DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY DURHAM, N. C Rec'd ^M P, * farther '. G. ^ p < the '. G. 'P'ever' G. *M omits 'own'. G. Sik PHILIP SIDNJiT. 33 youth for a counsellor, but withall bearing a hand ypon^ him as a forward young man. Notwith- standing, in short time he saw this sun so risen above his horizon, that both he and all his stars were glad to fetch light from him, and in the end acknowledge^ that he held up the honor of his causuall^ authority by him, whilst he lived, and found reason to withdraw himself from that bur- then, after his death. My third record* is Sir Francis Walsingham his father-in-law; that wise and active Secretarie. This man — as the world knoweth^ — upheld both Eeligion and State, by using a policy wisely mixt with reflexions of either. He had influence in all Countries and a hand upon all afl'airs ; yet even this man hath often confessed to my self, that his Philip did so far overshoot him in his own bow, as those friends which at first were Sir Philip's for this Secretarie' s sake, within a while became so fully owned and possest by Sir Philip, as now he held them at the second hand, by his son-in-law' a native courtesie. This is that true remission of mind, whereof I ^ P, * over him'. G. ^ p^ * And. ...acknowledged.' G. ' P, * casual '. G. * M, omits 'record.* G. 5 P. ' knows '. G. c 34 THE LIFE OF THE EENOWNED ■would gladly^ have the world take notice from these dead men's ashes : to the end that we might once again see that ingenuity amongst men, which by liberall bearing witnesse to the merits of others, shews they have some true worth of their own ; and are not meerly lovers of themselves, without rivals. ^ M, omits ' gladly '. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNET. 35 CHAr. III. continue this passage a little further : I must lift him above the censure of sub- jects, and give you an account what res- pect and honour his worth wanne him amongst the most eminent monarchs of that time : as first with that chief and best of princes, his most ex- cellent Majesty, then king of Scotland, to whom his service was affectionately devoted, and from whom he received many pledges of love and favour. In like manner, with the late renowned Henry of France, then of Navarre, who having meas- ured and mastered all the spirits in his own IN'ation, found out this master-spirit among us, and used him like an equall in nature, and so fit for friendship with a king. Again, that gallant piince Don John of ^ Austria, vice-roy in the Low Countries for Spain, when this gentleman in his embassage to the emperor came to kiss his hand, though at the first, in his 1 P, 'de'. G. 36 THE LIFE OF THE RENOWNED Spanish hauture,^ lie gave him access as by descent, to a youth of grace as to a stranger, and in part- icular competition — as he conceived — to an enemy ; yet after a while that he had taken his just alti- tude, he found himself so stricken with this^ extraordinary planet, that the beholders wondered to see what ingenuous^ tribute that brave and high- minded prince paid to his worth; giving more honour and respect to this hopefull young gentle- man, than to the embassadors of mighty princes. But to climb yet a degree higher : In what due estimation his extraordinary worth was, even amongst enemies, will appear by his death. When Mendoza, a secretary of many treasons amongst* us, acknowledged openly that howsoever he was glad king Philip his master had lost, in a private gentleman, a dangerous enemy to his estate ; yet he could not but lament to see Christendome depriv'd of so rare a light in those^ cloudy times; and bewail poor widdow England — so he term'd her — that having been many years in breeding one eminent spirit, was in a moment bereaved of him, by the hands of a villain. ^ P, * haughture ' : both the transition-form of hauteur. G. 2 M' misreads 'his'. G. ' M, 'ingeniouse'. G. * P, • against '. G. » p^ < ^heie '. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 37 Indeed he was a true modell of worth ; a man fit for Conquest, Plantation, Reformation, or what action soever is greatest and hardest amongst men : withall, such a lover of mankind and goodnesse, that whoever had any reall parts, in him found comfort, participation, and protection to the utter- most of his Ipower: like Zephyrus he giving life where he blew. The Universities abroad and at home, accompted him a general Mecaenas of leam- ning; dedicated their books to him; and com- municated every invention, or [improvement of knowledge with him. Souldiers honoured him, and were so honoured by him as no man thought he marched under the true banner of Mars, that had not obtained Sir Philip Sidney's approbation. Men of affairs in most parts of Christendome, entertained correspondency with him. But what speak I of these, with whom his own waies, and ends did concur ? since — to descend — his heart and capacity were so large, that there was not a cunning Painter, a skilfiill Engenier, an excellent Musician, or any other artificer of extraordinary fame, that made not himself known to this famous spirit, and found him his true friend without hire; and the common Rende-vous of Worth in his time. Now let princes vouchsafe to consider, of what 38 THE LIFE OF THE EEXOW:^ED importance it is to the honour of themselves and their estates, to have one man of such eminence ; not onely as a nourisher of vertue in their Courts or sei'vice, but besides for a reformed standurd, by which even the most humorous persons could not but have a reverend kinde of^ ambition to be tried, and approved currant. This I doe the more confidently affirm, because it vf^ill be confessed by all men, that this one man's example and person- all respect, did not onely encourage Learning and Honour in the Schooles, but brought the affection and true use thereof both into the Court and Camp. Kay more, even many gentlemen excellently learned amongst us, will not deny, but that they affected to row and steer their course in his wake. Besides which honour of unequal nature and education, his very waies in the world, did generally adde reputation to his prince and Country, by restoring amongst us the ancient majestic of noble and tnie dealing: as a manly wisdome, that can no more be weighed down by any effeminate craft, than Hercules could be overcome by that contemptible army of dwarfs. And this^ was it which, I profess, I loved dearly in him, and still shall be glad to honour in the » P, omits 'kiiide of. G. - P, 'This'. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. ^9 great men of this time : I mean, that Us heart and tongue went both one way, and so with every one that went with the Truth ; as knowing no other kindred, partie, or end. Above all, he made the Religion he professed, the firm basis of his life : for this was his judge- ment — as he often told me — that our true-heart- edness to the Reformed Religion in the beginning, brought peace and safety^ and freedome to us; concluding, that the wisest and best way, was that of the famous William Prince of Orange, who never divided the consideration of Estate from the consideration of Religion, nor gave that sound party occasion to be jealous, or distracted, upon any appearance of safety whatsoever ; prud- ently resolving, that to temporize with the ene- mies of our Faith, was but — as among sea-guls — a strife, not to keep upright, but aloft upon the top of every billow : which false-heartednesse to God and man, would in the end find it self forsaken of both ; as Sir Philip conceived. For to this active spirit of his, all depths of the devil proved but shallow fords; he piercing into men's counsels and ends, not by their words, oathes, or comple- ments, all barren in that age, but by fathoming ^ P, omits ' and ', and spells * safetie '. G. • 40 THE LIFE OP THE EENOWXED their hearts and powers, by their deeds, and found no wisedome where he found no courage, nor courage without wisdome, nor either without honesty and truth. With which solid and active reaches of his, I am perswaded, he would have found, or made a way through all the traverses, even of the most weak and irregular times. But it pleased God in this decrepit age of the world, not to restore the image of her ancient vigour in him, otherwise than as in a lightning before death. Neither am I — for my part — so much in love with this life, nor believe so little in a better to come, as to complain of God for taking him, and such like exorbitant worthyness from us : fit — as it were by an ostracisme — to be divided, and not incorporated with our comiptions : yet for the sincere affection I bear to my prince and country, my prayer to God is, that his^ woorth and way may not fatally be buried with him ; in respect, that before his time and since, experience hath published the usuall discipline of greatnes to have been tender of it self onely ; making honour a tri- umph, or rather trophy of desire, set up in the eyes of mankind, either to be worshipped as idols, or else ^ P,^as before, misprints ' this' and spells 'worth'. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 41 as rebels ta'perish under her glorious oppressions. Notwithstanding, when the pride of flesh, and power of favour shall cease in these by death or disgrace ; what then hath Time to register, or fame to publish, in these great men's names, that will not be offensive, and^ infectious to others ? What pen without blotting can write Jthe story of their deeds? or what herald blaze their arms without a blemish ? And as for their counsels and projects, when they come once to light, shall not they^ live as noysome and loathsomely above ground, as their authors' carkasses lie in the grave ? So that^ the return of such greatnes to the world and themselves, can be but private reproach, publique ill example, and a fatall scorn to the government they live in. Sir Philip Sid- ney^ is none of this number; for the greatness which he affected was built upon true worth; esteeming fame more than riches, and noble actions far above nobility it self. ip, 'or\ G. 2 P,' shall they not'. G. 5 M, misreads ' Hue '. G. *P, 'as'. G. 5 M, omits * Sidney '. G. 42 THE LIFE OF THE RENOWNED CHAP. lY. ND although he never was magistrate, nor possessed of any fit stage for eminence to act upon, whereby there is small latit- ude left for comparing him with those deceased "Worthies, that to this day live unenvied in story ; yet can I probably say that if any supreme magistracie or employment, might have shew- ed forth this gentleman's worth, the World should have found him neither a mixt Lysander, with unactive goodness to have corrupted indiffer- ent citizens ; nor yet like that gallant libertine Sylla, with a tyrannizing hand and ill example, to have ordered the dissolute people of Eome ; much less with that unexperienced Themistocles, to have refused, in the seat^ of Justice, to deale equally between friends and strangers. So that as we say, the abstract name of goodness is great and generally currant ; her nature hard to imitate, and diversly worshipped, according to zones, com- plexions, or educations^ ; admired by her enemies, yet ill followed by her friends. So may we truely 1 M 'state'. G. ^ p ^education'. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 43 say/ that this gentleman's large yet uniform dis- position, was every where praised; greater in himself than in the world ; yet gi^eater there in fame and honour than many of his superiors; reverenced by forrain ^N^ations in one form, of his own in another ; easily censured, hardly imitated ; and therefore no received standard at home, be- cause his industry, judgement, and affections, perchance loomed- too great for the cautious wisd- omes of little monarchies to be safe in. Notwith- standing, whosoever will be pleased but^ indifferent- ly to weigh his life, actions, intentions, and death, shall find he had so sweetly yoaked fame and con- science together in a large heart, as inequality of worth or place in him, could not have been other than humble obedience, even to a petty tyrant of Sicily. Besides, this ingenuitie of his nature did spread it self so freely abroad, as who lives that can say he ever did him harm ; whereas there be many living that may thankfully acknow- ledge he did them good ? Neither was this in him a private, but apublique affection; his chief ends being not friends, wife, children, or himself; but 1 P, *I may well'. G. ^ P, * seemed' : M, reads ' loomed to'. G. 3 P, drops ' but '. G. 44 THE LITE OF THE RENOWNED above all tilings the honour of his Maker, and service of his prince or Country. Now though his short life, and private fortune, were — as I sayd — no proper stages to act any greatness of good or evill upon ; yet are there — even from these little centers of his — lines to he drawn, not astronomicall or imaginary, but reall lineaments, such^ as infancy is of man's estate ; out of which N'ature often sparkleth brighter rayes in some, than ordinarily appear in the ripeness of many others. For proof wherof, I will pass from the testimonie of brave men's words, to his own deeds. What lights of sounder wisdome can we ascribe to our greatest men of affairs than he shew- ed in his youth and first employment, when he was sent by the late Queen, of famous memory, to condole the death of Maximilian, and congratulate the succession of Rodolph to the Empire ? For under the shaddow of this complement between princes, which sorted better with his youth than his spirit, did he not, to improve that journey, and make it a reall service to his so veraign,^ procure one' article to be added to his instructions, which * Misprints *but' here. G. * In the original edition, the sentence is by misprint repeated : and in the repetition ' Empire ' sabstitnted for * soveraign ' . G. 3p'an.' G.';; ,^ SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 45 gave him scope — as he passed — to salute such German princes, as were interested in the cause of our Religion, or their own native liberty ? And though to negotiate v^ith that long-breathed Nation proves commonly a work in steel, where many stroaks hardly leave any print ; yet did this master Genius quickly stir up their cautious and slow judgements to be sensible of the danger which threatned them hourely, by this fatall conjunction of Rome's undermining superstitions with the commanding forces of Spain. And when he had once awaked that confident Nation to look up, he as easily made manifest unto them, that neither their inland seat, vast multitudes,^ con- fused strength, wealth, nor hollow-sounding fame, could secure their dominions from the ambition of this brave aspiring empire ; howsoever by the Kke helps they had formerly bounded the same Roman, and Austrian supremacies. The reasons he alleged were, because the manner of this- conjunction was not like the ancient undertakers, who made open war by proclamation ; but craftily — from the in- fusion of Rome — to enter first by invisible traffique of souls ; filling people's minds with apparitions • P, ♦ multitude ' : M, spells * multituds '. G. 'P, 'their' G. 46 THE LIFE OF THE RENOWXED of holines, specious rites, saints, miracles, in- stitutions of new orders, reformations of old, blessings of Catholiques, cursings of herotiques, thunder-bolts of excommunication under the authority of their Mother-Church. And when by these shadows they had once^ gotten pos- session of the weak, discouraged the strong, divided the doubtful, and finally^ lulled inferior powers asleep ; as the ancient Eomans were wont to tame forrain nations with the name oP Socij ; then to follow on with the Spanish, less spirituall, but more forcible engines, viz., practice, confeder- acy, faction, money, treaties, leagues of traffique, alliance by marriages, charge of rebellion, war, and all other acts of advantagious power. Lastly he recalled to their memories, how by this brotherhood in evill — like Simeon and Levi — Rome and Spain had spilt so much blond, as they were justly become the terror of all governments ; and could now be withstood or ballanced by no other means, than a general league in Religion : constantly and truely affirming, that to associate by an uniform bond of conscience, for the protec- tion — as I said — of Religion and Liberty, would 1 P, omits 'once.' G. ^ P, misreads 'finely'. Gr. SIE rniLIP SIDNEY. 47 prove a more solid union, and symbolize far better against their tyrannies, than any factious combin- ation in policy, league of State, or other traffique of civil or martial humours possibly could do. To this end did that undertaking spirit lay, or at least revive the foundation of a league between us, and the German' Princes, which continueth^ firme to this day : the defensive part whereof hath hitherto helped to support the ruines of our Church abroad, and diverted her enemies from the ancient ways of hostility unto their Conclave and modern undermining arts. So that if the offen- sive part thereof had been as well prosecuted in that true path, which this young genius trod out to us ; both the passage for other princes over the the Alps, would have been by this time more easie than Hanibal's was ; and besides, the first sound of that drum might happily have reconciled those^ petty dividing schism es which reign amongst us ; not as sprung from any difference of religious faith, but misty opinion ; and accordingly moulded first upon the desks of busie idle Lecturers, then blown abroad to our disadvantage by a swarm of Popish instruments, rather Jesuits than Chris- ' M, 'Gennanie'. G. ^ p^ 'contines'. G. 3 'these'. G. 48 THE LIFE OF THE RENOWNED tians ; and to their ends most dangerously over- spreading the world, for want of a confident moderator. This — I say — was the first prince which did enfranchise his^ master spirit into the mysteries of ^ affairs of State. ^ P, grossly misprints ' prize '. G. * P, as before 'this'. G. ap^and'. Q. SIE PHILIP SIDNEY. 49 CHAP. V. HE next doubtfull stage hee had to act upon— howsoever it may seem private — was grounded upon a publique and spe- cious proposition of marriage, between the late famous Queen, and the Duke of Anion. "With which current, although he saw the great and wise men of the time suddainly carryed down, and every one fishing to catch the Queen's humor in it ; yet when he considered the difference of years, person, education, state, and religion between them ; and then called to minde the success of our former alliances with the French : he found many reasons to make question whether it would prove poetical or reall on their part ? And if reall ; whether^ the ballance swayed not unequally, by adding much to them, and little to his soveraign? The Duke's greatness being onely name and pos- sibility ; and both these either to wither, or to be maintained^ at her cost. Her state again in hand; ^ P, misreads 'yet' before * whether*. G. 2 M , roads ' to mainta'ned ' which would seem to indi- cate ' be ' to have been dropped inadvertently, and ' to * in like manner by P. G. I) 50 THE LIFE OF THE EENOWNED and though royally sufficient to satisfie that Queen's princely and moderate desires or ex- penses, yet perchance inferior to bear out those mixt designes into which his amhition or necessi- ties might entice or draw her. Besides, the marriage of Xinge Phillipe,^ to Queen Maiie^ her sister, was yet so fresh in memory, with the many inconveniences of it, as by compar- ing and paralleling these together, he found cred- ible instances to conclude, neither of those^ forrain alliances could prove safe for this Kingdom. Be- cause in her marriage with Spain, though both princes continuing under the obedience of the Roman Church, neither their consciences, nor their peoples could suffer any fear of tumult, or imputation by change of faith ; yet was the winn- ing of St. Quintin* with the loss of Calice, and the carrying away of our money to forrain ends, odious universally ; the Spanish pride incompet- ible ;^ their advantagious delayes suspicious ; and their short reign here^ felt to be akinde of exhaust- ing tax upon the whole Nation. Besides, he discerned how this great monarch 1 P, * K. Philip'. G. 2 P, ' Q. Mary * G. 3 P, * these'. G. * P, ' St. Quintins '. G. » P, 'incompatible' G. * M, misreads *theii *. G. BtR PfinLIP SIDNEY. 61 countenanced with our forces by sea and land, might and did use this addition of her strength to transform his Low-Countrey dukedomcs, fall'n to him by descent, into the nature of a soveraign conquest: and so by conjoyning their dominion and forces by Sea, to his large empires and armies upon the mayn, would probably enforce all abso- lute princes to acknowledge subjection to him before their time. And for our Kiugdomc, besides that this king then meant to use it as a forge to fashion all his soveraign designes in, ha 1 he not — except some belyhim — a fore-running hand in the change of Eeligion after king Edward's death? And had he not — even in that change — so mast- ered us in our own Church, by his chaplain and Conclave of Eome, that both these carried all their courses byaccd to his ends, as to an elder brother, who had more abundant degrees of wealth and honour to return them ? so as every body — that devoted Queen excepted — foresaw wc must suddenly have been compelled to wear his livery and serve his ends ; or else to live like children neglected or disfavoured by our holy mother. Again, for our temporall government, was not his influence — unless^ report belie him — as well in 1 P, misreada 'except*. G. 52 THE LIFE OF THE EENOWNED passing many sharp lawes and heavy executions of them "with more strange councels ; as fashion- ing^ our leagues both of peace and traffique, to his conquering ends ? AJl these, together -with that master prize of his^ playing, when under colour of piety, he stirre 1 up in tht-t wel-affected Queen a purpose of restoring those temporalities to the Church, which by the fall of abbies, were long before dispersed among the robility, gentry, and people of this kinglome : all these — as he said — did clearly shew, that this r.mbitious king had an intent of moulding us to his use, even by distract- ing us amongst our selves. Neverthelesse, to give him the honor of worldly wisecjom, I dare aver, he had no hope of bringing these enuiouse' assumptions to pass ; but rather did cast them out, as sounding lines, to fathome the depths of peoples mindes ; and with particular fear and distraction in the owners, to raise a gen- erall distast in. all men against the Government. Kow, if we may judge the future ly what is past, his scope in all these particulars could be no other, but when our inward waters had been thoroughly* troubled, then to possess this diversly diseas'd ^ M, • and fasHoninge '. G. ' P, drops • his *. G. » P, 'curious*. G. * P, * throughly *. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 53 Estate with certain poeticall titles of his own, de- vised long before, and since published by Dolman, to the end, that under the shadow of such clouds, he might work upon the next heir; and so cast^ a chance for alP our goodes, lives, and liberties, with little interruption. These and such like, were the groundes which moved Sir Philip to compare the past and present consequence of our Marriage with either of these crowns together. And though in danger of subjection he did confesse our alliance with the French to be lesse unequall ; yet even in that he foresaw, diversitie of lieligion would first give scandall to both ; and in progress, prove fatall of necessity to one side. Because the weaker sorte^ here, being fortified by strong parties abroad, and a husband's name at home, must necessarily have brought the native soveraign under a kinde of covert haron, and thereby forced her* Maiesty, either to lose the freedom and conscience of a good Christian, the honor of an excellent prince, or the private reput- ation of an^ obedient wife. JS'either could that excellent lady — as he and that time conceived — ^ M, misreads ' ast *, G. ^ j^j^ omits. G. 5 P, grossly misreads ' sect *. G. * M omits. G. * P, omits < aa'. G. 54 THE LIFE OP THE BENOWNEJ) with these, or any other cautions, have counter- mined the mines^ of practice, wherehy — it i3 probable— this prince would have endeavoured to steal chrn^e of Eeligion into her Kingdom. 1. As iirst, by cavelling at the Authors, and Fathers that upheld her Church. 2. Then by disgracing her most zealous min- isters, through aspersions cast upon their persons, and advancing indifferent spirits, whose God is this world, tho Court their heaven, and conse- quently their ends, to byace^ God's immortall truth to the fancies^ of mortall princes. 3. By the subtile latitude of School-distinctions, publiquely edging nearer the holy mother the* Church ; and therein first waving then sounding the people's mindes ; if not with abrupt and spirit- falln toileration, yet with that invisible web of connivencie, which is a snare to entangle great or little flies, at the will of Power. 4. By a princely licenciousness in behaviour and conference, fashioning atheisme among her sub- jects : as knowing that in confusion of thoughts, he might the more easilie raise up superstitious * M, •minds', an evident misreading. G. 2 P, spells ' biace * G. ^ Fy ' fantasies * P omits • the '. G. SIE PHILIP SIDNEY. 55 idolatry : which crafty image of his, with all the nice linoaments belonging to it, was the more credible, in respect the French have scornfully affirm'd one chief branch of our prince's preroga- tives to be, the carrying of their people's con- sciences which way they list. An absoluteness the more dangerous to their subjects' freedom, because they bring these changes to pass — as the French say — under the safe conduct of our earth- eyd^ common law; and thereby make change legally safe, and constancie in the truth exceeding dangerous. 5. By a publique decrying of our ancient cus- tomes and statutes ; and from that ground, giving Proclamations a royall vigor in moulding of pleas, pulpits, and Parliaments, after the pattern of their own, and some other forain I^ations ; which in our government is a confusion, almost as fatall as the confusion of tongues. 6. By employing no instruments among the people, but such as devise to sheer them with taxes, ransome them with fines, draw in bondage^ under colour of obedience, and — like Frenchified Empsons and Dudlies — bring the English people to the ^ P, misprints *earth-cy'. G. ' M, 'poundage '. G. 56 THE LITE or THE REITOWNED povertie of the French peasants, onely to fill up a Danaus^ sive of prcdigality, and thereby to secure the old age of Tyranny^ from that whi-.-h is never old : I mean, danger of popular inundations. 7. To lift up^ monarchie above her ancient legall circles, by banishing all free spirits and faithfull patriots, Tvith a kinde of shaddowed ostracisme, till the ideas of native freedom should be utterly forgotten ; and then — by the pattern of their own Duke of Guise — so to encourage a multitude of impoverishing impositions upon the pc ople, as he might become the head of all discontentedness ; and under the envy of that art, stir them up to depose their naturall annointed soveraign, 8. When he had thus metamorphosed our moder- ate form of monarchie into a precipitate absolute- ness ; and therein shaken all leagues offensive and defensive between us, the kings of Denmark or Sweden, the free princes of Germany,^ the poor oppressed soules of France, the steady subsisting Hanses ; and lastly weakned that league of Eeli- ^ M, omits, G. 2 M, omits * of prodigality old age ' and reads simply ' a sive of tyrrany '. G. 3 M, omits. G. * P. mis-spells * Garmany '. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 57 gion and traffique,'* which with prosperous success hath continued long between us aid Ih^ l^ether- landers ; then — I say — must his next project have been, either abusively to entise, or through fear enforce this excellent lady, to countenance his overgrown party abroad, by suffering the same sect to multiply here at home, till she should too late discover a necessity, either of changing her faith, hazarding h 'r crown, or at least holding it at the joint courtesic of that ambi.ious Eoman Conclave, or encreasing Monarchic of Spain. A scepter and miter, whose conjunction bringes forth boundless freedom to themselves, and begets a narrow servitude upon all other nations, that by surprise of wit or power become subject to them. 9. Besides, in the practice of this marriage, he foresaw and prophesied, that the very first breach of God's ordinance, in matching herself with a prince of a diverse faith, would infallibly carry with it some piece of the rending destiny, which Solomon, and those other princes justly felt, for having ventured to weigh the immortall wisdom in even scales, with mortall conveniency or inconveniency. 10. The next step must infallibly have been — as he conceived — with our shipping to disturb or ' Misprinted ' siifiique ' : M, as in text. G. 58 THE LIFE OF THE RENOWNED beleaguer the Netherlanders by Sea, under colour, or pretence of honor unseasonably talten, even when the horse and foot of France should threaten their subsistence by land ; and therby — in this period of extremity — constrain^ that active people to run headlong into one of these three desperate courses, viz., either to fly for protection to the flower-de-luce,- with whom they join in continent ; or precipitately submit their necks to the yoking cittadells of Spain, against whose inquisitions and usurpations upon their consciences and liberties, so much men^ and bloud had been shed and consum- ed already ; or else unnaturally to turn pirates, and so become enemies to that trade, by which they and their friends have reciprocally* gotten, and given so much prosperity. The choice or comparison of which mischiefes to them and us, he briefly^ laid before me, in this manner. First, that if they should incorporate with France, the Netherlands manufactures, industry, trade, and shipping, would add much to that monarchie, both in peace and war : the natural! 1 P, ' conslraind. ' G. 2 M, * flower de lyce '. G. 'P, 'money* G. * M, omits. G. * M ♦ preiflie {sic) : the word has been corrected but not completely. G. 8IK PHILIP SIDNEY. 59 riches of the French having been hitherto either kept barrain at home, or harrainly transpoiied abroad, for hick of the true use of trade, shipping, exchange, and such other mysteries as' multiply native wealth ; by improving their man-hood at home, and giving formes both to domestique and forrain materialls ; which defects- — as he said — being now abundantly to be supplied, by this con- junction with the Netherlands, would in a little time, not onely puff up that active Common-wealth with unquiet pride, but awake the stirring French to feel this addition to their own strengths ; and so make them become dangerous neighbours by incursion or^ inuasion to the Baltiquc Sea ; many waies prejudice to the mutuall traffique between Italy, the Germans, and England ; and consequent- ly a terror to all others, that by land or Sea confine* upon them, yea and apt enough once in a year, to try their fortune with that growing monarch of Spain, for his Indian treasure. Second, on the other side, if any stricter league 1 M, 'n*. G. 2 P, 'defect'. G. sp, *in'. G. * See Milton : Paradise Lost (ii. 977) '* What readiest paths leads where your gloomie bounds Confine with 'B.ea.Y'n". G. 60 THE LIFE OF THE EENOWlfED should come to pass between those adventurous French spirits, and the solid counsclls of Spaine ; and so through fear, scorn, or any other desperate apparanccs force the JS'etherlanders^ into a pre- cipitate but steady subjection of that Spanish monarchic ; then he willed me to observe, how this fearfuU union of Earth and Sea, having escaped the petty monarches of Europe, would in all probability, constrain them to play after-games for their own estates. Because these two potent navies — his and the l^Tetherland's — being thus added to his invincible armies by land, would Boon — as he thought — compell that head of holy mother Church, whose best use for many yeares had been — by ballancing these two emperiall greatnesses one with another — to secure inferior princes : would — as I said — soon enforce that sacred mother-head to shelter her self under the wings of this emperiall eagle, and so absolutely quit her miter-supremacie; or at least become chaplain to this suppressing, or supporting con- queror. Besides, in this fatall probability he discovered the great difference between the wisdom of quiet princes, in their moderate desires of subsistence, 5 P, 'Netherlands'. G. SITl PHILIP SIDNEY. 61 from the large and hazardous counsells of under- taking monarches ; whose ends are onely to make force the umpier of right, and by that inequality become sovcraign lords — with-out any other titb — over equalls and inferiors. Third, now for this third point, of constraining this oppressed, yet active IS'cthciiand people to become pirates : he willed me in the examples of time past to observe, how much Scirpalus^ did annoy^ the Grecians ; Sextus Pompeius the Eo- mans, even in their greatness ; and in the modern, Flushing, Dunkerk, Eochell and Algiers. Infer- ring withall, that this people, which had so long prospered upon the rich materialls of all nations, by the two large spreading armes of manufacture and traffique, could not possibly^ be forced at once to leave this habit : but would rather desperately adventure to maintain these enriching strengthes of marriners, souldiers, and shipping of their own, with becoming rende-vous for the swai-m of discon- tented subjects universally; inviting them with hope of spoil, and by that inheritance, to try 1 Qy = Sarpedon of Iliad vi. 199: ii. 876: V, 479 &c. &c. G. 2 P, misreads * among '. ^ M, misreads • possible ' . G. 62 THE LIPE OP THE RENOWNED whether the world were ready to examine her old foundations of freedom, in the specious and flat- tering regions of change, and Power's encroach- ments ? Lastly, besides this uneven ballance of State ; the Tery reflexion of scorn between age and youth ; her comeliness, his disadvantage that way ; the excessive charge by the^ continuall resort of th3 French hither ; danger of change for the worse ; her reall native States and riches made subject to forrain humors ; little hope of succession, and if any, then France assured to become the seat, and England the province ; children, or no children, misfortune or uncertainty: These — I say — and Buch like thrcatning probabilities made him joyn with the weaker party, and oppose this torrent ; even while the French faction reigning had cast aspersions upon his uncle of Leicester, and made him, like a wise man — under colour of taking physick — voluntarily become prisoner in his cham- ber. » P. omits 'the'. G. SIE PHILIP SIDNEY. 63 CHAP. VI. HUS stood the state of things then : and if any judicious reader shall ask, Whether it were not an error and a dangerous one, for Sir Philip being neither magistrate nor coun- sellor, to oppose himself against his soveraign's pleasure in things indifferent ? I must' answer, That his worth, truth, favour, and sincerity of heart, together with his reall manner of proceed- ing in it, were his privileges. Because this gent- leman's course in this great business was, not by murmur among equals, or inferiours, to detract from princes; or by a mutinous kind of bemoan- ing error, to stir up ill affections in their minds, whose best thoughts could do him no good ; but by a due address of his humble reason to the Queen her self, to whom the appeal was proper. So that although he found a sweet stream of sove- raign humors in that well-tempered lady, to run against him, yet found he safety in her self, against that selfness which appeared to threaten him in her; for this happily born and bred princess was not — subject-like — apt to construe things reverently done, in the worst sense ; but rather with the spirit of annointed greatness — as created 64 THE LIFE OF THE EEXOWFED to reign equally over frail and strong — more de- sirous to find Tvaies to fashion her people, than colours or causes to punish them. Lastly, to prove nothing can be wise, that is not really honest ; every man of that time, and consequently of all times may know, that if he should have used the same freedome among the grandees of Court— their profession being not commonly^ to dispute princes purposes for truth's sake, but second their humours to govern their Xingdomes by them— he must infallibly have found worth, justice, and duty lookt upon with no other eyes but Lamia's^ ; and so have been stained by thit reigning faction, which in all Courts allows no faith currant to a soveraign, that hath not past the seal of their practising cor- poration. Thus stood the Court at that time ; and thus stood this ingenuous spiiit in it. If dangerously 1 M, * comonly being, not*. G. * Lamiae (from Lamia, a female phantom) were conceiv- ed as handsome ghostly women who by voluptuous artifices attracted young men: very much what the legendary vampires are. Eirlier, in Gascoigne's Glasse of Goveme- ment, Lamia, a courtesan, is one of the characters (Hazlitf s Gascoigne, Vol. II. 2 et alibi) : later, Lamia gives title to one of Keats's greater poems, viz Lamia or the Eve of St. Agnes. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 65 in men's opinions who are curious of the present, and in it rather to doe craftily, than well : yet, I say, that princely heart of hers was a sanctuary unto him ; and as for the people, in whom many times the lasting images of Worth are preferred before the temporary visions of art or favour, he could not fear to suffer any thing there, which would not prove a kind of trophy to him. So that howsoever he seemed to stand alone, yet he stood upright ; kept his access to her Kajesty as before; a liberall conversation with the Prench, reverenc- ed amongst the worthiest of them for himselfe, and bound^ in too strong a fortification of nature for the less worthy to abbord^, either with question, familiarity, or scorn. In this freedome, even whilst the greatest spirits and estates seemed hood-winkt or blind ; and the inferior sort of men made captive by hope, fear, ignorance ; did he enjoy the freedome of his thoughts, with all recreations worthy of them. And in this freedome of heart being one day at tennis, a peer of this realm, born great, greater by alliance, and superlative in the prince's favour, abruptly came into the Tennis- Court ; and speak- ing out of these three paramount authorities, he ^ P, 'born'. G. ^ = accost. G. 66 THE LIFE OF THE IIENOW^^;D forgot to entreat that, which he could not legally command. When hy the encounter of a steady object, finding unrespectiveness in himself — though a great lord — not respected by this princely spirit, he grew to expostulate more roughly. The rcturas of which stile comming still from an understanding heart, that knew what was due to it self, and what it ought to others, seemed — through the mists of my lord's passion/ swoln with the windes of this'^ faction then reigning — to provoke in yeelding. "Whereby, the lesse amazement or confusion of thoughts he stirred up in Sir Philip, the more shadowes this great lord's own mind was possessed with : till at last with rage — which is ever ill- disciplin'd — he commands them to depart the Court. To this Sir Philip temperately answers ; that if his lordship had been pleased to express desire in milder characters, perchance he might have led out those, that he should now find would not be driven out with any scourge of fury. This answer — like a bellows — blowing up the sparks of excess already kindled, made my lord scornfully call Sir Philip by the name of " puppy ". In which progress of heat, as the tempest grew more and more vehement within, so did their hearts 1 P, ' passions ' . G. ' P, ' winde of his ' G. SIE PHILIP SIDNEY. 67 breath out their perturbations in a more loud and shrill accent. The Trench Commissioners unfort- unately had that day audience, in those private galleries, whose windows looked into the Tennis- Court. They instantly drew all to this tumult : every sort of quarrels sorting well with their hu- mors, especially this. "Which Sir Philip perceiv- ing, and rising with an^ inward strength by the prospect of a mighty faction against him ; asked my lord, with a loud voice, that which he heard clearly enough before. AVho — like an echo, that still multiplies by reflexions — repeates'^ this epithet of * Puppy ' the second time. Sir Philip resolving in one answer to conclude^ both the attent- ive hearers and passionate actor, gave my lord a lie, impossible — as he averred — to be retorted ; in respect all the world knows, puppies are gotten by dogs, and children by men. Hereupon those glorious inequalities of fortune in his lordship were put to a kinde of pause, by a precious inequality of nature in this gentleman. So that they both stood silent a while, like a dumb shew in a Tragedy ; till Sir Philip sensible of his own wrong, the forrain and factious spirits that ^ P, omits 'an'. G. » P, * repeated '. G. • = include. G, 68 THE LIFE OF THE EEXQ-WT^ED attended ; and yet, even in this question between him, and his superior, tender oP his Countrie's honour ; with some words of sharp accent, led the way abruptly out of the Tennis-Court, as if so unexpected an accident were not fit to be decided any farther in that place. "Whereof the great lord making another sense, continues his play, without any advantage of reputation ; as by the standard of humours in those times it was con- ceived. A day Sr. Philip remaines in suspense, when hearing nothing of or from the lord, he sends a gentleman of worth, to awake him out of his trance ; wherein the Trerch would assuredly think any pause, if not death, yet a lethargy of true hor.ourin both. This stirred up"^ a resolution in his lordship to send Sir Philip a challenge. Not- withstanding, these thoughts in the great lord wandred so long between glory and^ anger and in- equality of state, as the lords of her Majestie's Counsell took notice of these* differences, command- ed peace, and laboured a reconciliation between them. But needlessly in one respect, and bootlesly in another. The great lord being — as it should 'P, 'to'. G. ' P, omits ' up '. G. » P, omits < and'. G. * P, ' the '. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 09 seem — either not hasty to adventure many ine- qualities against one, or inwardly satisfied with the progress of his own acts : Sir Philip, on the other side confident, he neither had nor would lose, or let fall any thing of his right. Which her Majestic' s Counsell quickly perceiving, recom- mended this work to her self. The Queen, who saw that by the loss or disgrace of either, she could gain nothing, presently under- takes Sir Philip ; and — like an excellent Monarch — lays before him the difference in degree^ between earls and gentlemen ; the respect inferiors owd? to their superiors ; and the necessity in princes to maintain their own creations, as degrees descending between the people's licentiousness and the an- noynted soveraignty of crowns : how the gentle- man's neglect of the nobility taught the peasant to insult upon both. Whei'eunto Sir Philip, with such reverence as became him, replyed : Pirst, that place was never intended for privilege to wrong : witness her self, who how soveraign soever she were by throne, birth, education, and nature ; yet was she content to cast her own affections into the same moulds her subjects did, and govern all her rights by their laws. Again he besought her majesty to 1 M, 'degrees'. G. 2 P, 'ought*. G. 70 THE LUTE OP THE BENOWNED consider, that although he were a g:i'eat lord by- birth, alliance, and grace ; yet hee was no lord over him: and therefore the difference of degrees between free men, could not challenge any other homage than precedency. And by her father's act — to make a princely wisdom become the more familiar — he did instance the government of Kinge^ Henry the Eighth, who gave the gentiy free and safe appeal unto^ his feet, against the oppressions of the grandees; and found it wisdome, by the stronger corporation in number, to keep down the greater in power : inferring else, that if they should unite, the over-grown might be tempted by still coveting more, to fall — as the angels did — by affecting equality with their Maker. This constant tenor of truth he took upon him ; which as a chief duty in all creatures, both to themselves and the soveraignty above them, protected this gentleman — though he obeyed not — from the displeasure of his soveraign. "Wherein he left an authentical president to after ages, that howsoever tyrants allow of no scope, stamp, or standard, but their own will ; yet with princes there is a latitude for subjects to reserve native and legall freedom, by paying humble tribute in manner, though not in matter, to them. 1 P, * K— g '. G. » P Ho '. G. » P, ' oppression.' G. SIB PHILIP SIDNEY. 71 CHAP. YII. TIE next step whicli he intended into the world, was an expedition of his own projecting; wherein he fashioned the whole hody, with purpose to become head of it hiirs;lf. I mean the last employment but one of Sir Prancis Drake to the West Indies. "Which journey, as the scope of it was mixt both of sea and land service ; so had it accordingly distinct officers and commanders, chosen by Sir Philip out of the ablest governors of those martiall times. The project was contrived between them^ in this manner ; that both should equally be governours, when they had left the shore of England; but while things were a preparing^ at home, SirErancis', was to beare the name, and by the credit of Sir Philip* have all particulars abundantly supplyed. The reason of which secret carriage was, the impossibility for Sir Philip to win the Queen or Government — out of the value which they rated • P, ' themselves '. G. ^ M, 'prepareing'. G. 3 P, 'Fran'. G. * P, 'Phil'. G. 72 THE LITE OF THE EENOWNED his worth at — to dispense with an employment for him so remote, and of so hazardous a nature. Besides his credit and reputation with the State lay not that way. So as our provident magistrates expecting a prentiship more seriously in martial, then^ in mechanical actions ; and therein measur- ing all men hy one rule ; would — as Sir Philip thought — not easily believe his unexperience equall for a designe of so many divers and dangerous passages : howsoever wise men, even in the most active times have determined this art of govern- ment, to be rather a riches^ of nature, than any proper fruit of industry or education. This— as I said — was one reason, why Sir Philip did cover that glorious enterprise with a cloud. Another was, because in the doing, while it past unknown, he knew it would pass without interruption ; and when it was done, presumed the success would put Envy and all her agents to silence. On the other side Sir Francis found that Sir Philip's friends, with the influence of his excellent inward powers, would add both weight and fashion to his ambition ; and consequently either with or without Sir Philip's company, yeeld unexpected ease and honor to him in this voiage. 1 P, 'than'. G. ' M, 'richesae'. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 73 Upon these two divers counsels they treat con- fidently together ; the preparations go on with a large hand amongst our governors; nothing is denyed Sir Francis that both their propounding hearts could demand. To make which expedition of less difficulty, they keep the particular of this plot more^ secret than it was possible for them to keep the generall preparations of so great a jour- ney ; hoping that while the Spaniard should be forced to arm every where against them, he could not anywhere be so royally provided to defend himself, but they might land without- any great impediment. In these termes Sir Francis departs for^ Pli- mouth with his ships ; vowed and resolved that when he staid for nothing but* a wind, the watch- word should come post for Sir Philip. The time of the year made haste away, and Sir Francis to follow it either made more haste than needed, or at least seemed to make more than really he did. Notwithstanding, as I dare aver that in his own element he was industrious f so dare I not con- 1 M, omits. G. 2 M, misreads ' with'. G. 3 P, stupidly reads ' from '. G. * P, inserts ' for ' after ' but '. G. ' P, 'industrous'. G. 74 THE LIFE OF THE EENOWNED demn his affections in this misprision of time. Howsoever a letter comes post for Sir Philip, as if the whole Fleet stayed onely for him, and the wind. In the mean-season the State hath intelli- gence that Don Antonio was at sea for England, and resolved to land at Plimouth. Sir Philip turning occasion into wisdome, puts himself into the imployment of conducting up this king ; and under that veil leaves the Court without suspicion ; overshoots his father-in-law then secretary of Estate in his own bow ; comes to Plimmouth ; was feasted the first night by Sir Francis, with a great dcale of outward pomp and complement. Yet I that had the honor as of being bred with him from his youth ; so now — by his own choice of all England — to be his loving and beloved Achates in this journey, observing the countenance of this gallant mariner more exactly than Sir Philip's leisure served him to doe ; after we were laid in bed, acquainted him with my observation of the discountenance and depression which ap- peared in Sir Francis ; as if our coming were both beyond his expectation and desire. Neverthelesse that ingenuous^ spirit of Sir Philip's, though apt to give me credit, yet not apt to discredit others, 1 M, * ingeniouse ' as usual. G. STR PHILIP SIDITET. 75 made him suspend his own, and labour to change, or qualifie my judgement ; till within some few dales after, finding the shippes neither ready ac- cording to promise, nor possibly to be made ready in many dales ; and withall observing some t^parcks of false fire, breaking out unawares fiom his yoke- fellow daily ; it pleased him— in the freedom of our friendship — to return me my own stock, with interest. All this while^ Don Antonio^ landed not ; the Fleet seemed to us — like the weary passengers Inn— still to goe farther^ from our desires ; letters came from the Court to hasten it away : hot it* may be the leaden feet and nimble thoughts of Sir Francis wrought in the day, and unwrought by night ; while he watched an opportunity to dis- cover us, without being discovered. For within a^ few dales after a post steales up to the Court, upon whose arrivall an alarum is pre- sently taken : messengers sent away to stay us, or if we refused, to stay the whole Fleet. ^N'ot- withstanding this first Mercury, his® errand being partly advertised to Sir Philip beforehand, was ^ P, misprints 'whhe'. G. ^ P, 'landes'. G. 3 P, ' further '. G. * P, omits ' hot ' = but. G. •M, omits* a'. G. * P, misprints 'this'. G. 76 THE LIFE OF THE EEI^-OWNED intercepted upon the way ; his letters taken from him by two resolute souldiers in mariiners* apparell ; brought instantly to Sir Philip, opened, and read. The contents as welcome as bulls of excommunication to the superstitious Eomanist, when they enjoyn him either to forsake his right, or his holy Mother- Church, yet did he fit^ this first processe, without noise or answer. The next was a more imperiall mandate, care- fully conveyed and delivered to himself by a peer of this realm ; carrying with it in the one hand grace, the other thunder. The grace was an offer of an instant imployment under his unckle, then going generall into the Low- Countries ; against which as though^ he would gladly have demurred ; yet the confluence of reason, transcendencie of Power, fear of staying the whole Fleet, made him instantly sacrifice all these sealf" places to the duty of obedience. "Wherein how unwillingly soever he yeelded up his knowledge, affections, publique and private endes in that journey ; yet did he act this force in a gallant fashion. Opens his reserved ends to the generall ; encourageth the whole army with pro- 1 Query— sit? G. 2 P, grossly misprints * although '. G. ' P, misreads ' false ' for ' sealf ' = self. G. I SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 77 mise of his uttermost assistance ; saves Sir Francis Drake from blastings of Court, to keep up his repi!ttation among those companies he was presently to command; cleareth the claseled eyes of that army, by shewing them, how even in that forrain imployment, which took himself from^ them, the Queen had engaged herself more waies than one against the Spaniard's ambition : so as there was no probability of taking away hor princely hand from such a well-ballanced work of her own. Neverthelesse as the limmes of Venus' picture, how perfectly soever begunne,^ and left by Apelles, yet after his death proved impossible to finish : so that heroicall design of invading and possessing America, how exactly soever projected and digest- ed in every minute by Sir Philip, did yet prove impossible to be well acted by any other man's spirit than his own ; how sufficient soever his associate were in all parts of navigation ; whereby the success of this journey fell out to be rather fortunate in wealth, than honor. Yet to deale trulie with the dead, he was a man not onely sufficient in the triuiall parts of jS'auigation, but euen large beyond his profession in untertakinge [_sic^ that vast Empire of Spaine, a masse so farre » M, 'for'. G. 2 P, 'began'. G. 78 THE LITE OF THE KENOWNED aboiie him in councell, wealth, and disciplin'd armies.^ "Whereupon, when Sir Philip found this ^ and many other of his large and sincere resolutions imprisoned within the pleights of their fortunes, that mixed good and evill together unequally, and withall discerned how the idle - censuring faction at home had won ground of the active adventures abroad ; then did this double depression both of things and men, lift up his active spirit into an universall prospect of time, States, and things: and in them made him consider what im- possibility there was for him, that had no delight to rest idlio^ at home, of re-propounding some other forrain enterprise, probable and fit to invite that excellent princesse's mind and moderate gov- ernment, to take hold of. The placing of his thoughts upon which high pinnacle, layd the present map of the Christian world underneath him. ^ The -words from ' Yet to deale , . . . disciplin'd armies', printed here for the first time from the MS. G. 2 P, 'idle'. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 79 CHAP. YIII. "N" whicli view, !N"ature guiding his eyes, first to his native Country, he found ^^ greatness of worth and place, counter- poysed there by the arts of power and favour. The stirring spirits sent abroad as fewell, to keep the flame far off: and the effeminate made judges of danger which they fear, and honor which they understand not. The people — by disposition of the clime- valiant and multiplying, apt indifferently to cor- rupt with peace, or refine with action ; and there- fore to be kept from rust or mutiny, by no means better than by forrain employments : his opinion being that Islanders^ have the air and waters so diversely moving about them, as neither peace nor war, can long be welcome to their humors, which must therefore be govern' d in either^ by the active and yet steady hand of Authority. Besides he observed the sea to have so natural! a sympathie, with the complexions of them she G. 2 P, omits * in either '. G. 80 THE LIFE OF THE liENOWNED. invirons, as be it traffique, piracie, or war, they are indifferent to wander upon that element ; and for the most part apter to follow undertaking Chance, than any setled endes in a marchant- traffique. Now for the blessed lady which then governed over us : how equall soever she were in her happy creation, for peace, or -^'ar, and her people — as I have shewed — humble to follow her will in either, yet because she resolved to keep within the decorum of her sex, ^ shewed herself more ambitious of ball- ancing neighbor princes from invading one another, than under any pretence of title or revenge, apt to question or conquer upon forrain princes posses- sions. And though this moderate course carried her into a defensive war, which commonly falleth^ out rather to be an impoverishing of enemies, than any meanes to enrich or discipline their Estates that undertake it ; yet could not all the rackes of loss, injury, or terror, stir this excellent lady into any further degree of offensive war, than onely the keeping of her Navy abroad, to interrupt the safe- comming home of his Indian Fleet, and hinder the provision contracted for in all parts of Europe, to furnish another invincible Navy, wherewith he 1 P, has P, 'hath'. G. 90 THE LIFE OF THE RENOWNED made him draw in his spirits to comfort his heart ; the other that of lason hy fetching away his golden fleece, and not suffering any one man quietly to enjoy that, which eveiy man so much affected.^ ^ Note in preceding pages the use of the word ' ballancing' : and Bee a query onward (page 102) relative to its use. G. SIE THILIP SIDNEY. 91 CHAP. IX. carry war into the bowels of Spain, and by the assistance of the ITetherlands, bum his shipping in euery haven^ as they passed along ; and in that passage surprize some well- chosen place for wealth, and strength : easie to be taken, and possible to be kept by us : he supposed to be the safest, most quick, and hon- ourable counsell of diversion. Because the same strength of shipping which was offensively im- ployed to carry forces thither and by the way to^ interrupt all martiall preparations and provisions of that griping State, might by the convenient distance between his coast and ours — if the Span- iard should affect to pay us with our own monies' — fitly be disposed both wayes : and so like two arms of a naturall body — with little addition of charge — defend and offend : spend and supply at one time. Or, if we found our own stock or neighbours* contribution strong enough to follow good success 1 P, ' all havena ', G. » M omits ' to '. G, * M, omits ' if the ...... own monies '. G, 92 THE LIFE OF THE EEN OWNED to greater designes; then whether our adventure once more, in stirring up spirit in the Portugall against the Castilians tyranny over them, were not to cast a chance for the best part of his wealth, reputation and strength, both of men and shipping in all his dominions. Again, lest the pride of Spain should be secret- ly ordain' d to scourge it self, for having been a scourge to so many, and yet in this reall inquisi- tion escape the audacity of undertaking princes ; Sir Philip thought^ fit to put the world in mind, that Sevill was a fair city ; secure in a rich soyl and plentiful traffique ; but an effeminate kind of people, guarded with a conquering name; and consequently a fair bait to the piercing eyes of ambitious generals, needy souldiers, and greedy mariners. In like sort hee mentioned Cales, as a strength, and key to her'^ traffiquefuU and naviga- ble river, not fit to be neglected in such a defensive and diverting enterprise, but at least to be examined. Lastly, whether this audacity of undertaking the conqueror at home ; would not, with any moderate success, raise up a new face of things in those parts and suddainly stir up many spirits, to 1 M, misreads ' though '. G. ' M omits * her '. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 93 move against the same power, under which they long have layne^ slavishly conjur'd, and by this affront, prove a deforming blemish in the nice fortune of a fearfuU usurper? Or if that shall be thought an undertaking too full of charge, hazard, or difficulty ; then whether it wil not be just in the wisdome of Estate, man- aged among active princes; that as Queene^ Elizabeth had ever been tender, in preserving her Boveraignty upon the narrow seas ; and wisely considered, how Nature, to maintain that birth- right of hers, had made all wars by sea far more cheap, proper, and commodious to her, than any expedition upon land could possibly^ be : I say, whether to continue this claim, would not prove honour to herself, advantage to her traffique, and reputation to her people ; I mean,* if shee should please, in those cloudy humors and questions reigning between her self and other princes, to keep a strong successive fleet, all seasonable times of the year, upon this pretty sleeve^ or Ocean of hers ? I say, to keep them as provident surveyors 1 P, 'bin'. G. 2 P, 'Qu.' G. ' M, misreads ' possible '. G. * M, omits ' I mean'. G. ^ = narrow channel of the aea, especially that between England and France. G. 94 THE LIFE OF THE EENOWlfED [of] what did passe from one State to another, •wherein the law of Nature or Nations had formerly given her interest to an offensive or defensive security. A regall inquisition, and worthy of a sea- soveraign, without wronging friends or neighbours, to have a perfect intelligence what they had, or wanted for delicacy, peace, or war in generall : and in particular a clear perspective glass into her enemies merchant or martiall traffique, enabling this queen so to ballance this ambitious Leviathan in either kind; as the little fishes, his fellow citizens, might travell, multiply and live quietly by him under the protection of Nature. A gain, let us consider, whether out of this, or the like audit, it will not be found a just tribute to opportunity, the rudder of all state wisedoms. That as Queene^ Elizabeth was a soveraign, which rested with her sex at home, and yet moved all sexes abroad to their own good ; whether — I say — as she from a devoted zeal to the Church, had by Sir Nicholas^ Throgmorton, in the beginning of her reign, stin-ed up spirits in that over-mitred French kingdom, to become watchfuU guardians of peace and religion there. I say, whether in the same Christian providence there might not, 1 P, ' Qu.' G. 2 P, ' Nich.' G. SIE PHILIP SIDNEY. 95 by the neglect or breach of many Treaties, an occasion be justly taken to reap a reasonable harvest out of that well-chosen seed time, by receiving Eochel, Brest, Bourcleaux, or any other place upon that Continent, distressed for Eeligion, into her absolute protection? iN'evertheless, not with intent of reconquering any part of her ancient demeasnes,^ lineally descended from many ances- tors ; howsoever those places so taken may seem seated like tempters of princes, to plead in the court of Mars such native, though discontinued^ rights, as no time can prescribe against ; but only to keep those humble religious souls free from oppression, in that super- Je suited soveraignty. In which religious designe to encourage the Queen^ he advised us to examine if the diuisions* naturally rising amongst their unlimited French grandees, grown up jper mltwn with their kings, above laws, Parliaments, and People's freedom ; would not in all probability cast up som light dust into their superiors eys, as tributes to their common idol Discorder ; and so perchance either ^ P, 'Domaines'. G. 2 M, ' disconted '. G. sp, 'Qu.' G. * P, grossly misreads ' diversions '. G. 96 THE LIFE OF. THE BENOWNED "by treaty, or sight of the first army, stir up Bouil- lon and Rohan for religion ; other royteletes^ w**^ hope to make safe their subaltern governments, even through the . mines of that over-soring sove- raignty ? And is it^ not as probable again^ that even the great* cities, raised and standing upon the like waving encroachments of time and advantagious power, would readily become jealous of the least strict hand carried over them, by interruptinge* of traffique, greediness of governors, pride of their own wealth, or indefinite impositions ; as Paris, Bourdeaux, Marseilles,® Eoan, or Lyons ? whereby they might likewise be tempted, either to run head-long with the stream, or at the least to stand at gaze, and leave the heraldries' of princes to be decided by the stronger party, as for the most part, they hitherto have been. !N'ay in this climax to come nearer yet ; is it probable that even the Catholique princes and pro\inces environing this vast Kingdome, would — as now they doe — for want of vent, break their ^ = kinglets, httle kings. G. ^ P, misdrops 'it*. G. 3 M, omits 'again'. G. * P> ' greatest'. G. * P, 'interruption'. G. « M, 'Marsiles'. G. 'P, 'Heraldry'. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 97 hopes, and servilly run out upon the ground like water, and not rather when this new rent should appear, chuse to shake off a chargeable and servile yoke of mountebank holiness under Spanish Rome, and to that end presently mingle money, counsels, and forces with ours ? As quickly resolved that this way of a ballancing union, amongst absolute princes, would prove quieter rests^ 'for them, and sounder foundations for us, than our former parties ' did, when we conquered France, more by such factious and ambitious assistances, than by any odds of our bows or beef-eaters, as the French were then scornfally pleas'd to terme us : I say, even when in the pride of our conquests, we strove to gripe more than was possible for us to hold ; as appears by our being forced to come away, and leave our ancestors blond and bones behind, for monuments not of^ enjoying, but of over-griping and expulsion. So that the sum of all is ; whether the taking or surprize of Cales, E,ochel, Bourdeaux, or some such other good out or inlet upon the maine^, offered into our protection,* would not prove 1 P. 'rest '. G. 2 M, omits 'of '. G. ^ P, ' that Mayn ' . See Glossary-index 5. ^7. G. * The words " offered protection '' not in MS. G. G 98 THE LITE OF THE RENOWNED an^ honour to us, as a brave earnest either to war or peace ? Beneficiall to the French king and crown against their wills ; as manifesting to their hot spirits, and young councels, that undertaking is not all ? And besides clearly shewing, in Mars, his true glass, how that once wel-formed Monar- chy had by little and little, let fal her ancient, and reverend'* pillars — I mean Parliaments, lawes and customes — into the narrowness of proclamations or imperiall mandates : by which, like bastard children of TyTanny, she hath transformed her gentry into peasants, her peasants into slaves, magistracy into sale works and crowne-revenue^ into impositions. And therein likewise published the differences between monarchs and tyrants so clearly to the world, as hereafter all estates, that would take upon theii' necks the yoke of Tyranny, must justly be reputed voluntary slaves in the choice of that passive bondage. Whereby, one question naturally begetting another, the next — as I take it — must be what this Austrian aspiring familie would doe, while these two kingdomes should stand thus engaged ? • P, omits ' an ' : M spells ' honor '. G. ' M, spells ' reuerent *. G. 3 P, • crown-revenue '. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 99 Whether invade the king of Denmark alone, hop- ing by his mine to subdue the yet unsubdued^ princes of Germany, to get the Sound, and Eastern Seas, with all their maritime riches^ into his power : to bring the Hanse towns into some cap- tivated subjections, and thereby become soveraign over all Eastern traffique by sea, and by land ? Or else by lulling France asleep with imperiall matches or promises, finde meanes to steal the flower-de-luce into the lyon's garland; and in that currant of prosperity to citadellize the long op- pressed J^etherlands into a tenure of uttermost bondage ; and so build up his eagle's nest above the threatening of any inferior region. But it many times pleaseth God by the breaking out of concealed flashes from these fatall cloudeg of craft, or violence, to awake even the most superstitious princes out of their enchanted dreams; and cause them to resolue^ suddainly to make head against this devouring Sultan, with leagues offensive and defensive: and by an unexpected union to become such frontier neighbours to this crown-hunter, as ^ P, grossly misprints * subdued '. G. ^ M, spells oddly ' ritchesses '. G. 3 P, omits ' by '. G. * P, grossly misprints ' resist *. G. 100 THE LIFE OF THE RENOWNED he might with great reason doubt their treadinge^ Tipon-his large cloven feet, who intended to have set them so heavily upon the heads of many more ancient States, peoples, and^ scepters than his own. And lastly in the same press, by this one affront in the lion's face, publishing to the world that power is infinite no where but in God : so as the first blow well stricken, most commonly succeeds with honor and advantage to the judicious, able, and active undertakers. Out of which divine providence, governing all second causes by the First, is it not probable that even the natural vicissitudes of war and peace, would bring forth some active propositions be- tween these many waies allied kingdomes of Eng- land and France, to a^ perfect reconciliation, and as many again of irreconciliable divisions between them and Spain ? France being stirred up by a joint counsell and proposition of assistance, to the recovery of her long sleeping rights in N'avarre or Naples; and England onely to distract this ambitious monarch from his late custom, in depos- ing kings and princes, as Navarre, Portugall, the Palatine, Brunswick, &c., and* as in a second * P, in like maimer misprints ' trading.' G. 2 P, < or '. G. 3 M, omits ' a '. G. * P, misplaces &c. after ' and '. G. SIE PHILIP SIDNEY. 101 course of his devouring gluttony, interrupt him from future prosecution^ of Denmark, and Ger- many it self, to the same end ;^ with this^ constant intent, to bring all the earth under one man's tyranny. To prevent which deluge of boundless power, Sir Philip was of opinion, that more than charge, it could be no prejudice ; if to the unvizarding of this masked triplicity between Spain, Rome and the soveraign Jesuits of France ; I say if the Queen, as defendress of the faith, for a main pledg of this new* offensive and defensive undertaken League,^ would be pleased to assist the French king with the same forces by Sea or land, wherewith, till then, she had justly opposed against him. And consequently putting the Spaniard from an offen- sive, to a defensive war, manifestly publish and give credit to this unbelieved truth, viz : that this arch-conqueror never intended other favor to the Pope, emperor, or Jesuits, in all this conjunc- tion, than Poliphemus promised to Vlysses,^ which ^ P, ' prosecutions '. G. ^ M, omits 'to the same end'. G. ' P, misprints ' his '. G. * M, omits. G. ^ M. 'league undertaken'. G. 6 Homer : Od. ix. 369. G. 102 THE LIFE OF THE EENOWNED was, that they should be the last whoin^ he purposed to devour. And further^ to encourage these great princes in this true balancing designed with the charge- able and thoniy passages proper to it ; he provident- ly saw the long threatned Dutchie of Savoy would be in their view : with assurance that this active prince would think it a safe diversion of dangers from his domesticall Estate, and a fit stage to act his forrain cobwebbs upon, if he might have them shadowed under the wings of stronger and every way more able princes ;* without which, his weake^ Estate must in all probability force him to shift his outward garments perchance too often. The Venetians again, foreseeing with their aristocraticall jealousie, that their Estate had onely two pregnant dangers hanging over it ; the one Eastward from the grand Siguier, who easily moves not his encumpassing half moon ; the other "Westward from this Solyman of Spain, whose tinsatiable ambition, they knew, would rest upon iM' 'which'. G. 2 P, * farther '. G. 3 Have we here the source of the phrase ' balance of power '. G. * F ' Powers '. G. ^ P, ' mean '. G. _J SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 1 03 no centre, but creep along the Mediterranean Seas, till he might — contrary to the nature of those waters — over-flow all weake^ or secure neighbor princes, without any other title or quarrell, than stet pro ratione voluntas. And foreseeing again in this suddaiu violence, that they could expect no estate to be selfly engrged to'^ their succor ; but must resolve to stand or fall alone by that course.' Where, on the other side, if the Eastern half moon should but seem to move towards them, they were assure 1 to have all the estates of Europe, engaged by their own interest, to joine with them. Upon this view there is no doubt, but that wise city would have resolved it to be a choice of the* lesse evill, to joiae with these great princes, in diverting his Spanish gallies and galleons by Sea, and his inveterate armies by land from disturbing or subjecting the safety and traffique of all Christ- endom to his seven patch' d coated kingdomes, rather than for want of heart not^ opportunity, to stand neuter — as they doe — and become treasurers both of money and munition for him, that already intends thus^ to conquer them and enjoy it. » P, 'weak'. G. 2 P, 'in'. G. 3 ' By that course ' not in M. G. * P, omits 'the '. G. sp, 'or*. G. * M, omits. G. 104 TFE LIFE OF THE RENOWNED Again, shall we— said Sir Philip — in these collections of particulars, forget the State of Italy- it self ? which excellent temper of spirits, earth, and aire, having long been smothered and mowed down by the differing tyrannies of Spain and Eome, shall we not be confident they would, upon the approaching of these armies, both stir up those benumbed soveraignties, which onely bear the name of free princes, to affect their own manu- missions, and help to chase away those^ succeed- ing and oppressing- garrisons, whose fore-fathers for many years since^ had sold life, libertie, and lawes for eight pence the day?^ and so resolutely oppose those Spanish-born, or Spanish^-sworn tyrannies, which have for divers ages lorded over that most equally tempered Nation and their natiue Princes.