shortlie after Ashbie was executed for the supremacie In the raigne of the noble Prince King Edward the sixt IN the month of Maie by meanes of a Proclamation for enclosures the commons of Sommersetshiere and 〈…〉 made a commotion but Sir Willam Herberd slew and executed many of the rebelles Also the commons of Cornewall and Deuonshiere rose against the Noblemen and Gentlemen and besieged the Cittie of Excester which was valiantlie defended Against these Rebelles was sent Iohn Lord Russell Lord priuie Seale with a number of Soldiours who entred the Cittie of Excester the fift day of August where they slewe and tooke prisoners of the Rebelles more then foure thousand and after hanged diuerse of them in the Town and Countrie about Diuers persons were apprehended as aiders of the foresaid Rebels of the which one was hanged within Algate and an other at the Bridge foote toward Southwarke both on Marie Magdalens day The Rebelles in Norfolke and Suffolke encamped them selues at Mount Surrey in a wood called Saint Nicholas Wood néere vnto Norvvich against whome Sir Iohn Dudley Earle of VVarvvicke went with an Armie where both he and a great number of Gentlemen méeting with the Rebelles were in such daunger as they thought all to haue died in that place But God that confoundeth the purpose of Rebelles brought it so to passe that as well there as in all other places they were partlie by power constrained partlie by promise of their pardon perswaded to submit themselues to their Prince The Earle of Warvvicke entred the Cittie of Norwich the seuen and twentie day of August when he had slaine aboue fiue thousand of the Rebelles and taken their chéefe Captaine Robert Ket of VVindham Tanner who might dispend in landes fiftie poundes by yéere and was woorth in mooueables aboue a thousand Markes and when he had put to execution diuers of the Rebelles in sundrie places about Norwich he returned About this time also a commotion began at Semer in the North-riding of Yorkeshiere and continued in the East-riding there ended the principall raisers whereof were William Ombler of East-hesterton Yeoman Thomas Dale parish Clarke of Semer and Steuenson of Semer. They being preuented by the Lord President from rising at Wintringham they drewe to a place at Semer by the Sea coast and there by night rode to the Beacon at Staxton and set it on fire and so gathered together a rude route Then they went to Maister Whites house and tooke him and Clopton his wiues brother Sauadge a merchant of Yorke and Berie seruaunt to Sir Walter Mildmay which foure they murdered a mile from Semer and there left them naked their number increasing to thrée thousand On the one and twentie day of August the Kinges pardon was offered which Ombler and other refused who were shortlie after taken and brought to Yorke where Thomas Dale and other were executed the one and twentie of September The seuen and twentie day of Ianuarie Humfrey A rundell Esquier Thomas Holmes Winslowe and Berie Captaines of the Rebelles in Deuonshiere were hanged and quartered at Tiborne The tenth of Februarie one Bell a Suffolke man was hanged and quartered at Tiborne for moouing a new rebellion in Suffolke and Essex Richard Lion Goddard Gorran and Richard Ireland were executed the fouretéenth day of Maie for attempting a new rebellion in Kent In the raigne of Queene Marie WIlliam Constable alias Fetherstone who caused Letters to be cast abroad that King Edward was aliue and to some he had shewed himselfe to be King Edward was arraigned at the Guild Hall of London hauing béene once before whipped for the same behauiour and deliuered but now he was condemned and the thirtéenth daye of March he was drawne hanged and quartered at Tiborne One Clober who sometime kept a Schoole at Dys in Norfolke with thrée brethren whose names were Lincoln made a conspiracie and being driuen to flight one Maister Shirman pursued and tooke him at a Towne called Eye in Suffolke where he was kept in prison till the next Sessions at Saint Edmundsburie whether his thrée mates being brought to him they were altogether drawne hanged and quartered Quéene Marie deceassing Elizabeth our most gratious and soueraigne Ladie second Daughter to the noble and victorious Prince King Henrie the eight to the great comfort of England enioyed her lawfull right and iust title being proclaimed Quéene of England Fraunce and Ireland defender of the Faith c. Now ceased the time of greuous vexation both in soule and body and the swéete comfort that euerie godlie minde desired did shewe it selfe shining in glorie and maiestie the greater cause haue we therefore to loue and honour that gratious Ladie who brought with her such aboundaunce of happines as neither tongue can woorthelie expresse it nor any pen sufficientlie set it downe Thankes be to God who preserued her Grace so woonderfullie in the time of many threatned troubles and daungers which by his prouidence she happilie escaped to our no small ioye and perfect consolation which troublesome time of her Graces suffering I haue héerto annexed according as it is set downe by that woorthy man Maister Iohn Fox in his Actes and Monuments the remembrance whereof may whet vs to be more duetifull vnto her then a number are and reioyce in God for our deliueraunce by her admirable patience ¶ The myraculous preseruation of Lady Elizabeth now our most dread and grations Queene of England from extreme calamitie and daunger of life in the time of Queene Marie her Sister BUt when all hath béene saide and told what soeuer can be recited touching the admirable working