world doth last shall neuer fade away 25 The summe of all is this who that will liue in name Must leaue some deed behind that worthie is of fame And to this end Salust writeth Salust fol. 1. Qui sese student praestare caeteris animantibus summa ope niti decent ne vitam silentio transeant veluti pecora quae natura prona ac ventri obedientia finxit quomam vita nostra qua fruimur breuis est memoriam nostri quā maximè longam efficere oportet nam diuitiarum formae gloria fluxa atque fragilis est virtus autem clara aeternaque habetur They which studie to excell other creatures ought not to passe their liues in silence as beasts do whom nature hath made altogether subiect to the belly but because our liues be short we ought to endeuour our selues to the vttermost of our power that our memorie may continue perpetuall for the glorie of riches and beautie are vnstable and fraile but vertue is a noble thing and most worthy to be had in euerlasting remembrance ¶ How we ought to beware of sedition amongst our selues and how that sundry attempts haue bene made by forreine enemies for the inuasion of his realme through the occasions therof as appeareth by diuerse and sundrie examples in this Chapter following CHAP. 6. NOw my deare friends and countreymen We must beware of sedition amōgst our selues to the intent to make vs the more able in this seruice of defence one thing there is of which we must chiefly beware namely of sedition rebelliō and diuision amongst our selues for out of doubt there is no greater mischief or inconuenience that can happen to a kingdome then ciuill discord as one writeth well Regnorum pessima pestis seditie Sedition is the greatest plague that may happen to a kingdome And the holy Gospell saith Math. 12. Omne Regnum in se diuisum desolabitur Euery kingdome in it selfe deuided shal be desolate As want of the feare of God Hol. 1772. disobedience to rulers blindnesse of guides briberie in Magistrates rebellion in subiects ciuill disagreement flattering of Princes vnmercifulnesse in rulers and vnthankfulnesse in subiects are causes of the ruine of a common wealth so the feare of God a wise Prince learned rulers obedience to officers in subiectes louers of the common wealth vertue rewarded vice chastened are the chief causers of a florishing common wealth It is not without great cause that we pray in our Letanie vnto God to be deliuered from sedition for sedition alwayes implieth daunger to the person of the Prince State it openeth the gate to forreine inuasion as by sundry examples we may see for when great dissention and warres were in England betwixt Herrauld and Tostus his brother Dissentiō in England opened the gate to forrein inuasiō Stow. 1066. after the death of king Edward sonne of Etheldred because Herrauld vsurped the crowne against his oath the trust put in him by king Edward who committed the gouernement of the realme to Herrauld during onely the nonage of Edgar his nephew to whom he gaue the crowne did not then William Duke of Normandy Duke of Normandie Hall 251. seeing a conuenient time and occasion offered to conquer this kingdome with a great army come into England and landed at Hastings in Sussex where in battell Herrauld was slaine Herrauld slaine and so William possessed this land by conquest Also when the great warres were in England betwixt king Iohn some of his Barons Barōs wars and sundry bloudy battels were fought betwixt them to the slaughter of many noble other valiant men Holinsh 199. did not the Barons being sore distressed with the kings forces pray ayde of Philip the Foxe 255. French king Frenchmen entred this realme when the ciuill warres were here requiring him to send Lewes his eldest sonne into England with some conuenient number of men and they would receiue him to be their king and do him homage whervpon the French king thinking rather by this deuice to conquer the realme sent Lewes his sonne with a great army of men into England whom the Barons receiued to him yeelded homage according to their promise whereupon diuerse great conflicts happened betwixt the king and the French Ibidem 600. and such of the Barons as ioyned with them who greatly indomaged the said king and got the possession of diuerse Castels Townes and other places and so became strong within this realme Likewise whē the ciuill warres were in England betwixt Edward the second his Barons concerning the Spensers did not the Scots waste destroy the countrey of the Bishoprike of Durham Scots inuaded England when ciuill warres were here and did not the French then enter the borders of Guyen hoping to haue recouered all the lands which the king had in France What imboldened the French king to surprise the holdes and fortifications neare Bulleyne in king Edward the sixt his dayes but the rebellion in Norfolke which greatly troubled the realme Fox 1309. and also to attempt the Isles of Gersey and Garnesey thinking to haue surprised the same also our ships but was repulsed to his great losses both of men and ships If we marke the fruits which haue proceeded of ciuill warres Cōquest by ciuill dissention Greece we shall sée that they haue bene alwayes guided after a most cruell and horrible kinde of hostilitie and that their issue hath bene the losse and ouerthrow of many commō wealths The Romaines came to the great Empire of Greece more by dissention and ciuill warres which they did sow amongst their neighbours then by force of armes French Academie Prou. 1. There are seuen things which God hateth and the eight his soule abhorreth and that eight is he which nourisheth discord amongst brethren French Academic ca. 63. Iustin li. 8. After the Romaines had kindled the fire of dissention in one nation they maintained one side a certaine time vntill in the end they had ouerthrowne both the one the other and so they deceiued sundry nations as the Carthagenians the Asians the Gawles Qui apertè concordiam simulant occulta dissidia serunt Bodinus li. 4 fol. 487. nihil est immortali Deo detest abilius saith Bodinus And by sowing of the sayd dissention in the end the Romaine Empire fell from her greatnesse by the meanes of ciuill warres which they had long time nourished amongest others Incidit in foueam quam fecit The Empire of Alexander being the greatest that euer was Alexander vanished as a fire of tow through the diuision and discord that was among his successors French Academie ca. 63. Iudea And Iosephus saith that the kings of Iudea became subiect and tributarie to the Romaines through the ciuill warres betwixt Hercanus and Aristobulus who were brethrē The afflictiō of Spaine by ciuill dissention There was no countrey more afflicted then
tooke good assurance of king Peter for the paiment of the souldiers wages 1367. The Prince setteth forward to Spaine Thus when the Prince had taken order for his iourny in each condition as was thought behoofefull he with the king of Spaine in his companie passed forth with an army of thirtie thousand men Henrie king of Spaine hauing knowledge that the Prince of Wales was thus comming against him to restore his brother king Peter to his former degrée assembled of the French and of his owne people to the number of fourescore seuen thousand or there about of men of warre wherof seuen thousand were horsemen King Henrie sent to the Prince an Herald of armes with a letter The king of Spaine sendeth to the Prince requiring to know of him for what cause he moued warre against him sith he had neuer offered him any such occasion The Prince dispatched the Herald with an answer to the Letter containing in effect that for great considerations he had taken vpon him to aide the rightfull king of Spaine thased out of his realme by violent wrong and that if it might be he would gladly make an agréemēt betwixt them but so algates that king Henry of necessitie must then forsake all the title of the kingdome of Spaine which by no rightful meanes he could enioy and therfore if he refused thus to do he was for his part resolued how to procéed The Herald departed with this answer and came therewith to king Henrie and deliuered it vnto him as then lodged with his puissant armie at Nouarret which he liked not whereupon both parties prepared themselues to battell and ioyned The battell was eagerly fought the victorie fell to the Prince There were staine of men of armes fiue hundred and thrée score The number slaine at this battell at Nouarret and of Commons about seuē thousand and fiue hundred of the kings part and of the English part there was slaine of men of account but verie few viz. foure knights two Gascoynes one Almaine and the fourth an Englishman and of other meane Souldiers not past foure hundred Froissard as Froissard saith but other affirme that there was slaine of the Princes part about sixtéene hundred which shold séeme to be more like a truth if the battel were fought so sore fiercely as Froissard himselfe doth make report This battell was fought vpon a Saturday Caxton the third of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord 1367. There was taken prisoners of the kings part to the number of two thousand and amongst them the Earle of Dene Sir Berthram de Cleaquine the