*^ Or whether the winter in those seas, giving opportunity without suspition, might^ not encour- age an advantagiouse® claime of our old rights in the kingdome of Sicilie, more legall laid^ than ^ P, 'these'. G. ^ M, 'suppressing'. G. 3 P, omits ' since '. G. * P, ; • G. ^ P, omits the second Spanish.' G. * P, omits ' and princes '. G. "P, 'may*. G. » P, omits * laid '. G. ^ P, omits ' advantagiouse ' . G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 105 most of his Spanish intrusions ; and therein be welcome to the Grand Signior, the freedome of Algiers, nay euen^ to Italy it self. And besides, if we prospered, yield abundance of wealth by spoil and trade : with such a seat for diversion or possession, as by many visible and invisible helps, might be kept, or put away with infinite advant- age ? Lastly, he made a quaere, whether the Pope himself could^ not — like a secular prophet — to keep his becoming chaplain a little^ farther off; either wink or at least delay his thundering curses, or supplies of Peter-pence against these qualifying armies, onely to moderate the over-greatnesse of this* Spanish monarchic ? whose infancie having bee a nourished under the miter's holy water, and sophistries of his practising Conclaves, dares now imperiously publish to the world a resolution, of taking all other distinctions from amongst men, saving that canonicall regiment^ of wit and might, seeing the Pope thereby might preserve* * P, omits ' nay ', and spells ' even '. G. 2 P, 'would'. G. 3 P, misinserts ' the ' after ' little '. G. * P, as before, misprints ' his '. G. 5 Government or rule. G. ^ P, has ' whereby he might so preserve '. G. 106 THE LIFE OF THE EENOWNED his spirituall ambition entire, without any charge or change of Religion, or soveraignties from one hand to another, but like a holy father mediate the restoring of Italy to her ancient freed, ^ and distinct principalities. Whereby^ now by this moderate course, admit the Pope for his part, should impair his temporall profits and subaltern jurisdiction a while, yet shall he be sure — as I said^ — to multiply his spirituall honors and inlarge that kingdom, by these works of supererogation. And by joyning with his fellow-princes in a con- tribution, by way of accompt or countenance to pay these great armies, be sure to sit rent-free under his and their own vines, as absolute spirit- uall and temporall princes ought to doe ? From which — saith he — this conclusion will probably follow ; that the undertaking of this Antonie single, I mean France, would prove a begetting of brave occasions jointly to disturb this Spanish Augustus,* in all his waies of crafty, or forcible conquests. Especially since Queen Eliza- beth,^ the standard of this conjunction, would infallibly incline to unite with the better part, I P, 'free'. G» 2 M, omits. G. ^ M, omits * as I said '. G. * P, ' Ottoman '. «'M'EHzab'. G. SIK PHILIP SIDNEY. 107 and by a suddain changing of Mars his imperious ensignes into a well ballanced treaty of universall peace, restore and keep the world within her old equilibrium or bounds.^ And the rather, because her long custom in governing, would quickly have made her discern, that it had been impossible, by force or any human wisdom to have qualified those'^ overgrown com- binations of Spain ; but onely by a countermining of party with party, and a distracting of exorbitant desires, by casting a gray-headed cloud of fear over them; thereby manifesting the well-dis- guised yokes of bondage, under which our modem conquerors would craftily entice the nown-adjec- tive-natured princes and subjects of this time, to submit their necks. A map — as it pleased her to say — of his secrets, in which she confessed her- self to be the more ripe, because under the like false ensignes, though perchance better masked, she had seen Philip the second after the same measure, or with little difference, to Henry the third of Prance, a principall fellows-member in that earthly founded, though heavenly seeming Church of Pome, when he redelivered Amiens,* 1 M, ' bonds ' : see Glossary-index for * equilibrium.' G. 2 P. 'these*. G. ' M, omits. G. * P misprints 'Amiera'. G. 108 THE LIFE OF THE EENOWNED Abbeville, &c., together with that souldier-like passage made by the Luke of Parma through France to the relief of Eoan ;^ yet whether this provident Philip did frame these specious charities of a conqueror, Augustus-like aspiring to live after death greater than his successor ; or provi- dently foreseeing that the divers humors in suc- ceeding princes, would prove unable to maintain such green usurpations, in the heart of a kingdom competitor with his seven-headed Hydra kept together onely by a constant and unnaturall wheeP of fortune, till some new child of hers, like Henry the fourth, should take his turn in restonng all unjust combinations or encroachments ; or lastly, whether like a true cutter of cumine seedes, he did not craftily lay those^ hypocriticall sacrifices upon the altar of death, as peace-offerings from pride to the temple of fear, as smoaks of a dyeinge diseased conscience* choked up with innocent bloud : of all which perplexed pedigrees, I know not what to determine otherwise ; than that these tyrannicall enchrochments^ doe carry the images of ip, 'Paris'. G. 2 ]^, omits. G. 3 P, ' these '. G. * P, misreads ' dying of a diseased*. G. * M, spells without the first 'h '. G. Bin PHILIP SIDNEY. 109 Hell, and her thunder- workers, in their own hreasts, as fortune doth misfortunes in that wind- blown, vast, and various womb of hers. Or if this should seem of too high a nature, or oP too many chargeable parts : then whether to begin again where we left, and by the example of Drake, a mean born subject to the crown of Eng- land, to'^ invade, possess, and inhabite some well chosen havens in Peru,^ Mexico, or both, were not to strike at the root, and assail him where he is weakest; and yet gathers his chiefest strength to make himself monarch over all these* Western climes ? supplyes being as easie to us, as to him, we having both winds and seas indifferently open between us. ^ P, omits 'of. G. 2 P, omits ' to ' . G. 3 M, 'Pera'(«c). G. 4 P, 'aU the'. G. 110 THE LIFE OF THE RENOWNED CHAP. X. PON due consideration of which particu- lars, he fore-seeing that each of the former required greater resolution, union, and expense, than the neutralitie,^ diffidence, and quiet complexion of the princes then reigning could well bear ; and besides the freedome of choyce to be taken away, or at the least obstructed by fatall mists of ignorance or factious councells reigning among the ministers of kings : he resolved from the only^ gi'ounds of his former intended voiage with Sir Francis Drake, that the onely credible means left, was, to assail him by invasion or incursion — as occasion fell out — in some part of that rich and desert West-Indian Mayne.^ First, because it is an observation amongst* the wisest, that as no man is a prophet in his own Countrey ; so all men may get honour much cheaper far off than at home, and at sea more easily than at land. ^ P, grossly misprints ' naturahty '. G. 2 M, omits. G. ' P, grossly misprints ' Mine '. G. * P, * among ', G. SrR PHILIP SIDNEY. Ill Secondly, in respect he discovered the Spanish conquests in those remote parts, so much noised throughout the world, to be indeed like their Jesuits miracles; which coming far, were multip- lied by fame and art, to keep other Nations in wonder and blind worship. Thirdly, out of confident beliefe, that their in- humane cruelties had so dispeopled and displeased those countreys that, as he was sure to find no great power to withstand him ; so might he well hope the reliques of those oppressed Cinnons^ would joyfully take arms with any forrainer to redeem their liberty and revenge their parents' bloud. Fourthly, by reason the scale of distance be- tween Spain and America was so great ; as it infallibly assured Sir Philip, he should find leasure enough to land, fortifie, and become master of the field, before any succour could come thither to interrupt him. Fiftly, the pride, delicacy, and security of the Spaniard, which made him live without discipline, ^ P, 'Cimenons'. The correct word as in text is = savages. It is Spa,nish, and s. v. the Dictionary of the Spanish Academy explains it as " an adjective which is applied in the Indies to men and animals uncivilized and dwelling in the mountains, and to wild plants." G. 112 THE LIFE OF THE RENOWNED and trust more to the greatness of his name abroad, than any strength, order, courage, or munition at home. Sixtly, Sir Philip prophecying what^ pedigrees of princes did warrant, I mean the happy com- mixion^ of Scotland to these populous realms England and Ireland, foresaw, that if this multi- tude of people were not studiously husbanded and disposed of,^ they would rather diminish, than add any* strength to this monarchy. Which dan- ger — he conjectured — could only by this designe of forrain imploiment, or the peaceable harvest of manufactures at home, be safely prevented. The seventh, and a chief motive indeed was, that no other action could be less subject to emul- ation of Court, less straining to the present humors of State, more concurring with expectation and voice of time ; nor wher jin there was greater possibility of improving merit, wealth, and friends. Lastly, he did, as all undertakers must doe, believe that there is ever good intelligence between Chance and Hazard, and so left some things not summed up before hand by exact minutes. But * P, mis-inserts' the ' after * what '. G. 2 P, 'conjunction'. G. ^ P, omits 'of. G. * M, drops * any '. G. Sm PHILIP SIDNEY. 113 rather thought good to venture upon the cast of a Eubicon dy ; either to stop his springs of gold, and so drie up that torrent which carried his sub- duing armies every where ; or else by the wake- full providence of threatned neighbors, force him to waft home that conquering metall with infinite charge, and notwithstanding unwarranted, from enriching those enemies whom he principally stud- ied to suppress by it. To confirm which opinion, he fore-saw how this ouer^ racked unitie'^ of the Spanish-government — intending to work a change in the free course of I^ature — had interdicted all manufacture, traffick, or vent by sea or land, between the natives of America, an I all natiois elso, Spain excepted. A.nd withall, to make the barrenness of Spain more fertile, how he had improved that idle Castilian, by imploymeats, in activeness, wealth, and authority over thoio vanquished creatures ; suffering the poor native Americans to be supprest with heavy impositions, discouraging idleness, bondage of laws, sheering of the humble sheep to cloath the proud devouring wolves ; finally, under these and such like quintessences of tyranny, * P, omits ' ouer '. G. 2 P, grossly misprints ' vanity '. G. 114 THE LITE OF THE EENOTTNED striving — as I said— even besides Nature, to make barren Spain^ the monarchy, and that every way more'' fertile America to be the province. All which affectations^ of power to be wiser and stronger than the truth, this gentleman concluded would in the* fulness of time make manifest ; that the heavy can no more be forced to ascend and be* fixed there, than the light to goe downward, as to their proper center. Notwithstanding, the state of tyrants is so sublime, and their errors founded upon such pre- cipitate steps, as this growing Spaniard both did, doth, and ever will travell — with his forefathers in Paradise — to be equall, or above his Maker ; and so to imprison divine lawe^ within the narrownes of will, and humane wisdome, with the fettred selfnesses' of cowardly or ouer^ confident Tyranny. In which preposterous courses, to prevent all possibility of commotion'', let the reader be pleas- ed to observe, how out of those desperate councells » M, omits 'Spain'. G. ^ -^i^ omits. G. » P, ' afifections '. G. * P, omits ' the '. 0. 9 P, 'rest'. G. •?, 'laws'. Q. ' P, misprints ' selfsnesses'. G. • P, grossly misprints ' other *. G. • M, * comiction ' . G. SIK PHILIP SIDNEY . 115 of oppression^ he forceth his own subjects in' free denized America, to fetch weapons of defence, conquest, invasion ; as well as ornament, wealth, necessity, and delicacy, out of Spain, meerly to retain want, supply, price, weight, fashion, and measure, still — contrary to Nature — in that barren crown of Castile, with an absolute power resting in himself to rack,^ or ease both peoples, according to the waving ends of an unsteddy and sharp pointed pyramis of power. ]Nay, to rise yet a step higher in this bloudy pride, Sir Philip, our unbelieved Cassandra, ob- served this limitless ambition of the Spaniard to have chosen that uttermost citadell of bondage, I mean the Inquisition of Spain, for her instrument. Not, as in former masks, to prune or govern ; but in a confidence rising out of the old age of super- stitious fantasms, utterly to root out all seeds of humane freedom ; and — as Sr Philip conceived — wi-h fatall dissolution to it self. In respect that these types of extremity would soon publish to the world, what little difference tyrants strive to leave between the creation, use and honor of men * P, reads simply * how that continually he forceth.' G. 2 P, omits • in ' . G. ' P, grossly misprints ' rock ' . G. 116 THE LIFE OF THE EENOWNED and beasts, valuing them indifferently but as counters, to sum up the divers, nay contrary uses and audits of sublime and wandiing supremacy, whicli true glass would — in this gentleman's opinion — shew the most dull and cowardly eye, that tyrants be not nursing fathers, but step- fathers ; and so no anointed deputies of God, but rather lively images of the dark prince, that sole author of dis-creation and disorder, who ever mines his ends with over-building. Lastly, where his reason ended, there many divine precepts and c xamples did assure him, that the vengeance of God must necessarily hang over those hypocritical cruelties, which under colour of converting souls to Him, sent millions of better than their own, they cared not whither : and in stead of spreading Christian religion by good life, committed such terrible inhumanities, as gave those that lived under nature, manifest occasion to abhor the liuelie* characts^ of so tyranical a deity. Now though this justice of the Almighty be many times slow, and therefore neglected here on ^ P, oddly misreads ' devily '. G, ' P, * characters ' : M, is * chararts ', a slip for * char- aots', on which see Glossary-Index. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 117 Earth ; yet — I say — under the only conduct of this star, did Sir Philip intend to revive this haz- ardous enterprize of planting upon the main of America : projected, nay undertaken long before, — as I shewed you — but ill executed in the ab- sence of Sir Philip; with a designe to possess Nomhre de DioSy or some other haven near unto it, as places, in respect of the little distance between the two seas, esteemed the fittest renclez-vouz for supply or retreat of an army upon all occasions. And besides resolued to circle^ in his wealth and freedome, with a joynt fore-running fleet in the South sea ;^ to the end, that if the fortune of con- quest prospered with them, yet he should infallib- ly pay the charge of both Navies, with infinite losses^ and disreputation to the Spaniard. And in this project Sir Philip proceeded so far with the United Provinces, as they yeelded to assist and second the ships of his soveraign, under his charge, with a Fleet of their own. Which, besides a present addition of strength, he knew would lead in others by example. Again, for supply of these armies, he had — out ^ P, ' besides, by that means to circle '. G. 2 P, omits ' in the South Sea '. G. » P, 'l^sse'. G. 118 THE LIFE OP THE RENOWNED of that natural! tribute, whicli all free spirits acknowledge to superior worth — won thirty gen- tlemen of great bloud and state here in England, every man to sell one hundred pounds land, to second and countenance this first Fleet with a stronger. iN'ow when these beginnings were by his own credit and industrie thus well settled : then to gi\^e an excellent form to a reall work, hee con- trived this new intended Plantation, not like an assylum for fugitives, a Bellum Plraticuni for banditi, or any such base ramas^ of people : but as an emporium for the confluence of all nations that love or profess any kind of vertue or com- merce. "WTierein to incite those that tarried at home to adventure, he propounded the hope of a sure and rich return. To martiall men he opened the wide doore^ of sea and land, for fame and conquest. To the nobly ambitious the fayre^ stage of America, to win honour in. To the religious divines, besides a new apostolicall calling of the last hea- then to the Christian faith, a large field of reduc- ing poor Christians, mis-led by the idolatry of ^ (French) = a heap, mass, medley. G. * P, ' wide the door '. G-. * P, misprin^ ' for'. G. SIB PHILIP SIDNEY. 119 Rome, to their mother^ primitive Church. To the ingenuously^ industrious, variety of natural richesses, for new mysteries and manufactures to work upon. To the merchant, with a simple people, a fertile and unexhausted earth. To the fortune-hound, liberty. To the curious, a fruitful! womb of innovation. Generally, the word gold was an attractive adamant,^ to make men venture that which they have, in hope to grow rich by that which they have not. What the expectation of this voyage was,* time past can best witness ; but what the success should have been — till it be revived by some such gener- ous undertaker^ — lies hidden® in God's secret judgements, who did at once cut off this gentle- man's life, and so much of our hope. Upon these enterprises of his, I have presumed to stand the longer, because from the ashes of this first propounded voyage to America, that fatall Low Country action sprang up, in which this worthy gentleman lost his life. Besides, I do ingenuously' confess, that it delights me to keep ^ M, omits. G. ^ M, ' ingeniouslie '. G. 3 = loadstone. G. * P, inserts ' the' after ' -^as '. G. 5 P, « undertakers '. « P, 'hid'. G. ' M, as before ' ingeniouslie '. G. 120 THE LIFE OF THE EENOWIS'ED company with him, even after death ; esteeming his actions, words, and conversation, the daintiest treasure my mind could then lay up ; or can at this day impart^ with our posteritie. * = communicate. G. SIH PHILIP SIDNEY. 121 CHAP. XI. HEEEFOEE to come at the last to that diverting^ imployment promised^ him under his uncle in the Low-Countries : he was, upon his return to the Court, instantly made for garrison, governor of Flushing, and for the field, general of the horse ; in both which charges, his carriage testified to the world, wisdome and valour, with addition of honour to his Country by them. For instance ; how like a souldier did he behave himself, first in contriving, then in executing the suprise of Axil ? where he revived that ancient, and seuere^ discipline of order and silence in their march; and after their entrance into the town, placed a band of choice souldiers to make a stand in the market-place, for securitie to the rest, that were forced to wander up and down by direction of commanders ; and when the service ^ = turning aside. G. ' P, inserts * to ' after * promised '. G. » P, 'secure*. G. 122 THE LIFE OF THE RENOWNED was done, rewarded that obedience of discipline in every one, liberally, out'of his own purse. How providently again did he preserve the lives^ ,'and honor of our English army, at that enterprise of Gravelin^, where though he was guided by directions from the State, and found all accidents concurringe with the directions giuen him f yet whether out of arguments drawn from the person of La Motte, commander of that town, who had a generall reputation of too much worth, either Sinon*-like to deceive, or easily to be de- ceived ; or out of the strength and importance of that place, precious to the owner in many respects, the least of which would redouble loss to the growing ambition of a conqueror; or whether upon caution given by intelligence ; or whatsoever light of diversion else ; he — I say — was resolute not to hazzard so many principall gentlemen, with such gallant troops and commanders as^ accompan- ied him, in that flattering expedition. Yet 1 P, misreads 'loues'. G. 2 M, ' Grauelinge '. G. ' P, omits ' from the State with the '. G. * P, Simon : Sinon. See Virgil Aen. ii. The crafty- Greek who persuaded the Trojans to admit the wooden horse. G. • P, 'which'. G, SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 123 because he kept this steady counsel in his own bosome, there was labouring on every side to obtain the honour of that service. To all which gallant kind of competition, he made this answer, that his own comming thither was to the same end, wherein they were now become his ri vails ; and therefore assured them, that he would not jeeld any thing to any man, which by right of his place was both due to himself, and consequent- ly disgrace for him to execute by others : again, that by the same rule, he would never consent to hazard them that were his friends, and in divers respects his equalls, where he found reason to make many doubts, and so little reason to venture himself. Yet as a commander, concluding something fit to be done, equally for obedience and triall, he made the inferior sort of captains try their for- tune by dice upon a drum's head : the lot fell upon Sir William Brown his own lieutenant, who with a choice company presently departed, receiv- ing this^ provisionall caution from Sir Philip, that if he found practise,^ and not faith, he should ^ M, mis-reads ' his '. G. 2 So Bacon. See Mr. W. A. Wright's edition of th» " Essay es" as before, s. v. G. 124 THE LIFE OF THE RENOWNED streigM throw down his arms, and yeeld himself prisoner; protesting that if they took him, he should be ransomed ; if they broke quarter, his death most severely revenged. On these forlorn companies go with this leader, and before they came into the town, found all outward signals exactly performed ; when they were entred, every street safe and quiet, according to promise, till they were past any easie recovery of the gate; then instantly out of the cellars under ground, they were charged by horse and foot. The leader, following his generall's com- mandement, discovers the treason, throws down his arms, and is taken prisoner. The rest of the company retire, or rather fly towards their ships, but stil wounded and cut off by pursuit of their enemies ; till at length a serjeant of a band, with fifteen more, all Sidney's men— I mean such as could die to win honour, and do service to their country — made a halt, and being fortunately mixt of pikes, hnlberds, and muskets, resolved to be slain with their backs to their friends and their faces, to their enemies. They moved or staied with occasion : and were in both continnually charged with foot and horse, till in the end, eight were slain, and eight left alive. With these the SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 125 Serjeant wounded in^ tlie side by^ a sqnare die out of a field piece, made this brave retreat within view, and at last protection of their own Navy ; bringing home even in the wounds, nay ruins of himself and company, reputation of courage, and martiall discipline to his Country. Moreover, in those private accidents of discon- tentment and quarrell, which naturally accompany great spirits in the best governed camps, how dis- creetly did Sir Philip ballance that brave Count' Hollocke, made head of a party against his uncle ? When putting himself between indignities offered to his soveraign, through the Earl of Leicester's person ; and yet no^ fit for a supreme governor's place to ground a duel upon ; he brought those passionate charges which the Count Hollock ad- dressed upwards to the Earl, down by degrees unto himself. Where that brave Count Hollock found Sir Philip so fortified with wisdom, courage, and truth ; besides the strong partie of former friendship standing for him in the Count's noble nature; as though sense of honour, and many things else equal and unequal between them, were 1 P, 'at' G. 2 p^ 'with'. G. » P, omits * Coirnt '. G. 126 THE LIFE OF THE EENOWNED in appearance prouoked^ beyond possibilitie of peecing ; yet this one inequality of right on Sir Philip's side, made the propounder calm ; and by coming to terms of expostulation, did not only reconcile those two worthy spiiits one vnto'^ another, more firmly than before ; .but withall wrought^ through himself if not a kind of unitie between the Earl of Leicester and the Count Hol- lock, at least a final surcease of all violent jeal- ousies or factious expostulations. These p'articulars I only point out, leaving the rest for them," that may, perchance, write larger stories of that time. To be short ; not in comple- ments and art*, but reall proofe given of his suffi- cience above others, in very little time his reput- ation and authority among that active people grew so fast, as it had been no hard matter for him, with the disadvantage^ of his uncle and dis- traction of our affairs in those parts, to have raised himself a fortune there. But in the whole course of his life, he did so constantly ballance ambition with the safe precepts of divine and moral duty, * P, omits. G. 2 p^ P, 'or' G. 2 p^ « privately'. G. ' P, ' that ' : but M here is miswritten * and by the and by the musicke ' {sic). G. SIR rnTLIP SIDNEY, 139 musick it self, to fashion and enfranchise his heavenly soul into that everlasting harmony of angels, whereof these concords were a kinde of terrestriall echo : and in this supreme, or middle orb of contemplation,^ he blessedly went on, within a circular motion, to the end of all flesh. The last scene of this tragedy, was the parting of^ the two brothers : the weaker shewing infin- ite strength in suppressing sorrow, and the stronger infinite weakness in expressing^ it. So far did vnvaluable* worthinesse, in the dying brother enforce the living to descend beneath his owne worth, and by abundance of childish tears, bewail the publique, in his particular loss. Yea so far was his true remission of minde transformed into ejulation,^ that Sir Philip— in whom all earthly passion did even as it were flash, like lights ready to burn out — recals those spirits together with a strong vertue, but weake voice ; mildly blaming him for relaxing the frail strengths left to support him ; in this^ finale combate of ^ M, spells ' contemplacon ' : P, ' contemplations '. G. 2 P,' between'. ^. sp. 'ofit'. G. 4 P, ' invaluable '. G. 5 = lamentation, wailing. G. ^ P, 'his'. G. 140 THE LIFE OF THE KENOWNED separation at hand. And to stop this naturall torrent of affection in both, took his leave, in theis^ admonishing words : " Love my memoiie, cherish my friends ; their faith to me may assure you they are honest. But above all, govern your will and affections, by the will and Word of your Creator; in me, beholding the end of this world, with all her vanities." And with this farewell, desired the company to lead him away. Here the- noble gentleman ended the too short line of ^ his life ; in which path, whosoever is not confident that he walked the next way to etemall rest, will be found to judge uncharitably. Thus you see how it pleased God to shew forth, and then suddainly withdi-aw this precious light of our skie ; and in some sort adopted patriot of the States-Generall. Eetween whom and him, there was such a sympathie of affections ; as they honoured that exorbitant worth in Sir Philip, by which time and occasion had been like enough to metamorphose^ this new aristocracy of theirs into their ancient, and much-honoured forme of 3 P, ' with these '. G. ^ P, * this '. G. 2 P, ' short scene his '. G. ^ jj;^ 'metamorphise '. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 141 dukedome. And he again applauded that univer- sal! ingenuitie and prosperous undertakings of theirs ; over which perchance he felt something in his own nature, possible in time to become^ an elect commander. So usuall is it for all mortall constitutions, to affect that, which insensibly often works change in them to better or worse. Now though I am not of their faith who affirme wise men may^ governe the starres; yet do I beleeve no star-gazers can so well prognosticate the good or ill of all governments, as the provid- ence of men trained up in publique affaires may doe. Whereby they differ from prophets only in this ; that prophets by inspiration, and these by consequence, judge of things to come. Amongst which kind of prophets, give me leave to reckon this gentleman ; who first having, out of the credible almanach of History, registred the growth, health, disease, and periods of govern- ment :^ that is to say, when monarchies gi'ow ready for change, by over-relaxing or contracting, when the states of few or many continue or for- sake to be the same :* and in the constant course P, 'come'. G. ' P, 'can'. G. P, * governments '. G. forsake to the same '. G. 1 42 THE LIFE OF THE EENOWXED of those^ vicissitudes, having^ foreseen the easie satietie of mankinde with Eeligion and Govern- ment, their natural? discontentment with the present, and aptnesse to welcome alteration ; and againe, in the descent of each particular forme to her owne centre, having observed how euen* these United Provinces had already changed from their ancient dukedoms to popularitie : and yet in that popularitie, been forced to seek protection among the monarchs^ then raigning ; and to make perfect this judgment of his, had summ'd up the League offensive and defensive between us and them ; even then he grew doubtful!, least^ this advantage would in time leave latitude for envy and compet- encie' to work some kind of rent in our Union. But when in the progress of this prospect, he fell into a more particular consideration of their traffique and ours : they without any native com- modities — art, and diligence excepted— making themselves masters of wealth in all JS'ations : we againe by exporting our substantial! riches, 1 P, ^ these'. G. ^ ^^ o^its. G. 3 M, omits. G. * P, omits. G. 5 P, 'monarchies.'. G. 6 M, * least, whether ', as is alternate words not decided on. G. ■* = competition, strife. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 143 to import a superfluous masse of trifles, to the vaine exhausting of our home-borne staple com- modities ; he certainly concluded, that this true philosopher's stone of traffique, which not only- turned base mettals into gold, but made profit by Wars in their owne bosomcs, would infallibly stir up emulation in such lookers on, as were far from striving otherwise to imitate them. And out of these and' the like grounds, hath many times told me, that this active people — which held them^ constantly to their Religion and Freedom e — would at length grow from an adjective to a substantive and prosperous subsist- ence. Whereas we on the other side, dividing our selves, and waving in both, should first be- come jealous, then strange to our friends, and in the end — by reconciliation with our common enemie— moderate that zeale, wherein excesse only is the meane ; and so be forced to cast our fortunes into their armes for support, who are most intercsied^ in our dishonour and ruine. These with many other dangers — which he pro- visionally feared — howsoever the wisdome of our government may perchance have put oif by pre- iP, 'or'. G. 2 p^ < themselves'. G. ' P, 'interested'. G. 144 THE LIFE OF THF RENOWNED vention, yet were more then conjecturall in the aspectes^ of superior, inferior, foiTaigne, and do- mestique princes then raigning. But suppose we could not by this Kalender comprehend the change of aspects and policies in severall kingdomes ; yet we may at least therein discerne, both the judgment of this Prometheus concerning our selves, and the tender affection he carried to that oppressed I^ation. "Which respect of his they againe so well understood, as after his death the States of Zealand became suitors to her majesty, and his noble friends, that they might have the honour of burying his body at the pub- lique expence of their government. A memorable wisdome of thankfulnesse, by well handling the dead, to encourage and multiply faith in the living. "Which request had it been granted, the reader may please to consider, what trophies it is likely they would have erected over him, for posterity to admire, and what inscriptions would have been devised for eternizing his memory. Indeed fitter for a great and brave !N'ation to enlarge, then the capacitie or good will^ of a private and inferior 1 P, 'aspect'. G. * M, omits • or good will '. G. SIK PniLIP SIDNEY. 145 friend. For my own^ part I confcsse, in all I have here set downe of his worth and goodnesse, I find my self still short of that honour he de- served, and I desired to doe him. I must therefore content my selfe with this poor demonstration of homage ; and so proceed to say somewhat of the toyes^ and pamphletes,^ which I inscribe to his memory, as monuments of true affection between us ; whereof — you see — death hath no power. 1 M, omits. G. 2 Trifles. G. 2 P, ' or pamphlets '. G. 146 THE LIFE OF THE RENOWNED CHAP.i XIY. HEN my youth, with favour of Court in some moderate proportion to my birth and breeding in the activenesse of that time, gave mee opportunity of most businesse : then did my yet undiscouraged genius most affect to finde or make work for it self. And out of that freedom, having many times offered my fortune to the course of forraigne employments, as the properest- forges to fashion a subject for the reall services of his soveraign ; I found the retumes of those mis-placed endeavours to prove, both a vaine charge to my selfe, and an offensive undei-taking to that excellent govemesse over all her subjects' duties and affections. For instance, how mild soever those mixtures of favours and corrections were in that princely lady : yet to shew that they fell heavy in crossing a young man's ends ; I will onely choose, and alleage foure out of many, some with leave, some without. 1 Printed 'Cap'. G. 2 P, grossly misprints ' propriest '. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNET. 147 First, when those two mighty armies of Don Iohn\ and the Duke Casimires, were to meet in the Low Countries ; my horses, with all other preparations heing shipped at Dover, with leave under her bill assigned : even then was I stayed by a princely mandate, the messenger Sir Edward Dier^. Wherein whatsoever I felt, yet I appeale to the judicious reader, whether there be latitude left — more than humble obedience— in these nice cases between duty and selfenesse, in a soveraigne's service ? After this, when Mr. Secretary Walsingham was sent ambassador, to treate with those two princes in a businesse so much concerning Christ- ian blood and Christian empires : then did the same irregular motion-^ which seldome rests, but steales where it cannot trade — perswade me, that whosoever would venture to go without leave, was sure never to bee taxed. ^ Upon which false axiome — trusting the rest to chance — I went over with Mr. Secretary, unknown : but at my return was forbidden her presence for many moneths. 1 P, 'lobns'. G. 2 See Sidney's poem on the three friends — himself, Brooke, and Dyer, in Appendix to this Life. G. 3 P, 'stayed'. G. 148 THE LIFE OF THE RENOWNED Againe, Trhen my Lord of Leicester was sent generall of her Majestie's Forces into the Low Countries, and had given me the command of an hundred ?iorse; then I giving my humors over to good order, yet found, that neither the earnest intercession of this grandee, seconded with my'^ own humble sute, and many other honourable friends of mine, could prevaile against the con- stant course of this excellent lady with her ser- vants. So as I was forced to tariy behind ; and for this importunity of mine to change my course, and seem to preferre anything'^ before my service about her : This princesse of government, as well of government^ as of kingdomes, made me live in her Court, a spectacle of disfavour, too long as I conceived. Lastly, the universall fame of a battle to be fought between the prime forces of Henry the Third and the religious ones of Henry the Fourth, then king of IN'avarre ; lifting me yet once more above this humble earth of clay, made me resolve to see the difference between kings present and absent in their martiall expeditions. So that without acquainting any creature, the Earle of ip, 'mine'. G. 2 p^ .nothing'. G. ' P, omits * of government' and * of. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 1 49 Essex excepted, I shipped myselfe over : and at my returne, was kept from her presence full six moneths, and then received after a strange manner. For this absolute princesse^ to sever ill examples^ from grace, averrs my going over to bee a secret imployment of hers: and all these other petty exiles, a making good of that cloud or figure which she was pleased to cast over my absence. Protecting me to the world with the^ honour of her imployment, rather then she would, for ex- ample's sake, be forced either* to punish mee further,^ or too easily forgive a contempt or neglect, in a servant so near about her, as she was pleased to conceive it. By which many warnings, I finding the specious fires of youth to prove far more scorching then glorious, called my second thoughts to counsell, and in that map cleerly discerning action and honor, to fly with more wings then one : and that it was sufficient for the plant to grow where his^ soveraigne's hand had placed'^ it ; I found reason to contract my thoughts from theis^ larger, but ^ P, blunders, and reads ' prince '. G. 2 P, ' example ' . G. ' M, omits. G. 4 M, omits. G. 5 P, ' farther '. G. ^ M, the ', and spells ' soueraign's' . G. ' P, 'planted'. G. ^p^. those'. G. 1 50 THE LIFE OF THE RENOWNED wandring horizons, of the world abroad, and to^ bound my prospect within the safe limits of duty, in such home-services, as were acceptable to my soveraignc. In which retired view, Sir Philip Sidney, that exact image of quiet and action, happily united in him, and seldome well divided in any ; being ever in my^ eyes, made me thinke it no small degree of honour to imitate, or tread in the steps of such a leader. So that to saile by his compasse, was shortly — as I said — one of the principall reasons I can alleage, which perswaded me to steale minutes of time from my daily services, and employ them in theis kind of writeings.