The compassion and sorrow of good Princes Pagans Christians and of Queene Elizabeth in the death of the traitours and offendours that suffer An admonition to traitors and offenders yet liuing The death of good Princes is of necessitie but yet a plague to common weals and to the church Mutations and changes perilous Praier for the good Princes OVT OF THE SEVENTH SERMON A Question whether the Papists be the authors of these troubles and tragedies against Princes or Protestants The resolution is flat against Popes the trumpets of sedition The sturre betwixt the Pope Paschal and Henrie the 5. the murderer of his father The detestation of these Traitours by a few moe examples of Iewes Romanes Hungarians of Danes The cause of these practises against good gouernours is their goodnes and Gods cause the second cause in the practisers is their ignorance Christ and his gospel a stumbling stone The lot of the Prince and the Prophet is to be hated for their Religion The third part of Dauids diuision his politick and prouident Resolution The prouidence of god gathered out of the circumstance of the text threefold The first part Gods special care prouidence and protection of Princes as here of Saul Murmurers mutterers alwaies against rulers against Moses though no ruler then yet appointed by god against Dauid and Christ And yet all these and others were preserued vntil their time appointed as appeareth by the notable examples of Cyrus Romulus Seruius Tullius Constantine Antonine Vespasian Waldemar Lodouicke Charles 5. Henry 4. and by authorities The second prouidence of god ouer Dauid and his church and euery member thereof A comfortable doctrine to the elect and godly who somtimes stagger seeing their affliction and the prosperity of the godles The meane that God vseth here to preserue is a deadly sleepe God hath many waies of deliueraunce comprehended in two general waies by Origen declared by examples The prouidence of God defined by Aquinas The decree of man and the determinations of god contrary Prince and preacher must run their course without stop The third kind of prouidence for temporall things Murmurers in this point God◠prouidence reacheth to the godly and to the followers of the word and religion Almunition of Roialms al promotion of men from God Contrariwise sinne the cause of diuision between God vs and the only impediment and hindraunce of his carefulnes and prouidence The purity of Christians in the time of Constantine and Traian The care of her Maiesty and her honorable Counsail in the time of dearth A Citation and summoning of England to iudgement for sin in al Estates Magistrates and Cleargy people Two sorts of men specially offending irreligious and superstiously religious The waie of reconcilement to god is a general reformation of al and repentaunce Faultes escaped correct thus Pag. 49. Lin. 5. Falerians P. 107. L. 28. Prodition P. 116. L. 12. Detestable P. 117. L. 3. Inestimable P. 147. L. 24. Procession P. 171. 18. put out Of. 1 SAM 26. VER 8. Abishai said to Dauid God hath closed thine enemy into thine hande this day now therefore I pray thee let me finite him once with a spear to the earth and I wil not smite him againe c. THE FIRST SERMON IN the beginning of this Chapiter wee haue Saul persecuting and Dauid persecuted the Ziphians discouering him Dauid his espies Saul sleeping with his souldiours the comming of Dauid with Abishai to Sauls campe in the night and nowe in this part of Scripture we heare the conference and disputation of Abishai and Dauid The argument and question is whether Saul the king may bee lawefully slaiue by them his subiectes or no As the persons are two A generall diuision of the Text. so are the partes of this speach two first Abishai the Opponent obiecteth and defendeth the Affirmatiue requesting withall that hee may kil him Secondly Dauid the Respondent holdeth the Negatiue denying that act to be lawful A matter in mine opinion most necessary for Preachers to entreate of and for vs all to heare and consider of in these daies when subiects vtterly forgette their duety and reuerence which they owe to the sacred Maiesty of Princes and to all lawfull Magistrates A thing long since prophecyed of by God in his holy word and in al ages detested of the better sort Iesaiah among other things prophecieth that the boy shal presume against the Auncient Iesaia c. 3 the vile against the honorable Paul also prophecieth of these later times ◠Tim. 3. that men shall bee fierce enimies of the good traitors headdy high-minded The hainousnes hereof both Heathen and Christians haue abhorred The mistocles a notable captaine being banished from his vnthankeful country by the Athenians entertained of Xerxes King of the Persians was willed according to his promise to subdue Graecia vnto his Empire but rather then hee woulde betray his country hee dranke vp a bole ful of Buls bloud Plutarch and so after his sacrifices and prayers to his Gods gaue vp the ghost Vsthazares chamberlaine to Sapor King of the Persians beeing apprehended for his confession of Christ and refusing to woorship the Sunne their God Sor. lib. 2. cap. 9. doth onely make this petition to the King that by the voice of a cryer it might be proclaimed signified to al men Vsthazares is beheadded not for any treasō or crime in the Kings court but that he is a Christian and refusing to obey the king cannot abide to deny his God So much was the very name of a traitor abhorred of thē Now seeing the enormity of the fault necessity of the time giue me leaue to speake to you as Bernarde once did in the like case vnto the Romanes Epist 24◠departing from the Pope Eugenius When the heade a keth dooth not the toung cry for al the partes of the body that they ake also with the head Ego corporis membrum minimum As he so I the smallest and simplest member of our bodie craue leaue to vtter our common griefe for the heade and Soueraigne of this Realm of late without cause troubled and assaulted by open and priuy practises of such as ought to haue been true subiectes and faithful countrymen And for this purpose haue I chosen this parcell of Scripture in the which wee may first learne the wickednes it selfe in the person of Abishai and next in the person of Dauid a controulment and a confutation of it as in the Sermons following shall be declared Touching the first when hath there not bin an Abishai Naie some worse then Abishai seekers and suckers of bloud 1 Part. Abishai would haue Saul a wicked persecutor dispatched out of the waie Treason auncient and news others conspire against the godly and innocent Abishai vseth more good maner in asking leaue of Dauid others headdily attempt the same consulting nether with God nor with good men but only with their owne frontike pates or
