of Edgar king of England after he had lost his retinue in hunting withdrew him selfe to the Castle of Corf where Queene Elfride or Estrild his stepmother with Egelredus her yong sonne kepte house Fab. in chro 6. par ca. 117 where being courteously inuited to lodge that night 〈◊〉 courteouse manner excusing himselfe as he sat on his horse drinking and the cuppe at his mouth of a traytor and murtherer suddenly set on by his stepmother he was stabbed and when he felt himselfe stricken suddenly he set spurres to his horse King Edward surnamed the martyr Fabian in Tab. 6. part and by ryding and much bleeding fainting fell and his foot hanging fast in the stirrop was trailed of his horse to a place named Corinsgate where hee was found dead This Edward was surnamed the martyr and being induced of a curteouse nature to visit his friends as he supposed and not suspecting any treason fell into the mouth of his enemies Charles of Fraunce Charles king of Fraunce surnamed the simple returning out of ciuill warre with victorie on Duke Robert that rebelled against him Ro. Gag in an Re. Fran. lib. 6. was by Hebert Earle of Vermendois in the waye of gratulation for his victory humbly inuited to lodge at his Castle of Peron The king of simplicitie not forecasting treason and ouercom with curtesie humbly offered yeelded to his request and after he was lodged there and his strength gon from him then Hebert set on by his wife tooke the kinge prisoner Earle Hebert his treason Fabian in Chro. 5. part cap. 89. and made him away that hee neuer came abroad to raigne any more Hengist the Saxon inuited Vortigern king of Britain with his Lords to his Castle called Thongcastle whither the king with his Lordes came Hengist Fabian in Chro. 5. part cap. 89. 〈◊〉 the middest of the feast and mirth a fayned fray began the Saxons fell on the Lordes and slew them all and tooke the king prisoner A daungerous thing it is for Princes to aduenture their royall persons with them of whome they haue not vndoubted assurance and in places where they are not garded with their strengthes The same Hengist fearing the great hoast of Britons appointed in readinesse made meanes for a parley and treaty of peace a day was prefixed on a May day on the plaine of Salisburie and so many Britons for so many Saxons should meete Thither king Vortigerne came with a certaine of Britons in peaceable manner In midest of the parley Hengist gaue the watch Nempnith your sexes as Fabian telleth it that euery one should draw his long knife out of his hose and the Britons were slaine like sheepe among Woolues as Fabian saith The Deuill neuer more raueneth then vnder the visard of friendly parles meetings entertainments curtesies and such like deuices which he vseth as occasions of aduantages opportunities to put placs of high treason in practise Trayterous and hypocriticall hartes are like a deepe hel on earth Queene Ethelburg alwayes gaping after opportunities to deuoure theÌ„ whose destruction they seeke Fab. in chro 6. par ca. 157 Ro. Gag in an Reg. Fraâ— lib. 2. Brightricus the first 〈◊〉 of the west Saxons was by Ethelburge 〈◊〉 wifâ—e after sundry attempts of treason for making him away poysoned with many other of his meany Fredegund Queene of Soisous in Fraunce before mentioned hired and sent two murtherers into the campe of Sigisbert king of the Countrie of Mees or Austracie as Fabian termeth it her brother in lawe who awayted for opportunitie aduauntage and they slew the king Queene Fredigond The same Fredigond that by treason procured the death of king Chilperick her owne husband and of king Sigisbert her husbands brother inflamed with enuy against Queene Brunchild because she was set vp in more fauour and honour then she as Gagwin reporteth it was conceiued with new treasons against her Ra. Gag in an reg Fran. lib. 2. and fell in trauel for the execution of them in this sorte There was an old executioner of murthers called Holderick Holderick the traytor a fit instrument to vndertake her treason him shee sent into Queene Brunchilds Court he according to the method of maisteries in the Deuils art of practising treasons first began with flattering and fawning about in the court as the Scorpion doth fawne with his taile ere hee strike but there he met with as cunning in that art as himselfe By his great flatterie he grewe in suspition and being coÌ„mitted 〈◊〉 â—â—ture confessed the whole plat One might 〈◊〉 that Queene Fred. in plats of treasons 〈◊〉 peere Queene Brunchild but Queene BruÌ„child king Sigisberts wife the aforsaid far surpasseth her hath won the prize of such plats practises froÌ„ her She was charged at her death to haue bene the death of ten Princes Continually she was traueyling with some plat or other as soone as she was deliuered she conceiued and fell in taruaile againe about the execution and practise of her plats Notwithstanding outwardly who was couÌ„ted so deuout as Brunchild Ro. Gag in an Reg. Fran lib. 2. the foundresse of many Colledges of Priestes Monkes in BurguÌ„dy as father Gag writeth of her Thus the Diuell vnder mists of hypocrisie worketh maisteries of murthers and treasons against Princes and vnder pretence of religion committeth such outrages in the world And in the taruaile and execution of their plattes the cheife point of practise of masteries in the Diuels art concerning the execution of suche things is fawning flaterie for life and double diuellish diligence seruile at all assaies to creepe into credit and fauour and to win opportunitie of the place for execution Gagwin the generall of his order in Fraunce saieth that Holderick mentioned before Holderick the traytors boldnes was Audax assuetus caedibus bolde and draween through many murthers He kept his course aforesaid for the execution of his plat vpon Queene Brunchild but that his cunning was soone incountered there Cum multis iam diebus saith Gagwin consuetudinem familiaritatis apud Reginam Brunchildem assentatiunculis blanditijsque comparasset WheÌ„ saith hee by the space of many dayes by flattery and fawning he grew to be familiar and conuersant with Queene Brunchild His fawning flateries familiarities at last hee began to bee blasted with suspition when in flattering and currying he went beyond himselfe and beganne to be too broade in it as Gagwin saith Blandior indies visus in suspicionem venit This is the monstrous method of the Deuils art and cheifly in these latter dayes The serpent The Aspe The SerpeÌ„t wil craule into the very bosome the Aspe wil be familier and play Plutarch wryteth and Volateran reporteth it out of him that in Egypt they haue familiar Aspes at their Tables Rapha Vela lib. 25. Plin. naâ— Hist lib. 10. cap. 74. they bring them vp with their childreÌ„ to eate with them to
Fabian termeth it and fawning flatterie and glauering glosing of the which hollow hypocrits make an art in Pallaces of Princes and houses of estate that he aduaunced him to one of the foure regimentes of England called Mercia Notwithstanding he could not keepe himselfe true to his Prince that hadde beene drawne through so many treasons for that is rooted in the marrow and bones will not out Hee was taken tardie in treason againe and being accused and conuicted iudgment was giuen immediatly executed his head cut off and his body cast into a foule and filthy place Ranulph saith Edricus the traytors death that he was slain by the kings agreement within his Pallace at London his bodie with the head throwne after into the towne ditch Whether for his treasons against king Edmond before he dyed as some write or for his treason against king Knoght after as others tell all agree that he dyed for his treasons whether his head were exalted on the highest gate of London for king Edmonds death or whether his head and bodie were cast into the towne ditch for treason against king Knoght Pol. Verg. Hist Au. li. â— So his treasons turned on his owne head Polidor telleth how king Knoght after the death of kinge Edmonâ— greatly endeuoured himselfe to banishe thâ—â— sonnes of kinge Edmond who as he sayth departed into Pannonia and there were well intreated and ended their liues in exile Chronica Fructus temp the 6. parte And Chronica Fructus temporum telleth how that after the death of king Edmond Edrick aforesaid surprised the sonnes of king Edmond and presented theÌ„ to king Knought to put himselfe in great fauour with him and that of the king they were sent after to Denmarke from whence by a Dane called Walgar that pittied them they were conuaied to the king of Hungarie Saxo Gram. Hist Danicae lib. 10. Saxo GraÌ„maticus the auncient famous wryter of the storie of the Danes telleth that king Kanutus was very careful not to be touched with suspition of the death of king Edmond whoÌ„ he called Edward And that some reporte the king Edmond whoÌ„ he calleth Edward by Kanutus commaundment and practise came to his death and that by his coÌ„maundment likewise more greeuous execution was don on the traytors to cleere him selfe of the suspitioÌ„ thereof yet notwithstanding saith he the same thing did greatlie rack the kings fauour in his houshould those that were neere him Thus out of Saxo. Fabian reporteth of him Fab. in Chro. the 6. part cap. 205. that he did so abhorre the vnnaturall treason of the English men that hadde sworne to bee true to the blood of kinge Edmond that though by their treasons the Crowne wholy was deuolued to him and his posteritie yet hee hadde the workers against kinge Edmond his sonnes in continuall mistrust whereas they thought they should haue beene in high fauour with him And as Fabian telleth he dispatched the more part of them some by banishment some were slaine some by Gods punishment soddenly died Canutus loâ—thed traytors though he gained by them Thus traytors are loathed of them that gayne by them and their treasons turne on the heades of the workers of them Touching the end of kinge Edmond his sonnes Fabian thus reporteth it out of the opinion of some that kinge Canut sent Edmond and Edward king Edmond his sonnes to Swanus his brother kinge of Denmarke to bee made away And that hee abhorring the deede sent them to Salomon king of Hungarie where Edmond died and Edward suruiuing was surnamed the outlaw because he neuer returned into England againe Caesar Caesar was wont of treasons traytors to say that he loued treasons but he loued not traytors he loued treasons to serue his turne Plutarchus in vita Rom. but he shunned traytors as moÌ„sters in the ciuil body the wold be ready to practise on him that they haue proued in others Plutarch telleth Plutarcus in Apoth Rom. that the king of Thraci vpbraied him at the table that from Anthonie he had reuolted to him He