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
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—
and mischiefes which in the Objections are in the second place of matter of Estate inward pretended I briefly answer that there is no feare of confusion in true and perfect Vnion Which thing the mighty Alexander renowned for fortitude and policy well knew who is much commended by Plutarke that where Zeno chiefe of Stoickes framed an Idea of best Common-wealth such as was not divided by countries and contrary customes but was as all one of one kinde of life and as one flocke feeding in one pasture under one shepheard Alexander I say put that in practise which Zeno but imagined for saith Plutarke not as Aristotle Alexanders Master taught him so did hee living as a father to the Grecians and cruell Commander over Barbarians respecting some and neglecting others but he reconciled all into one mixing mens lives lawes names and marriages together and perswading that none were Aliens and strangers among his subjects but such as were evill men accounting all good men as one man Now I conclude this point that there is no confusion incongruity or mischiefe to be feared in that Vnion where our most rightfull King sitteth not by conquest of sword but by right of royall blood in the seate of his most noble Progenitors and not as Alexander who by conquest sate in the seate of Darius among Persians nor as Xerxes who joyned Asia and Europa together with a woodden bridge over Hellespont but as all other most mighty Governours and the best kings have by a golden bridge of likenesse of love of equity of laws and of common comforts of society and joy all which were both profitable and needfull joyned together two or more kingdomes for their owne greater honor and subjects more undoubted happinesse Which thing likewise that noble and valiant Trojan Aeneas long sithence put in use who by Vnion even of divers nations Omnis eodem nomine eodem jure Latinos vocavit And thereby as Livie reporteth of him he made many and divers nations as one people most familiar and most friendly together Doe not divers Sun-beames come from one Sun and all they of one nature Are not divers lines drawne from one Center and all they of one fashion Are not divers boughes from one tree and all of the same substance And may not divers people under one Prince though they are divided in persons yet be united in Lawes and though they bee sundred in Countries yet be knit together in hearts specially if emulation cause no incongruity nor disorder confusion nor strife mischiefe only with saving each mans honor with continuance of each good custome and with furtherance and establishing the common good of weale publique The king is the countries Parent who by Vnion non servos sed cives cogitat and as Iupiter was said to be Rex omnibus idem so would his Majesty be idem omnibus one head to one body Wherefore if hee desire to unite the two kingdomes and to account them one and as one beloved sonne whose life is deare and whose happinesse joy to him that all subjects as one sonne in common apparant utility might participate common patrimony of just Lawes for Weale publike let none be so hardy with the harlot in the daies of Solomon to say to the King our common parent Divide the childe and cut it into two parts lest such division part that into two which God in nature first made one and now in his greater goodnesse hath restored in the royall person of our gracious King into one what God hath so joyned together let no man put asunder For hereof may arise plaine incongruity and fearefull inconvenience which may farther grow into confusion and mischief Only I pray them which object against the happy Vnion to set before their eyes and to consider with their hearts the grievous contention between the divers people of the kingdome of Israel and the kingdome of Iudah for albeit the two kingdomes were united in the person of David their king yet for want of more perfect Vnion in lawes and love there arose heart-burnings on both sides for Israel complained The men of Iuda have stolne the king from us and they of Iuda challenged that the king was nearer in blood to them than to Israel and Israel againe replyed that they had ten parts in the king and therefore had more right to him But what in the end grew of this contentioÌ„ emulation consider I pray and prevent such inconvenience and mischiefe there was not any one among the Tribes in the second generation that followed the house of David but Iuda only Omen avertas Deus When I was but a yong scholer I learned to call that aequivocation which was Corpuâ— monstrosum under one name of divers formes as homo pictus and homo vivus agree in the name of man but not in the same reason definition and nature so I can call the agreement of English and Scottish only in subjection to one Soveraigne but without farther Vnion of lawes and true love not lively and indeed but painted and in shew not substantiall â—ut aequivocall not reâ—ll but nominall nameâ—y in the King as in the head which is but one â—ut not in themselves â—s in the body which â—ikewise is or should be â—ut one This is true inâ—ongruity wherof may â—rise such farther fearefull inconvenience as I wish may bee to them â—hat hate the State and the experience thereof â—nto the K. enemies Touching the particulars of confusion c surmised by the Objeâ—ctors I briefly answer first that exception taken of summoning future Parliament is no worth answer for the stile and title of the kinâ— changed may changâ— also in future Writs Secondly the changâ—ing of the Seale is only charge of a new cut Thirdly the great old Officers of the kingdome when they yeâ— most worthy of office â—oe hereafter weare â—ut the kings Majesty â—hall afterward by this Vnion have more â—hoice to prefer the worthiest for his Maâ—esty by this Vnion shall â—gaine more choice for â—ll the publike services â—o be performed either at home or abroad Neither may it be reasonable for any man for private or particular respects to repine thereat like to Cato his son who feared lest by his fathers marriage hâ— might leese somewhaâ— of his patrimony and therefore murmured lest his father should beget more sons buâ— had his answer with a sound reply unanswerable Son I desire to have more sons like thy selfe good Citizens and serviceable for the Common weale Fourthly touching lawes customes liberties and priviledges â—t is to be wished that the rigour of ours were somewhat qualified â—nd the liberty of theirs â—omewhat restrained â—either is it a new â—hing in so large a â—ingdome that some should be more enabled and honoured with priviledges than others according to the Kings good pleasure â—n whom dwelleth â—nd from whom is deâ—ived all true honour Fifthly the feare of residence or holding in Scotland such Courts as follow the Kings person