Princes and presenting abroad their Roses their baÌ„ners their swords consecrated or rather execrated to such as shuld betray persecute the good This cruel deuise of betraieng godly gouernors was here of Abishai but not of him alone but an inuentioÌ„ of the diuel himself who seing Gods work to go forward euer laboreth to disturb and to throw it down Semper Diabolus bono operi imminet vbique gradientibus ponit laqueos Hieran Jereman the prâ—ssuâ— of his 4. books He is stil peering into the good works of the godly he is ready to hinder the course of the gospel and laieth snares against them that walke in the way of the Lord. You remember the Sermon of Abishai I neede not repeate it nowe the second person must be produced namelie Dauid replying to Abishai This aunswere conteineth these three sub-diuisions A diuision general of Dauids Replie his Prohibition Protestation and Policie The Prohibition forbidding Abishai The Protestation of him-selfe detesting the fact His Policie in taking away the speare and the cuppe as a signe of his faithfulnes who might as easily haue takeÌ„ away his heade as his helmet or those things whatsoeuer that were by him then sleeping At this tyme onely of the first and so farre as I may for the time A speciall Diuision in the ninth verse standing vpon these two points A proposition forbidding and a reason proouing the same The first in these words 1 Proposition against murder Destroy him not and this was alwaies the opinion of Dauid to be good to the bad to bee a friende to his enemies as in the case of Shimei who railed and cursed him and called him a man of blood and a man of Belial a murtherer and wicked man And here againe the same Abishai the sonne of Zeruiah folowing his hoat spirit 2. Sam. cap. 16. termed this Shimei a dead dog and would haue faine cut off his head but King Dauid then reprooued and restrained Abishai and saide that no man should die that day in Israel Cap. 19. and sware to Shimei he should liue Cap. 24. And in the twenty fourth Chapter of this booke Dauid found Saul in a caue and though his seruants and frinds told him that the Lorde had deliuered his enemie into his hand he spared his body and only for a token cut off the lap of his garment priuilie and euen for that hee was touched and striken in heart 1. Sam. 24. So in this place hee would not haue that forward or rather froward man Abishai to take that aduantage vsed this argument For who can lay his hand vpon the Lordes annointed and be guiltlesse Saul is the annointed of the Lord 2. The explication of the Reason therefore no man can lay hands on him without punishment which reason I minde to open to you and prosecute In the person of the Prince are to be considered two things his maÌ„hood Princehood Aliter Rex seruit quia homo est August Epist 50. aliter quia etiaÌ„ Rex est one way a King serueth because he is a man another way also because he is a King so that he beareth representeth a double person 1 As man he must â—oâ— bee killed oâ— man As man if there were nothing els he may not be spoiled by any priuat man Who so sheddeth mans blood by man shall his blood be shed Gen. 9. for in the Image of God hath he made him Moses hath made a Law general Thou maist not kil And yet not so general Exod. 20. but that it hath an interpretatioÌ„ limitation It is not ment saith Austine of cutting or as it were of killing of shrubs trees or such like which haue no sense in them neyther is it meant of vnreasonable creatures flying Whether is be lawful to kil a man and howe swymming walking creeping it remaineth therefore that we vnderstand it onely of men that we should not kill any man therefore not our selues This generall also hath another exception Austin l. 1. de ciuitate Dei cap. 20. for it is lawful to kil a man as in lawfull wars Deo auctore by the warrant of God nay a souldior lawfully constituted if he do not kil he is guilty of contempt imperij deserti atque contempti as the saide Augustine teacheth in another place of the same City of GOD. Li. 1. c. 26. Againe it is lawful for a Magistrate to put to death a malefactour or for such as bear the person of publicke power by the Lawes of God or of any which is mooued certainely and called therevnto by a special inspiration of the holy Ghost or for that authority which did choose and ordaine that gouernour or in any such like case and cause Otherwise no spirite no reason no friend no carnall respect may authorize any man of his owne heade or his priuate affection to draw weapon against any man much les against a double and compound person as the Prince established by lawful and publique authority What if Abraham should haue killed his owne sonne Isaac Gen. 21. Is it therefore lawful for al parents to doe the like The commaundement of God for the killing was onely to trie his faith but the sauing of Isaac by God was a secret commaundement to all fathers to commit no such thing against their children Of this example Augustin also writeth in his first book De C. Dei cap. 16. Though Moses killed the Aegyptian Exod. 2 Num 25. 1 Sam. 15. Acts. 5. and Phinehas the fornicatours and Samuel Agag and Peter Ananias and Saphira without sword with a worde yet the specialties are not generall rules for priuate men against men according to the sayeng Priuilegium non est lex A priuilege is no law It is said of the Magistrates rightly by Hierom vpon Ieremy Lib. 4 c. 22. To punish murderers Church-robbers poisoners is not shedding of bloud but the ministerie of Lawes It is saide to Magistrates and to priuate men by Ieremy in the same Chapter speaking to the King of Iuda Cap. 22. Doe no violence nor shedde innocent bloode in this place These wordes as Hierom expoundeth them forbid not only the Kings court but Episcopos socios eorum presbyteros al Bishops and their fellowes the Ministers Deacons and all the order Ecclesiasticall or else they leese their dignity What shal we saie then of the Byshoppe of Byshoppes that draweth his sword as the foole dooth his wodden dagger against euery body and for euery trifle No man publique or priuate secular or Ecclesiastical inferiour or superiour ought without crime or cause to put to death any man It is said to Peter and to Peters successour the Pope Ioan. 18. as they wil haue him Put vppe thy sworde into his sheath for all that take the sword shal perish with the sword If Peter did il in cutting off an eare of a seruant how much more doe they offend
superiors lawfully placed in the Throne of God and saith He that is inarmor against them that sit in high places is like to them that cut wood look high sometimes the chippes fall into their owne eies as it is in Ecclesiasticus Who so casteth a stone on high Cap. 27. casteth it vpon his owne head Such cutters and casters you shal find the Popes of Rome to be Reinerus Reineccius saith that Helmoldus granteth the Popes to haue been oftentimes Bellorum aliorum seditiosorum motuum tubas In prooemio Annalium Helmoldi The trumpets of wars and of other seditious commotions How bitter Paschalis was against the Emperour Henry the fift and howe Henry the fift was sturred vp against his father Henry the fourth by the inticement incitement of Papistical trumpeters I haue opened before The troublesome tumults between this Pope this rebellious sonne Hebnoldus in Chron. Sclauor lib. 1. cap. 60. may appeare in the Chronicles when Paschalis in the consecration of the Emperour required his oath that he should bee perfect in the obseruaunce and obedience of the Catholicke faith and ready to reuerence the Apostolical See and careful for the defense of the Church it is thus notoriously described to the vtter shame both of the seditious Pope of the rebellious Prince The plague of Pope son for the rebellion against Henr. 4. as the iust iudgement of God for the death of the good father Bellum in domo Petri There was war in the house of Peter betweene the Cleargy and the communalty there was no difference the sword deuoured them al. The house of holinesse is filled with Carcases riuers of blood ran out of the heapes of deade men so that the waters