These banning Popeâ— like Shemei and Balam The Princes agree not in their ends The Emperors bad fortunes The indignities wherewith the Pope did vse the Emperor The Popes insulting pride The Emperors end vnfortunate The King very fortunate In respect of themselues the two Princes were equalls in respect of their fortunes they disagree The Emperours praise God the fouÌ„taine of goodnesse All men naturally euill Grace the gift of God God decreeth the good and deuiseth the meanes K. Edward K. Edward fit to finish the worke of Reformation God had the greatest part in this businesse The King beloued of God The King the best of all Christian Princes then liuing The Nation happie in K. Edward to defend the Faith The praise of King Edward The miserie of manie kingdomes Alexander of Macedon Alexander leauing his Empire to his friend diuided did sooner perish The kingdomes of France Edward the Third The title of England to the crowne of France FraÌ„ce much vexed with English warres France still in the hazard of English warres English examples Yorke and Lancaster The cause of the Eâ—glish ciuill warres was the interrupting of lawfull Succession Queene Elizabeth The danger that was feared by her want of Issue The danger of the State Gods preuention The euent did exceed expectation The subuersion of great houses The Sonnes of gouernors are best fitted for gouernement King Edward did exceed and succeed his Father Diuine Pollitique Morall The Kings praise His mercy to his enemies The particular of his deserts The King did inherit his kingdome and hâ—â— care for Religion together His first care He secondeth his Fathers attempt His first act of defence to the Faith King Edward was not tempted as was King Henry by euill counsell His holy zeale for reformation The King well fitted for this businesse The King not moued by any respect Wherein K. Edward principally defended the Faith Popery vtterly extirped by the King The consent of Parliament An vniforme order of common prayer appointed by the King Verity could not stand without vnitie Iosias of Iuda The ceremonies of Poperie like the rites of the Heathen Priests Anno 1547. The repeale of statutes concerning Religion Sixe Articles Gardiner Bonner The Kings renowne The King put out the fires of persecution The King did cure the wound his Father made The Kings furtherance The orders of the Church â—stablishâ—d by the King The King most mercifull and compassionate In mercie men resemble God His care for poore Hospitalls by him erected The workes of mercie the best witnesses of holy Faith The King deserued his Stile Diuine Pollitique Morall Contraries iudge one another Note There must be faction Prouidence The reason of this opposition of good and euill Goodnesse not confounded but confirmed by the opposition of euill The way is good if the end be happy Truth Euill men and euill practise against the King Scotland The Marriage with Q. Mary of Scotland The importance of that Marriage King Iames our Soueraigne The King euer victor RebellioÌ„ moued by perswasion and not by any proper motioÌ„ The Papists The practise of rebâ—lâ—ious Iesuits and Priests The Duke of Somerset Protector His deserts The reforming of Religion diuided the kingdome into a faction The Dukes care to compound these differences The Duke slandered The variance between the Lord Protector the Barrons Honour and desert beget dangerous enuie The Dukes error in pollicie Post est occasio Calua Note This ouersight was his death The cause of this discord The Dukes improuideÌ„ce His euill gouernement of the State Ambition This opinion is all malice no truth The true cause was a practise of enuie A double enemie The nature of great and enuious spirits Vertue most subiect to enuie The tryall of law onâ—ly a colour to satisfie reports The Dukes extremitie of hard fortune The greatest are most subiect to the fall of Fortune Diuine Pollitique Morall Life is a sicknesse The contempt of life Holy men neuer feared the Image of death Holy death setteth open the gates of life The ChildreÌ„ of Grace The sonnes of nature The iudgement of sense can iudge miserie of mans life The antient Romanes and GreciaÌ„s Against the rule of Religion A notable demonstratioÌ„ Man hath more to afflict him than all other Creatures Because of sinne The cause of the many grieuances of mans life Sickenesse Sickenesse ordained to subdue the pride of our nature A double respect First the number of sicknesses Secondly the generality All men being subiect at all times to all infirmities Rich men The poore the rich are both alike â—fflicted with sicknesse Pouertie of life Pouertie hatefull to men The false opinion of the world The honourable and the vile man do oâ—cupiâ— on the others place Want dâ—iecteth the spirits of well deseruing men The griefe of noble spirits Pouertie to a good man is like the foyle to the Diamond The desperate effects of pouertie Mutability and change The continuall trouble of mans life The graue the resting place 〈…〉 Custome is another nature Men by their naturall motions moue to euill but to goodnesse by the mouing of Grace That Roman Conquerour The Duke of Somerset A custome among the antient Romanes Variable fortune maketh men miserable Discontent Minde Discontent a dangerous disease The danger in discontenting great spirits All men haue at some times their discontents Holy men haue bene discontented Griefe is a greater torment then sickenesse The greatnesse of Discontent Death Death an enemie against whom there is no resistance Death doth controule the prosperities of our life Death is not a misery to all men Death maketh holy men immortall Good men hope for death and bad men feare it Death and the graue make all things equall No man hath pleasures but with limitation To good men there is no miserie How to vse the pleasures of this life Who are happie No man can know any part of Gods secrets vnles God reueals them God not contrarie but aboue reason The cause of false constructions In diuine matters Christians must belieue when they cannot iudge The vse that God can make of all our actions K. Edward The wonderfull effects of Gods prouidence The blood of the Martyrs was the seed of the Gospell The deaths of a few was the life of many God is mercifull in his iudgements The Kings death Great occasions of trouble in the kingdome The nobility commâ—ns disagree in the choice of their Prince King Edward euill counselled Northumberland Suffolke the cause of this great iniurie Reasons why the King did it not of his owne motion but by perswasion A doubtfull question resolued Good ends cannot be compassed by euill meanes God is the Father of truth What good men must do Diuine Pollitique Morall Iosias of Iuda and Edward of England Their age when they began their Reigne Both of these Kings conspiring one holy end Both their Kingdomes were corrupted with idolatrie Both of them yeeld their obedâ—ence to holy perswasion effect their purpose Both these