is the selfe same as if we feared that without Vnion the king would hold personall Courts in Cornwall or as if we doubted that such Courts when our former Kings were personally in France were not for all that kept a◠Westminster The sea◠of judgement is the sea◠of the house of David thither the Tribes goe up and there the peoples feet stand even in the gates of Ierusalem which Ierusalem is a City that is at unity in it selfe at unity concerning matters of religion at unity in matters touching publike justice and government therefore the King began his Psalme 122. I was glad when they said to me We will goe c. Lastly the exception taken against Vnion because of the Kings oath at his Coronation which is never iterated is grounded on the selfe same reason as if it were also alleadged that because his Majestie sweareth to maintaine ancient and fundamentall lawes therefore upon circumstance of time and occasion he might not alter any Law but let it be remembred that the Kings oath concerneth the Lawes and not the title and we know the Lawes may be preserved though the title be altered And as for Subjects I doubt not but they may without danger at the pleasure of the King sweare their allegeance and doe homage and obedience after restitution of title reformation of law and Vnion of Kingdomes And ancient Records doe no more leese their force by the change of England into Britaine then by change of King IAMES into King CHARLES And there is no more incertainty of pleadings instruments and writs than when a plaintife deceaseth after seven yeares suite his heire is put to begin commence his suite anew in other name The heart of objections against Vnion being halfe broken let us enter into the third consideration of matter of State inward where is objected a possibility of alienation of the Crowne of England to the Crowne of Scotland in case his Majesties Line should determine But blessed bee God our gracious Soveraigne King is blessed with a plentifull issue and hath yet much farther hope And I hope for which I pray night and day that his Majesties royall Issue shall not faile so long as the Sun and Moone endureth Neverthelesse if some will not labour of the common bane of good wits which is rather to dispute than obey and rather to reason beyond reason than yeeld to reason more magis quà m judicio they may herein also easily answer themselves that in uniting the two kingdomes the second place in stile may be rather drawne to the next of blood in our Land than the kingdome of England bee transferred to one farther off frō the Seem Which thing neither Henry the seventh nor Henry the eighth doubted the one seeking to marry his eldest daughter Lady Margaret to King Iames the fourth of Scotland hoping if his heire male failed by that meanes to unite Scotland to England And the other having his whole drift to match his Sonne Prince Edward to Queen Mary foreseeing in his providence the inestimable benefit of uniting the two kingdomes for which cause many of the Nobles of Scotland gave faith to doe their best endeavours But it is a strange doubt and cast beyond the Moone to imagine that Vnion of the two kingdomes doth so confound the State and change the tenure to bring it so into case of purchase as it will necessarily subject England to Scotland especially if his most excellent Majesty of his singular tenderness and love to this his Realme of England be pleased to effect and establish that in case his Royall Issue which Almighty God of his infinite mercy defend should faile that then by this happy intended Vnion the Realme of Scotland should for ever be and continue indissolubly united and annexed to the lawfull and rightfull inheritance and succession of the Crowne of England in the blood royall of the same Now touching matter of State forreine in answer to the first objection I am well assured that our forreine affaires were at worst in the opinion of all at the decease of our late Queen and our entercourse utterly decaied with many Princes so as we need a kind of present renewing which may be cōcluded as wel under title of King of all Britain as of England To the second it is easily answered that the King loseth no precedency of place as is imagined specially antiquity as in the Objections is alleadged guiding it and not greatnesse For the Successor to King Arthur of Britaine will bee worthy in the opinion of the whole world of better place then King Egbert of England To the third that if the name of England as is imagined be obscured the name of famous and great Britain will be illustrate memorable in times past to all the then knowne Nations of the earth Touching matter of Honour it is certaine and evident that the name of England though it hath beene worthily most famous and great yet is not equall to the title of great Britaine when England and Scotland are reunited either by reason of honor or of power All Histories remembring unto us that the Britaines long time resisted the mighty force of Romaines Lords and Conquerours of the world And albeit some fathers can be content to disinherite their own daughters to continue their names as is inferred in the objections and therfore inforced shold be much more in States specially where the name hath beene famous yet for my part I account such parents unkind and unnaturall where self-love of their name maketh them forget themselves and forsake their owne flesh I will not urge here the law of God of nature and of most nations where daughters inherite names grow extinguished But this is a vaine respect only of name wherof is spokē to get a name on earth and to think their name should never be put out whereas so many countries so many people so many persons have either lost or left their former name and most willingly have been called by another name Gaudet cognomine terra Virgil Eneid lib. 6. That countrey rejoyced to be called by a new name how much more should our Land imbrace this name of Britaine and yet not new but indeed his old proper name renewed and as it were redivived and restored from the dead Or be it simply losse only of a bare transitory name yet as the Prophet Esay speaketh Chapter 56. ver. 3. Let not the Eunuch say Behold I am a dry tree my name shall perish with mee Let us rather regard that name which God promiseth to them that serve him saying Esay 65. ver. 5. Even unto them will I give in my house and within my pallaces a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters I will give them an everlasting name which shall not be put out The argument of Oblivion deserveth no answer but silence and forgetfulnesse and yet I doubt not but famous acts of Noble English men will as well
to butt at and beate one the other where held both together in like yoke one cannot easily offend or force the other Sic enim immensa multitudo authoritatis quasi spiritu regitur And where it is of the nature of man not to endure all servitude nor all liberty but to strive to shake off the one and to be weary of the other it is certaine that equity and equability of like lawes to a divers people united in one will make them which otherwise feare servitude to enjoy freedome and those which seeme most free by former priviledges immunities to feare servitude if they transgresse their bounds for such Vnion and equity is communis custodia principatus reipublicae But faction and ambition are the father and mother of intestine calamity Civill war and deadly feud Who so loveth this will never like that neither is he of the body but of the toes and feet of that image which Nebuchadnesar dreamed of Dan. 2. whose head was of fine gold whose breast and armes of silver whose belly and thighes of brasse whose legs of Iron and whose feet part of Iron and part of Clay Silver Brasse and Iron are metals easily mixed but Iron and Clay will not by any meanes melt and joyne together Kingdomes divided are prefigured in the Iron and Clay they are partly warlike and well governed partly weak factious and seditious they agree not to the King their golden head and though they as the Text saith verse 43. mingle themselves with the seed of men yet joyn not one with another but are as Iron and Clay which will not be mixed together The Poets call this latter age Ferrea let us which live in it prove them Poets and not Prophets that so being joyned to our golden head in all obedience and duty in all love and zeale to our Countrie and in Vnitie among our selves God may still showre down his wonted favours upon Church and Common-wealth and that wee may