VII. A Treatise to Philip The same year I find another book of the art of war was CHAP. writ, and printed in quarto, entitled, A compendious trea-, tise de re militari. Concerning principal orders to be ob-Anno 1581. served in martial affairs. Written in the Spanish tongue De Re Miby that worthy captain Luis Gutierres de la Vega; and litari. newly translated into English by Nich. Litchfield. This he Dedicated dedicated to the worshipful Mr. Philip Sydney. And the Sydney. reason of it he added; "Because he found none more for"ward to further and favour martial knowledge; being of "himself most ready and adventurous in all exercises of “feats of war and chivalry. And therefore he presumed "to dedicate the tract unto him. Dated from London, "Dec. 9, 1581." fort in Ire And he added this remark of it; That it was lately found Found in a in a fort in Ireland, where the Italians and Spaniards had land. fortified themselves. Which by fortune came into his hands by a soldier of good experience, who lately served there. Which after this gentleman, the translator, had perused, and taken the advice of some better in understanding than himself in those affairs, (which very much liked and allowed the work,) he was greatly boldened and encouraged to enterprise the translation thereof; partly, because these principal orders were always to be observed in warlike government; and chiefly, because in our English tongue he found not the like extant, for the necessary instruction and general commodity of our common soldiers. cise of arms And how undisciplined and raw in matters of war our 75 English now were, and what just apprehensions of danger The exerarising hence from foreign arms, Styward, the author of needful. the former book, shewed in an elegant copy of verses set before it suggesting how very suspicious their present condition was, and exciting them to take warning by other neighbouring countries that were fallen under miseries and calamities from such as by superior force invaded them. These verses began; As wisdom wills us to regard what plagues in time do hap BOOK 1. Anno 1581. No. XII. An Exami But I choose rather to lay this piece of old English poetry in the Appendix, which will both entertain and instruct. Another political book came forth this year upon occasion of the dearth of victuals, and the high prices of all other nation of things; which now were become much dearer than ever divers Com-before: which caused murmurings and discontents among plaints. the people. The author undertook to look into the reasons thereof, in order to pacify and quiet the queen's subjects. The book was called, A compendious or brief examination of certain ordinary complaints of divers our countrymen in these our days, &c. By W. S. gent. The running title was, A brief conceipt of English policy. It is writ by way of dialogue, between a knight, a merchant, a doctor, a capper, [or a tradesman,] and an husbandman. Where thus one of them is brought in speaking: "Such poverty reign"eth every where, as few men have so much to spare, as "they may give any thing to the reparation of ways, bridges, &c. And albeit there be many things laid down which before time were occasion of much expenses, "as maygames, wakes, revels, wagers at shooting, wrestling, running, and throwing the stone or bar; and be❝sides, the pardons, pilgrimages, offerings, and many such "other things: yet I perceive we be never the wealthier, or "rather poorer, &c. That there was such a general dearth "of all things, as before twenty or thirty years had not "been, not only of things growing within the realm, but "also of all other merchandise, &c." The author, some learned man, dedicated this his book to the queen; because those popular quarrels and objections reached unto her majesty in daily and ordinary occurrents. That upon his zeal and good meaning towards her estate, he was earnestly moved to undertake this enterprise. 66 66 66 now, In this year, Mr. W. Lambard of Lincoln's Inn, gent. a Eirenarcha. learned lawyer and historian, set forth a book, called Eirenarcha, concerning the office of such as were justices of the Dedicated peace, which he dedicated to sir Tho. Bromley, lord chanto Bromley, cellor of England. In that epistle he spoke of his great lord chan cellor. learning in the laws of England, in these words: "You, CHAP. "who do go beyond them all (in the perfect knowledge of VII. 66 "our law) that have gone before you in that honourable Anno 1581. place which you now hold. And praying him, that, ac"cording to the rule of law, (in his own hands,) he would "rectify the commission of the peace, and some other "crookedness, whereof that book [of his] should bring "complaint before him." The occa book. And in the same epistle he gives us the occasion of his 76 engaging himself in the study of our laws concerning justices. Which was the command of the said lord chancellor, writing this that his name should be put into the commission of the peace for Kent, where the said Lambard lived. "At which "time he thought it his part, as well for saving his good lordship blameless in the choice, as also for his own in"formation and discharge in the service itself, to look dili"gently in that portion of our law which concerneth the "office of the