DABO ait Dominus per Hoseam Prophetam vallem Achor pro foribus spei . Osea . 2.15 . Erat autem vallis Achor primus aditus Israeli in promissam terram . Et hoc quidem vallum ( potentissime Rex ) est vestibulum tamquam terrae promissae tibi : et primum inaugurationis tuae vestigium , ad regnum tibi coelesti decreto ante te natum destinatum . Cuius ad has valvas salutant te meis verbis , non solum locum hic tenens tuus fidissimus , belli pacisque ornamentis illustris miles , totaque armata cohors circumstipantium regium latus tuum , servientes hoc loco tui : sed consalutant vno nutu , Anglia tota , Gallia , Hibernia , quarum omnium supremumius , huius vnius loci complexu prensas , & quasi manu tenes . Haec enim arx , hoc castrum regale , arra est omnium : & porta non modo bonae spei , sed portus totius rei . Hic magnificae & regales bestiae , leones Anglicani , adorant leonem Scotiae ; ô verè de leone Iudae oriunde , ô verè atavis edite regibus : Hic numisma cuditur , nervi & artus belli , quod Caesareum tuum nomen & vultum iampridem gestavit : Hic chartophylacium regni , scrinium actorum & diplomatum principum nostrorum , illustrissimorum maiorum tuorum , ê quibus emendatior historia , ausim dicere , quam quae vlla extat , perpoliri possit . Existunt hic etiam circumquaque , per anfractus huius loci , sparsae rotundatae turres ad sontium laesae maiestatis custodiam : vnam hanc citimam maiores nostri sanguinolentam dixere , ob cruorem , vt aiunt , infātū Edouardi quarti , quos Richardus tertius execrandae memoriae , horresco referens , immaniter cōtrucidavit . Prostat inde officiosè in te desuper spectans , sed aheneis tormentis propositis flammarum vomitus & tonitrua hostibus minitans , grandiusculum & quadratum Martis propugnaculum , robur loci , vigil vrbis , custos pacis , moderator circumiacentis regionis , cuius caniciem facies ipse attestatur , in quo prisca fama Romani Caesaris praecipuè aulam concelebravit . Hic gemmarum domus & gaza regni , innumera complectens maximi pretij vtensilia , totamque auream & argenteam supellectilem vnà cum opulentissima re vestiaria regia , quae omnia sese in sinum tuum vt iustissi ni domini & haeredis ex asse iamdudum effuderunt . Hic , ne singula commemorem , globorum monticuli : armorum supra , infra , amplissima domicilia , bombardis , spiculis , hastis , arcubus sagittis , loricis , galeis , pulvere tormentario , toto denique apparatu militari , equestri , pedestri , terrestri , navali , refertissima : ad hostes tuos subiugandos , ad amicos , cives , subditos , socios & foederatos tuos defendendos : ad pericula , iniurias , vim , metum à capite tuo ( fortissime Rex ) à corde tuo , charissima clarissimaque Regina , à liberis , à fortunis , à toto comitatu propulsanda . Quamobrem gratias , quantas animus noster capere possit , ei inprimis habemus , Prov. 9.15 . per quem Reges regnant , per quem amplitudo tua , Iacobe apud alios sexte in hac sexta aetate mundi , apud nos prime , in constanti aetate tua , nutante aetate Regni nostri regnum init , & regnat : & quidem quod in tam dissitis studijs , dissectis sectis , distractis animi● , incredibili omnium ordinum assensu , vnoquoque acclamante , nullo reclamante , sine omni castrensi strepitu ita pacificè regnet . Nulla regio , municipium , praefectura , vrbs , pagus , ex quo non publice venerunt , omnium generum , aetatum , ordinum , omnis fortunae & loci , etiam ex remotissimis gentibus legati , gratulatum . Quantae effusiones hominum ex oppidis , concursus ex agris patrum-familias cum coniugibus & liberis , quasi dei immortalis dies festi & solennes agerentur . Vt non maior fuerit Israelis & Iuda olim officiosa concertario ad reducendum Davidem Regem suum , quàm est nostrum totius Regni , 2. Sam. 19. tanquam vnius viri , praestò obsequium ad inducendum Davidem nostrum secundum cor Dei regem .

