A German diet, or, The ballance of Europe wherein the power and vveaknes ... of all the kingdoms and states of Christendom are impartially poiz'd : at a solemn convention of som German princes in sundry elaborat orations pro & con ... / by James Howell, Esq.

THE ORATION OF THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS LORD EUBESWALD, &c. FOR GREAT BRITAIN.

Most Honorable and Heroique Princes,

IF any one of this Illustrious convention would set forth the glory of some great City, which flow'd with plenty of all things that were requisit, either for necessity or pleasure▪ exceeding therein the very wishes of the Inhabitants, a Ci∣ty which had also impregnable fortifications, and strength both by art and nature, with armes of all kinds, such pro∣pugnacles, such advantages by land and water both to de∣fend her self, and destroy the enemy; Who had a grave way of administration of Justice, whose Inhabitants did florish with all sorts of manufactures, with all kind of vertu, invention, and elegance, and shining with all kind of pul∣chritude, I believe there is not any of this Princely Assembly but would pas∣sionatly desire to see that rare renowned City; But, most excellent President, I have taken in hand to describe unto you not such a narrow thing as one Ci∣ty, or one Countrey either, but a little world of it self, wherein many King∣doms are conjoind in one, and under one Monarch, which little world doth swell with affluence of all things desirable; those blessings which are found single in other parts of Europe are found conjunctly here; yet this is no other portion of the earth then an Iland, but such an Iland that before I have done with you, you will acknowledg that this Iland may stand in competition for preheminence with any of those noble Regions that you have displayed hi∣therto in most learned and eloquent Orations; And this is Great Britain, the Queen of Iles, the minion of Neptun, the darling of Ceres, Incomparable Britain; for so the Greek Poet will tell you;

—〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,

No Ile did ever dare With Britain yet compare.

Which Ile being disjoin'd from many other potent Neighbours, and rich Countreys, but by a small distance, lies very commodious to receive into her

bosome by way of Navigation and Negotiation the wealth of all the world, and to make others happy with Hers; she lies very apposit to comfort, and relieve those that come neer her coasts, if they be in any danger by distresse of wea∣ther, or want of any thing that is needfull for vessell or men.

The aire is there so temperat that a well disposed body may passe there without either stoves in Winter, or shades in Sommer; There be gentle breezes that blow from the circumjacent Sea, which refresh all kind of animalls both brute, and rationall, the clowds there drop fatnes, dissolving into silver wholsom showers to soften and fertilize her glebes; she useth to have in Decem∣ber and Ianuary frost enough to knit the joints of the earth, and so corroborat them; in February she hath snow enough to fill her dikes, and like a coverlet to keep her plowd fields warm. And whereas the seas of Spain and Italy are barren of fish, Hers have them by whole shoales, and in such variety that it is incredible. Her Forests and woods have no birds or beasts of rapine, and noxi∣ous animalls, but harmeles (though wild) creatures, as the Stagg, the Hind, and the Hart, which serve for pleasure and hospitality. The bowells of her soyl, and hills are pregnant with mineralls, or fuell; The Sun which scorcheth Spain and Naples, doth gently warm Britain with his rayes; The air is nothing so thick and dull as in other climes, but attenuated and cleerd with refreshing and gentle blasts ever and anone; nor is her earth subject to agues, to quaking and trepidation as other places are, but alwayes firme and sure. For store and su∣perfluity of corn, in the Romans time she was call'd the barn and granary of the western part of the Empire, in so much that Zosimus reports, that they us'd to lade eight hundred vessells with British corn for many yeers to supply their army upon the frontiers of Germany. These ensueing verses of a Forrener do hint a little upon the happines of this Countrey.

Anglia Terra ferax, tibi pax secura quietem, Multiplicem luxum merx opulenta dedit. Tu nimio nec stricta gelu, nec sydere fervens, Clementi coelo, temperie{que} places. Cùm pareret natura parens, varias{que} favore Divideret dotes omnibus una locis, Seposuit potioratibi, matrem{que} professa, Insulasis foelix, plena{que} pacis, ait. Quicquid amat luxus, quicquid desiderat usus, Ex te provemet, vel aliunde tibi.

Eumenius in the famous panegyric he made to Constantin melts thus into her praises. O fortunata & omnibus beatior terris Britannia, quae Constantinum Caesa∣rem prima vidisti; Merito te omnibus coeli ac soli dotibus natura donavit, in qua nec hyemis est nimius rigor, nec aestatis ardor, in qua segetum tanta faecunditas ut muneribus utrius{que} sufficiat & Cereris & Liberi; In qua nemora sine immanibus be∣stijs, terra sine serpentibus noxijs; contrà pecorum mitium innumerabilis multitudo lacte distenta, & onusta velleribus, certè quidem quod propter vitam diligitur, lon∣gissimae dies, & nullae sine aliqua luce noctes, dum illa littorum extrema planities non attollit umbras, noctis{que} metam coeli & syderum transit aspectus, ut sol ipse qui nobis videtur occidere, ibi appareat solummodò praeterire. O most fortunat Britain, (saith Eumenius) more bless'd then any other Country, which didst first see Constantin! Nature hath deservedly endowed thee with all gifts both of heaven and earth. In thee neither the excessive cold of winter, or ardent heat of som∣mer doth offend the inhabitant: thou swellest with such a faecundity of all kind of corn, that thou mayst be called the Favorit of Ceres and Bacchus; Thy groves are without savage rapacious beasts, and thy heaths without poysonous serpents, thy fields are covered with innumerable multitudes of mild crea∣tures labouring with exuberance of milk, and laden with rich fleeces; For

delightfullnesse or life, thy daies are very long, and no night but hath some glimpses of light. The glorious Sun which sets and goes down in other Coun∣tries, seemes onely but to passe by the Coasts. That salt ditch which girds Britain about, renders her invincible; I meane the circumambient sea, which opens and shuts, and embosoms himself into her at divers commodious creeks. This Sea is so high and turgid oftentimes, that some Authors record it ri∣seth 80. Fadoms at a spring-tide in divers places. He sometimes salutes and covers the inviting soyle, then he departs, but to come again. He doth cast up sometimes and leaves upon the shore huge fishes, of strange shapes, as the Lyric sings.

—belluosus qui remoris Obstrepit Oceanus Britannis.

Rejoyce therefore O Britain, and triumph, that Dame Nature hath cast such a mote about thee, which no Engine of Man can choake, no reach of wit or labour can dry up. Let the Flemish secure Ostend with new dikes, Anwerp with a strong Cittadel, let Milan glory for her inexpugnable Castle, let the Venetians bragg of their Palma, The Hungarians of Iavarin and Comorra, The Turkes theirs of Goleta, Savoy hers of Monmelian, The French theirs of Baion, where none must enter but the King himself, or the blood Royal; Let the Spa∣niard bragge of his Havana, the Pole of Smolenksco, The Austrian of Vienna, The Bavarian of Ingolstad, The Dane of Croneburg, Let Brandeburg bragge of Castreni, Silesia of Breslaw, the Franconians of Norimberg, the Swed of Stock∣holm, and let other Kings and Countries glory never so much of their strong holds, Motes and Fortifications; but to compare them to that Dike which is cast about great Britain, were to compare a purl, or small rivulet of water to the Archipelago, or a small tuft of Earth to Mount Adrian.

