A BRIEF DISCOURSE, TOUCHING THE HAPPY UNION OF THE KINGDOMS OF ENGLAND, AND SCOTLAND DEDICATED IN PRIVATE TO HIS MAJESTY. AT LONDON Printed for Foelix Norton, and are to be sold by William Aspley. 1603. A BRIEF DIScourse, touching the happy union of the Kingdoms of England, and Scotland. DEDICATED IN Private to his MAJESTY. I DO not find it strange (excellent King,) that when Heraclitus, he that was surnamed the obscure, had set forth a certain book, which is not now extant: many men took it for a discourse of Nature, and many others took it for a Treatise of Policy, and matter of estate. For, there is a great affinity and consent, between the rules of Nature, and the true rules of Policy: The one being nothing else but an order in the government of the world, and the other an order, in the government of an estate. And therefore, the education and erudition of the Kings of Persia, was in a science, which was termed by a name, then of great reverence, but now degenerate and taken in ill part. For, the Persian Magic, which was the secret literature of their Kings, was an observation of the contemplation of Nature, and an application thereof to a sense politic 〈◊〉 taking the fundamental laws of Nature, with the branches and passages of them, as an original, and first model, whence to take and describe a copy and imitation for government. After this manner, the foresaid Instructors fet before their Kings, the examples of the celestial bodies, the Sun, the Moon, and the rest, which have great glory and veneration, but no rest or intermission, being in a perpetual office of motion, for the cherishing, in turn, and in course, of inferior bodies. Expressing likewise, the true manner of the motions of government, which though they ought to be swift and rapide in respect of occasion and dispatch, yet are they to be constant and regular, without wavering or confusion. So did they represent unto them, how that the Heavens do not enrich themselves by the Earth, and the Seas, nor keep no dead stock or untouched treasure, of that they draw to them from below, but whatsoever moisture they do levy and take from both the elements in vapours, they do spend and turn back again in showers, only holding and storing them up for a time, to the end to issue and distribute them in season. But chiefly they did express and expound unto them, that fundamental law of Nature, whereby all things do subsist and are preserved: which is, that every thing in nature, although it hath his private and particular affection and appetite, and doth follow and pursue the same in small moments, and when it is delivered and freed from more general and common respects: yet nevertheless, when there is question or cause, for the sustaining of the more general, they forsake their own particularities and proprieties, and attend and conspire to uphold the public. So, we see the Iron in small quantity will ascend and approach to the Loadstone, upon a particular Sympathy. But, if it be any quantity of moment, it leaves his appetite of amity with the Loadstone, and like a good Patriott, falleth to the earth, which is the place and region, of massy bodies. So again, the water, and other like bodies, do fall towards the centre of the earth: which is, as was said, their region or Country. And yet, we see nothing more usual, in all waterworks and Ingens, then that the water (rather than to suffer any distraction, or disunion in Nature,) will ascend: forsaking the love to his own region or Country, and applying itself to the body next adjoining. But, it were too large a digression, to proceed to more examples of this kind. Your Majesty yourself, did fall upon a passage of this Nature, in your gracious speech of thanks unto your Council. When acknowledging Princely, their vigilancy and well deservings, it pleased you to note, that it was a success and event above the course of Nature, to have so great a change, with so great a quiet: forasmuch as sudden and great mutations, as well in state as in Nature, are rarely without violence and perturbation. So as still I conclude, there is, as was said, a congruity between the principles of Nature, and and of Policy. And, lest that Instance may seem to appone to this assertion, I may, even in that particular, with your majesties favour, offer unto you a Type or Pattern in Nature much resembling this present event in your state: namely earthquakes, which many of them, bring ever much terror and wonder, but no actual hurt; the earth trembling for a moment, and suddenly stablishing in perfect quiet, as it was before. This knowledge then, of making the government of the world, a mirror for the government of a state, being a wisdom almost lost (whereof the reason I take to be, because of the difficulty, for one man to embrace both Philosophies;) I have thought good to make some proof, (as far as my weakness, and the straits of time will suffer,) to revive in the handling of one particular wherewith now I most humbly present your Majesty. For, surely, as hath been said, it is a form of discourse, anciently used towards Kings. And, to what King, should it be more proper then to a King, that is studious to conjoin contemplative virtue and active virtue together. Your