-a? 



Lib. II. . Of the Advancement of Learning. 6t 



For it begins with the mixt Title to a Crown, partly by might partly 

 by right: An entry by Arms; an eftablifhment by marriage ^ fo there 

 followed times anfvverabie to theie beginnings j like waves after a great 

 tempeft,, retaining their fwellings and agitations, but without extre-' 

 mity of l^orm , but well paft through by the wifdom of the Pilot, king ftmMii 

 one of the moji (undent Kiny^s of all his Vrcdcceffors. Then followed a 

 King whafe Aftions coaduftcd rather by rathnels, than counfel, had Hfw.viU, 

 much intermixture with the affairs of Europe j ballancing and inclining 

 them according as they fwayed ; In whofe time began that great Altera- 

 tion in the Ecclefiaftical State , fuch as very Icldom comes upon the 

 Stage. Then followed the Reign ofa Minor 5 then an Offer ofan Ufur- 

 pation, tho\igh it was very (hort, like a Fever for a day : Then the Reign ^''"^^ 

 ofa woman matcht with a Forreigner ; Again, of a woman that liv'd MarU 

 fblitary and unmarried. And tlic clofc of all was this happy and glo- ^''i"' 

 rious event , that is, that this Illand divided from all the world,(hould 

 be united in it felf 5 by which that ancient Oracle given to ^neas^ Virg./Er.; 

 which prefagedreft unto him 5 Antiquamexqttirite Matrem--^ (hould be ^' 

 fulfiU'd upon the moft noble Nations of Eng^land and Scotland, now 

 United in that name of Britannia^ their ancient Mother ; as a Pledge 

 and Token of the Period and ConcluQon, now found ofall Wandrings 

 and Peregrination. So that as majjive bodies once fhaken, feel certain 

 Trepidations before they fix and fettle -, ioh feeras probable, that by 

 the Providence of God, it hath come to pais. That this Monarchy^ be- lacobiw; 

 fore it Jliotild fettle and be ejiablijh'd in your Majejiy and your Royal Progeny^ ^' ^^'*'' 

 (in which I hope it is firm fixtfor ever) itfiould undergoejo many than" ' ' 

 ges, andviciJJitHdes, as prelujions of fnture Stability. 



§ As for Lives, when I think thereon, I do find ftrange that thefe 

 bur Times have Co little known, and acknowledged their own virtues 5 

 being there isfo feldom any Memorials or Records of the lives ofthofe who 

 have been eminent our times. For although Kings and fuch as have ab- 

 (blute foveraignty, may be few 3 and Princes in free Common-wealths 

 (fo many States being collefted into Monarchies,) are not many ; yet 

 however, there hath not been wanting excellent men (though living 

 under Kings.) that have deferv'd better, than an incertain and wandring 

 Fame of their memories 3 or fbme barren and naked Elegie. For here- 

 in the invention of one of the late Poets, whereby he hath well enrichc 

 the ancient Fiftion, is not inelegant : Ue fains that at the end of the 

 thread of every mans life, there vpas a Medal or Tablet, whereon the name 

 vf the Dead wasjiampt , and that time waited upon the (hears of the 

 fatal Sifter, and as foon as the Thread was cut, caught the Medals, 

 and carrying them away 3 a little after threw them out of his Bofbm in- 

 to the River Lethe. And that about the Bank there were many Birds 

 flying up and down, that would get the Medals , and after they had 

 parried them in their beaks a little. while, foon after, through negli- 

 ^■^ence fuffered them to fall into the River. Araongfl thefe Birds there 

 were a.fe\vfwans[ound, which if they got a Medal with a name, they 

 uifed to carry it to a certain Temple confecrate to Immortality. But fuch 

 y?) '4HJ are rare in our Age : And although many men more mortal in 

 til eir vigilances and ftudies, than in their bodies, defpife the Memory 

 of, *heir Name, as if it were fume or air, Animd; nil magn£ laudk cgentes : PUn. tun. 

 naj nely whofe Philofophy and feverity fpriags from that root, Nonpri- '^^^^^ ^° 



ns 



