seruaunt Elias fleinge the wrothe and displeasure of Iezabell no he being withoute hope of lyfe and moche desyrynge to dye he sent hym an angell to comforte him and foode to refreshe hym self withall not content with that but spake to hym hym selfe as ye may rede if ye desyre to knowe what god sayde to hym Danyell was caste into a denne of lyons god sente his angelle to stoppe the lyons mouthe and so Daniell was hurte in noo parte of his bodye God sent his aungell to good Gedeon whanne the Madianites had almost ouer throwen the chyldren of Israell He talketh longe with Gedeon abydinge his sacrifice with many his tentations Rede the place ye shall perceyue howe god louethe where he lyketh Iosue also sawe a man standyng anenst hym with a swerd redy drawen in his hand vnto whom he went and sayd Art thou our frende or dost thou take the parte of our aduersaries Answere was made I am the chiefe of the lordes bande Iudith also had an aungell to her companion and guyde whan she went to slee Holofernes I coulde brynge in many mo examples if my pourpose were to enlarge my mattier that waye As howe god sent his aungell to conducte the hooste of the Israelites whan they passed the sees and also how he sent his angell into the fornace where the thre chyldren laye in fyer and felt no heate I coulde shewe in what battailes god hath made his angels souldiours but that is nat myne intent I muste make comparysons and yet I truste they shal nat be odious Rede all scripture and ye shall fynde no person that god preseruid more tenderly than he dyd his chosen and electe kynge Dauid For he beinge as yet noo kynge but rather a poore subiecte of a myghtye kynge was in many places persecuted of him and his host and yet the goodnes of god was suche towarde hym that he escaped all the snares that longe set malice had layd for him A puyssant prince desyred a poore mannes deathe it wolde not be Mighty Saule miste of his purpose ageynst sely Dauid coulde not hurte his lytell fynger Some percase woll thynke here to take holde of me and say if god could preserue a subiect against a prince it is no meruayle if he preserue a prynce ayenst a fewe his vnnaturall subiectes a realme ayenste a fewe traytours I muste saye as they do it is no great meruayle that god soo dothe and yet I saye as I sayde firste our soueraigne lorde kyng Henry the eight hath moche more cause to gyue God thankes than euer had king Dauid or Dauid not yet a kyng For as he knewe that kynge Saule sought his destruction and therby might do what laye in hym to escape his hande and also by ofte intercession obteyn helpe and succour of god so the kynges highnes of late stode in case farre vnlyke and in moche more presente daunger then he dyd His highnes was in great peryll and neither sawe it ne coulde mystruste any suche thyng For if nature if bloude if moste ample benefites coulde haue wrought in some as they do in all naturall and honest hartes whome might his grace haue takē for his more trusty seruauntes for his trewer subiectes then Henry Corteney late marques of Exetter then Henry Pole late lorde Montacute than Edwarde Neuell late of his graces priuie chaumber I wylle talke with the reste whan I shall come to the place whyche I reserue for them What subiectes were more bounde to their soueraygne lorde I say moch more what men were more endetted to man than were all these thre to his highnes Who in more daunger than his grace whiche neyther coulde mystruste them ne yet without his great peryll truste them God promisynge ayde to them that call vpon hym ▪ seldome suffereth innocentes as Iob sayth to peryshe Wherefore Dauid hauynge cause to call for helpe and God by his promyse bound to succour hym coulde not but fynde god good to hym But our moste fortunate kynge was in moste daunger and in no feare ne suspition of leste Howe coulde his grace suspecte them whom of all men he knewe hadde greattest causes to loue hym to desyre his hyghnesse prosperytie and longe reygne His grace dydde not vse them as men whome he mystrusted no he vsed more familiarnesse with fewe of his subiectes than he dydde with the Marques and syr Edwarde Neuyll Wherfore as his grace coulde not are helpe ayenste them whom he toke to be the rediest of all menne to spende theyr bloud if nede shuld require them so to do Euen so god seinge what was in hande thoughte it hyghe tyme suche ranke and rype traytours to be reped vp He saw the lesse his highnesse mystrusted the more peryll his graces person stode in the farder they were from suspition the nigher they were to worke mischef Our lord be thanked they haue in one houre rydde this realme of many daungers taking their leaue of life with suche shame as it becōmeth al trayters to do as for the moste parte god be thanked they are all wont to do If lawes were gone or of no strength at all wolde not men onely moued by the heynousnesse of treason thynke all deathes to fewe for these abhomynable traitours all tourmentes all peyne all vilany to lytle for them I am ashamed that euer it shulde come into writyng that there haue ben among men some that receiuing so hyghe fauour and so great benefytes soughte to make hym away of whom they receiued them more ashamed that suche exaumples