THe thinge (most Gratious Sove­raigne) which wee and all true En­glish hearts haue long wished, & which [Page 5] (now) wee would most gladlie perswadeThe aime and drift of this book, and the method there­of. your highnes vnto, 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 haue 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 [Page 6] that 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. and nursing mothers vnto 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 vnto 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 vn­to 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 [Page 7] time, 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 haue right (indeed) vnto 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 vnto, (you beeing of that rare wisdom & fore-sight that you are:) you cannot choose but see, that immediatlie after [Page 8] your 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 haue dutifull care and loue 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 vpon you, & most ear­nestlie beseech you, that by neglecting this motion, you vnnaturallie leaue vs not vnto 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 vnto him, & vnto your self that dishonor for lack of listning to this counsell, con­trary to his wil & nature, to leaue vs 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 [Page 9] that 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 [Page 10] care and prouision to bee made for the lesse, he would not (in anie case) haue the greater neglected: yea, certaine it is, that seing vnder 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 vs.

Furthermore, Saint Paule giueth this as a generall rule to all Christians, ofThe 3. argum. Philip. 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 [Page 11] performe 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 haue that care, and tender loue 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 vnto 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 [Page 12] should 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 haue not thought themselues (vpon 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 vnto the Lord, saying: Let the Lord God of the spiritesNumb. 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 [Page 13] congregation 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. 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. had a good warrant to moue Bath­shebah (as the fittest person to make the motion) to go vnto 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 vnto the 41. verse. title to be published to be the right, and the next. And so danger was preuented, [Page 14] though Adoniiah was then vp in armes for it: & olde Dauid went vnto 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 haue 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 vs, 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 [Page 15] to 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. 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 [Page 16] might 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. 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 onely great calamities and troubles therevpon would haue ensued to his people, but al­so, that it was some testimonie of the Lords wrath towards him, if in him God should haue ceased from performing his promise to Dauid, of neuer leauing him [Page 17] without 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 haue iust cause bitterly to weepe, for the deny­ing of this mercie to your naturall peo­ple, euen then, when you woulde moste gladelie haue 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 [Page 18] the 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 [Page 19] therein 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 vnto his Nobles: The ex­perience whereof some of you haue 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 haue 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 [Page 20] things 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 vnto 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 vs, but he presentlie seeth, that if [Page 21] it were so dangerous then when your fa­ther vttered these words, he hauing then issue of his owne bodie to leaue the Re­alme vnto, 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 vpon 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 [Page 22] so 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▪ [Page 23] vntill 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 [Page 24] the inheritance thereof conveied vnto 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 vnto 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 vnto 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, [Page 25] that 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 haue yeelded vnto 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, [Page 26] which then by these doleful consequents will ouerflowe euery 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 haue 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 [Page 27] freelie 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 haue: 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 [Page 28] hee 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 vnto, & made pub­likely knowne. And so you may perceiue that herein we doe not forecast more pe­rils, then these wise and graue persons haue 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 vnder 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 [Page 29] also 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, [Page 30] that 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 vs, 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 vpon your noble Realme, & all your subiectes, who with stretched out hands cry vnto you to shewe mercie vnto them [Page 31] in this point: in delaying no longer to the hazard of the spilling of all their bloode, and losing all their good, to make knowne vnto them, who of right is to succeede you. O sweete Ladie, let this long longed for, and looked for most necessary drop of mercie, 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 mercie, and purchase vnto 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 & vs, in respect of both our safeties: and also that it is not onlie profitable to vs, but al­so euen very profitable and honorable to you, both in respect of God & man. That it is verie necessarie and profitable for vs, [Page 32] the 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 vs, maketh it most euident. And that it is necessary for you also, yea profitable & honourable, as we haue said, diuersly it may appeare: for first it cannot be denyed, that amongst all the meanes that otherwise Princes haue 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 [...]. 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, [Page 33] farre 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 loue 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.