EXURGAT DEUS DISSIPENTUR INIMICI * THE HISTORY OF THE DEfendors of the Catholique Faith Whearevnto are added Observations Divine Politique Morrall By Christopher Lever Nostrum in Coelo Negotium LONDON Printed for Nicholas Fussell and Humphrey Moseley at the signe of the Ball in Pauls Church yard 1627. POSUI DEUM ADIUTOREM MEUM NON NATVRA SED PON TIFICIORVM ARTE FEROX SEMPER EADEM BEATI PACIFICI DONEC PAX REDDITA TERRIS F. Hulsuis sculp THE HISTORIE OF THE DEFENDORS OF THE CATHOLIQVE FAITH Discoursing the state of RELIGION in England and the care of the politique state for Religion during the reignes of King HENRRY 8. King EDWARD 6. Queene MARIE Queene ELIZABETH And our late Souereigne King IAMES Kings and Queenes of England France and Ireland Defendors of the most True most Ancient and most CATHOLIQVE FAITH c.. With all Declaring by what means these Kings Queenes haue obtained this Title Defendor of the Faith and wherein they haue deserued it whereunto are added Obseruations DIVINE POLITIQVE MORALL BY CHRISTOPHER LEVER Nostrum in Coelo Negotium Printed at London by G. M. for Nicolas Fussell and Humphrey Moseley and are to be sold in Pauls Churchyard at the signe of the Ball. 1627. TO THE MOST HIGH MIGHTY And most Gratious PRINCE CHARLES By the grace of God King of Great Brittaine France and Jreland Defender of the CATHOLIKE FAITH YOVR MAIESTIES MOst humble and vnworthie Seruant CHRISTOPHER LEVER with all humilitie dedicateth this Historie of the Defendors of the Catholike Faith vnto your Majestie beseeching Almightie God to deriue vpon your sacred name and house a perpetuall succession of able and resolute Defendors of the Faith to the honour of God the peace of the Church the prosperitie of the State the blessed memorie of your Royall Name and the Confusion of Antichrist AMEN A CATALOGVE OF the Chapters contained in this HISTORIE King HENRIE 8. 1. AN induction to this Historie briefly declaring the variable change of Times from the beginning to the time of this Historie page 1. 2. By whom and what meanes this Title Defendor of the Faith was giuen to the Crowne of England pag. 19. 3. King HENRIES first Act of Defence for the Catholike Faith pag. 31 4. Of what importance this Act for the Kings Supremacie was to the state of England in respect of Pietie and Policie pag. 38. 5. Of the suppressing of Abbeys and Religious houses in England pag. 48. 6. Of the Kings remisse and cold proceeding in the worke of Reformation pag. 60. 7. Of the sixe Articles and the euill which thereof ensewed pag. 77. 8. Obseruations out of the generall view of this latter time of King HENRIE 8. pag. 91. 9. In what state King Henrie left the kingdome to the next Defendor of the Faith King Edward 6. p. 109 10. A comparison betweene King Henry 8. of England and Fredericke Barbarossa the Emperour of Germanie pag. 119. King EDVVARD the 6. 11. OF the next Defendor of the Faith King Edward 6. pag. 125. 12. Of the benefit that redounds to a state by a lawfull succession of bloud pag. 131. 13. Of King Edwards defending the Catholike Faith and wherein he chiefely defended it p. 139. 14. The trouble of the State at this time of King Edward how they were occasioned and how compounded p. 152. 15. A discourse of the miserie of mans life vpon occasion of the Duke of Summersets death p. 165. 16. Of king Edwards death and how he left the state to the next succession 179. 17. A Comparison betweene king Iosias of Iuda and king Edward of England p. 187. Queene MARIE 18. OF Queene Marie and of the alteration of the State in the beginning of her gouernment pag. 191. 19. In what particulars Queene Marie did most offend the Catholike Faith p. 201. 20. Of certaine discontents whereat Queene Marie tooke great offence pag. 225. 21. Of rebellion a discourse p. 237. 22. A Comparison betweene Queene Marie of England and Katherine de Medicies Queene-mother of France p. 245. Queene ELIZABETH 23. OF the next Defendresse of the FAITH Queene Elizabeth and thorow what difficulties she attained the kingdome p. 249. 24. The first act of the Queenes defence for the Catholike Faith after she was Queene p. 262. 25. Of certaine state considerations which in respect of Policie might haue disswaded the Queene from reforming the state of Religion p. 268. 26. Of the care the Queene and State had to suppresse the enemies of the Catholike Faith p. 282. 27. Of what importance these statutes were in the 13. yeare of the Queene in respect of the Church and state p. 296. 28. Of the Christian care Queen Elizabeth had to defend certaine Christian Princes and their States p. 306. 29. A remembrance of some particulars wherein God hath defended this Defendresse of the Faith Queen Elizabeth p. 321. 30. Of Q. Elizabeth her resolute continuing in defence of the Catholike Faith p. 329. 31. Of the last Act of the Queenes defence for the Catholike Faith p. 333. King IAMES 32. OF the next Defendor of the Faith King Iames the Kings Maiesty that last was p. 335. 33. Of the Kings defending the Catholike Faith in Scotland before hee was King of England p. 343. 34. In what particulars King Iames our Souereigne hath principally defended the Catholike Faith p. 347. 35. A remembrance of some particulars whereby God hath wonderfully defended the Kings Maiesty p. 361. 36. Of the diuersity of Religions p. 364. THE HISTORIE of the Defendors of the CATHOLIKE FAITH AN INDVCTION to this History briefly declaring the variable change of times from the first beginning to the time of this present Historie CHAP. I. THE first time was in the first Creation for before God made things there could be no time time being a deriuing of things to such ends whereto in Gods decree they are directed For whatsoeuer is earthly euen man and the number of his trauells with their circumstances are bound by God to a necessity of time beyound which all the power of earth cannot reach Their opinion then is both foolish and wicked who imagine all things to happen by fortune and that there is a speciall power in the Orbs and Elements which they call Nature by which both heauen and earth and euery worke thereof is directed And this opinion of Atheisme is grounded vpon this doubt that whereas wee define God to bee the beginner of all things It is by them demanded where that God had his beginning and from what hee discended By which forme of reasoning they conclude against their owne vnbeleefe their doubting what should begin acknowledgeth a beginning the which beginning is God not that God himselfe had beginning but that all things had their essence and deriuation from him hee himselfe being infinite and without time For as in the figure of a Circle is not to bee found any limit or terme of beginning or ending So God within whose Circle all things bee that are in