of Tyber were chaunged into the coulor of bloode the Cardinals were tied in chaines and ropes hanged about their neckes and the Pope taken prisoner For this fact against himselfe the Pope could cal him a wicked a bloody a false man for this hee cursed him and in a councel of Bishops his priuileges giuen him before were named prauileges taken froÌ„ him but the childe depriuing his father of crowne and life was by the same Pope accompted his white sonne Jn Henr. 4. But Cuspinian crieth out against this sonne O wicked child which for greedines of a Kingdome dooth persecute and prosecute with hatred and sword him by whoÌ„ he hath receiued both life roial dignity So he was cursed on euery side Helmoldus cap. 60.61 at al hauds of the Pope forspokeÌ„ that He should neuer thriue after nor see peace in his daies nor get a child to sit in his throne after him But this horrible sin of treason rebellioÌ„ I haue proued to be in al places by all lawes of al Kings coÌ„demned to which I ad here these proofes for a further fortification Treason de tested by Iewes The Iewes detested it as Dauid in this place in others before rehearsed and besides he curseth Ioab for the death of Abner 2. Sam. 〈◊〉 and caused the people to rent their clothes and put on sackcloth and he followed himselfe the beare and wept and said to his seruants Know ye not that there is a Prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel If Abner be so lamented how much more lameÌ„table had been the death of Dauid Banaah Rechab did stay Ishbosheth the son of Saul 2. Sam. 4. brought his head to Dauid thinking it had been glad tydings to him to see his enemy dead but Dauid caused their heads to bee cut off with their feete and to be hanged ouer the poole in Hebron Romanes The Romans could not abide treachery as by many examples was shewed before Lucius Sylla would faine haue Sulpitius Rufus destroied but when he perceiued vpon his proclamatioÌ„ that he was hid in a village and betraid by his owne seruant hee gaue this parricide freedoÌ„ according to promise in his Edict Valerius lib. 6. but with al by by he commaunded him to be cast downe headlong from the top of the tower Tarpeia with his cap of freedome vpon his head which he had vnhonestly gotten with such treachery In the battle of Licinius against Constantine God shewed out his iudgement against al the Licinians and rebelles Eusebius li. 2. de vita Constant. so that some of them casting away their weapons fell downe at the Emperours foote others were slaine others running and rushing together did fall vppon their owne swordes as Eusebius testifieth What shall I say of the Graecians Graecians who all with one consent would declare their hatred against Traitours Cillicon betraied Samos or Mileâ—us to the Prienians which treason made him rich but odâ—â—â—â—e to euery mean man Afterward when he came to buy flesh of Theagenes Suidas iâ— verâ—â— Cillicon he biddeth him shew him what peece hee would haue cut stretching out his hand pointed to it and the other cut it off saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With this hand thou shalt not betray an other Cittie The same Suidas telleth of another perfidious and treacherous man Aristocrates who being chosen a captaine for the Rodians deceiued them Jdâ—â— for comming to the action and to the point of seruice as to the sier to be tried he was found false and counterfait coin Plutsarch de sera Nâ—â—minis viâ—â—dicta Another Aristocrates when he had betraied the Missenians in batâ—le hee waxed so wealthy and so mighty that he was made ruler ouer the Arcadians but by Gods prouidence after twenty yeares he was found out and punished for his treason So much was it detested among them that in al time they would not forget it nor forgiue it I spake before of Fraunce of Flaunders and of others Hungarians The Hungarians abhorre this vice Bela successor vnto Stephen was a blind man yet a good King and yet indaungered by Traitours which thing being vnderstood the Queene Helena in a great assembly made an oratioÌ„ against those rebels Queene Helena an enemie to â—raitours Bonfin rerum Hung. decad 〈◊〉 â—â—br 6. that this fact was not to be forgiueÌ„ that kings were to be spared for that they should be reputed as gods wherupon they were al iudged to dy one Sampson that had called the King blind theefe and most vile dog was punished by the Peers and flying away was followed and driuen headelong into a riuer and had many wounds and being Ioded with his haâ—neisc was drowned It was shewed before of Canutus King of the Danes Danes how hee was contented to remit a certaine exaction and tribute so that they would pay their tithes to the Priests Among them one Blacco most Judasly delt with his King beeing sent an Ambassadour to the people was of a mediatour become a traitor and did not pacifie the people but stirred them vp against him The King being at his praiers in Saint Albons Church seeing the violence and fury
factious mates Abishai yealdeth reasons that he may dee it The authority of God the opportunity of the time the possibility and easines of the fact for he saith God hath deliuered thine enimy into thyne hand this day and he saw both Saul and Abner and the people in a deadly sleepe and promiseth at one blow to destroy him but the others doe far differ from Abishai especially in the maner howe they doe it and in the causes why they doe it The manner is The manner of Traitors not only fiercely and forcibly to rise against man but most communelie and cunningly with sweete and faire words to commit this foule and filthy Act. The first murderer that euer was vsed this pleasant speach speaking to Abel as it is in the greeke text Brother let vs goe walke into the field but a good beginning in shewe brought an il ende according to that which is written by this our Dauid against his false familiar friend The woords of his mouth were softer theÌ„ butter Psa 55. yet war was in his hart his woordes were more gentle then oyle yet they were swordes And also by his Sonne Salomon A man that flattereth his neighbour Proue 29. spreadeth à net for his steppes This Cainicall course followed Absalom 2. Sam. 13. who inuiting his brother Amnon to a sheepe-shearing feast killed him When I read the Commission giuen by Absalom to his seruantes it seemeth to me that the Romish Absalom Pius Quintus speaketh against a Prince Smite kill feare not for haue not I commaunded you Be bould therefore Is not this a strange father of Peace an Absalom Likewise Ioab laid his net against Amasa 2. Sam. â—â— whom he tooke by the beard with the right hand to kisse and with his sworde priuily and traiterously smote him to death I omit Iudas the disciple and traitour of Christ and that with a kisse and with fair words Aue Rabbi Haile Master Luc. 22. This Iudas had two Schoole-masters Scribes and Pharisies but the chiefe was Satan who entred into him euen as these Papistical Traitors are not successours of Peter in this point but of Iudas and are schoole-fellowes with him It is not only Iudas his treasoÌ„ but a Turkish-trick against Christian PrÃnces and gouernours One Sarracene vsed this against Edward king of Britane or England It maie beè the Author meaneth Rich. To him ayding the Christians against the enemies of Christ came this fleeting fellow secretum colloquium ab eo petens requesting secret conference with him and striketh but after two woundes receiued the King laid