And therefore in all stories it appea­reth, that those kings that haue carried a­nie note of wisdome, haue alwaies studi­ed most carefullie for the heartie loue 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 loue 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 [Page 35] your time which thing, of what force it will bee to abate their hartie and true loue 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 loue, 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 loue them, even for their owne sakes, and that you loue 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 [Page 36] liues, 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 haue. 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 loue of all your faithfull sub­iects, which is most necessarie for you to haue: especiallie, these dayes and times considered, when you haue 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 loue 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 [Page 37] vnto you to do so honorable, profita­ble, and necessarie a thing vnto yourself, your people, and countrie? Further, the truth heereof may and will more clearly appeare vnto 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 vnto your Maiestie) either to hang, or con­forme themselues: and the rest woulde also giue over all detestable practises a­gainst your noble person: yea, they would be glad to pray with vs, & to vse all good meanes with vs for your preservation. Great reason may moue it: for they will feare, least it will bee much worse with them when you are gone, vnder your suc­cessor, [Page 38] then it is nowe vnder 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 haue 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 haue 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 [Page 39] it againe: for we haue 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 vs 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 vnto 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. said vnto 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 [Page 40] successe 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 haue them. This setling of the succession that we are therefore now moving you vnto, being a thing (as doubtlesse it is) which the Lord of dutie requireth at your handes, and which you haue 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 vnto you to yeeld to the Lord, both speedie and willing obedience theerein. As long as you walke in his waies, heePsal. 9 [...]. 11. 12. hath given his Angels charge over you, that you shall not hurt your feet against a stone: and therefore, in this you neede [Page 41] not to be afraide. You remember, we areProverb. 8. 1 [...] Psal. 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 [...] 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 haue, that you may long raigne over vs, beseech your Maiestie, to weigh with your selfe whither it bee not likelie, that this your land-lord and soveraigne iudge [Page 42] will 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 [Page 43] he had not beene on our side, our ene­mies. long ere this, had swallowed vp both you and vs: 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 vs peace at home, and victories a­broad. It is he that doeth keepe all evils from vs, & continueth al good things vn­to vs. And if he continue on our side stil, we need not to be afraide whosoever bee against vs, for hee both can and will pro­tect vs, 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 vs. But if hee bee occasioned to departe from vs, and leaue vs to our selves, then al things shall and will fall out cleane con­trarilie with vs, 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 [Page 44] work of great mercie & loue, the which all your people craue with teares, added vnto your former good services of God: it will binde God in his mercie (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 haue not beene provoked by his marvelous former pro­tection of you from evident dangers, ma­nie and sundrie times, to shewe your self thankfull vnto 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 [Page 45] country, or loving subiects to you, which either haue 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 loue and dutifulnes, to the preservation of your noble person and estate: so it is your duty againe to yeelde vnto 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 [Page 46] to receiue at the hands of his sub­iects, all tokens & fruits of perfect loyall loue 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 loue indeede, and such true mercie 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 loue, and delyteth more in true mercie,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 vs 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 vpon the whole land: and nowe lastly, that the necessarines, profitablenes [Page 47] and honorablenesse of the thing it selfe, both with God and man, to your self, as­wel as vnto vs: ioine hands together, ear­nestlie to moue and stirre vp your Maie­stie, to yeeld vnto vs this dutifull mercie. Now then, these reasons considered, wee may say vnto you, and doe, as Bathsheba1. Reg. 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 [Page 48] obiections 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 [Page 49] of 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 haue the ti­tle that hath best right vnto it: & it being (also) as it is an especiall & chief point of exceeding mercifull iustice, the which of all others, as we haue proved, you the soveraigne and high Iudge and minister of iustice amongst vs, 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 vnto you, to exempt you from go­ing about it: but it ought (rather) to force you the more spedilie and throughlie to [Page 50] take 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 haue 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 haue 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 [Page 51] Parliament) 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 vs 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 [Page 52] perill 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 onely him & his, whose title you haue cleered: but also all your subiects to loue 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 [Page 53] yet 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 haue 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 haue made themselves before, stay from beginning to doe, as A­donijah did: least they bee inforced with shame, as he was, to giue over straight a­gaine. Let this example encourage you (most noble Queene) not to bee afraide of the crossing and disappointing (in this [Page 54] case) 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 vs 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 1 feare is encreased by your owne experi­rience, in your sisters time, when it may be, you were provoked by some to hasten [Page 55] your course. Another feare may growe 2 also, 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 3 and 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 haue bene the cheef causes & rea­sons, that (hitherto) haue staied you frō listning vnto 