressd hereabouts and reducd to a narrow streight found out at last this witty evasion saying Se nolle quidem anteire tamen cogi non posse ut Francorum Legatos sequeretur If He did not go before yet He could not be forcd to follow the French Ambassador Besoldus with others who are great Advocats for the Spanish Precedence beat their Brains to find out arguments to that effect amongst which the greatest is the multitude of Dominions that have accrued to the Spaniard whence they deduce this Principle Ex facto sumitur Ius Right is to be taken out of the Fact and the Fact being changd the Right also changeth Therfore the Fact and circumstances of things being changd on the Spaniards side and respect had to his encrease of Territories and present condition it may well alter the former custome of giving precedence to France Then he takes the Cudgels against England in behalf of Spain notwithstanding that he acknowledgeth out of Meteranus that the English are the most ancient Christians and that Germany his own Country owes her Religion first to Them That the Kings of England are descended of the Noblest Families of any which makes him instance in King Cunobelinus whose Coyn is to be seen to this day who raignd in Great Britain about our Saviours Nativity He alledgeth further how the King of England is feodary or subordinat to no earthly Power but is Gods immediat Vicar in his own Dominions yet he concludes simply and irrationally in these words Verùm Angli nimis antiquis argumentis pugnant praesenti Majestati Hispaniae aequiparandi minimè esse videntur The English fight with too ancient arguments and seem not to be compard to the present Majesty of Spain He speaks also as simply and indeed not without some absurdity when after those uncontroulable arguments he saith Sed porro absonum est quod Anglus Hispano Sessionis litem movet It is a senseless thing that the English shold move any debate with the Spaniard for privilege of Session And another great Champion for the Precedence of Spain viz. Diego Valdez discourseth as weakly for notwithstanding that he acknowledgeth Lucius to be a Christian King of England in the time of Pope Eleutherius which was many hundred years before ther was any in Spain that he confesseth that Summa Ratio est quae ducitur à Religione yet he wold not have England compare with Spain in point of Precedence wherby he discovers not only a great deal of injustice and partiality but also a gross Ignorance in Antiquity by calling Lucius King of England wheras this Country had not that Name till the Saxons came in which was above three hundred years after For till then t was calld Britannia by all Forreners and Loegria or Lloygher by the native Inhabitants which name continues among the Welch to this day Nor is this His Error alone but of many other great Antiquaries and some of our own Authors who having no due regard to the computation of time do very frequently call this Country England many hundred of years before the word was created Thus have we producd and faithfully alledgd the principal Arguments that France hath for a Precedence We will conclude with two late Passages which happend in this kind One was in the Hague twixt Monsieur de Thou and Don Estevan de Gamarra the Spanish Ambassador whose Coaches meeting casually in a place where ther were two Rails ther happend a scustle for Precedence but a band of Soldiers came and kept them quiet till notice was sent to the Council of State who sitting three or four hours about it at last they gave command that the Rails shold be cut down and so the way being left open the scustle ended The second was in London twixt Monsieur l' Estrade and the Baron de Batteville both of them Ambassadors at the English Court the latter for the King of Spain the other for France A new Danish Ambassador was to make his Entry through London and His Majesty of
Port and some say it was of stone where after thanks being given to God they placd the body of the most holy Apostle and after many dangers they arrivd at Iria Flaria now calld Padron thence they carried it to Liberum Donum now calld Compostella where they entombd it in a Marble Monument But as the Disciples were seeking for a place fit for so great an Apostle they made their address to Queen Luparia or Lupa who sent them to King Philotrus who casting them into an obscure prison they were freed by an Angel and while the soldiers were in pursute of them they were all drownd in a River the Bridg and all falling down with them by which miracle King Philotrus was converted But Luparia continuing obstinat she threw their Bodies to Bulls and Dragons wherof some they slew and some grew mild Then Luparia being orecome by these miracles causd a Temple to be erected there for the holy Apostle as Faber out of Sophorinus doth affirm And although Morales makes a doubt herof in regard that Spain was then subject to the Romans and so could have no Kings yet ther might be some Kings there though subject and tributary to Rome as Herodes Agrippa was in Hierusalem and as Queen Candacis was But because these passages are so overgrown with yeers let us hasten to later times The second signal time that Spain receavd extraordinary influence of Christian Faith was in the raign of Constantine the great who was so glorious an Instrument to the Church his Mother a British Lady being a Christian and Osius a Spanish Bishop having taken so much pains for his conversion Then Theodosius who did propagat the Faith more openly and did destroy the Pagan Churches which were stuffd with Idols was by Nation a Spaniard and his sons who succeeded him in the Empire The third time was when the seat of the Roman Empire being translated to Constantinople divers rough Northern Nations broke in and seazd upon most parts of the Western Territories therof so that the Goths invaded Spain and came to possess it and then by the special benediction of God ther was a Catholik King in Spain before any in France For an 554. Athanagildus King of the Goths according to the currant consent of all Historiographers professd the Christian Faith as Lucas Tudensis hath it Then succeeded him Leonegiâ—…dus Then a little after came Richaredus and in his raign the whole Kingdome of Spain became Catholik and florishd exceedingly But the French object that Anno 496. Clodovaeus was baptizd by St. Rhemigius and so had the start of Richaredus in Christianity but to that t is answerd That the whole Kingdome of France was not then converted Nor was He King of all the Kingdome as Richaredus was of Spain For Gregorius Turonensis relates that Clodovaeus with his two sisters were baptizd and three thousand French more the whole Kingdome came not to be Christian a good while after wheras all Spain was reducd entirely to the Faith a good while before and did make open profession therof in the Council of Toledo Moreover a good part of France was then subject to Theodoricus King of the Ostrogoths who then raignd in Italy who were of the Arrian Heresie But Spain was then totally under Richaredus whence may be inferrd that Spain generally had a Christian King before France But if we divide Spain into Provinces ther were divers of them had Christianity planted and publiquely preferrd before Clovis for Rechiarius King of the Suevians was Christian Anno 440. Furthermore t is very observable that from Richaredus no King in Spain fell from the true Catholick Church wheras divers in France did after Clodoveus as Chilperik and others witness what Gaguinus writes Nec multò post Chilpericus cujus malitia ut in Homines multis fraudibus perspicua esset in Deum quoque impietatem meditatus est de divina quidem Trinitate ita credi noluit ut tres in Illa Personas sed unam confiteretur c. Not long after Chilperik whose malice was so evident against men did meditat malice also against God for he wold not confess three but one Person in the Trinity And Mausonius saith Chilpericus cùm multis rebus impiè gestis Deum sibi iratum reddidisset mense quarto à Natali Clodovaei successoris sui apud Callam vicum Parisiorum occididitur Chilperik when for many things impiously committed he had made God angry with him was killd in Calla a small Village of the Parisians And in this last Age the last King of France before Hen. 4. having done some acts of Impiety as imprisoning of Cardinals and other things it induced a Brother of the Dominican Order to dispatch him violently out of the world Besides a King of Spain Rechiarius was the first who out of a Zeal to protect the tru Religion made the first War against the Enemies therof which were the Arrian Goths and ever since the Kings of Spain have bin the greatest Champions and Propugnators of the Catholik Church upon all occasions But now we will take in hand the Titles of Christianissimus and Catholik and make it appeer that the Kings of Spain had the one before the French Kings had the other and because that Names are the Images of Things we will give you their primitive derivations The first Propagators of Christianity we all know were the holy Apostles and their Disciples but some of the latter falling into errors the Orthodoxal Disciples to distinguish themselfs from the false calld themselfs Christians which name they first assumd at Antioch and then it grew general being derivd from Christ and Christ a Crismate or Unction It was afterwards raisd to a superlatif to Christianissimus which was first given to the Emperors and to this day as Castaldus observes they are solemnly prayed for in Oratione Parasceue in Good-Friday-Prayer evry yeer Oremus pro Christianissimo Imperatore nostro wherin Ferrault is deceavd by attributing it onely to the French King Moreover divers Kings of Spain had that Title given them upon oceasion as all the Spanish Annalists do aver For Richaredus was calld Christianissimus Anno 589. and after him Sisebutus Anno 616. when he expelld the Iews out of the Territories of Spain and Cinthillanus is calld so in the sixth Council of Toledo and Pope Leo writing to Quirico calls Flavium Ervigium then King of Spain Christianissimum in the fourth Council of Toledo and this was before Charlemain who first bore that Title in France Ramirus King of Aragon and Sancho 3. as also Alphonsus Magnus was entitled so Now let us examine when this Title Christianissimus was given to the French Kings Most do affirm that it began in Charlemain but observe it was given him and to some of his Successors as they were Emperours for the ordinary Title which was usd to be given the Kings of France before was Illustris Ther is another opinion that Pope Pius 2. gave Lewis 11.