handes vpon him and siue him Another Sarracens was suborned by the Sultan to kil Iames Lusignane king of Cyprus vnder the pretense of caryeng letters but he missed and was tormented for it These flattering traitours that with this courtly or rather crafty curtesie and Popish holy-water work this cruelty eyther by woords and insinuations or by presents and gifts or by deliuery of letters or messages or other waies vnder colour of friendshippe the more close they be the more crafty are they the more priny the more perilous for flattery is more hurtful then the most cruell poyson according to the verse Blanditi a plusquam dira venena nocent Wherefore it were to be wished that Princes and great personages would purge and clense their Courtes and houses of such that haue beene taught in the Schoole of Gnato to denye to double dissemble and by the lesson of Cato Saluta libenter seeke not to salute nor to saue but to slaie them Take the drosse from the siluer Prou. 25. and there shall bee made a precious vessell for the finer Take awie the wicked from the King and his throne shal be stablished in righteousnesse Out Dauid had his eies vpon the faithfull of the land that they might dwell with him and vpon them that malk in a perfect may that they might serue him There shall saith hee no deceitefull person dwell in my house Psal 101. Hee that telleth lies shall not remaine in my sight This faithfulnes is first towardes God and then towardes the Princes and neighbours this deceitfulnes flattering glosing temporizing must needes offend God and man and therefore ought not to be regarded The example of Constantius as it is noted by Eusebius found out these vnconstaunt men-pleasers Lib. 1. de vita Conâ—â— tanquam Proditores Dei as traitours to God esteemed them vnworthy to be with an Emperour and determined they should be banished out of the Court for that they will neuer be true to Emperour who are found vnfaithfull towardes God Quomodo enim Imperatori fidem seruarent his qui erga Deum deprehensi sunt perfidie Because these fleering counterfaites are hardly found out therefore there needeth great circumspection in discerning and tryeng them and also earnest praier to God that he would giue vs the spirit of discretion by his prouidence to preserue vs from them Such discretioÌ„ this ConstaÌ„tius seemed to haue A Philosopher the nephew of Plato discreetly espied it who said vnto a flateterer Desine adulari nihil prosicis cùm te intelligaÌ„ Leaue off this flattering fauning for thou preuailst not I perceiue thee Praier also is needful as an old prouerb importeth Cui fidem adhibeo ab â—o me deus custodiat God keep me froÌ„ him in whoÌ„ I put my trust for the other I wil see to my self The effect of this is that the maner of dealing in these meÌ„ is worse theÌ„ the doing of Abishai You may see by this that al is not goulde that shineth like gould that euen Bees though they carry hony in their mouth yet may sting that Sirenes or Myrmaidens sing sweetly and haue their amiable entertainementes and allurements but otherwise bring Shipwracke to Mariners and therefore Vlysses gaue counsail to his Shipmen to stop their eares I wish al men to take heede of Scorpions though flattering in face yet pernicious in the taile the beginning may bee plausible the end clean coutrary The Crocodile whyneth and plaieth the Hypocrite but it is to catch and to kil The flattering Dragon the Diuel as Augustine termeth him is woorse than the roaring Lyon and this is the maner fashion of this new or rather ould rotten naughty world Now we are to consider the motiues causes perswading these men to enter into these high pointes of treacherous actions 2. Part. Causes of a reason passing the compasse of this Abishai There are many but I reduce them to these following Some men are led or rather missed by couetousnesse 1. Cause â—â—centiousâ—esse that is either desirous of liberty and impunity which is loosenes or else of gaine which is aiâ—arice or else of henour and dignity which is ambition In the time of the Emperour Henry the fourth certaine gentlemen not liking the bridle of discipline nor the restraint of their dissolutenes laid their heads together how they might rid that
the same Popish decrees it is called a wicked promise which is fulfilled wickedly and in a Councel we are taught 〈◊〉 â—onsil â—â—ibert that an vnaduised determination may lawfully and laudably bee broken neither is it a transgression but a correction of rashnesse If any vow haue beene made among our countrymen you see it ought in no wise to be stoode too and I desire them so to thinke and doe For so thought Dauid when he sware by God to kill that great foole Nabal yet Ensem in vaginám reuocauit hee put by his sworde in the sheath at the request of Abigael and was not sory for that periury as it is wel applied by Beda Hom. 44. EueÌ„ as the same Ambrose exhorteth that a maÌ„ shal promise no vnhonest thing Libro Offic. 3. cap. 13. or if hee hath promised it is more tolerable not to keep promise then to do that that is vnhonest Which sentences euen the Popes Lawe reciteth C. 22. Q. 4. but falsly cites the first booke for the third But if any Papist either of scruple in mind conscience either of good nature or rather grace of God cannot be induced to communicate with such traiterous enterprises alleadging their duty former oth made to Princes in the league of association otherwise theÌ„ the Pope hath this religioÌ„ omnipotency that he can wil dispeÌ„se with any oth Plat. Adrian the Pope the fourth of that name excoÌ„municated WilliaÌ„ King of Sicily and assoiled al those that were subiect to his gouernmeÌ„t froÌ„ the oth of obedience that they might being freed froÌ„ that the sooner reuolt froÌ„ him Pope Innocent the 3. Cuspini in Frideric 1. in a couÌ„cel at Lions for hatred he bare against Frederik the 2. depriued him of al Imperiall dignity gaue an absolutioÌ„ to the Princes froÌ„ the oth of fidelity exhorting theÌ„ to chuse another al this is catholick and current religion at Rome is auouched good doctrine from Peter and Paul the Patrones of that Church O blessed Saint Peter saieth Gregory the seuenth I depose Henry the fourth from al Imperial and regal authority Plat in vita Gregor who hath lifted vp his hande too boldly and rashly against thy Church and I doe release his loial leige people of their oth You haue heard of Thomas Becket our countryman a man like Mercury in Aristophanes In Pluto a man of all artes and occupations a courtiar a clerk an Arch-Bishop by his hair cloth a Monk by his inwardest garmeÌ„t nighest to his skin an Heremite a man that first sware the oth of fidelity to Henry the secoÌ„d the same man was the first that brake it by a dispensation of Alexander the Pope ad soluendam Iâ—â—â—â—â—â— Thomae Beckes quà m ad confirmandam fidem promptior a better Schoolemaster of periury then of obedience and this prodition was such a religion that by the Monkes of Caunterbury it was praised and approued This is a right Supremacy to doe and vndo what he listeth this is the pride and the cruelty of the Romish Abishai against the Lordes annointed not fearing to violate the maiesty of Princes to breake oathes to teach disobedience and wilful periuries and al this hee may doe absolutely by his new religion and large commission You vnderstand by the premisses the effect of the first part the meaning of the first persoÌ„ Abishai al tending to the death of