^ Since my declining age, it is true that 1 had — for some yeeres — more leasure to discover their imperfections, then care, or industry to amend them : finding in my selfe, what all men complaine of in the world, that it is more easie to find fault, excuse, or tolerate, then to examine and reforme. The workes — as you see — are Tragedies, with some Treatises annexed. The Treatises — to speake truly of them — were first intended to be for every act a chorus : and though* not borne out of the 1 P, omits. G. 2 p^ c jj^j^e > q 3 P, ' this kind of writing.' G. * M, ' that '. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY, 151 present matter acted, yet being the largest subject/ I could then think upon, and no such strangers to the scope of the Tragedies, but that a favourable reader might easily find some consanguinitie be- ween them ; I preferring this generall scope of profit, before the seK--reputacon^ of being an exact artisan in that poeticall mystery, conceived that* a perspective into vice, and the unprosperities of it, would prove more acceptable to every good reader's ends, then any bare murmur of disconten- ted spirits against the^ present government, or horrible periods of exorbitant passions among equals. Which with humble sayles after I had ventured once^ upon this spreading ocean of images, my apprehensive youth, for lack of a well touched compasse, did easily wander beyond proportion. And in my old age againe, looking back upon^ them with a father's eye : when I considered first, how poorly the inward natures of those glorious names were expressed ; then how much easier it was to excuse deformities then^ cure them ; though I 1 M, is contraction-form for ' subject'. G. 2 M, 'safe'. G. 3 p^ 'reputation'. G * M, omits. G. 5p^« their'. G. ^ P, ' once ventured '. G. ■^ P, 'on'. G. sp^ 'to cure'. G. 152 THE LIFE OF THE RENOTVNED found some reason to change their places, yet I could not find in my heart to bestow cost or care in altering their light and limited apparell in verse. From hence to come particularly to that Treatise intitled, the Declination of Monarchy : let me beg leave of the favourable reader, to bestow a few lines more in the story of this changling, then I have done in the rest ; and yet to use no other^ serious authority then the rule of Diogenes, which is'^, to hang the posie where there is most need. The first birth of that phantasme was divided into three parts, with intention of the Author, to be disposed amongst their fellows, into three diverse acts of the Tragedies. But — as I said before — when upon a second review, they and the rest were all ordain'd to change their places, then did I — like an old^ fond parent, unlike to get any more children — take pains rather to cover the dandled deformities of these creatures with a coat of many seames, then carelessly to drive them away, as birds doe their young ones. Yet againe, when I had in mine own case well weigh' d the tendemesse of that great subject, and 1 P, 'more'. G « P, 'was'. G. ' P, ' and '. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 153 consequently, the nice path I was to walke in be- tween two extreames;^ but especially the danger, by treading aside, to cast scandall upon the sacred foundations of Monarchy ; together with the fate of many metaphoricall- Phormio's^ before me, who had lost themselves in teaching kings and princes, how to goveme their people : then did this new prospect dazzle mine eyes, and suspend my travell for a time. But the familiar self-love, which is more or lesae born in every man, to live and dye with him, presently moved me to take vp this bear- whelpe* againe and licke it. Wherein I, rowsing niy spirittes^ under the banner of this flattery, went about — as a fond mother — to put on richer garments, in hope to adorne them. But while these clothes were in making, I perceived that cost would but draw more curious eyes to observe deformities. So that from these checks a new 1 P, ' extremities'. G. ^ P, ' metaphysicall '. G. 2 From Phormion, the Peripatetic philosopher of Ephe- sus, of whom it is told that he lectured for many hours on the art and duties of a general to Hanibal, to the intense scorn of his illustrious auditor. (Cicero, de Orat. ii., 18.) G. * P, 'this bear-whelp up'. G. 5 P, ' my selfe '. G. 154 TFE LIFE or THE RENOWNED counsell rose up in me, to take away all opinion of seriousnesse from these perplexed pedegrees ; and to this end carelessly cast them into that hypocriticall figure Ironia, wherein commonly men^ — to keep ahove their workes — seeme to make toies of the uttermost^ they can doe. And yet againe, in that confusing mist, when I beheld this grave subject — which should draw reverence and attention — to bee over-spangled with lightnesse, I forced in examples of the Roman gravity and greatnesse, the harsh severity of the Lacedemonian government ; the riches of the Athenian learning, wit, and industry ; and like a man that plaies divers parts upon severall hints, left all the indigested crudities, equally applied to kings, or tyrants ; whereas in every cleere judgement, the right line had beene sufficient enough to discouer the crooked : if the image of it could have proved credible to men. Now for the severall branches or discourses^ following; they are all me.nbers of one and the same imperfect body, so as I let them take their fortunes — like Essayes — onely to tempt and stir up some more free genius, to fashion the whole ^ P, ' men commonly '. G. ^ P, 'utmost'. G. 2 M, omits 'or discourses'. G. SIR PHILIP SIDXET. 165 frame into finer moulds^ for the world's use. The first limme of theis" Treatises^ — I mean that fabrick of a superstitious Church — having by her masterfull ambition over emperours, kings, princes, free States, and Councels, with her Conclave deceits, strengths, and unthankfulnesse, spred so far beyond my horizon, as I at once gave over her and all her deriuatiues* to Gamaliel's infallible censure ; leaving lawes, nobility, War, Peace, and the rest, — as glorious trophies of our old Pope, the sin — to change, reforme, or become deformed, according as vanity, that limitlesse mother of those^ idolatries — should either winne of the Truth, or the Truth of them. Lastly, concerning the Tragedies themselves, : they were in their first creation three ; Whereof Antonie and Cleopatra, according to their irregular passions, in forsaking empire to follow sensuality, were sacrificed in^ the firo. The executioner, the author himselfe. Not that he conceived it to be a contemptible younger brother to the rest : but lest while he seemed to looke over-much upward, hee might stumble into the astronomer's pit. 'P, •mould'. G. 2 P, 'those' G. 3 P, ' treaties '. G. * P. ' derivations '. G. 'P, 'these'. G. ® P, misreads * to '. G. 156 THE LIFE OF THE RENOWNED Many members in that creature — by the opinion of those few eyes, which saw it— having some childish wantonnesse in them, apt enough to be construed or strained to a personating of vices in the present governors and government. From which cautious prospect, I bringing into my minde the ancient poet's metamorphosing of^ man's reasonable nature into the sensitive of beasts, or vegetative of plants; and knowing these- all — in their true morall — to bee but images of the unequal! ballance between humors and times, nature, and place. And again in the practice of the world, seeing the like instance not poetically but really fashioned in the Earle of Essex then falling ; and even till then worthily beloved, both of Queen and people : this sudden descent of a'^ greatnesae, together with the quality of the actors in every scene,- stir'd up the Author's second thoughts, to bee carefull — in his owne case — of leaving faire weather behind him. Hee having, in the Earle' s precipitate fortune, curiously ob- served. Eirst, how long that^ nobleman's birth, worth, and favour had been flattered, tempted, and stung by a swarm of sect-animals, whose prop- erty was to wound and fly away : and so, by 1 P, omits. G. 2p^iguch'. G. »P, 'this'. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 167 a continuall affliction probably enforce great hearts to turne and tosse for ease ; and in those passive postures, perchance to tumble sometimes upon their soveraigne's circles. Into which pitfall of theirs, when they had once discerned this Earle to be fallen ; straight, under the reverend stile of Lcesm Majestatis^ all inferiour ministers of Justice — they knew — would be justly let loose to work upon him. And accord- ingly, under the same cloud, his enemies took audacity to cast libels abroad in his name against the State, made by themselves : set papers upon posts, to bring his innocent friends in question. His power, by the Jesuiticall craft of rumour, they made infinite ; and his ambition more then equall to it. His letters to private men were read openly, by the^ piercing eyes of an Atturnie's office, which warrantes^ the construction of eveiy line* in the worst sense against the writer. Myselfe, his kinsman, and while I remained about the queen, a kind of Remoraj staying the ^ P, 'Lsesa Maiestas'. G. * P, misprints * the ' twice. G* 3 P, ' warranteth'. G. * P. ' time '. G. 158 THE LIFE OF THE REXOTTNED violent course of tliat fatall ship, and those^ winde- watching passengers — at least, as his enemies imagined — abruptly sent away to guard a figura- tive Fleet, in danger of nothing but these pros- opopeia's of invisible rancor ; and kept — as it were- in a free prison — at Rochester, till his head was off. Before which sudden journey, casting mine eyes upon the catching Court-ayres, which^ I was to part from ; I discerned my gracious soveraigne to bee every way so invironed with these, not Jupi- ter's, but Pluto's thunder- workers ; as it was im- possible for her to see any light, that might tend* to grace, or mercy : but many encouraging meteors of severity, as against an unthankfuU favourite and traiterous subject ; hee standing, by the law of England, condemned for such. So that let his heart bee — as in my conscience it was — free from this unnatarall crime, yet these unretuming steps seemed well worth the observ- ing. Especially in the case of such a favorite, as never put his soveraigne to stand between her people and his errors ; but here and abroad, placed •P, 'these'. G. ^ p^ onji^g c i|. ^ej.g » q. 3 M, omits. G. * P, 'lead'. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 159 his body in the forefront, against all that threatned or assaulted her. And being no admirall, nor yet a creator of admiralls, whereby feare or hope might have kept those temporary Neptunes in a kinde of subjection to him; yet he freely ventured himselfe in all sea-actions of that tyme, as^ if he would war the greatnesse of place, enuy,* and power, with the greatnesse of worth, and incomparable industry. Neverthelesse hee wanted not judgement to dis- ceme, that whether they went with him or tarried behind, they must probably prove unequall yoke- fellowes in the one ; or in the other, passing curi- ous and carping judges over all his publike actions.^ Againe, this gallant young Earle, created — as it seemes — for action, before he was martiall, first as a private gentleman, and after as a lieu- tenant by commission, went in the head of all our land troops, that marched in his time ; and besides experience, still wan ground, even through compe- tency, envy, and confused mixtures of equality or ' P, 'of his time. As'. G. 2 P, * envy, place'. F. 3 M, ' aec5n8 pubhcke '. G. 160 THE LIFE OF THE BENOWNED inequality amongst the English factions^ all inferior to^ his owne active worth and merit. Lastly, he was so far from affecting the absolute power of Henry the Third's favourites, I meane under a king to become equall at least with him, in creating and deposing chancelors, treasurers, and secretaries of State, to raise a strong party for himselfe ; as he left both place and persons entire in their supreme jurisdictions, or magistracies under his soveraigne, as shee granted them. And though he foresaw a necessary diminution of their peaceful predicaments by his carrying up the standard of Mars so high, and withal knew they — like wise men — must as certainly discern, that the rising of his, or the^ falling of their scales, de- pended upon the prosperity or unprosperity of his undertakings : yet — I say — that active heart of his freely chose to hazard himselfe upon their cen- sures, without any other provisionall rampier against the envious and suppressing crafts of* party, then his owne hope and resolution to de- serve well. Neither did he — like the French favorites of thatjtime — serve his own humors or necessities, 1 P^ 'factious English'. G. ^ p^ < jj^ », q 5 P,;;omit8. G. 4p^^ q ' P. 'liveries'. G. ^ p^ 'Majesty'. G. 9 P, ' nobles '. G. 190 THE LIFE OF THE EENOWNED countrey, would quickly stir up the nobility it selfe, to become doubtfull of their owne fences ; and by consequence in danger, not only of holding lives, lands, goods, and liberties at their sover- aigne's indeffinite pleasure, but by suspence of them^ nursing and protecting Parliaments, to have all other native birthrights, viz. pulpits, lawes, customes, voyces of appeale, audits of trade, humble and reverent mention of coronation oaths, legall publishers, and maintainers of War, true maps of diseases and cures through her kingdome, with many other mutuall ciments of honour and use, between soveraigne and- subjects, like to be con- founded, or at least metamorphosed into preroga- tive taxes, wherein the people neither have voyces, nor valuable returne I say, this hbme-borne princesse of ours making her prospect over these wildernesses of will and power, providently for her selfe, and happily for us, refused the broad branch of Pythagoras, his^ Y, and chose that, narrower, but safer medium of State-assemblies, concluding that these two honourable houses, were the only judicious, faithfull, and industrious favorites of unincroaching monarchs. So that it appears she did not affect, nor yet 1 P, * those ' G. 2 p^ omits. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 191 would be drawne— like many of her ancient neigh- bours, the French kings — to have her subjects give away their wealth after a new fashion, viz. with- out retume of pardons, ease of grievances, or com- fort of lawes, lest her loving people might thereby dream of some secret intent to endemnize^ their lives, wealth, and freedomes, into a ship of Athens, of which the name being old, and all riders, sleepers, and other timbers new, they were to be shipped downe a streame of the like nature ever, and yet never the same.^ Besides not to be shipped into that ship as mariners, souldiers, saylors, or factors, but rather as slaves and^ conquered out- laws, with great dishonour to the legall and royall stiles* of monarchicall government, as she con- ceived. From which example of chaste power, we that live after this excellent lady, may with great honour to her ashes resolve, that she would have been as adverse^ from bearing the envy of printing any new lines of taxes, ^ imposition,' pro- clamations, or mandats — without Parliaments — upon her ancient caelestiall and® terrestriall globes, ^ P, *indennize ' . G. ^ Cf. our Index tinder ' Athens.' G. 3 P, 'or'. G. ^ P, 'estate'. G. 6 P, ' adverse '. G. ^ P, ' taxe '. G. ' P. 'impositions' : M, spells 'imposicon '. G. •P, 'or'. G. 192 THE LIFE OF THE EENOWXED as her humble subjects possibly could be, or wish her to be.^ JN'ow if we shall examine the reason of her cutting between lawes, king's powers,^ and the^ people's freedome, by so even a thread, what can it be, but a long and happy descent within the pede- grees of active princes, together with the moderat- ing education of kings' children in those times ; or lastly* a quintessence of abilities, gathered out of those blessed and blessing mixtures of nature, education, and practice, which never faile to lift^ man above man, and keep him there, more then place or power shall by any other encroaching advantages ever be able to doe. In which map, as in a true perspective glasse, this provident princesse seeing both her owne part, and her people's, so equally, nay advantageously, ali'eady divided and disposed, shee thought it both wisedome and justice to leave them ballanced and distinguished as she found them ; concluding that the least change of parallels or meridian lines newly drawne upon any^ ancient globes of monaixhall ^ M omits '* or be ". G. 2 P, ' powers '. G. ^ M, omits. G. *P, 'ina'. G. 5 p^. lift up'. G. « P, 'any the*. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 193 government, in absence of Parliaments, — would like the service of God in an unknown language — prove prophaned or misunderstood ; and conse- quently such a map of writing and blotting, of irregular raising and depressing, disadvantagious matching of things reall, and humours together, as must multiplie atheisme in humane duties, cast trouble upon her Estate for lacke^ of reverence at home, and provoke this heavy censure through all the world — Spaine only excepted — that she endeav- oured to raise- an invisible tyrant above the monarchs f and to that end had made this step over lawes and customes into such a dangerous kind of ignorant and wandring confusion, as would quickly enforce mankinde, either to live like exhausted creatures, deprived of all* sabboths, or like barren earth, without priviledge of any jubile, which metamorphosing prospect — as she^ thought — would resemble Circe's guests, and^ transforme her people into divers shapes of beasts ; wherein they must lose freedome, goods, forme,'^ language and kinde, all at once. An inchanted ^ P, 'want'. G. 2 p^ ^Y^Q < raising of 3 P, 'monarch' G. * P, omits. G. ^ P, ' they '. G. « P, omits. G. ' P, grossly misreads 'fortune'. G. 194 THE LLFE OF THE EENOWNED confusion, imaged by the poets, to wame princes that if they easily be induced to use these racks of wit and power indefinitly, and thereby force a free people into a despairing estate, they must even in the pride of their governments, looke in some sort to be forced againe, either to sacrifice these Empsons and Dudleyes, as the most popular act such princes can doe, or else with that two-edged sword of Tyi^anny, irregulerly^ to claime- a degree yet higher then the truth, to maintaine these caterpillars in eating, or ofi'ering Religion, lawes, &c., to the covetous, crueU, or wanton excesses of encroaching Tyranny, as though God had made aU the world for one. JN'ay more, it pleased this provident Queen even curiously to foresee, what face her estate was like to carry, if these biaced humours should continue in a^ long raigne over us, viz. contempt to be cast over the majesty of the crown, feare among the people, hate and envy against the reverend magis- trate, entisement of domestique spirits to mutine* or forraigne to invade upon any occasion, the Court it selfe becomming like^ a farme, manured ^ P, ' irregularitie ' G. ^ P, 'climbe'. G. 3 P, ' any '. G. * P, ' mutiny *. G. • P, omita. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 195 by drawing up, not a sweate/ but even the browes of humble subjects ; and lastly the Councell-boord, that glorious type of Civill Government, com- pelled to descend, and become breakers^ for money, executioner^ of extremity, better acquainted with the merchant, or mechanicall scraping revenues of sicke and exhausted kingdomes, then foraigne treaties, equall ballances of trade, true grounds of maufactures, mysteries of importation and export- tion, differing strengths and weaknesses in* crownes, alteration of factions or parties with advantage, danger of alliances made to benefited the stronger, the steady — though sometimes intermittent — un- dertakings of the conqueror, with all things else that concerne Magnolia Regni, and so apt instru- ments not reverently to shew princes the truth, but rather self-loving creatures full of present and^ servile flatteries, even to the ruine of that Estate under which they Hue and doe enjoy' their honours. Which confusion of place and things being cleerly imaged within her, perswaded this lady to ^ P, grossly misprints 'sweet '. ^ P, 'Broker'. G. ^ M, spells 'execuconer'. G. *P, 'of. G. 5 P, 'the benefit of. G. ^ M, omits '. G. ■' P, ' wherein enjoy '. G. 196 THE LIFE OF THE llENOWN-ED restrain the lauish^ liberties of transcendency, within lawes and Parliaments, as two unbatter'd rampires against all over-wrestings of power, or mutinies of people, and out of these grounds to conclude prince-like, with her fore-fathers, that super structiones antiquce nee facile evertuntur, nee solcB ruunt. In that^ axiome making manifest to the world, that Time-present's children, with their young and unexperienced capacities, are much too narrow moulds, for any large branches of well- founded monarchies to be altered, or new-fashioned in, the new and old seldomc matching well to- gether, let the ciment of seeming wisdome on either side^ appear never so equall. [N'ow from* the right use of these high pillars, if we shall descend to inferior functions, we there find her — like a working soule in a healthfull body — still all in all, and all in every part. For with^ the same restraining providence, she kept the crowne from necessity to use imperiall, and chargable mandates upon her people, when she had the^ most need of their service, contrary to the wisdome of all governments;' neither did 1 P, grossly misreads ' slavish '. G. 2 P, 'this'. G. 3 M, omits. G * P, ' for '. G. 5 M, « which ', G. ^ P, omits. G. ' P, 'government'. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 197 she by mistaking, or misapplying instances — gathered out of the fatall conquests of her ances- tors — parallell her present need and levies with theirs, but wisely considered that the king and the people were then equalP possessors of both realmes,^ and so in all impositions contributors to themselves at the first hand. Prom which grounds, like a contented and a contenting soveraigne, she acknowledged these differences to be reall, and accordingly by an equall audit taken from her itinerant judges, with the justices inhabiting^ every county, after she was well informed of her subjects abilities and her enemies threatnings, she then, by advice of her Privy-Councell summon'd her Parliaments, demanded ayd, and was never refused ; in returne of which loving and free gifts, she disposed those extraordinary helps to the repayring and pro\is- ionall supplying of her forts along the coasts* with offensive and defensive munitions, she stored her office of the Ordinance^ as a royall magazine to furnish the whole Kingdom in extremity, and when there were no "Wars, yet kept^ she it full, as ^P, 'equally'. G. ^ p^ misprints ' kealmes ' . G. ' P, * in every '. G. * P, * coast '. G. * P. ' ordnance ' and so onward. G. * P, 'she kept'. G. 198 THE LIFE OF THE HENOWNED an equall pledge of strength and reputation, both abroad and at home. Lastly, this piincesse being confident in these native sea-walls of ours, fit to beare moving bul- warkes in martial times and in civill traffiques to caiTy out and in, all commodities with advantage; she double-stored her Navy-magazines with all materials, provided before-hand for such workes and things, as required time, and could not be bought with money; besides, she furnished her Sea-arsinals with all kind of staple provisions, as ordinance, pitch, rosin, tar, masts, deale-boards, cordage, &c. for the building and maintaining^ her l^avie, flourishing in multitude of ships for "War and Trade. And as the life of that vast body, she for en- crease of mariners, gave princely countenance to all long voyages, knowing they would necessarily require ordnance, men^, munition, and burthen ; and further to encourage this long-breathed worke, she added out of her Exchequer, an allowance of so much in the tun for the builders of any ships up- wardes^ of so many hundred tuns ; she cherished 1 P, 'of her'. G. * P, grossly misreads ' new '. G. ' P, ' upward '. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 199 the fisher-boats with priviledges along her coasts, as nurseries of sea-men ; brought Greenland,^ and Kewfound-land fishinges^ in reputation, to encrease her stock of mariners, both by taking and trans- porting what they took far off. And for the governours of her Navy under the admirall, as well in times of warr as peace, ^ she chose her principall officers out of the gallantest Sea-commanders of that time, whose experience she knew taught them how to husband and guide her Muscovy-Company, in generall provisions, not as partners* with her merchants but to gouerne instrumentall servantes and services withskill_«the Master shipwrights — not only^ inbuilding, but restraining the Ship-keepers riot or expence, in harbour and at Sea, how^ to furnish or marshall^ ships and mariners in all kind of sea-fights to their best advantage. Besides, through the same men's judgments, she made all directions pass for the divers moulds ^ P, ' Groniland ': now ' Greenland '. G. 2 P, 'fishing'. G. ' P, ' peace as war '. G. * P,* partner'. G. 5 Frem ' but* on to ' only ' from MS. for first time. G. ^ M, omits. G. "^ P, grossly misprints * martiall '. G. 200 THE LITE OF THE RENOWNED requii'ed in shipping betweene our seas and the Ocean ; as the drawth of water, high or low, dis- posing of ports, cleanly roomes for victuals, con- veniency^ of deckes for fight, or trade, safe convey- ance for powder, and all other munitions,^ fit stowage for^ sea-stores, according to the differ- ence of heats or colds in the climes they were to reside in, or passe through. Againe, 'as well to instruct the captaines in their particular duties, as to keep a hand of govern- ment over the large trust and charge committed unto* them, in all expeditions, the ship with her furniture, tackle^ and men, the gunners'^ roome and all munition of that kind, the boat-swain's provision of anchors, cables, canvas, and sea- stores, the purser's, steward's, cook's roomes, touching -victuals, were delivered to the captaines by bill indented ; the one part kept with the officers of the !N"avy at home, the other in the hands of every private captaine to examine his accounts by when he retum'd: of which P my selfe am witnesse, ^ P, ' convenience '. G. 2 P, 'munition ' : M, speUs ' municons'. G. 3 P, 'of. G. * P, 'to'. G. ^ P, ' tackling ' G. ^ M, misreads ' gunner '. G. ' P, 'with'. G. ' P, omits. G SIK PHILIP SIDNEY. 201 as being well acquainted with the use of it in the imploymentes of^ my youth, but utterly unac- quainted with the change since, or any reasons of it. Besides like a provident lady who knew Place, for the ease of crownes, must serve both to reward meritt and to encourage it with other like motiues mentioned before, in the gouernment of the Ex- chequer, she kept her Cinque Portes seucred from the greatnes of the Admiralty, though she knew the principal vse and end in keeping of them devid- ed were taken away by tyme and other changes through her sister's neglect and our former vnfor- tunate losses in Fraunce.^ Lastly, this great^ governesse could tell how to worke her high* admirals — without noise — to resign their letters^-patents, when the course of times made them in power, and gaine, seeme or grow too exorbitant ; yet kept she up their command at sea, and when they were there, made them a limited or absolute commission under the great scale of England, sometimes associating and qualifying ^ P, omits ' the imploymentes of '. G, 2 This considerable paragraph ' Besides Fraunce ' is here given for the first time from the MS. G. ' M, omits. G. * M, 'greate'. G. « M, « hes. Pattes.' : P, omits * letters '. G. 202 THE LITE OF THE EEB^OWNED their^ place, with a Councell of war of her own choice, and ever guiding the generalities of the voyage with instructions proper to the business, and to be published at sea in a time prefixed. Out of which caution in her principall expedi- tions, she striving — as I said — to allay that vast power of place with some sencible^ counterpoise, many times joyned an active favorite with that sea-Neptune of her's, making credit, place, and merit, finely competitors in her ser^dce ; besides, she well understanding the humours of both, tem- per'd them so equally one with another in her latter expeditions, as the admirall being' remisse and apt to forgive all things, Essex severely true to martiall discipline, and loath to wound it by forgiving petty errours under that implacable tyrant Mars, in all likelihood her Fleet could hardly be over sailed or under ballasted, and con- sequently the crowne — in her absence — was sure to be guarded by^ more eyes than two, to prevent confusion in martiall aff'aires, where eveiy ship proves beyond the amendment of second thoughts, and so fatall to that state which paies and negli- gently ventures. 1 M, omits. G. 2 P, 'insensible'. G. ^ p^ P, ' bore '. G. ' P, misreads * the fearful wings of this growing mon- arch'. G. 3 P,.' title'. G. * Misprinted ' Granoda '. G. * P, ' wisdome so '. G. 210 THE LIFE OF THE EENOWJTED active, victorious, enriching, and ballancing course of her defensive wars, for an idle — I feare — de- ceiving shadow of peace. In which whether we already languish, or live impoverished, whilst he growes potent and rich, by the fatall security of all Christendome, they that shall succeed us, are like to judge freely. Thus you see how our famous ludith dispersed the terrour of this Spanish* Holofernes, like a cloud full of wind, and by a princely wakefulnesse, pre- served all those soveraigne States that were in league with her, from the dangerous [temptations of power, wealth, and^ practice, by which the growing monarchs doe often intangle^ inferior, but yet soveraigne princes. And amongst the rest, from that vsuall* traffique^ of his leiger em- bassadors, who trained up in the nimble exchange of intelligence, grow to be of such a Bucephalus nature,^ like Rome, as I said before, a body of those^ members, as the Alexanders of their time can only mannage, and make use of ; instance Men- dosa, in whom she had long before discovered and discredited all practises of those specious imploy- ments of conquerers' agents. 1 P, omits. G. ^ 'M, omits. G. 3 P, 'the inferior'. G. * P, 'usefuU'. G. »P,'soHke'. G. »F, 'such*. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 211 Besides in honour of her be it spoken, did not this mirrour of justice, by restrainiDg that un- naturair ambition of getting other princes rights, within the natural! bounds of well- governing their^ owne, become a beame of such credit, as most of the kings or States then raigning, freely yeelded ; both to weigh their owne interests within the scales of her judgment , and besides to assist her in bounding out the imperiail meeres^ of all princes by that^ ancient procession^ of right and power. Lastly, did she not purchase the like reputa- tion even amonge^ the heathen, and by it destroy*^ a nest, which this aspiring monarch began^ to build in the seraglio^ of Constantinople ; for she thinking it no wisdome to looke on, and see his Spanish pistols pierce into so huge'° a moun- taine offerees, and dispose of them at his pleasure, ^ P, grossly misreads * naturall'. G. 2 P, ' her ' G. 3 = boundaries. So Bacon in * Essayes ' (56) where ' meere-stone is — landmark. See Mr. W. A. Wright s edition as before. G. ^ P, 'by the'. G. * P, 'precession . G. 6 P, 'amongst*. G. '^ P, * destroy d'. G. s M, omits. G. 8 M, * Seraglia . G, 10 P 'high'. G. 212 THE LIFE OF THE EENOWNED providently opened the stronger monarch's eyes to discover how craftily the weaker wrought his ends at the cost of all defective, or sleepy princes about her. Yet did not this soveraigne lady intercept his designes from under any goddesse-shield — whom Homer makes the Grecian worthies shoot, and hit — but displanted him by a gallant factor of her merchants in a league of traffique, and prevailed to make his embassador landed at Ragusa, housed in Constantinople, and all under protection of Ferrat, chiefe-Yisier, yea upon^ a contract of thirty thousand zecchins'^ already paid him, glad to re- tume, and shippe himselfe away, with more ex- pedition then he landed. Besides which reputation given to her name by the Grand Signior in this particular, she generally got power to keep this fearfull standard of the halfe-moon waving in such manner over all the king of Spaine's designes, as he durst move no where against his neighbour- Christian-princes, for feare of being incompassed within the horns of that^ heathen crescent. ^ P, ' yet, and upon '. G. ' M, oddly has ' chickeens '. G. 5 B, 'the'. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 213 But these things swell, and require a more authenticall History, to continue the memory of that wonder of Queens and women ; in honour of whose sacred name, I have presumed thus to di- gresse, and admonish all Estates by her example, how they may draw use and honour, both^ from the dead and liueing,^ the change of times having no power over reall wisdomes, but infinite over the shadowes of craft, and humours of petty States, which commonly follow the greater bodies, as they are unequally extended or contracted about them. "Wherefore now to conclude these heroicall enterprises abroad, together with the reformation^ of her State at home, the refining of the English standard* embased by her sister, the preservation of her crown-revenue intire, her wisdome in the change of lawes, without change of dangers, the timely and princely help she gave to Henry the Fourth when he had nothing but the towne of Diepe left him, his credit and meanes being utterly exhausted, and so that brave king, being^ ready, either to take sea and escape, or flye for 1 M, omits. G. ^ F, ' the living '. G. ' P, ' reformations ' : M, spells ' reformacon '. G. * The coinage. G. ^ P, omits. G. 214 THE LIFE OF THE EEIfOWlTED succour into England, her constant establishment of Eeligion in Ireland, driving the Spanish forces divers times from thence, who were maliciously sent as well to stirre up her subjects to rebell as to maintaine and support them in it, together with the former recited particulars, howsoever improperly dispersed, or bundled up together, yet are in their natures of so rare a wisdome, as I beleeve they will be still^ more and more admired — and justly — in that excellent princesse, even many ages after her death. Thus have I by the reader's patience, given that Egyptian and Roman tragedy a much more honourable sepulture, then it could ever have deserved, especially in making their memory^ to attend upon my soveraigne's herse, without any other hope of being, then to wait upon her life and death, as their maker did, who hath ever since been dying to all those glories of life which he formerly enjoyed, under the blessed and blessing presence of this unmatchable Queen and woman. N'ow if any man shall demand why I did not rather^ leave unto the world a complete history of her life, then this short memoriall in such 1 P, 'still be'. G. 2 p^ < memories '. G. 3 M, omits. G. Snt PHILIP SIDNEY. 