welnéere of all Italy is cleane shut out of the kingdom of Naples the Dukedom of Florence Ferrara Mantua Millaine Parma Vennis the state of Genua c. so that to come to his segniorie of Bologna he is driuen to the lower way by Racâ—…onati Maddona de Loreto Ancona and by exchange with the Duke of Vrbin patcheth a passage so that in respect of her ancient limits this proud Eagle is welniâ—…h brought into the case of Platoes cocke with neuer a feather on her back the end of this Eagle shall be confusion the text so saieth the lion shal rebuke her vnrighteousnes rent her asunder shal deliuer the rest of the people of trouble make theÌ„ ioifull The Lion of England euen King Henry the 8. and his posterity hath made a faire reuealement of this prophesie the godly expect that the Eagle shall vanish to nothing with the thundering blasts that the English Lion hath shal storme vpoÌ„ her she feareth the same therfore bendeth all her secret forces to disquiet the Lion S. Augustine long ago séeing certaine english boies to be sold as slaues in Rome thus prophesied bene vocantur angeli quia nitent vt angeli in quo regno euangelium dei florebit they are properly called English-men because they shine as Angels in which kingdome the Gospell of Christ shall floorish The learned Doctor Erasmus writing a paraphrase of the foure Euangelists dedicated the first to the Emperour the second to the french King the third to the noble King Henry and the fourth to the Emperours brother the Pope was wiped out of his trauell as one not destined to haue the protection of this pretious iewell To King Henry the eight he dedicated his paraphrase of S. Luke and in his Epistle wrote that he had sent him Luke the Physition by circumstances reputed his Maiestie through his godly and religious procéedings to be the spirituall Physition that by the working of the holy Ghost purged the soules of many from the grosse errors of Antichrist I leane not so much to these moderne prophises although there be a common Prouerbe Vox populi vox dei the Scriptures giueth light sufficient that from these partes the Gospell of our Sauiour should be visibly reuiued In the fourth Chapter of Cantica Canticorum be these words Vp thou north wind and blow vpon my Garden that the smell thereof may be caried on euery side yea then my beloued may come into his Garden and eate of the sweete fruite that growe therein This winde is vp at the Almighties call his commission is well blasted abroade This noble King Henry as it is interpreted this Lion this winde ordained and sent of God first shooke the wicked tyrant of Rome first blewe the blast that hath almost blowne his authoritie out of all Christendome The Pope in his quarrell almost armed all Christian princes against this Lion but they feared or failed to do him hurt In the Popes quarrell many seditions were sowen in England in fearing the communaltie that the King would begger them with impositions The Northerne men openlie rebelled and the whole realme was in armes readie bent against their proper intrailes but God frustrated the deuisers counsels and preserued vs from the wilfull murther of our selues When the kings power and the rebels were ready to méete he parted the armies with a suddaine swelling of the water while after a parle the Rebels were willing to acknowledge their faults and with the kings gratious pardon departed to their owne houses a wonderfull prouidence of God that would not haue the rebels perish in their ignorance nor the good subiects murthered in so vnnaturall a battaile The vngratious Cardinal Poole stirred a great power in France but the french were more afraid to venter then was king Henry in his aged daies that they woulde enter into England His mind was inuinsible and euen of God all his procéedings were blessed their happy successe testified no lesse who in the 37. yeare of his triumphant raigne ended his life in peace whose death made England vnhappy in that the most toward and godly prince Edward the sixt his only sonne and heire of the Crowne was of so tender age CHAP. 5. A sommarie of the most excellent gifts of King Edward the sixt THe godly and most toward yong Prince King Edward the sixt being but of the age of nine yeares began his raigne the 31. of Ianuarie 1546. This prince in his tender age was indued with such towardnesse wisedome learning and all goodly gifts as Europe seldome or neuer fostered the like By reason of his tender yeares the Duke of Somerset his vncle was made Protector both of the King and his Realme who for the discretnesse of his speach the wisedome of his behauiour and vertue that accompanied all his actions was worthely reputed to be better able to gouerne at tenne then many princes at thirtie yeares of age There wanted no gift of nature learning or education that might renowne a good King but that mightely grew in his yong yeares as the vndoubted heire not only of the crowne but of all the vertues of his most noble father He aduanced the Gospell to which by Gods holie spirit his godly father gaue frée passage in England whose deuout zeale witnessed that this heauenly blessing was no lesse planted by his Grace by his godly councels and wisedome By his especiall request and letters the Citizens of London erected thrée néedefull Hospitals viz. for the sicke and aged they erected S. Thomas Hospitall in Southwarke for the fatherlesse child and infant they erected Christes Hospitall and for the sturdy vagabond they erected Bridewell by his godly meanes this charitable worke was sowne His wonderfull victory against the Scots may not be forgotten where was slaine 13000. Scots and but 60. Englishmen And truly if his subiects would haue béen imitators of his pietie charitie temperance and other christian duties their enuy ambition crueltie and other gréeuous sinnes had not so highly moued Gods wrath as that his vengeance would not suffer vs in any perfect yéeres to enioy this right gratious King Edward sample of all goodnes and by his death for a time reaued vs of the fruition of the Gospell the foode of our soules and in place of both to further punish our vnthankefulnesse he sent vs a prince that held a hard hand ouer vs that not only stopped the passage of the Gospell but persecuted the godly professors thereof euen Quéene Mary good King Edwards sister part of whose actions followeth CHAP. 6. An abstract out of the proceedings of Queene Mary LADY Mary the eldest daughter of king Henry the eight began her raigne ouer the realme of England the sixt of Iuly 1553. Touching her naturall disposition she was vertuouslie and well giuen but by reason that her bringing vp was vnder Papists and her youth throughlie instructed in the superstitions of Papistrie anone after that she was setled in her
gouernment of Fraunce no otherwise then the auncient statutes of the Danes Britans or Saxons doe at this day the Gouernment of Englande This vnnaturall Lawe had a barbarous beginning for the reporters thereof confesse that anno 420. the Franconians hauing abandoned their Countrey inhabited along the Rhine and especially about Treues The manners of these people being barbarous they liued vnciuilly without Lawe Which considered by Pharamonde their first Kinge the sonne of their Duke Marcomir He chose foure of the principall men of the Sicambrians whom he authorised by their wisedomes to giue a Law vnto the people The names of these foure were Vsucast Losocust Salgast and Visogust These foure made the Lawe Salique by which Lawe Emperiall gouernment say they is taken away from the daughters and heires of the Kinges of Fraunce This dead Lawe and many other to as little purpose were reuiued to bury the true and lawfull title of King Edwarde the 3. to the kingdome of Fraunce in the right of Quéene Isabell his mother the daughter heire of King Phylip le bel But King Edward nor his successors would not loose their right vpon such canterburie suggestions And some of them subiected the Frenchmen to English obedience And to this day the Armes and Imperiall title of Fraunce are ioyned to the honour of Englande To what purpose doth the law Mentall in Portugal forbid feminine gouernment King Philip deriueth his title from Marie the daughter of Iohn the third of that name king of Portugal and by that title is possessed of the kingdome It is God that disposeth kingdomes and the works of busie heads that vnlawfully séeke to withstand the law of nature in succession To be briefe this inuectiue prooued but a scare-crow it was indiscreatly written and negligently regarded King Francis or more truely the family of the Gwyses ancored their hope vpon the Popes sentence and in all the kings patents and other instruments caused to be intituled Frances of France Scotland England and Ireland king and in his shield quartered the Armes of England and to conquer the kingdome Come era apparente as Guiccerdine reporteth dyuers french forces were daily conuayed into Scotland who tooke and by force kept the strong townes and fortrises there The inhabitants oppressed thus with straungers were for their owne safegard driuen to sew vnto the Quéenes maiesty of England for aid to expel the french who sought the spoile and subuertion of Scotland The malicious purpose of the Guyses ioyned with commyseration of the daungerous affiction of Scotland the Quéene whereof was married and gouerned in France and so barred to vse the lybertie of her Crowne bound the Queenes Maiesty by the vertue of honour pollicie and charitie to sucker them with expedition To accomplish which matter her Maiestie sent a sufficient power towards Scotland by the Duke of Norfolke as generall who remained at Barwicke and the Lord Greay of Wilton being Liuetenaunt entred into Scotland and with her royall power ioyned with the Scots against the french who were soone weary of the English-mens comming But almightie God had set downe a more milde order to honour her Maiesty with the vanquishment of her enimies then by dynt of sword to accomplish which her highnesse sent Syr William Cycill knight at that time her Maiesties principall Secreatorie and nowe Lord Treasorer of England for the full knowledge of whose excéeding worthynesse I retourne the good reader to the Athenians commendation of the Philosopher Euxin and with him accompanied the learned and graue Gentleman Master Doctor Wotton to treat with the french who with their wisedomes so vanquished the french as to the quietnesse and safetie both of England and Scotland they forced them to depart with this following dishonour as Guicherdine reporteth who if he be pertiall it is in fauour of the french First that the King and Quéene of Fraunce and Scotland should leaue the Armes and title of the King of Englande and Irelande and that within sixe monethes at the furthest they shoulde cancell and renewe all their writings and instruments if there were any so made with the former Armes and Titles Further that the Realme of Scotland should be gouerned by the Counsell of twelue persons of the Nobilitie of the said kingdome whereof seuen shoulde bée nominated by the Scotish Quéene and siue by the thrée estates of the Parliament That the iniuries and trespasses committed on either part during the commotion should be forgotten and for the better assurance should be confirmed by the said Parliament That the Garrisons of french souldiers should retourne into Fraunce sauing onely in two fortes sixtie a péece subiect to the Iustice and paie of the Parliament of Scotlande That euerie man shoulde be restâ—…red to his office in the saide Realme and that no french man should haue any more office benefite or administration what so euer in Scotland That the french shoulde not at anie time conuay Munition of warre or souldiers into Scotlande without consent of the saide Parliament with sundrie other straight obseruaunces on the behalfe of the french which Guicherdine concludeth Con grandissimo vantaggio honore della regina Inglese with the greatest aduauntage and honour of the Quéene of Englande a victorie no doubt of great glorie and honour Whereby her Maiestie not onelie deliuered her owne Countrey from the daunger of inuasion but also fréeed Scotlande from the bondage of forraigne Gouernment and thus her enemies hungring after an vnlawfull spoyle lost the disposement of an assured benefite which fortune befall to all those that miswish her Amen CHAP. 9. Of her Maiesties peaceable victorie against the rebels in the North ioyned with her quiet vanquishing of sundry other conspiracies to the vniuersall benefit of England PIus Quartus who succéeded Paulus 4. in the Popedome finding an abasemeÌ„t of the glorie with which his predecessours were honoured and fearing with all that the example of England Scotland Denmarke and Germanie would draw other Nations from the obedience of the Romishe erronious Church to the profession and receiuing of the Gospell of our sauiour Iesus Christ the life of the soule and destruction of this accursed Antichrist laboured with the consent of manie Princes to reuiue the Counsell or more properly the conspiracie of Trent A conspiracie I may iustly say the pollicy whereof was to kéepe vnder the glorious merite of our sauiour Iesus and to aduaunce to the highest degrée of reuerence the painted Idolatrie of the Pope And appointing for his Legates 5. Cardinals who with a great number of Bishops and other doctors of their Church the eyght day after Easter 1561. beganne this vnholy Counsell And truely as in the intent of their assembly was séene this saying of the Psalmist The kinges of the earth stande vp and the rulers take consell togither against the Lorde and his annoynted So likewise in their vaine idle successe this continuance of the Psalme is further séene He that
