beene beneficiall to the Papacy Now it remaines to proue how the true Church of God hath receiued her best florishes by warres It is but superfluous to repeate what other men haue written in the defence of our Church prouing directly that from the Primitiue Church to this houre God euer had a remnant of people and in most Countries there were such as professed the truth in despight of fire But I referre you to the History of the Church and other learned tractate composed by religious men I come to the dayes of wickliffe after whom followed the Bohemian warres whith were the first apparant warres for the Gospell that I reade of For the great Zisea proued a conqueror and although Iohn Huss and Hierome of Prague sacrificed themselues and were exposed to the fire for Christs sake which might haue deterred men from taking their parts and professing the truth yet did the Gospell increase ouer Europe and the warres taught thousands of people a song of constancy and a burning zeale made their hands fight for the liberty of their consciences But when Luther came to act his part the warres of Germany made way to the peace of the Protestants And as you reade of many that hearing Platos discourse of the immortallity of the soule longed for the same and wished yea procured to die So whole multitudes exposed themselues to torture for Christs sake and as the warres and persecutions augmented their punishments they augmented their ioy for being so persecuted and tooke a pleasure in the displeasure of princes against them for Gods sake France became a rare president and very quickly the Protestants multiplied so fast that with the Iewes they forgat the ceremonies of the Saboth and applied the Law of preservation whereby nature taught them to take vp Armes in their owne defences then stood Geneua on their guard then Denmarke Norway Sweden England Scotland and diuers Ilands and Townes from being slaues to the conclaue of Cardinalls sent defiance to Rome and breake the yoakes of their captiuity from impouerishing their Countrie enriching their owne treasures to the augmentation of the dignity of Common-wealths from prostituting their wiues and daughters to the libidinous lusts of Priests clensed themselues with the water of chastety and tooke a pleasure in vndefiled beds from the terror of the Cardinalls and thundring of excommunication they went with peace and contrition of foule to Gods alter obtaining so remission of sinnes and assurance of saluation So that I may well say the hand that stretched to pul the Prophet by the throat is whithered and dried vp yea except the Prophet pray to God Iereboham shall not recover not be able to lift it vp againe If it be thus was not warre a blessing and hath not Religion beene propagated by that meanes But because you looke for more moderne particulars let vs come neerer home and obserue how Religion hath prospered and the Nations bin enriched by the warres and contentions with Spaine Austria and the Papacy 1. in Germany 2. France 3. the Low Countries 4. and England it selfe and how peace or if you will dissembling contracts of peace haue abused vs at all times Concerning Germany and the Empire when Carolus quintus perceiued the sunny splendor of Protestantisme to be more and more radiant for all he had interposed divers clouds and misty vapours and became suspitious of sundry Princes greatnesse after the Duke of Saxonies protecting of Luther as obseruing that the warres would not onely make them factious which appeared by the imprisonment of the Lantsgraue of Hesse but teach them a way both of defence and opposition he tooke another course to corroborate his owne greatnesse and extenuate the strength of Religion and this was by making a peace and withdrawing himselfe from the troublesomnesse of State wherein as it often happeneth with cowardly polliticians who by seeking to hide their feare discouer more the same So played this Emperour after many famous exploits and flatteries of fortune he made the Germaines beleeue he was so indulgent ouer the Common-wealth that he would affright or trouble them no further but leaue them in peace and libertie of conscience when yet they knew he departed in a rage as disappointed in his pretences that he could not incorporate the Empire to his Family Vnderstand then that in his latter times he had some checks and his peace shewed not so beautifull a face as his warres So that he plainely saw that if other blocks and hindrances were not cast into the smoother walks to hinder Religion from her handsome progresse and debarre the Protestant Princes from vniting the Maiesty of Austria would be diminished and their potencie frustrated yea his owne renowne obscured with malignitie of time and cloudy threatnings of a fatall end which though it came not to such a misery as Pompeys losing his head yet might proue as bitter a receit as Scipios confining himselfe to a countrey grange who had in his life obtained the surname of Africanus and in his actions the renowne of a remarkable vertue All which came to passe in the haruest of this Emperours husbandry So that now you shall haue some particulars concerning his discontents and obseruations which he