in an Reg. Fran lib. 5. then of his iudgement and after his execution This Hebert Countie of Vermendoies humbly inuited Charles surnamed the simple king of France to lodge at his castle of Peron as he returned out of ciuill warres against Robert the sonne of Eudo who contrary to his alleageance had seased certaine Cities and holds of the kings inheritance whome the king had slaine in the field The king surnamed the Simple casting no perils though Earle Heberts wife were sister to Duke Robert late slaine of the king in the fielde vouchsafeth his courteous inuiting and came to lodge with him After great feasting when the king was lodged and his strength sequestred from him Hebert by the setting on of his wife in reuenge of her brother Roberts death taketh the king prisoner and maketh him away that neuer he was enlarged and raigned againe Thus of Heberts treason against his Prince vnder colour of inuiting him to his castle and lodging him Now of his iudgement vnder Lewes the 5. After the making away of king Charles by treason of Hebert Lewes the 5. his son reigned in his place Hee in reuenge of Heberts treason deuiseth this manner of iudgement that Hebert out of his owne mouth vnwares and in a pretensed case shoulde pronounce sentence of death vpon himselfe Ro. Gag in an Re. Fran. lib. 5. This deuise and plat was furnished in this sort As hee sate in councel with his Lords in the Citie of Laon whither this Hebert was also warned procured to be present as Robert Gagwin a famous writer of the French story reporteth it a suborned Poast came thither in Englishe mans array with a letter of hast praying the kings presence and being brought to presence he deliuered the letter And at the secrete reading therof by the king his Secretary to him the king smiled The Lordes as if his smiling boded good said they trusted there was good newes out of England Then hee saieth that one Herman as Gagwin telleth it Fabian the â— part ca. 186. but as Fabian saith one of his owne cosins and especiall friends of England moued him of a case in his letter asking his iudgement and resolution in it He proponeth the case among theÌ„ to heare their opinions and iudgements of the case The case was of a countrie or husbandman that inuited his Lorde to his house and there murdered him Say my Lordes saieth he as Gagwin vttreth his speech what death you deeme and iudge him worthie of Theobald of Blois a sage Counceller first gaue seâ—tence Theobald of Blois his iudgement that though he was worthy of sundrie tortures yet it seemed good to him that the hangman should trusse him at the gallowes strangle him with a rope And after his verdit all assented to it and Earle Hebert also accorded to it Earl Heberts iudgemeÌ„t out of his owne mouth on himselfe and his own sentence was as it were the cord to trusse him vp Iudgement out of his owne mouth was giuen on himselfe there remained no more but execution The Foxe was taken in his owne case Thus iudgement was contriued in a deuised case and Heberts mouth pronounced iudgement of death vppon himself Now of the execution Sodainly rushed in the crue appointed of the king before they caught giltie Hebert Earl Heberts execution and according to his owne sentence carried him to a hill without the citie of Laon hoised him to the Gibbet or gallowes and before the hangman straÌ„gled him Ro. Gag in an Re. Fran. lib. 5. the king turned to him as Gag reporteth and said Thou Hebert art the same countrieman that madst away my Lorde and father and thy Soueraign in prison bonds now according to thy desert suffer thy deserued death Thus Heberts iudgement was deuolued on himselfe and his treason against his Prince returned on his owne head May it not be a mirror of gods iudgement touching the ende execution of traitors which intrap others with treasons sodainly are trussed vp themselues Little thought Hebert to hang at the gallowes at Laon when he came to the kings presence to sit with the Lords in couÌ„cell Little know traitors what sodainly will befall theÌ„ Gods reuenge ruÌ„neth after theÌ„ and will sodainly ouertake theÌ„ He was too suttle for the simple king As a guest the king came to his house but as a lamb he fell into the butchers hands God seeth not this Hebert saith in his hart there is no God to reuenge Psal 14. as Dauid saith of that Nabal the is the foolish wicked maÌ„ His wife wil haue her reuenge of her brothers death Hebert is the executioner of reuenge See how gods iudgemeÌ„t meateth him his owne measure He commeth to Laon as a guest inuited to sit in couÌ„cell his own mouth vnawares giueth iudgement on himself The crue appointed carieth him away to make him away As by treason he made away his Soueraign vnawares so by gods iustice he is taken vnawares for his secret treasoÌ„ hath open executioÌ„ The hill on which Hebert was haÌ„ged Heberts hill was after called Heberts hill Edric Edric the traitor had his head exalted on a high gate or his head body cast into a stinking ditch as some say Elfric had his eies plucked out Elfric Sir Andrew Hardikell Sir Roger Mortimer Sir Andrew Hardikell sir Roger Mortimer were drawn as traitors to death God giue al grace to bee warned by the example of Hebert of France Edric Elfric of England such like traitors against their Soueraignes set vp by Gods prouidence to raigne ouer countries Thus of the treason iudgement and executioÌ„ of Hebert Earle of Vermandois in France Now let vs brieflie tell of the strange execution of Queene Brunchild wife sometime to Sigisbert king of Mees or Austracia according to FabiaÌ„ for her manifold treasons murders of Princes of her owne blood Queene Brunchild Shee is noted in the storie to haue been the death of ten Princes of royal blood beside others She sette her owne sonnes and brethren Theodobert and Theodorich on blooddie warre together and one to teare out an others throate And after king Theodobert was slain in the warres by treason and Theodorich by poyson made away shee set vp a base of Theodorich called Sigisbert against king Clotare who discomfited him and took Brunchild in the field on whoÌ„ all the hoast cried a shamefull death as Gagwin telleth Ro. Gag in an Re. Fran. lib. 2. and after shee was beaten with a cudgell foure times king Clotare commaunded her to be set on a horse and to bee carried about all the hoast then by the haire of the head and armes to be tyed to the taile of a wilde horse and so to bee trailed and drawne to death And this was the 〈◊〉 iudgement and execution of Burnchild king Clotare Let 〈◊〉 heare likewise of the strange iudgement and execution done on the traitors
