gather more then is commanded in mistrust of Gods benefits infect the whole land with the vice of Auarice You ought rather to be like Pellicans in the wildernesse who in tender loue peck the blood from their breast to feed their yong ones You see with your visible eies how wonderfull almightie God hath alwaies preserued the Queenes Maiestie from the snares of hir manifold enemies And in you prâ—ncipally lies the sacrifice of thancks giuing it is you that ought to daunce before the tabernacle to goe with the people to the Arke Num. 17. 8 of couenant that your righteousnesse may bud like Arons rod. It is you that ought to flie foorth from this tossed Arke like the Doue bring the Oliue braunch of peace in your mouthes tell Gen. 8. 11. the people that if they returne God wil be their God and send a truce to their distressed soules by you his ambassadors Flie not to Tharsis when you are sent to Niniue least deuouring distruction attend you nor with the Man of God goe not out of the way least a Lion teare you in peeces But still be conuersant with the Lord that your saces may shine with Exo. 34. 30 Moses when he came from the Mount and bring the image of Gods glory to the people in your foreheads you must beare with Aron the brest-plate of iudgement vpon your harts There must Exo. 38. 30 be grauen vpon your forefronts Holinesse to the Exo. 35 36 Lord and your soundes must be heard when you goe into the holy places before him So shall yee stand like mount Synay neuer to be remoued and your golden candlesticke shine in the Temple of the Lord. Remember the charge your maister Christ gaue to his seruant Peter binding him three times aboue all things by his feruent loue and the deere affection he bare to his Maister to feede his sheep to bee with Paul the faithfull Ambassadors of Iesus Christ as though God did beseech you through vs we pray you in Christs steed that ye be reconciled to God With Paul like 2. Cor. 5. 2. wife to be an example of life doctrine as in these words And follow hard toward the mark for the Phil. 3. 14. price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus Let vs therefore as many as be perfect be thus mindded if ye be otherwise God shall reueale euen the same vnto you Yee are most Reuerent the salt of the earth Mat 15. 13 which wanting sauour is to be troden vnder foot ye are the light of the world a citie that is set on a hill cannot bee hid let your light therefore shine that they that see your good workes may glorifie your father which is in Heauen Thus vnworthie to counsaile so graue aduisements as if the body should instruct the Soule I onely like a trauailer in his pilgrimage seeing a King goe out of his way tell him there is a better a more perfect and a straighter So referring you to your Masters reward who hates a hidden talent I beseech that God who guideth Israell by day Exo. 13 21 in a piller of clowde by night in a piller of fire to direct your earthly bodies spirituall soules to his seruice Amen To the true Nobilitie of this Realme TO ye Right Honorable that are the props supporters of a kingdome that like Atlas should beare the waight of Heauen on your shoulders giue me leaue to stretch forth the Artires of my hart as in a tempestious time in peace vnite you together like one body obedient to one principall head In that worthie member the Hart the monarch seate of our Microcosmos should be your residence with in whose center as in a Princes Court are diuers receptacles for you to inhabit in Then as branches extending from the lofty Ceder being fed by one roote doe notwithstanding cherish one another with their naturall sap So like the true stocke of Nobilitie discended from your worthie ancestors be you combined in a coniunction of vnseperable aide that the body of the tree may be comforted in so happy an issue in the proudest blast of conspiracy keepe you stil vnremouable Be ye like faithfull Mardocheus spotles in your waies when Esser traitors like proud Haman shall perish in their own complets For if yee please to peruse our Histories both ecclesiasticall and prophane yee shall finde that neuer traitor to his natiue Prince but had his reward threefold return'd into his wicked bosom And though it hath pleased God sometime to suffer them the cause best knowne to his sacred pleasure to bring to passe their hatefull purposes yet as a woe pronounced to them by whom such euils come their mischiefe hath not past without greater mischiefe reguerdond There is none of your Honorable societie but knowes that treason is the deuider and seperater of all good things a fatall disioyner of perfection bringing with it ruine and the mercilesse substitutes of war where on the contrary obedience is the sinowes of the state glewes the harts of Nobilitie together like one indiuisible substance And as the seauen leane Kine in Pharaohs dreame deuoured the seauen fat Gene. 41. 