gotten a great maâ—…e of money to make Hugh Pulath the Bishop of Durham Earle of Northumberland chiefe Iustice of England Sée quoth the King what a miracle I can do I can make of an old Bishop a yong Earle but his myracle turned to the great disworship of God and mischiefe of the whole Realme for the prelates by buying temporall honors for thys King for money made many prelates Uicounts Barons soone learned how to sell the peace and prosperitie of the Kingdome this was the sound waie to strengthen the Popes Empyre and the wicked pollicy that kepte vnder the Gospell the light and life of saluation when ambition crept into the Church zeale fled out of the hart of the Cleargie but which hath wrought the capitoll mischiefe of all the inequalitie of estates betwéene the highest and lowest of the Prelates hath brought enuie into the Church and with enuie a number of heresies and controuersies Occasion and millions of mens deathes and damnation haue opened the venome of thys passion sufficientlie in the Chapter of heresies and in sundrie other places in the Conquests of Enuy. Disvnion of the Church of all calamities is the most gréeuous because it mouéth a most mortall warre among men and eternall torment vnto the soule God for hys Sonne Iesus sake banishe thys dangerous passion foorth of the Churche and gyue the spirite of true knowledge vnto all the Cleargie that with mutuall consentes they maye teache one sounde doctrine to the glorie of GOD and vniuersall peace and comforte of his people Amen CHAP. 4. Of the most honorable calling of the Iudiciall Maiestrates of the waightinesse of theyr offices with examples of Gods heauie iustice inflicted vppon partiall Iudges IN all good gouerments necessitie hath taught princes where vertue is found to honor it and questionles so waightie are the affaires of a Common-wealth and so holie the iudgements of iustice as the nobilitie or innobilitie of the person not respected The Magistrates or Ministers of these charges ought to be chosen by the counsell that Iethro the Priest gaue vnto hys sonne in lawe Moyses which was that he shoulde choose among the people vertuous men and such as feare God true men hating couetousnesse and make them heads ouer the people and let them iudge the people at all seasons c. The waightinesse of which charge commandeth a hye honour and reuerence to be giuen to the Magistrate who in the place of iustice is the image of the Prince And in all good Gouerments the soueraigne Magistrate hath hys place next vnto the Prince In Rome the Senators were called the Fathers of the Common wealth and as the Father is honored and reuerenced of his sonne so were they of the people The Maiestrates or Philosophers of Greece were called Sages whose wisedomes were so reuerenced as nothing was done concerning warre or peace but what they allowed The office of the Magistrate according to the Psalmist is to defende the poore and fatherlesse and to sée that such as bée in néede and necessitie may haue right and as King Lamuell setteth downe they must bée aduocates for the doombe they must open theyr mouthes to defend the thing that is lawfull and right and accordyng to the counsell of Aristotle in theyr iudgementes they must bée ruled neyther by loue hatred or gaine That these duties may bée truely ministred Cicero sayeth that Sophocles counselled Pericles to make choise of Iudges that had not onely theyr handes but theyr eyes chaste and continent It behoueth that Iudges do not buy theyr offices for as Alexander Seuerus sayeth he that buieth must néedes sell and therefore sayeth he I will suffer no Merchants of Estate for if quoth he I suffer the one I must néedes indure the other as a matter too seuere to punish him that buyeth although he selleth In Fraunce all the offices of iustice are solde in Englande they are fréely geuen in the one I knowe the administration is corrupt I pray God the other be without faulte Plato was so curious in the choise of iudiciall officers as he gaue counsell to giue no dignitie or offices to the ambitious or to such as coueted or sought them but vnto such as méerely refused them and aboue all he forewarned to make choyse of none that naturally were barbarous rude or rusticke but of people that were ciuill milde iust and wise the which he figuratiuely compared vnto dogs which are ordained to defende the shéepe and to chase awaye the Wolfe In Calcydone there was a lawe that néedie and vnworthie persons shoulde beare no office but contrarywise such as contemned riches and contented to be inriched with most knowledge and such manner of men were Curius Fabritius and Phocion Alexander the Great teacheth Iudges to iudge vprightly by this obseruance when any man complained he stopped one of his eares to heare the aunswere of the defendant and truely iustice is neuer rightly administred where the Iudge giueth hys sentence before lawfull conuiction It is a place