himselfe proposed for the establishing the house of Austria in the Empire Touching his discontents First Though he kept correspondency with the Duke of Saxons humors yet he much repined at his audaciousnesse that durst maintaine a Frier against the Pope and himselfe as by Luthers comming to Wormes was apparant Secondly It amazed him to see a greater neglect of the princes toward◠him for all the uniting of Spaine Burgundy and Austria then was before and that the declaring himselfe an eneny to the Protestants declared them the firme friends of the Gospell of Iesus Christ Thirdly Hee thought there was no proceedings in the high projects of Germany For questionlesse King Henry of England would take the Protestants parts and prouide that the Empire should be still Electiue Fourthly That when the Princes had denied the Diadem and investure to Phillip his sonne as discovering that he went about to make it hereditary and so kept all Europe in awe by his treasure and dominions he stomacked their repugnancy and would peraduenture haue threatned if his power hād kept correspondency with his willingnesse to reuenge Fiftly That when the Pope and the conclaue of Cardinalls would by no meanes consent to haue him sit in such a chaire of greatnesse as Spaine the Indies the Empire and the Low Countries he wreaked his rage from Rome and Burbon in his behalfe sacked the Citty imprisoned the Prelates and set the Pope at a ransome whereupon followed the excommunication both of himselfe and Phillip his sonne and the election of his yong brother Ferdinand Emperour all which augmented his discontents Sixtly That hauing heard of the losse of his Nauy at Algier he suspected a change of fortune and grew so disquieted and melancholy that comming to Millaine he forgat the
actions like vnfethered shafts which could not flie to any purpose And though in the Iland Voyage Fortune seemed to giue Vertue the check yet it was a braue attempt worthy of memory and Illustration Remember the batteries of Roane and the besieging of Paris the many exploits and Marches of our Souldiers the admiration of our Kingdome and vnmatchable glory of our Queene all which proceeded from the warres and the Heroick spirit of a woman Whose vertue proued like an Vberant spring the more plentifull and sweeter by agitation and extracting Yea her Countries was made famous and illustruous to forreigne Nations by the endurances of her Gentlemen and Souldiers I haue not breath enough to tell the rest but for these and the rest I will be bold to say we were beholding to the warres and such Martiall spirits who tooke example from ancient Patriots to be indulgent ouer their Countries renowne and enriching and yet withaâ—l was ioyned the glory of God the Princes honour the Kingdomes prosperity and their owne increases of nob enesse and generosity But what hath the peace done it hath made vs drunke with ease and carelesnesse forget our God be vncharitable to our neighbours neglect our calling sleepe in security accustome our selues to foolish exercises and by studying euery man for his priuate the whole kingdome is confounded with pouerty and wretchednesse insomuch that the complaints fly about like flies and pollicy is ashamed of her own fallacies for you see it hath inuented a trick by factory and drawne diuers worthy men into the net of couetuousnesse to aduenture the Indies when I must say it the very exhausting of our treasure will be the discomfort of our soules I insist not vpon the remotenesse of the place losse of shipps decay of men abuse of time vnwholesomnesse of women danger of shipwracks and the want of our account in our owne channells things subiect to fearefull construction and sensible to examination but say plainly that the bringing in of a million of commodities is not or cannot be so beneficiall as the expoâ—tation of 30000 l. sterling a yeare besides the conuenâ—ency at many greater summes is preiudiciall to the Common-wealth a great disparity I confesse but experience goes beyond apprehension For it is well knowne that Henry 8. from one of the richest and mightiest Kings became the discontentest and meerly indigent to the turmoile of the subiect by reason of the ransome of Pope Clement so foolishly and trecherously sent out of England And in former dayes was not the wealth of this Land almost in the hands of the Romanists and how poore were our people by reason of Peter pence paid vnto Rome Looke into the story of Salomon you shall reade of great store of gold brought into the Land but neuer any sent out or permitted to be transported onely commoditie for commoditie or necessaries for their gold and siluer in such Countries as wanted them As for their obiections or cossenning their owne hearts that say England hath no gold growing and therefore we may spare a little of a great deale which is brought in I answer that because England was sometimes barbarous full of boggs woods and a wildernesse for beasts therefore it matters not to haue braue Citties a reduction to ciuillity and an extraordinary beauty of Magnificense and glory we should be no worse then we were before I hope such arguing is weake poore and full of morosity seeing all the Maiestie