the Lordes annointed You vnderstand the predecessours and successours of Abishai in number to bee many in maner of attempting to be violent fierce or else hypocriticall and flattering and the causes mouing them to be either couetousnes catching either ambition aspiring eyther enuy maligning either religioÌ„ pretensed or some such like As I reported before in the beginning out of Bernard to the Romans so in the conclusion out of the same Epistle I speak to the Romanists You foolish Romanists Epist 242. doe you neither iudge nor discern that which is honest Doe you disgrace and dishonor as much as in you is your owne head and the head of vs al for whome you ought not to spare your own necks if need should require I end with this good note of the saide Bernard I knewe once saith hee in Babylon at the voice of one young man that al the people which were deceiued by the vniust Seniors of the city to condemne Susanna did returne to Iudgement and reuerse it and so that innocent bloud was saued that daie I pray God that you of whom I conceiue well and others who may be suspected elsewhere may harken with indifferent eares if not at the voice of Daniel yet at our dayly motion that you wil auoide the deuise of Abishai that you wil not be seduced by the false ould iudges of Israel that you wil not condemne our Susanna rashly and without al cause but abhor al wicked conspiracies mutinies practises against her Maiesty whom the Lorde preserue many years among vs that she may attaine that happines which wise Thales spake of Principis faelicitas vt senex secundum naturaÌ„ in suo lectulo moriatur this God grant Raph. Volaâ— in Philol. 30. that she may haue that felicity of a Prince to dy according to nature in her bed an old Mother in our Israel and after liue and raigne eternally with him to whom I commit you and to him be al honor and praise world without end Amen 1. SAM 26. And Dauid said to Abishai Destroy him not for who can laie his hand on the Lords annointed and bee guiltlesse c. THE SECOND SERMON HERODIAN an Historiographer coÌ„plaineth that it was an old disease amoÌ„g the GraeciaÌ„s Lib. 3. that they were alwaies amoÌ„g them-selues at discorde and were willing to destroy those that seemed to excel others and so in the end coÌ„sumed Greece A fatal matter a mortal sin is sedition reckoned woorthily among the works of the flesh tied and chained altogether as it were with a lincke in the Epistle to the Galathians The woorks of the flesh are hatred debate Cap. 5. wrath contentions dissensions sects enuy murders al of one cognation and kinred This sedition is and euer hath bin not only in Greece but by sundry makebates at al times and in al places by Abishai in Iury as you lately heard coÌ„spiring against King Saul and by others against Dauid himselfe as he thus lamenteth Psal 71. Mine enemies speake against me they that lay wait for my soul take their counsail together saying God hath forsakeÌ„ him persecute take him for ther is none to deliuer him I haue also declared that the Romanists their Prelats haue bin Graecians in this behalfe consenting with Abishai against Saul nay Dauid and made much trouble in the common-weal ChristiaÌ„ churches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they haue wasted our Greece most parts in christendom absoluing al ecclesiastical laymen froÌ„ their othes made to their lawful
of the people continued stil at his deuotion making his confession vnto God by the thrust of a sworde and by shedding his innocent blood was made pium morris sacrificium a sacrifice and a Martyr to God But Blacco the Captaine that first rushed into the Church made the people in that holy place to shed blood euen in the first entraunce of the Church was first of al murdered as a sacrilegious man towards God and a Parricide towards his King the people afterward repented them of their rashnes tooke this Canutus to be a Saint What should I speak of others rather wolues and vipers dogs then men who thus brutishly deuise say and do against the Lords annointed Is not this woluish foxy generation yet aliue Haue they not doe they not stil practise against our Soueraign notwithstanding the examples of Gods seuerity in al times and countries neither looking backward toward the punishmeÌ„t passed in Iury in Italy in Greece in Flanders in France in Hungary in Denmarke and here in England neither looking for-ward on the iudgements to come And what is the cause Onely this in Tertullian Bonus vir Caius Seius Ju Apoâ—â— sed malus â—antùm quia Christianus Item alius Ego Luciune sapientem virum repentè Christiaâ—um factum defero Caius Seius is a good man but he is an il man only because hee is a Christian man And another saith and confesseth Lucius to bee a wise man but sodenly made a Christian man the one they cannot but praise the other they tel as newes of dispraise I say with Tertullian They praise chose things that they know they dispraise those thinges that they knowe not and that thing which they doe knowe because they know not they doe corrupt and man Our Religion is forsooth a cause of their rebellion therefore our Countrymen at home are our enemies Is this newes to you You knowe my Brethren that it is an ould grudge an auncient offense and scandal You know many shal be Offended with Christ Matth. 10.1 Pet. 2. Matth. 21. Luc. 2. You knowe the Scriptures Christ shal bee the stone of offense and the rocke of scandal The stone cast away of the builders and Priests set to be the ruine resurrection of many Christ and Christes annointed haue this portion the inheritaunce of the Crosse euen for Christes Crosse sake The Kinges of the earth bande themselues Psal 2. and the Princes are assembled together against the Lorde and against his Christ Psal 3. And againe How many rise against mee The Prince and the Prophet haue this lot King Cyrus had displeasure of the Babylonians for defending Daniel his religion They say the King is become a Iewe he hath abolished Bel killed the dragon slain Priests and they flocke together to the King saying Giue vs Daniel or woe will kil thee with all thy house In Histor Bel. Daniel likewise is laide waite for by the Princes and nobles he is complained of to Darius because they found him making praiers and supplâ—cation to his God As Daniel so the rest of the Apostles and Prophets and why Serpens hostis est contrarius veritati Daniel 6. In Ezeâ—â— Homâ— Actorâ—â— as Origen replieth The Serpent is an enemy contrary to the truth Which of the Prophetes haue not your fathers persecuted smdâ— blessed Stephen and therefore was stoned The Propher Icremy was mocked continually stricken of the Priest Pashur Cap. â—0 Dorotheâ—â—â— in synopsi Origen in Matth cap. 13. and in the end murdered and in AEgypt stoned by the people Esay for the truth was cut in peeces by his countrymen Zachary for the truth was slaine betweene the Temple and the Altar The Thessalonians for the truth suffered euen of their owne countrymen 1. Thessal cap. 2. And Origen maketh this coniecture that Paul preaching euery where yet hee prenched not at Tharsis in his coutry Sciens Propheram experteÌ„ esse honoris inpropria patria because Paul did knowe that a Prophet was not honoured in his owne countryâ—â—◠〈◊〉 for this cause the Apostle forsooke Israel and said Act. câ—â—â—â— Because you cast vs out iudge your selues vn worthy of euenlasting life behold we turn to the Gentils The Gospell could haue no place