422 OBSERVATIONS ON A LIBEL. 



ones did seek to bear out those that did depend 

 upon them. So as the kings of this realm, finding 

 long since that kind of commandment in noblemen 

 unsafe unto their crown, and inconvenient unto 

 their people, thought meet to restrain the same by 

 provision of laws ; whereupon grew the statute 

 of retainers ; so as men now depend upon the prince 

 and the laws, and upon no other ; a matter which 

 hath also a congruity with the nature of the time, 

 as may be seen in other countries ; namely, in Spain, 

 where their grandees are nothing so potent and so 

 absolute as they have been in times past. But 

 otherwise, it may be truly affirmed, that the rights 

 and pre-eminencies of the nobility were never more 

 duly and exactly preserved unto them, than they 

 have been in her majesty s time ; the precedence of 

 knights given to the younger sons of barons ; 

 no subpoenas awarded against the nobility out of 

 the chancery, but letters ; no answer upon oath, 

 but upon honour : besides a number of other pri 

 vileges in parliament, court, and country. So like 

 wise for the countenance of her majesty and the 

 state, in lieutenancies, commissions, offices, and the 

 like, there was never a more honourable and graceful 

 regard had of the nobility ; neither was there ever 

 a more faithful remembrancer and exacter of all 

 these particular pre-eminencies unto them ; nor a 

 more diligent searcher and register of their pedi 

 grees, alliances, and all memorials of honour, than 

 that man, whom he chargeth to have overthrown 

 the nobility ; because a few of them by immoderate 