still bee thankfull returning him the glory FINIS A SECOND PART to the precedent TREATISE THE State of England and Scotland may bee resembled to the condition of Israel and Iuda not only for emulation who have most right to the Royall person of the Kings Majesty for their defence and government but also for that the two kingdomes were at first both but one Besides God as he speaketh by his Prophet Hosea Chapter 11. did also at first alike leade both them and us With Cords of a man even with Bands of love And as it pleased God for sinne of people to breake those Bands even both the Staffe of bands and of beauty to dissolve the brotherhood of Israel and Iuda as saith the Prophet Zach. 11. so for the iniquity of our forefathers God brake the Staffe of bands signifying mutuall love and also Staffe of beauty signifying order of government and brought in upon them and upon their posterity even to these our later daies as Esay saith Chapter 9. A staffe of division and yoke of burden upon theirs and our shoulders which now for all that out of the riches of his mercy he hath also broken in pieces making all one againe as hee spake by his Prophet Ezekiel concerning Israel and Iuda Chapter 37. saying I will make them one people in the land upon the mountaines of Israel and one King shall be King to them all and they shall be no more two peoples neither be divided any more henceforth into two Kingdomes This foundation laid as project of our whole purpose The truth sheweth it self how two kingdoms severed in place not much differing in lawes nor dissonant in language but only disagreeing heretofore in neighbourhood may be comprehended under notion of one name specially seeing when one ruleth both and both become Subject to one they are no more two but one body linked in like duty and knit together in one band of obedience To doubt this is in Strangers ignorance but in Subjects a great offence For who so considereth that many Shires with the principality of Wales heretofore made one England cannot but confesse that likewise England and Scotland with all their territories Islands Shires and Countries make now one great Britaine and all the people of both the mighty Nations Britaines and that the Kings Majesty hath done as princely an Act in uniting both the kingdomes into one name as he did in uniting the Armes of both the Realmes into one Scutchion having a like right in both For all great Britaine being his Majesties inheritance all his Subjects within that continent are Brittaines Iust and reasonable was the demand of Annius chiefe Governour of Latines in uniting Romanes and Latines saying Ex utraque gente unum oportet esse populum unam fieri rempub eandem imperiisedem idemque omnibus nomen And albeit the Latines were content for sake of Weale publike to prefer Romanes before themselves and be called by their names as the History there farther reporteth Quoniam ab alter utra parte concedi necesse est quod utrisque benè vertat sit haec sanè patria potior Romani omnes vocemur neverthelesse the case not standing so with us that Scottish should be called by our name nor we by theirs methinkes a third name of great Britaine might easily and equally please both otherwise as King Deiotarus cut off all his children saving one because he would leave the kingdome but to one so should English swallowing up name of Scottish or Scottish drowning name of English prove such a Vine which to bring but one grape to ripenesse is content that all branches be cut off but one But the question here is not which of the branches should best prosper but how all the branches may flourish which abide in the Vine and verily the question carrieth in it selfe his answer Abide in the Vine This Vine is but one though of many branches and much fruit And thankes be given to God that his Majesty K. Iames of blessed memory by publique Proclamation divulged the inserting and fast grafting of each branch and all fruit into his owne Royall person as into a fruitfull and flourishing Vine even into the head of the whole body of how many soever parts consisting Wherein his Highnesse laid the first stone as he was the true and only foundation of happy union and yet as yet like Apelles fashioning only the exquisite and most excellent beauty of Venus in the head but I hope also and will pray for perfection in the rest that the saying may be true Rex velit honesta nemo non eadem volet◠and that an universall union may be as happy in successu as it is most just by Proclamation in inceptu That the head going before the whole body may follow after in imitation to worke out perfection of the desired happy union That it may be verified quod diu parturivit tandem peperit and what God had in his providence long purposed is fulfilled
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
and government of consanguinity to her her selfe still holding primacy over all as England and Scotland are chearefully looking one towards the other in the name of great Britaine and as the two Cherubins did looke one towards the other in one propitiatory And thy royall state O great Britaine is as the anointed Cherub Ezek. 28. And as in the heart of man is placed fortitude in his liver temperance and in his minde Iustice and yet all these with all other vertues are annexed to Prudence the common ligament of all so is great Britaine by uniting all his kingdomes principalities countries and honours the compleat proportioned forme of all and all in it both universally and particularly are fashioned and made fit on every side for happy conjunction and mutuall correspondence For this renowned name of great Britaine standeth in stead of a Loadstone drawing all into one chaining them together with links of love as Lisippus made an image of foure mettals mixed together gold silver brasse and iron expressing hereby absolute perfection of vertue putting in gold to signifie Prudence silver Iustice brasse Fortitude and iron Temperance whereof they are altogether ignorant as if they had never seene vertue so much as painted who to overthrow union in the name of great Britain bring no union of vertues even excellencies of many Countries to this so excellent worke But skilfull Zeuxes going about to depaint an absolute worke of a perfect virgin took not only view of one womans beauty but had variety of many the fairest to accomplish out of all these a more excellent and consummate forme of body Shall we not thinke the Kingdome of France containing Pickardy Normandy the Isle of France Champaigne Averne Dalpheny Bry Bloys Turin the Dutchy of Anâ—ow Xantoâ—n Burgundy and uniting â—o it little Britaine to be more glorious in all these being made one then if but one only of all these were that Kingdome Doe we not see that the enlarging of the dominions of Spaine in uniting and establishing divers kingdomes and territories as those of Aragons Castile and that of Portugal with others hath so enlarged that Kingdome as that the like hath not befallen other Christian Potentates Hath not the King of Denmarke beside the Cimbrian Chersonese where Holsatia Theutomartia the Dukedome of Sletia Flensburgh Friesland and Iuthland doe lie other spacious Islands fifteen in number all comprehended under the name Denmarke and united to that Crowne Did not Iagello taking to wife in the yeare 1380. the Princesse Hedingee the last of the blood Royall of Polonia after he was enstalled King there unite all his owne principalities of Lithuania and Samotgathia Provinces of Russia to the Kingdome and Crowne of Poland Did not Ahasuerus Esther 1. raigne from India to Ethiopia over an hundred twenty and seven divers Provinces And was not he so mighty by reason of this