of much honor to be a Iudiciall Magistrate but the temptation of money is so swéete as when the world was nothing so corrupt in these dayes the Poet was driuen to sing Munera crede mihi capiunt hominesque deosque In English Beleeue me giftes do catch both Gods and men Diogenes béeing asked what thing an office was said it was a dangerous beast for quoth he it is as hard a matter for the Iudges of the people to kéepe theyr consciences sound as barefooted for a man to walke vpon sharpe stones vnhurt or to thrust his hand into the fire without the burning thereof In all good gouerments there euermore haue béene positiue lawes to bridle the iniustice of Iudiciall Maiestrates The false Iudges that accused Susanna were stoned to death Alexander Seuerus caused the corrupt Maiestrate Turinus to be smoothered with the smoke of wette stubble during whose execution one cryed With fume let him dye that fumes hath solde Thys Alexander defrayed the charge of all the Iudges with an honorable allowance that theyr offence might be without excuse and theyr punishmente without mercie if they did iniustice for money The sentence that King Cambyses gaue vpon a corrupt Iudge deserueth eternall memorie he caused hym to be flayed and with hys skinne he couered a iudiciall Chaire in which he placed the Iudges sonne to occupie the office of hys Father and to feare him from briberie and all partialitie besides the continuall sight of his fathers skinne Cambyses gaue hym this sharpe item Sede sedens ista iudex inflexibilis sta Sit tibi lucerna lux lex pellisque paterna A manibus reseces munus ab aure preces In English Thou Iudge that sittest in this seate firmely sit therein And for thy light take thou the light the lawe and fathers skin Superfluous bribes cut from thy ruling hand And in thy eares let no intreatie stand I néede not inlarge this Chapter with the positiue
commanded Robert Earle of Flaunders to destroy with fire swoord the territories of Lueck and Camericke because the inhabitaunts remained loyall to their soueraigne lord the emperor yea he gaue the imperial crowne with al the iewels of the empire to Henry the 5. son vnto the sayd emperor Henry the 4. herein preuailed so much as he mooued his son to persecute his lord with such horrible and vnnatural malice as after he had miserably sterued him in the prison at Lueck he wold not receaue the Lukeners to grace nor the pope discharge them of excommunication vntil they had vntombed the buried carcas of the emperor had caste the same into the open field as the carrion of a dog This enuious act of Pope Alexander the 3. is no lesse notorious who after manye excommunications curses arrogantly treading vpō the neck of the emperor Fredericke Barborossa vpon the top of the stayres of the great church of S. Marke in Vennis before all the people did vsurp pronounce this saying in this Psalme Super aspicem basilicum equitabis conculcabis leonem draconem That is to say thou shalt ride vpon the lion the Adder the yong lion the dragō thou shalt tread vnder thy foet Pope Clement the 4. for penance inioyned Franciscus Dandalus to creepe a long the Popes pallace vpon his hands knees with a collar about his neck like a dog Pope Alexander the 6. gaue vnto Ferdinando king of Castile motu proprio all the newe Indians which lie vpon the Ocean seas west ward frō Spaine for which gift Artabaliba king of Peru though he cursed fortune for his defeat in battaile by the Spaniards saide that he estéemed not the pope that woulde giue a way to an other that which was none of his owne Leo the 10. offered Frauncis the French king the whol empire of Constantinople but the king giuing him harty thanks refused his gift vnles he would put himin possession therof as he that wisely fore dreaded the fortune of the Dukes of Germany who to conquer the kingdō of Boemia vpon this weake title Pope Paule the 2. by sentence deposed George the right lawful king gaue it vnto the sayd Dukes with this condition that they should goe at their owne proper charges take it perforce in which attēpt who lostaboue 100000. men a horse back a foot yet did preuaile very litle These many other outrages the enuy which this proud byshop bare towards the maiesty royall estates of those emperors kings which refused to giue him soueraigne place with most extremity tirannised vpon thē selues subiects realmes smal is the wonder how he came to this intelligences of forraine princes procéedinges yea to the vnbowelling of the secrets of their harts when the chiefe of their priuy counsels the head rulers of their parliaments the principall ambassadours for matters of common weale by the cunning of this Soule queller vngratious college were Cardinals Archb. bishops other of the cleargy who hauing to doe in the affaires of the common weales of princes so handled the matter as they kept euery Christian king for the most part busied either with enemies at home or