The third is of them which forget the benefits they have received. The fourth and worst of all is, when, for benefits, injury and hurt is recompensed. After this manner, the Ephraimites behaved themselves towards. Jephtha; who, because he had gotten the victory, would have burned him and all his. What else is this, than to contemn both the benefits, and him that bestoweth them? But this is most of all the point of unthankful men, when neither men, nor other creatures, are despised in their so doing, but God himself contemned. For, whatsoever benefits we receive of men, we have them of God, who useth the help of men to relieve the miserable and afflicted. Wherefore they, which are usgrateful, are void of charity, as well towards God, as towards men. But thou wilt say, when men, that bestow benefits, do sometimes light upon ungrateful persons, what ought they to do? shall they straightway withdraw their well-doing from them? Undoubtedly, they deserve this. Howbeit, we must not forthwith do it, because men (by reason that nature is corrupted) are slow, neither are they easily moved to do their duty; therefore we must go forward in well-doing, for he, who is not moved to be thankful by the first benefit, will, peradventure, be stirred by the second, third, fourth, or fifth: But if he altogether continue in his ingratitude, we may justly withdraw from him our benefits; not moved thereunto by hatred or desire of revenge, but that he may be corrected, and that he do not continually disdain the benefits, which are the gifts of God. Kings do not make every citizen a ruler, a president, or other officer belonging to a magistrate, but them only that are just and wise: which, if they do not, they execute not their But when they give unto their people liberal gifts, or a banquet, or distribute corn, because, without great labour and pain, they cannot separate the good citizens from the bad, therefore they bestow such things as are of this kind, upon all men, one with another; and chuse rather to deserve well of evil citizens, than to defraud the good of their liberality, for whose sake they are chiefly moved to be bountiful towards the people. Let us also imitate this, that when we bestow private things, although we light upon one that is ungrateful, let not us straightway withdraw from him our liberality, but let us behave ourselves in such manner, as we have before declared; that if he stubbornly proceed to be ungrateful, let us, at length, for his correction sake, cease to bestow any benefit upon him. But such benefits as are common or publick, let us continually bestow them, yea, even upon the ungrateful, as we are of God commanded. And let us rather chuse to have our good things distributed to godly and holy men, than to cease off from doing good, because the wicked should not be partakers of them, CHAP. X. OF GENTLENESS AND AFFABILITY. THE virtue, which followeth things delightful in sports, is sirpanía, to wit, gentleness and affability in speech. It is otherwise a necessary thing, for as the body hath need of rest, so the mind to be refreshed with some pleasure: Yet must we beware that we be not too forward in those things, lest we hurt, and lest that we speak any unclean thing. Moreover, we must observe these circumstances, to wit, when, with whom, and how, and that it be done with such words and actions, as are convenient. The excess is Boraxía, to wit, when men use reproachful kind of scoffing, when they speak those things that are filthy, and hurt others, and have no consideration of time, manner, or persons. Bus signifieth an altar, and, in old time, about altars, there was meat; and then there sat jesters about the altars, that they, by their much babbling (which oftentimes was very uncivil) might make men merry: These are said to be rude and rustical fellows; or else, as they which are pleasant may be called civil, so these other may be called uncivil. THE CONCLUSION. YOU have heard (Philosarchus) the treatises of those things which you desired, and my judgment upon them likewise; which request of yours I refused not to perform, in regard that I thought the probabilities of them would be special motives to abandon, and sequester far from you, that carnal and voluptuous manner of living; which, if they shall, then I shall think myself well contented, and my labours sufficiently discharged: If otherwise, yet I shall seem to have performed the duty of a loving and faithful friend. KING JAMES'S SPEECH ΤΟ HIS FIRST PARLIAMENT, Monday, the Nineteenth of March, 1603. BUT of one thing I would have the papists of this land to be ad monished, that they presume not so much upon my lenity, because I would be loth to be thought a persecutor, as thereupon to think it lawful for them daily to increase their number and strength in this kingdom; whereby, if not in my time, at least in the time of my posterity, they might be in hope to erect their religion again. No, let them assure themselves, that, as I am a friend to their persons, if they be good subjects, so am I an avowed enemy, and do denounce mortal war to their errors; and that, as I would be sorry to be driven, by their ill behaviour, from the protection, and conservation of their bodies and lives, so will I never cease, as far as I can, to tread down their errors and wrong opinions, for I could not permit the increase and growing of their religion, without first betraying of myself, and mine own conscience. Secondly, This whole isle, as well the part I am come from, as the part I remain in, in betraying their liberties, and reducing them to the former slavish yoke, which both had cast off before I came amongst them. And Thirdly, The liberty of the crown in my posterity, which I should leave again under a new slavery, having found it left free to me by my predecessors; and therefore would I wish all good subjects, that are deceived with that corruption, first, if they find any beginning of instinction in themselves of knowledge, and love to the truth, to foster the same by all lawful means, and to beware of quenching the spirit that worketh within them; and, if they can find as yet no motion tending that way, to be studious to read and confer with learned men, and to use all such means as may further their resolution; assuring themselves, that, as long as they are disconformable in religion from us, they cannot be but half my subjects, be able to do but half service, and I to want the best half of them, which is their souls. A RELATION Of such Things as were observed to happen in the Journey of THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES, EARL OF NOTTINGHAM, Lord High Admiral of England, His Highness's Ambassador to the King of Spain: Being sent thither to take the Oath of the said King, for the Maintenance of Peace between the two famous