to haue beene aliue would not haue made some hinderance or stop at least some challenge at the time of his mariage with the Ladie Margaret Teuther So as this Ladie might more easilie and honourablie haue shrunke back from the mariage and avoided it before it was solemnized then to haue sought to dissolue it it being once accomplished and admit that this was the cause yet it can stand with no reason that she should deferre it whole foure yeeres and more and after all this while to seek then to be divorced from him when he had issue by her But they that are but meanlie acquainted with the Scottishe histories knowes that this is non causa pro causa and that the true cause was because the Erle fel in loue with a gentle woman of Douglas-dale whome hee kept as his concubine which his Ladie took so to heart as she would never be reeonciled to him after that by this act he had defiled her bed such was her Princelie minde And it is reported of king Iames the fift that hee was accustomed to aske such of his servants as were moste inwarde with him whither the said gentle-woman were fairer then his mother So this act of the Earle of Angus falling out about some fowre yeeres after the birth of the Ladie See Holins compare pag. 303. with 306. in the Scottish historie Margaret Douglas his daughter can no whit stain or embase her in blood being begot and borne in lawfull mariage But for further proofe of the legitimation she was alwaies by all men taken reputed as the sole and onlie heire to the Earle of Angus and served as they call it by the Scottish lawes to the said Earedome and had all the evidences writtings Pag. 335. of the same delivered to her as to whome of right they did appertaine But vpon the mariage of her sonne the Lord Darnlie with the late Queene of Scots she was content at the said Queenes instance to permit and yeeld the said Earledome to the disposing of the Queene according her best liking which honor and Earledome the said Queene of Scots did bestow vpon Archbald late Earle of Angus Fran. Thyne in his supplem to Holinshed all which you may see at large in the Scottish and English Chronicles And my Lord Dowglas who at this present hath his lodging in Lyme-street was the man as I take it that was sent from the said Queene to the Ladie Margaret beeing then prisoner in the Tower to treate of the resignation of the Earledom with this message It was a wel lost Earledome which brought home a kingdom These are sound proofes that the L. Margaret was no bastard and that this which is brought to impeach her legitimation beeing truelie delivered doth maynlie strengthen the same For mine own part I make no question if her Maiesty would be pleased but that my Lord Treasurer who hath sifted this matter more then anie man and who is esteemed of all men to bee warie and wise enough and not to bee any of the Scottishe Kings greatest friends would venture Sir Roberts young sonne though he be vnder yeeres vppon Ladie Arbella her title albeit it come by this onely branche of the Ladie Margaret Dowglas and come also even in it a degree after the king and his children And that you may the better belieue me I pray you be remembred what attempt my Lord made for one of Sir Thomas his sonnes To cōclude this point whatsoever right my L. doth giue by this branch to the said king collaterallie with Ladie Arbella I see no reasō why any other mā should seek to take it from him knowing that most men comes shorte of my Lord in the search and knowledge of this matter but verie few or none short of my L. in favour and affection towards him The obiection made against his mothers line is not so much the argument of any competitor or anie of their favourers or the doubt of anie of the skilfuller and better sorte as a scruple bred in the minds of the common people arising frō I know not what buzing reporte of an act of Association the truth of which is this During the custodie of the Scottishe Queene there were diuerse conspiracies practized by Iesuites and other Papists male-contentes against our Soveraigne Ladie not without the knowledge and privitie of the said Queene which course of conspiracies treasons when the LL. of her Maiesties moste honorable privie councell did discerne that they could by no meanes stop so long as the Scottish Queene lived and withall that the only remedie to prevent them was that the Law should take place for her triall Yet fearing that her execution if she should bee found guiltie might be the cause of great sturres troubles by reason of her great factions in the neighbour Realmes and of her favourers in this land it seemed good to them for withstanding and repressing of such commotions if anie shoulde ensue and for the better maintenance of the peace and tranquillitie which the state did enioy to make