variety subjected and united to his sole government that he was an hundreth and fourescore daies shewing the riches and glory of his Greatnesse to all his Princes and to the mighty men of Persia and Media But to take example of one only Rome for all How hath it been renowned through the whole world by joyning all Nations of the world into one even to it selfe Herehence it was called Terrarum dea gentiumque Roma communis patria mundâ— compendium As Propertius Omnia Romanae cedant miracula terrae Natura hic posuit quicquid in orbe fuit But the Majesty of this Empire grew so great by adjoyning other nations and bringing them all into one Haec est in gremium quae victos sola recepit Humanumque genus communi nomine fovit Matris non dominae ritu civesque â—ocavit Quoâ— domini nexuque prâ— longinqua revinxit And againe Fecisti patri em diversis gentibus unam Dumque offers victis proprii consortia juris Vrbem fecisti quod prius orbis erat And so may we say of this renowned name of great Britaine comprehending us all of divers nations in one under our gracious King Hujus pacificis debemus moribus omnes Quod cunctigens una sumus I could set forth and confirme by sundry examples this uniting of many into one and thereby shew that the enlarging of dominion consisteth in uniting all together into one name and establishing divers Territories under one Soveraignty and government and that the greater States and Imperiall powers of larger extent and far spreading domination are the more durable and that the Monarchy of great Britaine is like to bee hereafter of more durance strength and honor as partly comming under our Kings government without conquest or constraint Nam errat longe mea qui dem sententia qui credat imperium stabilius aut firmius quod viâ— adjungitur quam quod facilitate clementia so now especially it being united in the whole then heretofore divided in parts his contexture being of a greater frame than before holding by more then one naile anâ— upholding its owne greatnesse even as great buildâ—ings endure and subsist by their owne weight as the Poet speaketh Pondere tâ— suo est But I thinke it here as needfull to lay open the great fault imputed to Conâ—stantine dividing the Emâ—pire among his Children whereby of one Empire he made three and withall a memorable diminution of of his authority and forces which part Brutus also played dividing this whole Empire of great Britain among his three Sons of which though two parts afterward namely England Wales were againe in good time united yet Scotland stood till now divided from the rest and the rest from it till God in speciall goodnesse restored to former name and government all into one againe for which Kings Iames may challenge more glory by uniting all into one then Brutus or Constantine dividing it from one and though Constantine the great was counted the glory of Britaine as being borne and made Emperour here yet may that commendation better fit King Iames than Constantine Tu nobiles fecisti Britanias quod illic ortâ— factusque es imperator The Platan tree hath many goodly Branches and boughes and leaves in one body and therefore Xerxes in Herodotus crowned him with a golden Garland doubtlesse there is a deserved glorious garland due to the name of great Britaine bringing forth many goodly boughes and branches like to the faire and well spread Platan tree or rather for the height of his honour like the â—all and goodly Cedar in whom the dreame of Nebuchodonosor hath been verified for he saw a tree in the middest of the earth great and strong whose height reached unto the heaven and the sight thereof to the end of the earth whose leaves were faire and the fruit thereof much Dan. 4. in which was meat for all yea the beasts of the field had shadow under it the fowles of the aire dwell in the boughes thereof and all flesh fed of it But Nebuchodonosor heard also a watch crying out mightily hew downe
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
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
that great Supper which mine Hoast at Chalcis dressed for me and for my followers with much variety and marvell at the diversity of the dishes and yet all was but one flesh though of so many divers dressings The river Peneus may better serve for instance it divideth it selfe and floweth into divers Rivers and every one of these Rivers in his division hath a proper name to himself one after this name and another after that but all these meeting in one and becomming againe one great and mighty River doe now lose the particular names which they held being divided and are called by one generall name as before namely Peneus Non sunt multiplicanda entia sine necessitate It is not reasonable that brethren from one parent should be divided in one house though they be severed in distinct place but be as fingers to one hand knit together by common joynts for mutuall offices even as the brethren Molionides are poetically imagined to have but one body or rather the three Cerions to have many bodies but one soule and one minde not unlike to that of Pithagoras Vt unum ex pluribus fiat many in name but one in deed And as when Piso was commended to posterity for frugality I doubt not but he was wise withall and as when Lelius was renowned for wisdome I doubt not but he was just withall and Metellus for piety I doubt not but hee was temperate withall and Aristides for justice I doubt not but he was valiant withall yet I know that the denomination is ever but of one though it containe things two and moe as the Temple consecrated to two brethren Castor and Pollux was named only Castors Temple and the munificency of two Consuls Caesar and Bibulus was called only Caesars munificency and even many imaginary shewes and shadowes have seemed compleate in deciphering one thing only yea the very images of excellent men have been patternes and resemblances of many consummate vertues in one as Plutarchs Alexander Xenophons Cyrus Homers Vlysses Virgils Aeneas and Lucians Imagines instead of all And as there is a common Idea and infolded notion of all things in the minde of man so the other viewing the whole race and tract of things in the world doth tell us that as many peculiar excellent properties may be and are in one man and hee over them as sole Monarch over all the diversities of worthiest vertues so a King under his Imperiall power hath to him subjected many shires states cities honors provinces and kingdomes himself being sole soveraign and Lord over all Therefore though magnanimity onely was attributed to Cyrus only modesty to Agesilaus onely wisdome to Themistocles skill to Philip and boldnesse to Brasidas yet Alexander as Plutarch reporteth was furnished and full-fraight with all these And Quintus Metellus is reported to attaine and possesse together ten of the chiefest greatest things that ever he desir'd as if he had at once ten Provinces under his command and was known a mighty warrier a sweet Orator a great commander to prosper in his greatest affaires to be in greatest honour of great wisdome a chiefe Senator plentifull in children rich of substance and most renowned in the City So copiously hath one man been stored with plentifull variety of manifold graces all these at once dwelling in him and he well ordering them even as one free and absolute Monarch may and doth rule many mighty and divers Nations knit in one by obedience and love among themselves and by law and justice from the King who by his lawes speaketh alike to all is heard of all and understood of all una eademque communi voce I confesse the name of great Britaine hath beene long time eclipsed or rather like those voices which Antiphon said were