of Gods present hand in defending and deliuering any one person out of thraldome neuer was there since the memorie of our Fathers any example to be shewed wherein the Lordes mightie power hath more admirablie and blessedly shewen it selfe to the glorie of his owne name to the comfort of all good hearts and to the publique felicitie of this whole Realme then in the miraculous custodie and outscape of this our soueraigne Ladie now Quéene then Ladie Elizabeth in the straite time of Quéene Marie her Sister In which storie we haue first to consider in what extreme miserie sicknesse feare and perill her Highnesse was into what care what trouble of minde and what daunger of death she was brought First with great routes bands of Armed men and happy was he that might haue the carrying of her being fetcht vp as the greatest traitour in the world clapt in the Tower and againe tossed from thence from house to house from prison to prison from post to piller at length also prisoner in her owne house and garded with a sort of cutthroates which euer gaped for the spoile whereby they might be fingering on somewhat Secondlie to consider againe we haue all this notwithstanding how strangely or rather miraculouslie from daūger she was deliuered what fauour and grace she
are mur derers of Gods flocke The seuenth conclusion of the causes of supplan ting assured safetie The eight conclusion how tymerous policie is wurst in a good cause The ninth conclusiō of zealous boldnesse in seruing the Queen The tenth conclusion that boldnesse dooth encourage the freendes The eleuenth conclusion of the daunger in medling with a naughty man The twelfth conclusion of tyme. The thirteenth conclusion as good the killing a true mā as sparing a traitour The foureteenth conclusion that the life of a king is the lyfe of his kingdome The fifteenth conclusion the most perillous traytour The sixteenth conclusion of such as stand against the Princes defence The seuenteenth conclusion when God is lesse serued then the deuill The eighteenth conclusiō that no attempt against her Maiestie ought to be accounted a priuate cause The meaning and proofe of the first conclusion Not all Papistes are traitours Note this England Which Papistes are traytours Learned Papists wilfull traitours Treason offence against Maiesty Treason against God Papists violate the Maiestie of God which is high treason against him The Pope an high Traitour against God and the Turke but an enimie Papists Traitours to Kinges and Kingdomes Traiterous doctrines of Popes for Kinges and Kingdomes The Pope will giue heauen to Subiectes to rebell against their Prince Traiterous dooinges of Papistes against Kinges Kingdomes speciall matter for England to marke Behold the horrible pride and villainous dealing of Popes Papistes and slauerie of Princes Example of the Popes Papistes dealing with King Iohn The great deuision between the two noble houses of Lancaster and Yorke caused by the Popish Clergy and Papistes Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury practised the deposing of King Richard the second King Henry the eight assaulted by the Pope and Papistes King Edward the sixt vexed by the Papistes The conspiracie of the late Coūcell of Trent The Pope teacheth to keepe no faith The whoore of Rome an actuall dealer in all wicked practises against Kinges Kingdomes The second conclusion prouing Englishe Papistes traytours to the Queene Papists that hold the Pope head of the Church in England are traytours to her Maiestie Papistes that hold the Popes excommunication against the Queene lawfull are traytours The Pope cannot excommunicate in England vnlesse he had iust authoritie so to doo Papistes drawe obedience from the Queene Papistes meritorious treason Seditious writers that send theyr trayterous Lybelles into England The circūstances of those trayterous Bookes These trayterous Bookes want no fauourers to spread them abroad and to credit them with what cōmendations they may The euyll dealing of Papistes a good lesson for England The third conclusion proouing English papistes traytours to the Realme of England The Papistes reuerence to theyr Pope hath made them carelesse of theyr Prince and Countrie Such an one as alloweth of all these wicked causes must needes be a traytour to his Countrie Clemencie cannot win a Papist whyle he continueth a Papist speciall examples for England to remember All dueties of loue kindred and nature broken by Papistes Example of the Papistes thankefulnes to Bishop Cranmer Example of the Papistes kindnes toward her Maiestie for the great lyberalitie of her most noble Father Papistrie increaseth and flourisheth by lenitie Christian trueth respecteth Heauen and Papistry the world Too much clemencie may be great crueltie A Booke called the Court of Conscience which I entend God aiding me to publish verie shortly God graunt that such Papistes as be enimies to her Maiestie and the Realme may be quickly cutte off
