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ON THE

SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

That the seat of government is upheld by the two great pillars thereof, viz. civil justice and martial policy, which

are framed out of husbandry, merchandise, and gentry of
this kingdom.

THEY
say, that the goodliest cedars which grow on the
high mountains of Libanus thrust their roots between the
clifts of hard rocks, the better to bear themselves against
the strong storms that blow there. As nature hath in-
structed those kings of trees, so hath reason taught the
kings of men to root themselves in the hardy hearts of their
faithful subjects. And as those kings of trees have large
tops, so have the kings of men large crowns; whereof as the
first would soon be broken from their bodies, were they not
underborne by many branches, so would the other easily
totter, were they not fastened on their heads with the strong
chains of civil justice and martial discipline.

1. For the administration of the first even God himself hath given direction; Judges and officers shalt thou make which shall judge the people with righteous judgments.

2. The second is grounded on the first laws of the world and nature, that force is to be repelled by force. Yea Moses, in the twentieth of Exodus and elsewhere, hath delivered us many laws and policies of war. But as we have heard of neglect and abuse in both, so have we heard of the decline and ruin of many kingdoms and states long before our days; for that policy hath never yet prevailed (though it hath served for a short season) where the counterfeit hath been sold for the natural, and the outward show and formality for the substance. Of the emperor Charles the

Fourth, the writers of that age witness that he used but the name of justice and good order, being more learned in the law than in doing right, and that he had by far more knowledge than conscience. Certainly the unjust magistrate that fancieth to himself a solid and untransparable body of gold, every ordinary wit can vitrify and make transparent pieces, and discern their corruptions; howsoever, because not daring, they cover their knowledge: but in the meanwhile it is also true, that constrained dissimulation, either in the proud heart or in the oppressed, either in public estates or in private persons, where the fear of God is not prevalent, doth in all the leisure of her lurking but sharpen her teeth, the voluntary being no less base than the forced malicious. Thus it fared between the barons of England and their kings, between the lords of Switzerland and their people, between the Sicilians and the French, between the dolphin and John of Burgoign, between Charles the Ninth and the French protestants, and between Henry the Third, his successor, and the lords of Guise. Hereof, in place of more particulars, the whole world may serve for examples.

It is a difficult piece of geography to delineate and lay out the bounds of authority, but it is easy enough to conceive the best use of it, and by which it hath maintained itself in lasting happiness; it hath ever acquired more honour by persuading than by beating; for as the bonds of reason and love are immortal, so do all other chains or cords both rust and rot noble parts of their own royal and politic bodies.

But we will forbear for a while to stretch this first string of civil justice; for in respect of the first sort of men, viz. of those that live by their own labour, they have never been displeased where they have been suffered to enjoy the fruit of their own travels; meum et tuum, mine and thine, is all wherein they seek their certainty and protection. True it is, that they are the fruit trees of the land, which God in Deuteronomy commanded to be spared; they gather honey, and hardly enjoy the wax, and break the ground with great labour, giving the best of their grain to the easeful and idle.

For the second sort, which are the merchants, as those first feed the kingdom, so do the sea enrich it; yea, their trades, especially those which are forcible, are not the least part of our martial policy, as is hereafter proved; and, to do them right, they have in all ages and times assisted the kings of this land, not only with great sums of money, but with great fleets of ships in all their enterprises beyond the seas. The second have seldom or never offended their princes; to enjoy their trades at home upon tolerable conditions has ever contented them for the injuries received from other nations; give them but the commission of reprisal, they will either right themselves, or sit down with their own loss without complaint.

3. The third sort, which are the gentry of England; these being neither seated in the lowest grounds, and thereby subject to the biting of every beast, nor in the highest mountains, and thereby in danger to be torn with tempests, but the valleys between both, have their parts in the inferior justice, and spread over all, are the garrisons of good order throughout the realm.

OBSERVATIONS

CONCERNING

THE CAUSES OF THE MAGNIFICENCY AND OPULENCY OF CITIES.

THAT the only way to civilize and reform the savage and barbarous lives and corrupt manners of such people is,

1. To be dealt withal by gentle and loving conversation among them; to attain to the knowledge of their language, and of the multitude of their special discommodities and inconveniencies in their manner of living.

2. The next is to get an admired reputation amongst them, upon a solid and true foundation of piety, justice, and wisdom, conjoined with fortitude and power.

3. The third is, discreetly to possess them with a knowledge of the condition of their own estate. Thus Orpheus and Amphion were said to draw after them the beasts of the field, &c.

And this must be first wrought by a visible representation of the certainty, truth, and sincerity of these, together with the felicity of a reformed estate.

All which is but to give foundation, bottom, and firm footing unto action, and to prepare them to receive wholesome and good advice, for the future profit and felicity of themselves and their posterity.

For the more commodious effecting of this reformation in a rude and barbarous people, they are to be persuaded to withdraw and unite themselves into several colonies; that by it an interchangeable communication and commerce of all things may more commodiously be had, and that they may so live together in civility, for the better succour and welfare of one another: and thereby they may more easily be instructed in the Christian faith, and governed under the

magistrates and ministers of the king, or other superior power, under whom this reformation is sought. Which course the Stoic tells that Theseus took after he had taken upon him the government of the Athenians, whereby he united all the people into one city, that before lived dispersedly in many villages. The like is put in practice at this day by the Portugals and Jesuits, that they may with less difficulty and hinderance reform the rough behaviour and savage life of the people of Brazil, who dwell scattered and dispersed in caves and cottages made of boughs and leaves of the palm trees.

Alexander the Great built more than seventy cities: Seleucus built three cities, called Apamea, to the honour of his wife; and five. called Laodicea, in memory of his mother; and five, called Seleucia, to the honour of himself.

Safety for defence of the people and their goods in and

near the town.

IN the situation of cities there is to be required a place of safety, by some natural strength, commodiousness for navigation, and conduct for the attaining of plenty of all good things for the sustenance and comfort of man's life, and to draw trade and intercourse of other nations; as if the same be situate in such sort, as many people have need to repair thither for some natural commodity or other of the country, which by traffick and transportation of commodities, whereof they have more plenty than will supply their own necessity, or for receiving of things whereof they have scarcity. And much better will it be if the place afford some notable commodity of itself, from whence other nations may more readily, and at better rate, attain the same: likewise and withal be so fertile, pleasant, and healthful of itself, that it may afford plenty of good things for the delight and comfort of the inhabitants.

In former times great nations, kings, and potentates, have endured sharp conflicts, and held it high policy by all means to increase their cities with multitudes of inhabitants. And

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