rouned 〈◊〉 other king that satte by him in the eare anâ— sayeth that he loued treason but not traytors In like sort king Philip said Philip. that hee loue not traytors but those that would betray meaning though he had his turne serued by them he would not trust them Io. Stub There was in the time of this Edrick of Sratton Elfricus vnder king Egelred and when the Danes pressed the land in diuers places an other traytor of great countenance and estate called Elfricus maister or Admirall of the kings Nauie Fab. in Chro. the 6. part cap. 197. as Fabian calleth him who was bought and sold of Danes against his Prince and Countrie When with the kings nauie furnished he lay for the Danes to encounter them he was blinded with bribes and the Danes had their chase and rechase by sea and land notwithstanding him Fabian the 6. part cap. 199. He was by sea like to the scharcrow by land which standeth with bow bent and the arrow set in the bow and yet is blind and cannot discharge Such a watch was Elfrick by sea the Portes and passages were open to the Danes Polidore saith he was a hot and fierce man Polidor Hist Angl. lib. 7. but the Danes so cooled his courage with corruption that there was no valew in him for his Prince and Countrie When he shoulde fight a battaile with the Danes by sea and trye for the maine chance then Elfrik fled to the Danes Pol. Angl. Hist li. 7. the Nauie was dispersed some taken some drowned Thus Elfrick by sea and Edrick by land played their partes in flying when they should fight and when they were most trusted betraying their Prince and Countrey This Elfrick after his first fight was recoÌ„ciled to the king againe After he fled the 2. time Then the king as Fabian saith in wreak of the father commaunded the eyes of the sonne Algarus to be plucked out of his head Fab. the 6. part cap. 197 Polidor reporteth that wheÌ„ the Danes came not of with their rewardes to Elfrick his contentment hee put himselfe to the mercie of kinge Eldred or Egelred to whom saith he the king Effossis oculis vitam condonauit After his eyes were plucked out of his head pardoned his life Thus traytors come short of their reckning and Gods iudgmentes suddenly ouertake them as they did Elfrick and Edrick Polidor Hist Angl. lib. 7. Because Elfrick was blind when he should see the kings enemies therefore the king plucked out his eyes that he should not see his own freindes It was the iust iudgment of God reuenge suddenly ouerreacheth the wicked in the parts they offend eftsoones they are punished What marueile when ther were 2. such as Elfrick and Edricâ— were though king Eldred or Egildred was fayne to flee the lande the Councell of the land was bewrayed the seruices
rer memora additis Ab. Vrsperg and said for his excuse that hee did he did prouoked of vs before and he would haue reuoked the curse but that hee was coped and kepte in against his owne liking Clemens 6. Clemens the 6. blowed vp the fire which Benedict his predecessour would haue quenched And euen at the Lordes supper he cursed the Emperor as Cuspinian writeth Io. Cusp in vita Ludou As Iudas was at the Lordes supper that betrayed his maister But notwithstanding the curses of Popes Ludouick reigned about 37. yeeres as Cuspinian accounteth Alber. Cranz Saxo. Lib. 8. cap. 22. and hee ouerliued two of the Popes that cursed him and hee dyed not without suspition of poyson as Albert. reporteth Philip the Emperour Philippe the Emperour about the yeere of our Lorde God 1198. as Vrspergensis accounteth is praysed of him for a milde and gentle Prince valiant in warres at chiof him with good successe yet because hee was not currant in the fauour of Pope Innocent the third Ab. Vrsperg in gest Phil. first hee vrged an excommunication of Pope Celestine against him And after by his practise and other Emperour called Otto was sette vppe against him but Philippe by treason ended his life in the ende Then Pope Innocent fell a cursing of Otto also Otto the Emperour whom as his darling he had Crowned before Thus a common practise it is with Popes to make quarrels to curse Princes if they stand not in their grace and bee not at their deuotions and if they make not their composition with them Philip the Emperour As Philippe the Emperour was 〈◊〉 come to composition with Pope Innocent the third Abbas Vrsperg in titulo de bellis Philippi by Ambassadours sent for that purpose who promised a mariage betweene the kinges daughter and the Popes brothers sonne for reconcilement of Phillippe to the Popes grace as Vrspergensis vowcheth of the reporte of credible men Frederick the first Emperour of that name Frider. the 1. was fayne to put a masse of gould into Pope Hadrian his mouth to make his composition with him by his solliciters for the recalling of his curse against him Ab. Vrsperg ex cremoneÌ„s and for reconcilement to him As the Abbat of Vrsperg out of the Cremonensis called Iohn the Priest rehearseth Otherwise if suit be not made for reconcilement and composition with them the common enginne and practise of Popes against Princes is to drawe out the banning blade vppon them As Hornets haue their stinges and Scorpians their tayles so the common enginne of Popes reuenge vppon Princes is their excomminging and cursing of them Saxo Craâ— Hist Danâ—s lib. 14. Saxo the wryter of the Danes storie sayeth the Bishoppes reuenge is his curse And the same Pope Innocent the third afore rehearsed didde drawe his banning blade vppon king Iohn of England King Iohn of England Fabian the 7 parte in anno 1212. Phil. le Bewa king of Fran. Who was fayne 〈◊〉 make his composition with Pandolph his Legate to pay a yeerely fee to the Pope of a thousand markes for the Realmes of Englande and Ireland and as his Feodarie to houlde the Crowne of him Boniface the eight did proceede in like sorte to cursing and banning of Philippe surnamed the fayre Ro. Gag in annalibus regum Fran. lib. 7. king of Fraunce but he in the steed of coÌ„position suborned Sarra the Italian and sent Nogaretus a French man to his aid and at Anagnia sodenly they surprised the Pope by force of armes and brought him to Rome where with chafe and greefe he died Gagwine generall of the order of the holy Trinitie in Fraunce Bonifacius 8 in his storie saith of Pope Boniface that being too proud he priued Philip of his kingdome and gaue it to Albert Duke of Ostrige together with the Empire of Germanie And after the same Gagwine had told of the taking of the Pope and of his death he saith Such an end of his life had Bonifacius the despiser of all men who without remembring the commaundementes of Christ went about to take away and to giue kingdomes at his pleasure Rob. Gagwins iudgement of Bonifacius 8. when he was not ignorant that hee occupied his place on earth whose kingdome was not of this world and of earthly thinges but heauenly Thus farre father Gagwin as they call him the generall of his order We see the Pope is sent into Christes schoole of his own deuout disciple as father Gagwin was and the birdes of his owne nest are readye to scratch out his eyes What treason was this against the Popes person and power to say that he remembred not the commaundements of Christ while he went about to take away and to geue kingdomes at his pleasure And yet he calleth him selfe Christes Vicar His kingdome was not not of wordly thinges but heauenly Thus father Gagwin who was in the Popes own bosome for his Religion yet is a witnesse against his vsurped power pride and tyranny in deposing of Princes and disposing of kingdomes And turneth them into Christes schoole whose Vicars they professe theÌ„selues to bee to learne an other lesson of him whose kingdome was not of earthly but heauenly thinges Thus of banning Bonifacius his ende and father Gagwines witnesse against the vsurped power of Popes in taking away and giuinge the kingdomes of the earth Paulus 2. Clemens 5. Paulus the second excomminged and cursed George kinge of Beme and Clemens the fifte the Venetians the Florentines and them 〈◊〉 Luke and diuers other Popes haue cursed and banned many other Princes and people And euen yet they blush not in the light of the Gospell to do the like as they were wont to do in darkenesse and in the night of grosse idolatrie and ignorance they cannot hould themselues but if Princes reuolt from their viâ—due obedience and hee reclaymed from their idolatrous errors then they fall to managings their cursings bannings in the names of Peter and Paul by whose doctrine their vsurped power and tyranny is condemned Thus of the vsuall enginne of the Bishoppe of Rome commonly vsed of them in contriuing and managing of practises of treason and rebellion against Christian Princes and Realmes which is their excomminging and cursing of them The 2. chiefe point of the first matter The second point and matter of my first parte is at what time chieflie the Bishoppe of Rome beganne to vse this engine of excommunicating and cursing of Princes and Realmes and practising of such treasons and rebellions gainst them OTto Bishoppe of Frising a famous writer of Cronicles Otto Bishop of Frising and of great account in the Church of Rome in his storie writeth that before Henry the fourth Emperour of that name hee could neuer finde Roman Emperour or king to haue beene excomminged and cursed of any Bishoppe of Rome This Otto by parentage was of the blood imperiall by his mothers side before hee was a
