of it by dethe They be of lyke no small peynes that make the pacient glad to slee his body and damne his soule for the arrydance of theÌ„ But yet as I sayd he had no outwarde tormeÌ„tis no racking no manicles no he was put in fere of none of al these peines but enforced by god as I take it and as he hym selfe sayde at the barre it was frankely vttered not onely ayenste his brother and cousyn but ayenste suche as whan they came to the barre graÌ„ted them selfis giltie without any verdite of quest But of these last I wyll nothing speake all be it I take them to be as worthy eternal infamy as the fyrst but great men of byrth bicause blode is disteined by treson their family taken froÌ„ them ar those that ought to be set forth in theyr colours It is I saye again a wonder to se one brother bring an other moche loue being betwene them and no cause of hatred to his deathe It were a wonder surely if one had not taken the matter in hande whiche can when him lust bothe vanquishe nature and trede the deuyll with his hole power vnder his fete They two kepte those treasons vnder locke and key God is and euer hath beÌ„ lorde of nature conquerer of the deuyll and can compel both when hym lusteth to set forth his glory But nowe where we see whose goodnes it is that treasons are knowen and traytours made awaye lette vs not forgette to gyue hym thankes that thus waketh and in maner wayteth to saue vs harmeles Is it possible that a maÌ„ not forced shoulde swere vppon a boke hym selfe to be a traytour hym selfe of al men to be most worthy deathe Syr Geffrey hath ofte taken this othe So hath Croftes and Colyns also the other all the tyme of theyr arraynement stode styffe with castyng vp of eies and handes as though those thynges had ben neuer herd of before that thenne were laide to theyr charge The Marques of al the rest stack hardest and made as thoughe he had ben very clere in many poyntes yet in some he staggered and was very sory so to do nowe chalangyng the kynges pardon now takynge benefytte of the acte and when al wolde not serue he began to charge Geffrey Pole with frensye with foly and madnesse It is moche to be noted what answere Geffrey made to the Marques in this poynte Some men saythe Geffreye as I here laye to my charge that I shulde be out of my wytte and in a frensye Trouth it is I was out of my wytte and in a great frenesy when I fell with theym in conference to be a traytour disobediente to god false to my prynce and enemye to my natiue countraye I was also out of my wytte and stryken with a sore kynde of madnesse when I chose rather to kil my self thaÌ„ to charge theÌ„ with such tresons as I knewe wolde coste them theyr lyues if I dyd vtter them But our lorde be thanked god wrought better with me then I thought to haue doone with my selfe He hath saued my soule at the leste the knyfe wente not so farre as I wolde haue had it gone his goodnes it is that I haue not slayne my selfe his mercye that I was delyuered frome that frensye of kyllynge my selfe his worke that I haue declared my self my brother the Marques with the rest to be traytours And where I thought said Geffrey rather to haue putte my soule in hasarde for the sauing of these men god I thanke hym so wrought in me and so chaunged my mynde that if I had had tenne brothern yea tenne sonnes I wolde rather bringe them all to this perylle of deathe than leaue my countreye my souerayne lord and myn own soule in suche daunger as they al thre stode in if I had kepte these treasons secrete Let vs lette vs dye we be but a fewe better we haue accordynge to our desertes thaÌ„ our hole couÌ„trei to be brought to ruyne O what a lorde is god whom can a traytour trust whan one brother is so desyrefull to vtter an others treason yea whan y e traytour hym selfe no man compelling hym vttreth his own treson whom may we trust whaÌ„ we our selues desyre to disclose oure selues Treson can not lye longer hyd thaÌ„ while it ripeth for yf it be ones melowe the sauour streight for the moste parte bewrayeth the howrde Geffrey hath neuer bene taken for any plesant or sage talker his witte was wont to serue his tong but so so I dare say they that were the wisest of the kingis moste honourable counsayle dyd moch woÌ„der that day to here him tel his tale and loked for nothyng lesse than that he shulde haue soo handlyd him selfe God is a meruayllous god he can make bothe whan him lust and whom he wol eloqueÌ„t