for a Paragon of his age and place having the fewest vices with so many virtues Indeed he was somewhat given to women our Chronicles fathering two base children on him so hard it is to find a Sampson without a Dalila And seeing never King or Kings eldest sonne since the conquest before his time married a subject I must confesse his Match was much beneath himself taking the double reversion of a subjects bed marrying Joan Countesse of Salisbury which had been twice a widow But her surpassing beauty pleads for him herein and yet her beauty was the meanest thing about her being surpass'd by her virtues And what a worthy woman must she needs be her self whose very garter hath given so much honour to Kings and Princes He dyed at Canterbury June the eighth 1376 in the fourty sixth yeare of his age it being wittily observed of the short lives of many worthy men fatuos à morte defendit ipsa insulsitas si cui plus caeteris aliquantulum salis insit quod miremini statim putrescit CHAP. 21. The King HE is a mortall God This world at the first had no other Charter for its being then Gods Fiat Kings have the same in the Present tense I have said ye are Gods We will describe him first as a good man so was Henry the third then as a good King so was Richard the third both which meeting together make a King complete For he that is not a good man or but a good man can never be a good Sovereigne He is temperate in the ordering of his own life O the Mandate of a Kings example is able to do much especially he is 1 Temperate in his diet When Aeschines commended Philip King of Macedon for a joviall man that would drink freely Demosthenes answered that this was a good quality in a spunge but not in a King 2 Continent in his pleasures Yea Princes lawfull children are farre easier provided for then the rabida fames of a spurious ofspring can be satisfied whilest their Paramors and Concubines counting it their best manners to carve for themselves all they can come by prove intolerably expensive to a State Besides many rebellions have risen out of the marriage-bed defiled He holds his Crown immediately from the God of Heaven The most high ruleth in the kingdomes of men and giveth them to whomsoever he will Cujus jussu nascuntur homines ejus jussu constituuntur Principes saith a Father Inde illis potestas unde spiritus saith another And whosoever shall remount to the first originall of Kings shall lose his eyes in discovering the top thereof as past ken and touching the heavens We reade of a place in Mount Olivet wherein the last footsteps they say of our Saviour before he ascended into heaven are to be seen that it will ever lie open to the skies and will not admit of any close or covering to be made over it how costly soever Farre more true is this of the condition of absolute Kings who in this respect are ever sub dio so that no superiour power can be interposed betwixt them and heaven Yea the Character of loyalty to Kings so deeply impress'd in Subjects hearts shews that onely Gods finger wrote it there Hence it is if one chance to conceive ill of his Sovereigne though within the cabinet of his soul presently his own heart grows jealous of his own heart and he could wish the tongue cut out of his tell-tale thoughts lest they should accuse themselves And though sometimes Rebels Atheists against the Gods on earth may labour to obliterate loyalty in them yet even then their conscience the Kings Aturney frames Articles against them and they stand in daily fear lest Darius Longimanus such a one is every King should reach them and revenge himself He claimeth to be supreme Head on earth over the Church in his Dominions Which his power over all persons and causes Ecclesiasticall 1. Is given him by God who alone hath the originall propriety thereof 2. Is derived unto him by a prescription time out of mind in the Law of Nature declared more especially in the Word of God 3. Is cleared and averred by the private Laws and Statutes of that State wherein he lives For since the Pope starting up from being the Emperours Chaplain to be his Patron hath invaded the rights of many earthly Princes many wholsome Laws have been made in severall Kingdomes to assert and notifie their Kings just power in Spiritualibus Well therefore may our King look with a frowning face on such whose tails meet in this firebrand which way soever the prospect of their faces be to deny Princes power in Church-matters Two Jesuites give this farre-fetch'd reason why Samuel at the Feast caused the shoulder of the Sacrifice to be reserved and kept on purpose for Saul to feed on because say they Kings of all men have most need of strong shoulders patiently to endure those many troubles and molestations they shall meet with especially I may well adde if all their Subjects were as troublesome and disloyall as the Jesuites The best is as God hath given Kings shoulders to bear he hath also given them armes to strike such as deprive them of their lawfull Authority in Ecclesiasticall affairs He improves his power to defend true Religion Sacerdotall Offices though he will not doe he will cause them to be done He will not offer to burn incense with Uzziah yet he will burn Idolaters bones with Josiah I mean advance Piety by punishing Profanenesse God saith to his Church Kings shall be thy Nursing-fathers and their Queens thy Nursing-mothers And oh let not Princes out of State refuse to be so themselves and onely hire others it belonging to Subjects to suck but to Princes to suckle Religion by their authority They ought to command Gods Word to be read and practised wherein the blessed Memory of King James shall never be forgotten His Predecessour in England restored the Scripture to her Subjects but he in a manner restored the Scripture to it self in causing the New Translation thereof whereby the meanest that can reade English in effect understands the Greek and Hebrew A Princely act which shall last even when the lease of Time shall be expired Verily I say unto you wheresoever this Translation shall be read in the whole realm there shall also this that this King hath done be told in memoriall of him He useth Mercy and Iustice in his proceedings against Offenders Solomon saith The throne is established by Iustice and Solomon saith The throne is upholden by Mercy Which two Proverbs speak no more contradiction then he that saith that the two opposite side-walls of an house hold up the same roof Yea as some Astronomers though erroneously conceived the Crystalline Sphere to be made of water and therefore to be set next the Primum mobile to allay the heat thereof which otherwise
imperfections Had they not been men they had not burn't yea had they not been more then men by Gods assistance they had not burn't Every true Christian should but none but strong Christians will die at the stake But to return to Ridley One of the greatest things objected against him was his counsell to King Edward which the good Prince wash'd away with his tears about tolerating the Masse for Princesse Mary at the intercession of Charles the fifth Emperour which how great it was let the indifferent party give judgement when the Historian hath given his evidence The Bishops of Canterbury London Rochester gave their opinion that to give licence to sinne was sinne but to connive at sinne might be allowed in case it were neither too long nor without hope of reformation Another fault wherewith he was charged was that wofull and unhappy discord betwixt him and reverend Bishop Hooper about the wearing of some Episcopall garments at his consecration then in use which Ridley press'd and Hooper refused with equall violence as being too many rather loading then gracing him and so affectedly grave that they were light again All we will say is this that when worthy men fall out onely one of them may be faulty at the first but if such strifes continue long commonly both become guilty But thus Gods diamonds often cut one another and good men cause afflictions to good men It was the policy of the Lacedemonians alwayes to send two Embassadours together which disagreed amongst themselves that so mutually they might have an eye on the actions each of other Sure I am that in those Embassadours the Ministers which God sendeth to men God suffereth great discords betwixt them Paul with Barnabas Jerome with Ruffin and Augustine and the like perchance because each may be more cautious and wary of his behaviour in the view of the other We may well behold mens weaknesse in such dissentions but better admire Gods strength and wisdome in ordering them to his glory and his childrens good Sure it is Ridley and Hooper were afterwards cordially reconciled and let not their discords pierce farther then their reconciliation The worst is mens eyes are never made sound with the clearnesse but often are made sore with the bleernesse of other mens eyes in their company The virtues of Saints are not so attractive of our imitation as their vices and infirmities are prone to infect Ridley was very gracious with King Edward the sixth and by a Sermon he preach'd before him so wrought upon his pious disposition whose Princely charity rather wanted a directour then a perswader that the King at his motion gave to the city of London 1 Greyfriers now called Christ-Church for impotent fatherlesse decrepid people by age or nature to be educated or maintained 2 S. Bartholomews near Smithfield for poore by faculty as wounded souldiers diseas'd and sick persons to be cur'd and relieved 3 Bridewell the ancient Mansion of the English Kings for the poore by idlenesse or unthriftynesse as riotous spenders vagabonds loyterers strumpets to be corrected and reduc'd to good order I like that Embleme of Charity which one hath expressed in a naked child giving honey to a Bee without wings onely I would have one thing added namely holding a whip in the other hand to drive away the drones So that King Edwards bounty was herein perfect and complete To return to Ridley His whole life was a letter written full of learning and religion whereof his death was the seal Brought he was with Cranmer and Latimer to Oxford to dispute in the dayes of Queen Mary though before a Syllogisme was form'd their deaths were concluded on and as afterwards came to passe being burnt the sixteenth of October Anno 1555. in the ditch over against Balioll Colledge He came to the stake in a fair black gown furr'd and fac'd with foins a Tippet of velvet furr'd likewise about his neck a velvet night-cap upon his head and a corner'd cap upon the same Doctour Smith preacht a Sermon at their burning a Sermon which had nothing good in it but the text though misapplyed and the shortnesse being not above a quarter of an houre long Old Hugh Latimer was Ridleys partner at the stake sometimes Bishop of Worcester who crauled thither afâ—er him one who had lost more learning then many ever had who flout at his plain Sermons though his down-right style was