an act of Association the tenor whereof for your better satisfaction further instruction I haue thought good to set down at large as followeth AN INSTRVMENT OF ASsociation for the preservation of the Queenes Maiesties person made An. 1584. and confirmed by an act of Parliament Anno Reg. Eliz. 27. FOrasmuch as Almightie God hath ordained Kings Queenes and Princes to haue dominion and rule over their subiects and to preserue them in the profession and obseruation of the true Christian Religion according to his holie Word and commandement and in the like sort that all subiectes shoulde loue feare and obey their Soueraigne prince beeing king or Queene and to the vttermost of their povver at all times vvithstand pursue and suppresse all manner of persones that shall by any meanes entend and attempt any thing dangerous and hurtfull to the honours states and persons of their Soueraignes Therefore vvee vvhose names are or shall be subscribed to this vvryting being naturall borne subiects of this Realme of England and having so gracious a Ladie Elizabeth by the ordināce of God our most rightfull Queene raigning over vs these many yeeres vvith great felicitie to our inestimable comfort and finding of late by diuerse depositions confessions and sundrie aduertisements out of forraine parts from credible persons vvell knovvne to her Maiestie counsell and diuerse others for the furtherance and aduancement of some pretended titles to the crovvne of this Realme it hath beene manifest that the life of our most gracious Soueraigne Ladie hath bene most trait erouslie and diuelishlie sought and the same follovved most dangerouslie to the perill of her person if Almightie God her perpetuall defender of his mercie had not reuealed and vvithstood the same by vvhose life vve and all others her Maiesties true and loyall subiects doe enioy an inestimable benefite of peace in this land DOE FOR the reasons and causes before alleadged
A PITHIE EXHORTATION TO HER MAIESTIE FOR ESTABLISHING HER SVCCESSOR TO the crowne WHEREVNTO IS ADDED A DISCOVRSE containing the Authors opinion of the true and lavvfull successor to her Maiestie Both compiled by PETER WENTWORTH Esquire Prudens Princeps haeredem nominando Regno prospiciet si desit filius de successore seriò cogitabit Ex Spart A wise Prince by naming his heire will provide for the safetie of his kingdome and if hee haue no sonne he will be the more carefull to establish his successor Out of Spart IMPRINTED 1598. Thomas Foley of Great Witley Court in the County of Worcester Esq. TO THE READER GOOD Reader the two Treatises ensuing were written by M. WENTWORTH whose zealous affection to the preservation of Religion his Prince countrie hath bene made better known to al her Maiesties good subjects by his patient and constant indurance for so good a cause as he maintained then it can be by any mans reporte or commendation In the former which by the advise of some friends he preferred to her Maiestie in forme of a supplication is prooved that for the safetie of the kingdomes of England and Scotland and of the Religion professed in them it is absolutelie necessarie that al the claimes and titles to the crowne of this Realme be tried by Parliament and that the rightfull successour to her highnesse be declared and confirmed nowe in her Maiesties life-time I doubt not but every religious and true hearted subiect is of his minde The latter declaring his opinion concerning the person of the true lawfull successor he sent to some privie friends at their instant request it may seeme strange that hee woulde venture to write it in respect of these ticklish times and of his present troubles for a lesser matter but yet there was strong reasons leading him to doe the same I haue published them both not so much to procure commendation praise to the dead though he iustlie deserue it for his most worthie parts as to worke a due regarde of right and equitie to the good and behoofe of all my countriemen and that he whose mouth was stopped from speaking the good which he would when he did liue might now without danger openlie proclaime the same though some would not after his death And as he was accustomed to say to his friends if it bee a duetie required of vs to communicate our knowledge in the meanest matters for mutuall instruction who in any good conscience can suppresse his knowledge in matters so greatly importing every private and publick estate of these Realmes yea both earthlie kingdomes and the kingdome of Christ For these respects I haue thought it expedient that hee who hath spoken in the Parliament with so great regarde and good liking of all the hearers shoulde nowe as it were with his owne mouth speak to all the subjects of England seing it is a matter that so greatly concerneth vs all I haue