4 yet themselues not the fatter so stands it with treason like a cormerant it deuoures all yet is it felfe the better by nothing What greater paterne of miserie can ther be then a kingdome deuided in it selfe it is like the dangerous Eclipse of the Sun nay like the vnnaturall seperation of Heauen that brings all danger and distruction No plague of Egipt comparable to that miserie for ciuile discention is the gate to let in ruine and forraine inuasioÌ„ it is like a wedge of iron that entring into an Oke disseuers both sides in seuerall peeces makes them both fit for the fire The florishing state of Rome was deuoured by that Monster and all tranquilitie swallowed at a bit by that hedius Leuiathan It is like the blinde Mole that louing still to bee mischieuously labouring tosseth vp hir owne destruction Let then Right Honorable that acceptable sacrifice of your harts be offred to our gratious Soueraigne which far exceeds the externall offices of fained affection who with an eye of vigilance will no doubt regard your vertues and like the cheerefull comfort of the Sunne with hir blessed countenance make your yong blossomes come to pleasant fruit and bring the fruit by comfortable warmth to full maturetie By this meanes shall your Phenix liue still you be made most happie in hir fresh renuing God so direct your harts to worke in you vnfained loyaltie to hir sacred Maiestie and deadly hatred to selfe deuouring treason Amen To the Ciuile Maiestrates the Lord Maior and the Shrifes of London and other inferiour offâ—cers THe naturall care that your loyalties haue euer borne to your Soueraigne since your first florishing time both in peace and war hath in ages past as deedes worth registring beene
euen hand and cutting downe with the sharp sword of preuencion the children of rebellion at home the enuious intencion of the Enemie abroad For causes in common triall I call heauen to witnes I speake but what I know as he was Iudicial wary circūspect so was he vpright discreet and pittifull not leaning to any side either for fauour or gift but with an impartiall eye iudging all things according to the equitie of the cause Would many brāches like to that tree from whence it sprang might from that stocke spread their vertue in this hir Maiesties garden of happie gouernment In which ranke of true Nobilitie diligent watch-men and graue Councellers I may not omit that Right Honorable and milde condicioned Lord the Earle of Nottingham whose true loyaltie to hir Maiestie neuer spotted with the least mistrust may keepe euen wing with the rest of that Honorable societie whose true shew of a vertuous and noble minde is daily made apparant by his exceeding bountie towards the poore and needie The fruit whereof is Eternall saluacion And that Reuerent and carefull Gentleman Sir Iohn Popham Knight Lord chiefe Iustice of England being another of the body of the Counsell whose Honorable forwardnesse with great discreation hath ben often proued in your Maiesties serious affaires as in calming the Realme with quiet that hath ben hertofore tempestuously troubled with blody murtherers felonious robbers but now God be thanked by his diligent wise gouernment well reformed whose exceeding loue to his Prince country hath ben often made apparant by his laborious indeuours To conclude I beeseech God in his infinite mercy stirre vp in you deere affecting loue to hir Maiestie who for the comfort of his chosen and maintenance of his truth hath defended hir highnes this 44 yeers our most merciful gouernes Mercie hath alwaies sitten at hir Maiesties right hand houered about hir like a continual handmaid Mercie is the wedding ring that like an vnspotted Virgin hath married hir to our Sauiour Christ setled hir Highnes the faithful president of his true Church wherin long may hir Maiestie continue many happie peacefull daies to the great glory of God to the exceeding comfort of all vs hir faithfull louing subiects Amen What a faithfull subiect is A Good Subiect next to the Diademe that adornes a Princes head is the chiefest ornamēt that decores his dignity He is as the preciòus Balme that anoints his browes and is neerer to his hart then his Scepter to his right hand as sweet in his nosthrills as the groues of Gylead and more precious in his sight then Solomons Iuorie throne couered with purest gold His hart is clothed with peace like Mount Oliuet and his eyes as harmelesse as the sight of a Doue His tongue sounds like the Harp of Dauid and his lips deliuer the happinesse of loyaltie his eares are the portalls that receiue vnderstanding all perfection from thence is conducted to the hart His hands are readie to fight the battailes of the Lord his feete shunning the steps of blod are bent alwaies to walke in the pathes of innocencie Thus excellent in the sight of his Prince shines a faithfull subiect more gorgeous then the Ephod of Aron and more sumptuous then Solomon in all his Royaltie Who so is this to his Prince countrie the Lord will prosper him and hee shal be blessed in an euerlasting generacion And for one of these benefits hee receiues on earth he shall haue a million in Heauen For one