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 vnto your Maiestie, that such [Page 56] is our tender loue 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-vnto (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 vnto our selues some-what to haue thought of this motion: yet would we ne­ver haue 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 vnto them we say, first, 1 that the perill vpon 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: [Page 57] which being so, doth not discharge you from doing so necessarie, profitable and honorable a duty to God & to your peo­ple, as this is, where-vnto you are nowe moved. Secondlie we say, suppose there 2 were asmuch perill vnto 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 [Page 58] life (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 [Page 59] doubt 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) giue 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 vpon 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 [Page 60] your 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 3 obiections of peril: the making your suc­cessour knowne, hauing such reasons to warrant and iustifie the doing of it, as we haue shewed: so farre off it is, that there is any peril (indeed) therin, or therby, like to arise vnto 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, [Page 61] and loue 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) haue alwaies beene most safelie protected & preserved by the Lord: which for doing their duties to God and their people, haue 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 vs (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 [Page 62] from 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 haue 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 haue slain his enemie, and to haue saved his owne [Page 63] life, and also to haue 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, [Page 64] seeing 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 haue 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 haue cleered his title, and by Parliament authority e­stablished it: he must of necessity confesse [Page 65] and 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 loue 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 [Page 66] of 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 vnto 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 vnto you. A­gaine, 2 who 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 vpon, 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 haue 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 [Page 67] in 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-vnto. 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 vnder yeeres) and to haue 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 vnder 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 [Page 68] is 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. 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 vnto 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 [Page 69] yeelding 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 haue possessed iustlie and deservedlie the hearts of your subiectes, through your manifold and vnrecompensable desertes: and lastlie, through this deserved loue of yours fastlie knit vnto you, he shall never be able to grow to anie strength to stand against you in the fielde because taking a [Page 70] viewe 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 vnder you, for a change: for the number of those that loue 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 [Page 71] be 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 haue felt your whole hand: and least he make their yoak much heavier, then you haue 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 mercie 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. [Page 72] force 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 loue he hath to his possessions, he should finde among them of his own faction a number so po­liticke, that they might perhaps giue 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 [Page 73] to requite your gratious and faithful dealing with him, and so more and more procure the loue 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 haue 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 haue 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 [Page 74] soveraigne) 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 vnder 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 vnto 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, [Page 75] & were as a sheepe appoin­ted to the slaughter: whereas your known successour (at your hands) is to receiue this incomparable benefite, to haue 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 haue cast out her olde inhabitantes, and haue had this Iland to haue become a dwel­ling for strangers: much like vnto an vn­naturall [Page 76] nurse: whereas you maintaine it in peace and prosperitie, most like vnto 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 [Page 77] that 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 haue 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 3 argument concerning perill to your per­sonThe 3. argu­ment that some kings haue 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 [Page 78] examples 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 haue alwaies found him hitherto, and the thing beeing as it is, a most espe­ciall point of your Maiesties dutifull ser­vice vnto 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 [Page 79] which case, wee haue 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 [Page 80] him at his deposing: wherein his nobility and commons shewed, that they liked rather to haue 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 vnto 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 [Page 81] of 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, [Page 82] then when it is setled. The rea­son is forcible, for the neglect thereof produceth the disfavour of God, and his subiects: whereof we haue 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, [Page 83] both 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 haue 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 haueThe 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 giue 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 [Page 84] known 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 haue a title: and so danger may spring vnto 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 vnto 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, [Page 85] is 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 loue 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 haue right there-vnto: whose ambition may stirre them vp to seeke the diademe. This (as I haue 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 [Page 86] and phantasies, then his will and pleasure. Saule (you know) was threatned for that he had broken Gods command­ment, to haue 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 vnto 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 haue rather proved it much more safer, then perillous for your highnes so to do.

