bounde his handes behynde hym That done he made his feruente prayer to GOD. Whyche ones ended they set the stacke of woode on fyre where was sene a wōderful miracle For y e flame of fire lyke to a sayle clothe puffed ful of winde compassed his body much like a vaulte and his fleshe within was like burnynge golde And there was felt a swete odour commynge from hym lyke frankensence lye killed and the other by a conspiracye murdred in the common counseyle house of Rome Therefore ambition may be wel compared to a viper whose bely the yonge vipers that she hath conceaued eate oute and so destroye her For euery ambitious wretche that seketh by sedition to obteyne his purpose when he hathe conceaued his trayterouse diuises goeth aboute to put them in practise he accordyng to the vipers example is by the same broughte to his destruction So dyd it happen to Absalon in old time whych hauyng a very ambitious mynde sought by al meanes possible to withdrawe the hartes of the people from his good godlye father king Dauid And standynge at the entrynge in of his fathers gate said vnto euery one that came thither as a suiter of what citie arte thou or what is thy matter Whych when he had hearde me thinke quod he thou sayest good reason but alas that I were a iudge that al men that haue anye matter in suite might come vnto me to thintent that I might giue iust iudgement in his behalf And vnto euerye one y t came vnto hym and hayist hym he put forth his hand and not only louingly embraced him but kyndely kyssed hym to supposing by that meanes to winne the heartes of the people Whyche done he gathered a great armye and made rebellion agaynste his owne naturall and most louynge father thereby to dispossesse him of his crowne But in the fielde a great nombre of his menne were slayne and he hym selfe rydynge throughe a thycke woode was taken betwixt y e bowes of a tree and piteously hanged by the heere of hys heade So that through hys presumptuouse ambitiō whiche he thoughte to satisfye by rebellion he came to a miserable wretched end Wherfore all ambitiouse folkes that auenture suche cursed enterprises let thē loke for the lyke yf they take not hede beware betyme For what broughte the wretched tyraunte Maximus to vtter ruine but that in the Emperoure Theodosius dayes when Valentinian to whom thēpire of the West partes apperteyned was but a childe he made a sore rebellion was in good hope by force of armes to obteyne themperiall crowne But Theodosius themperour being at the same time in the Easte partes sore agreued with those newes gathered a great power to fyght agaynst this rebelliouse tyraūt Maximus And came in al haste to Melane where the tyraunte was Then the souldiars of Maximus hearyng of the cōming of themperour Theodosius were sore affrayed of the matter streyght waye toke Maximus amonge them bounde him and ledde him by and by to Theodosi◠us Who anone after receaued the rewarde of his rebellion vnto whyche his ambitious heart had broughte hym Agayne what a wretched end had Andragathius an ambitiouse wretche who by a priuie conspiracie kylled Gratianus themperour Dyd he not in conclusion as sone as he hearde that Maximus his mayster was putte to death lepe into a riuer and drowned him selfe We reade also of one Eugenius a tyraunte that in the sayde Emperours dayes blinded with ambition aduentured too conspyre the yonge Emperoure Ualentinians death And that he might more easelye brynge hys matter to passe he vsed the counseyle and ayde of Arbogastus a man mete for suche a purpose These two together wanne wyth fayre wordes and large promises themperours chamberlaynes and made them kil their owne lord and mayster Which done Eugenius obteyned thempire of all the West partes Wherfore Theodosius assone as he was certified hereof takyng the matter very greuouslye as he hadde good cause streyght way prepared an armye agaynste hym and made as muche haste toward hym as he could possibly And whē the armyes mette together and that Theodosius hoste was in the field sore discomfited Theodosius fallyng downe vpon hys knees in the middest of the armye prayed God most hartely to ayde and succoure him in that daungerous conflicte And by and by all the dartes that were caste and the arrowes that were shotte by Eugenius souldyars agaynst Theodosius men were with a vehemente wynde dryuen backe agayne vpon them selfes and the arrowes of Theodosius souldyars came also vpon thē with much more violence wherewyth when Eugenius see his men sore endaungered runnyng wyth all spede to Theodosius fel downe at hys fete most humbly besechyng hym of pardon But or euer he had made an ende of hys tale ▪ he was miserablye slayne of the souldyars Many mo stories could I recite for the proue hereof but these at this present shall suffice ▪ seing that by these onlye euery man may playnlye perceaue that all those y t seke for honor by rebellion come at lengthe to a miserable and a wretched ende And therby it well appeareth y t their cause is moste wycked damnable For cōmonly whēsoeuer men take any enterprise on hande ▪ yf their cause be iust God will prosper them therein but yf their cause be noughte ▪ then shal they spede accordinglye For as Salomon wryteth Wycked men shalbe catched in their owne cursed diuises and fast fettred in the boundes of their offences Putte the case y t honor wolde make a man good as it manye tymes doth the contrary shuld thou then labour to be good by vnlawfull meanes or rather be good before y t thou mighte be better when thou comeste to honor Fro◠we must not as saynt Paule writeth do euill that good may come thereof but we must as y e holy Prophete Dauid monisheth vs eschue euil and do good euery daye ware better better thinke y t when we are best of al we be bad ynoughe Moreouer me think we shuld rather wisely despise worldly honor then wretchedly desire it both because y t those y t haue it manye times yf they vsed not wel are in daunger bothe of body soule throughe it also y t whosoeuer commeth to it by reason of their shorte transitory lyfe they shall not long enioy it and beside this as Seneca saith Riches honor authoritie suche lyke which be in our conceite muche estemed and yet of them selfes be very vile do wythdrawe vs from that thinge whiche is certaine and yet haue they nothinge in them so gay and preciouse that shulde allure oure myndes so to esteme thē but only because we vse to set muche by them For they are not praysed because they be desyred but they are desyred because they be praysed Nowe yf so be we be desyrous of honoure in thys worlde then seynge as we reade in Aristotle that honor is the
another in an Apostles style after this sorte Grace and peace be with you from god our father and the Lord Iesus Christe nor lette them not exhort one another to sticke fast in theyr fonde opinion and say good brother in the lordes name shewe youre selfe nowe to be the true minister of god in maynteyning his holy word nor let them not craftly couer theyr contagiouse heresye with suche a gaye coloured cloke lest they both deceaue them selfes and a great many mo to for whose soules they shall make aunswere but let them call to remembraunce the wordes of saynte Paule that he wryteth to the Corinthians whiche be these Such false apostles are crafty workemen and fashion them selfes to be like Christes apostels and no marueyle is it For sataÌ„ chaunseth hym selfe into the forme of an Aungell of lyghte Therefore it is no greate wonder then yf hys ministers fashion them selfes lyke to the ministers of Iustice. And when they haue throughlye weyed these wordes let them marke well whether they be not such like them selfes as saynt Paule speaketh of and so spying at length theyr wrong fayth let them neuer stand longer in it nor thinke that they are wiser then all the worlde beside but like good children with weping teares returne to their mother the church humblie aske hir spouse mercy desire hym to pardon their folie For excepte they do thus let them neuer looke to be Gods chyldren Because that as saynt Cyprian sayeth no manne can haue god his father excepâ— he take the Churche for his mother Now then seing that for such a fond fayth no man ought to put him selfe in anye trouble muche lesse ought he to make rebellion for the maynteynaunce of it For yf it be true as we haue proued before y â— for the syncere and true fayth of Christ no man maye withoute daunger of damnation adueÌ„ture to rebell â–ª then much lesse ought he for a false fayth to rebell and ryse agaynst his prince Wherfore when as for anye cause that can be ymagined our aduersary the deuil the aucthor of discord moueth vs to rebellion let vs then remeÌ„bre that no cause is there â–ª as we haue declared before for which a man may make rebellion so shall we alwayes vanquishe the deuyll be obedient to our prince and therin obey god to and finally eschewe the deuelishe and detestable crime of rebellioÌ„ which bringeth all those that auenture vpon it to vtter destruction and ruine Now moste dearly beloued contrye men seyng that hetherto we haue both opened the causes that commonly moue men to rebellion and also