abroad the they thereby shoulde haue little leasure to look into the smoth hipocrisie of this wicked pope his shameles brood of shauelings And which is more after that his subtilties had set thē togeather by the eares he so handled the matter the it was reputed vnto him a matter of fatherly loue singular holines to make them friends againe not vnlike to a knauish phisition that superficially poysoned a number of people to get vnto him selfe a name credite by the curing of them againe in the gouerment of princes there could be nothing irreuocably done if he said not Amen And by your leaue what other fruits might grow of the ambitious humors of his proud prelates what wonder is it if they enuied that Dukes Marqueses Earles Barrons all tēporal magistrats should take their places aboue them The seruaunt is priuiledged by the honor of his Maister these temporall estates are the seruants of their princes and the emperors them selues are the Popes inferiours ergo the Popes sworne seruauntes are more worthy then the Emperours subiects a good argument for sooth where the maior is false the minor foolishe and the conclusion the scourge of common weales Well according to the Prouerb as the olde Cocke croweth the young Cocke followeth that the Pope will haue Emperours and Kinges his inferiours in aduauntage of that which is reported Pope Gregory the seuenth suffered the Emperour Henry the fourth in the dead of wynter to stand thrée daies bare headed and bare foot at the gates of Gamisen while he passed the time in daliaunce with the Dutchesse Matildes and would not vouchsafe to loke vpon him vntill the Dutchesse of a more generous disposition made intercession for the receauing of the Emperour yea to shew them seruauntes rather then inferiour companions when the Pope is determined to ride a horse backe the Emperour or king present must hold his styrrop when the Pope will be carried in a chayre the Emperour or king present is bound to bow downe his necke to take vp the chayre vpon his shoulders The emperour or king present at diner must giue the Pope water and waite till the first course be serued To this seruitude the Pope brought mighty Princes and to bondages more thē sufferable his prelates inthralled right noble Péeres yea too tedious would be the particulars of this vipers his venemous broodes procéedings in their tyrannies wold instruct the tormenters of hel in vengeance with whom Sic volo sic iubeo stet pro ratione voluntas So I will so I commaund For lawe let my pleasure stand What féend may be more gracelesse then this hipocrite or people so miserable as those subiected to his power when the law of God is no brydle to hold him from tiranny nor the law of man a shield for the others safetye who besides the daylye example of his workes by the warranties of his Bull which followeth sheweth a will to violate either Non obstantibus constitutionibus ordinationibus apostolicis caeterisque contrariis quibuscunque In English thus notwithstanding all constitutions ordinances apostolicall nor any other thing what so euer here vnto contrarye mary sir it is no maruaile although he take vpon him to bee a God a Creator a disposer in heauen earth and hell as many substantiall Doctors woulde prooue him that will vndertake to ouerrule the ordinances of God and institutions of men A king which is the most soueraigne title that euer God gaue vnto man is bound vnto the law vnlesse he be a tyraunt that is obeyed for feare yet ruling liues neuer out of feare With this preposterous corse of the Pope agréeth the pleasant answer of a good Abbot who being
blesse with you be peace and loue Christ thus the wicked Iewes doth curse peace shall from you remoue Christ is the authour of all peace the sacred word doth say day Christ will haue peace throughout the world against the iudgement Much more may be said although no man can say ynough in the commendation of peace saue such as haue felt the worst vengeance of warre for as Cicero sayeth the goodnesse of a thing is knowne by the depriuement thereof If our neighbours harmes may make vs héedfull or our owne prosperitie make vs thankefull to God true to her Maiesty and obedient to her graue Ministers of publike benefite we may beholde our countrey as a beautifull Towre on euery side enuironed with a consuming fire and yet miraculously preserued from the least vengeance thereof But experience teacheth that examples of miserie moueth many times coÌ„miseration in the beholders but seldome impresseth any déepe sorrow in theyr harts The Romaines many yeares saw the bloody vengeances of war inflicted vpon sundry kingdoms yea many times sorrowed to sée their owne conquests When Pompeyus was murthered his enemy Caesar shed teares vpon his head and Alexander gaue the mighty Darius a royall funerall Which compassion may be more properly tearmed a motion of pitie than any worke of charitie for they still followed