The church-history of Britain from the birth of Jesus Christ until the year M.DC.XLVIII endeavoured by Thomas Fuller.

To the Right Honourable, JAMES HAY, EARL of CARLILE, VISCOUNT DONCASTER, BARON of SAVLEY and WALTHAM.

WEE read in Holy-writ, when the Israelites fled before the Philistines, who spoiled a field of Barley, how Eleazar the Son of Dodo, made them pay dear for their Trespass, so stop∣ping them in the full speed of their Conquest, that he saved Israel by a great Deliverance.

Inspired Truths need not the Security of humane Hi∣story, to passe them into our Beliefe. However, other writers afford Examples, how one man, in a manner, hath routed a whole Army, and turned the flight of his party, into an unexpected Victory.

Thus the Chronicles inform us, that when the Scots fled from the Danes (at a place called Long-Carty) one HAY an Husbandman, then at Plough (with his two Sons) snatching the Yoak into his hand (it is the man makes the weapons, not the weapons the man) not onely stopped the Enemies further pursuit, but beat them back with a great Overthrow. Whose valour, King KENETH the second, (seven hundred years since) re∣warded, with as much ground of the best in Scotland, as a Falcon flew over at one flight before it did take a stand. And the memory hereof is continued in your Armes, who doth carry a Chronicle in your Coat, Crest, and Sup∣porters.

Let none quarrel at your Supporters, being two men holding each an Yoak in his hand, seeing they are the Supporters general of all mankinde, Solomon (being himself a King) observing that the King himself is maintained by husbandry. Besides, those Yokes pro∣cured the Scotch Liberty, who otherwise had been mi∣serably enslaved to the Danish Insolence. And if the bearing of armes were so ancient amongst the Jews, as the

Rabbies will have it, it is proportionably probable that the Posterity of Shamgar gave the GOAD for the Heredi∣tary Ensigns of their Family.

Nor must your Motto be forgotten, CONSCIENTIA MILLE SCUTA, A good Conscience is a thousand shields, and every one of proof against the greatest peril. May your Honour therefore be careful to preserve it; seeing lose the Shield, and lose the Field, so great the concernment thereof.

No Family in Christendome hath been Ennobled on a more Honourable Occasion, hath flourished for longer continuance, or been preserved in a more mira∣culous manner.

It is reported of the Romance FABII, no less nu∣merous then valiant (three hundred and sixty Patritians flourishing of them at once) they were all slain in one Bat∣tle, one onely excepted, who being under Age to bear Armes, was preserved alive.

A great Fatality befell your Family, in a fight at Duplin-Castle (in the Reign of our Edward the first) when the whole Houshold of HAYES was finally ex∣tirpated, and not one of them visible in the whole World. Onely it hapned that the Chief of them left his Wife at home big with Childe, from whom your Name is re∣cruited, all springing as it were from a dead Root, and thence deriving a Postume Pedigree.

This puts me in hopes, that God who so strangely pre∣served your Name in Scotland, will not suffer it so soon to be extinct in England, but give you Posterity by your Noble Consort, when it shall seem seasonable to his own will and pleasure.

All that I will add is this, that seeing your Ho∣nour beareth three smaller Shields, or In-Escutchions, in your Armes, the shaddow of the least of them, with its favourable reflection, is sufficient effectually to pro∣tect and defend the weak endeavours of

Your most obliged Ser∣vant and Chaplain, THOMAS FULLER.

Notes

• 1 Chro. 11. 13.
• George Bu∣chanan Schol. Hist. b. 6. p. 55.
• Eccles. 5. 9.
• Judg. 3. 31.
• Titus Livi∣us libro 2. do.
• Camd. Brit. in Scot. Strath-erne, pag. 705.