wise pithie He can make the toÌ„ges of the domme serue his elect whan his wyl is The Marques was styffe at the barre and stode faste in denial of most thinges layd to his charge yet in som he foyled and staggerde in suche sorte that all menne might see his countenance to auouch that that his tonge could nat without moche foltring deny But at the scaffolde whan he sawe mens othes with a multitude of wytnesses taken and his sturdy denyall not to saue his lyfe he began eyther to waye dyshonour lesse than he dyd at the barre or els to thynke that dishonour standith in doing traitrously rather than in confessyng of it whan it is knowen to be so deathe at hande taught him and his felowes to prouyde for the safetie of their soules and to leue the regard of honour there on the scaffolde with their bodies They dyd all thre acknowlege their offences towarde the kinge and desyred all men that were there present to pray god to forgyue them They be gone our lorde I truste which gaue them repentance wol also take theym to his mercy and yet saue their soules The thinge they feared is come vppon them they might not tary the tyme they plowed treason they sowed sedytion noo meruayle yf they reape deathe Wherefore let vs whyche in one houre haue escaped so many sorowes so present calamities so imminente mischeues saye as Iudith sayd whan she retourned â–ª with Holofernes his heed in her lappe Laude and praise be giuen to the lord that forsakest not them that put their trust in the. Let him be gloryfied for euer of vs that vncalled is thus preast and redye to defend them that were nigh the brinke of pardicion and sawe it not vntyll he plucked them by the sleue Hitherto ye haue hard how traytrously these vnnatural traitours enteÌ„ded you haue sene how the goodnes of god as wel nowe as in many other thynges hathe preserued the kynges hyghnes brought his enemies to shameful death now this thinge remaineth alone what cause coulde moue them that were so moche bounde to theyr lorde and mayster to fall into such horrible treasons He liueth not I dare say that can finde any iuste cause for any subiecte to be a traytour to his soueraygne lorde And I am well assured all men that haue any spot of honestie in them wol thinke these worthy to be taken for traytours yf they had but ones thoughte hurte vnto his personne of whom they had receyued so many benefyttes There is no cause yet me thinketh I fynd one whiche although it be not iuste yet is it of suche strength and efficacie that it can worke almoste no lesse then it dyd in these I say and thynke who so euer is of theyr opinioÌ„ in matters of relygyon that he can loue the kynges hyghnes noo better then they dyd â–ª who sâ—â— is a papiste an enemye to goddis worde he may well lacke power or stomacke to vtter treason but he can not lacke a trayterous hart what so euer he be that thynketh the byshoppe of Rome supreme hed of our church of Englande can neuer beare the kynge suche an harte as a trewe subiecte oweth his souerain lord No I saye more he can in no case loue his highnes he can not chose but be a traytour It is to be sorowed and lamented greatly that noble men woll thus fondely caste them selues away great wonder greater pitie and greatest shame that they hauing the word of god in theyr owne tonge woll not yet lerne what a kynge is and what a bysshop what lordes owe vnto th one and what they may requyre of thother My purpose was to haue handled a good sorte of places whiche I haue gathered out of the scripture doctours both makynge for the mayntenance of the kynges supremytye and also shakynge downe that arrogante and vsurped power of the bisshop of Rome I had soo done but that I sawe this boke some what with the longest and well perceyued y t thother wold haue ben moch longer then this is I haue differred it for a while but god wyllynge I woll as sone as I can for the seruice I owe vnto nobilitie and the rest my contrey men followe that whiche god wyll prycke me to thoughe feble wyt and weake power drawe neuer so fast backe In the meane season I humblye beseche all men so to take these my labours that I maye with courage set vpon thother whiche as they woll be moche greatter so my truste is they shall be moche more profytable They maye so be and shall so be if it please hym whiche worketh all that well is wrought vnto whom be all honour al glorye for euer and euer Amen Londini in aedibus Thomae Bertheleti typis impress Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum ANNO. M.D.XXXIX Deut. 29. Hierem. 2. Cap. 22. 3. Reg. 19. Daniel 6. Iudic. 6. Iosue 5. Iudith â–ª 13.