of Europe receiues exornation from the various commodities of other Countâ—ies whom it hath pleased God to deny the vse of his creatures that they might serue such as serue him in holinesse and righteousnesse And then shall Isack sow in the Land of Abâ—melech and receiue a hundreth for one But to our peace againe Now since our peace what hath that done to vs or we done to ourselues hath it not proued our sicknesse and wrought vpon our corrupt bodies like a feuer not onely obnoxions in it selfe but bringing on apace other diseases And haue not we taken a libertie to sinne because no punishment followed suddenly But hearken how the vengeance of God comes vpon vs the cry goes the countrey is weighed and found lighter by 14 Millions in 15 yeares we are haunted with Beggers vndone in our Trades pestred in the prisons the Common-wealth ouerrunne with pouerty the people cry out of misery and feare and terrors make vs all amazed insomuch that in many Countrey Townes such idle lasie discontented vagabonds abound that the inhabitants are affraid of spoiles and rapes euen in the face of Iustice that is though there be officers to threaten them so that if it were not for forreigne plantations and compulsiue sending some people away we might deuoure one another But marke withall to what inconueniences we are driuen in our cheefest Citties there are so many of all Trades who confound one another by vnderworke and indirect abuses that the welthy are made poore and the poore in a maner labour for nothing besides young men are growne so proude and sauering of liberty that they must be house-keepers the first hower and consume themselues with comparatiue expences to their superiors filling their houses with children and the Common-wealth with bancke-routs so that there is no preuenting of these mischiefes but warre warre must cure this sore which if we looke to in time we may finde remedie with ease either by disburthening the Common wealth of vnnecessary people or enriching the Common-wealth with surprisalls vnlookt for Let vs then resolutely assist the Dutch they and we are all one good neighbours and friends and so no doubt France will come in and then a three fold cable will be very strong otherwise who would not condemne his negligence that standeth still while his neighbours house is on a blase But if we now take opportunity by her faire foretop and ioyne heart and hand wealth and courage prayers and preuentions against the practises of Spaine whose very looke discouers the pride of his heart we shall finde his treaties are trecheries his speeches deceit his deuises scornes his heart hollow his dealings double and his whole course of his proceedings make but so many discourses of abuses and deceit In a word they are the great dissemblers of the world but let vs not dissemble with our selues especially take heed and prepare against them Let vs then take a veiw of our Countries especial Ireland and the Ilands fortifie our Harbours repaire our Castles double our Garisons Muster our Souldies visit our Nauy store our armories countenance the Merchants strengthen our passages disarme our Papists change their dwellings dissolue their meetings breake the knot of their factions watch their wayes and discouer the villany of their darke lanternes so shal their insulting pride and trecherous hearts be kept vnder and aâ—l the rest be sure and safe againe from home disturbances But yet this is nothing except you banish the Priests hang vp the Iesuites imprison the false hearted and
THE BELGICK SOVLDIER VVARRE VVAS A BLESSING 2. CHRON. 33. 7. Be strong and couragious feare not neither be afraid for the King of Ashur neither for all the multitude that is with him for there be mo with vs then is with him Printed 1624. THE BELGICK SOVLDIER VVarre was a Blessing WHen Athanatius opposed the multitude of Arrian Bishops it seemed so dangerous to the established gouernment of the Empire that his castigation was threatned by expulsion or feare Yea Liberius that tooke his part was checked by the Emperours owne letters for affecting the opinion of that wicked man But when againe his faire demeanour and religious constancy drew away the veile of superstition ignorance and heresie whereby the Emperours eyes were opened to reioyce in the sunny splendor of truth Constantine admitted him within his embraces and all those adherents of Arrius were confounded by their owne wilfulnes Thus hath it fared with all innouations yea Christ himselfe was subiect to traducing for abolishing those ceremonies on which the Iewes were besotted for prophesing against that Temple about which the Priests were so pussled and for preaching the doctrine of saluation against which the people were so enraged and yet in the end they that were not credulous of his doctrine and miracles when he was aliue beleeued a few Fisher-mens reports after he was dead Thus must I needs incurre the displeasure of time seruers the scoffs and dirision of Papists and the repining of Hispanolised English when I goe about to proue that warre hath beene better then peace and the Common-wealth and religion of England haue had their fame and propagation by opposing Antichrist and in