A DISCOVRSE SHEWING THE GREAT HAPPINESSE that hath and may still accrue to his Majesties Kingdomes of ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND BY RE-VNITING them into one Great Britain In two parts BY JOHN BRISTOL LONDON Printed by R. H. for CHARLES DUNCOMB dwelling in Little-Britain 1641. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE the ESTATES now assembled in both houses of the high Court of Parliament THE sacred Mottoes upon the Coins of our late Soveraigne and Solomon King James Faciam eos in gentem unam and Quae Deus coâ— junxit nemo separetâ— might have deterreâ— some turbulent spiâ—rits of England and Scotland from vioâ—lating their peace cutting off the bridâ— from Twede and hindering that inâ—tercourse of amity which to Heavens and Britaines glory we no lesse happily than long enjoyed but Tongues and Pens I wish I could not say Swords have beene too busily imployed to untie that Gordian-knot which a good God and a pious King had made so firme Some in these Earth-quakes of State have laboured to underprop the houses of both Realmes others to pull them downe saying as of Jerusalem Downe with it downe with it even to the ground Nay I feare the same hand that hath held a Spade pretending to build a Wall hath held a Sword to kill a Subiect Wee need not send to Ireland for poyson to kill two kingdomes we have too much within our selves Poetry and Oratory such is the corruption of wit can make Candida de nigris de candentibus atra like Dogs they can either bite the sore or licke it or like Knives that can both spread a plaister for a wound and make a wound for a plaister The Poet Juvenal speaking of Alexander the great comming to see Diogenes Sensit Alexander testa cum vidit in illa Magnum habitatorem c. takes away the title of Magnus from the King and gives it to the Cynicke and have not we those that strive to make great Britaine Little putting Alexander from his Bucephalus and setting beggars on horse-backe I feare we have There are too many Empiricks among us whose delight is rather to kill than cure but You who are the Colledge of Physitians for the preservation of the body Politicke will make no Anatomies but of condemned persons by Law executed and by inquiry into the bad labour for the safety of the good Let it not be said that this day a Tribe is wanting in our Israel What though as judicious Weemes saith the Scots and English be as Samaritans and Jewes We have no Rehoboam why should we have a Jeroboam We have no rigor why should we have a revolt There may bee a good Samaritan which may take charge of the wounded man when a Priest and Levite may passe by on the other side Let not the Union of Britaine be cut off if it may bee preserved binde up the bones that are broken and make them whole so shall God binde up your souls in the Rowle of the living I doubt not but much good may bee gotten by a serious perusall of this ensuing Tractate Sure I am it will not be wholly uselesse to candid pious unprejudiced mindes who shall finde it as fit as necessary for these times I say no more but with heart and hands lift up to heaven pray that as you are Treasurers of the Weale-publique God will be pleased to crowne your publique endeavours to the everlasting peace and welfare of this Church and Common-wealth that his sacred Majesty and Royall Off-spring may ever bee glorious and that all his Kingdoms and Provinces may flourish to the terror of Foes and the endlesse comfort of all true loving Subjects THE EPISTLE to the READER IT was no blessing but a curse when the ten Tribes revolâ—ed from Rehoboam Division is good iâ— Musicke ill in Kingdomes and if confusion of Tongues ruinâ— a Babel confusion 〈◊〉 Hearts will ruine Bethel Scotland maâ— say to England 〈◊〉 Lot to Abraham We are brothers yeâ— when love cannot continue except their bodies discontinue the â—e of necessity must â—e to Sodome a 〈◊〉 and destinated for â—ire and Brimstone â—ingle Kingdomes â—ke fooles bolts are one shot away but â—njoyned as in a â—eafe not easily broâ—en It was the hapâ—inesse of our late Soâ—eraigne King James 〈◊〉 blessed memory to a bridge oveâ— the Tweed not 〈◊〉 Wood or Stone bâ— of English and Scoâ—â—tish hearts cementeâ— with strong affection It was indeed a haâ—â—pinesse to make twâ— spots of Earth twâ— little Kingdomes oâ— Great Britain the in building a secoâ— story makes a Hov◠〈◊〉 House though there â—e neither painted â—or carved Image in â—t no fretted roofe no â—old nor ivory Caâ—or and Polluxâ—rung from one Egge â—nd their signe is one Gemini Thus is â—e Vnity of Brethren â—xalted even to a â—onstellation That â—hich some years since was a motion breâ— some few moneth since a commotion namely a necessity 〈◊〉 separation between England and Scoâ—â—land which diffâ—â—rence might betteâ— have beene decidâ— with an Olive branâ— than a Sword as 〈◊〉 hope time ere long wiâ— make manifest Whâ— happinesse hath the Vnion of two Houses brought forth in this â—ne Kingdome and â—f there bee such hapâ—inesse in the Vnion of Houses what will there be in the Vnion of Kingdomes a thing which might bee â—s easily continued as compassed if some turbulent spirits did not disturbe the peacâ— of Sion This ensuing Treatise I could not bâ— publish as knowing to be so soveraigne Medicine for the Maladies of these Times Wherein Gentle Reader â— thou finde as much benefit as I delightâ— Thanke God and the Author I have my reward Farewell SVNDRY OBIECTIONS against this ensuing Treatise THE Objections pretended against this Treatise are divided into foure severall natures or kindes The first objection iâ— matter of generality 〈◊〉 common reason The second is matter of Estate domestique anâ— inward or matter â— Law The third is matter 〈◊〉 Estate forreine or maâ—â—ter of intercourse 〈◊〉 commerce The fourth is matter 〈◊〉 Honor or reputation The matter of generaâ—lity or common reason as concerning all in generall is also divided into two parts First that there is nor can be pretended no cause â—f the change Secondly that there is â—o president of like change neither ancient nor moderne forreigne or domestique The first Objection therefore is that in constituting or ordaining of any innovation or change here ought to bee considered either a generall necessity or evident utility but that we finde no grief in our present estate anâ— foresee no advancemenâ— to a better condition by this change and desire that it may be shewed untoâ— us The second Objection that we finde no presidenâ— at home nor abroad oâ— uniting or contracting of the names of two several Kingdomes or States intâ— one name where the Vnion hath growne by marriage or blood And that those examples which may be alleadged as far as wee can finde or understand are but in the ease of Conquest Matter of
