[Sidenote: _The second
motive._]
And next to the Worshippe of my GOD, is the service of my Prince, and
native Countrie: which is the second end that I haue propounded vnto my
selfe, by inlarging these Dominions whereof I am a Subject: a duetie
moste proper to all the true and loyall Lieges, whensoever by so lawfull
and easie meanes it may bee atchieved.
What is so truelie sutable with honour and honestie, as to gaine to our
native Mother-Countrie a Kingdome to attend her? Wherein can the taste
of true vertue, and magnanimitie bee more sweete and pleasant than in
planting, and building a foundation for thy posteritie; gotte from the
rude earth by Gods blessing, and thine owne industrie, without prejudice
to any? What more conducing to that mysticall bodie politicke, whereof
thou art a member, than for to finde imployment for those that are idle,
because they knowe not what to doe? Posteritie shall remember thee for
it, and remembring, ever honour that remembrance with praise.
Consider what was the beginninges, and endinges of the Monarchies of the
_Chaldeans_, the _Persians_, the _Græcians_ and the _Romans_, but this
one rule: what was it they would not doe for the Common-wealth or there
mother Citie? for example: _Rome_, what made her such a Monarchesse, but
only the adventures of her youthe, not in ryots at home, but in dangers
abroad? and their justice, and judgment, out of their own experience
when they grewe aged. What was their ruine and hurt, but this: their
excesse of idlenesse, want of experience, hypocriticall seeming
goodnesse, & growing onlie formall Temporists; so that what their
Predecessours gotte in many yeeres, they lost in few dayes: these by
their paines and laboures became Lordes of the Worlde, they by their
ease and vyces became slaves to their servants.
Then, who would live at home idle (or think in him selfe any worth to
live) onlie to eate, drinke, and sleepe, and so to die? or by consuming
that careleslie, which their predecessours hath got worthilie? or by
vsing that miserablie, that maintained vertue honestlie? or, for beeing
descended noblie, pyne with the vaine vaunt of Kinred in penurie? or (to
maintaine a sillie show of braverie) toyle out the heart, soule, and
time baselie, by shiftes, trickes, cardes, or dyce? or by relating newes
of others actions, sharke heere or there for a Dinner or Supper?
deceiving his friends by faire promises and dissimulation, in borrowing
where hee never intendeth to pay? offending the Lawes, surfeting with
excesse, burthening his Countrie, abusing himselfe, despairing in want,
and then cousening his kinred? although it is seene what honoures the
World hath yet, and what affluence of all things; for such as will
seeke, and worthilie deserue them. Heere were courses for Gentle-men,
(and such as would bee so reputed) more suting their qualities, than
begging from their Princes generous disposition the labours of his other
subjects.
It woulde bee a Historie of a large volume to recite the adventures of
the _Spaniards_ and _Portugalles_, their constant resolutions, with such
incomparable honour, so farre beyond beliefe in their discoveries, and
plantations, as may well condemne vs of too much imbecillitie, sloth,
and negligence. And yet the authours of these new inventions were helde
as ridiculous at that time: as now are others that doe but seeke to
imitate their vnparalelled vertues.
And though wee see daylie their mountaines of wealth (sprung from the
plants of their generous indevoures) yet is our incredulitie, and
vntowardnesse such, and so great, that either ignorantlie wee beleeve
nothing; or so curiouslie contest, to prevent wee know not what future
events; that so wee either neglect, or oppresse, or discourage both our
selves, and others, that might both as easilie and would as willinglie
attempt and embrace the like.
Who seeth not, what is the greatest good of the _Spaniard_, but these
newe conclusions, in searching these vnknowne partes of this vnknowne
Worlde: by which meanes hee diveth even into the verie secreetes of all
his Neighboures, and the most part of the Worlde.
And when the _Portugalles_ and _Spaniards_ had found the East and West
_Indies_, how manie did condemne themselves that did not accept of that
honest offer of noble _Columbus_, who vpon the neglect of _England_, to
whom it was first offered; brought them to it: perswading themselves the
Worlde had no such places, as they had found: and yet ever since wee
finde, they still haue found newe Lands, newe Nations, new trades, and
still daylie doe finde, both in _Asia_, _Africa_, _Terra incognita_, and
_America_: so that their is neither Souldiour, nor Mechanicke from the
Lord, to the begger, but these parts affoord them all employment, and
discharge their native Soyle of so manie thousands of all sorts, that
else by their sloath, pryde and imperfections, woulde longe ere this
haue troubled their neighboures, or haue eaten the pryde of _Spaine_ it
selfe.
And seeing further, for all they have, they cease not still to search
for that, which yet they neither haue, nor knowe not: it is strange that
wee shoulde bee so dull, as not maintaine that which wee haue, and
pursue that which wee knowe.
I am sure that manie would take it in an evill part to be abridged of
the titles and honours of their predecessours: when if but truelie they
would judge themselves: looke howe inferiour they are to their noble
vertues, so much they are vnworthie of their honours, and livings: which
never were ordained for showes and shadowes, to maintaine idlenesse and
sloath, but to make them more able to abound in honour by heroicall
deedes of action, judgement, pietie and vertue.
What was it they would not doe both in purse and person for the good of
the Common-weale? and may not this bee a motive for vs to set out such
as may bee spared of our kindred in such generous designes. Religion
aboue all things should move (especiallie the Cleargie) if wee were
religious, to showe our faith by our workes, in converting these poore
savages to the knowledge of GOD. Honour might move the Gentrie, valiant
and industrious; the hope and assurance of wealth, all: if wee were
such, as wee would seeme, and desire to bee accompted.
Or bee wee so farre inferiour to other Nations, or our Spirites so farre
dejected from our ancient Predecessoures or our minds so vpon spoyle,
pyracie, or other villanie, as to serve the _Portugale_, _Spaniard_,
_Dutch_, _French_, or _Turk_, (as to the great hurte of _Europe_ too
manie doe) rather than our GOD, our King, our Countrie, and our selves?
excusing our idlenesse, and our base complaints by want of imployment?
when heere is such choyce of all sortes, and for all degrees in this
plantation.
So let these answere such questionlesse questions, that keepe vs backe
from imitating the worthinesse of their brave spirits, that advanced
themselves from poore Souldiers, to great Captaines, their posteritie to
great Lords, their King to bee one of the greatest Potentates on Earth,
and the fruits of their labours, his greatest glorie, power, riches and
renowne.