A Pithy Exhortation to Her Majesty, Part 1

A Pithy Exhortation to Her Majesty · Part 1

p. 4THe thinge (moſt Gratious Soveraigne) which wee and all true Engliſh hearts hauehave long wiſhed, & which p. 5(now) wee would moſt gladlie perſwadeThe aime and drift of this book, and the method thereof. your highnes vntounto, is this: That it would pleaſe your Grace with all convenient ſpeede in Parliament, to cauſe all titles and claimes to the Crowne of England after your Maieſties deceaſe, throughlie to be tried & examined: And then forthwith (by ſufficient authoritie thereof) to declare and make knowne to your ſubiects, in whom the right to ſucceede you reſteth. Concerning which point, as this diſcourſe is like to want all kinde of eloquence: ſo alſo it will want all order and methode. Firſt, we will ſet downe the reaſons and arguments, which, (as we conceiue) ought to moue your Highnes to yeelde heerevnto: which done, wee will confute all the obiections of anie force, which wee can imagine hauehave beene, or can be made to ſtaye you from yeelding herevnto.

Firſt, we preſume that you will eaſilie yeelde, that it is your duetie to doe that,The firſt argument. Princes ought to obey God▪ which God by his written word, hath enioyned all Chriſtian Princes to doe: and p. 6that therein the ſetling of the Imperiall Crowne is enioyned to all ſuch Princes, as a moſt neceſſarie dutie, plentifully and diuerſlie it appeareth. For firſt, therin it is an vſuall thinge with the holy Ghoſt, to cal you Princes, Gods, & nurſing FathersPſal. 82. Eſay 46. 23.Ps 82Isa 46:23 and nurſing mothers vntounto his Church.What Princes are to learne in that they are called Gods and nurſes by the holy Ghoſt. Which names and titles, as they proue the honorableneſſe and lawfulneſſe of your high callings, againſt all Anabaptiſticall ſpirites: ſo they are giuen you, to teache you your duties, and what you ought to bee towardes the people committed vntounto your charge: Namely, that your dutie towards them is, to be as gods and naturall fathers and mothers: for the reſemblance that is betwixt the office of God towards man his creature, and parents towardes their Children, is the ground & certaine cauſe, why theſe high names are communicated and giuen vntounto you by the ſpirit of God. Now, who is ſo ſimple but he knoweth and wil confeſſe, that God not onlie careth and prouideth for his people for the preſent p. 7time, or ſome certaine ſeaſon onlie: but alſo for al times & ſeaſons. And it is moſt euident, that nature hath taught parents to think that they do not their duties, vnleſſe they prouyde (not onlie) what they may, for the good of their children whyleſt they them-ſelues liue: but alſo for their wealth and proſperity, to the vttermoſte of their powers, after their death. Wherefore, if your Maieſtie would bee iuſtlie honoured with theſe high and regarde-full titles, and hauehave right (indeed) vntounto them: then you ſee, that it is not enough for the tyme preſent, while you your ſelf liue, to prouide for the ſafetie and welfare of your ſubiectes, what you may: but alſo that you are bound to doe what lyeth in you for their peace & ſafetie, wealth and proſperitie after you bee gone. And how can this be by anie meanesThe concluſion of the firſt argument ioyned with an exhortation▪ more conueniently, then by yeelding to this motion: yea, if this be not yeelded vntounto, (you beeing of that rare wiſdom & fore-ſight that you are:) you cannot chooſe but ſee, that immediatlie after p. 8your death, there is nothing elſe to bee looked for, but extreame confuſion and ſubverſion of the whole eſtate of this your noble land. As therefore you are our head, ſhew your ſelf to hauehave dutifull care and louelove to your bodie, that if you may help it (as by yeelding heerevnto in time you may) you leaue it not headles, as a dead trunk. And ſeeing God hath ordayned you our nurſing mother, wee your children cry vponupon you, & moſt earneſtlie beſeech you, that by neglecting this motion, you vnnaturallie leaue vsus not vntounto the evident ſpoile of the mercileſſe bloodie ſword. And ſeing God hath honored you with his owne name, moſt deare ſoueraigne, take heed, you doe not vntounto him, & vntounto your ſelf that diſhonor for lack of liſtning to this counſell, contrary to his wil & nature, to leaue vsus your people wittingly & willingly at random, to the rage & furie of hell & helhounds.

But to proceed, ſecondly in the word it is alſo written, That hee hath denyedThe ſecond …. 5. 8. the faith, and is worſe than an infidell p. 9that prouydeth not for his owne: asMaiſters of families are bound to prouyde for their families after their death, therefore the Queene for her kingdome. namelie, them of his familie: where, this word [prouydeth] biddeth not onlie ſuch (whiles they liue) to prouyde what they may for the neceſſary good of theirs, during their owne liues: but alſo, after they be gone: as reaſon, nature, and experience hath taught (in al ages) all Chriſtian houſholders to take it. Now, what be your ſubiectes, and al the inhabitantes of your noble dominions, elſe, but your Graces Royall familie? Doubtleſſe, you are the Miſtreſſe, head, & houſholder appointed of the Lord, to this honourable familie. And you may not think that the holie Ghoſt hath thus tied & bound pettie houſholders to care, and to prouyde thus (euerie way) both for their owne time, and after, for their ſmall and little families: and that he leaues ſuch mighty parents and houſholders as you Princes be at libertie to prouyde for the good of your Politique families, but for as long, and as little a tyme as you liſt. Nay, without all doubt, hee that hath thus taught p. 10care and prouiſion to bee made for the leſſe, he would not (in anie caſe) hauehave the greater neglected: yea, certaine it is, that ſeing vnderunder this penaltie, euerie meane houſholder is to prouyde for his familie: much more ſtronglie, ſuch as you are, be therefore bounde to prouyde for yours. wherfore, to make your ſucceſſor known, being an eſpeciall meane to prouide for the good of your people, as moſt certain lie it is, you ſee by this place that you are bound thervnto moſt ſtrictly, as you are deſirous to be counted our Chriſtian Queene and Miſtreſſe, and as you would bee loath to bee accounted of the Lord, one that had denied the faith, & ſo worſe then an infidell: euen ſo, in no caſe, you may not omitte this Chriſtian point of prouiſion for vsus.

Furthermore, Saint Paule giueth this as a generall rule to all Chriſtians, ofThe 3. argum. Philip. 4. 8.Phil 4:8 what degree ſoeuer, that they woulde think of, and ſeek after what things ſoeuer,Princes are bound to ſeek after things that be iuſt▪ ho are honeſt, iuſt, and of good report, to the end that they might practiſe and p. 11performe the ſame. Of which kinde, toneſt and commendable, of which ſort is this eſpecially to make their ſucceſſour knowne. make your ſucceſſour knowne in manner afore-ſaid, is one: for who can denie, but that it is honeſt, iuſt, and of wonderfull good report, for a Chriſtian Queene, to hauehave that care, and tender louelove towards her naturall ſubiects, as for their peace & tranquillity, and to preuent infinite moſt euident euils, that otherwiſe ſhee ſeeth they muſt needes fall into, to eſtabliſh where, and in whom, the right of ſucceſſion to the Crowne reſteth? Wherefore by this rule of the Apoſtle you are to thinke of it, and carefullie to go about it. The iuſtnes of this concluſion wil cleerlie appeare vntounto you, if you doe but a little weigh with your ſelf, firſt how honeſt a thing it is for you, to ſeek by ſuch a lawfull meane, to preſerue your natural ſubiects and dominions: ſecondlie, how iuſt a thing it is that you ſhould, in this ſo great and weighie a controuerſie, determine in whome the right is▪ and thirdly, of howe good and honorable report it muſt needs be, that you therein & thereby p. 12ſhould ſhewe your ſelfe moſt louing and carefull ouer all your ſubiects, in ſo honorably prouyding for their good & ſafety: both during your owne time, and after.

Moreouer, leaſt you ſhould think, that wee goe about by theſe argumentes toThe 4. argument. The preſident of Moſes and Dauid, who eſtabliſhed their ſucceſſors before they died. perſwade you to that which others of your place hauehave not thought themſelues (vponupon conſideration of the ſame, or the lyke arguments) bound to ſhewe themſelues mindeful of: may it pleaſe you further to call to minde, that it is written to the everlaſting commendation of Moſes that famous and firſt publick governour of the people of Iſraell, that hee vnderſtanding that ſhortlie he ſhould die, and foreſeeing into what confuſion that people would be brought, if hee ſhould leaue them without a knowne ſucceſſor, made this earneſt prayer vntounto the Lord, ſaying: Let the Lord God of the ſpiritesNumb. 27. 16. ….Num 27:16 of all fleſh, appoint a man ouer the congregation, who may go in and out before them, and lead them out and in, that the p. 13congregation of the Lord, bee not as ſheepe without a ſheep-heard. And that it may appeare how well this care of his (to make his ſucceſſor knowne before he died) was liked & approued of the Lord, it followeth immediatlie in the ſame place, that the Lord gaue him directionNumb. 27. 18.Num 27:18 to appoint Ioſhuah, the ſonne of Nun, to be the man. According to which direction, it is recorded alſo in another place, that Moſes moſt willingly & faithfullie did ordaine him to ſucceed him. By this preſident & good example, NathanNumb. 27. 22. 23. Deut. 31. 5.Num 27:22Num 27:23Deut 31:5 had a good warrant to moue Bathſhebah (as the fitteſt perſon to make the motion) to go vntounto king Dauid, and to put him in remembrance of the dangerous conſequent of not notifying in his life-time, who ſhould ſucceed him. Who beeing therevpon mooued by her to declare who it ſhould be, as it appeareth in the ſtorie, moſt readilie and ſpeedilie, in moſt ſolemne manner, cauſed Salomons1. King. 1. from the 11. verſe vntounto the 41. verſe.1 Kgs 1 title to be publiſhed to be the right, and the next. And ſo danger was preuented, p. 14though Adoniiah was then vp in armes for it: & olde Dauid went vntounto his graue in peace, and the kingdome was eſtabliſhed to Salomon his ſonne, and moſt notably it flouriſhed in his time. There was likelie then to hauehave bene great contention about the title of ſucceſſion amongſt the ſonnes that Dauid had by diuers wyues: and ſo great perill to the kingdomeThe compariſon of Iſraell and England. and ſubiects of Dauid. The conſideration whereof made Dauid carefull to end the controuerſie in his life-time. But now amongſt vsus, the contention for the crowne, when God hath once taken you hence (if by like meanes by you it be not preuented) is like to bee amongſt the children of diuerſe families, and therfore the more deadlie: and conſequentlie the more dangerous. Wherefore as the ſtate of Iſraell then mooued Dauid to make his ſucceſſor knowne: ſo nowe the ſtate of England ought to moue you: for herein, he did but that which Moſes example taught him to doe: and therefore that, which as a king he was bound p. 15to doe. Againe it is euident in the ſtory that the Lord did lyke and allowe of his ſo doing, and therefore there was obedience therein to the Lordes will: for mans owne will-works, he neuer delighteth in. An example then it is to follow in the like caſe to all good Kings and Queenes: and as a mirrour, it remayneth ſtill to all ſuch to teache them to doe the like, when like neede requyreth. For whatſoeuer is written in the Scripture,Application of the former examples to her Maieſtie. Rom. 15. 4.Rom 15:4 is written for our learning. Think therefore (moſte gratious ſoueraigne) that theſe facts of Moſes and Dauid are thus recorded in the holieſtoric, not onlie that you ſhould knowe that God his Magiſtrates thus gouerned: but eſpeciallie, that hereby you may learne to gouerne to the ſafetie of your ſubiectes, as they did. Thus you ſee, that neither perill to their perſons, nor feare of Eclipſing of their owne preſent honors could ſtay either of theſe from gouerning to the ſafetie of their people: and yet they had ſufficient wiſdome to foreſee what p. 16might befall them that way. And therefore, if it were vertue and obedience to God in them: and ſo, no worke of ſupererogation, as ſufficientlie it hath alreadie appeared: how can it be but a falt and diſobedience to his holy will in your Maieſtie, if (vppon ſo vrgent and iuſt occaſion as they or euer any Prince had) you refuſe to doe as they did?