shoulde be founde amonge christian men moste of all that it happeneth so oft here in our countreye The ciuile lawe is moche to be commended that the master maye calle hym ayene to bondage seruitude whome he hath made free if at any tyme after his fredome he shew hym selfe vnkynd The Macedons and Athenians also had an action a comune plee in the lawe ayenste suche as were but in trifles blotted with vnkindnes as ayenste men that in dede are enmies to al them which haue nede of other mennes helpe One vnkynde persone is oftentymes the cause that men haue no wylle to do good where they may feare the lyke And if it be trewe that Gratitude which is a perpetuall memorie of benefittes receyued and alsoo a desyre to recompense them be as a mother of many vertues Forasmoche as there commeth from her loue and feare of god loue and feare of our prince loue towarde our countreye loue towarde our parentes frendshyp betwene man and man veneration of those that bringe vs vp and do eyther norysshe our bodyes or instructe our myndes we muste nedes gather it to be true that Cicero wryteth to his frende Atticus Ingratis vitia inesse omnia that is all vices to be in them that are vnkynde This vice is moch better named in our tounge then it is as me thynketh in any other Unkyndnesse is a fytte name for so vnnaturall a vice they that fal into
euery day caste vpon vs or ere we can loke for theym euen so we woll with thankfull hart shew our selfes to see and fele his godly goodnes And where as suche his fatherly loue is moche aboue our desertes that yet we agnise it and as moche as in vs lieth endeuour our selfes aboundantly to thanke hym for it God is neuer wery of doynge good to man but when eyther he woll not se it orels seing it refuseth to thanke hym accordyngly Can he aske lesse for soo many his benefittes then a fewe bareyn thankes which do plesure onely to hym for this cause that he therby is made redy and moch prouoked to laade vs with some newe kyndenesse with some newe benefyttes with somme newe his gyftes He ofte layeth sore to his chosen and elect people forgetfulnes of his benefitis toward them commandynge in sondrye places Moses Iosue Esaies Hieremias Ezechiell with the reste of the prophetes to reherse his goodnes shewed to them and their vnkindnes vttered vnto him thynkynge as I take it that nothyng coulde sooner brynge them to loue hym than thofte remembraunce of his benefytes nothynge more allure them to repentance and chaunge of lyfe than the iuste reproche of their vnthankefull harte in suche a throng of his giftes I purpose nat to stande longe in olde places of scripture and yet I canne nat without some hurte of my matter lette all examples alone wherfore I wyl vse a few in place of many Moses callyd all Israell to hym and sayde in this wise to them ye haue seene what god dydde vnto Pharao for youre sake what he dyd to Pharao his host and al the reste of his seruauntes ye haue sene many myracles many straÌ„ge wonders and yet god hath not giuen you hartes to feele his goodnes eyes to see his tender loue ouer you ne eares to here of any of bothe I haue led you forty yeres in the wyldernesse and yet youre clothes are not worne ye hadde neither breade ne drynke and yet to thintent ye shoulde remember god to be your lorde in lackynge bothe you were peyned neyther with hunger ne thyrste Sehon kynge of Hesbon and Og kynge of Basan came with myghty power agaynst you They are slayn and you the lordes of their landes and possessions c. God also doth expostulate with the people of Israell by his messanger Hieremias saying What vnfaithfulnesse founde your forefathers in me that they departing from my lawes and loue folowe lightnes vanite They haue not ones sitheÌ„s their deê‘ture thought in their hartes where haue we left the lorde the lorde that brought vs out of the lande of Aegypt the lorde that ledde vs throughe the wyldernes through the deserte a rough drye and deedly lande a lande that no man had passed before and where no manne hadde dwelte I brought you into a land passynge full of pleasure adourned with gay and gorgious buildinges you enioyinge the fruites and commodities thereof went and defiled my land and brought myne heritage to abhomination The pristes them selfes they were euen thenne as many of ours be nowe sayd not ones where is the lord The sheperdes offeÌ„d against me the prophetes do seruice vnto Baall and folowe suche thynges as can do them no seruice Esaias in many places doth also commemorate god his benefites toward the chyldern of Israell God doth shewe hym selfe verye gladde and wonderfull desyrous to employe his benefitis vpon them that seke to giue him thankes for so doing and can scarse be brought to leue such as he hath ones taken to his fauour For though their synnes be great and their offences many yet as long as he may beare with them he sticketh not to forgyue so they be not dangerous and coy of theyr thankes Dauyd lacked no sinnes as al meÌ„ know that traueil in scripture he lacked none yet he had euer one y t forgaue him al. And not only forgaue him al but stil laded him with new benefitis Dauyd forgottethe not this synguler goodnesse of god towarde him he suffereth not goddis loue to make any ende with hym