number above a thousand for one T is tru that such imaginations as these did much distract them a while but at last their courage and constancy was such that they broke through all these dissi culties And touching that huge mass of peeple in America as a wild boistrous Boar taken within the toyls doth foam struggle and turn about to try all ways how he may get out at last when all will not serve and having wasted his spirits he lies down with quietness and despair putting himself upon the mercy of the Huntsmen so the wild American having tryed all ways of opposition lay down at last succumbent and prostrat at the Spaniards feet and for a reward of their indefatigable pains and prowess the Divine Providence gave them afterwards Mines and Mountains of Tresure yea Rivers running with Gold Seas full of Perl with all sorts of Gems and precious stones all kind of Aromatik Spices sweet Woods with a world of new Species of Birds Beasts Plants and Fishes which Europe never knew But what Exchanges and recompence did Spain make to America for all this Marry she affoorded her a far more precious Jewel which was Christian Religion Praequa quisquiliae caetera In comparison wherof all other things are but Bables And what a world of pious pains did the Spaniards take to plant that Tree of Life among them It is recorded by Boterus that one Franciscan Fryar did baptise about 400000 Savages in the sacred Laver of Regeneration insomuch that one may now travel thousands of miles in America and very frequently meet with Christian Churches Chappels Monasteries Convents Nunneries Towns Villages Castles Forts or Bulwarks as he goes along What a coyle do the Historians keep about the Achievements of Alexander the Great We well know that he subdued but part of Asia But here a new world is conquerd about thrice as big as whole Asia Therfore the Kings of Spain may be only said to have done Miracles in steed of Exploits And as God Al mighty when He builds creates no less then a World when He is angry sends no less then an Universal Deluge when He confers Grace doth sacrifice no less then the prime Son when He rewards gives no less then Paradis when He wars sends no less then Legions of Angels making also the Elements to fight the Sea to open and the Sun to stand So if Finite things may bear any proportion with Infinit the Kings of Spain have bin desigud to do mighty things if not miracles when They build they build no less then an Escurial if They are angry they drive forth whole Nations as the Iews and Moors if they provide for the publick good they sacrifice no less then their own Sons if they take Arms they conquer not only whole Kingdoms but new Worlds insomuch that the King of Spain may be according to the Proverb truly called Rex Hominum the King of Men wheras those of England and France are calld the first King of Devils the other King of Asses It is the King of Spain alone to whom the Gran Mogor and Sophy use to send this superscription To the King who hath the Sun for his Helmet alluding to his vast Dominions in all parts of the world and that the Sun doth always shine on some of them besides it is no mean preeminence to the Catholik King That God Almighty is servd evry hour of the Natural Day in some of his Territories Therfore it can be no derogation from any other Monark if for Glory and Amplitude of Dominions for Men and Mines for fulgor of Majesty and Power for Islands and Continents for a long Arm and Sword the Catholik King be preferred before any other Prince or Potentat upon the Terrestrial Globe take both the Hemispheres together Argum. 6. Proving That the King of Spain may challenge Precedence for Nobleness of Family as also for Royal Arms and Ensignes c. NObility among the Heralds is of two sorts the one is of Parental Extraction and Blood and this is rather our Progenitors then our own being ingrafted or traducd unto us from them Ther is another Nobility which is accidental underivd or personal and this comes either from abundance of Riches or from excellency of Parts or from the Merit and Glory of some great Exploit The first proceeds from Descent the other from Desert Now among other Prerogatives of Kings one of the highest is that they are the source and fountain of Nobility and Honor Therfore no Vassal whatsoever be he of never so ancient and illustrious extraction is capable to compare with the King though I am not ignorant that some of your French Monsieurs will vapor somtimes that way Now it contributs much to the honor of any Country to have a King of a long-lind Royal Race There is a good Text which tells us That Beata Terra cujus Rex nobilis est with another Quà m puchra est generatio cum claritate Immortalis enim est memoria illius quoniam apud Deum nota est apud Homines The Land is blessd whose King is Noble How beutiful is a Generation with brightness the memory therof is Immortal because t is known with God and Men. The Kingdome of Spain may glory to have had Kings of both the foresaid Nobilities both Progenial derivd from their Predecessors and Personal from their own Merit and heroik perfections of Vertue as Magnanimity and Fortitude as Prudence and high Wisdome as extraordinary Devotion and Sanctitie Touching the Royal Tree of the Genealogie of the Kings of Spain we can fetch it from the Families of the Amalis and Baltheis whence the Kings of the Visigoths and Ostrogoths descended above a thousand yeers since Then from the glorious house of Austria which may be calld a tru Imperial Tree by having producd so many Emperours that have continued in that stem above these two hundred years without interruption which House began with Theobarto who came from Sigebart Duke of Germany Anno 604. Touching the Shield-Ensignes and the Royal Arms of the King of Spain they are as noble as any and it adds much to the Nobleness of a Kingdome to have noble Arms which hath bin accounted no small blemish to the Crown of France whose ancient Arms were three Toads in a black field though the signification of the Hieroglyphik makes some amends for it which relates to the fruitfulness of France for Toads choose always the fattest soyle yet is he an ugly slow poysonous creature and abhorred by humane Nature But upon the conversion of King Clouis to Christianity the French do vaunt that a Shield with three Flower de Luces of a Caerulean color fell down miraculously from Heven as Numas Shield did in Rome and the Palladium did in Troye which Arms France gives ever since But the truth of that miracle is much questiond for the greatest Authors as Emilius Gillius Reginon and Gregorius Turonensis in the Life of King Clou is makes no
by the Laws of the Land though as a dutiful Son to the Church out of pure Ideas of Devotion he is contented to be obedient unto his Mother in spiritual things Yet ther are divers Tramontan Writers both Italian and Germans who being devoted to the Emperour wold make the Kings of Spain England and France to acknowledg the Emperour and they who do it not remain in no less then mortal sin And one of the main Arguments which they urge is That the Emperour Sigismund before the Council of Constance assembled sent his summons among other to Ferdinand King of Aragon to be there for the universal good of Christendome But herunto t is answerd That the glorious Emperour Charles the fifth made a solemn Protestation that he decreed nothing in Spain under the notion of Emperour For though he had a double quality yet whatsoever he acted in Spain was singly as he was King therof This signal Diploma or publick Protestation is yet to be seen in the Archives of Spain and is mentiond in the History of Pedro Mexia which runs thus Don Carlos por la gracia de Dios Rey de Romanos futuro Emperador semper Augusto Rey de Castilla y de Leon c. En uno con la muy alta y muy Poderosa Reyna Donna Iuana mi Sennora Madre Por quanto despues que plugo a la Divina Clementia por la qual los Reyes reynan que fuessemos Eligidos Rey de Romanos futuro Emperador y que de Rey Catholico de Espanna con que eramos bien contentos fuessemos promovido al Imperio convino que nuestros Titulos se ordenassen dando a cada uno su devido lugar Fue necessario conformando nos con razon segun la qual el Imperio precede a las otras dignidades seglares por ser la mas alta y sublime dignidad que Dios instituyò en la Iâ—…ierra de