the fortune of warre without consideration of the pretious blessings of peace But when the stout Romaines whose couetousnes of rule the whole world could not glut by ciuill and most pernicious factions in the triumuirate of Cesar Crassus and Pompeius and afterward in the triumuirate of Octauius Anthonius and Lepidus felt in their owne bowels the scalding furie of war when they saw the fathers throte a sheath for the sonnes sword when the mother beheld the rauishment of hir daughter and the sister mingled teares with hir brothers blood when the Senate house was no Sanctuary for Cesar nor Pater patriae a protection for Cicero when the fountaines were turned from the Cities and the chanels flowed with the best burgesses blood when the faire buildings were fired by the houshold seruant and the rascally maysters of the richest merchants goods wheÌ„ Iustice was painted without a mouth and oppression with a hundred hands when law gaue place to launces and Orators to the braying of horsses when vnciuill souldiers iudged Senators and the nobilitie were suppliants vnto the vnconstant multitude when religion was mispraised youth ill instructed gray heares vnreuerenced discipline vnused a famine with vertue and nothing publike but disorder when the vineyards lay vnordered vnprofitable briers ouerran the fruitefull fieldes wheÌ„ the plow was laid in fire and fire hurled into the husband mans barne I say when these proude Romaines beheld in their owne cities these hauocks of diuine and humane blessings they were in tymes past neuer so forward souldiers in following of war as they were now humble suters for peace they neuer attributed so much honor to Cesar for conquering of kingdoms as they gaue reuereÌ„ce to Octauian for determining of the ciuil broiles In perpetuall remembrance of Octauian they added to hys name Augustus and decréed that all the following Emperors should be called Augusti and after death both Augustus and the good Emperors succéeding in most solemne manner they deifyed and placed among the number of their Gods The great Cane of Cathaya is so called in honor remembrance of their first Emperour Chanius who being aged the meanest and poorest of the seauen linadges which gouerned or rather tirannized the prouinces of this Empire as the historie saith by the reuealement of a white Knight tooke knowledge that the wil of God was that he should be Emperour peace-maker of and among the seauen linadges vpon which comfort and the faithfull obedience of the people he obtained this blessed conquest The mightie Emperour of Aethiopia is called Preter Iohn and in their language beldugian which signifieth ioy and power only in remembrance of one of his auncestors who notwithstanding he was the soueraigne of seuenty Kings yet he established peace through his whole Empire These glorious monuments remaine of peacemakers are like to liue vntill the world end when the violeÌ„ce of death the vnconstancy of fortune and iniurie of time haue enterred the haughtiest conquerors returned back their conquests and of their huge colonies haue left no signe at all But so setled are the vertues of peacemakers and so precious are the blessings of peace as these heathen that had no other guide than naturall reason annexed their good Princes names vnto the honour of the crowne as men that hoped the name would make the vertue her editorie or at the least instruct succéeding Princes of the worthinesse of their auncestours And questionlesse men are greatly incouraged to weldoing when good demerites are fully rewarded and good mens liues are faithfully registred For albeit the soule of man traueileth without a guyd to bring foorth that which is good yet in as much as the corruption of fleshe is néerer our sensible motions the deuine workes of the soule are darkned as is the brightnesse of the Sunne by the Moone the most inferiour Planet being opposite betwéen the same the earth and therefore to helpe our infirmitie next vnto the sacred scriptures the histories of time are the moste visible lights to shew vs the way to happines where the names of good men liue which taketh away a great part of our feare to dye And truely if for the worthines of some one king of that name the Aegiptian kinges were called Pharaoes the Bethinian Ptholomies the Albian Siluies the Romane emperours Augustes the Ethiopian Preter Iohn the Cataian the great Caan by farre larger warrant the Englishe kinges ought to be called Henries For of 8. Kings named Henrie sithens the conquest cronicles coÌ„demne no one of theÌ„ to be irreligious notably wicked or tirannous oppressors of their subiâ—…s but as images and patterns of kinglye magnanimitie of wâ—…nderfull prowesse of peaceable gouernment and of many other deuine and heroicall vertues euerye of them hath left a rare monument of a noble gracious and good Prince as if by heauenlye prouidence an especiall blessing had béene ioyned vnto the name of Henry But albeit the heathen ceremonially thus named their Princes as the Cardinall of Rome doe newe christen their Popes yet true Christians estéeme of this adoption as of the image of Iesus engraued in a wodden crosse which is as full of holinesse as a painted fire of heat and both a like The fayrest tree that beareth no fruite is fit for the fire and the best named Christian without the exercise of christianitie is méet for hell So that I alleadge the examples of these worthy persons as instructions for their posteritye and attribute no greater honor vnto them then that they were the ministers of Gods goodnes and mercy of peace and prosperity to their subiects which are the greatest