Nor doth this huge Mote give security alone to the Inhabitants, but it brings them many other inestimable benefits; it animates by vertue of the salt∣waters the heat of the contiguous Earth, it nourisheth the air with pregnant vapours, to make wholsom showres for the irrigation and refreshment of the Earth; it takes in and lets out many brave Rivers for navigation, which are replenished with all store of Fish. Among other kind, the benefit that is made of Herrings is beyond belief, which swimme in huge shoales like Mountains about the Iland. Towards the Summer Solstice, they seek the Coasts of Scot∣land, then towards Autumne they retire to the English, and it is incredible what huge quantities are taken twixt Scarborough and the Thames mouth from the month of August to September: then they move more Southward to the British Sea, and find matter for fishing till Christmas; then having as it were fetch'd a compasse about Britain, they seek the Western Sea, and the Irish Coast, where they keep till Iune, and then set forward for Britain again, when they are grown fat, and numerous by multiplication.

Thus Britany, like a Microcosm of her selfe, is seated in the midst of a tur∣bulent and working Sea; yet she within is still quiet, serene and safe. And now I will take a survay of this Noble Iland, as one would doe of some stately Castle: and to do that exactly, one must not onely view the Trenches and outworks which are about, but pry into the recesses and roomes within, and observe what fashion of men they are that keep it; therefore I will make a progresse into the Center and bowells of Britain. Touching the people who inhabit Her, they are the wellfavourdest, and best complexion'd people of any upon the surface of the Earth: they have excellent Intellectuals, sucking Ca∣pacities, and spacious Understandings; they add unto, and perfect any inven∣tion that is brought them. And truly, wee Germans should be very ingrateful, unlesse we should acknowledge to have receiv'd great benefit by them: for in point of Religion and literature they have been Doctors and Parents unto us.

They brought Christ and the Standard of the Crosse first amongst us, they dispell'd the black clouds of Faganism and ignorance from amongst us, and let in the sweet raies of piety and knowledge to enlighten us. This, unlesse wee brand our selfs with the ugly mark of ingratitude, we must ingeniously confesse.

Now, it is observ'd that the Britans were alwaies by a special instinct very much addicted to Religion; And as in the Discipline of the Druyds, whose founders they are held to be, they antecell'd all others, (for Caesar records that the Gaules went over to be instructed by the British Druyds) so when the name of Christ was known among them, with flagrant desires, and fervent affections they embrac'd that beliefe with a wonderful ready devotion; and as the glorious Sun when he culminates and appears in the East, doth as it were in a moment illustrate the whole Hemisphear; so the beames of Christi∣anity displayed themselves with marvellous celerity all the Hand over. But this had very good helps to advance this work, for in the infancy of the Church, as Baronius doth assert, Ioseph of Arimathea a Noble Decurion arrived there, and Claudia Rufina, Wife to Aulus Pudens the Roman; of whom the Po∣et Martial, nay Saint Paul himself makes honorable mention. Simon Zelotes having made a hot progresse through Barbary, died in Britain. Nay, some say that Saint Paul being freed from Nero's shackles, encreas'd the propagati∣on of grace there.

Hereupon the Britains having had the advantage of such great lights, ap∣plyed themselves to erect Oratories and Churches for the publique exercise of devotion; wherein they grew so zealous, that Lucius a British King left his Crown, with all earthly pomp, and made a spontaneous pilgrimage to Rome in the time of Eleutherius, the year 150. after the Incarnation, and spent the rest of his life in holy Meditations, and practices of piety. Now, what a glory it is for Britain to have had the first Christian King that ever was; Nay, the first Christian Emperor, Constantine the Great. And to speak truth, no Region produc'd more constant professors of Christianity then Britain did, and more fincere Propagators thereof, which will appear if we look into the Catologe of Saints, Martyrs, and Confessors. In so much that in lieu of that malitious character which Porphyrie gives of her (who hated her for being such a zealous Christian) by calling her feracem tyrannorum provinciam, a Country fruitful for Tyrants; she may more deservedly be call'd Regio sanctorum faecundissima, a Region most abounding with Saints. Nor were the Britans such Zelots only at home, but they cross'd the Seas to disperse the beams of Christian Know∣ledge abroad; and their paines prov'd very successful herein. Germany was be∣holden to Winfridus, and Willebrod that she was converted. France was behol∣den to Alcuin for establishing the Academy of Paris, though Paschasius, a ca∣villing Author, denies it. Touching us Germans, among other testimonies of gratitude to Britain, let this of an excellent Almain Poet serve for one.

Haec tamen Arctois laus est eterna Britannis, Quod post Pannonicis vastatum incursibus Orbem Illa bonas Artes, & Graiae munera linguae, Stellarumque vias, & magni sidera caeli Observans, iterum turbatis intulit oris, Quin se Relligio multùm debere Britannis Servata, & latè circum dispersa fatetur. Quis nomen Winfride tuum, quis munera nes•…•…cit? Te Duce Germanis pietas se vera, Fides{que} Infinuans, caepit ritus abolere prophanos. Quid non Alcuino facunda Lutetia debet! Instaurare bonas ibi qui faeliciter Artes, Barbariem{que} procul solus dispellere caepit.

To these British Champions of Christianity we may add Bede, who hath the Epithet (by the consent of the universall Christian Church) of Venerable given him. I will bring upon the stage next Io. Dunscotus, who was so supereminent in Divinity, and the spiny art of Logique, that he was call'd by the whole com∣monwealth of learning Subtilis Doctor, and he was a man of such large esteem, that he founded a sect who are call'd Scotistae to this day: he also was call'd lima veritatis, the file of truth: He was so great a man, that as many Cities contended for the Nativity of Homer, so did many Kingdoms strive for him, Ireland, Scot∣land, England, and France; yet, what a strange destiny befell this famous Do∣ctor? for being surpriz'd by an apoplexy, and given for dead, he was buried alive, for it was found that he breath'd his last in the Grave. After him I may instance in Iohn Wicklif, a great Artist and Theolog; next to him I rank William Ockam, patrem Nominalium, who establishd a sect calld the Nominalls, but both these were strong enemies to Rome, as appeers yet by their penns; There was another great Doctor calld Doctor Resolutus by the Italians for his acute way of disputation, and he was Io: Baconthorp, one of the deepest clerks of his time. What a rare man and of heavenly speculations was Io: de sacro bosco, the Author of the sphaere, which remaines yet engraven upon his tomb in Pa∣ris? some ages after these, the world of learned men did much esteem Reginald Poole, Iohn Colet, William Lillie, Linacre, Pace, Cardinall Fisher Bishop of Rochester, Sir Thomas More, Latimer, Tindall, Baleus, Tunstall, men infe∣rior to none, as well for sanctimony of life, as for rare erudition and know∣ledg; Toby Matthew Archbishop of York, another Chrysostom, Thomas Stapleton, Nic. Wotton, Iewell, Cheek, Humphreys, Grindall, Whitgift, Plowden, Ascham, Cooke, Smyth, Whitaker, Perkins, Mountagu, those great speculative Lords Baeon and Herbert, Andrews, Usher that rare Primat, Selden, who knows as much as both the Scaligers, Camden the English Strabo, Owen another Martiall, with divers excellent Dramatique Poets, and it is a great wrong to the Common∣wealth of learning that their works are not made intelligible in a larger toung then that Insulary Dialect; Add hereunto, that for Physicians and Lawyers, both Civill and Common there are as profound spirits there as any on earth.