kept close and frozen up in the Winter untill the heate of Summers shining Sun resolved the frozen and fast bound aire that they might bee againe disclosed Comfortable is the warmth of this blessing in the Sun-shining daies of our Soveraign Lords King Iames King Charles wherein not only cloudes are scattered but the renowned name of great Britain breaks forth as a gladsome voyce from frozened aire comes forth as a Bridegroome out of his chamber long time before lockt up like a prisoner Doubtlesse this is our yeare of Jubile a yeere of delivering the Captive of making the bond free and of joy even in sort and true sense to us Annus Platonicus wherein things are come about againe to be as they were Iure Postliminij to recover our selves and be restored to name and fame of great and glorious Britaine long divided into two kingdomes but now most happily and joyfully subjected and reunited in all the government therof unto one onely Soveraigne most wise and most religious governour of the same Deus haec benigna restituit in sedem vice Doubtlesse this is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes this is the day that the Lord hath made for us to rejoyce and be glad therein For as it is said we owe to God our selves for creating us when wee were not and more than our selves for re-creating and restoring us when wee were lost So ought all good Subjects thinke the dayes more happy and joyfull in which they are now as it were new borne then those in which they were first borne as is well said Non minus illustres a que jucundi sunt illi dies quibus conservamur quà m quibus nascimur Happy art thou ô Israel ô people saved by the Lord who is like unto thee Thou wert lost and art found bond and art free eclipsed and art glorious dead and art alive thy name forgotten and behold it resoundeth even among hard rocks and in the hollownesse of mountaines thy beauty withered and behold thy vallies stand thick replenished and adorned with fairest varieties of all good thy yeares forgotten thy feathers plucked and thy strength weakned and behold thou waxest young and lusty like the Eagle yea thine honour the honour of thine ancient name ruined like an old house but behold it is now repaired and called after his owne and old name even as deliaca navis torne and taken in pieces was renewed and built againe to his most ancient forme and called still deliaca navis Sic rerum summa novatur And albeit worldly kingdomes and civill States seem subject to alteration and doe carry in their outward appearance faces sometime shining and glorious as the Sun and sometime defaced darkned and deformed conquering and conquered triumphing and enthralled yet the common weale it selfe like the ship before mentioned ruinated and repaired is still the same euen as the Sunne though eclipsed is still the same and a river sometime shallow sometime deepe still the same and a man now sick now in health still the same Respublica enim semper ut civitas est contigua unâ perpetuâque serie compacta and though admit it mutation as our state did long
more flourish where is more choice of worthy honourable men to be imployed in publique affaires as need and occasion require And as arrows in the hand of the strong man so are the succession and children of such blessed is our gracious King Charles that hath many Kingdomes like many quivers full of them but as for the arrowes which of them shall be taken forth and sent or shot abroad that is in the power of the Archer Neither may one say why hast thou taken me nor the other why am I left with the rest An non in coelo ipso sua luce sol Lunam superat non vituperat Et stella à stella differt in gloria non dissidet in superbia And albeit there bee a kinde of jealousie and naturall strangenesse among men untill they better grow in knowledge one of the other and doe eate as our English Proverbe saith a Bushel of Salt together yet have we long since shaken off that infamy which Horace laid unjustly upon us that Britaines were uncurteous and unhospitall to staangers and have learned to grant Incorporation and immunities even to strangers in deed and to enfranchise strange Nations for trade with us making them partakers of our Rights much more than should we be lesse nice of all immunity and naturall community with us towards those who now are one with us that though in the Comedy cause of strangnesse among men be alleaged Quia nec ille te novit nec tu illum yet we should be ashamed quasi Canes latratu accipere quem non agnoscimus Yea rather should we rejoyce to heare by this union how that Lacedemonii Medizant and Medi Lacedemonizant both Scot and English so familiarly converse together and are growne into one anothers natures and manners that like Servilii fratres they are all one And should we wish by reason of the neighbourhood and neernesse of both Nations as also for likenesse of language we should bee alone even as the Historian discourseth of the Phryges and Trojani and likewise other nations how they were taken for the same called by one anothers names promiscuously because they were so neere one to the other and the same also were counted but one Nation and of one kinde by reason they were of the same language a most sure argument saith he that they be but one people who agree in one language as it is most absurd the inhabitants of the same places should differ in language if they be of the same kinde Why then as he saith Iube hanc maceriam dirui quantum potest huc transfer unam fac domum And according to that resolution foederis aquas Iungamus leges sociosque in regna vocemus Especially seeing they may challenge with us Cives esse licet non easdemopes habere eandem tamen patriam incolere quare connubium petimus sociâ—tatem quod finitimis externisque dari solet nibil novi ferimus sed id quod populi est petimus Vt quibus velit populus Romanus honores mandet Was not Numa Pompilius though no Romane fetcht from Sabins and made king of Rome Was not also Lucius Tarquinius not so much of Romane blood made king there And was not Survius Tullius though borne basely and of a bond-woman also made king there Et dum nullum fastiditur genus in quo eniterit virtus Romanum crevit imperium but no such exception of Scottish blood his Majestie being rightly and anciently descended of royall English blood and his nobles hence forth in their posterity beâ—ing with us and wee with them all of Brittish blood â—an esse ulla major aut in signiâ—or contumelia potest quam partem civitatis velut contaminatam indignam connubio habeâ—ri Quid est aliud quam exilâ—â—um intra eadem moenia quaâ— relegationem pati ne propiâ—quitatibus ne affinitatibus imâ—misceamur ne societur sanguis What can we say more but render all possible praise and thankes to our good and gracious God who by his servants our two gracious Soveraignes hath reduced and restored the whole Island of great Britaine answerable to his first beginning and ancient former being like to one City even one Ierusalem which is a City at unity within it selfe Hoc verè Regium duos populos unum efficere As the king of kings hath in mercy done to Iew and Gentile to Grecian and Barbarian fecit utraque unum he brake downe the partition Wall and hath gathered the people kingdomes together to serve him dissociâ—ta locis concordi pace ligavit And why should noâ— many and moe then twâ— kingdomes as well civilly aâ—bide in unity of Subjection as many Christian nationâ— continue in unity of faith But that the one hath the spiâ—rit of God which is authoâ— of peace and lover of conâ—cord directing them and the other the spirit of Satan author of contention and cause of confusion perverting them Which thiâ—g king David well perceived