Further we reade that when Eſay the Prophet brought Hezekiah word that he ſhould ſet his houſe in order, for that hee ſhould die: that the king wept ſore: ofEſay. 38. 1. 2. The fift argument from the example of Ezechiah, who wept when he heard that he ſhould die, becaus then there was no heire apparant to ſucceed him.Isa 38:1Isa 38:2 which his weeping, S. Auguſtine vppon Eſay affirmeth this to bee the principall cauſe, that if thē he had died, he had died without an heyre apparant. And very well may it be ſo, for if it had ſo falne out to his griefe he foreſawe, that not onelyonly great calamities and troubles therevpon would hauehave enſued to his people, but alſo, that it was ſome teſtimonie of the Lords wrath towards him, if in him God ſhould hauehave ceaſed from performing his promiſe to Dauid, of neuer leauing him p. 17without one to ſit on his throne after him: which cauſed him rather to weepe, then the newes of his death, ſaieth Auguſtine. And to vſe a good proofe for the truth heereof, this is certaine, that Manaſſes his heire that ſucceeded him, was not either borne or begotten when he ſo wept. For it is ſaid that he was but twelue yeares old when he began to raigne▪ and Ezechiah vppon his repentance had 15. yeares added to his life, after thus he had wept. Leaſt therefore your Maieſty hauehave iuſt cauſe bitterly to weepe, for the denying of this merciemercy to your naturall people, euen then, when you woulde moſte gladelie hauehave comfort and conſolation: and doe moſte ferventlie craue it at the Lords hand: Sweet Ladie, prouide aforehand that there may be one known, who of right is to ſit vppon your throne after you, when you be gone to the Lord.

The rather (moſt noble ſoueraigne)The ſixt argument from the example of her Maieſties father, King Henrie the eight. your Maieſtie is to take theſe examples to heart, and to imitate them: becauſe your owne moſt noble Father King Henrie p. 18the eight of famous memory, ſhewed himſelf, as appeareth not onelie by diverſe ſtatutes made in his time, and by him produced to that end: but alſo by his wordes (yet in Chronicle) to his great…ton pag. …76. honor and renowne, moſt carefull & willing to imitate the ſame: for it is chronicled that hee ſaide thus in Parliament to his ſubiects. When wee remember our mortalitie, and that we muſt die, then do we think that our doings in our life-time are cleerlie defaced, and worthie of no memorie, if wee leaue you in trouble at the time of our death: for if our true heire be not knowne at the time of our death, ſee what miſchief and trouble ſhall ſucceede to you and your children. Marke (gracious Queene) your deare father in his wiſdom fore-ſaw wonderfull miſeries immediatlie and directlie ariſing, from his leaving of his ſubiectes without ſucceſſion knowne, and eſtabliſhed: and that of his compaſſion and commiſeration that therein hee had of his naturall ſubiectes, hee was a prouoker of them, that p. 19therein ſufficient order might bee taken, to preuent it. Marke alſo, that hee contented not himſelf with ruling of them well, and protecting of them in ſafetie & peace whileſt hee himſelf liued: but that his care for them ſtretched to their children & childrens children. God (for his Chriſts ſake) grant your grace to proue his naturall childe heerein. But that it might appeare, that vppon ſound aduiſe and good experience he had ſpoken the former words, he addeth a dole-full preſident, ſaying vntounto his Nobles: The experience whereof ſome of you hauehave heard, what miſchief and man ſlaughter continued in this Realme betwixt the houſes of Yorke and Lancaſter: By which diſſention, this Realme had like clearlie to hauehave bene deſtroied. O Chriſtian and ſweet words, worthie ſuch an heroicall and mightie Potentate of the world: truly, worthy to be written in letters of gold and alwaies to be carried and drawne in a Table before the eies of all his ſucceſſors to the worldes end: for though the p. 20things done by him in his life-time, for the good of his people, were manie and great, euen ſuch as ought neuer to be for gotten: yet ſee, he counted al them clearlie defaced, and worthie of no memorie, if before his death (to prevent the miſchiefs that otherwiſe would enſue to his ſubiects) hee did not make knowne vntounto them, who of right ought to ſucceedeThe lamentable euils that befell this land by the diſſenſion of the houſes of Yorke and Lancaſter proceeded hence, that the right of ſucceſſion was not cleered and eſtabliſhed. him: yea, it ſeemeth by his ſpeach that he was of opinion, (as indeed it may be well gathered) that all the euils that came to this Land by the diſſention of the two houſes of Yorke and Lancaſter (whiche were infinite) aroſe even hence, that ther had not ſufficient care bene taken to mak publiklie knowne, and to eſtabliſh the right of ſucceſſion: and it ſeemeth alſo, that he feared no leſſe evils to enſue after him, if hee (in his life-time) ſhewed not himſelf carefull in this point. And trulie, Madame, we think there is none that dulieThe application and enforcing of this example of K. Henry 8. to her Maieſtie. conſidereth in what termes the title of the crowne after you ſtandeth nowe amongſt vsus, but he preſentlie ſeeth, that if p. 21it were ſo dangerous then when your father vttered theſe words, he hauing then iſſue of his owne bodie to leaue the Realme vntounto, without further determination & declaration of his right heire: that it cannot, but be far more dangerous for you, nowe to leaue it quyte without eſtabliſhment, to whomſoever can catch it. The fore-ſight of miſchief to enſue, by reaſon of not making knowne in his life his certain heire apparant, was reaſon of ſufficient waight and force to moue, incline, and to binde your noble fathers heart (notwithſtanding he could foreſee, and forecaſt as wiſelie as anie the reaſons to the contrarie) to bee moſt forward to determine it: & therefore ſo ſhould you his naturall daughter and heire do vponupon the like ground, and bee therein likewiſe affected. Otherwiſe you ſee (your owne father being your iudge) that al your noble acts done in your life time are not onlie blemiſhed, but alſo clearlie defaced, and worthy of no memorie. It is glorious for you to bee the daughter and heire of p. 22ſo noble a king, in ſo noble a kingdome: but trulie farre more glorious to bee alſo his naturall daughter and true heire, in his princelie affection towards your ſubiects. And therefore as you are his naturall daughter and true heir in the one, ſo ſhewe yourſelf to bee as naturall alſo in the other.

Thinke not (moſte deare ſoveraigne)The 7. argument from the examples of the heathen. The heathen by the light of nature did ſee this duty to be neceſſarie, and performed the ſame to their ſubiects: much more ought Chriſtian Princes to do the ſame. that this was anie ſingularitie in your father, and that you may doe well enough though you be not like him therein: for beſides that therein he did but as the examples of Moſes and Dauid taught him, and bound him to do: he did that which verie nature it ſelfvſuallie hath taught even heathen Princes from time to time to doe. For we reade that it was an vſe amongeſt the Medes and Perſians, when they went but forth to battel (therein being ſome danger of their life) before they went, to make knowne who ſhoulde ſucceede them: inſomuch, that the better to make him knowne, he was appointed to raigne in the ſtead of the Prince abſent▪ p. 23vntill his returne, as was Cambyſes, in the rowme of Cirus, whileſt hee went to warre againſt the Scythians: and Darius long-hand, in the rowme of Xerxes, whileſt he warred againſt the Greeks. Hence alſo it came, that wee reade that the Romane Emperours when otherwiſe their ſucceſſor was not known, did in their lifetime adopt them heires, to whome by order of that gouernement, they cauſed the right to ſucceede them to be eſtabliſhed.Suetonius. Thus Iulius Caeſar adopted Octavius Auguſtus, and hee Tiberius Caeſar.Dion. Spartianus. Nerua, Traian. Adrian, Antoninus Pius: and hee againe Antoninus Philoſophus. And for further proofe of the force of the light of nature, yet remaining in a meere naturall man to teach him this leſſon: it is written in Chronicle that the Emperour Tiberius Caeſar a little before his death ſaid: That of all the griefs and troubles that the greuous pangs of death brought with it, this greeved & troubled him moſt, how to preſerue the kingdome committed to him of truſt: and alſo to ſee p. 24the inheritance thereof conveied vntounto him, to whome of right it did appertain: concluding with theſe words, This is the dutie of a king. Oh what a ſtrange thing were it then for a Chriſtian Prince, hauing not onelie light of nature, but alſo the light of the word ſhining vntounto her to direct her heerevnto: if (all examples both divine and humaine, forraine and domeſticall, of all ages and times provoking alſo therevnto) ſhe ſhould not, or would not ſuffer her ſelf to bee drawne vntounto this Chriſtian dutie: trulie, ſtrange it were: yet (God forbid) but that wee ſhould conceiue verie good hope, and ere it be long, ſee and vnderſtand according to our hope, that we your ſubiectes ſhall finde you willing, for your and our good to deale effectuallie heerein, and that ſpedilie.

