masters holynesse despise mee his grand chiefetaine or the least Captaine of his vnder mee who are to pursue heretiques that haue robbed him of his honour and glorie of his power and authoritie holynes and credit whereby hee is become of lesse estimation among the kingdomes of the world The supposed slanders which England hath wrongfully laide vpon him the dishonour and demerites which his locusts haue condignly receiued in England of latter times for their treasons conspiracies and murderous practises are pretended to bee so high a blemish vnto that painted beast that by no meanes the quarell is to bee qualified but by open force and forcible inuasion that can take no better successe by deuillish deuises It is not vnknowen to all how many secret practisers euen of our owne vnnaturall countrymen and others hee hath sent to subuert the quiet of our state pretending openly the winning of men to the church of Rome wherein and not else where as they saie is saluation but couertly haue stirred vp rebellious thoughts and deeds in many which otherwise myght haue shewed themselues loyall subiectes And this generall practise hath appeared to be a deuice to steale awaie the harts of the subiects from their due obedience to our most gracious Queen wherby we might grow into ciuill rebellions within our selues and so giue him the more ease to make spoile of all And sith these secrete workers haue not nor can take no effect in their treasons but condigne reward deserued iustice wherby many haue bene rid most happilie out of our common weale and their dispatch no doubt to vs most beneficiall and howsoeuer they be enchanted by the vaine conceite of canonization and reward at Gods hands the whores deceiuing baytes their confusion is no more regarded of his holines than the fall of a drop from his nose he loueth not the name of an English man but flattereth them onely to vse them to worke secret mischiefes and that they may come to the more speedy confusion And sith I say by their secret meanes he cannot get againe and redeeme the decaies that the trueth of the Gospell heere receiued hath brought vpon his kingdome of darkenesse he hath sent out this hellish hoobub with his blasphemous coniurations commanding heerein aboue all the rest of his adherents this capitall King Catholique to take knowledge first of his iniururies sustayned by the English Nation who haue dispoyled him of all his Abbies Priories Monasteries other reliques of his forged deuotions and with all of our detayning of the annuall reuenues and pensions which he vsurped from vs greate summes of monie to maintayne his high abhominations and which is more that we haue bewrayed his darkenesse which he would haue the whole world to imbrace as the true light which things haue so deepelie discouered him that he will be seene to pursue vs as robbers with this peeuish hoobub the destruction of England This no doubt is the first cause that inkindleth a blinde deuotion in the king of Spaine dignified with the high title of King Catholike to pursue the matter vi armis to discharge himselfe of the truste reposed in him The other cause inuested meerelie in him selfe without hauing anie eye at all on anie other end is the desire and thirstinesse wherewith he hath been long tossed to subiect this land to his dominions for since his atchyuing the gold of India his thoughts haue neuer beene quieted but still seeke howe to increase his power and to become sole Monarch of Europe And to this his ambitious desire the holie father bringeth more stubble to maintayne the fire to serue his owne turne the better to support his blacke kingdome well shaken by the thunder of the Gospell which hee by the Spanish Inquisition the court of hellish furies endeuoreth but in vaine to extinguish And forasmuch as England hath been the best benefactor in ignorance to the Sea of Rome and of whose sweetnes this Catholike king hath some thing tasted and finding it plausible for his stomack to digest he lōgeth for it as the purple whoore wyth child of ambition longeth for her owne glorie which ambitious thirste can hardly be quenched as appeareth till the throats of more of his inuincible troopes be stopped with the waues of our narrow Seas The remembraunce of whose former successe in the same may argue in vs if we retire to our helping God an assurance of the like issue of his blinde ambition now Which maketh him swell in regard hee seemeth to be master of land and sea in both which hee is deceiued and yet pricketh him forward to equalize his territories with the great and large scope of the pristine Romaine Empire which extended it selfe ouer three parts of the world and yet could not satisfie the ambition of Casar and Pompey whilst the one could abide no equal the other no superior The Pope for his part wil be king of kings and will accepte neither superiour not equall in causes either diuine or humane the Spaniard priuiledged by his title of king Catholique coueteth superioritie ouer all the rest not only of the Popes vassall kings but ouer others therefore