praying God for his Sonnâ—Solomon that he might enjoy the full possession of the whole dominion from sea to sea promised to Israel under Moses but not fully obtained till then because of the peoples sins And albeit for our manifold and great sins this whole Island was overlong divided into two and forced by former division to many battels and much shedding of blood yet we praise God that in these our dayes the full possession thereof is restored and given to our peaceable Solomon so as not only all his own subjects even from Sea to Sea of both the kingdomes are in him united into one but even the potent and powerfull neighbour kings seeke peace and ' make league with Israel even the kings of Tharsis and of the Isles bring presents the kings of Sheba and Seba brings guifts as in the daies of Solomon This change even the happiest change that ever was from a people so divided from one by Gods eternall decree and speciall mercy to be made one biddeth us open our eyes and calleth us alowd come and see speque fide que inquit majora videbis For our Island formerly for sin divided as the Echinades Insulae were faired by Poets once far seperate and distracted for contempt of their Gods is now become like that Island Delos which though it floated and was tossed sometimes upon the waters à gente in gentem as one wave forceth another was neverthelesse reported to be afterwards truly firme and stable Doubtlesse that God which hath written in the waters and the Sea legible for ever eye to see and read Mare Britannicum and who hath continually carried in directing the pens and pensils of all Cosmographers Mapmakers or whatsoever Historiographers whom Alphonsus Sicilia calleth optimos Consiliarios mortuos not to alter the first and old name but to call it in all their writings and descriptions Mare Britannicum hath graciously and miraculously effected for the land also that out of the dead ashes of old
great Britaine should be raised even the self same Britaine as the Phenix living and dying est eadem sed non eadem quia ipsa nec ipsa est O admirable Metamorphosis happy changel England and Scotland have left though not lost their names both being preserved in the Bosome of great Britaine Non duo sunt nec forma duplex but neuâ—runque utrunque videtur and of both us English and Scottish being now Britaines may it be said as of them two brethren alteruter uterque alteruter est uterque utâ—rque autem neuter Which I againe call that faire Phoenix dying and living eadem non eadem quia ipsa nec ipsa est In which excellent and vyonderfull work the rather and better to bring to passe the good purpose of uniting the two kingdomes and people into one it hath seemed best to the godly wisedome of divine providence first and long since to knit all our hearts in one holy religion and in the same service and godly worship to make us all like Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God renewed in Christ and reconciled into one body acknowledging but one God and professing but one faith and religion the hope of our vocation Whereby we learne and cannot but confesse if as Ciprian saith consiliorum gubernaculum lex sit divina that that Common Weale best pleaseth God which commeth neerest to the Church of God that wisest PolititiaÌ„s are best Christians that best governments have correspondence with Gods lawes and that those kingdomes are best ruled and the more blessed which are of one heart and one obedience even as all are one in Christ who is the head and all under his government are by one spirit but one body Wherefore the good Emperors Theodosius and Valentinianus writing to Ciprian Bishop of Alexandria were bold to commend their government according to the platforme before described saying A pietate quae in deum est Reipublicae nostrae constitutio pendet multa utrinque est cognatio societas c. Which most excellent patterne and forme of government is after the example of Christ uniting all into one and this the Psalmist resembleth to that precious ointment powred on the head of Aaron and running downe his heard even to the skirts of his cloathing for so doth sweet and precious union rest chiefly in the head which is but one and from thence run all along and alike to all the parts of the people which are but one But shame on Schisme whither it be civill or ecclesiasticall for it renteth the seamlesse Coat of Christ both in the Church and in the Civill state even in the doctrine and ceremonies of the one against the truth of God and in christian charity and common civility of the other against the peace of men Wherefore whosoever opposeth himselfe against the one or other is more unreasonable and may be thought more cruell than the souldiers which would not divide Christs seamelesse Coat but cast lots whose it should be saying Sortiamur cujus sit For it cannot bee denied but that they which divide Great Britaine to have it divided within and against it selfe divide that for which they cannot say sortiamur seeing cujus is known and sit cannot be denied but sortiamur and cujus and sit should wholly and only be left to his Majestie and to his royall succession for ever Only let our contention be as was that of Israel and Iudah who should be forwardest not only in bringing our King unto the seate of his kingdome but also now to preserve the possession of his kingdome Sartum rectum inseparably united to the King and joyntly united and undivided within it selfe Vnus rex una lex unus pater una communis patria unum caput unum corpus Let not private respects hinder a common good let every man be as one man of one heart and one soule united to his Majesties gracious intentions which are for the everlasting good of every one If the King had commanded thee a great thing wouldest not thou have done it How much more then when he saith bee you all of one minde to live agreeably together in one uniforme government for your owne undoubted good Cedat jus proprium regi patriaeque remittat And to conclude in nomine omine Concerdiae to consummate this structure of union and to consecrate it to all eternity as the Romanes did their Temple of concord Behold now is the time of establishing the unity of both Nations together as he said Si quando unquam consociandi imperii tempus optastis en hoc tempus adest virtute vestra deûm benignitate vobis datum Heretofore as C. Marius said he could not audire juâ— prae strepitu armorum so by reason of civill discord betwixt both Nations the name of unity was but as a pleasant song touching the eare but not entring into the heart or serious consideration of either part And so for many yeares this cogitation crept in every where The name of Britain seemed as a brutish name all commixtion betwixt us seemed confusion any mutation for union sake an utter subversion of all the state But now the matter is come Extra Rubiconem jacta est alea the matter is proceeded in Aut nunquam tentes aut perfice Such a matter of state is not slightly to be intended And I know that all the honourable Commissioners on both sides thinke every one of themselves not to be imployed in this so great businesse only as pro Consule and in his owne person but pro Consulibus in commune omnium and therefore will be assembled like wise Romanes who after long dissention and part takings made full reconcilement and concord perpetuall for all matters in Aede Concordiae And I doubt not but all Subjects will in all places as the Graecians did after long variance embrace that joyfull {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} agreed on for good of all not for fashion sake as among heathen but for conscience sake as among such which truly know and feare God who is author of