peace; wherewith he had before that time very little or no acquaintance. And therefore in greedy "appetite, he began first with M. Fitzherbert's treatise of "the Justices of Peace: then went he to another ancient "book of the same argument, but of an author unknown to "him and thirdly, he came to M. Marrow's reading. All "which when he had perused, he seemed to himself, as he "added, to have taken some such taste of the thing that he sought, as did rather incense than satisfy his thirst and "desire. And calling to mind that it was truly said, 66 Gratius ex ipso fonte bibuntur aquæ, "he betook himself to the old and new books of the com"mon laws, and to the volumes of the acts and statutes; "and from his collections thence, framed a model thereof in "that book." There was another edition of this book in the forty-fourth year of queen Elizabeth, 1602. revised, corrected, and enlarged. Where, in the proeme, he declared that his purpose was to compare the writings of some others that before had wrote of the duties of justices, [viz. Marrow and Fitzherbert,] with the book cases and statutes that had risen of of the Pro the conver BOOK latter times. And out of them all to collect some body of I. discourse that might serve for the present age, and someAnno 1581. what further the good endeavour of such gentlemen as were not trained up to the continual study of the laws. Collections In this year also, or the year before, I meet with a MS. phets, &c. (whether printed afterwards or no, I know not,) entitled, concerning Certain collections out of the Prophets and the New Testasion of Is- ment; concerning the conversion and restitution of Israel. Whereupon doth depend the general judgment, and the general restitution also of heaven and earth. By R. E. anno 1580. This author, whose name was Roger Edwards of London, dedicated his book to the lord Burghley, lord high treasurer, lord Francis Russel of Bedford, lord Rob. Dudley, earl of Leicester, to Dr. Elmer, bishop of London, and many more. rael. Pentateuch, by Beza. To all the rest I add Beza's valuable gift, presented this year, towards the furnishing of the new library at Cambridge; being an ancient copy of the Pentateuch in six languages: with his letter to the lord treasurer, chancellor of that university, when he sent it. Which, it seems, his nephew Anthony Bacon brought along with him from Geneva, where he had been, and visited that learned man in his travels. Upon whose motion and encouragement Beza presumed to write a letter to him: especially upon that occasion that offered itself, namely, the presenting him with something that he believed would not be unacceptable to him. That he had got a copy of the five books of Moses; printed either at Constantine in Africa, or at Constantinople, many years ago; which he asked leave to call The Hexa77 glott: viz. the Arabic, Persian, barbarous Greek, and ancient Spanish set forth for the use of the Jewish synagogues: besides the Hebrew and Chaldee. Which, for the rarity and antique novelty, (as he might call it,) he thought chiefly ought to be sent to his honour. Which might serve as a monument worthy his wisdom and excellency, to be reposited in a library, then a preparing by him in the university of Cambridge, the chief care and government whereof was committed to him. : VII. lord trea And so concluded his letter, praying him to take in good CHAP. part his boldness, as a testimony and pledge of that high esteem he had for his lordship. Dated from Geneva, 8. id. Anno 1581. December 1581. But the whole letter, in elegant Latin, ought to be preserved, in grateful memory of the donor. No. XIII. Which ancient book, I suppose, still remains in that library; as it hath been often made use of by our commentators. And in another letter to that lord, the next year, he per- Moves the suaded him to procure the printing of the said Pentateuch, surer to get which he had sent him the year before: at least the Per- it printed sian, Arabic, and vulgar Greek versions, with the Hebrew verses added. Which might, he said, be done at no great charge, by Plantin at Antwerp. And that such an edition would be highly profitable to the whole Christian world, and procure to himself an immortal name. And so prayed him to think again and again upon it. This letter of Beza will not be improper to be joined to the former in the Ap- No. XIV. pendix. by Plantin. CHAP. VIII. The French match like to succeed: and a league with France. Treaty with Mary queen of Scots, frustrate. Parties in Scotland. Ireland chargeable. Plots. Parry in Venice and Lyons: his intelligence: writes in favour of the good knight. A proclamation against harbouring Jesuits and priests: and going to the colleges at Rheims and Rome. Sessions at London. Mass-mongers, &c. The queen assists the protestant churches. Duke of Bipont, prince palatine, comes into England. Wierus, his agent. Letters of the queen's ambassador in France concerning the Duke of Savoy. Beza's letter to the lord treasurer in behalf of Geneva. Prince of Orange's death foretold by the pope's nuncio. As to the match with France, which still stuck upon Anno 1582. terms required on the part of the French king, he seemed The French king yields now to incline. So the queen's ambassador wrote to the to terms |