and greatnes by the act of Supremacie for this as I haue said was the first step to the Popes downefall and therefore by disinabling the enemie of Faith hee did wel defend it Secondly in dissoluing the wicked assemblies of euill men professing religion the Fryers Monkes he therein performed the dutie of his Christian office because these men did not onely by their euill life disgrace the Christian profession but like drones idle themselues yet prodigally spending the fatte of other mens labours a double inconuenience to a Christian state First in maintaining such numbers of vnprofitable men Secondly in the euill wasting of that which might wel haue serued the necessities of many profitable vses Eigthly And therefore though king Henrie went forward in this holy busines but slowly yet laid he the passage open for his son and disarmed the enemie of his greatest strength whereby the next Defendor K. Edward might the better take from this Thiefe the spoyles of Christian Princes wherewith he had made himselfe appeare most glorious And so did that princely Edward to the glory of his God and the perpetuall honor of his princely name Ninthly Now if I should compare these two Defendors the Father K. Henrie and the Son K. Edward together and determine whether of them hath better merited the honour of their new stile I shall rather giue the palme to K. Edward because to finish a good is more more deseruing then to begin it For though king Henrie did deserue well in acting his princely part of great Maiesty yet did king Edward deserue better continuing the Sceane to the last period euer acting one and the same part and not diuers as did king Henrie his Father Tenthly Againe if wee respect greatnesse in their actions the Father hath the greater preheminence but if goodnes the son hath the greater the Father exceeding his Son in respect of Maiesty and bold attempting but the Son his Father in zealous prosecuting a holy cause begun So that betweene these two the Father and the Son was shared both greatnes goodnes both of them hauing both these in reasonable proportion and either exceeding other in his particular King Henry the Father he taketh from the Pope the Idol of false religion authority wealth by denying his Supremacie and by suppressing of Monasteries these being his two legges whereupon he did support the body of his greatnes The Pope wanting these supporters Idol-like falls to the ground where the king there leaueth him But king Edward with better zeale entring Gods House and finding this Idol bodie and idle body in the Church of England casteth out that body from the Church which his Father left wounded in the Church cleansing the holy Sanctuary which by false seruice had bene long prophaned This holy Edward in respect of his youth and great place admirable for his wisedome holy life And therfore did king Henry deserue well and somewhat defended the Catholike Faith But king Edward deserued better and defended it best Obseruations Diuine Pollitique Morall FIRST It is no note of the Catholike Church neither of piety to inflict aduersity disgrace and death but of the contrarie For God doth giue to his owne these little demonstrations to remember them his iudgements and to make them the better relish eternall felicities Secondly God in the worke of his iudgements doth indifferently vse the seruice of good and badd instruments but in his mercies he doth euer imploy his best for Mercie is his most excellent attribute and doth reioyce against Iudgement Thirdly It hath bene the most generall and the most Pollitique practise of our times to disioyne a Prince from his power and by Faction to make a Fraction in his state for a faction doth euer destroy one parte if not both Fourthly It is a Court error and almost common in all States that men with generall acclamation applaude both the loue and hatred of the Prince wheresoeuer hee shall place them but a wise Prince will suspect all such assentations because they intend but to please and not to profit Fifthly He that would continue himselfe in generall estimation must bee both actiue and passiue For he that can suffer well is able to confound Enuie Sixthly The same degrees of vertue are not giuen to all men alike but to all men there is giuen a possibility of hauing vertues in some degree because to euery man is giuen an vnderstanding soule which may apprehend it CHAP. X. A Comparison betweene King Henrie the Eighth of England and Frederick sirnamed Barbarossa Emperour of Germanie FIRST these two mighty Princes King Henry of England and the Emperour Frederick Barbarossa were most notable in these last Ages for the greatnesse of their Spirits and for the boldnesse of their attempting both of them attempting one fortune but with great difference of succesfull fortune and both of them attempting with such resolute stoutnesse as that in themselues they are of neere comparison though in their fortunes they were not comparable The Emperour hee attempts against Pope Alexander The King against Pope Clement in this they conspire but the Emperour failed in his enterprize wherein the King got the garland and triumphed and in this they agree not The Emperour he quarrells the Pope for Soueraignety and because he thought it indignity and dishonour to this imperiall place to be crowned and confirmed by the Popes allowance King Henry his quarrel was for Supremacie thinking it dishonour to his kingly dignity to be second to any man in his own dominions and in this they very neerely consent Secondly Againe the King he intends a further care then this businesse of State the reformation of Christian Religion the which he found to be much corrupted The Emperour had not this good intention but trauells principally to reobtaine the Soueraigne liberty of his place which by the power of the Popes was taken from him and in this they agree not Againe the Emperour neuer fainted in himselfe but continued his princely courage to the last though the disaduantage aduantage of fortune made him faile in his great attempting and though most basely he did humble himselfe at the Pope his enemies feete yet was he forced to this by extremities not by any deiection or weakenesse of his former haughty spirit But the King though he had the Conquest and preuailed against the Pope in all hee vndertooke yet fainted he in the hope of his greatest businesse not reforming Religion but in parte which he might haue done at his own pleasure being prouoked thereto by the perswasion of prosperous fortune But this failing in the King was not caused by the weakenesse of his courage but by the weakenesse of his Nature being easily ruled by the perswasion of his neere fauourites and therfore in this they were vnequall Thirdly In respect of the Popes their enemies they were both alike handled both of
could not better be continued than by vniformity and order Seuenthly And this is that which deseruedly hath made the king worthie of honourable name and most worthie of all others to be stiled Defendor of the most Catholike Faith neuer any Prince before him hauing done more with greater zeale for Religion then this very act king Edward did being in this comparable with Iosias the good king of the Iewes who with all industry did trauell in Gods businesse destroying the groaues and high places where the Idols had that diuine worship which of dutie is onely belonging to God And such were those phantasticall Ceremonies then vsed more like the exercise of Heathen than of Christian Priests and such was the kings care to reforme and rectefie as may well equall that of king Iosias and worthily exceed all his predecessors the kings of England before him To recite the particulars of his honourable merit were a trauell infinite the passage of his kingly life being nothing but in exercise of goodnesse the benefit whereof this Nation doth presently enioy and the renowne thereof spread ouer all Christendome and therefore I will onely remember some particulars of neerest consideration and such whose remembrance may most dignifie the author and