I see for the happy and flourishing estate therof and for the maintenaunce of Gods true Religion and defence of his Church and congregation wanteth no enimies to pursue the daunger of it nor coullorable freendes that seeke to betraye it to spoyle which could they as easilie accomplishe as they willinglie put in practise and had not GOD more care of his chosen then their malicious stomackes can affoord God knowes the heauie burden should lye on our necks which I pray God they neuer liue to lay on nor we â—o feele But as the marke is easilie seene which they so mightilie and continuallie ayme at and for that God praysed be his name therefore hath hytherto preuented all their trayterous attempts turning their daggers into their owne bosomes and causing them to fall into the pitte they made for others so is it expedient for vs to continue in prayer that it may please him long to vouchsafe that prouideÌ„t care ouer vs and that we lykewise applie our owne duetifull wisdome and pollicie to vphold that plant by whose meanes we prosper and preuent their deuises who would robbe vs of so high a treasure It is our dread and soueraigne Lady whose shyning vertues fret the polluted eyes of these vnnaturall Subiectes whose heroicall gouernement which no Realme in the world is able to match for peaceable continuaunce that sticketh lyke sharpe needles in their venoumed and disdainefull stomackes and it is the rare president of her famous lyfe her Christian zeale and aboundaunce of all excellent giftes which woorthelie winneth the heartes of her true Subiectes and inflameth them with desire of her long prosperitie that calling their barbarous conceite into question thundreth such Maiestie into their deceyued eares as they pollishe theyr tongues to depraue spare no penne-worke to slaunder whette their weapons and deuise all tretcheries that lost and forsaken mindes can doo to extinguishe the lyght of that Sunne whereon their seared-consciences wyll not suffer them to looke and to deface that perfect Emeralde which the more they seeke to blemishe with the oyle of venemous reportes the more perfect it sheweth it selfe in beautie I neede not report vnto you for that your wisedomes and iudgementes are verie well acquainted therewith that the prosperitie of the Prince is the assured safetie of the whole Kingdome and common wealth and the least motion of greefe that toucheth her concerneth the whole state ingenerall by reason that her Highnesse is the most louing Mother and Nurse of all her good Subiectes and is lykewise the husband of the common weale maried to the Realme and the same by ceremony of Ring as solemnly signified as any other mariage Can we then that are her Maiesties chyldren her true and faithfull subiectes endure to see our mother wronged her authoritie defamed her lyfe endaungered and shall we not thinke the same concerneth vs Can we see proud reprobates seeke to seuer the knot of loue and agreement which hath beene iustly and lawfully vnited betweene her and vs to yeelde our liues in slauerie and seruitude to an vsurping tyrant and shall not the breach of this bonde of sacred wedlocke mooue vs to regard how highly it harmeth vs Nature causeth the chylde to worke all policies he may for his Mothers defence and the estimation of that holy league of loue is of force to compell the faithfull to maintaine and continue it The case then touching vs so neerelie as it dooth the verie meanest subiect is bound for his Princes defence much more they whome God hath called to office of Magistracie and bearing rule their care ought to be both night and daye how to set downe good lawes and orders to be vigilant and carefull in dilligent search and enquirie to bring such stubborne and gracelesse men to open lyght who spurne at her Maiestie that hath put the Sworde in your handes of honour and authoritie and trying theyr deedes to be contrarie to the duetie of good Subiectes to let them be soone cutte off by the sword of Iustice. And if I maye without offence speake one word to your Honour and VVorshippes not by waye of teaching but for vnlading some part of the burden of true loue I beare to my Countrie I would desire you to haue an especiall eye to the Cittie of London for it is a receptacle to many of these bad people and many fauourers freends they haue in the Cittie who bearing the countenaunce of good and honest Subiectes are neuerthelesse but hollowe hearted and giue aide and releefe to such as seeke the ruine of the whole state Your Honour and VVorships shall notablie witnesse the loue you beare to God and his Church and the zeale affection and duetie you owe to her Maiestie in being respectiue to this especiall cause for it is high tyme the enimies are nowe growne so bolde and full of mischeefe as if such as are in authority doo not laye too theyr helping handes