A TREATISE DECLARING, AND confirming against all obiections the just title and right of the moste excellent and worthie Prince, IAMES the sixt, King of Scotland, to the succession of the croun of England.
WHEREVNTO IS ADDED A DISCOVRSE Shewing how necessarie it is for the Realme of England, that he be in due time acknowledged and admitted to the succession of the Kingdome.
The Preface.
SEING the great diuersitie of opinions, which is found in men of all Estates throughout this Realme, concerning the Royall succession, and fore-seing the manifest danger of ciuill and forraine warres which thence are lyke to ensue, to the notable hurte and domage, if not to the vtter ruine of this noble Kingdome; except the subjects thereof bee in due time rightlie informed to whom by right the croun falleth, next after her Maiestie: I thought it my dutie, being a member of one bodie with them trulie to informe so manie of them, as I might, concerning this matter, by publishing this treatise; wherein the right of the next lawfull successour is declared, and confirmed against all obiections. And for that I know it to be the opinion of sundry men, that in this present controuersie it is not onlie to be considered, to whom by right the croune appertaineth; but also whether his admission may be auailable or hurtfull to the common wealth: I thought good to adde to the saide declaration, & defence of his right, a discourse shewing howe necessarie and expedient it is for the common wealth, that hee be in due time acknowledged and admitted to the succession of this Kingdome. Both which parts I haue brieflie handled, thinking it ynough to proue and confirme them with a competent number of weighty and forceable arguments, the rather for that the former part hath beene more at length declared and confirmed by others in treatises alreadie published: and the other [Page] point is of it self so cleare and manifest, as fewer reasons than I alledge may be sufficient for the certain proofe and euidencie therof. I hope, that you (my deare countrie-men) for whose instruction and behoofe I haue published this little pamphlet, will thankfully accept this my good meaning and honest endeuour, making your profite therof by embtacing and furthering so iuste and honorable a cause, as is heere recommended vnto you, and procuring thereby (together with your owne safetie and advantage) the peace, honour, & prosperitie of this your natiue countrie. With which happie fore-sight beseeching God to indue you, I hartilie bid you fare-well.
The right of the King of Scotland by descent of kindred is declared.
BEing to declare who by all right is next to our soueraigne Ladie, Queen Elizabeth, in the succession of the kingdom, I thought it needeles to draw the descent of such, as with anie reason or probabilitie may after her Maiesties decease lay claime to the croun, further of, than from the vnion of the houses of Lancaster, and York, in the persons of the most renowmed King Henrie the seauenth, and of Elizabeth, eldest daughter to King Edward the fourth, right and lawfull heires of both the Royall families.
For, as for the Erle of Huntington, and others descended from George Duke of Clarence, youngest brother to King Edward the fourth, they may not justlie be greeued, if they be placed in rank after such as are lawfullie descēded from the heire of their own house of York, joyned in mariage to the head of the familie of Lancaster.
And as for the king of Spaine, and his sister the Infanta, for whome farre sought titles haue beene forged by some fugitiue Persons of our own nation, desiring for the alteration of Religion, to make this flourishing common wealth a praie to the enemies therof; I am perswaded there is none, that hath the hart of a true subiect, or naturall English-man, how soeuer hee bee affected in Religion, that will not vtterlie abhorre and detest the defending, or approouing of anie such titles, tending to the great dishonour and [Page] vtter subuersion of this Realm, and to the notable disgrace of so manie worthie Princes, as since the time of King Henrie the sixt hitherto therin haue reigned. But desisting from the mention of titles no les false, than odious, I come to the orderlie descent of Henrie the seuenths progenie.
King Henrie, the seuenth of that name, had issue by Queene Elizabeth, besides Prince Arthur, and an other, who deceased without succession, Prince Henrie, Ladie Margaret, and Ladie Marie.
King Henrie the eight, who succeeded to his father, had issue King Edward, Queene Marie, and Queene Elizabeth now reigning.
Ladie Margaret, eldest daughter to King Henrie the seauenth, was maried to Iames the fourth, King of Scotland, who begat on her Iames the fift, father to Marie Queen of Scotland, & Douagier of France: whose onlie sonne and heire is King Iames the sixt, who at this present reigneth, and hath alreadie issue Prince Henrie, Ladie Elizabeth, and another daughter. The said Queen Margaret, after the death of King Iames the fourth, was maried to Archibald Earle of Angus, and by him had a daughter called the Ladie Margaret Dowglasse, which was wife to Mathew Stewart Earle of Lenox: by whome shee had two sonnes, Henrie Lord Darlie, and Charles: whereof Henrie beeing the elder was ioyned in mariage to Marie Queen of Scotland, and of her begat the king that now is: And Charles, the younger brother, maried Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir William Candish; by whome he had one only daughter yet liuing, named the Ladie Arbella.
[Page]Marie, the younger daughter of King Henrie the seuenth, after the decease of her first husband, Lewes the twelth, King of France, by whome shee had no issue, was maried to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke, by whome she had two daughters, Ladie Frances, and Ladie Eleonor.
The Ladie Frances was maried to Henrie Gray, Marques of Dorcester, afterward Duke of Suffolke: who begat of her three daughters, Iane, Katherine, and Marie.
The eldest of them, Ladie Iane, was maried to Gilford Duldey, the sonne of Iohn Duke of Northūberland, of whom she had no issue, being sone after her mariage put to death by Queene Marie, for taking on her the croun. Ladie Catherine first espoused to Henrie Harbert, eldest sonne of William Erle of Pembroke, this contract being dissolued, had by the Earle of Hartford, after a priuie contract made betwixt them, as they both alledged, the Lord Beauchamp, and his brother, who are yet liuing. Ladie Marie the youngest, who was betrouthed to Arthur Lord Gray of Wilton, died without issue.
Ladie Eleonor, the second daughter of Ladie Marie Duchesse of Suffolke, was maried to Henrie Clifford, Erle of Cumberland: who had by her a daughter named Margaret, that was married to Henrie Stanley, Erle of Darbie: by whome shee had issue Fernande, William, and Frances.
This is the orderlie succession of such as are descended from the vnion of both the Royall families of York, and Lancaster: whereby it is euident, that the issue of King Henrie the eight failing in our soueraigne [Page] Ladie, Queene Elizabeth, the right of the croune by descent of blood falleth vppon IAMES the sixt, King of Scotland, by lineall succession heire to the Ladie Margaret, eldest daughter of King Henrie the seauenth, aswell of his fathers side, as of his mothers. The truth whereof being so manifest, as it can not be denied, some fauorers of the house of Suffolk, and others alledge certain impediments to debarre him from his right. If I would followe the example of others, and especiallie of such as maintaine the false titles of the King of Spaine, & his sister, I might alledge impediments of no little importance against the titlers of the foresaid house of Suffolke. But the King of Scotlands right needeth no furtherance by stayning of any others birth or honor, by reason that the obiections which are made against him beeing disprooued, as easilie they may bee, his right by descent of blood can not with anie reason or probabilitie be brought in question.