as necessary in that ignorant age as it would be ridiculous in ours Indeed he condescended to peoples capacity and many men unjustly count those low in learning who indeed do but stoop to their Auditours Let me see any of our sharp Wits do that with the edge which his bluntnesse did with the back of the knife and perswade so many to restitution of ill-gotten goods Though he came after Ridley to the stake he got before him to heaven his body made tinder by age was no sooner touch'd by the fire but instantly this old Simeon had his Nunc dimittis and brought the news to heaven that his brother was following after But Ridley suffered with farre more pain the fire about him being not well made And yet one would think that age should be skilfull in making such bonefires as being much practised in them The Gunpowder that was given him did him little service and his Brother-in-law out of desire to rid him out of pain encreased it great grief will not give men leave to be wise with it heaping fewell upon him to no purpose so that neither the fagots which his enemies anger nor his Brothers good will cast upon him made the fire to burn kindly In like manner not much before his dear friend Master Hooper suffered with great torment the wind which too often is the bellows of great fires blowing it away from him once or twice Of all the Martyrs in those dayes these two endured most pain it being true that each of them Quaerebat in ignibus ignes And still he did desire For fire in midd'st of fire Both desiring to burn and yet both their upper parts were but Confessours when their lower parts were Martyrs and burnt to ashes Thus God where he hath given the stronger faith he layeth on the stronger pain And so we leave them going up to Heaven like Eliah in a chariot of fire CHAP. 12. The true Nobleman HE is a Gentleman in a Text Letter because bred and living in an higher and larger way Conceive him when young brought up at School in ludo literario where he did not take ludus to himself and leave literarius to others but seriously applyed himself to learning and afterwards coming to his estate thus behaves himself Goodnesse sanctifies his Greatnesse and Greatnesse supports his Goodnesse He improves the upper ground whereon he stands thereby to do God the more glory He counts not care for his Countreys good to be beneath his state Because he is a great pillar shall he
Lord when farre enough out of his hearing so slanderous tongues think they may run riot in railing on any when once got out of the distance of time and reach of confutation But Majesty which dyeth not will not suffer it self to be so abused seeing the best assurance which living Princes have that their memories shall be honourably continued is founded next to their own deserts in the maintaining of the unstained reputation of their Predecessours Yea divine Justice seems herein to be a compurgatour of the parents of Queen Elizabeth in that Nicholas Sanders a Popish Priest the first raiser of these wicked reports was accidentally famished as he roved up and down in Ireland either because it was just he should be sterved that formerly surfeted with lying or because that Iland out of a naturall antipathy against poysonous creatures would not lend life to so venemous a slanderer Under the reigne of her Father and Brother King Edward the sixth who commonly called her his Sister Temperance she lived in a Princely fashion But the case was altered with her when her Sister Mary came to the Crown who ever look'd upon her with a jealous eye and frowning face chiefly because of the difference betwixt them in religion For though Queen Mary is said of her self not so much as to have bark'd yet she had under her those who did more then bite and rather her religion then disposition was guilty in countenancing their cruelty by her authority This antipathy against her Sister Elizabeth was encreased with the remembrance how Katharine Dowager Queen Maries Mother was justled out of the bed of Henry the eighth by Anna Bullen Mother to Queen Elizabeth so that these two Sisters were born as I may say not onely in severall but opposite horizons so that the elevation and bright appearing of the one inferr'd the necessary obscurity and depression of the other still Qu. Mary was troubled with this fit of the Mother which incensed her against this her half Sister To which two grand causes of opposition this third may also be added because not so generally known though in it self of lesser consequence Queen Mary had released Edward Courtney Earl of Devonshire out of the Tower where long he had been detained prisoner a Gentleman of a beautifull body sweet nature and royall descent intending him as it was generally conceived to be an husband for her self For when the said Earl petitioned the Queen for leave to travel she advised him rather to marry ensuring him that no Lady in the land how high soever would refuse him for an husband and urging him to make his choyce where he pleased she pointed her self out unto him as plainly as might stand with the modesty of a maid and Majesty of a Queen Hereupon the young Earl whether because that his long durance had some influence on his brain or that naturally his face was better then his head or out of some private phancie and affection to the Lady Elizabeth or out of loyall bashfulnesse not presuming to climbe higher but expecting to be call'd up is said to have requested the Queen for leave to marry her Sister the Lady Elizabeth unhappy that his choyce either went so high or no higher For who could have spoken worse Treason against Mary though not against the Queen then to preferre her Sister before her and she innocent Lady did afterwards dearly pay the score of this Earls indiscretion For these reasons Lady Elizabeth was closely kept and narrowly sifted all her Sisters reigne S r Bedenifield her keeper using more severity towards her then his place required yea more then a good man should or a wiseman would have done No doubt the least tripping of her foot should have cost her the losing of her head if they could have caught her to be privy to any conspiracies This Lady as well deserved the title of Elizabeth the Confessour as ever Edward her ancient predecessour did M r Ascham was a good Schoolmaster to her but affliction was a better so that it is hard to say whether she was more happy in having a Crown so soon or in having it no sooner till affliction had first laid in her a low and therefore sure foundation of humility for highnesse to be afterwards built thereupon We bring her now from the Crosse to the Crown and come we now to describe the rare endowments of her mind when behold her virtues almost stifle my pen they crowd in so fast upon it She was an excellent Scholar understanding the Greek and perfectly speaking the Latine witnesse her extempore speech in answer to the Polish Embassadour and another at Cambridge Et si foeminilis iste meus pudor for so it began elegantly making the word Foeminilis and well might she mint one new word who did refine so much new gold and silver Good skill she had in the French and Italian using Interpreters not for need but state She was a good Poet in English and fluently made verses In her time of persecution when a Popish Priest pressed her very hardly to declare her opinion concerning the presence of Christ in the Sacrament she truly and warily presented her judgement in these verses 'T was God the word that spake it He took the bread and brake it And what the word did make it That I believe and take it And though perchance some may say this was but the best of shifts and the worst of answers because the distinct manner of the Presence must be believed yet none can deny it to have been a wise return to an adversary who lay at wait for all advantages Nor was her Poetick vein lesse happy in Latine When a little before the Spanish Invasion in eighty eight the Spanish Embassadour after a larger representation of his Masters demands had summed up the effect thereof in a Tetrastich she instantly in one verse rejoined her answer We will presume to English both though confessing the Latine loseth lustre by the Translation Te veto ne pergas bello defendere Belgas Quae Dracus eripuit nunc restituentur oportet Quas Pater evertit jubeo te condere cellas Relligio Papae fac restituetur ad unguem These to you are our commands Send no help to th' Netherlands Of the treasure took by Drake Restitution you must make And those Abbies build anew Which your Father overthrew If for any peace you hope In all points restore the Pope The Queens extempore return Ad Graecas bone Rex fient mandata calendas Worthy King know this your will At latter lammas wee 'l fulfill Her piety to God was exemplary none more constant or devout in private prayers very attentive also at Sermons wherein she was better affected with soundnesse of matter then queintnesse of expression She could not well digest the affected over-elegancy of such as prayed for her by the title of defendresse of the faith and not the Defender it being no false construction to apply
stand on his own legs rendring himself absolute without being beholden to the French King or any other Having wholly conquer'd Romania he cast his eyes on Hetruria and therein either wan to submission or compliance most of the cities an earnest of his future finall conquest had not the unexpected death of his father Pope Alexander prevented him This Alexander with his sonne Cesar Borgia intended to poyson some rich Cardinalls to which purpose a flagon of poysoned wine was prepared But through the errour of a servant not privy to the project the Pope himself and Borgia his sonne drank thereof which cost the former his life and the other a long languishing sicknesse This Cesar Borgia once bragg'd to Machiavill that he had so cunningly contrived his plots as to warrant himself against all events If his father should die first he had made himself master of such a way that by the strength of his party in the city of Rome and conclave of Cardinalls he could chuse what Pope he pleased so from him to get assurance of this province of Romania to make it hereditary to himself And if which was improbable Nature should crosse her hands so that he should die before his father yet even then he had chalked out such a course as would ensure his conquest to his posterity so that with this politick dilemma he thought himself able to dispute against heaven it self But what he afterwards complained of he never expected that at the same time wherein his father should die he himself should also lie desperately sick disenabled to prosecute his designes till one unexpected counterblast of Fortune ruffled yea blew away all his projects so curiously plaited Thus three aces chance often not to rub and Politicians think themselves to have stopp'd every small cranny when they have left a whole doore open for divine providence to undo all which they have done