reported that his notorious crimes exceeded the dayes of his age which I ouerpasse as examples necessary for other purposes and vnto this impious parte I will ioyne this following crueltie Upon a day one tolde this naughtie Emperour that his cosen Mamertius Antomenes resembled him in comelynesse of bodie and magnanimitie of minde vpon which report Commodus pronounced death both vpon the reporter and his innocent cousen holding it for reason that it appertained to no man to vaunt lesse to resemble him and in my opinion if Antomenes resembled him in deuilish qualities death was too easie a scourge for so lewde a life Mulla Abdula father of Moley Mahumet commonly called the blacke king in whose cause the mortall battaile betwéene the king of Portugall and Amoley Muluco king of Fees was fought the 5. of August 1578. as in the alteration of the latter common weales by enuy shal be more largely shewen vpon an enuious suggestion that his brethren by the priuity in nature and bloud loked to liue in greater liberty then subiectes by the assistaunce of a noble man of the countrey called Alcatho Alley caused the throates of a eleuen of his brethren to be cut in one morning Now to conclude these particular tyrannies of enuye vnto which millions of notorious examples may be enserted the monstrous murders of king Richard the third a tyrant of our nation is worthy note in whose wretched end yet worthy his wickednes the happines of Englande began againe to florish and enioyed her auncient renowne This tyraunt at such time as he was Duke of Glocester with an enuious eye behelde the soueranity of king Edwarde the 4. his brother and yet inforced by necessity obeyed him For annoynted kinges with weake policies are not depriued but vnable to hold his hand from their throates who for their dignities toke the vpper hand of him against the lawes of honor with his impious handes he stabbed Prince Edward to the hart beeing taken prisoner at the battaile of Tewksbury Next like an Alehouse ruffen with his dagger he slew the infortunate good king Henry the sixt in the tower of London Then heaping murder vppon murder he caused George Duke of Clarence his naturall Brother to be drowned in a Butte of Malmesey And last though not the least to rowle vp a number of noble subiectes endes with the death of king Edward the fift and Richard Duke of Yorke the kinges brother his nephewes whom he caused to be murthered in the Tower and buried without honor to infame the name of king Edward the fourth and his posterity he pronounced his mother like a filthy harpye to be a strumpet and that the sayd king Edward was a Bastard and him selfe onely legitimate as I think sonne of the diuel for it séemeth wonderful that so inhumane a creature should take life of humane séed CHAP. 3. Enuy originall of warre and capitall cause of the destruction of the first Monarchies MAny yéeres after the beginning euery king qui etly enioyed the countries in his own possession vntil Ninus king of the Asserians enuying the soueranity of his neighbour kings put him self in armes vnlawfully to inlarge his owne dominions by deposing other froÌ„ their kingdoms Thus byenuy froÌ„ the bottom of hell came war by war confusion of deuine humaine blessings the aduauncement of thousandes of diuelish iniquities For whereas lawes giue place to armes the honor of God is wounded his word is misprised Iesus Christ is blasphemed and persecuted his Gospell is reiected and his Sacraments are prophaned fire is put to the house of the lord Wolues are thruste into his stéepefolde and wilde Bores among his vines truth and equity is peruerted charity is cold innocents and the iust are oppressed youth bee ill instructed publicke orders are broken discipline and rules of good life are abolished ignoraunce is raysed knowledge is abased proud ambitious and men of leaste estimation doe gouerne the learned wise and vertuous are disofficed as ideots and men of no merite countries bee vnpeopled fayre Cities are burned peaceable citizens are murthered their wiues and daughters are rauished their groundes lye vntilled goods compassed by the trauels of a mans whole life in one hower doe become the spoyle of a riotous souldiour And to conclude though short of a number of other curses which follow warre vice mounted in her chariot of triumph arrogaÌ„tly treadeth pore vertue vnder foot therby they that shold cry out of this outrage against God and man are dumb and the reformers of these enormities deafe these vengeances by war the enuious eye and ambitious hart of Ninus bred in the worlde which died not with the destruction of Th'asserian monarchy Notwithstanding enuy the erecter was the destroyer therof For Arbactus leiftenant of the Meades enuiyng the soueranity of Sardanapalus a man more effeminate then a woman by the assistaunce of other lords gaue battaile vnto the king Sardanapalus discomforted â—…led into his pallas there enuiyng the fortune of Arbactus more to reaue him of the glory of his triumph then moued by sorrow of his own defeat Sardanapalus set fire of his Pallas his wealth him selfe so by the prodigall spoyle of his life recouered the reputation of a man for manhood is most truely tried by constancy in the trembling passage of death The like enuious part was committed by Ariathes king of Capidocia who being ouercome in battail by Perdicas one of Alexanders successors fled into the Citye enuiyng Perdicas good fortune more then he lamented his owne mischance caused the city to be set on fire incouraged his souldiers citizens to slay their wiues children holding it lesse euill to die by the violence of friends then to liue a seruile life vnder the controlment of their enemies And by this means in truth he reaued Perdicas of the spoyle of his victory but did both vnto him selfe and countrey an iniury against nature and reason against nature in committing wilful murder vpon him selfe posterity against reason in that time was able to repaire his ruines of fortune But to kéep an order in discoursing the actions of enuy by the victory which Arbactus had ouer Sardanapalus the empyre of Th'asserians was traÌ„slated into the Meades which corse most conquerors adopted Princes euer since haue taken to crown their natiue countrey with imperiall title to leaue the places conquered or by other meanes gayned to the tyrannye of leifetenants Well this monster enuy which mortifieth the naturall affection of a father robbeth dutifull obedience from the son made the one of these the cause the other the ouerthrow of this second empire For Astiages the last king of the Meades receauing answer of the Oracle that his daughters sonne should gouerne his empire as it were to despight the Gods that had fore destined this honor vnto his daughters sonne vpon an enuious thought first
demaunded Papa cuius partis orationis sayd that papa was participii partis quia partem capit a clere partem a seculari partem ab vtroque cum totius orbis doloris significatione sine modis temporibus That is to say this word Pope is a Participle for he receiues of the spiritualitie he receiues of the temporalitie and parteth stakes on both sides without measure or ende to the great anguishe sorrow of all the world may truly be sayd somewhat I haue discoursed and much more other nations haue felt neither yet hath little England which some holde not part of the worlde bene exempt from his rauening crosses no better then curses but through his meane hath beene partaker of other countries calamities King Inas made the whole lande tributary to the Pope and further vpon suggestion that Thomas Becket archbishop of Caunterbury was slaine by the kinges consent the whole land was a great while in subiection and at the disposition of the Pope It is a wonder but that God would haue it so that no worthy Prince did vnmaske the painted village of this glorious Pope in so long continuaunce of his errour yea the continuaunce of his kingdome is a great matter of his glory and a colour that yet deceauesh many but Sainct Paule sufficiently aunsweareth the matter saying that God shoulde send such an efficacie in errour that men shoulde giue credite vnto falsehood not onely for a day but for a long continuaunce of time but as there was a beginning of all that is bisiblye seene so there shall be an ende of the greatest glorye that our eyes may behold And although the ten kinges figured by the beast with ten hornes in the seuentéene of the Apocalips which shall hate the whore and shall make her desolate and naked and that shall eat her flesh and burne her with fire is meant in that passage as a prophesie of the destruction of the Empire of Rome yet graunting the same you shall easely finde out Antichrist by the whore that sate vpon the seuen hilles before described I haue in the Chapter before touched the most of the tenne kinges which Saint Iohn speaketh of which destroyed and spoyled Rome But for that I haue not set them successiuely done in the other chapter but onely remembred those that entred Rome by force I holde it not amisse in this place breifly to remember them Radaigasus the first king of the Gothes which entred Italy with two hundred thousande Gothes can not be reckoned for one of them for that without doing any great damage he was ouercome taken prisoner and strangled by Stilicon captaine of the Emperour Honorius army 1 Alarick was then the first king of the Gothes and straunger that entred and spoyled Rome 2 Adolphus was the seconde who if the intercession of his wife Placida Honorius sister had not appeased his furye had vtterly subuerted Rome 3 Generick king of the Vandals was the thirde that spoyled Rome 4 Odoacer as some say a Saxon was the fourth king that punished Rome and first of all named him selfe king of Italy 5 Theodarich king of the Gothes was the fift who and his heyres occupied the empire 50. yeares 6 Athalarick Theodarich sonne was the sixt 7 Theodat successour of Athalarick also king of the Gothes was the seuenth 8 Vitiges was the 8. king this Vitiges left Rome naked of all her beautifull buildinges and auntient priuiledges 9 Tottill king of the Gothes was the ninth who destroyed Rome more then the rest and this wound lasted 42. moneths as it is written in the Apoc. 13. for it was three yeere and a halfe before Bellisarius repayred Rome after her first ruine by Tottill 10 Telas succéeded Tottil and was the last king of the Gothes that gouerned Rome who in the beginning of his raigne was vanquished taken prisoner and put to death by Nasetes chief of the Emperour Iustinians army In this sort did God chasten this Empire of Rome and albeit God hath appointed other then carnall weapons to confound Antichrist who being the enemy of God is threatned to be confounded by Gods owne worde yet to ioyne shame with his ouerthrow visible vengeance is séene to raigne vppon him For to what nation is not his deformitie knowne and as by peece meales he clymed to the highest degrée of worldly dignitye euen so by a lingring consumption he is almost wasted to nothing or in the best construction brought vnto a vile reputation and as I haue here showne his florishing pride and pompe euen so occasion will hereafter minister matter in sundry places of his ruine disgrace and daylye defeats whose vtter confusion God for his sonnes sake speedely graunt Amen CHAP. 7. Of the enuy of Sergius a monke of Constantinople who being banished for heresie fledde into Arabia vnto Mahomet by whose diuelish pollicies ambitious Mahomet forced the people to holde him for a Prophet which damnable sect vntil this day hath beene nourished with the bloud of many thousandes LAmentable and most lamentable are the blouddye cruelties manifested in my former discourses but this one act of enuy broched the extreamest venim of the diuell For although in my recited examples I haue published open iniuries both against God and man yet were they executed on those persons whose glory the enuious beheld or in the worst degrée to bury the remembraunce of their vertues which they imagined woulde lessen their account But this fact of Sergius was drawne many degrees more extreame who though he sufficiently bewrayed the enuie that he beare to his superiours authoritie béeng a Monke in Constantinople in that he raysed damnable heresies to make him selfe famous yet the sect of Mahomet which his accursed head first plāted in Arabia hath left an impossibility to Belzabub to scatter in the world a more blasphemy against God and iniury towardes men whose opinions buried millions of soules in hell whose bodies were to forme many hundred yéeres after his departure vnto the Diuell The actions of whom and originall of Mahomets sect ensueth Sundry are the opinions of what parentage and countrye this false Prophet Mahomet was Platinus sayeth that he sprong from noble line But Pomponius Letus a moste diligent authour in the abridgement of the Romane history affirmeth that he was of a race base vile and obscure which may the rather be credited for that a man so euill in whome was nothing worthye of memorye but malice and iniquitie may hardly be the issue of noble bloud Some saye he was a Persian some other an Arabian and both opinions not without reason for that at that time the Persians gouerned Arabia Touching his father were he noble or villayne sure it is that he was a Gentill and neither Iewe nor Christian by his mothers side the better opinion is that he descended from Abraham by the ligne of his sonne Ismaell whom he had by his Chamber mayd Agar and so as a Iewe obserued the lawe of