Nam quae duo in Davide eximia fuerunt , artis & martis ornamenta , domi piae doctrinae laus prophetica , in bello fori arma victricia ; hae virtutes duae iam coepêre esse tuae , qui & sine bello superbos debellans , amplissima regna , ipso audito nomine , assequeris , & in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 piarum artium & politioris literaturae , eos verè aureos libellos conscripseris , vt bonae literae ; quae antea veluti plebeiae , spretae apud multos iacebant , iam nobilitari & te regnante regnare videantur . Est autem vt in coeli medio Sol pulchrior quam vlla alia in parte : ita in regali persona eruditionis splendor illustrior , fructus copiosior , quam in reliquo hominum ordine : Cum inde et iustitiae praeses , et scholae princeps ( vt nuper ad nostrum omnium decus ) ipse esse possit , tum ad ius suis oculis pervidendum , tum ad literas fovendum , et literatis favendum multo amplius . Et quanquam non possumus non affici summo desiderio Divae Elizabethae ; tamen cùm , illâ maturo die suo , Viam lacteam in caelo , var j commentatores Iacobi viam dixere . vt sole nostro occidente et abeunte à nobis , ita brevis & serena nox sit interposita , tot regniluminibus vnam viam Regiam , tanquam coelestem galaxiam et planè Iabobaeam designantibus illustrata : aliusque ita mane nobis exortus sit Sol , cuius beneficio , adeò pulcher iam hic integer fermè annus , tanquam vnus dies illuxit , nobis sine vlla nubecula tempestatis obfuturae , nisi quae in ipsa coitione Dei presidio evanuit : vt nihil nisi Elizabethicum in hac rerum conversione sentiatur , nec in posterum nisi bona omnia Elizabethica de maiestate tua expectemus , pre●erquam quod mascula tua virtus & viriles dotes , maiora quaedam & augustiora polliceantur : Deo , cuius in faemore scriptum est , Rex Regum & Dominus dominantium , Apoc. 19.16 . principi Electorum tuorum imperialium ( nam non hominis hoc factum sed numinis ) gratissimis animis acquiescimus ; in te vncto Dei ( sacrosancte Rex ) conquiescimus . Haec est enim omnium congratulantium lo et triumphalis ovatio nostra . Martial . Vox diversa sonat , populorum est vox tamen vna : Tu Rex , tu patriae diceris esse pater . Quare arcesse tibi pacis triumphos ; capesse claues regni , clavum imperij teneto : possideto principatus tui cameram & metropolim Londinum : conscende hanc terrae acropolim & armamentarium praecipuum , turrim Londinensem . Hibernia praesaga tui partim subacta , partim dedititia tua facta est . Rosae duae Anglicanae , & Lancastrensis vere rubens , quia vulneribus suis cruentata , exhausta propè erat : & Eboracensis recte albicans dicta , quae amisso bellis intestinis sanguine , ad mortem ferè expalluit , & quae ambae coniunctis aculcis , saepiù● quam par est , compungentes , cum Leone Scotiae conflictatae sunt , iam vt corollae & serta capitis tui se offerunt . Tanquam Deus iam complêsset , quod vaticinatus est olim per Ezechielem in hanc sententiam : Tu fili hominis , cape tibi duo ligna , Ezech. 37.16 . in vno inscribe Iehudae ; in altero inscribe Iosepho cum tota domo Israelis : tum compinge ea in vnum , vt sint vnum in manu tua . Nam sic ait Iehova : accepturus sum domum Iosephi cum tribubus Israelis , & domum Iehudae , cum tribubus eius , & componam eas coniunctas in manu mea , & efficiameas gentem vnam : & Rex vnus nempe David servus meus pastor erit illis , neque erunt amplius duae gentes , nec dividentur amplius in duo regna . Quis non videt hic amatque similem dei nutum ? Improbi , myrmillones , bustuarij putabant in interregno turbam in turbas conijcere : Pontificij sperabant totam insulam arsuram bello civili : & è tumultu aureum suum diem vtrique insolenter praedicabant . Sed frustratae adhuc divinâ virgulâ & prudentissimis Senatorum Regni consilijs sunt spes omnium .

