APPENDICES 



APPENDIX A (pp. 36-7 ante) 



{State Papers^ Domestic, Elizabeth. Vol. cxviii. No. 12.) 



A discourse I am bowld (most excellent Soueraigne) to exercise my pen 



how hei touching matters of state, because I am a syllie member of this 



may annoy Common weale of England, and doe not offer my self therein as an 



the K. of Instructor, or a reformer, but as a Welwiller to yo^ Ma*^® and 



bpayne. ^^^ Contrie, wherein the meanest or simplest ought not to yeeld 



them selves second to the best, or wisest. In w°^ respect I hope 



to be pardoned, if through want of iudgement I be mistaken 



herein. And as to the matter. 



The safety of Principates, Monarchies, and Comon weales, 

 rest chiefly on making theire enemies weake, and poore, and 

 themselves strong and rich. . . . 



First yo^ highnes owght vndoubtedly to seeke the kingdome 

 of heaven, and vppon that fowndacion to beleeve that there can 

 never be constant, and firme league of amytie betwene those 

 princes, whose devision is planted by the woorme of theire 

 consciences. So that theire legues and fayre wordes, ought to 

 be held but as Mermaydes songes, sweete poysons, or mac- 

 quesites, that abuse w*^ owtward plawsabilytie, and gay showes. 

 For in troth as in such leagues there is no assurance; so 

 christian princes ought not for any respect to combyne themselves 

 in amytie w*^ such as are at open and professed warres w*^ God 

 himself. For non est consilium omnino contra Deum. So that 

 no State or common weale can florishe, where the first and 

 principall care is not for Goddes glorie, and for thadvaunsing of 

 the pollisies of his spirituall kingdome, w^'^ don, yo'" Ma*^^ is to 

 thinck that it is more then tyme to pare theire nayles by the 

 stumpes, that are most readie prest to pluck the crowne (as it 

 were in despite of God) from yo'^ highnes head, not only by 

 foraine force: but also by stirring vp of home factions. And 

 therefore the best waie is first to purge, or at least wise to 