by Chronicle bee remembred to posterity as the glory of renowned Britaine Record remaineth to this day neither will either be forgotten to the worlds end The Stile of England now placed before Scotland doth no way prejudice the Vnion by losse of precedency for when all is one there is no subsequence onely Honor is due to him who is to be honoured and much honour to him that is much to be honored which thing in the Vnion may easily bee provided for and other pretended inconveniences prevented Lastly the Prejudicating the popular opinion to whom as is objected change of name will be harsh and unpleasing is in mine opinion a wrong done and imputation laid upon the people who I know for the most part being a wise nation and I am sure most loving subjects to the Kings Majesty have learned obedience and duty and will therefore rather joy in the content of their good and gacious King then any way murmure at his demand knowing that the Empire as Livie speaketh is firmissimum when eo gaudent obedientes who doubtlesse with one voice and heart submit themselves and say to their Soveraigne Esto nobis solus arbiter rerum jure nomine regio And as for Harshnesse of the strange name use will easily make it familiar As Horace saith Multa renascentur quae jam cecidere cademque Quae nunc sunt in honore vocabula si volet usus This pretended unpleasing harshnesse is no more than the nicenesse of a Virgin who is as loth and maketh it dainty to leave her fathers name yet afterward married to a husband taketh greatest comfort in the name of her husband in whom shee glorieth and by whom shee enjoyeth all her worldly joy And yet need not England be so nice as if she were a virgin who like a widdow hath so oftē changed her name but may take pride as widows do to bee called by her most honourable and most glorious name Thus having briefly run over the objections and withall carried in open view in mine answer due consideration both of evident utility and urgent necessity I will be bold with additions of more reasons yet a little farther to proceed in the perswasion of this desired happy Vnion God alwaies blessed and to be honoured for evermore who is Trinity in Vnity and Vnity in Trinity three persons and but one God doth by influence of his holy Spirit give divers gifts and graces to beleevers of what country or condtion soever they be governes them by holy Law and uniteth them in the same faith though diversly scattered among all the Nations of the Christian world that hereby the gods on earth whom he hath placed to rule over many and divers kingdomes upon earth might learne by the same Lawes in things humane and same religion in matters divine to preserve Weale publike and Christian Society among men But the ambition and frowardnesse of many desirous rather to be distracted into divers names and countries and to be ruled by divers lawes and customes doe oft times hazard the Common good and peace of the Weale publike where two kingdomes so divided under one Soveraigne are not unlike the rich treasures of pearle and gold laid up in one Ship by contrarieties of divers windes to be driven upon rocks with extreamest danger as is said in Tully of dividing and distinguishing desires into severall parts and members in such diversities and differences Hoc est dissipare non distinguere frangere non dividere Which thing is to be feared by not uniting but keeping the two kingdomes still in parts when upon every discontent in Scotland as at a backe doore passage may be given for a forreine enemy soone to weaken a divided power as Cyrus the Persian soone emptied that great and deep river otherwise unpassable for his soldiers by drawing it into divers channels And why should not we feare such and greater evils if as Virgil laid infamy upon us calling us toto divisos orbe Britannos so we be content to adde greater infamy to our selves and become toto in orbe divisi divided within our selves in the sight and view of the whole world But I hope and wish for better things that by Vnion in name of Britaines we may leave to be any longer divided into English and Scottish as rivers of divers names meeting in the Sea receive one and the same name the rather because the elements of fire and water of earth and aire being of repugnant qualities yet joyned in one body doe agree in one forme as in a Medium uniting and mixing them together much more divers kingdomes oft times heretofore at war and discord yet now being united into one body of one name and nature qualified by equall mixture of Law Manners Honors Marriages and such like may be made perfect in one forme and have a beeing not as English and Scottish but as Britains knit together in that third and renowned name that the Maxime may be verified in us Qua in aliquo tertio conveniunt optime conveniunt I confesse that some lawes of ours may bee thought too streight for them and some liberties of theirs unfitting us but let all be wrested alike pulling some up and letting some downe and in pleasing harmony we shall find as Tully saith Commune aequabile inter omnes jus where will be no strife as was betweene Esau and Jacob undermining and deceiving one the other of blessing and patrimony but all love and unity and concord and content as if all were not twins but one man even one heart in one body And now if Iphicrates that valiant Leader were againe living and asked whether he were under the now imperiall Majesty this or that English or Scottish or among or over them an horseman an archer or a Leader he might truly answer as sometimes he did in like case No not any of these but I am he who knoweth under him whom I serve to command and governe all these as if they were but one man Vnius Ducis imperium simul sentiunt omnes copiae Thus in warre and tumult much more in quiet peace may it be said Divers subjects ad nutum unius Regis ejusdem legis omnes simul respondent So powerfull is the force of Vnion that una Via being director for law and Cor unum performer for obedience the law enjoyning obedience and obedience executing Law the Prince cannot command what the people will not obey and the people will obey what the Prince commands and Vnity among them will uphold all Vnum imperii corpus unius animo regendum videtur so likewise Ejusdem juris esse debent qui sub eodem Rege victuri sunt But rule of two kingdomes without uniting them is to give occasion to either part to look backe for an olde grudge Vbi antiqui odii pertinacia in publicum stimulat exitium which I feare would be as the going backe of two Rammes more fiercely