he wrestleth hard for Flanders and other prouinces of Germanie he practiseth subtilly for France suborneth impiously Ireland and audaciouslye threatneth England But no doubte as the fountaine of ambition yeeldeth no better licour than thus to vsurp other mens territories kingdoms so it will affoord no better end than it did to the Lacedemonians and Athenians the one being master of the sea the other of the land whose glory as it tooke beginning by ambition so by the same they were brought both to confusion in the end and therefore need wee the lesse to feare this ambitious hoobub wherein wee seeme to be pursued first for that which belongeth to God himselfe namely all glorie power vertue veritie sanctitie and holinesse which this beast of Rome vsurpeth to himselfe and woulde inforce vs to yeeld it vnto him from our louing God whose cause wee shall defend and not our owne in resisting his chieftaine this Catholike king secondly seeing it pursues vs for our owne kingdome countrie lands libertie wiues children and liues thinges peculiar vnder God to our Queene and vnder her vnto our selues he hath no colour to chalenge anie propertie title interest or hope in them and therefore in defending them we shall preserue our selues and that which is meerely our owne And yet therunto will not that beast intitle him Thus we see the causes that moue this loud hoobub against vs in the meere desire of the Spaniardes But forasmuch as we are in dutie and christian policie to looke backe into our selues and to take surueigh of the occasions which may bee argued to bee in our selues why God in iustice should moue this Antichristian host against vs hauing the title of Christians and to examine whether wee deserue to tast of the plague which is threatened
A CHRISTIAN FAMILIAR COMFORT AND INCOVRAGEMENT vnto all English Subiects not to dismaie at the Spanish threats Whereunto is added an admonition to all English Papists who openly or couertly couet a change With requisite praiers to almightie God for the preseruation of our Queene and Countrie By the most vnworthie I. N. Printed at London for J. B. 1596. TO THE HIGH AND MOST VERTVOVS PRINCESSE Elizabeth by the especial prouidence of the Almighty Queene of England France and Ireland chiefe protector of the right Catholike Religion ALbeit I may be iustly censured most gracious Queen to haue committed a two folde fault in this mine enterprise first in vndertaking it being most vnworthie next in exhibiting it to your Highnes beeing most worthie I beseech your roiall patience to heare mine excuse and as it may sound with your knowen clemencie I may receiue pardon for my boldnes To commit the first I had a two folde incouragement the occasion of the time and a continuall secret instinct vrging mee to doo mine indeuor in this kinde not intending thereby to preuent anie better able To aduenture the second I was moued by discretion namely to commend the consideration of it silly as it is vnto your high Maiestie aboue all others and that for two causes the one in regard none hath better power to protect it beeing in anie measure worthie next none hath like authoritie to pardon it being faultie And in these regards especially my most gracious Soueraigne dutie and loue being witnesses of mine inward zeale I humbly presume to leaue this my poore offering at the feet of your most prudent censure Your Maiesties loyall poore Subiect IOHN NORDEN To my Christian countrymen faith in God loue to her Maiestie constancie in Religion watchfulnesse magnanimitie bee for euer more and more increased continued SAint Ierome beeing in Bethleem at the time when the Turkes inuaded and most cruelly wasted Asia the lesse Arabia Aegypt and part of Syria declared that the sins of the Christians there were the cause of all that miserie and of the feare which possessed their hearts gaue courage victorie to the enemie And that there was no assurance of the mittigation of that fierce furie of the one or restitution of comfort to the other before there were in the Christians humiliation and a true returning vnto vertue and righteousnes Which ancient counsel of that famous father may be renewed now amongest vs when the professed enemie of the true Catholique religion hath stirred vp an apparant indignation in the pretended King Catholique against England and many other partes where the Gospell is sincerely preached and that surely for the sinnes of Christians in the iudgement of God who looking vppon the greene leaued figge tree of our profession desiring to tast of the fruit which it should beare findeth it not answerable to his expectation And therfore vnlesse we will returne from our hypocrisie and bring forth with our leaues good fruit it is to bee doubted that our God powerfull and iust will permit this professed aduersarie to rouze vs out of our secure thoughts and either winne vs to more sinceritie or giue vs into the handes of our aduersarie And to the end we may all find out our selues to bee faultie that seeme now to bee shrouded with securitie it is fit that we