Adhuc iustitia & pax occurrunt inter se ; Psal. 85.10 . veritas & fides osculantur se . Regnum Angliae etiamnum est regnum Evangelij , Regnum Regis mei est regnum Dei mei , adhuc vivit Defensor fidei à fide defensitatus : Iustitiae assertor , & in iustif simâ Regni causâ acceptissimus : pacis cultor , & à pace excultus pater Ecclesiae Iacobus , filius eiusdem : Elizabethae haeres regnorum & virtutum . Deus tibi regnum , regno pietatem , pietati pacem , & quidem cuncta haereditariò tradidit : vicinam hanc patriae nostrae gentem , Sororem non paenè sed plenè nostram , tanquam vnius parentis geminam , Religione , sanguine , solo , solio , lingua , communibus officijs , communibus periculis , mari vt vno muro coniunctissimam , Angliam inquam & Scotiam , seu vt verè dixerim , Angliam & Sociam vno aureo & amabilissimo rectionis tuae nexu in aeternum , nisi peccata nostra intervertāt , colligavit . Cicero . offic. 2. Socrates execrari solebat eos qui vtile et honestum naturâ cohaerentia , animis segregabant . Christus maior Socrate comminatur : Ma●th 19 6. Eph. 2.14 . Ne homo separet quod Deus coniunxit . Paries intergerinus inter haec duo regna , te regnante , Dei digito recessit . Israelem & Iudam in te fecit vnum : non duo regna amplius , nec duos reges : non duos pastores , nec duos greges : non duas gentes , nec duas mentes : non duas regiones , nec duas religiones . Vnus Rex , vnus grex , vna lex , & vt erat ab initio , Psalm. 82. vna Albion . Omnia in vno deo caelesti vnum . om nia in vno deo terrestri , ( dixi vos deos , ait scriptura ) vnum : Homer . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 .

Quocirca vtere , augustissime monarcha , hac magnificentia tua , potire , fruere : Spartam quam nactus es , partem naturae iure tuam optimam adorna : macte ista virtute regia : perge porro initiorum laude egregia : Deum tanto beneficiorum cumulo admirabiliter Deum tuum , eiusque Regnum in his ipsis Regni primordijs , se data iam peste et patefactis coniuratorum consilijs , perfecto corde , totisque viribus impensiùs , si fieri potest , quaerito : Religionem non illibatam solum tuere , sed adauge : Evangelium per omnes oras propagato : Artes & Academias honestato : Christi patrimonium amplificato : vt Deo è postliminio reddatur , quod Dei est , vbicumque tuum est avita iura in Ecclesia , in Republica , nisi quid ex Adamo , aut Romulo faecis contraximus , rata & grata esse iube : iustitiam omnibus imperato : tenuium verò accisas res in prosequenda lite sublevato : non concordiam duntaxat , sed arctissimam amicitiam inter sororias has gentes & earum consobrinos omnes , firmiter modis omnibus constabilito : Recipe nos denique & nostros in clientelam tuam : vt Deo semper cōcinamus sacrum paeana & alleluiah : inter nos autem de te circumsonemus : vivat , vincat , vigeat , valeat , floreat diutissimè Iacobus Rex Anglia , Scotia , Galliae & Hiberniae cum serenissima Domina Anna Regina vxore cum Henrico filio Walliae Principe , cum tota reliqua regali sobole : viuat inquam Iacobus Anglia Rex & Scotiae , seu vt vno verbo dicam , Britanniae . dixi .