wicked practises haue compassed the death of a great many with all which procéedinges the Cronicles will largely acquaint the Reader And certainely if outward actions of barbarous crueltie may condemne the blasphemie of the Pope his ministers in Fraunce Flaunders and Scotland haue already sent the same vnto hell haue elected him to be the Archtyrant of the earth For where was there a more sauage crueltie euer coÌ„mitted then the massacre of Paris where by the traine of amitie the celebration of a marriage betweene the King of Nauarre and the Kinges sister which in outward appearaunce promised much peace and honour to the long afflicted realme the peeres of bloud and nobilitie of the religion to honour that wished accorde repaired vnto the Court where the good Admirall was slaine and by that stratageme or rather deuice of the Deuill many a thousand innocent and fearelesse Protestants in Paris and other cities of Fraunce were cruelly murthered which monstrous massacre although many other trecherous murthers in Fraunce reproch the Papistes with the extreamest name of crueltie is remembred with the blame and exclamation of the cruellest Pagans in the worlde This traiterous and butcherly warfare waspractised with the murther of the King and many noble men of Scotland The pretence of the tyrannical gouernment of the Spaniards in the low Countries and contrary to the auncient lawesof priuiledges â—…he said Countries at their first entraunce their killing and destroying of the principall nobilitie and persons most worthie of gouernement was coloured with the maintenance of the Romish religion but what excuse by religion haue they for the destroying and dishonourable murthering of many Romaine Catholiques among whome the right noble County of Egmond was that wayes especially affected euen forsooth some such reason as the theefe had who said he robbed none but Papistes when he spared not any that had a crosse in his pursse which crosse he tooke to be the marke of a Papist so the Spaniardes tooke these noble men for Protestants because they were of honourable dsspositions maintainers of their countries liberties and louers of vertue which are not the ordinarie markes of Papists the riches of these countries by common estimation aunsweared the vallew of the king of Spaines Indias and from this root procéedeth all their ruines The proud Spaniardes enuied the greatnesse of these Lordes and the prosperity of the people and to féed their owne wastefull humours they hungred after absolute dominion and possession of their riches In all matters of obedience that appertayned vnto the king they serued his maiestie with all faithfulnesse so that the Spaniard could pickt no quarrell of disloyaltie They were driuen to square about the Pope though these people obeyed the king they charged them with Catholicke disobedience vpon this cause as they alleadge more then these twenty yéeres the insolent Spaniardes with swoorde famine and many other cruell maners of death haue afflicted and destroyed the naturall people of those countries and haue ransacked spoiled the most of their fayre and rich cities And yet these proud Spaniardes vpon a true account haue neither gayned honor nor profit by the ruines of these most rich countries While the godly Prince of Orange liued the Spaniardes had many foyles and few honorable victories the compassing of whose death with the worthy destruction of their own mur thering instruments testifie the tiranous spirites both of the Pope and the king of Spaine that neither obey the lawes of God honor nor humainitie by working by anye meanes the deathes of their enemies After the good Prince of Orange was traiterouslye slaine the order whereof is vniuersallye knowne and condemned the afflicted people of these countrys by their increasing calamities soone missed the benefite of his graue counsels But God be praised for the life and happines of her sacred maiesty euen good Quéene Elizabeth who with a mercifull eye and a Princely hand hath both beheld and giuen large sucker to their afflictions to the afflictions of these appressed people of the low countries to them I say with royall defence publicke succour and to the persecuted ChristiaÌ„s of all nations as their calamities required her sacred maiesty euen her onely zeale and vertue hath preserued Scotlande from forraine outrage and ciuill destruction the yonge kinge of Scots whom God blesse with deuine and heroicall vertues confesseth her maiesty to be his mother by whom next vnder God he liueth and raigneth she hath giuen him a kingdome in redéeming of it foorth of the tyranny of straungers and disobedience of awelesse subiects Her mediation hath much pacified the furies of Fraunce and her clemencye hath refreshed the woundes of Portugall her mercy is the Phisition of forraine afflictions and her holinesse the sure grounde of Englandes peace and prosperity England at this day and from the first hower of her maiesties blessed raigne the wonder of nations England I say of absolute gouernments onely in peace onely in prosperity onely free from féeling the vengeance of enuy many enemies be thou thankful for this deuine protectioÌ„ Englande or rather Englishe men be you counceled by the ouerthrowes of the fore recited monarchies kingdomes and common weales I haue presented you with these conquestes of enuy that you may be fore warned of your worst enemy euen this monster enuy which euer more contendeth against peace and prosperity you are plentifully blessed with both the blessinges and vniuersally besieged with enuy It is miraculous that you haue escaped the mischiefe of all her stratageames and dangerous war The Athenians were ignoraunt of no pollicy to withstaÌ„d their enemy yet could find no defence against enuye but to tame and kéepe vnder their prosperitye they yéerly banished their noble men not such as had offended the law but those which the common people woulde haue banished their wisedomes made the common weale to florishe but neither their wisedomes nor force could banishe enuy out of the hartes of the people they feared this passion more then Alexanders power and good cause why for her venime poysoned Alexander her pollicy murthered Caesar and quelled most of the worthies We néede not search forraine examples to teach vs the power of enuy she destroyed the house of Brut at whose gouernment we begin our Englishe cronicles for Ferrex his brother Porrex striuing for sole soueranitie sought each others confusion Porrex slew Ferrex and their mother murthered Porrex in his bedde in whose deathes the linage of Brute was ended Enuy was the cause of the chaunges of gouernment by the Saxons Danes Britans and lastely the enuy betwéene Harold and his brother after the death of king Edward the confessor was the meane that crowned William the conqueror with the Diadem of England The mischief which enuy sowed in king Richard the secondes dayes brought forth continuall murders ciuill warres and deadly quarrelles during the raignes of sixe kinges that succéeded him To be short this passion since
tiranny of Princes they war without warrant that rebell against their worst kinges Were there neither authority deuine nor prophane to reprooue rebellion yet in their best quarrel destruction which is the ende of traitours sheweth their beginning to be naught God manye times suffereth both good and bad Princes to fall into the handes of their subiectes but woe be vnto those subiectes by whom either perishe We need no other torment to relish our present peace and prosperity then the remonstration of the ciuill warres bloudshed and manye grieuous calamities which for the space of 85. yéeres yea during the raignes of 6. kinges afflicted this small kingdome After the violent depriuement of king Richard the second from his crowne and dignity but in the end the Lorde hauing compassion of our manifold miseries séeing our priuate dissention ready to grow to publicke destruction euen when his wrath séemed to be moste hot euen then the beames of his mercy sodenlye comforted vs by the destruction of our arch tyraunt Richard the third who caused and committed more wicked saluadge murders then fiftéene of the most tirannous kinges of England But humbly confessing Gods prouidence with this old age Nullum violentum perpetuum This tiraunt that was giltye of the death of king Henry the 6. Prince Edward his sonne and his own naturall brother George Duke of Clarence and afterwardes within the space of thrée yéeres of his vsurped raignes caused his nephewes king Edward the 5. and Richard Duke of York his brother to be murthered in the Tower not caring for his alleageaunce towardes the one nor fearing to breake the sanctuary for the other who repudiated his owne mother offered to marry his brothers daughter as is a fore saide After these and many other murders without the procéeding of law this manifest monster the ende of Englandes ciuill misery was slaine at Boshworth field by that prudent Prince king Henry the 7. by Gods planting the root of Englandes happinesse and naked like a hog was carried vpon a bare horse backe to Lecester there buried who meriteth neither the monument of King nor Man CHAP. 3. A sommarie of the vertues of the prudent prince King Henry the seuenth THE fayrest buylding hath a foundation and the fruitfullest trée his root and albeit the beuty of either be in the outward attyre yet the strength of both consisteth in the inwarde substaunce And certainely in all discriptions the cause ought to be as well set downe as the effect that Anatomie is perfect that discouereth all the inward as well as the outward workemanship of man Uertue I grant conuayeth honor simply from a mans owne good actions yet the same is much inlarged if from desent to desent honor be issued from the monumentes of his auncestours vertues And sure the glorye of a man is much iniured or eclipsed that is blasoned but by his owne proper regardes when the same maye bee truely illustred by such auncient graces But touching my purpose some will suggest that as it is a needlesse labour to seeke a Diamonde with a torche which glimmereth in the darke so as bootelesse is the curiositie to deriue her maiesties glorye further then from her owne sacred vertues when her wicked enemies renowne her perfections and wilfully pursue their owne destruction through presumption that her excellencye is composed all of grace and mercye I am bounde reuerentlye to acknowledge that her maiesties perfection is the true discouery of imperfection and in this regarde absolute that enuye and the worste sworne enemies of God assault her prosperity yet if anye thing maye be added to extoll her name this meriteth regarde that the fruites of vniuersall comfort which her deuine and heroicall graces plentifully distributeth grow from the root of Englandes happines which no priuie conspiracy could vnplant euen king Henry the seuenth And of that gréene trée which the stinging Locustes could by no meanes wither king Henry the eight And doubtlesse who so shal zelously contemplate how that the prouidence of God euen in our greatest destructions alwaies sustained vs may easily perswade him selfe that God would haue his glory to sâ—…ine ouer the world next his word from the lights of this little Iland seperated as some write from the world or at the least ioyned to the outermost end thereof How easie a praye had we béene for the ambitious desire of some bordering king during the blouddye contention betwéene the two illustrous houses Yorke and Lancaster for imperiall dignitye but God would not our subuertion The history of Richard the thirds tiranny is a most lamentable cronicle yet the same considered by Gods prouidence assureth vs by that sharpe remembrance a remembraunce of his mercifull goodnesse in deliuering vs from a continuall calamity in she wing vs through the vnlawfull procéedings of the tirant a lawfull meanes to accord these two puissant houses But before this great blessing his incomprehensible wisedome so sharply scourged this realme as all her estates suppressed their priuate desires and hartely praied and laboured for this happy vnity who mercifullye regarding our patient bondage crowned king Henrie the 7. with title of both houses by taking to wife Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter to king Edward the 4. And albeit the end of our ciuill destruction in the beginning of his prudent raigne be sufficient alone to crowne king Henry the 7. name with euerlasting fame yet to gouerne vs right God indued this noble Prince with vertues answerable to so great a blessing as a general peace And certainly if Alexander surnamed Seuerus be reckoned among the number of the most wise emperors King Henry the 7. meriteth semblable title as the true imitatour of Alexanders gouernment King Henry the 7. entered vpon a kingdome no lesse disordered with continuall tumults then did Alexander with the vnmeasurable voluptuousnes of Helyogabalus the necessitye of time made him a seuere executioner of his lawes and testifieth the same to be deriued from perfect iustice he punished offences without respect of persons Honor was no plea for the mighty he iudged the trespasses of Lawyers with his owne knowledge of the law he onely pardoned ignoraunt offences and graciously relieued his poore subiectes oppressions he was thought somewhat too seueere in punishment But such murmuringes were no lawfull complaints to a fore that is deepe festered with corruption sharpe corsiues are to be applyed Euen so in a disordered common wealth seueere lawes are to be ministred He was a iust vertuous valiaunt and learned Prince a true distributour of peace plentye and prosperitye to his subiectes who in his life time had had a moste liberall portion of happinesse if in his dayes the Gospell of IESVS had had a free passage But leaue we Gods will therein who would not haue his outward temple builded in Dauids time but in his sonne Salomons and yet was Dauid a righteous man after the Lord in whose hand the harts of princes are had established a setled peace