Marshall Dandrehen or Dandenhien and many other men of great account After the battell King Peter went to Burgis and was receiued into the Citie and shortly the Prince came thither Froissard and there held his Easter with king Peter and taried there aboue thrée wéeks in the meane time they of Austergus Toledo Lisbon Cordeua Gallice Ciuill of all other places of the kingdome of Spaine came in did homage to King Peter promising him to be true to him euer after for they saw that resistance would not auaile so long as the Prince should be in the Countrie I note by this discourse Note the mightie courage of this noble Prince that durst enterprise to displace a king of his royall seat in his owne kingdome being there a méere stranger and to encounter him in so great an action hauing not aboue thirtie thousand in his Campe the king being about fourescore sixe thousand strong whereof aboue seuen thousand were horsmen and in his owne countrey where he might be furnished to supply his want And here I may not omit to speake of the notable and valiant seruice performed by the said noble Earle of Essex and the right noble Charles Haward now Earle of Nottingham high Admirall of England and diuerse other Lords Knights Esquires and Gentlemen at Cales in Spaine in the thirtie eight yere of her Maiesties raigne where they found fiue Gallions of the king of Spaines that is to say the Philip being Admirall the S. Matthew the S. Andrew the S. Thomas the S. Iames three Leuantices two great ships of Noua Hispania and diuerse gallies and 20 marchant ships richly loden for the Indies at which time the English had fight with the said Gallies about an houre the next day the English men and the Spaniards incountred each the other valiantly which conflict continued from seauen of the clocke in the morning till one in the after noone which was so sharpe that some of the Spanish ships did runne vp the riuer further into the country to saue themselues The said ships called S. Mathew and S. Andrew were taken and brought into England the Philip another being Uiceadmirall ranne themselues on ground and the English entred the Philip to haue had the spoile of her which the Spaniards perceiuing did set on fire and went out and the English men escaped the fire with danger some other of their ships were fired by vs there the Generall landed about sire thousand men and marched towards Cales citie being led by the said noble Earle of Essex giuen in the head of that troupe whome certaine of the Spaniards met some on foote and some on horsebacke out of the citie about halfe a mile but they did not tarie but retired to the towne The said Eerle of Essex pursued them resolutely and with such inuincible courage vnto their walles where they played vpon them with their ordinance and small shot awhile but in the end they entred by plaine force with small losse of their men The Earle of Essex was one of the first that entred with many voluntarie Gentlemen and they which entred were not aboue 1000 men which wanne the towne but there was good ayde at hand In the towne there were 500 horsemen and a thousand footmen besides a great number of other townesmen and great store of munition ordinance and victualles The towne was strongly walled hauing a castle strongly edified in the midst thereof and so fortified and victualled that it was thought impossible to haue bene wonne without cannon shot and the houses were all of stone very strongly and defencibly builded so as if they had stood to it it had not bene possible with a far greater number to haue bene so soone surprised We tooke the spoyle of the Citie being very rich in Iewels Plate Money Cloth of gold Silke Sugars Wine Oyle Rice and other marchandise which was esteemed with the losse of the said ships and goods in them to be worth a huge sūme of money The said noble Earles of Essex and Nottingham knowing the loosenesse of soldiers very honorably caused the Ladies and gentlewomen wherof there were diuerse in that Citie with the rest of the women and children with 500 men to be safely conueyed out of the Citie and a straite proclamation made that none should offer to any of them any
THE MANSION of Magnanimitie WHEREIN IS SHEWED THE most high and honorable acts of sundrie English Kings Princes Dukes Earles Lords Knights and Gentlemen from time to time performed in defence of their Princes and Countrie set forth as an encouragement to all faithfull subiects by their example resolutely to addresse themselues against all forreine enemies Published by RICHARD CROMPTON an Apprentice of the common Law 1599. Whereunto is also adioyned a collection of diuerse Lawes and Statutes meete to be knowne of all men with a briefe Table shewing what munition ought to be kept by all sorts of her Maiesties subiects for the defence of her Highnesse Realmes and Dominions LONDON Printed for VVilliam Ponsonby 1599. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE ROBERT EARLE OF ESSEX AND EWE EARLE MARshall of England Viscount Hereford Lord Ferrers of Charâ—ley Bourchier and Louaine Knight of the most noble order of the Garter Maister of her Maiesties Horse and Ordenance Chauncellor of the Vniuersity of Cambridge and one of her Highnesse most honorable Priuy Counsell RICHARD CRVMPTON desireth eternall felicitie THere is no kingdome Right honorable so strongly seated or with Castles so fortified or that so aboundeth in wealth which without valiant men trained vp in martiall discipline can be defended from the force of the enemy for the stronger or richer the countrey is the more are the snares and sleights prepared by the enemy to compasse and conquer the same for which cause and for that also occasions of warre are often offered vpon the sodaine it is necessary that some number of men should be trained vp continually in martiall actions as in other countries is vsed and so much the rather where long peace hath bene had which often taketh away the feare of warre causeth men to liue too securely and without regard of forreyne danger whereby they are vnskilfull in warres affaires and that such trained men may be alwaies ready and able to informe and leade others vnexperieÌ„ced in that seruice for it is not the number of men that alwayes obtayneth the victory in battell but such as are couragious and well exercised in martiall skill as Erasmus sayth well Erasmus Non refert quà m numerosum militem ducas in praelium sed quà m fortem quà m exercitatum Homer in these few verses following Homer setteth forth the whole military discipline which resteth in the valour of the souldiers and their obedience to their Captaines and Leaders Graeci fidentes animis audacibus ibant Ductorum quamuis premerent formidine vocem VVhere he sayth that they trusting in their couragious minds went against their enemies there he commendeth and extolleth their valours in armes and where he sayth they feared the commandement of their Captaines there he highly praiseth their great discretion and modesty VVhat bred such fame to the ATHENIANS who being but ten thousand ouerthrew great numbers of the PERSIANS in one battell in that time when they most florished in their conquests and did rule ouer many nations but valour and skill in the souldiers and obseruation of orders in battell By order all things are preserued and maintayned and without order all things come to ruine and confusion as the Scripture sayth Vbi nullus ordo ibi est confusio And as these things are requisite in the souldiers so is experience valour and skill also in the Captaine for if the blind leade the blind both fall into the ditch as the Gospell witnesseth therefore such Captaines are alwayes highly to be honoured imbraced aduanced and rewarded according to their places callings and deserts as the defenders in the time of warre of the Prince and state of the kingdome and common-wealth that they may be incouraged in that seruice and such as lightly esteeme these men or preferre them which liue idlely and daintily afore them are enemies to the Common-wealth as Osorius writeth and to be taken as the destroyers thereof in that they doe as much as in them lyeth to lay open their Countrey to the force of the enemie And because the matter of this Treatise concerneth the defence of our Prince and Countrey against the enemie which seruice appertaineth most properly to men of honour who ought to hold nothing more deere to them then the safety of the same of which they be the chiefe props stayes defenders and mayntainers vnder her Maiestie I haue thought it conuenient to dedicate this little Treatise to a man of such state and vnto your honour chiefly to the ende you may therein see the notable actes of Chiualrie performed in that seruice that thereby you may be incouraged to followe their steppes and increase the fame honour and renowme which you haue attayned in your late valiant seruice at CALES in SPAINE and else where Humbly beseeching your honor to accept this my small labour as a token of my desire to coÌ„mend your Honourable name to posteritie At your Honors commaund RICHARD CROMPTON AN ORATION TO BE MADE BY THE GENERAL TO THE WHOLE ARMIE AFORE THE BATTEL ALthough Warres are by all good