should examine euery one himselfe and amend what the word of the liuing God willeth to be amended in euerie particular person so howsoeuer the causes of this Spanish Hoobub may appeare to be in the man of sinne in malice in his chiefe agent the pretended king Catholik in ambition we shall preuent theÌ„ both of their vaine purposes being strongly shrouded with hope of the performance of the promises of our God who will vppon our reconciliation become againe on our side howsoeuer yet our sins may deserue to haue the shield of his protection taken from vs and to drawe the enemie to inuade vs. And therefore it is now required and that with speed that we should denie our selues acknowledg him forsake our selues and cleaue vnto him disclaime the confidence of our owne strength and depend wholy vppon his vnâ—anquishable power who shall be to vs all in all and who shall strengthen vs weaken them fight for vs against them And to this end haue I though most vnworthie sent vnto you this simple Eccho to that subtill Hoobub not that it should sound to mine owne vainglorie but to incourage vs all â—o shape a new course in our liues and such prouidence in our â—roceedings that we all may answere our duties to God loialty to Queene Elizabeth and loue to our countrie And so may euerie man rest truly resolute in a good conscience to withstand the practises of this roring beast of Rome and all the power of his professed adherents the enemies of God and vs with an assured hope neuer to bee ouercome Yours in Christian good will I. N. A CHRISTIAN COMfort and encouragement vnto all English subiects not to dismay at the Antichristian threates Cap. 1. Wee must examine the speciall causes why God hath stirred vp the Nation of the Spanyards to pursue England THough in the iudgement of God there be many causes that maie moue him to take displesure against vs the people of England yet before I proceede to examine them as behooueth to the ende they may be reformed I will briefely as necessarie it is shew the chiefe causes that meerely mooue the Spaniardes to this loud hoobub without regarde of the occasions why God would make them the executioners of his wrath against vs and the instruments to put vs in minde of the breach of our league with him who hath so long preserued vs in peace and giuen vs freely the vse of his Gospell the neglect whereof and our contrarie fruites no doubt is the principall cause that God hath called this nation from farre to inuade vs who yet of themselues are drawen thereunto as rauished by two blinde deuotions the first and principall is in that hee is the Popes vizeroy lieutenant and chiefe martiall man and hath the title generall of the Catholike King In regard whereof hee is to stand as the Popes champion to aunswere anie challenge that his holynesse shall vndertake for defence and preseruation of his vsurped title and Empire And in that respect this mightie Goliah this blasphemous Rabsakeh pretendeth a sufficient warrant from Senacherib of Rome to pursue Hezechia of England with this hoobub that our God shall not deliuer vs out of his hands but that he onely as the chieftaine Catholike of that man of sinne hath the sole power from him to conquere kingdomes and therefore soundes vp this hoo and crie Am I now come vp without the Lord to England to destroie it As if hee should saie My Lord and master Christs vicar hath commanded mee and therefore howe dare English Hezechiah or anie other that trusteth not in the power of my
swallow vs vp We acknowledge oh Lord our weakenes and appeale to thee for strength we confesse our sinnes and fall downe to thee for pardon heare vs and deliuer vs. Let thy Gospell deere father for thy Sonnes sake not onely continue amongst vs but let the fruits of our true zeale bee so watered with thy holy spirit that they may become acceptable vnto thee that thou maist be vnto our Queene an high tower and a safe refuge to vs that are afflicted Rise vp rise vp oh God inuincible list vp thine hand in our behalfe against the power of this mightie Senacherib who in his vaunts declareth that there is no helpe for vs in thee But thou canst smite them oh Lord smite them vpon the cheeke bones breake their hairie scalpes and make their deuises vaine Our fathers trusted in thee oh Lord they trusted in thee and thou didst deliuer them Strengthen our faith deare Father that we may likewise trust in thee and be deliuered So shall not the praise redound vnto our selues but vnto thy glory And all the worlde seeing how thou protectest vs shall likewise come vnto thee seeke thee honor thee and as thou hast beene art and shalt bee vnto vs all in all so all nations frame their obedience to thy will as vnto the al-sufficientito whom be immortal praise as thou only deseruest oh Lord increase our faith A priuate Prayer to be sayd of Magistrates that they may be fit to performe in these dangerous daies what their seuerall places shall require OH Father full of wisedome power and Maiestie for as much as euery man in himselfe and of himselfe is so far from all ablenes