in this long disquiet realme in the 24. yéere of his raigne he peaceably called this noble king Henry vnto his heauenly kingdome and as a visible signe that he blessed the ioyninge of these two kingly houses in one hee gaue vnto this noble king by Quéene Elizabeth his wife sundrye goodly children of which as the vndoubted heyre of the kingdome by both titles was crowned the victorious king Henry the eight CHAP. 4. A sommarie of the royall vertues of king Henry the eight THe most victorious king Henry the 8. sonne of king Henry the 7. beganne his triumphaunt raigne the 22. of Aprill 1509. whose inuincible courage was feared and admired through al Europe He was a moste bountefull Prince towardes well descruing subiectes the magnanimity of his countenaunce kept them in a louing obedience In the 5. yéere of his raigne a fore presagement that he should clymbe aboue the Pope of Rome The Emperour Maximilian the Popes lawfull soueraine and all the nobilitie of Holland Braband and Flaunders receaued wages vnder king Henries banner whose puissaunce discomforted and abashed the whole power of Fraunce This royall king besides that he was Alexander in fielde he was a Philosopher in the Uniuersity And in his great learning blessed his subiectes with the fruites of this olde Prouerbe happy are those people whose king is a Philosopher And doubtlesse where the Prince is learned the people are peaceably gouerned Science which containeth all duties with varietie of examples so liberallie instructeth the louers and followers of her lore In the thirtéenth yeare of his raigne the King wrote with his owne hand a booke against Martin Luther for which the Pope named him Defender of the faith but little fore-feared he that God would make him the capitall offender of the Romish superstition Saule breathing out threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lorde receiued a speciall charge from the high Priests for the persecution of all sort of Christians at Damasco but God whose wisedome iudgeth the determinations of men wrought a wonderfull change in Saule for of a persecutor he made him a faithfull Apostle and chiefe strengthener of the Gentiles Euen so gratiousâ—…ie dealed God with this most noble King whereas the Pope imagined to haue by this title made him the sustainer of hys Idolatrie God by his holie spirit moued him to vse the same to the first capitall disgrace of Antichrist the Pope But as the good Father Latimer certified his Maiestie the title Defender of the faith simplie considered was more then was due to any earthly prince wheÌ„ his holy word deliuered by his Ministers both fostered and defended the same But in as much as it was Gods good will that vnder this kings and his offsprings authoritie the same should haue the most visible protection it may be lawfully thought that it was his will that the Pope should so intitle him as foreséeing by his wisedome that this prince in his séed should ouerthrow the Popes vsurped authoritie the most publike enimie of the true auncient and Apostolike faith Many interprete this prophesie of Esdras ecce leo concitatus de sylua rugiens c. loe a Lyon hastely running out of the wood roring who with a maÌ„s voice reprooued the saucie and misproud Eagle to figure thys noble prince Henry the 8. The rauening Eagle that had the victory ouer the foure beasts which God would haue had rained in the world that troubled the méeke c. is likewise interpreted to be Antichrist the Bishop of Rome The Armes of Rome which is the Eagle and the actions of the Pope wel approueth their interpretation Now who is more like to be this Lion that came roring out of the wood and shewed the rauening Eagles villanies to all the princes of the earth then King Henry the eight who euermore stoutly defied the Pope who euermore plainely painted his murthers deceits and abhominations then King Henry the 8. nay who first catched him by the throte but King Henry the 8. When all christian princes stood in awe of his curse he banished all his authoritie out of England when the meanest Bishops in other realmes would checke their Kings in his cause he caused the whole Cleargy by his learned Councell to be iudged in a premunire for mainteining the power legantine of Cardinall Wolsey who being called by processe into the Kings bench were glad by submission to pray pay á hundred thousand pounds for remission When other princes feared to murmur against the Pope secretly King Henry in the name of himselfe and his Nobles wrote a booke against the counsell appointed by the Pope at Mantua signifying to the whole world that the Pope had no more authoritie then an other Bishop and how that the appointment of Counsels only appertained to the Emperour and other Princes of Christendome What Lion was euer so bold with the Eagle of Rome as this Lion of England What Lion is so like to come roring out of the wood as the Lion of England The Lion of Vennice commeth out of the water The Lion of England is proper passant bowes and arrowes which are his strength commeth out of the wood I would the Popes english fauourers would wey this prophelie with the pride enuy outrage both of diuine humane blessings setled in the hart and séene in the actions of this Emperious Pope and then by allegorie they would peraduenture repute him to be this ambitious Eagle signified by the armes of his sea capitol city Rome And on the contrary part if with the like regard they would behold the wonderful disgraces that this noble king by himselfe princely children hath daily giueth this enuious Pope they should haue large cause to beléeue that our Lion signified by the armes of England with his mans voice should set this misproud Eagles head awâ—…y should vanish his wings weaken his kingdome in fine set his whole body of fire If they had any sence they might féele that our Lion in the name of the Lord thus saith hence thou misproud Eagle appeare thou no more neither thy horrible wings thy mischeuous heads thy rauening clawes nor thy hollow body coÌ„pact of vanities The cause straight foloweth that thou once gone the earth may be refreshed that thy kingdome once fallen men may returne to freedom c. I demaÌ„d what reckning they caÌ„ make of the egles 12. wings that ouerspread the earth by Gods appointment since our Lion first shoke him vp or as the text saith since the wind K. Henries thuÌ„dring voice spread abrod his wickednes Sée if EnglaÌ„d be not shronk froÌ„ him ScotlaÌ„d denieth him Hol and Brabant and Flanders delieth him Germany paints him as a moÌ„ster Denmark is parted froÌ„ him France is deuided Polland is indifferent if Spaine Italy be constant they be well paid for their frendship The Eagle the Pope that sometimes was capitalis dominus as well as summus pontifex
kingdome by suffering the bloodie Bishops to misuse her Emperiall sword she in their procéedings outragiouslie tyrannised the true professors of the Gospell which God her noble father and good brother his instruments bée therefore praysed had taken a sound holde in the hart of England whose crueltie and contrarietie in Religion may no wayes slaunder her godlie father and his off-spring We sée the Rose trée that bringeth foorth the swéete Rose lykewise bringeth foorth sharpe prickels but to come more néerer the matter the kyrnell of the best apple will growe to be a crabbe vnlesse some good fruite bee grafted on the stocke and looke what the Sience is suche will be the trée looke what is â—…owen in youth is euer séene in age the following example teacheth a good pollicie to haue an eie vnto Schoolemaisters and the education of Papistes children The séede of Idolatrie superstition and send Ceremonies were sowne in the heart of Ladie Mary béeing a childe which grewe to the disworship of God and the destruction of the godlie Ladie Mary béeing a Quéene But God no doubt suffered thys prickle to growe of thys gréene Rosier and thys irreligion to be grafted of thys religious stocke to chasten the sinnes of England who hauing a righteous Prince peace and plentie both of spirituall and temporall blessings neyther saluted the giuer of thys goodnesse with hartie thankes nor sought the continuance thereof with a dutifull regarde of the Kings Maiestie but in some of her members hauing an eye fixed vppon the Kings tender yéeres and not an hart setled vppon hys firme vertues she began to worke matters hatefull to GOD offensiue to the Prince and most hurtfull to her selfe and therefore God 〈◊〉 Englande of the most milde vertueus godlie and well disposed Prince King EDWARD the sixth and in wrath sente vs euen suche a Prince as the Prophete speaketh of that shoulde oppresse vs with most greeuous bondage that should by taxes great impositions take froÌ„ vs the fruites of the feeld vineyards oliue trees and should giue them to his lords and seruants Euen Quéene Mary that imposed many great summes of money vppon vs to enrich strange Lords that by committing the waightie affaires of the publike weale to Bishops almost wilfully lost Callis an auncient ornament belonging to England which Citie the notorious Atheist Gardener vaunted that he would kéepe with a white wand an vnlikely matter that his courage serued him to defend Callis against the power of a puissant King with a white wand that armed troupes to gard the vnresisting Martyrs to burning but which stained her gouernement with euerlasting crueltie she by her ministers in fyue yéeres tyrannouslie burned fiue times more innocent and quiet Protestants then good Quéene Elizabeth in 27. yéeres raigne by her lawes hath executed notorious Papists that committed treason when my soule durst sweare that there be double the number of the poore Protestants that then constantly professed the holie Gospell that now in their harts wish her Maiesties depriuement both of life and crowne and yet liue This persecution made many to flée the Realme for their consciences sake but they sought not libertie by rebellion they confessed this bondage and persecution to procéed from the Lords heauie displeasure and humblie awaighted his fauour for their deliuerance No one hath more cause to exclaime of this hard gouernement then our gratious Quéene Elizabeth She was not entertained like the daughter of a mightie King and heire apparant of a rich kingdome Good Lady she was emprisoned her attendance small her libertie nothing When her innocencie disprooued publike accusations the Cleargie sought her life by secret tyrannie sought it do I say yea they had wrought it had not God beyond mans expectation wonderfully deliuered her Maiestie her assured friends despaired of her worldly welfare her Maiestie that behelde the bloody knife a sharpning misdoubted not her deliuerance Her friends trembled because there was no measure in the Papists crueltie her Maiestie looked chéerefully because she knew the Diuell had no might but such as God suffered In the holie Bible the louing embracements whereof was her Maiesties persecution her excellencie had learned these pretious comforts and in them reposed The Lord sayeth Who so honoreth me him will I make honorable In another place Dauid sayeth Who so dwelleth vnder the shadow of the almighty him God couereth with his wings and keepeth safe vnder his feathers I know saith he the Lord helpeth his annointed and euen from heauen heareth them Some trust in chariots some in horsses but we in calling vpon the Lord. God can and oft times doth pine man and beast euen in the middest of plentie God where he setteth too his hand worketh wonders and sturdie strength standeth in no stead God thus speaketh to Dauid and yet by a spiritual interpretation maketh like promise to all kings and princes that hartely séeke his glorie Because thou hast set thy loue vpon me I will see thee rid from all thy troubles I will defend thee why so it followeth Thou hast knowen my name thou seekest my glorie and therefore whensoeuer thou callest vpon my name I will heare thee yea I am with thee in all thy calamities and will deliuer thee from them I will set thee higher in honor send thee long life and shew thee thy saluation Her Maiestie builded vpon these comforts her soule desired and hoped to be an instrument of his wonderfull glorie examples of Scripture told her that those whome God had appointed to any speciall seruice euen those he guided through mortall dangers he preserued Ioseph from the murthering enuy of his brethren to saue old Iacob his father his malitious brethren and al Israel from the sharp death of famine Against the tyranous decrée of Pharao which was that the Midwiues should kill all the male children of the Hebrewes his prouidence saued Moses from drowning and made him his instrument to leade the children of Israell out of the bondage of Pharao vnto the land of promise God in the deapth of the sea fetched Ionas the Prophet foorth of the Whales belly to saue Niniuey from destruction God deliuered Peter forth of the prison tirannie of Herod the Iewes that he might open the gates of faith and preach the way of saluation euen vnto his enimies God sundry waies miraculouslie deliuered Paule from the vengeance of death to preach the Gospell of saluation vnto the Gentiles at Philippos in Macedonia he caused him Sylas to be deliuered forth of prison In Lycaonia the Iewes the people stoned him and drew him forth of the City as a dead man God raised and reuiued him againe God againe redéemed him out of the hands of the Iewes when as forty of them swore they would neither eate nor drinke vntill they had slaine Paule yea God in his extremitie stood by him comforted him saying Be of good cheere Paule for as thou hast testified of me at