preferir la dignidad Imperial a la Real y de nombrarnos y intitularnos primero como Rey de Romanos y futuro Emperador que la dicha Reyna mi sennora lo qual hizimos mas apremiado de necessiâ—…d que de razon que por voluntad que dello tenemos porque con toda reverencia y acatamiento la honramos y desseamos honrar y acatar Pues que demas cumplir el mandamiento de Dios a que somos obligados por Ella tenemos y esperamos tener tan gran sucession de Reynos y senorios como tenemos Y porque de la dicha prelacion no se pueda Seguir ni causar perjuizio ni confusion adelante a los nuestros Reynos de Espanna ni a los Reyes nuestros Successores ni a los naturales sus subditos que por tiempo fueren Por ende queremos que sepan todos los que agora son ò seran de aqui adelante que nuestra intencion y voluntad es que la libertad y exempcion que los dichos Reynos de Espanna y Reyes dellos han tenido y tienen de que han gozado y gozan de no reconocer Superior les sea agora y de aqui adelante observada y guardada inviolablemente y que gozen de aquel estado c. Yo el Rey. Thus rendred into English Don Carlos by the grace of God King of the Romans and future Emperour always August King of Castile and Leon c. together with the most high and most mighty Dame Ioan my Lady Mother Wheras since it pleasd the Divine Clemency by which Kings raign that we were elected King of the Romans future Emperour and from a Catholik King of Spain wherwith we were well contented we were promoted to the Empire it was convenient that our Titles shold be orderd giving evry one his due place It was necessary conforming our selfs to Reason wherby the Empire precedes to other secular Dignities it being the highest and most sublime Dignity which God hath instituted on earth to prefer the Imperial Dignity before the Kingly and to name and intitle our selfs as Kings of the Romans and future Emperour before the said Queen my Lady which we did being pressd more by necessity then by any willingness we have therunto because we honor and respect and desire to honor and respect Her with all reverence and duty in regard that besides the accomplishing of Gods Commandment wherunto we are obligd we hold by Her and hope to hold so great a succession to Kingdomes and Dominions which we hold And because no prejudice or confusion may ensue to our said Kingdoms of Spain nor to the Kings our â—…uccessors nor to the Native Subjects that shall be for the time Therfore our desire is That all those who now are and shall be herafter may know That our intention and will that the Liberty and exemption which the said Kingdoms of Spain and their Kings have held and do hold that they have enjoyd or do enjoy Not to acknowledge a Superior be observd unto Them now and herafter and be inviolably kept And that they enjoy the same liberty and ingenuity which at the time of our promotion and before they had and enjoyd c. And our will is that this Declaration have the force and vigor of a Pragmatical Sanction c. Given in the City of Barcelona 5. 7bris 1519. I the King This Royal Manifesto or Pragmatical Sanction you see doth assert the absolut and independent Authority of the Kings of Spain and that they do not only renounce all subordinations but are free from the least acknowledgment to any Forren Power insomuch that it is enacted by the Laws of Spain that to avoid the least suspition of any obedience to the Empire the Civil Roman Law is not to be kept or alledgd as Law Nor indeed for driving out the Saracens and other Infidels was Spain ever obligd to the Empire or any other Extrinsik Power but she did it by the effusion of her own blood by the strength and valour of her own Natives Moreover the Kings of Spain are so far from any recognition of subjection to the Empire or any outward power that they themselfs in former Ages have bin frequently called Emperours in publik Instruments as Decretals Acts of Councils and Apostolical Epistles from Rome Now if they did merit to be calld Emperours then how much more is that Title adaequat to the Kings of Spain in these latter times wherin they are grown to be Lords of above half of the whole Terrestrial Globe Nor is the King of Spain thus exempt from all Forren extraneous Authority but in point of intrinsecal and domestik Power he is as absolut as any other for it hath not bin found this hundred yeers that his Subjects did refuse the payment of any Impositions which have bin many in regard he wars with all the world who repine at his Greatness Yet is he still Reâ—… Hominum a King of Men viz. of Free Subjects and not a King of Asinigos as his
Subject who resembleth a Mediator of Love Concerning the word Legat Resoldus tells us in brief that He is one who is sent to deliver the Commands of another but none of these can be calld properly Definitions according to the Rules of Logik but Descriptions They are calld sometimes Orators from Oracion or the fluency of the Toung which is the chiefest tool of an Ambassador They are calld also Nuncii because they come to declare and tell Now Nuncii and Legats are of late Ages they whom the Popa sends whose Ministers of this kind have a mixt employment twixt Spiritual and Secular Legats are of three sorts ther is Legatus Natus Legatus Missus and Legatus à Latere The first hath a perpetual successif Legantine Power as the Archbishop of Canterbury in England is endowed with that Prerogative as a Dignity annexd to the Archbishoprik above 1000 years since therfore ther can no other Legats come to England without the Kings special consent wherupon one of the Articles against Cardinal Wolsey was That he exercised a Legantine Power in England without the Kings privity Then ther is Legatus Missus and he signifieth as much as an ordinary Nuncio Then ther is Legatus à Latere or Apostolical Nuncio who is desumd out of the number of Cardinals only and they are sometimes Gâ—…vernors of Provinces or calld Pro-consuls and they are calld Legati de Latere because they are neerest the side and the greatest Confidents of the Pope We may read in Iustine that Ambassadors by some are calld Lenones Bawds but taken in a chast sense because by smooth and alluring Language they move the affections of the Prince to whom they are sent The Greeks call their Ambassadors 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they ought to be of yeers and well salted in the world Ther are also Deputies and Commissaries who have the same Office as Ambassadors but the Civilians make this difference betwixt them that Ambassadors are sent to Equals Deputies to Superiors and Commissaries to Inferiors Ther is also a publik Minister of State calld Agent and he is sent when ther is a suspition that the Ambassador will not be honord as he shold be Therfore the French Kings of late yeers have no Ambassadors in the Emperors Court but Agents because of the Competition for Precedence twixt him and Spain Agents are likewise employd sometimes to save charges or that the Business may be done without noise Ahd of late yeers ther is a new Minister of State invented which is a Resident who is superiour to an Agent and inferiour to an Ambassador Both Agent and Resident have the Security though not the Session and state or such a latitude of power as Ambassadors have Now Agents may dispatch Businesses of as great consequence as Ambassadors though they do it more secretly and with lesse stir Therfore Hottoman saith That the Queen of England and the Princes of Germany had des Agens Secrets in Venice because that in regard of diversity of Religion the Senat wold not seem to make too strict a frendship with them and for these secret Employments Merchants have bin thought to be the fittest Instruments because under the cloak of Trading they may also hide Affairs of State Ther are also Heralds which are a sort of Ambassadors and they are very ancient They are calld Caduceatores whose Office is to denounce War for such was the open honesty of our Ancestors that they would not commence a War until they had sent notice of it in a convenient time beforehand and these had also the security of Ambassadors for the time but they were strictly tied to the very same words that were dictated unto them Their persons also are to be as free from any outrage as Ambassadors are which made the Earl of Essex check his soldiers in Keinton-field when the late King