The impediments objected against him are in number three; which (God willing) I will sufficientlie disprooue, eschewing, so far as I may, all tediousnes. The first is forrain birth: the second a pretended testament of King Henrie the eight: the third an acte of association, alledged to haue bene made in Parliament the 27. yeare of her Maiesties reigne.
THE OBIECTION OF FORRAIN birth is clearlie avoided.
THE first by such as obiect the same is grounded vpon an alledged maxime or generall assertion of the common law: which is, that who soeuer is borne out of England, and of father & mother not beeing vnder the obedience of the King of England, can not be capable of anie inheritance in England.
Heereunto I answere that this maxime is vntrue in that generall sense: as it appeareth expreslie by that which is set doun by law in the seuenth & ninth yeares of King Edward the fowrth, & in the eleuenth and fourteenth of King Henrie the fowrth: That a stranger may purchase land in England, as also that hee may inherite by his wife, if he marie an inheretrix.
But the true maxime or rule against the inheritance of strangers is grounded onelie vpon a statute, made in the 25. yeare of King Edward the third, and is to be restrained vnto proper inheritances onlie: to wit, that no person borne out of the alleageance of the King of England, whose father and mother were not of the same alleageance at the time of his birth, shal be able to haue, or demand anie heritage within the same alleageance, as heire to anie person.
Which rule for sundrie reasons can not be prejudiciall to the King of Scotlands right.
First, for that it is a common and generall rule of the Lawe of England, that no rule or maxime of the law, be it neuer so generall, can touche or be vnderstood [Page] of matters concerning the croun; except expresse mention be made thereof: and that the croun is priuiledged in manie points aboue private heritages.
The second reason is, for that the demand & title of a croun can not be cōprehended vnder the words of the foresaid statute against aliens; and that for two respects. First, for that the croun can not properlie be called an inheritance of alleageance, or within alleageance (as the wordes of the saide statute doe stand) for that it is not holden of anie superiour, nor with alleageance, but immediatlie of God: and secondly for that the statute meaneth plainlie of inheritance by descent; for otherwise, as is said, an alien may holde by purchase. But the croun is a thing incorporate, & descendeth not according to the course of other priuate inheritances, but rather goeth by succession, as other incorporations doe. In signe whereof no King can by law auoyd his letters patents by reason of his none-age, as other common heires vnder age do. But he is euer presumed to be of full age in respect of his croun. And as a Parson, Deane, or other head incorporate, though he be an alien, might inherite or demand landes in England for his incorporation, notwithstanding the former statute: so much more the inheritour to the croun, though he bee borne out of the dominion of England, may (notwithstanding the said statute) succeed justlie to the kingdome.
The third reason is, that in the statute itself ther is expresse exceptiō of Infants du Roy: by which words (according to the vse of them in the french language wherein this statute is written, as also of the word Liberi [Page] in latine) is vnderstood not onlie the Kings issue of the first degree, but also his ofspring in other degrees following. For otherwise this exception would be to no purpose; considering that according to the words of the statute, Subjects children in the first degree, borne out of the Kings alleageance, may haue or demand heritages as heires to their parents, or others.
Also, the Kings children in the first degree needed no such exception, because the words of the statute debarring those that should be borne of parents not being of the Kings alleageance, could no wise be prejudiciall to them, but rather to those of the Kings ofspring, who in degrees farther remooued might bee borne in forraine dominions: as sundrie of king Edward the thirds ofspring were, comming of his sonns maried in diuers countries: for whose behoof especiallie it seemeth that this exception was added by him to the former statute.
And if this exception of infants du Roy be vnderstood onlie in respect of priuate heritages, that may fall to them, (in which onlie sense it seemeth to haue relation to the words of the statute, making mention of heritages within the kings allegeance) how much more is the priviledge contained therein due to the inheritour of the croun, who by all right and equity may claime a greater praerogatiue in his succession to the kingdom, than any other of the kings ofspring in his priuate inheritance?
The fourth reason is, that sundrie borne out of the Realme, and of parents that were not of the allegeance of England, when they were born, as namely [Page] king Steuen, and king Henrie the second, were admitted to the croune, without contradiction in respect of their forraine birth. Which argueth that by the common course of our old common lawes there was no such stop against aliens, and that if the statute made in King Edward the thirds dayes, woulde haue derogated or abridged this auncient libertie, it wold haue made speciall mention thereof, which it doeth not.
The fifth reason is the judgement of King Henrie the seauenth, and of his counsell concerning this matter. POLID. VERG. hist lib. 26. For, they being in consultation together about the mariage of Margaret, the kings eldest daughter, with Iames the fowrth at that time King of Scotland, some of them mooued a doubt, to wit, what should ensue, if by chance the Kings issue male shuld faile, and the succession descend to the said Margaret, as it now doth. Whereunto that moste wise and prudent Prince made answere; That if so it chanced, England, being the cheef and principall parte of the Iland, should thereby receaue no domage, but rather great aduantage; for that it would draw to it self the kingdome of Scotland, as before it had done Normandie, and Aquitaine, with other prouinces: the which answere gaue full satisfaction and contentment to the counsell.
The same answere also, both in respect of the truth thereof, and of the person that made it, may justlie perswade vs, that the admission of the King of Scotland to the croun is no wise vnlawfull, or prejudiciall to the publique weale.
But besides all these reasons showing manifestlie, [Page] that neither by anie maxime of the common Lawe, nor by the wordes of the alledged statute, nor yet by the practise and custome of our Realme, an alien may bee repelled from succession to the kingdome, when by right of blood it falleth to him; there are other two reasons, which in particular make for the King of Scotland.
The one reason is, that Scottishmen are in our Chronicles accounted as subjectes by way of homage, howsoeuer they denie it: In respect whereof it seemeth that the auncient records, making mention of seruice to be done within this Iland, containe the frenche words, Dens les quatre mers, or the latine, Infra quatuor maria, within the foure seas: in which bounds Scotland being within the North sea is comprised.
The other reason is, that the former statute of king Edward the third is intituled, Of them that are borne beyond the seas: and that in the bodie of the same statute the doubt is mooued of children borne out of the alleageance of England beyond the seas: whereby can not bee vnderstood Scotland, it being a part of the same Iland.
By all which reasons the obiection of forraine birth is clearlie and sufficientlie auoided. Wherefore I go on forward to the confutation of the pretended Testament of king Henrie the eight.