and murderers of Charles Earle of Flaunders at the commandement of Lewes surnamed the grosse king of France Charles Earl of Flaunders by treason slain in the Church This Charles was by treason slaine in the Church of S. Donatus in Bruges as hee was in his deuotions of one Bocardus brother to the Prouost of the same Churche Fabian calleth him the Prouost of Bruges that was the principall of this treason and murder Ro. Gag in an Reg. Fran. lib. 6. I followe Gagwin the writer of the French storie in reporting of it Lewes king of Fraunce aforesaide because Charles was neere of blood to him entered Flaunders besieged the Churche which the traitors kept as their castle Bocardus the traitor his death Bocardus fering the sequell stole out for feare and was taken and put in execution His eyes were stricken out with a reede his face was shot in with arrowes and after hee was dead he was put on the wheele To this strange and greuous death was Bocardus the traitor and murderer put to of Lewes the king of France in reuenge of Charles Earle of Flaunders death his sisters sonne Bertopus a traitor and murdererh strange deaâ—â— And one Berropus his consort mate in the execution of the murder was by the foresaid king Lewes his order put to a strange greeuous death Hee was hange◠〈◊〉 â—â—lowes and by him a mastie or 〈…〉 whom when the hangman smoteâ—◠〈◊〉 Bertopus body hanging by rent tore his fleshe and so Bertopus was baited to death Thus the most strange and greeuous execution of Bertopus for treasoÌ„ murder as Gag master of his order in France writer of the French storie reporteth it The other their coÌ„plices that were taken in the Tower The execution of other craitors were throwen headlong froÌ„ the top of the Tower one Isaak which took on him the vow of monkery hoping to escape was straÌ„gled with a rope Thus of their treason strange executions Frotho king of Denmark Frotho king of Denmarke the first of the name caused two of his chaÌ„ber conuicted of treason against him to be tyed to two great maine stones and to be throwne into the Sea as Saxo the writer of the story of the Danes Saxo Gram. hist Dane lib. 2. saith Animi crimen annex corporibus mole mulctando With waight put on their bodies saith he he punished the waightie sin of their soules Tullus Hostilius the 3. HeatheÌ„ king of the Romans caused a very strange and greeuous execution to be done on one Metius Suffetius for his treason practised in the fielde against him Metius Suf. his treason This Tullus Hostilius fought a battaile with certaine people in the confines of Rome called Fideriates Veientes and Volsci Metius Suffetus being of his obedience and subiection was sent for with certaine ensignes â—orces out of Alba and was present at the battaile And before the battaile did ioyne hee warbling with a double heart got him aloofe to the hilles and busied himselfe among his bands till the battaile was fought And when victorie fell to Tullus Hostilius then he commeth in with fresh bands to gratulate victory to the king At first the kinge shewed good couÌ„tenance to him but after he had assembled his hoast inuironed Metius with his bands and had made him safe from mutening and resisting he gaue order for the excution of him which was thus because he distracted his forces from him in the battaile betraied him his body also should bee distracted dismembred Titus Liuius Deca de 1. lib. 1. TheÌ„ as Titus Liuius telleth the storie he caused him to be laid bound between two Charets by horses set to driuen on diuers wayes his body was dismembred his lims plucked asuÌ„der FroÌ„ so greeuous a sight saith Liuius they turned their eies No nation as he saith may glory more of milder paines and executions Thus of the end of Metius Suffetius for his treason against his Prince in the field as we haue hard of K. Frotho also his executioÌ„ on 2. of his chamber for treason against him Thus I haue opened the examples before mentioned of me for the ending of his part 〈◊〉 Earle Hebert Queene Brunchild Bocardus Bertopus and others and two of king Frotho his chamber Metius Suffetius the last which are verie pertinent exaÌ„ples to this purpose concerning the end of treasons traitors in other countries I ioyned theÌ„ to notable examples out of our own countrie of Edric Elfric sir Andrew Hardikel sir Roger Mortimer which after certain examples out of holy scripture and other beside I haue laid down at large Would God as Polid. in writing the English storie witnesseth these verses of the Prophet Dauid were as a table alwaies hanging before the eies of such Whither then shall I go from thy spirit Psal 139. or whither shall I go then from thy presence If I clime vp into heauen thou art there if I go down to hell thou art there also And after If I say peraduenture darknesse shall couer mee then shall my night be turned to day yea the darknesse is no darknesse with thee but the night is as cleare as the day the darknes light bee both alike Thus far the Prophet But