auncient father reporting it Tertul. in Apolog cap. 2. Se nihil aliud de sacris eoruÌ„ coÌ„perisse quà m caetus antelucanos ad canendum Christo Deo ad confirmandaÌ„ disciplinaÌ„ homicidiuÌ„ adulteriuÌ„ fraudeÌ„ perfidiaÌ„ ac caetera scelera prohibentes That saith he of their religion and seruice he could boult out no other thing but their asseÌ„blies before day were to sing to Christ and God that for coÌ„federating their discipline they forbade murder adulterie fraude trechery other hainous offences Thus much Plinie of the conuersation and maners of the ancient Christians A worthie glasse to be set before Christians of our time to whet their dull deuotion to God and for reformation of such hainous offences amongst them And if thus the ancient Christians shewed themselues in subiection and fidelity to their Princes though they were Panims so forbade loathed treacherie homicide and shedding of blood that as the same Tertul. saith of them Tertul. in Apolog cap 37 In our profession saith he more lawfull it is to be slain then to flea how would they haue abhorred treachery the shedding of blood of Christian Princes whose principates and powers serue as handmaids to the Gospel of Christ whose blood will crie to God against treacheries only inteÌ„ded against theÌ„ not only before the executioÌ„ of theÌ„ but after as the blood of Abel cried to God from the ground after it was shed They write that Renelphus the yong king of Mercia was by treason of Quendred his Sister slaine and after the murther cast into a thicke wood Fabian in his Cronicle of Englande 〈◊〉 6. part â—â—p 158. that by a piller of diuine light shining froÌ„ the corps as Fabian in the English Chronicle telleth it the corps was first discouered after entred Quendred by gods vengeance apparentlie striken For the truth of the circuÌ„stance of the storie I leaue to the author But surely by diuine light froÌ„ heauen treasons against princes plats of murders Treasons and murders woÌ„derfully are discouered by lights from heauen and marueilous meane on earth euen before the atteÌ„pt practise of them wonderfully are discouered as of late marueilously wee haue seen By what means soeuer they are descried gods prouidence appointeth the meanes on earth And by diuine light froÌ„ heauen the inferior meanes are directed on earth as wonderfully we haue seen O let vs magnifie alwaies the mercies of the glorious God for it ThaÌ„kfully we recognise his wonderful work Only the fear is the worldly securitie do not swallow it vp by forgetfulnes it fade away For securitie coÌ„meth stealing on Against securitie and forgetfulnes vnthaÌ„kfulnes is redie continually to assaile vs forgetfulnes to ouerflow vs vnlesse wee hold fast lock vp in thaÌ„kfull memory the blessed and wonderfull worke of God Therefore that it perish not in the gulf of vnthaÌ„kfulnes let vs renue keepe it fresh in remeÌ„brance what our portion had been if Gods prouidence had not preuented prouided for vs. All England should haue rued faithful seruaÌ„ts to god true harted subiects to her M. might with Hieremy haue written new lameÌ„tations Hier. lament the roule of the booke deliuered to Ezech. the prophet Ezech. 2. writteÌ„ with lamentatioÌ„s within wtout had been fit for our doleful state Hiere 9. We might haue said with Hier. Who will giue vs eyes as fountaines of waters to bewaile the wrackes of Gods Church and of our Countrie Herem 9. if that dolefull day had commen on vs. But God hath wiped the teares feom our eyes Reue. 7. as he doth wipe the trares from the eyes of the Saints as S. Iohn saith and he hath put of our sackcloth Psal 30. and girded as with ioye as the Prophet Dauid sayth and hath turned the dolefull day to ioy and the booke of lamentations into the booke of praysing of God and hath opened the good affections of faithfull subiectes to her Maiestie to the great comfort and reioysing both of her Maiestie and of all that beare true harts to her Thus how the auncient Christians framed their affections and obedience to their Princes though they were panims and how they abhorred trecheries homicides and shedding of blood and such other haynous offences And howe Gods prouidence maruelously worketh in the discouerie of such offences The 4. principall point and cheefe matter The fourth is what an acceptable thing to God it is when the people ioyne their harts to Godly Princes in true faith to God and hartie fidelitie to their Princes Let vs lay downe examples herof out of the holy Scriptures How acceptable a thinge was it to God when vnder Iehosaphat the godly king his people assembled together Iehosaphat his people ioyned their hearts heartie praiers with their Prince to God at what time the ruÌ„bling rumor was vp of great multitudes of enemies of the childreÌ„ of Moab Ammon 2. Chro. 20. of mount Seir comming on them And presentlye they receaued comfort of God Iehaziel The spirite of God came vpon Iehaziel a Leuite who deliuered sweet comfort to them from God their enimies swordes were turned on themselues Likewise when vnder the godly king Asa Asa and his people the people commons with such heartie affection fidelity were ioyned to God their prince that they made a couenant as the scripture saith to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart 2. Chro. 15. with al their soule and whosoeuer will not seeke the Lord God of Israel shal be slaine whether he be small or great man or woman And they swore vnto the Lord with a loud voice with showting with trumpets and with corners And all Iuda reioysed at the oth for they had sworn to the Lord with al their hart sought him with a whole desire he was fouÌ„d of theÌ„ And the Lorde gaue them rest round about Hitherto the words of the scripture So likewise vnder Hezechiah the gracious prince Hezechiah his people when Rabshakeh sent froÌ„ Sancherib king of Assur began to roare out blasphemies against God Esai 37. and minaces against the prince people and Eliakim and other the seruants of king Hesechiah sent with him rent their cloathes And Hesechiah put on sackcloth and went to the house of the Lord to make his mone to God in prayer and his people were ioyned in true fidelity to their Prince God seÌ„t them comfort by the Prophet Esai and sent his Angel to distroy the huge host of Sancherib an hundred fourscore and fiue thousand And when they arose vppe earely in the morning behold saith the Prophet they were slayne and all was ful of dead bodies Iosiah and his people So vnder Iosiah the religious Prince when the booke of the lawe of God was found of Helkiah the Priest Shaphan the
The Lorde keepe me from laying my hand vpon the Lords annoynted So far the Scripture Dauid honored king Saul in the field though he pursued him to death 1. Sam. 24. And humbly hee honoured the person of his Prince euen in the feild and amides the forces furniture of warres For after he came out of the caue where he had so much adoe to qualifie the rage of his souldiers and restrain them from running vpon king Saul he cryed after Saul saying O my Lord the king And when Saul loked behind him Dauid inclined himselfe to the earth and bowed him as the Scripture sayth and after spake to him Notwithstanding that kinge Saule continually sought his blood and in armour lay in the feild against him yet hee honoured the person of his Prince in the middest of the warres And his person was so precious in his sight that he coulde suffer no bodilie harme or violence to be done to him insomuch hee had remorse for cutting off the lappet of his garment What hartes then or rather what addamantes in steed of hartes Zacha. 7. haue they as the prophet Zacharie saith of the Iewes which liuing vnder the peace and protection of so mercifull a Prince can finde in their hartes so much as to thinke any trecherie or violence to her royall person who hath bene so good a mother of her countrie and so pitifull a nurse of the Church of God Epist ad Philemone by whom the bowels of Gods saintes haue beene refreshed as of Philemon Paul sayth and who hath fostered her faithfull subiectes in the blessings and benifites of God which so aboundantly vnder her gouernment so many yeeres God hath bestowed vpon vs. If therefore there be any remorse of conscience to God and his ordinance if there be any bowels of good nature in vs to our naturall and leige Soueraigne if there be any valew of true worthinesse in vs let vs shewe our loue loyaltie and hartie fidelitie to her and honour her royall person as Dauid did the person of his Prince and gard her from al violence in respect of Gods ordinance and the manifold blessinges which vnder her so manie yeeres we haue receaued and that God may blesse vs for our loyaltie and honoring the person of our Prince as he did blesse his faithful seruant Dauid Though his loyalty seemed to be lost touching king Saul yet it was not lost with God for Gods blessngs more abundantly followed fell on him Beside Dauids loyaltie to king Saul was a comfort to him in his troubles 1. Sam. 26. he found such comfort of conscience by it in his troubles that he said to king Saul Behould like as thy life was much set by this day in my eies when he came on him as he lay fast a sleepe so let my life be set by in the eyes of the Lorde that he may deliuer me out of al tribulations So the loyaltie that he shewed to his Prince in respect of God he found aboundantly againe with comforte of conscience in his greatest troubles and his owne life was precious is the sight of God Abigael As Abigael the vertuous woman said to him The soule saith she of my Lord shal be bound in a bundel of life with the Lorde thy God 1. Sam. 25. and the soule of thy enemies shall God cast out as out of the middle of a slinge What comforte and encouragement may this bee to the hartes of true subiectes to their Prince since God blesseth loyaltie and it is a comforte to the conscience in troubles and as their Prince is precious in their sight so for their loyaltie their owne life is more precious in the sight of God Besides this Dauids comfort in the righteousnes of his cause 2. Sam. 25. Dauid tooke comforte of the vprightnesse and innocencie of his cause and thereof hee saide The Lorde rewarde euery man according to his righteousnesse for the Lorde hath deliuered thee into my handes and I would not lay my handes vpon the Lordes annoynted So farre the Scripture And before he said to Saul when he saued his life in the caue 1. Sam. 24. vnderstand and see that there is neither euill nor wickednesse in me yet thou huntest after my soule to take it The Lord bee iudge betweene thee and me and auenge thee of me and let not my hand be vpon thee So farre the Scripture God tooke the iudgment into his handes and deliuered Dauid and auenged his cause of Saul So God hath taken of late the iudgment of the cause into his handes and hath deliuered our gracious Prince reuenged her cause of her enemies the vprightnesse and innocency of her cause is great comfort to her in the sight of God God vouchsafe long as Abigael said to Dauid to binde her soule in a bundle of life and long to locke vppe her life from all her enemies as a iewell of comfort to his Church and our Countrie Thus of the example of Dauid his loyaltie and fidelitie to the person of king Saul notwithstanding he persecuted him to death and howe God blessed him for it The Sixt is the example of the famous fidelitie of one Lylla a Briton and heathen man The 6. cheefe matter in the defence of the royall person of his Prince As I haue layed out at large the example of the loyaltie and fidelitie of Dauid to the person of king Saul so I will set downe breefely the example and fidelitie of one Lylla a Briton in the defence of the royall person of his Prince Fabian in his Cronicle of Englande the 5. part cap. 130. When Edwin king of Northumberland at a Citie beside the water of Darwent in Darbishire being smallie accompanied was sodenly assailed of a murderer and swordman as Fabian calleth him by Quincelinus kinge of the West Saxons hired to it Lylla a Briton his famous fidelity in the defence of the person of his Prince who ranne on him with a sworde that was enuenimed one Lylla the kinges trusty seruant vnarmed and disgarnished of weapon thrust his bodye betweene the traytors sword and the king and saued the king his life with losse of his owne And yet through the bodie of Lylla with the thruste of the sword the king was wounded also because the wound was poysoned it was more hardlie cured A worthy example of famous fidelitie in defence of the royall person of the Prince worthy to liue in the memorie of al faithfull subiectes as a glasse to be set before their eyes to encourage and emboulâ—eÌ„ them as a walle to set their bodies bowels in defence of the royal person of their Prince against the swords of al traytors enemies Though Lylla be dead in person many huÌ„derd yeeres since yet his loyaltie liueth still in the bowels of faithfull subiectes ready to thrust their bodies against the swordes of all traytors and enemies to the royall person of their