Howbeit, yet the better to haſten you to this reſolution, that wee to our comforts may ſee the effects thereof: Firſt, let your pitifull and merciful heart enter into conſideration of the miſerable ſtate, p. 25that you ſhal leaue (euerie way) your dominionsThe 8. argument is the avoyding of manifold calamites like to enſue her Maieſties death, if the ſucceſſor be not before knowne & eſtabliſhed and ſubiects of all ſorts in, if you ſhould bee tranſlated hence to the Lord, before you hauehave yeelded vntounto this preſent motion, and effected it. Whereof, when we thinke, wee may tremble everie iointe. For when that day ſhall come, (which God for his mercies ſake put far off, and graunt that wee neuerſee) then ſtraight al the competitors and their partakers wil bee vp in armes: and the common people that are not acquainted with their titles, will then of neceſſitie be at their wits end, not knowing what part to take: and yet ſome they ſhal be driven to followe: ſo that preſentlie, the whole Realme wil be rent into as many ſhivers, as there be competitors, at the leaſt. And thus, while the title to the crowne is in trying in the fielde by the dint of bloodieThe lamentable miſeries of civil warr…. ſword, one part will conſume & deuoure another, and ſo the land is like to be everie way ſo weakned, that it may eaſily become a praie to any of our forraine malitious enemies. Oh the riuers of blood, p. 26which then by theſe doleful conſequents will ouerflowe eueryevery where this noble Iland, the ſtrong men ſhall be ſlaine in the fielde: children and infants murthered in euerie towne, honeſt matrons & maides euerie where raviſhed: then alſo ſtrong holdes ſhall bee razed and burned with fire: faire buildings in cittie and countrie defaced, & made even with the ground, the riche ſhall not bee able to ſay, this is mine: but they aſwell as the poore, ſhall think themſelves happy, if they may hauehave their life for a praie. To bee ſhort, then, then alas, all the miſchiefes that the miſcheevous wit of man can deuiſe, will be practiſed amongſt your louing ſubiectes by one towardes another without controlement. For all the bandes of all good order and Policie will then be broken aſunder: Religion, and all the good exerciſes thereof, will be laid in the duſt, with ſmall hope of euer ryſing vp againe: and neither God nor man will be regarded, but (according to the variable ſuggeſtions of Satan) all kinde of villanies wil be p. 27freelie in euerie corner committed. Oh therfore, but once to think that this land is like to come to theſe woful calamities, will teare anie godlie, pitifull, or natural Engliſh hart in peeces. Beholde therefore (moſt gracious Ladie) your Nobles & Commons, yea, euen all your people, men, weomen, and children, lye proſtrate now before your feete, moſt lamentably, & humblie beſeeching you to ſaue them, and to preſerue them from theſe heapes of confuſions, and chaos of miſeries: and moſt inſtantlie with bitter teares, beg at your handes, that you leaue them not, (who are now moſt readie to lay downe their liues for you) in this lamentable & miſerable caſe, to loſe their liues with all that they hauehave: and all, at the beck and pleaſure of euerie furious peaſant. Remember, that Moſes tooke the people without a certaine knowne head and governour, as ſheepe without a ſheep-herd, and that your moſt noble father fore-ſaw that no better then the fore-rehearſed calamities, would be the ſtate of this land, if p. 28hee had died before hee had made his heire knowne: yea, that hee imputed all the miſeries that this land had abode, through the contention betwixt the two houſes of Yorke and Lancaſter, to this: to wit, that the order & right of ſucceſſiō, had not bene (in former time) carefullie enough looked vntounto, & made publikely knowne. And ſo you may perceiue that herein we doe not forecaſt more perils, then theſe wiſe and graue perſons hauehave done in the like caſe. Yet for furtherThat calamities doth befal any nation where the Prince dieth without a knowne ſucceſſor proued by the example of the Iſraelites. The booke of Iudges. ground of this our fore-caſting of perils, the whol book of the Iudges of Iſrael ſerueth moſt fitlie: for through that book we ſee, how that when ſoeuer they were left without a knowne gouernour (as in thoſe times they were often) they fell into extream miſeries, & were ſtraight brought into ſlauerie vnderunder the hands of their enemies, the Cananites, the Moabites, the Midianites, the Amalekites & Philiſtins: in which ſtate ſometimes they continued 18. yeeres, ſometimes 40. yeeres: ſometimes more, ſometimes leſſe. Wee reade p. 29alſo that Alexander the great, when heeOf Alexanders empire. Arrianus. Q. Curtius. had made himſelf the greateſt Emperor in the world, yet dying, not determining of his ſucceſſor before hee died, but leaving his noble Empire to them that could catche it, and hold it: that therevpon, immediatly after his death, there grew moſt hote, fierce & bloodie warres amongſt his noble Dukes & Captaines: and ſo in the end, his kingdome or Empire was rent and torne into as manie ſeverall kingdomes, as he had noble Dukes able to take them, and keep them. WeeOf Scotland after Alex. 3. read alſo in the Scottiſh Chronicles of Alexander the third king there, who lived in the time of Edward the firſt King of England: that hee dying, leauing his heire and ſucceſſor vnknowne, it came to paſſe, that vppon his death his kingdome was torne into two parts, the one part following one Bayllioll ſtudied to make him King: and the other fauoring one Bruſſius, ſought to advance him. But in the meane time, whiles thus the title was in debating, it appeareth in the ſtorie, p. 30that the whole kingdome was brought to extreame deſolation. But what need we (in this caſe) to peruſe forrain ſtories. O that your Maieſtie would but rememberAnd of England after Lucius and Gorbodug. the miſerable ſtate of this land after King Lucius, and after the death of King Gorbodug and his two ſonnes, Ferrex, and Porrex: for you ſhall in thoſe hyſtories finde, that the root and fountaine of all thoſe lamentable miſeries of 15. and 50. yeares civill diſſenſion, grewe of this: that then, the land was left without a certain known ſucceſſor. Yea, infinite be the ſtories in all Chronicles, that lay forth moſt doleful ſequels alwaies of this. And ſure wee are, ſuch is your Maieſties wiſdom, that you muſt needs fore-ſee that if you ſhould ſo leaue vsus, it wer neuer more likely, that thervpō would follow the extreameſt miſeries that euer befell kingdome. Wherfore once again (moſt mercifull Lady) caſt your pitifull & merciful eies vponupon your noble Realme, & all your ſubiectes, who with ſtretched out hands cry vntounto you to ſhewe merciemercy vntounto them p. 31in this point: in delaying no longer to the hazard of the ſpilling of all their bloode, and loſing all their good, to make knowne vntounto them, who of right is to ſucceede you. O ſweete Ladie, let this long longed for, and looked for moſt neceſſary drop of merciemercy, drippe nowe at laſt downe from you, to the chearing and comforting of all your true Engliſh ſubiects: and ſo ſhal you eſtabliſh your throne in merciemercy, and purchaſe vntounto your ſelf, the moſte glorious title of a moſt mercifull Queene, to the comfort of your owne conſcience, both before God and man, and to your perpetuall good name and fame with all poſteritie.The 9. argument is from the ſafety, honor and profit which will enſue the eſtabliſhing of a ſucceſſor both to her maieſty and to her ſubiectes.

But to prouoke you the more eaſilie to yeeld to ſhew this eſpecial point of mercy, cōſider yet further, that ſo to do, is not onlie verie neceſſarie, both for you & vsus, in reſpect of both our ſafeties: and alſo that it is not onlie profitable to vsus, but alſo euen very profitable and honorable to you, both in reſpect of God & man. That it is verie neceſſarie and profitable for vsus, p. 32the contemplation of the good that wee ſhall reape, and quyetlie enioye by it: and the viewe of the euill that directlie ſhall therby be turned from vsus, maketh it moſt euident. And that it is neceſſary for you alſo, yea profitable & honourable, as we hauehave ſaid, diuerſly it may appeare: for firſt it cannot be denyed, that amongſt all the meanes that otherwiſe Princes hauehave amongſt men in this world, to make them ſelues ſtrong by, and to ſit ſafe in their throne, this is a principall one. That they alienate not the hearts of their ſubiectes from them, by their vnkinde and mercieleſſe dealing towardes them. For howe ſtronglie ſoever Salomon left his ſonne Rehoboam eſtabliſhed in his kingdome: yet hee▪ by liſtning rather to the counſell of young greene heades about him, thenPrinces that woulde eſtabliſhe their thrones muſt deale kindlie with their ſubiectes, & plant in their hearts lone and affection. 1. King. 1….1 Kgs 1 to the adviſe of the graue and auncient: and ſo by his vnkinde and hard anſwere to his ſubiects, alienating the heartes of them: grew ſo weak, that a mean man, a ſervant of his, Ieroboam by name, roſe vp againſt him, and ten Tribes of twelue, p. 33farre the greater part of his kingdom, revolted from him, & did cleaue to Ieroboam: and neither hee nor anie of his ſucceſſors, could euer recouer them againe. And on the otherſide, there is no one thing in the foreſaid reſpect more neceſſarie, profitable, and honorable to anie King, Queene, or Emperour, then ſo to behaue themſelues towardes their ſubiects, as that thereby, there may bee bred and nouriſhed in them, an heartie & vnfained louelove and affection towardes their ſoveraigne. For by this meanes chieflie, Princes grow ſtrong and invincible, for thereby they finde, that not the bodies on lie of their ſubiects be theirs at commandement, but their harts alſo. And when occaſion ſerues, by experience they learne that the heartie good-will and liking of their ſubiects towards them, is a farre better and ſtronger meane of their preſervation, then either riches, ſtrongAnno 1588. when the Spaniſh fleet was in the narrow … holdes, or any ſuch outward thing whatſoever, as lately your Maieſtie hath had good experience thereof.

p. 34And therefore in all ſtories it appeareth, that thoſe kings that hauehave carried anie note of wiſdome, hauehave alwaies ſtudied moſt carefullie for the heartie louelove of their ſubiects. Now then, ſeeing the not making your ſucceſſour known, is a matter of ſuch dangerous and perilous conſequent to all your good and kinde ſubiects: and the eſtabliſhing of ſucceſſion, the verie ordinarie meane to prevent theſe dangers and perils towardes them, and alſo to continue your ſubiectes and their children in quiet and peace-able poſſeſſion of all the good things they now enioy: your wiſdome may eaſilie conceiue, that there is no one thing whereby you can more greeue, daunt, & alienat the harts of all your ſubiects, then by not going about to preuent their deſtructions, by making your ſucceſſour known. For that will cauſe them to think, that you louelove them no farther, then for your owne ſafetie ſake: for that (in not doing thereof) you ſhall ſhewe your ſelf careleſſe what ſhall become of them after p. 35your time which thing, of what force it will bee to abate their hartie and true louelove and affection towards you, your wiſdome will eaſilie gheſſe. And you may alſo heereby perceiue, that there is no readier way to binde your ſubiects more tenderly to louelove, and reverence you even in their ſecrete chambers: and ſo to bee readie moſt willinglie rather to die them ſelves in your quarrell at all times, then that anie danger or perill ſhould come neere you: the… forth with in Parliament to cauſe this great controverſie lawfully to be determined and ſo the right of ſucceſſion made publikely known. For heerby your ſubiects cannot but ſee that you louelove them, even for their owne ſakes, and that you louelove them tenderlie and vnfainedlie: yea, this wonderfull mercy and kindnes would make them in al thankful manner, to acknowledge and confeſſe, that you had not onelie by this meanes preſerved them from all the fore-ſaide evils: but that you had alſo by this godlie meanes, euen giuen them againe their p. 36liues, their wiues, their children, their lands, their goods, and their countrie: yea, & that which is moſt pretious therewith, the fruition of the glorious Goſpel of Ieſus Chriſt. Which two-folde good would ſo inflame their heartes towardes you, that never Prince had more loving and heartie ſubiectes, then your Grace ſhould hauehave. Doeth it not then follow, that it is neceſſarie, profitable and honorable for your owne ſelf to yeelde to this motion? Againe, neceſſarie it is, becauſe otherwaies you take the onelie high way to abate the louelove of all your faithfull ſubiects, which is moſt neceſſarie for you to hauehave: eſpeciallie, theſe dayes and times conſidered, when you hauehave ſo manie enemies both at home, and abroad: ſecrete, and publike. Profitable alſo it is, in that wonderfullie, it will ſtrengthen the heartie good-will and louelove of your ſubiectes towards you, which will be at all times a moſt ſtrong meane of defence & refuge for you, againſt all your enemies. And how can it chooſe bot bee very honorable p. 37vntounto you to do ſo honorable, profitable, and neceſſarie a thing vntounto yourſelf, your people, and countrie? Further, the truth heereof may and will more clearly appeare vntounto you, if it fall out (as moſt likelie it will) that the right of ſucceſſion be found and declared to bee in a Proteſtant:He meaneth the king of Scots. for then, not onelie be that meanes ſhould you make the harts of euerie true Proteſtant like the heart of a Lyon, ready and courageous at al aſſaies to performe the dutie of faithfull ſubiectes: but you ſhould ſo break the neck of the Popiſhe hope of their golden day, that the deſpaire thereof would preſently cauſe moſt of them (in reverence bee it ſpoken vntounto your Maieſtie) either to hang, or conforme themſelues: and the reſt woulde alſo giuegive over all deteſtable practiſes againſt your noble perſon: yea, they would be glad to pray with vsus, & to vſe all good meanes with vsus for your preſervation. Great reaſon may moue it: for they will feare, leaſt it will bee much worſe with them when you are gone, vnderunder your ſucceſſor, p. 38then it is nowe vnderunder your ſo happie gouernement. And therfore we may now conclude, that to make your ſucceſſor knowne, is a thing moſte neceſſarie, profitable, and honorable for your ſelf.

