The Lorde keepe me from laying my hand vpon the Lords annoynted So far the Scripture Dauid honored king Saul in the field though he pursued him to death 1. Sam. 24. And humbly hee honoured the person of his Prince euen in the feild and amides the forces furniture of warres For after he came out of the caue where he had so much adoe to qualifie the rage of his souldiers and restrain them from running vpon king Saul he cryed after Saul saying O my Lord the king And when Saul loked behind him Dauid inclined himselfe to the earth and bowed him as the Scripture sayth and after spake to him Notwithstanding that kinge Saule continually sought his blood and in armour lay in the feild against him yet hee honoured the person of his Prince in the middest of the warres And his person was so precious in his sight that he coulde suffer no bodilie harme or violence to be done to him insomuch hee had remorse for cutting off the lappet of his garment What hartes then or rather what addamantes in steed of hartes Zacha. 7. haue they as the prophet Zacharie saith of the Iewes which liuing vnder the peace and protection of so mercifull a Prince can finde in their hartes so much as to thinke any trecherie or violence to her royall person who hath bene so good a mother of her countrie and so pitifull a nurse of the Church of God Epist ad Philemone by whom the bowels of Gods saintes haue beene refreshed as of Philemon Paul sayth and who hath fostered her faithfull subiectes in the blessings and benifites of God which so aboundantly vnder her gouernment so many yeeres God hath bestowed vpon vs. If therefore there be any remorse of conscience to God and his ordinance if there be any bowels of good nature in vs to our naturall and leige Soueraigne if there be any valew of true worthinesse in vs let vs shewe our loue loyaltie and hartie fidelitie to her and honour her royall person as Dauid did the person of his Prince and gard her from al violence in respect of Gods ordinance and the manifold blessinges which vnder her so manie yeeres we haue receaued and that God may blesse vs for our loyaltie and honoring the person of our Prince as he did blesse his faithful seruant Dauid Though his loyalty seemed to be lost touching king Saul yet it was not lost with God for Gods blessngs more abundantly followed fell on him Beside Dauids loyaltie to king Saul was a comfort to him in his troubles 1. Sam. 26. he found such comfort of conscience by it in his troubles that he said to king Saul Behould like as thy life was much set by this day in my eies when he came on him as he lay fast a sleepe so let my life be set by in the eyes of the Lorde that he may deliuer me out of al tribulations So the loyaltie that he shewed to his Prince in respect of God he found aboundantly againe with comforte of conscience in his greatest troubles and his owne life was precious is the sight of God Abigael As Abigael the vertuous woman said to him The soule saith she of my Lord shal be bound in a bundel of life with the Lorde thy God 1. Sam. 25. and the soule of thy enemies shall God cast out as out of the middle of a slinge What comforte and encouragement may this bee to the hartes of true subiectes to their Prince since God blesseth loyaltie and it is a comforte to the conscience in troubles and as their Prince is precious in their sight so for their loyaltie their owne life is more precious in the sight of God Besides this Dauids comfort in the righteousnes of his cause 2. Sam. 25. Dauid tooke comforte of the vprightnesse and innocencie of his cause and thereof hee saide The Lorde rewarde euery man according to his righteousnesse for the Lorde hath deliuered thee into my handes and I would not lay my handes vpon the Lordes annoynted So farre the Scripture And before he said to Saul when he saued his life in the caue 1. Sam. 24. vnderstand and see that there is neither euill nor wickednesse in me yet thou huntest after my soule to take it The Lord bee iudge betweene thee and me and auenge thee of me and let not my hand be vpon thee So farre the Scripture God tooke the iudgment into his handes and deliuered Dauid and auenged his cause of Saul So God hath taken of late the iudgment of the cause into his handes and hath deliuered our gracious Prince reuenged her cause of her enemies the vprightnesse and innocency of her cause is great comfort to her in the