The Cardinalls proceed to the choice of a new Pope whilest Borgia lay sick abed much bemoaning himself for all others had they the command of all April showrs could not bestow on drop of pity upon him Pius the third was first chosen Pope answering his name being a devout man such black swans seldome swim in Tyber but the chair of Pestilence choked him within twenty six dayes and in his room Julius was chosen or rather his greatnesse chose himself a sworn enemy to Cesar Borgia who still lay under the Physicians hands and had no power to oppose the election or to strengthen his new-got Dukedome of Romania the state of his body was to be preferred before the body of his state and he lay striving to keep life not to make a Pope Yea the operation of this poyson made him vomit up the Dukedome of Romania which he had swallowed before and whilest he lay sick the States and cities therein recovered their own liberties formerly enjoyed Indeed this disease made Borgia lose his nails that he could never after scratch to do any mischief and being banished Italie he fled into Navarre where he was obscurely kill'd in a tumultuous insurrection He was a man master in the art of dissembling never looking the same way he rowed extremely lustfull never sparing to tread hen and chickens At the taking of Capua where he assisted the French he reserved fourty of the fairest Ladies to be abused by his own wantonnesse And the prodigality of his lust had long before his death made him bankrupt of all the moysture in his body if his Physicians had not dayly repaired the decayes therein He exactly knew the operations of all hot and cold poysons which would surprise nature on a sudden and which would weary it out with a long siege He could contract a hundred toads into one drop and cunningly infuse the same into any pleasant liquour as the Italians have poysoning at their fingers ends By a fig which restored Hezekiahs life he took away the lives of many In a word if he was not a practicall Atheist I know not who was If any desire to know more of his badnesse let them reade Machiavills Prince where Borgia is brought in as an instance of all vilany And though he deserves to be hiss'd out of Christendome who will open his mouth in the defence of Machiavills precepts yet some have dared to defend his person so that he in his Book shews not what Princes should be but what then they were intending that work not for a glasse for future Kings to dresse themselves by but onely therein to present the monstrous face of the Politicians of that Age. Sure he who is a devil in this book is a Saint in all the rest and those that knew him witnesse him to be of honest life and manners so that that which hath sharpned the pens of many against him is his giving so many cleanly wipes to the foul noses of the Pope and Italian Prelacy CHAP. 8. The Hypocrite BY Hypocrite we understand such a one as doth Isaiah 32.6 practise hypocrisie make a trade or work of dissembling For otherwise Hypocriseorum macula carere aut paucorum est aut nullorum The best of Gods children have a smack of hypocrisie An Hypocrite is himself both the archer and the mark in all actions shooting at his own praise or profit And therefore he doth all things that they may be seen What with others is held a principall point in Law is his main Maxime in Divinity To have good witnesse Even fasting it self is meat and drink to him whilest others behold it In the outside of religion he out-shines a sincere Christian. Guilt cups glitter more then those of massie gold which are seldome burnish'd Yea well may the Hypocrite afford gaudy facing who cares not for any lining brave it in the shop that hath nothing in the ware-house Nor is it a wonder if in outward service he out-strips Gods servants who out-doeth Gods command by will-worship giving God more then he requires though not what most he requires I mean his heart His vizard is commonly pluckt off in this world Sincerity is an entire thing in it self Hypocrisie consists of severall pieces cunningy closed together and sometimes the Hypocrite is smote as Ahab with an arrow 1. Kings 22.34 betwixt the joynts of his armour and so is mortally wounded in his reputation Now by these shrewd signes a dissembler is often discovered First heavie censuring of others for light faults secondly boasting of his own goodnesse thirdly the unequall beating of his pulse in matters of pietie hard strong and quick in publick actions weak soft and dull in private matters fourthly shrinking in persecution for painted faces cannot abide to come nigh the fire Yet sometimes he goes to the grave neither detected nor suspected If Masters in their art and living in peaceable times wherein pietie and prosperity do not fall out but agree well together Maud mother to King Henry the second being besieged
183. * Duke of Rohan in his complete Captain cap. 22. * Dr. Hakewill in his Apologie for divine Providence lib. 4. cap. 11. p. 546. * Descript. Bell. Suecici per Aut. Anony mum pag. 186. * Silvester Petra Sancta in his book against Du Moulin Maxime 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 * Sr. Fr. Nethersol in the fun orat of him pag. 16. 8 9 10 11 * Sr. William Cornwallis in the life of Prince Henry 12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 13 14 15 * For King Ed. his father called him his Fair Sonne Speed p. 579. * See the copy thereof in Mr. Seldens titles of Honour pag. 595. * 1346 in the twenty yeare of Ed. the third * Vid. Cambd. Remains pag. 344. * September 19. 1356. * Paulus Aemil in the life of King Iohn pag. 286. * Sr Francis Nethersole in his fun or at on Prince Henry pag. 16. Maxime 1 * Plutarch in the liâ—e of Demosthenes 2 * Dan. 4.17 * Irenaeus l. 5. * Tertull. Apol pag. 6.5 * Nullo modo contegi aut concamerari potest sed transitus ejus à terra ad coelum usque patet apertum Adricom de terra Sancta ex Hieron aliis Autoribus 3 * Zanchez Velasquez in their Comments on the Text. 1. Sam. 9 14. 4 * Isaiah 49.23 5 * Prov. 16.12 * Prov. â—0 28 6 7 Maxime 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 * Olaus magnus de Rit Gent. sept lib. 1. c. 23. 10 * Taken out of Brovius An. Eccle. an 1344. Petrarch lib. 5. Episi Summontius H. si Neopol lib. 3. * Collenusius l. 5. Regn. Neop * Exod. 18 2â— * Therefore called Ventosus pilcus Olaus mag de Gent. septent lib. 3. cap. 14. * Fulgentius in Sermon Maxime 1 2 * Multi dum vitare student quae vitanda non sunt fugâ vanâ superstitionis superstitiosi siunt Cardan de Subtil p. 924. lib. 8. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 * Plinius lib. 3. cap. 1. * 1. Sam. 28. * Exod. 8.18 * Gyrard Seigneurdu Haillizan in Charles the seventh * Gerson lib. de mirab victoria cujusdam puâ—llae pauló post initium * Polidor Virg. in Hen. sixth pag. 471. * See the coppy thereof in Speeds King Hen. sixth pag. 654. * Du Serres in his French Hist. translat by Grimston p. 326. * Idem p. 317. * Sententia post homines natos durissima Pol. Vir. pag. 477. * Gerson in the book which he wrote of her after long discussing the point leaves it uncertain but is rather charitably inclined * Serres pag. 325. Pol. Virgil. ut priùs * Gerson * Iustin. Martyr secund Apolog pro Christian pag. 156. * August tom 7. lib. 3. contra Petilianum c. 1. David cùm dicit Stultus dixit in corde c. videtur Diagoram praedixisse Maxime 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 * Ovid. lib. 3. Amor. Eleg. 3. * Psal. 73.2 3. * Iustin. lib. 2. 8 * Because of these naturall forms in wood and stone it seems that from thence the Dukes assum'd their armes * Cambd. Brit. in Warwickshire 9 * Paul Diacon lib. 15. * In his grave Counsell p. 3. * Guicciard History of Italy lib. 1. pag. 10. * Idem lib. 3. pag. 179. * Liv. lib. 1. * Guicciard lib. 4. pag. 237. * Machiavill in his Prince cap. 7. * Guicciard l. 6. pag. 307. * Idem lib. 5. pag. 260. * 2. Kings 20.7 * Nunquam verebor in exemplum Valentinum subjicere Machiavel Prince cap. 13. pag. 73. * His notes on Livy but especially his Florentine History savours of Religion * Boissardus part 3. Iconum virorum illustrium * Hieronym lib. 2. contra Pelag. August in eadem verba Serm. 59. de Tempore Maxime 1. 2 3 4 * Cambd. Brit. in Hantshire * Matth. Paris in Anno Dom. 1141. 5 6 * Pantaleon in vita Rodulph Imperat. lib. de Illustrib Germ. part 2.285 * Exod. 34.23 * Hic videtur quòd omnis qui non obedit statutis Romanae sedis sit Haereticus Glossa in C. nulli dist 19. in verbo Prostratus * Ioh. Avent lib. 3. Annal. â—â—ior * 1. John 2.19 Maxime 1. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 * Gerards Common places de Magistrat Polit. p. 1047. Anno Domini 331. * Augustin ad Quod vult Deum * Valer. Max. lib. 9. cap. 15. * Ipsum Fraternitatis nomen uâ—cunque Donatistis fastidiosum est tamen orthodoxis erga ipsos Donatistas necessarium Optat. lib. 3. init * S. August in Psal. 132. quia circum celâ—as vagantur count them so called which iâ— rather his Allusion then the true Etymologie * Sâ— H. Spelman Councells pag. 446. * Quòd apud eum solum justitia locum habe et Aug. contra literas Petil. lib. 2. cap. 97. * August lib 2. contra Crescon cap. 37. * Quis non impudentissimè nitatur aliquid in allegoria positum pro se interpretari nisi habeat manifesta testimonia quotum lumine illustrentur obscura Aug. Tom. Epist. 48. ad Vincent * Optat. Milev lib. 7. Aug. contraliter Petil. cap 6.7.8 * Aug. ut priùs ad Vincentium epist. 50. ad Bonifac. * Protestation protested p. 14. August contr Don. post Coll. Lib. * Aug. lib. 2. contra Petill. cap. 39. * Aug. lib. 1. contraliter Petil cap. 1. * I. Penry p. 46. and 49. * Aug. tract 80. in Iohan. * Idem contra Parmen lib. 2. cap. 10. * Idem lib. 1. contra Cresco cap. 30. * D r Soame writing against them lib. 2. pag. 4. * August lib. 3. cont Crescon cap. 51. * Donatus oravit respondet ei Deus de coelo Aug. in Iohann tract 3. prope finem * Theodoretus in fabulis Haeret * Centuriator cent 4 c. 5 p. 211. ex Theodoreto * Aug. Epist. ad Vincentium * In minutula frustula Idem * Petilian went not so farre as the rest Aug. lib. 3. de correct Donati c. 17.19 Vid Aug. de schism Maxim brevi collat 3 diei * He caused the Patent of priviledge which Iulian granted the Donatists publicis locis assigendum in â—udibrium vide Baron in Anno. 362. â—um 264. Maxime 1. 2 * Deut. 7.14 3 4 * Chamnitius in exam cont Trident. paâ—t 4. p. 12. 5 6 7 Maxime 1 2 * Stephens Apol. for Herodotus 3 4 5 * Valer. Max. lib. 3 cap. 5. Maxime 1. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 * S r William Segar in his Honours milit and civill 9 * Olaus mâ—g Hist. septent p. 531. * Versteg restitut of deâ—aid intellig p. 53. 10 * Liv. lib. 27. * These were foure bells the greatest in London hanging in a fair Tower in Pauls Churchyard Stowes Survey of London pag. 357. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 * Markams Decads of Honour pag. 76. 18 * Loco priùs citato * He is either against the Sovereigne Person alone or against the State wherein he lives We deal onely in describing the former because to character the other exact skil in the Municipal Laws of that State is required wherein he is charged of treason Maxime 1. 2 3 4 * Nat. hist. lib. 8. cap. 16. 5 6 7 Anno 1478. April 26. The summe hereof is taken out of Machiavels Florent Hist lib. 8. pag. 407. sequent * Machiav disput de Repub lib. 3. cap. 6. pag. 397. * Machiav disp de Repub. lib. 3. cap. 6. pag. 399. * He is two-fold 1. In Titulo properly an Usurper 2. In Exercitio whom we onely describe Maxime 1. 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 * Comineus Comment lib. 1. juxta finem 8 9 10 * The summe of this chapter is taken out of Nicetas Choniates his Annalls lib. 1. 2. of Andronic Comnenus 1181 * See bow charitably Drexelius is opinion'd of him in his book de Aeternitate Consider 5. Sect. 3. * Famianus Stra. de Bellâ— Belgico p. 430. Ann. Dom. 1568. * Fam. Strad de bell Belgico pag. 449. * Grimst Hist. of the Netherlands pag. 413. * Barâ—l Icon. Anim. cap. 5. * Grimst Hist. of the Netherlands pag. 411.