he styll encreaseth his fauour not so moche by any merites as by praisynge the vndeserued loue of god Loue not solde vnto hym for workes but gyuen hym that he therby might worke His psalmes wel testifie that he doth acknowledge what god dyd for him He syngeth oft thankful dities vnto god as among many other thus in the second of the kynges The Lorde is my rocke my castel my deliuerer God is my strength and in him wol I trust God is my shelde my fortresse my refuge O my keper kepe thou me from wrong I wyl praise the call vpon the o lord so shal I be kept froÌ„ myn enmies Who so listeth to reade all that foloweth may when he wyl I haue shewed hym the chapiter I muste nowe folow present occasion and talke a whyle with my countraye ¶ Englande haste thou no cause to folow Dauid to make himnes and dities of thankes vnto god when wolt thou perceyue goddis loue towarde the if thou yet perceyue it not Whan wolte thou gyue hym or to vse a more apter terme whan wylte thou paye him thankes if thou nowe denye thy selfe endetted to hym Thou must confesse dette thou canste nat denie it without thy greatte shame There be to manye wytnesses for thy nay to take any place All nations wonder at thy felicitie All men knowe what ieoperdies thou hast escaped howe nighe sorowes brinke thou hast ben brought and straight howe sone thou haste ben made gladde I wylle not calle to remembraunce thynges past many yeres syns marke but the procedinges of god with the and thin these foure or fyue yeres Waye well the accidentes the chaunces the progresse and th ende of thinges that haue fortuned and than Englande see whether thou haue not mo causes to thynke that god tendereth the helthe welthe and honoure of thy gouernour and oure dere and dredde soueraygne lorde than euer Israell hadde to thynke so by kinge Dauid or any other He must be well sene in feates of armes that shall fynde a place open to wound hym whom god is buckeler vnto God wolle not suffre his purposes to be altered Man maye seke to destroy that god wolle haue saued but he shall doo as moche as they that seke to make stronge rockes fall with a knocke of theyr hedes For as these labour folyshely and doo but breake theyr owne braynes so do they that thynke to pull downe a prynce whome god hath chosen to reigne ouer his people bothe declare their folye and alsoo the goodnesse of god in preseruynge whome he loueth There is none that trewely serueth god that can say he hathe bene in distresse and nat founde succour at his hande and yet compare theym all with our moste fortunate prynce they haue all founde him no more propence and redy to helpe them then he hath ben to helpe his highnes God lefte not his
traitours fele in their stomackes As god helpe me I can not thynke but god euen of very purpose reserueth the alyue onely bycause thy lyfe hath many mo tourmentes moche more shame in it then any cruelle deathe can haue God by thy lyfe declareth what rest thy trayterous soule shall haue after the eternall shame of this worlde For he that hath to dwelle where thou arte sure to be excepte thou amende must be exercysed with suche panges as thou arte euer in his lyfe lerne what hell hath what interteynement they haue that take vp their lodgyng there What greatter tourmente can be wyshed vnto the thaÌ„ al the world to knowe that thou by these abhomynable treasons haste cast away thy famylie whiche myghte haue continued in honour disteined thy bloud whiche before was myngled with a kinges and now is farre vnder a colyers what greater shame can comme to the then to be the dishonour of all thy kynne a comforte to al thyne enmies a deathe to all thy frendes All men that loue trouthe allegiaunce and honestie muste nedes be thyne enemyes all men muste hate the yea thy mother her selfe shall thynke her self worthy deth if she hate not the aboue all creatures All they whom frendeshyp and affinitie hadde in tyme paste knitte vnto the wyshe for no traitours dethe so moche as they doo for thyne O Pole o hurle pole full of poyson that woldest haue drowned thy countrey in bloudde thou thoughtest to haue ouerflowed thy prynce and soueraygne lorde thou thoughteste with thy traiterous streames to haue ouer rounne all to gether But god be thanked thou arte nowe a Pâ—le of lytel water and that at a wonderfull lowe ebbe Can I wysshe the any more hurt than that thou mayste lyue longe in suche shame in suche infamie as I thynke neuer traytour was in I thinke as obstinate a wretche as thou art if the falle of thy familye nothynge moue the that yet the voyce of thy countrey whiche sommetyme wisheth the deed in thy fyrst cloutes sometyme hanged sometyme in helle with thy great master the dyuelles vycar aboute thy necke were inough to make the chose a tree and there to doo as Iudas the capitayn of traytours whom thou trayterousely folowest dyd Hast not thou moch greater cause to say as Iob dyd than euer had Iob Who euer myght better say than thou who ought sooner to crie thaÌ„ thou Cursed be that day that I was borne in let that daye perish the night also in y e which it was said there is a knaue child coÌ„ceiued let that day be turned in to darknes let god neuer regarde it let neuer light shine vpoÌ„ it but euen to the worldes