in these our happy daies And that by no meanes that of the Poet may be imputed to us either by disobedience to our head or disagreeing among our selves Humanâ— capiti varias iâ—ducere formas Grammarians doe observe that Metallum is so called quasi {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that is post {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that is aliud because there is scarcely found no veine of Mettall where is not more of that sort adjoyning to it so among English and Scottish they are not to bee thought of the true metalline Mine but as drosse and canker corrupting and consuming each other which joyne not in the universall name of great Britaine so to continue and dwell together to grow up and agree together seeing nature hath made them all of one kinde forme complexion habit and language growing together And verily divine is the mistery of union whether the provident wisdome of nature from God hath ingendred it or the skill of mans reason hath observed it where one of and in it selfe doth out of it selfe poure forth innumerable formes of things as Brittaine doth even two kingdomes and the principality of Wales with many Shires Rivers Islands and people and yet containeth them all within it selfe one having many many making one where one of many is not divided against it selfe and the many in one make no division to overthrow the whole but all are the same whether we respect union or division And this doubtlesse is a divine power or celestiall vertue not only for our purpose but compassing and passing through the whole world making things either simple or conjunct but one subsisting by and under the divine essence which is one and consisting in all his members and parts united but one where each and every part of this universall world respecteth the whole otherwise innumerable but brought by union to a number without number even beginning of numbers which is but one And this is most agreeing to the conceit of wisest Philosophers skilfull in natures Secret teaching all whatsoever is to be but one and that in the universall nature of things there is an agreeing amity and intermixed affinity where all the parts of the whole world accord by one transfused continuate spirit among them being compact together with one and the self-same agreeing force and forceable agreement of nature proceeding from one beginning continued by one meane and referred to one end every particular being knit together with the whole universality and diversity of things and wrapt up in one round orbe together that as parts of this world they may dwell in one Center or Circle together To shut up many things in few and to shew how certainly all things are contained in one and one doth comprehend all verily in Schooles of Philosophers it is an infallible Maxime that all things are communicated in one Vnum hoc praeque omnibus unum This one is all in all Ruunt autem omnia ubi unitas non firmamentum diffluunt ubi non coagulum The demonstration in our intended purpose is plaine Many villages make one Shire many Shires one Kingdome many Kingdoms one Imperiall Monarchy all which is Britaine and Britaine all these and the Kings Majesty possessing and governing Britaine possesseth and governeth all these and the Subject knowing Britaine knoweth all and every of these for all these are one and this one is all these That as this excellent workmanship of Vnion sheweth it selfe in the mighty Masse and fabricke of the whole world so much more particularly and plainly doth it appeare in a modell of the same even in the name and honour of great Britaine where every Subject ought clearely to see in himselfe that though hee be termed the little world and compact of infinite variety and multiplicity of things yet is he not two but one man Here let the neare neighbourhood and conjunction of man and man in mutuall society and participation of profits which man hath with man where two friends are but one and not parting meum and tuum confesse that though they are in person two yet indeed doe with idem velle and idem nolle enjoy the fruition of heaven with the same aspect and the commodities of the earth with the same minde where all things are common to both and yet proper to each one All which things are alleadged to shew that as every kingdome and State of the world is upheld with one and the self-same power and life wherewith the universall world consisteth So now it concerneth all and every one Subject both of England and Scotland to participate in the common obedience transfused into all under the government of one Where sacred unity is guide and director there even from distinct nature use of mutuall society and good of weale publique many are knit together inseparably and great and infinite numbers of all sorts of people are contained in one narrow compasse of neere conjunction for so the most populous and powerfull Kingdomes though two or moe under one Soveraigne seeme to bee but as one whole body And the whole body of Weale publique in subjection and obedience but as one man Sic enim omnes aequo jure parent omnibus imperaturo And as in all things so specially in this are we bound to render all praise and thanksgiving to that thrice sacred Vnity from whom as from the first author and fountaine is sowen abroad in the world that fruitfull seed of constant unity whose force draweth many of one houshold to be of one minde and is ever doing good in its owne nature keeping Israel together like a flock of sheep Neither is it an hard matter to unite and keep them together who live under the same climate of heaven and are of like language manners countenance lawes customes forme of body fashion of behaviour yea and religion à religando Rightly called the chiefest band of hearty union For though the Island Salamis be controverted between the Athenians and Megarenses yet must it be adjudged to the Athenians because they lived after the same fashion and lawes as now the skilfull in the lawes of this land easily acknowledge what congruity and affinity is between most of the ancient lawes of both our Kingdomes more then is to be found between those of any other two nations And albeit the Towne Sidas bee controverted between the Athenians and Boetians yet Epaminondas will adjudge it to the Boetians and not to the Athenians because the Athenians called an apple Malum punicum but the Boetians called it Sidas There is between English and Scottish small or no difference nay now none at all in union all being Britaines not so much as between Gileadites and Ephraimites in pronouncing Shibboleth for Sibboleth but all are of one language and even of one Canaan language only a little River Twede is common limit or rather imaginary bound to both and all from Twede Southward is Britaine within Twede and all from Twede