sent Sir William le Neve King of Arms the next morning after the Battail was sought who wold have outragd Him Ther are also other Ministers of State that draw neer to the nature of Ambassadors which are calld Consuls wherof some have Royal Commission though the nature of their Office be to protect and assist the Merchant being practisd in the Custome and Language of the Country in their Law-suits and ther is as much esteem had of these as of Agents Of these England hath more then any and they are allowd very noble allowance as he of Aleppo hath 4000 Dollars yeerly and they of Smyrna and Mosco little less but if ther be an Ambassador in that Dominion where they serve they are subordinat to his commands in divers things We will conclude this Paragraph with this distinction of Ambassadors That some are extraordinary or pro tempore employd upon some particular great Affairs or Condolements or Congratulations or for Overtures of Marriage c. and they use to go with greater lustre and magnificence and may return without sending for leave unless ther be a restraining clause in their Commission The other are Ordinary or Lidger Ambassadors commanded to reside in the place until they receave Letters of Revocation and as their time of return is indefinit so their business is incertain arising out of emergent occasions and commonly the protection and affairs of the Merchants is their greatest care But Albericus Gentilis with all the great Civilians alledge that these kinde of Ambassadors were not known but of late yeers and Paschalius calls them no better then Emissaries Explorators or Spyes which made Hen. 7. of England as he saith admit of none The second Paragraph Of the absolut and indispensable necessity of Ambassadors and that Mankind cannot subsist without them IF it were not for Ambassadors Wars wold be endless and Enmities everlasting Ther wold be no knowledg no frendship among Princes nor commerce among Nations Brunus says That among all Functions all Offices and Employments of a Commonwealth ther is none more necessary more difficult more honorable and that requires greater discretion sagacity and caution then that of an Ambassador but as it is accompanied with honor and profit so it is with danger and hazard Ambassadors are the emissititious Eyes of a Prince they are his ears and hands they are his very understanding and reason they are his breath and voice in contemplation wherof the Poet sings that an Ambassador is Vox Regum lingua salutis Foederis Orator pacis via Terminus irae Semen Amicitiae Belli fuga litibus hostis It is observd in all stories and confirmd by multitude of examples that the Interview and encounter of Kings hath bin rather a disadvantage then an advance to any great business specially in treating of Capitulations of Peace Therfore in the Politiks t is a Principle that in Colloquies for Pacification Princes shold not appeer in person but be represented by their Ambassadors and Commissaries A Journey to be performd by Kings requires much trouble and charges much ado ther is in fitting their train that they may
so universal good as suppressing of Wars by making Peace Frendship and Concord or for the advancement of Commerce and Frendship Now it adds much to the Honor of Ambassadors that none can send any under that Title unless he be a Souverain Prince Ther is no subject capable to send or receave any Ambassador be he never so great a Viceroy if he do it is no less then High Treson Therfore before the beginning of the last Civil Wars in England it was Treson in the highest degree for the Scots Inconsulto Principe to send Lowden and others in quality of privat Clancular Commissioners to treat with the French King in the name of the whole Nation for assistance And though the King himself made a semblance not to admit or hear them yet his fiery Cardinal huggd them whence it may be well said the first flames of the said VVars broke out It is recorded in the Life of Eliz. Queen of England that the Duke of Alva when he was Governor of Flanders sent Christopher Assonville in quality of a Minister of State but the Queen wold not admit him because he could produce neither Commission or Credential Letter from the King of Spain whose Vassal Alva was In the year 1604. the King of Spain motiond that the publik Minister who was here for the Hollanders shold not be stild Ambassador because they are subject to the Empire and have a Superior having bin incorporated in the Empire by Charles the fifth 1548. at the Diet of Auspurg as Meteranus relates and says besides that Rodolphus 2. writ Letters unto them 1607. as to Vassals of the Empire and consequently they had no power to make Peace or War without the consent of Caesar which they then acknowledgd by their Letters sent to Colen The Electors and Princes of Germany have got a privilege to send and receave Ambassadors touching matters that concern their own Territories but not the state of the Empire The like the Hans Town may do But Rebels have no capacity to employ any in quality of Ministers of State no not so much as an Herald Therfore Charles the fifth was censurd for admitting a Herald with Letters denouncing a War from the Lutheran party in Germany and dismissing him unpunishd though he told him that if he came again in steed of a Gold Chain he shold have a Halter for his reward Touching the Electors or Princes of Germany and the Hans Towns or Cities of the Hansa it hath bin much controverted whether they had Ius Legationis whether they had a capacity to make a Mission of Ministers of State that might bear the quality and privilege of Ambassadors Concerning the first Kirknerus a great Civilian holds That the German Princes may have such a Prerogative but it is secundario tantum Iure Et qui Ius mittendorum Legatorum secundario tantùm Iure habent mittuntur Legati non de Rebus universum concernentibus Imperium sed tantùm sui Territorii ratione eo enim Ipsis intuitu tantùm datum ultra igitur terminos non est procedendum fieret enim altàs prejudicium Imperatori c. The German Princes may employ Ambassadors to Forren Princes by a secondary Right not to treat of Affairs concerning the Universal Empire but of things only appertaining to their own particular Territories and beyond those bounds they must not proceed And ther are some Princes in Italy also that are no less under the Majesty of the Empire in this kind but c. As for the Hans Towns and Corporations they claim the same privilege as the Princes do for they are free Imperial Cities and communicat of the same Regalias yet all by the indulgence of the Emperour wherunto his necessities from time to time enforcd him The Provinces of Belgia or the Netherlands under pretext of such a Right sent the Baron of Montigni as Ambassador to Spain at the beginning of the tumults but Philip the second choppd off his head saying That Vassals much less Rebels have no power to employ Ambassadors Yet this King his Grandchild admitted Ascham who came from as notorious Rebels though not in reference to him which he excusd in regard that Queen Elizabeth had receavd Ambassadors from Holland at their first revolt before they were acknowledgd a State and that she was the chiefest supportress of them VVe will conclude this Paragraph with this Ticklish Point VVhether a Protestant Prince may not send an Ambassador to the Pope and by way of civil correspondence receave another from Him though Iustice Ashton was of a contrary opinion yet Sir Edward Coke was for the Affirmatif and his reason is because that besides his Spiritual Jurisdiction the Pope is a Temporal Prince and ther may be Ambassadors sent to him as well as to the Turk or Mogor The fourth Paragraph Of the Privileges Security Reception and the honorable sacred esteem which hath bin always had of the Persons of Ambassadors AMong many other Privileges which Ambassadors enjoy and are endowd withal Iure Gentium by the Law of Nations not only their Persons have bin always esteemd sacred and inviolable but their Houses have bin held and allowd as Sanctuaries all their Servants from the Stuard to the Scullion-Boy are free from all kind of outrages violence or arrests And they have this security not only in Courts and Cities but in the midst of Armies in the Field twixt Swords Muskets and Guns for though Ambassadors come from an Enemy yet they