of those perfections he pertakes off in this world nombers aboue nomber shall attend him in the world to come And his Prince shall thus pray for him and blesse him as Solomon did his subiects And the King turned his face and blessed all the Congregacion of Israell and said Blessed bee the Lord God of Israell who spake with his mouth to Dauid my Father and hath with his hand fulfilled it And though my selfe may say with Isaie I am a worme and no man yet I speake it in despite of vaineglorie I would with all my hart as an Isaac in the hands of Abraham serue as a sacrifice to doe my Prince country good For surely hee cannot bee a true seruitour of God that is not a faithfull subiect to his Prince Neither would I iudge any felicitie in this world answerable to that if once my soule might bee imployed to please my Prince and benefit my countrie For all the offices of humanity depend onely vpon those principall performances for I know by that meanes ther comes a blessing from a far a reward full of ioy which none els are worthy to obtaine which reward I hartely pray the great rewarder of all to send to the true loyall and faithfull subiect and so with one voice proceeding from one vnitie of hart let vs all say faithfully God saue the Queene Amen E E EXceedings made the Miracle of Nature L Loue ioin'd with life to frame a blessed creature I Ioie in each part where wisdome hath expressed Z Zeale in the hart to make the spirit blessed A A work of worth well worthie admiration B Beyond the Mount of Mans imagination E Esteem'd more worth then any worldly wonder T That by desert puts all earths praises vnder H Heau'ns blesse the work wherin such wonder dwelleth A As all worlds wonder in such worth excelleth R R RAre is the substance of this worthie sence E Expressing all in onely Excellence G Giu'ne by the heauens vnto the world a blessing I In Fames reporting and in Truthes confessing N Neere are such notes vnto an Angells Nature A As makes a Queene a Goddesse of a creature The Miracle of Nature AMong the wonders of this Age of ours That Eare hath heard or Eie hath euerseene Vpon the toppe of Honours highest towers The glorious notes of our most gracious Queene Through all the world all worthely confessed Shew neuer Kingdome in a Queene so blessed First for hir Birth the daughter of a King And such a King as peerelesse in his praise A blessed sprig from such a stocke to spring As doth increase the honour of his daies And in hir selfe in more then worlds perfection The Art of Nature by the heauens direction For Beautie but behold hir blessed Eie Where faire DIANA puts foule VENVS downe For Wisedome in true sacred Maiestie The worthie head of an Imperiall Crowne For Mercy who so perfectlie diuine For Grace who doth not to hir Grace resigne For bountie note hir Liberalitie To maintaine Right and to relieue the wrong For Vertue what true vertuous Qualitie But may bee sung in hir true praises song For Learning where more in a Princesse seene For Language there was neuer such a QVEENE For Constancy who so immutable Whose loue to God no Diuell can remoue For gracious speach what Prince so affable To winne the hart of euery worthy loue For Zeale the tryall of religious truth For Patience read the troubles of hir
recorded yet it hath bene manifest when Princes that heeretofore haue grouerned haue held the raines with a more seuere hand then in our time God be thanked yet yee haue without repining willingly sustained as giuing place to time to fortune or both And as in all dangerous Commotions you haue made apparant your forward loues and loyalties to hir Maiestie your natiue countrie so it cannot be doubted but your vigilant care confirmed in perfect resolution like the helping hands of a distressed body will in all loue when occasion shall serue minister as to your selues the faithfull assistance of all your powre Wherein you shall finde our Soueraigne like a carefull Mother with Hester be ready to offer hir selfe for hir people with Iudith to dread no daunger to preserue hir owne nation I know it is yet extant in your memories how carefull shee hath beene to send comfort to forreine distressed Christians with the help of God hath deliuered them where otherwise like a flock of Lambes not able to defend themselues their throtes had line open to a heard of sauage Wolues How much more then hir highnesse shewing such compassion to strangers will she haue especiall regard of hir naturall people and in most especiall to you that are by often apprelation tried to be of hir most faithfull loiall deerest subiects The tirants Nero Dioclesian and Phalaris who most bloodely diued into the bowells of their friends and subiects being Heathen were obeied both in loue feare though their tiranny extended to all licentious vnciuile proceeding How much more then ought ye hauing a most Christian Prince to gouerne yee that tenders the pricking of your finger as a wound neere hir owne heart to prosecute hir Princely affectiō with pure integritie I vrge not