THE OBIECTION OF KING Henries pretended testament is confuted.
IN the 28, and 35. yeares of King Henries raigne, vpon some doubt, which then he himselfe seemed to haue about the order of succession in his owne children, and for taking away all occasion of controuersie which after his death might arise thereupon, the Parliament gaue authoritie to the king to debate and determine that matter himself, wirh his learned counsell, who best knew the lawes of the Realme, & titles that anie might haue to the croun: and what succession he should declare as right & lawful, vnder his letters patents sealed, or by his last will and testament lawfullie made and signed with his own hand, that the same should be receaued for good and lawfull. Vpon pretence whereof soone after the kings death there was shewed a will with the kings stamp at the same, & the names of diuerse witnesses, wherin the succession of the croun, after his own children, was assigned to Ladie Frances, and Ladie Eleonors successours, who were neeces to the King by his youngest sister. Which assignation being, as it were a meere gift made to Frances, and Eleonor in prejudice of his eldest sisters right, was founde to bee against all law, reason, and nature; and therefore not thought to proceed from so wise a Prince as king Henrie was; but rather forged, and the kings stamp set to by others, either when he was past vnderstanding, or after his death. And heereof there want not most euident reasons, and proofes:
[Page]First it is not credible that King Henrie would against lawe and justice disherite the line of his eldest sister, and so giue occasion of ciuill and forrain wars, especiallie seing in such a case of so apparent wrong in so great a matter, hee might well fore-see, that the authoritie of a Parliament would take little effect against the true & lawfull inheritour, as appeared not long before in Henrie the sixt, Edward the fourth, & Richard the third. In whose reignes diuerse and contrarie Parliaments made against the next inheritour held no longer with anie of them, than while he was able to make his owne part good.
Secondlie, there be manie incongruities and indignities in the said pretended will, to proceed from such a Prince, as King Henrie was. For, what can be more ridiculous, than to giue the croune to Frances and Eleonors heires, and not to themselues? And yet by this Testament the sonne of Abraham Stokes (who maried the same Frances after the death of her first husband the Marques of Dorset, beeing but her owne seruant) should haue claimed before her, if he had had anie by her. Of lyke absurditie is it, that in the same Will the King is saide to binde his owne daughters to marie by direction of his counsell, or otherwise to loose the benefite of succession: whereas the daughters of his neeces Frances, and Eleonor, were not bound thereby to anie such conditioun.
Thirdlie, there bee diuerse arguments alledged in law, why this Will is not authenticall. First, for that it is not aggreable to the minde and meaning of the Parliament, which intended onlie to giue authoritie for declaration of the true title, and not for donation [Page] or intricating thereof. Also, for that there is no lawfull or authenticall copie extant of the same, but onlie a bare inrolment in the Chancerie; which is not sufficient in so waightie an affaire: no witnesse of the priuie counsell, or of the nobilitie to the same, which could not haue wanted in so great a cause (for the best of the witnesses therein named was Sir Iohn Gates, whose miserable death is well knowne:) No publique notarie, nor probation of the will before anie Bishop, or anie lawfull court appointed for that purpose: no examination of the witnesses, or other things ordinarilie done for lawfull confirming of such a matter. But of all other things this is of moste importance, that the King neuer set his own hand to the foresaid Will: but his stamp was set thereto by others, either after his death, or when hee was past remembrance: which is confirmed by witnesses farre more worthie credite, in respect of their degree and reputation, than Sir Iohn Gates, & the others whose names were subscribed. For first the Lord Paget in the beginning of Queene Maries daies, being of her priuie counsell, discouered the same of his owne accorde, and vpon meere motion of conscience, confessing before the whole counsell, and after before the whole Parliament, how that himself was priuie thervnto, and partly also culpable, being drawne thereto through the instigation & forcible authoritie of others. Also Sir Edward Montague, Lord chief justice, that had bene present and priuie to the same doings, and one William Clerk, that put the stamp to the paper, confessed the whole premisses to be true. Vpon which discouerie Queen Marie, & her counsel caused presentlie the said inrolment lying in the Chancerie [Page] to be cancelled, defaced, and abolished.
And since that time in hir Maiesties daies that now liueth, about the 11. or 12. yeare of her reigne, by occasiō of a certain book spred abroad at the same time verie secretlie, for advancing of the house of Suffolke by pretence of this Testament, the Duke of Norfolk, the Marques of Winchester (which then was Treasurer) the Earls of Arundel, and Pembroke, together with his sonne, and my Lord of Lecester, with others met together vpon that matter. And after long conference about the foresaid pretended Will, and manie proofes laid downe why it could not be true; the olde Earle of Pembrok protesting, that hee was with the King in his chamber from the first day of his sicknes to the last houre, and that thereby he could assure them this pretended will to be false, and counterfait; at length by some of them it was mooued, that from that place they should go with the rest of the Nobilitie, and proclaime the Scottish Queene heire apparent in Cheapside.
And albeit, for some causes to thēselues best known, they proceeded not in publishing of the same: yet my Lord of Pembrok now liuing can bear witnesse, that this much is true, & that his father the olde Erle told him openly at that time before the noble men, that he had brought him to that assembly, to instruct him in the truth, and charged him to witnesse the same, & to defend it also with his sword, if neede required, after his death. The remembrance and due regard of which admonition as yet, no doubt, remaineth in the minde of that noble man.
All these reasons and proofes being more than [Page] sufficient to disproue this pretended Testament, I proceed forward to the confutation of the third and last obiection.
THE ALLEDGED ACT OF ASSOciation is disprooued; and vpon occasion offered thereby is declared the great force and prerogative of right by inheritance to the succession of a Kingdome.
THE third obiection, which is an alledged act of association, is vrged by a fugitiue and seditious traitour, disguising himself vnder the name of Dolman, in a conference which he hath published touching the Royal succession: wherein going about to disprooue the right and titles of all such as are extract of the blood Royall, since King Henrie the sixt, and to currie fauour with the King of Spain, and the Infanta, by forging them titles and interest to the croun of England, he sheweth himself most malitious against the King of Scotland aboue all others, moouing doubts and surmises, though full of notorious vanitie and falshood, to bring his right in question, & to disgrace his person: for that hee is assured nothing will so much ouerthwart the desire, and purpose, that he, and his like haue of betraying their natiue countrie to the enemies thereof; as the acknowledging & accepting of the King of Scotland for right and lawfull inheritour to the croun.