sight of God God vouchsafe long as Abigael said to Dauid to binde her soule in a bundle of life and long to locke vppe her life from all her enemies as a iewell of comfort to his Church and our Countrie Thus of the example of Dauid his loyaltie and fidelitie to the person of king Saul notwithstanding he persecuted him to death and howe God blessed him for it The Sixt is the example of the famous fidelitie of one Lylla a Briton and heathen man The 6. cheefe matter in the defence of the royall person of his Prince As I haue layed out at large the example of the loyaltie and fidelitie of Dauid to the person of king Saul so I will set downe breefely the example and fidelitie of one Lylla a Briton in the defence of the royall person of his Prince Fabian in his Cronicle of Englande the 5. part cap. 130. When Edwin king of Northumberland at a Citie beside the water of Darwent in Darbishire being smallie accompanied was sodenly assailed of a murderer and swordman as Fabian calleth him by Quincelinus kinge of the West Saxons hired to it Lylla a Briton his famous fidelity in the defence of the person of his Prince who ranne on him with a sworde that was enuenimed one Lylla the kinges trusty seruant vnarmed and disgarnished of weapon thrust his bodye betweene the traytors sword and the king and saued the king his life with losse of his owne And yet through the bodie of Lylla with the thruste of the sword the king was wounded also because the wound was poysoned it was more hardlie cured A worthy example of famous fidelitie in defence of the royall person of the Prince worthy to liue in the memorie of al faithfull subiectes as a glasse to be set before their eyes to encourage and emboulâ—eÌ„ them as a walle to set their bodies bowels in defence of the royal person of their Prince against the swords of al traytors enemies Though Lylla be dead in person many huÌ„derd yeeres since yet his loyaltie liueth still in the bowels of faithfull subiectes ready to thrust their bodies against the swordes of all traytors and enemies to the royall person of their
saieth to the Hebrewes that they were dull of hearing notwithstanding the iewels of Gods word are most precious 1. Cor. 4. And to the Corinthians that they were full and reigned without him But this late woonderfull woorke of God hath awaked vs out of slumber and whetted dull affections in vs and hath set an edge on vs to be more mindfull and thankefull for Gods blessinges Act. 20. After Paul had said to the elders of the Church of Ephesus for whom he sent to Miletum to take his last farewell of them that henceforth they should see his face no more they wepte all aboundantly and fell on his necke and kissed him The last farewell and departing from a deare frend is dolefull much more from a deare mother and most of all from the most deare mother of our countrey and the good nurse of the Church of God The verie remembrance thereof would rase the bowels of good natures and the mention of it doth in manner wound tender hartes of faithfull subiectes As for the vngodlie they are without good affections of nature Paul calleth them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is without naturall affection trucebreakers traitors The fidelitie of kinge Dauids seruants 〈◊〉 the treaâ— Let vs heare of the true fidelity and louing affections of king Dauid his seruantes when he was assailed with the treasons of Absalon WheÌ„ king Dauid begaÌ„ to decline 2. Sam. 15. Absalon had blowen the blast of his treason abroad and gathered great strengthes about him the heartes of the men of Israel turned after him as the Scripture witnesseth king Dauid his father was fayne to flie And as hee went vppe the mount of Oliues he wepte and had his head couered and went barefooted Then did the true heartes of faithfull subiectes shew themselues in the right vaine to the reskewe and comforte of their Prince The Scripture telleth how the people that were with him had euery man his head couered and as they went vppe 2. Sam. 15. Ioab Abishai Ittai Zadok Abiathar The Leuite Ahimaaz Ionathan they wepte Then flocked his faithfull subiectes about him Ioab and Abishai his brother and Ittai the Gittit as captaines of special trust were at hand with him Zadok and Abiathar the Priestes cleaued vnto him and the Leuites bearing the Arke of the Lorde Ahimaaz Zadok the Pristes sonne and Ionathan the sonne of