peace the common and equall distribution of Iustice the familiar cherishing of Nobilitie the good preseruing and loue of the Commonaltie the mutuall and tender kindnes at home the amitie and awe abroade the swéete enioying of all these happie commodities match héerewith the danger and feare of loosing them how can it then be but that the minde shalbe meruailouslie distracted Great and full of diuersities are the fittes of a passioned Louer but yet greatest where reason rulest least Farre greater to a good minde must be the panges of consideration in this case but yet greatest where reason ruleth most The sillie Louer is transported as they complaine poore soules in their ditties sometime with ioy of his enioying sometime with feare of his foregoing there is no meane or order of his excessiue affection and all is because the abused creature hath set his felicity in a wrong conceite But if such vaine short repentable and féeble delight of fancie haue such force vpon the minde of man howe much more ought the déepe wise naturall and true impression of the eternall comfort of the soule the good and safe estate both of the common weale and of the priuate hauiour of himselfe and of those thinges and persons that he holdeth dearest yea and of his posteritie for euer worke more mighty violent continuall effects in the mind of an honest good man that setteth his thoughtes vpon iust and assured groundes All these contemplations cannot but fill a good Christians and a good Subiects eie with sight and knowledge how vnestimable a treasure our noble and vertuous Quéene Elizabeth is to the Realme of England and the same cannot but pierce his heart with strong feare care for her preseruation so farre as surely it were able as in the dumbe borne sonne of Cresus breake the stringes of a tyed tongue to drawe spéeche out of the most barbarous and rudest Subiect to crie out at her Highnesse peryll and with such noyse as he is able to make though it were but as a Goose of the Capitole to giue warning to the watchmen of the Tower of our safetie This hath mooued me to forget how vnskylfull and how vnapt I am to treate of matters so farre aboue me and only to remember how méet it is for all men to thinke of those things that touch them so néerely when they haue from point to point made due examination of them to ring out the larum bell of good councell to their Country or giue them some watch-word of passed perils wherby they may the better preuent imminent extremities wherein they may both manifest the care they haue of theyr Princes safetie as also the vnfeined affection they beare to theyr Countrie It hath béene and yet remayneth extant to be séene the many and sundrie disordered attemptes which haue threatned daunger to her Maiesties most royall person and perill to the whole state ingenerall whereby many good mindes haue béene greatlie discomforted and those bad spirites which haue thirsted and laboured in these vnduetifull actions haue béene encouraged to runne on in their disloyall determinations A thing much to be lamented that in the Sun-shine of so many happy blessinges whereof this Realme so long time together neuer héeretofore tasted such wicked and malitious natures should bréede amongst vs both to ouerthrowe our selues and the quietnesse of a number well affected It is good for such wilfull heads to take héede in time and that the ouerthrowe of such seditious practises wherewith this Realme from time to time hath béen too much troubled may remaine for a warning to them and in middest of their secret confederacies to remember this that to exalt their hearts against Gods annointed is the verie ready way to bring themselues to confusion The onely roote and originall of such vnnaturall humours in men is Treason which of all other things is most odious in the sight of God and amongst men hath least prosperous successe for proofe whereof and because this Watch-word may the more déepelie enter the thoughts and cogitations of them to whose handes it shall happen it shall not be much amisse for mée to make repetition of former tretcherous practises and withall to declare their end and successe which happilie may cause some men to alter their bad affections and séeing the accidentes that hath héeretofore chaunced in their owne Countrie they may forsake those contrarie natures whereby they are gouerned and so in time shew themselues more vehement in duetie In the raigne of King Richard the first THere was one William Fitz Osbert a Cittizen of London a man but of poore and meane degrée yet endued with a quicke witte and an eloquent tongue as many of these secrete perswaders are he perswaded the people to séeke liberty and fréedome and so prouided himselfe of two and fiftie thousand Londoners to rise against the King And to maintaine his traiterous enterprise he tooke the Stéeple of Bowe Church in Chepe and fortified it with Munition and victualles but in the end the Church was assaulted by the Cittizens and William with his Complices were taken and so brought to the Archbishoppe in the Tower where he was condemned by the héeles drawne from thence to a place called the Elmes where he was hanged with nine of his fellowes In the raigne of King Henry the thirde KIng Henrie the third lying at UUoodstocke a Scholler of Oxforde fayning himselfe mad enterprised to haue slaine the King in his Chamber but he was taken and after long imprisonment was torne in péeces with horsses at Couentrie In the raigne of King Edward the second THere was one Iohn Poydras a Tanners sonne of Excester who in diuers places of England named himselfe the Sonne of King Edward the first and saide that by a false Nurse he was stollen foorth of his Cradle and Edward that then was King put in his place but shortly after he was conuict of his vntrueth when he confessed that he did it by the motion of a familiar spirite which he had in his house in the likenesse of a Catte whome he had serued for thrée yéeres as all Traitours els forget God and serue the deuill but for this his seruice he was not long after hanged at North-hampton Edward de Bruis the King of Scottes Brother who for the space of thrée yéeres had assaulted Ireland and vniustly vsurping the King of Englands title crowned himself King thereof was at length taken by the King of Englands subiectes and was beheaded at Dundalke The Towne of Bervvicke was betrayed to the Scots through the Treason of Peter Spalding and other English men whome the King of Scottes in reward of their tretcherie caused to be hanged for being Traitours to their owne Countrie Thomas Earle of Lancaster hauing prouided himselfe of a great number of his confederacie rebelled against King Edward the second wherevppon the King pursued the Rebelles and at Borowbridge the saide Earle of Lancaster with