whiche alwayes enforced hym selfe to kepe his hyghnesse and all the reste of his subiectes in seruitude errour and idolatrie God hathe made him as al his noble progenitours of right ought to haue ben a full kyng ▪ that is a ruler and natruled in his owne kyngedome as other were God hath deliuered his highnes from the bondage of the byshoppe of Rome his subiectes from errors his realme from the foule sinne of idolatry Ignorāce a childe that the byshop of Rome lefte here with his monkes and friers to be fostred made strōge is takynge her leaue wolde god her passeport were made and she sente frome whens she came But she hath ben so cherished so made of in this realme that lothe she is to departe She hath many frendes and trustethe by the helpe of them to be made denyzen and soo to chaunge her apparel and to do moche more hurt in parishe churches thā euer she dyd in cloisters But I truste as god hath shewed what hurte commeth of her and hers so he wyll prouide a way to see that she and hers haue lesse to do The people begynne to know what they that be curates oughte to preache and what they arboūd to folowe and yet they do but begynne Wolde god some were appoynted to take them forthe newe lessons They haue longe sithens begon to knowe their duetie toward god their obedience to their prince the loue they ow vnto their neighbours and yet they be styll atte the begynninge For yf they were fully taught but in these .iii. poyntes I dare promyse my lyfe to lye vppon it the fruites of this knowledge shuld be such as wold enforce all christian princis to folowe the steppes of oure noble prince I remember howe kynge Iosaphat sente many of his nobles with prechers that is trewe setters oute of the worde of god throughe all Iurie and howe all the worlde feared his power after that god was preched in his king dome I truste as our moste prudente kynge ceasseth nat to sende his holsome and godly proclamations abrode that so one day men shall be sent after them to se what effecte they take what successe cōmeth of them where they worke where they be ydle where they haue fre passage and where they be stopped But leauyng newe occasions whiche leade me to newe purposes I wol returne and folowe that I toke in hande This laste sedition besyde many other commodities that it wrought in this realme hathe made the people and in especial those where it reigned moste very glad to here very desyrefull to make amendes to God and their Prince for that they offended bothe afore I haue herde dyuers men say that three or foure preachers may doo more good in the northe coūtray in two or thre monethes than hath bene done in these southe parties these two or thre yeres only bicause the people be so redy to take what so euer the preacher shall offer vnto theym soo that if the people be naught styll the faute is no more theirs for they wold fain be good They se god louith no rebellions no disobedience if god had done nothynge for the kynge sythens that tyme was not that one benefyte inoughe to bynde his grace and all theym that loue this his realme euermore to thynke vpon goddis goodnes alwayes to giue hym thākes and yet styl to thinke thankes vngyuen All bokes can shewe no suche sedition so quieted no suche rage soo peasibly asswaged and yet at the fyrste as al men lyked the ende soo was there an other thyng that men whiche fauour the peace and quietnes of our countrey thought somewhat amysse Menne were wonderfull gladde that harneys was put of and weapons layde downe but they were sorie that the deceyuers of the simple pore subiectis had after their pestilent pilgremages pardon It is ofte to be remembred howe god prouided both for the sorte deceyued and also howe vpon newe treason committed he wolde the ranke capitaynes to testifie vpō the gallowes that traitours muste come to shamefulle deathe And yet is there more euen concernynge the same matter to be marked where as it plesed the kyng of his clemency and tender loue that his grace beareth to the lyfe of his subiectes to satisfye the rigor of the lawes with a few of their dethes god hath this last sommer by strange kinde of sycknes welle declared vnto the commons of the northe that he was nat contented so fewe were punished where so many offēded