saith He layeth him downe in peace for he knoweth the Lord will make him dwell in safetie CHAP. 2. Of the hye calling of the Nobilitie the worthines of theyr seruice in the common wealth as also the generall miserie that followeth their disloyaltie THere néedeth no other authoritie to approoue the hye calling of the Nobilitie then the iudgement of our owne eyes In matters that concerne not publike disturbance or manifest breach of the lawe they are not called to so sharpe a reckoning as inferior subiects No proces at the common lawe vnles in matters of the Crowne can charge the person from the degrée of a Baron vpwards the reason is the law alwaies intendeth them to be actually in the seruice of their prince and countrey and therefore necessarie that their persons be frée from particular arrests yet for that right may be administred to all persons no man is created a Baron vnlesse he may dispend a thousand markes by the yéere which shall be lyable to hys debts of record vnlesse in some speciall cases Uertue which laboreth to crowne her disciples with honor hath authorised the absolute Prince to raise the meanest subiect to the highest degrée of subiects neither ought the auntient Nobility to enuie the rising of an inferior subiect that well deserueth when the originall of their owne honor was by the like creation for Dukes Marquises Earles Uicounts and Barons haue their beginning by creation through the vertue and good seruice of those whome the Prince holdeth worthie of such honor and for their worthinesse the same is hereditorie at the least in their heire males which honor neither for pouertie or any trespasse vnder the degrée of felonie they can forfaite their very names of honor declare that they are created for the great strength and necessarie seruice of the common wealth Dux a Duke signifieth a Captaine a chiefetaine and principall doer the Uerbe Duco hath many honorable significations as to leade to gouerne to allure to iudge c. Comes an Earle signifieth in effect imitation as Patriae laudis comites followers of their fathers vertue and renowne Our English word Baron is taken from this worde Barus which signifieth an Elephant or of Barro a strong man he is created to be a man of chosen strength and defence vnto his prince and countrey These personadges are girded alwaies with a sword to testifie that their office is to withstande the forraine and domesticke enimie Their seruice is so necessarie as regall pollicie hath thought it conuenient to honor the eldest sonne with the fathers dignitie that as the generall lawe possesseth him with his fathers lands so through a desire to further aduance his house this speciall fauour may worke in him his fathers vertues Noble men are for the most part their princes Lieutenants in the seuerall counties and prouinces of their Realmes and therefore the heroycall vertues specified in the former Chapter are requisite in a noble man by their offices they are the leaders and the rulers of the common people whose natures are to runne headlong with a snaffle and to go neuer a whit with a sharpe bridle they haue no skill and lesse can away with the lordly lookes gentle vsadge winneth them to loue and discret correction driueth them to obeie one hastie word or prowde countenance setleth more hatred among the multitude then the hanging of tenne men by a temperate iudgement it is therefore requisite sayeth the graue Counseller Sir Anthonie de Gueuarra that the Rulers of the multitude be wise to fynde theyr variable humors patient to beare their vnciuill behauiors temperate to punish their offences and diligent to prayse theyr good demerites for if they be gouerned with libertie without chastisement they will soone grow insolent and againe if with seueritie without gentlenesse theyr mallice will be incurable The common people are so diuers to please As when Demosthenes was banished by the people of Athens in his departure he turned towards the Citie and made this exclamation O Pallas how is it possible that thou bearest such loue vnto these thrée beastes the night Owle the Dragon and the common people if I had knowne the enuie the feare the false reportes and vniust accusations that they must