altered or suppressed no thing in either of them vnles it be titles and names of persons places words of courtesie which were not at al requisite to be knowne Some things I haue quoted in the margent for thy better vnderstanding being acquainted with his meaning and haue also englished some things for the help of the vnlearned Now for my self good Reader I speak my opinion in the trueth of my conscience that the Scottish King for anything I knowe hath the best right to succeede to our gracious and Soveraigne Ladie Wherein I am the more confirmed for that I know it to be the opinion of some mē who make as much conscience of their doings and haue as much wisdome law in their budgets as any man whatsoever that is in this land And to mee it seemeth a thing altogether needlesse yea voide of common sense and reason to fetch with so great adoe the branches and pedegrees from William the Conqueror Edward the first or Edward the third and to contend and to dispute a fresh for the houses of Lancaster and Yorke seeing all good men confesse that the right must haue beene in the children of Henrie the seaventh and Elizabeth eldest daughter to Edward the fourth And if by all our judgemēts the two titles were in them most happily joined he must be vnhappie that would seek to dissolue them We haue paide too deare for pleading broken titles and other service will please God better then to purge this land with our bloode for our vnthankfulnesse of all the benefites which wee doe at this present enjoy But to goe a little further if her Maiestie had a daughter or sister I dare be bolde to avouche that none in all Engl. durst presume to speak against her yet she could not possibly haue any better rightor title I speak of the ground of it then the heires of the Lady Margaret Teuther may claime by her For if the right of the brother King Henrie the 8. and his children be good the right of his eldest sister Ladie Margaret and her heires cannot be badde for want of his issue hers must needes come in The acts and statutes wrested against the Scottish king are in my conceit by diverse sufficientlie answered The inconveniences pretended for barring him are but suspitions and surmises alleadged without any colourable ground and though they were true yet they were rather to be admitted then the manifest ruine of the Realms Finally I wish thee so to read these treatises of M. Wentworths as hee was accustomed to read other mens to wit to yeeld tot he reason and not to the man for if he or I be deceived it is enough that wee beare the blame of our owne error though wee bee not also burdened with thine and therefore do as thou will answere for it for I seek thy good and not to hurt thee Thus protesting that with my hart I desire hereby nothing more then the preservation and advancement of Religion the standing of my natiue Prince and countrie and that if I did knowe a better right then the Scottish kings I would vnfainedlie favour it I leaue thee for this matter to the gracious direction of the Almighty Fare-well Faults escaped in the printing Page 3. in the margent cause reade offence Pag. 6. in the margent 46. reade 49. Page 11. Lin. 22. vveighie reade vveightie Page 45. Li. 14. discomfort reade discomfite Page 52. Lin. 17. perserue reade preserue Pa. 83. L. 8. vvhich reade vvith Page 89. L. 3. and reade adde In the second Treatise Page 30. Line 3. therevpon reade therefore Page 48. L. 5. leadged are reade leadged are Page 81. L. 8. 7. roote reade roote Pag. 75. Li 12. vp reade vpon P. 81. L. 17. lose reade losse AN EXHORTATION TO HER MAIESTIE FOR ESTABLISHING HER SVCCESSOR TO THE CROVVN MOSTE high and The bounden dutie of a faithful hearted subiect to God his Prince and countrie is the cause of this Treatise mightie Prince our deare soueraigne leige Lady we
to the realme as to the Prince aswel as to your noble person when they were sworne to be counsellours to both And when they shall reape the iust rewarde of their deserts then they will cry out vppon your Maiestie with a dolefull woe saying that you haue vtterlie cast them and all theirs away This wofull tuned song we do perswade our selues will the Lord in his iustice force them then to sing doubtlesse if the afore-named mischiefes be not prevented in your maiesties life-time Therefore an happie and a thousand times happie yea and a most blessed thing were it to your maiestie and to all your said counsellours also if they did so heartilie and trulie loue you that they woulde not suffer you to rest in quiet neither at bed nor at board vntil you had prevented the afore-named lamentable perils to your own soule and noble person and to theirs also For then might your Maiestie and they also both liue and end the residue of your daies in great safetie with a merie cheerefull quiet heart