while the wicked are contriuing their diuelishe plats they clean forget the power prouideÌ„ce of God till his prouidence ouerthrowe their plats his power confound the wicked practisers of them and the saying of the Prophet Dauid be verified in them Hee hath grauen digged vp a pit is fallen himselfe into the destruction that he made for others For his trauaile shall come vpon his own head and his wickednesse shall fall on his owne pate Thus of the ende of treasons rebellions and suche like wickednesse Nowe of the last The last of the principal parts of this treatise concerning thanksgiuing and praising of God by occasion of the woordes of Dauid I will praise and giue thanks vnto the Lord according to his righteousnesse and will sing praise to the name of the Lorde the most high AS hee endeth his Psalme with this Of thankesgiuing and praising of God so with exhortation to praise thanksgiuing to God I will end my treatise And herein I will refer my self to these special points First The order how by Dauid his example we shoulde stir vp our selues to thanksgiuing praising of God Secondlie what a bundant matter of thanksgiuing and praising God the bountiful goodnes of God hath ministred to vs. Thirdlie the more to stirre vs vp to be thankefull to God for the preseruation of our gracious soueraigne the good instrument of the manifold blessings of god vnto vs what thankfulnesshe hath shewed to her faithfull subiects of late what compassion to her poore people what hearts her people should beare to her againe pray that the mercy of God will long maintain
saieth to the Hebrewes that they were dull of hearing notwithstanding the iewels of Gods word are most precious 1. Cor. 4. And to the Corinthians that they were full and reigned without him But this late woonderfull woorke of God hath awaked vs out of slumber and whetted dull affections in vs and hath set an edge on vs to be more mindfull and thankefull for Gods blessinges Act. 20. After Paul had said to the elders of the Church of Ephesus for whom he sent to Miletum to take his last farewell of them that henceforth they should see his face no more they wepte all aboundantly and fell on his necke and kissed him The last farewell and departing from a deare frend is dolefull much more from a deare mother and most of all from the most deare mother of our countrey and the good nurse of the Church of God The verie remembrance thereof would rase the bowels of good natures and the mention of it doth in manner wound tender hartes of faithfull subiectes As for the vngodlie they are without good affections of nature Paul calleth them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is without naturall affection trucebreakers traitors The fidelitie of kinge Dauids seruants 〈◊〉 the treaâ— Let vs heare of the true fidelity and louing affections of king Dauid his seruantes when he was assailed with the treasons of Absalon WheÌ„ king Dauid begaÌ„ to decline 2. Sam. 15. Absalon had blowen the blast of his treason abroad and gathered great strengthes about him the heartes of the men of Israel turned after him as the Scripture witnesseth king Dauid his father was fayne to flie And as hee went vppe the mount of Oliues he wepte and had his head couered and went barefooted Then did the true heartes of faithfull subiectes shew themselues in the right vaine to the reskewe and comforte of their Prince The Scripture telleth how the people that were with him had euery man his head couered and as they went vppe 2. Sam. 15. Ioab Abishai Ittai Zadok Abiathar The Leuite Ahimaaz Ionathan they wepte Then flocked his faithfull subiectes about him Ioab and Abishai his brother and Ittai the Gittit as captaines of special trust were at hand with him Zadok and Abiathar the Priestes cleaued vnto him and the Leuites bearing the Arke of the Lorde Ahimaaz Zadok the Pristes sonne and Ionathan the sonne of Abiathar the Priest were as running postes to bring tidinges from Herusalem and Absolons Campe to King Dauid They aboad in En-Rogel because they might not be seene to come into the Citie But they were descried 2. Sam. 17. And when Absalons seruants searched after them they went downe into a well in Bahurim and a faithfull woman that bare true heart to Dauid spread a couering ouer the wels mouth with ground corne theron so by her fidelitie they escaped brought intelligence to Dauid what councel Architophel had giuen against him 2. Sam. 15. The Cherethites and all the Pelethites the Gittites which wer of his chief garrison gard or as som note of his principal bands euen sixe hundreth men issued out of Gath after the king marched before him Ittai the Gittit a stranger Ittai the Gittit a stranger followed his Soueraigne in no hand could be parted froÌ„ him for when king Dauid willed him to prouide for himself because he was a stranger late come he answered said the Lord liueth as the Lord the king liueth in what place my Lord the king shal be whether it be in death or life euen there surely will thy seruant be Then Dauid vpon trial of such trust made him leader of the third parte of his Armie And wheÌ„ Dauid was come to Mahanaim Shobi of Rabbath of the children of Ammon whom Lyra the Interlinearis note for the sonne of the king of Ammon and Machir out of Lodebart Shobi Machir Barzelai and Barzelai the Giliadite brought Beds Basons earthen vessels Wheate and Barlie and Flower and parched Corne and Beanes and Lentils and Hony and Butter and sheepe and cheese of Kine for Dauid and for the people for they said the people are hungrie and weary and thirstie in the wildernesse But let me not forget Hushai the Archit Hushai the Archit which came against Dauid with his coat torne and hauing earth on his head Whom Dauid sent backe after â—o the Citie where by his counsell God so disposing