Saint George for England, allegorically described: by Gerrard De Malynes merchant

To the louing Reader.

GENTLE Reader, I haue layed open in this treatise the operations or effects of the subtill and cruell dealings of a Dra∣gon, of whose manner and behauiour di∣uerse haue written heretofore, and decla∣red the same to haue bene the cause of the ouerthrow of kingdomes, states, common∣weales and families. But forasmuch as they haue not made the application eui∣dent, some writing thereof according vn∣to Diuinitie, others according to the pro∣hibition of diuerse lawes, I haue taken oc∣casion to describe briefly and allegorically, the historie of Saint George for expla∣nation thereof: the rather, for that I do find recorded by Cornelius Tacitus a re∣nowmed

author, that this Dragon is the chiefest head and cause of rebellion and variance in countries, and was therefore altogether banished in the old time, when least corruption of life appeared amongst men. For he ouerthroweth the harmonie of the strings of the good gouernment of a common-wealth, by too much enriching some, and by oppressing and impouerish∣ing some others, bringing the instrument out of tune: when as euery member of the same should liue contented in his vocation and execute his charge according to his profession. For albeit, that equalitie wold be the cause that euery man should haue e∣nough, which made some of opinion that goods ought to be common: yet forasmuch as the same was neuer vsed or established in any age, reason requireth, that accor∣ding to the course of humane affaires, all things should be gouerned in the best and most assuredst maner that can be deuised, and as it were, seeking a certaintie, euen in vncertainties, which is tearmed Pollicie:

For all worldly and transitorie things be∣ing mutable, maketh the world properly to consist of strife, warre, discord, enuie, rankor, burning, sacking, wasting, spoy∣ling and destroying: a very vncertaine ground to build vpon. And yet a certaine equalitie and concord is required in euery well gouerned commonwealth, the prince or gouernor hauing the disposing both of the one and the other. Equalitie concer∣ning the trafficke and negotiation betwixt his dominions and other countries in the trade of merchandize: and Concord a∣mongst the members of a commonwealth, when euery member thereof doth liue con∣tentedly and proportionably in his vocati∣on. Both these are brought to confusion and vtter destruction by the means of this Dragon, a monster found out by couetous∣nesse the roote of all euill: whereunto Am∣bition is annexed which mooueth sedition and ciuill warre: when pride doth oppresse loue, which prouoketh disdaine and kin∣dleth malice, confoundeth iustice, and at

length subuerteth states: whereas huma∣nitie stirreth vp affection, augmenteth a∣mitie, maintaineth loue, supporteth equi∣tie, and most soundly preserueth cities and countries. This Dragon bringeth inequa∣litie in a commonwealth by the meanes of his taile, wherein lyeth his greatest strength, making the expences thereof to surmount the reuenues. For he depriueth the Prince (which is the father of this great houshold) of his treasure and readie money, which are Nerui bellorum, and is the cause of many other inconueniences, as both in this and in another treatise I haue described vnto you. This he effecteth by falsifying the valuation of mony, which is the rule and measure of things, which money he caused to be made vncertaine, and as it were a merchandize, giuing thereby a wonderfull ability to some of the members of a commonwealth to oppresse the other: whereby the concord is broken, and men cannot liue in their vocation, by that whereunto they were borne or bred.

Hence do arise the causes that states-men, or magistrates which haue the managing of the gouernment of kingdomes, and are the Phisitions of commonweales, are ma∣ny times blamed and found fault withall, for not lealing effectually the biles, bot∣ches, ••ankers and sores thereof, albeit the fault proceedeth not of any act or negli∣gence of theirs, neither is the same properly to be attributed vnto them, but vnto this old venimous sore, being primum mobi∣le, and yet not spyed out: in the curing whereof they would be thought to be very foolish Phisitions, if by their medicine the bodie were cast into a more dangerous sick∣nesse. Wherefore as the wounds of this dragon are inueterated, so must he be dealt withall by degrees and lenitie, depriuing him first of the strength of his taile, which will cause a great obstruction to his breath, whereby his power shall so much be weakened, as he may easily be brought into a consumption: albeit that the polli∣tike gouernment of some states do admit

him, as a necessarie euill, with the keeping of a lombard to qualifie his extreame de∣uouring of the poore. This dragon is cal∣led Foenus politicum, his two wings are Vsura palliata and Vsura explicata, and his taile inconstant Cambium. The virgin is the kings treasure: the champion Saint George is the kings authoritie, ar∣med with the right armor of a Christian: who with the sword of the spirit of Gods most holy word, explained and corrobora∣ted with seuerall other lawes, signified by the Pybal horse whereon he was mounted: did destroy the cruell dragon, rescuing the kings daughter, and deliuering the com∣monwealth, as by the circumstances of the historie may appeare: the Allegorie where∣of requireth a due consideration, which would dilate vnto another treatise. Wher∣fore leauing this to thy good acceptance and friendly censure, I wish and pray that all things may be well, although it be im∣possible to haue perfection and soundnesse of life in all men, and amongst all states.

God graunt that all men may amend their liues in euery vocation, and that his king∣dome may come hastily amongst vs, to the comfort of his chosen people. Farewell, London this 24. of May. 1601.

Yours to vse, GERRARD DE MALYNES.