and bee at good peace both with God and man things greatlie desired and heartilie wished to your noble heart by vs your loyall true and moste faithfull subiects even of very true vnfained loue as the Lord knoweth before whom we shall make a straight accompt if wee vse anie flattering or dissembled speaches Wherfore we humbly beseech your Maiesty to beare with our true harted plainnesse Thus with all humble ferventnesse loving dutie our most sweet soveraigne and mercifull Princesse wee eft-soones begge the reading the reading againe heereof by your highnesse with patience and with all godly attention and wise weighing of the reasons therein And God graunt you grace to suck out the hony out of the sweet flowrs thereof and to spit out the venome that hath heertofore envonomed you with a fearfull wrongfull and deceit-full conceit and setled opinion even to the great and wonderfull perill of wounding the Church of God and your whole people and noble Realme vnto death yea and a poisoned dart to wound your own sweet soule and your noble person likewise whose line of life wee as heartilie desire may be stretched out of as great a length as any subiects you haue whatsoever they be yea albeit they haue receiued never so much honor credite estimation or benefite at your Maiesties hands And this we speake trulie from our hearts of loue vnfained and without flattery according to the rule of S. Paull being heartilie desirous to gaine vnto your Maiestie the favour of God the generall fervent and true loue of eache degree of your subiects vnfainedlie a glorious and immortall good name throughout the earth with the immortality of your most sweet and pretious soule The Lord of heaven and earth worke so effectuallie in your noble heart that you may so throughlie and so deepelie weigh this and what else we haue said in these few leaves as to the glorie of God to the safetie of your noble person and honor and to all your true subiects comforts and preservations wee may haue shortlie in Parliament this most necessarie question who hath moste right to succeede you lawfully peaceablie and effectuallie decided and determined God grant it for his sweete Christs his sake AMEN THIS OBIECTION WAS SENT AND answered when I was prisoner of the Gate-house at Westminster VVHereas the Scottish King is nowe our friend if the successor were setled and the title to the crown given from him to another hee would after become our enemie And for revenge hee would suffer the Spaniards with all their power to land in his countrie so to enter into ours FIVE GENERALL ANSVVERES VNTO THIS OBIECTION FIrst a wise King may thinke it verie dangerous to suffer or receiue such a strong power to enter into his countrie as are not easilie to be repulsed especiallie beeing division betweene him and his subiects as there is betweene the papists and the Scottish king for so might the papists ioine with that strange power either perill or vtterlie driue him out of his countrie And he his counsel are to wise to trust wicked deceitfull papists having had so good experience of their false hearts as they haue And there are manie presidents of states greatlie perilled and free cities lost and gotten by this policie slender care and trusting the vntrustie And were it not a good policie of the Spaniard to winne the possession of Scotland by such a strategeme For then woulde hee deeme England more then halfe gotten No no the Scottish king and his counsell are to wise and godlie disposed to perill both the Church of God and their common-wealth by trusting of the false Romish sect who haue set this downe for a principle That no solemne oath faith or faithfull vowe is to bee kept with heretikes Of the which number in their iudgement the noble and vertuous Scottish king and his counsell are numbered yea even as the most chiefe and principall heretikes If the Scottish king should take offence hereat I affirme it were an offence taken and not given For what can bee a more godlie and dutifull act in anie Prince then to preserue both the Church of God and the common wealth committed to his charge seing them in apparant and vnavoideable dangers To prevent this mischiefe I affirme it were a simple policie in vs wittinglie to see and suffer our state to be overthrown rather then to haue the Scottish king our enemie It is a generall rule amongst the wise of two evils the lesse is to be chosen and the greater is to be avoided Heerein the question is whither the Scottish Kings malice if his title should not be iudged good by Parliament or the subversion of the state will be vnto vs the lesse evill To forbeare to prevent an apparant and vnavoidable danger or rather an intollerable and vnrecoverable mischief for the preventing of a supposed or imagined perill I referre to your graue