Abiathar the Priest were as running postes to bring tidinges from Herusalem and Absolons Campe to King Dauid They aboad in En-Rogel because they might not be seene to come into the Citie But they were descried 2. Sam. 17. And when Absalons seruants searched after them they went downe into a well in Bahurim and a faithfull woman that bare true heart to Dauid spread a couering ouer the wels mouth with ground corne theron so by her fidelitie they escaped brought intelligence to Dauid what councel Architophel had giuen against him 2. Sam. 15. The Cherethites and all the Pelethites the Gittites which wer of his chief garrison gard or as som note of his principal bands euen sixe hundreth men issued out of Gath after the king marched before him Ittai the Gittit a stranger Ittai the Gittit a stranger followed his Soueraigne in no hand could be parted froÌ„ him for when king Dauid willed him to prouide for himself because he was a stranger late come he answered said the Lord liueth as the Lord the king liueth in what place my Lord the king shal be whether it be in death or life euen there surely will thy seruant be Then Dauid vpon trial of such trust made him leader of the third parte of his Armie And wheÌ„ Dauid was come to Mahanaim Shobi of Rabbath of the children of Ammon whom Lyra the Interlinearis note for the sonne of the king of Ammon and Machir out of Lodebart Shobi Machir Barzelai and Barzelai the Giliadite brought Beds Basons earthen vessels Wheate and Barlie and Flower and parched Corne and Beanes and Lentils and Hony and Butter and sheepe and cheese of Kine for Dauid and for the people for they said the people are hungrie and weary and thirstie in the wildernesse But let me not forget Hushai the Archit Hushai the Archit which came against Dauid with his coat torne and hauing earth on his head Whom Dauid sent backe after â—o the Citie where by his counsell God so disposing it he was the meane to dash the counsell of Architophel thereby to ouerthrowe Absalon and to deliuer Dauid Thus of the fidelitie that king Dauid found in his friends and faithfull subiects when he was distressed with treason And in the late dangers which Gods prouidence from heauen turned away would it not reioyce good heartes to see howe the faithfull Hushaies Shobees Berzillaies and Ittaies shewed themselues in true loyalty and fidelitie to their Prince The most honorable and persons of nobilitie and honor hath by their prouident counsell care and true loialtie got great honor good wil of al the beare good heartes to her Maiestie The faithfull subiects haue had their deserued praise The whole estate of the Ministerie like Zadok Abiathar and the Leuites entirely cleauing to their Dauid and Soueraigne and vnder God depending of her in forward fidelitie and true loyaltie haue shewed themselues Finallie all faithfull subiects flocked about the roiall person of their Prince with their heartes and with tender affection garded her and woulde haue gaged their bodies and bowels also for the safetie of her Royall person and estate if such occasion had required it Many Ittaies would haue been founde in England to haue said to their Dauid and Soueraigne Whersoeuer our Soueraigne Ladie and Mistresse the Queene be whether it be to life or death there her seruaunts will be also For if shee should faile whom the tender mercie of God long continue among vs then might the faith full Hushai and true hearted subiect of England goe with earth on his head and in steede of renting his clothes rent his heart and wail in woe But whither doth my pen wade in sorow The tender affections of faithfull subiects hath carried me on this far God vouchsafe long to blesse suche Hushaies Shobies Berzillaies Ittaies and all of the right rase of true hearted subiects to her Maiestie of what state or name soeuer they be Thus of the coÌ„mendation of louing affections in faithfull subiects to their Princes From whence such affections are Now from whence such affections good will are They are inspired of God who as he boweth and bendeth the hearts of Princes as pleaseth him according to Salomons saying so by his grace he worketh frameth good affections Pro. 21. good will in subiects to their princes also 1. Sam. 10. After that Saul from God by Samuel was appointed king and hee went home to Gibeah there followed him the bande of men of chiualrie or strength