But wee ſaid it was neceſſarie, profitable and honorable alſo in reſpect of God or before him. And this may be moſt eaſilie and ſtronglie prooued: for beſides that al the reaſons that hitherto we hauehave vſed, doe proue the ſame: wee ſay confidentlie now further: firſt, it is neceſſarie for Princes aſwell as for others to doe thoſe things that are pleaſing and acceptable to God: and therefore, when they ſhall ſit vppon the throne of their kingdomes, they are commanded to hauehave the booke of God, and to ſtudie it, & not to departe there-from either to the right hand, or to the left: and they are willed, yea, they namelie, eſpeciallie to bee wiſe and learned, and to ſhewe their learning and wiſdom in ſerving the Lord in feare. And that this is a thing both pleaſant & acceptable to God, we neede not proue p. 39it againe: for we hauehave alreadie proued it ſufficientlie both by reaſons and renowmed examples: and therefore in this reſpect, it is neceſſarie before God. Secondlie, that alſo it is profitable before him, heereby it is evident: for it is a thing (inNo ſurmiſe of hurts to enſue or hope of purchaſing gaine ſhould draw vsus from that which is right and equitie before God deede and truth) alwaies moſt profitable for Princes to obey the will of God: and moſt hurtfull and vnprofitable to refuſe ſo to doe: for it is written Pſalme the 2. verſe 12. as vttered to Kings. Kiſſe the Sonne leaſt he bee angrie, and ſo yee periſh out of the way, if his wrath bee kindled, yea but a litle. And wee reade that1. Sam. …. 30. God ſaid vntounto Eli, a governour of Iſrael, Them that honour mee, I will honour▪ & they that deſpiſe mee, ſhall bee deſpiſed. And we read that Azariah the Prophete2. Chro. 15. 2.2 Chr 15:2 ſaid vntounto King Aſa: The Lord is with you whiles yee are with him, and if yee ſeeke him, hee will bee found of you: but if yee forſake him, he will forſake you. This is a caveat, even to Princes: for a praeſident therof, Saul to his woe and David to his ioy had experience. And diverſe was the p. 40ſucceſſe of King Salomon, and of king Aſa proſperous whiles they followed the way of the Lord: but deſperat, when they went from them. At a word, al the Kings of Iſraell and Iudah did alwaies (as it appeareth in the holie ſtorie) finde this moſt true, that it was alwaies moſt profitable for them to obey the Lord, and to doe whatſoever hee woulde hauehave them. This ſetling of the ſucceſſion that we are therefore now moving you vntounto, being a thing (as doubtleſſe it is) which the Lord of dutie requireth at your handes, and which you hauehave heard proved ſo to bee, both by places of Scripture, examples out of the ſame, and ſundrie other ſtrong reaſons: you are to reſolue with your ſelf (whatſoever the wit of man can ſay to the contrarie) that it will be moſt profitable vntounto you to yeeld to the Lord, both ſpeedie and willing obedience theerein. As long as you walke in his waies, heePſal. 9…. 11. 12.Ps 9:11Ps 9:12 hath given his Angels charge over you, that you ſhall not hurt your feet againſt a ſtone: and therefore, in this you neede p. 41not to be afraide. You remember, we areProverb. 8. 1… Pſal. 82. 1.Ps 82:1 ſure, that the Lord hath ſaid in his word, That by him Kings raigne: and that it is written, that hee ſitteth amongeſt youDan. 4. 2…Dan 4:2 Gods, and iudgeth you: yea, that he is ſo King of kings and Lord of Lords, that he ſetteth vp and throweth downe, whom, when, and how it pleaſeth him.

Wherevpon your Grace may perceaue, that the moſte ſafe and profitable way for you to preſerue your perſon and honour, is by all good meanes to keepe this King of Kings on your ſide. He that hath a good farme, and hath none other holde thereof, but at his land-lords pleaſure,A ſimilitude enforcing her Maieſtie, by naming her ſucceſſor to obey God▪ the beſt policie for him wee woulde think, is, to pleaſe his land-lord. And this is the caſe, Madame, betwixt you and God, in reſpect of your kingdome. Wee muſt needs therefore even of harty good will, and of aboundance of deſire that we hauehave, that you may long raigne over vsus, beſeech your Maieſtie, to weigh with your ſelfe whither it bee not likelie, that this your land-lord and ſoveraigne iudge p. 42will be angrie with you, and lay to your charge one day, all the blood that ſhall bee ſhed, and all the evils that ſhall bee committed in this land, for want of a knowne ſucceſſor, if you doe not what lieth in you in time by making him known to prevent al thoſe dolefull cruelties that will enſue thereof. Even the light of nature coulde teache the heathen Philoſopher Cicero to write in his Offices, that hee is aſwell faultie, that letteth not the doing of an evill or iniurie, being able to let it, as he that doth it himſelf. Oh provoke not the Lord (ſweet Ladie) even in reſpect of ſafetie and profite to your ſelf, to bee offended with you, for this your great vnkindnes towards him. Remember, that in reſpect of the preſent dangerous and evill dayes that we now liue in, and in regarde of our enemies, neither you nor we had euer more cauſe to ſeeke to pleaſe him, and to keep him on our ſide. Hitherto, never Prince had more cauſe, then you: nor ſubiects in reſpect of their Prince, then we, to confeſſe that if p. 43he had not beene on our ſide, our enemies. long ere this, had ſwallowed vp both you and vsus: for it is he that hath diſcovered, yea, detected and confounded all the deviſes and conſpiracies (hitherto) of your enemies and ours it is he that giveth vsus peace at home, and victories abroad. It is he that doeth keepe all evils from vsus, & continueth al good things vntounto vsus. And if he continue on our ſide ſtil, we need not to be afraide whoſoever bee againſt vsus, for hee both can and will protect vsus, and confound them. Then, an hundreth on our ſide ſhall diſcomforte a thouſand: and the weakeſt meanes ſhall bee ſtrong enough to withſtand and to prevaile againſt the mightieſt, as the holie ſtories doe moſt comfortablie teache vsus. But if hee bee occaſioned to departe from vsus, and leaue vsus to our ſelves, then al things ſhall and will fall out cleane contrarilie with vsus, as there wee learne alſo. Aſſure your ſelf therefore, that to ſhewe your ſelf a merciful Queene to your ſubiects in this ſo waightie a point, and this p. 44work of great merciemercy & louelove, the which all your people craue with teares, added vntounto your former good ſervices of God: it will binde God in his merciemercy (for his promiſe ſake) not to ſlake, or withdrawe his moſte mercifull protection from you: but to enlarge his favour everie way towards you. Bee hartilie ſorie therefore (good Prince) that you hauehave not beene provoked by his marvelous former protection of you from evident dangers, manie and ſundrie times, to ſhewe your ſelf thankfull vntounto him, in performing this ſo neceſſary and profitable a dutie, ere this. Think not becauſe (as yet) he hath ſpared you, and not called you to accompt for it that therefore he miſliketh it not: for his long ſuffering muſt bee conſtrued to amendement: or elſe, it is an heaping of… …. 5. vengeance, againſt the day of vengeance. They are but flatterers, doubtleſſe, whoſoever they be, & ſo ſhall you finde it in the end, that would perſwade you otherwiſe: neither can they bee, (the premiſſes conſidered) either ſound friends to their p. 45country, or loving ſubiects to you, which either hauehave bred or nouriſhed in your Royall heart, an vnwillingnes to yeelde to this moſte neceſſarie and profitable motion.

But to grow to an end of this our firſt part: laſtlie wee advouche, that to yeelde your beſt furtherance to make your ſucceſſor knowne, is an honorable action,Princes are no leſſe bound to protect their ſubjects, then ſubiects are bound to obey their Princes. both before God & man. It is honorable for you before man, becauſe as it is your ſubiectes dutie to yeelde you all louelove and dutifulnes, to the preſervation of your noble perſon and eſtate: ſo it is your duty againe to yeelde vntounto them protection for them & theirs by what good meanes you may: amongſt which, this is a principall good meane. And who can denie, but that it is honorable for a Prince, not to be behind with his ſubiects in any dutie, eſpeciallie then, not in this, which is ſo neceſſarie and profitable for them: nay we are ſure, you your ſelfe will confeſſe, that it were verie diſhonorable for a Prince to looke for, and willinglie & wittinglie p. 46to receiue at the hands of his ſubiects, all tokens & fruits of perfect loyall louelove and to requite them withal▪ to leave them all for want of a knowne ſucceſſor to extreame confuſion and deſolation. And ſeeing there ought to bee ſuch true louelove indeede, and ſuch true merciemercy extended on your part, even towardes them towards whome it is due in equity, as certainlie it is in you to your ſubiects, euen in making your ſucceſſor known: it cannot be but that ſo to doe, before the Almightie, who is the fontaine of al true louelove, and delyteth more in true merciemercy,The concluſion of the former part of this book, con…evning a breefe recapitulation of the reaſon before ſet downe. then in any other thing, it is a thing moſt honorable for you ſo to doe Wherefore to conclude, you ſee that your titles given you in the word, that your place & charg over vsus as your familie, that the honeſtnes, iuſtnes and the goodnes of the report that it carrieth with it that the examples both ſacred & profane, forraine and domeſticall: that the miſeries otherwiſe like to enſue vponupon the whole land: and nowe laſtly, that the neceſſarines, profitablenes p. 47and honorableneſſe of the thing it ſelfe, both with God and man, to your ſelf, aſwel as vntounto vsus: ioine hands together, earneſtlie to moue and ſtirre vp your Maieſtie, to yeeld vntounto vsus this dutifull merciemercy. Now then, theſe reaſons conſidered, wee may ſay vntounto you, and doe, as Bathſheba1. Reg. 1. 20.1 Kgs 1:20 ſaide in the like caſe to king Dauid. You our Soueraigne Ladie knowe, that the eyes of all England are on you, to the end that you ſhould tell them who ſhould ſit on your throne after you▪ God grant that England may find that kind and melting heart in your maieſty, whereby they may receiue as comfortable an anſwere from you, as Iſraell did then from David.