haue come vnto vs the more boldlie And when we had prouided our selues of a sufficient multitude we would haue suddenlie put to death in euerie Countrie the Lordes and Maisters of the common people in whome might appeare to be eyther councell or resistaunce against vs. And speciallie we would haue kylled the Knightes of Saint Iohns lastlie we would haue kylled the King himselfe and all men that had béene of any possession Bishoppes Monkes Chanons Parsons to be bréefe we would haue dispatched all such onelie begging Friers should haue liued that might haue suffised for ministring the Sacraments through the whole Realme And we would haue made Kings at our pleasure as Wat Tiler in Kent and in euerie Shiere one but because this our purpose was hindred by the Archbishoppe we studied how we might shortlie bring him to his ende Against the same daye that Watte Tyler was kylled we purposed that euening because the poore people of London séemed to fauour vs to sette fire in foure corners of the Cittie so to haue burnt it and to haue deuided the ritches at our pleasure amongst vs. He added that these thinges they purposed to haue doone as God should helpe him at the ende of his life After this his confession he was beheaded and his head set on London Bridge by Watte Tylers and many other When these Rebelles burned the Sauoy one of them tooke a goodlie Siluer péece and hid it in his bosome but an other had spied him and tolde his fellowes who hurled him and the péece of Plate together into the fire Two and thirtie of them entring the Seller of the Sauoy drunke so much of swéete wines that they were not able to come out againe but were shutte in with wood and stones that mured vp the doore they called and cried seuen dayes after and were heard of many but none came to helpe them so they died there After a number had sacked the new Temple what with labour and excéeding drinking of white Wine they laye downe vnder the walles and houses and were slaine lyke Swine hatred and contention so arose amongst them as they cruellie murdered one an other and others also made quicke dispatch of them thus the iust iudgement of GOD brought the Traytors to their deserued end Iohn Ball Priest who encouraged these traytors in their rebellion was brought to Saint Albones and there before the King was hanged and quartered he would not aske the King forgiuenesse as all traytors doo the like but vtterlie despised him The principall leaders of the Commons in rebellion were Wat Tyler Iack Strawe Iohn Kirkbie Allen Threder Thomas Scot and Ralphe Rugge these with other were leaders of the Kentishe and Essex men At Mildenhall and Burie in Suffolke was Robert Westbrome that made himselfe King and was most famous after Iohn Wraw who being Priest would not set crowne vpon crowne but left the name and crowne to the saide Robert At Norvvich Iohn Leicester a Dyer exercised the name and power of a King tyll he was taken and hanged for his paines and so were most of them in many places Iohn Wraw who was leader of them that rose at Mildenhall and Burie was drawne and hanged though many thought he should haue béene redéemed with money In the raigne of King Henry the fourth KIng Henrie the fourth enioying the Crowne of England and kéeping his Christmasse in his Castell at Windsore Iohn Holland late Duke of Excester and Earle of Huntington Thomas late Duke of Surrie and Earle of Kent Edward late Duke of Aumerle and Earle of Rutland sonne to the Duke of Yorke Iohn Montacute Earle of Salisburie Thomas Spencer Earle of Glocester Sir Ralphe Lumley Sir Thomas Blunt Sir Benedic Cely Knights with other that ioyned with them conspired against King Henrie and appointed priuilie to murder him vnder the couller of Iusting and other Pastimes pretended But the King vnderstanding of theyr pretence by the Mayor of London left VVindsore and came in his company to London so that they missed of him when they came to VVindsore where they entred the Castell with foure hundred men When they sawe how they were deceyued they came to Sunning where the Quéen that was wife to King Richard deposed lay where they perswaded the houshold that King Richard who before was deposed from his aucthoritie and kept prisoner in Pomfret Castel was as then escaped out of prison and they would goe to him From thence they went to Wallingford afterward to Abington warning the people to take Armes vppon them and to goe méete their olde King Richard Then they came to Circester where they bruted that King Richard was in company with them and to make their words of the better credite they had gotten a Chaplaine of King Richards called Madeleine so like him in all proportion and fauour as the one could hardlie he knowne from the other This Chaplaine they had put in Armour with a Crowne on his Helmette that all men might take him for King Richard but the people of the Towne remembring their duetie to their Prince mislyked of their procéedings wherevpon they fought against them and at length