to represse them they will in tyme beso wylde as they will be past bridleling This shall be therefore my last request vnto you that the premisses considered the effect may be put in execution and when you haue perused this smal worke I doubt not but you will thinke my request honest and lawfull and expedient to be redressed to the vttermost of your powers Thus wishing prosperous successe to all you goe about that may set foorth Gods glory and be to her Maiesties defence from her enimies I humbly take my leaue Your Honours and Worships well-willer A. M. A VVatch-vvoord to England THE state of this Realme considered and specially such accidentes touching the same as late troubles haue ministred doo make it dailie more and more euident how precious and how déere a Iewell is the safety of the Quéenes most excellent Maiestie our most louing and beloued Soueraigne Ladie Compare the time of her most noble and gratious gouernment with the times and ages long since past and gone and especiallie with the miserable and dangerous daies immediatlie precéeding her most happie princelie and comfortable raigne call to mind the weaknes and perils wherin the common weale stoode before the comming of her highnes to the Crowne weigh the infinite benefites bothe bodilie and ghostlie that the whole Realme hath and all her Subiects both haue had and doo enioy by her meanes thinke vpon the gréeuous and vnspeakable miseries that we all shall be like to sustaine by the losse of her vnualuable presence It shalbe plaine that he is wilfullie blind that cannot sée he is wickedlie malicious that will not acknowledge he is obstinatelie stone harted that wil not with sorrowe and trembling déepelie imprint in carefull hart those motions and thoughts that such consideration shall lay before him Remember the quiet of conscience the comfort of true seruing of GOD the fréedome of the Realme the deliuerance of soules from foreine thraldom the escape of the heauie yoake of straunge Dominion the recouerie of wealth the benefit of
if it could be prooued by me For I knowe my selfe I thanke God to be out of the daunger thereof wishing that I were as cléere out of the perill of mine enimies and then I am assured I should not be so locked and bolted vp within walles doores as I am God giue them a better minde when it pleaseth him About this time was there a great consulting among the Bishoppes and gentlemen touching a mariage for her Grace which some of the Spaniardes wished to be with some Stranger that she might go out of the Realme with her portion some saying one thing and some an other A Lord who shall be heere namelesse being there at last saide That the King should neuer haue any quiet Common wealth in England vnlesse her head were stricken from her shoulders Wherevnto the Spaniardes aunswered saying God forbid that the King their Maister should haue that minde to consent to such a mischéefe This was the courteous aunswere of the Spaniards to the Englishe men speaking after that sort against their owne Country From that day the Spaniardes neuer left off their good perswasions to the King that the like honour he should neuer obtaine as he should in deliuering Lady Elizabethes Grace out of prison whereby at length she was happilie released from the same Héere is a plaine and euident example of the good clemencie and nature of the King and his Councellers towardes her Grace praised be God therefore who mooued their heartes therein Then héerevpon she was sent for shortlie after to come to Hampton Court But before her remoouing from VVoodstocke we will a little stay to declare in what dangers her life was during this time she there remained First thorowe fire which began to kindle betwéene the boordes and seeling vnder the Chamber where she laie whether by a sparke of fire gotten into a creuis or whether of purpose by some that meant her no good the Lord dooth knowe Neuerthelesse a woorshipfull Knight of Oxfordshiere which was there ioyned the same time with Sir Henrie Benifield in kéeping that Lady who then tooke vp the boordes and quenched the fire verilie supposed it to be doon of purpose Furthermore it is thought and also affirmed if it be true of one Paule Peny a kéeper of VVoodstocke a notorious Ruffian and a butcherlie wretch that was appointed to kill the Lady Elizabeth who both sawe the man being often in her sight and also knewe thereof An other time one of the priuie Chamber a great man about the Quéene and chéefe darling of Stephen Gardiner named Maister Iames Basset came to Blandenbridge a mile from UUoodstocke with twentie or thirtie priuie coates and sent for Sir Henrie Benifield to come and speake with him But as God would who disposed all thinges after the purpose of his owne will so it happened that a little before the saide Sir Henrie Benifield was sent for by a Poste