215 scattered and undisgested minutes, let him receive this answer from a dead man, because I am con- fident that^ noe flesh breathing — by seeing what is done — shall have occasion to aske^ that ques- tion, whilest I am living. Presently after the death of my most gracious Queen and mistress, the false spirits and apparitions of idle griefe haunted me exceedingly, and made all things seeme either greater or lesse then they were ; so that the further^ I went, the more discomfortable I found those new revolutions* of time, to my decayed and disproportioned abilities ; yet fearing to be cursed with the fig-tree, if I bares no fruit, I rouz- ed up my thoughts upon an ancient axiome of wise men ; si quicquid offendit, relinquimus cito ; inerti otio torpehit vita; and upon a second review of the world, called to mind the many duties I ought^ to that matchlesse soveraigne of mine, with a resolution to write her life' in this manner. First, curiously^ to have begun with the uniting of the Eed and White Eoses, in the marriage of 1 P, omits. G. » P, ' of asking '. G. 3 P, ^farther '. G. * P, grossly ^misreads 'resolutions'. G. ^ P, 'bore'. G. ^ = owed. G. ' M, ' on '. G. • P, 'seriously'. G. 2 1 6 THE LIFE OF THE RENOWNED Henry^ the Seventh. In the like manner to have run over Henry the Eighth' s time, untill his severall rents in the Church, with a purpose to have de- murr'd more seriously upon the sudden change to^ his Sonne Edward the Sixth, from superstition of the establishment of God's ancient, cathoHque, and primitive Church. Those cobwebs of re-conver- sion in Queen Marye's dayes, T had no^ intent to meddle with, but only by pre-occupation to shew, that princes, captived in nature, can seldome keep anjrthing free in their governments, but as soyles manured to bring forth ill weeds apace, must live to see Schisme arise in the Church, wearing out the reall branches of immortall truth, to weave iu the thin leaves of mortall superstition, and to behold in the State all their fairest industries spring and fade together, like feme seed. Lastly, I intended with such spirits, as age had left me, to revive my self in her memory, under whom I was bred. Now in this course, because I knew, that as the liberality in* kings did help to cover many errours, so truth in a story would make good many other defects in the writer, I adventured 1 P, 'Hen'- G. ^ M, 'not'. G. 2 P, 'in'. G. * P, 'of. G. SIK PHILIP SIDNEY, 217 to move the Secretary, that I might have his favour to peruse all obsolete Records of the Coun- cell-chest,^ from those times downe as near to these as he in his wisdome should think fit ; hee first friendly required my end in it, which I as freely delivered him, as I have now done to you. Against her memory he, of all men, had no reason to keep a strict hand, and where to bestow a Queen Elizabeth's servant with lesse disadvan- tage to him-selfe it seems readily appeared not ; so that my abrupt motion tooke hold of his present counsell. For he liberaly granted my requestes^ and appointed me that day three weeks to come for his warrant, which I did, and then found in shew a more familiar and gracefuU aspect then before, he descending to question me, why I would dreame out any^ time in writing a story, being as likely* to rise in this time as any man he knew ; then in a more serious and friendly manner examining me, how I could cleerly deliver many things done in that time, which may perchance be construed to the prejudice of this. 1 In the MS. this word is divided by the end of the page, and ' C iambi'. ' is the catchword, although * chest ' follows on the next page. G. 2 P, ' request '. G. 3 P, ' my '. G. *P, 'like'. G. 218 TFE LIFE or THE RENOWNED I shortly made answer, that I conceived a^ histor- ian was bound to tell nothing but the truth, but to tell all truths were both justly to wrong and offend not only princes and States, but to blemish and stii' up against himselfe, the frailty and tendemesse, not only of particular men, but of many families, with the spirit of an Athenian Timon; and therefore shewed my selfe to be^ soe far from being dicouraged with that objection, as I took upon me freely to adventure all my own goods in this ship, which was to be of mine^ owne building. Immediately this noble secretary, as it seems, moved, but not removed with theis^ selfenesses of my opinion, seriously assured me, that upon second thoughts he durst not presume to let the Councell- chest lie open to any man living, without his Majesty's knowledge and approbation, With this supersedeas, I humbly took my leave, at the first sight assuring my selfe this last project of his would necessarly require sheet after sheet to be viewed, which I had no confi- dence in mine^ own powers to abide the hazard of; and herein it may please the reader to beleeve me 1 P, ' an '. G. 2 p^ oinits ' to be '. G. 3 P, 'my', a. * P, 'those'. G. 5 P, ' my '. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 219 rather by these pamphlets, which having slept out my own time, if they happen to be seene here- after, shall at their own perill rise upon the stage, when I am not ; besides, in the same proposition I further saw, that the many judgements, which those embryoes of mine must probably have past through, would have brought forth such a world of alterations, as in the end the worke it selfe would have proved a story of other men's writing, with my name only^ put to it, and so a worship of time, not a voluntary homage of duty. Further,'^ I cannot justifie these little sparkes, unworthy of her, and unfit for me ; so that I must conclude with this ingenuous confession, that it grieves me to know I shall — as far as this apology extends — live and dye upon equall tearmes with a Queene and creature so many waies une- quall, nay, infinitively superiour to me, both in nature, and fortune. 1 P, * to put'. G. 2 P, ' Farther*. G. 220 TAB LIFE OF THE EENOWNED CHAP. XYIII. OW to return to the tragedies remaining, my purpose in them was, not — with the Ancient — to amplified the disastrous mis- eries of man's life, where orders, ^ lawes, doctrine and authority are unable to protect innocency from the exorbitant wickednesse of power, and so out of that melancholy^ vision, stir vp* horrour, or murmur against Divine Providence : nor yet — with the modeme — to point out God's revenging aspect upon every particular sin, to the despaire or confusion of mortality ; but rather to trace out the high waies of ambitious governours, and to shew in the practise of life^ that the more audacity, advantage and good successe such soveraignties have, the more they hasten to their owne desola- tion and ruine. So that to this abstract end, finding all little instruments in discovery of great bodies to be sel- dome without errour,^ I presumed, or it rather 1 P, ♦ exempUfie '. G. ^F,' order '. G. ' P, * melancholike '. G. * P omits. G. 5 P, omits 'of Ufe'. G. « P, •errours'. G. 8IK PHTLir SIDNEY, 221 escaped me, to make my images beyond the or- dinary stature of excesse, wherein again that women are predominant, is not for malice, or ill talent to their sexe ; but as the^ poets figured the vertues to be women, and- all nations call them by feminine names, so have I described malice, craft, and such like vices in the person^ of shrews, to shew that many of them are of that nature, even as we are, I meane strong in weaknesse ; and consequently in these orbes of passion, the weaker sexe, commonly the most predominant; yet as I have not made all women good with Euripides, so have I not made them all evill with Sophocles, but mixt of such sorts as we find both them and our selves. Againe, for the arguments of these Tragedies, they be not naked and casuall, like the Greeke and Latiue, nor — I confesse — contrived with* variety and unexpected encounters of the Italians, but nearer leveled to those humours, councels, and practices, wherein I thought fitter to hold the attention of the reader, than in the strange- ness or perplexedness of witty fictions ; in which 1 P, omits. G. 2 ii,i^ Q 3 P, 'person's. G. * P, 'the variety '. G. * P, ' these '. G. 222 THE LITE OP THE RENOWNED the affections or imagination, may perchance find exercise and entertainment, but the memory and judgement no enriching at all; besides, I con- ceive 1 those delicate images to be over-abundantly in all languages already. And though^ my noble friend had that dexterity, even with the dashes of his pen to make the Arca- dian antiques beautifie the margents of his works ; yet the honour which — I beare him record — he never affected, I freely' leave unto him, with this addition, that his end in them was not vanish- ing pleasure alone, but morall images and ex- amples — as directing threds — to guide every man through the confused labyrinth of his own desires and life. So that howsoever I liked them^ too well — even in that unperfected shape they were — to condescend that such delicate — though infe- rior — pictures of himselfe, should be suppressed ; yet doe P wish that work may be the last in this kind, presuming no man that foUowes can ever reach, much lesse goe beyond that excellent intended patteme of his. For my own part, I found my creeping genius more fixed upon the images of life, than the > P, omits. G. 2 p^ omits. G. 'P,' not too'. G.. * P, ' I do '. G. SIR PHILIP SIDNET. 223 images of wit, and therefore chose not to write to them on whose foot the black oxe had not already trod, as the proverbe is, but to those only, that are weather-beaten in the sea of this World, such as having lost the sight of their gardens and groves, study to saile on a right course among rocks and quick-sands ; and if in thus^ ordaining and ordering matter and forme together for the use of life, I have made theis^ Tragedies no plaies for the stage ; be it known, it was no part of my purpose to write for them, against whom so many good and great spirits have already written. But he that will behold these acts upon their true stage, let him look on thgt stage wherein himself is an actor, even the state he lives in, and for every part he may perchance find a player, and for every line — it may be — an instance of life, beyond the author's intention or application, the vices of former ages being so like to these of this age, as it will be easie to find out some ajQinity, or resemblance between them, which whosoever read- eth with this apprehension, will not perchance thinke the scenes too longe,' at least the matter not to be exceeded in account of words. P, 'this'. G. 2 P, 'these' G. »P, 'large*. G. 224 THE LITE OF TFE EENOWNED Lastly, for the stile; as it is rich or poore, according to the estate and ability of the "Writer, so the value of it shall be enhansed, or cried downe, according to the grace, and^ capacity of the reader, from which common fortune of bookes, I look for no exemption. But to conclude, as I began this worke, to en- tertaine and instruct my selfe, so if any other find entertainement, or profit by it, let him use it freely, judge honourably- of my friend, and moderately of me, which is all the returne that out of this barren stock can be desired or expected. » P, * and the '. G. ^ MS honorble = honourable. G. ^IJXh* III. Jlbbitimts to %xft of SibttCB. A. ONE OF THE '' TWO PASTOEALLS MADE BY SIE PHILIP SIDNEY, NETJEE YET PUBLISHED. Vpon his meeting with his two worthy Friends and fellow-PoetSy Sir JEdwa/rd Dier, and Maister Fulhe GreuilV'} (SEE INTRODUCTORY NOTE, ante.) OYNE Mates in mirth with me, Graunt pleasure to our meeting : Let Pan our good God see, How gratefull is our greeting. loyne hearts and hands, so let it he, Make hut one Minde in Bodies three. Ye Hymnes, and singing skill Of God Apolloe's giuing, ^ From "Davidson's Poetical Ehapsody. 1602. (Mr. Collier's reprint.) G. 226 ADDITIONS TO Be prest our reedes to fill, With sound of musicke liuing. loyne hearts and hands, &fc. Sweete Orpheus Harpe, whose sound, The stedfast mountaynes moued, Let heere the skill abound, To ioyne sweete friends beloued. loyne hearts and hands^ Sfc. My two and I be met, A happy blessed Trinitie ; As three most ioyntly set, In firmest band of Vnitie. Ioyne hands, Sfc. "Welcome my two to me, e.d. f.g. p. The number best beloued. Within my heart you be, In friendship un-remoued. Ioyne hands, 8fc. Give leaue your flockes to range, Let vs the while be playing. Within the elmy grange, Your flockes will not be straying. Ioyne hands, Sfc. Cause all the mirth you can, Since I am now come hether, LIFE OP SIDNEY. 227 Who never ioy, but when I am with you together. loyne hands ^ &fc. Like Louers do their Loue, So ioy I, in your seeing ; Let nothing mee remoue From alwayes with you being. loyne handsy 8fc . And as the Turtle-Doue To mate with whom he liueth, Such comfort, feruentloue Of you, to my hart giueth. loyne hands Sfc. JS'ow ioyned be our hands, Let them be ne'r a sunder, But linkt in binding bonds By metamoi-phoz'd wonder. As should our seuer'd bodies three As oneforeuer ioyned hee^ The second Pastoral is entitled '' Disprayse of a Courtly life " which furnishes only these two stanzas bearing on the triple friendship : " Therefore Pan, if thou mayst be Made to listen vnto me, 228 ADDITIONS TO Grant, I say (if seely man May make treaty to god Pan) That I, without thy denying, May be still to thee relying. Only for my two loues' sake, sir ed. d. and In whose lone I pleasure take, m.f.g. Only two do me delight With their euer-pleasing sight. Of all men to thee retaining, Grant me with those two remaining." B. PEPYS : BY LORD BRAYBROOKE, 4th (1854) Ed. Ill 336-7 : pp. 340-1 : (SEE INTRODUCTORY NOTE, ante ) 1667-8. Jany. 1st. "Dined with my Lord Crewe, with whom was Mr. Browne, Clerk of the House of Lords, and Mr. John Crewe. Here was mighty good discourse, as there is always : and among other things, my Lord Crewe did turn to a place in the Life of Sir Philip Sidney, wrote by Sir Fulke Greville, which do foretell the present condition of this nation, in relation to the Dutch, to the very degree of a prophecy ; and is so remarkable that I am resolved to buy one of them, it being, quite throughout, a good discourse," LIFE OF SIDNEY. 229 Jany. 2nd. " To Westminster Hall, and there staid a little : and then home, and by the way did find with difficulty, the Life of Sir Philip Sidney. And the book -seller told me that he had sold four, within this week or two, which is more then ever he sold in his life of them : and he could not imagine what should be the reason of it : but I suppose it is from the same reason of people's observing of this part therein, touching his prophesying our present condition here in England in relation to the Dutch, which is very remarkable." (Cf. or Indices under Holland.) C. ZUTPEN. FROM WILLIAM GAMAGE'S " LINSI- WOOLSIE OR TWO CENTURIES OF EPIGRAMMES, 1613." (SEE INTROD- UCTORY NOTE, ante) Epig. 49. *' To Zutphen, a towne in Gilderland, at the be- leagring of which the renown Sir Philip Sidney was killed. I wist not which thy fame or infamie ? Doth more exceede, in causing Sidney's fall : But yet, I rather thinke thy fame, for why Before that time thou hadst no fame at all." G. IV. OttOtti'aHe Ja^g. ^ fetter to m ^onoxMz fabg*^ CAP. 1. Right Honourable Lady, OV are desirous, in regard of the trust you repose in me, to vnderstand mine opinion, how you should cany yourself through that labyrinth, wherein it seemes time and mischance haue imprison'd you. It was a wisdome among our Ancestors not to deale be- tweene the barke and the tree, otherwise than with confessors, shrifts, and such like superstitious rites, as — discharging ourselues — did vainely charge others with our desires. But the twine is so strong, wherewith your worth and fauour ^ See Introductory-Note to this Volume for account of a MS. from which corrections of the folio have been taken. These corrections are nearly all silently adopted in the text, but noted at end of the Letter. They are rather numerous, and put right some glaring oversights. G. 234 A LETTEB SENT TO haue bound me, as I will imagine our predecess- ors aphorismes in that point, to be rather a modesty out of sloth or ignorance than any pre- cept to guide our loues or Hues by. For first, the liberality of knowledge makes no man poorer ; and then the charity is much more meritorious, that releeues distressed mindes, than distressed bodies. Therefore to break through these mists — with how little wisdome soeuer, yet with reuerent good- will — I must first compare the state you were in, with that wherein you stand now: then your nature with your lord's : and lastly, the pri- uiledges of a wife, with the authorities of a husband. "When you married him, I know for your part, hee was your first loue ; and I iudge the like of him. "What the freedome and simplicity of those humours were, euery man is a witnesse, that hath not forgotten his own youth. And though it be rather a counsell of remorse than helpe, to lay before you your errors past ; yet because they teach you to know, that time is it which maketh the same thing easie and impossible, leaning withall an experience for things to come ; I must in a word lay occasion past before you. Madame, In those neere coniunctions of society, wherein death is the onely honourable diuorce, AN HONOURABLE LADY. 235 there is but one end, which is mutuall ioy in procreation ; and to that end two assured waies : the one, by cherishing affection with affection : the other, by working affection, while she is yet in her pride, to a reuerence, which hath more power than it selfe. To which are required aduantage, or at least equality : art, as well as nature. For contempt is else as neere as respect; the louingest minde being not euer the most lonely. Kow though it be true that affections arc relatiues, and loue the surest adamant of loue ; yet must it not be measured by the vntemperate elne^ of it selfe, since prodigality yeelds fulnesse, satiety a desire of change and change repentance : but so tempered euen in trust, enioying, and all other familiarities, that the appetites of them we would please may still be couetous, and their strengths rich. Because the decay of either is a point of ill huswifery, and they that are first bankrupt shut vp their doores. In this estate of mindes, onely gouemed by the vnwritten lawes of Nature, you did at the beginn- ing line happily together. Wherein there is a liuely image of that Golden Age, which the alleg- ories of the poets figure vnto vs. For there * Ell, measure. G. 236 A LETTEE SENT TO Equality guided without absolutenesse, Earth yeelded fruit without labour, Desert perished in reward, the names of Wealth and Pouerty were strange, no owing in particular, no private improu- iDg of humors, the traffick being loue for loue ; and the exchange all for all : exorbitant abund- ance being neuer curious in those selfe-seeking arts, which teare vp the bowels of the Earth for the priuate vse of more than milke and hony. ^Notwithstanding, since in the vicissitude of things and times, there must of necessity follow a Brazen Age, there ought to be a discreet care in loue : in respect the aduantage will proue theirs that first vsurpe, and breaking through the lawes of Nature, stnue to set downe their owne reaches of will. Here Madame, had it beene in your power, you should haue framed that second way of peace, studying to keepe him from euill, whose corruption could not be without misfortune to you. For there is no man, but doth first fall from his duties to himself, before he can fall away from his duty to others. This second way is, that where afi'ec- tion is made but the gold, to hold a iewell farre more pretious than it selfe : I meane respect and reuerence ; which two powers, well mixed, haue exceeding strong and strange variety of working. AN HONOUEABLE LADY. 237 For instance, take Coriolanus, who — Plutarch saith — loued worthinesse for his mother's sake. And though true loue containe them both, yet because our corruption hath, by want of differen- ces, both confounded words and beings, I must vulgarly distinguish names, as they are cun-ent. The wayes to this respect and reuerence — as shaddowes to the bodies of worth — are placed not in the sense, but vnderstanding ; where they stand vpon diverse degrees, and strengths of reason, not to be approched with the flattering familiarity of inferior humours ; as hauing no afl&nity with desire and remorse, high or low estate : whence we see kings sometimes receiue them not from their vassals, but rather pay them as tributes to them. In this mystery lies hidden that which some call — applying it to matters of estate — the Art of Gouernment ; others the art of men ; whereby equality is made vnequall, and freedome brought into subjection. Example, all soueraigne Estates commanding ouer other men, borne as free as their rulers ; and those soueraignes ruled againe, by the aduantage of worth in their inferiors. Into this superiority — noble Lady — it seemes your husband hath stept before you, not by any councell of worth, which with a naturall motion drawes respect and reuerence vpward ; but by a 238 A LETTER SENT TO crafty obseruing the weakenesse of men, where- with men are best acquainted. For as our desires are more vntemperately earnest than women's; so are our repentances more stronge and easily inclined to change, if not to loathing. Of which ' forbidden tree ' when the affections haue once tasted, presently as in the Brazen Age, naked Eue must hide her shame, sowe that she will reape, and no more enioy the full measure of recipro- cal! loue, but be stinted with the vnconstant pro- portions of Power and Will. Because the know- ledge of euill doth euer teach the first offender to seeke aduantage ; and so when they haue sinned against the true equalities of loue, to take priu- iledge in the false sanctuaries of place, person, sexe or time ; deceiuing the truth with that which should defend it. Here Diuision drawes out her vnreconciled paralels, to make the vnity of man and wife, to become lesse one ; and then it fol- lowes, that they which yeeld most doe not com- mand most, as before in the lawes ofnaturall affection : but contrarywise, they that giue, en- rich them that take, they that loue must suffer, and the best is sure to be worst vs'd. Because the ends of society are no more now to loue or equally participate, but absolutely to rule ; and where that is the contention, what need statutes AN HONOURABLE LADY. 239 or recognizances to tye those humble natures, that passe away the fee-simple of themselues, either with selfe-louingnesse or superstitious opinion of duty ? For it is with them, as with the riuers that runne out their waters into the sea Caspium ; the more goodnesse, the lesse re- turne. Vpon this step, it seemes, your husband stood, when he began to thinke of something more than mutuall enioying ; as drawing the familiaritie of natiue affections vnder the affected absolutenesse of a husband's power. Here false pleasure — which springs and withers with our flesh — began, as gluttony doth, to kindle new appetite with variety of meates. Here comes in change of delights and delight in change; the riches of desire in that it hath not ; the triumphs of opinion, which though the flesh of any one bee a true map of all flesh, yet doth it racke vs stiU with idolatrous longing after strange and vgly images of it. For the restlesse confusion of Error hath this plague, that her peace must be still in the power of others, where Nature hath placed both the way and guide of true peace within our selues. But who are they that can walke this milky way ? Not those vnconstant spirits, which are wandred into the wildernesse of Desire ; nor those, whose 240 A LETTER SENT TO vgly prospect is vnrepentant horrour; whose senses are but spies of Conscience vpon their faults ; their reasons purchased into bondage, by offers of their semant-affections ; and whose informing consciences stand, like tormentors, with stained tables^ to giue in 9pen euidence of secret deformity. Ko Madame, this milken way is for those single and simple spirits, who foolish and ignorant in euill, thinke the passage to it hard, if not im- possible ; or when they idly slip, doe yet recouer, with a regenerate industry ; not ioying, as those other vagabond soules, after they haue deceiued themselues, to stray abroad and deceive others. This is a generall description of the fall of mindes ; wherein there is notwithstanding an in- fancie and a man's estate : because as easie as the euill is, yet no man growes by and by to her extremities. Besides, there are degrees and differ- ences, according to the state, frame, and mixture of humours in the body : some inclin'd to one frailty, some to another ; some languishing, some violent ; some proper to ages, fortunes, times, with such exceptions as are in particulars vnder all vniuersall rules, ^ = tablets or books of Memory. G. AN HONOURABLE LADY. 241 CAP. 2. ]INCE therefore in this glasse you may see where you were and where you ai-e ; there rests now a consideration of the limited authorities of a husband and the priui- ledges of a wife ; upon which I will not stand long : because you poore wiues doe in that, rimne a common fortune with those estates, which by vsur pation of time or violence, haue nothing left of their former conquests or greatnesse, but fame and mine. So as I will not vainely trauaile to winne that againe, which corruption and confusion haue won of you and the truth ; but onely make mention of their names or natures in passing, as they serue to your end ; and open those other three wayes, which in the falne estate, wherein you stand, offer themselues to your aduantage. The first is to mend him : the second, to master both his euill and his estate : the third, to please him. Ynto amends — miracles being aboue our power — there is required either the authority of credit or fauor. Eor credit, how you should haue any by the truth, where it hath none, his faults to himselfe and you, are pregnant witnesses. What a 242 A LETTEE TO little fauor you haue, if you repeate the story of Ms life to your selfe, it \rill be manifest. For first — you know — his deuotion and affection, are long since carryed from you to his mistresse ; by which reuerend name men commonly call those whom they meane, by corrupting, to make their seruants. And though shee, either out of craft or coldnesse, deny him the enioying of her body ; yet is that no aduantage to you : to him it is the art of his mine. For vnsatisfied desire is too earnest for counsell, too confident for mistrust, too omnipotent for remorse. So as, right like the poeticall image of Phaeton, it inflameth the whole horizon of man's nature with irregular and disproportion'd notions. What wonderfull effects those entising denials haue wrought, there are records in euery age. The same poets make in the chastity of Diana, Endymion our example. Hippolytus, with his constant refusall of Phaedra and his deuotion to Phoebe, a martyr. The fable of Ixion, where instead of luno he embrac'd a cloud, begetting monsters in strong imagination ; with many moe.^ All which doe but expresse how farre greater wonder we stand in of this well-disguised ashes, your flesh, while the wheeles 1 More : a poetical rather than a prose form. G. AN HONOUBABLE LADY. 243 of desire are woond vp, than when they are run out with enioying. For in this crafty forge are framed wanton modesty, entising shamefac'dnesse, faint reproofes, with what other charmes soeuer are fit to stirre vp the blindnesse of our selfe-loue or pitty. But methinkes — ^noble Lady — I euen now see your face blush, while your thoughts tell me, that your lord's affections haue so many vents, as there is no danger of breaking the vessell with fulnesse ; nor yet of multiplying deuotion, by restraint. It is true that liberty disperseth, and so makes the streames of fantasie lesse violent. JN'otwithstanding Dotage is an unscrutable depth ; it puts scales to blancks, makes contradictories true, and sees all things in the superlatiue degree. To be short, it is a prospect into the land of Ignorance ; which — they say — no man can describe, but he that is past it. JN'ay, it is such a kinde of enchantment, as makes the easinesse of others endeere her bewitch- ing refusalls. Satiety, which iudgeth with scorne, yet honours her; impossible being no more able to qualifie desire, than intreaty to reuive it. So as you being abeady bankrupt in his fauour, in this course of amends, I will onely aduise you to pray, if your faith serue : or if you will goe farther, I must bring against you the fatall doomes 244 A LETTER TO of Sisyplius, rowling the stone ; Belides filling tlie sieue ; with the poet's phrases of catching the wind ploughing the seas, and such like metaphor- icall hyperboles, as describing infinite and imposs- ible, lay them to your charge. Therefore — worthy Lady — remember ^sop ; seeke not your husband against the streame, vntill he be dead. To master his mind, which is the second way, hath yet in the fore-front some more possibilitie. For the evill is malitious and yet subject; chang- ing, because imperfection cannot stand alone ; amorous, for that euery thing seemes lonely, com- pared with the deformity of euill it selfe. But it may please you to remember, that Inconstancy hath so strong a wall of craft about it, as it is hard by sophistication of wit, to master the experience of euill : it being old borne with vs, and acquaint- ed with euery comer, accesse, and recesse of our mindes. Besides, it comes not into the nature of man with cleare and open euidence, as true their' s doe ; but as vsurpers, whose vnderminings are hardly to bee scene, while they may bee pre- uented ; and when they are seen, beyond cure or contention. Tor the being of euill being nothing but onely a depriuing of the good, and the captiu- ing of our free-will-lights to the workes of dark- nesse; it must needs come to passe, that when AN HONOURABLE LADY. 245 her conquering venimes^ are once distilled through all our powers, and wee won with our selues, that there can bee no thought within vs to heare or entreat ; and without vs, though Authority may- cut off the infection of ill example from others, yet can it no more take away the diuel's part in vs, than call vp the dead. Out of which I con- clude: whatsoeuer cannot be mended — without authority — cannot be ruled. ITow if you will examine the preeminences of a husband's estate, you shall soone discouer what huge armies of vsurpation, custome, municipall lawes, are in this strife of mastering him against you ; truth in some degree, fortune, and opinion vniuersally. Archimides held that it was possible by art to remoue the vnremouable Earth, if he could jGlnd vpon what basis he might fix the foot of his engine : the same doubt I may make to you, which is, where you will lay the ground of that strength, which should master him ? If upon his humours ; then — as I said — the centre is craft, the circumference inconstancie ; neither strong vertues nor vices ; but changing and irregular fantasie ; as vnfit to rule, as hard to be ruled ; especially since ill-nature and good fortune ^ Venoms. G. 246 A LETTER TO learn easily to know their strengths, and like proud cowards, tyrannize where they find Right in the guard of loue or weakenesse. If vponhis estate, then doe you assaile him in his strength. For hee is by lawes ahoue you : the words of your contract, obedience ; of his, loue; thereuenew his, Liberty his friend, Honour scarce indifferent, Fame against you ; protesting euer on the side of strength, not of right. So as contention with superiors is but that which the poets figure in the fable of Anteus wrestling with Hercules, wherein they f eigne him euer too weake, while he was lifted from his earth, and his onely recouery of strength by fall- ing to it. This earth of your estate is patience and humility ; aboue which what light desii'e, or offence soeuer doth lift you, lifts you aboue the priuiledges of a wife, and with more harme and losse, will at the last make you fall, to vnderstand your own estate. If you trust not these prophane images, I will lay a diuine before you ; that you may see iniust and impossible haue like condemnation both in If ature and Grace. When the fleshly Bablyonians went about to preuent a second deluge, and so, with man's power to limit God's ; they purposed to raise a tower equall to the heauens, thinking AN HONOUEABLE LADY. 247 thereby, that God should either fauour their dwell- ings or destroy His owne. What came vpon them ? Marry, a ' confusion of tongues ' to the end, that they which understood not their Maker, might much lesse vnderstand themselues : An excel- lent course of the Wisedome, to punish vaine ends by fruitlesse labors. And sure the like destiny lies wrapt vp still, to fall vpon those, that for want of measuring their desires with the circum- stances of time, estate, and worth, doe vndertake the giants "Warre, and so burie themselues in their owne earth. Therefore by my consent — honour- able Lady — you shall in stead of mastering him, master your selfe ; and auoid that other violent course, which requires wilfull vrging, seruile patience, broken shame, with all kinds of indeco- rum ; such as the worst speed best with; and yet so, as they that winne their ends, are sure to lose their honours. Tea, the truth is in euery part such a proofe of it selfe, as whoso will narrowly obserue the complexions of those wiues, that vsurpe vpon the authority of their husbands, shall see, that the very change of the office, workes almost a metamorphosis in nature ; the woman growing mannish, and the man womanish. For it is most true that ages and sexes haue their distinct lawes ; 80 as the fame is not the same in both, but diuerse ; 248 A LETTER TO as the wise man saith vertues be in men and wo- men. Our fame lying in hazard, armies, bloud ; theirs in silence, modestie, restraint : our reputa- tions not easily shaken, and many wayes repaired; theirs, like glasse, by and by broken, and impos- sible to bee healed. Since therefore your owne genius, honor, and impossibilitie, do all oppose against this aduentrous practise, let vs leaue it ; and conclude with the poet, that Who so -will the deuil's master bee, Must haue a minde more mischieuous than he. The last point, which is to please, hath in it a face both of divine and humane duty ; possibilitie in the censure^ of rumour, that speakes most and knows least. Besides, the meanes that are vsed in it, as vowes, prayers, sacrifice, obedience, &c., are all milde counsells ; and such as rather enrich than impoueiish those that Tse them. Let vs therefore striue to wade through, or swimme ouer the depth of pleasing : in which there are two branches, either to please him with your selfe, or with his owne humours. To please him with your selfe — considering the map wee haue already described his nature in— I thinke you must be sometimes short, sometimes long ; now faire, now browne ; wanton, modest, and al at once. Por Judgment. G. AN HONOURABLE LADY. 249 they must take on many shapes, that will please a man of many mincles ; sense being there a judge, motion quiet ; and their felicity in such wandring desires, as onely ioy till they doe enioy. So as these two excellent mediators, Worth and Merit, can be no more to them than light is to blindnesse, or musicke to the deafe. Nay Beauty it selfe, which is the obiect of vncorrupted sense, is no- thing vnto these sensuall natures; who are so bewitched with this disease of nouelty, as vnwealdy fatnesse, discoloured skinne, and such like vncouth prouokers of appetite, are often dearest vnto them. What hope then to stay or fixe this vagabond lust ? Since as those shad- ows that goe before the bodies which make them, can neuer by the same bodies be ouer- taken: so these shadowy natures haue neither strength enough to leaue worshipping of others, nor to esteeme those that worship themselues ; but like smokes, kindlinge with euery flame, are dissolucd againe into euery new ayre about them. The second oi these branches is, to please him with himselfe. For the better understanding of which course, if we doe examine the wayes that common subjects doe hold vnder the vnquiet nature of Power ; we shall finde that waye doth corrupt vs, in not working a largenesse, but narrownesse of 250 A LETTER TO heart : and so making vs, like the little flies, apt to couet after the flattering light, wherein we bume. For vpon this stage, if superiors delight in lust, panders are the ministers of credit : if in wealth, the sparing negative voyces be the coun- sels of aduancement ; if they be iealous, then the deprauing corporations, which keepe downe all spirits of hope, or encouragements of honor, with false narrow axioms of tyranny, are the charmers we must giue eare 'STito : helping to drowne our superiours in the inundation of their owne follies, and make their thrones a grange, wherein there shall be nothing but selling of honour, to purchase scorne abroad, and seruile feare at home. For it is most true that the iealousie of Tnworthinesse in power is so infinite, as where sloth, ignorance or basenesse haue once giuen it leaue to giue law, it endures none vnder it, but such as are either outwardly deformed, and so borne with their owne crosses ; or inwardly defective in wit and courage ; the right estate of those mindes, which though they be borne free in the lawes of JN'ations, are yet slaues in the nan'ow moulds of their owne afi'ections ; or lastly, such, as in the extremitie of want, or obscurenesse of birth, must be long prent- ises to their superiors. How vgly a prospect such rootes and branches must be to all free AN HONOUEABLE LADY. 251 mindes, you shall easily see, if it please you to looke vpon the poeticall mappe ; wherein the painter liuely describing a pageant of worldly vanities, with the plagues and deformities of euery sinne, represents mishapen humane shapes vnto vs ; either long tayles, clouen feet, homes, or such like antikes, as with too many, or too few mem- bers liuely represent vs the monstrous births of Error. And when you haue exactly view'd it, I dare vndertake you shall not see in that mappe so horrible and fearefull images to the soules of men ; as you shall in those tyrannical courts to the bodies, and fortunes of the worthiest, and not without danger