And thus (_Right Noble, and worthie Countrie-men_) have I vnfolded the
reasons of my resolution to vndertake this enterpryse, which if I hadde
not thought to be both Christian, honorable, honest, easie, and
profitable; I should never have attempted. And I have further for the
encouragement of all such as are well-willers vnto the Worke, made offer
of such helps, and furtherances as may testifie my willingnesse to
prosecute the same. Desiring yet againe all noble and generouslie
well-disposed Gentlemen, to consider with mee, onelie our estates in
these dayes, and how wee stand in our families, from the greatest, to
the smallest: and compare them with our Predecessours, who did keepe
great honour, credite, and estimation; which in so great a measure is
decayed, and diminished in vs. Now let vs compare our selves with
Citizens now, whose credite wee see doeth surpasse ours, although wee
bee above them, both in qualitie and richesse. Whence is this woorth of
theirs, but from their industrie, and trueth; which beareth them out
both to this credite, and respect, aswell at home, as abroad?
Were it not (then) better in these our dayes for vs to imitate the
foot-steppes of vertue in the _Italians_, that thinketh it neither
dishonourable, nor disparagement vnto their greatest Princes, their
Dukes, Marquesses, and Countes, to make themselves great, and get their
patrimonies inlarged by their hazards at Sea? It is their glorie to bee
vertuous; and may condemne our dissolutions and idlenesse, that may as
easilie bee great, by such honest and honourable endevoures.
But yet let vs come a litle nearer vnto our selves; and see the
distresses aswell amongst the great, as the small, throughout the whole
Kingdome: and what increase there is of debts amongst vs in these dayes,
never heard of before amongst our Predecessoures, wee shall finde, that
if wee followe not some other industrious manner of waye, to relieve
them, then by menaging, in whatsome-ever, and best forme wee can, our
revenues, that they shall never bee relieved.
There are three thinges that troubleth our estates that wee cannot live
as our Predecessoures did before vs: First, the prodigalitie, both in
our selves, our servants, and our houses. Secondlie, wee have not such
occasions, and vses at home for the Brethren, and second sonnes of our
houses to get them preferment as of old. Thirdlie, that vniversall
plague of Cautionarie, throughout the whole Kingdome, whereby their is
such a generall intercourse of distresse, each one for another, as all
are linked into it: which all in following out such honorable, and
honest indevoures abroad might bee remedied. I speake not of the
favoured Courteour, nor of the fortunate States-man, for they have their
owne blessinges from GOD, and favour of their Master in their severall
places: but vnto such, my noble friends, and Countrie-gentlemen, such as
my selfe is, and so distressed as I am; and speaking out of mine owne
experience; protesting that cautionarie hath beene vnto me; vpon mine
honour, and credite, the value of an Hundreth thousand pounds; which any
imployment abroad, either in the service of my King, or my Countrie,
might haue spared vnto me, and bettered the estate of mine House.
Neither doe I speake so farre of my selfe, for want of abilitie to doe
mine owne businesse, which I praise GOD is knowne to such, as knowe my
selfe: but to giue everie man a sense, and feeling out of mine owne
experience, howe I see the estate of the Kingdome.
Then (Worthie Countriemen) let vs lay these two things in the ballance,
and judge vpon them: whether it is better for vs to goe there, where we
may haue to live in a fruitfull Soyle, and wholesome, in all commodities
abounding to our contentments, beeing onlie a litle industrious and
painefull: than to live heere at home as Runnagates, vnanswerable to
_GOD_, the King, the Lawes, to all reason, and conscience: to bee
captivate as slaves, and cast in loathsome Prisons, to satisfie with our
persons, when our goods hath failed vs: and especiallie, when wee haue
wronged our best and kindest friendes, who out of their loves hath
engaged themselves, to be distressed, and imprisoned for vs? which
shoulde bee a greater griefe vnto vs, than our owne imprisonments.
And then shall wee disdaine Plantation: which to enterprise is so
honourable; to prosecute so possible: to purchase so lawfull, and when
attained, so profitable? No, whosoever shall reason against the same,
especially such as are in distresse, may well bee reputed, either the
Bastard of generositie, or the nursling of simplicitie, or the abject of
frugalitie: and shall either become for ever, the prostitute of infamie,
or consecrated to perpetuall oblivion: and when hee is dead, his
actions, his meanes, his name and all, shall die with himselfe; and if
hee shall ever happen to bee remembred, that remembrance shall onelie
bee in ignominie, as the Wretch of his Countrie, the Curse of his
Kinred: and an vnthrift for himselfe.
But I speake not to such a crew, whose basenesse I knowe cannot climbe
to surmount the meanest imagined difficultie, that may arise. I speake
to such noble Spirites and generous mindes, in whom doeth shine the
light of knowledge to discerne the differences between a base securitie
and honourable actions, vice and vertue, stupiditie, and true worth: and
who in end shall not misse to rejoyce in the enjoying the fruits of
their labours in themselves, and their names to bee honoured with a
perpetuall remembrance.
And if wee would studie to bee remembred in our posterities, heere is
offered the occasion to insert vs in the bookes of memorie: for if wee
would portion our second children in a plantation, and such as in nature
wee are bound to helpe, and advance: both shall wee bee remembred in
their ever-living successions, throughout all ensueing ages: and they
provyded in a competent beeing and meanes for them-selves, and theirs,
and to bee thereafter proffitable for their King and Countrie: which is
better, than either to be kept at home baselie, & short of that which is
beseeming their birth, and qualitie: or to bee sent to the service of
the Warres of forraine Princes, and to be cutted away by the sword, and
then never more againe remembred: and for so small meanes, as thereby
yee can furnish themselves both in rayment, and foode.
Imbrace then the honours of Plantation. Doe wee dreame of difficulties?
then knowe; that it is out of the greatest difficulties, that spring the
greatest honours: & it is that Knight-hood, which is gotten vnder the
banner of a King, and in the Fieldes which is most honourable; and not
that, which wee acquire by our moneyes; as the most part is now a-dayes.
And that our actions may both renowne vs, and beget vs moneyes, wee may
see in the examples that I haue sette before your eyes, both of forraine
nations, and of our own Countriemen, in their late plantations of
_Ireland_, their estates now, their dignities, their honours, their
credite, and their riches: and what they were knowne to haue beene
before.
But these I leave to your judgments: onelie now, to make an end, I must
entreate thee (_Noble and courteous Reader_) to excuse my freenesse in
this my homelie discourse, which I perswade my selfe the generous minde
will allowe of: and for the base, the simple and the vitious; I doe not
care for their censure, onelie I wishe it were a spurre to drawe them to
more vertue. As for the rudenesse of my speach, I hope none will except,
wherein I professe no airt, if simplie I publish my good meaning and
earnest affection to so goode a Worke. And wherein their is defect in
mee, I hope the purpose shall bee better inlarged by him, whose Pen is
more than knowne to bee famous, the principall Actor in the businesse,
and to whom I principallie dedicate this my treatise: and to bee seconded
by the vertues of these the Noblemen, and these worthilie honoured
Gentle-men, the Knights Baronets, Vnder-takers of so faire designes: so
that nowe I cease with my penne, but never
with my Sword to doe them service for
the advancement of so good a Worke.
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