I wil giue saith the Lord by nosea the prophet , Ose 2.15 . the vale of Achor for the gate of hope . Now the vale of Achor was the first entraunce for the people of Israel into the land of promise . Semblably this fort of the Tower ( O mighty King ) is the threshold , as it were , of the land of your behest : and the first step of your investiture vnto a kingdome , determined vnto you by divine decree , before you were borne . At the porte gates whereof there saluteth you by my words , not only your faithfull Lieuetenant a Knight graced with ornaments of warre and peace , The Warders . and the whole troop of armed men , that surround your princely person , your servants the Gard in this place : but togither also there welcomes you , as it were with one obeysance , whole England , Fraunce & Ireland , the soveraigne authority of all which by the possession of this one place , you do claspe and as it were gripe in your hand . For this Tower and royal Castle is the pledge for them all , & not onely the gate of good hope , but the haven of the whole scope . The Lyons Here the stately and princely beastes the Lyons ( couchant ) of England do bow downe to the Lyon ( Rampant ) of Scotland : even to you a true ofspring of the Lyon of Iuda , and rightly discended of Kings your great-great grandfathers . Here is mony coyned , The mynt . the ioints & sinewes of warre , which now a good while since hath borne the image and superscription of you our Caesar . Here are the Records of Estate , Records . the closet of the acts & patents of our princes , your renowned progenitors , out of which , I may boldly avouch it , a truer story of our nation by far may be compiled , then any is yet extant . Here are dispersed in the severall quarters of this place , Prisons . certaine rounde turrets for the custody of offendors against the king . This which is next , Bloody Tower . our elders tearmed the bloody Tower , for the bloodshed , as they say , of those Infant Princes of Edward the fourth , whom Richard the third of cursed memory ( I shudder to men●ion it , ) savagely killed two togither at one time . Then there presente h●● sel●e looking dutifully from a great heigth vpon you , Square Tower . but holding out brasen pieces of shot , threatning slashings of fire and thunderbolts to your enemies , a great and square Tower for martiall service , the strength of this place , a watchman for the City , a keeper of the peace , a commaunder of the country round about , Caesars hall wherein antiquity hath especially made memorable the hall of the Romaine Caesar . Here is the Iewell-house and the wealth of the kingdome , The Iewell house . containing implements of great valew aboue number , and al the gold and silver plate , The Wardrop . with a most rich princely wardrop ; all which haue now long since powred themselues into your bosome , as the iust owner & ful heire to them al. Here are , that I may not name every thing , mountaines of bullets , and most large places aboue and below for receipt of armour , Armory . with ordinance , dartes , pikes , bowes arrowes , privy coats , helmets , gun-powder , finally with the whole furniture of chivalry , for service on horse , on foot , by land by sea , exceedingly stoared : ( & all these ) to subdue your enemies ▪ to defend your friends , citizens , subiects , associats and confederats : and to propulse danger , annoyance , violence , feare from your owne person ( most puissant King ) from your dearest spouse , our Soveraigne Queene , your progeny , estate , and whole traine . Wherefore we giue thankes as many as our heart can conceiue , to him first , by whom Kings raigne , Pro. 8.15 . by whom your Maiesty , O Iames a sixt among others , to vs a first , in this sixt age of the world , in your owne constant age , in the declyning age of our kingdome , doth enter your raigne & now fully raigneth : and the rather , that in so great ods of dispositions , so many sects cutting from one another , such distractions of mens mindes , you doe with such wonderfull agreement of all degrees , every one acclaming to it , no man reclaiming at it , and without any stirring of weapon so peaceably raigne . There is no country , burrough , precinct , city , hamlet , out of which there haue not come openly of al sorts , ages , degrees , of al estates & conditions even from the most vtmost foreine parts , embassadors to congratulate . What wonderfull resorte out of good townes : what concourse out of the field country of farmers with their wiues & children , as