But the onlie obiection which he auoucheth (how shameles soeuer he be) to be such, as can not be aunswered, is an act of association, alledged by him to [Page] haue beene made in Parliament the 27. yeare of her Maiesties reigne, containing these words: That whosoeuer shal be conuinced to conspire, attempt, or procure the death of the Queen, or to be priuie, or accessarie to the same, shall loose all right, claime, or actiō that the same parties, or their heires haue, or may haue to the croun of England. Wherunto he addeth, that vpon this statute the late Queene of Scotland being condemned, and executed by authoritie of the saide Parliament, it seemeth euident that this King, who pretendeth al his right to the croun of England by his saide mother, can haue none at all.
This is the somme of Dolmans obiection: which is clearlie disprooued by the manifest vntruth of that which he alledgeth. For neither any such act of Parliament hath euer bene made, neither also is it true that the king hath no other right to the croun of Englād, than by his mother: for that hee may likewise justlie claime the same by his father, as appeareth manifestlie by the descent of kindred set doun in the beginning of this treatise.
The ground, whereon Dolman hath deuised his forged act of Parliament, was an act or Instrument of association made by some Lordes of the counsell not long before the Scottish Queens arraignement: wherin were contained certain promises to be made for the preseruation of the Queens Maiesties person, by such, as should subscribe therunto. Among which promises one is, That they shall neuer desist from all maner of forcible pursute, to the vttermost extermination of all such persons, or their abettors, that shall by anie act, counsell, or consent doe anie thing, that [Page] shall tend to the harme of her Maiesties Royall person. And if anie such wicked attempt shal be taken in hand, or procured, whereby anie that haue, may, or shall pretend title to come to the croune by the vntimelie death of hir Maiestie, so wickedlie procured, may be advanced: they bind themselues jointly, and seuerallie neuer to accept, allow, or fauour anie such pretēded successor, by whom, or for whom, any such detestable act shall be committed, or attempted: or anie that may any way claime by, or from such a person, or pretended successour.
This act of association being sent throughout the Realme to be with oath ratified and subscribed, was by sundry men of honourable degree, and good conscience thought so hard and wrongfull, by reason of the clause concerning such as might claime by, or from anie person culpable of anie attempt against her Maiesties person, as they refused their oathes & subscription therunto.
Wherevpon the next Parliament following an act was made, limiting and restraining this penaltie and exclusion onelie to those pretenders, By whom, or by whose meanes, assent, or priuitie any inuasiō, or rebellion shall bee had, or made into, or within anie of her Maiesties Realmes or dominions, or any acte attempted tending to the hurt of hir Maiesties Royal person, the same being first denounced by such a nū ber of persons, of such estate, and in such manner, as is expressed in the said act. Wherunto is also added, That if any such detestable act should be executed against her Maiesties person, whereby her life should be taken away, that then euerie such person, by, or for [Page] whom any such act should be executed, and their issues beeing in anie wise assenting, or priuie to the same, should by vertue of this act be excluded, & dishabled for euer to haue, or claime, or to pretend to haue, or claime the croun of this Realme, or anie other her Maiesties Dominions.
This act of Parliament, whereby the former act of counsell is limited & restrained, no wise debarreth the King of Scotland from the croun (as euidentlie appeareth by that part thereof, which I haue rehearsed, and by the rest of the same act published among the other acts of that Parliament) seeing he is free, as the world knoweth, from all suspition of anie wicked attempt against her Maiesties person, and from al cō sent, or priuitie therunto.
And trulie it is not credible that her Maiestie, or the Parliament would go about to debarre him by any such act, as is alledged by Dolman: seing they may with reason perswade themselues, that no such act would stay him from claiming, & pursuing his right, nor such as are in England wel affected towards him, (whereof there wanteth not a great nomber of the moste honorable and best sorte) from assisting and furthering him to the Kingdome.
The example heerof hath bene sene not manie ages past in some of our own Kings, as namelie in Edward the fowrth, and Henrie the seauenth. For albeit Richard Duke of Yorke, HOLING. an. 38. HEN, 6. and Edward his sonne were attainted by act of Parliament, and both they, and their posteritie to the ninth degree therby excluded from succeeding to anie heritage: yet Edward the [Page] fowrth, esteeming himself (as also he was accounted by a great part of the realme,) next to the crowne by right of succession, wanted neither courage, nor assistance to pursue, and win the same.
HOLING. an. 2. RICH. 3.Also, though Henrie the seauenth was attainted by Parliament in King Richards daies: yet at such time as remaining banished in France, he had made a solemne oath and promise to espouse Ladie Elizabeth, daughter and heire to King Edward the fowrth, offered him in mariage by her Mother the Queene (hauing then with his own claime to the croune ioyned also the right of the house of York) hee was in a maner at the same time saluted & honoured as King by the Earle of Oxford, and other noble-men, who were there present: & comming sone after into England wanted not assistāce to depriue the vsurper, king Richard, both of life, and kingdome.
By which examples it is manifest, of how little force is the authoritie of Parliament to exclude a Prince from the right due to him by inheritance, or to withdraw such as fauour him from giuing him assistance, or the people from the dutie and alleageance which they owe him. Yea, this right of successiō by blood is accounted among al nations, subject to this kinde of Monarchie, a thing sacred, and in no wise to be violated. In confirmation whereof I might alledge manie examples of sundrie forraine kingdomes. But, for auoiding tediousnes, I will onlie set doun heere two examples of the frenche nation; the one verie auncient, the other of our time.
At such time as the croun of France fell by inheritance to Charles, for his dulnesse of wit and want of [Page] iudgement surnamed the simple; Odo, his kinsman, PAVL AEMIL. hist. FR, in regno CAR. SIMPL. was declared King, and ruled ouer the greatest parte of the Kingdome by consent almost of al the Peeres, and principall nobilitie thereof, except the Earle of Flanders, and the Archebishop of Rhemes, who did homage to Charles. But Odo, neere the time of his death, approouing the right of his cousen Charles, spake these words to the nobilitie then present, as PAVL. AEMYL. rehearseth them in Latine. CAROLVS Balbi filius (id quod jus aequumque postulat) Rex vocitetur: á quo amouere jus regni vniuersus terrarum orbis, si conspiret, non valeat: etiamsi sceptra manu extorqueat. That is to say, Let CRARLES the sonne of Balbus, according right and equitie, be called King: from whom all the world, if it should conspire against him, can not remooue the right of the kingdome, though it should wrest the scepter out of his hand. And as then Odo did acknowledge Charles to be onlie lawfull king: so both then, and in al ages following was he accounted by the frenche nation: whereas Odo is not so much as reckoned in the register of the frenche kings.