this tree breake off his branches shake off his leaves scatter his fruit that both beasts and fowles may be put from him neverthelesse leave the stump of his rootes still in the earth So was the ancient honour and glory of great Britaine great and mighty high to heaven faire and fruitfull and of power over the whole Land from one end to the other but the highest who hath power over all did for the sin of the inhabitants hew downe this goodly tree yet left the stumpe of the rootes in the earth And out of it the tree is growne up againe to former beauty that we might learn to magnifie the K. of heaven as did Nebuchadnesar restored to the honor of his kingdome to his glory and beauty againe to his Counsellors and Princes and to the establishment of his Throne with augmented glory And here let us now consecrate to all eternity the ancient name of famous great Britaine as a Pantheon of all blessings in peace prosperity and honour for as Pantheon was a Temple at Rome round and like to the capacitie of heaven wherein were put all the images of their gods So I say in the name and stile of great Britaine as in a Pantheon are placed all worldly blessings like Stars shining from heaven and having their influence into the whole body of common weale even perfection of beauty in Sion Superstitious antiquity framed false Gods one indued with this vertue and another with that this a wise that a warlike and another a just God yea for so many vertues they framed so many goddesses where one Temple might not be consecrated to two goddesses but distinct vertues must be worshipped with distinct worship So as Marcellus dedicating one and the same Temple to Honour and Vertue was thought to offend against religion But our happy and better instructed age reducing all to one truly to worship one true and only God so in civill things and government it offereth only one above and for all that whatsoever is separate and distracted from it may bee counted as anathema excommunicate divorced or as a barren handmaid to bee sold to the Vsurer unprofitable imperfect or as it were not at all And now as union into the name of great Britaine is like a Pantheon and bringeth manifold abundant blessings meeting together and concurring in one so let us account our selves most blessed in our Soveraigne unitor King Iames in whose Royall and princely Successor our gracious K. Charles and his noble Progeny is laid up all our obedience and dwelleth all our happinesse even as that worthy Scipio is said therefore to be borne that there might be one in whom all vertue should shew it selfe effectually and absolutely perfect Hic est Scipio quem dii immortales nasci voluerunt ut esset in quo se virtus per omnes numeros efficaciter ostenderet This is the voice of truth it selfe England and Scotland are so naturally united in the name of great Britain that the one nearely allyed to the other can no longer bee an alien or stranger one to the other except it may bee said that Quia meus est non est meus ipsaque damno est mihi proximitas So this naturall conjunction should bee no union because it is both naturall in the Soile and reall in the Subject But albeit the Romanes put into the Temple called Pantheon that precious gem named Vnio divided and cut in two yet we with all our goods and geare ought willingly be borne into the bosome of great Britaine quae fundit in omnes imperium not distributing union into parts but knitting up all parts into one as Cicero's Oratour all sciences and Aristotles good man all vertues as Cato was counted like perfect in all vertues or as the divine Plato sealed up in man the lesser world whatsoever vertue was in the whole world or rather as Eden the plentifull garden of God sealing up the summe of all perfection and glory Ezek. 28. was freight and deckt with all manner of precious stones the Ruby the Tapaze and the Diamond the Chrysolice the Onix and the Iasper the Saphir the Emerande and the Carbuncle and gold Even now may it be said of this universall name of Britaine as it was said of Rome Imperii virtutumque omnium lar and virtutum omnium latissimum templum In ancient time it was counted ominous if a stone fell or a dog came among brethren And Socrates was wont to curse those who by self-conceits and head-strong opinion attempted to set asunder those things which nature coupled together And now if any factious Tribune of the people interpose himselfe to divide us and to disturbe the peace of Israel thinking there is good fishing in troubled waters and that the honours and benefits they hunt after are attained in Perturbata Republica whereof they utterly despaire in a peaceable State Quia in concordia ordinum nullos se usquam esse vident verily such are not unlike Medea who so dispersed her brothers limmes that they could not be gathered againe Cujus etiam vultu laeditu pietas as the Mariners at Sea well observe in the two Stars Castor and Pollux that if one without the other appeare they foresee a troubled Sea but peaceable and quiet without storme and without danger in the sight of both together The principality of Wales shall witnesse this truth which never received any thing any more beneficiall for the people there then uniting that Countrey to the crown kingdome of England For whilest it was alone without his brother it was subject to storme full of contentions war and shedding of blood but joyned with his brother it florished with peace and at this day is blessed in the uniformity of government there established And in mine opinion it is well observed in the Chronicle of Wales how God was not pleased with the first change of the name of Britaine into the name of England for presently followed the terrible and cruell invasion of the Danes and after that the conquest of the Normans But memorable is it that the Britaines ruled all the whole Isle together with the out Isles of Wight Men in English Anglisee Manaw in English Man Orkney and Ewyst 1137. yeares before Christ and after the yeare of his incarnation 688. even to the death of Cadwallader the last King of Britaines and of the noble race of Trojans Which when in succeeding age many mighty and famous Kings of England considered they laboured by all meanes to recover and resume the name and stile of Kings of great Britaine acccounting it dishonorable to leese any jot of the honour of their most princely progenitors And therefore K. Knute King of England mighty in his dominions of Swethen from Germany to the North poles with Norway and Denmarke having obtained prosperous success in warring against Scotland is recorded after his death the mightiest Prince in the West parts of the world and of all the noble Isle of