15. â—1 Let his prayer saith he in annother Psalme bee turned into sinne The sacrifices of the wicked as Salomon saith are abhominable to God If therfore we lift vp such hearts and handes as the wicked doe with vnrepentant hearts in their sinnes then we harbour the common enemies in our owne bosomes Wee praye for the Prince and beare good hearts vnto her but looke into our owne bosomes and there lurke the Ghostly and common enemies euen grosse greeuous sinnes which breake out carry all before them ouerflow all Osee 4. One sin as Osee saith toucheth an other and ouertaketh an other Esai 5. they are linked together as if they were drawne with Wainropes as Esai saith and they are heaped vp to heauen as S. Iohn saith of the sinnes of Babylon Reue. 18. And they are in the eares of the Lorde of Hoasts as Esai saith Esai 5. Alacke for the greeuous sinnes of England our sinnes are the common enemies our sins arme our enemies against vs Chrysost ho. 1. de ver Esai vide Dom. as Chrysostome saieth Ones heart may bleed to thinke it cannot but rue in the speaking and hearing of it The great and greeuous sinnes of England are readie to conspire to pluck out our gracious deare mother out of the Royall chrone Because for the sinnes of the people God taketh away a godlie Prince and giueth them a Prince in his wrath Osee 13. as the Prophet Osee saith and sendeth oppressours and effeminate persons to rule ouer them as God by the prophet Esai sheweth Esay 3. Iob. 34. And as Elin saith in the booke of Iob for the sinnes of the people hee causeth an hypocrite or wicked man to raigne ouer theÌ„ For the word Chancph doth signifie both because commonly they are concurrent So Iosiah the godlie Prince was taken away Iosiah Hier. lament for whom Hieremie the Prophet wrote Lamentations and all singing men and singing women as the Scripture saith mourned for Iosiah in their Lamentations to this daye 2. Chro. 25. and made the same Lamentations an ordinaunce in Israel and there succeeded hym Iehohas a Prince of three Moneths Iehohas and after him Ichoakim an vngodly king Ieoachim 2. Chro. 26. Hesechiah 2. Chro. 32. So after the godlie and gracious King Hesechiah by Gods visitation ended his life whome all Iuda and all the inhabitantes of Ierusalem did honour at his death Mannasse 2. Chro. 33. as the Scripture saith Manasse his sonne succeeded him an vngodlie and idolatrous Prince Iehosaphat Iehoram 2. Chro. 21. till by repentance after he was reclaimed Likewise after Iehosaphat the religious and vertuous Prince Iehoram his sonne followed who embrued himselfe in the blood of his brethren and walked in the wicked wayes of Ahab Abiah Absha c. And for Abiah and Ashah and other godlie kinges eftsoones followed wicked and idolatrous Princes which were snares and stumbling blockes to the people of God This is the course of Gods iudgment for the continuall multiplying of greeuous sins in Countries he withdraweth the blessing of gracious and godly Princes from them If therefore our hartes melte ouer the Prince by occasion of the late daungers as the hartes of all faithfull subiectes doe let vs put from vs those great and greeuous sinnes which continually prouoke his displeasure against vs. Let vs cast our sinnes from vs as by Ezechiel God warneth that they bring vs not to ruine Ezech. 18. I haue no pleasure in the death of a sinner sayth the Lorde God shall he not liue if he returne from his wayes Now is the Are put to the roote of the tree as S. Iohn the baptist sayth Luke 3. God by his late wonderful worke hath giuen generall warning to all and summoneth all to repentance Let vs fal to hartie repentance and turne to God from greeuous sinnes and wicked life with an vnfeyned purpose to leaue them and a gracious purpose hencefoorth to lead a godly life And in this purpose let vs lift vppe pure handes to God as Paul exhorteth for the long and prosperous preseruation of the royall person and estate of our Prince that the goodnesse of God in the tender mercye of Christe will vouchsafe to accepte our prayers Thus of the laste clause of this matter with what mindes wee should make our prayers for her that the goodnesse of God may vouchsafe to accept them The 9 cheefe matter The ninth is of the inner wall of England which is true faith to God vnfeyned fidelitie to our Prince and mutuall loue and concord amongst our selues And of the outward wall which is the