Kings of Great-Britain and Spain, according to the several Articles formerly concluded on by the Constable of Castile in England in the Month of August, 1604. Set forth by Authority. By Rob. Treswell, Esq. Somerset-Herald. Loudon, printed by Melchisedeck Bradwood for Gregory Seaton, and are to be sold at his Shop under Aldersgate, 1605. Quarto, containing forty six Pages, including the Preface. This curious piece, which stands in the seventeenth place of the catalogue of our pamphlets, was written by one of the Earl's retinue, Robert Treswell, Esq. Somerset-Herald, and is recommended for publication by a gentleman at Oxford, who, in his letter to the printer, says, that,' It is not to be met with, except in the Bodleian Library, Oxon, and in that of the Earl of Oxford, which is here exhibited; and that, as it will illustrate, as well as correct the historiaus in the reign of King James the First, he desires it to be reprinted as a real curiosity.' And we believe it will be acceptable to all our subscribers, as it gives a better idea of the court of Madrid, as well as of the general disposition of the Spaniards, and of some of the customs peculiar to them at that time, than can be met with in any other English writer: Besides, it must be allowed to be a most agreeable and entertaining relation; for, among other varieties, the reader is here presented with an account of the famous procession of Corpus Christi, and of a Buil Feast and Spanish Tournament, and other kind of diversions, such as masquerades, &c. To the Reader. HAVING collected together many general observations in that honourable journey into Spain, lately performed by the Right Honourable and worthy Earl, the Earl of Nottingham; although, amongst many reasons, which persuaded me to be therein to myself secret, and to the world sparing, in divulging this treatise, I found especially (and which I must of necessity confess) my own weakness in compiling the same and making it fit and worthy of so general a reading as by this consequence it must undergo; yet, being over-weighed with many especial motives which I could not well answer or contradict, I thought rather to expose myself to the favourable censure of the worthiest and best-minded (who rather respect a plain and home-bred stile, yet true, than a tale consisting of eloquent phrases, but doubtful) than, pleasing myself in my own fearful humour, give cause of offence to them whom most I laboured to content. The first of these motives being, that many of my friends, knowing me to have been by especial appointment an attendant upon his Lordship in that honourable employment, and understanding of the care taken by me in observing some particulars in the same, exceedingly urged me to give them a perfect knowledge and satisfaction thereof; which, as it was a thing likely to be tedious, so could they not receive that contentment by a brief report, which a more ample relation and discourse might better afford, Another was, that, for that it came to our knowledge, how many false and ill contrived reports had been bruited abroad, after our departure from England, as well derogating from that honourable entertainment we received in general, whilst we were in Spain, as from the proceedings of his Lordship and his company in some particulars, I could not but (taxing myself of duty to his Lordship, and the rest) endeavour to satisfy all doubtful and unsatisfied minds, with relating and declaring the truth thereof. But a third, and a more especial cause is, that, since our return, one not well informed, having undertaken to know much of the proceedings of that journey, and mistaking himself in his own understanding, lately published a pamphlet of many false and erroneous observations; thereby possessing the readers with an untrue relation of that, the truth whereof they so much desired. Upon these former considerations therefore, I was advised to tender unto your generous acceptance my well-meaning endeavours; which although they cannot give that pleasure and content in reading you happily expect, yot shall they assure you what they promise: That is, a true relation of such things, which happened in that honourable journey. In reporting whereof, I had rather be condemned for plainness, than once suspected for reporting an untruth. ROB. TRESWELL, alias SOMERSET-HERALD. SQ soon as the Right Honourable Charles, Earl of Nottingham, Lord High Admiral of England, had taken notice from his Majesty, that it was his will and pleasure to employ him in this great ambassage to the King of Spain, calling to mind how honourably and richly the Duke of Fryas, Constable of Castile, and late ambassador for the said King, had formerly demeaned himself in England; presently, with a most honourable resolution, neither fearing the hazard of his person, being now aged, nor regarding the expences, that so great and honourable an employment should require, with what speed he conveniently might, endeavoured to perform his Majesty's designs and appointment herein. And therefore, by the advice of the council of England, he first resolved both what honourable personages, and what number of them might be fitting, for accompanying and attending him in this his great employment. To whom whenas particular letters from the council, by his Majesty's especial commandment, were dispatched, to give them notice to prepare themselves to attend the said noble Earl, according as his Highness had commanded; they seemed so willing and ready to perform their duty and service therein, that his Lordship was far more troubled to deny many, and that of very good sort, who voluntarily tendered their service in good will and honour of his Lordship, to attend him in this his appointed voyage, than he was at first in bethinking what company were necessary to take with him. And therefore, at last, concluding of a competent number (not without displeasing many), he resolved upon these whose names hereafter follow : The Earl of Perth. The Lord Howard of Effingham, his son and heir. The Lord Willoughby. The Lord Norris, Sir Charles Howard, Knight, his second son. Sir Thomas Howard. Knight, second son to the Earl of Suffolk. Sir John Sheffield, Knight, son and heir to the Lord Sheffield. Sir Richard Lewson, Knight, admiral of the fleet, and vice-admiral of England. Master Thomas Compton, brother to the Lord Compton. Hans Herman Van Veiscenbach, a German, and of good esteem in England. Sir Robert Drewry. Sir Robert Maunsel, treasurer of the King's navy, and vice-admiral Sir Robert Killegrew. Sir Richard Cowper, gentleman-porter of the King's house. Sir George Buck. Sir Guilford Slingsby. Sir Adolphus Cary. Sir Francis Howard, his Lordship's nephew also. Sir Sackville Trevor, rear-admiral of the fleet. Sir Walter Gore. Sir William Page. Sir Giles Hoftman. |