Ierusalem so must thou beare witnesse also at Rome God had appointed him the rest waighty charges the execution whereof the malice of men might not withstand examples of great comfort to the godly terror to the wicked The godly may learne by them that his mercy succoureth them in the sharpest aduersitie and the wicked may be assured that his iustice will confound their policies in the chiefest hope of successe Her Maiesty to whom I euery way may apply the former examples beset with death as dangerous as Daniel in the Lions den as after in her own thanks-giuing may be séene comforted her self in the strength of God which always defended her which good God hauing compassion both of her patient suffering the general affliction of his Church mercifully burned the rod of correction by calling away Quéene Mary setting of gratious Elizabeth in the emperiall chaire of England France and Ireland for which excéeding mercie his holy name be praised Amen CHAP. 7. Of the peaceable entrance of Queene Elizabeth our gratious soueraine vnto the crowne diademe of England and other obseruances of Gods especiall fauor mercy IT is commonly séene that vpon the death of princes enuy ambition dissentiō shew their humors that secret discontentment breaketh forth w e publike disturbāce And although in England hereditary succession be a great bridle vnto these passions yet vpō such changes they many times haue foūd the meanes to shew themselues as after the deathes both of king Edward the 4. king Edward the 6. vpō the death of Quéene Mary the difference in religion was a likely cause to sow discord among the people But almighty God that had as it were by especial miracle preserued our gratious Quéene Elizabeth the visible image of himselfe frō the spoile malice of dangerous enimies aforthand prouided that her sacred Maiestie should receiue hir crowne in peace should gouerne hir people in peace my hope doth assure me where she now peaceablie raigneth her maiesty shall long liue and die in peace who the 17. day of Nouember 1558. the very day of Quéene Mary her sisters death with the sound of a trumpet both at Westminster and in the City of London was proclaymed by the name of Elizabeth Quéene of England France Ireland defender of the saith c The newes wherof raised a suddaine ioy amōg the people so harty as their louing affectiō was presently séene by publike feasting banqueting benefiers in the open stréets The 23. of Ianuary following her Maiesty from the Tower passed through the City of London toward her Coronation but before her Chariot set forward her Maiesty lifted her eies vp vnto heauen and acknowledged Gods mercie in this thankes-geuing O Lord almighty euerlasting God I giue thee most harty thanks that thou hast been so mercifull vnto me as to spare me to behold this ioifull day and I knowledge that thou hast dealt as wonderfully with me as thou didst with thy true faithful seruant Daniel the prophet whom thou deliueredst out the den frō the cruelty of the gredy raging lions euē so was I ouerwhelmed only by thee deliuered To thee therefore be only thanks honor and praise for euer Amen Her maiesty by this thanksgiuing published her sure confidēce in God the effects the tyranny of hir enimies and the conclusion a speciall comfort to the godly The Citizens of London to shew thei rzeale in welcome of her Maiesty attyred the Citie with many stately shewes the most whereof they deriued from her proper vertues who was the liuely substance of all their painted bewties The first pageant shewed the long desired vnitie which God her maiesty be thanked is knit betwene vs and the holy Gospell of our Sauiour Christ. The second set foorth the seate of gouernāce which her maiesties liuely vertues bewtified more then their gorgious deuises The third which they applied vnto her maiesty depainted the 8. beatitudes mentioned in the 5. of S. Mathew truly if any earthly creature deserued them they are worthely heaped vpon her maiesty God hath blessed her humble spirit both with a spirituall and temporall kingdome God hath dried vp the teares of her persecution with spiritual tēporal cōfort God hath blessed her méekenes with large possessions on earth God hath blessed her scarcetie for righteousnes sake with abundance God hath blessed her mercy with the fulnes of his mercy God hath blessed her chaste vndefiled hart with the sight of himselfe in the true knowledge of his holy word God hath blessed her trauell for peace as his proper child with the visible image of himselfe God hath blessed her periceution for righteousnes sake in assuring her soule of the inheritance of his heauenly kingdome God hath blessed her to reuenge the reuiling and persecution of the Papists with the disgrace ouerthrow of the Pope The fourth declared the ruinous state of this realme which as they prophesied is by her maiesty restored to the dignity of a florishing common weale Yea in her miraculous procéedings an old by prophesie is effected which was A mayden Queene should do wonders in England The fift compared the expectation which her heroycall vertues promised with the politike gouernement of the worthie Debora Her maiestie was in Cheape side presented with the holy Bible in English which she reuerently kissed and thankefully receiued as hir spirituall comfort her temporall crosse and godly counseller The Maior of London presented her maiesty a thousand marks in a pursse with humble petition that she would cōtinue their good lady she gaue answer that if néed required she would willingly spend her blood in their defence which magnanimious saying all her after actions haue declared Although this most royall entertainement shewed the dutifull loue of her faithfull subiects which zeale God hath requited with many blessings yet Gods wisedome that comprehendeth all knowledge foresawe that her Maiesties clemency compared with Iulius Caesar that would not heare the accusation of his enimies with Augustus who gaue life to Cinna that sought his life with King Frances the first of France who pardoned the commotion of the Rochellers adioyning therevnto that he chiefely reioyced that his seueritie caused no man to weare a moorning gowne clemencie well bestowed that both inlarged the renowne and safetie of these princes for Pompeys friendes were thereby wonne to Cesar Cinna became most faithfull to Augustus and the Rochellers afterwards loyally obeyed King Frances but God I say who knew the greatnesse of her Maiesties compassion would rather bréede presumption then dutie in her dangerous enimies therefore to rid her roiall person realme and good subiects whome he determined to blesse from continuall conspiracies his mercy ioyned with iustice alittle before and after the death of Quéene Mary caused death likewise to attach the bloodie Atheist Steuen Gardener Bishop of Winchester the seditious Cardinall Poole and others whose heads were alwaies occupied with
authoritie or dissention Yea about this time that the fall of Antichrist might be visibly séene by the taking awaie of such Christian princes as were his setled supporters when as Lodowicke Guiccerdine reporteth ther was not any where either brute of pestilence or extraordinarie disease there died within the space of one yeare the Emperour Charles the fifth the Quéene of Hungary Quéene Mary of England two Kings of Denmarke Bona Sforza Quéene of Polonia Henry the third king of France Ierolme Priuli Duke of Vennice Hercules da este Duke of Ferrara and Paule the fourth Pope of Rome a change verie vniuersall wherein Gods prouidence is not to be ouerpassed with a light consideration whose will vndoubtedly was by the change of these princes the most of them drunken with Poperie to make a ready passage through Europe for the gospel of our sauiour Iesus Christ which vpon this change began to florish in most of the recited gouernements And albeit the fall of Antichrist in many places of the scripture be liuely presaged vpon the authority whereof there is sure and sound building when the prophesies and dreames of a number are but rotten foundations yet I hope I may without iust reprehension say that God many times acquainteth the minds of some good men with an imaginatiue knowledge of things to come which many yéeres after falleth out according to their presagement and for example belōging to our matter the reformation of the Church vnder her Maiesties raigne before her noble fathers death was set downe in this following prophesie Post H sequetur E post E quod mirum M M coronabitur breue confundetur Post M sequetur E vel A Et tunc conuertetur ecclesia In English E shall follow H next E with wonder M M shall be crowned and soone confounded Next vnto M E or A shall raigne Then shall the Church conuerted be againe Noble King Henry the eight first vnmasked this proude Pope King Edward the fixt the parragon of yong princes helped to vncase him Quéene Mary fauoured but liued not to strengthen him and now our soueraigne Elizabeth hath geuen him a mortall disgrace his painted Church abideth not the tuch Gods Church is vniuersally reuerenced The multitude are more delighted to reade a fewe godly sentences written vppon the Church wall then to sée his rarest rotten reliques layde vp in a golden chest Against her Maiestie he principally warreth as the chosen instrument of almightie God to abase his imperious mind to the wonder of the world and comfort of all good Christians CHAP. 8. Of the peaceable and honorable victorie that her Maiestie had against the french forces in Scotland which were raised with a determination for the inuasion of England the second yeare of her Maiesties raigne AFTER the death of Henry King of France his sonne Frances the second succéeded in the kingdome of France a prince of the age of sixtéene yéeres who being married vnto Mary Quéene of Scots and néece to the Duke of Guise suffered the affaires of the estate to be gouerned by the ambitious policy of the Duke and family of the Guises who hauing wished successe in their practises in Quéene Maryes dayes about the winning of Callice hoped and hungred after the spoile and conquest of England And the better to colour their purpose they intituled the King of France in the right of the Quéene his wife to the Crowne of England and knowing the difference betwéene the Quéenes Maiestie of England and the Pope in matters of religion they easily obtained of Paulus the fourth a disablement of the Quéenes Maiestie and an approouement of the Quéene of Scots right but King Frances had béene well aduised if he had not accepted this gift vntill the Pope had set him in possession of the kingdome which would haue troubled both him and his whole Colledge of Cardinals This depriuation by the Pope the Guises practised to moue the Papists of England to their part taking and arming theyr purpose by degrées to worke a feare in her Maiesties loyall subiects they wrote a booke of the weakenesse insufficiencie of feminine gouernement and by their owne reasons wounded the strength of their owne title which they deriued from the Quéene of Scots This scandale of feminine gouernemente was soundlie aunswered by an vnnamed authour in an english printed book at Strasbrowgh entituled A safe harbor for good subiects And truely although the soueraigne place of rule the chiefe credit of knowledge in Artes and Mecanicall craftes together with all other giftes of grace nature and education be giuen vnto man yet there haue béene women that in all maner of artes qualities and vertues which haue equalled the perfitest of men Innumerable are the testimonies of womens profound learning pure chastitie rare constancie patient martyrdome and a number most valiant whereof Chawcer reciteth nine Woorthies aunswerable to the nine Woorthies of men And touching regall gouernement from whence this question is deriued the Iewes recorde the sage gouernemente of Quéene Alexandra with more renowne then they did the tyrannie of her husband Alexander with reproch whose bodie they were determined to haue giuen vnto the dogs as also to haue murthered his two sonnes to haue rooted out Alexanders name if that her wisedome had not redéemed out either Theodosia the Empresse of Constantinople with admired prudence ruled the whole Empire during her life The gouernement of Senobia was no lesse renowmed Dydo the Amazones and many other were absolute Quéenes Semiramis enlarged the bounds of her Empire and Quéene Tomyris slewe Cyrus and his whole hoaste c. But if the enuy of men would suppresse and murther the worthines of women yet the diuine vertues of our soueraigne Quéene Elizabeth doth and will alwaies kéepe aliue their diuine memorie Of whome Guiccerdine in his Commentaries although all his writing defendeth the pope and reproueth Religion thus reporteth The good Queene Mary being dead without issue Elizabeth her sister was proclaimed Queene c. a Princesse of great learning and ouer and aboue the Laten and her mother toong she is possessed of the French and Italian language which she eloquently speaketh a yong Lady of a hye spirit wise and endewed with rare and noble qualities He might haue added the Greeke Spanish and some other ordinarie tongues with many extraordinary vertues which may as hardly be sampled by anie other lyuing Creature as the Sunne by the fairest of the Planets The worthinesse and strength of whose Gouernment euen from the beginning confuted the scandule of this lybell which was grounded vppon noe generall Lawe of God or man There haue béene priuate Lawes in some perticular Gouernments to take away and to disable the absolute gouernment of women when the generall Lawe possessed them with Imperiall authoritie As in Rome the Law Voconia so called because Voconius Tribune of the people pronounced the same In Fraunce the law Salique which they fetch from king Pharamond which bindeth the present