it he was the meane to dash the counsell of Architophel thereby to ouerthrowe Absalon and to deliuer Dauid Thus of the fidelitie that king Dauid found in his friends and faithfull subiects when he was distressed with treason And in the late dangers which Gods prouidence from heauen turned away would it not reioyce good heartes to see howe the faithfull Hushaies Shobees Berzillaies and Ittaies shewed themselues in true loyalty and fidelitie to their Prince The most honorable and persons of nobilitie and honor hath by their prouident counsell care and true loialtie got great honor good wil of al the beare good heartes to her Maiestie The faithfull subiects haue had their deserued praise The whole estate of the Ministerie like Zadok Abiathar and the Leuites entirely cleauing to their Dauid and Soueraigne and vnder God depending of her in forward fidelitie and true loyaltie haue shewed themselues Finallie all faithfull subiects flocked about the roiall person of their Prince with their heartes and with tender affection garded her and woulde haue gaged their bodies and bowels also for the safetie of her Royall person and estate if such occasion had required it Many Ittaies would haue been founde in England to haue said to their Dauid and Soueraigne Whersoeuer our Soueraigne Ladie and Mistresse the Queene be whether it be to life or death there her seruaunts will be also For if shee should faile whom the tender mercie of God long continue among vs then might the faith full Hushai and true hearted subiect of England goe with earth on his head and in steede of renting his clothes rent his heart and wail in woe But whither doth my pen wade in sorow The tender affections of faithfull subiects hath carried me on this far God vouchsafe long to blesse suche Hushaies Shobies Berzillaies Ittaies and all of the right rase of true hearted subiects to her Maiestie of what state or name soeuer they be Thus of the coÌ„mendation of louing affections in faithfull subiects to their Princes From whence such affections are Now from whence such affections good will are They are inspired of God who as he boweth and bendeth the hearts of Princes as pleaseth him according to Salomons saying so by his grace he worketh frameth good affections Pro. 21. good will in subiects to their princes also 1. Sam. 10. After that Saul from God by Samuel was appointed king and hee went home to Gibeah there followed him the bande of men of chiualrie or strength
Gagwin â—n anna Reg. Franc. lib 2. Holderich the traitor iâ—â—reward and seeing Gods iudgement on them vtterly they may shun and detest them The wickednesse of traitors commeth on their owne heads their mischief on their own pates What was Holderich the olde and ranke traitour and murderer his rewarde who of Fredegonde Queene of Soisons in Fraunce was hired to murder Queene Brunchild in her Courte Hee was putte to torture and the bastinado And after hee came to Queene Fredegond for her reward shee charging him with cowardice caused his hands and feete which in treasons and murders long he had abused to bee cut off and that was the traitours rewarde The two Traitours that of the same Fredegond were set sent to kill Sigisbert king of Mees or Austracia according to Fabian in his campe Ro. Cagw in annali Fran. â—ib 2. awaiting their time committing the murder were hewen of the souldiers in peeces Edricus the traitor Edricus surnamed of StrattoÌ„ was a rank traitor first to Egelred after to king Edmond surnamed Ironside after him to king Canutus the first king of Danes that after Edmond reigned ouer the land to his own country in the inuasion of Danes How euer the Prince changed Edricus did not chang but was a traytor to his Prince a traytor to his Country He was grown in great estate of honour vnder king Egelredus and vnder others after But hee coulde not containe himselfe in his estate He turned truth into treason With many treasons hee trauailed and hee reaped the reward of his treasons in the end Because it is a notable example of our owne Countrie and worthy as a spectacle to be set vp to warne all I wil open it more at large Edricus was from a low state and birth as Fabian saith by king Egelredus first aduaunced to bee Duke of Mercia Fab. in chro 6. par ca. 199 and hee coÌ„mited the conduct and regiment of soldiers vnto him And when vpon the kings commaundement hee hadde assembled the west Saxons to withstand the entrie of the Danes vnder Swanus their king and the hoastes should ioyne Edricus sicke when he should fight Edricus fayned himselfe sicke and fled from his people to the great aduantage and comfort of the enemies Thus when it coÌ„meth to a dead lift Fabian in Chro. the 6. part cap. 198 Edricus treasoÌ„ in the battaile treason betrayeth al. And vnder king Edmond called Ironsid in a battaile in Worcestershire as Fabian telleth it when the Danes were like to be discomfited Edricus the traytor pight a dead mans head on a speares head and cryed to the English hoast Fabian in Chro. the 6. part cap. 240 that it was the head of kinge Edmond to daunt the courages of English men and to set the Danes agog vpon them But king Edmond sped him to that parte of the field and so incouraged his souldiers that he had rather the better then the woorse After Edricus fearing the great courage and good successe of kinge Edmond and to saue his land as Fabian saith humbly shued to be receiued into his grace and fauour Fab. in chro 6. par ca. 204 swore to bee true subiect to him But olde trecherie would not suffer new sworne truth to take place in him for after when the hoasts of king Edmond and Canutus mette at Ashdown Edricus after long sight fled to the coÌ„fort of the Danes Thus fighting and flying it was all one with Edricus for when hee should fight he would flee or