And as the sicknes plagued them sore so I thynke god pycked a greate sorte in other countreys suche as he knew had hartes euyl inough thoughe their dedes were vnknowen It is not to be left vnspokē that a generall plague reignyng in al the north and in many other parties of the realme London a citie for the more parte yerely visited with great deathe hadde in maner no syckenesse in it Lette other menne laye the cause where they thinke beste I do surely suppose that as god punyshed them for their treasons soo he shewed vnto the Lōdoners that the way to haue hym mercyfull and good to theym is that that they are in though not setled yet a great part of theym well entred All be it we be forgetfull and haue styll nede of some to putte vs in mynde of goddis goodnesse toward vs yet I woll not nowe speke of the tresure whiche he gaue this realme what ioye and comforte he sent to all trewe englysshe men whan he sent vnto our soueraigne lord his dere and noble sonne oure deere and noble prince Edward I trust it nedith not I trust there be none of vs either so blynde that we see not howe moch Englande oweth vnto god for his byrth for his preseruatiō for such his towardnes as was neuer sene in chylde by al mens assent the lyke either so vngrate but he herynge of this noble princis growyng and waxing to a kynge to the sceptre of this his right inheritance woll with al his harte desyre god both to kepe hym longe frome the scepter and longer in it than euer was his father before hym I say I wyl nat speake of his grace neither of the goodnes of god powred vpon vs and all ours by his byrthe No I woll make as foule a chaunge as euer ye sawe or herde of I wolle go from hym whome the loue to god and his father reserued we ought to loue aboue all thynges and intreate of theym whome yf they were alyue all Englyshmen ought aboue al creatures to hate And yet I wyl not so gladly talke of theym as of the goodnesse of god shewid to vs by their occasiō ¶ O lorde in what danger hath the kynges hyghnesse bene these xiii or .xiiii. yeres For euen al this space there haue ben in his gracis priuie chaumber that frome tyme to time haue not only vttred the secretes of his counselle and chamber but also haue practised with his most enemyes and done what they coulde to
AN INVECTIVE AYENSTE the great and detestable vice treason wherein the secrete practises and traiterous workinges of theym that suffrid of late are disclosed made by Rycharde Morisyne A preface to the reders I DOVBTE NOT gentle reders but that if ye haue ben conuersante in old histories so perceyued both howe many moo prynces haue ben endaungered by treason of theyr famylyer seruauntes then by open warre of theyr enemyes and also sene what ende they come to that venture vpon so daungerous an enterprise ye woll thynke my labour not euyll employed whiche tendeth hole to this ende that all subiectes ones being brought into hatred of treason maye at the laste fall in loue with their duetie and seke truly to serue where god hath appoynted theym so to doo For as the incommodyties that treason bryngeth into a common welthe be excedynge many and are ofte tymes the vtter vndoyng of ryche and welthy realmes so that kyngdome must nedes prosper and flourishe where all men stryue who may best do his duetie best serue his countrey in that god and his souerayne lorde hath callyd hym vnto We haue hadde ofte experience howe euylle they spede what infamye commeth to them what ende they make whiche at any tyme attempte treason against their soueraigne lord and kynge These whiche of late lost their honour landes and lyues are not the fyrste that haue bene moued with to many benefites to become traytours no nor yet the fyrst that came to shamfull death for soo foule an enterprise They haue companyons which though they be not able to goo cheeke by cheke with them yet they comme nat farre behynde ¶ Perennius a man that had receiued wonderful many benefites of Cōmodus themperour where as he sawe but oone aboue hym thynkyng that he myght by treason brynge hym downe and sette vp hym selfe trayterousely conspired the deathe of Commodus his lorde and maker ¶ Plautianus an nother of all men mooste bounde to Seuerus the emperour soughte also to dystroye hym not that euer he hadde receyued any iniurie or displesure at his handes but that the blynd desyre he hadde to the Empyre wrought moche more in him than coulde al themperours benefites ¶ Seianus as moche bounde as any of thother two euen vpon lyke cause thought to haue slayn Tiberius themperour his lorde and mayster But they came euen to suche ende as dydde the Marques the lorde Montacute and suche other as by their exaumple teache all men that be nat yet werye of their lyues and honestie to be ware of treasone Certaynely who so wayeth how hard a thing it is to enter with any manne in treason howe full of ieoperdies howe fewe there be that a manne maye truste howe soone menne maye be deceyued takynge some to beare them moch greatter loue than they do howe no experience can soo vtter one man his hart to an nother that in suche a case he may leaue lyfe in his handes he woll I suppose moche wonder to see any man thoughe the fyne for it were but the losse of goodis so madde to venture vppon treason Many chaunces make treason whan it is kepte most secrete to appere An harte that stylle feleth the stinge of treason must nedes at one tyme or an other make the tonge and countenance parttakers of his grefe ¶ Lucilla syster to Commodus the Emperoure hadde appoynted oone Quintianus to slee her brother This traytour waited for the Emperour at the entrynge in to the Amphitheatre and whenne he sawe Comodus all moste come to the place where he intended to haue slayne hym his hande his tongue his gesture his countenaunce coulde suffre his harte to be no lenger hyd No he hauinge his dagger redy naked cryed out before the Emperour camme vnder the strooke This the Senate sendeth the. Uppon whiche wordes he was taken and Commodus nothynge hurt ¶ Likewyse Marcus Antonius of Uolterra was set to kyll Laurence Medices and had so done but that he cried before o traitour which voyce saued Laurence and disclosed as many as were of that conspiracie ¶ The same mornynge that Brutus and the reste of his felowes hadde determyned to slee Iulius Cesar it so chaunced that Cesar commened a greatte space with Gneius Popilius oone of those that had conspired his deth Brutus and many mo of his companions were bye and were caste into suche a feare that they wyste neyther what to doo ne what to thynke They all were a frayde lest Popilius had vttered the treson vnto Cesar and wolde euen there haue set vpon hym sauinge that they perceyued Cesar his coūtenaunce nothynge moued ne his colour any thyng altered And yet if Cesar had redde the letter that was delyuered hym not halfe an houre before his deathe he hadde knowen his enemyes counsel and myght haue broughte them all to theyr confusion ¶ The daye before that Sceuinus thoughte to haue slayne Nero he put an olde rustie daggar that hadde layne longe by hym to gryndynge He made his testamente he made all his bonde men free he gaue euery one of thē a certayne somme of moneye he caused rollers to be made to wrap woūdes in by which tokens Milichius his seruaunt gathered he wente about some naughty pourpose and so accused hym vnto the emperoure Sceuinus streyghte confessed that his intente was to haue slayne Nero. ¶ This I brynge in not so moch to shewe that treason woll out as to make men see howe god plucketh wyt and prudency from malyciouse traytours He hath done so where treason was intended ayenst Nero one of the worst prynces that euer the worlde had and trowe traytours he woll suffre Henry the eyght his chosen king a prynce that chyefelye aboue all thinges hath soughte and seketh to sette forthe his glorie to restore his holy worde to put downe hypocrysie to banishe idolatry finally to bryng this ones to passe y t al his people may be as they ar called that is trewe chrystians Rede this lyttell inuectiue that foloweth I truste by thynges past ye shall perceyue it very vnlyke that any traytour here after maye or can hurte his highnes Ye shall see who is his gracis protectour from what daungers he hath preserued hym and therby gather an assured affyaunce that traytours can but worke their owne confusion when so euer they seke to do his highnes any displeasure God hitherto hath wonderfully troden downe his graces enemyes styll shewynge hym selfe to be of his syde if he be so stylle as our trust is he wol be euer be traytour who woll he knoweth his ende ALL BE IT I acknowlege my self neyther so able as I am wyllynge neither soo meete as I am redye to write in such a matter as I nowe haue taken vppon me yet trustynge where my wylle is to doo welle that thoughe I faylle of thanke I shall nat mysse of pardon I can nat but admonyshe al my countray men in so plentifull an occasion that as the benefites of god be great straunge and almoste