And as for learning, so for prowess and magnanimity the Inhabitants of Great Britain have been and are still very celebrous; And though there hath been al∣wayes an innated kind of enmity twixt the French and the English, yet they have extorted prayses out of their enemies mouths: witnes Comines, Froissard, and Bodin, who write so much in honor of the English; Nor do they herein complement or flatter a whit. What a bold Britain was Brennus (who liv'd long before the English took footing there) what notable feates did he perform in Italy, Greece, and Asia? so that the old Britains, or Welsh in honor of that Heroe call a King after his name to this day viz. Brennin, and there is a Castle in Wales of his name to this day. How manfully did the ancient Bri∣tains tugg with the Romans, who receav'd fowler defeats there then in any other Region? which one of their Poets seemes to confesse, when he saith,

—Invictos Romano Marte Britannos.

The Silures who are a peeple but of a few small shires in Wales, viz. Mon∣mouth, Brecknock and others, being animated by the courage of their King Cataracus, and provok'd by the menaces of the Emperour Claudius, who threatned to extinguish the very names of them, met his army in open field, and cutting off an auxiliary Regiment which was going to recreut the Empe∣rour under Marius Valens, they utterly routed him: In so much that Ostorius the propraetor of Britanny for the Romans resenting this dishonor died out of a sense of grief. Charles the Great had to doe with them in three battailes, wherein there was such a slaughter of his men, that he cryed, Si vel semel tantùm cum il∣lis

adhuc depugnandum foret, ne unum quidem militem sibi superfuturum, If he were to encounter the Britains but once more, he should not have a soldier left him: a saying proceeding from such a man as Charlemain, that tends much to the reputation of the Britains. But the Gaules are they whom the Britains galld, having in so many victories left their arrowes in their thighs, in their breasts, and some sticking in their hearts; which makes Bodin complain, Gallos ab An∣glis in ipsa Gallia clades accepisse, ac pene Imperium amisisse—That the French receaved many overthrowes in France herself by the English, and had almost lost their Kingdom, whereupon the Poet sings wittily,

Anglorum semper virtutem Gallia sensit, Ad Galli cantum non fugit iste Leo.

For how often have the French Kings with their Nobles been routed, defeated and discomfited by the English Gray-goose-wing? how often hath it pierc'd the very center of the Kingdom? what notable rich returnes have the English made from France? And what pittifull looks must France have, when Edward the fourth got such a glorious victory at Cressy, where above thirty thousand pe∣rish'd, among whom the King of Bohemia was found among the dead bodies, ten Princes, eighty Barons, twelve hundred Gentlemen, and the flower of the French fell that day, and King Philip of Valois did hardly escape himself to a small town, which being ask'd at the gate who he was, qui va la? answer'd, la Fortune de France, the Fortune of France. This made France weare black a long time. But in another battail she had as ill luck, wherein her King Iohn, and David King of Scots where taken prisoners, and attended the prince of Wales to England: yet such was the modesty of that prince, though conquerour, that he waited upon King Iohn bareheaded at table; this was such a passage as happen'd in King Edgars raign, who had foure Kings to row him upon the ri∣ver Dee hard by Westchester, viz. Kennad Kind of the Scots, Malcolm King of Cumberland; Maconus King of Man, and another Welsh King. The English re∣duc'd France to such a poverty at that time, that she was forc'd to coin leather money. In divers other battailes in the raignes of Charles the fift, sixt, and se∣venth, and Lewis the elevenths time, the English did often foyl the French, untill the war pour le bien public begun by the Duke of Burgundy. Such a large livery and seifin the English had taken in France, that for three hundred and fifty years they were masters of Aquitain and Normandy; Nay Henry the sixt of England was crowned King of France in Paris. And so formidable were the English, in France, that the Duke of Britany, when he was to encounter the French army in the field, thought it a policy to cloth a whole Regiment of his soldiers after the English mode, to make them more terrible to the French.

What shall I say of that notable Virago Queen Elizabeth, who did such ex∣ploits again Spain, by taking the united provinces of the Low Countreys under her protection? How did she ply the Spaniard, and bayt him by Sea and Land, how did she in a manner make him a Bankrupt, by making him lose his credit in all the banks of Europe! And all that while Spain could do England no harme at all; touching the strength of which Kingdom you may please to hear what a judicious Italian speaks of it, Il Regno d'Ingliterra non há bisogno d'altri per la propria difesa, anzi non solo é difficile, mà si può dir impossible se non é divisione nel Regno che per via de force possa esser conquistato. The Kingdom of England stands in no need of any other for her own defense; so that it is not only difficult, but a thing impossible, unlesse there be some intestin division, to make a conquest of that Countrey. Philip offer'd very fairly for her in the year eighty eight, when he thought to have swallowed her with his Invincible Fleet, which was a preparing three yeers: she consisted of above 150. saile, 8000. Mariners, 20000. foot, besides voluntiers, she carried 1600. Canons of brasse, 1000. of iron, and a hundred and twenty thousand granados of all sorts. The

Fleet stood the King in every day thirty thousand Duckets; insomuch that Bernardin Mendoza, the Spanish Ambassadour in France, being in a private con∣ference one day with King Henry the fourth, assured him, that viis & modis, that Fleet had stood his Master in above tenne Millions first and last, from the time that she set sayl from Lisbon. This Fleet look'd like a huge Forrest at Sea as she made her way. Good Lord how notably did that Masculine Queen bestirre her self, in viewing her Armies, in visiting her Men of Warre, and Ships Royall, in having her Castles and Ports well fortified, in riding about, and in the head of the Army her self, in discharging the Office of a true Pallas, wearing a Hat and Feather in lieu of a Helmet. Henry the fourth of France sent her seasonable notice hereof, so that most of the Roman Catholiques up and down were commanded to retire to the Ile of Ely, a fenney place; and o∣thers were secured in Bishops houses till this horrid cloud which did threaten the destruction of England should be overblown. But this prodigious Fleet being come to the British seas, how did the little English vessels pelt those huge Gigantick Galeons of Spain? whereof those few which were left (for all the rest perisht) were forc'd to fetch a compass almost as far as Norway in 62. degrees, and so got to Spain to bring the sad tidings what became of the rest.

There were Triumphs for this not onely in England, but all the United Provinces over, where a Medal was coyn'd bearing this Inscription on the one side, Classis Hispanica, The Spanish Fleet; on the other side, Venit, •…•…vit, fuit, She came, she went, she was: But had the Duke of Parma come out of Flan∣ders with his Land Army, then it might have prov'd a black day to England; and herein Holland did a peece of Knight-service to England, for she kept him from comming forth with a squadron of Men of Warre. How gallantly did the English take Cales, the Key of Spain, and brought home such rich plunder? How did they infest the Indies, and what a masse of Treasure did Drake (that English Dragon) bring home thence? he made his Sailes of Silk, and his An∣chors of Silver.

Most noble Princes, you have heard something, though not the tyth that might be said of the early Piety and Devotion, of the exquisite Knowledge, and Learning, of the Manhood and Prowesse of Great Britain; but these praises that I give her is but a bucket of water cast into her Seas. Now touching both King and people, it is observ'd that there is such a reciprocation of love be∣twixt them, that it is wonderfull; the one swayes, the other submits, obeyes, and contributes to the necessities and preservation of the honour and maje∣sty of the King, for which he receives protection and security.