Lately also it hath bene sene, that the French king, who now reigneth, albeit after the death of the laste King his religion was different from the Romane religion, publiklie professed in France: yet was hee followed and assisted not onelie by the professors of his owne religion, but also by al the cheef nobilitie, gentlemen, and best part of the people, called Catholiques; notwithstanding that the Cardinal of Bourbon, one of the blood Royal, and of their owne Religion, was called King by the seditious followers of [Page] he League. And at this time he is by al French-mē, of whatsoeuer Religion, ackowledged for their onlie lawfull King.
But in this point our own people hath neuer bene inferiour to the Frenche nation, or anie other: which is made euident by their faithful & dutifull acknowledgement of the next lawfull blood so manie ages past; but especiallie by a moste notable proofe, which not long since they haue giuen of the same. For when Lady Iane was by the deuise & procurement of some noble-men, and Lordes of the counsell proclaimed Queene in London, and other where, the towre beeing surprised, and sundrie other politick meanes vsed for her establishing, and for drawing of the people to her obedience: yet was not Queene Marie, the lawfull inheretrix of the Kingdome, abandoned therfore by the good and faithfull subiects thereof, but assisted and furthered by them to the winning and possession of the croune: which Ladie Iane lost togeather with her head: as also her father, the Duke of Suffolk; her father in law the Duke of Northumberland, the authour & principall actour of this Tragedie; her husband sonne to the said Duke, and sundrie other of her friends, were partakers of her miserable end, as they had bene of her vnlawfull aduancement.
By this example may bee euidentlie seene, how great is the force of right by inheritance, & how hard it is to draw away the hearts of the people from the lawfull heire, to the acknowledging of anie other. Which being vnderstood by some of our kings, who deposing, or excluding the lawfull successours tooke the croun on themselues, judged not anie authoritie [Page] of Parliament sufficient to justifie their vsurping, and approoue it to the people; except they had made some pretence of a title by right and lawfull inheritance.
King Henrie the fowrth (who at the houre of his death, speaking to his sonne, HOLING. an. 14. HENR. 4. seemed to acknowledge his wrongful vsurping) at such time as he took on the croun, albeit he was sure not to want the authority of Parliaments to establish him, yet thought not that sufficient, except he had laid claime to the crowne, as being by right of inheritance next to the same: & that not as heire to his father, Iohn of Gant, or to his grand-father, King Edward the third (for hee knewe that both king Richard, whome he had deposed, and Roger Mortimer, Earle of Marche, declared alreadie by Parliament heire apparent, were neerer than himself to the croun, they being heires to his fathers two elder brethren) but as right and lawful heire to Henrie the third: as the verie wordes of the claime, HOLING. an. 22. RICH. 2. Anno 1, HEN. 4. that he made before a great assemblie of the nobilitie, & people do plainlie testifie.
The cause heereof was a report made by some of his fauourers; to wit, that Edmond, sonne to Henrie the third, of whome he was descended by his mother Blanche, was elder brother to Edward the first, but defrauded of his right by the said Edward, by reason of the deformitie of his crooked back. But this was nothing else, but a fable deuised to conueigh to him a title by inheritance. Whereby it appeareth of how great account was the right of inheritance in his judgement, and in the judgement of the people at that time.
[Page]Also Richard the third, who after a farre more wicked maner vsurped the croun, Sir THO. MOORE in his hist. of RICH. the 3. judged not that anie approbation which hee might haue by Parliament could serue his turne; except he did forge himself a title, by deuising and publishing an vntruth, to his owne mothers infamie: which was, that his brother King Edward was vnlawfullie begotten, and that therefore his children coulde not lawfullie succeed to the croun: so much did euen that wicked vsurper attribute to the nighnesse of the right & lawfull blood in his owne conscience.
And not onelie the example of these two Kings, but also of all the Princes which we haue had from King Edward the third hitherto (whereof manie are renowmed for their rare wisdome, and justice) sheweth vs plainlie, in how great regarde we ought justly to haue the right of succession by the next lawfull blood, in that sundrie of them haue with armes pursued and maintained their title to the crowne of France, whereof once they had possession by right of blood: and none of them hitherto hath forgone their said title, notwithstanding whatsoeuer frenche Lawes, and acts of Parliament to the contrarie.
The like also hath beene the iudgement of our Parliaments concerning this matter of succession, as it hath alwaies appeared by their consent in approuing the title of our Kings to the crowne of France, and by their owne statutes approouing the right of the next lawfull blood to the crowne of England, so oft as the ouer great power and authoritie of such as vsurped the Kingdome did not restraine their liberty.
[Page]By all these examples alledged by mee appeareth the great prerogatiue, which is due to the next lawfull inheritour of the croune. Wherefore I am perswaded, that as hir Maiestie, and the Parliament haue not hitherto made anie such act, as is alledged by Dolman, or anie other that might bee prejudiciall to the King of Scotlands title: so they wil heerafter rather further him, by declaring him publiklie right & lawful inheritour of the Kingdom, than anie wise go about to stop or hinder him, not onelie in respect of his vndoubted right, and of the prerogatiue and fauour due to the same: but also for the manifold and great benefits which the Realm shall receaue by his admission, as by the discourse following shal be made manifest.
A discourse shevving hovv expedient and necessarie it is for the Realme of England, that the King of Scotland be in due time acknowledged, and admitted for lawfulll successour to her Maiestie.
HAuing hitherto sufficientlie declared the King of Scotlands just title to the croune of England, and disprooued such obiections as are made against the same, I thought good brieflie to shew, how expedient and necessarie it is for the weale publike of this Realme, that he be in due time acknowledged, & receaued for lawfull successour to hir Maiestie.
To begin therefore with the consideration of his right, there is no doubt but in respect thereof his admission will procure greater peace and quietnesse to the common wealth, than the vnlawfull intrusion of any other. For all the honest and faithfull subiects of this Kingdome will in conscience, and dutie submit themselues more willinglie to the next lawfull heire, succeeding according to the auncient lawes, and custome of this countrie, than to another comming to the croune by vnlawfull vsurpation. And such as for their own priuate advantage, or other respects would wish, and go about to procure the disturbance of the common wealth, wil haue the lesse pretence, occasiō and meanes to effect their wicked desires and intentions, the next lawful heire being aduanced. Yea, euen they, who pretend any title to the croun, would be rather perswaded and content to yeeld to him, than to [Page] anie other of their competitors hauing lesse right.