proued that for none of them nor no other beside them men must rebell it shall be well done hereafter to coÌ„sider likewise the causes which haue now of late made men to rebell agaynste oure mooste gratiouse soueraygne Ladye the Queene and to gyue all men warnynge to take hede from hence forth of suche a wicked and cruell enterprise Wise men that haue well weyed this matter reken two causes specially that made men this last time make rebellion One to delyuer our countrie from the oppression of straungers as it was reported and another to restore agayne Luthers lewde religion which god and the Queenes highnes had lately banished out of the realme Which two causes may be wel referred to the causes declared heretofore seing y â— in effect they be included in them Yet forasmuche as it is necessary at this present particularly to speake of them I shall hereafter set them forthe at large to thinteÌ„t that al mens hartes may be the better quieted in that behalfe The fyrst cause was only a cause pretensed and was thought to many men somewhat reasonable and therby was not a few deceaued with the goodly colowre therof For when the simple people heard that the head capitayne of this rebellion intended nothing els but to stoppe the Spanyardes from entringe into this realme and to bring to passe that no foreyne prince shuld mary with the queenes highnes lest we shuld by that meanes as he sayde be made bondemen and slaues contrary to the nature of all English menne and that he loued the Queenes grace all her subiectes as his owne lyfe and sought nothing but y t shoulde be to her honour and the commoditie welth of the whole realme they thought it was a good godlye purpose were by by persuaded therewith and sayde that there was no man that was faythful and louynge to his countrie but he would be gladde to spend his bloude in such a good quarel Thus were the sely folke that knew not the very cause why this rebellion was made by this subtyll pretense foulye deceaued And like poore birdes â–ª that in a great snowe can get no meate with this bayte were or euer they wiste catched to their great confusion But putte the case that this had bene their intent in dede â–ª shuld they therfore haue gone aboute to make rebellion and where as they be commaunded by GOD to obeye the Queene their mooste lawfull heade and gouernesse shulde they rule her and in a matter wherin euery bodye bothe by Goddes lawe and mans hath free libertie to do as hym lyketh shulde they by force lyke rigorouse tyrauntes coÌ„strayn her to satisfie their fantasies in that behalfe and to marry whome they would appoynte her Who hath so muche aucthoritie I praye you in making other folkes marriages as the pareÌ„tes haue in marryinge of their owne children And yet for al that they may not compell them to marrye whome they lyste but they must haue their consent therin For so dyd Laban and Bathâ—ell when their doughter Rebecca shuld be sent with Abraams seruauÌ„t to be married to Isaac saying thus Let vs cal the gyrle and aske her minde And when she came they asked her Wilt thou go with this man who aunswered I am well contented to go Therefore seing the children which ought to be at the parentes coÌ„maundement muste agree and consent to their owne marriage shall not princes then to whome al subiectes are bound to be obedient be at libertie to appoynt their owne marriages And agayne because y e marriage is a ioyninge together of a man and a womanne freely and lawfullye made for the bryngyng forth of childreÌ„ howe can it freelye be made when eyther the man or the woman is by force constrayned therevnto And lawfull matrimonye can it not be except it freelye be made by the full consent of bothe parties For S. Chrysostome sayeth â–ª that carnall copulatioÌ„ maketh not matrimony but the wyl consent of the parties Then forasmuche as bothe by Gods lawe and mans it playnly appeareth that matrimony can not be good except it be made by the free consent of the parties let no true subiect thinke muche that the Quenes highnes hathe bestowed her selfe where she lyketh and loueth No no euery one that loueth her grace hartely wil be glad that she marieth suche one as
yonge man was taken in loue wyth a yonge woman and after most earnestly repentyng hym thereof liued chastlye all his dayes and ended hys life by martyrdome What shal we saye to Luther that lewde lyinge frear who because he could not obteyne the prefermente of a pardon whych he would haue hadde thorderynge of layde awaye his cote and his honestye to passed not a pinne for y e breche of hys vowe And then began he to bable and rayle agaynst the aucthoritie of the church and the Sacramentes thereof â–ª And anone got he him selfe a 〈◊〉 Nonne so that men loked that Antichrist shoulde haue ben borne betwixt those twayne because that it hadde bene sayde of olde that Antichrist shuld be borne betwixt a frear and a Nonne And here in folkes were not muche deceaued For albeit that Antichrist him selfe was not borne betwixt theÌ„ yet they brought forth a forerider of his called false doctrine which hath poysoned a great many and prepared their hartes to receaue their mayster Antichriste Shall we then truste better this licentiouse limitour then S. Hierome that commendeth vnto vs chaste lyfe and virginitie and lyued him selfe all hys life time in perfite chastitie But to compare them one by one â–ª it were to longe and yet not necessarye For you may learne by these what the rest be Loke vpon the lyues of bothe sortes and you shall fynde the one to be corrupt sensuall and vitious the other to be pure sobre vertuouse Consider their doctrine The one is perniciouse lewde and carnall the other is holsome substantiall and godly Reade their bokes and you shall perceaue in the one blasphemye for blessing rayling for reasonyng and malice for modesty And in the other reuerente speaking sound knowledge and an humble spirite And this is certayne that whatsoeuer this new erroniouse writers haue that is good they haue taken it out of the olde writers And whatsoeuer is nought as the most parte is that is their owne Therfore if a man purpose to learne vertue to learne good knowledge to learne the trueth let hym read the old writers and he shalbe satisfyed For as Plantus sayth that old wine and old comedies be best so may we well say that old writers farre excelleth the new by reason that the one sort are as it were pure fountaynes oute of whiche these other beynge like riuers are deriued and drawen And Cicero writeth y â— it is great foly for a man that may come to the fountaynes to 〈◊〉 to the ryuers But scarcely may we compare these new noughty writers to ryuers because they be more like to standing pooles For the longer they contynue the more corrupted they seme and moo foâ—kes they infecte But a ryuer the loÌ„ger that it runneth the better is it purged and purgeth other thinges withall Now then seing that this late religion and sect came out of these new fangled writers I much maruayle why men that mynde to be saued will so muche esteme it and put their lyues in ieopardy for it If a man wold well way it he shuld easely perceaue it to be nought by reason of y e noughty fruites that are sprong out of it Let our owne countrye only be taken as an example herin When sensual lust of the bodye and selfe will two mete mates for it had ones brought it into this realme the first thing that he toke in hande was to cutte vs of and diuide vs from the whole vniuersall churche of god And where as we were in dede but a member before it wolde make vs a whole bodye and ioyne thervnto suche a head as the lyke in all the worlde hath neuer bene hearde of in so muche that our churche became as monstrouse as euer was eyther Chimera or Centaurus that the Poetes speake of Which ones done euery man as Esaye sayeth waxed wise in his owne conceyte and so presumed to searche for the secrete misteries of GOD. For as sone as they had the scripture traÌ„slated into Englyshe albeit very vntruly as it well appeareth in a great number of places then begon they as the Arrians did in Constantius dayes to reason and dispute euery man thought his owne iudgement best and euery daye in a maner would he haue a newe iudgemente and contemne al other folkes iudgemente besyde and saye that the holy fathers and writers aucthorities was but mennes traditions and that they all were oftentimes deceaued As for to seke anye doctrine of God at their handes it shuld be but foly For euery manne was taughte by the spirite of God sayde they And so rekened they them selfes that they were well ynoughe learned that they were able to expounde the holy scriptures of God of theyr owne braynes And when they were ones thus persuaded they were called men of a good iudgement which was a great commendation at that tyme a goodly title to cloke their noughty purpose withall But how good a iudgement was it I praye you that iudged badde to be good vice to be vertue and contagiouse heresye to be holsome doctrine It is an old saying and a true that blinde men can iudge no colours But verely this is as true that blind ignoraunce can not iudge of sounde