meanes to be eschued for the auoiding of the great effusion of bloud that thereby often doth ensue yet when intollerable wrongs and iniuries are offered either by a forreine Prince or his subiects no recompence is made for the same The cause of the war must be published that it may appeare to arise vpon iust occasions which much doth encourage the souldier to fight warre must be taken in hand and Bodinus saith Bella non nisi propulsandae iniuriae ac pacis causa suscipienda sunt that is Warres are to be entred into to withstand iniuries and to procure peace The causes which haue drawne vs at this present into the field against these our enemies are knowne to many of you namely how these our enemies most violently and in warlike maner with Ensignes displayed in the time of peace without anie proclamation of Warre first made according to the lawes of Armes haue entred into our territories and countrey burned some of our Churches defaced the auncient monuments of our elders put multitudes of her Maiesties people to the sword yea women and children wasted their dwellings with fire despoiled them of their goods and rauished most shamefully their wiues daughters kinswomen euen afore their faces to be short there is no cruelty or tyrannie whatsoeuer which might be deuised but they haue afflicted her Highnesse subiects therewith without all pitie or mercie For which due recompence hath bene diuerse times by her Malesties Embassadours required and yet none is made Therefore either we must with sword and fire be reuenged of these most extreme dealings or otherwise they will be encouraged to attempt the like yea they will account vs men of no courage but cowards and base hearted a name which to our nation hath bene alwayes most odious in that it hath bin accounted valorous in armes in all countries as one writeth Anglia Bistonio gens semper inclita Marte Euerie man is borne
est When the Prince doth ordain punishment to any he is sad also where any is punished he taketh it as it were don to himself She is a most milde Prince not fearefull to behold or to be spoken vnto Ouid metamor li. 2. f 30. Nullae in fronte minae nec formidabile lumen But with most benign and gracious countenances receiueth and answereth the petitions supplications of her subiects she is of that honorable and princely disposition in all things that euen the greatest Princes do honor her And in that hir Ma. 4 cause of incoragemēt hath fortified the borders of this realme in places dāgerous for inuasion with such castels and strong holds with a mighty nauy of warlike ships Fortification of the realme and furnished her kingdome with such abundāce of armor all other things necessary for the wars and defence of her cuntry people as the like hath not bin seen in any Princes dayes before her time If we will consider the miserable conditions of such Nations as liue vnder Princes where the pleasure of the Prince standeth for law Miserable cōditions of other people and where the king saith Sic volo sic Iubeo stat pro ratione voluntas So I will Iuuenal so I command my will shall stand for reason And compare the same with our happy state we haue iust cause to thinke our selues much bound to God for our Princes not only make good and wholsome lawes Good lawes but are wel pleased also to be ordered by them in the day of their Coronation take a solemne Oath vpon the holy booke of God to indeuor themselues Othe that the same lawes shall be obserued and executed to all indifferently Osor fo 105. And therein is the difference saith Osorius betwixt a kind and a Tyrant Non mediocre discrimen est inter regematque tyrannum quòd Rex legibus s◠deuinctum profitetur Tyrannus vero in interitu legum omnem dignitatem suam collocandam existimet Among many other what an Honorable law was made in the 9. yeere of king Henry the third 9. Hen. 3. A most honorable Law as followeth No frée man shal be takē or imprisoned or be desseised of his freehold liberties or frée customes or be outlawed or exiled or anie waies destroyed nor we shall not passe vppon him nor deale with him but by lawfull iudgement of his peeres or by the Lawes of the land we shall sell to no man wee shall deny nor deferre no man 42. li. Ass either of iustice right or equitie By which statute a Commission granted out of the Chancerie to take I. N. and seize his goodes and chattels was iudged void for that it was done without iudgement or sute of the partie or other due processe How happie be we in respect of the Russes amongst whom there is a lawe Russes if any man die without issue male though he haue many daughters yet the Prince seizeth all his goods to his own vse except perhaps of his goods he giueth some part amongest the daughters to bestowe them in marriage And likewise if a man that is vnfit in his owne person for the warres hath such wealth that thereby many warriours might be maintained or that if any of the Courtiers hauing knowledge thereof doe present his name to the Emperour the vnhappie man by and by is sent for and in that instant depriued of all his riches which with great paines and trauaile all his life time he hath gotten togither except perchāce some small porcion thereof be left to maintaine himselfe his wife children and familie withall and then the Emperour bestoweth these goodes amongst his Courtiers according to their deserts Booke of Nauigation fol. 788. 417. as appeareth in the booke of Nauigation But no such vse lawe nor custome is amongst vs. For if a man haue no sonnes then his daughters or some other of his line possesse his landes and his Executor his goodes as pleaseth the owner to limit And when our Prince would haue ayde of her subiects towards the maintenance of her warres or for other necessarie respects she taketh not her subiects lands or goodes from them neither can so doe by her Highnesse lawes except they be first thereby condemned and so forfait them for some offence but vseth to call a Parliament and by the assent of all her Nobles and Commons hath Subsidies and other aydes of her subiects towards the defraying of som of these charges and the subsidie or ayde thus granted if it be of lande for the most part amounteth not to the thirtieth part of the yeerely rent of the same and if it be of goods reacheth not oftentimes to the fiftieth part thereof Againe whereas in France Tributes for meat drink in other countries Flanders and other Countries the people pay certain tribute to their princes for some sort of meat and drinke and for their dwellinges We are not charged with any such impositions Neither is such torment vsed heer in execution of offenders Torments in execution as breaking of their legs armes and backe and so laide on a whéele of a cart pitched on a pole and there to lie till hee be dead which is common in other Realmes by the Ciuill lawes but is executed here by hāging onely till he be dead except it be in case of high treason Therfore I say we are in these respects most happy in regarde of other Nations ¶ How much we are bound to God that doth assist her maiesty with such graue wise and most honourable Counsellers and also diuers and sundry perswasions in respect of the premisses and other things why we should all resolutely fight in the defiance of the enimy And of the miseries of warre where the enimy preuaileth Chap. 3. AS a further cause of this incouragment Fift cause of incoragemēt how much are we bound to God in that it hath pleased him alwaies to assist her Ma. with such honorable counsellers men of such grauity Wise Counsellers truth faithfulnesse and wisdome of such deep skil consideration policie forecast and experience as to speak it plainly simply no Prince vnder the sun is furnished with the like or at least with a better by whose great wisdome trauel and indeuour this common peace and quietnesse hath bin so long preserued and mantained If any thing hath bin intended to the perill of her maiesties person or danger of the state that hath been by them quickly espied deeply looked into and with greate wisdome pollicie in time preuented and auoided to their great honors immortall fame so as in the choise of them her maiesty hath most graciously wisely considered of the saying of Osorius Osor sol 292. Necesse est vt Regis consiliarij sint maximo ingenio praediti bonis artibus exculti longo rerum vsu per ti in historijs diligentissimè versati What men must be