Also the preferment of the next lawfull heire, in that he is alreadie a King, wil procure the greater peace & quietnes to the common wealth. For the titlers themselues, & the rest of our noble-men (whose example and authoritie draweth commonly the people after them in matters belonging to the Royal succession) will rather submit themselues to the next lawfull heire, beeing alreadie a soueraigne Prince, than to another not hauing so just a title, and beeing but of their own rank and degree. And trulie it behooueth them so to do: for that if any of themselues be preferred before the rest, they may haue the juster occasion to feare the jealousie and suspition of one advanced from the degree of a subject to the dignity of a King. The advancement of which kinde of persons hath manie times (as both our own histories, & others testifie) procured the destruction not onlie of such as resisted them; but also of those who assisted & furthered them to the croun; yea, and of such of their own blood as they suspected might haue any wise disturbed, or endangered their estate.
The trueth heereof is manifest by the example of King Edward the fowrth, and Richard the third: who both not onlie destroied, and bannished their enemies of the house of Lancaster, with their adherents; but also the former of them put to death his own brother, George Duke of Clarence, and the other murthered his young nephues, Edward the fift, and his brother: yea the principal men, who of subiects made them Kings, were by them destroied, to wit, the Earle of Warwick by King Edward, & the Duke of Buckinghame [Page] with others by King Richard.
As the like inconuenience might be justly feared, if any of our owne titlers should be preferred before the rest: so there is no meanes so effectuall to make such as are of the blood Royall, and the reste of our nobilitie free from all such dangers, and from all suspition and feare therof, as the preferring of a Prince, whose preheminence in dignitie far aboue them, joined with the certaintie of his manifest right, and the confidence which he may iustlie put in so many meanes and helpes as hee shall haue to assure his estate, will make him to stand the lesse in jealousie and mistrust of others, and consequently not to vse those wicked practises, which inferiour persons, raised from the degree of subiects to the dignitie of Princes, and that by no iust title, woulde by all likliehood vse for their establishment. Which inconuenience is so much the lesse to bee feared in the advancement of the present King of Scotland; as he hath alreadie giuen sufficient proof of his tender affection and bountie towardes such as are of his kindred, and of his fauour and clemencie towards such of his Nobilitie, as haue not shewed themselues ouer malitious and obstinate in offending him. How much more then is it iustlie to be looked for, that he will shew himselfe thankfull & bountifull towardes all such of our Nobilitie, and other good subiects, as will highlie deserue his fauor, in furthering and advancing him to his right?
But considering, besides his right, his Royall dignitie and honorable disposition, that he is also King of a country bordering vpon ours, and inclosed within the same Iland, wee must iudge his admission altogether [Page] necessarie; if we desire our present quiet estate to be free from danger both inward, & outward. For if anie meanes be vsed to debarre him from his right, that will no doubt breed ciuill dissension, and sundry factions throughout the Realme, among which hee wil not want his adherents of the best & wisest number: besides whome, beeing fortified with the power of his owne subiects, togeather with the assistance of his friendes and confederates in France, Germanie, Denmark, and other parts, he will by all likeliehood preuaile against his enemies.
But God forbid this occasion should bee giuen of making this flourishing Realme a praie to forraine nations, especiallie in so dangerous a time, when as, besides the diseases which lurk in the entrals thereof, it is also troubled with the rebellion of the Irishry in Ireland, and with the feare of the king of Spaine fostring the said rebellion with his assistance, and preparing a mightie Armada to inuade vs: beeing emboldned thereto by hope of finding heere assistance, by reason of the present controuersie concerning the Royall succession, and by the incouragement of some vnnaturall and seditious traitours of our own nation; who desiring the violent alteration of Religion, and ouerthrow of the present estate, haue not beene ashamed to forge him a title to the croun of England, & to publish the same to the world (as I haue alreadie declared) to egge him on thereby to the inuasion of their natiue countrie.
It behooueth therefore all honest & faithfull subiects of this Kingdome to bewar, that by resisting the right and lawful successour, or by not acknowledging [Page] him in due time, they put not themselues in danger of falling vnder the yoke and tyrannie of mercilesse Spaniards: who if they haue vsed extreame crueltie against the poore sillie Indians, & others, who neuer offended them, will no doubt vse far more outrageous crueltie against our nation, by whome they account themselues notablie dishonoured, and disgraced.
Neither ought such as among vs professe the Romane Religion (to whom onely the prosperous successe of Spaniards might seeme to be least prejudiciall) feed themselues with anie vaine hope of finding fauor at their hands. For notwithstanding their pleasant allurements, and the faire promises which they make them for the present, in hope of their fauour & assistance; yet if in the end (which God forbid) they should preuaile, and become conquerours of this realme, after the vtter destruction and rooting out of al others professing the Gospell, they would vse them nothing the more fauourably for betraying their coū trie. Yea, they would despise, and handle them the wors therfore: as they did Sir Williā Stanley; whom, for betraying to them the toune of Dauenter, they thrust shamefullie out of the same: and would not after giue him the credite of any other town, but caused him, & his regiment in a slauish maner to trudge vp and doun the low countries, and to lye both summer, and winter in poore and bare Villages, as vnworthie to be placed in anie town. So would they also vse the betrayers of their owne natiue countrie as slaues and drudges, and vpon anie occasion of displeasure, or mistrust which they should conceiue against them, [Page] deale with thē, as before they had done with the rest.
And trulie the best might be looked for would be, the vsing them as seruants, the abusing filthilie of their wiues, and daughters, the thrusting of them into Cornwal, and to the most barreine parts of the Realm, & the holding of them alwaies vnder the yoke of miserable bondage. Which hard vsage they might justlie feare, taking example by the miseries and calamities, that other nations of their Religion haue suffered vnder the tyranny of Spaniards.
The nobilitie, and people of the lowe countries professing the Romane Religion, as well as others of a different profession, haue had ouer great proofe of their intollerable pride and tyrannie, especiallie at their first ariual, whē as they made their accoūt to be maisters ther without controlment or resistance. The truth heerof is testified by the beheading against al equitie & justice of their chief nobilitie, yea of such as did moste notable seruice to the King of Spaine, as namely of the Countes of Egmond, & Horn; by the powling & pilling of the people by violence and extorsion, by the filthy abusing of their wiues & daughters, by misusing of themselues in a slauish maner, & by other such their tirannical oppressions.
Their pride & tiranny is also cause, why the stats of Naples, Sicily, and Millain, who sigh & sob vnder their hard yoake, would shake off the same, if they could: & why also all other states & Princes of Italie, yea euen the Pope himself, stand in so great feare, & suspition of them, as they doe.
But I may not passe vnder silence the example yet freshlie bleeding of their extreame crueltie against the people of Cleueland, a state of the Empyre, [Page] whom hauing bene hitherto their frends and for the most part of their owne Religion, they haue vsed, as if they had bene their deadly enemies, and like Turks rather than Christians; for that continuing in their obedience towards the Empyre, and their own lawfull Prince, they would not become slaues to the ambitious house of Austria.