But he was forced to alter his resolution and assault it sooner for he heard his men muttering amongst themselves of the strength and greatnesse of the Town and when mens heads are once fly-blown with buzzes of suspicion the vermine multiply instantly and one jealousie begets another Wherefore he raised them from their nest before they had hatch'd their fears and to put away those conceits he perswaded them it was day-dawning when the Moon rose and instantly set on the Town and wonne it being unwalled In the Market-place the Spaniards saluted them with a volley of shot Drake returned their greeting with a flight of arrows the best and ancient English complement which drave their enemies away Here Drake received a dangerous wound though he valiantly conceal'd it a long time knowing if his heart stooped his mens would fall and loth to leave off the action wherein if so bright an opportunity once setteth it seldome riseth again But at length his men forced him to return to his ship that his wound might be dressed and this unhappy accident defeated the whole designe Thus victory sometimes slips thorow their fingers who have caught it in their hands But his valour would not let him give over the project as long as there was either life or warmth in it And therefore having received intelligence from the Negroes called Symerons of many mules-lading of gold and silver which was to be brought from Panama he leaving competent numbers to man his ships went on land with the rest and bestowed himself in the woods by the way as they were to passe and so intercepted and carried away an infinite masse of gold As for the silver which was not portable over the mountains they digged holes in the ground and hid it therein There want not those who love to beat down the price of every honourable action though they themselves never mean to be chapmen These cry up Drakes fortune herein to cry down his valour as if this his performance were nothing wherein a golden opportunity ran his head with his long forelock into Drakes hands beyond expectation But certainly his resolution and unconquerable patience deserved much praise to adventure on such a designe which had in it just no more probability then what was enough to keep it from being impossible yet I admire not so much at all the treasure he took as at the rich and deep mine of Gods providence Having now full fraughted himself with wealth and burnt at the House of Crosses above two hundred thousand pounds worth of Spanish Merchandise he returned with honour and safety into England and some years after undertook that his famous voyage about the world most accurately described by our English Authours and yet a word or two thereof will not be amisse Setting forward from Plimouth he bore up for Caboverd where near to the Iland of S. Jago he took prisoner Nuno-da-Silva an experienc'd Spanish pilot whose direction he used in the coasts of Brasil and Magellan straits and afterwards safely landed him at Guatulco in New Spain Hence they took their course to the iland of Brava and hereabouts they met with those tempestuous winds whose onely praise is that they continue not above an houre in which time they change all the points of the compasse Here they had great plenty of rain poured not as in other places as it were out of sives but as out of spouts so that a but of water falls down in a place which notwithstanding is but a courteous injury in that hot climate farre from land and where otherwise fresh water cannot be provided then cutting the Line they saw the face of that heaven which earth hideth from us but therein onely three starres of the first greatnesse the rest few and small compared to our Hemisphere as if God on purpose had set up the best and biggest candles in that room wherein his civilest guests are entertained Sayling the South of Brasile he afterwards passed the Magellan straits and then entred Mare pacificum came to the Southermost land at the height of 55 ½ latitude thence directing his course Northward he pillaged many Spanish Towns and took rich prizes of high value in the kingdomes of Chily Peru and New Spain Then bending Eastwards he coasted China and the Moluccoes where by the King of Terrenate a true Gentleman Pagan he was most honourably entertain'd The King told them They and he were all of one religion in this respect that they believed not in Gods made of stocks and stones as did the Portugalls He furnish'd them also with all necessaries that they wanted On the ninth of January following his ship having a large wind and a smooth sea ran a ground on a dangerous shole and strook twice on it knocking twice at the doore of death which no doubt had opened the third time Here they stuck from eight a clock at night till foure the next afternoon having ground too much and yet too little to land on and water too much and yet too little to sail in Had God who as the wiseman saith Prov. 30.4 holdeth the winds in his fist but opened his little finger and let out the smallest blast they had undoubtedly been cast away but there blew not any wind all the while Then they conceiving aright that the best way to lighten the ship was first to ease it of the burthen of their sinnes by true repentance humbled themselves by fasting under the hand of God Afterwards they received the Communion dining on Christ in the Sacrament expecting no other then to sup with him in heaven Then they cast out of their ship six great pieces of ordinance threw over-board as much wealth as would break the heart of a Miser to think on 't with much suger and packs of spices making a caudle of the sea round about Then they betook themselves to their prayers the best lever at such a dead lift indeed and it pleased God that the wind formerly their mortall enemy became their friend which changing from the Starboard to the Larboard of the ship and rising by degrees cleared them off to the sea again for which they returned unfeigned thanks to almighty God By the Cape of good hope and west of Africa he returned safe into England and landed at Plimouth being almost the first of those that made a thorow-light through the world having in his whole voyage though a curious searcher after the time lost one day through the variation of severall Climates He feasted the Queen in his ship at Dartford who Knighted him for his service yet it grieved him not a little that some prime Courtiers refused the gold he offer'd them as gotten by piracy Some of them would have been loth to have been told that they had Aurum Tholosanum in their own purses Some think that they did it to shew that their envious pride was above their covetousnesse who of set purpose did
miserable world which he obtained and dyed in the third moneth of the siege Falling very sick besides the disease of age and grief he lay languishing a pretty time and took order that none should come to him save when his meat was brought or Physicians visited him that so he might have elbow-room the more freely to put off the clothes of his mortality The motion of Piety in him by custome now made naturall was velocior in fine daily breathing out most pious Ejaculations He died intestate not for lack of time to make a will but means to bestow having formerly passed his soul to God whilest his body of course bequeathed it self to the earth As for the books of his own making a treasure beyond estimation he carefully consigned them to severall Libraries He dyed in the seventy sixth yeare of his age having lived a Bishop almost fourty years Thus a Saint of God like an oke may be cut down in a moment but how many years was he a growing Not long after his death the City of Hippo was sack'd by the Gothes it being no wonder if Troy was taken when the Palladium was first fetch'd away from it NICHOLAS RIDLEY Bishop of LONDON He died a constant Martyr for the Truth and was burnt at Oxford the 16 th of Octob 1555. W Marshall sculp CHAP. 11. The life of Bishop RIDLEY NIcholas Ridley born in the Bishoprick of Duresme but descended from the ancient and worshipfull familie of the Ridleys of Willimotes-wike in Northumberland He was brought up in Pembroke-hall in Cambridge where he so profited in generall Learning that he was chosen Fellow of the Colledge and Anno 1533 was Proctour of the University At which time two Oxford men George Throgmorton and John Ashwell came to Cambridge and in the publick Schools challenged any to dipsute with them on these questions An Ius civile sit medicina praestantius An Mulier condemnata bis ruptis laqueis sit tertio suspendenda It seems they were men of more brow then brain being so ambitious to be known that they had rather be hiss'd down then not come upon the stage Sure Oxford afforded as many more able disputants as Civill Law yielded more profound and needfull questions Throgmorton had the fortune of daring men to be worsted being so pressed by John Redman and Nicholas Ridley the opponents that his second refused at all to dispute Indeed an University is an onely fit match for an University and any private man who in this Nature undertakes a whole body being of necessity put to the worst deserves not Phaetons Epitaph magnis but stultis tamen excidit ausis And though one objects Neminem Cantabrigiensium constat Oxonienses unquam ad certamen provocasse yet lesse learning cannot be inferred from more modestie The best is the two Sisters so well agree together that they onely contend to surpasse each other in mutuall kindnesse and forbidding all duells betwixt their children make up their joint forces against the common foe of them and true Religion He was after chosen Master of Penbroke Hall and kept the same whilest Bishop of Rochester and London till outed in the first of Queen Marie Not that he was covetous to hold his place in the Colledge but the Colledge ambitious to hold him as who would willingly part