to the Councell leauing straite worde behinde him with his brother that no man whatsoeuer he were though comming with a Bill of the Quéenes hand or any other warrant should haue accesse to her before his returne againe By reason whereof so it fell out that Sir Henrie Benifieldes brother comming to him at the Bridge would suffer him in no case to approch in who otherwise as it is supposed was appointed violentlie to murder the innocent Lady At what time likewise that the Lady Elizabeth was in the Tower a Writ came downe subscribed with certaine handes of the Councell for her execution which if it were certaine as it is reported Winchester do doubt was deuiser of that mischeuous drift And doubtlesse the same Achitophell had brought his impious purpose that day to passe had not the fatherlie prouidence of Almightie God who is alwaies stronger then the deuill styrred vp Maister Bridges Lieuetenaunt the same time of the Tower to come in haste to the Quéene to giue certificate therof and to know further her consent for her Sisters death Wherevppon it followed that all that deuise was disappointed and VVinchesters deuillishe platforme which he saide he had cast through the Lordes goodnesse came to no effect Where moreouer is to be noted that during the imprisonment of this Lady and Princesse one Maister Edmund Tremaine was on the Racke and Maister Smithwike and diuers other in the Tower were examined and diuers offers made them to accuse the guiltlesse Lady being in her captiuitie Howbeit all that notwitstanding no matter could be prooued by all examinations as she the same time lying at Woodstocke had certaine intelligence by the meanes of one Iohn Gayer who vnder a coullorable pretence of a Letter to Mistresse Cleue from her Father was let in and so gaue them secretlie to vnderstande of all this matter Wherevppon the Lady Elizabeth at her departing out from VVoodstocke wrote these Uerses with her Diamond in a glasse windowe Much suspected by me Nothing prooued can be Quod Elizabeth prisoner And thus much touching the troubles of Lady Elizabeth at VVoodstocke Wherevnto this is more to be added that during the same time the Lord of Tame had laboured to the Quéene and became suretie for her to haue her from vvoodstocke to his house and had obtained his graunt thereof wherevpon preparation was made accordinglie and all thinges ready in expectation of her comming But thorowe the procurement either of Sir Henry Benifield or by the dooing of vvinchester her mortall enimie Letters came ouer night to the contrarie whereby her iourney was staide Thus this woorthy Lady oppressed with continual sorrowe could not be permitted to haue recourse to any fréendes she had but still in the handes of her enimies was left desolate and vtterlie destitute of all that might refreshe a dolefull heart fraught full of terror and thraldome Wherevpon no meruaile if she hearing vpon a time out of her garden at vvoodstocke a certaine Milke maide singing pleasauntly wished her selfe to be a Milke maide as she was saying That her case was better and life more merier then hers was in that state as she was Now after these thinges thus declared to procéede further where we left before Sir Henrie Benifield and his Soldiors with the Lord of Tame and Sir Ralphe Chamberlaine garding and wayting vppon her The first night from vvoodstocke she came to Ricotte In which iourney such a mightie winde did blowe that her seruauntes were faine to holde downe her cloathes about her in so much that her Hood was twise or thrise blowne from her head Whervpon she desirous to returne to a gentlemans house there néere could not be suffered by Sir Henrie Benifield so to doo but was constrained vnder a hedge to trim her head as well as she could After this they iourneied the next night to Maister Dormers and so to Colbrooke where she laye all that night at the George And by the way comming to Colbrooke certaine of her Graces Gentlemen and Yeomen mette
his shéep both such as they haue destroyed and such as they may destroie by any possibilitie héereafter Item that all aduises to great personages to perswade neutralitie or an entertaining of contrarie sides in Religion with vncertainty of countenaunce and fauour is the waie to supplant assured safetie to make sure enimies and vnsure fréendes to lye open to parasites and traitours to be vnknowne to other and to be vnable to discerne what other be to them Item that timerous policie is the wurst policie that may be whatsoeuer the cause be good or bad and wurst of all it is in best causes Wherein as her Maiestie hath neither want of constaunt magnanimitie nor cause of feare so is it méete that her enimies haue no stomacke to contemne her nor by excesse of clemencie to misconstrue her goodnesse as lacke of daring Item that by the great nouelties and alterations