If they haue thus vsed these, and sundrie other nations, their subiects, and friends, being of their owne Religion, what better vsage can our professors of the Romane Religion look for at their hands, who can not but be odious to them aboue others, in that they are of a nation aboue all others by them hated and redoubted? And how might English hearts abide the extreame pride, and insolencie of Spaniards, beeing conquerours; who, before the setting forth of the last Armada to inuad this land, behaued themselues most proudly and scornfullie towards our English noblemen of their own Religion, who were their Pensioners, and as desirous to conquer England to them as themselues?
For at that time the Lord Paget offering to Don Bernardino de Mendoza, (who had bene some time Ambassadour in the Court of England) the meanes of procuring seruice and assistance in England to the King of Spaine; the said D. Bernardino answered him, that the King his Maister needed not the seruice of Englishmen in that enterprise, and that hee did of charitie whatsoeuer hee had done for the said Lorde Paget, and other banished English-men.
Also T. Throckmorton in Brussels conferring with Iuan de Lasture, the Kings Treasurer generall, & saying, [Page] that he wondred why the King, hauing such pretēces for England, made no more reckoning of such Englishmen as followed him, who in regard of their parentage and intelligence might be able to do him great seruice, if they were hartned with better vsage, wheras now by reason of their pouertie & drouping, they were much discouraged: the Treasurer answered, that he was not ignorant of the estate and condition of all such Englishmen as followed the king, but for his part (swearing a spanish oath or two) he knew not any of them, in regard of abilitie to doe the King seruice, worth the straw that lay vnder his feet.
Moreouer at the verie time that the Duke of Parma lay at Bruges, attending the Spanish fleet, and making his preparations for England, when our English pensioners expected (as by all liklihood they might) to be aboue others honored and aduanced; they wer so far deceaued of their expectation, that they were the onlie rejected & contemned sort of all those that followed the court: all other nations, besides them, beeing fauoured and releeued with some moneths paie.
And (which is more) whereas they mooued the Duke sundrie times to knowe his pleasure, how hee would dispose of them in that enterprise, telling him that vpon the wel vsing of them depēded much matter of importance, as the winning of others of their kindred, acquaintance, and religion, who vpon hope of like good vsage would be able to do great seruice at their landing: whereas contrariwise seeing them come ouer so poore in shew, without credite, money, or armes, like lackies (for so were the words of their [Page] request) it would be a cause to discourage and withdraw their minds from the Kings seruice; they were by the Duke scornfullie and with derision rejected: neither did he vouchsafe to giue them anie other answere, than onlie that he would think vpon it. But on the night, in which vpon the hurly burly and rumor of the approching of the Spanish navy they thought to imbark, he departed towards Dunkerk, leauing thē all behind, as vnworthie to bee called vpon, or taken with him.
Whereupon the Earle of Westmerland, my Lord Paget, and sundrie of the better sort made their complaint to the Duke of Pastrana, the King of Spaines base sonne, by whom they were as baselie and scornfullie handled as by the other. Which euill intreatie wroght so great an apprehension in my Lord Paget, that he retired himself to Brussels: where, what with the conceit of this grief, and what with other accidents he shortly ended his life.
The truth of al this haue I learned of men of good credite and reputation professing the Romane religion, together with much more concerning this purpose; which (for auoiding tediousnesse) I omit, the rather, for that I am perswaded manie of themselues are alreadie acquainted therewith. Whereby the professours of that religion may perceaue, what fauour they ought to look for at the Spaniards hands, if they should conquer the land: seing that they, beeing but in a vain hope and conceat of prosperous successe, did so despise the principal English noble-men and others that were in their company.
They haue therefore just cause, as well as al other [Page] English-men, to feare the tyrannie of Spaniards, and to acknowledge rather the King of Scotland for right & lawfull successour to the croun (as no doubt but they knowe him to be) than the King of Spaine, whom they know to haue but a late forged and farre sought title. Let them call to minde how the moste honorable and best sort of Frenchemen of their own Religion, after the last Kings death, woulde not acknowledge anie other then the King nowe reigning: albeit at that time hee professed a Religion different from theirs, and that there wanted not manie Princes of the house of Bourbon, and of the Romane religion, whom they might haue acknowledged. How much more than should Englishmen (howsoever they be affected in religion) acknowledge rather the King of Scotlād, who hath the right of both the Royal families of York, & Lancaster, being a friend to all our nation, and a Prince, at whose handes, through their faithful and dutifull behauiour, they may look for grace and fauour, than submit themselues in a slanish maner to the King of Spaine, betraying their countrie to the most cruell enemies thereof, with apparent and manifest danger of incurring so manie & greuous calamities, as I haue alreadie rehearsed?
I need not exhort our own professours of the gospell not to trust the Spaniards mercie. I only warne and wish them to vse the right remedy of preuenting the great mischief, which they haue just cause to fear if the Spaniards should preuaile. And that is no other, than to acknowledge & receiue in due time the King of Scotland for next lawfull successour to her Majestie. For he being thus acknowledged, the quarrell [Page] which the King of Spaine pursueth against vs, partly for reuenge of supposed injuries, and partlie for his pretended title, will be either whollie remooued, or at least wise greatlie weakned. For with what pretence of justice can he go about to dispossesse the King of Scotland of his known right, whom he may not challenge for anie injurie done hitherto by him to his father, or to himself? It is very likly also that his courage and desire of inuading vs will be much quailed by this conjunction, whereby hee shall perceaue that our power and meanes to defend our selues, and offend him, wil be redoubled.
But if proudly and obstinatly he will persist in the prosecution of his vniust quarrell, the vniustnesse thereof will become more notorious to the world. And not onelie England, and Scotland, but also the King of Scotlands confederats and friendes wil with al their power and might ioine togeather, to withstand his malice and ambition, and to be auenged of so manifest an iniurie.
Besides these commodities, which I haue hitherto rehearsed, our common wealth shall receaue sundry other great benefits by the due acknowledgement, and timelie admission of the King of Scotland. The first whereof is, that the dominion and power of the crown of England will bee greatlie increased by the ioining therunto of his Kingdome: which diuerse of our Kings haue endeauored to bring to passe as well by mariage vvith the heires of the Kingdome of Scotland, as by other meanes. Neither is it to be feared that the honour and dignitie of this realme vvill be thereby anie vvise empaired, as vvas vvell considered [Page] and for-seene by the most noble and wise king, Henrie the seauenth. For when his eldest daughter Lady Margaret was to be maried to Iames the fourth King of Scotland, some of his counsell fore-casting that which might fall out, and saying that if his issue male failed, the croun might be deuolued to the said Lady Margaret; he most wisely answered, that incace any such deuolution should happen, it would be nothing prejudiciall to England: for that it beeing the principall and more worthie part of the Iland, would draw Scotland to it, as it did Normandie and Aquitain, with other prouinces, from the time of the conquest. This was the judgement of that most worthie and prudent Prince concerning the conjunction of both countries: wherein without doubt al wise men, and such as loue the honour, and publik weale of this Realme will aggree with him. And truely by all naturall reason it seemeth most meete, that since both countries are but one Iland, they should bee also vnder one dominion. Which being brought to passe, we shall not neede to feare the malice and power of any enemies, be they neuer so mightie.