s. which amounted to an inestimable sum Holinsh f. 11. Graft abridg An. 1085. when it came all together into his exchequer And did not he shortly after cause all mens goods and chattels to be valued and raised thereof also a maruelous great masse of mony to the great greife and impouerishment of our people who so sore lamented the miserable case wherein they were thrawled that they hated the Normans in their hartes with deadly mallice howbeit the more they spake and séemed to grudge against such sore touls tallages and cruell oppressions as were daily deuised to their vtter vndoings the more they were burdened after the manner of the bondage which the children of Israel sometime suffered in Egipt for on the other side the Normans perceiuing the hatred which the Englishmen did beare towardes them were sore offended in their mindes and therefore sought by all manner of waies how to kéepe them vnder In like sort did not Wil. Rufus ouerthrow diuers and sundry townes Holinsh 313. parishes villages and buildings for the space of thrée miles together to make thereof a Forrest which to this day is called the new Forrest for wilde beasts and deare whereby no small member of the poore lost their houses their lands and liuings for the maintenance of sauage beasts Nevv forrest Camden 188. of whose hard dealing in this case Doctor White Bishop of Winchester hath these verses written as Camden affirmeth fo 198. B. of Win. Templa adimit diuis fora ciuibus arua colonis Rufus instituit Beanlensi in rure forestam Rex ceruum insequitur Regem vindicta Tirellus Non bene praeuisum transfixit acumine ferri Did not he cause a greiuous paine to be ordained insomuch that who so euer did kill any of the same deare he should haue his eies put out Eies put out for hunting wherevpon many refusing to sustaine such an intollerable yoke of thrauldome as was dayly laid vpon them by the Normans choose rather to leaue both lands and goods and after the manner of outlawes got them to the woods with their wiues children and seruants meaning from thenceforth wholy to liue vppon the spoyle of the Countries adioyning and to take what so euer came first to hand wherevpon shortlie it came to passe that no man might in safetie trauel from his owne house or towne to his neighbours and euery quiet and honest mans house became as it were a hould or fortresse and was furnished for defence with Bowes Arrowes Billes Pollaxes Swordes Clubbes and Staues the dores kept locked and strongly boulted and namely in the night season for feare to be surprised as it had bin in time of war and amongst publique enimies Prayers were made also to almighty God by the maister of the house to saue and defend them as though they had bin in the middest of the seas in some stormy tempest by meanes of these hard dealing towards the English nation The people in the North parts of this Realme did rebell whome the Normans suppressed Hands cut off for rebelling and caused some of their hands to be cut of in token of their rebellious dealings and others by death to be punished and tooke so great a displeasure with the inhabitants of those parts that he wasted all the land betwixt Yorke and Durham so that for the space of 90. miles there was left in manner no habitation for the people by reason whereof it laie waste and deserte by the space of nine or tenne yeares so that no greater misery in the earth could happen then that into the which our nation was now falne Likewise did not he take from the Towns and Citties from the Bishops and Abbies all their ancient priuiledges and frée Customes to the end they should not onely be cut short and made weaker but also that they might redéeme the same of him for such somes of money as it pleased him to appointe to obtaine their quietnesse and made protestation that as he came to the gouernance of this Realme by plaine conquest so he would and did seize into his hands the most parte of euerie mans possessions causing them to redéeme the same at his handes againe and yet retained a parte in the most parte of them so that they that shoulde afterwardes inioy them shoulde acknowledge themselues to hold them of him in yéelding a yearely rent to him and his successors for euer In like manner when the Spaniards by violence possesthe sed Crowne of Portingall Booke of the estate of Fugitiues did not the king of Spaine vse the authoritie of a Conqueror and the tyrannicall cruelty of an vsurper altring their Lawes confounding their priuiledges ouerturning the whole estate of their gouernment strangling some of their Nobilitie and other of them beheading imprisoning and banishing some other of them with many other horrible and pittifull actions These are also other miseries which followe where the enemy doth get the vpper hand and shall we looke for any other dealing if they should ouercome vs ¶ That we shal preuaile against our enimies by faithful praiers to God wherof diuers examples are here set down out of the Bible also diuers other good perswasions to withstād the enimy and how that euery man is bound so to do whereby great fame is attained and left to posterities Chap. 4. IF we wil consider how valiantly our forefathers haue alwaies resisted forren forces prepared against our countrey 6. cause of incorragemēt and what great renowne and same they haue gotten for their valour in Armes which is spread amongest all Christian Nations of whom it is written Anglia Bistonio semper gens inclita marte England a Nation euer famous in battell Bysto is a coūtrey of valiāt people in warres in thrace Camd. fol. 7. Of whome Iohn Wheathamsted sometime the Abbot of S. Albons in his Granario writeth Sufficiat igitur Britannis pro nobilitatis suae orgine quod sint fortes potentes in praelijs quodque vndique debellent aduersarios nullumque penitus patiantur iugum seruitutis It is sufficient for the Britaine 's of whom we are descended for the beginning of their Nobility that they are strong mightie in battell and that they doe euery where beate downe their enimies and cannot suffer by any meanes the yoke of any bondage If we will remember that no Nation sithence the Conquest of this lande which is about 529. yeares past coulde yet ouercome vs praised be God therfore notwithstanding sundry attempts made to that end if we will call to mind the notable ouerthrowes which king Richard the first gaue the Infidels with a few Englishmen Foxe 245. Hol. 1191. and made the king of Cypres to doe him homage for his kingdome and besides him diuers other valiant kings and people haue we brought into subiection and made them stoope to the Crown of England as by our Chronicles is euident we haue nowe then great cause to be mightily incouraged in
enterprises are not holden to proceede of courage and valour but rather of rashnesse which often bringeth danger to the whole Army And you couragious souldiors submit your selues to the order and direction of your chieftaines and leaders of whose great experience and skill in martiall affaires you shall not need to doubt by reason of their continuall training vp therin and so much the rather you must thus do because you are not yet such men of vnderstanding in warlike discipline Herodotus So did the noble Graecians as Herodotus writeth whereby small companies gaue sundry notable ouerthrowes to great multitudes of the Persians in battel euen when they were in their chiefest conquests moste triumphed of their glorious victories Where no order is the scripture saieth there is confusion and vtter ruine Keepe therefore your rankes break not your arraies stand fast in your places to which you are appointed for out of doubt as obseruation of orders in battell is neuer without hope of victory so doth disorder open the way to the enimy to ouerthrow you If you keepe order you shall be euen like a strong Bulwarke against the enimie which they will with all their forces attempt to breake being the only way to gaine them victorie of which purpose if they faile then they will bee vtterly discomfited and fall into your hands To conclude forsomuch as the chance of war is vncertaine and the sequele therof standeth doubtful although the causes afore remembred ought greatly to encourage you in this seruice and to hope of victory yet let vs all make our selues readie for whatsoeuer it shall please God to lay vpon vs and let vs make our humble prayers to Almighty God confessing our sinnefull liues and heartilie repent vs thereof who giueth grace in the very instance of time as by the example of the theefe which was hanged with our Sauior Christ appeareth who vsed these few words vnto him Lorde remember mee when thou commest into thy kingdome And Christ said vnto him This day shalt thou be with me in Paradice And let vs cal vpon him for his gracious assistance against our enemies who no doubt wil ayde and defend vs against them according to his promise for heauen and earth shall passe before one iòte of his Couenant or promise which he hath made to such as serue and feare him shal faile as the scripture doth plainely testifie Now let vs all kneele down and lift vppe our hartes to the throne of Gods Maiesty pray ALmightie God father of our Lord Iesus Christ maker of all things Iudge of all men we acknowledge and bewaile our manifold sinnes and wickednesses which we from time to time most greeuouslie haue committed against thy diuine Maiestie prouoking most iustly thy wrath and indignation against vs we doe earnestly repent and are hartily sorie for these our misdooinges haue mercie vpon vs most mercifull Father for thy blessed son our Lord Iesus Christs sake forgiue al our offences past graunt that we may euer hereafter serue and please thee in newnesse of life to the honor and glory of thy holy name through our onely mediator and aduocate Iesus Christ our Lord. And O thou most mighty God that art the King of kings and Lord of lords and gouernour of all things whose power no creature is able to resist stretch out thy mighty arme and come help