are accounted none VVhensoever they take footing upon the shore or confines of any Prince to whom they are sent they use to be attended by Harbingers and other Officers all the way till they arrive at the Court. If they be robbd the King makes good their losses If an extraordinary Ambassador he is attended at his first entrance with a more splendid equippage he is Lodgd and Dieted at the Kings charge for so many days with his whole train At his Audience the King riseth to him pulls off his Hat and bows his Body c. Besoldus produceth the King of England anno 1527. for an example how he observd the French Ambassador as if he had bin the King himself His words are Angliae Rex Gallicum Legatum planè ut Regem observavit eique supremum locum concessit adeoque honoravit ut in Comoediis ipsius Regis filiae sustineret personam The King of England observd the French Ambassador plainly as the King and gave him the upper place and he so honord him that he held by the arm the Kings Daughter to a Comedy But the Princes Electors carry themselfs high in this particular for they take place of Ambassadors and the reason which Guetta and other Civilians give is In praesente Principe vera Majestas in Legato tantùm dignitas aliena In Principe reiveritas in Legato effigiata adumbrata est ut autem umbra Luci ita Principi Legatus quamvis enim Fictio tantùm operetur quantùm rei veritas
Crown and Alliance but also for neerness in Blood Your Message in the first part is a Ceremony sutable to the affections and obligations of Princes to express the sense they have of the mortality of their Frends which Office is best performd by a person of noble rank capable of the impression wrought in noble hearts But the substance of your Ambassage is for the publik Peace and the interest of our Brother the Palsgrave and our dear Sister depending therupon To advance this great work you must with convenient speed fit your self for your journey and pass the Seas in a ship appointed to transport you to the Sound or the River of Elve as by the way you shall learn where our Uncle the King doth now reside When you are landed you shall forthwith give notice of your coming that your Reception may be with honor due to our Ambassador of your rank Then after your coming to Court you shall in our name demand Audience and then attend the Kings plesure for your access but you shall not visit any other until you have had the honor of his presence to whom you are employd At your first audience you shall deliver our Letter of Credence to our Uncle and then with a significant expression of our entire and cordial affection proceeding from the obligations of frendship you shall tell him what great sorrow we have conceavd together with him for the death of our dear Granmother the late Queen his Mother whose memory you must adorn with her stile and due Praises enlargd as the information of her Life and Death and your own Judgment will best direct This Office being performd with the King without any mention of other business at that time you shall address your self to the Prince if he be present or otherwise by special audience and deliver with our Letter of Credence our like condoleance with expression of our hearty affection as to a Kinsman whose prosperity and inward frendship we very much desire Our Letters to our Aunts the Kings Sisters you shall deliver afterwards with signification of our condoleance and of our love to either of them and if more of our Cosens be there you shall pass like Offices with them all Whilst you attend this Ceremony you are to inform your self by Avery who hath the charge of our affairs at Hamborough and is also chosen Commissioner for our sister what is done concerning that Portion of our Granmothers personal Estate which is due unto Us as by our Uncles own Letters now to be deliverd unto you may appeer Which Portion we have given entirely to our said Sister with order to her Commissioners to sollicit for the same at the appointed time and in case you find performance to our Sisters satisfaction according to our former Letters sent on her behalf you shall take notice of it and give our Uncle hearty thanks for his just favor and expedition But if you find refusal or delay for the discounting of such debt as upon former Treties and by his last Letters our Uncle doth demand you shall assure him that before the receit of those Letters which mention the compensation of such Debts We had conveyd by Deed of Gift to our Sister all our interest in the Goods and given warrant to her Commissioners to attend the division and we hope our good Uncle in his Royal justice and favor to our Sister his Neece and her many distressed children will not add affliction to affliction but rather give them help by his forwardness in this our gift which we can no more revoke If this prevail not you shall modestly demand what those Debts are wherof he expecteth compensation and therin to clear all misunderstanding you are thus to distinguish The Debts to which our Uncle pretendeth are of two kinds all contracted by our Father of blessed memory and not by us First our Father after that our Uncle had undertaken the German War sent Sir Robert Anstruther with an advance of forty six thousand pounds present moneys and promised to pay thirty thousand pounds monthly so our Uncle wold maintain one thousand horse and four thousand foot for restoring our Brother and Sister to all their Patrimonial Dignities and Estates If then our Uncle shall declare that this is the debt he pretendeth to defalque out of the divided Goods you shall with due respects and as it were unwillingly call unto his mind what manner of performance was found on his part and how little those designes have bin advanced for which our Father expressed his Royal affection by so large an offer which caused us at our coming to the Crown to send the Duke of Buckingham and Earl of Holland to meet our Uncles Ambassadors at the Hague to qualifie those indigested assumptions made de bene esse for the present without debate of Articles indifferent for both parts And then as our Uncle well knoweth we setled the accompt upon a new foot and therfore ought no more to be called back to those exorbitant demands which notwithstanding upon due calculation of all our disbursements in money and in charges of our Auxiliary aids and diversions we have so much exceeded That laying a side all exception for not performing conditions we have just cause to claim retribution or at least acknowledgment of well-deserved thanks and not to be now strained for compensation of those Debts Of our â—…ast expences ther hath bin a List transmitted to Avery from Sir Henry Vane wherof you may make use by a Copy to be now delivered unto you to acquit Us of those debts But ther is another debt for money borrowed by our Father which we do acknowledg both principal and interest and for liquidation therof have given former directions to our Ambassador Sir Henry Vane who is to meet the Kings Ministers at the Hague in his return out of Germany and to consider of a cours for our Uncles satisfaction according to his expectation and our desire Upon this meeting if otherwise you cannot you must discharge your self and having setled the division of the Portion and put off the accompts in this manner you shall afterwards proceed as you find time and opportunity to your more weighty negotiation concerning the common cause representing to that King our Uncle the present state of Christendome specially of Germany the seat of the War that upon a mature consideration therof both he and we may best advise how to govern our Proceedings as well for our safety as for our interests with others and chiefly for the obtaining of a sure peace which is to be desired for the common good To this purpose you shall move him to cast his eyes upon that progress the King of Sweden his Neighbour hath already made by his sword almost through the Empire beyond all mens expectation and to foresee in his great wisdome what the consequence will be if by victorious Arms he shall obtain power to give the Princes and States on both