learninge Wolde we not call him a Phisition of a noughtye iudgement that wold when he had sene a sicke mans water that were sore sycke in dede saye that this man is not sicke but he is I warrant you hole and sounde So when we hearde in tyme paste a newe brother saye that a presumptuouse ignoraunt felow was a learned man and of a good iudgemeÌ„t myghte we not well saye agayne that suche a mans iudgement was to be muche mistrusted For he that wold tell me that a man that had a pockye face had a goodly fayre visaâ—e might not I saye to him that he were foule deceaued But what yf he wold brynge another as blynd as him selfe to saye the same then had I good cause to saye as a good homelye seruaunt sayde ones to his mayster that wolde nedes beare him downe in a false matter well mayster well I will not saye you lye because it be cometh me not but neuer the lesse I wote what I wote If a man had gotte hym selfe this goodly tytle that he was of a good iudgemente then yf he were verye ignoraunte he shulde be called learned yf he were but a foole he shuld be taken for a wise man yf he were but a verye babler in dede he shuld be taken for a ready witted felowe were he neuer so lewde in behauiour yet shuld he be couÌ„ted a right honest maÌ„ For this good iudgement y t I spoke of was a cloke to couer all noughtie coÌ„ditions More ouer a watcheword had they y t they might be knowen from other For then wold they not say our lord saue vs as al christen men vse to saye but y e lord saue vs. Wherby thei wold be knowen to
An exhortation to all menne to take hede and beware of rebellion wherein are set forth the causes that commonlye moue men to rebellion and that no cause is there that ought to moue any man therevnto with a discourse of the miserable effectes that ensue thereof and of the wretched ende that all rebelles comme to moste necessary to be redde in this seditiouse troublesome tyme made by Iohn Christoferson ¶ At the ende whereof are ioyned two godlye Prayers one for the Quenes highnes verye conuenient to be sayd dayly of all her louing and faythfull Subiectes and an other for the good quiete estate of the whole realme ¶ Reade the whole and then Iudge ¶ To the mooste excellent and vertuouse Queene Marye by the grace of GOD Quene of England Fraunce and Irelande and defendour of the fayth Iohn Christoferson her graces Chapleyne dayly oratour wisheth a long a quiete and a prosperous reygne with the daylye encrease of al godly vertue LYke as there be manye and sondrye diseases most gratious Soueraigne which chaunsing to a mans body so sore manye times trouble and vexe the same that they not onlye put it in great perill and daunger of death but also at lengthe kill and destroye it altogether So in a realme or common welth whiche maye well be compared to a mans bodye there are manye sore sicknesses that oftentimes so greuously noye the same that yf remedye be not founde out betime they not only put it in great daunger of perishynge but also in conclusion worke the vtter ruine and destruction thereof And as when the bodye is sicke Phisitions by frendes are diligently sought for and medicines to cure the sicknes be with all spede prepared So in a realme or common welth that is with anye sore sicknes infected euerye one that fauoureth the same is bounden to seke remedye therfore For yf frendes for a priuate mans sake wil when his bodye is diseased gladlye take paynes bothe to learne what disease he is troubled with and also to gette â—ome good Physycke for him to thintent he may be deliuered from his disease and restored to his helth agayne muche more all those that loue their countrye the coÌ„mon welthe thereof whensoeuer it is with anye troublesome sicknesse anoyed ought earnestly to trauayle first to know what the sicknes is and then to prouide some holsome medicines to put it away yea and to seke al meanes possible clearely to delâ—uer their countrye from all perill daunger thereof We reade in the excellent Historiographer Herodotus howe that the Babilonians made a lawe that whensoeuer anye man fell sicke amonges them he shuld be caried into y e market place and there lye to thintent that he might demaunde of euerye one that repayred thither whether they hadde bene troubled with the like disease how they were cured made hole so that the sicke man lying there might by the same meanes that they had vsed be deliuered froÌ„ his sicknesse and recouer his helth agayne And by that lawe also euery man that came thither was bounde bothe to aske the man what sicknes he had and also to shewe him yf he knewe any remedye that were good for it By the example whereof euery one that hartelye loueth his countrie earnestly tendereth the helth welthe of the same whensoeuer he seeth the body thereof which lieth open before al mens eyes with any kind of disease infected â–ª hathe learned what the sicknesse is and eyther by experience or otherwise can tel what is good for it is bound in conscience to declare it to thende that his couÌ„try which is so vexed may find some reliefe and fare the better by it For he muste consider that in relieuing the whole bodye he relieueth him selfe to beyng a membre thereof For lyke as when the body is sicke all the members be partakers of the griefe and payne that it suffreth So agayne when the body findeth any ease the meÌ„bres to find great reliefe therin Wherfore I for my parte because I playnlye se that the bodye of my countrye which I do greatlye lamente hathe bene lately sore troubled with y e greuâ—us sicknes of rebellioÌ„ and as yet perhappes hathe some seditiouse folkes in it thought it my moste bounden duetie to set forth in writynge suche a poore medicine for the relieuing of the same disease as I iudged mete coÌ„uenient therefore And albeit there be many remedies â–ª which be noted of learned men good writers whereby this grieuouse disease is wont to be cured as diligent inquisition that no vnlawful assembles be gathered as graue and wise counseile that when such are made they may be shortly by policie dissolued as reasonable coÌ„ditions for the dissoluing therof to be offred as force of armes when as no other meanes wil serue as due execution of iustice vpon all such as be offenders therin as taking awaye of the causes whereof rebellion commonlye groweth and as that al suche as haue rebelled be spoyled of theyr harnesse wherewith they defended themselfes in the time of rebellion with diuerse other suche lyke remedies yet in mine opinion no more fitter remedye can there be founde then that seditiouse mens hartes by gentle exhortatioÌ„ maye be throughly persuaded firste that in rebellyng they mooste grieuously offende their lord God so putte their soules in ieopardie secondarely y t they go aboute thereby to destroye theyr bodies which shal therfore be put to a moste vyle and shamefull death thirdly that they shall loose al y t they haue by meanes therof vndo theyr wiues and children disfame all their posteritie laste of all that they shal be occasion that their countrie shalbe most miserablye spoyled and come to vtter ruine For no man is so farre from al reason I truste or so blinded with malice that will not eyther with the feare of Gods plages or with the daunger of his soule or wyth the death of his body or wyth the care that he taketh for his wyfe and children or with the losse of his goodes his good name to or with the destruction of his countrie be moued to take hede alwaye and be well ware that he neuer auenture for any cause at all to rebell agaynste his prince whome he is by God coÌ„maunded mooste huÌ„bly to obeye And we reade in good writers that many rebellioÌ„s haue bene appeased by the good discrete exhortations of wise and learned men For the people of Rome wheÌ„ they were gathered together in a hyll called the holye hyll neare vnto y e riuer of Aniene thre myle froÌ„ the citie were fully minded to make rebellion agaynst their rulers Marcus Valerius by a wise an eloquent oration that he made brought so to passe that theyr heartes were by by so well pacified that they quietly departed euerye one home to theyr houses The lyke dyd Lucius Valerius Potitus at such tyme as the people of Rome had coÌ„spired