And the danger that might come vnto your honour thereby, is also the lesse toThe other branch of the obiectiō groū ded vpon 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, [Page 87] then 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. to advaunce the glorie of God: but also, that verie heathen Princes haue 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 [Page 88] fall 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 loue 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 vnto them. Let your Maiestie therefore goe on, as your Grace [Page 89] hath 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 giue 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 loue) 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 [Page 90] none 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 [Page 91] forraine 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 vnto 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 vs, 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 [Page 92] the 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 vnto: 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 [Page 63] see, 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) giue 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 vnto 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 [Page 94] another, 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 vn­to 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 vnto you, with loue deserved, and so vnremoueable: let our heades pay our ransome, for stirring vp your Maiestie heere-vnto.

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 [Page 95] all 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 vpon you) yeelde in moste effectuall manner to this holie, naturall, and moste needfull motion: denie not this Princelie mercie and dutie to your noble Realmes and Dominions that haue 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 haue anie true feare of God, or loue to their whole countrie generallie, or anie [Page 96] naturall care to posteritie, night & day, with teares & gronings in most lamenta­ble and pittifull manner doe cry and call vpon you (sweet Ladie) in this point, for mercie, as ever there was anie sparke of true mercie in your princelie heart, that you will (now) with speede shew mercie on vs all, & all our wiues and children, kindred & friends, & al our whole poste­rities: but especiallie to shew mercie 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 mercie 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 [Page 97] thousands of your loving subiectes, (who woulde willinglie haue shed their bloode in your defence) to haue 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, [Page 98] honorable, 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.

FIRST, whither the Lord himself didTen questions to be conside­red of by her Maiestie. not set the crown on your head, when your enemies earnest purpose was to haue taken your head away.

Secondlie, whither the same Lord hath not (with a mightie hand and out­stretched 2 arme) kept the same hitherto on your head, in despite of all your foes.

Thirdlie, whither hee hath not also wonderfullie in your regiment blessed 3 you, and made you so famous, that you are a wonderment to all the Princes, and their kingdomes round about you.

Fourthlie, whither in regarde of all these exceeding benefites, you are not 4 bounde to serue the Lorde with all your soule, & with all your strength.

Fiftlie, whither you do not think, that it is an especiall dutie that Princes owe 5 [Page 99] vnto God, and their people, to doe what may be done to preserue them and their posterities from all evils & mischief?

Sixtlie, whither you do not plainly & 6 palpablie feele and fore-see, that if you leaue your people without a known suc­cessor, that then it must needes followe, that you shall leaue both Gods religion, his people & your dominions, in evident hazarde of extreame confusion and vtter overthrow.

Seventhlie, whither you do not think, 7 that, in your life-time, to make knowne your successour, bee not (by all likelie­hood) the best and onlie way to prevent all these dolefull evils.

Eightlie, whither (then) you doe not 8 think it a grevous sin in you, if you should not doe the best that lieth in you, by ma­king your successor knowne, to prevent these perils to your whole people.

Ninthlie, and whither that therefore, 9 if these perils bee not prevented, you, (though a Queene) shall not come one day before the tribunall seate of God, [Page 100] the revenger of all vngodlines, to make straight accompt of this greevous sinne.

Lastlie, whither in the meane time, it bee not a meane greatlie to your perill, 10 thereby, not only (presentlie) to harden the hearts of your subiectes against you: but also, to provoke the Lord to bee an­grie with you, and so to withdrawe his hedge and strong wall of defence from about you: if anie humaine perswasion, whatsoever, continue you still in this vn­naturall sinne?