traitours fele in their stomackes As god helpe me I can not thynke but god euen of very purpose reserueth the alyue onely bycause thy lyfe hath many mo tourmentes moche more shame in it then any cruelle deathe can haue God by thy lyfe declareth what rest thy trayterous soule shall haue after the eternall shame of this worlde For he that hath to dwelle where thou arte sure to be excepte thou amende must be exercysed with suche panges as thou arte euer in his lyfe lerne what hell hath what interteynement they haue that take vp their lodgyng there What greatter tourmente can be wyshed vnto the thaÌ„ al the world to knowe that thou by these abhomynable treasons haste cast away thy famylie whiche myghte haue continued in honour disteined thy bloud whiche before was myngled with a kinges and now is farre vnder a colyers what greater shame can comme to the then to be the dishonour of all thy kynne a comforte to al thyne enmies a deathe to all thy frendes All men that loue trouthe allegiaunce and honestie muste nedes be thyne enemyes all men muste hate the yea thy mother her selfe shall thynke her self worthy deth if she hate not the aboue all creatures All they whom frendeshyp and affinitie hadde in tyme paste knitte vnto the wyshe for no traitours dethe so moche as they doo for thyne O Pole o hurle pole full of poyson that woldest haue drowned thy countrey in bloudde thou thoughtest to haue ouerflowed thy prynce and soueraygne lorde thou thoughteste with thy traiterous streames to haue ouer rounne all to gether But god be thanked thou arte nowe a Pâ—le of lytel water and that at a wonderfull lowe ebbe Can I wysshe the any more hurt than that thou mayste lyue longe in suche shame in suche infamie as I thynke neuer traytour was in I thinke as obstinate a wretche as thou art if the falle of thy familye nothynge moue the that yet the voyce of thy countrey whiche sommetyme wisheth the deed in thy fyrst cloutes sometyme hanged sometyme in helle with thy great master the dyuelles vycar aboute thy necke were inough to make the chose a tree and there to doo as Iudas the capitayn of traytours whom thou trayterousely folowest dyd Hast not thou moch greater cause to say as Iob dyd than euer had Iob Who euer myght better say than thou who ought sooner to crie thaÌ„ thou Cursed be that day that I was borne in let that daye perish the night also in y e which it was said there is a knaue child coÌ„ceiued let that day be turned in to darknes let god neuer regarde it let neuer light shine vpoÌ„ it but euen to the worldes end be it couered with eternall darkenes Lette the dymme cloude fall vpon it let it be lapped in with sorowe let the darke storm ouercome that night let not the daye that I was borne in be rekened amonge the dayes of the yere nor counted in the monethes Let them that dispice that nigt and curse the day curse also the mornynge that folowed my birthe let it loke for lyght and see none bycause it shyt not vppe the wombe that bare me Alas whye died I not euen in my birth why dydde not I perisshe as sone as I came out of my mothers wombe why set they me vpoÌ„ theyr knees that nowe do brynge them all eyther to deathe or shame felowe to any deathe Whye gaue they me sucke with theyr brestes that now haue lefte no bloud ne life in their bodies Wherfore is light gyuen to hym that is in miserie and lyfe to them that haue heuy hartis life to them that longe for deathe and serche for it more than euer they dyd for any treasure Thou maist o wycked traytour say what thou lyste but thou canste thynke lyttel better of thy selfe thanne all thy countrey thinkith This I know thou hast causes mo than a thousande to say all this and more to The byshop of Rome his godly sowers of treson thought they had spun a wonderful fine threde and weaued a gay pece of worke whan they gate this Raynarde to play the traytour in a Cardinals apparell thinkynge ye and knowynge by their longe experience no garmente so fitte for oone that wolde take suche an enterprise vpon him This is a wede that seldome gro wethe where any good corne is but it hath the ouerhand and distroyeth it gayely He was made yea marie was he a great legate sent with moche authoritie but he retourned as wyse as they that thought he coulde haue wroughte myracles The sworde was