vs and be our defence for without thee vaine is the help of man We go not against this multitude trusting in our owne strength but in thy name and in thy most gratious ayde and assistance let them know that thou art the Lord of hoasts and the onely giuer of victory and deliuer them into our hands if it be thy good pleasure that we may glorify thy holy name through Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee the holy Ghost that most sweet comforter that art one in three and three in one true and euerlasting god be all honor glory and praise for euer and euer so be it Now in the name of God almighty aduance our Standards display your Ensignes and set vpon them couragiously for the honor of your prince and country for all England prayeth for our good successe in this buisines this day THE MANSION of Magnanimitie ¶ Of the strength of this Realme in respect of the scituation pleasantnesse of ayre fruitfulnesse of soile aboundance of al sorts of Graine Cattell and other necessaries for the vse of man how it is replenished with thousands of couragious valiant men wherby to withstand all forren inuasion Also how it is defended with many strong holdes in places needfull and furnished with a Royall Nauy with mnnition sufficient to incounter the enemy Chap. 1. ALthough I doubt not both in respect of your loyalties to her Maiestie and fidelities to her Crown things due by all Lawes from euery true Subiect to his Prince and Soueraigne gouernor and also of the great loue and affection that euery man doth naturally beare to his natiue Cuntrey but that you wil be alwaies ready with hart and hand to ioyne in the defence of these against the enemy yet haue I thought it not vaine to set downe some speciall causes and reasons which shall the rather moue vs hereunto Amongst which as in the first parte of this booke I will commend to your considerations the strength of our Country in regard of the scituation therof The first cause of incouragement in respect of the scituation of our Countrey how our countrey is inuironed with the maine Sea sauing that part onely adioyning to Scotlād which is a sufficiēt defence to this realme in that the Quéenes most excellent Maiestie the noble King of that country are most surely linked as well in respect of the néernesse of bloud as also by reason of most honourable couenants and agréementes of league peace and amity which by Gods grace shall long continue concluded and passed betwixt them so that we may well assure our selues that none can come to vs but by shipping wherby what aduantage we haue that stand vpon the firme land ready to receiue or defend the enimy which must lie open to our forces from the sea euery man of any reasonable sence or vnderstanding may easily conceiue It is placed in that part of the world which is temperate neither vexed with too much heat nor oppressed with ouer much colde as many other Countries be It is also of a most delicate holsome ayre full of pleasant springs fountaines and riuers A Country of fruitfull soile Commodities of our countrey yeelding Corne of all sorts abundance of Wooll Allom Copper Mines of Leade Tin Yron Stone Wood Seacole Pittes to make Salt of and of all manner of Cattell Horsses Fowles Fishes Beasts of Venery of all kindes plentiful and all other things necessary for mans sustenance vse and pleasure A Country apt for traffick by sea from all places of the world in respect whereof we are of our selues
better able to liue then any other nation vnder the Sunne Camd fol. 3 Camden maketh mention of an old Orator speaking in praise of England as followeth O fortunata omnibus beatior terris Britannia This Constantine receiued the faith of Christ first in England Annales I. Stow â— 46. An. 306. quae ConstantinuÌ„ Caesarem prima vidisti meritò te omnibus Coeli ac soli bonis natura donauit in qua nec rigor est nimius hyemis nec ardor aestatis in qua segetuÌ„ taÌ„ta est foecuÌ„ditas vt munerib vtriusque sufficiat et Cereris et Liberi in qua nemora sine immanibus bestijs terra sine serpentib noxijs coÌ„trà pecorum mitium innumerabilis multitudo lacte distenta onusta velleribus certe quod propter vitam diligitur longissimi dies et nullae sine aliqua luce noctes dum illa littorum extrema planities non attollit vmbras noctisque metam coeli siderum traÌ„sit aspectus vt sol ipse qui nobis videtur occidere ibi appareat praeterire That is O thou happy England and more blessed then all lands that first of all hast seene Constantine the Emperor whom nature hath indued with all the commodities of the firm ament and land wherin is neither too much rigor of winter nor heat oâ— summer where is great fruitfulnes of Corne for bread and drinke Woods also without hurtfull Beasts the Land without noysome Serpents where likewise are innumerable multitudes of Cattel giuing milke and Sheep loaden with fleeses of wooll and that which Life doth greatly desire the daies are there very long neither is there any night without some glimmering of light by reason that the Plaines of the Sea coasts doth not yeeld much shaddow and the sight of the Starres and firmament doth passe away so quietly that the Sunne which seemeth to vs to go downe may there appeare as it were but to passe by Also in that this Realme is replenished with infinit thousands of valiant and couragious Men The second cause of incouragement valiant men able to giue battell to the greatest prince in Europe for Castles are of smal account where valour in armes wanteth Cleomines the Emperor beholding a towne by arte and nature mightily defended called such latebras muliebres Castles Cleomines Bod. lib. 5. c. 5 alurking place for Women saying Neque Ciuitatis robur positum est in mutis lapidibus What should moue a man to fight sed in praestanti fortissimorum ciuium virtute qui pro aris pro liberis pro libertate pro ciuitate pro fama pro vita dimicabunt The strength of a Citty saith he resteth not in dumb wals but in the force of valiant Men which fighte for their religion Children libertie Cities fame and for their liues And such as are desperate and resolute are most méetest for the same as he writeth also Nihil periculosius est quam desperatis hominibus praeliuÌ„ coÌ„mittere There is nothing more dangerous then to fight with desperate men Bod. lib. 5. c. 5 And remember as an example the battell of Poytiers in France where Iohn the french King with a great number of his nobilitie were taken prisoners Poytiers the rest were put to flight Stow 15 â—… with about ten thousand Englishmen the french being almost fifty thousand This was done by Edward prince of Wales eldest sonne to King Edward the thirde and Erasmus saith also ij demum vtiles suÌ„t Bello milites Eras Append. Apoth 337. quibus decretum est in praelio aut vincere aut mortem oppetere They are meetest for War which determinne to win the fielde or else to die Castles But yet Castels and Fortresses are not to be condemned but must be vsed as a meane for the better defence of the enimy ¶ How much we are bound to the Almighty God that hath giuen vs so gratious a Prince to raigne ouer vs and what good things we daily receiue of her gracious goodnesse toward vs and also how happy we are that are her Highnesse subiects in respect of other Nations which are charged with continuall Taxes Tallages and Impositions and besides that liue in great bondage and seruitude of which things we are freed Chap. 2. NOw in respect of a most singular and further cause of incouragment herein Third cause of incouragement let vs consider how much we are bound to god in that it hath pleased him to giue vs so gratious a Soueraigne Lady and Quéene to raigne ouer vs one of our owne nation which is obserued in the sacred scripture as a great blessing of god as in the booke of Deuteronomy doth appeere and of the right line and descent of the noble kings and Princes of this Realme for forren princes are alwayes misliked of the people to raign ouer them Osor fol. 19. as Osorius saith Quoties accidit vt in aliqua regione vel haereditario iure vel matrimonio vel quauis alia ratione princeps aliquis ex exteris gentib ad regnanduÌ„ vocetur id populis sibi perniciosum fore suspicatur One vnder whom we haue enioyed such common peace and quietnesse these 39. yeares more as the like hath not béene heard of neither is to be founde in any record or Chronicle sithence the Eonquest to this daie for the like time of gouernment One studious to aduance set foorth and maintaine the honour and glory of Almightie God one desirous to raigne with mercy with loue with pitty and tender compassion and not by tyranny not by effusion of bloud neither alwaies by inflicting the extremitie of her lawes vpon such as iustly haue deserued the execution of the same And is the rather induced to mercy and pittie by experience of her owne troubles most vniustly laid vpon her in her sisters daies so as it is rightly said Nihil est enim quod magis inuitat homines ad misericordiam tribuendam quam humanam miseriam experiri Aeneid lib. 1. vnde rectissime Regina Dido apud VergiliuÌ„ inquit Non ignara mali miseris succurrere disco There is nothing that more doth moue men to bee mercifull then to haue experience of the misery of man whereof Queene Dido as Virgill maketh mention said very well I haue learned being not ignorant of euill how to helpe them that are in miserie She is also bountifull to such as deserue well of her Maiestie and of their countrey Ouid de ponto lib. 2. in whom the saying of Ouid the Poet which he spake of the clemencie and liberality of Cesar is verified Est piger ad poenas princeps adpraemia velox Cuique dolet quoties cogitur esse ferox The Prince is slow to punish and ready to rewarde and sorrowfull when he is forced to punish any And again he saith of him Qui cum triste aliquid statuit fit tristis ipse Cuique fere poenam sumere poena sua