TRue and vnfained loue, doeth evenThe conclu­sion of the whole trea­tise, and exhortation enlarged with two new arguments, the one from the ignominie which is like to befall to her Maiesties person af [...]er her death, for wanting the honor of bu­riall: the other from the dan­ger the conu­sellors are like to fall in­to after her decease, for not procuring the establi­shing of a suc­cessor, as though by their default her Maiestie had negle­cted the same. force vs to vtter vnto you (our most deare and natural Soveraigne:) that when soever it sall please God to touche you with the pangs of death, (as die most certainlie you shall, and howe soone is knowne to none but to the Lord onlie) if your Maiestie doe not settle the succes­sion in your life-time, which God for his mercies sake long prolong, we do great­lie feare, that your grace shall, then, finde such a troubled soule and conscience, yea, ten thousand helles in your soule, e­ven [Page 101] such bitter vexation of soule & hart for the perilling of the Church of God, and of your naturall countrie, as to be re­leased therof, you would giue the whole world, if you had it. Of true loue to your Maiestie, and of a reverent regarde that wee haue vnto your honour and good name after your decease: wee beseeche your Maiestie to consider, whither your noble person is like to come to that ho­norable burial, that your honorable pro­genitours haue had, or that (as we doubt not) your grace will take order for by your testament, or whither anie part of yourwil shal be performed by your executors, if your successor be not setled before your death. It may be, that this is a mat­ter neither thought of, nor yet doubted of by your highnes, but that you holde it as a cleere and vndoubted matter or que­stion. To let your maiestie vnderstand our opinions herein, we do thinke it our du­ties. Wee doe assure our selues, that the breath shall be no sooner out of your bo­dy (if your successor be not setled in your [Page 102] life-time) but that al your nobility, coun­sellours, and whole people will be vp in armes with all the speede they may: yea, their care and haste to arme themselues will be so earnest, that they will thinke themselues moste happie, that can first draw themselues and their power into the fielde: and then there will be as many kings proclaimed, as there will be com­petitors, the which will be fowre or fiue at the least, though all haue not the like right: so that then, your executors will be so busied to set vp a new king, yea, (it is likelie) two or three, that they shall not possiblie haue one howres leysure to at­tend, nor once thinke of your buriall, or will: and then it is to be feared, yea, vn­doubtedlie to be iudged, that your noble person shall lye vpon the earth vnburied, as a dolefull spectacle to the worlde, but chieflie to such as dearelie loue you. The shame and infamie hereof, wee beseeche your grace to be careful of: and true and vnfained loue, yea, our duties do force vs to warne your maiestie of it: for it would [Page 103] be a wonderfull sorow to a great number of our hearts, if your noble person (being the restorer of true religiō) should come to that shame as to lye vnburied. Againe, we feare (if your maiestie do not prevent these perils before your death) that (af­ter the dissolution of your life) you shall leaue behind you such a name of infamie througout the whole world, even in such an opprobrious manner, that the fore­thinking therof, cannot (we do perswade our selues) but deepelie grieue & wound your honorable, pitifull & tender heart: especiallie, sithence your wisdome and kinde heart cannot but foresee, that those whome you shall leaue behinde you, which bee of naturall kinred, or beare a­nie heartie or true loue and affection towardes you, will daylie die a thousand deathes, to heare the evils that shall be howrelie vsed in vile reports, songs and rymes against your noble person: & may not with truth defend you, for that you haue not dutifullie prevented the over­throw of the Church of God, and of your [Page 104] noble