and wise iudgements what wisdome it were NOw let vs consider what commoditie or benefite would growe to him thereby or whither he should not therby make a rodde to scourge himselfe withall To the which ende I desire to haue the questions ensuing considered of Whither were he ever the neerer the attaining of Crowne of England if the Spaniardes had conquered it or the farther off Whither will his owne experience moue him to expect better neighbourhoode at our soveraigne her hand during her life after her decease at the hand of an English Prince or at the Spaniards hand if he were king heere Whither the malice that the Spaniards and all the princes of the league of Trent doe beare vnto this land bee not chiefly for Religion If it be for Religion whither the like malice be not borne vnto him and to his countrie by them for the same Whither if one selfe same cause moue a like hatred and malice to both the Realmes of England and Scotland will not the
Christians and such true hearted subiects who haue tendered no thing so much as her safetie and life To perclose this treatise for his right if we may giue any credite to her Maiesty who is more to be beleeved and rested vpon in this case then any subiect in England the Scottishe King needes not to distrust the strength of his title or to feare any dishonorable or vnconscionable courses that shall at anie time proceed from her Maiestie The impediment of king Henrie 8. his will is aunswered by Rosse and the rest whom I haue alleadged other surmises of recordes reserved and laide vp I know not where to his preiudice because the opposers did esteeme them to bee but waking dreames and not worthie to bee alleadged I likewise passe them over as not worthie to be aunswered thinking them in this respect wise that they pestered not their treatises with knowne vntruthes and lies to the discredite of these thinges which otherwise might carrie some colourable shewe and they could not be excused of a grosse oversight who stoode so much vpon testaments willes if there had beene anie likelyhoode of a better recorde Now I come to the other sort of arguments which do maintaine that notwithstanding Dolmans respects answered and retorted his right be the best yet the high Court of Parliament may lawfullie giue it from him to some English-man whome for the respectes ensuing it shall thinke fitte to make choise First there be manie Englishe Competitours who wil hardly indure a stranger to be preferred before them for that they shal never be freed from his ielousie which cannot be without the danger of their liues the disturbance of the quiet and peace of the realme and that to fortifie himselfe against them he shal needs be constrained to bring in forraine forces Secondlie all English-men wil follow English competitours for we cannot patientlie brooke say some the government of strangers and so ioining together for our countries sake wee neede not to feare but that wee shall be strong enough against the Scottish king and all his confederates Thirdlie the two Nations are so alienated through their long and mortall warres as they will never agree Lastlie which is a mayne point the Scottish king will be more affected to his owne advance them to places of chiefe credite countenance about him so as the greatest cōmoditie that Engl. can look for is like to be the increase of more subiects For the better cleering of these incōveniēces which in deede make great impressions in the mindes of manie English-men I will handle these three thinges in order First whither for the alleadged respectes a Parliament can haue that power to take from him his right Secondlie whither these respectes or inconveniences alleadged are like to proue true Thridlie to whom if not to him it can be given with the avoidance of these same or the like or rather greater First for the power of the Parliament The Parliament cannot by any authority it hath take away a Kings right to the crown according to the bounden duetie of a faithfull and loyall subiect and the place which I haue beene vouchsafed in it I do acknowledge and from my hart confesse that it is most sacred most ample large and hath prerogatiues and preheminences farre aboue anie Court what soever which is established by God vnder the heavens But yet with the confidence of a good conscience I am bold to advouch that which is the ground and foundation of al disputation in the Parliament house to witte That the power and authoritie which it hath is straightlie stinted defined with the limites meeres of iustice and equitie and is appointed by God as the power next to himselfe to reforme and redresse wrongs and outrages which can not be holpen by any other meanes and by good and wholesome lawes to procure the peace and wealth of the Realme So as the neerer it