But theſe reaſons notwithſtanding, yetThe latter part of this treatiſe, containing anſweres to certaine obiections ariſing from difficulty of knowing, & perill in naming the knowne ſucceſſor. your Maieſtie will ſay, or think; that ſuch is the difficultie of determining this great controverſie▪ who of right is to ſucceed you: and ſuch perill there is in it to your perſon and honor, that the conſideration thereof cannot but make you afraide & ſome-what loath to go about it. Wherefore we beſeech you, let now the p. 48obiections that ariſe from theſe two heades, of difficultie, and perill, bee heard, weighed and examined: that ſo it may the eaſilier be determined, whither your Grace ought to yeelde to the ſetling of the ſucceſſion by force of the former reaſons, or to ſtay from ſo doing through the weight of thoſe. The difficultie of determiningThe difficulty conſiſteth of two parts. this point, ariſeth partlie of the doubtfulneſſe and ambiguitie of the title it ſelf, and partly of the ſuppoſed impatiency of the Competitors, in hearing their titles croſt, in debating, and ſpoken againſt. To this we anſwere: firſt, that theThe obiection of the former difficultie taken away, becauſe the right of the title is plaine and eaſie to the skilfull. obſcuritie and difficulty of the title it ſelf by the wiſe and skilfull in the Lawes of this Realme, will as eaſilie bee removed, as the droſſe is ſevered from the gold, by the skilfull finers: or as the bright ſhining of the ſunne doth cauſe the cloudes to vaniſh and flee away. Indeede, as it cannot be deſcried how much gold is in the lump before it come to the hands of the finers: and as the ſunne, though it bee (indeed) the moſte excellent ornament p. 49of the firmament is not ſeene in his bewtie, whiles it is ſhadowed with clouds: even ſo in this caſe, vntil the baſer titles be deſcried and ſevered from the pureſt, by the skilfull learned: and the clouds wherwith the beſt title is darkened, removed by them: it is hard either to eſpie the right, or to determine of it. But grant that it bee never ſo hard and difficult to determine who hath the beſt right: yet▪ it beeing ſo great a point of equitie and iuſtice, as it is, that he ſhould hauehave the title that hath beſt right vntounto it: & it being (alſo) as it is an eſpeciall & chief point of exceeding mercifull iuſtice, the which of all others, as we hauehave proved, you the ſoveraigne and high Iudge and miniſter of iuſtice amongſt vsus, are bound to ſee iudged: both in reſpect of your dutie to God, & your people: you may not think, that the hardnes to performe ſuch a dutie, can breed anie exception, or diſpenſation vntounto you, to exempt you from going about it: but it ought (rather) to force you the more ſpedilie and throughlie to p. 50take it in hand: for the more hard andThe difficultie of the title ought to bee ſo farre from being a barre, that it ought rather to provoke her Maieſtie to the ſearche thereof. doubtful it is, ſo much it is the more dangerous. And therefore, the more care ought they to hauehave that ſtand at the helme. Now, as for the ſuppoſed impatiencie of the Competitors, while the title is in debating, and the dangerous conſequents therof, alleadged to proue ſuchThe ſecond braunch of difficultie anſwered. difficultie therein: as that therefore it were not ſafe and good for you to deale in it, leaſt ſo the inconvenience of civill warre might ariſe in your daies, which we labour ſo much by moving you herevnto, to prevent after your death: we anſwere: firſt, that there is no Competitor ſo voide of reaſon, but he is reſolved that ſome one hath the moſt and beſt right. Secondlie, hee cannot but in his conſcience be perſwaded that whoſoever he be both reaſon and iuſtice would that hee ſhould hauehave it. And laſtlie, we ſay that it is verie vnlikelie that there can grow anie impatiencie, eſpeciallie, likelie to breede anie great danger, either to your ſtate or perſon: when that (in a lawfull p. 51Parliament) everie man ſhall indifferentlie be heard to ſay what he can for his title: and onelie inquirie is made, where the beſt right is, to the end that there it may bee ſetled and eſtabliſhed. For thus may everie one of them ſee, that there is no in-iuſtice or iniurie intended againſt anie of them, but the right is only ſought out, to be given to the rightfull owner: & that therefore, none hath anie iuſt cauſe to be offended, but rather every one hath good cauſe to be glad and ioyfull thereof: for that both his perſon and poſterity ſhalbe preſerved thereby. And yet if anie ſuch impatiencie ſhould appeare, without anie great difficultie might it be ſtaied by you in your life time, from burſting out into anie dangerous effect. Whereas, if you ſhoulde depart from vsus before the determining of this wofull queſtion: then, there woulde bee none amongſt men to ſtay the furie thereof, but the bloodie and devouring ſword. Oh, moſt dolefull iudge. Allas, what can anie ambitious competitor be able to doe to p. 52perill your ſtate or perſon, ſeeing his title daſhed, or put further of then he looked for, albeit hee were never ſo impatient, you raigning and living: yea, you having alſo by entring into this ſo honorable an action, made your ſelfe mightilie much ſtronger by your iuſt deſerving then ever you were before: aſwel in pleaſing god, as by binding not onelyonly him & his, whoſe title you hauehave cleered: but alſo all your ſubiects to louelove you at their hearts, moſt deerlie: and therefore, to backe you againſt all dangers, moſt couragiouſlie & faithfullie. No, no, there will be none of them (if you take this courſe) but they will evidentlie ſee thereby, that you and your freends are grown ſo ſtrong, that for anie of them to burſt out of due order, were but even willinglie to bring vppon them-ſelves and their families, vtter deſtruction. Adonijah was vp in armes for the crown, when his father David lay on his death bed: and hee had gotten Ioab, the mightieſt captaine of Iſraell, and Abiathar the high Prieſt on hisſide: and p. 53yet when David had (according to the order of the governement) ſetled & eſtabliſhed Salomon to ſucceed him: though before Adonijah was grown to ſtrength, and ſo by poſſibilitie able to hauehave withſtoode both his father David and Salomon, yet, when he heard thereof, he and al his partakers were ſo daſht and cruſht, that everie one ſtraight ranne home to his houſe: and Adonijah himſelfe tooke ſanctuary: and ſo this broile notwithſtanding, David continued out his time in peace, and Salomon his ſonne raigned manie yeares triumphantlie after him. Howe much more, if Queene Elizabeth yet in health and proſperity, doe once by this orderlie meane eſtabliſh the ſucceſſion, will all aſpiring Adonijahs, howe ſtrong ſoever they hauehave made themſelves before, ſtay from beginning to doe, as Adonijah did: leaſt they bee inforced with ſhame, as he was, to giuegive over ſtraight againe. Let this example encourage you (moſt noble Queene) not to bee afraide of the croſſing and diſappointing (in this p. 54caſe) of all the proud Adonijahs in the world: for no doubt of it, if you do herein ſeeke to pleaſe God, and benefite all your ſubiects, as he did, God beeing the ſame nowe that hee was then, you may confidentlie look for the ſame bleſſing at his hands that David had: that is, peace in your owne daies, and for ever after wealth and proſperitie to all your dominions after you.

Now, this obiection drawne from the difficultie of determining this matter, thus anſwered: let vsus nowe proceede to the reſt, which are grounded vppon the perill (heerby) ſuppoſed to enſue to your noble perſon and dignitie. And concerningThe obiection grounded vppon perill of naming of the ſucceſſor, confirmed by 3. reaſons. your perſon firſt it is feared, that the knowne ſucceſſor, partlie through his owne longing after the higheſt place, & partlie through the provocation of others, will breede perill to your perſon. And it is likelie, that (in this reſpect) your 1feare is encreaſed by your owne experirience, in your ſiſters time, when it may be, you were provoked by ſome to haſten p. 55your courſe. Another feare may growe 2alſo, by the ſundrie examples of theſe Princes, as namelie, of Edward the ſecond, depoſed by Edward the third. King Richard the ſecond, by Henry the fourth. Henrie the ſixt, by Edward the fourth. And of Edward the fift, murthered by Richard the third. And, as for your honour 3and dignitie, perhaps you imagine (your ſucceſſor once knowne) it will every day more and more decay: in that, as you know it to be a proverb, that men honor the ſunne ryſing, and withdrawe it from the ſunne ſetting. Even ſo you think, ſubiects are given naturallie to prefer their new maiſter, before their olde miſtreſſe. Theſe hauehave bene the cheef cauſes & reaſons, that (hitherto) hauehave ſtaied you frō liſtning vntounto this motion, as we ſuppoſe, and (yet) make you afraide to yeelde therevnto.

Before wee come to the anſwere to theſe obiections, which (in effect) we do thinke are al that can be vſed in this caſe, wee proteſt vntounto your Maieſtie, that ſuch p. 56is our tender louelove and loyall affection towardes your Maieſties noble perſon, and to the preſervation thereof, in long life and princely honor; that vnleſſe we were moſt fullie perſwaded, that the yeelding there-vntounto (notwithſtanding theſe obiections) woulde not at all proue perilous, but rather very beneficiall and profitable to the ſafetie and ſecuritie, both of your perſon and honor, albeit wee had given leaue vntounto our ſelues ſome-what to hauehave thought of this motion: yet would we never hauehave proceeded thus farre therin: for we wiſh your dayes to be extended as far as Methuſhelahs, in all princelie honour and felicitie: and we covet not to liue one howre after you. This truly & faithfully proteſted: to theſe obiections we anſwereAnſwered generallie 3. waies. firſt generallie, and then particularlie: for generall anſwere vntounto them we ſay, firſt, 1that the perill vponupon theſe grounds ſuppoſed to ariſe either to your perſon or honor, is but an imagined or ſuppoſed perill, & that alſo inferred but by probable arguments, not by evident demonſtratiō: p. 57which being ſo, doth not diſcharge you from doing ſo neceſſarie, profitable and honorable a duty to God & to your people, as this is, where-vntounto you are nowe moved. Secondlie we ſay, ſuppoſe there 2were aſmuch perill vntounto your perſon, as is pretended: yet the peril of your worthy Realme, beeing ſo great and palpable as it hath beene proved to be, through the want of the eſtabliſhment of a knowne ſucceſſor: it may not therefore be left vndone: for, never ſo evident a perill, (your wiſdome knoweth) freeth any from doing of that dutie, that the Lord enioyned them to doe: for obedience to his will is to be preferred before our owne honourConfirmed by the example of Eſther. and ſafetie. Alwaies Queene Heſter, the wife of Ahaſhueroſh king of 127. provinces, vnderſtanding into what extreame perill her countrie people the Iewes wer brought by the meanes of Haman, put her life and honour in evident perill, wittinglie and willingly deſerving death by law, to prevent the danger towardes her naturall people. For to the hazard of her p. 58life (as appeareth in the ſtorie) ſhe came into the Kings preſence without leaue, (the which was death by the Lawe) to make meanes for their ſafetie, ſaying, that if I periſhe, I periſh, therby carrying a reſolute minde, that though ſhee did periſhe, yet not to omit to doe what poſſiblie ſhee might for the ſafetie of her people. In deede, ſhee prepared her ſelfe to this action with long faſting and earneſt praier: and ſo wee woulde wiſhe all ſuch weightie and neceſſarie ſervices to God & our countrie (eſpecially when there is feared ſome danger and difficultie in the accompliſhing of them) to bee taken in hand, But this ſtorie ſheweth eſpecially, ſeing this is reported of her in the Canonicall Scripture to her commendation, that heerein ſhe did well, & that others may lawfullie, and ought, even though they bee Queenes, to offer themſelves to perill for the good & ſafetie of their countrie: when otherwiſe, without their ſo doing, it muſt needes come to ſome extreame miſerie. What p. 59doubt can there be of this, ſeing we read that even the light of nature hath taughtCodrus Athen. Decij Rom. manie heathen Princes to offer themſelves to extreame perill for the good of of their country. And your Maieſtie hathAnd of King Henry the 8. a Chriſtian and domeſticall example of your noble father hereof: who ſpak theſe naturall words to his nobilitie and commons:Grafton pag. 1278. namelie, For your defence my treſure ſhall not be hidden, nor (if neceſſity require) my perſon ſhal not be vnadventured. And ſo (Madame) giuegive not your maieſties kind ſubiects cauſe once to imagine, that a conceit onlie of fear to peril, either your perſon or honour, can or will ſtay you from doing ſo great a duetie as to perſerue all your moſt loving ſubiects and whole countrie by this meanes from vtter confuſion and deſolation: otherwiſe palpably ſene to be vnavoidable, & ready to come vponupon them euerie howre. Nay, how can it be, but you having ſo oft, yea, ſo miraculouſlie and ſenſiblie found God readie to protect and ſaue you from manie perils: but you muſt needes gather to p. 60your comfort, that much more (if you honour him in this caſe) hee will ſhewe that both hee can and will preſerue you from all your enemies. Therefore let not your noble heart perſwade it ſelf for fear of perill either to your perſon or honor, to omit the doing of that, which in al honour, dutie, and conſcience both to god and man, you are moſt bound to doe, for the furtherance of Gods glorie, and ſafetie of al your people and countrie. Howbeit, for a third generall anſwere to theſe 3obiections of peril: the making your ſucceſſour knowne, hauing ſuch reaſons to warrant and iuſtifie the doing of it, as we hauehave ſhewed: ſo farre off it is, that there is any peril (indeed) therin, or therby, like to ariſe vntounto you, that it is an eſpeciall meane of your ſafety & honor. For out of what fountain ſpring al the calamities & ruines of princes, but from the neglect of Gods glorie, & of their dutie to the people committed to their charge? or what caſtle and tower of defence proved ever ſo ſafe to princes, as the favour of God, p. 61and louelove of his ſubiects? which he vouchſafeth ever to them that preferre his will before their owne, and obedience to him before their own ſafetie. Let all hiſtories, both ſacred and profane, be peruſed, and it ſhal be throughout all ages found true,God give th… bleſſing to thoſe that obey him in actions that ſeeme verie dangerous. that thoſe princes (even in ſhew and apparance of greateſt perils) hauehave alwaies beene moſt ſafelie protected & preſerved by the Lord: which for doing their duties to God and their people, hauehave hazarded themſelues. And therefore, in doing this ſo needfull, mercifull & honorable dutie, your Maieſtie needes not once doubt of Gods providence & protection towardes you therein: but boldlie (this ſhew of perils notwithſtanding) and confidentlie reſting on the Lords ſafegarding of you therein: you may when you wil moſt ſafelie go about, and effect it.