Prince And if Lylla did so for king Edwin a Prince as then heathen and but ouer a corner of this land much more will faithfull subiectes with their bodies and bowels defend the sacred person of so Christian and gracious a Prince and good mother of all England against the swordes of all traytors and enemies vnto her England is the mother of manie Lyllas in these daies and hath fostered and bred many such faithfull subiectes for life to their Prince God send many such and long continue them and blesse vs with the long life prosperous continuance of our Prince Thus of the example of Lylla his famous fidelitie in defence of the royall person of his Prince The 7. cheefe matter The seuenth is howe the late occasions and daungers should encrease true loue loyaltie and vnfayned fidelitie in the hartes of all good subiectes to her Maiestie The late daungers should enflame loue loyaltie in true subiectes Iohn 16. The feare daunger to depart frō a persō most deere to vs doth encrease and enflame more loue in vs. When our Sauiour had resolutely tould his disciples that he must depart from them their hartes were filled with sorrowe And they fell on the necke of Paul and wept on him Act. 20. after he had tolde them of Ephesus that they should see his face no more When Sixtus the auncient byshop of Rome Sixtus Laurentius Platina in vita Sixti 2. was going to martyrdome for the faith of Christ Laurence his Archdeacon cryed out after him Whither goest thou father without thy sonne He so loued him in life that in death he was loth to be parted frō him three dayes after he followed him in martirdome also Ex passione Cypriani à Pontio eius diacono edita When Cyprian the Archbishop of Carthage was brought to the place of his martyrdome and stoode vppe in lynnen ready for the executioner the peoples hartes so rued on him that they cryed let vs dye with our holy Bishop The people of Constantinople Chrisostoms first banishment so entyrely loued Chrisostom their Archbishop that the first time by Eudoxia the Empresse her meanes hee departed into banishment they made a mutenie in the Cittie After at the Emperour his cōmaundemēt being recalled home againe the people ran on heaps to meet him and shouted about him and as rauished with ioy of his returne they would needs perforce haue him to the great Church there out of his old place to heare his voice againe And after his second banishment Chrisostoms second banishment many the could not temper their zeale affection to him sequestred banded thēselues in a factiō were called Iohannitae after his name great sturre eftsoones was made for him And if so greeuous their departing was from their Bishop deere to them how doleful would the departing haue been from such a gracious Prince and naturall mother of our whole Countrie And therefore the late feare and daunger thereof should encrease and enflame the fier of true loue loyaltie and vnfeyned fidelitie in the hartes of all true and naturall subiectes to her Maiestie The 8 cheefe matter The eight is how directed in wisedome from God we may take the right way long to obtaine her of the mercie of God by making harty prayers and supplications to God for her That he wil set the watch of his prouidence about her and send the garrison of his Angels to garde her That the euil spirits and those by whom they worke and that work and practise by them may haue no power against her With what minds we shuld pray to God for her that he may accept our praiers That wee may longe obteine and enioy the blessing of her royall person and soueraignetie amongest vs the right way in the direction of godlie wisedome is to haue continuall recourse to God by making hartye prayers supplications to him for her These be the safest munitions of Princes on earth as it were Castles in heauen to keep her on earth frō al treacheries practises of enemies and euil spirites whatsoeuer The safest munitions of Princes are hartie prayers of the faithfull vnto God for them Let vs build for her bulwarkes on earth in the bowels of harty affections of faithfull subiectes and Castles in heauen with hartie prayers and supplications vnto God for her That God will vouchsafe to be a continuall Castle to her on earth as he was to his seruant Dauid Psal 18. whose glorie was that the Lorde was his rocke strength and defence Psal 61. And that he will be a Tower of strength to her against all her enemies and that he wil prepare his mercie and faithfulnesse to preserue her This is the impregnable Castle Tower of defēce as Salomon saith The Tower of strength Prou. 18. is the name of the Lord. That the mercie of God wil vouchsafe cotinually to keep her for his poore Church and our Countrie let vs ioyne our selues as Tertullian speaketh as in an army to God and as if by violent force of feruent prayers we would win it of God Ad deum saith he quasi manu facta praecationibus ābiamus Tertul. in Apolog cap. 39 And let vs with heauenlie affections beat at heauen gates and touch God in our prayers as Tertullian sayth in an other place Coelum tudimus saith he deum tangemus Tertul. in Apolog cap. 40 Such violēce and force of faith is acceptable to God as the same Tertullian saith Tertul. in Apolog cap 39 Haec vis deo grata est This violence is acceptable to God As he that knocked at his neighbours dore at midnight and would not giue vp till he opened and gaue him that he came for Luke 11. And as the widowe that hanged about the iudge till he graunted her suite Luke 18. And as the woman of Canaan that followed our Sauiour with open mouth Mat. 15. til she obtayned that she came for of him Marke 10. Bartimaeus And as blind Bartimaeus the begger the sonne of Timaeus begging by the high way when Christ passed by he left not begging crying after him till he cōmaūded him to be brought vnto him then off went the beggers cloake that lighter and without let he might run to him and his running and casting of his cloake was not in vaine for of a darke man he was made to see he glorified the mercy of our Sauiour to him If we awake but a little out of the dreames of worldly vanities for mortall creatures in respect of their worldly states Psal 90. as Dauid saith are like a sleep or dreame what are worldly states portes countenances but as Bartimaeus his beggers cloake in the sight of God If we behold them in the glasse of true valewe of the wisdome of God by his blessed worde Eccle. 1. Psal 62. all is but most vaine vanitie as Salomon
her Maiestie Heb. 12. Beware that no roote of bitternesse spring vp to trouble vs as S. Paul saith and many be defiled by it Isaeus ex Philastration Sophistis Isaeus the Zophist being demaunded of the walles of Sparta aunsweared that the walles of Sparta were man to man and sheilde to sheild Euen so the inner wall of England next to the blessed prouidence of God which is as a wall of defence round about her Maiestie and our Countrie is man to man and sheild to sheild Let all true subiectes of her Maiestie fortifie that inner wall of England with harte to harte man to man and sheild to sheild and then taking God to be our foreman and guide we shall not need to fâ—â—â—e the inuasions of forraine enemies Onely let vs feare God and be hartely thankfull to him for his great blessings and for his wonderfull woorke of late and vsing all good and ordinarie meanes as his giftes earnestly prayâ—â—â— to him that his fatherly prouidence will be the continuall protection of the royall person of our Queene her estate and our Countrie Thus of the inner wall of England and the true fortification thereof Now of the outward wall of Engnland and fortification of it which is the shipping The outward wall of England the shipping nauigation nauigation and the furniture thereof One not experienced in publike affayres cannot well esteeme the great blessing benefite strength and fortification that commeth to the realme by the shipping nauigation and furniture thereof For because we are inuironed with Seas it is the outward wall by Sea against inuasions by land And without it we cannot creepe out of our Countrie but we shal be cut off and there will be an open way by Sea vpon vs to be inuaded by land and the portes as the gates of our Countrie wil be naked and open to our enemies But this outward wall of the shipping nauigation and funiture thereof by the good mother of England our gracious Queene is so made vppe and fortified as vnder no Prince the like Many imploy themselues in building and furnishing of sumptuous houses but she as the great mother of manie children hath builte fortified and furnished the great and outwarde wall of England to the great comforte of our Countrie and safetie of the lande What want wee for the defence of the land if we want not the feare and fauour of God for without the feare and fauour of GOD all walls Arnobius in Psal 146. munitions and fortifications are nothing Arnobius the auncient father about the yeere of our Sauiour 329. saith my shippe may saile but it is God saith he which strengthneth both the maister and marriners of the shippe which sendeth prosperous windes and gales and conducteth the shippe in her course that shee may fetch the right hauen and before let my horse run furnished for the warres yet say thou it is the God of strength which geueth strength to my horse to runne Thus Arnobius What then are worldly forces fortifications and munitions without the feare and fauour of God Naham 3. As the Prophet Naham saith strong Cities shal be like Figgtrees if they bee shaken the fall into the mouth of the eater Let vs earnestlie praye for the grace of God that wee may feare him and for his continuall fauour in the preseruation of the long life and prosperous raigne