contriuer of them Eighthly In the yeare 1547 and the first of King Edwards Reigne the King by act of Parliament did repeale all former Statutes concerning Religion by which Statutes the professors of Truth had bene iudged Heretickes and Heretickes and false Professors approued among the number of euill Statutes then repealed was that of the sixe Articles a Statute guilty of the blood of many the dearest Children of God which like an euill soare spread ouer all the Kingdome culling out such for the day of slaughter whom God had ordained to inherit eternal life the euil furie therof set on fire by the turbulent Spirits of euill men then in authority such as were Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester Bonner Bishop of London and others who by euill Counsell and pollice made the latter time of King Henrie fill our English Chronicles with the stories of blood and persecution Ninthly And therfore be it famous for the honour of King Edward and most worthie of his holy title that his princely care gaue end to this bloodie euill and that he for the honour of his God for the peace of his saints hath put out these destroying fires and blunted that edge of persecution which then did Tiranize the space of sixe yeares by the authority of the sixe euill Articles By this repeale did King Edward cure the wound his Father had made so dangerous in the Church and State of England reconciling himselfe and the authority of his place to the fauour of God which by these bloodie Articles his Father had verie much indangered Tenthly Againe the Kings holy care did not here end but yet respected a further benefit to the Catholike Faith neuer satisfying himselfe to haue done well whilst there was ought left vndone which either the seruice of his place kingly office or the necessity of the present times required And therfore when he had cast out the abhominatiō of his Israell Popish Idolatrie and the many errors of that Ceremonious Seruice hee contenteth not himselfe with this good deede but proceedeth to a higher degree of merit to the true establishment of the truth of Gods seruice thinking it vnworthy the honour of his name to take off from the church the ragges it then wore and so to leaue it naked and therefore did he inuest it with orders and ornaments of decencie fitting the fashion of Christs Spouse the Church Militant whereby shee might be distinguished from all diuersity whatsoeuer Eleuenthly And by this meanes the Liturgie of the Church was brought into a right square and proportionable to the Rule of Gods Word which ought to fashion euerie Christian care but principally the forme of Religion and holy Seruice Twelfthly Moreouer the commiseration he had of the necessities of men doth deserue a worthie remembrance and to bee ranked among those holy cares that haue made him verie famous For clemencie and pitifull regard in a person of such Maiesty is that whereby great men neerest resemble the Nature of God who is most mighty yet most mercifull In which heauenly respect this good King hath so farre exceeded example as that I cannot giue him equall comparison with any earthly creature in those times liuing who notwithstanding his greatnesse of Maiesty and high place would in his prouident care discend to the lowest of his Subiects to the lame the poore and the fatherlesse and with the eyes of Christian compassion would he view their necessities and accordingly prouide for them of his owne accord not led thereto by the perswasion of any saue of Gods Spirit which did continually moue him to holy exercise the witnesse of which his holy care will euer liue in the thankefull prayers of poore people who at this day are relieued in Hospitalls by him erected and giuen And in this respect hath hee well deserued the stile of Defendor of the Catholike Faith defending and prouiding for poore Christians the Children of Faith against the powerfull enemie necessity 13. And these workes of mercie are the best demonstrations we can giue that wee are in the Catholike Faith for he that hath not mercie hath not faith they being as vnseparable as the good Tree and the good fruit And such was this Noble Prince and so rare was he in the worke of holinesse as that worthely and before all others he hath deserued to be stiled Defendor of the most True most Antient and most Catholike Faith Obseruations Diuine Pollitique Morall FIRST A wicked Prince may effect Religious deeds but affect them he cannot because such deeds in such a one are not done for themselues but for the seruice of vnlawfull and wicked ends Secondly In Gods affaires the Prince his seruant may neither exceed his Commission in presuming neither neglect it with coldnesse but so proportion all his Christian proceedings that they may receiue allowance from the testimonie of God for as the body of a pollitique State Subiects are in all ciuill respects obedient to their temporall Lord. So all Potentates Powers and dignities haue their superintendent God who is their Lord paramont and doth command and iudge them as his vassalls Thirdly Such onely are fit to bee reformers of Christian Religion as haue Authority Truth and Zeale Authority to doe Truth to distinguish Zeale to perseuere all which had being and life in the person of King Edward Fourthly It was a Christian Pollicie in the King to establish Religion with vniformity and order and it is that Pollicie that doth still maintaine the State vnited For difference though it be but in ceremonie is a most necessarie cause of most vnnecessarie discords Fifthly Such Senators are
but it doth argue and conclude the vnworthinesse of the times for in such a case the Prince doth inherit happines but his people suffer miserie Thirdly It was both foolish and wicked in the two Dukes Northumberland and Suffolke to labour to erect and secure a state to their posterity with iniuries so apparant and palpable For though God many times suffer intrusions into titles he doth neuer establish them Fourthly In the discretion of State it cannot be thought otherwise but where there is vsurpation and false intrusion there is a miserable affliction with feare and Iealosie which neither the power or pollicie of any such State can auoid so long as God shall not suffer their violence to preuaile against the liues of the true inheritors Fifthly It is a Pollitique wisedome in a Prince to suspect the sincerity of al such state aduise that hath principall reference to the aduancement of such Counsellors For in this case it is often true that men will not speake their iudgements but their affections Sixthly To be ordered by lawfulnesse in all our actions is not onely the iudgement of conscience but of humanity and Morall discipline For Morall learning doth determine that there is nothing profitable that is not lawfull CHAP. XVII A Comparison betweene King Iosias of Iuda and King Edward of England FIRST to compare King Iosias of Iuda with King Edward of England is the most equall comparison of any two in the Storie of holy Kings both of them hauing with equall diligence and victory fought Gods quarrell to the glory of their God the reformation of his seruice the abolishing of Idolatrie and the confusion of the euill Ministers thereof First for their age when they began their