miracles could take no effect in Christs countrie whereof he complaineth in his Euangelisles Mat. 13 Math. 6. Luc. 4. Matthe we Marke and Luke I speake not this of you dearelie beloued whose zeale in Religion is knowne and I hope will continue and increase more and more but I speak it with griefe of minde by this common practise and experience oftimes fearing our countrimen that euen now begin to reuolt in hart and a great number in bodie who withdraw themselues from our Church from our Sermons and Seruice and Sacramentes and from their obedience tâ— God their Prince and from all pierie towarâ—s their Pâ—â—iaâ—â— and Country Christ banished daily conspiring and all for Christ and his Gospel whom they would banish and like Herodians extinguish among vs 〈◊〉 but if he be banished it is no shâ—â—le for vs to be banished with him It is he to whoÌ„ we must cleanâ— by life or by death It is his cause her is able and willing to defend it He is our friend and Protector against at traitours and enemsies whereof now by order I must speake as followeth in the Text. As Dauld hither to hath made a prohibitioÌ„ to Abishai The third part of D. politick Resolution and also hath protested for himself saying The Lord keepe me for laying mine hands vpon the Lordes annointed So now he goeth forward with his politick and prouident resolution beginning here I pray thee take now the speare that is at his head and the pot of water and let vs go hence and so foorth as you may see in the eleuenth twelfth verses this is the third part of Dauids aunswere and of my diuision In which part as many good notes may be made and many pointes of doctrine may bee gathered as Dauids humble request to Abishai and his poliey in taking away the spear and the pot for considerations and the drowsines of the enemies so I rest only vpon this common place the Prouidence of God that threefold taken out of the circumstaÌ„ces First out of the person of Saul Secondly out of the person of Dauid and Abishai A triple prouidence of God Thirdly out of the circumstaunce of the place where they were and of the state they were in at this time Sauls person ministreth occasion to intreat of the protection of Princes of the singular prouidence of God which is a reason forcible to penswade all euill and obâ—â—inate men Gods singular prouidence and care of Princes that they intermeddle not against them of whome the Lord hath fueh an extraordinary special care sâ—nd it is a woonder to see and to heare bowe man not regarding this carefull and watchfuley of the
A VIEW OF THE ROMISH HYDRA AND MONSTER TRAISON AGAINST THE LORDS ANNOINTED CONDEMNED BY DAVID 1. SAM 26. AND NOWE CONFVTED IN SEVEN SERMONS To perswade Obedience to Princes Concord among our selues and a generall Reformation and Repentaunce in all states By L. H. Psal 11 Behold the wicked bend their bowe they haue made readie their arrowes vpon the string to shoot in the darcke at those that are righteous in heart Psal 5 Destroy them O God let them fal from their Counsels cast them out for the multitude of their iniquities because they haue Rebelled against thee AT OXFORD Printed by IOSEPH BARNES and are to be solde in Paules Church-yearde at the signe of the Tygers head 1588. The Dialogue and talk of Dauid and Abishai touching King Saul whether he being cast into a dead sleepe shoulâ— be killed or no taken out of the first booke of Samuel and 26. Chapter 8 Then said Abishai to Dauid God hath closed thine enemy into thine hande this daie nowe therefore I pray thee let mee smite him once with à speare to the earth and I will not smite him againe 9 And Dauid said to Abishai Destroy him not for who can lay his hand on the Lords annointed and be guiltlesse 10 Moreouer Dauid said As the Lord liueth either the Lord shal smite him or his day shal come to dy or hee shall descend into battle and perish 11 The Lord keepe me from laying mine hand vppon the Lordes annointed but I pray thee take now the speare that is at his head and the pot of water and let vs goe hence 12 So Dauid tooke the speare and the pot of water from Sauls head and they gate them awaie and no man saw it nor marked it neither did any awake but they were al asleepeâ— for the Lord had sent a dead sleepe vpon them TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE LORD ROBERT DVDLEY EARLE OF LEICESTER BARON OF DENBIGH KNIGHT OF THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE GARTER OF HER MAIESTIIS most Honorable priuy Counsaile Chauncelour of the Vniuersitie of Oxford LAVRENCE HVMPHREY WISHETH GRACE PEACE AND MERCY FROM GOD THE FATHER OVR LORD IESVS CHRIST THERE are Right honorable as farre as I can iudge Two perilous poinâ—â— of popery in the Romish Religion two principall parts and peremptorie pointes corrupt Opinions and outragious ActioÌ„s both drawen and borrowed from our common Aduersary who one way soweth in darkens and in the night among the wheat of gods word the cockle darnel of pernicious doctrine the other way he murdreth them from the beginning Iohn 8. 1. Pet. 5. and roareth like a Lyon and in his continuall and cruell circuite seeketh whom he may deuour euerie way hunteth after blood and our destruction spiritual and corporal As Christ is humble and meek as the cognisaunce of Christians is loue so the badge of Antichrist is bloody ful of cruelty voide of charity To passe ouer the corruptions of doctrin This second Monster of Rome Hydra of Rome hath many heads this Hydra is of many heades These Actions of Popes are diuerse both here seen and felt and vnderstood abroad and euery where practised As Ashur was Gods rod and Vespasian his seruaÌ„t against the Iews so this reputed Vicar of Christ hath been the whippe of Princes the scourge of all Christendome By his opinion in Masse he hath learned to offer an vnbloody sacrifice In his Actions he is Pilat mingling sacrifices with mans blood Luâ— 13. By his opinion hee is guilty of that which is written Psal 144. His mouth speaketh lies In his actions of that which followeth His right hande is the right hand of iniquity But ô that al Princes were of King Dauids mind not to meddle nor to communicate with such bloody sacrifices Psal â— nor to haue these false cruel gods names in their lips Although your Lordshippe knoweth his dooings in this realme better then I can deliuer yet I purpose by your good leaue and licence to set down the proceedings of this Hydra and his actions by degrees and steps for some Instruction and a Caueat to my countrymen The first Act and head The first head of this Romish Monster is a Temporal sword open defiaunce against kings and kingdomes misliked by him He wil be not onely a Bishop of Bishops but a king nay a Conquerour of kings Hee hath in his hande the wheele of fortune to make kings goe vp and goe downe according to his pleasure in driuing guiding the chariot and maketh them thus to say Regno regnabo regnaui sum sine regno One saith I doe raigne another I wil raigne another I haue raigned another I am put from my raigne He maketh Apollo to giue ouer the chariot of the Sunne and to resigne it to any rechles rash Phaeton though he set on fier heauen and earth Hee wil win the horse or loose both horse and saddle He can be content that Dauid or any other godly Prince bee vnhorsed and vnseated and that wanton and rebellious Absalom bee placed and setled This bloodie action of warring is performed sometime in their owne person as Iulius the second