stung to death with strange kinds of fiery serpents sometime the earth hath opened and swallowed thē vp quicke the Captains and bands of such murmurers with their wiues children families Then if such strange and horrible plagues haue hapned to such subiects as did but only murmure and speake euil against their heads what shall become of such subiects as conspire arme themselues assemble great numbers of men in armes encourage and leade thē against their Prince countrie spoyling robbing slaying as manie of their good subiects as do withstand them and against whom they may preuaile We are forbidden by the holy Scripture Eccle. 10. so much as to think euill to the Prince for the birds of the aire shall betray thee with their wings shal bewray they voyce If we may not think euil much lesse may we do anie thing that shal or may tend to her danger as rebellions do alwayes imply peril to her person state Sam 24. King Saule was a wicked Prince sought the life of Dauid the seruant of God diuerse wayes yet Dauid wold not hurt him no when he might haue slaine him in his caue but said The Lord keepe me that I lay not my hands vpon the Lords annointed 2. Tim. 2. S. Paule saith I exhort that aboue all things prayers supplications and intercessions and giuing of thanks be made of all men for kings and all that are in authoritie that we may liue a quiet life with all godlinesse for that is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Sauiour So did the people of God Apol. cap. 30. which liued vnder Pagans and tyrants as Tertullian witnesseth If the Princes be good they are a great blessing of God bestowed on the people if they be vngodly tyrants then they are appointed for their punishment yet must they pray for them whatsoeuer they be for when S. Paule taught to pray for rulers then Caligula Clodius and Nero who were no Christians but Pagans and most cruel tyrants were gouernors rulers of the people When Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon after he had slain their kings nobles wiues children the people of God wasted their country spoyled their cities yea and Ierusalem it selfe the holy temple and caried the residue with him captiue to Babylon Baruc. 1. 11. yet Baruc the Prophet of God exhorted the people being in captiuity saying Pray you to God for the life of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon and of Balthaser his son that their dayes may be as the dayes of heauen vpon the earth that God also may giue vs strength lightē our eyes that we may liue vnder the defence of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon vnder the protectiō of Balthaser his sonne that we may long do them seruice and find fauor in their sight If they then prayed for tyrants and vngodly kings how much more ought we to pray to God for the life preseruation and prosperons estate of so gracious a Quéene soueraigne Gouernour as we haue What shall I say of you shal I call you subiects that assemble your selues in this forcible maner and breake the common peace of the realme and in stéed of quietnesse ioy and felicitie which do follow of blessed peace and due obedience do bring all trouble sorrow disquietnesse of mind and bodie and all mischiefes and calamities and turne all good order vpside downe bring all good lawes in contempt and tread them vnder foot oppresse all vertue and honestie and all vertuous and honest persons and set all vice and wickednesse and all vitious and euill men at libertie to worke their vngodly willes and vngracious purposes which were before bridled with wholsome lawes and do weaken ouerthrow and consume the strength of the realme aswell by wasting and spending the treasure thereof as by slaying the good subiects of the same and make our countrie readie as it were to be a pray and spoyle to all outward enemies and to bring vs our wiues children and posterities to perpetuall captiuitie slauerie and bondage that strangers may possesse our lands goods liuings to our vtter vndoing destruction Though God do often prosper iust lawfull enemies which be no subiects against forraine enemies and though a small number vpon wars begun vpon iust causes hath many times prospered against huge nūbers of their aduersaries that haue offered them wrong and iniurie yet neuer did rebel prosper against their Prince Note how noble or great soeuer their Captaine or number of people haue bene and whether their pretence of rebelling haue bene for reformatiō of religion or for any other cause whatsoeuer yet they haue bin alwayes ouerthrowne by the iust iudgemēt of God and so Sir Thomas Wyat vpō his arraignmēt for the sayd rebellion of Kent Hol. 1. ma. affirmed openly lamenting heartily his brutish and beastly fall as he rightly tearmed it into the horrible offence of the law requiring all the audience there present to remember his spéeches and to be taught by his infelicitie and most wretched case as in the Chronicle doth appeare If you be grieued with any thing which is to be reformed exhibit your supplication to her Maiesties Lieutenant here present and make your humble submission confessing your great offences and crauing together on your knees her most gracious pardon with faithfull promise that by Gods grace you will not enter into the like horrible offence hereafter against her highnesse and her lawes and so ye may the rather obtaine the same which her sayd Lieutenant hath authority vnder her great seale of England to graunt to such of you as shall do as is afore remembred herein you shall do as was vsed in king Edward the sixt his time Holinsh by some which then opposed themselues against the sayd king as you do now against her Maiestie who vppon their like submission had their pardon and by order from the king also present redresse of their griefes If ought be to be remedied it belongeth not to the subiect to performe it for if the Prince should make a law neuer so hard against the subiect impose a great punishment to the breakers thereof yet the subiect may not presume to attempt to remedy the same but must submit himselfe to the punishment of the law as Saint Perer saith Peter submit your selues to euery ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the king as to the head or to the rulers as to them sent of him for the punishment of euil doers but for the cherishing of such as do well for so is the will of God If you will not take this course but stand to the vttermost assure your selues that you shall be consumed with the sword and such as escape that death shall suffer the execution due by law to traitors in such terrible manner as is aboue remembred To conclude if neither the feare of God your dutie to your
be published in his or their custody contayning such matters as aboue are mentioned against the present order and gouernement of the Church of England or the lawfull ministers thereof or against the rites and ceremonies vsed in the Church and allowed by the lawes of this Realme that they and euery of them should presently after with conuenient speede bring in and deliuer vp the same vnto the Ordinary of the Diocesse or of the place where they inhabite to the intent they might be vtterly defaced by the sayd Ordinary or otherwise vsed by them And that from thenceforth no person or persons whatsoeuer should be so hardy as to write contriue print or cause to be published or distributed or to keepe any of the same or any other bookes libels or writings of the like nature and qualitie contrarie to the true meaning and intent of her Maiesties sayd proclamation and likewise that none after should giue any instruction direction fauour or assistance to the contriuing writing printing publishing or dispersing of the same or such like bookes libels or writings whatsoeuer as they tendered her Maiesties good fauour and would auoyd her Highnesse displeasure and as they would answere for the contrarie at their vttermost perils and vpon such further paines and penalties as by the law any way might be inflicted vppon the offenders in any of these behalfes as persons maintaining such seditious actions which her Maiestie affirmeth by that proclamation she mindeth to haue seuerely executed And if any person had knowledge of the anthors writers printers or disperers thereof that they should within one moneth after the publication of the sayd proclamation discouer the same to the Ordinary of the place where he had such knowledge or to any of her Maiesties priuie Councell as by the same proclamation plainly appeareth After that Martin Marprelate