Touching the Regall Authority, and absolute Power and Prerogatives of the Kings of Great Britain, it is as high and supreame as any Monarchs upon Earth: They acknowledge no Superior but God himself, they are not feudetary or homageable to any, they admit no forraign jurisdiction within the bounds of their Kingdomes, and herein they have the advantage of the Kings of France and Spaine, yea of the Emperour himself, who is in a kind of vassalage to the Pope, and may be said to divide authority with him in their own Dominions. No, they have long time shaken off that servitude, and manumitted the Crown from those immense sums which were erogated and ported from England to pay for First fruits, for Indulgences, for Appeales, Palls, and Dispensations, and such merchandises of Rome. How many hundred of years did England pay Tribute, though it went under the name of Peter∣pence, to Rome, think you? no less than near upon a thousand, from the reign of King Inas the Saxon to Henry the eighth.

From the Power of the Kings of Great Britain, let us goe to their Justice, let us descend from the Throne to the Tribunall. Now, such is the Divinitie of the Kings of Great Britain, that they cannot doe any Injustice; it is a Canon of their Common Law that the King can doe no wrong; if any be done, it is the Kings Minister, the Judge, Magistrate, or Officer doth doe it, and so is pu∣nishable

accordingly: such a high regard the English have of the honour of their King; and such a speciall care the Kings of England have us'd to take for punishing of Injustice and corruption; such a care as King Edgar had to free the Iland from Wolves (and corrupt Officers are no better than Wolves) which he did by a Tribute that he impos'd upon a Welsh Prince for his ranson, which was, to bring him in three hundred skinnes of Wolves every year: this produced •…•…o good effects, that the whole race of Wolves was extirpated in a short time, so that it is as rare a thing to see a Wolf now in England, as a Horse in Venice.

Touching the care that the Kings of England us'd to have to enrich their subjects, hath been us'd to be very great, and to improve the common stock: Edward the third (that Gallorum malleus, the hammer of the French, he quell'd them so) was the first who introduced the art of making of Cloth into Eng∣land, whereby the Exchequer, with the publique and private wealth of the Kingdome did receive a mighty increment; for Wooll is the Golden Fleece of England, and the prime Staple-commodity, which is the cause, that by an old custome, the Judges, Masters of the Rolls, and Secretaries of State in Parliament time doe use to sit upon Woolsacks in the House, that commodum lanarum & ovium non negligendum esse, Parliamentum moneatur, that they put the Parliament in mind that the commodity of Wool and Sheep be not neg∣lected. The Swede, the Dane, the Pole, the German, the Russe, the Turk, and in∣deed all Nations doe highly esteem the English cloth. The time was that Antwerp her self did buy and vend two hundred thousand English cloths yearly, as Camden hath it. And great and antient are the priviledges that the English have in Belgium; for since the year 1338, which is above three hun∣dred yeares agoe, when Lewis Malan Earl of Flanders gave them very ample immunities in the Town of Bruges, since which time it is incredible how all kind of commerce and merchantile affaire did flourish among the Flemins, for which they were first obliged to the English; for the English Wooll hath been a Golden Fleece also to the Flemins, as well as the English themselves, because it was one of the principal causes of enlarging their Trade, whereunto the Duke of Burgundy related, when he established the order of the Golden Fleece Guicci∣ardin makes a computation, that the Traffique and Intercourse betwixt England and Flanders amounted to twelve millions yearly, where of five was for woollen manufactures.

What an Heroique incomparable Princesse was Queen Elizabeth, who wore the English Crown, and sway'd the Scepter as politiquely, prudently, and stoutly as any of those Kings which wore swords before her, or after her; she raigned four and forty years in a marvellous course of prosperity, and all the world, yea her enemies did confesse that there was never such a Virgin and a Virago upon earth. Her subjects lov'd her as their most indulgent Mo∣ther, her foes fear'd her as a just Revengresse; her Neighbour Princes and States did attribute their safety to her, and all Europe, yea the great Turk, and the Emperour of Russia (to whom she first open'd the way of commerce) did behold her, though a far off, with the eyes of admiration. They esteem'd her as a great Heroina, and the Arbitresse of Christendome; for she might as well as her Father have taken that Motto, cui adhaereo, praeest; He, whom I sti•…•…k to, prevailes. Nay, she did more truly verifie that saying of her Father's, Galliam & Hispaniam esse quasi lances in Europae libra, & Angliam esse lingulā, sive libripendem; That France and Spain were like the Beams of the great balance of Christen∣dom, and England was the handle of that balance.

Touching the observance and fidelity which the English us'd to bear to∣wards their Soveraign Prince, it hath been us'd to be rare and exemplary. They reverence him in his absence, as wel as when he is present; for whersoever the Chaire of State stands, all goe uncover'd, they honour his very shadow, they serve him upon the knee. The Preacher makes three profound reverences in

the Pulpit before he beginnes his Sermon. They pray for him five times in the publique Liturgy, and for his Queen, the Heir apparent, by name, with the rest of his children; which I beleeve is not done so often to any Christian Prince. Their fidelity, and affectionate Allegiance is also very remarkable, and may serve for a pattern to all subjects; when the Spaniard by internunciall nego∣tiation and secret practises did treat with the Duke of Norfolk, and the Earle of Ormond, that the one in England, the other in Ireland, should rise against Queen Elizabeth; the people were so eager in the cause, especially on the Sea side, that it is wonderfull how they flocked to all the Ports voluntarily of themselves, to prevent an Invasion, insomuch that there came a command to restrain such confluences of people, and that every one should retire home to his dwelling and business till there were occasion.

When Prince Charles return'd from Spain in safety, what exultations of joy was in every corner of the Kingdome, specially in the great City of Lon∣don, what huge Bonefires, some of big massy timber, were up and down streets, which made them as lightsome in the night as if it had been noon; insomuch, as one said, the flames of the fires might be seen as far as Spain; what barrels of Beer, Ale, and Wine were brought out to drink carouses to his health?

But most Illustrious Princes, in regard this Iland is so delicate a peece of Earth, I'le take her into parcels, and present her to your view. I will beginne with the Southernst part, with Cornwall, a Province which abounds with di∣versity of necessary commodities, whereof Spain hath every year a good share, being the nearest part of the Iland towards Her; here besides Gold and Silver, and Marble, there is great store of Tinne digg'd out, which is so pure and white, that it may passe for Silver when it is hammer'd into Vessells. This commodity is transported and dispers'd into all parts of the World, & rich re∣turnes made of it. Then they have a savory Fish call'd Pilchards, which Spa∣niards call Sardinas, which is found in incredible quantities in the Sea near that Coast; whereof there be huge Cargasars carried to Spain, and Italy every year, and for barter they will give you Silke, Wine, Oyle, Cotton, and the best Commodities they have. About November this Fish is taken, and they shape the course of their Voyages so, that they may be in Spain & Italie a little before Lent, which is the convenientest for their Market, because in those Catholick Countries, that season is observ'd so strictly. There is in this Pro∣vince of Cornwall a wonderfull thing, and it is a great famous Stone call'd Mainamber, a little distant from a small Market Town call'd Pensans. That stone though it be as bigg as a little Rock, and that a multitude of men cannot carry it away, yet you may stirre and move it sensibly with your little finger. Prince Arthur, one of the 9. Worthies, was born there, who is so much celebra∣ted through the World, and by such a number of Authors, among other things, for his round Table which was made of stone, about which a selected number of Chivalrous Kinghts were us'd to sit with him, and they had special Or∣ders and Lawes made among themselves, which they were bound to observe punctually. Good Lord, what a Heroe was this Arthur, being an old Britain born! he overcame the Saxons in twelve several battells. In so much that an ingenious Poet sung of him thus.