cut down like the grasse and be withered like the greene hearbe The bosting of the tyrant shal be abased and the desire of the vngodly shal perish And in many other places he heapeth vengance vppon the wicked and pronounceth confusion of their Counsels Againe he promiseth millions of blessings vnto the godly and safe deliuerance out of their enimies hands England hath plentifully tasted of all this goodnesse and with the Psalmist may iustly say The Lorde will be a defence for the oppressed euen a refuge in dew time of trouble It is alredie reported what sundrie seasonable victories Noble Quéene Elizabeth where the vengance of war scarce fastined of any one person saue her enimies hath had from the first houre of her blessed raigne vntil anno 1580. which yere the Pope had prouided a Challice to drink her maiesties pretious blood the king of Spaine expected her Crowne and the Duke of Guise to be domine factotum in Scotland Regard the strength of their pollicie and easinesse of their confusion and you shall plainly sée that the wisedome of the world is folishnesse before God The king of Spaine had prouided a mighty power vnder pretence of some exploit in Aphrica for the inuasion of England Don Iohn should haue maried haue done wonders with that army with which I purpose not to medle but God be praised Don-Iohn was faire buried The yeare was not too farre spent for the king of Spaines purpose who had lost al his cost if that the old king of Portugal had not that yeare dyed with which power he inuaded that kingdom The Duke of Guise should haue occupied Scotland with martiall exercise but the troubles in Piccardy and Dalphine so weakned his strength as his purpose was more then half maimed somwhat was attempted in Scotland but not to the expected purpose The Pope he vndertooke the matter of Ireland and as he thought had laid a sure foundation he picked out a daungerous instrument for his purpose euen Iames Fitz-morice a natural Irish a man wise valiant learned and of great experience in martial affaires he was a great traueller and I may safely say to stir vp troubles which powred destruction vpon his own head This Iames Fitz-moris was sent before to make a passage for the Popes power anno 1579. he ariued in Ireland soone intised the Earle of Desmond Sir Iohn his brother to be traitors but as wise as stout as this traitor Iames Fitz-moris was he was yet peaceably confounded euen in the entrance of his mischieues for he purposing to burne the countrie of the Borkes a noble yong Gentleman in the defence of his fathers country slew him before he saw any successe of his conspired treasons The Popes malice might haue bin quailed by the presagement of euil successe hauing his ankor principall Captaine Fitz-moris thus peaceably vanquished but he incensed more with the displeasure of his death then restrained with the cogitations of Gods prouidence armed his power against Ireland and comforted his souldiers that they shoulde finde in that Countrie manie more friendes then enimies his Cappitaine Fitzmoris had seduced some of the principals and his legate Doctor Saunders had bewitched the multitude vpon a hope which hetherto hath deceiued him the Pope vnder his banner sent out of Italy dâ—…ers Capitaines and bands of souldiers of his owne furnished with treasure munition victuals ensignes banners and all other things requisite for the warre into the Realme of Ireland where the same forces with other auxillier companies out of Spaine landed and fortified themselues very strongly vpon the sea side and erecting the Popes banner proclaimed open war against her Maiesty I am bound by the duety of a true subiect to set downe the ioy and cheerefull behauiours of the English fugitiues in Rome vpon the newes of the Popes forces safe landing in Ireland to the end that those which will beleeue a trueth may knowe that the comming of these disguised Iesuites was absolutely to practise to bring the realme into a warre externall and cyuill hoping by an alteration of gouernement to bring in a change of Religion and not simply as they smothly pretend to saue their Countrie mens soules without any motion of disobedience to her Maiestie their lawfull Quéene In the beginning of Nouember 1580. I returned from Naples to Rome at which time the newes was freach in Rome of the Italians Spanyards ariual in Ireland who promised a wonderful hope of a great victorie against her Maiestie and truely the newes was not so quicke in the Romaines tongues as the ioy was fresh in the English mens faces they could not suppresse the reuealement of their traiterous hearts their common speach was The time drew on that the continuance of the heretikes prosperitie for so they termed the Protestants would make their ouerthrow more gréeuous they so assured themselues of the change of her Maiesties gouernment as in a maner euerie man painted out his owne office The matter was so sure in their owne imaginations as some few that pretended a sorrow for Englands myserie wished that the onely vengeance might light vpon her Maiestie and some of her Maiestrates but they further said that God would not haue it so his iustice could not but send a general subuertion to reuenge the iniurie done vnto so many holy Catholikes which for their Consciences were driuen forth of their countrie with these and such like words they published the wishes of their hearts no one one onely except that in word or gesture séemed to be sorie that straungers should haue dominion in their natiue Countrie wherein they shewed to haue dispositions more vilanous than the seditious Iewes when Ierusalem was beseiged by Titus who although they continually killed one another with cyuill frayes yet to withstande the assault of the Romaines they would in their egerest scyrmiges part themselues and vnite their forces to withstand the forraine enimie Nature teacheth sauage mastiues who how cruelly so euer they fight togeather at the sight of a Beare they will part themselues and fal vpon their natural enimy but these be worse then Mastiues and without they amend God send them the destinie of Dogges And now to the matter of the former newes they ceased not to importune the Pope to sucker his force in Ireland with newe supplies to which end Cardinal Forze with present Commission all along the lower way by Raconati Loretto Ancona and so to Bologna in the Popes proper dominions mustered pressed souldiers 3000. Caliuers were in a readines to be shipped at Lygorne but this preparation was not so spéedie but before al things were set forward Rome receiued newes that the most worthy Captaine the Lord Gray her Maiesties deputie then in Ireland had vanquished and put all the Italian and Spanish souldiers to the sword a few of the principall Captaines except they could not vaunt that they dyed with the
light account of her enimies threates as shée scorned to report Parries suspitious words vnto her graue Counsell furthermore to cléere her Maiestie from the least bleamish of Tyrannie there néedeth no other testimonie than the confession and records of rancke Traitours It appeareth in Parries and Throgmortons voluntarie confessions that her princely clemencie stayeth all sharpe courses against such Papistes as liue like obedient subiectes when that Lawe adiudged them death their last hope was in her excéeding mercie Throgmorton craued mercie with this acknowledgement of which many haue tasted and few haue beene depriued Parry confessed that the manifold vertues which shined in her Countenance euermore made him lose his resolution to kill her maiesty Forraine writers in their books haue made questions whether the greatnesse of her Maiesties mercie were a vertue more holy in her maiestie or daungerous for her good subiectes because it bread presumption in those that are euill affected I protest before God who I knowe heauily punisheth wilfull periurie that I hearde a Papist in Rome afore some of his companions wish and make choise to be her Maiesties prisoner in the Fléete rather then as he was the Popes pentioner in Rome and truely her imprisonment is more large than the Popes allowance saue vnto such persons which make shewe of seditious spirites Furthermore the long raigne and manifolde blessings which almightie God plentifully bestoweth of her Maiestie euidently declareth that shée is no tyraunt whose Raignes are for the most part short and their deathes violent Yea these Calumniers and Lybellers with these shameles detractions slaunder their owne knowledge which is that her mercie giueth life to condemned Papistes if that their Religion safe they will but acknowledge Ecclesiasticall supremacie to be one to her Maiestie which the Pope and all his power cannot plucke from her To conclude no one what so euer his offence be is put to death in case of Treason and Felonie except the Consciences of twelue sufficient men finde him guiltie and this I may truely say although Englande bée small in comparison of France or Italy yet her mercie pardoneth more that are conuicted by the Lawe than the king of Fraunce and all the princes of Italy It is a wonder to sée the wilfull stubbornesse of these vngratious Iesuites howe they striue against their owne knowledge howe shamelesly they slaunder the mildest course of Iustice that euer ciuill pollicie administred in any common wealth but chiefely how impudently they reproch her excellent Maiestie with tyranny when that her mercie is written in all the Capitols of the worlde their venim sheweth that they are euen those of whom the Psalmist saith They speak lyes they are as venimous as the poyson of a serpent euen like the deafe Adder that stoppeth his ears they with their malitious vntrue perswasions bring men into the snares of destruction out of which they cannot deliuer themselues It is the last refuge the Pope hath to vphold his wicked kingdome to blowe into subiectes eares slaunders of tyranny subsidies oppressions and other hard impositions of their Princes with these perswations they haue kindled many commotions and daily settle a mortall hatred in the ignorant multitude towards their Princes and godly procéedings which euermore bursteth forth with the confusion of such as they seduce for God which abhorreth Traitours seldome suffereth Treason to prosper the diligent obseruance of the euents whereof is able to settle the duetie and obedience of a good subiect more than the learning and Eloquence of the greatest Orators CHAP. 13. Of the peaceable discouery of the daungerous Treasons of Frances Throgmorton Esquire of Henry Percie Earle of Northumberlande and others a Chapter declaring the Odiousnesse of Treason and continuall ouerthrow of Traitors WHosoeuer shall reade the Chronacles of time the continuall life of vertue and endlesse shame of vice they shall finde that Treason is so odious to God as his holy hande many times myraculously hath defended the worst tyrants from the mortall Treasons of their subiectes Comodus was a wicked Emperour and to kill him his syster Lucilla had appointed one Quintianus The Traitour Quintianus wayghted at the entring of the Amphitheatre to kill Comodus his dagger was readie drawne his heart was resolute and his hand was readie to strike the stroake but God appointed the Traytors tongue to inflict the vengeaunce vppon himselfe for before the Emperour came vnder his stroke Quintianus cryed This the Senate sendeth thee Uppon which wordes he was taken and Comodus nothing hurt The day before Sceuinus thought to haue slaine the Archetyrant Nero hée put an olde rustie dagger to grinding hée made his Testament hee fraunchised his bondmen and got rowlers in a readinesse to wrappe wounds in by which tokens Milicheus his seruaunt gathered he went about some naughtie purpose and so accused him straight wayes to the Emperour Sceuinus straight confessed that his intent was to haue slaine Nero. If God plucketh witte and prudencie from Traitors that purposed to kill such notable tyrantes as hée made the Traytours owne wordes and doings to bée the confusion of themselues and safetie of the tyrauntes It is assuredly to bée thought that with the shielde of his strength hée will defende righteous Princes and especially his chosen Quéene Elizabeth that aboue all things seeketh to set foorth his glory to aduaunce his holy worde to abase hypocrisie to banish Idolatrie and finally that all her subiectes may be as they are called true Christians It is assuredly thought that hée will defende her Maiestie yea it is constantly to bée beléeued that hee will there is no feare of it it is visibly séene that he doth I might inlarge this Chapter with sundrie examples of the confution of forraigne Traitors and preseruation of their soueraigne Lords But I write to English-men for whose instruction English examples is most proper It is yet within the compasse of our memorie that since the first houre that the Noble King Henrie the eight banished the Pope out of England that God hath laide this cursse vpon Traitors as the most part of them euen in the prime of their conspiracies were discouered and the principals worthely punished What became of the huge Commotion in Lincolne-shire where twentie thousand rebels were in Armes at the approch of the kings power they desired pardon brake vp their Armie and departed home The seditious heade of Cardinall Poole within sixe dayes after raised a newe insurrection in Yorkeshire to the number of fortie thousande rebels they abide the comming of the kings power with whom a day of battaile was appointed but God hauing compassion of a number of good subiectes that were like to be slaine by his prouidence saued both the one and the other the night before the Armies should ioyne he parted them with a mightie rayne In the meane time the rebels desired pardon it was graunted and so the commotion seased In Februarie following Nicholas Musgraue Sir Francis Bigot Sir Robert Constable