wepe wyth deuotion wepe not wiâ—h grudge nor wepe not wyth any token of stubborne prâ—de why wepest thou I praye thâ—e because thou suffrest paynfull misery That is a medicine for thee and no punyshmente It is to correcte thee and not to damâ—e thee Go not aboute to putte the scourge from thee yf thou wilt not be put from the heritage of heauen whych is prepared for thee And agayne he sayth in another place thus Lette not thy pouertye agreue thee because thou can fynde nothynge that is so riche as it â—or what treasure can be compared with heauen whyche is the rewarde of pouertie And S. Chrysostome sayeth None is richer then he that wyllyngly loueth pouertie and embraceth the same wyth a gladde and ioyfull heart Therefore let suche as be in pouertye learne to suffre it patiently and quietlye beare suche temporal punishment y t they maye be rewarded therfore eternally And whensoeuer their deadly enemy the deuil dothe make theÌ„ grudge at their pouertie moueth them eyther by robbynge or by rebellion to seke for ryches let them remembre that yf they eyther robbe their neyghbor or rebel agaynst their Prince firste their bodies by the lawe shall iustly be put to most vyle and shamefull death and after their cursed soules that haue wroughte suche wyckednesse agaynst the expresse commauÌ„dement of God shalbe by most horrible feendes perpetually pyned in hell But some synful wretches will not let to saye that for an howre hangynge they wyll not lyue in care all their whole life Such miserable folkes I feare me I praye God they do not thynke that their bodyes and soules dye both together and that there is no other lyfe but thys But alas they shall fynd after their departyng hence suche a lyfe or rather suche a myserable death wherin they shall continually dye and neuer be dead insomuche that they shal most wofullye crye wo be vnto vs that when we liued in y e world passed we wold neuer thynke vpon this worlde that was then to come Wherfore lette menne that eyther be borne in pouertie so coÌ„tinue or haue bene riche and by their misdemenour are fallen into pouertie remembre these lessons so shal they wel perceaue that neyther ought thei to grudge at their pouertie whyche is sent theÌ„ for their soules helth nor go about to spoile or make rebellion â–ª which be playnly agaynst the coÌ„maundemente of God for he sayth Thou shalt not steale or robbe And saynt Paule sayth That euery man ought to obey y t higher powers because they be ordeyned of God and whosoeuer withstandeth the power withstandeth the ordinaunce of God If they then wyl wythstande Gods ordinauÌ„ce they wrastell with their better and shalbe shortlye ouerthrowen to their great confusion For what became of the beggerye armye of Viriatus a thefe a robber Albeit that they because they were poore and loked to get goodes by rebellion wroughte muche wo to the Romaynes agaynste whome they rebelled and sore spoyled the noble countrye of Spayne yet at lengthe were they by Fabius ouercome and their captayne by the traynes of his owne men was murdered We reade also of a greate nombre of slaues that rose in Sicilia who beinge persuaded y t by rebellion they shulde bothe wynne their libertie also be come riche men made a sore commotion and sore troubled the countrye of Sicilye and some partes of Italy to wher they hadde a great nombre to ioyne with them But in conclusion they were rewarded accordyngly for at a towne in Italye called Sinuessa iiij thousand of them were killed and at Minturne an other towne in Italye foure hundreth were hanged Such lyke lucke had the poore slaues that rose in Sicilie when Rutilius was Consul for when Rutilius had taken Taurominium and Aetna two of the strongest holdes that the rebelles had to succoure them there were slayne aboue .xx. thousande of these slaues and rebelles The cause of whych warre as Orosius writeth was miserable and wretched for yf as he sayeth these slaues had not bene resisted theyr maysters and rulers had bene vtterlye vndone and destroyed And yet neyther part had any cause to triumphe for both in the greate and heauye miseries that this warre brought with it and also in the vnluckye gayne that was gotten in the victorye euen those that wanne the victory hadde as greate a losse as those that lost the fielde Wherefore no cause hath anye man to rebell for pouertie sake and thereby to make him selfe riche seinge that pouertie is the waye to perfection as I sayd before and rebellion leadeth a man to destruction of both body soule who then is so madde or hath so lytle regard of hys owne helth that wyll forsake that state whyche God hathe sent him for a remedy wherewyth to saue hys soule and by vnlawfull meanes seke for y t state that the deuyll dryueth hym to therby to damne hys soule As for riche men yf they rebell to encrease their ryches their cause surelye is muche worse then y â— cause of y e poore â–ª whych is as you haue heard very nought to for suche haue no neade at all as the poore haue except we cal those neadie that are neuer contented and so all couetouse wretches may be wel called neady But these folkes haue no neade to seke for liuynge because they haue ynough or elles a great deale to muche And yf they hadde neade yet neade is no cause as we proued before to moue a man to fall to rebellion For albeit that gready gaping for godes is dauÌ„gerous And all they that desire to be riche as wytnesseth Saynte Paule fall into temptation and into the deuils sâ—are and into many vayne noysome despres whych dryue men downe to vtter ruine and destruction yet those that by violence trauayle to be riche shall at lengthe loose their riches and become pore or they beware For the holy Prophete sayeth wo be to thee y â— spoyleth men by force for thou shalbe spoyled And Abacuc the Prophete sayth lykewyse That because thou haste robbed muche people they that shal remayne shal robbe thee And besyde this al riche folke that by reason of their greadye desire are moued to make commotion shoulde consider with them selfes that the gouernement of a Prince is the sauegarde of all their riches for when gouernement is taken awaye the lawes are troden vnder mens fete and euery seditiouse personne will do what hym lyketh because he feareth no punyshmente So y â— robbery then shalbe thought wel gotten good and he that hath mooste yf he be feble and faynte harted shall shortlye haue leest and he that hath no thyng yf he be stronge couragiouse shall sone become a ryche man Then is it not better for riche men euermore to beware of rebellion and so quietlye to enioye that that they haue then for greadynes of gettynge more by some mischeuouse enterprice to loose all y t
she maye hereafter take pleasure and comforte in If her grace shuld haue married one that she could not haue fantasied it shuld so sore haue agreued her that she woulde haue wished to be out of the world And besydes that it shoulde haue bene occasion of contention betwixte them whereby God shuld haue bene hyghlye displeased For wheresoeuer as witnesseth saynt Iames is enuye and contention there is vnstablenes and all wycked workes Ouer thys yf we woulde throughly weye howe thys marriage hath bene broughte to passe we should haue cause muche to meruayle at it and not to grudge agaynst it For when as the Queenes hyghnes was by the Parliamente house most humblye sued vnto that it woulde please her grace for the quietnes and coÌ„forte of the whole Realme to take an husbande she was in wonderfull doubte wyth her selfe what she myghte do in y â— behalfe And great payne had she to applye her mynde and fantasie that waye seyng that her grace had nowe so manye yeares lyued a pure virgine and had great pleasure to liue so styll and so wold haue continued had it not bene that by Gods goodnesse she myght in lawfull marriage haue issue for which it is our bounden duetie earnestlye to praye to thintent y t all her louyng subiectes therby myght be satisfied the whole realme preserued in peace and quietnes And therfore seing it was a thing most expedient for vs that her highnes shuld marri she forced her selfe contrary to hyr owne fantasye thervnto And to thende that God myght assiste her godly intent fell to prayer and most feruently called vpon god seing that for our sakes she shuld marrye that it wolde please hym to put her in mynde of suche one as his glory might be anaunced by and all her subiectes haue good cause to reioyce in For as for worldly pleasure whice folkes commonly take in marriage she nothinge passed but her care was only to marry with such one as myght throughe his singuler vertue please god through his greate wisdome helpe well to gouerne this realme and for his noble lynage be occasion of muche honour and quietnesse to our countrye As for beautye strengthe of body talnes of personage and suche like to those had her highnes no respecte at all Therfore while her grace made this godly humble petition to almightye god came there into her remeÌ„braunce this noble prince of Spayne And sone after were embassadors sent from the emperours maiestye for that selfe purpose So that it well appeareth that the first motioÌ„ of this marriage came of god without the counseyle or aduise of any man And we must also consider that the hartes of princes as we read in the Prouerbes of Salomon be in the hande of god and that he moueth the same that way that hym liketh And then howsoeuer the matter seme in oure syghte we oughte to iudge the beste and thynke that God by his heauenly wysdome hath done it for the best â–ª and we must hartely praye hym that hys wyll alwaye maye be done in all suche matters For as he is the gyuer of all other good thynges so is he most specially of a good marriage And that may we learne of Salomon where he sayeth An house ryches are gyuen vs of our parentes but a wyse wyfe is giuen of GOD. Therefore it is euerye good mans parte earnestly to pray to almyghtye God that seing that by his prouidence as we verelye trust thys noble marriage is made betwixte suche two princelye personages it maye please hys goodnesse so to