kingdome, but haue suffered both to be subverted, even by the most cruell meanes that may be, to wit, by the mer­cilesse shedding of rivers of innocent blood, by all those endlesse bloodie bat­tailes which shal be fought in that cause: and al for that you haue not shewed pitie & mercy in the setling of the succession of the imperial crown of your noble realm: This is not al, for your privie counsellors, which you shal leaue aliue after you, who (of feare) to trouble you, haue suffered you to sleepe in quiet, as though you had no iust cause to take care for the safetie of the Church of God, and of your coun­trie, and also, in that they haue not inces­santlie called vpon you, thereby stirring you vp (with all ferventnesse) to prevent these intolerable evils, shall (in all likely­hoode) pay full dearelie for their silence after your decease. For wee cannot per­swade our selues, but that the realme wil call them to a sharpe accompt for suffe­ring the Church of God and the crowne of England to be vtterlie subverted. And [Page 105] well they shall deserve it, both at the Lords hand, and of this their worthy and natiue countrie, if it should so fall out: for they tooke their corporall oathes to be true counsellours vnto this noble realme,Counsellers sworne aswell to the realme as to the Prince. aswel as to your noble person, when they were sworne to be counsellours to both. And when they shall reape the iust re­warde of their deserts, then they will cry out vppon your Maiestie with a dolefull woe: saying, that you haue vtterlie cast them and all theirs away. This wofull tuned song, (we do perswade our selues) will the Lord (in his iustice) force them (then) to sing, doubtlesse, if the afore-na­med mischiefes be not prevented in your maiesties life-time. Therefore, an happie, and a thousand times happie, yea, and a most blessed thing were it to your maie­stie, and to all your said counsellours also, if they did so heartilie and trulie loue you, that they woulde not suffer you to rest in quiet, neither at bed nor at board, vntil you had prevented the afore-named lamentable perils to your own soule and [Page 106] noble person, and to theirs also. For then might your Maiestie, and they also, both liue and end the residue of your daies in great safetie: with a merie, cheerefull, & quiet heart, and bee at good peace, both with God and man: things greatlie desi­red, and heartilie wished to your noble heart by vs, your loyall, true, and moste faithfull subiects, even of very true, & vn­fained loue, as the Lord knoweth before whom we shall make a straight accompt if wee vse anie flattering or dissembled speaches. Wherfore we humbly beseech your Maiesty to beare with our true har­ted plainnesse. Thus with all humble fer­ventnesse & loving dutie (our most sweet soveraigne and mercifull Princesse) wee eft-soones begge the reading, & the rea­ding againe heereof by your highnesse, with patience, and with all godly atten­tion, and wise weighing of the reasons therein. And God graunt you grace to suck out the hony out of the sweet flowrs thereof, and to spit out the venome that hath heertofore envonomed you with a [Page 107] fearfull, wrongfull, and deceit-full con­ceit, and setled opinion, even to the great and wonderfull perill of wounding the Church of God, and your whole people and noble Realme, vnto death: yea, and a poisoned dart to wound your own sweet soule, and your noble person likewise: whose line of life, wee as heartilie desire may be stretched out of as great a length as any subiects you haue, whatsoever they be: yea, albeit they haue receiued never so much honor, credite, estimation or be­nefite at your Maiesties hands. And this we speake trulie from our hearts, of loue vnfained, and without flattery, according to the rule of S. Paull: being heartilie de­sirous to gaine vnto your Maiestie, the favour of God, the generall, fervent and true loue of eache degree of your sub­iects, vnfainedlie: a glorious and immor­tall good name throughout the earth, with the immortality of your most sweet and pretious soule.