Majesty is the first King, which hath had the honour, to be Lapis angularis, to unite these two mighty and warlike nations of England and Scotland, under one Sovereignty and Monarchy. It doth not appear by the records and memories, of any true history, nor scarcely by the fiction and pleasure of any fabulous narration, or tradition: that ever, of any antiquity, this Island of great Britain was united under one King, before this day. And yet, there be no Mountains or races of hills, there be no seas, or great rivers, there is no diversity of tongue or language, that hath invited or provoked this ancient separation, or divorce. The lot of Spain was, to have the several Kingdoms of that continent (Portugal only except,) to be united in an age, not long passed: and, now in our age, that of Portugal also, which was the last that held out, to be incorporate with the rest. The lot of France hath been, much about the same time likewise, to have reannexed unto that crown, the several Duchies and portions, that were in former times dismembered. The lot of this Island, is the last reserved for your majesties happy times, by the special providence and favour of God: who hath brought your Majesty to this happy conjunction, with great consent of hearts, and in the strength of your years, and in the maturity of your experience. It resteth therefore, but that, (as I promised) I set before your majesties Princely consideration, the grounds of Nature, touching the Union and commixture of bodies; & the correspondence which they have with the grounds of Policy, in the conjunction of states and kingdoms. First therefore that Position, vis unita fortior, being one of the common notions of the mind, needeth not much to be induced or illustrate. We see the Sun (when he enters, & while he continues under the sign of Leo) causeth more vehement heats, than when he is in Cancer: what time his beams are nevertheless, more perpendicular. The reason whereof, in great part, hath been truly ascribed, to the conjunction and Corradiation in that place of heaven, of the Sun, with the four Stars of the first magnitude, Syrius, Canicula, Cor Leonis, & Cauda Leonis. So, the Moon likewise, by ancient tradition, while she is in the same sign of Leo, is said to be at the heart, or, to respect the heart. Which is not for any affinity, which that place in heaven can have, with that part of man's body: But only, because the Moon is then (by reason of the conjunction and nearness with the stars aforenamed) in greatest strength of influence: and so worketh upon that part, in inferior bodies, which is most vital and principal. So, we see waters and liquors, in small quantity, do easily purrifie and corrupt: but, in large quantity, subsist long, by reason of the strength, they receive, by Union. So, in Earthquakes, the more general do little hurt, by reason of the united weight, that they offer to subvert: but, narrow and particular Earthquakes, have many times overturned whole towns and Cities. So then, this point touching the force of Union is evident. And therefore it is more fit to speak of the manner of Union. Wherein again, it will not be pertinent, to handle one kind of Union, which is Union, by victory: when one body, doth merely subdue another, and converteth the same into his own Nature, extinguishing and expulsing, what part so ever of it, it cannot overcome. As, when the fire converteth the Wood into fire, purging away the Smoke and the Ashes, as unapt matter to inflame. Or, when the body of a living creature doth convert and assimilate food and nourishment: purging and expelling whatsoever it cannot convert. For, these representations do answer in matter of Policy, to Union of Countries by conquest: where the conquering State doth extinguish, extirpate and expulse any part of the estate conquered, which it findeth so contrary, as it cannot alter and convert it. And therefore leaving violent Unions: we will consider only of natural Unions. The difference is excellent, which the best observers in Nature do take, between Compositio and Miltio; putting together and mingling. The one being but a conjunction of bodies in place, the other in quality, and consent: the one, the mother of sedition and alteration, the other of peace and continuance: The one rather a confusion, than an Union, the other properly a Union. Therefore we see those bodies which they call Imperfectè miltio, last not, but are speedily dissolved. For, take for example, Snow or froth, which are Compositions of air and water: in them you may behold, how easily they sever and dissolve, the water closing together, and excluding the air. So, those three bodies, which the Alchemists do so much celebrate, as the three principles of things, that is to say, Earth, Water and Oil, (which it pleaseth them to term Salt, Mercury and Sulphur:) we see, if they be united only by composition, or putting together, how weakly and rudely they do incorporate. For, water and earth, make but an unperfect slime, and, if they be forced together by agitation, yet, upon a little settling, the earth resides in the bottom. So, water and Oil, though by agitation it be beaten into an Ointment. Yet, after a little settling, the Oil will float upon