be sick and haue some excuse and with smooth words set forth matters of small importance Edricus the traytors excuses His flying out of the battaile at Ashdowne he did so excuse as Fabian saith that no man might charge him with any defaulte Hee would turne himselfe vnto manye excuses as Poets fayne that Proteus kinge of Egypt would turne himselfe into manie formes Proteus king of Egypt because the manner was of the Egyptian kings to weare on their heades the formes and forepartes of a Lion Bull Dragon Caro Ste. in dictio Hist Poe. or armes of their estate and sometimes a tree or fire or fragrant ointmentes and thereof Poets fayned of Proteus that he chaunged himselfe into many formes So Edricus could change himselfe into many formes of excuses Hee was eloquent of speech as Fabian sayth and false of heart Fabian in Chro. 6. part cap. 199. and with faire wordes would blanch out fowle treasons Hee was onely constant in his inconstance warbling with a wayward minde and doubling in dealings of great importance He practised treason gainst his owne Country for the Danes vnder kinge Egeldredus and vnder kinge Edmond after him Fabian telleth the reporte of Guido King EdmoÌ„d killed at the withdraught howe by his and Edricus his sonne their treasons Edmond came to his death As hee satte at the withdraught Edridus his sonne awayting him strocke him with a speare into the fundament wherof shortely after hee died Then Edricus the father with great haste sped him to king Canutus Edricus the traitors head exalted on the highest gate who then with king Edmond reigned ouer halfe the lande for by composition for ending of ciuill warres the land was deuided betweene them and hee thought for his tidinges greatly to haue been exalted But king Canutus according to Guido his reporte cammaunded his head to be stricken of and pight on a speare and exalted vpon one of the highest gates of London Chronica Fructus temp the 6. parte Thus according to that storie Edricus was exalted for his treasons which returned to his own head Though it seeme fabulous to Polidore that Chronica Fructus temporum telleth of king Edmonds death and Edricus treason yet because of the straÌ„gnes of the deuise I wil note it This Edrick of Stratton inuited king Edmond to lodge at his house and at night as the king should goe to his lodging in the way was set vppe a beautifull Image with a bowe bent and an arrowe in it and when the king approched to see it anone it discharged the arrowe and shot the king through the bodie for it was an engin made for that purpose to lure the king to the gase and to slea him And after that Edricke his report to king Knoght thereof for Canutus so is called hee abhorred him for his treason and as a traytor commaunded him to be bound and cast into the riuer of Thames Thus Chronica Fructus temporum rehearseth the storie or the deuise in steed of the storie as it seemeth to Polidor Fabian noteth out of Marian the Scot another varietie of the storie that king Edmond dyed at London of naturall sicknesse for there out of the same Marian he telleth that after the death of king Edmond Edricus flatterie Fabian in Chro. 6. parâ— cap. 205. this Edrick grew in such deepe fauour with king Knoght or Canut by his sugred wordes as
Fabian termeth it and fawning flatterie and glauering glosing of the which hollow hypocrits make an art in Pallaces of Princes and houses of estate that he aduaunced him to one of the foure regimentes of England called Mercia Notwithstanding he could not keepe himselfe true to his Prince that hadde beene drawne through so many treasons for that is rooted in the marrow and bones will not out Hee was taken tardie in treason againe and being accused and conuicted iudgment was giuen immediatly executed his head cut off and his body cast into a foule and filthy place Ranulph saith Edricus the traytors death that he was slain by the kings agreement within his Pallace at London his bodie with the head throwne after into the towne ditch Whether for his treasons against king Edmond before he dyed as some write or for his treason against king Knoght after as others tell all agree that he dyed for his treasons whether his head were exalted on the highest gate of London for king Edmonds death or whether his head and bodie were cast into the towne ditch for treason against king Knoght Pol. Verg. Hist Au. li. â— So his treasons turned on his owne head Polidor telleth how king Knoght after the death of kinge Edmonâ— greatly endeuoured himselfe to banishe thâ—â— sonnes of kinge Edmond who as he sayth departed into Pannonia and there were well intreated and ended their liues in exile Chronica Fructus temp the 6. parte And Chronica Fructus temporum telleth how that after the death of king Edmond Edrick aforesaid surprised the sonnes of king Edmond and presented theÌ„ to king Knought to put himselfe in great fauour with him and that of the king they were sent after to Denmarke from whence by a Dane called Walgar that pittied them they were conuaied to the king of Hungarie Saxo Gram. Hist Danicae lib. 10. Saxo GraÌ„maticus the auncient famous wryter of the storie of the Danes telleth that king Kanutus was very careful not to be touched with suspition of the death of king Edmond whoÌ„ he called Edward And that some reporte the king Edmond whoÌ„ he calleth Edward by Kanutus commaundment and practise came to his death and that by his coÌ„maundment likewise more greeuous execution was don on the traytors to cleere him selfe of the suspitioÌ„ thereof yet notwithstanding saith he the same thing did greatlie rack the kings fauour in his houshould those that were neere him Thus out of Saxo. Fabian reporteth of him Fab. in Chro. the 6. part cap. 205. that he did so abhorre the vnnaturall treason of the English men