tooke the chéefest of them and led them to the Abbay there where they put them in a fayre chamber vnder safe custodie Then the Lordes séeing the people so vehement in duetie to their King stoode in great feare and imagined by what meanes they might escape foorth of their handes so they caused some of their seruauntes to set fire on certaine houses in the Towne thinking the people would haue such regard to slake the fire as they would be glad to forsake them but it chaunced farre contrarie for the people then increased more and more in rage against them and drew them by violence into the Market place where they beheaded the Duke of Excester and the Earle of Salisburie and six and twentie of their attendants were led to Oxforde where they were beheaded in the Castell also Sir Thomas Blunt Knight was beheaded with them The wéeke next following Thomas Spencer Earle of Glocester was beheaded at Bristowe and at the same tyme Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington and brother to King Richard on the Mothers side was beheaded at Plashie in Essex and at London was beheaded Sir Barnard Brocas Iohn Madeleine the Priest that was so like King Richard and an other Priest called VVilliam Feribe and thus the traytors sped for rebelling against their King There was found in the Kinges bedde cloathes an yron with thrée sharpe pikes slender and round standing vpright layde there by some traytour that when the King should haue layde him downe he might haue thrust himselfe vppon them but by Gods assistaunce he escaped that trayterous deuise A Priest of VVarwicke who conspired against King Henrie was drawne hanged and quartered Also VValter VValdocke Priour of Laude in Leicester sheyre for trayterous spéeches against the King was hanged and headed Moreouer one Richard Friseby
A VVatch-vvoord to Englande To beware of traytours and tretcherous practises which haue beene the ouerthrowe of many famous Kingdomes and common weales ⧠Written by a faithfull affected freend to his Country who desireth God long to blesse it from Traytours and their secret conspiracyes Séene and allowed according to the order appointed in the Quéenes Iniunctions Iosua 1. verse 5. ¶ Take a good hart and be strong feare not I say feare not because that I which am the Lord thy God will be with thee in all thine affayres LONDON Printed for Thomas Hacket and are to be solde at his shop in Lumberd streete vnder the signe of the Popes head 1584. ANglia quae gestatregni 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 faelix Est pagina hac oculis forma notata tuis Anglorum clypeos Insignia Martia cernis Aptatur meritis digna corona bonis E R In laudem Elyzabethae Reginae TVrba maligna papae tibiterra Britanna minatur Non minus illa ferox Elyzabetha tibi Insidijs vnaes saeuis elapsa tyranni Te magijs ferro sortibus atque tetris Tollere conatus serpens sed quid furor ardens Profuit es Christi qui tuus vnus erat Ingenium pietas virtus te ex omnibus vnam Esse docent in quam nil potuere mali Exemplis varijs opere hoc est res manifesta In quo â—udantur facta nefanda virûm Elyzabetha Deo fidas vt coeperis vni Hostes contundet teque tuosque teget R. W. ⧠To the high mightie and right excellent Princesse Elyzabeth by the grace of God of England Fraunce and Ireland Queene defendresse of the true auncient Catholique and Apostolique Faith c. A. M. her Maiesties most humble Subiect and Seruaunt wisheth continuall felicitie in this world and in the world to come THe consideration of your rare and incomparable Vertues which are such Iewelles of estimation in the eyes and eares of your faithfull Subiectes and the care how to continue and enioye them long which is the study and practise of all them that truely honour you hath constrayned me at this tyme right excellent and famous Queene to exceede the boundes of ordinarie loue which is onelie but to please the eye and to wade into the depth of intire affection wherewith the heart may be oftentimes quieted but hardly throughlie satisfied by reason the conceite taketh so deepe an impression and euery cause concerneth it so neerely as what with hazard of perill and feare to forgoe affection is so vehement as nothing can goe beyond it Let then most noble Queene this my poore affection carie that credite in your Princely minde as your nature affoordeth to euerie louing Subiect and let such account be helde of my earnest intent as both the waightinesse of the cause and circumstaunces of the whole considered shall delyuer reason I in the meane time shall continue in prayer that long this Land may be partaker of your gratious presence and the good will of euery true Subiect may be thankefully entertayned Your Highnesse obedient Subiect and Seruaunt A. M. To the right Honourable Master Thomas Pullison Lord Mayor elected of the famous Cittie of London and to the worshipfull Maister Stephen Slanie and Maister Henrie Billingsley Sheriffes of the same Cittie with all the rest of their vvorshipfull Brethren WE finde it by common experience right Honorable and Worshipfull and the effectes are too much seene and proued amongst vs that as there are many dangerous diseases which happen to a mans body wherof some are so hurtfull to the same and worke by such outragious meanes as they not onely threaten great hazard of death to the body but at length after many calme showers doo vtterly waste and depriue it of lyfe So in a kingdome or common wealth which maye by comparison very well be resembled to a mans body there often chaunceth very sore and doubtfull sicknesses which growe in tyme to such