seÌ„t to the king of Scottis before we being than encoÌ„bred with sedition and rebellyon at home this gay legate rydeth after to se whether ne were able to make the kynge of Scottes to pulle it oute of the sheath and vse it according to his intente that gaue hym the gyft was there euer beast so maliciousely sette to vndo his countrey for the whiche many menne haue gladly dyed or euer any stonye hart that so enuironned with a kynges benefites wold let none of theym enter into it so blynde that in suche a nomber coulde see none so vngrate that seinge soo many wolde be moued by none of theym What can thyn ennemies whiche are not only all englyshemen but as many as euer knewe whatte honestie meaneth what can they all wyshe the wors than that thou mayste neuer dye and euer fele that that traytours of thy sorte are sure to fele But percase as all our countrey men do deteste and abhorre this pestylent Cardinal as the vnnaturallest beaste that euer prince bestowed benefite on so fewe or none do knowe howe moche the marquese of Exetter and the lorde Montacute this traytours brother were bounde to the kynges highnes Fyrst the Marquise of Exceters father by king HeÌ„ry the .vii. most noble father to our moste dradde soueraygne lorde that nowe reygneth was for certayne treasons committed to prison where he lay in teoperdie of losse of landes and lyfe vntyll the deathe of the sayd kynge And not withstandynge there were gret and weighty matters layde ayenst hym yet our souerayne lorde that nowe is didde not only pardon hym of his lyfe and restore him to his landes and honoure but toke this his sonne into his priuie chaumber vsynge hym there moch more lyke a companyon than a seruaunt always encreasynge his landes and reuenues after suche sorte that if he hadde nat bene to vnnaturall he coulde neuer haue loued his own lyfe halfe so moch as the kynges welth honour A cruell change for most loue to reÌ„der grettest hatred O fondnes who might not haue ben content to serue suche a mayster to be subiecte to suche a prince yea what maÌ„ being th one and not thother being a subiect not a prince wolde not rather desyre to do his duetie to so noble so gentle so hygh a prince so louing a mayster then for to take frome hym his maiestie yea though he were sure to bryng
his trayterous purpose to effect But what thing doth not blinde ambitiō attempt his mouthe was euer full of these pratye sayinges I truste to see a chaunge of this worlde knaues rule about the kynge but I trust one day to gyue them a buffet he can be no subiecte that shall buffet rulers aboute a kynge no he thought to be none when he commaunded Kendall his manne to make as many men in a redynes as he coulde whiche myght serue within an houres warnynge He thoughte to haue worne the garlande when he tolde his frendes I truste to haue a fayre daye ouer these knaues that rule aboute the kyng I trust to se a mery worlde one daye But yet se howe he was deceyued god that hath wether at wyll wolde not so moche as gyue hym a fayre daye to dye in all his mirthe is ended for this worlde al ioye is paste he is gone and hath lefte to his sonne and heyre nothynge but sorowe nothynge but myserye excepte the kynge of his mercye beare hym more loue then his father dyd These be the fayre days that god sendeth vnto traytours this is the myrthe that they come to our lorde sende all traytours the lyke myrthe Surelye they that be as these were do but deceyue theym selfes if they loke for any better ende then they had God punissheth none so soone as vngrate persons bycause he wold haue vs not vngrate vnto hym And yet he hathe euermore greuously punisshed suche as shulde rebell and worke sedition against theyr hedes rulers Chore Dathan and Abiron maye make all men that canne lerne to aduoyde theyr owne hurte by theyr neyghbours obey where they ought to obey serue where they oughte to serue and not to repine ne to take vpon them rule where god hath appoynted them to be ruled You may rede howe god scurged these thre howe the erthe brake vnder theyr fete and swalowed them vp with theyr tabernacles all theyr substaunce howe they went alyue into hell there testyfyenge what punishement god hath prepared for rebelles for traytours for men disobedient to theyr hedes and rulers What loste our fyrste father Adam by his gay enterprise whiche thought to haue a fayre daye a merye tyme What loste he for ones disobeinge for theatynge