Another commoditie is the reduction and keping of the Irishry vnder the obedience of the croun of England. For either willingly they will submit themselues to the King of Scotlands authoritie, in respect of their auncient friendship and often alliance with the Scottish nation, and of the said Kings descent by blood from their auncient Kings (especiallie seeing the offences they haue committed hitherto haue not bene made against him) or else if vvilfullie and obstinatlie they shall persist in their rebellion, they may [Page] being of the one side assaulted with our forces, & of the other by the Scottish nation (hardened no lesse than they are to all kinde of trauaile, and suffering) within short time be vtterlie subdued.
Moreouer it will be no small advantage to vs, that the Princes, nobilitie, and people of France, Germany, Denmark, and other Christian nations, among whome the King of Scotlands right to the crowne of England is not vnknowne, will approue our vprightnesse and justice in this point, and be the more willing and ready to maintain friendship, entercourse, & traffick with vs: whereas refusing the King of Scotlād his right, we should procure their hatred and enemitie against vs, with the danger of forraine inuasion, & of beeing made a praie to strangers, as before I haue declared.
It is also a singular benefit offred vs by God, that the Prince, who is to succeed in the Kingdome, hath issue likewise to succeed him: so as we need not feare new disturbance of the common wealth for the vncertaintie of succession after his reigne. For he hath alreadie three children, whereof the Prince, which is the eldest, being past fiue yeares, is of such towardnesse, as great expectation may be justlie had of him.
Since therefore the willing admission of the King of Scotland in due time, will procure so manie and great commodities to this realme; as also the withstanding him in his juste cause so great inconueniences and dangers, as I haue hitherto declared: truelie they are to be condemned of extreme follie & madnesse, who being caried away with vain conceits, and [Page] with the remmbrance of olde quarrels, which haue bene betwixt both countries, wil repine & grudge at the advancement of the King of Scotland, so just, and necessarie for our common wealth. As these men remember olde quarrels; so would I wish them to remēber that there hath bene also anciēt friendship betwixt both nations, & especially betwixt their kings, as the often alliance made betweene them doth witnesse.
For besids alliances made before the conquest, Iane, King Iohns daughter, was maried to Alexander, King of Scotland; Margaret, the daughter of his next successour Henry the third, to an other Alexander; Iane, daughter of Edward the second, to King Dauid, Iane, daughter to Iohn Duke of Somerset, grandfather to Henrie the seauenth, was maried to Iames the first: & lastly Margaret, eldest daughter of King Henrie the seauenth, to King Iames the fowrth. This often alliance sheweth that there hath beene olde friendship betuixt the Kings of both nations, though interrupted from time to time with quarrels and warres: the principall cause wherof hauing bene the diuision of this Iland into diuerse kingdomes, the vniting therof vnder one dominion, will (out of all doubt) be the only meanes to procure peace and concord betwixt all the inhabitants thereof.
Which vnion as it hath beene sought heretofore, though in vain, by sundrie of our own Kings with no small endeauour, and trauaile, as namely by Edward the first, Edward the second, and not long since by Edward the sixt: so now a fit occasion is offered of bringing [Page] the same to passe, at such time as both nations, by the continuance of peace and amitie, which hath remained betwixt them these fiftie yeares past, and by their agrement in Religion, may bee easily linked in perpetuall vnitie and concorde.
Neither is it anie such inconuenience as some mē imagine, that the Prince, who is to reigne ouer both nations, is not born in England, considering that he is so manie waies extract, and that by father, as wel as by mother, of the blood Royall of England, and that he hath bene alwaies, and continueth yet a sure and faithful friend to our estate, as his behauiour towards the same doth well declare. For hauing bene inuited by sundrie fair promises, and large offers made him by our most hatefull and mightie enemies, and sollicited by some of his owne subjects, vpon injuries, as they alledged, done him, to break of friendship with vs, yet his constant affection towardes our common wealth could neuer be altered.
What desire he hath alwaies had of keeping our frontiers from all annoiance, no lesse than his own, it is well ynough knowne by his continual carefulnesse concerning this point, and especiallie by his sending not long since into our countrie, for pledges of good order to be kept on his part, the LL. of Bacleuch, & Cesford, Wardens of the Scottish marches.
His patience also in waiting for the time appointed by God, and not attempting ought, vvhich might be any vvise prejudicial to the person or estate of our soueraigne Lady (a rare example of patience and moderation in such as are to succeed to a kingdome) [Page] may be to vs a sufficient warrant of his honorable disposition, and constant affection tovvards hir Maiestie, and the common wealth. Wherewith are joyned manie other vertues, and princelie qualities, that may justlie mooue vs not onlie to admit him, but also to inuite him to the succession of the Kingdome: as his pietie and sinceritie in Religion; his magnanimitie voide of ambition; his good inclination to justice, tempered with clemencie; his temperate minde and behauiour, not stained with anie spot of filthie lust or sensualitie; his princelie liberalitie, & yet no powling or pilling of his subjects for entertainement thereof; his extraordinarie painfulnesse, and great dexteritie in reforming the disorders of his realme, notwithstanding sundrie difficulties and impediments which are in this reformation.
Besides which, and other princelie vertues wherewith he is indued, when he shall haue the manifolde & great advantages, that the Monarche of this Kingdome hath aboue other Princes (as the assistance of his obedient and dutifull Nobilitie, the sage advise of moste wise and expert Counsellours, the godlie exhortations of the learned Cleargie, procuring obedience to the Prince and his Lawes, the help and furtherance of faithfull Iudges, carefull Officers, and other good subiects to the execution of his Lawes & commandements, and finally the dutifull and reuerent affection of the people towardes their Prince) there is no doubt but by his meanes this Kingdome shall flourish in continuall peace, with all encrease of honour and prosperitie.
[Page]To conclude therefore, since by the prouidence of God this worthie Prince is offered to vs, whose title is so just, whose admission is so expedient and necessarie, whose person ought to be so acceptable to vs for his good deserts, and Princelie vertues: I hope that all good and faithfull subiects of all estates within this Realme will in due time willinglie admit and receaue him to the succession of the kingdome.