forcible and extreame occasions as they not onely daunger the perishing of the most part but in conclusion worke the vtter ruine and destruction of the whole Yet when the body is offended by sicknesse the freendes of the diseased party do dilligently enquire after Phisitions then what medicines his Arte can deuise or what wholsome potions good councell can minister are presently prepared for ease of his vexation In like manner in any common wealth that is thus touched with any disease that foresheweth peryll euery one that is faithfully affected to the same or imploy theyr liues as they ought for the benefite thereof are bound with heedfull care to seeke remedy for such malladies yea it is a principall article of theyr duety to let slip no occasion that may be iudged helpfull in such a case For if freendshippe cause men for theyr priuate familiars sake to trauayle in knowledge of the cause of his infirmity and then to prouide such apt necessaries as may yeelde hope to qualifie his agony and restore him to his former health much more ought duety to be effectuall in such men as make estimation of theyr Country and common wealth at what tyme any troublesome annoyaunce dooth mollest it or any daunger whatsoeuer may be thought towards it to shew themselues earnest and forward in search of the greefe and then to apply such due and necessary medicines as may expell the very thought of threatned daunger The excellent Historiographer Herodotus sheweth vs a notable example how the Babilonians made this lawe amongst them that when so euer any man fell sicke within their dominions he should presently be brought into the market place there be laid on his bed to the intent that he might demauÌ„d of euery one that came to him whether they had beene troubled with the lyke disease or no and by what means they recouered theyr health that he might by knowledge thereofattayne to the same And by the same lawe lykewise euery man that came to him was bound both to aske the man what sicknesse he had and also to shew him if it lay in him to doo it what might soonest delyuer him from that state By which example euery one that beareth a true faithful zeale to his Countrie and earnestly tendereth the health and wealth thereof when so euer he seeth the body thereof which lyeth open before all mens eyes to be infected or touched with any infirmitie and can eyther by experience or otherwise delyuer what in his conceit may be imagined auayleable he is bouÌ„d in conscience to expresse it and great is the penaltie if he conceale it For in helping the whole body he hath benefite therof himselfe in that he is a member thereof for let the body be sicke the members must needes be partakers of the greefe and at what tyme it findeth health againe the members lykewise haue comfort by the releefe The consideration of these precedentes right Honourable and Worshipfull with the earnest care zeale and loue I beare to my Countrie which
I see for the happy and flourishing estate therof and for the maintenaunce of Gods true Religion and defence of his Church and congregation wanteth no enimies to pursue the daunger of it nor coullorable freendes that seeke to betraye it to spoyle which could they as easilie accomplishe as they willinglie put in practise and had not GOD more care of his chosen then their malicious stomackes can affoord God knowes the heauie burden should lye on our necks which I pray God they neuer liue to lay on nor we â—o feele But as the marke is easilie seene which they so mightilie and continuallie ayme at and for that God praysed be his name therefore hath hytherto preuented all their trayterous attempts turning their daggers into their owne bosomes and causing them to fall into the pitte they made for others so is it expedient for vs to continue in prayer that it may please him long to vouchsafe that prouideÌ„t care ouer vs and that we lykewise applie our owne duetifull wisdome and pollicie to vphold that plant by whose meanes we prosper and preuent their deuises who would robbe vs of so high a treasure It is our dread and soueraigne Lady whose shyning vertues fret the polluted eyes of these vnnaturall Subiectes whose heroicall gouernement which no Realme in the world is able to match for peaceable continuaunce that sticketh lyke sharpe needles in their venoumed and disdainefull stomackes and it is the rare president of her famous lyfe her Christian zeale and aboundaunce of all excellent giftes which woorthelie winneth the heartes of her true Subiectes and inflameth them with desire of her long prosperitie that calling their barbarous conceite into question thundreth such Maiestie into their deceyued eares as they pollishe theyr tongues to depraue spare no penne-worke to slaunder whette their weapons and deuise all tretcheries that lost and forsaken mindes can doo to extinguishe the lyght of that Sunne whereon their seared-consciences wyll not suffer them to looke and to deface that perfect Emeralde which the more they seeke to blemishe with the oyle of venemous reportes the more perfect it sheweth it selfe in beautie I neede not report vnto you for that your wisedomes and iudgementes are verie well acquainted therewith that the prosperitie of the Prince is the assured safetie of the whole Kingdome and common wealth and the least motion of greefe that toucheth her concerneth the whole state ingenerall by reason that her Highnesse is the most louing Mother and Nurse of all her good Subiectes and is lykewise the husband of the common weale maried to the Realme and the same by ceremony of Ring as