plaine termes must recouer her ecclipsed prosperitie reputing Spaine our opposite Concerning whom let me remember what is reported of Caesar who hearing of the death of a Roman Souldier that had liued merrily and securely yet dyed greatly in debt and mens dangers he desired to buy his bed and pillow deeming some rare vertue to be therein whereon a man could sleepe so soundly that liued in so manifest trouble So though I desire no pillow nor bed from vnder the King of Spaine yet with Caesar I protest there is some wonder of nature belongs to him that can sleepe at all hauing so many encombrances to wrastle with and intricate sedgy weedes of disturbances to winde out of For euer since Phillip the seconds marriage with England and that the ambitious humor in being an Emperours sonne swelled beyond the degrees of comparison with other Princes how hath Spaine bestird himselfe to the affrighting of Europe and moued of purpose out of his owne faire and serend element to looke on his neighbours with retrograde aspects in contrarious orbes so that other Kings may demaund what hath Spaine to do in most of the Prouinces of Europe which at this instant toucheth France and England so neere that they had need deale with him as Henry the 8 did of famous memory At first by reason of consanguinity yet personall mariages doe not rule Princes affaires he ioyned with the Emperour against France and by his anxiliary forces Charles the 5 not onely expulsed the French out of Italy but at last sacked Rome and tooke the Pope and his Cardinalls prisoners as he had done the French King at the battell of Pauy but as he was running away with these aduantages King Henry looked about him and entertained a kinde of ielousie against his greatnesse as suspecting what an ambitious conquerour might effect whereupon by degrees he retracted supposing it high time to rebate his insolency and lay as it were a cooling card vpon his forwardnesse So not onely the French King was releiued but Pope Clement ransomed If it be thus and that there is a kinde of polliticall necessitie among Princes to watch the affaires of one another I hope it is now time to looke vpon Spaines intrusions and not onely prouide for our selues but releeue our neighbours least we haue more dangerous neighbours then we either desire or shall be able to preuent But if we be sensible of present losses wrongs disgraces affronts and intollerable indignities let vs rouse vp our selues and redeeme our lost time with quick and seasonable remedies and if peace haue abused vs let warre a Gods name repaire our credits and restore our decay There is no poison against nature but may be countermanded by an antidote Yea it is an axiome in Philosophy that preuenting Phisicke is better then curing and the law of preseruation is incident to all creatures But heere me thinkes some couetuous wretch churlish Farmer scurrulous Lawyer or temporising parasite may interiect these doubts 1. Whether we haue sufficient occasion or no to fall out with Spaine 2. How shall a warre be maintained 3. Where the seate of this warre shall be 4. Who shall be called to our assistance 5. And last of all Whether the Countrey be willing and able to such a designement To all which I answer directly the State or Councell of warre must deside these things For as it is in Martiall affaires let the Generall be neuer so wise and the Commanders neuer so valiant yet when proiects of consequence are proposed a Martiall Court is called and an orderly debating the matter concludeth for the best So I referre this busines to the directer of princes hearts and the instrumentall cause of a countries prosperity wise councellors And I pray all true hearted Englishmen let this my discourse discouer my good intents as for other difficulties I referre them to good successe But because mony is the sinews of the war and that hereat is our stop and repining I answer the objector Why should we be more vnfortunate now then we haue beene the warre hath brought vs in treasure and why should we now dispaire or terrefie one another with suspition or dishartning questions When the Scripture tells vs that if Dauid will be ruled by Ioab and come to the taking of Rabbah the Kings Crowne shall be set on his head which weighed a tallent of gold full of precious stones besides the spoile of the Citty which was in exceeding great aboundance As for the deceites of peace and those bewitching flatteries of pollitick insinnuation let it be the Spaniard or whom it will we must not trust either a reconciled enemy or a dissembling friend But to come to the purpose and some illustration in the defence of warre He that pleaded for peace Tully himselfe I meane and cryed out in an insulting brauery that the armed cassocks must giue way to the Senators gownes yet saies plainely that warrs may be vndertaken either for the propulsing of iniuries or procuring of peace not so much to giue way to reuenge as to keepe other princes in a good opinion that we know what is wrong and when it is time to redresse iniuries I could say that warre sometimes may be vndertaken for enlarging Dominions As Salomon made all his neighbour Prouinces tributary vnto him and so he