end be it couered with eternall darkenes Lette the dymme cloude fall vpon it let it be lapped in with sorowe let the darke storm ouercome that night let not the daye that I was borne in be rekened amonge the dayes of the yere nor counted in the monethes Let them that dispice that nigt and curse the day curse also the mornynge that folowed my birthe let it loke for lyght and see none bycause it shyt not vppe the wombe that bare me Alas whye died I not euen in my birth why dydde not I perisshe as sone as I came out of my mothers wombe why set they me vpoÌ„ theyr knees that nowe do brynge them all eyther to deathe or shame felowe to any deathe Whye gaue they me sucke with theyr brestes that now haue lefte no bloud ne life in their bodies Wherfore is light gyuen to hym that is in miserie and lyfe to them that haue heuy hartis life to them that longe for deathe and serche for it more than euer they dyd for any treasure Thou maist o wycked traytour say what thou lyste but thou canste thynke lyttel better of thy selfe thanne all thy countrey thinkith This I know thou hast causes mo than a thousande to say all this and more to The byshop of Rome his godly sowers of treson thought they had spun a wonderful fine threde and weaued a gay pece of worke whan they gate this Raynarde to play the traytour in a Cardinals apparell thinkynge ye and knowynge by their longe experience no garmente so fitte for oone that wolde take suche an enterprise vpon him This is a wede that seldome gro wethe where any good corne is but it hath the ouerhand and distroyeth it gayely He was made yea marie was he a great legate sent with moche authoritie but he retourned as wyse as they that thought he coulde haue wroughte myracles The sworde was seÌ„t to the king of Scottis before we being than encoÌ„bred with sedition and rebellyon at home this gay legate rydeth after to se whether ne were able to make the kynge of Scottes to pulle it oute of the sheath and vse it according to his intente that gaue hym the gyft was there euer beast so maliciousely sette to vndo his countrey for the whiche many menne haue gladly dyed or euer any stonye hart that so enuironned with a kynges benefites wold let none of theym enter into it so blynde that in suche a nomber coulde see none so vngrate that seinge soo many wolde be moued by none of theym What can thyn ennemies whiche are not only all englyshemen but as many as euer knewe whatte honestie meaneth what can they all wyshe the wors than that thou mayste neuer dye and euer fele that that traytours of thy sorte are sure to fele But percase as all our countrey men do deteste and abhorre this pestylent Cardinal as the vnnaturallest beaste that euer prince bestowed benefite on so fewe or none do knowe howe moche the marquese of Exetter and the lorde Montacute this traytours brother were bounde to the kynges highnes Fyrst the Marquise of Exceters father by king HeÌ„ry the .vii. most noble father to our moste dradde soueraygne lorde that nowe reygneth was for certayne treasons committed to prison where he lay in teoperdie of losse of landes and lyfe vntyll the deathe of the sayd kynge And not withstandynge there were gret and weighty matters layde ayenst hym yet our souerayne lorde that nowe is didde not only pardon hym of his lyfe and restore him to his landes and honoure but toke this his sonne into his priuie chaumber vsynge hym there moch more lyke a companyon than a seruaunt always encreasynge his landes and reuenues after suche sorte that if he hadde nat bene to vnnaturall he coulde neuer haue loued his own lyfe halfe so moch as the kynges welth honour A cruell change for most loue to reÌ„der grettest hatred O fondnes who might not haue ben content to serue suche a mayster to be subiecte to suche a prince yea what maÌ„ being th one and not thother being a subiect not a prince wolde not rather desyre to do his duetie to so noble so gentle so hygh a prince so louing a mayster then for to take frome hym his maiestie yea though he were sure to bryng
whiche alwayes enforced hym selfe to kepe his hyghnesse and all the reste of his subiectes in seruitude errour and idolatrie God hathe made him as al his noble progenitours of right ought to haue ben a full kyng ▪ that is a ruler and natruled in his owne kyngedome as other were God hath deliuered his highnes from the bondage of the byshoppe of Rome his subiectes from errors his realme from the foule sinne of idolatry Ignorāce a childe that the byshop of Rome lefte here with his monkes and friers to be fostred made strōge is takynge her leaue wolde god her passeport were made and she sente frome whens she came But she hath ben so cherished so made of in this realme that lothe she is to departe She hath many frendes and trustethe by the helpe of them to be made denyzen and soo to chaunge her apparel and to do moche more hurt in parishe churches thā euer she dyd in cloisters But I truste as god hath shewed what hurte commeth of her and hers so he wyll prouide a way to see that she and hers haue lesse to do The people begynne to know what they that be curates oughte to preache and what they arboūd to folowe and yet they do but begynne Wolde god some were appoynted to take them forthe newe