with a jewell He was in good esteem with Henrie the eighth and in better with pious King Edward the sixth and was generally beloved of all the Court being one of an handsome person comelie presence affable speech and courteous behaviour But before I go further Reader pardon a digression and yet is it none for 't is necessary I have within the narrow scantling of my experimentall remembrance observed strange alteration in the worlds valuing of those learned men which lived in that age and take it plainly without welt or gard for he that smarts for speaking truth hath a playster in his own conscience When I was a child I was possessed with a reverend esteem of them as most holy and pious men dying Martyrs in the dayes of Queen Marie for profession of the truth which opinion having from my Parents taken quiet possession of my soul they must be very forcible reasons which eject it Since that time they have been much cried down in the mouthes of many who making a Coroners enquest upon their death have found them little better then Felons de se dying in their own bloud for a mere formality de modo of the manner of the Presence and a Sacrifice in the Sacrament who might easily with one small distinction have knockt off their fetters saved their lives By such the Coronet of Martyrdome is pluckt off from their memories and others more moderate equally part their death betwixt their enemies cruelty and their own over-forwardnesse Since that one might have expected that these worthy men should have been re-estated in their former honour whereas the contrary hath come to passe For some who have an excellent facultie in uncharitable Synecdoches to condemne a life for an action taking advantage of some faults in them do much condemne them And one lately hath traduced them with such language as neither beseemed his parts whosoever he was that spake it nor their piety of whom it was spoken If pious Latimer whose bluntnesse was incapable of flattery had his simplicity abused with false informations he is called another Doctour Shaw to divulge in his Sermon forged accusations Cranmer and Ridley for some failings styled the common stales to countenance with their prostituted gravities every politick fetch which was then on foot as oft as the potent Statists pleased to employ them And as it follows not farre after Bishop Cranmer one of King Henries Executours and the other Bishops none refusing lest they should resist the Duke of Northumberland could find in their consciences to set their hands to the disenabling and defeating of the Princesse Marie c. Where Christian ingenuity might have prompted unto him to have made an intimation that Cranmer with pious Justice Hales in Kent was last and least guilty much refusing to subscribe and his long resisting deserved as well to be mentioned as his yielding at last Yea that very Verse which Doctour Smith at the burning of Ridley used against him is by the foresaid Authour though not with so full a blow with a slenting stroke applyed to those Martyrs A man may give his body to be burnt and yet have not charity Thus the prices of Martyrs ashes rise and fall in Smithfield market However their reall worth flotes not with peoples phancies no more then a rock in the sea rises and falls with the tide S. Paul is still S. Paul though the Lycaonians now would sacrifice to him and presently after would sacrifice him These Bishops Ministers and Lay-people which were put to death in Queen Maries dayes were worthy Saints of God holy and godly men but had their faults failings and
Court-Lady TO describe an Holy State without a virtuous Lady therein were to paint out a yeare without a Spring we come therefore to her Character She sets not her face so often by her glasse as she composeth her soul by Gods word Which hath all the excellent qualities of a glasse indeed 1 It is clear in all points necessary to Salvation except to such whose eyes are blinded 2 It is true not like those false glasses some Ladyes dresse themselves by And how common is flattery at Court when even glasses have learnt to be parasites 3 It is large presenting all spots Cap-a-pe behind and before within and without 4 It is durable though in one sense it is broken too often when Gods Laws are neglected yet it will last to break them that break it and one tittle thereof shall not fall to the ground 5. This glasse hath power to smooth the wrinkles cleanse the spots and mend the faults it discovers She walks humbly before God in all religious duties Humbly For she well knows that the strongest Christian is like the city of Rome which was never besieged but it was taken and the best Saint without Gods assistance would be as often foyled as tempted She is most constant and diligent at her houres of private prayer Queen Katharine Dowager never kneeld on a cushion when she was at her devotions This matters not at all our Lady is more carefull of her heart then of her knees that her soul be settled aright She is carefull and most tender of her credit and reputation There is a tree in Mexicana which is so exceedingly tender that a man cannot touch any of his branches but it withers presently A Ladyes credit is of equall nicenesse a small touch may wound and kill it which makes her very cautious what company she keeps The Latine tongue seems somewhat injurious to the feminine sex for whereas therein Amicus is a friend Amica alwayes signifies a Sweetheart as if their sex in reference to men were not capable of any other kind of familiar friendship but in way to marriage which makes our Lady avoid all privacie with suspicious company Yet is she not more carefull of her own credit then of Gods glory and stands up valiantly in the defence thereof She hath read how at the Coronation of King Richard the second Dame Margaret Dimock wife to S r John Dimock came into the Court and claimed the place to be the Kings Champion by the virtue of the tenure of her Mannour of Scrinelby in Lincolnshire to challenge and defie all such as opposed the Kings right to the Crown But if our Lady heares any speaking disgracefully of God or Religion she counts her self bound by her tenure whereby she holds possession of grace here and reversion of glory hereafter to assert and vindicate the honour of the King of Heaven whose Champion she professeth to be One may be a lambe in private wrongs but in hearing generall affronts to goodnesse they are asses which are not lions She is pitifull and bountifull to people in distresse We reade how a daughter of the Duke of Exeter invented a brake or cruel rack to torment people withall to which purpose it was long reserved and often used in the Tower of London and commonly called was it not fit so pretty a babe should bear her mothers name The Duke of Exeters daughter Me thinks the finding out of a salve to ease poore people in pain had born better proportion to her Ladiship then to have been the inventer of instruments of cruelty She is a good scholar and well learned in usefull Authours Indeed as in purchases an house is valued at nothing because it returneth no profit and requires great charges to maintain it so for the same reasons Learning in a woman is but little to be prized But as for great Ladyes who ought to be a confluence of all rarities and perfections some Learning in them is not onely usefull but necessary In discourse her words are rather fit then fine very choice and yet not chosen Though her language be not gaudy yet the plainnesse thereof pleaseth it is so proper and handsomly put on Some having a set of fine phrases will hazard an impertinency to use them all as thinking they give full satisfaction for dragging in the matter by head and shoulders if they dresse it in queint expressions Others often repeat the same things the Platonick yeare of their discourses being not above three dayes long in which term all the same matter returns over again threadbare talk ill suiting with the variety of their clothes She affects not the vanity of foolish fashions but is decently apparelled according to her state and condition He that should have guessed the bignesse of Alexanders souldiers by their shields left in India would much overproportion their true greatnesse But what a vast overgrown creature would some guesse a woman to be taking his aim by the multitude and variety of clothes and ornaments which some of them use insomuch as the ancient Latines called a womans wardrope Mundus a World wherein notwithstanding was much terra incognita then undiscovered but since found out by the curiosity of modern Fashion-mongers We find a mappe of this world drawn by Gods Spirit Isaiah the third wherein one and twenty womens ornaments all superfluous are reckoned up which at this day are much encreased The moons there mentioned which they wore on their heads may seem since grown to the full in the luxury of after-ages She is contented with that beauty which God hath given her If very handsome no whit the more proud but farre the more thankfull If unhandsome she labours to better it in the virtues of her mind that what is but plain cloth without may be rich plush within Indeed such naturall defects as hinder her comfortable serving of God in her calling may be amended by art and any member of the body being defective may thereby be lawfully supplied Thus glasse-eyes may be used though not for seeing for sightlinesse But our Lady detesteth all adulterate complexions finding no president thereof in the Bible save one and her so bad that Ladyes would blush through their paint to make her the pattern of their imitation Yet are there many that think the grossest fault in painting is to paint grossely making their faces with thick daubing not onely new pictures but new statues and that the greatest sinne therein is to be discover'd In her marriage she principally respects virtue and religion and next that other accomodations as we have formerly discours'd of And she is carefull in match not to bestow her self unworthily beneath her own degree to an ignoble person except in case of necessity Thus the Gentlewomen in Champaigne in France some three hundred years since were enforced to marry Yeomen and Farmers because all the Nobility in that countrey were slain in the