sides what Law shall please himself which may reasonably be feared if no cours be timely taken for preservation of their rights by treaty or otherwise On the other side you may lay before him the power yet remaining in the puissant house of Austria with the dependance of Bavaria and other German Princes and how both sides are supported by forren assistants those with the money and countenance of Spain these with the actual arms of France besides the diversions of the Low Countries and Italy so as in all probability the War is like to last long and the balance may be swayd as other Princes put to their hands And the King of Swede having lately moved both the Princes and States of his alliance and others to joyn league for the liberty of Germany and for peace and inviting us to joyn therin and the Emperour also discovering on his side an inclination to treaty and to peace you must entreat for our better information our Uncles sound advice and how he stands affected and whether he be engaged in any such treaty with whom and how far and whether our conjunction with the rest will be desired To which we may by him be perswaded to apply our selves so as by the treaty the full restitution of our Brother and Sister to their Patrimonial Dignities and Estates being the only interest of our engagement may be effectually provided for If upon these intimations the King shall reveal unto you any overtures of a treaty already in hand and that therin our conjunction will be desired you shall with speed give us account of the particulars and of the grounds therof with all the circumstances of persons times and places that therupon we may send you such further powers and instructions for your proceedings with our Uncle and other Princes as with the advice of our Council we shall think meet Besides this main business other occasions may be apprehended there by you for the advantage of our service for iâ—… by conference with Avery you shall understand of any impediment or obstruction of the trade of our Merchants residing in Hamborough caused by any difference betwixt that King and the Town or by his pretence of commanding the River of Elve you shall do Offices in our name betwixt our Uncle and the Town to remove offences and to settle good agreement upon honorable terms for the King and so as an Innovation may not be made which may prejudice the intended treaty or which may restrain our Merchants from that freedome of trade there which they have enjoyed so many yeers And wheras by occasion of the War betwixt Poland and Sweden new Impositions are raised in the Pellow and elsewhere with other restraints of trade which in the end will force our Merchants and the Low Country-men also to seek the Commodities of Eastland in America to the great detriment of the Kings Customes at Elsenore you shall in this regard advise with our Uncle how the ancient freedom in like manner may be restored in that trade For Island you shall signifie to our Uncle that in conformity to his late Letters we have prohibited our subjects that Fish in those Seas or fetch Hawks from those parts either to export or import any Merchandise to hinder his Farmers not doubting of his gracious reciprocal favor to our said subjects in their lawful proceedings Concerning our Coller of Rubies which hath formerly bin engagd to raise moneys you shall inform your self by Avery how the case now stands and shall proceed as upon further advice therof we shall direct You shall keep good correspondence with our Ambassadors and Agents in all parts as occasion shall be offered but especially with Sir Henry Vane who is employed with the King of Sweden and with Sir Robert Anstruther at the Emperours Court. IOHN COKE By these two Presidents of Commission and Instructions we may see how exact and curious the English Court is in this point how quaintly such Publik Dispatches are couchd not so plain and flat with such superfluity of speech as I have seen the Instructions of other Princes stuffd withal We will to the Reception Attendance Treatments Gifts Lautia composing of Differences with other high civilities usd towards Forren Ambassadors in the English Court. Touching the first Ther are no Ambassadors whatsoever receavd more splendidly and with greater state both by water and land then in England For first he is brought in Royal Barges a good way upon a Noble Navigable River through a Forest of main Masts on both sides and landed at the stairs of a huge Tower in sight of a stupendious Bridg such as I may well say the world hath not the like Then is he conducted in the Kings Coach with a great number besides through the centre of the City of London to a house expresly provided for him if he comes extraordinary where he is magnificently treated for divers days upon the Kings charge Now the Rule of the Court is That the Ambassador of a King is to be brought in by an Earl at least an Ambassador from Dukes and Republiks to be brought in by a Baron T is a Rule also that no Ambassadors be allowd this honor at privat Audiences but only at the first and last publik or when any are invited to Dine with the King Moreover that no Ambassador except a Kings is to be met with the Kings Coach further off then the Tower-wharf And wheras the Coaches of other Ambassadors residing upon the place were usd to go to accompany the new-landed Ambassador from Tower-wharf which gave occasion of clashing for Precedeâ—…ce of Coaches as happened the last yeer twixt the Spanish Ambassador the Baron of Batteville and Monsieur Lestrade the French which flew so high that it went to effusion of blood and killing as it is mentiond before in the last Paragraph of the first Section more particularly Ther is an Act of State passd that all Forren Ambassadors shall forbear for the future from that complement of sending their Coaches to that purpose Well the new Ambassador being so housd is visited by persons of Quality as also by other Ambassadors Now it is a Maxime among Ambassadors That the first come is to visit the last come Touching Presents ther 's no Court goes beyond that of England It was a Rule that the French and Spanish Ordinaries were to have 4000 Ounces of Gilt Plate at their departure The Venetian Ambassador 2000 The Archdukes 1600 c. But by the Examples of other Courts ther was a retrenchment herof and it began first with Monsieur Buisseaux in King Iames his Raign who had but 2000 Ounces sent Him the Venetian 1600 and the Archdukes 1000 c. Touching divers sorts of Clashes Contestations Differences and Punctilios betwixt Ambassadors ther have bin as prudent and preventing courses taken in the English Court from time to time as in any other as will appeer in the printed Observations of that worthy Knight Sir Iohn Finets to
whom I refer the Reader We will conclude this Paragraph with some further inspections into the Laws of England concerning Ambassadors In the 13 of Queen Elizabeth it was gravely debated in the Bishop of Rosse his case who was Ambassador here for Scotland An Legatus qui Rebellionem contra Principem ad quem Legatus concitat Legati privilegi is gaudeat an ut hostis poenis subjaceat Whether an Ambassador who raiseth Rebellion against the Prince to whom he is sent is to enjoy the privileges of an Ambassador or whether he is to lie under a punishment as an Enemy It was resolved by all the Judges of the Land that he had lost the privileges of an Ambassador and was punishable by the Law of the Land Herupon Mendoza the Spanish Amdassador was commanded away because he fomented a Rebellion c. Moreover as my Lord Coke hath it and therin he agreeth with the Civilians If an Ambassador committeth a delect contra Ius Gentium as Treason Felony Adultery c. he loseth the privilege of an Ambassador and may be punished in England as any privat Alien and not to be remanded but upon courtesie But committing any thing against the privat Municipal Law and Customes of England which is not Malum in se Iure gentium He is not punishable The breaking of Truces and Safe-conducts was once High Treason by the Laws of England but that was mitigated 2 Hen. 5. Furthermore my Lord Coke holds in his fourth Institut That if one be namd but Agent in his Credentials from a King yet he is an Ambassador The ninth Paragraph Concerning the wise Compliances and Witty facetious Sayings and Carriage of divers Ambassadors during the time of their Negotiation c. AS it is a principal quality in an Ambassador to be serious abstruse and reservd in the discharge of his Function so it is a mighty advantage for him to be Witty as