solemnly signified as any other mariage Can we then that are her Maiesties chyldren her true and faithfull subiectes endure to see our mother wronged her authoritie defamed her lyfe endaungered and shall we not thinke the same concerneth vs Can we see proud reprobates seeke to seuer the knot of loue and agreement which hath beene iustly and lawfully vnited betweene her and vs to yeelde our liues in slauerie and seruitude to an vsurping tyrant and shall not the breach of this bonde of sacred wedlocke mooue vs to regard how highly it harmeth vs Nature causeth the chylde to worke all policies he may for his Mothers defence and the estimation of that holy league of loue is of force to compell the faithfull to maintaine and continue it The case then touching vs so neerelie as it dooth the verie meanest subiect is bound for his Princes defence much more they whome God hath called to office of Magistracie and bearing rule their care ought to be both night and daye how to set downe good lawes and orders to be vigilant and carefull in dilligent search and enquirie to bring such stubborne and gracelesse men to open lyght who spurne at her Maiestie that hath put the Sworde in your handes of honour and authoritie and trying theyr deedes to be contrarie to the duetie of good Subiectes to let them be soone cutte off by the sword of Iustice. And if I maye without offence speake one word to your Honour and VVorshippes not by waye of teaching but for vnlading some part of the burden of true loue I beare to my Countrie I would desire you to haue an especiall eye to the Cittie of London for it is a receptacle to many of these bad people and many fauourers freends they haue in the Cittie who bearing the countenaunce of good and honest Subiectes are neuerthelesse but hollowe hearted and giue aide and releefe to such as seeke the ruine of the whole state Your Honour and VVorships shall notablie witnesse the loue you beare to God and his Church and the zeale affection and duetie you owe to her Maiestie in being respectiue to this especiall cause for it is high tyme the enimies are nowe growne so bolde and full of mischeefe as if such as are in authority doo not laye too theyr helping handes to represse them they will in tyme beso wylde as they will be past bridleling This shall be therefore my last request vnto you that the premisses considered the effect may be put in execution and when you haue perused this smal worke I doubt not but you will thinke my request honest and lawfull and expedient to be redressed to the vttermost of your powers Thus wishing prosperous successe to all you goe about that may set foorth Gods glory and be to her Maiesties defence from her enimies I humbly take my leaue Your Honours and Worships well-willer A. M. A VVatch-vvoord to England THE state of this Realme considered and specially such accidentes touching the same as late troubles haue ministred doo make it dailie more and more euident how precious and how déere a Iewell is the safety of the Quéenes most excellent Maiestie our most louing and beloued Soueraigne Ladie Compare the time of her most noble and gratious gouernment with the times and ages long since past and gone and especiallie with the miserable and dangerous daies immediatlie precéeding her most happie princelie and comfortable raigne call to mind the weaknes and perils wherin the common weale stoode before the comming of her highnes to the Crowne weigh the infinite benefites bothe bodilie and ghostlie that the whole Realme hath and all her Subiects both haue had and doo enioy by her meanes thinke vpon the gréeuous and vnspeakable miseries that we all shall be like to sustaine by the losse of her vnualuable presence It shalbe plaine that he is wilfullie blind that cannot sée he is wickedlie malicious that will not acknowledge he is obstinatelie stone harted that wil not with sorrowe and trembling déepelie imprint in carefull hart those motions and thoughts that such consideration shall lay before him Remember the quiet of conscience the comfort of true seruing of GOD the fréedome of the Realme the deliuerance of soules from foreine thraldom the escape of the heauie yoake of straunge Dominion the recouerie of wealth the benefit of
either by especiall name as he dooth or generallie vnder tytle of Heretiques of which sort he estéemeth her then hath he therin doone Pro suo iure as he might lawfullie doo And this being so supposed true then is it good to consider what is taken for Gods lawe and the lawe Ecclesiasticall De vitandis excommunicatis for shunning of excommunicate and accurssed persons which yéeld not to any repentaunt submission or reconciliation to the Church Forsooth that euery christian on paine of excōmunication De iure wherin to dye is thought to dye in state of damnation is bound to withdrawe from such accurssed persons not repenting all fréendlie or louing company and countenaunce all ayde and reléefe all seruice and obedience Which dooing for these good Subiectes of England to put in execution toward the Quéene were a verie meritorious acte But what dooth it merite The iust paines of treason for breaking their due alleageaunce and eternall damnation if they repent not for resisting Gods lawfull ordinaunce This géere goeth sore it is verie euident and plaine that by necessarie consequence to this confession of trayterousnesse they must be driuen if they will continue Papistes that is will affirme the Popes sentences not to erre or will giue the Pope any spirituall iurisdiction in England But such salues are not vnlyke to come out of his