warres in the two voyages of King Lewis to Palestine and thereupon ever since by custome and priviledge the Gentlewomen of Champaigne and Brye ennoble their husbands and give them honour in marrying them how mean soever before Though pleasantly affected she is not transported with Court-delights as in their statelie Masques and Pageants Seeing Princes cares are deeper then the cares of private men it is fit their recreations also should be greater that so their mirth may reach the bottome of their sadnesse yea God allows to Princes a greater latitude of pleasure He is no friend to the tree that strips it of the bark neither do they mean well to Majesty which would deprive it of outward shews and State-solemnities which the servants of Princes may in loyalty and respect present to their Sovereigne however our Lady by degrees is brought from delighting in such Masques onely to be contented to see them and at last perchance could desire to be excused from that also Yet in her reduced thoughts she makes all the sport she hath seen earnest to her self It must be a dry flower indeed out of which this bee sucks no honey they are the best Origens who do allegorise all earthly vanities into heavenly truths When she remembreth how suddenly the Scene in the Masque was altered almost before moment it self could take notice of it she considereth how quickly mutable all things are in this world God ringing the changes on all accidents and making them tunable to his glorie The lively representing of things so curiously that Nature her self might grow jealous of Art in outdoing her minds our Lady to make sure work with her own soul seeing hypocrisie may be so like to sincerity But O what a wealthy exchequer of beauties did she there behold severall faces most different most excellent so great is the variety even in bests what a rich mine of jewells above ground all so brave so costly To give Court-masques their due of all the bubbles in this world they have the greatest variety of fine colours But all is quickly ended this is the spight of the world if ever she affordeth fine ware she alwayes pincheth it in the measure and it lasts not long But oh thinks our Lady how glorious a place is Heaven where there are joyes for evermore If an herd of kine should meet together to phancy and define happinesse they would place it to consist in fine pastures sweet grasse clear water shadowie groves constant summer but if any winter then warm shelter and dainty hay with company after their kind counting these low things the highest happinesse because their conceit can reach no higher Little better do the Heathen Poets describe Heaven paving it with pearl and roofing it with starres filling it with Gods and Goddesses and allowing them to drink as if without it no Poets Paradise Nectar and Ambrosia Heaven indeed being Poetarum dedecus the shame of Poets and the disgrace of all their Hyperboles falling as farre short of truth herein as they go beyond it in other Fables However the sight of such glorious earthly spectacles advantageth our Ladyes conceit by infinite multiplication thereof to consider of Heaven She reades constant lectures to her self of her own mortality To smell to a turf of fresh earth is wholsome for the body no lesse are thoughts of mortality cordiall to the soul. Earth thou art to earth thou shalt return The sight of death when it cometh will neither be so terrible to her nor so strange who hath formerly often beheld it in her serious meditations With Job she saith to the worm Thou art my sister If fair Ladyes scorn to own the worms their kinred in this life their kinred will be bold to challenge them when dead in their graves for when the soul the best perfume of the body is departed from it it becomes so noysome a carcasse that should I make a description of the lothsomnesse thereof some dainty dames would hold their noses in reading it To conclude We reade how Henry a Germain Prince was admonished by revelation to search for a writing in an old wall which should nearly concern him wherein he found onely these two words written POST SEX AFTER SIX Whereupon Henry conceived that his death was foretold which after six dayes should ensue which made him passe those dayes in constant preparation for the same But finding the six dayes past without the effect he expected he successively persevered in his godly resolutions six weeks six moneths six years and on the first day of the seventh yeare the Prophecie was fulfill'd though otherwise then he interpreted it for thereupon he was chosen Emperour of Germany having before gotten such an habit of piety that he persisted in his religious course for ever after Thus our Lady hath so inur'd her self all the dayes of her appointed time to wait till her change cometh that expecting it every houre she is alwayes provided for that then which nothing is more certain or uncertain JANE GRAY proclaimed Queen of England wife to the Lord GILFORD DUDLEY She was beheaded on Tower-hill in London Februarie y e 12. 1553. at 18 yeares of Age. W.M. sculp CHAP. 14. The life of Ladie Jane GREY JAne Grey eldest daughter of Henry Grey Marquesse of Dorset and Duke of Suffolk by Francis Brandon eldest daughter of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk and Mary his wife youngest daughter to King Henry the seventh was by her parents bred according to her high birth in Religion and Learning They were no whit indulgent to her in her childhood but extremely severe more then needed to so sweet a temper for what need iron instruments to bow wax But as the sharpest winters correcting the ranknesse of the earth cause the more healthfull and fruitfull summers so the harshnesse of her breeding compacted her soul to the greater patience and pietie so that afterwards she proved the miroir of her age and attained to be an excellent Scholar through the teaching of M r Elmer her Master Once M r Roger Ascham coming to wait on her at Broad-gates in Leicestershire found her in her chamber reading Phoedon-Platonis in Greek with as much delight as some Gentleman would have read a merry tale in Bocchace Whilest the Duke her father with the Dutchesse and all their houshold were hunting in the Park He askt of her how she could lose such pastime who smiling answered I wisse all the sport in the Park is but the shadow of what pleasure I find in this book adding moreover that one of the greatest blessings God ever gave her was in sending her sharp parents and a gentle Schoolmaster which made her take delight in nothing so much as in her studies About this time John Dudley Duke of Northumberland projected for the English Crown But being too low to reach it in his own person having no advantage of royall birth a match was made betwixt Guilford his fourth sonne and this
Lady Jane the Duke hoping so to reigne in his daughter-in-law on whom King Edward the sixth by will passing by his own sisters had entayled the Crown And not long after that godly King who had some defects but few faults and those rather in his age then person came to his grave it being uncertain whether he went or was sent thither If the latter be true the crying of this Saint under the Altar beneath which he was buried in King Henries Chappell without any other monument then that of his own virtues hath been heard long since for avenging his bloud Presently after Lady Jane was proclaimed Queen of England She lifted not up her least finger to put the Diadem on her self but was onely contented to sit still whilest others endeavoured to Crown her or rather was so farre from biting at the bait of Sovereignty that unwillingly she opened her mouth to receive it Then was the Duke of Northumberland made Generall of an Army and sent into Suffolk to suppresse the Lady Marie who there gathered men to claim the Crown This Duke was appointed out of the policie of his friend-seeming enemies for that employment For those who before could not endure the scorching heat of his displeasure at the Counsell-table durst afterwards oppose him having gotten the skreen of London-walls betwixt him and them They also stinted his journeys every day thereby appointing the steps by which he was to go down to his own grave that he should march on very slowly which caused his confusion For lingring doth tire out treacherous designes which are to be done all on a sudden and gives breath to loyalty to recover it self His army like a sheep left part of his fleece on every bush it came by at every stage and corner some conveying themselves from him till his Souldiers were wash'd away before any storm of warre fell upon them Onely some few who were chain'd to the Duke by their particular engagements and some great Persons hopelesse to conceal themselves as being too bigge for a cover stuck fast unto him Thus those enterprises need a strong hand which are thrown against the bias of peoples hearts and consciences And not long after the Norfolk and Suffolk Protestant Gentry Loyalty alwayes lodgeth in the same breast with true Religion proclaimed and set up Queen Marie who got the Crown by Our Father and held it by Pater noster Then was the late Queen now Lady Jane Grey brought from a Queen to a prisoner and committed to the Tower She made misery it self amiable by her pious and patient behaviour Adversity her night-clothes becoming her as well as her day-dressing by reason of her pious deportment During her imprisonment many moved her to alter her religion and especially M r Fecnam sent unto her by Queen Mary but how wisely and religiously she answer'd him I referre the Reader to M r Fox where it is largely recorded And because I have mentioned that Book wherein this Ladyes virtues are so highly commended I am not ignorant that of late great disgrace hath been thrown on that Authour and his worthy Work as being guilty of much falsehood chiefly because sometimes he makes Popish Doctours well known to be rich in learning to reason very poorely and the best Fencers of their Schools worsted and put out of their play by some countrey poore Protestants But let the cavillers hereat know that it is a great matter to have the oddes of the weapon Gods word on their side not to say any thing of supernaturall assistance given them Sure for the main his Book is a worthy work wherein the Reader may rather leave then lack and seems to me like Aetna alwayes burning whilest the smoke hath almost put out the eyes of the adverse party and these Foxes firebrands have brought much annoyance to the Romish Philistines But it were a miracle if in so voluminous a work there were nothing to be justly reproved so great a Pomgranate not having any rotten kernell must onely grow in paradise And though perchance he held the beam at the best advantage for the Protestant party to weigh down yet generally he is a true Writer and never wilfully deceiveth though he may sometimes be unwillingly deceived To return to the Lady Jane Though Quâ—en Marie of her own disposition was inclined finally to pardon her yet necessity of State was such as she must be put to death Some report her to have been with child when she was beheaded cruelty to cut down the tree with blossomes on it and that that which hath saved the life of many women hastned her death but God onely knows the truth hereof On Tower-hill she most patiently Christianly and constantly yielded to God her soul which by a bad way went to the best end On whom the foresaid Authour whence the rest of her life may be supplied bestows these verses Nescio tu quibus es Lector lecturus ocellis Hoc scio quod siccis scribere non potui What eyes thou readst with Reader know I not Mine were not dry when I this