I shall rather put you in mind of that thankfulness
which is due, than puff you up with anything that might seem
vain. Is it from the arms of flesh that we derive these
blessings? Behold the Commonwealth of Rome falling upon her own
victorious sword. Or is it from our own wisdom, whose counsels
had brought it even to that pass, that we began to repent
ourselves of victory? Far be it from us, my lords, to sacrifice
to our own nets, which we ourselves have so narrowly escaped! Let
us rather lay our mouths in the dust, and look up (as was taught
the other day when we were better instructed in this lesson) to
the hills with our gratitude. Nevertheless, seeing we read how
God upon the neglect of his prophets has been provoked to wrath,
it must needs follow that he expects honor should be given to
them by whom he has chosen to work as his instruments. For which
cause, nothing doubting of my warrant, I shall proceed to that
which more particularly concerns the present occasion, the
discovery of my Lord Archon's virtues and merit, to be ever
placed by this nation in their true meridian.
"My lords, I am not upon a subject which persuades me to
balk, but necessitates me to seek out the greatest examples. To
begin with Alexander, erecting trophies common to his sword and
the pestilence: to what good of mankind did he infect the air
with his heap of carcasses? The sword of war, if it be any
otherwise used than as the sword of magistracy, for the fear and
punishment of those that do evil, is as guilty in the sight of
God as the sword of a murderer; nay more, for if the blood of
Abel, of one innocent man, cried in the ears of the Lord for
vengeance, what shall the blood of an innocent nation? Of this
kind of empire, the throne of ambition, and the quarry of a
mighty hunter, it has been truly said that it is but a great
robbery.
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