the top. So as, such unperfect minglinges, continue no longer, than they are forced: and still in the end, the worthiest getteth above. But, otherwise it is, of perfect mixture. For, we see those three bodies, of Earth, Water and Oil; when they are joined in a regetable or Mineral, they are so united, as without great subtlety of Art, and force of extraction, they cannot be separated and reduced into the same simple bodies again. So as, the difference between Compositio and Mistio, clearly set down is this: That Compositio, is the joining or putting together of bodies, without a new Form: and Mistio, is the joining or putting together of bodies, under a new Form. For, the new Form, is Commune Vinculum: and without that, the old Forms, will be at strife and discord. Now, to reflect this light of Nature, upon matter of estate: there hath been put in practice in government, these two several kinds of policy, in uniting & conjoining of states & kingdoms. The one to retain the ancient forms still severed, and only conjoined in Soveraingtie; the other, to superinduce a new form agreeable and convenient to the entire estate. The former of these hath been more usual, and is more easy: but the latter, is more happy. For, if a man do attentively revolve histories of all nations, and judge truly thereupon: he will make this conclusion, that there were never any State that were good commixtures, but the romans: which because it was the best state in the world, and is the best example of this point, we will chiefly insist thereupon. In the Antiquities of Rome, Virgil brings in jupiter, by way of Oracle or perdiction, speaking of the mixture of the Trojans and the Italians: Sermonem ausonij patrium, moresque tenebunt. Vtque est, nomen erit: comisti corpore tantum Subsident Teucri, morem, ritusque sacrorum Adijciam, faciamque omnes uno o'er Latino's. Hine genus Ausomo mistum quod sanguine surget, Suprà homines, suprà ire deos pietate videbis Wherein jupiter maketh a kind of partition or distribution, that Italy should give the language and the laws; Troy should give a mixture of men, and some religious rites, and both people should meet in one name of Latins. Soon after the foundation of the City of Rome, the people of the romans and the Sabines mingled upon equal terms. Wherein the interchange went so even, that (as Livi noteth) the one nation gave the name to the place, and the other to the people. For, Rome continued the name: but, the people were called Quirites, which was the Sabine word derived of Cures, the country of Tacitus. But, that which is chiefly to be noted, in the whole continuance of the Roman government, they were so liberal of their naturallizations, as in effect, they made perpetual mixtures. For their manner was, to grant the same, not only to particular persons, but to Families and lineages: and not only so, but to whole Cities and Countries. So as, in the end it came to pass, that Rome was Communis patria, as some of the Civilians call it. So, we read, that Saint Paul, after he had been beaten with Rods, and thereupon charged the Officer with violation of the privilege of a Citizen of Rome: the Captain then said to him; Art thou then a Roman? That privilege hath cost me dear! To whom Saint Paul replied: But I was so borne. And yet, in another place Saint Paul professeth of himself that he was a jew by tribe. So as it is manifest that some of his Ancestors were naturallized, to him and to his descendants. So, we read, that it was one of the first despites that was done to julius Caesar, that whereas he had obtained Naturalisation for a City in Gaul, one of the Citizens of that City, was beaten with rods, by the commandment of the Consul Marcellus. So we read in Cornelius Tacitus, that, in the Emperor Claudius' time, the nation of Gaul, that part which was called Comata, the wilder part, were suitors to be made capable of the Honours of being Senators and Officers of Rome. His words are: cum de supplendo, Senatu agitaretur, Primoresque Galliae quae Commata appellatur, foedera et Civitatem Romanam pridem assecuti, ius adipiscendorum in urbe honorum expeterent: multus ea super re, variusque rumour, et studijs diversis apud Principem certabatur: and, in the end, after long debate, it was ruled, they should be admitted. So likewise, the authority of Nicholas Machiavelli, seemeth not to be contemned: who, enquiring of the causes of the growth of the Roman Empire, doth give judgement, there was not one greater than this, that the state did so easily compound, and incorporate with strangers. It is most true, that most Estates and Kingdoms, have taken the other course: of which this effect hath followed, that the addition of further Empire and territory, hath been rather matter of burden, than matter of strength unto them; yea, and further; it hath kept alive the seed and roots of revoltes and rebellions, for many ages: As, we may see in a fresh and notable example of the kingdom of Arragon, which though it were united to Castille by marriage, and not by conquest, and so descended inhereditarie union by the space of more than a hundredth years: yet, because it was continued in a divided government, and not well incorporated and cemented with