of times that haue happened within our memorie there is risen a coÌ„mon policie among the people to ioyne to strong and safe sides whereby they are aliened from the fearefull and therefore it is to be prouided that there be a boldnesse of safetie to serue the Quéenes Maiestie truelie and zealouslie and an assurednesse of daunger to her enimies Item by boldnesse and sharpe execution vpon enimies the fréendes are encouraged and contrariwise if the dauÌ„gerous traitour be not remooued the true Subiect may be left in perill and thereby the rest of good Subiects disabled or at least discouraged to venter so farre againe and the fréedome of consultation in the meane time for preseruing the Prince impeached Item that it is as truelie saide Improbum hominem praestat non accusasse quam absoluere It is better not to meddle with a daungerous naughtie man then to let him goe for what were it else but to set an house on fire and run away by the light Item that occasions and â—â—tte oportunities ouer slipped are not recouerable Item that many times it is as small an offence to giue a warrant to kill a true man as to pardon a murderer or a traitour as a wise Shéepheard will rather giue leaue to a Hunter to kill the best Lambe in his flocke then to let goe a Fore or a Woolfe Item that the liues of Kinges and Princes are the liues and soules of their Kingdoms and Common weales whereby they are to consider that in being prodigall of their owne safeties in excesse of clemencie to traitours or in securitie of exposing their personnes to perilles Largiuntur ex alieno they be liberall of that which is not their owne to giue Item that no Traitour is more perillous then he that wresteth the Lawe to raise an vnderminer of the Princes Crowne to her daunger Item that he is iustlie to be suspected that shall practise with any vaine deuise of pacification or coullored clemencie to rebate or blunt the edge of the Princes sword or so to tye it in the scabberd that it may not be drawne for her defence as if such qualifiers hiders and cloakers should séeke to abuse that most reuerend and holie figure of Maiestie to no good end or other end then God ordained it Item that God cannot well take it if he be lesse zealouslie serued then the deuill that there be lesse feruencie shewed by truelie learned Princes for auauncing of Gods honour against his enimies then hath béen by abused and deceiued Princes for setting vp of the kingdome of the deuill and Antichrist Item that Gods commaundements of placabilitie and forgiuenesse extend to our owne enimies but not to his enimies against reuenge of priuate displeasures and not against seueritie and sharpe execution in cases of Gods honour and Common weales wherein is alwayes to be noted that the Prince is so not a priuate but a publique person as no attempt against her Maiesties safetie can or ought to be accounted a priuate cause The full proofe and large explication of these conclusions though it be easie as a thing which not onelie all conueniencie of reason affirmeth but also daylie experience laieth before all mens eyes that haue a frée consideration not accombred with corrupt zeale and affection so yet surelie were it a méete thing to be handled by some man as could adde thereto such ornamentes of spéeche such strength of eloquence and pith of perswasion as might not onelie be vnderstoode and beléeued but be felt and mooue Héere any most excellent Orators speciall vertues might be well imployed A fit argument sure it were to shewe wit and knowledge but speciallie trueth good meaning But tyll some fit person shall take it in hand to bestowe his more profitable trauaile that waie let vs yet for vnlading of some of the aboundaunce of intire deuotion for Gods trueth for her most excellent Maiestie and our Countrie haue some remembraunce of the particularities thereof For the first article that defineth Papistes that accuseth them of treason to God to Kinges and to Realmes if it be well weied it cannot but quicklie be séen for vndoubted trueth Though it be true that euerie one that holdeth any one error or article of doctrine that the Pope teacheth varying from the word of God is in that article a Papist as for example the heresie of Transubstantiation the blasphemie of popishe Masse or any such other yet count I not euerie such a one wholie a Papist within compasse of this article that is vnder the title of a traiterous Papist But such a one as holdeth all the Popes doctrine to be true that the Romane Church erreth not that it hath rightfully such superioritie and primacie in others Kingdomes and Dioceses as it hath proudlie claimed and vsurped and that Christians are bound to referre their faith vnto it and to hang vpon the Popes determinations Many men otherwise good and honest Subiectes are not purged of all errors wherewith Rome hath