Yet for your Maieſties full ſatiſfactionThe obiectiō of peril anſwered particularlie. let vsus (by your Graces patience) proceed to lay before you in order as they were propounded, the weakneſſe of everie one of theſe obiections. The firſt feare, ariſeth p. 62from the longing that is ſuppoſed wil be in your ſucceſſour, (when hee is once knowne) after the higheſt place. The ſecond, from the provocation that hee is like to hauehave that way by others. Wherin firſt, wee will anſwere the obiection concerning his owne ambition: and then, the other, concerning provocation by others. It is ſuppoſed in the obiection that it cannot be, but that there will bee ſuch a deſire to climme in the once made knowne ſucceſſor, as will perill the preſent Prince. Wee grant, that naturallie fleſhe & blood is prone to be ſo affected: but yet this is certaine, that where the ſprit of God is, this corruption of natureThe knowne ſucceſſor doth ſtrengthen the preſent Prince. is ſo bridled, that it bringeth foorth no dangerous fruits to the preſent governor Let King David beare witneſſe heerevnto, whoſe ſucceſſion beeing appointedConfirmed by the example of David. and confirmed by God, and hee himſelf long time moſt iniuriouſlie and cruellie perſecuted by the preſent king Saule, and he having oportunitie twiſe to hauehave ſlain his enemie, and to hauehave ſaved his owne p. 63life, and alſo to hauehave taken the crown: yet neither the glorie of a kingdome, the deſire of revenge, nor the care of preſerving his owne life, could make him once to lay hands on the Lords annointed, to perill him. Nay, not onelie the ſpirit of God in Gods children: but alſo naturall pietie, and humanitie hath ſo much prevailedAnd of the heathen. in this caſe, that we read that Antoninus Philoſophus beeing made the known ſucceſſour to Antoninus Pius in the Romain Empire, hearing that AntoninusCapitolinus. Pius did lye in moſt extreame miſerie, even wearie of his life, and to be ridde thereof, had commanded one of his men to kill him. This Antoninus Philoſophus hearing thereof, with a forcible hand ſtaied that vnnatural murther: for the which fact the ſtory ſaith, that the preſent Prince with furious words rebuked his ſucceſſor bitterlie: and that yet his ſaid ſucceſſor anſwered him againe thus, Were I worthie to ſucceede ſo noble a Prince in ſo high a dignitie, if I did not vſe my beſt endeuor to preſerue your life, p. 64ſeeing it in perill? No ſurelie, I were not worthie thereof. Loe, heere, an heathen knowne ſucceſſor, not by nature, but by adoption (as it is cleere in the ſtorie) for al that which is obiected againſt a known ſucceſſor, hath not onlie not perilled, but preſerved the life of him that had made him his ſucceſſor. And infinit be the exā ples in all ſtories of ſuch as beeing next to ſucceede, yet hauehave never perilled the preſent governour: and in compariſon, verie few be the examples to the contrarie. And why then may not your Maieſtie, rather preſume to finde the like good affection in him, whome you ſhall make your ſucceſſour, then otherwiſe? Trulie, the reaſon is verie ſtrong that maye bee yeelded, to proue why he wil as little perill you, as David did Saul, or Antoninus Philoſophus the other Antonine, that was in the place before him: for who ſoever it be (the title now ſtanding ſo doubfull as it doth) when you hauehave cleered his title, and by Parliament authority eſtabliſhed it: he muſt of neceſſity confeſſe p. 65and take himſelfe ſo bound to you therefore, as though you had (even) given him the kingdome: for the which your wonderfull goodnes and bountie, if there be but common reaſon and nature in him, it will binde both his heart, tongue and hands from ever contriving any thing to your perill. Yea, who can bee ſo monſtrouſlie brutiſh and voide of reaſon, as having received ſuch a benefit at your hands, as the cleering of his title to ſuch a noble kingdome (ſo much alſo to the good & ſafetie of al your ſubiects) but he will thinke that by this meanes you muſt needs ſo winne the hearts of all your ſubiects, and binde them to ſuch an heartie louelove and thankfulnes in ſuch faſt ſort to you: that if he ſhould once but offer you vnkindnes, he ſhould be thought generallie a monſter amongſt men, and ſo not worthie of common life: and then to be had in a generall contempt amongſt all degrees. Which ſo being, were it likelie that ever he ſhould get anie ſtrength to perill your perſon? And for further ſtrēgthening p. 66of this reaſon, we are perſwaded that if all ſtories wer peruſed, there could hardlie any one example be found, wher the preſent Prince was peri…led by the meanes of that ſucceſſor, who had his title to ſucceede cleered vntounto him by the preſent prince, it being obſcure & doubtfullFew Princes hurt by their ſucceſſors thus eſtabliſhed. before that time. And this will bee your Graces verie caſe, if that it ſhall pleaſe God to ſtirre vp your hart to make your ſucceſſour knowne: and even thus much ſhall he ſtand bound vntounto you. Againe, 2who ſoever it ſhall pleaſe God toThe ſucceſſor whither Proteſtant or Papiſt, or neuter would not hurt her Maieſty, the one for conſciēce, the other for feare. lay it vponupon, he is like to be either Proteſtant, papiſt or neuter: if the firſt, then Religion and conſcience will keepe him in due order: if he be either of the latter, yet then alſo, feare to loſe all that they hauehave alreadie, whiles they ſeeke more, or to make their ſtate worſe then it was before (by all good reaſon and likelyhoode) will cauſe them patientlie to waite for their time. But to put this feare quite out of feare, good meanes would be vſed to reforme and bridle this ambitious inclination p. 67in the once known ſucceſſor: and ſoAnd if he ſhould how he might bee reſtrained. to prevent all perill thereby. As firſt, a ſharpe and ſevere law would be made, to take away his life (if he be a ſubiect) and quite diſable his iſſue alſo, that ſhall contriue the perill of the preſent Prince, or anie way conſent there-vntounto. Secondlie, he would be vſed honorablie and courteouſlie of the preſent prince: for if the preſent Prince want iſſue, hee is (then) his childe, by adoption, and heyre by lawe. Thirdlie, he is vertuouſlie and religiouſly to be brought vp (if he be vnderunder yeeres) and to hauehave about him alwaies ſome truſtie and faithfull freends and counſellors to the preſent Prince, to direct him in a good courſe, and to deſcrie him if he begin but to treade awrie. And laſtly, where theſe means wil not ſerue, there, reſtraint of libertie vnderunder ſtraight & truſty guarde (if hee owe alleageance) may well and lawfullie be vſed. And thus, the daunger that might ariſe to your maieſties perſon by the proper motiō of a known ſucceſſor hath his anſwere, That which followeth p. 68is that which might enſue by their meansThe knowne ſucceſſor can not be able to hurt her Maieſtie by the provocation of others. who were likelie to pricke him forward to perill the preſent Prince, eyther hoping for further advancement by him, or els (vppon what ſiniſter conceite ſo ever) deſire to ſee an alteration: wherein wee ſhall not neede to trouble your Maieſtie with manie words: for if fidelitie be planted in the heart of the ſucceſſor, or hee kept within the boundes thereof, by the meanes and reaſons afore-ſaid: the provocations of others ſhall be in vaine. For though Davids ſervants were readie1. Sam. 24. 5.1 Sam 24:5 to provoke David (when he had Saule at advantage in the caue) to kill him, ſaying, Nowe is the day come wherof the Lord ſaid vntounto thee, I will deliver thine enemie into thine hand. Yet David therby woulde neither bee mooved to ſuffer them to doe it, neither would hee doe itVer. 7. himſelf, ſaying, God forbid, that I ſhould touch the Lords annointed. But it may be ſaid▪ that all ſucceſſors be not Davids. Truth it is, but yet, what ſo ever they be, by the meanes afore-ſaid, this danger of p. 69yeelding to the provocation of any, may well be prevented. And this ſtill remaineth a comfort to your Maieſtie, that the Lords arme of protection and defence wil not be ſhortned towards you, for the performing of this ſo acceptable a ſervice of mercy & compaſſion towards his people & yours. And ſure you may be (if God defended wicked Saule, when godly David was to ſucceed) that more aſſured ſhal his defence be over you, ſtudying by this godlie way to pleaſe him. The daungers that can ariſe either of his owne motion, or through the inſtigation of others (ſuppoſe the worſt) muſt eyther be by open hoſtility, or ſecrete practize. By openNeither by open hoſtilitie. hoſtilitie & force, he will never attempt it: firſt, becauſe he muſt needs ſee that you hauehave poſſeſſed iuſtlie and deſervedlie the hearts of your ſubiectes, through your manifold and vnrecompenſable deſertes: and laſtlie, through this deſerved louelove of yours faſtlie knit vntounto you, he ſhall never be able to grow to anie ſtrength to ſtand againſt you in the fielde becauſe taking a p. 70viewe of your ſubiects, though hee ſhall finde amongſt them ſome mal-contents, ſome for religion, and ſome otherwiſe: yet, when he hath muſtered them all together in his minde, he ſhall finde them not one handfull to thoſe that will like ſo wel of their preſent ſtate, that they wil never be brought to hazard that ſweete and peaceable governement that they preſentlie enioy vnderunder you, for a change: for the number of thoſe that louelove you for religion ſake (God be thanked) are great: & theſe will, you may be ſure, liue and die in your defence moſt willinglie: and worldlings there be verie manie, wee thinke, more then eyther Papiſts or Proteſtants: and thoſe (ſure) take ſuch ioy and pleaſure in the things of this world, that they can never bee brought to hazarde the quyet poſſeſſion & fruition thereof, which they now poſſeſſe and which they muſt needs ſee, they do hazard, in conſenting to treaſon: for ſure to prevaile they can not be. And if they ſhoulde, neither can they be ſure to better their eſtate, for there will p. 71be then ſo manie rake-helles to pleaſe and ſatisfie with other mens goodes, that for ſatisfying of them, they maye iuſtlie feare, that they muſt parte with ſome of their owne goodes. And if the knowne ſucceſſour bee a Proteſtant (asWhither he be a proteſtāt there is great ods it will ſo fall out, when the matter commeth to determining)The Scottiſhe King. the…, all kinde of Papiſts, whither they be Papiſts of ſtate, or of conſcience, will refuſe to ioine with him, leaſt they feele his little finger heavier, then they hauehave felt your whole hand: and leaſt he make their yoak much heavier, then you hauehave done. And whereas you (ſo they keep their fingers from treaſon) beat them but with rods, as a mother doth her children: hee ſhal then beat them with whippes, as ſlaves and dogs: for, they can never hope for more merciemercy at the handes of anie Chriſtian Prince (differing from them in Religion as you doe) then they finde at your hands. But ſuppoſe, (which we hope is impoſſible) that the right to ſucceede, ſhall bee found in a Papiſt: yet, by openOr Papiſt. p. 72force hee were never able to endanger you. For beſides that he ſhall be forſaken both of the ſound Proteſtant, and of the worldling alſo: of the one for his Religions ſake: of the other for the louelove he hath to his poſſeſſions, he ſhould finde among them of his own faction a number ſo politicke, that they might perhaps giuegive him the looking on: but ioine with him they would not, nor durſt not, for feare of had I wiſt: and ſo hee ſhould finde thoſe that durſt ſtand forth with him in the field indeed, but verie few in number, and them of the weakeſt in wealth and ſtrength.

Howſoever therefore it fall out, your highneſſe need not to feare anie danger by open hoſtilitie, at the knowne ſucceſſors hand, albe it he were much provoked therevnto, or be prone enough thervnto of himſelf. And this is an eſpecial reaſon no Engliſh ſucceſſour can be of ſufficient wealth, to maintaine warre with you, within your owne Realm. And if the ſucceſſor fall out to be a ſtranger, he will rather ſeek by all friendlie and good carriage p. 73to requite your gratious and faithful dealing with him, and ſo more and more procure the louelove of you and of your ſubiects, then by ſuch hoſtility alienate your owne and your ſubiects hearts and minds from him. And as for the danger by ſecreteNor ſecret practiſe. practiſes, great hope there is, that men conſidering howe manie that way hauehave come to confuſion, for feare of the like rewarde, wil not dare to meddle that way anie further. And ſurelie your Maieſtie hath iuſt cauſe to comfort your ſelfe againſt al the ſecrete dangers which may bee intended againſt you for well doing, with the moſt wonderfull and mercifull experience of God his protection, which you manie times hauehave had againſt ſuch: though flowing from manie ſubtile and malitious hearts & heades. For you may be ſure, that God will not take leſſe care of you, and protect you the leſſe, but rather much the more, for adding this heroicall and princely vertue, of preſerving your people and ſtate, to all your former noble deedes. Vſe you therefore (ſweet p. 74ſoveraigne) the beſt & ſpeedieſt meanes that poſſiblie you may, to prevent the perill of all your ſubiectes, and in your well doing, you may reſt ſafe and ſecure vnderunder the ſhadow of the Almightie, and ſo put your onlie truſt in him: and then ſhal you bee like mount Sion, that ſhall never bee moved.