worke in that behalfe as maye be to the aduauncemeÌ„te of hys glorye to both their honours and hartes ease and to the commoditie and quietnes of oure countrye But it was maliciously and falsely reported not longe ago by the rebelles as I told you before that the Queenes Highnesse wold haue marryed a straunger of set purpose to make vs slaues And they dyd not let to say beside after this sorte Shall men suffer this or shal we haue our heades thrust vnder a straungers girdle become his bondmen Or shal we suffer our wiues doughters to be rauyshed by vyle velaynes What true English hart can abide this And beyng thus vaynely persuaded rashely without any further delyberation fell they to open rebellion did muche like as the Iewes did in olde tyme â–ª which through y e counseyle of Iudas Gaulanites rebelled agaynste the emperoure of Rome at such tyme as Quiâ—inus a senator was sent by theÌ„perour into Syria Iudaea to sesse these couÌ„tries For this Iudas Gaulanites as Iosephus telleth hauinge a companyoÌ„ muche lyke hym selfe ioyned with him moued the Iewes to rebellion and told theÌ„ that this sessinge was for no other purpose but that they shulde graunt them selfes to become bondemen slaues and therfore he exhorted al his contrymen to defende maynteyne their libertie For so sayd he shuld it come to passe y t yf they had good lucke they shoulde not onelye enioye their owne goodes in muche prosperitie but also beynge establyshed in their possessions gette great prayse for their manhode And that they must not looke to be helped at Gods hande except that withall they wold studye to helpe them selfes The rascold people were glad to heare thys insomuch that therby they were muche moued to aduenture thys their wretched enterprise Who for desyre of lucre vnder the pretense of defendynge their libertie so much troubled their whole countreye as it is not wel able to be told For where soeuer they came they murdered men and robbed them and wythoute respect kylled as well frendes as enemyes and al such as were noble and notable men they rydded out of the way And whyle as in a furious rage one slewe another amonges them selfes foreyne enemies dydde inuade them and greate dearth and famine befell amonge them Thys telleth Iosephus So that whosoeuer wyll coÌ„pare these two rebellions together shal easelye perceaue howe bothe they them selfes by their detestable enterpryse wroughte theyr owne destruction and God sent his vengeaunce vpoÌ„ them besyde as a scourge for their frantike madnes Wherfore yf we wyl saue our soules from damning saue our bodies from killing saue our countrye from spoyling and auoyd the great vengeaunce of god let vs froÌ„ henceforth beware of rebellion And surelye persuade our selfes that our gratiouse Lady maystresse the Quene because she is the humble hande mayde of God elected and chosen by him to rule and reforme this realme whiche was so farre oute of order and â—rame will go aboute nothyng but that shalbe to gods glorye and the welth of all vs her louynge subiectes For all her delyte and pleasure is to see gods glory auaunced and this her Realme recouer the honorable state that it hathe bene in time past Nowe then consideringe her godlye purpose in this behalfe it shalbe euerye good mans duetie euerye daye to praye hartely for her that she may longe liue
the .v. was named Maximilian and the .vj. Charles that nowe reygneth Or what â—an be more comfortable to vs then that the Queenes highnes shuld haue a Prince to her husband that cometh of such a noble stocke Who although he was borne in a straunge countrie yet to vs because he cometh of the royall bloude of England as I sayd before neyther is nor ought to be taken as a straunger And yf any man doubt of this let him peruse the cronicles of Englande Spayne and he shall finde my wordes true Agayne yf we feare him because he was borne in Spayne let vs cal to remeÌ„braunce the two most famous and notable Emperours of Rome Traian and Theodosius the greate both Spaniardes borne Who beynge promoted to the Empeyre so whyle they raygned dyd gouerne the same as euer since of al men in al ages they haue bene moste highlye commended â–ª Lette vs besyde reade the lyues of the Kynges of Spayne and we shall perceaue verye manye of them to haue bene of suche wysedome and vertue and of so synguler good qualytyes â–ª as they maye be thoughte able too matche the Princes and rulers of anye other countreye besyde But now some do say that the Spaniardes be so proude and hyghe mynded y t no man can well awaye wyth their behauiour And y e same reporte oftentymes in other countryes hath gone vpoÌ„ vs that we were both proude stubborne But put the case that diuers of them and of vs to were such in dede shall we by and by iudge al the reste to be of the same sort Such perhappes of bothe twayne as lacke wisdome be for the most parte of that condition But surely they that be wyse be al so sobre discrete and gentle For wisdome alway worketh suche effectes in those that hath it As for the prince hym selfe he is not only wise and sobre but also of a very geÌ„tle behauiour And good cause surely hath he to be so For bothe hath he an excellent wyt of nature also a father of singuler wisdom to learne at â–ª yea graue counseylours continually about hym whose sage and sober aduise he is alway readie and willing to folowe And nothing is there that more declareth a man to be wyse then that he wyll stycke to much to his owne fantasie but gladly both heare those that be wyse and also folowe their counseyll Now that he is of gentle behauiour well appeareth in that that all his subiectes so harth loue him are very loth to lacke his preseÌ„ce which thing they haue of late wel declared For wheÌ„ it was knowen amonge them y t he shoulde come to marrye oure quene albeit they much reioysed in the marriage yet they much lamented toke great sorowe for his departinge by reason y t he hathe at all times in all poyntes so gently behaued him selfe toward them therfore thei had rather haue dyed then y t he shuld haue departed from them And thre special vertues god hath gyueÌ„ him to winne mens hartes withal liberalitie mercy and patience For both to noble meane men to gentle and simple to ryche and poore he is so liberall that all that haue to do with hym haue greate cause to beare hym good wyl And agayne yf any man offende hym yf he be sory therfore he is readie to pardoÌ„ him and mercyfully to deale with hym And in these pointes he is very like to our moste graous Soueraygne the quene As for his patience that is so singuler that for the same he may well be compared with the sage and famouse philosopher Socrates For those that perfitely know hym reporte y t no displeasure misfortune or aduersitye can moue hym and that no man hath for any cause sene hym at any time angrie And although that al other vertues are in a Prince very commendable yet none is there that is so much to be estemed in him as godly patience Wherfore seing this noble Prince of Spayne is garnished with suche goodlye vertues as y e Spaniardes haue good cause to lament for hys departing so we English men haue iuste occasion to reioyse for his comming By meanes whereof we shalbe ioyned in sure amitie with two or three noble countryes â–ª Spayne Flaunders the rest of lowe Germany And greate commodities hath thys realme alwayes receaued by trafike hadde with these countries as al they y t vse the trade of marchaundise beyonde the seas can very well shewe vs. For what a benefite is it for thys realme to haue free libertie to coÌ„ueye suche thinges from hence thither as we haue plentye of to bring in those agayne from thence hyther that we haue nede of Ouer thys our countrye hereby shall greatlye be strengthed and well fortified agaynst our aunciente enemies who are very sore displeased with this noble marriage because they feare that from henceforth they shall not be so able to worke vs displeasure â–ª but that we shall be more able on thother syde alwayes by Gods helpe not onelye to defende oure selfes but also to giue them an ouerthrowe to reuenge theyr malyce agaynst vs. Wherefore seynge that our enemies are so sore a greued with this marriage it is our partes yf we loue oure countrie to be very glad of it For oure enemyes euermore are sorye for our commoditie because y t whatsoeuer is hurtfull to vs they muche reioyse thereat For men for the most part are naturally enclined to be glad of their enemies harmes Then let vs not be sorye for that that our enemies are sory for leste we seme to haue the same affection that they haue and so to hate our countrye but because they be sory let vs be gladde therby declaring that we hartely loue our countrye Let vs folowe the Spaniardes example in reioysing for thys marriage Who at suche tyme as sure tydynges were broughte into Spayne as touchynge the same they were all so gladde of it as thoughe they hadde receaued some ioyefull tydynges from heauen Whyche theyr great gladnesse they well declared at the commynge thyther of oure Embassadours whome they receaued wyth suche greate honoure wyth so singuler gentlenes and wonder full ioye as the lyke heretofore hath bene verye seldome heard of Why then do not we the same and shewe our selfes ready with as glad hartes to receaue them If perhappes oure loue toward them be so colde that it doth nothing moue vs thereto yet let eyther the honoure of our owne countreye which we owe speciallye to regarde or elles the commodities â–ª that we shal receaue by them some thynge moue vs in thys behalfe And suche as at the fyrste can not frame their fantasyes so frely to do it as it wolde be done let them yet at the leste dissemble beare them fayre countenaunce vnto such time as they shal haue cause by reason of their gentle behauiour bothe to like and loue them Agayne sythen that the frendship and amytie of their countrye is so