this as though your loues were doubted or held in the suspence of vnequal ballance but as remembring you of that which cannot be to often mentioned considering the danger of disloial seducers that thinck to bribe the faithfull harts of hir Highnes louing subiects as the Diuell that soweth darnel amongst the best wheat with their fals shewes deceitfull practises or like the Crocodile in Nilus that weeps like a child till she alure some passengers then appearing in the nature of hir ougly shape extends hir hunger bitten paunch presently deuours Of such pestiferous natures are all glozing siccophants that guild their pretences to keepe the counterfait vnspied with such false suggestions carrying no shew of reason or truth but like the Diuells that entred into the heard of Swine when they cannot haue liberty or licence to do one mischiefe couet to enter into another so their mallice may be set on work But to withstand such I know both your ciuile pollicie is able and your well instructed mindes very willing Heerein ye ought the rather to be throughly confirmed seeing how God hath from the beginning of hir Maiesties reigne defended hir in all maner of enuious assaults and layed their owne euill vpon the wickednesse of their owne heads And hir Maiestie is throughly perswaded of your fidelitie and sound incorruptible loue to hir Crowne dignitie that you will hereafter be chary to discouer to hir if need shal be as god forbid any mischief lurking like the poison of Aspis vnder their lips then others shold by wise pollicie inkindled by hir tender loue bring the same to euident light And as in a late proclamaciō she promised in the cōtinuance of your dutiful seruent affectiō ye shal finde hir more careful of your welfare then hir owne more desirous of your preseruacion thē hir owne that no perticuler hurt or discōtēt shal be wrōgfully imposed vpon you but she in hir princely nature wil be redy in persō both to heare it to right it I know that in some forreine coūtries yet in Christendom they can scarce sustain their bodis with such meat drink as they like yet is necessary for thē with such other things as the nature of man requires but as yoked with a domestical seruiletie they are cōstrained to pay tribute for the vse of them giue double both for their appetite sustenance God forbid as thāks be to God it is not that the subiects of England should be oppressed with such tedious clogges This as one feruent in affection aduising wher I know notwithstanding there is a setled vnitie of loue euen as you hope to haue your soules lift vp on high and your coffers enriched on earth as yee looke to haue your warehouses filled with Gods blessings to haue your wine good and your oyle fat so once againe I stir you vp like a flame that is quickned with blowing to loue God obey your Prince and be carefull for your country so shall hir proudest enemie die at your feete and ye bee made worthie instruments like a tower of Marble to defend hir sacred Maiestie whom God continue long in all ioy full health and prosporous life Amen To the true and faithfull priuate subiect AND now beloued countrimen to you in generall that carry with you the full currant of affection the swiftest streame of deepe guiding loue not to bee reuerted or turned backe by the vehement opposition of my resisting winde To you as to tbe open marke wherto my hart leauells hir pretended aime being the vpshot of mine exhortacion I send this louing and friendly counsell Like to a strong Cittie fenced about with impregnable walls so ought you to be in time of domestical rebellion or forreine inuasion For you are the main battaile the strength trust of your coūtry to you belōg a chief trust in this required preseruation Euen as hir highnesse may wel be compared to the apple of our eye of which naturally by reason it is tender vnto vs we haue a diligent care so ought you to ioyne your whole body of defence both armes legs feete and hart to protect hir royall person without secret grudging priuate muttering or vnnaturall controuersie You ought to be like stedfast Rocks in the Sea readie to front euery storme and to withstand without remouing the most bitter blast that either winter or foule weather affords I know my most louing countrymen that you well perceiue the Princely care of hir Maiestie towards you hir louing subiects the honourable disposition noble industrie of hir vigilent counsell Of which Honourable society although now vntimely decessed I cannot but call to minde that Right Honorable and most worthely to bee remembred the late Lord Burgley and Lord high Treasurer of England Whose fame may not bee sealed vp with the leaden hand of Obliuion who whilest he liued shewed himselfe one of the most faithfull carefull and wise councellours that euer liued in any kingdome of Christendome He was the Beacon that discouered forrein mallice and home-bred mischiefe the neuer fayling watch-tower of the common-wealth the hart of lustice bearing vp the ballance of weightie causes with an