of our Queene and our Countrie Nowe I will shewe you the experience of our owne Countrie in time past King Edgarâ— shipping â—ouching this outwarde wall of the shipping and nauigation and the fortifying and furnishing thereof King Edgar a valiant Prince so fortifyed and furnished this outward and woden wall of the shipping and nauigation that though there were great multituds of Danes vnder him Fabian in his Chro. of England the 6. part cap. 193. King Egelredus yet they were quailed and kepte vnder in his time And yeerely Fabian reporting it he scoured the Seas and brought great quietnesse to the land After him Egelredus his soone by Estrild or Alfride who succeeded Edward called the martyr slayne by treason of Estrild his steppemother to bring the Crowne to Egelred her sonne was so hunted and chafed of the Danes The Danes shippings partely by treasons within the lande and partly by meanes of their shipping nauigation and furniture thereof that hee was fayne to forsake the land and to fly into Normandy And in processe greatly they did preuaile ouer the land and by meanes of their shipping when they were prouided to be encountred in one cost then they would take their shippes and woden horses and land in an other place and so by their shipping and nauigation they wearied the land and at last wonne the land King Edmond surnamed Ironside King Canutus And first king Edmond surnamed Ironside was faine to deuide the land with Canutus king of Danske and after the death of Edmond Canutus raigned ouer the land Thus by experience of our owne Countrie heretofore we see what a blessing and benifite it is when the outward wall of shipping and nauigation is fortified and furnished God blesse and long preserue the good mother of our Countrie which hath fortified and furnished this wall to the great benefite and comforte of our Countrie Thus of the outward wall of England the shipping and nauigation therof and of the fortifying and furnishing therof by Elizabeth our gracious Queene The tenth cheefe matter Of those that make breaches in these walles The tenth is of those that make breaches in these walles by a lingering hope and looking after inuasions of forrayne forces Those the haue such euil dispositions in theÌ„ doe not onely make breaches in these walles but seeke to betray as much as in them is their owne Countrie to forraine enemies Of those that make breaches in these walls And such are monsters not only in nature but also in the body politique of realmes and Countries The very heathen men abhorre such Cicero Cicero one of the consulls and great gouernours of the estate of Rome when it was heathen Cateline against Cateline and other conspirarours against the state bringeth out the great mother of their owne Countrie rebuking charging them to depart out of her Wherfore saith she should I thus be in continuall feare for you Thus Cicero in the behalfe of their common Countrie as their vniuersall mother and out of the bowels of nature it selfe in heathen people dealeth in charging the conspirators and traytors against the state of Rome Vipers The vipers eate through the wombe of the dam that breedeth them or through the coat and skin in which they lie as is written of them Such are of the generation of vipers as S. Iohn the baptist called the Pharisies and Scribes and so growen out of kind that they are monsters in nature Mat. 3. They were wont in old time to carry monsters of nature into farre Countries
could neuer be gotten out againe But as Fabian saith they wer cōtinually abiding in one place or other till the time of Hardikinitus the last king of the Danes blood as the English Chronicle calleth him Fabian the 6 part cap. 198 who is called also Canutus of other And they did so ouerspread and ouerflow the land The Danes called Lord Danes in Englishmens howses that as Fabian telleth the Danes were as Lords in priuate mens houses and they called them Lord Danes They imployed the husbandmen to care sow the ground to works of al druggery as Fabiā saith the Dane held his wife at his pleasure his daughter seruant And when the husbandman came home he should scarsly haue of his owne as seruants had as Fabian reporteth it Yet for feare and dread in euery suche house where they had rule they called them Lord Dane But after the Danes were voyded the land in despite derision of them it was turned into a word of reproch whē one wold rebuke an other he would as Fabian saith for the most part call him Lurdane Lurdaine a word of reproch Is not this a notable glasse of experience in our own Countrie also to warne all true Englishmen to be warned and armed against all inuasions and forraine forces if they wil be maisters owners of their owne houses of their wiues childrē goods as by experience in their own Coūtrie heretofore they may see in such cases As we haue looked into the leaders Captains of the Saxons so let vs hear of the Captaines leaders of the Danes into this land The leaders of the Danes Fabian the 6 parte Hubba Hunguoar or Hungar Guttran or Garmund Fabian the 6 part cap. 172 Vnder king Etheldredus the 3. son of king Adaulphus Hubba Hunguoar or Hungar were Captaines and leaders of the Danes into the land Vnder king Aluredus one Guttran or Gothian or Garmund as the English Chro. calleth him was the great leader ruler of the Danes with whō king Alured made cōpositiō that he should be christned 20. of the cheefe and principall persons of them were Christned with him And he allotted to him East Anglia contayning Norfolke and Suffolke and parte of Cambridgeshire to abyde in But greedie Guttrū could not be satisfied with these coūtries for while he liued he continued a tyrant by the space of eleuen yeres An other Captain called Ciyto landed in East Englande vnder Edward surnamed the Elder Clyto And at last vnder Egelredus king of this land driuen to flie first into the Wight Swanus Fabian the 6 part cap. 198 Canutus Fabian the 6 part cap. 24. Edmund Ironside after into Normādy they aduanced their kingdom vnder Swanus king of Denmark after him vnder Canutus his son with whō king Edmund surnamed Ironside first diuided the land and after his death by treason of Edricus Canutus alone reigned ouer the whole land Thus of the leaders of the Danes and their diuiding of the lande and how at the last the whole land fell to their share Nowe though Hubba and Hungar their Captaines were slaine as Fabian reporteth out of Polichronicon Fabian the 6 part cap. 170 yet Captaine Hungar still remaineth Captain Hūgar the Dane who hungreth after the fat of this land and fain wold be bringing in of forraine forces to haue dealings in the land and in diuision to make thēselues a partie as the Saxons and Danes did and that they may fall a sharing the lande as Saxons and Danes did before and at length get the land and all as they did And by whatsoeuer name they bee called if wee looke into the right qualitie and disposition of suche though they are not captaine Hūgar in name yet in true meaning and intent they are of his right rase for they hūger after the land wold fain haue diuision amongst vs that they may make themselues a partie and so haue their confederates in the land to winde themselues in and at last to winne the land Though captaine Guttrum or Gurmond be dead Captaine Guitrum or Gurmond who coulde not bee satisfied with a share of great Countries in England but played the Tyrant and cutthroate still yet such greedie guttrans or gurmands remaine who gape ouer the Realme ready for occasions and woulde faine satisfie their greedy guts with the rauen and ransacking of it And is there any that hath true Englishe blood in him that can betray his owne Countrie and cast it as a pray into the rauening iawes greedy guts of such Guttrons or Hungars God keep our Prince and Realme from such Hungars Guttrons that continually gape ouer her and vs to deuoure vs and giue true wisedome to all naturall subiects of England by such experience and examples of our Countrie heretofore to be warned against all such as practise by confederating themselues with forraine forces to bring suche Captaine Hungars or Guttrons vpon vs whose hunger cannot bee quenched but out of the body and bowels of this land Thus of the inuasion of the Danes and their leaders The inuasion of the Normans Fabian the 6 part ca. 217. After the Normans inuaded this land vnder William the Conquerour and king Harold being slaine in the field they subdued it The Normans had the preheminences of honours and offices in both estates The Englishmen were vnder them Fabian the 6 part ca. 222. and great tributes were laid on them and after sundrie attempts by sundrie persons made in vain the Englishmen learned to serue straungers into whose hands God had put thē The Romans The Romans ruled in this land had so good liking thereof that Seuerus the Emperour after his great victories of the Parthians and Arabians Seuerus the Emperor imploied himselfe here Fabian the 4 part cap. 61. and for the defence of the Coūtrie against the inuasion of the Pictes he caused a wall of Turues to be made of the length of 122. myles as Polichronicon witnesseth and at length in a battaile himselfe against Fulgenius Leader of the Pictes who inuaded the lande hee was slaine and buried at Yorke Fulgenius leader of the Picts The Troians The Troians vnder Brute first entered the lande and well liking the fruitfulnesse thereof determined heere to pitch their dwelling and by the Riuer of Thames they built a Citie which in remembrance of their owne Countrie they called Troy-nouant London and which after was enlarged by King Lud and was called Luds Towne and which nowe is called London as Fabian reporteth Thus of the experience examples and case of our Countrie touching forraine forces and inuasion of strangers If any warning will serue seeing God hath set vp so many warninges spectacles in the experience of our owne cases in our owne Countrie we should now receiue warning and be wise in such cases vnlesse wee will be still strangers in our owne stories and affaires