Estate domestique or inward or matter of the Law is divided into these three maine heads following The first that the alteration of the name of the King doth inevitably and infallibly draw on an erection of a new Kingdomâ— or estate and a dissolution and extinguishment of the old and that no explanation limitation or reservation can cleare or avoid that inconvenience but iâ— will he full of repugnancy and ambiguity and subject to much variety and danger of construction The second is an enumeration or recitall of the speciall or severall confusions incongruities and mischiefes which will necessarily and incidently follow in the time present As in the summoning of Parliaments and the recitals of Acts of Parliament In the Seals of the kingdome Jn the great Officers of the kingdome In the Lawes customs liberties and priviledges of the kingdome In the residence and holding of such Courts as follow the Kings person which by this generality oâ— name may be held in couâ—â—land In the severall and reciproque oathes the onâ— of his Majestie at his Coronation which is neveâ— iterated the other in the oathes of allegiance homage and obedience made and renewed from time to time by the Subjects All which Acts instruments and formes of policy and government with multitude of other forms of Records Writs pleadâ—gs and instruments of a â—eaner nature run now â—n the name of England â—â—d upon the change would 〈◊〉 drawne into incertainâ— and question The third is a possibiâ—â—ty of alienation of the â—rowne of England to the â—ne of Scotland in case 〈◊〉 Majesties line should determine which God of â—s goodnesse defend for if it be a new erected kingdome it must goe in tâ— nature of a purchase 〈◊〉 the next heire of his Majesties fathers side The matter of Stâ—forreine or matter of 〈◊〉 â—â—tercourse and commerâ—â— consisteth of these thâ—â—â— points following The first is the League Treaties forreine Fredomes of trade and trâ—fique forreine contraâ—â— may be drawne in quesâ—â—on and made subject quarrell and cavillation The second is that the Kings precedency before other Christian Kings which is guided by antiquiâ—â— of Kingdomes and not â—y greatnesse may be enâ—angered and his place turned last because it is â—h newest The third is that the â—lory and good acceptation of the English name and â—ation will be in forreine â—arts obscured The matter of honouâ— and reputation standeâ— chiefly upon these fouâ—â—maine heads or points following The first is that 〈◊〉 worldly thing is more deâ— to men then their name 〈◊〉 as we see in private famâ—â—lies that men disinheriâ— their daughters to conâ—nue their names mucâ— more in States and wheâ— the name hath been famous and honourable The second is that the contracted name of Briâ—aine will bring in oblivion the names of England and Scotland The third is that whereas now England in the stile 〈◊〉 placed before Scotland â—n the name of Britaine that degree of priority or â—recedence will be lost The fourth is that the change of name seem harsh at the first in the popular opinion and something unâ—leasing to the Countrey THese precedent objections and many other pretended against the happy uniting of these two famous kingâ—omes of England and â—cotland the Reader shall finde sufficiently answered in the ensuing Treatise by the Author to his full satisfaction and content THE â—E-MARRIAGE Of two famous Kingdomes ENGLAND and SCOTLAND â—â—duced into one Great Brittaine â—y the providence of one God the â—iety of two Kings the unity of â—oth Nations By way of answer 〈◊〉 former Objections BY IOHN BRISTOL IT was long before the Objections against the â—ntended happy union of both the Realmes came to my hands bâ— having read them 〈◊〉 could not hold mâ— hand from writing 〈◊〉 remove cleare them esteeming them only 〈◊〉 great shew of big loâ—â— laid in the way bâ—â—tween the two emineâ—â— markes shot at by tâ— soveraign Vnitor namely honour and happinesse the one inseparably inherent in his mâ— royall person the otheâ— assuredly intended 〈◊〉 Subjects benefit whiâ—â—â—hings in apparant utiâ— or urgent necessity â—e Objectors desire to â—e shewed them for whose satisfaction I have briefly examined and answered every obâ—â—ction The Objectors finde â—o president at home â—or abroad of uniting 〈◊〉 contracting of the names of two severall Kingdomes or States â—nto one name where the Vnion hath growne â—y marriage or blood and say that the examples which may bee alleged are but in case 〈◊〉 Conquest But I remember that Charles 〈◊〉 France the eighth 〈◊〉 Comineus mentioneth taking to wife the heiâ— of little Brittaine annexed it to the Crowneâ— France ruled it 〈◊〉 lawes customes aâ— priviledges of Franâ—â— and gave the Noble thereof place in Parliament in France 〈◊〉 union is a strong keep of Imperiall Soveraignty and is the very siâ—ewes of Weale pubâ—â—que But as Tacitusâ—ith By divers lawes â—er diverse Nations â—â—bject to one King â—uicquid est authoritatis â—ebis destruitur contraâ—â—ctionibus Charles the fifth uniâ—â—d in the common â—ame of Spaine divers â—ther his kingdomes â—hereof two of them â—amely Aragon and â—astile descended to him in right of blood For he well knew that the most emineÌ„t in dignity is most honored 〈◊〉 Vnity and that this truly called Prudence even the electing or rejecting the continuing or changing of formeâ— and uniting kingdome according to time plaâ—â— or persons which greâ—â— vertue is not alwaiâ— contained in certaiâ— and the same bound but altereth it selfe 〈◊〉 occasion serveth in respect of forenamed circumstance But the Objectors acknowledge uniting of Kingdomes in case of Conquest I marvell they doe it not much more by right of blood for in that Vnion of constraint there is ever doubt and dread for continuance thereof as is well said Malus cuâ—tos diuturnitatis metus but in this by right of â—lood God giveth blesâ—ing to natures work First in the great majesty of the high at supreame Governouâ— where one mighty Monarch is of more command and power the a King of divers distiâ—guished Kingdomes Secondly in 〈◊〉 more facility of the government where people under like law are more easily rule than under divers law And thirdly in tâ— more security of the gâ—â—verned who being with like equity of â—wes will one love and strengthen the other but being divided â—oe oftentimes underâ—ine and practise subâ—ersion one of the oâ—her Vires imperii in â—onsensu sunt obedientiâ—m tolle unitatem â—mnis imperii contextus in â—ultas partes dissidet Which consideration made King Henry the â—ighth rightfully assuming the title of King of Ireland by voluntary Vote in Parliament oâ— the Lords and Comâ—mons of that Kingâ—dome albeit the King of England were beâ—fore that time but calâ—led Lords of Irelandâ— yet now changing hiâ— Stile to endeavour bâ— just lawes to cause the Irish change as welâ— their apparell as lanâ—guage and divers theiâ— old formes and formeâ— lawes and to reducâ— them into forme oâ—