though some great & festivall day of the everliving God were now celebrated . So that there was not a more dutifull striving betweene Israel and Iuda to bring home David there king : 2. Sam. ●9 . then there is ready obsequiousnes of the whole kingdome of England as of one man for the bringing in of our David a King after Gods owne hart . For these two ornaments of arts and armes , which in David were eminent , namely the praise of holy learning to the height of a prophet , the honour of victorious exploits abroad in warre : these two do begin to shew themselues to bee with you : who without warre vanquishing the prowde , haue vpon the hearing of your name attained vnto most mighty kingdomes : and haue written such worthy golden bookes out of the circle of sacred sciences , & the finer learning , that good literature which , as vulgar , lay despised , seemeth now to be ennobled , and by your raigne to raigne it selfe . And verely as the sonne is brighter then , when it is in the midst of heaven , then when it is in any other part : so the shine of learning is both more orient , and the fruite more abundant in a king , than in any other estate of men : seeing thereby he may bee president in the courts of Iustice , and chiefe moderator in schooles ; ( as of late you were to al our glory : ) both to discerne the right with your owne eies , and also to foster learning , and to favour learned men much more . And although we cannot but bee affected with the misse of ( now ) St. Elizabeth ( our late Queene ) yet seing , when as she , as our sunne setting & departing from vs in the ripe time of her daies , there followed so short and so cleare a night enlightened with so many starres of the kingdome , The milken way in heaven diverse philosophers haue called S. Iames way . The last conspiracy . chalking out one kings way , as the milken way in heaven , plainely ( as the olde sawe hath bin ) St. Iames way : and seeing another sunne rose so earely vnto vs , by confort whereof this whole now a yeare almost hath continued as one faire day , without any stormy cloud towards , but such an one , as vanished in the verie gathering of it through the protection of God : so that in this change we feele no alteration from the raygne of Queene Elizabeth , neither may we expect any other thinges at your Maiesties hands , but even all the good things of Queene Elizabethes time , saving that your manly prowesse , and the induments of nature in the superior degree of your sex aboue her , doth promise both greater and more notable attempts : Apoc. 19.16 . Vnto God ( first ) in whose thigh is written King of Kinges and Lord of Lordes ( the chiefe Prince among al your imperial electors ( for it was the doing of divine power and not humane ) with most thankful mindes we yeeld our selues , and next in you , O sacred King the annointed of the Lord , we set our hearts at rest . For this is the shouting and triumphant applause of al your subiectes , that ioyntly welcome you vnto the crowne .

Wherefore take vnto you , the triumphs of peace : receiue ( here ) the keyes of the kingdome : take into your hand the helme of this Empire : Enter into the possession of the chamber of your kingdome , the chiefe citty London : goe vp into the chiefe fort of your land , the Principall armour house of the Realme ; this Tower of London . Ireland wisely foreseeing your approach , partly subdued , partly yeelding , is become totally yours . The two Roses of England , both the red Rose of Lancaster , rightly called ruddie , as beeing embrued in blood by wounds from her selfe , til shee was almost spent : and that other white Rose of the house of Yorke , rightly named white , as which having lost much blood by civil warre waxed pale wel nigh vnto death : which both with their prickles stinging togither encountered oftener then was fitte with the Lion of Scotland ; do now offer themselues as coronets & garlands about your head . As though God had now fulfilled that , which he forespake by Ezechiel to this purpose : Ezech. 