infected them and must haue their time to be better instructed But those that are perfect Papistes that publishe the Pope to be head of the Church which yet in déede is no member of the true Church and would haue vs with an implicite and bonde faith to depend vpon that Sea and for that reason will refuse by all meanes to confesse the right of Princes in their Kingdomes ouer all their Subiectes they be perfect traytours in déede yea and the learned sort of them be wilfull Heretikes and Traitours For though in the darke times when controuersies of Religion were not brought into searching the streame of error carried men away without doubting yet since that by debating the light hath béene euidentlie opened and men haue sought and throughlie examined the matter there is no learned Papist but he knoweth that he maintaineth error and in defending and spreading the same he defendeth spreadeth and so directlie aduisedlie wilfullie and maliciouslie putteth in execution to his vttermost power high treasons against
may be great crueltie when it ouerfloweth to the good mens daunger The other Conclusions that followe haue great difference from these whereof I haue made some explication yet haue I not made so large an explication as trueth is well and easilie able to furnishe neither can I so well make it as the expedience of the cause asketh to giue the vauntage of eloquence to the goodnesse of the matter to helpe to drawe it into credite and effect of well moouing But being as it is rude and true great cunning and finenesse is the lesse néedefull where those for whome it is intended are so wise as it is farre more easie for naked troth to enforme them then for any gaie spéeche to leads them As for the other Conclusions that followe I neither haue nor will wade so farre in them because they are matters of consultation and meditation The effect thereof which is the safe preseruation of the Quéenes royall Maiestie and the Realme the auoiding of daungers that threaten the same the establishing of assurednesse boldnesse courage and fréedome of her Highnesse most good Councellours and Subiectes the taking auauntage of oportunitie and occasions the wéeding out of deceiuers and vnderminers the defence of her Maiesties honour and dignity the meanes to aunswer their charge toward God and namelie in dealing with men as they be affectioned to or against God The effect I saye of these other Conclusions I knowe doo continuallie busie her Maiestie and her most honourable Counsailours in thinking on them and prouiding for them therefore it shall no furder occupie me and other meane Subiectes then in prayer and readinesse to serue as her Maiestie and her Councell shall sée fitte to imploy vs. It shall suffise me and so ought it to content all other to knowe as we doo knowe what a wise Prince we haue what good Councell she hath chosen how well they haue gouerned what fruite we haue had of it so as nothing is left to vs but to giue thankes to beware that our sinnes giue not the occasion of losse and chaunge to serue duetifullie and to pray deuoutlie The Conclusion THus haue I England bréefelie collected such matters héere together as if thou héedfullie marke thou mayst make great profite of them And in trueth great néede thou hast to be carefull of them for Papistes were neuer bolder nor treason put more in practise then it hath béene of late dayes Remember that cruell murder in Fraunce at the mariage when the famous Admirall Shatilion was so vnnaturallie murdered Remember the late and horrible murder of the noble Prince of Orange and let these teach thée to be more circumspecte to that daungerous broode I could wade into furder matters as to tell thée of many other crimes and offences which thou hast meruailous néede to looke vnto but because I entended this present purpose in this Watchwoord I referre the rest to my other Booke called the Court of Conscience which thou shalt shortlie receyue from me And I dare awarrant thée that thou neuer readst not such a Booke in all thy life both for the circumstances of the matter and the woorthinesse of the whole in generall but tyll it come that thou thy selfe mayst iudge of it I will bréefelie desire thée to ioyne in prayer with me for the good successe of all happinesse that may please God to send thée Let vs praye that we may sée when those that shall wrest or procure to chaunge Lawe to erect the courage of any daungerous Uiper to such endes or to any aspiring hope of preuenting and vndermining vnder what couller name pretence or otherwise or to the safegarde of their persons that haue so attempted that they maye be declared and executed as enimies to the state and to the Quéenes safetie Let vs praye that we may sée such Lawes prouided for her Highnesse preseruation and the same so executed without restraint or slackenesse for