visible plagues which fall vppon your Pharao the Pope you sée that iustice by generall iudgement hangeth notable murtherers in chaines that they may rot consume by péece-meales euen so Gods iustice promiseth semblable vengeance vpon this Archmurtherer your pope the most infirmed eyes sée the lingring consumption of his riches reuerence and reputation he that sometime disposed forraigne kingdomes can not kéepe his proper lands out of the possession of his next neighbors There is no frée state in Italy but of late yéeres haue fléesed him nor any Christian Prince that is his best friend which paieth his auncient tribute He that sometimes commanded the persons goods roial powers of anointed kings is now driuen to waste his substance vppon Atheists secretly to murther his supposed enimies whose counsels for the most proue the halters which hang his executioners necessity constraineth him to be in league with all men saue the professors of the Gospell the Iewes haue their sinagogue the Grecians their proper religion euen in Rome strumpets haue good law to recouer the leacherous hire of their bodies their Ladies are his possessions for they pay him rent to abuse them Atheists traitors murtherers théeues and such as the lawes of all good gouernement would consume with the gallowes are his souldiers stipendaries and pentioners and what seruice do they him they shorten their owne daies in laboring his wicked practises all to a bootelesse successe seldome but yet sometimes his instrumentes execute hys bloodie purposes but hys Machiuillians neuer escape the hands of vengeance I haue shewne the example of Fraunce Iohn Ianregui the fyrst assayler of the godlie Prince of Orange was presentlye slayne and sundrye of hys confederates were executed the odious Atheist which wickedly murthered this good prince had a seuere death but yet too milde for his execrable offence but héere in England from whence came the Lion that first plucked the prowde Eagle of Rome by the throte c. what successe hath followed all his pollicies since the noble King Henry the eight shewed his rauening to the princes of the earth he hath vomited his poisoned enuy and mallice to the chiefe destruction disgrace and shame of him and his partakers his instruments of Rebellion murther and all inhumaine mischiefes had their fortune which rid the horsse Seian which was violent death they brought buls which gored themselues and pardons whiche turned into halters and hatchets which hanged and quartered their maisters I néede not name Felton Campion Parry and the rest you haue canonized them for Saincts and we haue Chronacled them for Traitors Since the beginning of her sacred Maiesties raigne whome héere in England haue your Popes cursses harmed I know his blessings haue brought many Englishmen to the gallowes from which God blesse all good men and then I meane not you without amendment If you haue not learned by the councels of scripture to forbeare the laying of violent hands vppon the Lords annointed yet the dayly experiēce of your companions falles and their frustrate attempts sufficeth to banish the very imagination of your and our most gratious soueraignes death which all good Christians beseech almightie God many yéeres to defer You are not so wise as the Philosophers disciples whiche in the water woulde followe their maister but to the chin for you follow the Pope ouer head and eares in two dangerous seas error and rebellion You may learne instructions of safetie of Mise which runne from houses which are readie to fall or of lice that will leaue the bodie of a dying man all the world séeth that your Popes kingdome leaneth vpon a few rotten props yea that the life of his glorie is at the point of death why follow you then your owne destruction in susteining of him whome vengeance will no longer suffer to flourish Nature counselleth you to haue care of your liues and charitie warneth your enimies from wishing your deathes if you would shunne the perils that vnpolitike creatures auoid but Pharao and his host would wilfully perish in the red sea the like is your stobernesse and expected destruction Pharao was plagued and well warned before and you Papists lacke neither punishment to feare you nor perswasion to win you and vnhappy are ye that neither can profit you Mahomet to continue his irreligion by his Alcoran forbad the people to reason of it a damnable policy to suppresse truth which by disputation breaketh out of cōtrouersies as fire out of Flint by the striking of iron The people to blinde all the world with ignorance appointed the Latin toong for matters of religion which the multitude vnderstood not if one language sufficed for a generall edifying the holy Ghost in the forme of clouen and firie toongs sate vppon the Apostles in vaine which instructed euerie one in their proper language it was a policie almost as dangerous as Mahomets which manie yéeres masked the hipocriticall blasphemy of the pope when his dreames shadowed the truth your mists of error might wel arise from ignorance but now that truth hath vnmasked his hipocrisy your blindnesse can be adiudged no better than peruerse wilfulnesse His policy forbiddeth you studiously to search the scriptures it is then like his wil is that you should reade his own monuments And I counsell you to reade Platinus Aeneas Siluius the golden Legend of the actes of popes Plutarke reporteth that an Atheist gouernour of Cilicy beléeued in God by an answere of the Diuell or oracle of Mopsus which reuealed a knowne secret and it may well be these popish historiographers will let you sée paltry stuffe that the best aduise will hardly perswade you to beléeue There is an old saying Orpheus can describe hell better then Aristotle raysed vpon a fable that he fetched his wife from thence and truly in knowledge is assurance and in report may be error They are Authors that write wonders of the Pope and if your iudgements are not blinde matters in common sense vnpossible you may by grace stumble on such grose errors as shall constraine you to looke vpon the plaine truth but you haue a commandement that forbids you to looke into the liues of your Popes because it can not be denied but that they trespasse dayly as men when in their doctrine can bee no error because the holy Ghost waighteth vppon their holinesse it may well be of their holinesse and yet farre ynough from the Pope Where was I pray you the holy Ghost when Pope Marcellus sacrificed vnto the Idols of the Pagans What office had he when Syluester the second when Iohn the ninetéenth and Gregorie the seauenth were a coniuring they were successors of Simon Magus and not of Simon Peter In déede Pope Ioane the eight erred not when she fell in labor in the middest of Procession Among your owne Authors it is reported that the virgin Mary told S. Brigit that most of the Popes are in hell a small signe then that the holy Ghost is very conuersant with them
gotten a great maâ—…e of money to make Hugh Pulath the Bishop of Durham Earle of Northumberland chiefe Iustice of England Sée quoth the King what a miracle I can do I can make of an old Bishop a yong Earle but his myracle turned to the great disworship of God and mischiefe of the whole Realme for the prelates by buying temporall honors for thys King for money made many prelates Uicounts Barons soone learned how to sell the peace and prosperitie of the Kingdome this was the sound waie to strengthen the Popes Empyre and the wicked pollicy that kepte vnder the Gospell the light and life of saluation when ambition crept into the Church zeale fled out of the hart of the Cleargie but which hath wrought the capitoll mischiefe of all the inequalitie of estates betwéene the highest and lowest of the Prelates hath brought enuie into the Church and with enuie a number of heresies and controuersies Occasion and millions of mens deathes and damnation haue opened the venome of thys passion sufficientlie in the Chapter of heresies and in sundrie other places in the Conquests of Enuy. Disvnion of the Church of all calamities is the most gréeuous because it mouéth a most mortall warre among men and eternall torment vnto the soule God for hys Sonne Iesus sake banishe thys dangerous passion foorth of the Churche and gyue the spirite of true knowledge vnto all the Cleargie that with mutuall consentes they maye teache one sounde doctrine to the glorie of GOD and vniuersall peace and comforte of his people Amen CHAP. 4. Of the most honorable calling of the Iudiciall Maiestrates of the waightinesse of theyr offices with examples of Gods heauie iustice inflicted vppon partiall Iudges IN all good gouerments necessitie hath taught princes where vertue is found to honor it and questionles so waightie are the affaires of a Common-wealth and so holie the iudgements of iustice as the nobilitie or innobilitie of the person not respected The Magistrates or Ministers of these charges ought to be chosen by the counsell that Iethro the Priest gaue vnto hys sonne in lawe Moyses which was that he shoulde choose among the people vertuous men and such as feare God true men hating couetousnesse and make them heads ouer the people and let them iudge the people at all seasons c. The waightinesse of which charge commandeth a hye honour and reuerence to be giuen to the Magistrate who in the place of iustice is the image of the Prince And in all good Gouerments the soueraigne Magistrate hath hys place next vnto the Prince In Rome the Senators were called the Fathers of the Common wealth and as the Father is honored and reuerenced of his sonne so were they of the people The Maiestrates or Philosophers of Greece were called Sages whose wisedomes were so reuerenced as nothing was done concerning warre or peace but what they allowed The office of the Magistrate according to the Psalmist is to defende the poore and fatherlesse and to sée that such as bée in néede and necessitie may haue right and as King Lamuell setteth downe they must bée aduocates for the doombe they must open theyr mouthes to defend the thing that is lawfull and right and accordyng to the counsell of Aristotle in theyr iudgementes they must bée ruled neyther by loue hatred or gaine That these duties may bée truely ministred Cicero sayeth that Sophocles counselled Pericles to make choise of Iudges that had not onely theyr handes but theyr eyes chaste and continent It behoueth that Iudges do not buy theyr offices for as Alexander Seuerus sayeth he that buieth must néedes sell and therefore sayeth he I will suffer no Merchants of Estate for if quoth he I suffer the one I must néedes indure the other as a matter too seuere to punish him that buyeth although he selleth In Fraunce all the offices of iustice are solde in Englande they are fréely geuen in the one I knowe the administration is corrupt I pray God the other be without faulte Plato was so curious in the choise of iudiciall officers as he gaue counsell to giue no dignitie or offices to the ambitious or to such as coueted or sought them but vnto such as méerely refused them and aboue all he forewarned to make choyse of none that naturally were barbarous rude or rusticke but of people that were ciuill milde iust and wise the which he figuratiuely compared vnto dogs which are ordained to defende the shéepe and to chase awaye the Wolfe In Calcydone there was a lawe that néedie and vnworthie persons shoulde beare no office but contrarywise such as contemned riches and contented to be inriched with most knowledge and such manner of men were Curius Fabritius and Phocion Alexander the Great teacheth Iudges to iudge vprightly by this obseruance when any man complained he stopped one of his eares to heare the aunswere of the defendant and truely iustice is neuer rightly administred where the Iudge giueth hys sentence before lawfull conuiction It is a place of much honor to be a Iudiciall Magistrate but the temptation of money is so swéete as when the world was nothing so corrupt in these dayes the Poet was driuen to sing Munera crede mihi capiunt hominesque deosque In English Beleeue me giftes do catch both Gods and men Diogenes béeing asked what thing an office was said it was a dangerous beast for quoth he it is as hard a matter for the Iudges of the people to kéepe theyr consciences sound as barefooted for a man to walke vpon sharpe stones vnhurt or to thrust his hand into the fire without the burning thereof In all good gouerments there euermore haue béene positiue lawes to bridle the iniustice of Iudiciall Maiestrates The false Iudges that accused Susanna were stoned to death Alexander Seuerus caused the corrupt Maiestrate Turinus to be smoothered with the smoke of wette stubble during whose execution one cryed With fume let him dye that fumes hath solde Thys Alexander defrayed the charge of all the Iudges with an honorable allowance that theyr offence might be without excuse and theyr punishmente without mercie if they did iniustice for money The sentence that King Cambyses gaue vpon a corrupt Iudge deserueth eternall memorie he caused hym to be flayed and with hys skinne he couered a iudiciall Chaire in which he placed the Iudges sonne to occupie the office of hys Father and to feare him from briberie and all partialitie besides the continuall sight of his fathers skinne Cambyses gaue hym this sharpe item Sede sedens ista iudex inflexibilis sta Sit tibi lucerna lux lex pellisque paterna A manibus reseces munus ab aure preces In English Thou Iudge that sittest in this seate firmely sit therein And for thy light take thou the light the lawe and fathers skin Superfluous bribes cut from thy ruling hand And in thy eares let no intreatie stand I néede not inlarge this Chapter with the positiue