shoppe that dispenseth with breach of faith yea that openlie proclaymeth that there is no faith to be kept with Christs fréends and his aduersaries His shoppe that can send out badges with leaue to sweare and vnsweare with so lyberall permission as to saye Giue me thy heart and it suffyseth And well may it suffise for the heart will carrie the hand too when oportunitie serueth and when their Golden day approcheth of which they make so great account Such fellowes would be well looked on And because they cannot gette her Highnesse to ceasse to be their lawfull Quéene themselues haue ceassed to be her actuall Subiectes Because they cannot shifte her Maiestie from her Crowne they haue shifted themselues out of her Highnesse Dominions and are fled beyond the Seas Some being there send hyther their hereticall seditious traiterous Bookes yet licenced there against good president of Princes and against the example of her Maiesties demeanour toward the same Princes which by themselues or their Officers rather ought to haue restrained such dooings then to leaue so shrewd occasion of taking harme themselues by the like In these Bookes her right is impugned her faith is defamed her gouernement is discredited her honour is touched her Maiestie is many wayes violated and abated the Religion that her Highnesse holdeth and publisheth is called Scismaticall Hereticall Deuillish and with as many yll fauoured names as they can rehearse being yet in such eloquence perfect Oratours The Preachers and professours of the Religion that her Highnesse setteth foorth and professeth are tearmed wurse then Infidels her tytle of Supremacie ouer all her Subiectes is defaced for an vsurped and vndue name and her Subiectes hearts alienated and perswade to grudge against her These wicked and trayterous Pamphlettes want no fauourers to spread them abroade nor doo they that disperse them lacke any boldnesse to reade them in audiences in corners where they commend them defend them giue them great prayses for learning and substantialnesse as matters vnaunswerable when God he knowes there is no such surpassing excellencie in them as they that haue the spurres yet sticking in theyr sides and haue béene broken winded with ouer gallopping them yea they that are of their owne faction haue not béen ashamed to speake it how notablie they haue béen wounded by many of her Maiesties learned subiectes Neuerthelesse they continue writing still and all pretences that both the Pope and Papistes can deuise are daily and hourely spread abroad in the Realme to weaken the good willes of her Maiesties Subiects toward her and by all false and vaine coullers they can imagine they practise how to drawe more subiectes to take their parts But in the meane time as God gathereth his glorie out of all things yea euen out of sinnes so England out of this great euill thou maist gather some good a good example and good lesson for thée to learne that Papistrie is treason and he that is infected with treason is a traitour and so prouide against them héerafter Let them folow what humours they please doo thou in the meane time take a contrarie course Where they looke for an other time doo thou endeuour to maintaine this time Where they reach with expectation to altering of gouernement doo thou bend all thy force policie and meanes of seruice to the defence of this estate Where they pray for change specially of Quéenes do thou pray for the long and happy continuaunce of her Highnesse raigne Where they hide rebellious stomackes doo thou and thy Children shewe true and faithfull hearts Where they desire that her Maiestie and her Councell may be deceiued with flattering erronious pretence of policie and couller of clemency that vnder y e shadowe they may lurke and be nourished as serpent in bosome doo thou praye to God to giue iudgement to discerne them to search the bottome of their treasons that they may be shaken out vsed as daungerous vipers Where their trust is in the Pope and popish treasons and conspiracies let thy confidence be in God and his prouidence not shrinking from the same with thy best courage and prudence Where they will not sticke to vse all subtill vndermininges and will not lose the vauntage of times that they may one daye triumph in cruel violence doo thou pray that on this part be vsed all good policies that Gods offered meanes and good oportunitie be not refused and ouerslipped that God rent not the Kingdome from his annointed for sparing of his enimies but that it maye long flourishe in the handes of his most noble and vertuous handmaid our most excellent and gratious Soueraigne Lady Thus is it euident by reasons and examples what hearts Papistes beare to her Maiestie The third Conclusion that such Englishe Papistes are traitours to the Realme of England c. hath receiued two prooues already the one in the general treasons of all Papistes to all Realmes wherein England and Englishe Papistes are included the other in their traiterous mindes to the Quéenes Maiesties person and dignitie which is the highest treason that can be to the Realme of England Yet are there some other perticular dooinges more speciallie to enforce it namelie the experience that hath béene of their casting away the care of their Countrie and all other naturall affections to the ende with all immanitie and outragious vnnaturall crueltie to torment Englishe Christians and to subiect the Realme to forreine power for their false religions sake I am assured there are enow and too many that can remember both that they haue read in credible Histories and séene