that fought against the French with Paules sword and others both Popes and Cardinals may bee witnesses sometime by inciting and setting on other Princes against a Realme or Seignory As Pippin Charles were imploied against the Lombardians by the commaundement of Adrian Cau. 23. q. 8 And Gregory the great willeth the Tuscans to doe the like Thom. walsing in Edâ—ar 1. Boniface by letters sollicited the King of England against the French King and promiseth aide And another time Kings of Fraunce are set vp against England Al these experimentes fal out in our time by a Catholick coÌ„sent in the councel of Trent that all Catholicke Princes should prepare against England and others of the reformed religion This cannot be good for euen the Pope himselfe saith that it is not good Cau. 23 q. 8 â— Tim. 2. Pope Nicolas saith to Charles the Emperour No man that is a souldior to God entangleth himselfe with secular businesse And if the souldiours of the woorlde apply themselues to warfare what hath the Bishoppes and souldiours of Christ to doe but to goe to their praiers Quid ad Episcopos milites Christi nisi vt vacent orationibus If this head of Hydra by Gods mightie mercifull hand bee cut off so that forreiners wil not nor caÌ„not satisfie the turn his lust The 2. head a trumpet of ciuil warre beholde another head riseth A Proclamation of Rebellion to al Catholickes against their dread Soueraigne for he will set all at six and seuen and mooue euery stone he wil goe thorough thicke and thinne Examples wee haue in England and Ireland with banners of ciuill dissension displaied to the offence of Almighty of God to the disturbance of our publicke and godlie peace to the vtter ouerthrowe of noble families Yet there is another
whatsoeuer means vnlawful against the Mother and Parent of the countrey vnder whose protection by the prouidence of God After the winter of Q. Mary ae summer of Q. Elizabeth they haue enioyed after the winter and tempest of Queene Maries persecution the warmth and heat of the fier and many blessinges of God both spirituall and temporal For a remedy of these euils for redresse of this be astlie ingratitude disobedience and rebellious behauiour against the royal person of the Prince I haue as you haue heard discoursed of the history of Dauid the last day replieng against Abishai which history Chrysostome so liked Hom. de Dauid Saul Chrysostoms Amplification of this historie Exod. 21. that he made Homilies of it and amplifieth the excellent integritie and faithfulnes of Dauid towarde Saul the annointed in that Dauid did this in the oulde Testament where some reuenge was in a sort permitted in that Dauid bestowed benefites vpon Saul sparing him when hee might haue killed him 1. Sam. 24. aduenturing his life against Golias 1. Sam. 16. defending both Saul the King and the whole host of Israel that day and with his harp charming and chasing away the furious spirite that possessed Saul and yet this notwithstanding Sauls speare was euer ready to pearce Dauid And whereas hee should haue had for the victory ouer Golias a dowry with his Daughter 1. Sam. 18. the King set downe this cruell condition against him that he must winne in battel and huÌ„dred foreskins of the vncircumcised Philistines which he valiantly performed with an aduantage bringing two hundred foreskins with him And lastly when he had cut off the lap of Sauls cloke he was striken in hart lamented for it yet for the defense of this fact Gods name was auouched Gods his authority was alledged by Dauids seruantes souldiors Deus tradidit illum in manus c. God hath deliuered thine enemy into thine hands Allegant illi diuinam authoritatem as the said Chrysostom testifieth in that Homily They alleage the authority of God Wherefore once againe I am to request you patiently to heare the rest I beganne to prooue the opinion of Dauid against Abishai although many did hold with Abishai that it was not lawfull to kil Saul nor any the annointed of the Lord being contrary to the law of nature and al lawes Before I enter into the particular probation hereof A generall Rule of Reuenge I doe set downe this ground generally receiued by common Law Lex talionis The Law of retaliation That like will haue like Woe be to thee that doest spoile Esa 33. when thou shalt cease to spoile thou shalt be spoiled when thou shalt make an end of doing wickedlie they shall doe wickedlie against thee Hee that diggeth à pitte Psal 7. Prou. 26. shall fall into it himselfe and he that casteth vp à stone on high it may returne vpon his own pate It is the plaine case of Shimei pronounced by the mouth of this Salomon vpon this general rule Thou knowest all the wickednes whereunto thine hart is priuy 1. Reg. 1. that thou didst to Dauid my father The Lord therefore shal bring thy wickednesse vpon thine owne head Let al Shimeians beware of this strait and sharpe verdict for Sape sagittantem didicet referire sagitta Inque virum plaga conuersa recurrere plaga The arrow oftentimes hitteth the shooter himselfe and the stroke reboundeth back to the striker Plin. l. 34. cap. 8. Perillus that deuised the brasen Bul to encrease the cruell humour of the Tyraunt Phalaris in the which men shoulde bee burned quicke with intolerable paine and roaring was by Phalaris appointed first to feele the smart of his owne inuention Neque eâ—â—ns lex iustior olla Quà m necis artifices arte perire sua It is not amisse but a most iust law that the truel workman should perish in his owne workmanship It is a true prouerb among the Hebrues Middáh Keneged middáh A measure for a measure And our sauior vseth the same What measure ye mete Matth. 7. it shal be measured to you again It is the law Quod fecit semper expectet Col. l. 3. Nemo our lawe in Moses Huic fiet queÌ„admodum ipse fecit Wherfore as it was said once in Exod. Exo. c. 21. Leuit. 24. Deut. 19. A breach for à breach or à fracture for a fracture an ey for an ey à tooth for à tooth so is it also the iudgement of God a limine for a limme bloud for bloud and this is a lawe vniuersal To return now to our particulars I haue declared the law of nature how this common law is verified by creatures voide of reason and by men void of religion which law of nature is established by the wisedome of God himselfe who hath created and directed all things in wisedome Themgument of Nature forcible Ambrose hath a sentence pertaining to this an example prouing this The sentence is Omnia penetrat diuina sapientia implet omnia idque locupletius ex irrationabilium sensibus quà m ex rationabilium disputatione colligitur validius enim est naturae testimonium quà m doctrinae argumentum noting the force and validity of nature and of vnreasonable creatures for the plaine demonsiration of this argument The example is of a dogge A Dogge faithfull so man whereof I spake the last day out of Plinie and out of Ambrose who in general woords confirme the fidelity of dogs They knowe to flie vpon theeues for their master Hexaemer 6. cap. 4. and in the night to forbid strangers to come neer and they are ready to die for their masters and oftentimes they giue euidence to conuince men guilty of muther so that their dum testimony hath bin credited for the most part I reported before out of the same Ambrose that in the suburbs of Antiochia in the dark a man was slain that had a dog accompaniing him And the worker minister of the slaughter was a souldiour discouered by the dog who pursued as hee might the reuenge of the enemy because he could not woork the defense of his master as he wold I omit the kinde nature of Bucephalus Plin. l. 8. cap. 42. Alexander his horse who when he was decked with the trappings and furniture of the King would suffer no man to ride him but the King otherwise he was content with any man O that men would bee as wise as Bucephalus to know a King from a common man and yet In horse and mule there is no vnderstanding Psal 32. But to come from beasts to men from the horse to the master Alexander himselfe a natural man was taught by his Master Aristotle this supernatural lesson in a certaine book written to him Quantum potes As much as you can take heede that you shedde not the blood of any man Euripides also condemneth it as a wicked thing to kil a King Holcot