to the Libertines. Since as true worth is euer iealous to the fearefull nature of tyrants : so are extreme vnworthinesses a scorn, both to their pride, and power. I^ow Madame, by the ill example and dangerous consequence in these misgouem'd courts of princes, you may comparatiuely see what such by-wayes will worke in a priuate family ; faults hauing there no purple to couer them, nor yet great hopes to excuse errors. So that, the ends and instru- ments, being both of necessity base, and neither with vertue nor fortune redeem' d from the scome of seruile vices ; it must needs be with them as with the sinkes and vessels of dishonour, which 252 A LETTER TO they that vse are asham'd to haue appeare. Be- sides, the reproach will be greater in meane estates ; because there they want the helps of feare, which mak[e]s Murmur wary how shee speakes aloud of Power ; and redeemes imperfec- tions with rewards of magnificence and liberality. Againe, if you will needs corrupt your selfe, to make the line you leu ell by more -crooked ; then must your first step be ouer the shoes in shame. For you must combine with his mistris, who will perchance measure you forth some part of that, whereof the whole is yours : I meane your hus- band's loue. . And whether she will, in this false glasse of his dotage, discouer your fall of spirit, and so teach him to be more absolute, it is doubt- full ; because the more sandy the foundations of craft be, the more charge and care is euer to be vsed in building vpon it. Moreouer, this is one essentiall difference, betweene the counsell of Honour and Craft ; that if thesuccesse of subtility be euill, it doth blast and blacke the stocke it is grafted in, where the counsell of Honour doth in mischance it selfe, improve the reputations of them that bee gouerned by it. Therefore — as I said — if you will aduenture vpon these vnsound counsels, which haue base conditions, hazarding successe and infallible AN HONOURABLE LADT. 253 infamy; you must first deface honour, shame, religion, and all other honest limits in your sclfe : because it is an vnprosperous and half-witted course, to thinke of remorse, after counsell taken to haue good by the deuill. And who but those natures that can be as euil as they list, are fit to guide themselues by that iron industry, wakefull faithlesnesse, aduantageous contracts, which they must passe through that intend to master, or please corrupted Power? The conclusion, and end of my counsell therefore is, onely to perswade you, that you neuer study to be wiser than the truth ; and so neither striue to master, mend or please him. 254 A LETTER TO CAP. 3. OW if I leaue you here, I haue onely laid before you a glasse of disquiet, and rais'd yp such mists of opinion, as make your woes seeme greater, and thereby — like an ignorant Criticke — rather dissolu'd those rests you had, than erected you any new. But though there be lesse labour and art required in ouerthrowing than establishing — the common errors of men giuing authority to censurers, and a reputation of piercingnesse to the reprouers — yet my selfe-end being nothing but your fauor, and my true end your good ; how vnequall soeuer my spirits be, to build you any certaine felicity vp on this broken foundation, yet shall they bee sufficient, I hope, to pull downe those mines of yours, that threaten — while you labour vnder them — to fall upon you, or while you peice^ with them, suddenly to fall away ; and so leaue you weaker, with the trauell and charge of many thoughts. Por it is most true, that as the old and new agree together in nothing, 1 = Make peace. G. AN HONOTIRABLE LADl. 255 BO the mixtures of good and euill are incompet- ible. Therefore Madam, Let me digresse a little, and remember that the metalP you are made of is earth, your habitation a world ; both mortall, and so no perfection at all to be expected in them : those petty shadowes of rest which are there, being full of temptation, lets, or dangers ; which I must take notice of, both to diminish j^our ex- pectation that else will proue an enemy to you ; and besides to warne your steady mind, that a slip is not strange in an icie way. To beginne therefore with our flesh. Euer since the curse of bondage, which God breathed out vpon the first sinne, each degree of life in it is onely a change and variety of seruitude. The child's innocency being in weakenesse, his food in the nurse, his frailties vnder the rod ; man vnder man, his faults vnder lawes, rewards vnder will ; nothing constant but the inconstancy of the euil, and her appearance of liberty the extremest of all bondage. Nay, to goe further, the vniuersall corruption of inferior elements is such, as euen worldly wisedome it selfe workes but as our vulgar physicke doth, which passing through the imper- fections and contrarieties of our natures and dis- ^ So elsewhere " oaxe " : see Glossarial Index, s.v. G. 256 A LETTER TO eases, dotli helpe and hurt together ; still multi- plying the curse of our fall, in the false changes of diseases and cures, appetites and opinions. ^Neither can the confluence of worldly things yeeld any other rest or stability, than such as is in the kingdome of sleepe, where the best is but a dreame. Because where imperfection is, there disquiet must be ; and where disquiet gouernes, there Nature is as apt to wander, as to be weary. Nouelties — like instants — come and passe ; that which we desire proues like to that we hauc en- ioy'd ; the faire deceiues, and the vntasted is onely pleasing. Wee may therefore as well seeke fish vpon the mountaines, trees in the sea, as peace in flesh : which is only a promise to them that care not to finde it there. To proue this : if we obserue the progresse betweene God and vs, in his first Testament, the Sabbath is there annexed to the condition of sixe dayes labour, not of rest : here a figure only, hereafter a being ; in this life a thing we taste of by faith, performed in eternity to them that haue passed through this flesh as an inne, not as an habitation. So as this body, this composition of elements, is but onely a purgatory of the soule, either to cleanse or corrupt, as the afi'ections of it looke yp or downe. And Madame, now that wee haue done with AN HONOURABLE LADY. 257 this fleshly prospect, if wo consider the world, we shall finde that to be vnto a man — like a sea to an island — full of stormes, vncertaineties, violence; whose confusions haue neither iustice nor mercy in them. If wo examine the motiues that caused the man to make art his nature, and borrow wooden feet to walk ouer her mouing waters ; we shall finde them to haue beene necessity, couetous- nesse, curiosity, ambition, and some such other enemies to rest, as with false greatnesses — while men could not endure little things — inforced them through paine and danger, to suffer all the tor- ments of vncertainty. To apply which compari- son Madame, you shall see the same impatient humours are they, who hauing first wearied vs within, doe after perswade vs to seeke peace in the world without ; where we being forced to wrestle with others, because we could not ouer- come our selues, in stead of one euill are con- strain'd to encounter many. And iustly ; since where in all inward wayes to peace, man needes no lawes but God's and his owne obedience ; if he once goe into trafficke with the world, his desires are there bound with the snares of Custome, the heauy hand of Power, the enammels of Author- ity, which conceale — as the poets say — vnder the golden garments of Pandora, all the venome 258 A LETTER TO of her brazen tonne. And in that bottomelesse pit of humours shall we not finde deceit as infinite as desire, Honour but the throne of Care, Prosperity both the child and mother of Labour, ? To be short, we shall there finde — though too late — that all fortunes and misfortunes are but moulds of momentary aff'ections, spunne out with propor- tion or disproportion of time, place, and natures. So as since no estate can priuiledge this life from death, sicknesse, paine — Power it selfe being alike feared and fearefuU — must we not thinke to gather our roses among thornes, and consequently the world to be a flattering glasse, wherein man rather sees how to change, or adorne his euils, than any way to reduce or amend them ? Through this false Paradise — noble Lady — we must therefore passe, as Vlysses did by the en- chanted desarts of Circe ; stopping our eares and closing our eyes, lest our rebellious senses, as apt to flatter as to be flattered, chance to take part with the diuersity of beguiling obiects, and so lead our misty vnderstandings captiue to perdi- tion. The company of Vlysses — like multitudes stronge in sense and weake in reason — by making loue to Itheir -owne^harme, were with open eares and eyes, transformed into sundry shapes of beasts : the poets figuring to vs, in them, the diuerse AN H0N0X7EABLE LADY. 259 deformities of bewitching frailties, wherewith for lacke of diuine grace or humane caution, they get power to ensnare vs. And in this captiuity, let no ignorance seem to excuse mankinde ; since the light of truth is still neere vs, the tempter and accuser at such continuall warre within vs, the lawes that guide, so good for them that obey, and the first shape of euery sinne so vgly, as who- soeuer does but what he knowes, or forbeares what he doubts, shall easily follow nature vnto grace: and if he in that way obtaine not the righteousnesse of eternity, yet shall he purchase the world's time and eternity, by morall fame. For obedience, not curiosity ; as in heauenly, so in earthly things, is the most acceptable sacrifice of mankind. Because this inherent tribute of nature vnto power — like a reuealed light of vniuersall grace — refines man's reason, rectifies his will, turnes his industries and learnings inward againe whence they came, ioynes words with things, and reduceth both of them to their first beings. To conclude, this is that inward fabricke, by which we doe what we thinke and speake what wee doe. N^ow Madame, In this narrow path, your helps, both against inward assaults and outward tempta- tions, must be those moderate sweet humours 260 A LETTER TO which I haue knowne to bee in you and some of yours. This moderation of desires being a farre freer and surer way, than the satisfying of them can bee : Eepentance following the one and Peace the other ; the one course making jSTature go as well too fast backe, as forwards ; and so must consequently offend others with that which first offended themselues : where these moderate affec- tions doe with a naturall hannony please them- selues ; and then must not the ayre of that vntroubled world naturally yeeld peace to euery creature that breathes in or about it ? Besides, this moderation brings forth few desires, strong humblenes to pay the tributes of power, patience as an armour against oppression, truth as a sac- rifice : whereby the world which giues but what it hath and the euill of others, that desires to oppresse or infect ; can the hardlier finde meanes to trouble them, or colour why they should study to doe it. My counsell is therefore Madame, that you enrich your selfe vpon your owne stocke ; not looking out-wardly but inwardly for the fniit of true peace, whose rootes are there ; and all outward things but ornaments or branches, which impart their sweet fruits with the humble spirit of others. Yet noble Lady, because you are a woman and a AN nONOURABLE LADY. 261 wife ; and by the lawes of both these estates, in some measure ordain'd to line vndor meane and Bupreame authority : my intent is not, while I perswade you from the captious labyrinth of prac- tise ; to leaue you without such reasonable lati- tudes, as passengers haue in their trauailes, who when they cannot clime ouer steepe mountaines, find means to go about them, and so by length cut away the danger or possibilitie of precipitation In which course Madam, because presidents are esteemed the best guides for humane ignorance to follow, I will first lay before you the opinions of worthy men, borne vnder tyrants, and bound to obey, though they could not please ; the compar- ison holding in some ajfinity betweene a wife's subiection to her husband and a subject's obedience to his soueraigne. Brutus would leaue nothing in his mind fcarefull to Power, nor in his fortune exorbitantly to be coueted ; as resolute either to be safe by innocencie or contempt ; or if both failed yet to haue extremity a warrant against extremities. Some haue thought the way of security to be in not vnderstanding the abstruse courses of Power. Others aduise vs — with the moone — to acknow- ledge all our light to the sunne. Some would haue vs imitate the spheres, who carried about with the yiolent course of the First Mouer, doe yet steale 262 A LETTEE TO on in their naturall with slow and vnsensible motion ; with many of like nature, which I for- beare to number, in respect that no man gouem his life wholly by precepts. Humane wisedome it selfe varying with circumstance of occasion, place, time, and nature ; and so neither the same in all things, nor still the same in any. AN HONOURAHLE LADY. 263 CAP- 4. HEEEFORE Madam, lest you should thinke I would foolishly conclude the state of all minds in the aphorismes of a few ; I will leaue this bondage of precepts, to walke in this larger field, and through an vnproper comparison of diuine and humane power together, shew you by humility a way into the one and by discreet constancy a passage out of the other. Eor as the two authors differ in the disproportion of infinite good and finite euill ; so doe their workings within vs. The one makes faith a wisedome, the other infidelitie a freedome : the one giuing abilitie to walke ouer the deepe sea of God's commandements, which while they seeme impossible proue easie ; the other drowning weake faith in the shallow dewes of mistrust, vanity, selfenesse, and such other irregular hum- ours, as while they seeme easie, proue impossible : my intent being, by this mappe, noble Lady, to make you affraid of trusting your peace in a leak- ing ship of humane power and affections. Because all things there are so gouem'd by the two false 264 A LETTEB TO rudders of hope and feare, as though — like the boat of Charon — they refuse no passinger, yet carry they none ouer either into rest or honour. In example of diuine power ; when God led the children of Israel out of bondage into the Land of Promise, to witnesse His omnipotencie, He vsed the miracle of cloud and pillar ; one to lighten darkenesse, the other to shadow the beames of glory : which two signes the people of God had reason to adore ; since it is credible that Hee who created the world should be in loue with His worke ; and consequently Hee not curious to de- ceiue, in Whose power it was to create, maintaine, and destroy. Besides to giue all, and take noth- ing, proceeds of an vncaused goodnesse, and so necessarily of an vnabusing. The princes of the Earth haue two like ensignes ; viz. feare and hope : the pretence of the one, to awake our dull spirits out of the idle sleepes of ignorance to serue the ends of actiue spirits ; the other, to keepe the exorbitant desires of mul- titudes vnder the seruice and cautions^ of supreme "Will. Of these humane clouds and pillars we haue more reason to be iealous. First, in respect that whatsoever is created, is affraid of disolution, 1 Misprints ' cautious '. G. AX nOXOUEABLE LADY. 265 and so in loue with it selfo. Then because wee know, that as many riuers must lose their names, to make vp one sea : so absolutenessc must winne and keepe aboue, with the losse of all, or at least many branches of vniuersall freedome. And there- fore the fox did not conclude amisse, when he saw his fellowes' steps march towards the lion's denne, and none retume, Nos hoec vestigia terrent. But more clearly to disceme these gilt or painted fetters, from a true golden freedome, let vs exam- ine the specious wisedomes of man's absolute gouernments : and for the most part wee shall find them to main! aine that which is stoUen by craft ; vsurpations by might ; and for a further enlargement of their narrow foundations, to stroake vs with our owne hands, threaten vs with our owne strengths, and reward vs with the spoylos of our owne fortunes. Yea, so much they abhorre equality from whence they came, as they clime ouer Law, Eeligion, and Truth, to keepe more and more aboue that sweet orbe of humane and equall peasing^ lawes. If then euen the coward and foolish spirits doe feele enough to acknowledge this, of what haue we more cause to be iealous, tlian of these two ^ Poising, as before. See Glossary-Index. G. 266 A LETTER TO cloudy pillars Hope and Peare ? Since by no other racke can the nature of man be more highly im- proued to the aduantage of Power and disaduantage of his natiue freedome : the one bewitching, the other amazing vs, the one mastering the strength of number with a multitude of scattered desires, the other entising or forcing vs to giue away our rights for feare to lose them : both — as they say of Esop's dogge — making vs forsake the true flesh, to catch at the reflexion of shaddowes. So that the best course for vs inferiors is, neither — like little children — to play away our times with the babies^ which we our selues haue made, nor yet to feare the antickes of our owne painting — since we lend the homes and nayles which make them vgly ; but rather to suppresse desire and affections within our selues, by which we shall wither Hope and Feare — two crafty spies of Power — giuing intelligence what may be forced within vs, hereby to enhaunse the tributes of tyranny, till it haue drawne vp our browes after our sweat, and giuen lawes to thirst, as well as drinking. Therefore Madame, vntill the smarts of sense haue so vnited will and vnderstanding, as all men in like fortunes may haue like ends, till the beasts beginne to 1 Dolls. G. AN HONOUBABLE LADY. 267 know their strengths, the vnwritten lawes blot out the written, and the temporall cease vnder the eternall ; there is neither in your's nor in any other subiection, any true peace to be gotten by trust of superiors ; nor honour by strife against them. Whence may I not dcmonstratiuely con- clude, that wakefull Power must needs winne of all inferiors, who striue or venture to win of it ? Now Madame, when Nature in her vniuersall knowledge foresaw this distresse or taxe, like to fall vpon her freedome ; she, which is no step- mother to any of hers, straightwaies gaue Honour more wings than one, to the end, those which cannot haue it in commanding, might haue it in obeying ; and those that want power to doe nobly, may yet finde latitudes to suffer nobly in. Out of this came the wise-man's words, deliuered vnto vs from the trauailes of his minde : that there are times to rest, and times to labour ; times to be well, and times to be sicke ; times to hope, and times to vnhope, &c.^ In which vnhoping time you must resolue to finde your selfe, and by coun- sell of the Wisedome, limit all vnquietnesse of desires ; lest they being vnseasonable, adde shame to your other misfortunes. Let nothing therefore 1 Ecclesiastes iii,, 1 — 8. G. 268 A LETTER TO makeyou hope, where an ecclipseof many humours hath darkened your sunne. Trust not ; for vn- loulinesse and vnworthinesse are euer vnsafe. Venture not ; for besides that this fortune is in it selfe misfortune, power being too hard for rightg the very multitude, who judge of actions by the whorish conduct of effects, will by and by censure them that vndertake and prosper not, either vainely to haue fixed impossible ends to themselues, or foolishly neglected the meanes ; and from these grounds euer conclnde A duersity in the wrong, and Prosperity in the right. If your ladyship desire a reason of this error, it is because men's common iudgements vpon com- mon fame neither will, nor indeed can, well ex- amine the different constellation betweene your husband's nature and your's; your merits, his demerits : but will infallibly sticke fast in the skinne and outside of estates, preeminces and authorities; iudging well of that in their folly, which in their basenesse they resolued to wor- ship To be short ; the wit of people is so many times vnder the truth and their care so much lesse than their wit ; as it is with them euer a lesse fault to doe iniury than to haue ill lucke. Therefore noble Lady, I cannot aduise you either AN HONOUEABLE LADY. 269 to coraplaine or mutinie against the stronger ; for the one diseouers inconsiderate weaknesse, the other languishing errors : but rather as the vege- table things in the wisedome of l^ature doe, so aduise your ladyship to doe : which is draw all your sap in this Winter of thoughts, downe to the root; and be content to want leaues, till the sweet Spring of time or occasion come to inuite them vp againe. For besides that these iuries of common opinion will euer when they doe best, looke vpon law, and not equity, vpon custome, not on nature, strength, and not right : euen the clearest humane iudgements will hardly con- ceive so monstrously of mankind, as shall be suffi- cient to acquit you and condemne your husband. The reason is : because these extremities of good or euill will not easily be beleeued to raigne in these middle natures of flesh and blood : in respect that God hath decreed the angels to heauen, the diuels to hell ; and left the Earth to man, as a meane creation between these two extremes. So that he must be a kinde of diuell himselfe, that can easily beleeue there should be diuels raigning within or amongst vs. Besides Madame, how vncomely it were for you — like the crow — to goe out of your arke of duty, and discouer extraordinary seas of vanity in your husband, the 270 A LETTER TO lawes of honour will tell you. Let God ''the searcher of hearts" and Time the " discouerer of faults," moue those links of shame and punish- ment, whereto our en-ors are tyed ; and let it he enough for you henceforwards not to worship idols, "who haue eyes that see not, and eares that heare not." For, as they say, when euery particular dies, he hath his owne doome ; though the generall doomes-day hee to come : so may I say, to whatsoeuer your husband hath to all the world else, he hath neither life, loue, nor sense to you. Therefore since power lies in him, desire and dutie in you ; pay your tribute, doe your homage, and make your reward to bee the secret peace of well-doing ; cutting off all other thoughts of rest by him, who not hauing it in himselfe, cannot possibly bestow it vpon others. For by that meanes your honour will bee safely guarded from these muddy visions of Hope, which — as I said — is one chief e pillar in incroaching power ; and in which the fooles of the world, sleeping away their liberties, doe vainely make Authorities their heires. I^ow that we haue shaken your hopes, the next chiefe engine of power is terror : a breath which seemeth to pierce neerer, and not to leaue vs safe or free within our selues. Because it hath slander AN HONODRARLE LADY. 271 at commandement, spies, accusers, violence, and oppression ; which fooles vnderstand not and base men giue ouer-much reuerence vnto. Against these I can onely say this ; that they be the fires in whose heat Worthinesse is re-purified ; and by whose light the glories of it are farthest scene. So as for these violeccies of temptations, I per- swade you to make lob your example ; a type whom God gaue the diuel leaue to persecute in his goods, his children, and in his person with such infirmities of body, as had both paine and lothsomenesse in them. And marke againe in the same afflicted lob, in whom the excellent wise- dome of constancy is figured ; hee neither did sacrifice to his euill angell, nor studied amends or reliefe at the hands of his tempter, but walled his flesh with patience, and his conscience with innocencie : leaning to the diuell that which was his ; I meane his body, and fortune, subiect by Adam's discreation to the prince of sensuality. And what small power the princes of this world haue ouer the resolutions of faith, honour, or nature, examine — if it please you — by those paines, which your selues suff'er for children, hereticks for opinion, pride for fame, feare for feare; wherein the rod makes the child endure the corrosiue. So as the ynmeasurable measures 272 A LETTER TO of these things haue some resemblance with the infinite yet mercifull Word of God ; wherein the lamhes may safely wade, while the vaste bodies of the elephants shall be drowned.^ Beleeue there- fore with the wise ; that betweene misty obiects and more misty senses, many things doe rather terrifie than oppresse ; and so force fiaile man- kinde often to labour more in opinion than in things. To goe farther in this example of lob ; you may remember .that it was his wife that bade him " Curse God and dye :" in her sexe, the Scrip- ture expressing weaknesse, and in weakenesse, the boast of rage, and childish violences of passion : yet did lob refuse the counsell, but not the wife : the way of righteousnesse being to hate the vices and not the persons ; lest contrary to the duties of charity and affinity, we should make our selues a warre with all flesh. Now, to deale more particularly with this threatning power ; there are but three wayes in which it can be heauy vnto you. Ill dealing ^ John Davies of Hereford in his " Muses Sacrifice " (1612) tlius quaintly puts it ; " Though camels there may swim and gnats may ford, Yet both may drown if— there — too bold they be ". (p 62). G. AN HONOTIEABLE LADY. 27-3 with your selfe : a hand vpon your children : or separation For your children, remember the image of Cecropia , in whose narrow and vnlouing nature, there is yet expressed an vnmeasurable and bewitched loue of her owne. Besides, the rule is vniuersall ; that where there is no worth within, merits — like cyphers — stand for nothing ; because it must be a spark that can be made a fire with blowing. Rest therefore your religious and motherly care in this, neither, vpon merit nor demerit, but onely vpon his selfe-loue, which is such an vnseparable knot betweene frailty and her owne, as it is vnpossible either to addc or substract anything ' from it.' And be confident, that while your husband remaines subiect to his selfe - affections, there will euer be partiality within him, to keep his children safe from dis- inheriting. For your selfe : if in your estate he restraine you ; first, consider you haue lost his loue, a thing farre more pretious to your mind — I know — than his fortune can be. And you haue lost withall the experience of that losse, if you haue not learnt by it to beare the rest more easily. Besides, it is desire that makes poore or rich ; so as where you can feele necessity, the measure of enough or too little, is in your owne moderation ; s 274 A LETTER TO and in this according to the old prouerbe, ' no body hurt but by their owne excesse.' Againe, of all the apostles, remember who it was that carried the purse ;^ and whether the errour bee a destiny to the office or officer ; it is childish to complaine and madnesse to striue with disaduan- tage. But perchance this credulous selfe-pittie — which euer makes opinion more or lesse than the truth — may perswade you, that these imprison- ments of fortune doe really both imprison Honour and Nature. Wherin — for answere — be pleased to consider; that there is none so poore, but hee may haue liberall thoughts; of wise- dome, as much vse as of the elements : for shea is patience in misfortune and moderation in good. Chastitie needes no purple to become it selfe : and as for deuotion, princes can neither command, nor forbid it. Besides, affliction is rather a spurre than a bridle to that vertue ; our flesh being like a toppe which only goes vpright with whipping. Lastly, pleasure it selfe is not banished out of bondage ; since there may be peace within, and fame without, to the sincere conscience : so that the error is onely man's, in his not seeking rest > Judas : Matthew xxvi. 47. Q. AN HONOUllABLE LADY. 275 in that fortune vnder which hee Hues ; but in change, which is eucr in the power of others. To proue this, let vs goe a little further, and examine of how many complexions this pleasure is ; some finde it in labour, others in ease; some in women, others in bookes, &c. So as there being no truth, but opinion in it ; fortune can haue aduantage of those excellent-tempered natures, that when they may not chuse delights, can yet make them to themselues. And whoso are not indifferent to this indifferent humour, are but like little children, that crie when their parents or fellowes take their toyes from them. Yea, so subiect is our life to the oppressions of power, chance, and negligence, as the practise of times will shew ; that hee who cannot endure to lose, can much more hardly endure to line. Of separation, which is the last, I will bestow few words : because I am wel acquainted with your goodnesse and seuere lawes ouer your selfe. Besides, I know your husband's nature, which is rather weakely than strongly euill ; full of re- spects, desires, feares ; iealous and carelesse : factious, and vnresolute ; rather inclining to craft, than violence. What bee the counsels of such natures? Whispering, murmur, conspiracy in speech, slander ; sweare and breuke ; loath, and 276 A LETTEK TO keepe, ; dispraise, and loue ; a tyrant — in words — valiant ouer a wife. And from thence all the harme, onely a threatning of those excellent hum- ours in you, which vnacquainted with the degrees of euiU — while you thinke him worse than hee is — are amazed ; and when you hope for hetter, wounded with being deceiued in him. But leame to know for your owne ease, that euery man, though hee would, yet cannot become excellently^ evill at once ; since both weeds and herbs are more or lesse perfect in their kindes ; according to the temper of earth and ayre, wherein they grow. So that your ladiship may bee assured it is vnpossi- ble for his hollow and waning^ minde to goe ouer the shame and opposition of the world ; the swarme and faction of wiues ; the courage and credit of your priuate friends ; and the customes of England to a diuorce ; though you were as ill as he would haue you; much lesse hauing a well-gouemed innocency, with all these other humane guards, to breake thorough. 1 = completely, in an ill sense. So late as Sume it was so read, e. g. he speaks of Elizabeth as ' an excellent hypocrite'. G. 2 Wavering, changeable. : see Glossary-Index (waue'd). G. AN HONOURABLE LADY. 277 CAP. 5. F you therefore stand firme against the temptations of feare and hope, there re- maines an excellent end in your passage, to which all those necessities and misfortunes are no other kindes of lets, than raine or stormes vpon the land he, which cannot stay resolued passengers, though it moyle^ their clothes, and make their way slippery. This end is, to haue the honour, of being an excellent wife : in which womanlike am- bition, the principall actor is obedience ; an attribute from inferior to superior duties. I speak not of loue, since that wonderfuU affection must be stirr'd either by extraordinary worth, or by a naturall sympathy of loue againe ; both which obiects I thinke your estate in your husband to be very barren of, and therefore aduise you to no- thing vnnecessary, or vnpossible. To satisfie our- selues that obedience is necessary, let vs againe ex- amine the nature of authority : and we shall finde it to bee, a commanding power, that hath relation to 1 =foul. G. 278 A LETTER TO the obedience of inferiors. And then if we consid- er from what root it springeth, we shall find it to be out of nature in some things, in others from a lauish giuing away of our owne liberties. Thirdly, that prescription, which binds equals, still giues superiors an increase of freedome. Fourthly, that custome piiuiledgeth humours aboue Nature, so as Time must pull downe that which aduantage and Time hath established. Out of which particulars I thinke we may conclude obedience to be necessary ; and that they who striue to remoue the vnremoueable rockes with chaines, draw themselues to the rockes, but not the rockes to them.