lessons They haue longe sithens begon to knowe their duetie toward god their obedience to their prince the loue they ow vnto their neighbours and yet they be styll atte the begynninge For yf they were fully taught but in these .iii. poyntes I dare promyse my lyfe to lye vppon it the fruites of this knowledge shuld be such as wold enforce all christian princis to folowe the steppes of oure noble prince I remember howe kynge Iosaphat sente many of his nobles with prechers that is trewe setters oute of the worde of god throughe all Iurie and howe all the worlde feared his power after that god was preched in his king dome I truste as our moste prudente kynge ceasseth nat to sende his holsome and godly proclamations abrode that so one day men shall be sent after them to se what effecte they take what successe cōmeth of them where they worke where they be ydle where they haue fre passage and where they be stopped But leauyng newe occasions whiche leade me to newe purposes I wol returne and folowe that I toke in hande This laste sedition besyde many other commodities that it wrought in this realme hathe made the people and in especial those where it reigned moste very glad to here very desyrefull to make amendes to God and their Prince for that they offended bothe afore I haue herde dyuers men say that three or foure preachers may doo more good in the northe coūtray in two or thre monethes than hath bene done in these southe parties these two or thre yeres only bicause the people be so redy to take what so euer the preacher shall offer vnto theym soo that if the people be naught styll the faute is no more theirs for they wold fain be good They se god louith no rebellions no disobedience if god had done nothynge for the kynge sythens that tyme was not that one benefyte inoughe to bynde his grace and all theym that loue this his realme euermore to thynke vpon goddis goodnes alwayes to giue hym thākes and yet styl to thinke thankes vngyuen All bokes can shewe no suche sedition so quieted no suche rage soo peasibly asswaged and yet at the fyrste as al men lyked the ende soo was there an other thyng that men whiche fauour the peace and quietnes of our countrey thought somewhat amysse Menne were wonderfull gladde that harneys was put of and weapons layde downe but they were sorie that the deceyuers of the simple pore subiectis had after their pestilent pilgremages pardon It is ofte to be remembred howe god prouided both for the sorte deceyued and also howe vpon newe treason committed he wolde the ranke capitaynes to testifie vpō the gallowes that traitours muste come to shamefulle deathe And yet is there more euen concernynge the same matter to be marked where as it plesed the kyng of his clemency and tender loue that his grace beareth to the lyfe of his subiectes to satisfye the rigor of the lawes with a few of their dethes god hath this last sommer by strange kinde of sycknes welle declared vnto the commons of the northe that he was nat contented so fewe were punished where so many offēded And as the sicknes plagued them sore so I thynke god pycked a greate sorte in other countreys suche as he knew had hartes euyl inough thoughe their dedes were vnknowen It is not to be left vnspokē that a generall plague reignyng in al the north and in many other parties of the realme London a citie for the more parte yerely visited with great deathe hadde in maner no syckenesse in it Lette other menne laye the cause where they thinke beste I do surely suppose that as god punyshed them for their treasons soo he shewed vnto the Lōdoners that the way to haue hym mercyfull and good to theym is that that they are in though not setled yet a great part of theym well entred All be it we be forgetfull and haue styll nede of some to putte vs in mynde of goddis goodnesse toward vs yet I woll not nowe speke of the tresure whiche he gaue this realme what ioye and comforte he sent to all trewe englysshe men whan he sent vnto our soueraigne lord his dere and noble sonne oure deere and noble prince Edward I trust it nedith not I trust there be none of vs either so blynde that we see not howe moch Englande oweth vnto god for his byrth for his preseruatiō for such his towardnes as was neuer sene in chylde by al mens assent the lyke either so vngrate but he herynge of this noble princis growyng and waxing to a kynge to the sceptre of this his right inheritance woll with al his harte desyre god both to kepe hym longe frome the scepter and longer in it than euer was his father before hym I say I wyl nat speake of his grace neither of the goodnes of god powred vpon vs and all ours by his byrthe No I woll make as foule a chaunge as euer ye sawe or herde of I wolle go from hym whome the loue to god and his father reserued we ought to loue aboue all thynges and intreate of theym whome yf they were alyue all Englyshmen ought aboue al creatures to hate And yet I wyl not so gladly talke of theym as of the goodnesse of god shewid to vs by their occasiō ¶ O lorde in what danger hath the kynges hyghnesse bene these xiii or .xiiii. yeres For euen al this space there haue ben in his gracis priuie chaumber that frome tyme to time haue not only vttred the secretes of his counselle and chamber but also haue practised with his most enemyes and done what they coulde to