The Lord of heaven and earth worke so effectuallie in your noble heart, that [Page 108] you may so throughlie, and so deepelie weigh this, and what else we haue said in these few leaves, as to the glorie of God, to the safetie of your noble person and honor, and to all your true subiects com­forts and preservations, wee may haue shortlie (in Parliament) this most neces­sarie question (who hath moste right to succeede you) lawfully, peaceablie and effectuallie decided and determined. God grant it for his sweete Christs his sake.

AMEN.

THIS OBIEC­TION WAS SENT AND answered, when I was prisoner of the Gate-house at Westminster.

VVHereas the Scottish King is nowe our friend, if the successor were setled, and the title to the crown given from him to another, hee would, after, become our enemie. And for revenge hee would suffer the Spaniards with all their power to land in his countrie, & so to enter into ours.

NOw let vs consider what commodi­tie or benefite would growe to him thereby: or whither he should not (ther­by) make a rodde to scourge himselfe withall?

To the which ende I desire to haue the questions ensuing con­sidered of.

Whither were he ever the neerer the attaining of Crowne of England, if the 1 Spaniardes had conquered it, or the far­ther off?

Whither will his owne experience 2 moue him to expect better neighbour­hoode at our soveraigne her hand during her life, & (after her decease) at the hand of an English Prince, or at the Spaniards hand, if he were king heere?

Whither the malice that the Spani­ards, and all the princes of the league of 3 [Page 113] Trent, doe beare vnto this land, bee not chiefly for Religion?

If it be for Religion, whither the like 4 malice be not borne vnto him, and to his countrie by them, for the same?

Whither, if one selfe same cause, moue 5 a like hatred and malice to both the Re­almes of England and Scotland, will not the enviers giue a like revenge, when a­bilitie and opportunitie serveth?

Whither were it good policie, wis­dome, 6 or naturalnesse, to kindle a fire in his neighbours house, the which hee is assured will set his owne house in fire, or rather to quenche that fire with all his power.

Whither Scotland were able to resist 7 the malice of the Spaniard, if hee were King of Spaine, Flanders, England, Ire­land, &c.

Whither the Scottish King desire or 8 seeke the crown of England by conquest, or by good right and title therevnto after her Maiesties decease.

If by right and good title, what preiu­dice 9 [Page 114] or offence were it vnto him to haue it iudged and established by act of Parli­ament, whereby he may come by it, and enjoy it with peace: and with the loue & good-will of all your nobilitie, and com­mons of this land? For God forbid, that he should not haue it willinglie yeelded vnto him, if it be his right: for god would accurse this land for their iniurie and in­iustice, if they should wrongfullie detain it from him.

If he haue no right or title thereunto, would it not be a great benefite vnto him 10 to haue his expectation and opinion o­pened and satisfied by large argumentes: yea, and iudged by Parliament, thereby to keep this Realme, & his also, in peace, loue and quietnesse, avoiding open hosti­litie: the which (by manie bloodie bat­tailes) would so weaken both the Real­mes, as they were like to become a praie to the enemie: and thereby also to nou­rish, entertaine, and continue that loue & amitie which is now betweene both the Realmes, to both their preservations here [Page 115] after and great comforts, and also to the preservation of the holie Religion of Ie­sus Christ, now established, preached, & openlie professed and taught in both these blessed Realmes, the onely cause of all the malice to both, by the Princes of the league.

If the successor were setled by Parlia­ment, 11 and the title of the crowne given from the Scottish king (lawfullie) to ano­ther: hee having the fore-knowledge of the Parliament, and of the intent of the calling thereof: and beeing required ey­ther to bee present thereat, or to send his learned counsell thither, and allowed to haue and retaine Lawiers learned in our Englishe lawes, to pleade and defend his title: I say, if this true iustice be duelie & vprightlie weighed in an equal ballance, and this kindnes offered vnto the Scottish King, what cause hath he to become our enemie: or (for revenge sake) to let in, or aide the Spaniard to subvert our state: & consequentlie to endanger his own. And all because her Maiestie should (by god­lie, [Page 116] lawfull, and the most peaceable mea­nes that could be possiblie devised) seeke and indevour to preserue both the Real­mes of England & Scotland: Both which beeing fast linked and chained together with the strong and godlie linkes and chaines of true loue, and Religion, and with the sure amitie thereof: God will so take their parts, and strengthen them, that they should not neede to feare the malice, and enemitie of anie Princes of the earth. And I doe perswade my selfe, that the christian Scottish king, and his christian nobilitie, haue such a naturall loue and care to the preservation of their common-wealth, that if they were con­ferred with, they would yeeld willinglie to haue his title to the crowne, quyetlie, vprightlie and lawfullie iudged and de­termined by Parliament: to the preserva­tion of both the realmes. Sure I am, that both godlines and wisdome woulde it shoulde be so: in respect of both their safeties.

I astlie, if it so fall out, that he will (of 12 [Page 117] will) be offended for setling of the suc­cessor, yet it will betoken in vs a more godlie regarde and truth to the state, ra­ther to offend him by preserving of it, then to please him, either be perilling of it, or suffering this worthie realme to be vtterlie subverted. For it will be (farre) an easier matter to recover his favour, beeing lost, then to recover the state, be­ing overthrowne: And the state is, and ought to be a Iewell of greatest price, and of most account with vs, next vnto the Gospell of Iesus Christ.