Lord ouerlooking all their actions nor fearing the haude of the Lorde striking al such actours dare in this manner aduenture any thing against theÌ„ so guarded armes with his protection And yet alwaies there haue bin such murmurers There were that muÌ„bled against Moses Exod. 〈◊〉 Who made thee Prince and iudge ouer vs There was a wicked Belial Sheba that blewe a Trumpet to sturre the people We haue no part in Dauid neither haue inheriance in the son of Ishai â— Sam. 20. There were that murmured against the seruaunts of God sent vnto them and beat some and killed others and stoned some others yea they saide Mat. 21. Let vs kill the heire All this winde shaketh no corne Triticum non rapit ventus Cyprian de simplicitate Praelatorum the winde carieth not away the wheat The annointed of the Lord remaiâ— neth stedfast be he good or be he had either he tarieth in his good pleasure or hee is taken away in his displeasure Saul is a sleepe and yet he is saued and God sâ— ruled Dauid and so bridles Abishai that the one would not and the other could not set vpon him beeing at his head O maruâ—â—â— oaâ—â— fulâ—iesse of our God ouer the gods of the earth yea â—â—godly gods With what proâ—â—â—eÌ„ce was Moses presâ—rued kept close for three mouthes Exo. 2. throwen into the water and yet drawen out â—â—tâ—d by Pharaoh and yet fostered by his daughterâ— oftentimes assâ—â—lted by Isâ—â—â—litâ—â— euer ready to stone him oftentimes murmured at and entried by AEgyptians Exo. 15.16 Num. 11.12.16 by Israelites and somewhat by his owne sister as wee may read in the booke of Exodus and in the booke of Numbers Our Dauid standing nowe in reuersion but afterward put in possession was euermore both a priuate and publick person kept safe because the Lord would haue it so The Lord saith he Psal 18. Psal 38. is my rock my fortresse They haue spred a net and they haue sought my life and yet this dead dog this little flea hath gods passeport and warrant for himselfe Psal 89. I haue found Dauid my seruaunt with my holy oile haue I annointed him therefore mine hand shall helpe him and mine arme shall strengthen him the enemy shal not oppresse him nor the wicked hurt him This comfortable warrant reacheth vnto all Princes that fear God It is recorded in an oration made at the request of Queen Elizabeth in Bonsinius his story of HuÌ„gary Dec. 3. lib. 4. We must vndoubtedly beleeue that al power is giuen to men of God who can withstand the wil of God Cyrus an infant was cast out of dores Romulus with Rhemus was cast into Tyber Seruius Tullius was borne of a seruant and captiue mother and yet they coulde not bee staied or stopped by any violence but that they must obtaine those Kingdomes to the which they were borne and predestinated The prouidence and predestination of God are vnchaungeable and vnmoueable both for comming to Principalities and for keeping their holds which is so certaine that neither force nor frand neither â—â—iue action of Diuels nor conspiration of men can breake or interrupt this appointed course of God Constantine the Great writeth vnto Sapor the King of the Persianes to be fauourable to Christians Soâ— lib. 2. cap. 15. assuring hin that God would be therfore merciful vnto him and that hee himselfe haâ— for his faith by the help of God subdued and subiected vnto himselfe the whole Empire of the Romanes Vulcatius Gallicanus God spake sometimes in the mouth of the heathen as of Antonine the Emperour saying Wee doe not so worship God nor so liue that Cassius a Traytour should ouercome vs. The assuraunce that was made vnto Vespasian in this doctrine of Prouidence was woonderfull when two noble men were conuiceed for conspiracy against him aspiring to the Empire he did nothing else but warne them that they should surcease affirming Principatum Fato dari Principality to bee giuen by the decree of God These men he did not onely famliarly admicte to his Supper but also the next day in the shewe and play of Fensers or sword-plaiers he set them for the â—once about him Sueton in Tit. Vesp and the or namentes weapons offered vnto him by the fighters he gaue to these aduersaries to bee looked vppon and handled of them no doube but assuring himselfe that they could not ne durst strike Saxo Grammaticus declareth how Canutus and Charles and diuers others went about to kil the King of Danes Waldemarus who both with others their complices beeing familiar in the court and neere vnto the King a person and one of them alone sometime with him attending vpon his chariot A nesaâ—â—â— confession of Gods proâ—â—dence its preseâ—â—â—inâ— Princes and many times hauing a coate of maile might haue sodenly dispatched him but hee by Gods prouidence alwaies by one meanes or other was preserued and as one of the conspiratours called Magnus in his examination confesseth that it was Non sorte humana sed diuina opera by no lucke or cunning of man but by the work of God and woÌ„dreth how he did escape being so many times and by so many waies intrapped And when the King asked him Sarc 〈◊〉 Danie l. 1â— whether hee did meane indeede to set vppon him and oppresse him he aunswered stoutely Nec animum sibi nec arma â—ihilque quod tanto fâ—einori attinuit excepth Deinutu defursse That there wanted nothing to him neither intent nor courage nor weapons nor any thing that pertained to such a wicked not but only gods beck assent In Flanders Count Lodowick Maleanus distressed by a rebell Arteualda of whose ende I spake of before and by some souldiors of Gaunt being of that conspiracy sought for he was hid by a woman in a poore bedde where her little children did ly This woman was woont to sitte at the Counte his gate for au almes one of the souldiours tooke a candle and looked narrowely in euery corner and after his search returneth to his fellowes and saith Let vs goe wee leese time here is none besides her little ones so as the author writeth this woman as another Rahab saued the Earle Ita sola voluntate Numinis seruatus Comes qui haec omnia nudiuit verba so by the onely will of God the Earle was saued Jac. Meyer lib. 13. Annal Fland. Chr. li. 20. and heard al these words God did also prouide marueilously for Charles the fift as Massae us witnesseth It is well knowen his owne courtiours sometimes by poyson sometimes by other treason went about to destroy him but the Lorde presented him King Henry the fourth him many conspiratours and this one â—aspituâ—y was most notable Hen. 4 King of England In the night when hee should goe to bed the enemies had laide there in the strawe a galthrop which had Th. Wal. three long sharpe pikes that when hee shoulde