Eugenia's tears for Great Britons distractions, or, Some slender observations reflecting on those sad…Evgenia's teares for Great Brittaynes distractions, or, Some slender observations reflecting on those sad…

Nam verae voces tum demum pectore ab imo eijciuntur.

Shall the smallest cinders of a rich matter have its value, and shall we thus audaciously pluck off th• chain from Sacred authority? Equality is the chief ground-work¹ of equity; and it is our duty to submit our selves to the King as supreame; nec debemus esse sapientiores legibus, it being not amiss for all to observe the Laws of the place [Greek or Hebrew]. which made Varro reply (upon the invitation of making new laws) that if he were to begin to write of Religion, he would plainly tell what his belief were of it; but being already received, he would speak more of it according to the custom, then the nature; neither would give admittance for the altering of those things, acted by better judgements contrary to the opinion and gesture of this age, wherein Porters, Peasants and Horse-grooms, shall attribute to them selves the power of reformation, when Barbers shops shall have their Council-Tables; when every Mechanic shall be a Judge and adviser; Nay the weaker Sex under pretence of Preaching shall prescribe remedies, and tell old-wives-tales: who (though it seem neither lawful nor laudable) have invoked so much resolution as opprobriously to defame, where they cannot justly reform; it being as improper for them to assume this liberty, as for the Physician to discourse of war, or a mere Scholar •at of the secret designs of Princes; and though ⟨p. 41⟩it be undeniable that as amongst the functions of the soul some are mean and base, so in the body of a state some members will be corrupt and seditious; so certainly as Naturalists observe, that nothing sooner then fear transports our judgement out of its due seat, nothing will more speedily distract and ruin a Common-wealth, then the dangerous consequence of Teditious heads, from whose outrageous storms even the Diadem of a Prince shall not give him shelter; whose least policy it is not, to keep down the factious that their impotency may afford security; and though mercy is the richest Jewell which adorneth his Crown (it being proper for Tyrants only to cut off those Stairs by which they climb) yet is it not unworthy their notice, always in their proceedings against men in power, either not to strike, or strike home least afterwards they hatch revenge for the disgrace, whence their liberty (after Delinquency) may endanger his safety.