hynder his graces godly procedynges Was it not a syngular prouydence of god that the Marques of Exettour was put oute of the preuye chaumber vppon noo deserte I thynke at that tyme knowen but euen that god put it in the kinges heed so to do Is it nat to be meruayled that he and Edward Neuyll a couple worthy all mennes hatrede a couple ioyned in traiterous intentes beinge soo longe togither about his highnes owne persone dyd no more hurte Is it not more meruayle that th one beinge put out of the priuie chaumber thother attempted nothinge Men that know not the goodnes of god towarde his electe rulers may meruaile at al these thinges but let vs laude god for them all assure our selues that god woll not suffre a prince whom he hath chosen to greatter affaires than grosse heedes can attayne vnto to be vyolated of his trayterous subiectes God hath ioyned with the maiestie of a kynge suche a feare that false hartes haue noo power to offre wrong to a prince thoughe all oportunities seme to serue them wherfore if we list to meruail let vs a litle while intrete of the disclosyng of these tresons Syr Geffry Pole was cōmitted to the towre neyther the kynges hyghnes nor any of the counsaile suspectynge either the Marques eyther the lorde Montacute his brother or syr Edward Neuyll of any of al these thynges that they were founde giltie of Geffrey beinge in the towre hauynge his breste full of wytnesses agaynste him selfe agaynste his brotherne ayenst the Marques was brought into such a thronge of thoughtes into suche a conflycte of pensiers that bloud and nature workinge on th one syde god conscience on thother he was caried into suche a perplexitie that he coulde neither condiscende to accuse his brother his cousyn syr Edwarde Neuyll and hym selfe chyefe of all endaungeryng all foure with the gylte of treason nor yet vtterlye withstande the workynge of god and his conscyence within hym whiche ofte put in his mynde rather to suffer them and hym selfe to bodely to be brought to death then to goo body and soule to the deuyll This motion ranne oft in his heed but the dyuell continuall aduersarye to goddis honour and mans welthe put in his fote and soo toste this wretched soule that of many euelles he chose euen the worste of all which was a ful purpose to slee hym selfe The cōmodities of his death were many as the dyuel made them to the shewe his brother shulde liue stil theyr famylie continue in honour the lorde Marques shoulde haue greate cause to loue all his bloud whiche hadde kylled hym selfe to saue him with many suche fantasyes as desperate menne fynde to helpe them to theyr ende He was fully perswaded to slee hym selfe Desperation hadde wroughte her feate nowe see howe oportunitie made all thynges redye for hym his keper was absente a knyfe at hande vppon the table he rysethe out of his bed taketh the knyfe and with full intente to dye gaue hym selfe a stabbe with the knyfe vppon the breste The deuyll lacketh strength where god hath any thinge to do and can better begynne thynges then brynge them to effecte The deuyll had played his parte nowe se howe god as he ofte dothe tourned all the deuels hole worke to his glory and Geffreyes saluation The knyfe was blunte and so dyd perse but the wounde as god wolde was not mortall and yet for as moche as bloud came after the wounde Geffrey began at the last to feare god to feare hel to remember into what case the deuyll had brought hym and then beganne to deteste the slaughter of hym self to wishe he had opened al to gether rather then to haue loste his bodye and soule after that sorte He nowe beganne to caste whiche waye he mought apease the wrothe vengeance of god redy as he thought to hurle hym in to hell He nowe caste his counte after an nother sort drede of deathe whiche as he thoughte wolde haue folowed the wounde beganne to teache him a new lesson his brother his cosen syr Edwarde Neuylle nowe waied as moche with hym as they oughte to do he sawe before hym the losse of his soule and thought it moche better they loste theyr hedes he sawe in what daunger he shulde leaue his soueraygne lord whose benefyttes beganne nowe to muster before hym and the vele of malyce layde asyde to tourne his harte he sawe the damages the slaughters that myght come to his countrey he sawe it not possible that god shuld be any thing good to hym whiche shulde conceale the destruction of soo many In so moche that nowe he which wolde haue dyed to saue his brotherne and cousyn desyred life for no cause so moche as y t he might brynge them to that they had deserued and thervpon of his own mynde no man requirynge hym to it no manne thynkynge of any suche thynge he desyred to speake with the lieutenant of the toure and after to speake with some of the kinges priuie coūsel to whom whan they came he as a man styl lokynge whan the wounde shuld haue ended his lyfe disclosed all the hole treasons Thus the dyuels subtyl prouision of the knife of his beinge alone of perswading him to abuse the knife to his distruction vtterlye deceiued the dyuell all his gynnes al his craftis now being turned ayenst hym selfe all the hurt that might haue come to