is to God the more sound sincere and vpright it ought to be beeing the Court of most pure and exquisite iudgement If therefore by presumption of the great power and authoritie which it hath it doe iniurie to anie man or doe transgresse the bondes of right I say this transgression is accounted of before God not as the sinne of one private man one Prelate noble-man or Citizen but as a combination conspiracie of all the Prelates noble-men Citizens yea and of all the people of the whol land to pronounce for pure iudgement heynous iniquitie from the bench of highest Iustice To this I adde further that a Prince which hath the right as we speake of God he is the ordinance not of anie man but of God appointed and substituted by God himselfe as his deputy for the maintenance of his truth and to minister Iustice according to the good and wholesome lawes of that land over which he doeth place him These grounds thus laide I say if the religious and wise king of Scots having this right of God as the alleadger of these inconveniences doe admit be willing to governe vs according to our owne lawes as no question he will it were the highest iniustice that England could do for such surmises of imagined inconveniēces feared to ensue to goe about to offer or doe to him that wrong which is appointed yea before God in respecte of his right annointed to bee the chiefe Officer and minister of Iustice and right to everie of vs after her Maiestie So the wickednes of this fact shall abound in this if wee take from him his best right who should preserue vs from all sorts of wronges But some haue answered that the Parliament may and hath taken the rightfull lands and liuings of men and hath repealed the acts statutes of former Parliamēts To this I replie that as in a naturall bodie no man can be allowed to cutte off a member for blemishe or imperfection but is esteemed wiselie and rightlie to take that member away which without the helpe of such remedie was manifestly discerned to endaunger the rest So the members of the politicke bodie may vppon the like respect of daunger and not for likelyhoodes and imaginations or surmised inconveniences such as the alleadged are take away the lands liuings yea or life of anie subiect But where is this danger to be shewed here seeing he will peaceablie governe vs with the preservation of our religion and lawes And to say somewhat further though our parliament may haue that power over every English subiect as well competitours as others to take or keepe backe from them because they are vnder our power beeing members of our owne bodie that which otherwise is their due and right Yet it is to be doubted whither it may likewise take or keepe backe his good right from the Scottish king who is no subiect neyther anie member incorporated with vs but is the heade of an other politicke bodie And this is a doubt or rather Iudgement of some of the
and amongst our selves then ever wee had with the Scots that therefore the concorde and peace which our Nation did enioy vnder our Soveraigne Queene it cannot be sound and that it were much easier to make a perfect amitie and vnion with the Scots then that wee coulde be brought to bee faithfull and true hearted friendes with our selves Well the times and seasons doe change and all thinges doe by them alter and turne so as nothing can possiblie stand at one stay except that God that turneth the wheeles of all thinges stay the same we are therefore to labour to change to the best and seeing by Nature we are so carelesse to be constant in good things let vs never endevour to be constant in bad things for he that by diversitie of Religion can set the father against his owne sonne can by the power and efficacie of his true Religion make of mortall enemies most faithfull friendes and having so made them hee can continue them so Let God be iustified in his truth and men manifested to bee lyars when God is obeyed and his ordinance followed it shall haue a blessing contrarie to the expectation of men for it is to be thought that he may moue the harts of anie subiects who doth at his pleasure command the hearts of all Princes And trulie in the sight iudgemeÌ„t of man it may seeme that at this present God hath a purpose to vnite vs having in his provideÌ„ce disposed of so many effectual means amongst vs all which do concurre most forciblie to accomplishe that worke vnitie of true Religion which never doth want the bond of the spirit vnitie of language likenes of discipline and manners the long peace and concorde of the Princes and countries the often next descent of the Scottishe king from the bloode royall of England his rare wisdome and loue of Religion with sound knowledge and iudgement in matters of the same doeth divine some extraordinarie charge imployment from God