and his fellowes were restrained of setting foorth their seditious bookes they and such like vsed to assemble themselues in conuenticles where they had exercises as they termed them of religion contrary to the law whereupon a Statute was very necessarily made in the fiue and thirteth yeare of her Maiesties raigne to the effect following 35. El. cap. 1. If any aboue sixteene yeares of age shall obstinately refuse to come to some vsuall place of Common prayer to heare diuine Seruice established by the Queenes Maiesties lawes by the space of one moneth without lawfull cause or shall by printing writing or expresse words aduisedly and purposely practise or go about to moue or perswade any within her Maiesties dominions to denie withstand and impugne her Highnesse authority in causes ecclesiasticall vnited to the Crowne or to that end or purpose shall aduisedly and maliciously moue or perswade any whatsoeuer to forbeare or abstaine from comming to Church to heare diuine Seruice and receiue the communion according to her lawes or to come to or be present at any vnlawfull assemblies conuenticles or meetings vnder colour or pretence of any exercise of religion contrary to the Statutes of this Realme as afore is sayd euery person thereof conuicted shall be imprisoned without bayle or maynprise vntill they shall confirme themselues to come to Church and heare diuine Seruice according to her Highnesse lawes and make such open submission and declaration of their conformity as is there set downe If the offender aforesayd being thereof conuicted shall not within three moneths conforme himselfe in comming to Church and making submission and confession being required by the Bishop of the Diocesse or a Iustice of peace of the Shyre where the person shall be or be the Minister of the Parish the offender there so warned or required by a Iustice of peace where the offender shall be shall abiure the Realme by his oath afore the Iustice of peace at the quarter Sessions or Assises as was vsed by the Common law in case of fellony If he refuse to abiure or shall not go or returne without her Maiesties licence it is fellony and he shal loose his cleargie If any offender aforesayd afore they should abiure come to Church on some Sunday or Holy day and then and there heare diuine Seruice and make open submission and declaration of his conformitie to the lawes he should be discharged of all penalties and punishments appointed by this Satute And also if any after such submission refuse or forbeare to come to Church or come to such conuenticles as aforesayd he shall loose the benefit of this Act and be and stand in such case as though no such submission had bene had ne made Likewise if any keepe in his house or otherwise relieue any that shall obstinately refuse to come to Church and shall forbeare to come to Church by a moneth together euery person so doing after notice to him giuen by the Ordinary Iustice of Assise Iustice of peace Curate of the parish or Church-warden shall forfeit ten pounds for euery moneth that he doth retaine or relieue any such person The Satute extendeth not to mens wiues children father mother wards sisters not hauing houses of Popish recusants or feeme couerts shall not be compelled to abiure The persons that shall abiure or refuse to abiure vt suprà shall forfeit their goods and chattels and all his lands during his life This act was made to continue to the end of the next session of Parliament and now is continued in the Parliament holden in the fortieth yeare of her Maiesties Raigne THE FORME OF submission I A. B. do humbly confesse and acknowledge The submission that I haue grieuously offended God in contemning her Maiesties godly and lawfull gouernment and authority by absenting my selfe from Church and from hearing diuine Seruice contrary to the godly Lawes and Statutes of this Realme and in vsing and frequenting disordered and vnlawfull conuenticles and assemblies vnder pretence and colour of exercise of Religion and I am hartily sory for the same and do acknowledge and testifie in my conscience that no other person hath or ought to haue any power or authority ouer her Maiestie and I doe promise and protest without any dissimulation or any colour or meanes of any dispensation that from hencefoorth I will from time to time obey and performe her Maiesties Lawes and Statutes in repayring to the Church and hearing diuine Seruice and will euer hereafter do mine vttermost indeuor to maintaine and defend the same ¶ Of diuerse and sundry victories obtayned in former time by the English nation both by sea and land against their forreyne enemies to the great encouragement of the posterity to maintaine the honor gotten by their progenitors CHAP. 11. ANd now as in the last part of this encouragement The last cause of incouragement what notable victories hath our nation obtayned against the French and Scots aswell in their owne territories and countries as when they haue inuaded this Realme and how most gaciously Almightie God hath alwayes assisted vs in our rightfull causes against our enemies when they haue greatly
violence vpon paine of death and shortly after they fired the towne and tooke the seas and they brought also with them into England diuerse of the best sort of the Spaniards taken in the said Citie as prisoners to abide their ransome what the king will do being herewith moued I know not but no doubt her Maiestie will prouide to defend the worst as good pollicie willeth Salomon saith Beatus qui semper timet hoc est qui cautus prouidens est ad omnia mala quae possunt in illum incursare depellenda paratissimus How most graciously Almighty God hath dealt for her Maiestie to defend her her kingdomes from forraine forces inuasion you may sée in that in the beginning of winter about three yeares last past when the king of Spaine had gathered together as great a number of Shippes as he could furnish from all partes of his dominions or could recouer by imbarking all other shippes of seruice which came for trade into Spaine or Portugall intending to haue inuaded her Maiesties realme of England and yet such was the prouidence of God contrary to his expectation intētion by hastening of his enterprise in a time vnlooked for to surprise some place in England or Ireland before her Maiesty could haue had her owne force in readinesse she still prouiding to haue liued in peace which she professeth both to her self all Christēdome it pleased him who frō heauen with iustice beholdeth all mens purposes sodainly most strāgely to drowne make vnseruiceable diuerse of his best ships of warre being vnder saile comming from Lisbone and verie neare to the deffined hauen of Ferroll with destruction of no smal numbers of souldiers and mariners among which manie of those Irish rebels which were entertained in Spaine to haue accompanied either that Nauy or some part therof into Irelād were also cast away by which manifest act of Almightie God the Armie was so weakened as the same could not put to the seas according to his former purpose And here I protest that I write not anie thing to disgrace anie Prince or nation against whom our nation hath so often preuailed but that you may by the said examples sée that God giueth the victorie where it pleaseth him although the said other Princes be right couragious and valiant in armes That notwithstanding the difference of religiō or anie other cause whatsoeuer we ought all to ioyne together for the defence of our Prince and countrey against the enemie with a repetition of certaine lawes tending chiefly to the preseruation of her Maiesties person and the safetie and defence of the realme CHAP. 12. ANd though we be deuided for religion which God of his mercie bring to vnitie yet I trust that we will wholly Though we be deuided for religion yet we must ioyne against the enemie faithfully and as we are bound and belongeth to good and loyall subiects and naturall men to their countrey ioyne together in this seruice of defence of our Prince and countrey against the enemie following the good example of the Iewes who although great dissention and ciuill discord was among themselues as Iosephus writeth in his booke de bello Iudaico yet when the enemie did inuade their countrie Lib. 6. cap. 10 they ioyned together and valiantly defended thēselues So did the Romans as Bodinus writeth his words be these Bodinus 563 Cùm enim aliquando in visceribus vrbis Romanae patres cum plebe capitalibus odijs inter se contenderent hostis in Capitolium inuasit repentè ciues ad concordiam adducti hostem repulerunt rursus parta pace cùm ciuiles discordias relapsas intuerentur venientes Romanos agros vastare coeperunt repent è ciuilis motus conquieuit vt hostes propulsarent That is When the chiefe of the citie of Rome with the common sort of the Citizens there were at deadly hate the enemie entred the Capitoll wherupon sodainly the Citizens being reduced to concord they did driue away the enemie and by that meanes peace being obtained when they againe fell into ciuill discord the enemy that perceiuing they destroyed the fields at Rome whereupon the commotion ceased that they might repulse the enemie To that