the Emperor withdrawing himselfe a while The Bishops of Mens Colon and Wormes with violeÌ„ce deposed their soueraigne Lord Henrie the 4. inuested himselfe in the Imperial robes returning These saith he â—â—e the Imperiall ornaments of estate these by the goodnesse of the euerlasting king and election of Princes haue bin bestowed on me God is able also in these to continue vs and to hold your hands froÌ„ the worke you intend although we be now disgarnished of our forces and armies for supposing our selues to bee in safetie we made no preparation against suche violence But let the feare of God stay you whom pietie doth not reclaime and if you reuerence neither behold we are in presence we cannot resist your force The Bishops staggered The Bishops pluck the crowne from the Emperors head but after they encouraged one the other to set on the Emperor to pluck the crown froÌ„ his head and wheÌ„ they had plucked him out of his seat they turned him out of his Imperiall robes ornameÌ„ts The Emperor fetting deep sighes saith thus vnto theÌ„ God the Lorde of reueÌ„ge see it take reuenge of the wickednes you commit I susteine ignominie and dishonor that neuer the like was heard before for the sins of my youth of the iust iudge I am punished you neuerthelesse shal not be free froÌ„ sin because you haue falsified your othes of loyaltie The Emperor coÌ„pareth his Bishops to Iudas the Traitour you shal not escape the vengeance of that iust iudge your honor neuer prosper your portion be with him that betraid Christ But they stopping their eares go back carrying the imperial robes ornameÌ„ts to his son Thus far the report of the storie of the deposing of Henry the 4. out of Alberâ— who telleth it out of the Chronicle of Germanie for he saith Haec est narratio nostrorum aâ—naliuÌ„ Who that hath bowels of good naturâ— in him would he not rue to heare the pitifull plaint of so valiant a Prince to his sworne subiects that had been aduaunced to so high dignitie of him Hee gaue ghostly counsell to them which shoulde haue giuen it to him But their eares were stopped like the deafe Aspes Psal 48. They wilfully brake the oth of their alleageance they layde violent handes on the Royal person of the Prince they vndertook the execution of treason and the Popes curse vppon the sacred person of their prince by whome they were mounted vp in high estate of honor Thus in the treason and rebellion of the sonne against Henry the 4. his father and in the deposing of him in the ende the bishops which chiefly should haue bene faithfull and loyall to him were the principall actors and instruments against him and tooke on them the execution of the Popes curse and the violent deposing of the Emperor from his Imperiall estate King Iohn of England Fabian 2. vo part 7. in anno 1205 So in king Iohn of England his time the execution of the Popes curse vpon him and the realme was committed to the Bishops of London Ely Winchester and Herford who after they had denounced it against the king the land were fain to flie the land And in that blind time when the Pope sate in the consciences of simple people to binde and loose the king by practise of the Pope and popish Prelates was so encountred and wrapped in troubles that at length he yelded himselfe to Randolph the Popes Legate by oth Fabian 2. vo part 7. in anno 1212 to stand to the Popes order Finally hee was driuen on his knees to take the crowne from his head as Fabian reporteth it to resigne it with solemne wordes into the Popes handes and after to resume it as Feodarie to the Pope as Fabian telleth vppon a yeerely fee of a thousand marks to be paid vnto him So wheÌ„ there is variance in the land and the Pope is vmpire by cursing of Princes and lands hee fingreth and filcheth gaine and setteth a sale his cursings and blessings againe Popish Prelates are the Popes hands and bowels in Countries To whom chiefly doth hee commit the trust of the execution of such things to popish Prelates They are as the Popes hands in countries they are as the bowels of his own body and as if their conscience liued of him they are made actors and instruments eftsoones against their own Princes for him as in the practise of stories we see Running to Rome And if there grow quarrell betweene the Prince them they goe round to Rome The Pope is the vmpire they keepe that string for their bowe whatsoeuer faileth at home Tho. Becket packed him to Rome againste Hen. the 2. Thomas Becket returned with authoritie froÌ„ the Pope against the Prince Anselme Archbishop of Canter Anselme Archbishop of Canterb. sped him to Rome against Henrie the first at his return held a conuocation at London by the authority of the Pope against the Prince Lanfrank Archbishop of Canterburie Lanfrank likewise Archbishop of Canterburie Thomas of York pleated the libel of their preemineÌ„ce at Rome vnder William the conqueror Abbat Benet Abbat Benet had 5. times been at Rome Rome was their paradise on earth to run in pilgrimage to it The Pope as a God sate in dark consciences as hauing Peters key to bind lose The Abbat of Vrsperg who himself had bin at Rome runneth in Romish religion with them and raileth vpon Hen. the 4. for resistance against Popes of Rome yet hee cryeth out on Rome for sucking the gaine of the world and saith Gaude mater nostra Roma Ab. Vrsperg in Chro. quia aperiuntur catarractae the sauroruÌ„ in terra vt ad te confluant riui aggeres nummorum in magna copia our mother Rome reioyce saith he because the sluces and Gulfes of gaine are opened on earth Mother Rome sacketh the treasure of the earth that streames and heapes of money may come flowing in to thee in great abuÌ„dance Thus the Abbat though hee were her deare sonne yet crieth out on his mother Rome for sucking the treasures of the erth And now because his mother Rome hath byn kept so long fasting froÌ„ England the gulf of her great gaine stopped there not only she is hungred but with rauening iawes gapeth coÌ„tinuallie ouer it by practise of monstrous treasons and rebellioÌ„s to pluck it in again Thus of the taking and deposing of Henrie the 4. and of the Bishops that were chiefe instruments and actors in it The fourth chiefe point of the discourse of this storie The 4. The death of Henry the 4. and the crueltie on his corps is of the death of Henry the fourth and the crueltie shewed on his corse After that Henrie the Emperor was of the bishops aforesaide thus deposed and dispoyled of the robes of estate and the Imperiall ensignes he fled to Limburg and lighting on a prince a hunting Alb.
then disgarnished of the robes of his estate Polid. Hist Angl. lib. 18. and after put in execution Polidor telleth of a pacte or platte of treason made with Robert kinge of Scotes by him with his owne opinion in the ende Thus Sir Andrew Herkelies treason turned on his owne head in the ende Sir Roger Mortimer surnamed of Wigmor may for his aduauncemeÌ„t first Sir Roger Mortimer Fabian the 7 part in an 1324. corruption and treasons after well bee ioyned to him Vnder Edward the second being committed to the Tower hee made escape by giuing a sleeping drinke to his keepers as Fabian witnesseth Then he gotte him into Fraunce to Queene Isabell daughter to Philippe Lebew and wedded to kinge Edward Polidor Hist lib. 18. whom kinge Edward with her sonne hadde sent into Fraunce to intreat a concord and peace betweene Charles the French king and him After the returne of Queene Isabell Prince Edward her son with force of armes after the deposing of Edward the 2. in the Parliament holden at London Fabian in an 1328. Fabian the 7 part in an 1326. Sir Roger Mortimer who returned likewise in their retinue was by the singular fauour of Queene Isabell in wthose Court he bare the sway aduaunced in the Parliament of Salisburie vnder Edward the third to bee Earle of March as Sir Andrew the aforesaid was vnder Edward the second his father preferred to bee Earle of Carlile or Cardoile as is mentioned before And in the end this Sir Roger of Wigmor was executed for treason against his Prince and Countrie as the same Sir Andrew was But this Sir Roger was mounted farre higher in fauour in the Court and in the regiment dealings of estate and cause of profite that did accrew to the Crowne And hee had great troupes and routes hanging on him Chronica Fructus temp the 7. parte as Chronica Fructus temporum telleth what a number of knightes were retayned to him when hee was taken The regiment of the lande and affayres of profitte passed through the Queenes hands and his And the Lordes before assigned to haue the guiding of the yong king were sequestred so that alone the rule of the lande as Fabian sayeth rested in the Queene and the said Sir Roger Fabian the 7. part in an 1328. And great things of the realme saith he were out of order But Sir Roger bare himself so high that at length hee plucked both the king and his Councell vppon him So that in time by the king his assent and the meanes of Sir William Montague and sir Rafe Stafford and sir Iohn Neuel and others hee was by a compassed meane as Fabian termeth it arrested and takeÌ„ in the castle of Nottingham Fabian the 7 part in anno 1329. where the king and Queene then lay The keyes of the castle were daily and nightly vnder the ward and keeping of the said sir Roger as Fabian saith Chronica Fructus Temporum telleth Chro. Fruct temp 7. part that the Constable of the Tower led sir William Montague and his companie a priuie way vnder earth euen into the Tower where sir Roger was lodged From thence with sir Simon of Bedford and others he was sent to the Tower of London And in the end for his priuitie to the death of king Edward the second the king his father Fabian the 7 part in anno 1330. for other treasons charged and proued against him in the Parliament at London he was by authoritie of the same Parliament Fabian witnessing it iudged to death And vppon S. Andrewes euen next ensuing at London he was drawen and hanged He was charged not onely with treason against Edward the seconde the kings father to haue been the meanes of his most traiterous death fearing least nature woulde worke in the young king to set him at libertie againe Polidor hist Ang. lib. 18. as Polidore noteth and because Queene Isabel had written likewise letters of kindnesse vnto him but also hee was charged with treason against king Edward the 3. his sonne against his countrie to haue been the meane that the Scots escaped from the king at Stanhop park where they had fallen into the kings danger ne had byn the fauour of the said sir Roger then shewed to them further that an vnprofitable dishonorable peace as Fabian termeth it was by his meane concluded betweene the king and the Scots For first as Fabian writing of the Parliament of Northampton saith the king released to the Scots their fealtie and homage Fabian the 6 part in anno 1327. And he deliuered to them olde auncient writinges sealed with the seales of the kings of Scots Lords of the land both spiritual and temporal with many other Charters and Patentes by the which the kings of Scots obliged theÌ„ to bee â—eodaries to the crowne of England At which season also were deliuered certaine iewels which beforetimes had been wonne from the Scots The blacke crosse of Scotland Chro. Fruct temp in Edward â—qe 3. among the which the blacke Crosse of Scotland is specially named Chronica Fructus TemporuÌ„ according to the blacke darknesse of the superstitious time saith that this black Crosse was a ful precious relike which good king Edward conquered in Scotland brought it out of the Abbey of Stone And maketh mentioÌ„ also of the famous Indenture called Ragman Ragman the Indenture of the homages and fealties of Scotlande which the Scots made to king Edward king Henry his son in which were conteined all the homages and fealties first of of the king of Scotland all the Prelates Earles and Barons of the Realme of Scotland with their seales set there vnder other charters remembrances that king Edward and his Barons had of their right in the aforesaid realm of Scotland Fabian the 7 part in anno 1327. Of this Indenture Ragman mention is made also in the article obiected to this sir Roger at his arraignment before the iudges of the Parliament in London Thus the said sir Roger for sundrie treasons against his Prince Countrie was openly arraigned condemned executed as is aforesaid And thus of the treasons of Edric of Stratton of Eltrick the Admiral sir Andrew Hardikel sir Roger Mortimer of Wigmor and the executioÌ„ done on theÌ„ To these I will adde the notable exaÌ„ple of Hebert Earle of Vermandois in France of his treason against Charles king of France surnamed the Simple Hebert his execution vnder Lewes the 5. of the name And the example of Q. Brunchild in France Brunchild for her treasons the straÌ„ge execution done on her Metius Suffetius And likewise on the murderers of Charles Earle of Flaunders on Metius Suffetius and on two Traitors of the chamber of Frotho king of Danes Polido And these abundantly may suffice for the ending of this treatise First touching Hebert his treasons against Charles the Simple Ro. Gag
in an Reg. Fran lib. 5. then of his iudgement and after his execution This Hebert Countie of Vermendoies humbly inuited Charles surnamed the simple king of France to lodge at his castle of Peron as he returned out of ciuill warres against Robert the sonne of Eudo who contrary to his alleageance had seased certaine Cities and holds of the kings inheritance whome the king had slaine in the field The king surnamed the Simple casting no perils though Earle Heberts wife were sister to Duke Robert late slaine of the king in the fielde vouchsafeth his courteous inuiting and came to lodge with him After great feasting when the king was lodged and his strength sequestred from him Hebert by the setting on of his wife in reuenge of her brother Roberts death taketh the king prisoner and maketh him away that neuer he was enlarged and raigned againe Thus of Heberts treason against his Prince vnder colour of inuiting him to his castle and lodging him Now of his iudgement vnder Lewes the 5. After the making away of king Charles by treason of Hebert Lewes the 5. his son reigned in his place Hee in reuenge of Heberts treason deuiseth this manner of iudgement that Hebert out of his owne mouth vnwares and in a pretensed case shoulde pronounce sentence of death vpon himselfe Ro. Gag in an Re. Fran. lib. 5. This deuise and plat was furnished in this sort As hee sate in councel with his Lords in the Citie of Laon whither this Hebert was also warned procured to be present as Robert Gagwin a famous writer of the French story reporteth it a suborned Poast came thither in Englishe mans array with a letter of hast praying the kings presence and being brought to presence he deliuered the letter And at the secrete reading therof by the king his Secretary to him the king smiled The Lordes as if his smiling boded good said they trusted there was good newes out of England Then hee saieth that one Herman as Gagwin telleth it Fabian the â— part ca. 186. but as Fabian saith one of his owne cosins and especiall friends of England moued him of a case in his letter asking his iudgement and resolution in it He proponeth the case among theÌ„ to heare their opinions and iudgements of the case The case was of a countrie or husbandman that inuited his Lorde to his house and there murdered him Say my Lordes saieth he as Gagwin vttreth his speech what death you deeme and iudge him worthie of Theobald of Blois a sage Counceller first gaue seâ—tence Theobald of Blois his iudgement that though he was worthy of sundrie tortures yet it seemed good to him that the hangman should trusse him at the gallowes strangle him with a rope And after his verdit all assented to it and Earle Hebert also accorded to it Earl Heberts iudgemeÌ„t out of his owne mouth on himselfe and his own sentence was as it were the cord to trusse him vp Iudgement out of his owne mouth was giuen on himselfe there remained no more but execution The Foxe was taken in his owne case Thus iudgement was contriued in a deuised case and Heberts mouth pronounced iudgement of death vppon himself Now of the execution Sodainly rushed in the crue appointed of the king before they caught giltie Hebert Earl Heberts execution and according to his owne sentence carried him to a hill without the citie of Laon hoised him to the Gibbet or gallowes and before the hangman straÌ„gled him Ro. Gag in an Re. Fran. lib. 5. the king turned to him as Gag reporteth and said Thou Hebert art the same countrieman that madst away my Lorde and father and thy Soueraign in prison bonds now according to thy desert suffer thy deserued death Thus Heberts iudgement was deuolued on himselfe and his treason against his Prince returned on his owne head May it not be a mirror of gods iudgement touching the ende execution of traitors which intrap others with treasons sodainly are trussed vp themselues Little thought Hebert to hang at the gallowes at Laon when he came to the kings presence to sit with the Lords in couÌ„cell Little know traitors what sodainly will befall theÌ„ Gods reuenge ruÌ„neth after theÌ„ and will sodainly ouertake theÌ„ He was too suttle for the simple king As a guest the king came to his house but as a lamb he fell into the butchers hands God seeth not this Hebert saith in his hart there is no God to reuenge Psal 14. as Dauid saith of that Nabal the is the foolish wicked maÌ„ His wife wil haue her reuenge of her brothers death Hebert is the executioner of reuenge See how gods iudgemeÌ„t meateth him his owne measure He commeth to Laon as a guest inuited to sit in couÌ„cell his own mouth vnawares giueth iudgement on himself The crue appointed carieth him away to make him away As by treason he made away his Soueraign vnawares so by gods iustice he is taken vnawares for his secret treasoÌ„ hath open executioÌ„ The hill on which Hebert was haÌ„ged Heberts hill was after called Heberts hill Edric Edric the traitor had his head exalted on a high gate or his head body cast into a stinking ditch as some say Elfric had his eies plucked out Elfric Sir Andrew Hardikell Sir Roger Mortimer Sir Andrew Hardikell sir Roger Mortimer were drawn as traitors to death God giue al grace to bee warned by the example of Hebert of France Edric Elfric of England such like traitors against their Soueraignes set vp by Gods prouidence to raigne ouer countries Thus of the treason iudgement and executioÌ„ of Hebert Earle of Vermandois in France Now let vs brieflie tell of the strange execution of Queene Brunchild wife sometime to Sigisbert king of Mees or Austracia according to FabiaÌ„ for her manifold treasons murders of Princes of her owne blood Queene Brunchild Shee is noted in the storie to haue been the death of ten Princes of royal blood beside others She sette her owne sonnes and brethren Theodobert and Theodorich on blooddie warre together and one to teare out an others throate And after king Theodobert was slain in the warres by treason and Theodorich by poyson made away shee set vp a base of Theodorich called Sigisbert against king Clotare who discomfited him and took Brunchild in the field on whoÌ„ all the hoast cried a shamefull death as Gagwin telleth Ro. Gag in an Re. Fran. lib. 2. and after shee was beaten with a cudgell foure times king Clotare commaunded her to be set on a horse and to bee carried about all the hoast then by the haire of the head and armes to be tyed to the taile of a wilde horse and so to bee trailed and drawne to death And this was the 〈◊〉 iudgement and execution of Burnchild king Clotare Let 〈◊〉 heare likewise of the strange iudgement and execution done on the traitors
hee had conceiued before Thus what trauailing is The 2. of this part Who setteth them on trauaile The 2. point of this part is who setteth thē on to trauaile After the Diuel is entred them as he did into Iudas and that they are resolute in their treasons wicked intents he mightilie effectually worketh in children of disobedience as the woorde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 importeth which S. Paul vseth Ephe. 2. Then they fall in trauaile with them if they stay he wil set spurres to thē by secret suggestiōs affections passiōs For of mad moodes raging passions the wicked in the scriptures are called Reshaim because they are vnstable cannot stay in one state as Pagnin voucheth out of R. Abrahā The prophet Esai cōpareth thē to troublesome Seas that cānot rest Esay 57. The diuel rideth in their humors as horses he neuer leueth spurring of thē with inward suggestions outward occasions occurrents till he set thē in trauaile They must needs go as cōmonly they say whō the Diuel driueth he driueth them on in their own humors passions like horses mules without vnderstanding Psal 31. as Dauid saieth till hee bring them to their trauaile to work his will When the good spirit was departed from king Saul 1. Sam. 16. the euill spirit did towse trouble him as the scripture saith Turbauit cum spiritus malus à domino the euil spirit sent of God did trouble him so the euill spirit will be continually troubling tesing of them on to their trauail Thus of the second note who setteth them on to trauaile The 3. note is The third of this part How they watch for oportunities 1. Sam. 18. how after they begin to trauail they watch for oportunities occasions After they fall in trauaile they bend thēselues to take all occasions oportunities as king Saul did against Dauid hee deuised to haue him slaine in the wars of the Philistines and at home he sought to dispatch him Whē Dauid plaid before him as hee sate in his house the euill spirit being on him 1. Sam. 19. sodainly in a rage he would haue nailed him to the wal with his speare if Dauid had not shunned the blow fled frō him He sent murderers to his house to kill him in his bed but by Michol his wiues helpe he escaped out at a window Hee chased him frō wildernes to wildernes he hūted him frō couert to couert as a birde as some translate the beginning of Dauids Psalme Psal 