that hadde sworne to bee true to the blood of kinge Edmond that though by their treasons the Crowne wholy was deuolued to him and his posteritie yet hee hadde the workers against kinge Edmond his sonnes in continuall mistrust whereas they thought they should haue beene in high fauour with him And as Fabian telleth he dispatched the more part of them some by banishment some were slaine some by Gods punishment soddenly died Canutus loâ—thed traytors though he gained by them Thus traytors are loathed of them that gayne by them and their treasons turne on the heades of the workers of them Touching the end of kinge Edmond his sonnes Fabian thus reporteth it out of the opinion of some that kinge Canut sent Edmond and Edward king Edmond his sonnes to Swanus his brother kinge of Denmarke to bee made away And that hee abhorring the deede sent them to Salomon king of Hungarie where Edmond died and Edward suruiuing was surnamed the outlaw because he neuer returned into England againe Caesar Caesar was wont of treasons traytors to say that he loued treasons but he loued not traytors he loued treasons to serue his turne Plutarchus in vita Rom. but he shunned traytors as moÌ„sters in the ciuil body the wold be ready to practise on him that they haue proued in others Plutarch telleth Plutarcus in Apoth Rom. that the king of Thraci vpbraied him at the table that from Anthonie he had reuolted to him He rouned 〈◊〉 other king that satte by him in the eare anâ— sayeth that he loued treason but not traytors In like sort king Philip said Philip. that hee loue not traytors but those that would betray meaning though he had his turne serued by them he would not trust them Io. Stub There was in the time of this Edrick of Sratton Elfricus vnder king Egelred and when the Danes pressed the land in diuers places an other traytor of great countenance and estate called Elfricus maister or Admirall of the kings Nauie Fab. in Chro. the 6. part cap. 197. as Fabian calleth him who was bought and sold of Danes against his Prince and Countrie When with the kings nauie furnished he lay for the Danes to encounter them he was blinded with bribes and the Danes had their chase and rechase by sea and land notwithstanding him Fabian the 6. part cap. 199. He was by sea like to the scharcrow by land which standeth with bow bent and the arrow set in the bow and yet is blind and cannot discharge Such a watch was Elfrick by sea the Portes and passages were open to the Danes Polidore saith he was a hot and fierce man Polidor Hist Angl. lib. 7. but the Danes so cooled his courage with corruption that there was no valew in him for his Prince and Countrie When he shoulde fight a battaile with the Danes by sea and trye for the maine chance then Elfrik fled to the Danes Pol. Angl. Hist li. 7. the Nauie was dispersed some taken some drowned Thus Elfrick by sea and Edrick by land played their partes in flying when they should fight and when they were most trusted betraying their Prince and Countrey This Elfrick after his first fight was recoÌ„ciled to the king againe After he fled the 2. time Then the king as Fabian saith in wreak of the father commaunded the eyes of the sonne Algarus to be plucked out of his head Fab. the 6. part cap. 197 Polidor reporteth that wheÌ„ the Danes came not of with their rewardes to Elfrick his contentment hee put himselfe to the mercie of kinge Eldred or Egelred to whom saith he the king Effossis oculis vitam condonauit After his eyes were plucked out of his head pardoned his life Thus traytors come short of their reckning and Gods iudgmentes suddenly ouertake them as they did Elfrick and Edrick Polidor Hist Angl. lib. 7. Because Elfrick was blind when he should see the kings enemies therefore the king plucked out his eyes that he should not see his own freindes It was the iust iudgment of God reuenge suddenly ouerreacheth the wicked in the parts they offend eftsoones they are punished What marueile when ther were 2. such as Elfrick and Edricâ— were though king Eldred or Egildred was fayne to flee the lande the Councell of the land was bewrayed the seruices
15. â—1 Let his prayer saith he in annother Psalme bee turned into sinne The sacrifices of the wicked as Salomon saith are abhominable to God If therfore we lift vp such hearts and handes as the wicked doe with vnrepentant hearts in their sinnes then we harbour the common enemies in our owne bosomes Wee praye for the Prince and beare good hearts vnto her but looke into our owne bosomes and there lurke the Ghostly and common enemies euen grosse greeuous sinnes which breake out carry all before them ouerflow all Osee 4. One sin as Osee saith toucheth an other and ouertaketh an other Esai 5. they are linked together as if they were drawne with Wainropes as Esai saith and they are heaped vp to heauen as S. Iohn saith of the sinnes of Babylon Reue. 18. And they are in the eares of the Lorde of Hoasts as Esai saith Esai 5. Alacke for the greeuous sinnes of England our sinnes are the common enemies our sins arme our enemies against vs Chrysost ho. 1. de ver Esai vide Dom. as Chrysostome saieth Ones heart may bleed to thinke it cannot but rue in the speaking and hearing of it The great and greeuous sinnes of England are readie to conspire to pluck out our gracious deare mother out of the Royall chrone Because for the sinnes of the people God taketh away a godlie Prince and giueth them a Prince in his wrath Osee 13. as the Prophet Osee saith and sendeth oppressours and effeminate persons to rule ouer them as God by the prophet Esai sheweth Esay 3. Iob. 34. And as Elin saith in the booke of Iob for the sinnes of the people hee causeth an hypocrite or wicked man to raigne ouer theÌ„ For the word Chancph doth signifie both because commonly they are concurrent