Objection. But your owne experience yet feareth you. Anſwere. Trulie (Madame) in our opinion, there is ſmall reaſon that it ſhould. For, firſt, what meanes ſoever were vſed vntounto you, to provoke you to haſten your own courſe: yet experience of the ſequel hath made it appeare, that you patiently tarried your time: and that your ſiſter lived, while God himſelf ended her daies. And ſecondlie, no maruaile though you had manie (then) to egge you forward to aſpire to the higheſt rowme: & great wonder were it now, if anie ſhould bee found that would moue him (whom you ſhould cauſe to be publiſhed your knowne ſucceſſor) to attempt anie thing againſt you For at her handes, you received hard impriſonment, p. 75& were as a ſheepe appointed to the ſlaughter: whereas your known ſucceſſour (at your hands) is to receiue this incomparable benefite, to hauehave his title to the crowne after you, cleered by you, the which lay hid, and in controverſie before. Her regiment was verie vnfortunateAn oppoſition betwixt her Maieſties gouernment, & her ſiſters. and bloodie, and yours is (Gods name be bleſſed for it) proſperous and mercifull. Shee patronized Antichriſtianitie, which is a ſpeciall meane to provoke God, to vndermine the eſtate of thoſe Princes that doe ſo: and you countenance the truth, and the glorious Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt, which is a principall meane to moue God (for the good of his Church) as tenderlie to preſerue you; as the apple of his eie. Shee, by her mariage with a ſtranger, had almoſt brought this land into wonderfull danger, if God (by making her time ſhort heere) had not prevented it. For ſhee woulde hauehave caſt out her olde inhabitantes, and hauehave had this Iland to hauehave become a dwelling for ſtrangers: much like vntounto an vnnaturall p. 76nurſe: whereas you maintaine it in peace and proſperitie, moſt like vntounto a natural nurſing mother, for the vſe of the auncient inhabitants thereof. Which ſtrange doings of hers conſidered, no mervaile it is, though our countrie-men then, to ſhorten and to prevent thoſe intolerable evils, wiſhed rather you in place, then her: and verie great wonder were it we ſay, that anie now (eſpeciallie once worthie to bee regarded) ſhoulde wiſhe rather your knowne ſucceſſour to weare the Diademe, then your ſelfe: for theſe are things of great moment, both to ſtay others from giving him anie ſuch counſell, and to with-hold his heart from ever conſenting therevnto. And therefore, the differences of the times thus conſidered, together with Gods protection of your ſiſter in her place, till God himſelf (with his owne hand) put an end to her daies: theſe differences notwithſtanding (we ſay) may encourage you, rather by your owne experience to make your ſucceſſour knowne, then otherwiſe: for p. 77that God that heerein ſhewed himſelfe both able and willing thus to protect & preſerue your ſiſter from all the dangers and perils intended againſt her, by all thoſe that would faine hauehave had you in her place: no doubt of it, much more eaſilie can and will protect you, a nurſing mother to his true church from al perils and dangers that can ariſe either from your knowne ſucceſſor, or from his provokers.

And therefore, to come to your laſt 3argument concerning perill to your perſonThe 3. argument that ſome kings hauehave bene de poſed by their ſucceſſors anſwered▪ by making a known ſucceſſor, drawn from examples of certaine kings in this land, depoſed by their ſucceſſors. The anſwere therevnto, is moſte eaſie: for what are thoſe fewe in compariſon of infinite numbers that had known heires and ſucceſſors, and yet were never endangered by them? And why then ſhould not your Maieſties noble heart (eſpeciallie alreadie having had ſo often & ſo ſenſible experience of Gods goodnes towards you) rather take encouragement by the more p. 78examples to make your ſucceſſor known, (it being a thing every way as it is, becō ming your perſon and honour to do) rather then diſcouragement therefrom by the fewer? Trulie we muſt needs thinke God being ſo readie at hand to help you, as you hauehave alwaies found him hitherto, and the thing beeing as it is, a moſt eſpeciall point of your Maieſties dutifull ſervice vntounto him: that if ever God preſerved Prince for ſo doing (as hee hath manie) you ſhould perſwade your ſelf, that heerin alſo he would preſerue & protect you.

But as for theſe examples, they are little or nothing to the purpoſe in hand: for never a one of theſe that depoſed their predeceſſors, were (by them) made and declared to bee their heires apparant, or their ſucceſſors, their titles being doubtfull and lying in ſuſpence before: whereas the queſtion now in hand is, Whither the preſent Prince, whoſe ſucceſſor is made knowne by him, and is alſo advanced to that cleere hope by him, is to feare anie ſuch perill from the ſucceſſor? In p. 79which caſe, wee hauehave ſhewed in our reaſons before, that hardlie in anie ſtorie anie ſuch example can be found. Yet ſeeing theſe examples are alleadged it ſhall not be amiſſe (ſome-what) to conſider of them. Edward the third was but 15. yeresEdward 2. depoſed by his ſonne Ed. 3. and how. olde when his father was depoſed, and therefore not likelie to bee contriver of his fathers depoſing. Nay, who ſo readethGrafton pag 213. 214. 215. the ſtorie, he ſhall finde that he was depoſed by his Nobilitie and commons, as one (in their iudgement) not worthie to be a king. Their reaſon was▪ for that he was altogether ruled by the lewde counſell of the two Spenſers, Robert Baldock, Pierce of Gaueſtone, and other ill counſellours: whereby he vainelie conſumed the treaſure of the land, and overthreweKing …ich 2… depoſed by Hen … why Grafton pag. 401. the nobilitie and ſtate. And king Richard the ſec. was depoſed, not by one whome he had made his knowne ſucceſſor, but by Henry the fourth: no ſucceſſor to him by right, but an vſurper, and that for his great miſgovernment, as it doth appeare in the ſtorie by 28. articles obiected againſt p. 80him at his depoſing: wherein his nobility and commons ſhewed, that they liked rather to hauehave an vſurper to raigne over thē, that would preſerue the crowne & them, then a rightfull king, that would perill the crowne and ſtate alſo. So HenrieHen. 6. depoſed by Ed. 4. the ſixt was depoſed by Edwarde the fourth, who had a preſent right to the crowne, and was neither heire apparant nor knowne ſucceſſor vntounto him: but he was depoſed for the cauſes, for the which God is often angrie with princes, namelie (as witneſſeth the ſtorie) for being to much adviſed by the wicked counſell of William de la Poole, Duke of Suffolke, by whoſe meanes (as the hiſtorie ſaieth) the good Duke of Gloceſter, the kings vncle, was put to death: and the countries that the crown of England did then poſſeſſe in France, were delivered and loſte: hee beeing the ſwallower vp of the kings treaſure, wherby the warres were not maintained, and the expeller from the King of all good and vertuous counſellours, and the bringer in, and the advancer p. 81of vitious perſons, common enemies & apparant adverſaries to the publike weale. Heere be manie hard points diſcovered in a counſellour, the which aWiſe Princes will look narrowlie into the affections of their counſellers. wiſe Prince will narrowlie looke into: leaſt anie of his be infected with anie of theſe faults. His wife alſo and others did likewiſe ſo over-rule him, ſo that the ſtate was (by his evill governement) greatlie troubled & vexed, and the nobility much perilled. Nowe, King Edwarde the fift was murdered being but a childe, by hisEd 3. murthered by Rich. 3. wicked and trayterous vncle, Richard the third, who was neither his heire nor ſucceſſor by right. So that theſe examples rather proue, that there is perill to the preſent governor from ſecret, ambitious, and vnknowne competitors, than from known ſucceſſors: for three of theſe were neyther heyres nor ſucceſſors by right, to them whome they depoſed: and the fourth had the Crowne throwne in his lappe, both vnlooked and vnwiſhed for. And in deede and truth princes are in far more danger, ſucceſſion not beeing eſtabliſhed, p. 82then when it is ſetled. The reaſon is forcible, for the neglect thereof produceth the diſfavour of God, and his ſubiects: whereof we hauehave a good example of David, who before he did eſtabliſh the ſucceſſion in Salomon, was in farre more danger then afterwards: for before, firſt Abſolon, then Adoniiah were vp in armes for the crown, but Salomon once ſetled in the title of ſucceſſion, we reade of no more ſuch dangerous attemptes in his time. And certaine it is that your Maieſtie hath beene in much more danger hitherto (the title to ſucceed you beeing vndetermined) then you can be by anie likelyhoode, when ſoever it ſhall be declared who hath the right of ſucceſſion. And ſo by this that is ſaid alreadie, it ſufficientlie appeareth, that the perilles by having a known ſucceſſor, are rather ſhadowes of perilles then perilles in deede: whereas by concealing of the ſucceſſion, and not declaring where it reſteth, your Maieſtie knoweth, a ſucceſſor how weaklie ſoever ſuppoſed, yet mightilie ſupported, p. 83both by domeſticall traitours and forrayne enemies, hath bred you manie evident and dangerous perilles. The Lord be bleſſed, who hath delivered you out of their ſnares & pits, and hath intrapped themſelues therin. But you hauehave no cauſe yet to thinke (moſte gratious Ladie) but that the popiſh faction, which other malcontents, having nowe loſt the ſtaffe of their hope, but that they ere this hauehaveThe Queene of Scots. buſied themſelues to finde another: for you may aſſure your ſelfe, the more ſilent you are to make knowne your ſucceſſor, the glader are they: for they thinke they may thereby the more boldlie ſet vp one to themſelues in their owne conceites: wherein, when their deviſes and plots are come to anie ripeneſſe, former experience hath taught you what to looke for from them, or at their hands. God preſerue you alwaies from them and their treacheries, and giuegive you grace ever to beware of them, and never to truſt them. Againe, what daunger is there that you can ſuppoſe to be likelie to ariſe by making p. 84known your ſucceſſor, that evidentlie ariſeth not of keeping him vnknown: for it is to bee thought, that where the beſt right is, it is well knowne to him that hath it. Then the more the right of his title be ſought to bee ſuppreſſed and concealed, the more (it is likelie) it will ſtirre the coales of wrath in his heart, and the ſooner it will cauſe him to put forth himſelfe, leaſt he ſhould (by ſilence) miſſe of that which he accounted his right. And will not the concealing therof cauſe manie to flatter themſelues that they hauehave a title: and ſo danger may ſpring vntounto your Maieſtie from manie fountaines, and frō ſome perhaps that are not thought of. And all reaſon perſwadeth, that there is leſſe daunger to be feared from him that hath right to ſucceede eſpeciallie being bound vntounto your maieſtie for publiſhing and manifeſting of his right, then by one that is grieved & offended with your maieſtie, for hiding and ſuffering his title to lie hid. And every one ſeeth that the danger that ariſeth from one, & him known, p. 85is eaſilier prevented, then that which ariſeth from manie, & ſome of them alſo vnknowne. It were queſtionleſſe therefore (everie way) the ſafeſt way for your maieſtie, to binde him that hath the beſt right to ſucceed to you, to all louelove and thankfulnes towards you: and conſequently (by that kinde meanes) from ſeeking to endanger you anie way: but eſpeciallie by your kind cleering & declaring his right: and then alſo, to put out of hope all others, that now wrongfully imagine they hauehave right there-vntounto: whoſe ambition may ſtirre them vp to ſeeke the diademe. This (as I hauehave plainelie prooved) is the way that beſt pleaſeth God, & that ſtandeth beſt with the diſcharge of your dutie, both to him & to your people: and therfore it cannot be, but that it is farre more ſafe for your noble perſon ſo to doe, then otherwiſe: becauſe as al ſtories & experience teache, it is alwaies the ſafeſt way, both for Prince & ſubiect, to pleaſe God: and verie dangerous to thinke that there is more ſafety in following our owne deviſes p. 86and phantaſies, then his will and pleaſure. Saule (you know) was threatned for that he had broken Gods commandment, to hauehave his kingdome rent from him, and it was ſo. And the rather may you ſee, that there is no reaſon in reſpect of perill to your perſon, to ſtay you from thus doing: becauſe (not onelie) it hath beene made to appeare manifeſtlie vntounto you, that they are rather phanſied perils, then perils in deede. And now laſtlie, evident reaſon hath ſhewed you, that what ſoever thoſe perils be, yet the ſame, and rather greater, are more iuſtlie to be feared of the not ſetling of the ſucceſſion. Wherefore we conclude, that (notwithſtanding the former obiections) there is no ſufficient cauſe why you ſhould not make your ſucceſſor knowne, in reſpecte of anie perill to your perſon: ſeeing wee hauehave rather proved it much more ſafer, then perillous for your highnes ſo to do.