^ Neither in this question is the difference betweene supreme or meane author- ity materiall, nor what diuerse foundations they haue ; since it falls out in Power as it doth in Knowledge ; that who is any thing at all, is all the world aboue vs. Therefore Madame, be pleased to weigh what folly it is for a subiect vnder a prince, or a wife vnder the yoke of a husband, to stiiue alone with the strong corporation of Power : since in obedience we need ouercome but one — our selfe I meane — where in these other contentions, we must serue many masters, worship ^ See Indices under * rocks '. G. AN HONOUEABLE LADT. 279 equals, flatter inferiours, and trust in strangers : that course being — as I haue shewed — subiect besides to treachery, ignorance, and inconstancy of instruments ; together with mischance, which hath greatest rule in all these vnruled hazards. The fearefull examples of those men that haue walked this icie path and been vnfortunate, by dispropor- tion between their natures, places, and times they liu'd in, are innumerable. Seianus vnder Tiberius, the Duke of Guise vnder Henry of France, many of our dukes and Barons vnder our owne kings, in that false stage of our Barons' Warres. All which I shortly lay before you, because your estate is — I said — such a modcll of subjects' estates vnder princes, as man's little world is of the great, differ- ing onely in more or lesse. That obedience is iust, the customes of Nations and lawes of Nature will assure you ; who giue the mightier preeminence, and the stronger, rule. Againe, those excesses which arise out of Author- ity, are they not either rods of trials which we inferiors must kisse, and that God onely may burne, which made them ; or else mists of mutinous selfe loue, which deceiue, and make man as well mis- understand his diseases, as their remedies ? And so by misplacing equality and inequality, at once ruine both publik^e and priuate security. These 280 A LETTEE TO be indeed meteors, that encourage man to vnder- mine gouernement, examine soueraignity, and measure the arcana of all estates by the crooked line of our owne opinions. Now Madame, if you please to apply this to your selfe, it hath this instruction in it ; that if because you are vnequall and haue aduantage of your husband in loue, chastity, piety, sincerenesse, you will thinke your selfe equall with him _ in liberty, wealth, and power ; — whereof some are proper by nature to his sexe, as a man, some by ordinance vnto his person, as a husband|; — you shall erre in confusion of merit, while you doe not distinguish vertue from vertue, right from right ; but out of selfe- loue's counsels, striue to haue equality in one become an equality in all. In which false path, the iron pot doth often meet with the earthen ; and then you know which is broken. Besides Madame, in these contentions betweene crafty strength and well-beleeuing weakenesse, spies must be main- tain'd and rumour ^paid, to the watching of errors and vncouering of shame in your owne nest ; which quire of foule spirits, if the inferiours be so foolish to coniure vp, the superiours will euer take aduan- tage by ; authority giuing authority to vntruths : so that all strifes with superiours must needs proue idle, where we cannot ; and vnnoble, where we AN H0N0T7EABLE LADY. 281 may not either stand or leaue with the prosperity of Honor. Therefore, let vs conclude, that neces- sity is the law of Time ; and consequently what- soeuer is iust, to be onely and really wise. If you desire an example of this obedience, which I vrge you to, it may please you in that arch-story of loue, to read the licentious affection of Antonie toward Cleopatra:^ where you shall see, that if his vertuous wife Octauia had striuen to mark his dissolutenesse : — Augustus was her brother and his competitor in the Empire ; where- by right and strength, might with some possibility haue lifted vp her ambition and reuenge, from the barren grounds of duty. If she had striuen to please him with change, whom she could not keepe from it ; the pride of Rome did then mani- fest variety of delights, and the seruile instruments of Time and Greatnesse, would soone have had an eye to their gaine and her fortune. If she would have rowled the stone of Sysiphus, and studied with merit to call backe his loue j she was as yong, equall in beauty, stronger in honour ; but euer the same, which — she knew — was not so pleasing ^ Probably the reference (in thought) was to his own yet un-destroyed Tragedy : but I like to think he alluded to Shakespeare. G. 282 A LETTER TO to him, as the same in others. Besides, she had the colour of estate to enammell all reuenges vpon his vngratefuUnesse. Notwithstanding, this worthy- lady would neuer yeeld to aduenture her honour vpon the dice of Chance, nor vainly seeke to haue power ouer him, that had none ouer himselfe ; but diuiding her innocency from his errors with the middle-wall of a seuere life, she remained still his good angell with Octauius; temper'd publike iealousies and all aduantages of priuate wrongs ; and to be short, was content, when she could not doe the workes of a well-beloued wife, yet to doe well, as becomes all excellent women. In which course of moderation, shee neither made the world her iudge, nor the market her theater, but con- tented her sweet minde with the triumphs of patience, and made solitarinesse the tombe of her fame : which fame, as true to her worth, and enuious to his lasciuiousnesse ; hath multiplied her honour and his shame, to Hue — as you see — many ages after them both. Where, if on the other side she had, with her first thoughts, descended into the counsells of impatiency, pleaded distresse in teares, and wrongs in complaint ; who sees not that she had therein not onely lost greatnesse of reputation — the true shadow of great hearts ; but stirred vp Murmur, AN HONOURABLE LADY. 283 which handles all things ; but either neuer con- cludes any, or at least concludes in the worst part ? And so perchance, by oner-acting, might haue brought her right and his errors into an equall ballance. For it is most true, that exorbi- tancies of passions doe many times — like players vpon stages — represent the office of a king, in the person of a begger ; Aristides' constancie, with the weakenesse of Philautus ; and the resolute courage of Turnus, with the cowardise of Nicias ; acting that which they are not ; and conse- quently, either out of felt or adopted impres- sions, vainely striuing to deny Chance her tributes, Error her changes, and Tyranny her iniustice ; fall suddenly into that kind of weakenesse, which vnder Power must be forced to endure many stormes and burdens ; because it could not endure the petty and incident passages of life. Therefore good Madame, Since I haue shewed you by reasone, that obedience is iust and necessary ; by example, that it is possible ; be not restiue in their weak stubburnesse that will either keepe or lose all : but thinke what folly it were for a man, in the naturall decaies of age, not to goe because he can- not runne : and beleeue that it will proue the like kind of headinesse in a wife, to forsake her- selfe, for his ill that hath already forsaken her. 284 A. LETTEE TO Therefore noble Lady, proceed constantly to your end ; beare and deale with these weakenesses of your husband's ; not with hate of your selfe or of him : but as mothers doe with the wantonnesse of children ; who cry not to still them, nor threaten imperfection and malice with one rod, but first take away the offence, then suffer them to enioy those toyes they delight in. For looke what a mother's loue is towards her children, the like is a husband's power ouer a wife : they will not punish, you cannot. To confirme this more clearely ; let vs examine the commodities that arise out of this iust and necessary obedience. The poets, who sometimes vnder clouds of beasts, describe the beastly courses of degenerate men, tell you that lupiter after he had many wandering pilgrimages from heauen downe to the Earth, brought still some of that earthly metall vp with him ; so as his affection became diuided and euery day lesse kind to luno. She — as a goddesse — acquainted with his power, and with all the tempestuous powers of lust, found that she, which hitherto had brought to passe many things by his loue, could now worke nothing by it. Neuerthelesse wisely considering that all affections mixt betweene heauen and Earth, haue waning hopes, reuenge, desire, feare, AN HONOURABLE LADY. 285 and repentances in them, which contrariety of passions had likewise their times, and places of raigne — Sensualities in man not being made of one, but many humors — out of these peircing grounds, shee neither forsakes her ends, nor takes vpon her that languishing despaire, which made the first monke, nor that camestnesse of rage, which is euer reuenged of it selfe ; but where strength of credit failed, shee there vseth the traffique of wit ; obseruing his humours and their changes ; learning out of them so to temper and allay one thought with another, now bearing, now vrging, that — as those graue authors affirme — Carthage was long kept vp by luno's industry, in despite of Yenus, her constant ambition to build Eome vpon the mines of it : which proues, that no man being made all of loue, they haue not lost all, that haue — how vnhappily soeuer — lost it. The art wherewith she thus wrought lupiter, lay vndisclos'd ; as the faults of Power doe ; selfeloue couering them within andflxttery without :* vnder which two veyles the will of supreme Authority is many times stolen away ; and the lion's skinne become the foxe's priuiledge : the agents going still vnpunished, because it is not stealing, but stealing ill, which husbands as well as princes take offence at. 286 A LETTER TO Therefore noble Lady, as the straight line shewes both it selfe and the crooked : so doth an vpright course of life, yeeld all true wayes of aduantage, aud by mastering our owne affections, anatomizeth all inferior passions, making knowne the distinct branches out of which the higher powers of kindnesse, respect, and admiration doe arise. A mappe, wherein we may by the same wisedome of moderation, choose for our selues that which is least in the power of others. Be- sides, it plainly discouers that iealousie acknow- ledgeth aduantage of worth, and so becomes the triumph of libertines ; that griefe is the punish- ment of wrong, or right ill vsed. Curiosity euer retumes ill newes ; Anger how great soeuer it seemes, is but a little humour, springing from opinion of contempt ; her causes lesse than vices, and so not worthy to be loued or hated ; but view- ed, as liuely images to shew the strength and yet fraility of all passions — which passions being but diseases of the minde, doe so disease-like thirst after false remedies and deceiuing visions ; as the weake become terrified with those glow-worm lights, out of which wise subiects often fashion arts to gouem absolute monarchs by. For Madame, as nouiishment which feeds and maintaines our life, is yet the perfect pledge of our mortality : so AN HONOURABLE LADY. 287 are these light-moued passions true and assured notes of little natures, placed in what great estates soeuer. Besides, by this practise of obedience, there grow many more commodities. Since first, there is no losse in duty; so as you must at the least winne of your selfe by it, and either make it easie for you to become vnfortunate, or at least finde an easie and honourable passage out of her intri- cate lines and circles. Againe, if it be true, which the philosophers hold, that vertues and vices, dis- agreeing in all things else, yet agree in this ; that where there is one in esse, in posse there are all : then cannot any excellent faculty of the minde be alone, but it must needs haue wisdome, patience, piety, and all other enemies of Chance to accom- pany it ; as against and amongst all stormes, a calmed and calming Mens adepta. 288 A LETTER TO CAP. 6. OW worthy Lady, If you please from this humhle mountaine, vnto which no pant- ing desire can ascend, but thoughts of long breath ; I say, if it please you to pause and make your prospect backewarde, oner the courses we haue past ; which are the impossibility to amend, danger to master, casualty to please ; then our metall, and that of the world's we Hue in ; lastly, the iustice, necessity, and commodities of obedi- ence : you shall see the proportions betweene one excellency and all other are such, and the lets Tnto them of such affinity : as he that hath ouer- come, or profited in any, is in an easie way to more perfection in them all. Out of which grounds Madame, from a good wife to an excell- ent creature, the trauaile must needs proue pleas- ant and familiar. Yet because they that rest in fame or vertue, keepe not the estate they were in, but decline ; let vs from this humble pinacle cast our eyes before our feet, and looke to the euen or vneuennesse of this well-shadowed path, we are to pass thorough. "Wherein our first prospect AN HONOURABLE LADT. 289 must be ouer our owne natures, examining our strengths and weakenesses, with our desires and ends ; then the particular differences and contrar- ieties of other men's humours, which — as instru- ments in the workman's hands — mustproue helpes or hindrances, according to the art or ignorance of those that vse them. In the consideration of which we shall finde some spirits narrow, and woond all vpon one wheele; others vpon many: diuers pleas' d— like children — with little things ; while the greater bodies must haue greater mindes to moue them : some — like Heraclitus — bewailing the world with the teares of selfe-pittie ; others — like Democritus — iouially laughing at griefes and affliction ; rather with an easinesse of nature than any strength of worth or counsell : chance the end of many, and change of more : together with the libertine or seruile effects of too many or too few distinctions, or respects in our morall liues. To be short ; in the whole view of mankinde, you shall obserue onely such nice diuision and differ- ences, as there are in the kingdome of beasts ; where some are rauinous and spoyling; others weake and apt to bee prey'd vpon : their strengths and weakenesses diuerse wayes laid ; some in one member, some in another : all subiect alike to deliuer their skins to those deceiuers which are 290 A LETTER TO abbue them ; but dangerously enuious to equals or inferiours. To conclude ; when tbey are wilde, ill neighbours, worse friends ; but excellent ser- uants when they are tamed. Out of which diuer- sitie of natures and affections, wee may gather againe, that euen those misfortunes or afflictions, which be diseases to some are vnto others health or cure : error and offence in the mindes of men comming from as diuerse causes, as imperfections doe in the sight ; either by too much vniting or dispersing the beames. So that many may say as truely with comfort ; Iniurie often makes way for better fortune, as others may with griefe, what tyrant hath taken away our godhead fispm vs ? !N'ow Madam, If you apply this to your selfe, it hath this morality in it ; to let you know, that without your husband's vnkind dealing, you would perchance haue doted too much in the worship of one man ; neglecting for that one humour, all other wayes of honour, as bewitched affections vse to doe. So that lest the other ex- cellent powers of your minde should bee in vaine to you and to the world ; it seemes, euen by the prouidence of mischance, you are driuen from these narrow sanctuaries of selfe-affections, which imprisoned you ; to take into your heart new idea's, larger ends, and nobler wayes. And in this AN HONOURABLE LADY. 291 new deliberation, it will be no impertinent coun- sell; first, to examine the difference of worths required in seeking to winne one orthe world; or in a third progresse, by losing both, to winne credit with God. In which mysticall worke the fine mixture of grace and nature together, makes it more easie to mend our errours, than before it was to couer them ; and consequently our flesh as capable to receiue the immortality of good, as it was to run headlong vnder the eternall curse of the sinne. Againe, since it is flesh onely that receiues immortality of good or euill ; and vpon the same flesh no heauier tax laid in these worthier courses than you were charged with before; I meane a resolution to turne all things within and with- out you to the best : noble Lady, gather your powers together, and know that where, in the former imprisonment of thoughts, reason, wrong, and occasion were all kept subiect to an ouer- tender affection in our selues, they shall in this bee set at libertie, and spread as farre as the limits of nature or grace, can possibly be extended. Besides, in all the course of choice or chance, whosoeuer will but compare what aduan- tage the strength of one mouer hath ouer another, he shall see all hardnesse and inequalitie in the wayes to bee reconciled in the force and preemin- 292 A LETTER TO ence of ttie mouers : so as pleasure hauing a weake entrance and an easie adamant ; Honor, a crabbed first step, but an omnipotent object ; theligbt goes as easie up'^ard, as tbe heauy downe. To beginne therefore with tbe first, which is the winning of one ; there is in that course requii'ed neither exact vertue nor vice ; but a happy temper in both, to a nimble vse of either. Here yeelding, soothing, seruing, must be our sacrifices ; humours our study ; and wee bound — like shad- owes— neither to be shorter, nor longer, than befitteth those bodies we resolue to worship : so as the most factious spirits, 'are often the most fortunate in these courses. Por as in coynes'it is the stampe, not the metall that goes currant; that which is gold here, going perchance euery where else but as copper, so doe the vn worthy choices of fauour often make !N'ature's meanest creations for superlatiue. Nay more, if by the in- fluence of a good destinie, wee chance to honour a worthy man ; y et shall wee but take on and not take in worth by that traffique: and then how can they truly merit, that doe well for any respect, but goodnesse it selfe ? This was it, that made the piercing iudgements of times past, note a differ- ence betweene the affability of Scipio and Caesar; it being artificiall in this to his end, and in the other Alf HONOUKABLE LIDT. 293 a Daturiall sweetnesse of bowels ;ia the one an art of ambition, in the othernoblenesse and ingenuity. "Whereby wee may conclude ; that it is no great inriching of man's nature to bring forth pleasing fruits to one land-lord, how fantastical! or imperi- ous soeuer. Besides, these humour-hunters onely muster those affections of minde, which are not honourable in the large extents of Truth, but in the narrow limits of Opinion ; and thereby some- times make vs creatures to our equals ; seruants to vnworthinesse ; lesse than our selues, by seek- ing to winne a man perchance worse than our selues; rather improuing craft than wisedome, seruitude, than honour. In all which, true worth must necessarily suffer allay, as being changed from generall approuings to particular ; and there- by forced to imprison iNature within municipall and seruile humours or constitutions. The second part, which is the winning of the world, hath many and large respects in it : since therein our mediator must be Fame, a spirit neuer entreated but commanded yp ; our study Honour, as a pledge which the world doth trust and beleeue in ; Magnanimitie, must bee our scepter, wherein the equall finde strength and the inferiour protec- tion; Liberalitie, that all desires may hope; Justice, which distinguisheth right firom estate, or persons ; 294 A LETTER TO Mercy, that frailty may not despaire with such like great strengths of minde, as are vniversally currant, and doe giue euidence to the world that wee despise those pettie things which the rest doe wonder at ; and hy affecting the generall loue of all men, hring forth that which all men loue in vs. Besides, the end is more nohle to winne reue- rence than to yeeld it ; to create than pay tribute ; the powers of the mind that are vsed more strong, as doing and not suffering affections ; the propor- tion of the meanes larger and of more difficulty, requiring better formes, perfecter health, and greater strengths : because in our ends, we em- brace the ends of all men ; and thereby are aduanced without preiudice or discontent to any. Hence, from equalities of Nature, grew vp all estates of superiority ; this is that seruing of the multitude, which commands them ; this is to be least and greatest ; one, and rule many : yea, euen in that great art, which hath ever flourished in the brauest spirits and most flourish- ing ages ; and which being forgotten by the corrup- tion, or vicissitude of times — as the most excellent sciences haue beene — is growne strange among men ; and which being but renewed in shew, the vaine world — made to bee deceiued— will without suspition embrace ; as a liuely picture of her anc- ient pompe and greatnesse. AN HONOURABLE LADY. 295 Againe, since the nature of the multitude is not vnlike the Earth ; which — not made for it selfe — while it lies common, brings forth nothing to en- rich, but conceales many treasures under her skinne and bowels ; and on the other side, owned or manured, yeelds reward for his paines that husbands her: since — I say — these two being paralell'd ; euen as the first authors in all innoua- tions, while they mend not, but change the complexion of passions, shall find audacity in vnder- taking the hardest of their worke ; as being forced to bee presidents to themselues : so againe, the consequence must of necessitie proue faire and easie, in respect that noueltie is euer as welcome, as fearefull ; and the whole flocke apt to follow the first sheepe. In which yndertaking to become an example, hath something in it worthy of aduen- ture. Therefore, if you compare the winning of one and the world together, you shall finde the world exceeds one both in number, weight and measure ; and then as our English prouerbe saith, ''The more cost, the more worship ". From this second step if you will climbe up to the third, and though with absurdity, yet for vnderstanding's sake, compare finite and infinite together ; I meane the winning of the world with the worship of God, the centre with the circum- 296 A lETTEit TO ference, Him that made all things with that which was made of nothing ; the ends differ no more in excellency, than the wayes and meanes to attaine it doe. Por in the one we worke with our owne strengths, which are but weaknesses : in this with His, that is omnipotent ; in the first with flattering promises, that will deceiue ; in this with Him that is greater than all things, and onely equall with His word; as whose each part is of His owne assence, indivisible, infinite, and etemall Not finished. YAEIOUS READINGS, &c., FROM THE ORIGINAL (CORRECTED) TRANSCRIPT. 1. Page 234, line 22, 'makes ', not 'maketh'. 2. page 235, line 19, * ill for the misprint ' all ' of the folio. 3. page 238, line 4, • stronge ' for the misprint * strange ' : and so onward. 4. page 239, line 13, 'begunne', not * began' — an early- form. 6. page 240, line 6, * open ' not in folio. 6. page 240, line 7, ' is ' not in folio. 7. page 240, line 23, ' exceptions ', for the misprint of folio ' expectations'. 8. page 243, line 16, * mood' for ' degree', but erased. 9. page 244, line 6, originally ' doe not (with ^sop) seeke your husband ', &c, but corrected in text. 10. page 244, line 23, * cure ' for the misprint ' care ' of folio. 11. page 245, lino 10, spelled ' preheminence ' : see Index of Words, 12. page 249, line 20, * kindlinge ' for * kindled 'of the folio. 13. page 251, line 19, originally *ill' and changed to 'mis- gouerned * as in text. 14. page 251, line 20, originally *theise ', but corrected * suche'. 15. page 252, line, 3, * hope and ' written but erased by th« Author. 16. page 262, line 14, * his ', oarelesely dropped in folio. 298 VAEIOUS READINGS. 17. page 257, line 12, originally 'with' but corrected to ' through ', as in text, 18. page 2.57, line 14, 'impatient' for the odd misprint of ' impotent', in the folio. 19. page 257, line 18, originally 'that', but corrected to 'because we'. 20. page 259, line 23, originally 'feele', but changed to ' thinke ' . 21. page 261, line 16, * a' for 'her'. 22. page 262, line 1, ' with' for the ungrammatical ' which ' of the folio. 2.3. page 264, line 23, ' those ' for ' these '. 24. page 268, line 27, 'advise you, as I have sayd\ The italics inserted, but again erased by the Author. 25. page 269, line 16, 'the' for 'these '. 26. page 270, line 24, ' your ' for the careless * our ' of the folio. 27. page 270, line 26, * seemes ' for * seemeth '. 28. page 273, Hne 13, 'vnpossible' not 'impossible', as in folio. 29. page 274, line 25, ' his ' for ' this ' of folio. 30. page 274, line 14-17, here the folio reads confusingly, as follows : "of Wisdome as much vse as of the Elements, For shee is patience in Misfortune, and moderation in good Chastitie, needes, &c." 31. page 283, line 17, 'or would not ' inserted and erased again. 32. page 284, line 10, ' an' for * a '. 33. page 287, line 6, ' selfe ' for ' flesh ', as misprinted in folio. 34. page 288, line 6, ' mend ' for ' amend ' VAEIOUS HEADINGS. 299 35. page 289, line 15, 'and' dropped in folio. 36. page 289, line 23, 'are' dropped in folio. 37. page 291, line 10, 'the ' dropped in folio. 38. page 291, line 24, ' chance* for ' change '. 39. page 293, line 7, ' muster ' for ' master ' of folio. 40. page 295, line 5, * owned ' for ' moued ' of folio. 41. page 296, line 12, 'Not finished' added by the Author in the manuscript in old age. See description of the MSS. onward. G. Y. '^tttzx to Sreuill larncg on kiB ^xmzlB, A Letter written hy Sir Fulhe Greuill to his Cousin Greuill Varney residing in France ; wherein are set downe certaine rules and ohseruationsy directing him how he may mahe the lest vse of his Trauels} Y good Cousin, according to the request of your letter, dated the 19. of October, at Orleance, and receiued here the 18. of iN'ouember, I haue sent you by your Merchant [£30 sterling] for your present supply, and had ^ A Manuscript copy of this Letter is contained in a MS volume in University Library, Oxford, [I. 13. 152 : pp 13-17.] entitled " A Collection of Letters, Speeches &c., of great Statesmen and Scholars ". According to the Catalogue it formerly belonged to a William Goswell. At close 1 have noted various readings compared with the text of 1633. Some of these, as the filling in of the sum in line 5th, the signature &c., would seem to nidicate access to the original. Another MS copy is preserved in the British Museum. G. 302 LETTER TO TAENEY. sent you a greater summe, but that my extraor- dinary charges this yeere haue vtteiiy vnfumished me. And now Cousin, though I will be no seuere exacter of account, either in your money or time, yet for the loue I beare you, I am very desirous both to satisfie my selfe and your friends, how you prosper in your Trauels, and how you find your selfe bettered thereby, either in knowledge of God or the world ; the rather because the daies you haue already spent abroad are now sufficient both to giue you light how to fixe your selfe an end with counsell, and accordingly shape your course constantly vnto it. Besides, it is a vulgar scandall of trauellers that few returne more religious than they went out. Wherein both my hope and request is to you, that your principall care be to hold your foundation, and to make no other vse of informing your selfe in the corruptions and superstitions of other IN'ations, than onely thereby to engage your owne heart more firmely vnto the truth. You Hue indeed in a country [which is] bigarre, of two seuerall professions, and you shall returne a nouice from thence, if you be not able to giue an account of the ordinances, progresse, and strength of each in reputation and party, and how both are supported, ballanced, and managed LETTEE TO VARNET. 303 by the State, as being the contrary humours, in the temper or predominancy whereof the health or disease of that body doth consist. These things you will obserue, not onely as an Englishman, whom it may concerno to know what interest his country may expect in the consciences of her neighbours, but also as a Christian, to con- sider both the beauties and blemishes, the hopes and dangers of the Church in all places. TTow for the world, I know it too well to per- swade you to diue into the practices thereof : rather stand vpon your guard against all that tempt you thereunto, or may practise vpon you in your con- science, your reputation, or your purse. Kesolue that no man is wise or safe, but he that is honest. And let this perswasion turne your studies and obseruations from the complement and impostures of this debauched age to more reall grounds of wisedome, gathered out of the stories of Time past, and out of the gouemement of the present State. Your guide to these is the knowledge of the Country and the People among whom you line. For the Country : though you cannot see all places, yet if as you passe along you enquire carefully, and further helpe your selfe with bookes that are written of the Cosmography of those 304 LETTEE TO VAENEY. parts; you shall thereby sufficiently gather the strength, riches, trafficke, hauens, shipping, com- modities, vent ; and the wants and disaduantages of all places. Wherein also for your own vse here- after and for your friends, it will be fit to note their building, farniture, their entertainements, all their husbandry, and ingenious inuentions in whatsoeuer conceme either pleasure or profit . For the people : your trafficke among them while you learne their language will sufficiently instruct you in their habilities, dispositions and humours ; if you [a little] enlarge the priuacy of their owne nature to seeke acquaintance with the best sort of strangers, and restraine your afi'ection and participation from your own country men of whatsoeuer condition. In the story of France you have a large and pleasant field in the three lines of their kings, to obserue their alliances and successions, their con- quests, their wars, especially with vs, their counsels, their treaties, and all rules and examples of experience and wisdome, which may be lights and remembrances to you hereafter, to iudge of all occurrents at home and abroad. Lastly, for the gouernment : your end must not be like an Intelligencer, to spend all your time in fishing after the present newes, humours, graces, LETTEE TO VAENET. 305 or digraces of Court, which haply may change be- fore you come home ; your better and more con- stant ground will bee to know the consanguini- ties, alliances and estates of their princes : the proportion betweene the nobility and magistracy, the constitutions of the Courts of Justice, the state of their Lawes ; as well for the making as for the executing thereof; how the souerainty of the king infuseth it selfe into all acts and ordi- nances : how many wayes they lay impositions and taxations, and gather reuenues to the crowne; what be the liberties and seruitudes of all degrees; what discipline and preparations for wares ; what inuentions for increase of trafficke at home, for multiplying their commodities, incouraging arts or manufactures, or of worth in any kinde : also what good establishments to preuent the necessities and discontentments of the People, to cut off suits-at-laAV and duels, to suppresse theeues and all disorders. To be short, because my purpose is not to bring all your obseruations to heads, but ouely by these few to let you know what manner of returne your friends expect from you, let me for these and all the rest, giue you this one note, which I desire you to obserue as the counsell of a friend : JS'ot to spend your spirits and the pretious time of your 306 LETTER TO VABITET. trauaile, in a captious preiudice and censuring of all things, nor in an infectious collection of base vices and fashions of men and women, and generall corruptions of these times ; which will he of vse onely among Humorists for iests and table-talke : hut rather straine your wits and industry soundly to instruct your selfe in all thingshetweene heauen and earth, which may tend to vertue, wisedome, and honour, and which may make your life more profitable to your Countrey, and your selfe more comfortable to your friends and acceptable to God. And to conclude, let all these riches bee treas- ured Yi^ not onely in your memory — where Time may lessen your stocke — but rather in good writ- ings and bookes of accompt ; which will keepe them safe for your vse hereafter. And if in this time of your liberall traffique, you will giue me any aduertisement of your commodities in these kindes, I will make you as liberall a returne from ray selfe and your friends here, as I shall bee able. And so commending all your good endea- vours to Him that must either wither or prosper them, I very kindly bid you farewell . Your very louing Cousin, FVLKE GREVILL. From Hackney this 20. of Nouember, 1609. YAEIOUS READINGS, &c. PROM OXFORD MANUSCRIPT, as ante. 1. page 301, line 1, 'cousen'. 2. page 301, line 2, ' 18th ' for ' 19th ' of October. 3. page 301, line 5, ' merchant £30 sterling ' : this I have filled in in our text. 4. page 302, line 2, * yeare hath '. 5. page 302, line, 3, ' mee '. 6. page 302, line 4, ' Cousen .... noe .... Exactor *. 7. page 302, line 6, * accompt. . . .the mony '. S. page 302, line 8, ' Trauells '. 9. page 302, line 9, ' better therby ' . . 10. page 302, line 10, ' dayes spent already '. , . 11. page 302, line 12, * propound ' for ' fixe '. 12. page 302, line 20, ' then only '. 13. page 302, line 21, 'harte. . . .friendly '. 14 page 302, line 22, I have here filled in 'which is'; ' bigare ' = bigger is spelled with a capital B. 15. page 302, line 25, '■ accompt *. 16. page 302, line 25, 'progresses'. 17. page 302, line 26, ' credit ' —which seems preferable to ' parity '. 18. page 303, line 2, Misreads ' of for ' or '. 19. page 303, line 3, ' diseases '. 20. page 303, line 4, ' only'. 21. page 303, line 5, ' to know ' not in MS. 22. page 303, line 7, ' their ' for ' her '. 23. page 303, line 7, ' to ' not in MS. : * bewties ' . . ' daungers '. 308 YAEIOrS EEADINGS. 24. page 303, line 13, *yoa' not in MS. 25. page 303, liae 15, ' nor * . . ' hee ', 26. page 303, line 19, 'wisdome*, 27. page 303, line 19, 'times'. 28. page 303, line 20, ' gouemment'. 29. page 303, line 23, ' the ' not in MS. : * amongst ' . . 'wee'. 30. page 303, line'^26, ' farther ' . . ' help '. 31. page 303, line 27, ' Commogrophie '. 32. page 304, line 2, ' trafique ' . . ' havings '. 33. page 304, line 6, 'buildings, Fumitnres. .there '. (bis) 34. page 304, line 8, ' profit or pleasure '. 35. page 304, line 9, 'trafique'. 36. page 304, line 12, 'burners '. 37. pags 304, line 12, I have filled in 'a little' from the MS. 38. page 304, line 13, 'of. 39. page 304, line 18, ' three lyves of three kings'. 40. page 304, line 27, the fishing '. 41. page 305, line 1, 'happily'. 42. page 305, line 3, ' ground '. 43. page 305, line 7, ' for ' not in MS. 44. page 306, line 8, ; as I have given in our text. 45. page 305, line 12, ' bee their ', 46. page 305, line 14, ' trafique '. 47. page 305, line 18, 'the' not in MS. ^ 48. page 305, line 20, ' discords'. 49. page 305, line 24, * this '. 50. page 305, line 27, 'the ' not in MS. 61. page 306, line 1, 'trauells'. 62. page 306, line 1, 'censure '. 63. page 306, line 5, 'of. VARIOUS BEADINGS. 309 54. page 306, line 10, ' acceptable '. 65. page 306, line 15, ' accoumpts'. 56. page 306, line 16, « self, 67. page 306, line 19, 'this kind' 58. page 306, line 24, ' very ' not in MS. 59. page 306, line 25, ' Fulk Grevyle '. G. VI. CONTAINING .Wttwnal Materials FOE NOTE. The short Speech for Bacon is given in the State Trials and Gobbet's Parliamentary History, and the like. It needs to be read in relatioji to the very remarkable Speech of Yelverton, and the others, as well as to Wraynham's own. The reference to * duells ' springs out of Wraynham's use of the illustration — very imprudently — and " Foorth's Case " is adduced by Yelverton as pre- cedent for the kind and extent of punishment awarded to "Wraynham. As stated in the Introductory-Note to the pre- sent Volume I bring together here references from various sources that must be utilized in the ulti- mate Life of Lord Brooke : I. ^xom §'€tojes ** ^mxml oi il§t ^att^t ^^mlgt^t 1. 27th Eliz. 1684—5 : Thursday 18th February. Mr. Fulk Grevill, member of a Committee appointed to confer with the Lordi touching the Bill of Jesuits, (p. 352.) 314 NOTE. 2. 26th February 159|. Do., do., to consider of the dangers of the realm, and of speedy supply and aid to be be given to her Majesty : (p. 474.) 3. 28th February. On a Committee against Eecusants (p. 477) and another Committee to confer with the Lords (p. 481.) 4. 19th March. Member of a Committee concerning George Ognell : (p. 503.) 5. 14th November. 39 and 40 Eliz., 1397. Member of a Committee to draw a Bill for reformation of abuses, occa- sioned by Licenses granted for marriages without Banes [= banns] asking: (p. 556.) 6. 18th November, Do. do. The Bill concerning the hospital of "Warwick was read the second time, and com- mitted to the knights for Warwickshire : (p. 559.) 7. 23rd November. On a Committee for repealing part of the Charter of the town of Yarmouth : (p. 562.) 8. 12th January. On a Committee to restrain the making of malt : (p. 578.) 9. 14th January. One of a Committee on Bill for the revising, continuation, and explanation and perfecting of certain Statutes, (p. 580.) 10. Same day. Innovation of Lords ' misliked of in 'not using any of their lordships former and wonted courteous manner ' of receiving a deputation from the Lower House. Greville among those appointed * for fur- ther resolution thereupon', (p. 580.) 11. 20th January. Greville with others sent up to the Lords to confer on the Bill for the maintenance of hus- bandry and tillage, (p. 584.) 12. 23rd January. Bill for the better measuring of NOTE. 315 seven miles from the town of Great Yarmouth, delivered to Mr. Greville with the Committee's name. (p. 586.) 13. Same day. Greville and others appointed to attend a conference of the Lords on the service and defence of the Realm, (p 586.) 14. 31st January. Greville, one of a Committee on the Bill for the more speedy payment of her Majesty's debts, (p. 591.) 15. 43rd Eliz. 1601. 3rd November. Greville on a Committee on Bill for the better preserving of the breed of horses, and to avoid the common stealing of them. (p. 623.) 16. 11th November. Question whether the knights and citizens of London should be on a certain Committee. * Mr. Fulk Grevil said, That a Committee was an artificial body, framed out of us, who are the general body ; and therefore that which is spoken at the Committee, evanescit^ it is gone, when the body which is the Commitment is dissolved; and then every particular Committee is no more a part of the artificial body but of us the general body, when he hath his free voice as though he had spoken before." (p. 635.) The Committee was appointed and Greville was a member. 17. 12th November. On a Committee to go to the Lord Keeper, (p. 637.) 18. 20th November. On a Committee on Bill against taintering of woollen cloths, (p. 647.) 19. 8th December. A dispute touching the information against Mr. Belgrave : " Mr. Grevill said, I wish that in our Conferences we do not neglect our privileges, and that 316 NOTE. we may be means of mediation, &c." (p. 673.) Greville and others appointed on a committee to confer with the Lords. II. ^xam i\t ^al^tttea ai ^Mz-'^u^tu in i\t %ttax)i ©ffir^ VLJxti %\imM\, &jc.t m tmmtxviitii m i\t ^clumjes mhmn^ 1547—1631, tjna far I. 1547-80 : LEMON (1856) : 1. October 22nd, 1557 : Collection of loan in Warwick, by G. and others : (page 95.) 2. 1569 : Musters and military force of Warwick : Let- ters of deputation to G. and Sir Thomas Lucy, &c. : (page 358.) 3. April 8th, 1569. Declaration by G. and others of submission to the Act for Uniformity of Common Prayer and Service in the Church : (page 371.) 4. May 2nd, 1570. Letter of G. and others to Council on exactions by Price : (page 373.) 5. August 24th, 1573. G. and Lucy forwarding Musters : (page 466.) 6 May 25th, 1580. Musters delayed from 'sickness' of G. : (page 657.) 7. September 9th. 1590. Sir John Huband to Atey : * desires to know if G. is to have the Mastership of the Game ' : (page 675.) NOTE. 317 II. 1574-86 : HAMILTON (1867) : 1. July 14th, 1580. Letter of G. from ' Limerick, Ire- land': exceedingly interesting letter on Ireland : (page 233.) 2. July 22nd, 1580. N. White, master of the Rolls: curious notice of G. : ' his cabin stored with books, sea- cards ' : (page 236.) 3. August 13th. 1580. Waterhous to Walsingham : * Mr. Grcville is well' : (page 243.) 4. September 20th, 1580. Byngham to same : ' Mr. Foulke Greville to receive instructions ' : (page 254.) 5. July 2nd, 1580. G. to same : very important Letter from and concerning Ireland : (page 230.) 6. August 2nd, 1580. Ibid, Ibid. : (page 239 ) III. 1575-88 : BREWER AND BULLEN (1868) ; Notices of G. passim in Letters of Pelham to Sir William Winter in Ireland : (pages 254-260-272-277-279 : P. calls him ' my cousen ' : N. White to Leicester ' the bearer Mr. Spenser' entertained on 'board ship' by G. and others, (page 280.) [May 11th, 1580 to July 21st, 1580.] lY. 1581-90: LEMON (1865) : 1. October 21st, 15 So. G. to Council as ' Sheriff of War- wickshire ' on ' two recusants ' : (page 276 ) 2. April 12th, 1586. G. and Lucy, certificate that a Mr. Smythe is not a recusant : (page 319.) 3. November 1586. G. important Letter to Walsing- ham on Sidneys ' old Arcadia * and his translation of Du Plessy against Atheisim : (page 369.) *^* I shall giva 318 NOTE. this Letter in my Introduction to the (intended) collected Poems of Sir Philip Sidney. G. 5. March 1587. * Grant of the office of clerk of the Signet in reversion to Mr, Greville, 19th February, 1577 : (page 399.) 