his aduersaries god and those that loue and seke his glory nowe redoundyng vpon his own heed wylle ye haue a sure token that this is the worke of god ye haue herde of the message which Reynold sent to his brethern that is y t they in no wyse shulde sturre vntyll his cōmyng ye may know who was author of so godly a message Who but the deuil author of al dissention al rebellion all treason could be either of coūsell with him that sente suche a message or with theym that wolde kepe it secrete If he were thautor of it thā coulde he nat be the vtterer of it also his kyngedome must nedes falle if he fyght ayenst hym selfe God god brought it to lyghte as one that hath taken vpon hym to defende his trewe and faithfulle ministre kynge Henry the eight God hath disclosed all vsynge suche wayes that all menne maye knowe it is onely he that coulde do suche a thinge A man wolde thynke it vnpossyble that where no force no violence no tourmentes are vsed fleshe bloudde and nature coulde suffer one brother to brynge the other to his deathe Some woll say he lacked no tormentes as longe as he had treson waltrynge in his hart A traitour whether he be so taken or nat can lacke no scourginge whan he is moste alone He hath his whyppe in his bosom and playeth the tormentour him selfe for lacke of an officer I wol not say but Geffrey Pole felt suche tormentes no I must nedes grāt he was shreudly scourged that thought it an ease to rydde hym selfe
of it by dethe They be of lyke no small peynes that make the pacient glad to slee his body and damne his soule for the arrydance of theÌ„ But yet as I sayd he had no outwarde tormeÌ„tis no racking no manicles no he was put in fere of none of al these peines but enforced by god as I take it and as he hym selfe sayde at the barre it was frankely vttered not onely ayenste his brother and cousyn but ayenste suche as whan they came to the barre graÌ„ted them selfis giltie without any verdite of quest But of these last I wyll nothing speake all be it I take them to be as worthy eternal infamy as the fyrst but great men of byrth bicause blode is disteined by treson their family taken froÌ„ them ar those that ought to be set forth in theyr colours It is I saye again a wonder to se one brother bring an other moche loue being betwene them and no cause of hatred to his deathe It were a wonder surely if one had not taken the matter in hande whiche can when him lust bothe vanquishe nature and trede the deuyll with his hole power vnder his fete They two kepte those treasons vnder locke and key God is and euer hath beÌ„ lorde of nature conquerer of the deuyll and can compel both when hym lusteth to set forth his glory But nowe where we see whose goodnes it is that treasons are knowen and traytours made awaye lette vs not forgette to gyue hym thankes that thus waketh and in maner wayteth to saue vs harmeles Is it possible that a maÌ„ not forced shoulde swere vppon a boke hym selfe to be a traytour hym selfe of al men to be most worthy deathe Syr Geffrey hath ofte taken this othe So hath Croftes and Colyns also the other all the tyme of theyr arraynement stode styffe with castyng vp of eies and handes as though those thynges had ben neuer herd of before that thenne were laide to theyr charge The Marques of al the rest stack hardest and made as thoughe he had ben very clere in many poyntes yet in some he staggered and was very sory so to do nowe chalangyng the kynges pardon now takynge benefytte of the acte and when al wolde not serue he began to charge Geffrey Pole with frensye with foly and madnesse It is moche to be noted what answere Geffrey made to the Marques in this poynte Some men saythe Geffreye as I here laye to my charge that I shulde be out of my wytte and in a frensye Trouth it is I was out of my wytte and in a great frenesy when I fell with theym in conference to be a traytour disobediente to god false to my prynce and enemye to my natiue countraye I was also out of my wytte and stryken with a sore kynde of madnesse when I chose rather to kil my self thaÌ„ to charge theÌ„ with such tresons as I knewe wolde coste them theyr lyues if I dyd vtter them But our lorde be thanked god wrought better with me then I thought to haue doone with my selfe He hath saued my soule at the leste the knyfe wente not so farre as I wolde haue had it gone his goodnes it is that I haue not slayne my selfe his mercye that I was delyuered frome that frensye of kyllynge my selfe his worke that I haue declared my self my brother the Marques with the rest to be traytours And where I thought said Geffrey rather to haue putte my soule in hasarde for the sauing of these men god I thanke hym so wrought in me and so chaunged my mynde that if I had had tenne brothern yea tenne sonnes I wolde rather bringe them all to this perylle of deathe than leaue my countreye my souerayne lord and myn own soule in suche daunger as they al thre stode in if I had kepte these treasons secrete Let vs lette vs dye we be but a fewe better we haue accordynge to our desertes thaÌ„ our hole couÌ„trei to be brought to ruyne O what a lorde is god whom can a traytour trust whan one brother is so desyrefull to vtter an others treason yea whan y e traytour hym selfe no man