the other Crowns; entered into a Rebellion, upon point of their Fueros, or liberties, now, of very late years. Now, to speak briefly, of the several parts of that form, whereby states and kingdoms are perfectly united: they are, besides the sovereignty itself, four in number. Union in Name, Union in Language, Union in Laws, and Union in Employmentes. For Name, though it seem but a superficial and outward matter; yet it carrieth much impression and enchantment. The general and common name of Grecia, made the greeks always apt to unite (though otherwise full of divisions amongst themselves:) against other nations, who they called Barbarous. The Helvetian name, is no small band to knit together, their leagues and confederacies, the faster. The common name of Spain, no doubt hath been a special mean of the better Union and conglutination, of the several kingdoms of Castille, Arragon, Granada, Navarra, Valencia, Catalonia, and the rest: comprehending also now lately Portugal. For Language, it is not needful to insist upon it: because both your majesties kingdoms, are of one language, though of several Dialects: and the difference so small between them, as promiseth rather an enriching of one Language, than a continuance of two. For laws, which are the principal Sinews of government, they be of three natures. jura, which I will term Freedoms, or abilities, Leges, and Moors. For abilities and Freedoms, they were amongst the Romans; of four kinds, or rather degrees Ius Connubij, Ius Civitatis, Ius suffragij, and Ius Petitionis, or Ius honorum. Ius Connubij, is a thing, in these times, out of use. For, marriage is open between all diversity of Nations. Ius Civitatis answereth to that we call Denization, or Naturalisation. Ius suffragij answereth to voice in Parliament, or voice in election of such, as have voice in Parliament. Ius petitionis, answereth to place in Council and office. And, the Romans did many times sever these freedoms, granting Ius connubij, sine Civitate, and Civitatem sine suffragio, & Suffragium sine jure petitionis, which was commonly with them the last. For laws, it is a matter of curiosity and inconvenience, to seek either to extripate all particular customs, or, to draw all subjects to one place or resort of judicature and Session. It sufficeth, there be an uniformity in the Principal and fundamental Laws, both Ecclesiastical and civil. For, in this point the rule holds, which was pronounced by an ancient Father, touching the diversity of rites in the church. For, finding the vesture of the Queen, (in the Psalm) which did prefigure the church, was of diverse colours: and, finding again, that Christ's Coat was without a seam: he concludes well, In vest varietas sit, scissura non fit. For Manners, a consent in them is to be sought industriously; but, not to be enforced. For, nothing amongst people, breeds so much pertinacy, in holding their customs, as sudden and violent offer to remove them. And, as for Employments; it is no more, but an indifferent hand, and execution of that verse: Tros, Tyriusué mihi, null discrimine agetur. There remaineth only, to remember out of the grounds of Nature, the two conditions of perfect mixture: whereof the former is Time. For, the natural Philosophers say well, that compositio, is opus homines: and Mistio, is opus Naturae. For it is the duty of man, to make a fit application of bodies together. But, the perfect fermentation and incorporation of them, must be left to Nature and Time: and unnatural hasting thereof, doth disturb the work, and not dispatch it. So, we see, after the grift is put into the stock, and bound; it must be left to Nature and Time, to make that continuum, which was at first but contiguum. And, it is not any continual pressing, or thrusting together: that will prevent Nature's season, but rather hinder it. And so, in liquors, those mixtures which are at the first troubled: grow after clear and settled, by the benefit of rest and time. The second condition is: that the greater draw the less. So we see, when two lights do meet, the greater doth darken and drown the less. And, when a smaller river, runs into a greater, it loseth both his name and stream. And hereof to conclude, we see an excellent example in the Kingdoms of juda and Israel. The Kingdom of juda contained two Tribes; the Kingdom of Israel, contained ten. King David reigned first over juda, for certain years: &, after the death of Isbosheth, the son of Saul, obtained likewise the Kingdom of Israel. This union continued in him, and likewise in his son Solomon, by the space of seventy years at least, between them both. But yet, because the seat of the kingdom was kept still in juda, and so the less sought to draw the greater; upon the first occasion offered, the kingdoms broke again, and so continued, divided for ever after. Thus having in all humbleness made oblation unto your Majesty of these simple fruits, of my devotion and studies: I do wish (and I do wish it, not in the nature of an impossibility, to my thinking,) that this happy union of your majesties two Kingdoms of England and Scotland; may be in as good an hour; and under the like divine providence, as that was, between the romans and the Sabines. FINIS.