Reignes King Iosias began his gouernement the eighth yeare of his age and King Edward the ninth of his wherein they very neerely consent and whereby God hath giuen proofe to the world that the power of his Spirit can as well preuaile in them of youth as in those of better yeares and experience he being able to make the Childe and the strong man alike victorious in a cause which hee shall please to protect as was this of these two holy Kings both of them equally conspiring one end the truth of Religion and holy worship Againe Amon Iosias his Father left the kingdome of Iuda in the exercise of Idolatry and so did King Henrie Edwards Father leaue the State of England in the practise of Popish Idolatrie hauing onely by suppressing of Abbeyes taken from those Idols their ornaments and wealth not vtterly destroying them as did Iosias and King Edward Againe Iosias when he vnderstood the will of God by hearing his Chancellor Shaphem reade the booke of the Law did accordingly frame himselfe in all obedience So King Edward when he vnderstood by the Learned men of his Realme such as Cranmer Latymer Ridley and others followed the Lords businesse with like zeale and constancie as did Iosias not onely abolishing the false but establishing the true forme of Gods seruice Againe as Iosias left the kingdome of Iuda to an euill Successor his Son Iehoahaz who againe prouoked the people to Idolatrie So likewise King Edward left the inheritance of the Church and kingdome of England to his Sister Mary who like Iehoahaz Iosias his Sonne did againe restore the euill practise of Idolatrie and superstitious Poperie vtterly defacing the godly building which her holy Brother had so carefully erected Againe as God did keepe his promise with Iosias which was to preserue Israell the time of his life in prosperity and rest So did God likewise preserue England in plenty and victory all the time of King Edward And therefore these two holy kings seeme to conspire in all saue their deaths Iosias dying in the field king Edward in his bed the one reigning thirty and one yeares the other but sixe yeares and odd moneths and yet in this hath king Edward the greater honour that he in sixe yeares did happily finish that which the other was thirty one yeares in compassing but aboue all hath he exceeded him in leauing to posterity that most famous Defendresse the Ladie Elizabeth his Sister who afterwards did proue the glory of her Sex and the admiration of all the world OF QVEENE MARIE AND of the alteration of the State in the beginning of her Time CHAP. XVIII FIRST I am now to change my Argument and to write not of mercy but of misery of the aduersity not of the prosperity of the Gospell and how the Catholike Faith was offended and not defended by the Successor Queene Marie who made the most miserable change in the state of England that euer that Nation indured she defacing the glorious worke of her Predecessor of K. Edward her princely brother extinguishing the lights of Truth whereby men were directed in the way of life obscuring al knowledge in the mist of Ignorāce and blacke error in which blindnesse the Christian world had for many yeares wandered This Eclipse being now againe by the interpositiō of her darke time brought vpon this Nation So that no light of Truth was in her time to be seene saue onely at the burning Stakes of Martyrs which holy fire did kindle a Religious zeale in many Spectators that beheld the mercilesse crueltie of the tormentors and the Christian patience of holy Saints tormented Secondly And therefore I am not as before to declare wherein Queene Marie hath defended the Catholike Faith because shee neuer defended it in the least particular but of the contrarie how shee did bend the powers of her endeauour both against the profession and the professors of true Christian Faith seeking by all violent and bloodie meanes to depresse the prosperity of Religion whereof by the dignity of her place she was made defendresse And in Truth it doth grieue me that I am to write the dishonor of this Queene which willingly I would auoide were the cause any other but Religion but that the declaration of these times do tie me to a necessity of Truth from which I dare not aberre for it were an euill presumption in any one to presume to write History then to obscure the truth thereof vpon what cause soeuer For thereof would issue a double inconuenience First he should wrong the vnderstandings of men in misreporting the Truth also lay an euil imputation on his name in suppressing the knowledge of Truth which is the life and true mouing soule of all Historie Thirdly And this I write in fauour of Q. Marie because of her extraordinary induments of Nature God hauing giuen her so much Maiesty and princely spirit as might serue to rule the greatest command in the world if to her other gifts God had giuen her the knowledge of his Truth she had well deserued to haue bene named most excellēt to haue exceeded all the famous Queenes
Kings left their States to holy ends but euill successors Both of them fortunate to their Kingdomes The honour of King Edward Q. Elizabeth Q. Marie The change shee made in the Church of England The light of Truth put out The Queene obscured the glory of this Nation The purpose of the Historie of this Queenes time The truth of History must not for any consideration be concealed The inconuenience of misreporting the truth of Historie Queene Marie her extraordinarie induments of Nature Q. Elizabeth incomparable Nature without grace doth merit nothing The least gift of grace is more worth then the whole riches of Nature The gifts of Grace The gifts of nature without grace are dangerous in him that hath them The motion of Grace is 〈◊〉 against Nature The Queene an enemie to her selfe The Q. great ouersight Gardiner Bonner the Queenes euill instruments The Q good nature much abused She entred her gouernment with great Tyranniâ— Those wee trust most may best deceiue vs. A bad perswasion These euill Counsellors much deceiued God raiseth a new generation of holy men from the ashes of Martyrdome 1 King 12. 10 Their Counsell was wicked pollicie but no pietie A respect of pollicie Gardiner the euill spirit which most tempted the Queene to her seueritie The power of conscience Diuine Pollitique Morall The Duke of Northumberland The Duke guilty of his fortunes In respect of State The Q. first offence Gardiner Bonner and others The cruelties of these times A double respect How the Q. began her gouernement D. Cranmer and others The Papists In restoring the Abbeyes The euill of a bloody life In respect of State Idle and euil vsers of wealth The Queene in her iudgement condemned her Father The Queene erecteth that Idolatrie which her Father had defaced E contrario The worst of the Queenes euills Her establishing of Poperie Her full opposition against the Catholike Faith Her forwardnes in punishing Mans nature The alteration of Religion is preiudiciall to the CommoÌ„-Wealth The Q conscience abused The Pope hath not principality proper The Q. ouersight The English nation dishonoured by the Queene The Q. persecutions of holy men No profession of Religion but the Popes that thinke to merit by blood persecution Christians must beare the Crosse not make it The