174 A PROCLAMATION DRAWN FOR 



ness and contentment in the devolving of these king 

 doms, unto our royal person, for any addition or 

 increase of glory, power, or riches, as in this, that it 

 is so manifest an evidence unto us, especially the 

 manner of it considered, that we stand, though un 

 worthy, in God s favour, who hath put more means 

 into our hands to reward our friends and servants, 

 and to pardon and obliterate injuries, and to comfort 

 and relieve the hearts and estates of our people and 

 loving subjects, and chiefly to advance the holy reli 

 gion and Church of Almighty God, and to deserve 

 well of the Christian commonwealth. And more 

 especially we cannot but gratulate and rejoice in this 

 one point, that it hath pleased God to make us the 

 instrument, and, as it were, the corner-stone, to unite 

 these two mighty and warlike nations of England 

 and Scotland into one kingdom. For although these 

 two nations are situate upon the continent of one 

 island, and are undivided either by seas or moun 

 tains, or by diversity of language ; and although our 

 neighbour kingdoms of Spain and France have 

 already had the happiness to be re-united in the 

 several members of those kingdoms formerly dis 

 joined : yet in this island it appeareth not in the 

 records of any true history, no nor scarcely in the 

 conceit of any fabulous narration or tradition, that 

 this whole island of Great Britain was ever united 

 under one sovereign prince before this day. Which 

 as we cannot but take as a singular honour and 

 favour of God unto ourselves ; so we may conceive 

 good hope that the kingdoms of Christendom stand- 