English fashion eveâ—â—gainst their former cuâ—tomes and conditions â—t is then a matter not only of utility and neâ—essity but also of reaâ—on and justice that a King in right of blood â—olding two Kingâ—omes or States doe â—nite contract them â—nto one name and naâ—ure specially Kingdomes of one continent and which in ancient times were but one till ambition and contention divided them And this maâ— stand for answer to the Objectors first main head of matter of Estaâ—â— inward Now where it is faâ—ther alleaged that the alteration of the namâ— of the King doth inâ—vitably and infalliblâ— draw on an erection oâ— a new Kingdome and dissolution and extinguishment of the olde herein verily I think the matter is much mistaken for the change oâ—â—â—me is not so rightly 〈◊〉 be tearmed alteration 〈◊〉 new erection as reâ—â—â—tution and reparation â—oth of name and hoâ—or for divers his â—ajesties most noble â—ogenitors have hereâ—â—fore been entituled as â—hronicles tell us â—â—ings of all Britaine as â—enry the second King 〈◊〉 all Britaine Duke of â—ascoine Guien and â—ormandy whose son â—â—hn had also in his â—oine stamped as is to be shewed Johanâ— Rex Britonum And before the conquest of tâ— Saxons it is certaiâ— that the whole I le wâ— called by the name 〈◊〉 Britain But Saxons eâ—tring at disadvantageâ— that mighty Natioâ— consumed by death aâ— famine conquering tâ— remnant of people of â—mous Britain enforcâ— them to distinguish aâ— divide themselves 〈◊〉 flying into mountain and fortified placâ—â—d afterward King â—bert utterly to roote â—t the remembrance 〈◊〉 great Britaine comâ—nded that the Land â—ould be called no â—ore by that name â—t England and the â—ople Englishmen â—t Egbert is dead his â—wer weake nay â—ne at all let none â—erefore feare to reâ—re his Country to 〈◊〉 olde name and anâ—nt honour for Egâ—rt I say is dead and King CHARLES â—veth Et vivat vinâ— Rex Carolus This I say and eâ—force againe is a matâ— also reasonable juâ—utile and necessary sâ—ing the Soveraign briâ—geth in no innovatioâ— of a new name but â—stitution of the old 〈◊〉 dissolution but fortiâ—cation whereto I knoâ— none will subscribâ— which either envy tâ— Kings greatnesse 〈◊〉 kingdomes happinessâ— But let none marâ—ll why it hath not â—is long time been reâ—uced into his former â—ame for the diversity â—f kingdomes being made divers by war â—nd conquest and haâ—ing heretofore divers â—ings could not in reaâ—on or justice endure it â—or under any colour of â—tility or necessity unâ—ergoe or conclude it But now seeing our soveraigne Lord the King being rightfully descended of all the Kings Princes whiâ— heretofore raigned aâ— ruled in England Scâ—land or Wales as 〈◊〉 only hath power to â—â—store all into one 〈◊〉 former title and digâ—ty so let none thinâ— this his Princely aâ— just pleasure a neâ— erection but restitutioâ— of olde where it is moâ— reasonable and just 〈◊〉 extinguish the name lesser continuance the the name which hâ—â—ntinued and been faâ—ous by the space of â—37 yeares before â—hrist and 688. after â—s Incarnation which â—hole computation â—ommeth to 1825 years â—nd where it is most â—onourable by just deâ—ent in right of blood â—ot only to change but 〈◊〉 abolish the name â—mposed by a Conâ—uerour to the dishoâ—our of a Nation â—nd where for â—ught I understand the matter is not so dâ—â—ficult nor of that incoâ—â—venience and dangeâ— but may with muâ— ease and safety be doâ— with salvo jure or othâ— reservation and explâ—â—nation as the wise anâ— learned in the lawâ— can at large devise when they list five noâ— excogitent sive antiqâ— restituant But for example 〈◊〉 bring the uniting 〈◊〉 Dane-Lex and Merciâ— Lex by Edward thâ—â—onfessor which was â—ot prejudiciall to any â—at ever I could reade â—ut profitable and â—eedfull to all in the â—olishing of divers old â—wes and ordaining â—vers new and maâ—ng Lawes to all all â—ne done no doubt with due respect to â—eale publike with â—eedfull limitation and â—ue consideration of â—en matter time place â—nd other circumstance Neither doth any new erection and extiâ—â—guishment of olde 〈◊〉 necessarily conclude 〈◊〉 convenience full of â—â—pugnancy danger 〈◊〉 construction and coâ—â—fusion as is pretendeâ— but may in this case 〈◊〉 beata omnium vita moâ—â—ratori est proposita as eâ—â—sily bee cleared and â—â—voided as it was whâ— the principality aâ— Country of Wales wâ— by Parliament incorpâ—â—rated and united unâ— the Kingdome of Enâ—â—â—nd and all the Inhaâ—â—tants thereof made â—â—uall in freedomes â—â—berties rights priviâ—â—dges lawes and in all â—â—her respects to the naâ—â—rall subjects of Engâ—â—nd and all inheritanâ—â—s made of English teâ—â—re to descend withâ—ut division or partitiâ—n after the manner of â—ngland and the â—awes Statutes and â—rdinances of the realm â—f England commanâ—ed to bee executed and put in practâ— within the country aâ— Principality of Walâ— So as now in this neâ— erection and dissoluâ—â—â—on of the old 〈◊〉 Welshmen with us aâ— we with them aâ—â—knowledge joyfullâ— one only Governoâ— and one only goverâ—ment where the mâ—â—jesty of the Governoâ— is equally supra nos aâ— the justice and equity 〈◊〉 the government equâ—ly pro nobis whereâ— â—ertus ordo in jubendo â—arendo Which certain â—nd the same course and â—rder of commanding â—y the King and by his Lawes and of obediâ—nce in subjects is a â—trong tye and as it were a vitall spirit â—olding in one infinite â—housands where Reâ—ere as the Philosopher speaketh is reckoned â—nter necessaria and Regi inter utilia Againe could seven kingdomes of Saxons bee reduced into one and in good time all their divers Lawes 〈◊〉 whereby the diversâ— subjects of those seveâ— divers kingdomes werâ— diversly governed beâ— brought into one formâ— of civill governmenâ— without repugnancy 〈◊〉 ambiguity or dangers and shall we thinke it 〈◊〉 matter of such difficulâ—ty to unite onely two kingdomes which doâ— not much differ in manners lawes and customes saving such laws customes as were formerly ordained on each part one against anoâ—her when they were enemies or scarce friends one to the other Which â—aws doubtlesse all will say must bee abrogated â—hat in further proceedâ—ng to union wise men with grave consideration may conclude it for good of both Nations without offeÌ„ce as in former times much more hath bin done with less 〈◊〉 doe An Empire of many kingdomes thus reduced into one is not unlike the Firmament oâ— heaven which God hath adorned with the two great lights the Sunne and Moone and other Starres even the whole army and haâ— mony of the heavens in one Firmament Whâ— so throweth a stonâ— against heaven saith the Wise man it will faâ— upon his owne head And if any one standing alone from the rest speaketh against and oppugneth this Vnion better it were saving my charity that Vnus ille periret quam Vnitas Touching the enumeration and recitall of the speciall or severall confusions incongruities