to performe what is required of him to the discharge of his dutie not only to thee in regard of his seruice due vnto thee but also to his countrie in regard of his place wherein he is to liue in the common-wealth as that he can performe nothing aright and therefore I do come vnto thee beseeching that as thou hast found mee out howsoeuer vnfit of my selfe to discharge it and hast laid vpon me the function of a Magistrate to rule thy people in the place whereunto thou hast appointed me Let me now be shaped and framed anew let my thoughts my heart soule and bodie be changed from vanitie to truth from sin to repentance from weaknes to strength from ignorance to knowledge from pride to humilitie froÌ„ all things that I ought not to be to that I ought to be That as mine eies are to bee set on all to the ende I might see al approue or reproue al and punish or defend all within my charge and as euery mans eies are on me to note my steps how I walk in my function so I may conforme my selfe not only to the precepts of superiour powers in performing theÌ„ to the publike example of others but also in true zeale to thy word I may be a laÌ„tern of light vnto them not by my slacknes in my calling in breach of any duetie giue example to any to followe that is euill Therefore teach me thy statutes oh Lorde that I may walke in thy waies guide me in my pathes that I may practise righteousnes and execute iustice truly That I may appeare to be as I ought to be and not to followe mine owne will which is prone to euill euermore supply all my wants oh Lord in giuing me an vnderstanding heart a mercifull heart a contrite heart and an humble spirite the spirite of meeknes the spirite of knowledge the spirit of loue the spirit of faith and the spirit of true fortitude That as now the man of sinne is busie his ministers diligent and his most dangerous practises readie to bee put in execution to subuert iustice equitie truth religion and to suppresse thy word by violence So make euery man but especially such as thou hast made rulers ouer any to bee vigilant and full of true wisedome and courage all which as they are thy giftes so graunt vnto me oh Lord and to all other in authoritie that we may not beare the name only of Magistrates but may bee endued with all vertues requisite for Magistrates That by our negligence nothing may be done to thy dishonour or dangerous to thy Church and that nothing may be omitted which may aduance the same And as religion is the best and most glorious robe and ornament that a Magistrate ought to bee decked with for that out of it as out of a pure fountaine thou causest to flowe wisedome how to gouerne and all other vertues answerable to that high functioÌ„ grant that we may all flie thereunto and imbrace it in such sorte as like a light the fruites thereof may in our proceedings shine to the inferiour by our examples and vouchsafe that our obedience to our superiors may learn the lower sort how to obey and as wee are taught by thee know how to gouerne And farre be it from vs to glory in our high callings but to reioyce only in this that thou hast taught vs how to performe our dueties both to them that doe well and to the offenders both in peace and warre and that we accordingly performe the same that in the ende when wee shall giue account of our bayliwickes thou maist acquite vs in the mercies of thy sonne as faithfull dispensers of our seuerall callings Amen Oh Lord increase our faith FINIS The Spaniardes â—egard not the â—ause why God â—oueth them â—o inuade vs. They haue a â—wo fold blinde â—eale in theyr â—esire The king of â—paine y e Popes â—hampion â—ngland hath â—obbed y e Pope â—f his credite What reckning the Pope maketh of the death of our Seminaries The thinges whereof wee â—aue robbed the Pope The second â—ause moouing â—he king of â—paine The Spaniard longeth for England How the Spanâ—ard fisâ—eth foâ— kingdomes The end of â—mbition The occasion is 〈◊〉 our selues which hath stirâ—ed vp this hooâ—ub Causes of daâ—ger are not sâ—perficially to be glanced at The diseases of a common wealth must be cured in time Al things haue a chaunge Euery man must looke into him selfe The fire of Adams disobedience must bee quenched in vs. Euery maÌ„ must looke vnto him selfe and not vnto others Sinne the cause of this hoobub Our fruits must approue vs. The difference betweene christian and Antichristian religioÌ„ In Gods mercie wee inioye the gospel of Christ The Spaniardes build the hope of conquest vppon their owne deseruings The Spaniardes blaspheming God An examinatioÌ„ of the speciall euils which in y e iudgement of God draw on the Spaniard We make slender reckning oâ— grosse sins Blasphemie noâ— punished Dronkennesse not punished Pride vnpunished Couetousnesse vnpunishable Coldnes of loue appeareth by y e present dearth where plentie is Spending of corne to make starch a cause of dearths in plenty in Gods Iudgements The negligent minister hath much to answere Delayes of sutes We must reforme quickly or be punished seuerely Religion can neither be brought in