story wrote She had the innocency of childhood the beauty of youth the solidity of middle the gravity of old age and all at eighteen the birth of a Princesse the learning of a Clerk the life of a Saint yet the death of a Malefactour for her parents offenses I confesse I never read of any canonized Saint of her name a thing whereof some Papists are so scrupulous that they count it an unclean and unhallowed thing to be of a name whereof never any Saint was which made that great Jesuit Arthur Faunt as his kinsman tell 's us change his Christian name to Laurence But let this worthy Lady passe for a Saint and let all great Ladyes which bear her name imitate her virtues to whom I wish her inward holinesse but farre more outward happinesse Yet lest Goodnesse should be discouraged by this Ladyes infelicity we will produce another example which shall be of a fortunate virtue ELIZABETH Queen of England She dyed at Richmond the 24 th of March 1602. in the 44 th yeare of Her Raign and 70 th of Her Life W Marshall Sculp CHAP. 15. The life of Queen ELISABETH WE intermeddle not with her description as she was a Sovereigne Prince too high for our pen and performed by others already though not by any done so fully but that still room is left for the endeavours of Posterity to adde thereunto We consider her onely as she was a worthy Lady her private virtues rendring her to the imitation and her publick to the admiration of all Her royall birth by her Fathers side doth comparatively make her Mother-descent seem low which otherwise considered in it self was very noble and honourable As for the bundle of scandalous aspersions by some cast on her birth they are best to be buried without once opening of them For as the basest rascall will presume to miscall the best
a masculine word to so heroick a spirit She was very devout in returning thanks to God for her constant and continuall preservations for one traitours stabbe was scarce put by before another took aim at her But as if the poysons of treason by custome were turn'd naturall unto her by Gods protection they did her no harm In any designe of consequence she loved to be long and well advised but where her resolutions once seis'd she would never let go her hold according to her motto Semper eadem By her Temperance she improved that stock of health which Nature bestowed on her using little wine and lesse Physick Her Continence from pleasures was admirable and she the Paragon of spotlesse chastity what ever some Popish Priests who count all virginity hid under a Nunnes veil have feigned to the contrary The best is their words are no slander whose words are all slander so given to railing that they must be dumbe if they do not blaspheme Magistrates One Jesuit made this false Anagram on her name Elizabeth Iezabel false both in matter and manner For allow it the abatement of H as all Anagrams must sue in Chancery for moderate favour yet was it both unequall and ominous that T a solid letter should be omitted the presage of the gallows whereon this Anagrammatist was afterwards justly executed Yea let the testimony of Pope Sixtus Quintus himself be believed who professed that amongst all the Princes in Christendome he found but two which were worthy to bear command had they not been stained with heresie namely Henry the fourth King of France and Elizabeth Queen of England And we may presume that the Pope if commending his enemy is therein infallible We come to her death the discourse whereof was more welcome to her from the mouth of her private Confessour then from a publick Preacher and she loved rather to tell her self then to be told of her mortality because the open mention thereof made as she conceived her subjects divide their loyalty betwixt the present and the future Prince We need look into no other cause of her sicknesse then old age being seventy years old Davids age to which no King of England since the Conquest did attain Her weaknesse was encreased by her removall from London to Richmond in a cold winter day sharp enough to pierce thorow those who were arm'd with health and youth Also melancholy the worst naturall Parasite whosoever seeds him shall never be rid of his company much afflicted her being given over to sadnesse and silence Then prepared she her self for another world being more constant in prayer and pious exercises then ever before yet spake she very little to any sighing out more then she said and making still musick to God in her heart And as the red rose though outwardly not so fragrant is inwardly farre more cordiall then the damask being more thrifty of its sweetnesse and reserving it in it self so the religion of this dying Queen was most turn'd inward in soliloquies betwixt God and her own soul though she wanted not outward expressions thereof When her speech fail'd her she spake with her heart tears eyes hands and other signes so commending herself to God the best interpreter who understands what his Saints desire to say Thus dyed Queen Elizabeth whilest living the first maid on earth and when dead the second in heaven Surely the kingdome had dyed with their Queen had not the fainting spirits thereof been refresh'd by the coming in of gratious King James She was of person tall of hair and complexion fair well-favoured but high-nosed of limbes and feature neat of a stately and majestick deportment She had a piercing eye wherewith she used to touch what metall strangers were made of which came into her presence But as she counted it a pleasant conquest with her Majestick look to dash strangers out of countenance so she was mercifull in pursuing those whom she overcame and afterwards would cherish and comfort them with her smiles if perceiving towardlinesse and an ingenuous modesty in them She much affected rich and costly apparell and if ever jewells had just cause to be proud it was with her wearing them CHAP. 16. The Embassadour HE is one that represents his King in a forrein countrey as a Deputy doth in his own Dominions under the assurance of the publick faith authorized by the Law of Nations He is either Extraordinary for some one affair with time limited or Ordinary for generall matters during his Princes pleasure commonly called a Legier He is born made or at leastwise qualified honourably both for the honour of the sender and him to whom he is sent especially if the solemnity of the action wherein he is employed consisteth in ceremony and magnificence Lewis the eleventh King of France is sufficiently condemn'd by Posterity for sending Oliver his Barber in an Embassage to a Princesse who so trimly dispatch'd his businesse that he left it in the suddes and had been well wash'd in the river at Gant for his pains if his feet had not been the more nimble He is of a proper at least passable person Otherwise if he be of a contemptible presence he is absent whilest he is present especially if employed in love-businesses to advance a marriage Ladyes will dislike the body for a deformed shadow The jest is well known When the State of Rome sent two Embassadours the one having scarres on his head the other lame in his feet Mittit populus Romanus legationem quae nec caput habet nec pedes The people of Rome send an Embassy without head or feet He hath a competent estate whereby to maintain his port for a great poverty is ever suspected and he that hath a breach in his estate lies open to be assaulted with bribes Wherefore his means ought at least to be sufficient both to defray set and constant charges as also to make sallies and excursions of expenses on extraordinary occasions which we may call Supererogations of State Otherwise if he be indigent and succeed a bountifull Predecessour he will seem a fallow field after a plentifull crop He is a passable scholar well travell'd in Countreys and Histories well studyed in the Pleas of the Crown I mean not such as are at home betwixt his Sovereigne and his subjects but abroad betwixt his and forrein Princes to this end he is well skill'd in the Emperiall Laws Common Law it self is outlawed beyond the seas which though a most true is too short a measure of right and reacheth not forrein kingdomes He well understandeth the language of that countrey to which he is sent and yet he desires rather to seem ignorant of it if such a simulation which stands neuter betwixt a Truth and a Lie be lawfull and that for these reasons first because though he can speak it never so exactly his eloquence therein will be but stammering compar'd to the ordinary talk of the
English calendar but the capacity of Princes goes as many years before private mens of the same age Antevenit sortem meritis virtutibus annos His worth above his wealth appears And virtues go beyond his years He is neither kept too long from the knowledge nor brought too soon to the acquaintance with his own Greatnesse To be kept too long in distance from himself would breed in him a soul too narrow for his place On the other side he needs not to be taught his Greatnesse too soon who will meet with it everywhere The best of all is when his Governours open him to himself by degrees that his soul may spread according to his age He playeth himself into Learning before he is aware of it Herein much is to be ascribed to the wisdome of his Teachers who alwayes present Learning unto him as Angels are painted smiling and candy over his sourest studies with pleasure and delight observing seasonable time and fit method Not like many countrey Schoolmasters who in their instructions spill more then they fill by their overhasty pouring of it in He sympathizeth with him that by a Proxie is corrected for his offense yea sometimes goeth further and above his age considereth that it is but an Embleme how hereafter his people may be punished for his own fault He hath read how the Israelites the second of Sam. 24.17 were plagued for Davids numbring of them And yet withall he remembreth how in the first verse of the same chapter The wrath of the Lord was kindled against Israel and he by permitting of Satan the instrument 1. Chron. 