LAUKENCE KEYMIS a.d. 



1596. 

 this rich and great empire: and having once planted 

 there, may for ever (by the favour of God) holde and 

 keepe it, Contra ludasos & Gentes. Subjects, I doubt 

 not, may through her Majesties gracious sufferance, 

 joyning their strength together, invade, spoyle, and 

 overrunne it, returning with golde and great riches. 

 But what good of perpetuitie can followe thereof? 

 Or who can hope that they will take any other course 

 then such, as tendeth to a private and present benefite; 

 considering that an Empire once obtained, is of con- 

 gruitie, howe, and wheresoever the charge shall growe, 

 to bee annexed unto the crowne ? The riches of this 

 place are not fit for any private estate : no question, 

 they will rather proove sufficient to crosse and counter- 

 vail the Spaniard his proceedings in all partes of Christen- 

 dome, where his money maketh way to his ambition. 



If the necessitie of following this enterprise doth 

 nothing urge us, because in some case better a mis- 

 chiefe, then an inconvenience : let the conveniencie 

 thereof somewat moove us, in respect both of so many 

 Gentlemen, souldiers, and younger brothers, who, if for 

 want of employment they doe not die like cloyed 

 cattell in ranke easefulnesse ; are enforced for mainten- 

 ance sake, sometimes to take shamefull and unlawfull 

 courses : and in respect of so many handycraftsmen 

 having able bodies, that doe live in cleannesse of teeth 

 and povertie. To sacrifice the children of Belial unto 

 the common weale, is not to defile the lande with blood, 

 because the lawe of God doeth not prohibite it, and [III. 687.] 

 the execution of justice requireth it to bee so : but yet 

 if the waterboughes, that sucke and feede on the juice, 

 and nourishment that the fruitefull branches should live 

 by, are to bee cut downe from the tree, and not 

 regarded: luckie and prosperous bee that right hande, 

 that shall plant and possesse a soyle, where they may 

 fructifie, increase, and growe to good : thrise honour- 

 able and blessed bee the memorie of so charitable a 

 deede, from one generation to another. 



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