To stand content with country quiet life:
Wherein he dwelt as one that was assign'd

To guard the same from sundry stormes of strife.
And, but when persecuting rage was rife,

His helping hand did never fail to stay
His countries staff, but held it up alway.
Nor high avaunce, nor office of availe,

Could tempt his thoughts to row beyond his reach.
By broont of books he only did assaile

The fort of fame, whereto he made his breach,

With fire of truth which God's good word doth teach.
The wealth he won was due for his degree,

He neither rose by rich reward nor fee.
And yet although he bare his sail so high,
The gale of grace did spred his course so fast,
That in his life he did right well bestow
His children all before their prime was past.
And like them so that they be like to last.
What should I say but only this in sum,
Beatus sic qui timet Dominum.
Their only skill to learning bears the bell,
And of that skill I taught poor stones to treat;
That such as would to use their learning well,
Might read these lines, and therewith oft repeat,
How here on earth his gift from God is great,
Which can employ his learning to the best.

BOOK
II.

109

Number VII.

Sir Nicolas Bacon, lord keeper, to the queen; shewing her three great enemies, France, Spain, and Rome. And the remedies to be used against each of them.

me.

MOST gracious sovereign. That which if time and MSS. pen. your affairs would have suffered, I meant to have done by present speech, I am driven by absence to do by letter; not doubting nevertheless, but that though my pen and speech were not present, yet your majesties great understanding

JI.

BOOK considered, together with the advice of your grave and wise counsillors, all things should be sufficiently foreseen and provided for. And yet my trust is, knowing (as by proof I do) your majesties gracious acceptation of things well meant, you will take this my writing (although not needful) in good part.

Your majesty knoweth right well, that perils and dangers be great or small, as the enemies that do breed and bring them forth be of great and small power. Now France, Spain, and Rome, being mighty and potent princes, and your inward enemies, as by sundry their doings it plainly appeareth, it followeth necessarily that your dangers and perills sought by them must needs be very great. As they be great, so be they imminent and at hand. Because power and occasion doth at this present concur with their wills, having made peace with their enemies. And therefore require speedy provision to withstand them; lest else the mischief be put in execution, before the remedies be provided. And so shall al things grow desperate, and all things remediless. Surely, madam, the fear of this groweth so greatly in me, that I could not be quiet in my self without remembring the same unto your majesty, according to my bounden duty. And methinks it were better for me to offend by fearing too much, than by hoping too much. The former seeketh for remedies; the second breedeth careless security whereby things be driven so long, that they 110 pass sometime the help of counsil. Whereupon I thought good to put your majesty in mind, that as your perills be three by reason of your three great enemies, so have they three easy ways and means greatly to annoy you. And you also three ready remedies to withstand them, being taken in time: the means that France hath to annoy you is by Scotland; Spain by the Low-Countries; and Rome by his musters here in England. The two former being foreign forces, and outward; this latter is intestine and inward. And how unable the people of England divided is to withstand the powers without, united, as it makes not my pen only, but my self, to quake to think of it.

II.

Now the helps contained in my understanding are these. BOOK First, to withstand France, (which hath his way by Scotland,) is to assure Scotland to England. A thing not hard to do, seeing as their state now standeth, their safety and perils stand joyned with yours. And their commodity, it will grow by such a conjunction; as these [advantages.] First, France thereby shall have no footing in Scotland; whereby they may invade your majesty on main land. But that they are first to set sail for it: a matter of very great moment, the chance of wind and weather remembred. By the second commodity your highness shall have the assistance of the force of Scotland from time to time, as well to offend the attempts of a competitor, as also to suppress rebellions that may arise in the time of troubles. And besides, shall be ready to give you succour and aid, in all your necessities within your realm. Which succours shall need no transporting, but may repair at all times upon main land. The third commodity that will grow by the assurance of Scotland is, that thereby you shall be safe and free from the great perills and dangers that were very like to grow by them to you, if they should be joyned to France. Whereunto they must needs yield, except they were assured to -your majesty. For the nature of man is such, that if he cannot find surety where he would, he will seek it where he may get it. Now I know no way so good to assure Scotland to your highness, as by giving to the principal persons of that realm convenient pensions. And this to have you to do, I would not onely be a counsillor, but also from the bottome of my heart a most humble and earnest petitioner. And where it may be doubted the French will outbid you, O! madam, I pray you to call to mind, that the Scots can take no pensions to join with the French, but that it must tend to the overthrow of religion established: from the which I cannot think they can be won. For that were to make merchandize of religion, to the danger of their souls. Again, they cannot join with France for pension sake: for thereby they shall not only endanger to loose their pensions promised, but also in time their lives and livings, what pro