Northward is Britaine beyond Twede yet both on this side and that all but one Britaine non nos mare separat ingens exiqua prohibemur aqua as all France hath formerly been divided into two parts the one beyond the Alps the other within the Alps and all India Westward within the River Gange and Eastward beyond Gange And all Scithia within Imaus and without Imaus And though the Island hath beene long time divided into two Kingdomes yet England it selfe hath oft times of divers been called Britaine as by a Sirname and if pars pro toto might have that denomination much more ought the whole being now made one Therefore Linacre and Grocinus of the one part called themselves Britaines and Iohannes Major of the other affirmed that the Kings of England and Scotland wanted good Councell to advise them to marry together so to make of both one kingdome of Britaine and that only envious men and they who neglected the Weale publique did hinder this union of peace Which thing King Henry the seventh and King Henry the eigth wisely foresaw seeking by marriage to unite both kingdomes into one Discordantis saepe patriae non aliud est remedium quam si ab uno regeretur Therefore the wise men have most religiously observed two beginnings of things one of evill divisible imperfect manifold called duallity or Binarius numerus Another of good indivisible perfect and in name and nature alwaies one called unitas If Duallity or Binarius as cause efficient beare sway then in the aire breed intemperature if in Cities Families or Kingdomes wars and discord if in the body diseases if in the minde of men vice and wickednesse But where union possesseth chiefe place her fruits are to the aire wholsome temper to Cities Families and Kingdomes mutuall love and joy to the body health and strength and to the mind vertue godlines For unity admitteth no duality knoweth no contrariety and by consequence noâ— infirmity But Duallity seduced Adam in disobedience seeking to know as well evill as good who before was sole Monarch of the whole earth and was wholly good and perfect both in Body and Soule untill he drew with a double twisted cord of contrarieties unto his body in stead of health sicknesse and infirmities and unto his soul in stead of Righteousnesse sin and misery needing now to strengthen his body bread and to repaire his soule grace even for body and soule Gods mercy For so he turned the Monarchy of perfect good into a Monomachy or duellum of good and evill sinne and righteousnesse peace and war joy and sorrow sicknesse and health yea life and death And now when the sole Monarch of the whole earth left off to abide in the common obedience and universall union of all things to his Creator albeit all the creatures were before in voluntary subjection united also to their sole Monarch Adam on earth yet now every creature lifteth up himselfe against his sole earthly Soveraigne and against his Succession for ever The earth will not yeeld Adam bread but by the sweat of his browes the beasts become wilde and cruell yea the earth openeth her mouth against the succession of disobedient Adam and swalloweth up Corah Dathan and Abiram the waters drowne the whole world except eight persons the poore flie can and doth sometimes choake a man having before neither power nor will to doe it Lice can devoure and eate up Herod even the vilest and weakest creatures can and often do destroy the greatest Tyrants of the earth And in the opinion of some the holy Ghost seemeth in mystery to open this matter to a man of understanding forbearing in the second daies worke to say all was good as is plainely said of all the other five daies and he saw all things good not but that the worke of this day was also good for all his works are and were exceeding good but because of waters which in many places of the Scripture signifie troubles yea intollerable afflictions and because of division of waters in that daies worke God being a God not of division but of peace therefore the holy Ghost seemeth to forbeare to say in that place And it was good And yet would not these bee mistaken in their curiosity as if they included the division of waters in that dayes worke not to be good seeing that waters in the clouds divided from the Seas are upholden by Gods providence not to poure downe and overwhelme the earth for they approve divisions of constructions to be good as the dividing the light from darknesse the day from night and of whatsoever into parts for ornament and beauty of the forme divided but utterly condemne divisions of destructions or of distractions which is frangere non dividere comminuere non distinguere to part the body from the head or the members from the body to bring order to confusion unity to distraction forme to a Chaos and eâ—s to privation such division was that whereof Caselius answered the Merchant Navem si dividis nec tu nec socius habebit and such division the unnaturall harlot entended requiring the living childe to be cut into two parts 1 Kings 3. Let it be neither mine nor thine but divide it Where two or three are made one there is the image of God of truth of peace of fortitude of praise and of perfection but where one is drawne divided and torne asunder there breaketh forth falshood warre feare dishonour and confusion They which are of God embrace the one and they which are of the devill the other For God both in the Center and Circumference of truth is in simplicity and perfection one but the devill neither dwelling in this Center nor sitting in this Circle is carried in duallity nay contrariâ—ety of numbers opposing evill against good whose Center being falshood the circumference cannot bee truth his is a kingdome divided and must fall being not a Monarchy it cannot stand And yet we reject not the number of two so they continue and persist in union as it is written they shall be two in one flesh but reprobate is that duallity that maketh war in peace begetting and ingendring division and contrariety controversie and confusion and either of ambition senslesness hatred quarrell open discord or rebellion hindreth that sweet Harmony of union most pleasing to God most profitable for men of whom saith Tacitus In publicum exitiosi nihil spei nisi per discordias habent tamen libertas praeciosa nomina praetexuntur But doe we not see by this unfolding of things how the perpetuall course of truth and unity throughout all in the world doth even now conduct and lead me by the hand to the matter now in hand And verily I will follow thee sacred union whither soever thou leadest me and into whatsoever Region of vertue thou intendest I will not leave thee being never unlike thy selfe alwaies well accompanied adorned and beautified with diversity of things and never