for graces are never given but to fitte some place and calling answearable to them the propagation from vs of manie of their noblest families and no small number of their meaner houses which doe carrie our surnames to this present day doeth in a manner invite vs to bee of one familie or houshold The removall of the moste wise heroicall and popular competitors and their favourers which might haue opposed doeth smooth and plaine a way for him to come in And the two countries by seas not dis-vnited but making one IlaÌ„d doth wish the two nations to make vp one people Other means there are which I doe heere omit of which a part are verie well set downe in the late Scottishe proclamation full of affection and loue to vs set out for making preparation against the Spaniards and for the maintenance of peace of the borders penned as I am crediblie informed by the king himselfe The last inconvenience which is alleadged to be mervailous and to bring more contempt danger to the English state then all the other three is this The Scottishe king will be more affected to the Scots and will advance them to the chiefe places of credite and confidence about him so the English which hath hitherto beene accustomed to command and rule other nations and not to obey or be ruled by anie shall become subiect not only to the king but also to the Scots whom once they did conquere And this no English heart can indure Besides the greatest commoditie that England can looke for is like to bee none other then the increase of more subiects If this were true as it is alleadged it were contempt domage and danger I confesse and could no waies be pleasing to any Englishman to be subiect to those whome they count their inferiors But it may be more trulie answered theÌ„ it is obiected that we need not doubt of his future affection whose favour from time to time hath beene formerlie proved by good evidences to all such of our nation as hath stoode in need of it I haue heard divers of them openlie confesse that they had better hearing more gracious aunsweres and speedier dispatches from him then anie of his owne subiectes coulde get or yet they themselves could ever get of the Queen and speciallie one whose sute for an other Englishman that was committed to prison and condemned to be hanged the king though much busied patientlie heard red his petition and protesting that he had rather hang twentie of his owne knaues then the poore man should take anie harme gaue present direction for his enlargement though manie reasons were alleadged to the contrarie by some of his Nobility that were most gracious with him This matter fel out verie lately as he that heard it of the petitioner himself did assure me Yet this is nothing in respect of that which hee hath shewed during al the space of aboue tweÌ„ty yeres So as I hope hee is of that princelie nature that wee shall never be able to overcome him with kindenes And I woulde know what iust occasion haue we thus to imagine and thus to ghesse what his affection and inclination must bee at anie or at all times hereafter as though everie man without possibilitie of divorce were so wedded to one affection that no thing could alter or change it when as we see that men of wisdome and of vnderstanding doe rule and frame their affections according to the better respectes and as they see greater reason Therefore wee may the more safelie conclude that hee that is now perhaps more tenderlie affected to his owne because he is more bounde to them by the rules of conscience and nature will hereafter be more or at least no lesse affected to vs if there be the like or greater respectes and precepts of conscience and nature why hee should do so Neither can his present affection and favour be a sufficient rule or square by which you may measure and iudge what his affection shall bee at all times to come We are fully throughlie taught even by the instinct of nature that the vilest monster which she bringeth out or the cruellest beast which shee nourisheth will favour and fane vp those of whome they haue good And will not he to whom the heavens are so beneficiall in furnishing him with rare graces and gifts of bodie and minde advaunce preferre and make much of those who haue or shall chearefullie and willinglie advance preferre him before al others even of their own nation To whom may we thinke can hee more safelie commit his person his state then to them who for the confidence and assurance which they doe repose in him haue committed to his trust their livinges liberties liues and all that ever they can haue Nay it is wiâ—hout all question that he who is so often and by both his parents descended of English blood wil in England becom English and a favorer cheiflie of Englishmen according to the speech if not the prophecie