Of Crown Revenue. SECT. X.

THe ancient Sages took our Earth to be
A simple Element of one Complexion,
Differing onely in variety
Of heats and cold from Heavenly reflexion;
But nature which can never be confin'd
To narrow contemplations of one mind,

This abstract dream of former time confutes;
For in the circuit of one clime her womb
Compos'd as various is, as are her fruits;
Here Gold for life's use, Marble for her Tomb,
Here veins of silver, there quick Mercury,
Here Pales, there Pomona fruitful be.

Which sweet variety doth not proceed,
From influence, or temper by the Sun;
But from the first diversity of seed
Which did through her created vessels run,
And to the heat (as Tributes) pay their springs
Which unto ripeness Phoebus after brings.

Cold Germany thus yields from her deep Mines
Under the Earth, a lasting spring of Treasure,
Thus Hungary, where Phoebus neerer shines,
Above the Earth, yields native wealth and pleasure;
As in her Center she besides contains
Of Gold and Silver many hidden veins.

Hence again France, though ever martial bent,
Was by her late Fourth Henry's policy,
Known for a Paradice-like Continent,
Who out of that discern'd fertility
Both multiplied the Crown, and peoples part,
By Natures emulation with his Art.

From both which Mines in and above the earth,
Nature excludes the sloth of each degree,
Offring the riches of her many births,
Onely where she her self gives industry;
As if both man and things, must there consent
Where wealth is multiplied to ornament.

For as rich nature is the mould of plenty;
So Art again is natures consummation:
Again, as Phoebus Throne in stuff was dainty,
And yet the work of far more estimation;
So under Kings, not Earth, or Creatures dumb,
But Art of man it is that yields the sum.

Pow'r therefore, that these pillars of estate
Church, Laws, Trade, Honor have established,
Must then take care as equally to rate
Rents, and expence, that by those to the head,
Wealth Sinew-like may give a strength to move,
And breed respect by mixing Fear with Love.

First, because Forrain States bear reverence
Where they find wealth in Soveraignity,
As they which need keep no intelligence;
Besides the example of frugality,
By cutting of excess, that else consumes;
Tempers proud vice, which otherwise presumes.

Again, for wealth though these fair grounds he laid,
And treasure gotten by these harmless Mines;
If Order yet be not as well obey'd
In the expence, wealth suddenly declines;
And want pressing through mans faults, on the Crown,
Morefatally pulls King and People down.

Therefore ought Monarchs to be provident,
In weighing things, which though they trivial seem,
Yet are of consequence in Government;
As difference of Diet, Custome, Clime,
Since high rais'd Athens, and Piraeum Port
Had manners, and askt Laws of different sort:

Whence I conclude that Northern Princes must
Cherish the Staple rent of their demesnes,
And to their own inheritances trust,
Which to the Crown of old did appertain,
At least by Parliaments supply their Lust;
Else shall these Kings be easily overthrown,
That Taxe, and give the peoples with their own.

And though the finer heats scorn these safe stays
Of Crown Revenues, as if pow'r and wit
From peoples wealth might endless profit raise,
Yet in the practice, who observeth it,
Shall find those Taxes, which the south brooks well,
Do often make the colder climes rebel.

Besides, who well observes a Monarchy,
Shall find disorder there a fatal thing;
The head being both of unprosperity,
Good Fortune, Fame, or infamy the spring:
So that oppression, which makes both sides poor,
Ought to have entrance at a narrow door.

Again in Taxes, differences be
Some from the Crowns prerogative alone,
Pleading an over-racking pedigree,
Others by Parliaments, so mixe the Throne
With commen peoples good, as but excess
Nothing can thence rise, to make Scepters less,

France then, thou large extended Monarchy,
Keep to thy self the charge of Crown-demesne,
For bleeding Taxes which breed misery
In men, and so reflect on Crowns again,
By forcing them to sell Tribunal seats,
Which make thy Justice vile, thy Judges great.

Lewis th'Eleventh of Craft, not Majesty,
The perfect Type, being asked what the Crown
Revenues might of France amount to be,
Said, France a Medow was, which mow it down
As oft as need, or pleasure did require,
Would yet grow up again to feed desire.

Where Majesty indeed is kept above
By true Magnificence, rais'd of her own;
Riot a steep is where States headlong move;
The rage of Pow'r is by low stooping known,
For as, but Miters, few by Stews do get,
So who but Negars tax on breathing set?

Kings then that would have their Magnificence
To be maintain'd by springs which should not fail,
Must with that Council keep intelligence,
Wherewith the dying Farmer did prevail,
To make his Children dig his Vine for Gold,
Who found it not in Mettal, but in mould.

This Vineyard in a King is his demesne,
Joyn'd with that Art of Arts, which man improves
And envyless makes active Monarchs Reign,
Rich both in peoples Treasures and their Loves:
What Midas wish, what dreams of Alchimy
Can with these true Crown-Mines compared be?