effect he writeth of the troubles of Spaine Ibidem 563. thus Nec verò motus ciuiles Hispanorum aliter sedare potuerunt cum absente Carolo quinto Imperatore nouum creauissent regem Gallorum exercitu in Cantabriam Nauarram tunc irruente quas regiones Galli occupauerant sed Hispani repentè conciliatis animis hostiles impetus represserunt amissa recuperarunt That is The ciuill warres and troubles in Spaine could not otherwise be appeased when Charles the fift Emperour being absent they made a new King at which time an armie of the Frenchmen entredinto Cātabrie and Nauarre and possessed the same but the Spaniards sodainely according within themselues did expell them and recouered againe those losses By these examples the naturall affection which these men had and euerie man ought to haue to the preseruation and safetie of their countrie doth euidētly appeare And whatsoeuer the cause be that moueth ciuill warres yet that ought not to worke such malice in them as the safetie and good of their countrie should thereby be endangered or neglected wherby the saying of the Poet Ouid may appeare to be true Nescio qua natale solum dulcedine cunctos Ducit immemores non sinit esse sui And because there are many good lawes ordained Diuerse lawes meet to be set downe and knowne in these dangerous dayes as well in the time of our most gracious Soueraigne Ladie that now is as also of her noble Progenitors by the authority of their high Courts of Parliament touching the securitie of her Highnesse person and the safety and defence of the realme which be necessarie at all times but especially now in these dangerous dayes to be knowne I haue thought good here to make mention of them to the end men should not be ignorant thereof although in truth the ignorance of the law doth not excuse German fol. 52. but of the déed as the saying is Ignorantia legis non excusat sed ignorantia facti And first touching her Maiesties person 25. E. 3. cap. 2 Compasse or imagine the death of the Queene it is ordained by a Statute made in the fiue and twentieth yeare of Edward the third which some hold to be but a confirmation of the common law that if anie compasse or imagine the death of her Maiestie whom Almightie God of his great mercy vouchsafe to preserue and to graunt her life with most prosperous health in high felicitie long to cōtinue and to raigne ouer vs to the ouerthrow of her enemies confusion of all traitors this is high treason Treason B. 24. 1. Mariae These words ompasse or imagine the death of the King or Quéene are large words for he that doth deuise how the Prince shall come
to her death by words or otherwise doth some act to explaine the same as in assaying of harnesse sending of letters or message or such like this is treason And he that doth intend to depriue the Prince in that is intended the Princes death and therefore it is treason Withhold Castle 14. El. cap. Dyer 145. Treason B. 24. Leuie warre 25. Edward 3. cap. 2. Adhere to her enemies Conspire to commit treason 2. Li. ass 49. Messenger 21. Eliz. 3. 23. 45. E. 3. 25. Ayde Brytton 114. lib. 1. Stamf. 1. Misprision Treason B. 2. Armes No access in treason Com. Plo. 262. Slaine in field And the withholding of a Castle Fortresse or such like against the Prince is a leauying of warre against her Maiestie and is treason If a stranger borne in the time of peace betwixt his Prince and the Quéenes Maiestie come into this realme and take rebelliously anie of her Castles and the same detaine against her this is treason and is in law as a leauying of warre against her If any leauie warre against her Maiestie within this realme or be adherent vnto her enemies in this realme giuing them aide and comfort in this realme or else where and thereof he probably attainted of ouert déed this is also treason If one moue another to commit any treason and the other assent that it shold be done and it is committed indéed by the one of them this is treason in thē both It is treason by the cōmon law to kill him that is sent on her Maiesties message or that goeth to ayd her in her warres It is treason if any worke anie thing against her host or be assenting counselling or consenting to the same If any do know another to haue committed treason though he be not consenting to the same yet if he do not reueale it to some that hath the law in gouernment it is misprision of treason If anie ioyne the armes of England with his armes this is treason 38. Henrie the eight I thinke this is meant when it is without difference Note that in cases of treason there are no accessaries but all be traitors principals If a man leauy warre against the Prince and be slaine in the field this is treason without any attaynder by the auncient law of the Realme for he was the cause that the course of law could not passe vpon him he shal loose his lands goods in this case his bloud is corrupted Dower F. 106. the wife looseth her dower by the cōmon law If a treason be committed by the Queenes subiect out of the realme against the realme it shall be tried in England in the Kings bench 8. E. 3. Dier 132. Treason out of the Realme Dyer 298. Buls Obedience Adherent to the enemies Triall F. 54. 5. R. 2. Prophecies Rebellion or where the Prince shall please 33. H. 8. cap. 23. 35. H. 8. cap. 2. sée the case of Story afore Chap. 10. touching this As touching the bringing into this realme of Buls practising to withdraw her Highnesse subiects from their naturall obedience which is treason see afore Chap. 10. If a man be adherent to the kings enemies in Fraunce his land shal be forfeit his adherence shall be tried where the land is as it shal be of such as adherre to the kings enemies in Scotland He that shall publish any prophecy vppon any mans armes or things vsed in armes to the intent to make any rebellion insurrection disturbance or losse of life shall forfeit ten pounds and be imprisoned one yeare and the second time being conuicted of the first offence shall forfeit all his goods and be imprisoned during his life if any by erecting or setting vp of any figure by calculation Figure Witchcrafts Natiuity witchcraft sorcery or inchantment or by casting of natiuity or by publishing of any prophecy to such intent shall seeke to know or vnderstand and shall publish the same abroad how long her Maiestie shal liue Prophecies how long her Maiestie shall liue 13. El. cap. 1. Compasse her Maiesties death or who shall be King or Queene after her it is felonie It is ordayned also by a Statute made in the thirteenth yeare of her Maiesties Raigne that if any shall without the Realme or within compasse intend or imagine the death or destrustion or any bodily harme tending to the death destruction mayming or wounding of the Queenes Maiesties person or to depose or depriue her from the Crowne or any her dominions Leuy warre Inuade this Realme Dyer 298. Vtter by words Treason or to leauy warres against her within this Realme or without or to moue or stir any forreyners or straungers with force to inuade this Realme or any other dominions being vnder her obeisance and the same shall maliciously aduisedly and expresly vtter or declare by any printing ciphering or saying this is treason aswell in the principall offender as in their counsellers procurers ayders and comforters knowing the same offence to bee done and committed in any place within this Realme or without And because Castles fortresses and holds are necessary things for the defence of the realme it is ordayned by a Statute made in the fourteenth yeare of the Queenes Maiesties raigne 14. El. cap. that if any either within this realme or else where Conspire to take any of her Maiesties Castles c. do conspire or deuise to take or detayne or to waste or destroy any of her Castles Bulwarkes or fortresses or any part of them hauing any munition or ordenance therein or appointed to be garded for defence of this realme and the same conspiracies or deuises shall aduisedly by any expresse words Withhold any Castle of her Maiesties Ships act or writing vtter or declare for any the malicious or rebellious intents aforesayd this is felony in euery such offender counseller comforter and abbetter knowing thereof and shall loose their cleargy sanctuary And by that Satute it is further ordayned that if any person shall with force maliciously rebelliously withhold from her Maiestie any of her Castles or holds or any of her ships ordenance artillery or other of her munitions or fortifications of war and do not giue vp the same to her Highnesse or to such person as her Maiestie shall appoint to receiue the same to her vse Proclamation within sixe dayes next after such offender shall be in her name commanded so to do by open proclamation vnder the great seale of England Burne to be made within any place or market towne within the County wherein any such offence shall be committed or shall wilfully Ships Hauen Barre maliciously or rebelliously burne or destroy or cause to be burned or destroyed any of her Maiesties ships or shall barre or cause to be barred any hauen within any of her dominions Imbesill Armour Victuals this is treason in euery such offender and in their counsellers and abbetters this act is made