So Iosiah the godlie Prince was taken away Iosiah Hier. lament for whom Hieremie the Prophet wrote Lamentations and all singing men and singing women as the Scripture saith mourned for Iosiah in their Lamentations to this daye 2. Chro. 25. and made the same Lamentations an ordinaunce in Israel and there succeeded hym Iehohas a Prince of three Moneths Iehohas and after him Ichoakim an vngodly king Ieoachim 2. Chro. 26. Hesechiah 2. Chro. 32. So after the godlie and gracious King Hesechiah by Gods visitation ended his life whome all Iuda and all the inhabitantes of Ierusalem did honour at his death Mannasse 2. Chro. 33. as the Scripture saith Manasse his sonne succeeded him an vngodlie and idolatrous Prince Iehosaphat Iehoram 2. Chro. 21. till by repentance after he was reclaimed Likewise after Iehosaphat the religious and vertuous Prince Iehoram his sonne followed who embrued himselfe in the blood of his brethren and walked in the wicked wayes of Ahab Abiah Absha c. And for Abiah and Ashah and other godlie kinges eftsoones followed wicked and idolatrous Princes which were snares and stumbling blockes to the people of God This is the course of Gods iudgment for the continuall multiplying of greeuous sins in Countries he withdraweth the blessing of gracious and godly Princes from them If therefore our hartes melte ouer the Prince by occasion of the late daungers as the hartes of all faithfull subiectes doe let vs put from vs those great and greeuous sinnes which continually prouoke his displeasure against vs. Let vs cast our sinnes from vs as by Ezechiel God warneth that they bring vs not to ruine Ezech. 18. I haue no pleasure in the death of a sinner sayth the Lorde God shall he not liue if he returne from his wayes Now is the Are put to the roote of the tree as S. Iohn the baptist sayth Luke 3. God by his late wonderful worke hath giuen generall warning to all and summoneth all to repentance Let vs fal to hartie repentance and turne to God from greeuous sinnes and wicked life with an vnfeyned purpose to leaue them and a gracious purpose hencefoorth to lead a godly life And in this purpose let vs lift vppe pure handes to God as Paul exhorteth for the long and prosperous preseruation of the royall person and estate of our Prince that the goodnesse of God in the tender mercye of Christe will vouchsafe to accepte our prayers Thus of the laste clause of this matter with what mindes wee should make our prayers for her that the goodnesse of God may vouchsafe to accept them The 9 cheefe matter The ninth is of the inner wall of England which is true faith to God vnfeyned fidelitie to our Prince and mutuall loue and concord amongst our selues And of the outward wall which is the shipping nauigation and the furniture thereof wherewith her Maiestie hath fortified our Countrie and what a comforte and blessing it is to our whole Countrie The inner wall of Engnland is made of liuely stones as Peter calleth Christians closely couched to Christ the corner stone The inner wall of England 1. Pet. 2. Ephe. 2. Col. 2. Act. 15. Ephe. 3. as Paul calleth him by true liuelie faith which is the gift of God and his effectuous worke to purifie and clense the heart and by which hee dwelleth in the hartes of the faithfull as Paul sayeth And in the bodie politike and ciuill building of the same liuely stones are layed and linked together with hartie fidelitie to their Prince as the Principall stone of that building and in the reste of the building the same liuely stones are ioyned and coped togither in mutuall loue and Christian concord and charitie together Thus the inner wall of the Realme is built and arreared vppe by true faith to God hartie fidelitie to the Prince and mutuall loue and concord amongest our selues Dauid speaking of the walls towers munitions of Herusalem willeth vs to walke about Syon Psal 47. to tell her Towers to marke well her Bulwarks and withall and without the which all the rest is nothing saith hee for this God is our God for euer and euer hee shal be our guide vnto death And if we will truely consider of the inward wall of England these be the Towers Bulwarkes and munitions therof true faith to God loyaltie to our Prince and mutuall loue amongst our selues and with all and without the which all worldly munitions and fortifications are nothing if in the spirite and faith of Dauid we say This God is our God for euer and euer he shal be our guid vnto death Therefore let al good subiects of England earnestly indeuour to lay themselues close and firme in the building of the inner wall of England by true faith to God vnfeyned fidelitie to our Prince and mutuall loue amongest our selues Beware there be none like loose and sagging stones which lye in the middest of the wall and deceiue and weaken the building of it and make riftes and rentes in it by infidelitie to God disloyaltie to the Prince and malicious hate of true subiectes to