Sure I am, and in reason it cannot be avoided, but the time will come (and the wisest knoweth not how soon) that if this title bee not quietlie determined and setled by authoritie of Parliament in her Maiesties life (the which God long leng­then) that both the realmes of England and Scotland, will dolefullie rue it. For they both are like to become (through their vngodlie dissension) prayes for a strange people. O wofull, cruel & lamen­table time, Let such as sit at the helme, & [Page 118] rule the stearns of the ships of both these our common-wealths (with great care) haue dutiful regard vnto this weighty service in time, if there be in thē either loue naturall care to posteritie, or pitie and compassion to avoide the shedding of so much innocent blood, by manie bloodie battailes, as may make rivers to runne. Let such (eftsoones I say) as rule the stearns of both the common-wealthes of England & Scotland, lovinglie & kindlie conferre, consult and prevent the over­throwes of both Church and common­wealthes in both their countries, & that spedily: for the holy Ghost saith, whatso­everEzra 7. 23. is by the commādement of the God of heaven, let it be done speedilie for the hous of the God of heavē: for why should he be wroth with the king and his chil­dren. And I thinke it no presumption to affirme, that princes and magistrates are ordained and commanded of God, to preserue both Gods Church and Gods people (as the text saith) and that speedi­lie, even when they see them in vnavoy­dable [Page 119] perill without their helpes: and much the more, sithence that perils may come vnexpected and sodainlie. And si­thence that the wisest knoweth not how soone: let wise magistrats and counsellors beware of that wofull counsellor, Had I wist: who ever cometh to late, and is al­waies a repentant coūsellor, remedilesse.

My simple capacitie iudgeth it to be a fearefull & presumptuous sinne, yea, and a tempting of God, in both English and Scottish magistrates, to hazard the preti­ous pearles of the imperiall crownes of both these noble realmes, vppon the vn­certaine life of one, albeit never so much wished & desired to be drawne on length by all true and faithfull English hearts: yet, not to be attained, for God hath ap­pointed the certaine time, though it bee vncertaine and vnknowne to anie. And when that dolefull time shall once come, no earnest wailing, wishing or sighing can recover it againe. And so I recom­mend this simple labour to your honors wise & graue iudgements, deeming, that [Page 120] the preservation or ruine of the realme of England in this case, will be the same vnto the realme of Scotland: and there­fore to be carefullie considered of both.

And so to conclude, I may affirme (in my simple iudgement) that the setling of the successor by Parliament, equity & au­thoritie, will be an especiall good meane to increase, and long to continue true & faithfull loue and amitie betweene our Christian Queene, her christian nobility and commons: and the christian Scottish king, his christian nobilitie & commons: albeit the imperiall crowne of this wor­thie realme, shoulde be given (after her highnes decease) from the said Scottish king: sithence hee and his nobilitie may (hereby) plainelie and evidentlie see, that we kindlie desire and imbrace his loue, and neither envie him nor his title: ney­ther (yet) his rule nor government: but desire (onlie) that the right may be care­fullie and vprightlie examined, sought our, & given to him, to whom (of right) it duelie appertaineth: wherby God may [Page 121] giue a blessing to both these noble Re­almes for this heavenly iustice, by means whereof, the vnnaturall and vngodlie subversion of both these worthie com­mon-wealthes may be avoyded.

If the Scottish king were conferred with in this matter of great importance, as much concerning his safetie and the safetie of his realme, as the safetie of our state, and shoulde refuse and denie this godlie and quiet triall offered in the el­levinth question: thereby perilling both these worthie Common-wealthes: it would wound all hearts. And God (in his iustice) would revenge himselfe, who is the Lord of anger, and the mighty reven­ger.Nahum. 1. 2. And the Prophet Ezekiell saith, AsEzech. 35. 6. I liue (saith the Lord God) I will pre­pare thee vnto blood, except thou hate blood, even blood shall pur­sue thee.