Britaine And so William the Conqueror for the good successe he likewise had in Scotland is recorded King of all Britaine and Henry the second surnamed Curtmantle is also for like successe recorded King of all Britaine And if they be renowned and honoured with name and stile of Britaine which by rightfull descent or by conquest were inheritours but to one part only though by their fortunes in war they also claimed the other what rightfull title must we then acknowledge most justly now to belong to his most excellent Majesty in the imperiall crowne of both who by lineall descent inheriteth both Here I wish I had as many eyes as Argos to looke into their devises who seeke to divide England from Scotland and Scotland from England renouncing the name of great Britaine lest joyned in one they might as the forenamed stars appeare together shine together and bring joy together I would then not spare to lay open as Cneius Flavius did reveal to the world the tricks and misteries of Lawyers of that time and therefore was said to put out their eyes and to cut their purses how also these Adamants hinder the naturall power and vertue of the Load-stone whom I call Adamants aswell for repugnant qualities as that they be truly Adamants even Sons of Adam practising rather in disobedience dissention and ruine of all to lay hands upon that is forbidden then to draw the Iron nay golden chaine of linkes of love in obedience to the King and for common peace and preservation of men But herein such imitate the devise of Q. Fabius Labeo seeking to have the ship of common weale divided in parts as when by compact of league with Antiochus he ought to receive halfe part of Antiochus ships cut them all in the middest craftily so to defraud Antiochus of his whole Navy or else imitate they Cyrus dividing great Rivers into many little Brookes till they be not only passable but even dryed up for so these seek to stay the maine and mighty Streame of great Britaine by dividing it and in dividing to make it of sundry kindes unlike it selfe Such dividing into parts is disjoyning of the parts by disjoyning dismembring and by dismembring spoiling making the stone Scyros which whole and firmely compacted doth swim and floate above the waters to sinke and be drowned because it is divided But our two famous kingdomes with all their provinces shires and countries united into the name of great Britaine are like the goodly and pleasant river Danubius which passing by many Countries keepeth his name till it enter into Illiricum where receiving into it sixty other rivers of divers other names leeseth not only his owne and all their other names of parts but is called Ister one for all containing all Here I require both of English and Scottish is either of them now as a people disjoynted one from the other Or as Sand without Lime Or scattered straw without binding Or as Sampsons Foxes running divers and contrary waies with fire brands of dissention among them Nay here in the glory of great Britaine is renowned that King Iames with our gracious King Charles and his Royall issue doe gather together that which was scattered and unite that which was divided and restore that which was lost and save that which was endangered even by this meanes uniting all in one name of Britaine as it was said of Rome uniting so many Countries into it selfe all parts which disagreed heretofore are now well agreeing Hereupon Rome was said to be anchora fluctuanti mundo and as he saith in Tacitus regna bellaque per Gallias semper fuere donec in nostrum jus concederetis So happily doth this universall conjunction of all under one head take away all discord and maintaine conjunction of love for everlasting continuance Only they which will be alone and not contained under one name of great Britaine are not bound up with the sheaves nor carried home into the Barne and therefore are like gleanings after harvest left behinde in the field subject to storme they come not two and two into this Arke and whatsoever remaineth alone Extra arcam perit Such are not unlike that Captaine whom Xerxes rewarded with a garland for escaping alive when all other souldiers were slaine and yet because he came alone without the rest he hanged him and as the the Athenians in the warre with the Aeginetae when one returned without his fellowes ranne upon him and killed him asking where were the rest And what can such I pray you as separate themselves from the happy union of all Britaines answer for themselves if they be called to account Can any be English and not Scottish can any be Scottish and not English Let that outcry against the Romans be ingeminated against such saying Quintilius Varus restore us our Legions where are our Souldiers what is become of them Where are the English where are the Scottish let all restore themselves and each one the other to the name of Britaines And so I say to all and every one of both nations Cedo alterum For I feare lest this name Cedo alterum mentioned in Taciâ—us be in scarely found among many but I call aloud where art thou Cedo alterum give us thy selfe bring in thy friend yea yet another and another bee not wanting to the weale publique una navis bonorum omnium all good Subjects are contained in one Ship of common Weal numeruÌ„ non habet illa suuÌ„ one is not perfit without the other for Britaines Subject ought maintaine mutuall society for common good As for others disclaiming us and disjoyning themselves only I wish they may all be of the same consort and society with us for victrix causa dii placuit though victa Catoni And albeit many great and mighty Potentates on earth make a great shew of Copia verborum by copious recitall of many Provinces and Kingdomes as if his Majesty should entitle himselfe by all the severall shires under his dominions and not by one honourable Title of great Britaine comprehending all to shew how this misliked some it is recorded when the Emperours Embassador comming to the French King rehearsed the Emperours stile at large which consisted of many dominions and names of countries the French King willed his Herauld to repeate and say over the name of France as many times as the other had rehearsed the severall titles of his Masters dominions intimating that one name of France well compacted and united of many particulars into one generall name was better then divers particular names of many countries And when Quintius Flaminius heard how his army was terrified at the recitall of many his enemies forces of their diversity of names of countries of Armour and of multitudes Dahae Medi Cadusij Elemei Cataphracti c. Spearemen Horsemen Footmen Archers c. Oh saith he what a doe is here with numbers and diversity of numbers all these are but onely Syrians and make a great shew like