play with them Plinie reporteth that Plut. telleth of a familiar Aspe bred and fed at a table in Egypt which had yong ones in the house that of one of the yong the good maÌ„s son of the house was killed It is not good hauing trusting a familiar serpent Though his poyson seeme qualified it is alwayes ready and at sometimes more ranke The Scorpion hath a fawning tayle but a deadly sting and his taile alwayes waueth wayting all occurrentes and occasions as Plinie sayth Plin. nat Hist lib. 11. cap. 25. Semper cauda in ictu est ne quando desit occasioni So the wicked though they fawne neuer so finely glose neuer so pleasantly yet continually they wait for their occasions and opportunities The murtherers that were sent into king Sigisbert his campe of Queene Fredigond to kill him as Gagwin saith In familiam regis Sigisberti se insinuaÌ„t Ro. Gag in an Re. Fran. lib. 2. did wind themselues into the familie of king Sigisbert This is the first point of their practise in the Deuils art by glosing hypocrysie first to come in place and after to wait for opportunitie Sobna the hollow hypocrite to king Hezechiah and the state Esay 22. was gotten vnder the winges of the godly king 2. Sam. 15. Achitophel the traytor was neere and a great person about king Dauid 1. Reg. 1 Absalon the rebel and traytor came out of of his owne bowels Adonias his sonne ouerreached by aspiring to that was not alotted to him If the Arrian heretikes hadde not wound themselues into the Court of Constantine the Emperour surnamed the great Arrians got into courts of Emperors â—eâ—râ— about them and into the Court of Constantius his sonne the Emperour after him and in to the Court of Valentinian the Emperor and Iustina the Empresse wife to Valentinian the Emp. the elder of that name into the court of Valentinian the yonger the son of Iustina aforesaid and Emperour they could neuer haue spred their heresies ouer so many Countries and so oppresse with persecutions the Church of God Ruff. Hist Eccle. lib. 1. cap. 11. An Arrian Priest that was a priuie practiser of the Arrians heresie gotte himselfe in house and neere about Constantia sister to Constantine the Emperour as Ruffius witnesseth Vbi multa familiaritas saith hee copiam tribuit paulatim sermonem caepit inspergere inuidiam dicens Arrio generatam When saith hee great familiaritie offered him opportunitie he began first by little and little to insperg and sprincle her with words of his humor saying that enuie was procured against Arrius Thus far Ruffinus We see the first point in the execution of diuelish plats so wel against the state of religion as against the royall persons and estates of Princes is to wind themselues into familiaritie fauour and credite after to attend their purpose The serpent wil first be cruiling and when there is any hole open he will winde himselfe in If those cunning cumpassers should goe plaine to worke as ramping Lions rauening Woolues on their pray by and by they would be betrayed Therefore they doe it by circumstance and by crooks Socrat. Eccle. Hist lib. 1. cap. 25. This Arrian Priest Chaplaine to Constantia aforsaid was growen into such credit with her that at her death with special recoÌ„mendation of him she put him to ConstaÌ„tine her brother the Emperour Then the slie Serpent began to craule into Constantine his bosome also and was entred so deepe into fauour and credit with him that hee was the man with Constantine the Emperor in such singular credite and trust that at his death he put him in trust to conuey his testameÌ„t sealed to Constantius his son and Emperour after him Socrat. Eccle. Hist lib. 1. cap. 39. And by that occasion so he won the hart of Constantius and so wound himselfe hauing opportunitie and accesse at will into his hart and humors Ruff. Hist Eccle. lib. 1. cap. 11. that as Ruffinus saith he suffered himselfe to be ruled of him whose desire was to rule al. TheÌ„ he so plyed him after he had gotten the pan by the stele that he poysoned him with his heresie and many that were neere about him So the Arrian Priest got more by his creeping in the Court by insperging his humors heresie there by reason of opportunitie aduantages of fauour accesse theÌ„ the whole brood of blasphemous Arrians abroad Eusebius Socra Hist eccle lib. 1. cap. 37. Euseb Bishop of Nicomedia a practiser of that side had such countenance froÌ„ the court that he minaced Alexander Archbishoppe of ConstaÌ„tinople to procure him to be deposed vnlesse he wold admit Arrians whose name the horrible heresie doth keepe into the Church CoÌ„munion fellowship of the faithful Eudoxius Theod. Hist eccle lib. 2. cap. 26. Eudoxius the Bishoppe of Germanicia an Arrian supported by those that were neer to Constantius the Emperour intruded himselfe to bee Bishop of Antioch with mislike of the Emperor at first but he salued it by those that were of his side about him after tyrannously hee thrust himself in to be Archbishop of Constantinople with discontentment of the Emperour But what dared he not by the support of those that were his complices in the Court Auxentius the Arrian got to be Bishop of Mil. in the west Theod. Hist eccle lib. 2. cap. 27. by whose practise the princes of the Gothes were infected with the Arrian heresie And neuer coulde the Arrians haue so hoised vppe their sailes so spread theÌ„selues in the world but for practise of those that crept into the Court Sozo Eccle. Hist lib. 6. cap. 23. credit fauour of Princes who by reason of their opportunities importunities continual accesse were in their eies eares to procure assistance and countenance to their sect to disgrace discouÌ„tenance the zelous professors of true faith So the trauaile of the wicked when once they are resolute in errors plats of treasoÌ„ is first for the place oportunity after for their purpose if they may win the fouour of the place neuer Roscius could more cuÌ„ningly playe his partes on the Roman Stage where hee did excel theÌ„ they can manage their plats of treasons if they maye haue their course but that sodainly they are checked froÌ„ heauen They can bow to the bent yeeld to humors as waxe and frame theÌ„selues to all aduantages That the Chamelion hath in nature by chauÌ„ging of so many colours Volat. li. 25. the wicked haue in continuall practise by chaunging all colours of hypocrisie and infidelitie The rauening fish Polipus chaungeth himselfe to the colour of the ground where hee lyeth for his praye Plin. lib. 9. cap. 19. Ouid met lib. 11. Morpheus mutabilities chauÌ„ges as Poets describe him may signifie the monstrous mutabilities chaunges and vnstabilities of the mindes of the wicked after once they are conceiued and