II.

BOOK mises or practices soever be made unto them. For who can doubt, but that if the French be received to joyn with the Scots, then will the faction of the Scottish queen be set up? which must needs breed and bring the destruction of them that govern now, being her utter enemies. So as it may be concluded, that as the taking of your pensions, tending to their sureties, will be received, so the pensions already offered by the French, tending to their destruction, both of body and soul, will be by them refused.

The second remedy is by the Low-Countries. But because things stand there very uncertain to my knowledge, therefore for the better framing of a remedy that way, it were good your majesty did send some man of credit, both to confer with the prince of Orange, and otherwise also to understand in what case and condition all things be there; and what is thought there to be the best remedy to defend, and to meet with all danger, that may grow that way. And thereof to certify your majesty, to think that thereupon that way be devised, that best should serve for your majesties surety.

And as touching the third and last remedy to be had here in England against Rome, your majesties good countenance and credit to those your good subjects that be enemies to the usurped authority of Rome, and earnest, severe handling of the contrary part, is the readiest way to bring the matter to good effect. And it is high time thus to do; because of late years they have grown in number. And those that maintain the authority of Rome, must needs 111 maintain and defend the sentences and decrees made at Rome by the Romish authority, your highness right well knoweth. Besides, here at home your navy, your men, munition, and all other your martial provision, would be made in a readiness. For an end, that besides these remedies, it might be provided, that Cassimire might be prepared to be ready against all chances: then should all be done that I can devise.

Thus with all humbleness praying pardon of this my long and tedious letter, I commit your majesty to the tuition of

Almighty God; who may bless you and all your actions. BOOK The 20th of November, 1577.

II.

Number VIII.

Cox, bishop of Ely, to the lord treasurer Burghley: upon the queen's command for the suspension of Grindal, arch

bishop of Canterbury.

SIR, I write unto you, non sine anxietate cordis; her Litera majesty adeo indignata suo primo sacerdoti: cujus indig-Ep'al. pen.

natio mors est. Deus meliora. Sacerdotem vero tam clementem principem, et religionis sinceræ fautricem irritare, fontem lachrymarum merito ex oculis elicit.

Since the beginning of our acquaintance, both you and I (God's blessed name be glorified) have constantly, through many brunts, a dextris et a sinistris, persevered: and you especially. Now at this pinch, esto fortis, et viriliter age, et confortetur cor tuum.

I understand of late the matter is touching a conference, which hath been used, or rather abused, and not by publick authority established. And therefore not unworthily by authority abolished. Which, I trust, no man doth maintain. But, I trust, hereafter, the thing being deeply and considerately weighed, her majesty, seeking especially the glory of God, and the quiet and needful edifying of her people, may be moved to have further consideration of this matter. And when the great ignorance, idleness, and lewdness of the great number of poor and blind priests in the clergy, shall be deeply weighed and considered of, it will be thought most necessary to call them, and to drive them, to some travel and exercise of God's holy word: whereby they may be the better able to discharge their bounden duty towards their flock. I trust I shall not need either with words or reasons to move your righteous heart to mitigate her majesties displesure and indignation against her archbishop who, I doubt not, will use himself with all dutiful submission.