any respect as the hope of Papistes such as be enimies to God the Quéene and the Realme may if they repent not be cutte off for euer Let vs praye to liue to sée that none may haue place Office or accesse into her Maiesties Court nor household no nor once into her presence that shall not be knowne to fauour both God and her so farre as any circumspection or policie can prouide it Let vs praye that no Office of dignitie Lawe or Iustice may be in their handes who doo not fauour the Lawe of God and acknowledge her Maiesties right that is head of Lawe and Iustice in this Realme Let vs praye that her Maiestie and her Councell may haue such particular knowledge of men that those that haue well deserued yea haue and yet doo hazard their liues in her Maiesties defence and haue vtterlie wasted themselues and their fréendes in her Maiesties seruice yet remaining vnrecompenced that they maye not loose the benefite of their labours that no euill tongue maye raise slaunder to their discredite but that they maye according to their good seruice be effectuallie and duelie rewarded the onelie meane to encourage other to earnest taking of paines Let vs praye that all such as be her Maiesties enimies may be weakened and her faithfull fréendes and well-willers strengthened that all auauntages may be vsed for her safetie and all subtill deuises and practises may be supplanted We trust it will be so for God hath not drawne these late mischéefes into lyght for nothing But before all thinges let vs praye to GOD to sende vs true repentaunce more ioyfull and effectuall receyuing of his Gospell and more and more vertuous ensuing it least as we lost our best King with liuing yll wee loose our best Quéene with liuing wurse And that therewith it may please him to direct all the dooinges of her Maiestie and her Councell to procéede in their good aduauncing his glorie and preseruation of the estate which without ielous circumspection for preseruing the Quéenes most royall personne can not be doone And that such good meanes and prouisions as GOD offereth to that ende be not refused or neglected which were to tempt GOD to forsake his cause to betraie our noble Prince and to giue away or rather cast away the Realme These be the daylie and nightlie prayers of good Subiectes and while we busie our selues with these prayers we doo after our principall confidence in Gods goodnesse rest our selues vppon the trust of her Maiestie and her most honourable Councell for whome we prayse God and to them we referre the guiding of vs and ours readie to followe them when we are commaunded with the vttermost of our power and perill knowing how they spare not their vttermost endeuour and perill with susteining the most vnpleasaunt life God knowes that may be for our sakes for our quiet profits and defence FINIS God long preserue and blesse our Queene Elizabeth and confound all her enimies Honos alit Artes. A. M. A comparison betweene a mans body and a
A VVatch-vvoord to Englande To beware of traytours and tretcherous practises which haue beene the ouerthrowe of many famous Kingdomes and common weales ⧠Written by a faithfull affected freend to his Country who desireth God long to blesse it from Traytours and their secret conspiracyes Séene and allowed according to the order appointed in the Quéenes Iniunctions Iosua 1. verse 5. ¶ Take a good hart and be strong feare not I say feare not because that I which am the Lord thy God will be with thee in all thine affayres LONDON Printed for Thomas Hacket and are to be solde at his shop in Lumberd streete vnder the signe of the Popes head 1584. ANglia quae gestatregni 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 faelix Est pagina hac oculis forma notata tuis Anglorum clypeos Insignia Martia cernis Aptatur meritis digna corona bonis E R In laudem Elyzabethae Reginae TVrba maligna papae tibiterra Britanna minatur Non minus illa ferox Elyzabetha tibi Insidijs vnaes saeuis elapsa tyranni Te magijs ferro sortibus atque tetris Tollere conatus serpens sed quid furor ardens Profuit es Christi qui tuus vnus erat Ingenium pietas virtus te ex omnibus vnam Esse docent in quam nil potuere mali Exemplis varijs opere hoc est res manifesta In quo â—udantur facta nefanda virûm Elyzabetha Deo fidas vt coeperis vni Hostes contundet teque tuosque teget R. W. ⧠To the high mightie and right excellent Princesse Elyzabeth by the grace of God of England Fraunce and Ireland Queene defendresse of the true auncient Catholique and Apostolique Faith c. A. M. her Maiesties most humble Subiect and Seruaunt wisheth continuall felicitie in this world and in the world to come THe consideration of your rare and incomparable Vertues which are such Iewelles of estimation in the eyes and eares of your faithfull Subiectes and the care how to continue and enioye them long which is the