tooke a more strict and just account of the benefit of their gettings and Victories.

1597.

And that it was an Roman policie

especiall regard of the Roman Consuls, and Generals, at their returne from a prosperous Warre, to render a plentifull gaine into the publique Treasurie, which made their State still able to subsist in their great actions. And many times their greatest and worthiest Captaines were deepely called in question, for imbeseling any part of such gettings, as amongst others, was that famous Scipio, surnamed Africanus, prosecuted in that kinde by the Petilii, notwithstanding his many great services to the Common-wealth. But what became of all these our gettings God knowes. Onely I heare, that there was a Composition made afterwards with her Majestie for the Cochynella, and other Merchandize, not to a third part of that it was worth. For neither that, nor yet any of the other riches, could truely come to light or publique knowledge, because they were never faithfully certified under the hands and testimonies of sufficient Officers, when they were first taken nor any of that which was preserved sold when wee came home, but onely to the Buyers advantage. And yet in Conclusion, they that had so played the wise Stewards, in so providing for themselves, and their followers, had all the grace and gaine, from those that had more carefully and justly intended the publique Service. But this generall neglect of truth and merit throughout the world, is the cause, that so few doe apply to follow those sincere and unprofitable courses: especially, seeing how many doe daily, by fraud and flatterie, finde shorter and smoother wayes to Honours, wealth, and preferment: Even beyond all measure and expectation.

XX

129

[The Conclusion

I

A.D. 1624.

[IV. x.

1970.]

The Conclusion of the Worke, with some later Advertisements touching His Majesties Care for Virginia.

E have now compassed the World in the Courses of so many Planets, every of which had a peculiar wandering, and yet none erring from the publike benefit of the Universe. And as in Geometricall compasses one foote is fixed in the Centre,

whiles the other mooveth in the Circumference, so is it with Purchas and his Pilgrimes, in this Geographicall compassing: they have their owne motions, but ordered in this Circumference, from, for, and by him which abideth at home in his Centre, and never travelled two hundred miles from Thaxted in Essex (lately adorned and augmented with Franchises by his Majestie) where hee was borne. All their lines tend to this Centre, and this Centre to the Basis and Ground thereof, that is to his Countrey, to the honour and benefit wherof, he and all his are due. All Nations dance in this Round to doe the English service, and English Travellers here enjoy the Mayne, others the By, to attend, and with their Travels to perfect the English, at lest the knowledge of the World to the English.

[IV. x. Yea, in this English Centre also I have chosen the 1971.] Centre of that Centre, the Renowmed Name of Queene Elizabeth, to which, because Mortalitie hath deprived us of Her Person, wee have added that of King James, the All that is left us of Queene Elizabeth, and more then that All in further perfection of Sexe and Arts. With

those auspicious Names, as the faire Starres in the Constellations of both Poles, our Pilgrimes beganne their Progresse; by the Light of those two Eyes of Great Brittaine, they have taken view of the World, and therefore heere wee end in our Pilgrimage with those two auspicious Names.

His Majestie first (for Brute is uncertaine) hath combined a Trinitie of Trinitie of Kingdomes into an Unitie, Fecit eos in gentem unam, & made the Ocean the Wall to his Inheritance, hath rooted out the wonted barbarisme of Borderers, of Scottish Fewds, of English Duells, of Irish Bogges; hath confirmed and settled those cruder and more indigested beginnings of our prosperitie; hath enjoyed soveraignetie longer then ever did any of Britaines Soveraignes (and still ô still may we long long enjoy him) hath given so manifold securitie against the extreamest and most fatall rigor, both in number, weight and worth of Royall pledges.

1624.

1972.]

He is beyond comparison compared with others, a meere transcendent; beyond all his Predecessors, Princes of this Realme; beyond the neighbouring Princes of his own times, beyond the conceits of subjects dazled with such brightnes: Beyond our victorious Debora not in sex alone, but as Peace is more excellent then War, and Salomon then David, in this also that He is, and we enjoy [IV. x. his present Sunshine; in regard of posteritie not onely sowing thereto the fruit of his bodie, but of his learned mind, like a Salomon indeed by voluminous Writings, and not (which is more usesuall to Princes,) with apophthegme-flashes, recorded by others like Saul sometime among the Prophets; a Miracle and Oracle 1. Sam. 10. both, this in polemicall, politicall, problematicall, apocalypticall, positive Theology, and Bookes of devotion also; that, in that his Royall body hath had the honour not to be polluted with women; above men, above Salomon. And as wee have travelled abroad that wee may bring forraine rarities home, wee find no greater raritie abroad or at home then his Majestie, the Father of the Clergie

1624.

the raiser of so many Families to honour, and of honours to Families; whose bountie and clemencie none deny, (let others beware least they perhaps have evil eyes, because his is good) so honoured of his Subjects with awfull love, with loving awe, that himselfe hath professed no King herein his superiour: and we can, and all History will professe with us, that England never enjoyed better daies then under her deceased Mother, and the present Pater Patriæ, who hath secured Britaine in peace and prosperitie, whiles all Christian Kingdomes have beene shaken with warres; and that which alone hath escaped the Lions, hath beene bitten by the Adder, the Spanish Dominions being coasted, braved, spoiled of thousands of their people, besides wealth and security, by the basest of enemies, the Algier Pirates. Thus at home doth Great Britain enjoy this Gem of Goodnes, the best part of the Ring of the worlds Greatnes : & abroad, we see that as Gods Steward to others also, His Majestie hath ballanced the neerer World by his prudence, by justice of commerce visited the remoter, by truest fortitude without wrong to any man conquered the furthest North, and by justest temperance disposed the overflowing numbers of his Subjects, not in Intrusions and Invasions of weaker Neighbours, but in the spacious American Regions, (some thinly, others not all inhabited) to breed New Britaines in another World. We have given Voyages thorow this Booke, and being now returned home and fixed on so illustrious a Name, I meane to travell no more, here I hang up my Pilgrims weeds; here I fixe my Tabernacle, it is good to bee here: wee have brought all the World to England, England it selfe to the greatest of her Soveraignes, King James.

But yet the mention of his Majesties Plantations, makes me gratefully to mention his gracious care of the same, even since the former Virginian Relations were printed. I then left Virginia with some griefe and sorrow, because of her distracted Children and Fathers, the divisions and mutuall distasts of the Company here and Planters there,