11. In the Lorde put I my trust how say yee then to my soule that she shuld flie as a bird vnto the hil For lo the vngodly bend their bow make readie their arrowes wtin their quiuers that they may priuily shoot at them which are true of heart Thus how his enemies bended their forces to do him mischiefe 2. Sam. 31. and watch all occasions And in another Psalm he saith Psal 56. They hold altogether and keep themselues close and mark my steppes while they lay wayt for my soule And likewise in another Psalme Psal 10. Hee sitteth lurking in theeuish corners of the streetes and priuilie in his lurking dens doth hee murther the innocent his eyes are set against the pore for he lyeth wayting secretly euen as a Lion lurketh in his denne that hee may rauish the poore He rauisheth the poore when hee getteth him into his net Thus farre his words After Saul fell in trauaile with mischiefe against him hee sought for occasions to take him at a sodaine lift and to rid him and hee neuer gaue him vp 1. Sam. 31. till in the warres against the Philistines to whose swordes he thought to haue betraide him hee was himselfe woūded and after being distressed with diuelishe dispayre furiously hee fell on his owne sword and killed himselfe So his wicked trauaile turned on himselfe It is a notable example to shewe howe after the wicked fall in trauaile with their diuelish intents they are readie to take all occasions and occurrentes within without in bedde abroade to accomplishe their prepensed plats Cicero When Catilin and the Conspiratours against the state of Rome while it was as yet heathen trauayled with their treasons and conspiracies Cicero being then one of their consuls and great gouernours of the state complayned that nether his house nor his bedde could be free and safe from their trayterous attemptes and that they would haue giuen him a bloody breakefast in his bed but that they were preuented by a watch and gard prouided against them Isboseth 2. Sam. 4. Isboseth the son af Saul as he rested on his bed in the heat of the day Duke Hum. Fabian the 2 part in anno 1447. Cron. Fruct temp part 7. Edward 2. was slaine of Rechab and Baanah Humfrey Duke of Gloster and vncle to Henry the 6. and in his minoritie protector of the land was found sodenly strangly dead on his bed Edward the 2. surnamed of Carnaruen because he was there borne as he was fast a sleepe in his bedde in the Castle of Corf as the Chronicle called Fructus Tenpots noteth but in the Castle of Barkley as Fabian sayth where he was prisoner sodenly hadde a greate Table caste on him therewith to presse him to death Fabian in an 1326. Valentinian the Emp. and by trayterous and cruell meanes was made away Valentinian the Emperor was slaine by the practise of Eugenius and treason of those that were of his Chamber Frederick the second Emperor of that name as he lay on his sick bed was stifled with a pillow as Albert by reporte of some noteth it of Manfrid his base sonne Peter of Besinguen K. of Cyprus a victorious Prince vpon Turkes Souldans as Iohn Froysarth writeth who tooke Alexandria in Egypt Sir Iohn Froysart the 3. 4. booke the 40. chap. Triple in Surry Laias in Armeni Scitalie in Turkie with diuers others was trayterously killed in his bedde of his owne brother called Iaquet by practise of the infidels who so greatly feared his forces Albert the Emp. Alber. Krāz. Wan lib. 7. cap. 32. Albert the Emperour as he passed by the banke of the riuer of Rein slenderly accompanied was sodenly set on and slayne of his neere kinsman Iohn his owne brothers sonne Aurelius the Emperour as hee was on his way Alber. Kranz Saxo. Lib. 3. cap. 3. Ro. Gag in an Re. Fran. lib. 2. was of his own traine sodenly slaine as Albertus writeth Chilperich king of Soisons in Fraunce as he came from hunting slenderly garnished with retinue was of one Laūdri a noble man of his court and by counsell of Queene Fredegund his wife at a soddaine slayne as he drew homeward neere his Palace Fabian the 5 part cap. 117 as Fabian telleth but within the court of his Palace according to the French Chronicle as he light frō his horse Edward the sonne
Gagwin â—n anna Reg. Franc. lib 2. Holderich the traitor iâ—â—reward and seeing Gods iudgement on them vtterly they may shun and detest them The wickednesse of traitors commeth on their owne heads their mischief on their own pates What was Holderich the olde and ranke traitour and murderer his rewarde who of Fredegonde Queene of Soisons in Fraunce was hired to murder Queene Brunchild in her Courte Hee was putte to torture and the bastinado And after hee came to Queene Fredegond for her reward shee charging him with cowardice caused his hands and feete which in treasons and murders long he had abused to bee cut off and that was the traitours rewarde The two Traitours that of the same Fredegond were set sent to kill Sigisbert king of Mees or Austracia according to Fabian in his campe Ro. Cagw in annali Fran. â—ib 2. awaiting their time committing the murder were hewen of the souldiers in peeces Edricus the traitor Edricus surnamed of StrattoÌ„ was a rank traitor first to Egelred after to king Edmond surnamed Ironside after him to king Canutus the first king of Danes that after Edmond reigned ouer the land to his own country in the inuasion of Danes How euer the Prince changed Edricus did not chang but was a traytor to his Prince a traytor to his Country He was grown in great estate of honour vnder king Egelredus and vnder others after But hee coulde not containe himselfe in his estate He turned truth into treason With many treasons hee trauailed and hee reaped the reward of his treasons in the end Because it is a notable example of our owne Countrie and worthy as a spectacle to be set vp to warne all I wil open it more at large Edricus was from a low state and birth as Fabian saith by king Egelredus first aduaunced to bee Duke of Mercia Fab. in chro 6. par ca. 199 and hee coÌ„mited the conduct and regiment of soldiers vnto him And when vpon the kings commaundement hee hadde assembled the west Saxons to withstand the entrie of the Danes vnder Swanus their king and the hoastes should ioyne Edricus sicke when he should fight Edricus fayned himselfe sicke and fled from his people to the great aduantage and comfort of the enemies Thus when it coÌ„meth to a dead lift Fabian in Chro. the 6. part cap. 198 Edricus treasoÌ„ in the battaile treason betrayeth al. And vnder king Edmond called Ironsid in a battaile in Worcestershire as Fabian telleth it when the Danes were like to be discomfited Edricus the traytor pight a dead mans head on a speares head and cryed to the English hoast Fabian in Chro. the 6. part cap. 240 that it was the head of kinge Edmond to daunt the courages of English men and to set the Danes agog vpon them But king Edmond sped him to that parte of the field and so incouraged his souldiers that he had rather the better then the woorse After Edricus fearing the great courage and good successe of kinge Edmond and to saue his land as Fabian saith humbly shued to be receiued into his grace and fauour Fab. in chro 6. par ca. 204 swore to bee true subiect to him But olde trecherie would not suffer new sworne truth to take place in him for after when the hoasts of king Edmond and Canutus mette at Ashdown Edricus after long sight fled to the coÌ„fort of the Danes Thus fighting and flying it was all one with Edricus for when hee should fight he would flee or be sick and haue some excuse and with smooth words set forth matters of small importance Edricus the traytors excuses His flying out of the battaile at Ashdowne he did so excuse as Fabian saith that no man might charge him with any defaulte Hee would turne himselfe vnto manye excuses as Poets fayne that Proteus kinge of Egypt would turne himselfe into manie formes Proteus king of Egypt because the manner was of the Egyptian kings to weare on their heades the formes and forepartes of a Lion Bull Dragon Caro Ste. in dictio Hist Poe. or armes of their estate and sometimes a tree or fire or fragrant ointmentes and thereof Poets fayned of Proteus that he chaunged himselfe into many formes So Edricus could change himselfe into many formes of excuses Hee was eloquent of speech as Fabian sayth and false of heart Fabian in Chro. 6. part cap. 199. and with faire wordes would blanch out fowle treasons Hee was onely constant in his inconstance warbling with a wayward minde and doubling in dealings of great importance He practised treason gainst his owne Country for the Danes vnder kinge Egeldredus and vnder kinge Edmond after him Fabian telleth the reporte of Guido King EdmoÌ„d killed at the withdraught howe by his and Edricus his sonne their treasons Edmond came to his death As hee satte at the withdraught Edridus his sonne awayting him strocke him with a speare into the fundament wherof shortely after hee died Then Edricus the father with great haste sped him to king Canutus Edricus the traitors head exalted on the highest gate who then with king Edmond reigned ouer halfe the lande for by composition for ending of ciuill warres the land was deuided betweene them and hee thought for his tidinges greatly to haue been exalted But king Canutus according to Guido his reporte cammaunded his head to be stricken of and pight on a speare and exalted vpon one of the highest gates of London Chronica Fructus temp the 6. parte Thus according to that storie Edricus was exalted for his treasons which returned to his own head Though it seeme fabulous to Polidore that Chronica Fructus temporum telleth of king Edmonds death and Edricus treason yet because of the straÌ„gnes of the deuise I wil note it This Edrick of Stratton inuited king Edmond to lodge at his house and at night as the king should goe to his lodging in the way was set vppe a beautifull Image with a bowe bent and an arrowe in it and when the king approched to see it anone it discharged the arrowe and shot the king through the bodie for it was an engin made for that purpose to lure the king to the gase and to slea him And after that Edricke his report to king Knoght thereof for Canutus so is called hee abhorred him for his treason and as a traytor commaunded him to be bound and cast into the riuer of Thames Thus Chronica Fructus temporum rehearseth the storie or the deuise in steed of the storie as it seemeth to Polidor Fabian noteth out of Marian the Scot another varietie of the storie that king Edmond dyed at London of naturall sicknesse for there out of the same Marian he telleth that after the death of king Edmond Edricus flatterie Fabian in Chro. 6. parâ— cap. 205. this Edrick grew in such deepe fauour with king Knoght or Canut by his sugred wordes as