necessary for vs me thinke that we should both be ryghte glad of them and also muche reioyse in that whyche is cause thereof And trueth is it as Herodotus wryteth that no one region or countrye is there that hath not oftentimes nede both of the ayde of any other and also of the commodities thereof Wherfore suche folkes as are not contented with suche a noble marriage may be rekened litle to consider eyther y e welth of their countrie or the Queenes honoure Agayne the conditions of the marriage whych be expressed in an Acte of Parliament made onlye for that purpose are so honorable and so commodious for Englande as all Englyshemen that fauoure their countrye are greatlye bounded to gyue God hartye thankes for suche a marriage And there be also suche prouisions in the conditions thereof for y e good and quiete behauioure of all those that shall come in wyth the sayd noble Prince that no man hath cause to feare anye trouble at their handes Lette vs then behaue our selfes towarde them as it becommeth vs And no doubt but that we shall fynde suche gentle frendship in them ▪ that we shal haue iust cause to loue them and gently to entertein them And besydes this no straunge thinge is it that the quene marrieth wyth a foren prince For it is the common practise of all princes of the worlde in a maner to ioyne marriage for the moste parte with foreyne princes bothe for to make sure frendship betwixt realme and realme and also for the cōmodities that comonlye ensue thereof Yea and good stories make mention that the like case that the Quenes Highnes marriage standeth in hath oftētimes in other realmes bene sene For Isabell doughter too Iohn king of Castell that was brother to Henry when as her brother Henry died withoute yssue and that she was crowned Queene of Castle by by was ioyned in marriage with Ferdinand y e .v. king of Arragō so was those .ij. kingdōs that marriage made all one Whyche Ferdinande so well and wiselye gouerned those countries that al menne both hartely loued him and greatly also commended hym Besyde he expulsed out of that part of Spayne whiche is called Granade the Mores that had by force holden that countrye seuen hundreth yeares And ouer y t he thrust out a great numbre of Saracenes and Turkes and banished with thē their false fayth and after buylded goodlye churches to the glory and honoure of God Marye also doughter to Charles Duke of Burgundie being heyre to her father was married to Maximilian themperor a forreyne prince Who was for his excellente wisedome and vertue muche renoumed and for his noble actes wanne him selfe in the worlde great honour Isabell lykewyse doughter to Ferdinande king of Castle and Arragone after her brother Iohns and her eldest sister Isabels death beyng the heyre to the crowne of Castle and Arragone was married to Philip Arch. Duke of Austria a forreyn prince to Who so noblely gouerned those coūtries that all the people thereof dyd greatlye honoure him hartely loue him and mooste humbly obeye hym And many other suche lyke marriages haue bene made in the worlde whyche haue had so prosperouse successe that not onelye the parties that made them toke muche comfortes therein but also the coūtries wherin thei were made receaued alwayes muche honour and commoditie therby Therfore this marriage of the Queenes highnes ought not to seme straunge to any man because the like in other realmes hathe oftentymes bene made before Agayne manye marriages haue bene made at sondrye times as both oure owne cronicles and the cronitles of Spayne do testifie betwixte the noble countrye of Spayne and vs good successe haue they had and much frendshyp by meanes thereof hath growen betwixt vs and them And bothe the realmes haue muche reioysed therin waxed riche and welthie therby insomuch that al good men and suche as earnestly tender y e good prosperous estate of our countrie these causes wel considered ▪ wyll reken vs happie that only God as it appeareth hath thus honorably prouided for vs and hath by this meanes renewed the olde amitie and frendshippe that hath bene betwixte Englande and Spayne But nowe as for those that rebelled of late albeit y t they pretended that all theyr grefe came of this marriage gotte them a Spanishe cloke to couer their cursed deuyse withall and so shewed them selfes disobedient to God and vnkynde to theyr prince yet meaned they nothing lesse For a man may be bolde to say this y t yf the prince of Spayn had bene a fauorer of heresye and giuen to suche fonde fantasies as these folkes were thēselfes howesoeuer he had bene qualified otherwise thei would neuer haue made rebellion for the matter but wyth most glad hartes haue receaued him hopynge thereby to haue recouered their abhominable and blasphemouse heresye agayne But because he is a catholike prince a fauorer defendour of Christes church and sonne to the Emperours maiestie who alwayes hathe moste earnestlye maynteyned the catholike faith they could not abyde hym nor in no wise heare of hys commynge fearyng that thereby theyr wicked heresye shoulde be banyshed oute of this realme and all the preachers therof from thenceforth myghte putte vp theyr pypes wherewith they had as Mercurye did wyth Argos not only brought the people a slepe but also afterward put out theyr eyes and made them starke blynde Therfore the verye cause of this last commotion was religion nowe by God and the Queenes highnes broughte agayne to the olde aunciente order and state appoynted by Christes catholike Churche agaynst whych these rebelles dare so deadlye hatred that they hadde rather haue loste their liues as manye of them haue done then to be brought to receaue it And because they mynded to mayntayne theyr wicked heresye still they purposed like most miserable and cruel wretches by force of armes firste to putte doune the Queenes Highnes to depriue her of her crowne to ridde her and all her faythfull counseylours out of the waye and then to haue set vp suche rulers and counseylours as wolde haue set forthe heresye a freshe And after that all the dispersed bretherne that be of heresyes guylde and fraternitie shulde haue repayred together agayne and broched the dregges of their deuelish doctrine to the people as they had done before But god whose glory they mynded vtterlye to desace whose handmayden they had contriued cruelly to kyl whose true seruauntes they fully purposed with fire and sworde to persecute suffred them to runne forth headlyng to their owne destruction for when as they hoped surelye to haue their purpose and came euen to the very poynt sodenly god or euer they were aware lift vp hys myghtye hande agaynst them and in a very moment vanquished them and gaue them into the handes of his faythfull seruante oure souerayne ladye the Quene Who while the field was in fyghtynge was feruentlye occupied in prayinge And when
to see euerye man to haue his righte and doubteth not by Goddes helpe yf God sende her life to redresse thinges that are out of order and so to prouide that all her louynge subiectes shall haue a prosperous and happie life vnder her me thynke euery one of vs shuld most hartelye loue her wyshe her longe lyfe and good helthe â–ª praye God to assiste her and to sende her strength to vanquishe her enemies and not to hate her not to wishe her death not to rebell agaynste her not to seke her bloud as men of late haue done For then might a man â–ª that hartely loueth bothe her grace and vs say thus very well in her behalfe vnto vs. Most dearly beloued country men what cause haue we to hate our most lawfull ladye maystresse placed by god in the gouernement of this realme and by all our consentes established in the same What goeth she aboute that shulde so agreue vs Doth she not as much as lyeth in her labour to auaunce the glory of god whiche is the especyall office of euery good Christen prince Doth she not trauayle to defend Christes true fayth whereby euerye one of vs trusteth to be saued Doth she not maynteyne the Catholike churche of god and the laudable ordinaunces therof Doth she not seke alwayes possible to bringe al those that be infected wyth heresye to their deare mother agayne y â— spouse of Christ whome they had of late vtterly forsaken Doth she not study all that she can to saue vs both body and soule Yea and she hartelye wisheth euerye one of vs as well to fare â–ª as she would her selfe And suche is her goodnesse that