6. January 14th, 1687. Amyas to "Walsingham: Lord President of "Wales had taken away ' the fees from Mr. Greville' : (page 381.) V. 1595-97: GREEN (1869) : 1. 1596: Toby Matthev^ to Carleton : G. < censured, with much displeasure for spreading ' a letter : (page 331.) 2. June 24th, 1597. Grant of the rangership of Wedg- nock Park : (page 444.) 3. July 7th, 1597. Letter of Essex, Raleigh, Vere, &c., «S:c., to Cecil : ' pray further the motion which Fulk Greville is to make from us to the • Queen ' : (page 451.) 4. July 10th, 1597. Letter of Essex to same — concern- ing Fleet : ' If the Queen will dispense with his absence, get my cousen Fulk Greville the conducting of it, but if she will not let him, then ' (page 457.) 5. July 23rd, 1597. Ibid. Ibid. : Letter sent to G. : (page 470.) 6. September 3rd, 1597. Letter of G. and Sir Thomas Howard on sea-fight : (page 497.) 7. October 21st, 1596. Passim : G. * sick' : (page 296.) VL 1589-1600: BREWER AND BULLEN (1869): 1. May 22nd, 1598. Cooke to Cecil : ' my uncle GreviUe has moved the Queen for Mr. Bowes' office : (page 64.) 2. June 15th, 1598. Killigrew to Burghley ' Mr. KOTE. 319 Fulke Greville has just brought me word of her Majesty's pleasure that I should write you that there is a waiter's room of the Custom-house fallen in, which she has long determined might bo bestowed upon John Speed, who has presented her with divers maps' : (page 62.) 3. Notices as Treasurer of the Navy, pa/isim : (pages 92-95-147-282 — associated with Ealeigh : Under January 1601 is a ' Satirical ballad of seven stanzas upon some prin- cipal personages about the Court at the latter end of Elizabeth's reign ' including G : (page 542.) 4. Documents as ' Warrant to pay G. Navy treasurer £12,850 4s. 2d. for charges of transporting 2,000 men to Ireland, &c. : (page 136) estimates by G. of charges pp. 148, 371-2. payments and warrants : pages 134-136-149- 150(2) 156-7-203-275-292-293-376-382-437 (2) 506. VIII. 1623—25: GREEN (1859): 1. Notices jjassim of Lord B. " added as a referee by the king" Oct. 3rd, 1623: page 87.— "Lords B. and Belfast spoken of to succeed Lord Treasurer '*, April 14th, 1624, page 213 — precedence denied to an Irish peer over : May 13th, 1624, page 244 — Secretaryship : page 263 — letter to Lord B. page 332 — a reference as to payment of monies, page 360— Carleton January 13th, 1625 — Incloses Lord Brooke's invitation to Vossius, of Leyden, to come cuer and supply a lectureship on Humanity at Cambridge : page 446— July 31st, 1619, the Chancellor will sign no warrants till money comes in " : page 555 — copy [printed] of "Five Years of King James" : (page 583). 2. Letter of, to the King, July 29th, 1624, on one Rey- nolds: (page 316). 320 NOTE, 3. Official Letters to Conway : pp 10—85—282—293 (on " Falconry ")— and important, November 26th, 1624: " Hopes 8ir Hatton Farmer will not succeed in getting confirmation of liis surreptitious grant. Will think it hard in his old age, after 80 years' quiet possession, to be turned out by misinformation, and not even heard for himself" : (page 393). 4. Official Letters to Lord B : pp 4—56—214 (the King tc, and others : April 14th, 1624, on the Palatinate : /5i The above in the Lidices are somewhat confusingly and uncritically distributed as if among various Grevilles, while the whole really refer to our "Worthy. Only my late lamented friend Mb. John Bruce is strictly accurate. III. *'^xom ^int '§tyoxt af tht g^gal ^smvah- si0M on Histonal ^^mnun$h'\ 1870* 1. MoxTACUTE House, Somersetshire ("W. Phelips, Esq.): a Letter by Sir Fulke Greville, 18th July, 1613, containing instructions to Commissioners regarding cer- tain moneys late of Prince Henry, (p 57.) 2. IcKWELL Bury, Bedfordshire (not Hertfordshire as in the ' Report ') - a " 12mo Volume (end of 16th century) contains [among other things] " The manner of Sir Philip Sidney's Death, written by the Right Honourable Fulke, Lord Brooke, 1586 (9| pages), (p. 62.) *** See our Introductory-Note to the present Volume : by which it will be seen that the Commis- sioner (Alfred T. Horwood, Esq.) is mistaken in assign- ing it to the " end of 16th century", inasmuch as Lord Brooke received not his title until 1620. It ought also to have been recorded that it was not an original but a copy. The want of this distinction greatly lessens the value of this otherwise acceptable " First Report." NOTE. 323 3. The Corporation of Coventry, (p. 100.) I am indebted to Thomas Browett, Esq., Town Clerk, Coventry for accurate transcripts of the following MSS in his cus- tody {a) Letter from the Mayor and his brethren to Sir Fulke Greville : 31st June, 1592 : (b) Letter of Sir Fulke to the Mayor, &c., 21st January, 1592 : {c) Ibid to Ibid: 15th Jnne, 1592. [These are to and from the elder Sir Fulke Grevill.] (d) Lord Brooke 13th March, 1622. These Letters are of much interest as shewing the pleas- ant relations of the lord of the manor towards Coventry. *** Our details supersede the very imperfect descrip- tion in the " Eeport '* of the Commissioner (H. T. RUey^ Esq.) §mmm §txtl 1868. Sbo, In this intensely interesting " Life *' of the extraordi- narily brilliant and original Thinker, hitherto entirely unknown documents are furnished by ibs well-informed, and most conscientiously-laborious Wiiter. Chapter IX. (pp. 156 — 192) and relative Appendix, gives a graphic and specially suggestive glimpse of the England of the period, amusingly so of the dignitaries of Oxford. It is to be regretted that Bruno's friendship with Sidney and Greville is only meagraly and vaguely told. But the fact is given with glowing recognition. Here is one small morsel : " On Ash Wednesday of 1584 at a sumptuous banquet held at Fulke Greville's, according to the printed works of Bruno, or at the French ambassador's, according to 324 what is said in th.e Trial, Bruno took to argue before hia guests — who were all doctors [learned] and English gen- tlemen—except Florio — about the Copemican theory. Florio sat opposite a cavalier, and had at his side Fulke Greville, and at his left Bruno '* (pp. 173—4). Here is another, conveying a bit of literary news on Buckhurst : " In Windsor Castle and at Court in London, all the states- men like Walsingham, Dudley, Sidney, Greville, and the flowers of the cavaliers who formed Elizabeth's retinue, spoke the Italian tongue, which was often used in the colloquies between the English ministers and the ambassadors of Spain and France. Lord Buckhurst was very well read in Italian literature. He wrote " Daniel ** in Italian verse, not without elegance." (pp. 188 — 9.) Finally there is this : " Fulke Greville, a very dear friend of Sidney, and hence also of Bruno, and, like Sidney, fond of studies, of arms, of travel, held when still young the office of Secretary for Wales, and acquired great authority at Court and with the Queen. He offered hospitality to the Nolan [Bruno], who would perhaps have accepted it, had their friendship not been for a time broken, through the work of malignants. Bruno did not honour him with any of his dedications, and Greville takes no notice of him in his life of Sidney, nor in his other writings." (pp. 191-2.) Light is much to be wished on this (alleged) ' broken friendship ' : and again one sighs for family-papers that must surely be preserved. It is to be hoped that Berti'a ' Life ' will sooner or later find an English translator, and one who will take pains to enlarge and vivify the period of Bruno's residence in our country. So potential a soul, if also wayward, acute if ultra- speculative, honest if impul- NOTE. 325 sively out-spoken to rashness, even bravado, demands revelation to Englishmen of the new Facts in the stormy Life and the tragic and dolorous martyr- end. V. ^dtm of ^0%%im. LoED Brooke intended this eminent scholar to be the first occupant of his ' professorship ' or Lectureship at Cam- bridge : and very pathetic Letters of his to Brooke are preserved in the well-known Volume, which by-the-way is quite a treasure -trove of contemporary allusions and names. There are none of Brooke's to Vossius given. The length of this ' Note ' prevents our submitting certain excerpts that we had prepared. The whole subject of the History or " Humanity" chair in its institution and abey- ance equally, needs thorough investigation. YI. SlritisI; ^mmm attb" '^nmM}^, In my Memorial-Introduction I have given in extenso the whole of the Letters of our Worthy known to be pre- served in these two great national Repositories. In addit- ional MSS. 18. 638, f. 3, is a long and important Letter from Thomas Wilson to Sir Fulke Greville sending a translation from the Spanish. G. Short Speech for fiaron.' Sir Folke Grevill, Chancellor of the Exche- quer : HIS court hath no intent to discourage the meanest subject of his lawfull appeal unto his Prince ; for that were to disinherit the People of law, and the King of ^ From "A Vindication of the Lord Chancellor Bacon from the aspersion of injustice cast upon him by- Mr. Wraynham, containing the said Mr. Wraynham's representation of his own case, and the sentence pro- nounced upon him, together with the learned speeches of the Judges Hubbert [= Hobart], Coke, and other sages in the Law, Archbishop Abbot, and other rever- end Prelates, the Lord Chamberlain, Earl of Arundel, Sir Fulk Grevill, and other noble Peers. Now first published from the original Manuscript. London, Printed for J. Peele at Locke's Head in Paternoster Row, 1725 : p. Z7 et seqq. See also Popham's Reports, 2nd edition, 1682, p. 137, and the " State Trials ", 4th edition 1778, folio : Vol. VII., pp. 102—114. G. 328 SHORT SPEECH FOR BACON. the intelligence of the oppressor that might fall upon his people. But this case, I suppose not to be within the first. The matter in such case is but a review of an inferiour sentence in a super- iour Magistrate, my Lord Chancellor of England, and that before he be heard, making the King his speedy executioner. But examine the nature of these accusations, and you shall find them mere scandals and impossibilities, as breaking of decrees, rewarding frauds and perjuries, palliating oppressors with gi'eatness, wit, and eloquence. Why, my Lords, if this liberty should spread, then I desire the indifi'erent [= impartial] hearers to see in what a miserable case the subject stands, when the right of every man shall stand in the malignity and unquiet nature of every turbulent spirit? And, my Lords, the Judges, in what a case stand they, if by such clamours every delin- quent shall be made a judge over them ? And what privilege shall the King my master have ? for if this humour should take a little head, will it not carry both him and justice into the field? And therefore I conclude, that this is severely to be punished ; and is not a petition but a presumptuous challenge, and of so far a worse nature beyond duells, as honour and universal justice, is beyond particular right? And there- SHORT SPEECH FOE BACON. 329 fore I agree with him (Sir Edward Cooke [ = Coke] that went before me, leaving all his good parts to mercy, and his ill parts to the censure of Foorth's case of 2 Jac." OF THE AT artoid Castk yii. SlcBalptian ol the iHiimtsmpte of ^orb ^r00ke ni Mttx\x)kk (EaBtle, FORWARDED TO THE EDITOR BY THE EARL OF WARWICK AND BROOKE, WITH READINGS FROM THEM AND NOTES. N our Prefatory Note, Volume I. (page X.) reference is made to certain MSS. of our LoED Brooke, sold at the Bright Sale in 18i4, and ever since lost sight of. On the present Earl of Warwick aj^d Brooke ' reading our remarks, he spontaneously, and with appreciative words informed me, that these manu- scripts were in his possession, and that it would be a pleasure to entrust me with them. Grate- fully accepting the ojffer, I have received and collated every volume, page, line, and word of these IMS 8. with the results shewn in the sequel. They consist of six volumes folio, bound in white vellum, and are, save a few worm-holes, in excell- ent preservation. They are not marked Volume 1st. onward: but the details of the contents &c., of the several voJumes follow : 334 DESCRIPTION OF THE {a.) This is a very legible and careful Scribe's copy, with corrections by the Author himself, of the Poems of Monarchy, as given in the published ''Eemains" of 1670, viz: § 1. Of the Beginning of Monarchy, pp. 1 — 16, stanzas 1—45. § 2. Declinaeon of Monarchy to Violence, pp. 17 — 28, stanzas 46 — 79. § 3. Of Weake-minded Tyrants, pp. 29—37, stanzas 80-105. § 4. Cavtions against these weake extrcmetios, pp. 38 — 61, stanzas 106 — 145. § 5. Stronge Tyrants, pp. 52—67, stanzas 146—191. § 6. Of Chvrch, pp. 68—83, stanzas 192—238. § 7. Of Lawes, pp. 84—111, st. 239-321. § 8. Of Nobilitie, pp. 112-125, stanzas 322-360. § 9. Of Comerce, pp. 126—147, stanzas 361—425 § 10. Of Crowne Eevcnvo, pp. 148—161, stanzas 426 - . 466. § 11. Of Peace, pp. 162-179, stanzas 467—521. § 12. Of Warr, pp. 180—199, stanzas 522—579. ^ 13. The Excellencie of Monarchic compared with Aristocratic, pp. 200—210, stanzas 580—609. § 14. The Excellencie of Monarchic compared with Democratic, pp. 211—221, stanzas 610—640. § 15. The Excellencie of Monarchic compared with Aristocratic and Democratic, ioynthe, pp. 222 — 280, stanzas 641—664. If Prefixed to the present Volume of the Works is a HA.NTTSCRIPTS OF LORD BROOKE. 335 doiible-pago of Facsimiles, the first of which pre- sents a specimen of the * copy ', together with the interlinear and erasing corrections of the Author. Onward I exhibit the whole of such corrections and various readings : but it may be mentioned here, that the corrections found in Volume a and throughout, must have been made when our Worthy was young, corresponding as they do with his handwriting while still Mr Eulke (or Foulke) Greville. Besides these earlier, there are in all the volumes corrections made in old age. A specimen of these is also given in our Fac- similes : see under No. lY. At close of stanza 664 (supra) *'Sect. 15th" apparently changed to ''16th" is the catch- word : but it is not re- sumed elsewhere. Fastened into this Yolume is a Navy-paper, from which is taken the facsimile autograph in our Facsimiles, No. II. (5) This is wholly in the autograph of the Author himself, at dijffereut periods : and contains the following, as in the folio of 1633 : 1. Of Humane Learninge, 151 stanzas. The handwriting of this corresponds with the cor- rections in '• Excellencie of Monarchic ", as in our Facsimiles. Separately paged 1 — 51. 2. Of Eeligion, 114 stanzas; separately paged, 1t-38. 336 DESCRIPTION OF THE 3. An Inquisition upon Pame and Honor, 86 stanzas : separately paged 1 — 29. 4. A Treatie of "Warrs, 63 stanzas : separ- ately paged 1 — 23. I^os. 2, 3, and 4 are in the autograph exhibited in our Facsimiles, !N'o. III. Compare the peculiar ' C ' in the corrections in * Excellencie of Mon- archie ", line 5th, * Carelesse ' with the ' C ' in * Creation ' in '* Of Eeligion ", line 6th. But this is a later MS. than that previously described. On the fly-leaf of this Volume J is a corrective arrangement by the Author thus : " These treatises should be thus placed, 1. Eeligion. 2. Humane Learninge. 3. Fame and Honor. 4. Warre." There are a number of blank leaves, and one blank leaf between each of the Poems, (c) This is entirely in the autograph of the Author, as in Nos. 2 to 4 of b: and contains the Tragedy of Alaham, with a few slight corrections made in old age : pp. 166 and blank leaves. {(l) This is precisely correspondent with c, and contains the Tragedy of Mustapha : pp. 166 and blank leaves. (e) Tliis is a different Sciibe's copy, with cor- MAIfUSCBirTS OF LORD BROOKE. 337 rections and markings made in old age by the Author. It contains '* Ca^lica '% as in the folio of 1633: pages 154. See Facsimiles, I^o. IV. for example of thes3 later corrections, &c. " Cselica " from its biographic worth and passionateness is perhaps the most important as certainly it is the most substantively poetic of Lord Brooke's writ- ings. Hence this Volume of the MSS. is of surpass- ing interest. In their several places I note such * various readings ' as occur : but I would here give further details not so readily exhibited in the ISTotes. One of the sonnets from its curious interlineations and alterations and re-alterations calls for specific examination. In the MS. it is numbered 79 (our 81): the latter half alone, presenting these variations. Originally the first line of this portion read, " Dull spirittes again wtli prayse sadd reall groundes.'' ' Sadd ' seems first to have been erased, then 'reair, then over 'prayse' in old-age hand- writing ' love ' is written, and over * sadd ' is first *fixt' (?) and then 'all', and over 'reall' is ' all ' and an illegible word, and beyond it ' con- stant'. Lines 2nd and 3rd are as in the folio, save slight othographical changes. Line 4th begins ' As pow'r supreame spreades ' with ' ac- ty ve ' inserted. Line 5th originally stands, 338 LESCRIPTIOX OF THE " For as in Nature's wealth they are brought forth." Over * as ' is written ' though ', over ' wealth ' is * weyn ', over ' they ' is ' power ' over * are ' is *■ brings ' and over it again ' this another ' and * the ' erased — all in old-age handwriting. Line 6 th originally reads, " Soe be they currant but on supreame worth ". Over this, very illegible and erased, ' Yet . . . still must make them ' and * currant ' over ' su- preame ' with other illegible words. Eelow this line is the following, " Can place or stamp make currant ought but worth." as in the folio, and as had previously been under- written in an earlier handwriting. It is scarcely possible even with these details, to convey the labour and mixture of these interlineations. Turning now to the MS. volume, as a whole, I have to make these notes on the arrangement and markings throughout. Comparing the MS. with the folio, ^0. 2 has a line drawn across it as if intended to be cancelled, and so Is'os. 4 (double lines) and 6 (cross lines) , the latter with ' stet * in pencil at bottom. But jS'o. 6 of the MS. is 'No, vii. of the folio, as of our reprint, No. vi., "Eyes, why did you bring ", &c., not being in the M.S. MANUSCRIPTS OF LORD BROOKE. 339 Ko. viii. is consequently No. 7 in the MS., and so the numbers run on. No. 13 of the MS. (xiv. of the folio and in ours) has two lines drawn across, and in the margin but erased ' this 2 sonnetts ' — No. 1 4 (xv, as before) a mark above and below, and in the margin, but erased ' In question to be left out ', and below, * this stands.' No, 15 (xvi., as before) two cross lines, and in margin ' yes, I question ', but erased : No. 16 (xvii., as before) the same, and in margin * question ', but erased, and above, ' this stands '. No. 19 (xx., as before) in margin ' question', but erased. No. 30 (also XXX. in folio, from the misnumbering of xxviii. as xxvii. : but xxxi. in our edition from correction of the error, and so onward) ' question ' in mai^in, erased. No. xxxi. of folio (our xxxii.) is not in the MS. It begins 'Heau ens see', &c. No. xxxii. of the folio (our xxxiii.) is No. 31 in the MS. ; has two lines drawn across, and ' question ' in the margin, erased. No. xxxiii. of the folio is No. 32 of the MS., and so the numbers run on. No. 38 (xxxix., as before) has two lines drawn across, and so No. 44 (xlv., as before). No. 47 (xlviii., as before), a mark and ' stands ' in margin ; No. 52 (liii., as before) four lines across, and in margin at top 'This out', and below 'This stands'; No. 64 (Iv.) the MS. furnishes a very 340 DESCRIPTION OF THE important addition, as given in the sequel in its place ; No. 65 (Ixvi., as before) a mark at top and bottom ; "No 67 (IxTiii., as before) lines drawn across, and in margin 'question', erased. ISTo. Ixxv. of the folio (our Ixxvi.) is divided in the MS. thus : From line 1st, " In the window of a graunge " to line 24th, " While thoughts ", &c., is numbered 72 : from line 25th, '* Philocell entraunced stood ", 'to end of Ixxiv. of the folio (our Ixxv) is numbered 73. Then ISTo. Ixxv., of the folio (our Ixxvi.) is Xo. 74. l^o. 75 (Ixxvi., as before) has two marks, and in margin * this I question* erased, and below but also erased, ''Here wants sonnet 75, page 93 : it follows page 113 ". Guided by the latter note, on page 93 is found the page-portion of !N^o 74, as above, and at page 113, Xo 82 (Ixxxiii, as before), " Who grace for zenith had", with blank page preceding it. 'No. 76 (Ixxvii, as before) is marked and interlineated in hopeless confusion. It would serve no rewarding end to exhibit these. One specimen as above must suffice. On margin ' ques- tion ' erased, and below, ' this stands '. jS'o. 77 to 79 lines across : at end of 77 'this song stands ' (as in our Facsimiles (No. lY.), and on margin of No. 78 ' this stands ', and No. 79 the same. After No. 8 1 (Ixxxii, as before) is this foot-note in old MANUSCRIPTS OF LOHl) imoOKE. 311 age handwriting '* this to come [?] after wth the rest " No. 82 (Ixxxiii., as before) has two lines of the folio in one throughout. ]S'o. 101 is on page 142 misnumbered 102, but correctly 101 in next pages. By the omission of Ko . vi,, * Eyes, why ", «&c., in the MS., the last is No. 108, not cix., as in folio, or ex., as in our text. (/) This is by the same scribe as in a, with a few slight corrections by the author as in c, cl, and e. It contains the Letter to an Honourable Lady [= Lady Eich] as in the folio of 1633 : pages 78, and a large number of blank leaves. It will be observed that these six volumes of MSS. embrace the whole of the contents of the folio of 1633 and of the '' Eemains " of 1670, id esty the entire Works, with the exception of the Life of Sir Philip Sidney : for which ' Life of Sidney ' we have had the advantage of a MS. in Trinity College, Cambridge, as explained in its place. Speaking generally, the orthography throughout differs from the printed text in the use of *' ie " for " y " and " es " for '' s '^ and the like. The stanza from the Poems of ''Monarchy" (Of Eeligion " st. 1st.) in our Fac-similes, exemplifies the most of these variations, e.(/. compared with the text of the "Eemains" — faithfully repro- 342 DESCRIPTION OF THE duced by us (Yol. 1st. page 239) — there is in line 1st. ' manie ' for ' many ', ' lawes ' for ' laws ' * raines ' for ' rains ' and so on. It would be endless and practically supererogatory, to record such merely orthographic differences, except in a few notable instances : and indeed it had been a question whether it should have been wise to have substituted another orthography for that of the original authoritative text, even if the MSS. had been in my possession at the time of printing our Yolumes. The MS. orthography is extremely arbitrary. Thus in the " Beginning of Monar- chie " stanza 2d., line 1st. for our * golden ' we read * goulden ' but again in stanza 6th., lines 5th and 6th, it is twice ' golden ' (Yol. 1st. pp 5 and 7) and so with other words, as ' maister ' and ^ master ', ' freinde ' and * friend ' &c. &c. This very arbitrariness is of course an element in considering the transition- forms and formative- processes of our Language. Looking now over the successive Yolumes, I have to present the result of a personal collation of the whole. Many of the ' various readings ' wiU be found on examination to be interesting and valuable in themselves, and further, to correct and clear up the printed text of 1633 and 1670 : and in a few cases the necessary re-perusal has MANTSCiaPTS OF LOKD BROOKE. 345 discovered to mo oversights of my own text, which I beg may be put right in their places. I am grateful that I do not require to draw very much on the indulgence of my Readers in respect of such ' escapes ' : on which as in all human woik- manship, let an ancient "Worthy speak : * There be spots in the all-seeing sun, and it is therefore no admiration that our dim owl eyes pass over specks and stains of printing. Please thee then Eeader to forgive and correct these, in thy charity as thou dost the eye of day for his clarity : * it being no strange thing for good scholars to be- no good scribes ', — the latter bit being from dear old Henry Brome for Henry Beesley of Swanford in his ''Soules Conflict " — not unworthy to be placed beside that of heavenly Dr. Eichard Sibbes. That these required corrections may be made more readily I have tabulated in a fly-leaf to this volume, such as I should wish to be done at once : others of no great moment, are marked below and onward with an asterisk \^^-~] in the 1st column after the number, and [f] in the 2nd column, those new readings from the MS. that specially commend themselves for acceptance. Gr. 344 TEXT OF 1670. OUR YOLrME 1st, FROM THE TEXT OF 'REMAINS' OF 1670. **^ Though the Notes are necessarily not exactly opposite each other, the number on the one page will guide to its equivalent on the other. PAGE, , ST. LIKE. 1. 6 5 1 'those* 2 ibid 5 3 'give*. 3.' 8 11 6 ' still made ' . 4. 9 12 5 • Diomedes of Thrace '. 0. 9 13 6 'trophies'. 6. 11 18 1 'were'. 7. 12 19 5th and 6th. '• Power still affects more inequality. "Which made mankind more curious to be free ". 8. 12 21 4 ' now blasted '. 9. 12 22 1 'do'. 10. 14 27 2 'his', 11. ibid 27 3 'herself. 12. 15 29 [see ojjposite.) 13. 16 31 2 'men'. 14. 16 33 4 'king' 15. 17 34 3 " Where that well happy mi\t and confluence '. 16. 17 34 5 ' wear '. 17. 18 37 2 'rights'. 18. 18 39 1 'move*. 19. 19 42 1 'So then'. 20. 20 43 5 ' kings'. 21. 21 46 1 'the excentricks '. 22. »• 46 4 'through'. 23. 22 49 3 'desires'. 24.* 25 57 2 ' that great gift ' : ' great ' misinserted, 25. 26 60 8 'Are not'. 26. 26 61 3 'Cybele'. 27. 27 61 6 'a'. 28. 27 62 6 'Miters*. WARWICK CASTLE MSB. 34^ THE MSS. AT WAEWICK CASTLE. 1. • these' : and so frequently, but not noted. 2. 'her'. 3. ' did make ' corrected by Author to ' still make ', 4. ' of Diomedes Thrace ' : and so frequently a slightly different collocation of the words : but not noted. 5. * trophy '. 6. *was'. 7. Originallj^ written " Stirring power vpp to inequality, And making man as curious to be free " : erased by the Author, and replaced by our text. 8. ' since blasted', 9.t « did'. 10. * this '. 11. 'itself. 12. At end, the first five lines of st. 27th, inserted by mistake, and erased. 13. 'man'. 14. ' throne ' : but erased by the Author again. 15. f I read and interpreted 'mixt' as = mixture' : but the MS. makes a misprint of the " Bemains " evident : " Where that well mixt and happy confluence ". IG.f ' weave'. 17.t 'rites'. 18.t 'My correction of the misprint • more * — overlooked by Southey — is confirmed by the MS. 19.t ' So that '. 20. 'kinge'. 21. 'these'. 22. 'thorough'. 23. 'desire'. 24. 'that first transcendent': 'first' an evident lapsus penned for ' gift'. 25. Corrected by the Author in old age from ' And ' to ' Arre ' . 26. 'Sibilla'. 346 TEXT or 1670. PAGE. BT. LINE 29. 27 63 5 'head ideas'. 30. 27 64 2 'coloTir'. 31. 27 65 1 * EJQowiag*. 32. 28 67 1 * grow '. 33. 29 69 ' iinwrest '. 34. 30 71 6 ' And must still by their '. 35. 30 72 5 'of. 36. 33 79 6 * swayd '. 37. 35 82 6 ' times ' 38.* 35 83 1 ' the height ': ' the ' mia-inserted. 39. 35 83 4 ' did '. 40. 35 85 2 'into'. 41. 36 87 1 'bred'. 42. 36 87 4 ' colours*. 43.* 36 87 5 * Nor ': our misprint for ' not '. 44. 37 88 6 'again'. 45.* 37 89 2 'Thou': as in 43. 46. 38 91 4 'To'. 47. 38 93 4 'go'. 48. 39 94 5 ^ war agree *. 49. 41 99 5 'those'. 50. 41 100 1 ' idle '.^ 51. 42 103 3 * sometimes '. 52.* 44 107 1 ' Here ' : our misprint. 53.* 44 108 2 ' these ' : ibid. 64.* 44 108 3 ' leave ' : ibid. 55. 46 112 6 ' his life '. 56. 46 113 4 'of. 57. 46 114 3 'of. 58. 47 116 2 'kings '. 59. 47 116 5 'her'. 60. 47 117 3 'man'. 61. 48 119 3 * foundation '. 62. 48 119 6 'Tyranny'. 63. 49 122 6 'and'. 64. 49 123 3 ' scepter's rights '. 65. 50 123 4 ' strengths '. 66. 50 125 2 'of. 67. 51 127 4 ' nobility '. 68. 51 128 2 ' represents '. 69. 51 128 3 * every '. 70. 61 129 1 ' spirit '. 71. 61 .129 6 ♦ brings '. WARWICK CASTLE MSS. 347 27. 'the' 28. Originally written ' The Church ' : erased by Author and * Myters ' written in. 29. t 'head's ideas.' 30. ' cuUour ' : changed hy Author to * color.* 31. * They knowing ' : but erased. 32. t 'grew'. 33. My suggested emendation of * unwrest ' is confirmed by the MS : but in st. 68th, line 2nd., the misplaced ' as ' is also in the MS. 34. t ' And soe must still by miscreating '. 35. 'to'. 36. Originally 'pay'd', but erased by the Author, and ' sway'd ' written in. 37. t 'crymes'. 38. 'height' 39.t 'doth'. 40. 'unto'. 41.t 'breed' 42. Originally spelled ' cullers ' : changed to ' colors ' : and this is repeated all through. The Author was evidently annoyed with his Scribe's persistence in keeping up ' culler '. Not again noted. 43. 'Not'. 44. Not in MS. 45.t 'That'. 46.t 'The'. 47.t 'come'. 48. ' war and agree '. 49. 'they*. 60. ' idlie imperious*. 61. 'sometime'. 62. ' Hence *. 63. 'such'. 64. 'yeild'. 65.t 'himself. 66. 'a'. 57.t 'in'. 68. 'thrones'.: but erased by the Author. So too in St. 119. line 1. 69. 'their'. 60. t 'mynde'. 61. ' foundations '. 348 TEXT OF 1670. J PAGE, ST. LINE. 72. 52 131 1 Hlie'. 73. 52 132 6 * would '. 74.* 55 138 6 • That crowns ' : onr misprint, but a lucky accident surely. 75.* 55 140 5 ' council- seats ' : should be spelled 'councel-seats'. 76. 59 148 5 ' thus by cutting '. 77. 59 149 4 ' Others '. 78. 60 151 4 ' with '. 79. 61 156 4 ' martial '. 80. 64 163 2 ' council '. 81. 64 163 6 ' let no man judge what's fit *. 82. 65 165 ' did '. 83. 65 166 1 ' precepts '. 84. 67 171 4 * fears '. 85. 67 171 5 * poize'. 86. 67 172 1 'The pain's'. 87. 68 175 3 ' appearance '. 88. 68 176 5 'are '. 89. 69 178 3 'in'. 90. 69 178 5 * must'. 91. 69 178 6 ' their '. 92. 70 182 4 ♦ glean '. 93. 71 183 2 'do'. 94. 72 185 6 'the skin'. 95. 72 185 6 'in'. 96. 72 187 1 * steerage '. 97. 73 190 3 'precipice'. 98. 75 192 3 'man's'. G9.* 75 193 3 ' of ' : our misprint. 100. 76 196 5 ' and people's '. 101. 78 202 5 ' forrainer and home-bred '. 102. 78 202 6 'and'. 103. 78 203 3 'When'. 104. 79 206 6 'rite'. 105. 80 207 2 'judging'. 106. 80 208 1 ' prayers '. 107. 80 208 3 ' the priest out of his pride's '. 108. 80 209 1 'king'. 109.* 81 210 4 • invention ' : our misprint. HO. 81 211 6 ' natui-e '. 111. 81 212 2 ' their '. 112. 82 213 1 ' such '. WARWICK CASTLE MSS. 349 62. ' ' Originally * iniury ' : but ' tyrannie ' writt the Author. eu in by 63. ' 'or'. G4.t 'scepter rights '. 65. ' ' strength '. 66. •in'. 67.t 'abilitie'. 68. ' ' represents*. 69. * any'. 70. ' 'spirits'. 71. t ' ' bearcs ' . 72.t ' which '. 73. ' will'. 74. 'Then crowns'. 75. ' conscience-seats'. 76.t ' And by their cutting '. 77. ' other' : and so in page 66, st. 170, line 3. 78.t 'of. 79.t ' marshall : as interpreted by us. 80. ' covmcells '. Sl.f ' let man iudge which is fit.' 82.t 'will'. 83. ' precept '. 84. 'fear'. 85. 'peaze'. 86. ' The pain'. 87. 'apparance'. 88. 'be' 89. 'to'. QO.f * may '_ 91. 'her'. 92.t 'gleane': this I fear sets aside the conjecture of ' gleam ' by my friend Mr. W. A. Wright, as before. 93. 'doth'. 94.t ' the tender sldn'. 95. 'to'. 96. ' stirrage ' . 97. 'preiudice'. 98. ' kinges'. 99.t 'to'. lOO.f ' and the people's'. lOl.f ' foiTayners and home-bcrne '. 102.t 'or'. 350 TEXT OF 1670. PAGE, ST. LINE. 113. 82 214 6 'purchases'. 114. 83 217 4 'mankind'. 115. 83 218 3 «raisd'. 116.* 85 223 6 'shall'. 117. 87 227 6 'what'. 118. 88 230 3 'and'. 119. 88 230 6 ' yet keeps outward '. 120. 89 234 6 'them'. 121. 90 236 5 *wiU'. 122. 90 238 1 nhat'. 123. 92 240 4 'By'. 124. 93 244 1 'divided*. 125. 93 244 4 'those*. 126. 94 247 1 ' For though perhaps '. 127. 96 261 2 'intend'. 128.* 96 252 6 'must'. 129. 97 255 1 'if. "• 130. 98 257 1 'of all our'. 131. 99 261 6 'not'. 132. 99 262 6 'command'. 133. 100 264 2 'large'. 134. 101 265 3 'law'. 135. 102 270 1 'For'. 136. 102 270 2 'double'. 137. 102 271 6 'ill'. 138. 103 273 4 * upon judges or pleader's '. 139. 103 274 1 'besides'. 140. 105 278 3 'Then bind of their 141. 105 279 4 'vote'. 142. 106 284 2 'never governs'. 143. 107 286 4 'goodwill'. 144. 108 288 ' 5 'medium'. 145." 108 289 6 'fi'iends'. 146. 109 291 4 'the'. 147.* 109 292 1 'Parliament'. 148.* 109 293 3 'hearts'. 149. 110 295 3 'force or practice'. 150. 110 297 2 'Sheriff's'. 151. 110 297 3 162. Ill 300 3 ' subjects ". (J?"5) 153. 112 302 2 'do'. 154. 113 307 3 'By'. 165. 116 311 6 'fruits'. WAEWICK CASTLE MSS. 351 lOS.f 'Whence'. 104. * Spelled ' right ' : corrected by the Author. 105.t 'guidiuge' = guiding. 106. 'prayer'. lOT.f *the high-priest out of pride's'. 108. 'kinges'. 109. 'inventions'. 110. ' Originally ' dutie ' hut changed to ' nature ' by the Author. lll.f 'her'. 112. 'like'. llS.f 'purchasers'. 114. Originally ' her mynde ' hut written ' mankinde ' by the Author. 115.t ' raise'. 116. 'should'. 117. 'which'. 118. 'or' 119. 'keeps the'. 120.t 'him'. 121. 'Originally 'would': hut written 'will' by the Author. 122.t 'this' 123.t 'As'. 124.t ' So in MS., confirming my correction of ' Eemains *. 125. 'such'. 126. t * And though perchance '. 127. Originally 'extend': but written 'intend' by the Author. 128. deleted. 129.t 'though'. 1 80. t 'indeed of. ISl.f «noe'. 132. 'comaunds'. ISa.f 'longe'. 134. 'lawes'. 135.t'And'. 136.t 'doubtful!'. 137.t ' all .' 138. ' upon the judges and pleader's '. 139. f So : thus confirming our emendation. 140. * Then againe bind it ' : 'of their ' deleted, 141t 'rote'. 352 TEXT or 1670. PAGE . ST. LINE. 156. 115 312 6 'from'. 157. 116 314 2 'person'. 158.* 116 315 3 'and'. 159. 116 315 4 'Help'. 160. 117 317 3 'States'. 161. 119 S22 3 'uniformity'. 162. 119 323 6 ' chain'd'. 163. 119 321 2 'the'. 164. 121 330 2 'according'. 165. 122 331 1 ' consent of disagreeing*. 166. 122 332 2 * A secret'. 167. 122 333 4 'princes'. 168. 123 334 6 ' Gave her aboye all states 169. 126 343 2 'creators '. 170.* 126 346 2 'this'. 171. 127 348 3 ' shire'. 172. 127 348 3 'grief. 173. 130 355 4 'the'. 174, 132 361 1 'mankind's'. 175. 132 363 2 'her'- 176. 133 363 4 'her'. 177. 133 365 3 ' through'. 178. 134 369 1 ' that each '. 179. 136 374 3 'skill'd'. 180. 136 375 2 'complexions '. 181. 137 376 5-6 'gold' and 'sold'. 182. 137 377 2 ' exchequer ' . 183. 137 377 5 'martial'. 184. 137 377 6 ' the '. 185. 138 380 4 'now '. 186. 139 383 1 'Hanse's '. 187. 139 383 4 'with'. 188. 140 387 1 ' for '. 189. 141 389 4 'are'. 190. 141 390 1 'the'. 191. 142 393 2 'With less hurt'. 192. 143 895 6 * seen'. 193. 143 396 4 ' punishment '. 194.* 143 396 5 'As'. . 195. 145 401 1 ' the ' 196. 145 401 2 ' Albian ' 197. 146 403 2 ' interpoling ' 198. 146 403 6 ' forrainers '. WARWICK CASTLE MSS. 353 142. Originally * skill commands not ' : tut erased by the Author for text. 143. 'And ill' 144. ' medico ' : sic but qy. * medio '. 145. 'friend'. 146. 'this'. 147. ' Parliaments '. 148. 'arts': originally written ' harts * : but 'h' erased by the Author. 149. ' witty practise '. 150 'Sheevcs'. 151. ' shrapes ', \sic] : and line 6th originally written 'regalitie , but 'the royalitie' inserted by tho Author. 152. 'subject' (bis). 153. 'soone'. 154. 'But' 155. ' fruit '. 156. 'by'. 157. 'persons'. 158. 'the'. 159. ' Helpes '. 160. 'State ' : a lapsus as the companion rhyme is 'advo- cates' : but Lord Brooke and his contemporaries use singular and plural very irregularly. 161. ' uniformites '. 162. ' enchain' d' 163. ' these ' 164. 'concordinge'. 165. Originally ' yet of discordinge* : Author changes to text. 166. Originally ' A pretious secreate prove in Tyraine ' : Author inserts 'pretious' and inserts 'to kings' as in text. 167.t Originally ' tyrants ' but erased by Author for ' princes '. Perhaps • tyrants ' is prefer ible. 168. Originally 'Over all states gaue her* but Author changes to text. 169. 'creator'. 170. 'their'. 171. 'shere'. 172. *greifs'. 173. 'her'. 354 TEXT OP 1670^ PAGE. 8T. LINE, 199. 148 409 2 ' * her '. 200. 150 415 6 * Mars, his '. 201. 151 420 2 ' forrain ' . 202. 152 423 5 *for'. 203. 153 424 4 'frame'. 204. 152 424 6 'and'. 205. 153 425 2 'or the'. 206. 154 426 3 'in'. 207. 154 427 4 'tomb'. 208. 155 430 1 ' martial'. 209. 156 433 5 ' sinew-like '. 210. 157 434 6 ' otherwise '. 211. 157 435 5 ' pressing through *. 212. 159 441 6 'make'. 213. 160 443 3 'where'. 214. 160 443 4 'rage'. 215. 160 444 1 ♦that'. 216. 161 447 1 ' excess'. 217. 162 450 1 * was '. 218. 162 451 3 'the'. 219. 163 453 1 'of the'. 220. 163 454 4 ♦ proper stage '. 221.^ •^ 164 457 3 ' Art '. 222. 165 459 4 'or'. 223. 165 460 2 'alter'd'. 224. 167 465 6 ' their ' . 225. 169 470 4 'the'. 226. 169 471 5 * Istmus '. 227. 170 474 1 ' Achai ' 228. 171 475 6 ' excel' d'. 229. 177 496 3 ' common liking '. 230. 179 500 3 ♦ the '. 231. 180 503 3 'reputation'. 232. 180 505 6 'the'. 233. 180 506 1 ' the '. 234. 181 506 3 ' all '. 235. 181 506 4 'unto'. 236. 181 508 5 ' through '. 237. 181 509 3 'plac'd'. 238. 182 511 5 'the'. 239. 183 512 5 'Not'. 240. 184 515 6 ♦less far oflF'. 241.* ' 186 619 6 'what'. WARWICK CASTLE MSS. 355 174. Originally ♦ man's ' ; Author writes in ' man-kind's '. 175. * that '. 176. Originally ' the ' : Author writes ' her '. 177. * thorough ' . 178. Originally ' every ' : Author writes as in text 179. ♦skill'. 180. ' complexion ', ISl. ♦gould' and *sould'. 182. ' checker '. 183.* 'marshal!'. 184. ' that*. 185. 'or'. 186.