21.1 moved David to number them And as the stomach and vitall parts of a man are often corroded with a rheume falling from the head yet so that the disaffection of the stomach first caused the breeding of the same offensive distillation so our young Prince takes notice of a reciprocation of faults and punishments betwixt King and Kingdome both making up the same body yea that sometimes the King is corrected for the peoples offenses and so è contra Indeed in Relatives neither can be well if both be not He is most carefull in reading and attentive in hearing Gods word King Edward the sixth who though a Sovereigne might still in age passe for a Prince accurately noted the dayes Texts and names of Ministers that preached before him Next to Gods word our Prince studies Basilicon Doron that Royall gift which onely King James was able to give and onely King James his sonne worthy to receive He is carefull in chusing and using his recreations refusing such which in their very posture and situation are too low for a Prince In all his exercises he affects comlinesse or rather a kind of carelesnesse in shew to make his activities seem the more naturall avoids a toyling and laborious industry especially seeing each drop of a Princes sweat is a pearl and not to be thrown away for no cause And Princes are not to reach but to trample on recreations making them their footstool to heighten their souls for seriousnesse taking them in passage thereunto His clothes are such as may beseem his Greatnesse especially when he solemnly appears or presents himself to forrein Embassadours Yet he disdains not to be plain at ordinary times The late Henrie Prince of Wales being tax'd by some for his too long wearing of a plain sute of Welch frize Would said he my countrey cloth would last for ever He begins to study his own countrey and the people therein what places are what may be fortified which can withstand a long siege and which onely can make head against a present insurrection If his land accosteth the sea he considereth what Havens therein are barr'd whose dangerous chanells fence themselves and their rocks are their blockhouses what Keys are rusty with sands and shelves and what are scoured with a free and open tide with what serviceable ships belong thereunto He takes notice also of the men in the land and disdains his soul should be blurred with unjust prejudices but fairly therein writes every one in order as they are ranked by their own deserts Hence he looks abroad to see how his countrey stands in relation to forrein Kingdomes how it is friended with Confederates how oppos'd with Enemies His little eyes can cast a soure glance on the suspicious greatnesse of any near borderer for he conceives others weakned by their own distance He considers forrein Kingdomes and States whether they stand on their own strength or lean on the favour of friends or onely hang by a Politicall Geometry equally poysing themselves betwixt their neighbours like Lucca and Geneva the multitude of enemies mouthes keeping them from being swallowed up He quickly perceives that Kings how nearly soever allied are most of kinne to their own interest and though the same Religion be the best bond of forrein affection yet even this breaks too often and States when wonded will cure themselves with a plaister made of the heart-blood of their best friends He tunes his soul in consort to the disposition of his King-father Whatsoever his desire be the least word countenance or signe given of his fathers disallowance makes him instantly desist from further pursuit thereof with satisfaction in regard he understands it disagreeing to his Majesties pleasure and with a resolution not to have the least semblance of being discontented He hath read how such Princes which were undutifull to their Parents either had no children or children worse then none which repai'd their disobedience He is also kind to his Brothers and Sisters whose love and affection he counteth the bulwarks and redouts for his own safety and security When grown to keep a Court by himself he is carefull in well ordering it The foresaid Prince Henries Court consisted of few lesse then five hundred persons and yet his grave and Princely aspect gave temper to them all so that in so numerous a familie not so much as any blows were given With a frowning countenance he brusheth off from his soul all Court-mothes of flattery especially he is deaf to such as would advise him without any or any just grounds when he comes to the Crown to runne counter to the practice of his Father and who knowing that muddy water makes the strongest beere may conceive the troubling and embroyling of the State will be most advantagious for their active spirits Indeed seldome two successive Kings tread in the same path if the former be Martiall though the warre be just honourable and profitable yet some will quarrell with the time present not because it is bad but because it is and put a Prince forward to an alteration If the former King were peaceable yet happinesse it self is unhappy in being too common and many will desire warre conceited sweet to every palate which never tasted it and urge a Prince thereunto But our Prince knows to estimate things
by the swiftnesse of his motion would set all the world on fire so Mercy must ever be set near Justice for the cooling and tempering thereof In his mercy our King desires to resemble the God of heaven who measureth his judgements by the ordinary cubit but his kindnesses by the cubit of the Sanctuary twice as big yea all the world had been a hell without Gods mercy He is rich in having a plentifull exchequer of his peoples hearts Allow me said Archimedes to stand in the aire and I will move the earth But our King having a firm footing in his Subjects affections what may he do yea what may he not do making the coward valiant the miser liberall for love the key of hearts will open the closest coffers Mean time how poore is that Prince amidst all his wealth whose Subjects are onely kept by a slavish fear the jaylour of the soul. An iron arm fastned with scrues may be stronger but never so usefull because not so naturall as an arm of flesh joined with muscles sinews Loving Subjects are most serviceable as being more kindly united to their Sovereigne then those which are onely knock'd on with fear and forcing Besides where Subjects are envassaled with fear Prince and People mutually watch their own advantages which being once offered them 't is wonderfull if they do not and wofull if they do make use thereof He willingly orders his actions by the Laws of his realm Indeed some maintain that Princes are too high to come under the roof of any Laws except they voluntarily of their goodnesse be pleased to bow themselves thereunto and that it is Corban a gift and courtesy in them to submit themselves to their Laws But whatsoever the Theories of absolute Monarchy be our King loves to be legall in all his practices and thinks that his power is more safely lock'd up for him in his Law then kept in his own will because God alone makes things lawfull by willing them whilest the most calmest Princes have sometimes gusts of Passion which meeting with an unlimited Authority in them may prove dangerous to them and theirs Yea our King is so suspicious of an unbounded power in himself that though the widenesse of his strides could make all the hedge stiles yet he will not go over but where he may He also hearkneth to the advise of good Counsellers remembring the speech of Antoninus the Emperour Aequius est ut ego tot taliumque amicorum consilium sequar quam tot talesque amici meam unius voluntatem And yet withall our King is carefull to maintain his just Prerogative that as it be not outstretched so it may not be overshortned Such a gratious Sovereigne God hath vouchsafed to this Land How pious is he towards his God! attentive in hearing the Word preaching Religion with his silence as the Minister doth with his speech How loving to his Spouse tender to his Children faithfull to his servants whilest they are faithfull to their own innocence otherwise leaving them to Justice under marks of his displeasure How doth he with David walk in the midst of his house without partiality to any How just is he in punishing wilfull murder so that it is as easie to restore the murthered to life as to keep the murtherer from death How mercifull is he to such who not out of leigier malice but sudden passion may chance to shed bloud to whom his pardon hath allowed leisure to drop out their own souls in tears by constant repentance all the dayes of their lives How many wholsome Laws hath he enacted for the good of his Subjects How great is his humilitie in so great height which maketh his own praises painfull for himself to heare though pleasant for others to report His Royall virtues are too great to be told and too great to be conceal'd All cannot some must break forth from the full hearts of such as be his thankfull Subjects But I must either stay or fall My sight fails me dazell'd with the lustre of Majestie all I can do is pray Give the King thy judgements O Lord and thy righteousnesse to the Kings Sonne smite through the loins of those that rise up against his Majestie but upon him and his let the Crown flourish Oh cause his Subjects to meet his Princely care for their good with a proportionable cheerfulnesse and alacrity in his service that so thereby the happinesse of Church and State may be continued Grant this O Lord for Christ Jesus his sake our onely Mediatour and Advocate Amen THE PROFANE STATE BY THOMAS FULLER B. D. and Prebendarie of Sarum ISAIAH 32.5 The vile person shall be no more called liberall nor the churl said to be bountifull EZEK 44.23 And they shall teach my people the difference betwixt the Holy and the Profane CAMBRIDGE ¶ Printed by ROGER DANIEL for Iohn Williams and are to be sold at the signe of the Crown in S. Pauls Churchyard 1642. The Profane State THE FIFTH BOOK CHAP. 1. The Harlot IS one that her self is both merchant and merchandise which she selleth for profit and hath pleasure given her into the bargain and yet remains a great loser To describe her is very difficult it being hard to draw those to the life who never sit still she is so various in her humours and mutable 't is almost impossible to character her in a fixed posture yea indeed some cunning Harlots are not discernable from honest women Solomon saith she wipeth her mouth and who can distinguish betwixt that which was never foul and that which is cleanly wiped Her love is a blank wherein she writeth the next man that tendreth his affection Impudently the Harlot lied Prov. 7.15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee diligently to seek thy face and I have found thee else understand her that she came forth to meet him not qua talis but qua primus because he came first for any other youngster in his place would have serv'd her turn yet see how she makes his chance her courtesie she affecting him as much above others as the common road loves the next passenger best As she sees so her self is seen by her own eyes Sometimes she stares on men with full fixed eyes otherwhiles she squints forth glances and contracts the beams in her burning glasses to make them the hotter to inflame her objects sometimes she dejects her eyes in a seeming civility and many mistake in her a cunning for a modest look But as those bullets which graze on the ground do most mischief to an army so she hurts most with those glances which are shot from a down-cast eye She writes characters of wantonnesse with her feet as she walks And what Potiphars wife said with her tongue she saith unto the passengers with her gesture and gate Come lie with me and nothing angrieth her so much as when modest men affect a deafnesse and will not heare or a dulnesse and will not