she prouideth rather for our profyte â–ª then for her owne Besyde this she by all meanes seeth the good lawes of this Realme to be duely obserued She gyueth also most straight charge to al her officers to execute iustice She monisheth all them that be in aucthoritie to beware of briberye taking of reward And she exhorteth all the clargie of this Realme to be diligent in doynge their dueties She moueth the nobilitie y â— they be gentle vnto vs that they by no meanes go aboute to hurte vs or with fines in coÌ„mes empouerish vs What wold we haue her highnes to do She laboreth for vs she lyueth for vs and she ruleth for vs. For elles why shoulde her grace take the vntolerable paynes that she dothe but for vs She breaketh many a slepe that we may slepe quiet lye She taketh muche care anguishe to auoyde vs from care She tosseth and turmoyleth her selfe to set vs at ease She taketh no pleasure in thys lyfe but only for oure coÌ„moditie For what cause shuld she desire to lyue â–ª seynge she hath suche a paynfull lyfe but onelye to saue our lyues Or why should she not wishe to be gone out of thys miserye and to be at rest wyth our Lord sauiour Iesu Christe â–ª but that she woulde fayne or she wente hence deliuer vs from misery Her highnes is appoynted by almightye God to gouerne vs. For what purpose I praye you To seke her owne pleasure to satisfie her owne lustes to studye for her owne priuate welthe No no she knoweth that God requireth of her and of all Princes likewise that they fede the people that they norish them that they promote the good and punishe the badde That they loue their subiectes and loke diligently to them If we dyd considre what greuouse cares what broken slepes what fearfull dreames what doubtefull counseylles what stormes and troubles she hath for our sakes we shoulde haue iust cause hartelye to thanke her grace that she wold leaue the quiete state of lyfe that she was in before and take thys vnquiete state vpon her that she nowe lyueth in There was a king in olde tyme that cast downe his crowne vpon the grounde and sayde these wordes to those that were present with hym If a man perfectly knew and with al wel consydered what sorowful cares are vnder that royall crowne he wold neuer take the paynes ones to take it vp Therfore thinke this that the paynes be hers and the pleasure is ours Then how vnkinde or rather how hard harted are we if we go aboute to rewarde her kyndnesse wyth displeasure and to be vngentle to her that is so geÌ„tle to vs to fight agaynste her that laboreth to defende vs to seke her death when she seketh our life to coÌ„triue like cruel wretches to destroy her seing y â— her highnes so earnestly trauaileth to saue vs. Of late we were in boÌ„dage and god hath delyuered vs by her We were oppressed with all kinde of misery and god hath most gratiously loked vpon vs. We shulde haue bene made lyke pesauntes of Fraunce y t is to say velaynes and slaues if god had not had compassion vpon vs through her And yet doth her highnes chalenge no part of the prayse but referreth it all to god who specyally deserueth it We were before euery day afearde to loose all y t we had and stode in daunger therof but nowe maye we quietlye rest and thinke that we shallbe assured to enioy our owne For oppression is banished by iustice and ryght taketh place by the lawe What cause haue we then to grudge at her grace to coÌ„spire agaynst her to lyfte vppe our swordes as cruell wretches to murder her Alas what a deadly malice haue we in our hartes to desyre her bloude seinge that she sore sygheth and lamenteth if any of vs miscarye But some wil say perhappes that her marriage doth displease them Why so I beseche you Doth not she entende to enriche vs therby Doth not she trauayle as you haue heard before to get muche honor to this oure countrye agayne Whych hath as Dauid sayeth bene a mockinge stocke to all other countries aboute it If her grace knewe that any displeasure shuld come to this realme by her marriage for so heâ— grace sayd openly in y e guylde hall in London she wolde rather neuer marry whyle she liued For God did marrye her sayd she to this region wheÌ„ she was anoynted and crowned our Quene And as he is an euyll husâ—ande that seketh the wiues displeasure so is he an euill ruler that worketh the wo of hys subiectes Therfore be we well assured that she neyther doth nor entendeth to do that that is like lye to hurt this realme or to hinder the commoditie of any inhabitant thereof but muche to auaunce it and by Goddes helpe to reduce it to the olde estate â–ª and honorable estimation agayne As for straungers we nede not to feare For yf they do any iniury to any subiecte of hers they shalbe punyshed by the lawes of thys realme as we be And yf they behaue them selfe gentlye as it is very lyke that they will we shall haue cause to loue theÌ„ to ioyne frendship with them and to make muche of them For so shall we deserue thankes both of them
â–ª at goddes hand to who wylleth vs that we offende not or hurte anye straunger And yf her grace marrye after her owne fantasye me thynke we shuld beare wyth her yf we loue her For yf she shuld constrayne anye of vs to marry one that he could not loue and lyke he would be litle contented with it Wherfore let vs content oure selfes with that that she doth in this behalfe and praye God harte lye that this her graces marriage may haue such successe as both God maye be pleased therewith and we receaue benefite thereby and her highnes take comfort therein We haue bene well pleased in time past y e her noble father shulde marrye straungers and haue ioyfully receaued them Wherfore we might me thynke be muche better contented with her graces marriage seynge that the noble Prince that she marrieth albeit he semeth to be a straunger yet because he cometh of the noble bloude of Englande as you haue learned before is in dede no strauÌ„ger And agayne that oure Lord God onlye moueth her therto for her comfort as we truste and all ours to But I feare y e the matter y e we grudge at is not the marriage but her fayth religion in y e mayntenaunce where of she hath alwayes froÌ„ her tender age hither to constantly stand mindeth by gods assistence to coÌ„tinue in the same to her lyues ende For it is not a fayth newly inuented and set forth of late dayes â–ª but begonne by Christ taught by his Apostles and their successours confirmed with the bloude of all holy martyrs established by y e consent of al good godly wryters and vniuersally receaued of the whole Catholike churche of Christ. Which earnestlye to sticke to â–ª she feareth not by whiche to be saued she doubteth not which coÌ„stant lye to defend she ceaseth not And be we well assured y t she would not forsake it as her highnes hath oftentymes both in word and dede declared if she knewe certaynly y t she shulde loose the crowne of this realme therfore and her life to For whosoeuer they be that leseth any thing for gods cause and his true fayth they shall wyn a hundreth tymes more for it and be gladde of theyr losse for such great gâ—ynes And this wold her highnes neyther say nor do except she knew suerly the truth to be on her side â–ª and that god is pleased therwith Which he hathe well declared vnto her highnes in these two notable victories that of his goodnes he hath sent her of late If she had bene an aduersarye of his truth and of his holy worde as some folkes reporte her he wold neuer haue so ayded her so mightly alwayes agaynst the assaultes of her enemies defended her But thus much may her highnes say without boaste because it is not for her owne glorye whyche she nothing regardeth but onlye to declare goddes goodnes toward her y t she hath â–ª as becam the poore handmayde of God continuallye synce she was a childe from tyme to tyme embraced both our Sauiour Christes doctrine whyche is the dore vnto truthe and the catholike fayth of his church whyche is the staffâ— of saluation and so loued both twayne as she dyd lytle esteme worldly honor or lyfe eyther in comparison of them For whensoeuer she was eyther by gentle exhortation by fayre promyses yea or by threatenyng as sometyme she was moued to forsake the catholike fayth to leaue of the godly ordinauÌ„ces of the churche she neuer wolde relent but settynge all worldly thynges at noughte and carynge nothynge for the malice of men mynÌ„ded ratheâ— to dye for the defence of her fayth then to lyue in honoure wyth the forsakynge thereof And this hath her grace done not of her selfe onelye but by thassistence of Goddes grace who hath alwaies ayded her And mercifullye accepted her poore seruice herein and hath both fauored her therefore so will do styll and not forsake her as she feareth not and dayly she besecheth hym hartelye that he do not And not onlye her but al other that embrace the same fayth because it is y â— fayth of his blessed spouse the churche â–ª whose lippes be sweter to her husbande Christe then honye combes Whose tongue is as pleasaunte as milke and honye Therefore most dearly beloued countrye menne thys cause why we oughte speciallye to loue her grace â–ª because it is for our soules