Vnity and but one God that so there bee henceforth a perfect and perpetuall establishment according to the lawes of Medes and Persians which may not nor cannot be altered remembering inimicitâ—as mortales amicitias immortales esse debere Only yet I would set before all mens eyes that worthy speech of the renowned Tullus Hostilius King of Romanes in the reconcilement of Rome and Alba and represented unto us in uniting England and Scotland by our two gracious Soveraignes Quod bonum faustum foelixque sit populo Romano ac mihi vobisque Albani populum omnem Albanum Romam traducere in animo est Civitatem dare plebi primores in patres legere unam urbem unam remupb facere ut ex uno quondam in duos populos diversa Albana res est sic nunc in unum redeat And now also concerning the name I recite only a Poeticall fable yet moralized no fable That when Neptune and Pallas did strive whether of them should give name to Athens it was agreed that he or she should name the City who could bring the best gift for common good Wherefore Neptune did strike the Shore and it brought forth an horse fore-shewing that Athens should bee warlike but Pullas gave the City an Olive signifying peace and that the City should flourish by peace whereupon peace being more profitable than war Neptune was enforced to yeeld his interest and Pallas gave the name Oh how blessed are the peace-makers How beautifull are their feete How glorious and joyfull the light of their countenance pax optima rerum Quas homini novisse datum est pax una triumphis Innumeris potio K. Iames first Dove-like brought the Olive branch shewing that the waters were abated anger appeased dangers escaped sorrows fled and that salvation and joy entered the Arke of Great Britaine And it is and hath long been his most sacred Majesties desire to encrease and establish the Vnity of both Nations happily begun by his father King Iames of blessed memory wherefore let it be the daily prayers of all true Subjects that God in mercy will still continue the sâ—me to his Majesty and his posterity for ever FINIS
take example from the Romane Common Weale and surely for our instruction may it be said Nulla unquam respublica nec major nec sanctior nec bonis exemplis ditior fuit where Dyonisius Halicarnasseus giveth us a strange shew of two Consuls Largius and Claelius who both strove to give precedence one to the other preferring each other before himselfe and reckoning one anothers worth before his owne and this done two or three severall times neither presuming to goe before the other but still refusing and could by no meanes either be perswaded to take the preheminence one before the other But is any mans eye evill because the Kings eye in speciall and gracious aspect is good Doubtlesse when a King doth not all things ad voluntatem sed ad utilitatem omnium they which mislike and yet seeme of the same league and society with others doe notwithstanding like Nahaz the Ammonite 1 Sam. 11. joyne in common covenant with others but on condition onely that they may thrust out the others right eyes Hoccine in commune honores vocare quaenam ista societas quaenam consortio est But whosoever intendeth truely the common good let him remember that Solon said The onely way to keep subjects in unity is to maintaine an equality for all for motus as Plato saith is in inequalitate but status and quies in aequalitate which thing is spoken not to breed or maintaine parity in condition of men for that equality were true inequality nay iniquity so to confound the world But these things are alleadged to shew that our gracious Soveraign may herein I speake under favour be resembled to IANVS who had two faces to looke forward to looke backward for so his Majesty is set in the middest sole Soveraigne of all great Britaine to looke on England to looke back to Scotland and with princely and favourable aspect to countenance both Tros Rutulusve fuat nullo discrimine habebo where both being made one common Countrey that saying may well befit our common Emperour Hostem qui feriet mihi erit Carthaginensis quisquis erit And there is that equality before mentioned distilling from his Grace and Majesty in honouring and defending both alike lusta pari premitur veluti cum pondere libra prona nec hac plus parte sedet nec surgit ab illa where none ought strive contentiously lest they seeme to offer violence to the Kings Grace or to his honour or to both as the Mid-wife charged Pharez in making the breach betweene him and his brother by forcing his birth before his brothers through strife in his mothers womb whose name therefore was called Pharez which signifieth division But our brotherhood is not in strife as that of Cain and Abel Esau and Iacob Ismael and Isaac nor as that of Geta and Antoninus sonnes to the Emperour Severus after whose death their mother Iulia was forced to divide the Empire betwixt her sonnes severing and setting them asunder into separate governments with a sea betwixt them because of their hot contentions and implacable hatred And God forbid that we should by opposite contentions one against another provoke the common parent of both our Nations as those two brethren did their parent Iulia to cry out against us as she did against them O my sons you have found the way how to be severed and divided by sea and land into distinct regiments and ' as you say the water divides you one from the other but how will you divide me your mother How shall I bee divided between you both Will you dissect mee into parts also As them two lovers mentioned by Plutarke striving for their love Dum uterque ad se certatim rapere conatur rent her in pieces Let our strife rather be like that of Ephestion and Craterus who contended whether should love their King Alexander most in so much that Alexander was enforced to decide the controversie adjudging that Ephestion loved the King best and Craterus Alexander best So it pleased the King in his sentence equally to divide his love and so did they both equally strive to love and after this manner did the Iones and Chiâ— contend in love to Hercules and Iuda and Israel for David And so I doubt not but our contention is of the like love and duty towards our Soveraigne but as for hatred and malice amongst our selves so separating us that we cannot be mixed together Dii talia Graiis erroremque hostibus illum Seeing as he said no greater hurt can be wished to our enemies then to be disunited among themselves and if they will not bee at one with us that they may be at odds betweene themselves Maneat quaeso duretque gentibus si non amor nostri at certe odium sui Quando nihil jam praestare fortuna majus potest quam hostium discordiam And now farther to enforce this union into both Nations the rather because we are both alike under one head and governour hath not his Majesty two eyes to respect both kingdomes two eares to heare alike the cause of both two shoulders to beare alike the burden and care of both two hands to distribute honours alike to both and two feet to goe one before the other yet both alike to support but one body The inequality only is if we are not alike dutifull and thankfull neither doe we as the Apostle exhorteth Rom. 12. Carry like mindes one towards another nor make our selves in our owne conceits equall to them of the lower sort And where Xenophon calleth Magistrates and mighty men the Kings eyes the Kings eares the Kings shoulders yea also his hands and his feete it is not thereby meant that they should thinke they also had two eyes to envy one the other two eares to listen after advantages or offences one against the other two shoulders to shove at and shoulder out one the other two feet to out-runne and prevent one the other two hands to catch and snatch one from the other or to carry fire in one hand and water in the other or to build with the one and to pull downe with the other or with the one to offer a gift and with the other a stab Altera manu panem altera lapidem but that their eyes eares shoulders feete and hands are or should be mutuall helpers one to the other for the common good and publique service of the whole State And I perswade my selfe that all Magistrates under his Majestie of the one or other Nation united now in one common name of Britaines will for publique Administration of the common-Weale so see with their eyes heare with their eares beare up the head with their shoulders and walke uprightly Having pure and cleane hands that as the fingers in the hand are distinctly divided and yet do clap and clasp themselves together for more strength so all of command and in authority within great Britain though they have distinct offices yet will so concur and agree