shipping nauigation and the furniture thereof wherewith her Maiestie hath fortified our Countrie and what a comforte and blessing it is to our whole Countrie The inner wall of Engnland is made of liuely stones as Peter calleth Christians closely couched to Christ the corner stone The inner wall of England 1. Pet. 2. Ephe. 2. Col. 2. Act. 15. Ephe. 3. as Paul calleth him by true liuelie faith which is the gift of God and his effectuous worke to purifie and clense the heart and by which hee dwelleth in the hartes of the faithfull as Paul sayeth And in the bodie politike and ciuill building of the same liuely stones are layed and linked together with hartie fidelitie to their Prince as the Principall stone of that building and in the reste of the building the same liuely stones are ioyned and coped togither in mutuall loue and Christian concord and charitie together Thus the inner wall of the Realme is built and arreared vppe by true faith to God hartie fidelitie to the Prince and mutuall loue and concord amongest our selues Dauid speaking of the walls towers munitions of Herusalem willeth vs to walke about Syon Psal 47. to tell her Towers to marke well her Bulwarks and withall and without the which all the rest is nothing saith hee for this God is our God for euer and euer hee shal be our guide vnto death And if we will truely consider of the inward wall of England these be the Towers Bulwarkes and munitions therof true faith to God loyaltie to our Prince and mutuall loue amongst our selues and with all and without the which all worldly munitions and fortifications are nothing if in the spirite and faith of Dauid we say This God is our God for euer and euer he shal be our guid vnto death Therefore let al good subiects of England earnestly indeuour to lay themselues close and firme in the building of the inner wall of England by true faith to God vnfeyned fidelitie to our Prince and mutuall loue amongest our selues Beware there be none like loose and sagging stones which lye in the middest of the wall and deceiue and weaken the building of it and make riftes and rentes in it by infidelitie to God disloyaltie to the Prince and malicious hate of true subiectes to
then disgarnished of the robes of his estate Polid. Hist Angl. lib. 18. and after put in execution Polidor telleth of a pacte or platte of treason made with Robert kinge of Scotes by him with his owne opinion in the ende Thus Sir Andrew Herkelies treason turned on his owne head in the ende Sir Roger Mortimer surnamed of Wigmor may for his aduauncemeÌ„t first Sir Roger Mortimer Fabian the 7 part in an 1324. corruption and treasons after well bee ioyned to him Vnder Edward the second being committed to the Tower hee made escape by giuing a sleeping drinke to his keepers as Fabian witnesseth Then he gotte him into Fraunce to Queene Isabell daughter to Philippe Lebew and wedded to kinge Edward Polidor Hist lib. 18. whom kinge Edward with her sonne hadde sent into Fraunce to intreat a concord and peace betweene Charles the French king and him After the returne of Queene Isabell Prince Edward her son with force of armes after the deposing of Edward the 2. in the Parliament holden at London Fabian in an 1328. Fabian the 7 part in an 1326. Sir Roger Mortimer who returned likewise in their retinue was by the singular fauour of Queene Isabell in wthose Court he bare the sway aduaunced in the Parliament of Salisburie vnder Edward the third to bee Earle of March as Sir Andrew the aforesaid was vnder Edward the second his father preferred to bee Earle of Carlile or Cardoile as is mentioned before And in the end this Sir Roger of Wigmor was executed for treason against his Prince and Countrie as the same Sir Andrew was But this Sir Roger was mounted farre higher in fauour in the Court and in the regiment dealings of estate and cause of profite that did accrew to the Crowne And hee had great troupes and routes hanging on him Chronica Fructus temp the 7. parte as Chronica Fructus temporum telleth what a number of knightes were retayned to him when hee was taken The regiment of the lande and affayres of profitte passed through the Queenes hands and his And the Lordes before assigned to haue the guiding of the yong king were sequestred so that alone the rule of the lande as Fabian sayeth rested in the Queene and the said Sir Roger Fabian the 7. part in an 1328. And