helth let it not be occasion to hate her For if we knewe surelye as she dothe â–ª what pleasure we shulde haue in it what profyt we shoulde take of it what daunger we shulde auoyde by it we wold most harteli thanke her highnesse who by goddes helpe had brought vs agayne to it But the mystes of the cloudy and cursed doctrine of Luther his adherentes haue so dimmed our sight that we can not se it some of vs there be more pitie is it that will not se it But I praye god we may shortly se it and returne vnto it and say with Dauid we will go into the howse of god which is the Catholike Churche Approche vnto it and GOD wyll approche vnto vs because he is within it And feare GOD and he wyll fauoure vs and be obediente to her grace oure lawful prince and gouernesse â–ª and then she wyll not fayle most tenderly to loue vs to labore and trauayle for our welth and commoditye And albeit that some of vs haue of late murmered agaynste her yet let the example of other that dyd so before and are plaged by goddes iust iudgemeÌ„t for their greuouse offeÌ„ce be a warninge for vs to take hede And let vs obey her not for feare but for veri loue For in dede to punisâ—e vs is her great grefe because she wold that the leaste heere of oure heades shuld peryshe Therefore let vs not force her grace to that that her nature dothe abhorre Nor giue her occasion to saye as her noble progenitor king Henry the .v. sayde after y â— rebellioÌ„ made agaynst him by Richarde the Earle of Cambrige Henry the lorde Scrupe and Thomas Gray after this sort Consyder sayd he the rashe foly of these folkes they persecute me who night and day to thuttermost of my power enforce my selfe to profyt the common welth And to that ende I toyle and trauayle contynually and studye alwayes that I can to do good to al my subiectes and thinke my selfe borne for that purpose But I pray god that there be neuer one amonge you whose trayterouse harte I may worthely blame and say that he had rather haue me distroyed then his contrie to be in good state preserued and in honour encreased These wordes sayde Henry the .v. to his subiectes Which I truste verely hereafter we wil neuer gyue our â–ª gratiouse Queene occasion to say But contrariwise muche to commend vs to reioyce in our obedyence â–ª to take comforte in our peace and quiet behauyour Which shalbe acceptable to
god thankeful to her grace and very profitable for our selfes to Nowe then moste deare louing contrye men seing that we are wel assured that our most gratiouse lady the Quene by reason of her godlye vertue wherin she excelleth and for the greate ferueÌ„t loue that she beareth to eueri one of vs she wil throughly performe these thinges we haue great cause to gyue god most hartely thankes â–ª y â— sente her vnto vs hath so gratiously delte with vs for her sake For it semeth that as God sayd to the children of Israell in Kynge Dauids tyme I wyll by the hande of my seruaunt Dauid saue my people of Israell from the handes of the Philistians and all their enemyes so sayeth he nowe to I wyll by the hande of myne humble handemayde Marye saue my people of Englande from the assaultes of their enemyes If we were oppressed by her if we were spoyled throughe her meanes or yf we were cruellye handled at her hand then might men haue somthing to say But no suche matter is there For her grace is so gentle so buxome so merciful so liberal of so god lye conuersation excellente vertue y t if she were amonge Turkes Saracenes or Iewes she woulde vndoubtedly winne their harts cause theÌ„ both hartly to loue her also to be ready to defeÌ„d her How vngentle then maye we be thought y t can not loue such a gratious lady with gladde hartes be obedient to her But the very matter of al our grudge is as we were tolde a lytle before her catholike religion Whych howe good and godly it is we may easely perceaue yf we compare it with that that hathe bene nowe of late yeares amonge vs. It is grounded vpon the consent of al christes catholike church which is the sure fouÌ„dation of truth Thother is grounded only vpon the consent of a few in corners and yet neuer one of theÌ„ agreeth with another The religion y t the Queenes grace maynteyneth is fiftenne huÌ„dreth yeare olde thys new religion is scarcelye twoo hundreth yeares olde The catholike religion is and hath bene vniuersallye receaued througheoute the whole world This of theyrs hath bene receaued but here and there in a few places and of all the worlde besyde condemned And Vincentius a good holy writer thinketh that these be the speciall poyntes to trye religion that is to say the auncientnes of tyme the vniuersall receauinge of it and the whole consent of the churche For thus he writeth In the catholike church we muste take diligent hede that we stycke to that which is in euery place alwaies and of all men beleued For this in dede is catholike â–ª as the worde it selfe dothe playnely declare which verely conteyneth al vniuersally But this shall we do if we folowe the vniuersall faythe and beleue the auncientnesse of tyme and the whole consent of Christes churche And nowe for the vniuersall beleue that shal we folowe after this sorte If we thynke that fayth to be true whyche all Christes Churche throughout the worlde dothe confesse As for auncientnesse of time that shall we folowe if we in no wyse go from the senses interpretations of scripture that we manifestli know to haue bene commonlye vsed and allowed of the holye and aunciente fathers The whole consent of Christes Churche shall we folowe yf we submit our selfes to the auncient determinations and sentences eyther of all bisshops priestes and doctours or elles at the lest of al most al. And the same writer a litle after teacheth vs how to know a true christen Catholike man thus He is a true catholike man in dede whiche loueth goddes truth his churche and the bodye of Christe which also preferreth nothing that is to say â–ª nether any one mans authoritie nor loue â–ª nor witte nor eloquence nor knowledge of philosophy before godly religion and the fayth catholike but dispising all these and stickinge sted fastly and surely to his fayth thinketh that he is bounden to hold and beleue only that y e he knoweth the catholike church of olde vniuersallye to haue holden and maynteyned And let hym suppose surely that what new and straunge doctrine or order soeuer is couertly and craftly brought in by any one man eyther beside the mindes of al holy and godly men or els vtterly coÌ„trary to them is brought in not for to encrease mennes deuotion religion but only to tempte them with all Thus by the wordes of this godly author who wrote aboue a thowsand yeares ago we may easely perceaue what sorte of religion men ought to folowe Againe the authors of the catholike religion are the apostles and their successors As Ireneus Iustinus martyr â–ª Cyprian Clemens Alexandrinus Origene S. Hierom S. Ambrose S. Augustyne S. Chrisostom Basil Gregorius Nazianzene Cyrill with infinite many mo The authors of this new sect are Wicâ—ffe Hus Luther Oecolampadius Zuinglius Bucer Bullinger Caluine and a greate rable beside The authours of Christes true religion were Martyrs confessors and holi sayntes all The authours of this new religion were Apostatas that is to say such as had bene monkes and frears whiche broke their vowes cast of their cootes became like lay men marryed nonnes called them wiues and so lyued in abhominable inceste The authors of the catholike religion were â—â—ke gentle lowly full of vertue and godlye conuersation despicers of the worlde and the vanities thereof chast auoyde of ambition and couetousnes gyuen all to fastyng prayer and almose dedes The authours of oure newe doctrine were prowde stubborne presumptuous of smal vertue and that only in apparence louers of the world and muche delited wyth the pleasures thereof lecherous and carnal gready of honour and of gettyng of goodes slacke in praying â–ª more slacke in fastynge and altogether negligent in good dedes doynge For they thought fasting was Poperye and prayer superstition good dedes to auayle vs nothynge at all The authors of the catholike fayth and religion were careful for peace desirous of vnitie fauorers of obedience and maynteyners of all good order The authours of our late religion were causers of warre not onely bitwixt prince and prince â–ª but also bitwixte princes their subiects breakers of the vnitie of Christes catholike churche sowers of sedition workers of disobedience and bryngers in of al confusioÌ„ disorder captaynes of carnal libertie defendors of the same Of these .ii. sortes of meÌ„ whome ought we gyue more credite to trowe you Shall we better trust Wicliffe that because he could not come by the Bisshoprike of Worcester forsoke Christe his churche and became an heretike or holy Ireneus who for the mainteynaunce of Christes fayth and his churche forsoke both his Bisshoprike and hys lyfe to Or shall we better beleue Hus that was a professed frear and had vowed chastitie obedience and wilfull pouertie and after brake all became a married manne and preached heresye in Boheme Or S. Cyprian that when he was a