Prisca parem nescit, aequalem postera nullum Exhibitura dies, Reges supereminet omnes, Solus praeteritis melior, major{que} futuris.

From Cornwall I passe to Devonshire, where there is also quantity of choice Tinne, not inferior in purity to that of Cornwall; there is a place there also, where Loadstone is found. Winfrid, who was the Apostle of the Germans, was borne there at Kirton, who converted the Thuringians and Friselanders to Christianity. I will leave Exeter the Provincial Town, Neat, Rich, and

large, and wil go to Plimouth, a most comodious and safe well frequented Port. Here Sir Francis Drake was born, for Naval glory and skill the ablest that a∣ny age hath afforded; he did circumnavigate and compasse the World, I mean the Globe of the Earth, he saild further into the Southern Seas, into mare pacifi∣cum then any other; where starres are so scant to guide one's course by: for there are but three of the first magnitude to be seen there. He gave part of A∣merica a new name, call'd new Albion. Among other prizes he tooke from the Spaniard, the Shippe Caga fuego was one, which had seventy pound weight of Gold in her, thirteen great Chests cramm'd with Patacoons, and a huge quantity of barrs and sowes of silver which serv'd for Ballast. This rich ship this English Iason brought with him to England with his own ship the Publi∣can in safety. But the Spanish Captain broke this jest for all the losse of his treasure, that his ship and Drakes ship should change their names, and that his should be call'd Caga plata, and Drakes Caga fuego. Thus this English Drake swom like the great Leviathan to the new and old World; of whom that most ingenious Epigrammatist Owen hath this Hexastic.

Drake, pererrati quem novit terminus Orbis, Quem{que} semel mundi vidit utrum{que} latus, Si taceant homines, facient Te sidera notum, At{que} loqui de Te discet uter{que} polus. Plus ultra Herculeas inscribas Drake columnas, Et Magno dicas Hercule Maior Ego.

I passe now to Dorsetshire, which Province were it commendable for no o∣ther benefit, as it is for many, yet Biertport doth make it singular for the great plenty of Hemp which growes there, whereof Cable and Ropes for shipping are made. But Somersetshire what a beautiful blessed County it is, wherein the City of Bristol shines as a jewel in the bosse of a ring, for indeede that City affords plenty of Diamonds; a great Merchantile Town situate upon the Avon, who not farre off disgorgeth her selfe into the Severn: In the craggy Rocks of this Avon, Diamonds are cut out in that plenty, that they are carried away by pecks full; and on the other side there is an extraordinary hard kind of flintstones found, which are fetch'd for other Countries. Wilt∣shire is famous for the martial courage of her Children, who in times pass'd did represse the fury and stop the progresse of the Danes, that they should passe no further Southward that way. There Warder Castle stands, made famous by the Noble Baron Iohn Arundel, who receives his Title of honor from it, for having perform'd such noble exploits against the sworn Enemy of Christ∣endom the Great Turk; for which the Emperor Rodulphus did put a deserved mark of honor upon him, by making him a Count of the Empire, and the merit of the cause is thus mentioned in his Patent. Quod fortiter & strenuè se gessisset in apert is praeliis, & in Civitatum & Castrorum oppugnationibus, & spectato forti∣tudinis exemplo in expugnatione oppidi aquatici juxta Strigonium, vexillum Turcis sua manu eripuit, Ipsum, omnes{que} & singulos liberos haeredes & posteros, & descen∣dentes legitimos vtriusque sexus natos, aeterna{que} serie nascituros, veros sacri Im∣perii Comites & Comitissas Creavimus, fecimus, & nominavimus, tituloque, honore & dignitate comitatus Imperialis auximus, & insignivimus. Because the foresaid Iohn Arundel had comported him magnanimously and stoutly in open field∣fights, as also in the oppugnation and beleagrings of Cities and Castles, and for that notable example of fortitude in storming and subduing a Town hard by Strigonium in Hungary, where he tooke with his own hand the Turkes co∣lours; We therefore have created, made and nominated the said Iohn Arundel, himself, and all and every of his Children, Heirs, and Posterity of both sexes lawfully descended, or shall by eternal propogation issue thence, to be Counts and Countesses of the sacred Empire, and do dignifie and adorn them with honor and title accordingly.

Hampshire is remarkable for many things, specially for the pretty Port Town Southhampton, where King Canutus the Dane did a memorable Act: for one day having many Parasits and Temporizers about him, who did magnifie his Power, and in a manner Idolize, by calling him Great Monarch of Land, of Sea, and men; The King listning unto them with silence upon the Sea-shore, caus'd his Chair of state to be brought thither, wherein being sate in Majesty upon the Sands, it being flowing water, he made a speech unto the Sea, say∣ing, Tu meae ditionis es, & Terra in qua sedeo mea est; nec fuit qui meo resisteret Imperio. Impero igitur tibi ne in Terram meam ascendas, nec vestes, nec membra Dominatoris tui madefacias. Mare verò de more conscendens Pedes Regis sine reve∣rentia madefecit, Ille igitur resiliens ait, sciant omnes habitantes Orbem, vanam & frivolam esse Regum potentiam, nec Regis quempiam nomine dignum praeter eum cujus nutui Caelum, Terram, Mare legibus obediunt aeternis: nec unquam postea co∣ronam sibi imposuit. O Sea thou belongst to my dominions, and the Earth whereon I sit is mine, nor hath there any yet resisted my commands unpunish∣ed; I command thee therefore that thou come not up to my ground, nor pre∣sume to wet the Vest, members of thy Lord. But the Sea still rising, began to bespatter and wet the Kings feet, which making him recoyl backward. He said again, Know yee all the Inhabitants of the Earth, that the power of Kings is vaine and frivolous, and none deserves the name of a King, but he at whose nod Heaven, Earth, and Sea obey his eternal Lawes. So Canutus would never wear the Crown again. Odia must not be pass'd over with silence, proud for a Royal Palace, where David the Scots King pass'd some part of his Captivity. Thir∣teen English defended this place against Lewis of France most couragiously for 15. daies. How many memorable things occur in Barkshire; Reading can shew the ashes of Henry the 1. and Matilda his Queen, Daughter to the Emperor Henry the 4. This witty Epitaph is put upon Her.

Ortu magna, viro major, sed maxima prole, Heic jacet Henrici filia, sponsa, Parens.

She was Daughter, Wife and Mother to three Henries. But the most stately Castle of Winsore deserves a kind of admiration; a most delicate and pom∣pous Palace, which hath been the cradle and Sepulchre of many Kings. Among others; Edward the third (that thunderbolt of Warre) was born there, who to excite military vertue with splendor and rewards, erected a noble society of Knights call'd the Knights of Saint George; Whereinto many Emperors, Kings, and forren Princes held it a great honor to be coopted. In the Pro∣vince of Surrey there be many Royal Palaces, there is Nonsuch house, where the amaenity and sweetnesse of the soyl and fite doth contend with the rare artifice and curiosity of the structure for priority.