And the danger that might come vntounto your honour thereby, is alſo the leſſe toThe other branch of the obiectiō groū ded vponupon perill, concerning the decay of the princes honor & dignitie, if the ſucceſſor ſhould bee made knowne, anſwered and refuted. be feared: for that no act can be more honorable, p. 87then that whereby you ſhoulde provide for the continuall ſafetie of your kingdome, and people? And who can (with a reverent opinion) think that ever your Maieſtie would deſire to maintaine the full brightneſſe of your glorie, by hazarding the glorie of God? and the vtter overthrow of your kingdome? For who knoweth not but that your Maieſtie hath read and heard not onlie how farre noble King David in dauncing before the arke, was content to debaſe himſelf? thereby2. Sam. 6. 14.2 Sam 6:14 to advaunce the glorie of God: but alſo, that verie heathen Princes hauehave often bene found ready with their lives (as pretiousCodrus Athen. Decij Rom. as their honour) to redeeme the ſafetie of their countries. As for the reaſon to proue it perillous to your honour, in that as men are given rather to honor the Sunne ryſing, then the ſetting therof: ſo, it is thought in this caſe, that they are given to preferre their newe Maiſter, before their olde Miſtreſſe: but theſe be arguments of ſmal moment: for the Barbarians that doe worſhip the Sunne, doe aſwell p. 88fall flat on their faces, when it ſetteth as when it riſeth. And reaſon teacheth wiſe men rather to honor that ſunne, the ryſing whereof hath already much benefited them: then that which they cannot tell, whither it will benefite them in like meaſure, or no: Indeede, if the ſunne ſetting hath bene all the former day, but a glowming and vn-comfortable Sunne: then there is ſome reaſon, why the next daies Sunne ryſing (in hope that it wil be more comfortable and lightſome) ſhuld be rather honoured, then the other. But if the ſunne ſetting, hath beene all the day before, a cleere, lightſome, and comfortable ſunne, all wiſe and honeſt men will bee ſo farre in louelove with it, that they will be exceeding loath to parte with it, and will highlie honour it, ſetting: and alſo dolefullie mourne, when it is ſet. And the like affection, wiſe and diſcreet men cannot carrie to the next ſunne ryſing, for that they know not whither it will proue comfortable, or not vntounto them. Let your Maieſtie therefore goe on, as your Grace p. 89hath begunne: in ſending forth the glorious beames of the Goſpell of Chriſt, thoroughout your dominions: and now, and this kinde comforte to your loving and kinde ſubiectes: to wit, to make your ſucceſſor knowne: and aſſure your ſelfe, that you ſhall be more infinitlie honored, ſetting, for theſe benefits alreadie received: then the next ſunne riſing can be poſſibly (whoſoever he be) for benefites but barelie hoped for. And further you know, that though manie things bee moſte deſired, when they are new: yet manie are greatlieſt eſteemed, when they are olde. But what if ſome light perſons doe withdraw (then) ſome honour from you, and giuegive it to your ſucceſſor? what can that eclipſe your honour? when (by making your ſucceſſor knowne) you are grown great and mightie (with a ſetled and vn-remoueable louelove) in the heartes of all the graue, faithfull, and godlie wiſe men of the land. And what loſſe of honor can it be to you, to loſe a little at the handes of vaine and light perſons, who are of verie ſmall or p. 90none accompt, and to get ten thouſand times more honour at the hands of the other: namelie, of all your graue, wiſe and faithfull ſubiectes: yea, and to gaine immortall honour both with God and man alſo, by doing ſo famous and worthie a deed. Thus we hope your Maieſtie, doeth plainelie ſee, that there appeareth as litle force in this obiection, as in anye of the former, and that therefore wee may conclude alſo, that the perill in the ſetling of the ſucceſſion, is nothing ſo dangerous to your Princelie honour and dignitie, as the contrarie.

And certainlie (deere ſoveraigne) theThe laſt arg. the eſtabliſhing of a ſucceſſor will take away all forraine conſpiracies. Proved. ſureſt meanes to kill the hearts of all your enemies both heer, and in forraine countries, and to ſtop their greedie hungring to advaunce anie to the Diademe, and alſo to ſtay their bloodie deſires to take away your Maieſties life, by murther of your noble perſon, or anie other wicked meanes, is the ſetling of ſucceſſion onlie. The reaſon is, the cheefe cauſe and ende that moveth traiterous Papiſts and your p. 91forraine enemies to hunger ſo eagerly after your life, is this: they are certainelie perſwaded, and it is holden for a reſolute opinion amongſt them, that if they could bereaue your Maieſtie of your life, that then your good ſubiects had no one (onlie) head to cleaue, and reſorte vntounto for ſuccour: but ſhould (by inclyning to ſindrie factions, and following of as manie heades at the leaſt, as there woulde bee claimers of the crowne) growe to civill warre and vnnaturall diviſion: and ſo bee readie everie one of vsus, to cut one anothers throat: and then, were we eaſily all over-runne by them, and the common enemies the ſtrangers. The onelie good & ſureſt meanes to alienate all their minds, from intending the murther of your Maieſties perſon (the which otherwiſe they will never ceaſe to practize) is, to ſettle the ſucceſſion of the crowne, ſucceſſiuelie to as manie, one after another, as the Lawe ſhal take notice of, to be inheritable thervnto. For thereby they ſhall ſee, that they are never a white the nearer winning of p. 92the goale, though they ſhould take away your Maieſties life. For that notwithſtanding, yet no civill warre or diſcorde within this Realme (the onelie cauſe of their greedie thirſting after your Maieſties blood) were like to enſue therof: for that your ſubiects wits and mindes would not thereby bee diſtracted, ſeeing they then ſhould know, and be certaine what head to leane and cleaue vntounto: and woulde ſo be all vnited in one minde, to follow one, and the ſelfe ſame head. Manie therfore & great are the benefits which your Maieſtie, and the whole Realme ſhould reap by the preſent eſtabliſhment of ſucceſſion: for aſſoone as this were done, thoſe Engliſh traitours which are vſed by the ſtrangers, as wicked inſtruments, to ſhorten your Maieſties daies, would preſently deſiſt from practizing of that vile enterpriſe, & your Maieſties enemies will likewiſe deſiſt from hyring and pricking anie forward therevnto: for that no civil warre (the onlie mark wherat they aime) would enſue thervpon. And further they ſhould p. 63ſee, that (by executing their malicious & longed for attempt) the Realme ſhoulde be governed by ſuch a man, who (in theirThey cloſelie meane the King of Scots, who in everie mans judgement is moſte able to defend it; but chieflie in the opinion of ſtrangers. opinions) would defend it more ſtrongly and ſtoutlie, then anie woman. Further, the conſideration heereof by the ſtraungers, will be (heere after) a good meane to ſtay their purpoſe of comming againe, if they heare of it before: if they heare of it after their landing, it will haſten them faſter away, then a thouſand peales of gunnes: for ſmall is their hope of overrunning this land, without the advantage of domeſticall warre amongſt our ſelues. And it is not like, that they will leaue off with this diſhonour, but will (another yeere) giuegive a newe onſet. Laſtly, admit that they will preſume vppon their owne ſtrength, without this advantage: yet, the eſtabliſhment of the ſucceſſion will ſo effectually and vnfainedly winne vntounto your Maieſtie, the hearts of all your Nobilitie and commons (ſome handfull of deſperate Papiſts and Male-contents ſet a ſide) and ſo reconcile their minds one towards p. 94another, which are now diſtracted by favouring and inclyning to ſundrie titles, that the whole Realme (without al doubt and difficultie) will put on hearts like vntounto the hearts of Lyons, and ſo ſtick whollie and hartilie together for the defence of your Maieſtie, & this their noble countrie. If the ſetling of the ſucceſſion proue not the ſureſt and beſt meanes for your Maieſties preſent ſafetie, and alſo for the diſcharge of your dutie to God and your people, therby banqueting with the moſt daintie diſhe of a quiet conſcience: and for the winning to your Maieſty of an honorable name and fame throughout the whole world: and for the knitting of all your ſubiectes hearts faſt vntounto you, with louelove deſerved, and ſo vnremoueable: let our heades pay our ranſome, for ſtirring vp your Maieſtie heere-vntounto.

Wherefore (now) to grow to an end,A recapitulation of the arguments going before, with a pithie exhortation annexed therevnto. (moſt gratious ſoveraigne) if obedience to God, examples of Kings, both Chriſtian and heathen: yea, and of your owne deare Father, or care and compaſſion over p. 95all your owne naturall liege people, (otherwiſe) ſure to come to extreame cō fuſion, the neceſſarines, profitablenes, & honorablenes of the action, to the eie of the whole world, and to your ſelf alſo, & both before God & man: together with the weakneſſe of all obiections that can be made to the contrare, be of any force and accompt with your Maieſtie, as (wee doubt not) but they are: then (Princelie Ladie) denie not to your moſt mercifull God this thankfulnes: but (in thankfull conſideration of all his benefites beſtowed vponupon you) yeelde in moſte effectuall manner to this holie, naturall, and moſte needfull motion: denie not this Princelie merciemercy and dutie to your noble Realmes and Dominions that hauehave bred you, and hitherto maintained you in all honour, & princelie eſtate: and without the which, you could not, nor cannot bee preſerved, and ſo maintained. And ſo, not we only, but all your people, one and other, that hauehave anie true feare of God, or louelove to their whole countrie generallie, or anie p. 96naturall care to poſteritie, night & day, with teares & gronings in moſt lamentable and pittifull manner doe cry and call vponupon you (ſweet Ladie) in this point, for merciemercy, as ever there was anie ſparke of true merciemercy in your princelie heart, that you will (now) with ſpeede ſhew merciemercy on vsus all, & all our wiues and children, kindred & friends, & al our whole poſterities: but eſpeciallie to ſhew merciemercy vppon our ſoules: for that otherwiſe as all your true & faithfull ſubiects, cannot but periſh with the ſword: even ſo our ſoules will ſurelie ſterue for want of the Word: yea, we (in moſt fervent manner) humbly beſeech you, & God chargeth you to ſhewe merciemercy in this point (if in anie) to his whole Church throughout Chriſtendome. For it will receiue great ſtrength by the eſtabliſhment of the ſucceſſion heere. Alas (if you ſhould not) what ſinne & impietie were it in you, when (by this onelie meane) you may prevent vnavoidable perils to your whol people, & noble Realme, to ſuffer ſo manie p. 97thouſands of your loving ſubiectes, (who woulde willinglie hauehave ſhed their bloode in your defence) to hauehave their blood moſt cruellie ſpilt, by ſundrie cruell and bloodie battailes: yea, to ſuffer ſuch a floriſhing Church and commonwealth (by your vnkinde leaving it without a known ſucceſſor) to be ſpoiled of al policie, order, government, and Religion, and to be brought to vtter deſolation Oh, (in ſo dangerous times eſpecially as theſe be, in the midſt of ſecrete enemies at home, and mightie and malicious abroad) provoke not (moſte noble ſoveraigne) the wrath of your kinde God vppon you ſo iuſtlie: neither offer any ſuch vnkinde occaſion of alienating the affections of your beſt ſubiects from you, ſo deſervedlie: it tending (ſo much as it doth) to the weakning and perill of your ſelf: but in the feare of God, and of deſire everie way to pleaſe him, and to the diſcharge of a good conſcience, take in hand (and that without delay, becauſe delay breedeth danger) this moſt godly, p. 98honorable, and naturall action. And ſtil to whet you therevnto, in ſtead of a finall concluſion wee leaue theſe ſhort queſtions to be conſidered of by you, and anſwered betweene God and you in your ſecrete chamber.