example â—f Christ. Mercy the 〈…〉 gift of grace The Martyrs The vehemencie of this persecution For his booke of Acts and Monuments Strange examples of enuie The graue is euery mans Sanctuary The doome of Nature Note A reuenge like the reuenge of Diuels This persecution equall with them of the Primitiue Church King Philip of Spaine The confederacie of the Spaniâ—h King and the Pope The Iesuites supported by the Spanish King Rome and Spaine the ladders of one anothers rising 〈◊〉 respect of State The Spanish King bound to certaine conditions No obligatioÌ„ can binde the desire of the ambitious Note The inconuenience of the Queenes Marriage The greatnes of Spaine The expectation of Spaine Portingale England the supporter of Spaine The inconuenience In respect of pollicie The Queene neither pollitique nor holy The prouidence of God in this businesse Queene Elizabeth The hope of King Henrie his issue The gouernment when she was Q. Queene Elizabeth incomparable What hurt the Q. death had bene to ChristeÌ„dome Iudith and Holophernes The glorie of Queene Elizabeths deeds In respect of State The inconuenience The glory of the English Natiâ—◠〈…〉 of Q. Elizabeth King Iames our Soueraigne God onely preuented the euill purpose of euill men Queene Marie led to dishonourable ends The cause the perswasion of her conscience Winchester Gardiner Nothing can perswade like conscience Who are most powerfull to perswadevs Men seeming deuout are best able to deceiue The ground of euill pollicie Who are the chiefe plotters and actors of treasons Why Priests are most fit for treasons The office of Iesuits By whom the Queenes nature was most abused Who they be that trouble the peace of Israel Diuine Pollitique Morall No man can free himselfe from Discontent The greatest 〈…〉 seruitude The error of common iudgement The power of patience A moderation in griefe For griefe is the true physicke of the minde The euill of discontentment Queene Maries punishment The trouble of her conscience Her owne iudgement of her owne proceedings Her Nature Protestants The queenes griefe Gardiner Bonner Gen. 34. 30. The Queene veri much in her selfe offended How the power of Princes is limited The reason Faction Faction The torment of an offended conscience King Philip of Spaine Her want of issue The natures of women The Kings not regarding her Her iealousie of her own merit The queenes deseruing of King Philip. The queenes offence in respect of King Philip very causefull The third cause of her Discontent was the losse of Callis Note Prouocations to French warres Callis the key of France The reason of the Queenes griefe for the losse of Callis The rebellion of her subiects Rebellion a cause that the gouernement is suspected What is required in the person of a Prince The forward successe of the Rebells One chiefe cause why they failed in their proiect Sir Thomas Wyat of Kent God the enemie of all Conspirators Gods mercie in thus punishing the Queene The mercie of God to this Nation in the Queenes death Diuine Pollitique Morall The diuers opinions of men in this Argument This controuersie must be iudged by Religion and not by pollicie The Testimonie of God the best authority Religion and Pollicie two diuers The differeÌ„ce of their ends and practise How to reconcile piety and pollicie The Popes haue abused the Christian Faith The Pope doth challenge authority to licence Rebellion How the Pope doth inrich himselfe The Pope no follower of any holy example In respect of State practise The example of King Dauid Dauid would not conspire the death of Saul though he were a Reprobate Dauid refuseth the offer of opportunitie to reueÌ„ge 1 Sam. 24. v. 5 6 7. Arare example of a holy King Note 1 Sam. 2. 6. 9 Dauid and the Pope disagree in their opinions An Italian prouerbe Count Baltezer The example of Christ. God who only maketh Kings can onely depose them No earthly power can giue licensce for Rebellion All traytors oppose against Gods prouidence The Pope his Dispensation Queene Mary Queene Katherine Commiseration and Christian pittie The woman a weake Sexe The venemous nature of the Romish doctrine Saint Bartholmewes supper of Sâ—ulâ—â— The differeÌ„t nature of two Sisters The day and night diuide the yeare The differeÌ„ce of good and bad The differeÌ„ce of Natures Of King Henries happinesse God is double as much in mercie as in Iudgement Queene Elizabeth is helper to cure the wounds her Sister had made in the State Wherein we may behold the deserts of Queene Elizabeth The highest of her deserts In respect of greatnesse goodnesse Virgin Marie Queene Elizabeth most excellent in the respects of mercie and Maiesty Disparagement King Iames. The Queene matchlesse for Maiestie
An importaÌ„t aduise to all Princes A Reason Esop in morall Fables The queenes moderation Her defence of Faith before she was Queene An euill practise to disinherit the Queene Note Her trouble in her Sisters time Queene Elizaheths Teares Salomon A good woman Pollitique Morall Her first care for Religion A loue principium The queenes care to cure the diseased State The practise of bad physisitions Her restoring Religion to purity of Doctrine Poperie for euer banished from this Iland King Edward ouermatched by Queene Elizabeth Her desert visible in the face of England The returning of holy men from banishment to England Diuine Pollitique Morall Experience Nothing that is earthly is free from inconstancie God the onely supporter of mens resolution The nature of all men Queene Elizabeth most constant To auoid the miscoÌ„ceiuing The Queene neuer fainted in her resolution Yet much tempted by state considerations Religion Pollicie respect diuers ends Religion ought to order state Religion is peruerted and Scripture wrested to maintaine vnlawfulnes In Popish states Regards of state One of the chiefe of Q. Elizabeths honourable deeds The victorie she had of her selfe The first consideration of State The danger of altering Religion A Reason The Queene made choise of the weaker to assist her against the stronger Her holy trust The second State consideration was the difficulty in finishing An argumeÌ„t from the order of nature The importance of this consideration Third consideration The displeasure of forreigne princes The desires of great persons The vse of forreigne regard In respect of England A Reason The Spanyard hath now larger Dominions than the Duke of Muscouy EnglaÌ„d in the midst of many disagreeing Nations The queenes constancie God is able to worke without as well as with meanes Sampson The honour of Queene Elizabeth Diuine Pollitique Morall Mercie The reward of Mercie Mercie hath prehemineÌ„ce in the nature of God Queene Elizabeth very mercifull An admirable degree of Mercie The mercy of Popish lawes and Papists How much the Queene hath exceeded her Sister in mercie The purpose of the queens Lawes No meanes to reclaime the inueterate enuie of men Proiects deuised by the Pope Interdictions Pope Pius Quintus The euill effect of the Popes Bull. A Parliament The cause of the statutes against Recusants Exmalis moribus nascuntur bona leges The mercy of the queens Lawes The purpose of the Statutes A large demonstration of the queens mercie The slanders of euill and malitious men None haue haue suffered in England for their conscience onely The mercy of the Law The Popes Bull the occasion of more strict Lawes The purpose of the state The difference in the practise of these states Our iustice more mercifull then their mercie The pollitique regard of this seuerity in the Romish State Religion flourisheth vnder â—ppression This Pollicie not answerable to piety nor holy example Act. 5. 