Sussex is a strong peece of Earth, for her bowells are full of Iron; whereof there be huge proportions made and dispers'd to other Shires.

I come now to Kent, a very noble portion of Great Britany, abounding with Pasturage, with Medowes and fields of extraordinary fatnesse and fertility; for any kind of cattle, though never so meager, do thrive when they come to feed on Kentish Grasse. This County is very plentiful for all sorts of fruit, specially for Cherries, and 'tis a pleasure to behold the Orchards when they are ripe. This delicate fruit was brought to Rome by Lucullus from Pon∣tus 600. years after the founding of the City, and by the Romans brought to Britany, and 'tis remarkable how the vein of Earth and genius of that soyle doth agree with that fruit. This Noble County enjoyes greater priviledges then any other, for Kent was never conquer'd by the Norman, but by way of treaty; she conform'd upon such conditions: By her shores lie all the Arsenals, and Docks, where the royal Shipps are built. There is Canterbury an antient City, the Metropolitan seat of the Archbishop and primate of all England;

call'd by Urban the 2. the Patriarch of the other World. There stands Dover with a stupendous high Castle, which seems to menace France, that stands op∣posite and in sight of it. We will leave Kent and go to the Severn, on whose banks the gentle City of Glocester, built first by Claudius Caesar, doth stand, with divers other very jolly rich Towns, as Worcester, Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth, Teuxbury; and that Noble River of Severn doth part England from the anti∣ent Country of Wales. In so much that He, who is master of the Severn, may be said to be master of the 3^d. part of England in point of Power. I have a great mind now to come to Oxford, a little Earthly Paradise for situation, sa∣lubrity of air, and sweetnesse of soyl, most daintily watered, and crested about with hills a convenient distance off; because she might have a freer respirati∣on. But the prime thing which graceth this delightful City, is, that renown∣ed University which is founded there: she is rank'd among the 4. principal A∣cademies of Europe for antiquity, for number of Colledges, for large exhibi∣tions to students; for a Library they may compare with the Vatican. The story relates that in the reign of Edward the first, there were thirty thousand stu∣dents in Oxford, which did homage to the Muses. Hear what Lipsius saith, U∣num Oxoniense Collegium decem Belgica: One Oxford Colledge is worth ten Flemish. Richard the first, call'd the Lionhearted, for the vastnesse of his spirit, was born here, He who built the walls of Vienna at his Victorious return from Palestine: It is a great pleasure to passe from Oxford to Buckinghamshire, to see those numerous heards of sheep which graze there, and bear excellent Wooll. Bedfordshire among other things hath such large fieldes of Beanes and Pease, that it is a great delight to behold them, for they make the very air redolent, and perfume it with a kind of fragrancy. The County of Hartford hath all Commodities in it. Verolam stands there, famous for the Protomartyr of Brita∣ny, Saint Albons. Middlesex comes next, wherein there are many memorable places, but that which illustrates all the rest, and indeed the whole Iland, is the potent, and populous vast city of London, Englands Imperial Chamber; one of the greatest eyes of Christendom. There you have as proud, and as deep a Navigable River as ever made her bed between banks, you have an antient inexpugnable Tower, you have two exchanges, old and new, of most curious structure, you have the largest Hall at Westminster for tribunals of Justice of any in the World. The King hath divers Royal Palaces there: There is a Bridge of ninteen large high Arches over the rapid profound River of Thames, which would astonish you to behold, and indeed it may be called one of the wonders of the World, all circumstances considered; you have in the heart of the City, and the highest peece of ground, the antient Church of Saint Paul, one of the stateliest piles of stone that ever was reard: this stately Temple is founded upon Faith; for underneath there is another subterranean Parish Church, which is a rarity that no other I know of hath through all the Christian World. There is Westward a large Abbey, the sight whereof would strike devotion into the beholder, and a most curious Chappel annexed there∣unto, call'd Henry the sevenths Chappel, which, as Leland saith, may be call'd Orbis miraculum. And judge you if London in the time of William the Con∣queror could send out forty thousand foot, and twenty thousand horse, as the Annals have it, how many would she be able to set forth now that she is more opulent, more peopled, and greater in all dimensions by the 6^d. part; for her Suburbs are of more extent then her self, so that some have compar'd her to a narrow crown'd hat with broad brimms. There are more parish Churches there then in Rome, viz. 122. There are divers Hospitals, both for Orphans, which come to above 600. and other poor people of both sexes above 1200. in so much that one may say that poverty is no where better hous'd and fed then there.

I goe now from London to Essex, a most fruitfull and well hedg'd Country: among other things she is famous for Iohn Hawknood, whom the Italians,

among whom he was so well known, call Aucutho; nor was he more known than honour'd by them; for in regard of the rare documents he gave for Mili∣tary discipline, the Senate of Florence rays'd a Statue and Tomb for him. There is old Walden in that Country, where excellent Saffron growes; there is Colchester, where the best Oysters are, and Dunmow, which hath the proverb for the best Bacon. I pass to Suffolk, a spritefull pleasant Country; and Doctor Despotino, an Italian Physitian, affirm'd that the healthfullest air under hea∣ven, is that which moves over Saint Edmondsberry. That famous Navigator, Sir Thomas Cavendish, who sailed about the World, makes this Country famous for his Nativity there. Norfolk lies next, a County full of acute wits, and a∣bounding with Lawyers; Norwich is the Metropolis, a large City, and full of Artisans; for there are hardly found so many Loomes any where. Now comes in Cambridgeshire, a self-sufficient County, where the antient Academy of Cambridge stands still flourishing with scientificall wits, and rare acute capaci∣ties in all professions, in all faculties and knowledge, and reputed all the world over for a most learned University: and she must needs be so, being so near allyed to Oxford, as to be her only Sister, and having such stately seats for the Muses, though the circumjacent soyl, and site on Camus banks be not so pleasant as that which stands on Isis. Huntingdonshire her neighbour is famous for rurall Philosophy; upon a time the Town of Gormonchester entertain'd the King, in a kinde of pomp, with ninescore Ploughs. Northampton is full of noble Townes, Villages, and Churches, whereof most are of a Danish built; for you shall behold at once in some places, thirty holy Pyramids or Steeples as you pass along, and the field cover'd all over with sheep. Leicestershire doth benefit all her neighbours, and warm them with her Cole-mines, which she distributes up and down. Lincoln was us'd to be a well devoted County; for in her chief Town there are half a hundred of Churches, wherof the Minster or Cathedrall Church is one of the most conspicuous and visiblest Church in the World. Notingham for delightfull prospects hath not her fellow; there you have true Troglodits, as on the Mountaines of the Moon in Ethiopia, that hew their houses out of Rocks. This Country is singular for Liquorish. Derby lies next, famous for the best Ale; on the West parts her bowels are pregnant with excellent lead, in somuch that the Chymists say that the Planet Saturn, who presides over Lead, is more benign to the English than to the French. Warwick excels for Fabrarian inventions, for Smiths work. Worcester for Salt-pits, and delicate Sider; for Pears and Apples grow there, as also in Gloucestershire, up and down the Hedges and Highwayes. Among other Fish which the Severn, which waters her soyl, doth afford, Salmon is one, and 'tis the best in the world, which the Romans confessed. The Trent, called so for thirty species of Fishes that shee breeds, doth make Staffordshire of extraordinary account; others will have that River called so, because that thirty other Rivers do pay her tribute, and disemboke into her. There is in this County a Lake of an ad∣mirable nature, that no beast will enter into, though pursued never so close by dogges; for they will rather dye than goe in: and as Necham hath it, this Lake is Prophetique; for when her waters roare, it is a presage of some ill.