well as Wise to be facetious and play the Drol sometimes for the Italian says Non è saggio chi non sà esser pazzo He is not wise who knows not how to play the Fool sometimes Apt pleasant and sudden Reparties discover a great deal of wit An Ambassador being sent to the King of Morocco whose Law we know is not to eat Swines Flesh be brought him Letters wherin all his Titles were not given him The King said Sus has Literas peperit A Sow begat these Letters The Ambassador suddenly answerd Ne iis Vescaris It was done that you shold not eat them The Town of Agrigentum as Herodotus reports having sent Gellias a very hard-favord man Ambassador to Centuripe a low dirty Town in Sicily and being jeerd and stard upon at his audience he answerd Ne Miremini Centuripini ut Urbes sunt ita Cives mei Legatos mittunt pulchros ad pulchras deformes ad deformes Do not wonder O you of Centuripe at me for my Masters of Agrigentum send their Ambassadors as the Cities are Faiâ—… to Faiâ—… Foul to Foul. Don Pedro de Toledo being employd Ambassador to Henry the 4. of France ther were many traverses between them at one privat audience and Don Pedro magnifying much the power of the Spanish Monarchy King Henry said That it was much like the Statue of Nebuchadnezzar composd of divers peeces but having Feet of clay Don Pedro then replying somewhat high the King rejoynd that if he were provokd he wold carry flames even to the Escurial and if that he once mounted he wold be soon in Madrid Don Pedro answerd Indeed King Francis was there meaning Francis the first who was taken at the Battail of Pavia and remaind Prisoner in Madrid divers yeers The King going on further to tax the King of Spain for usurping divers Countries of his and namely the Kingdome of Navarre which he might live to recover Don Pedro answerd That the Iustice wherby the King his Master held Navarre wold help him to defend it The King replyd Your reason is good till I be in Pampelona Don Pedro therupon rising hastily and going towards the door The King askd whither went he so hastily He answerd To provide entertainment for your Majesty at Pampelona A French Ambassador Monsieur de Tilliers as I take it residing here and being invited one day to Dine with King Iames the King being well disposd began a Health to him saying The King of France drinks the French Kings Health The Ambassador answerd as pleasantly Le Roy mon Maitre est bon Lieutenant Il tient bien la France de Luy The King my Master is a good Lieutenant he holds France well from him But of any that I have heard or read of Don Diego de Acunia Count of Gondamar had an extraordinary faculty this way and besides he had well studied the Genius of King Iames in whose Raign he resided here how he was pleasd with sudden plesant Reparties therfore he did Seria jocose he did dispatch serious things in a merry way When Sir Walter Rawleigh was gone with a Fleet to Guiana and when news was broght that he had taken San Toma plunderd the place and killd the Governor which was as some say beyond the bounds of his Commission wherin he was restraind from doing any Acts of hostility upon the firm Land Gondamar came early one morning to the King desiring to speak but only one word to his Majesty being admitted he cryed out Pyratas Pyratas Pyratas intimating that Sir Walter Rawleigh was turnd Pyrat but that word was so fatal that it took off Sir Walters head though upon an old score Another time having discoursd of many things with the King in a privat audience in French the King askd him whether he understood Latin or no Yes Sir said Gondomar I understand it and speak it Discoursing afterwards in Latin of divers things in a free and facetions way it happend that Gondamar spoke false Latin once or twice the King smiling said How comes it to pass that you being an Ambassador to so great a King who shold be exact in all things how comes it that you break Priscians head so often Gondamar replyed Sir I speak Latin like a King and your Majesty speaks Latin like an Ambassador Count Gondamar having bin outragd by the Rabble in London who threw Tobacco-pipes into his Litter and did him other affronts coming after to have a privat audience and the King taking notice of it he said La Harina de Ingalatierra es muy delgada y fina pero el afrecho es muy grossero Sir the Flowre of England meaning the Gentry is very fine but the Bran is very coorse meaning the common peeple Another time being to dispatch a Courrier to Spain and the old Countess of Buckingham being then in extraordinary high favor that most Suters made their address unto her he writ in a Postscript to Count Olivares That ther were never greater hopes then now that England wold turn Roman Catholik for the Mother was more worshippd
a place of surety here Wherunto he answerd That he held himself to be in a place of surety whersoever he had his sword by him Luynes little resenting the affront he had receavd from Sir Edward Herbert got Cadenet his Brother Duke of Chaune with a ruffling Train of Field-Officers neer upon a hundred wherof ther was not one as Cadenet told King Iames but had killd his man I say this Man came Ambassador Extraordinary to England a little after who mis-reporting the Traverses twixt Herbert and Luynes prevailed so far that Sir Edward Herbert was presently revokd to answer the Charge that shold be laid against him In the mean time the Earl of Carlile was employd Ambassador Extraordinary to France for accommodating Le Mal Entendu which might arise betwixt the two Crowns Carlile was commanded to inform himself of the truth of the business aforementiond and he could meet with no relation but what Luynes had made himself wherin more affronting and haughty expressions were laid to Sir Edward Herberts charge then had truly passed For though the first provocation came from Luynes yet the Ambassador kept himself within the bounds both of his Instructions and Honor. But as my Lord of Carlile was ready to send this mis-information to England the Gentleman formerly spoken of who stood behind the Hangings came to the Earl of Carlile and said That he owd so much duty to Truth and Honor that he could do no less then vindicat Cavalier Herbert from all indiscretion and unworthiness and therupon related the true circumstance of the business which was as it was before told The Earl of Carlile being thus rectified in knowledg of the truth gave account to King Iames accordingly who cleerd Sir Edward Herbert and resolvd to renvoy him Ambassador to France wherof he having notice He kneeld to the King before the Duke of Buckingham and desird that since the business was publik in both Kingdoms he might in a publik way demand reparation of Monsieur Luynes for which purpose he beseechd his Majesty that a Trumpeter if not a Herald might be sent on his part to Monsieur Luynes to tell him That he had made a false relation of the passages before mentiond and that Sir Edward Herbert wold demand reason of him with sword in hand on that point The King answerd that he wold take it into consideration but Luynes a little after died and Sir Edward Herbert was sent Ambassador to France again Iohn the late Earl of Bristol being Ambassador in Spain had many clashes with the Alguazils and the Alcalde himself together with divers Officers to preserve the Privileges of his House in point of Sanctuary which was done with much courage and discretion But ther was one signal passage among divers other One Scoppius had publishd an infamous base Book against King Iames and being in Flanders where Sir Iohn Benet was sent for among other things to demand Justice of the Archduke upon him he had fled to Madrid and the Earl being in despair to get him punishd there where the Iesuits are so powerful he employd a good resolut Gentleman Mr. George Digby his Kinsman to give the said Scoppius a Balaâ—…re or slash ore the face which he did to some purpose for t is athwart ore his face and his mouth that had offended which he carried as a mark of Revenge to his Grave The said Earl being also employd Ambassador to the Emperour in the heighth of the Wars for the Palatinat and returning neer Heydelberg or therabouts where Count Mansfelts Army was upon which the greatest strength of the Palsgrave depended which Army being ready to disband for want of Pay the Earl of Bristol pawnd his whole Cupboard of