compelling hym vttreth his own treson whom may we trust whaÌ„ we our selues desyre to disclose oure selues Treson can not lye longer hyd thaÌ„ while it ripeth for yf it be ones melowe the sauour streight for the moste parte bewrayeth the howrde Geffrey hath neuer bene taken for any plesant or sage talker his witte was wont to serue his tong but so so I dare say they that were the wisest of the kingis moste honourable counsayle dyd moch woÌ„der that day to here him tel his tale and loked for nothyng lesse than that he shulde haue soo handlyd him selfe God is a meruayllous god he can make bothe whan him lust and whom he wol eloqueÌ„t wise pithie He can make the toÌ„ges of the domme serue his elect whan his wyl is The Marques was styffe at the barre and stode faste in denial of most thinges layd to his charge yet in som he foyled and staggerde in suche sorte that all menne might see his countenance to auouch that that his tonge could nat without moche foltring deny But at the scaffolde whan he sawe mens othes with a multitude of wytnesses taken and his sturdy denyall not to saue his lyfe he began eyther to waye dyshonour lesse than he dyd at the barre or els to thynke that dishonour standith in doing traitrously rather than in confessyng of it whan it is knowen to be so deathe at hande taught him and his felowes to prouyde for the safetie of their soules and to leue the regard of honour there on the scaffolde with their bodies They dyd all thre acknowlege their offences towarde the kinge and desyred all men that were there present to pray god to forgyue them They be gone our lorde I truste which gaue them repentance wol also take theym to his mercy and yet saue their soules The thinge they feared is come vppon them they might not tary the tyme they plowed treason they sowed sedytion noo meruayle yf they reape deathe Wherefore let vs whyche in one houre haue escaped so many sorowes so present calamities so imminente mischeues saye as Iudith sayd whan she retourned â–ª with Holofernes his heed in her lappe Laude and praise be giuen to the lord that forsakest not them that put their trust in the. Let him be gloryfied for euer of vs that vncalled is thus preast and redye to defend them that were nigh the brinke of pardicion and sawe it not vntyll he plucked them by the sleue Hitherto ye haue hard how traytrously these vnnatural traitours enteÌ„ded you haue sene how the goodnes of god as wel nowe as in many other thynges hathe preserued the kynges hyghnes brought his enemies to shameful death now this thinge remaineth alone what cause coulde moue them that were so moche bounde to theyr lorde and mayster to fall into such horrible treasons He liueth not I dare say that can finde any iuste cause for any subiecte to be a traytour to his soueraygne lorde And I am well assured all men that haue any spot of honestie in them wol thinke these worthy to be taken for traytours yf they had but ones thoughte hurte vnto his personne of whom they had receyued so many benefyttes There is no cause yet me thinketh I fynd one whiche although it be not iuste yet is it of suche strength and efficacie that it can worke almoste no lesse then it dyd in these I say and thynke who so euer is of theyr opinioÌ„ in matters of relygyon that he can loue the kynges hyghnes noo better then they dyd â–ª who sâ—â— is a papiste an enemye to goddis worde he may well lacke power or stomacke to vtter treason but he can not lacke a trayterous hart what so euer he be that thynketh the byshoppe of Rome supreme hed of our church of Englande can neuer beare the kynge suche an harte as a trewe subiecte oweth his souerain lord No I saye more he can in no case loue his highnes he can not chose but be a traytour It is to be sorowed and lamented greatly that noble men woll thus fondely caste them selues away great wonder greater pitie and greatest shame that they hauing the word of god in theyr owne tonge woll not yet lerne what a kynge is and what a bysshop what lordes owe vnto th one and what they may requyre of thother My purpose was to haue handled a good sorte of places whiche I haue gathered out of the scripture doctours both makynge for the mayntenance of the kynges supremytye and also shakynge downe that arrogante and vsurped power of the bisshop of Rome I had soo done but that I sawe this boke some what with the longest and well perceyued y t thother wold haue ben moch longer then this is I haue differred it for a while but god wyllynge I woll as sone as I can for the seruice I owe vnto nobilitie and the rest my contrey men followe that whiche god wyll prycke me to thoughe feble wyt and weake power drawe neuer so fast backe In the meane season I humblye beseche all men so to take these my labours that I maye with courage set vpon thother whiche as they woll be moche greatter so my truste is they shall be moche more profytable They maye so be and shall so be if it please hym whiche worketh all that well is wrought vnto whom be all honour al glorye for euer and euer Amen Londini in aedibus Thomae Bertheleti typis impress Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum ANNO. M.D.XXXIX Deut. 29. Hierem. 2. Cap. 22. 3. Reg. 19. Daniel 6. Iudic. 6. Iosue 5. Iudith â–ª 13.