Rugitu lacus est eventus praeco futuri, Cujus aquis fera se credere nulla solet: Instet odora canum virtus, mors instet acerba, Non tamen intrabit exagitata lacum.

Shropshire for amenity of soyl, and neatnesse of well pav'd streets, yeelds to none; She is a Peninsula, compassed about every where with the Severn, ex∣cept

one little neck of land, so that she beares the form of a horshooe. Che∣shire her neighbour is the Shire of men; she affords also good store of salt; there is no Shire that is fuller of Gentry. Hereford is a delicate little County, very frugiferous; for passengers as they goe along the highwayes may pluck Apples, Peares, and Plums off the trees without offence; she hath good store of Marble, and her Lemsters ore, or wool, yeelds nothing in finess to the Spa∣nish, or that of Apulia and Tarentum; and judge you of the salubrity and whol∣somnesse of this County, when in the Town of Hereford, there was a Morris∣dance of tenne men taken up on the Welsh side, that made above a thousand years betwixt them, the one supplying what the other wanted of a hundred; and one Philip Squire the Tabourer, and Bess Gwin the Maidmarian, were a∣bove a hundred a peece. Caermarthan, old Maridunum, the Court of the British Kings, is a gentile County. Giraldus speakes of a Well there that in i∣mitation of the sea doth ebbe and flow every four and twenty houres. Then you have Pembrockshire, where there are many Families of the Flemish race, that were sent to colonize there by King Henry, for bridling of the Welsh. This Country is call'd little England beyond Wales, because the English tongue is so frequent among them: This County is also celebrous for Milford Ha∣ven, the most comodious and capacious Port in the world; for a thousand sayles of Ships may ride at Anchor there in severall Creeks, and one not in sight of the other; and from hence she takes her denomination. She hath also an ancient stately Temple at Saint Davids, call'd Menevia, the seat of an Arch∣bishop in times past: it stands in a solitary by-corner of the whole Isle, a place fittest for contemplation, and for sequestring the spirits for holy exer∣cises of any upon the earth. Next is Cardiganshire, which hath the River Towy, that affords rare Salmon, which fish thirsting after fresh water, doth use to put himself in a circle, and by a naturall slight taking his tayle in his mouth, will spring and leap up three cubits high over Wears into the fresh water, whence he cannot goe back, as Ausonius hath very elegantly.

Nec te puniceo rutilantem vis•…•…cre salmo, Transierim, latae cujus vaga verbera caudae Gurgite de medio summas referuntur in undas.

M•…•…n gomery shire hath good Horses, Merioneth shire hath a famous Lake call'd Pimble meare, which the River Deva runnes through, and goes out of the same bignesse as she enters; but that which is wonderfull, is that there is a Fish call'd Guiniad, which the Lake breeds, and cannot abide the river, and the river hath Salmons that cannot abide the Lake water, which Leland de∣scribes very hansomly;

Illud habet certè lacus admirabile dictu, Quantumvis magna pluvia non aestuat, atqui Aere turbato, si ventus murmura tollat, Excrescit subitò rapidis violentior undis, Et tumido superat contemptas flumine ripas.

The River Conow makes Arvon pretious, where there are Musles bred, wher∣in there are plenty of pearl found, insomuch that I had it from a good hand, that one of those pearles was sold for two hundred and fifty Crownes. Denbigh and Flintshire are wholsome high crested Countreyes. Now for the County of York it may be called a little Kingdome of it self for the spaciousness of it, being halfe as bigge as all the fix United Provinces in the Netherlands.

There is a famous Quarrey there, whence is digged a Free-stone, which is soft at first, but receives hardness and incrustation by the air. There is also a rare Well, called Dropping Well, which transmutes wood into stone; there is Mou∣grave Castle, where there is good store of Rozin, with Jet and Agat stones, which is ranked among Jewels, as Marbodaeus sings wittily,

Nascitur in Lycia lapis, & prope gemma Gagates, Sed genus eximium faecunda Britannia mittit, Lucidus & niger est, levis & levissimus idem, Vicinas paleas t•…•…ahit attritu calefactus, Ardet aqua lotus, restinguitur unctus olivo.

Among other properties of this Stone, it burns in water, and that burning is extinguished onely by oyl.

In this Province stands Scarborough Castle highly mounted; the Sea under∣neath is almost as full of fish as of water, and this the Hollanders know well, when they fish there for Herring, with the leave of the Castle, not otherwise; so that it may be said the English doe reserve the honour to themselves, but pass over the profit to others. There is Rippon Temple, famous for Saint VVil∣frids Needle, which is a hole to try the chastity of woemen, and onely the honest can passe through it: There is Halifax, who hath a peculiar mode of punishment, which is an axe tied to a pulley, which falls down upon the neck of the Malefactor, and chops it off in a trice, and heretofore they were us'd to punish first, and examine the cause afterward. In this County there is a jolley Port Town call'd Kingston upon Hull, which hath the true resem∣blance of a Low-country Town; for she lies so low and flat, that she can in∣ound and overwhelm the Country four miles land-ward. The Metropolis of this County is Eboracum, called York, where a high Provinciall Magistrate was used to keep Court, to determine all causes from Trent to Tweed. This City hath been famous for the residence of Emperours; for Severus had his Palace here, Antoninus Augustus died here, and breathing his last he sayd, Turbatam Rempublicam ubi{que} accepi, pacatam Britannis relinquo, I found the Commonwealth full of troubles, I leave it peaceable. A hundred yeares after Severus, Flavius Valerius Constantinus having got Constantin the Great by his former Wife Helene, a British Lady, kept his Court here. I will now to Rich∣mondshire, whose Mountaines swell with three severall Commodities, with Brasse, Lead, and Cole: The River Swale runnes hard by, celebrous and sa∣cred in regard the story speakes of ten thousand Pagans that were baptised and regenerated there in one day by Paulinus: Here dwels the fruitful race of the Metcalfs, whereof one of them being Sherif, brought three hundred of his own name in Blew-coats to wait on the Itinerant Judges at the Grand Sessions. There confines to the Province of York, the Bishoprick of Durham, a County Palatine, whereof the Bishop is perpetuall Sherif, there is a sump∣tuous antient Cathedrall Church belongs to it, and the soyl is so fat, that the fertility thereof doth contend with the labour of the Tiller. Then there is Lan∣cashire, that brings forth goodly Oxen with larger hornes than ordinary; be∣sides that Country produceth the handsomest and best favour'dst women of any in the whole Iland. VVestmerland excells in the Town of Kendall for curious Artists in all sorts of Wooll. Cumberland is singular for abundance of Fish, and doth upbrayd the negligence of the Inhabitants, who might make a farre greater emolument of them; there runnes there the precious River of Irt, which affords plenty of Pearle. This County also hath Mines of Copper, amongst which is found some Gold ore; which Mines were first discovered by a Countryman of ours, Gemanus Augustan; insomuch

that Caesar & Cicero were in the wrong, when one saith, that he was forc'd to bring brasse to Britany for Coining of Money, & the other saith, neque Argenti scrupulum ullum esse in Insula Britannica; for in Cardigan in Wales, there is both a Silver Mine, and a Mint, which emploies about three hundred men every day in the week, and makes them rich returnes. And for other Minerals, there is not onely enough to satisfie the Natives, but to furnish other parts of the World besides, which is done by frequent transportation. The most Nor∣thern County of England is Northumberland, which is full of Warlike stout people; for every Gentlemans house there is built Castlewise, with Turrets and Motes.