great things of the realme saith he were out of order But Sir Roger bare himself so high that at length hee plucked both the king and his Councell vppon him So that in time by the king his assent and the meanes of Sir William Montague and sir Rafe Stafford and sir Iohn Neuel and others hee was by a compassed meane as Fabian termeth it arrested and takeÌ„ in the castle of Nottingham Fabian the 7 part in anno 1329. where the king and Queene then lay The keyes of the castle were daily and nightly vnder the ward and keeping of the said sir Roger as Fabian saith Chronica Fructus Temporum telleth Chro. Fruct temp 7. part that the Constable of the Tower led sir William Montague and his companie a priuie way vnder earth euen into the Tower where sir Roger was lodged From thence with sir Simon of Bedford and others he was sent to the Tower of London And in the end for his priuitie to the death of king Edward the second the king his father Fabian the 7 part in anno 1330. for other treasons charged and proued against him in the Parliament at London he was by authoritie of the same Parliament Fabian witnessing it iudged to death And vppon S. Andrewes euen next ensuing at London he was drawen and hanged He was charged not onely with treason against Edward the seconde the kings father to haue been the meanes of his most traiterous death fearing least nature woulde worke in the young king to set him at libertie againe Polidor hist Ang. lib. 18. as Polidore noteth and because Queene Isabel had written likewise letters of kindnesse vnto him but also hee was charged with treason against king Edward the 3. his sonne against his countrie to haue been the meane that the Scots escaped from the king at Stanhop park where they had fallen into the kings danger ne had byn the fauour of the said sir Roger then shewed to them further that an vnprofitable dishonorable peace as Fabian termeth it was by his meane concluded betweene the king and the Scots For first as Fabian writing of the Parliament of Northampton saith the king released to the Scots their fealtie and homage Fabian the 6 part in anno 1327. And he deliuered to them olde auncient writinges sealed with the seales of the kings of Scots Lords of the land both spiritual and temporal with many other Charters and Patentes by the which the kings of Scots obliged theÌ„ to bee â—eodaries to the crowne of England At which season also were deliuered certaine iewels which beforetimes had been wonne from the Scots The blacke crosse of Scotland Chro. Fruct temp in Edward â—qe 3. among the which the blacke Crosse of Scotland is specially named Chronica Fructus TemporuÌ„ according to the blacke darknesse of the superstitious time saith that this black Crosse was a ful precious relike which good king Edward conquered in Scotland brought it out of the Abbey of Stone And maketh mentioÌ„ also of the famous Indenture called Ragman Ragman the Indenture of the homages and fealties of Scotlande which the Scots made to king Edward king Henry his son in which were conteined all the homages and fealties first of of the king of Scotland all the Prelates Earles and Barons of the Realme of Scotland with their seales set there vnder other charters remembrances that king Edward and his Barons had of their right in the aforesaid realm of Scotland Fabian the 7 part in anno 1327. Of this Indenture Ragman mention is made also in the article obiected to this sir Roger at his arraignment before the iudges of the Parliament in London Thus the said sir Roger for sundrie treasons against his Prince Countrie was openly arraigned condemned executed as is aforesaid And thus of the treasons of Edric of Stratton of Eltrick the Admiral sir Andrew Hardikel sir Roger Mortimer of Wigmor and the executioÌ„ done on theÌ„ To these I will adde the notable exaÌ„ple of Hebert Earle of Vermandois in France of his treason against Charles king of France surnamed the Simple Hebert his execution vnder Lewes the 5. of the name And the example of Q. Brunchild in France Brunchild for her treasons the straÌ„ge execution done on her Metius Suffetius And likewise on the murderers of Charles Earle of Flaunders on Metius Suffetius and on two Traitors of the chamber of Frotho king of Danes Polido And these abundantly may suffice for the ending of this treatise First touching Hebert his treasons against Charles the Simple Ro. Gag