37.16 . Sonne of man take vnto thee two pieces of wood ; write in one to Iohuda : in the other write To Ioseph with al the house of Israel : Then frame them togither in one , that they may be one in thy hand . For thus saith the Lord . I wil take the house of Ioseph with the tribes of Israel , & the house of Iuda with his tribes , and wil ioyne them by one fabricke in my hand , & will make them one nation , and one king , namely David my servant shall be Pastor over them neither shall they be anie more two nations , nor henceforth devided into two kingdoms &c. who doth not see & loue the like proceeding of God with vs ? The wicked , the desperate ruffins thought in the change to cast all in a hurly-burly : the Popish crue hoped that the whole Iland would haue bin on fire with civil warre & both of them out of the midst of the sturre , did gloriously bragge of their golden day . But through the rod of Gods providence over vs , and by the prudent advice of the counselors of estate , al their hopes hitherto haue beene made frustrate : Psal. 85.10 . Yet iustice and peace do greete togither truth & faithfulnes do kisse each other : the kingdome of England is still the kingdome of the Gospell : the kingdome of my king is the kingdome of my God : yet there liveth the Defender of the faith , defended by the faith : the mainteiner of Iustice , and most acceptably intertained in his most iust title to the kingdome : a promoter of peace & promoted by peace , even Iames the father of the church , & sonne of the same : the heire of Queene Elizabeth in her kingdomes and vertues . God hath given vnto you a kingdome : vnto the kingdome a holy Religion : to a holy Religion peace : and all these to you even by inheritance . This neighbour nation to our natiue country , not out halfe but full sister , even as it were a twinne of the same mother , most neere of al other to one another in Religion , in blood , in soile , in right of crowne , in language , in common services , and common hazardes , surrounded with one sea as one wall , I meane England and Scotland , or to speake more truely , One land , hath God plotted into one by the golden and most loving knotte of your governement : and that if our sinnes doe not overturne it , even for ever . Socrates was wont to curse them , Cicero . offic. 2. who severed honesty and profit a sunder in their purposes , which by nature cleave togither . Christ greater then Socrates doth command ; Let no man seperate , Matth. 19.6 . that which God hath ioined togither . The partition wall betweene these two kingdomes by the finger of God at your comming to the crowne is gone : he hath made Israel and Iuda one in you : Eph. 2.14 . no more two kingdomes , nor two kings : nor two pastors , nor two flockes : nor two kindes nor two mindes : nor two Regions , nor two Religions . One King , one people , one law , and as it was in the beginning , one land of Albion . Al things in one heavenly God one : al things in one earthly God , ( for I have stiled you Gods , Psalm. 82. as the scripture speaketh ) One . It is not good that in any heads beare rule in any land : Homer . Let one be soveraigne King and Lord , and so decrees may stand . Wherfore most mighty monarch , make vse of this your magnificent estate ; possesse it , enioy it ; bewtifie this your portion , even your best inheritance , which you are come vnto by right of nature : proceed on in your princely vertue : go forward in the worthy praise of these beginnings : Seeke that God , which is become your God wonderfully by such a heape of benefits , and his kingdome also in this beginning of your kingdome , the plague beeing much abated , and the counsels of conspirators detected , e●en with a perfit hart and with all your power , even yet more earnestly , if it may be . Not only preserve religion , but increase it : Plant the Gospel throughout all your Dominions : Give reputation to Arts & Vniversitie , Enlarge the patrimony of Christ ; that now at length after long detinue , restitution may be made vnto God of al that is due vnto God , whersoever you haue to do . Confirme & ratifie the auncient lawes both in Church and Common-wealth , except where we haue gathered any corruption , either from Adam or Rome : Command iustice to all men : but ease the lowe estate of the poore in following their suites Establish strongly by al meanes not only concord , but indissoluble frendship betweene these sister nations , and all the sisters children : Finally receive vs and ours into your protection ; that we may alway sing vnto God a holy himne , & alleluiah , & of you may stil ring this peale among our selues : Let live , O God , let vanquish , let growe , let prosper , let flourish , as long , as mortality may endure , even Iames of England , Scotland , Fraunce and Ireland King , togither with our soveraigne Ladie Anne , his spouse ; with Henry Prince of Wales , and the rest of the royal Progeny : Let liue I say Iames of England and Scotland , or to speake at one word , King of whole Brittaine .