I have hitherto most noble Princes spoken of the best part of Great Bri∣tain, which is England. I will now crosse Offa's Dike, which is a continued Mount of Earth that extends from Sea to Sea, which the Romans did cast up to make a partition twixt England and Scotland; there is another Water-par∣tition that Nature hath put betwixt them, which is the Tweed; but before I part with England, I will give you that Character which Pope Innocent the 4^th. gave of her. Anglia est verè hortus deliciarum, & puteus inexhau∣stus, England, saith he, is a true Garden of delicacies, and an inexhaustible Well. But there is not any, who can make a true estimate of England, but he who hath seen her—auget praesentia famam. Touching this Elo∣gium of mine, I confesse it too barren to set forth her fertility.

I will now to Scotland, which by King Iames was united to England, he was the first who may be said to break down the partition-wall by way of descent, Henricus Rosas, Regna Iacobus. Henry the eighth joyn'd the two Roses, and King Iames joyn'd the two Kingdomes. And here it is worth the observing, how Keneth the Pict being utterly destroyed, carried with him a fatal stone out of Ireland, and placed it in a woodden chaire in Scone-Monastery, with this inscription engraven upon it.

Ni fallat Fatum, Scoti quocun{que} locatum Invenient lapidem, regnare tenentur ibidem.

If Fate failes not, The Scots where e're they find This stone, there they shall raign, and rule mankind.

This Northern Kingdome is fenc'd with the same salt ditch as England is. It is much longer then it is in latitude, in so much that there is never a house there that is much above twenty miles distant from the Sea. There is plenty of Fish, Foule and Flesh there. In Sutherland there are Mountaines that afford fair white Marble, and among the craggs of Craford there was a Gold Mine discover'd in the time of Iames the fourth. But that which re∣dounds most to the glory of Scotland, is, that they can shew a cataloge of Kings for above twenty ages, which come to the number of 109. from Fergusius to Charles the first. There hath a strong antient league been struck betwixt this Nation and the French, who confederated alwaies with them against England upon all occasions. In so much that the French King hath a gard of Scots ever about his person, call'd la Garde de la manche; then there is a gard of Swisse, and the French is last.

I passe now from Scotland to Ireland, which is no long voyage, it is but twelve leagues distance over a working and angry Sea, full of Rocks and little Ilands, whereof there are hundreds about the two Iles call'd the Orcades and Hebrides. Ireland is a Noble and very considerable Region, if you

explore either the fatnesse of the soyl, the conveniency of Ports and Creekes, the multitudes of fresh Rivers, and huge loughs, as also the Inhabitants who are a robust•…•…, nimble, and well timbred people. In so much that Giral∣dus saith, Naturam hoc Zephyri regnum benigniori oculo respexisse, Nature did look upon this Western Kingdom with a more benign aspect then ordinary: The temper of the air is such, that neither the summer solstice forceth them to seek shades or Caves against the violence of the heat, and in the Winter sol∣stice they may make a shift to be without fire against the rigor of the cold. There are cattle there in an incredible abundance; In so much that in one of the four Provinces alone, there were reckon'd there hundred and twen∣ty thousand head of cattle at one time. Bees do thrive and swarm there infi∣nitely in hollow trees up and downe, as well as in hives. They were Christians with the first, for Saint Patrik, a Britain born, did convert them, where he did many miracles. They so adore the memory of him, that it is a common saying among them, That if Christ had not been Christ when he was Christ, Saint Patrik had been Christ. Hereupon many famous men flourished in Ireland, both for sanctitie of the life and Doctrine, which the Roman Eccle∣siastic history speakes of, as Caelius Sedulius the Priest, Columba, Colmannus, Aidanus, Gallus Kilianus, Maydulphus, Brendanus, and divers of a holy and austere Monastique life, who contemned the World, with the vanity and riches thereof. For it is recorded of Columbanus, who being offered great mat∣ters by one of the Kings of France,) if he would not depart the Country, (as Eusebius writes also of Thaddeus, he answer'd, non decere videlicet ut alienas divitias amplecterentur, qui Christi nomine suas dereliquissent, It was not fitting that any should embrace other mens riches, who for Christ's sake had aban∣doned their own. Nay, it is recorded in good story, that the Saxons (now English) cross'd over those stormy Seas to the mart of learning, which was then famous in Ireland, so that you shall find it often mentioned in the Eng∣lish Annalls, how such a one amandatus est in Hyberniam ad disciplinam, he was sent to Ireland to be taught, and in the life of Sulgenus, who lived neere upon 700. years since, these verses are found.

Exemplo patrum commotus amore legendi, Ivit ad Hybernos sophiâ mirabile claros.

According to the example of his Ancestors, he went to Ireland for love of learning, who were marvellously famous for wisdom and knowledge. This Iland doth partake with Creet, now Candie, in one property, which is, that she produceth no Venemous creature, as Toads, Vipers, Snakes, Spiders, and the like; and if any be brought thither, they die. It is wonderfull what huge confluences of birds do flutter about the shores of this Iland, as also of Scotland, which offuscate the broad face of Heaven sometimes, and likewise such huge shoales of Fish. A thousand things more might be spoken of these Ilands which are fitter for a Volume then a Panegyrical Oration. I will end with the end of the World, and that is the Ile of Shetland, which most of your great Geographers take to be that ultima Thule that terminates the Earth, which ly∣eth under 63. degrees, and the most Northern point of Scotland.

And now most Noble Princes since the most generous Ile of Great Britain, and her handmaid Ilands, which indeed are without number, doth as it were overflow with abundance of all commodities that conduce to the welfare and felicity of mankind, and is able to afford her neighbours enough besides, as the Hollander confesseth, when he saith, that he lives partly upon the Idle∣nesse and superfluity of the English: Since the antient Britaines were the first displayers of Christianity in most part of the Western World; Since of late years

they have been such Navigators, that they have swom like Leviathans to both the Indies, yea, to the other Hemisphere of the Earth among the Antipo∣des; since that in the Newfound World they have so many Colonies, Plan∣tations and Ilands; yea, a good part of the Continent of America annexed to the Crown of England. And since that Her inhabitants for Comelines and courage, for arts and armes, as the Romans themselves confessed, whose con∣quests in other places had no horizon—Invictos Romano Marte Britan∣nos; I say, that all circumstances and advantages Maturely considered, Great Britain may well be a Candidate, and conte nd for priority, and the Dicta∣torship with other Provinces of Europe. For my part, according to the motto upon Saint George his Garter, Hony soit quimaly pen∣se, let him be beraid who thinks any hurt by holding this opinion, which neverthelesse I most humbly submit to this Princely Tribunall.