then anie acte of humane perswasion to conuert a growne Atheist to the feare of God and true obedience towards hys prince yet such as through wicked perswasiens and want of good instructions are but newly fallen from the feare of God into the exercise of the damnable and disloyall practises of Atheists may no doubt be counselled by the examples of the confusion of these vipers to loath and hate they vngratious wayes and of the contrarie parte waighing the sure aduancement with which vertue honoreth her disciples they may which God graunt be encouraged earnestly to follow those courses whereby God may be honored theyr Countrey profited and their owne credite dignified There are two old verses among other precepts printed at the ende of Magna Carta of the old impression which containe a great perswasion to the studie of vertue the right ladder of honor and estimation with which for the vertue they containe I conclude this present Chapter Vt ver dat flores flos fructus fructus odores Sic studium mores mos census census honores In English Euen as the Spring doth flagrant flowers bring Faire flowers fruites and fruites a pleasant tast From studie so doth perfect manners spring From studie lore in lore is honor plast CHAP. 9. A conclusion of morall documents concerning the duties of euery estate THese rites men owe to thee O God which in the heauens art Reuerence honor glory prayse and prayer from the heart The gratious Prince a father is where subiectes liue in awe The good regarding with rewards the lewde with scourge of lawe The subiect true vnto his Prince this homage heere doth owe A faithfull heart a feare through loue an inward Zeale in showe The reuerent Iudge froÌ„ doming right whom no regard may straine Must Aristotles blames forsake loue hate and priuate gaine Th' inferior sort must reu'rence giue vnto the higher power Obay and listen to their lore let fortune laugh or lowre These speciall vertues from a freend still should or do proceede Aduise assistance faithfull loue and constancy in neede The Landlord should so lot his land as his poore Tennant may Both pay his rent sustayne his house and for his Landlord pray All Tennants slaues and bondmen were of youre records do shew Though now not so yet to their Lords they Zeale and fealtie owe. The neighborhood of the neighbor good this neighborhod doth claime Good still for good in casuall harme a charitable blame The Wise man sayeth the child is spilt where parents spare the rod But cherishment with chastment ioyne and see they honor God You children that long life do seeke vnto Gods lawe giue eare Honor Parents sustaine their age that for your youth did care You that a faithfull seruant seeke regard this charge as lawe His wages pay his seruice aske and keepe him still in awe Sometime the Romaines by their law their seruant lewde might slay And by all lawes the maisters will the seruant must obay Fresh youth whose iudgement is but greene aboue each other vice Forsake these three vndoing euils women wine and dice. These properties regard them well to you faire maydes belong A bashfull grace a modest eye ioynd with a silent toong You that haue wealth think others want thus impart your store Lend giue releeue as neede requires for to sustayne the poore You that are poore abase your thoughts for naught agreeth worse Then this foule fault a prowde conceipt ioynd with a beggers purse In euery trade an honest gaine well gotten good men hight And God will surely blesse the hand that wayes and measures right You souldyers both by land and sea Gods woonders still escrie Liue you to dye for fearefull death is alwayes in your eye Assure your selues you Atheists vile that make at him a face That God in vengeance is at hand where he is farre with grace As I began so I conclude let all men feare the Lord And Preachers see that godly workes with holy words accord To the Reader FRiendly Reader I giue thee knowledge that vpon speciall occasion I haue before printed certaine appendants to this booke viz. one Treatise called A mirror for Maiestrates which containeth at large in the graue orations and gouerment of the Emperour Alexander Seuerus what is for the honor of Gentlemen Citizens and diuers other estates and what is the disgrace and vndoing of themselues and their posteritie as also a morall Treatise of the reputation vertues and by abuse dishonors of a souldier whiche I wish thee for thy further pleasure and profite to adioyne to thy generall Mirror to which in right they belong Thus commending vnto thee the fruites of my labour and thee to the tuition of the highest giuing most humble thankes to hys diuine Maiestie by whose goodnes thys worke is brought to an end I end FINIS Errata The defences of pride The defences of ambition The defence of flatterie Infirmities of the body Enuie vvithout cure Originall of Enuie Gen. 3. Enuie the first cause of sinne Enuie vvorse theÌ„ murther c. The â—…tes of Enuie Defâ—…ces of 〈◊〉 Defences of volptuousnes The defences of covvardlines None vvill confesse himselfe to be enuious Necessitie cause of many trespasses Mat. 20. There may be cause of impatiencie but no colour for enuy Blessings which grieue the enuious August contra Donat. lib. 4. cap. 8. Causes which reioyce the enâ—…ous Baâ—… Sermone de â—…dia Enuie likeâ—… to a Panther The nature of a Panther Enuie continueth after death Enuie compared to a â—…per The vnnaturall nature oâ—… a viper The enâ—… 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 A â—…ble of Eâ—…pe 〈◊〉 is neuer reconciled Neighbour countreyes enuy others glory Timon of Athens Murther the byrde of enuie Gen. 4. Abell slayne by Câ—… Enuie cause of paâ—…de and in hummane marthers Remas slaine by Romulus Machiuel dis Lib. 1. Romulus and Remâ—…s were fostered by aâ—… woâ—…fe Polinecâ—… Etâ—…ocles brothâ—… The mortall venime of envy A necessary example Enuie caused Neâ—…o to â—…ay â—…s mother Commodus enuyed the remeÌ„brance of his fathers vertues Vice is reproched by the commendation of vertue An other inhumane murder caused by enuy in Commodus A horrible murder by enuy Hâ—…ule Grafton and other English Hâ—…oriographers King Henry the 7. ouercame this tirant and calmed the afflictions of England Prince Edward slaine by Richardes handes K. Henry the 6. slaine by Richardes handes Duke of Clarence drovvned King Edvvard the 5. and his brother slaine â—…st lib. 1. Enuy the originall of warre The miseries of vvar The end of the Assiriâ—…n monarchy by enuy Iust. lib. 1. The tuchstone of manhood The city of Capidocâ—…a burned through enuy Time is able to repayre the ruines of fortune The Asserian empire translated into the Meades Miserable are the countreis gouerned by lieâ—…tenants An impious cruelty Man purposeth and God dispoâ—…h Mâ—…rius and Crâ—…us Ciâ—…us suckled by
a she vvolfe The empire of the Meades chaunged into Persian Iust. lib. 1. The empire â—…nslated into Macidonia The enuy of Alexander Alexander poysoned thorough Enuy. Thessalus a trâ—…i terous Phisition A necessary note for Prâ—…ces Kinges for there owne saâ—… tiâ—…s are bound to fauour their subiects Hippias a tyrant of Atheâ—… VVhere the feare of God stayeth not the loue of mony maketh passaâ—… for any mischief Counsels of K. â—…dinando The misery that follovved the incertainty of Alexanders succession A cruell part of Tamberlaâ—…ne A good counsel reiected The hugenes of Alexanders monarchie The greatnes of the Romane empire The nature of ambition One poyson remedy for an other Ruffâ—… pâ—… 〈◊〉 death Pollisie of Sâ—…licon Stilicons drift discouered Stilicons treason punished Rome sacked by Alaric Rome taken by the vandals Rome taken by Euriles and Toringnes Rome taken againe by the Gothes Rome taken againe by the Gothes Anno 830. Rome vvonne by the Sarizins Rome won by the Duke of Burbon Policies of the Popes to wâ—…nd out of obedâ—… 〈◊〉 and same of Constantinople The Priâ—… eleâ—…tours Apoc. 1â—… Can. si Papa de stâ—…et 42. Apocal. 17. 18. The names of the mountaines where Rome was builded 〈◊〉 2. circâ—… 〈◊〉 Apocal. 17. Thes. 2. 2. Dan. 11. A â—…able moralâ—…zed by the Pope Pro. 8. VVis 6. Psall 144. Dan. 2. 4. 5. Ierem. 25. 27. Rom. 13. Pride and cruelties of the Pope Looke in the Cron. of Germany Apol. of the prince of Orange Epitaph of Boniface the Pope The Popes war â—…ant or letter vvritten in the 2. booke of counsels â—…o 810 Rob. barnes cronicle Euseb Nanc Psal. 19. Lopes de goâ—…or in his hist. of â—…nd A daungerous policie of the pope Anno 1070. Cerimoniae Eccles Rom. lib. tit 〈◊〉 A presumptuons commandement A good â—…ing bound vnto the law A pleasant aunsvvere Anno 740. This taxe vvas peter pence Anno 1181. Apoc. 17. Apoc. 15. Vnâ—…nty of Mâ—…omets linage The vvicked counsel of the monek Seâ—… Mahomet an Athâ—…ist A damnable pollicie A matter is better vnbegun then not effectually followed A pleasing persvvasion of Mahomet Mahomets death Califus and Hali successours of Mahomet He vvas borne in a tovvne of Samarie called Tricon Tâ—…rt de here Lib. 1. cap. â—…0 Act. 8. S. Iustin. martyâ—… in his Apologie Iose. de bel Iud The Popes souldiers The Pope drâ—…ueÌ„ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plat. de vita Gâ—…eg 9. Sab. 〈◊〉 par 3. A reâ—…rd for Coâ—…tiers An â—…ous reâ—…ge A proud request Originall of the Turkes Pom. Mel. Lib. de Cosmo 1. cap. 18. The Turkes infected with Mahomets religion Godfrey Bulloyne Ottoman 1. Succession of the Ottomans Orâ—…an 2. â—…at 3. The enuie of the Emperour and nobles first sure foundation of the Turkes Empire Baiazet who slew his elder brother Soâ—… Victorie against the Christians Constaâ—… 〈◊〉 beâ—… 〈◊〉 Christians ouercome Miserie and ouerthrow of Baiazet Calapin Christians ouerthrowne Mahomet 6. Christians ouercome Turkes ouerthrovvne Bassa a 〈◊〉 Lord of 〈◊〉 Christians ourthrovvne Originall of the Ianissaires Mahomet 8. Constantinople conquered Io. Vaiuode Turkes defeated Christians ouercome Determination of the siegniorie of the christians in the East Fraunce the antient refuge of the pope Baiazet 9. Christians ouerthrovvne Beginning of the Sophy his empire Selim 10. Paracide Inhumaine murâ—… This battaile vvas the 24. of August 1514 The Soudan ouercome Soliman 1â—… Soliman his vâ—…tories The Hungâ—…ans slaine Selim 12. Mustafa Bassa cosen to the theâ—… vvhich honge on the left side of Christ. Aâ—…urath 13. murdred 5. of his brethren Camp fâ—…o de his tuâ—… Originall of Tamberlaine Tamberlaines first attempts Enuy 〈◊〉 of Tamberâ—…es kingdome Tamberlaine king of Persia. Tamberlaines conquest Tamberlaines militarie discipline Creatâ—…es of Tamberlaines army Battaile betvveene Baâ—…t and Tamber lâ—…ine Courage of Bâ—…iazet Baiazetâ—… ouer throvv anâ—… misery A notable example Tamberlaines order at assaults A great cruelty Enuy ende of Tamberlainâ—…s kingdome Baptis Ignatius Ios. Simler dâ—… râ—…epub Swiâ—… Henry king of Portugall a Cardinall A senere iudgement of king Henry The king of Spaine his owne iudge Dâ—… Anthonio â—…de king by the 3. estates K of Spaines greedy desire of rule K. Anthonio put to â—…light A good example for traitours Tim. 2. cap. 3. Vertue the cog nizance of a gentleman Policie of the Medices A necessarie counsell to be followed 〈◊〉 Iudas kisse Iuâ—…ian de Medicâ—…â—…ne Assemblie of the Segnewâ—… Fury of the multitude The archbishop hanged Barnard Baudin hanged The ground of the Florentine dukedome Enuy of the Gwyses firste cause of the troubles of Fraunce Deuision of Scotland â—…cre of Parts Murther of the king of Scots Tyrannie of the Spaniards in the â—…ovve countrie A staffe is soone found to strike a dog The prince of Orange diuelishly murthâ—…red Admonition to England and English men Pollicy of the Athenians to â—…dle enuy A pollicie of Demosthenes to get audieÌ„ce Varietie delightfull to the reader A law of Socrates Pitty vvithout charitie Ciuill vvarres of the Romans Honour giuen to peacemakers Octauian Chanius Preter Iohn A speciall honour The benefite of histories All the kinges named Henry of Englande vvere vvorthy kinges An. doâ—… 1400. Henry the 4. A 〈◊〉 for â—…es Enuy of Nâ—…o Rom. 13. Iosep. bel Iude. Reg 1. 26. 1485 Antiquitye a great beauty of vertue A necessarye â—…onsideration King Henry the 7. compared to Alexander Seuerus 1509 1513 1521 Acts Cap. 9. Acts and Monuments Esâ—… 4. cap. â—…2 1530 Vide Chro. of England Cant. Cantico cap. 4. 1546 A vvonderfull victory in Scotland Muskelborrough feeld 1553 A godly poâ—… 〈◊〉 Câ—…p 〈◊〉 1. Sam. Cap. 〈◊〉 The protestants neuer rebelled in England The Papists cruelty without measure Comfortable examples for the godly in time of persecution Her Maiesties thankes-giuing Her Maiestie visibly blessed with the eight beatitudes in the 5. of Matth. A prouidence of God in taking avvay of seditious paâ—…ls Lodo. 〈◊〉 Comment lib. 〈◊〉 Lod. Guic. 〈◊〉 Com. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lib. 3. The law Voconia in Rome â—…avv 〈◊〉 in Fraunce lib. sec de Aâ—… veâ—…d 10 2â—… The law Mental in Scotland Lib. 3. 1560. Articles of accord betweene Englande and Fraunce taken out of Guicherdines Coment Lib. 3. 1561 Psal. 〈◊〉 Vide in the booke of the execut of Iustice in Engl. The Northerne rebels vanquished 1571 1570 Exod. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 14. The plagues of Aegypt and destruction of Pharao Actes 23. 24. The Queenes death practised by Negromancy Doctor Stories confession Plut. de defeâ—… orat Looke the chapter of herâ—… fol. 61. Psalme 4. 18. Actes 13. Genes 41. Exod. 8. 9. Esay 47. Daniel 2. Doctor Stories confession at his execution Prestall and Phaier deliuered foorth of the kings bench without triall Phaer executed for coyning Prestall condemned for â—…reason but not executed They â—…ors presume of her â—…iesties merâ—… Murther punished Actes 28. Matth. 27. R. cap. 12. Reg. 2. Cap. 21. Genesis 4. Psalme 37. Madder and Barlow Somernile Psalme 64. Doctor Parry Parties letter to the Lord â—…sorer Martiâ—… Psalm 1. 7. 37. 52.