study and practise of all them that truely honour you hath constrayned me at this tyme right excellent and famous Queene to exceede the boundes of ordinarie loue which is onelie but to please the eye and to wade into the depth of intire affection wherewith the heart may be oftentimes quieted but hardly throughlie satisfied by reason the conceite taketh so deepe an impression and euery cause concerneth it so neerely as what with hazard of perill and feare to forgoe affection is so vehement as nothing can goe beyond it Let then most noble Queene this my poore affection carie that credite in your Princely minde as your nature affoordeth to euerie louing Subiect and let such account be helde of my earnest intent as both the waightinesse of the cause and circumstaunces of the whole considered shall delyuer reason I in the meane time shall continue in prayer that long this Land may be partaker of your gratious presence and the good will of euery true Subiect may be thankefully entertayned Your Highnesse obedient Subiect and Seruaunt A. M. To the right Honourable Master Thomas Pullison Lord Mayor elected of the famous Cittie of London and to the worshipfull Maister Stephen Slanie and Maister Henrie Billingsley Sheriffes of the same Cittie with all the rest of their vvorshipfull Brethren WE finde it by common experience right Honorable and Worshipfull and the effectes are too much seene and proued amongst vs that as there are many dangerous diseases which happen to a mans body wherof some are so hurtfull to the same and worke by such outragious meanes as they not onely threaten great hazard of death to the body but at length after many calme showers doo vtterly waste and depriue it of lyfe So in a kingdome or common wealth which maye by comparison very well be resembled to a mans body there often chaunceth very sore and doubtfull sicknesses which growe in tyme to such forcible and extreame occasions as they not onely daunger the perishing of the most part but in conclusion worke the vtter ruine and destruction of the whole Yet when the body is offended by sicknesse the freendes of the diseased party do dilligently enquire after Phisitions then what medicines his Arte can deuise or what wholsome potions good councell can minister are presently prepared for ease of his vexation In like manner in any common wealth that is thus touched with any disease that foresheweth peryll euery one that is faithfully affected to the same or imploy theyr liues as they ought for the benefite thereof are bound with heedfull care to seeke remedy for such malladies yea it is a principall article of theyr duety to let slip no occasion that may be iudged helpfull in such a case For if freendshippe cause men for theyr priuate familiars sake to trauayle in knowledge of the cause of his infirmity and then to prouide such apt necessaries as may yeelde hope to qualifie his agony and restore him to his former health much more ought duety to be effectuall in such men as make estimation of theyr Country and common wealth at what tyme any troublesome annoyaunce dooth mollest it or any daunger whatsoeuer may be thought towards it to shew themselues earnest and forward in search of the greefe and then to apply such due and necessary medicines as may expell the very thought of threatned daunger The excellent Historiographer Herodotus sheweth vs a notable example how the Babilonians made this lawe amongst them that when so euer any man fell sicke within their dominions he should presently be brought into the market place there be laid on his bed to the intent that he might demauÌ„d of euery one that came to him whether they had beene troubled with the lyke disease or no and by what means they recouered theyr health that he might by knowledge thereofattayne to the same And by the same lawe lykewise euery man that came to him was bound both to aske the man what sicknesse he had and also to shew him if it lay in him to doo it what might soonest delyuer him from that state By which example euery one that beareth a true faithful zeale to his Countrie and earnestly tendereth the health and wealth thereof when so euer he seeth the body thereof which lyeth open before all mens eyes to be infected or touched with any infirmitie and can eyther by experience or otherwise delyuer what in his conceit may be imagined auayleable he is bouÌ„d in conscience to expresse it and great is the penaltie if he conceale it For in helping the whole body he hath benefite therof himselfe in that he is a member thereof for let the body be sicke the members must needes be partakers of the greefe and at what tyme it findeth health againe the members lykewise haue comfort by the releefe The consideration of these precedentes right Honourable and Worshipfull with the earnest care zeale and loue I beare to my Countrie which