34. The mercy of English Lawes concerning Religion Christ the true example of Christians The principall purpose of the statutes The necessity of these Statutes Diuine Pollitique Morall In respect of the Church The prosperity of the state dependeth on the prosperity of the Church The Church and State Children of one Father Respect had to Pollicie and not to piety onely The Popes quarrell The particular branches of these Statutes Inconuenience by English Romish trauellers Nothing can respect the state lawfully that respecteth not Religion also A comparisoÌ„ Of most importance for the Church In respect of the common-Wealth The wisedome of state The dangerous inconuenience of Iesuites and Romish Priests The Iesuites banished France Franciscan Fryer King Dauid A respect most needfull for the English Nation A prouident carâ— The policie of the Romish Church preuented Iesuites Intelligencers A great means of the Popes greatnesse The vse of Seminarie Priests and Iesuites Treason Wherein Iesuits are best learned Diuine Pollitique Morall Euery mans care Charity doth approue vs good men Children of God Loue the fulfilling of Gods Law The dutie of euery Christian The care which ought to be regarded in all States The purity of Christian Religion The difference of Christian and heathenish State Queene Elizabeth most compassionate Distressed Christian Princes In respect of Scotland The wisedome of those times Note These two Kingdomes in one Isle like two wiues in one house King Iames. The Queene hath the glorie of this deede The Queene euer fauorable to Scotland The Queene defended that nation which her predecessors had much offended The French King A princely regard Obiection Answer The Queene neuer altogether ruled by the perswasion of State The queenes reason The Frenchmen owe thankes to the name of Queene Elizabeth The King and kingdome of portingall None can giue victory at his pleasure Gods iudgement The doubt of Anthonies title The queenes double respect in this voyage A reason for the Queenes excuse The States of the Low-Countries A dangerous Obiection The answer The queenes nature A second reason of the Queenes doings Note Euill men readie to traduce the Queene The offence betweene England and Spaine a sufficient reason for these proceedings Vertue the better for opposition The Queene iustifiable in this quarrell The Spaniards the States can both report the Queenes victories The queenes cares euer seruants to the necessities of Christian princes The honour of the English Nation Diuine Pollitique Morall God the best recompencer of deserts God most assured in his promises Gods reward In the queens particular Many practises against the Queene The diuers sorts of practises Gods speciall prouidence for the Queenes safetie Daunted with her Maiesty It is in vaine to resist the power of God Her trouble in her Sisters time Her enemies could not preuaile to her destruction An obiection The answer Note The queenes innocence was a cause but not the onely cause of her safetie After she was Queene The practise of the Pope against her The two Earles WestmerlaÌ„d and NorthuÌ„berland Gods defence for the queen The Spanish King The common attempts on both sides The nature of our English Warres with Spaine The Spanish preparation to inuade England The inuincible Nauie Anno. 1588. Their proud confidence God hateth pride in all Creatures His mighty deliuerance Sir Francis Drake How the Queene behaued her selfe in these weighty affaires No man certainly known before his end The glory of our life is to continue in well doing The queenes godly constaÌ„cie She was answerable to her constant mot Semper eadem Her constancie apparent In the view of her gouernement The name of Queene Elizabeth cannot perish in England A request to the learned of this Land The last defence shee made for the Catholike Faith A most Christian care A worldly care To benefit posterity The care of Christians The queenes persecution King Iames. Obiection Answer Another obiection Reasons The answer None but God can foretell the truth of future euents Gods decree His prouidence Councell When Gods secrets are knowne to men All things are iudged by their euents and not otherwise Astrâ—logie and calculating vncertaine False foreiudging The foolish impudence of men God iudgeth not as man by apparaÌ„ce The Kings Maiesty God hath exceeded our hopes Mens expectations deceiued In respect of likely-hood The practise of forreigne States our enemies A matter very considerable The discretion of State Note Gods fauour to the King The enemies of this Kingdome What the King did inherit with England The Kings forward successe The King at his entring had no vse for weapon but to giue honour The happie issue deceiued the euill ezpectation Gods blessings to our Nation Queene Elizabeth We ought to glory in nothing but in well-doing Gods instrument The Kings care for Religion The Kings reforming the state of Scotland The first Protestant King in this Kingdome Gods assistance to the Kings good cause The King defended the quarrell of Faith before he had the title A gratious beginning ending Diuine Pollitique Morall The alteration of a Prince the alteration of State Nothing but the person of the Prince was altered The euill hopes of bad men The hope of factious people Note That both the Papist the puritane could conspire on hope in one particuler Prince The successe failed Church of Scotland The Kings resolute constancie The reason Their arguments of hope How God assisted the King in this important businesse The Kings choice The Papist and the Puritane both enemies to the Catholike Church The order of the Kings proceeding against the Puritan The Kings most Christistian Care His Maiesties religious Iudgement The different nature of the King and these peeuish people Obiection Answer A most orderly proceeding An argument Papist The care of the State The reason The Papists The Gunpowder treason How this might haue wrought reuenge in the Kings desire The Kings Proclemation His most religious mercie Statutes enacted The Oath of Allegiance Blackwell the Arch-Priest The two great enemies of our Church Diuine Pollitique Morall The many daungers the King passed In Scotland England The conspiracie of the Gowries His deliueuerance At the Queenes death The Pope and Papist No disturbance to let the Kings forward entrance The treason of the blowing vp the Parliament house A destruction lesse mercifull than the Flood God wonderfully protected the King Religion deuideth the world The names of Christian and heathen odious to one another The Christians among themselues and the heathen among themselues deuided Among the Christians Christians now haue as manie Religions as the Pagans had Gods One God one Truth one Religion God hath prescribed an order for his seruice The reason why Religion is so deuided The contradictions among the learned Papists Doctor Morton Bellarmine and Blackwell Wisbitch Iesuites and Secular Priests Note In the Religion of popery much diuersity The Protestant Religion deuided The hurts of diuided Religion No meanes to reclaime these disobedient Christians Obiections of the Papists Answer Diuersity in all Religions Diuersity in the Iewish Church The doctrine of the Sadduces The Kings desert in this respect of vnity The true Religion is like Christ betweene two Thieues Christ the way the truth and the life He that is but neere truth is not true
