Page:Eikonoklastes - in answer to a book intitl'd Eikon basilike - Milton (1649).djvu/31

 point so mindfull of Decorum, as to put never more pious words in the mouth of any person, then of a Tyrant. I shall not instance an abstruse Author, wherein the King might be less conversant, but one whom wee well know was the Closet Companion of these his solitudes, William Shakespeare who introduces the Person of Richard the third, speaking in as high a strain of pietie, and mortification, as is utterd in any passage of this Book; and sometimes to the same sense and purpose with some words in this place, I intended, saith he, not onely to oblige my Freinds, but mine Enemies. The like saith Richard, Act. 2. Scen. .

I doe not knew that Englishman alive. With whom my soule is any jott at odds, More then the Infant that is borne to night; 1 thank, my God for my humilitie.

Other stuff of this sort may be read throughout the whole Tragedie, wherein the Poet us'd not much licence in departing from the truth of History, which delivers him a deep dissembler, not of his affections onely, but of Religion.

In Praying therefore, and in the outward work of Devotion, this King wee see hath not at all exceeded the worst of Kings before him. But herein the word of Kings, professing Christianism, have by farr exceeded him. They, for ought we know, have still pray'd thir own, or at least borrow'd from fitt Authors. But this King, not content with that which, although in a thing holy, is no holy theft, to attribute to his own making other