together that though there appeare among them and their distinct publique services as in digitis divisio it shall not be ab unitate praecisio And verily the two kingdomes are like two hands warming and enfolding each other continuing two yet in one body where if the right hand challenge more necessary use and service in the body then the left or the left hand more than the right and one not readily yeeld to joyne with the other as is meete the head may in his good pleasure make choice and use of either as in the Romane Story when Tribunes disagreed for chiefest honour Quintus Servilius Consul of much lesse dignity and authority than a King tooke the matter into his owne hands saying Patria Majestas altercationem istam dirimet Here Prudence among Subjects hath need intermeddle with all other vertues and shew the power of union in her selfe where Justice demandeth right fortitude tollerateth what ought be borne temperance reformeth will subdueth anger moderateth passion and represseth ambition and all in unity of obedience coupled together bring forth plentifull fruit for society honour and joy Which thing well pleased Marcus Furius Camillus Dictator of Rome seeing all the Senate and Subjects of Rome not only accord in the common execution of each office for common good of all but willingly and lovingly both highest and meanest to embrace one the other saying that the Common-Weale was flourishing and most happy Si tales viros in magistratu habeat tam concordibus junctos animis parere atque imperare juxta paratos laudemque conferentes potius in medium quam ex communi ad se trahentes whereof the Senate Consuls and Tribunes gave testimony and good proofe when they all submitted all authority to Camillus perswaded in themselves Nec quicquam de majestate sua detractum quod majastati ejus viri concessissent In Britaines union England may not exalt it selfe above Scotland nor Scotland strive against England but both as members of one and the same body under one and the same head ought to have the same care one for the other as if one member suffer all suffer with it and if one be honoured all the members rejoyce with it and as in the Church so in the common-Weale one is my Dove one is my darling shee is the only beloved of her mother and deer to her that bare her so I know there are diversities of gifts and differences of administrations and divers manners of operations in both and God hath set the members of the whole body every one of them severall in the body as it hath pleased him but omnia ab uno ad unum All from one head and to one end Hee that is wise will consider this Qui vero curiosiores sunt quam capatiores quaedam magâ—is contentiose objectanda quam prudenter consideranda esse arbitrantur And now seeing I have waded so far in the union of Britaines English may not mislike that Scottish beare Office among and with them as if they were of a farre Countrey hunting after others Treasures serving the King of Babylon and not as the same Subjects to Hezechias for they are of and for England as we and we of and for Scotland as they and both for both being made one Nay rather we ought desire their society and rejoyce in this community setting before our eyes for example that saying of Austin of the communion of Saints made fellow heires with Christ through the mercy of our good God Deus cum baberet unicum noluit esse unum sed habere fratres And if in humane matters humane examples more move remembring that Scipeo was as glad of his brothers preferment as of his owne and that Castor would not be a god without his brother Pollux but would be only Semideus that his brother might partake with him as is well said Habent oculi in corpore magnum honorem sed minorem haberent si soli essent In the time of Claudius the Emperour when it was consulted that the Senate should bee supplyed with more Senators the Peeres and Nobles of France long before enfranchised free denizens of Rome sought also to participate in honours magistracies and dignities with Romanes and the matter being handled on both sides with great consideration the Romanes alleadged against the French that Italy wanted no sufficient men within it selfe for it selfe And that there was no reason to incorporate others with them who had beene at so deadly hatred and bloody warres against them What no private men not the common People not Strangers but enemies taken into the Senate Was it not counted for a wonder that the Athenians did take onely Anacharsis into their City Would the Lacedemonians admit the Tyrrheni to participate in their honors though they had done them service And had their mothers also Athenian women But the good Emperour replying said to the Senators that he would assume into the Senate of all his Subjects such as he found most worthy of what Countrey soever alledging that his owne Ancestors were descended from the Sabins and made of Nobility and Senate of Rome and that the Iulij were taken from Alba Coruncani from Camerium the Porcij from Tusculum Etruria and Lucania and from all parts of Italy chosen into the Senate And that by this meanes Italy was extended and greatly enlarged so as not onely the people but all their possessions had their dependance upon the state of Rome and grew into one Nation and people of Rome And that a setled state chiefly flourished when the people inhabiting even beyond the River Padus were received into the community of Romane Citizens And lastly that nothing was more hurtfull to the Lacedemonians and Athenians then refusall to encrease the common-weale by accesse of new and other people What Shall not they be admitted because they and Romanes have had deadly feud one against another So the Aequi so the Volsci And yet are now all one and the same people of Rome This forcible speech pierced their hearts and prevailed so as that all submitted their judgement to the Emperours wisedome Which thing I thought good here to remember not forgetting also what Anna said to Dido Quam tu urbem soror hanc cernes quae surgere regna Connubio tali Troum Comitantibus armis Punica se quantis attollet gloria rebus Which if we consider as we should wee cannot then but ingenuously acknowledge that good and praise-worthy was the speech of Paedaretus who uederstanding he was not chosen into the number of the Trecenti who chiefly bare rule said he did glory there were so many his betters in the Common-weale And no lesse commendable was his saying who wished hee could raise froÌ„ the dead many moe such excellent Citizens as Quintus Fabius well advertised Titus Octacilius Nec tu id indignari possis aliquem in civitate Romana meliorem haberi quam te Doubtlesse the Common-Weale is more happy and doth there