of an apple a small thynge but euen all mankynd He was in Paradise a place pleasaunt beyonde all pleasures almoste all howres talkynge with god almyghty the eatynge of an apple brought him that he durste not shewe his face God cryeth to hym Adam where arte thou oute of what pleasure haste thou put thy selfe and in to what myserye I maye saye O Marques where art thou where is the fayre day thou lokedest for where is thye garlande Some men perchaunce woll saye they haue suffered for theyr trespasse they shulde nowe be at rest I answere thynges are written not so moche for malyce to the men as for the hatred that euery man oweth to treason There is no writer that can set theyr name and fame in worse case then it is All shame is in them whom treson hath defyled The raunsome of treason is more thā losse of life and goodes Mens tonges and pennes whan deathe hath done what she maye are bounde to worke ayenste traitours as moch as they may Traitours are euen styll to be rated no lesse then if they were a lyue and styll in fulle pourpose to brynge theyr tresons to passe ¶ Nowe on the other syde was the lorde Mountacute nothynge in the kynges debte was not also his mothers landes loste she a poore gentyll woman dwellynge amonge the systers of the Syon he a poore gentyll manne not hauynge a fote of lande towarde his lyuynge was it not a thynge worthy thankes to comme from nothynge to .iii. or .iiii. thousande marke lande his mother to haue this for her lyfe and he to enherite it after her decease had not this traytour cause to haue ben a true subiecte to his prynce a trewe seruante to his mayster was he not bound aboue a great sort of men to loue the kinges welthe and honour to serue his maiestye with all loyall harte and obeysaunce Myghte not this fonde or rather detestable traytour haue talked dreamed of other thynges then of the kynges deathe whiche oure lord kepe of euen as longe as nature with his helpe may maintein lyfe and all other that wold other wyse to folowe Montacute and his felowes Myght not he haue ben content with this world and the state he was nowe in leauyng his lewde prophecies of the world to come of the tyme that shoulde make hym his mery if he might tary it he might if god had not ben as contente to leaue hym as he was desyrefull to flee god and to kepe downe his worde and testament For as goddes ioye is to be with men that take ioye of his presence so beinge lefte and forsaken though his desyre be to do otherwise he leueth and forsaketh This I dare say if these men had not ben enemies to the gospel haters of goddis worde they coulde neuer haue fallen in to suche an abhomynable sorte of treasons Who knoweth not how these that are now deed howe the Marques and Montacute abhorred not only all readynge of scripture but al so all reders of it It was a cryme iudged greate inoughe for to put any theyr seruauntes out of seruyse if they were spyed with a newe testamente in theyr handes whether Reynolde that traytour put this in theyr heedes or whether god thought it best that they had chaplayns accordyng to their hartes menne desyrefull to kepe them styll from the knowlege of their duties from the light of god dis worde whiche they hated aboue all thynges I woll not discusse the sayinge is they bothe dyd well theyr partes As for Reinolde I am assured he ceased not to kepe his bretherne in errour which sent his mother word that if he knewe her to be of the same opinion that y e king is of he wold treade her vnder his fete mother his as she was What beast could vse suche langage to his mother excepte he had vtterlye forgotten the reuerence that nature techeth all creatures toward their parentes what pestilent harte reigneth in hym that hath suche a rancour to goddis worde suche a stomake ayenste the truthe Thou thou Raynolde art the very pole from whense is poured all this poison Thou haste slaine thy brother the Marques and thyne other brother was at deathes doore But for as moche as it pleased god to saue Geffreys lyfe and to tourne the vyolence of the knyfe to his saluation to the safetie of the kinges highnes and to the welthe of the hole realme the kynges grace takethe it to be goddis pleasure that Geffrey yet die not and hath pardoned hym all his offences so that his clemēcie hath saued Geffrey whome thy knauishe letters and messangers had broughte to the galowes Great pitie it is so sayth he and al the rest that euer thou