Plate to find mony for the said Army els all had bin lost at that time Such an extraordinary Noble Act and beyond Commission the Earl of Leicester did propose also to do when he was Ambassador to the King of Denmark For wheras that King made a delay to pay the Portion which was due unto the Lady Elizabeth out of the Estate of Queen Sophia her Granmother which amounted to about 150000 l. and which the said Earl had power to receave and the reason of the King of Denmarks delay being because ther were some accounts to be liquidated twixt his Nephew the King of Great Britain and Him The said Earl provided he might receave the said Portion due to the Lady Elizabeth to comfort her now in her great extremities offerd to engage besides his Honor all the Estate he had in England which his Majesty must partly know that this shold no way prejudice the accounts that were twixt Him and the King of Great Britain This motion of the Ambassadors was highly extolld by the King and all the Danish Court for the Nobleness of it The said Earl being afterwards Ambassador for many yeers in France he wold never give Precedence to Cardinal Richelieu and touching Hugo Grotius who as he was Ambassador for Sweden wold have made his Coaches drive before his he was put back avec un pied de nez with a Nose a footlong as is mentiond more at large in the last Paragraph of Great Britain which went before Liberorum Cerebri Sextus Post Quadraginta FINIS The Bookseller to the Reader THe Reason why ther is no Table or Index added herunto is That evry Page in this Work is so full of signal Remarks that were they couchd in an Index it wold make a Volume as big as the Book and so make the Postern Gate to bear no proportion with the Building CHR. ECCLESTON
successive Monarchy neer upon twelve hundred yeers by three Races of Kings wherof Lewis the fourteenth now regnant is the sixty fifth Monark Now whosoever will behold that noble Kingdome will finde that no other stands so commodious and strong by the position of Nature her self It is situated in the centre of Europe having Westward the Island of Great Britain Eastward Italy and Swisserland with other Regions it hath Southward the Kingdome of Spain and Northward the great Continent of Germany high and low And it is notably fenced against all these by a special Providence Against the First it hath a huge Salt Ditch the Sea it self against the Second it hath the stupendious Alpian Hills against the Third it hath the Pyrenean Mountains cast up as Trenches by Nature her self for the defence of France against the Fourth she hath strong fortified Towns Castles and Rivers The Ocean on the one side and the Mediterranean on the other do wash her Skirts and mightily invite Trade And that which adds also much to the advantage of her situation is that she lieth accessible and open to all Mankind for Commerce and Negotiation by Sea and Land Moreover being seated so in the midst she is fittest to be Arbitratrix and to give Law to the rest of Christendome as being properly seated to divide or unite to admit or hinder the Forces of Europe She stands also in an advantagious posture to reach her hand to her Frends in point of Auxiliary Assistance or heave her hand against the Enemy She hath divers Provinces the Governors wherof are equal to Viceroys And for her Nobles they are without number for she can horse about 50000 Gentlemen for the Wars Adde herunto that she hath a mighty advantage to be of a round Orbicular shape which makes all parts lie neerer for the assisting each other in case of necessity Ther is one other quality that makes for the Nobleness of France which is though he be Turk or Tartar Moore or Egyptian or of any Nation if he be in quality of a Captif or Slave as soon as he treads upon French ground he is eo instante frank and free and as it were manumitted of the tie of slavery for as Bodin hath it it is a Principle in France Servi peregrini ut primum Galliae fines penetraverint liberi sunto Let stranger-slaves as soon as they come within the borders of France be free Among other let this example serve A Merchant came to Tholouse and brought with him a Slave whom he had bought in Spain The Slave being told of the Laws and Privileges of France came and told his Master Sir I have had relation to you hitherto as a Slave and Bondman but now by the Laws of this Noble Country I am a Freeman yet I am contented to serve you still but as a Free Attendant The like happend at the Siege of Mets where a Slave had played the Fugitive and ran away with his Master Don Luysd ' Avila's horse Don Luys sent a Trumpeter to the Duke of Guyse for his Man and his Horse The Duke understanding that his Horse was sold causd the Money to be sent the Spaniard but for the Man he sent him word That he was upon French ground therfore was Free by the custome of the Country In fine France is so Noble a Region that as the Sun shines among the Stars in the Firmament so France shines among the rest of Kingdomes The second Argument A Nobilitate Regionis from the Nobleness of the Country VVE proceed now from the Nobleness of the Kingdome to the Fertility and Riches of the Country of France as also to the temperature and healthfulness of the Clime or Climes thereof for France participats of the nature of divers Climes Normandy specially la Basse Normandy partakes of the Clime of her next Transmarin Neighbour Great Britain Picardy and Champagne of that of Germany Provence and the Countries towards the Alps partakes of the Climat of Italy Aquitania and Languedoc being walld Southward by the Pyrenean Hills have much of the Climat of Spain And the I le of France wherin Paris is built and the Country therabouts hath a particular Clime of its own These varieties of Climes make the Country the more fruitful for universality of Wealth and Plenty Nor is France onely a fat Country and full of marrow but she hath as much Delightfulness as Fecundity as much real Plesure as outward Bewty Ther is no Soyl under the Sun where ther is more Agriculture for Bread which is the staff of Mans Life Insomuch that she may be calld the Granary of Ceres and she may be calld as well one of Bacchus his chief Cellars for a world of Vineyards wherwith the Country is coverd with innumerable sorts of fruits insomuch that the character which Salvianus gives of Aquitania may extend to the whole Country when he elegantly saith Illic omnis admodum Regio aut intertexta est Vine is aut florulenta pratis aut irrigata fontibus aut interfusa fluminibus aut distincta culturis aut consita pomis aut amoenata lucis aut crinita messibus ut verè possessores Illius Terrae non tam soli istius portionem quà m Paradisi imaginem possidere videantur There evry place is either interwoven with Vines or flowrd with Medows or set with Orchards or meerd by Corn-fields or peepled with Trees and Woods or refreshd with Fountains or enchanell'd with Rivers or periwiggd with all sorts of Grain Insomuch that the Inhabitants may be said to possess a part of Paradise rather then a portion of the common earth Now among all these the four Staple Commodities of France may be said to be Corn Wine Hemp and Salt which Boterus calls the four Loadstones of France For as the Loadstone wherof the Blew Ethiopian is the best hath an attractive Virtue to draw unto them Iron and Steel in a mysterious manner so the foresaid four Commodities have a Magnetical Virtue to draw into France the Gold and Silver of all Nations Concerning the French Corn it is reputed the best of all other Pliny one of Natures principal Secretaries hath left upon record that the Gallic Corn is nitidissimi grani plus panis reddere quà m far aliud It is of a neat grain and yeelds more bread then other wheat The Spaniard and others might starve were they not sustaind by French Corn yet she vents but her superfluities and transmutes them to Indian Gold for such is the scarcity of Spain that having not bread enough of her own for the hundredth Child she produceth whosoever brings thither a Cargazon of Corn may make his return for it in Gold or Silver and carry it openly in the palm of his hand without fear of seizure Touching the French Wines it may be said they need no Bush what vast proportions are carried away by all the Northwest Nations Bodin speaks of one Merchant in Cambray which bought at one Vintage 33000