worke no creature is able certainely to determine what will be before it be all things in respect of humane indgement being iudged by their euents and not otherwise Secondly and therefore is calculating and the iudgement of Astrologie vncertaine and a very mockery hauing neither lawfulnesse nor Truth to giue it authority And though the Diuiner sometime hit the truth hee doth it not by any certaine direction but by hap and at peraduenture and so the blinde may hit the Butt and the reporter of many lies may fortune to tell a truth Thirdly and this false fore-iudging is of ordinary custome in the vse of all worldly affaires euery man almost aduenturing to Iudge before hand of euery accident and to determine how God shall determine of such and such occasions whereby they would tie God to a necessity and that needs hee must doe that which in their weake iudgement they imagine will bee done But God who is most absolute and able to doe whatsoeuer shall please himselfe deludeth the vaine imaginations of men and out of the greatest vnlikelihoods can hee frame that which is most desired and least hoped neither is hee as man to iudge by apparance or by the consequence of humane reason but out of death can he raise life out of miserie mercie and in the greatest expectation of warre blood and persecution can he giue peace safetie and preseruation Fourthly Wee haue happie instance of this in the fortunes of the Kings Maiestie that last was King Iames our Souereigne whom God most gratiously and beyond all expectation did protect making him fortunate to the honour of his owne name and for the happinesse of these Nations combining by him two euer disagreeing nations in the neerest bonds of Loue and Brotherhood And this did God make prosperous beyond our hopes and beyound the euill desires of them who loued vs not For if we remember the latter time of Queene Elizabeths reigne and the hard condition of those times we shall then finde how much the mercie of God hath exceeded our hopes and how much the generall opinion was deceiued in the construction of that euent men generally expecting the miserie of warre and ciuill strife when God did reach vs his mercie and the large demonstration of his loue Fifthly And in truth in respect of likely hood both Nations England and Scotland had reason to haue feared more and hoped lesse then happened it being not likely to succeed as it did and that a people inueterate in quarrell and warlike contention should in such peaceable manner shake hands and conspire mutually one thing which for many hundreds of yeares before did euer disagree which is more in a matter so important as was the vniting of both kingdomes in the gouernement of one absolute Souereigne Neither was it likely there wanted then the practise of forreigne States especially of such as enuied our prosperity and loued vs not which might trauell to hinder this happie coniunction whereby our strength became double so much as before and therefore our enemies would couet rather to suppresse than to inlarge vs least we hauing the kingdome of Scotland to assist vs which before was commonly either enemie or newter might proue vnresistable in the fortune of warre who before we had it were so often Conquerours Sixthly And this assuredly was a matter very considerable for them to preuent and such as the Pollitique wisedome of States men would carefully apprehend For in the disoretion of State affaires it is better and of lesse difficultie to preuent the augmentation of our enemies power then when it is augmented to scatter it And those things in the opportunity of their times are of easie reach which afterwards in a time vnfit proue vnaccessable not within our compas and this Iudgement could not want in them who most carefully search the secrets of all pollicie and trauell their wits to apprehend and contriue all aduantages yet notwithstanding all these occasions which in common iudgement might haue letted the Kings peaceable entrance into this Kingdome did God bring him vnder the protection of his fauour in security and peace and with generall acclamation binding the enuie of all opposition and making his enemies shew themselues his friendly entertainers the antiēt enemies of this kingdom to congratulate his Kingly inheritance And this did God with such admirable demonstration of his fauour as that his Maiestie and his Subiects of both kingdomes haue good cause to remember it for euer most thankefully whose life God did wonderfully preserue and whose fortunes hee did highly aduance leading him thorow many difficulties and dangers to a faire inheritance to inherit the obedience and faithfull seruice of a people faithfull fortunate and assured whom his predecessors the Kings of Scotland did euer most feare as their most able enemie whom his Maiesty euer found his most trusty and assured Subiects and this was done with such prosperity and forward successe that the report of the Q. death was scarce named in our neighbour kingdomes but this report of the kings peaceable entrance was farre off generally knowne the good newes of the kings entring outstripping the euill newes of the Queenes death to the comfort of all good men and to the admiration of all men Seuenthly neither was there need as it was thought that the King and his Subiects of Scotland should for this cause haue put themselues into the hazard of vncertaine warre whereby the Kings right might haue indured wrong and Truth haue stood at the discretion of warre which had bene very dangerous and that which our enemies most hoped but the happie issue was otherwise for neither was there any to lift vp his daring hand to resist his Maiestie neither had the King any vse for weapons but onely wore them for ornament and to giue names of honour to such men whom hee thought did or might deserue them Eighthly And thus did God giue vs life when we feared death peace when we feared warre a king when we had none a Prince a Patron and a most noble Defendor of the Catholike Faith vnder whose protection we enioyed peace plenty security And therfore happie were we in his gratious gouernment and happie was his Maiesty whom God found worthie to succeed in the royall seate and in the holy cares of that most famous Defendress of the Faith Queen Elizabeth CHAP. XXXIII Of the Kings defending the Catholike Faith in Scotland before he was King of England FIRST there is nothing of our owne wherein wee may iustly glory but in well-doing because when we doe any work of Grace the Spirit of God moueth in vs and prouoketh vs to holy exercise And therein onely we may worthily esteeme of our selues because we are accepted of God and vsed as his holy-instruments And in this had the Kings Maiestie much to glory