Again, Prerogatives in Government,
Which priviledg'd pow'r at first to take, then prise
What might her true necessity content,
Kings should not multiply, to prejudice
That Infancy, where men, by what they gave,
The rest intended for their use to have.

But where excess of times makes pow'r exceed
This safe equality of old foundations;
Rather with temperance qualifie that need,
Then strain old words to modern intimation,
And thereby wrack men to provide for more
Excess, then all those ages knew before.

Of which excess, whether the root proceed
From humours naturally unsatiate,
Or Casually made violent by need;
Odious those cures are which equivocate,
As did Caligula when by quirks of Law
Sibi & suis he to Sons did draw.

And though it for a wisdom of estate
Enrolled be in the Senate house of Rome,
When they with Carthage did capitulate,
That she must from her old sea-nurses come;
Inferring (City) signified no wall,
But Laws, which men obey and rule withal.

Whereby although more got was, then was meant,
And by advantage evil acts made good;
Yet what this adds to any government,
Is in dishonour ever understood:
Since crafty webs, which oft serve present turn
To warn times coming, do like Beacons burn.

Besides, if pomp of Princes must exceed,
In those kinds rather let their riot be,
Whose natures though they leave the Crown in need,
And so embase the State of Majesty;
Yet keep the Bullion still within the Land;
And go, and grow, like fame, from hand to hand;

Yet as a spring for ever feed the Crown,
By making people able to relieve,
Where riots that transport, pull Scepters down,
Give Kings and People mutual cause to grieve,
At that extreme and fatal consequence
Of Coin trans ported by misgovernment.

Among whose many heads, though of the chief,
Is that most idle and unmeasured charge
Of Leager Agents, sent to take a brief,
How forrain Princes alter, or enlarge
Alliance, Councels, Undertakings, Trade;
Provisions to defend, or to invade.

Which indigested pomp was never known
Nor us'd of old, but in the Factorage
Of Merchants States to pass away their own,
By making Princes Marts, their proper stage,
Whereby exchange, want, folly, or desire
To self ends they let fall, or raise things higher.

Else springs it from improper imitation
Of that long breath'd incroaching Court of Rome,
Which to give her stain'd wares deer valuation,
And govern all by superstitious doom;
From her false Ark these Cormorants sends forth,
To prey on every thing they find of worth:

And to that end retaineth every where
A spy, promoter, treasurer, and Mint;
Whose charge those humble provinces must bear,
That are besides, exhausted without stint,
By Priests who cherish for their pride and gain
Those sins the very heathen did restrain.

The narrow Center of which Cloister wit,
As it seeks to contract the Deity,
In finite frames of Arts contriv'd by it;
So are the large acts of humanity
Shut up in Dungeons, by their muddy sence,
That, except error, nothing comes from thence.

Now what affinity can other Kings
Assume with this, that only spend to know
Which feathers soar in forraign Eagles wings?
From whence there can no other profit grow,
But vainly by expence of wealth, to buy,
The vicious forms of forrain Tyranny.

And so, by these mistrained instruments
Bring Faction home among the liberal arts,
With her unequal moulds of Government,
To traffick or distract the peoples hearts;
Free denizing that practical deceit,
By which not small, but great States gather weight.

Out of the insight of which error, many
Wise Kings this modern course have alter'd,
And rarely either sent, or taken any,
Unless for present good occasioned
To treat of Marriage, Commerce, Peace or War,
In which returns the expences answered are.

Again, since as of duties, so expence,
There is a divers nature, and degree,
Kings in the choice of their magnificence,
Though absolute they seem, yet cannot be;
But bound amongst the many heads of charge
Chiefly their Fame or Empire to enlarge.

Nay, even in these expences which be founded
Upon the Laws of Nature, Honor, State;
Wise Princes with their fortunes must be bounded,
Since all excesses be unfortunate,
And do not onely prejudice a Throne.
But leave no creature master of his own.

Of this kind charge of Children, buildings be.
House-keeping, Furnitures, Gifts and Rewards,
All lively shadows of authority,
To multiply obedience, and regard;
Wherein yet Kings should therefore keep a measure,
As in things fram'd to live, and die with treasure.

Whence I conclude it for a Monarchy
Wisdome, in her expences and creations,
To use a spare discreet frugality
Which gives the work and workmen reputation;
And so again by all ingenious ways
Descending Rents not impositions raise.

And when with these fair cautions Princes have
Forrain Revenues, and their native Rents,
Disposed thus both to beget, and save,
They may with costless grace or disgrace vent
Mens thoughts, and frame their due obedience
More then can be wrought in them by expence.

For Kings are Types of Heavenly excellence,
How be it drawn in finite colours mixt,
With Pow'r and wit both earthly influence;
Yet were but these Arts in our Princes fixt,
How to be strong by others Love, and Might,
Their States would soon clime far above their Right.