susteine that gouerne the vnciuill multitude if of two I must néedes haue done the one I would sooner haue broken my necke then haue had to do in the common wealth of Athens Besides this wisedome in gouerment a speciall valiantnesse is required in a noble man and thrée encouragements he hath to be resolute the first is his forwardnesse maketh the whole army to followe the second is he is honored with the whole glorie of the victorie and the last which is more sharpe then death the shame of a cowardlie ouerthrowe principallie reprocheth the chiefe leader the feare of thys made Caesar desperately to runne vppon the fierce Neruij and by this little care of life he recouered an honorable victorie euen when the Romaines were at the poynt to runne awaie I might adde infinite of the lyke examples but to a néedelesse purpose for that the greatest parte of the Nobilitie are naturallye valiant in so muche as Ferdinando the prudente Kyng of Arragon woulde vsuallye saye if Ambition and Enuie were as frée from the Nobilitie as cowardlinesse Princes shoulde bée quiet at home and fortunate abroade Those two are in déede the woorst humors in the Nobilitie and the mortallest pestilence in a Common wealth Ambition and Enuie of the Nobilitie soone arme the common people to Rebellion whose ciuill frayes fyll the graue farre faster then the hoatest plague The Athenians had no other pollicie to withstande these venemous passions but by a Lawe called Ostracisme at the choise of the people yéerely to banishe one of theyr principall Noble men for tenne yeares by thys meanes they thought to kéepe vnder the Ambition and Enuie of the Nobilitie but the fondnesse of the people made this lawe a scourge for the vertuous and a ladder for the vitious for the ingratefull people banished Themistocles the valiant Aristides the iust and Symon the most renowmed and suffered the base Hiperbolus and others of the lyke condition to steppe into theyr places vntill they had displaced all good order The Athenians as the wisest of men wyll sometimes erre were ouerséene in priuiledging the common people with thys waightye iudgemente who loue they wote not what and hate they wote not why The generall Lawe of Nations is farre more indifferente whiche measureth vnto euerie man his desart Those whome vertue maketh worthie let them enioye honor vppon honor and those that bée disloyall Traytors there can bée no punishmente seueare ynough to bée inflicted vppon them It is thought good by generall pollicie that the honor and reputation of Traytours shoulde bée corrupted in theyr posteritie who render no more vnto theyr prince to punishe their treasons then the prince gaue their Auncesters to reward their good
seruices The prince created theyr Auncesters Earles Barons or as their callings are and for their vertues suffered the honor to descend vnto their heires then they that will worke Treason and forget God the kindnesse of their Prince the vertues of their Parents and loue to theyr Countrey it is not ynough that they themselues die the death but the Emperour Vespasian in a letter to his sonne Titus sayeth the sonne of such a Traytor ought not to lyue God thought no temporall punishment sufficient to chasten the rebellion of Corath Dathan and Abiram he caused the earth to open her mouth and to swallow them vp and their houses and all the men that were with Corath and all theyr goodes and they and all that they had went downe alyue vnto Hell these be the words of the text and certainely the vengeance of God continually raigneth vppon Traytors Chronicles make mention of millions of Treasons that haue béene punished and of a few that haue had successe Almost in euerie nation most of the auncient Nobilitie are eaten vp with Treason and noui homines as the Romaines tearme them occupie their places through vertue The learned Gentleman Mayster Morrisine in his inuectiue against Treason sayeth that the Treasons of great men ought to be set foorth in theyr colours because that blood is distained in Treason he might also haue added because a great deale of giltlesse blood is shead through theyr Treasons I haue in other places sufficiently showne the falles of Traitors and therefore to withstand the temptation of ambition and enuie the enemies of theyr Countreys peace and prosperitie and vtter ouerthrowe of themselues and familie this discouery with praier for the assistance of Gods spirit may suffice CHAP. 3. Of the reuerende calling of the Cleargie the holinesse that is required in theyr liues and the lamentable miseries that proceede of disvnion in Religion BOth among the Iewes and Gentiles and generallye through the whole worlde from the beginning vnto this day the chiefe Priests Bishops and generally the professors of Religion were much reuerenced and in hye estimation among the people The office of Aaron the Priest was of such credite among the Iewes as enuie and desire to occupie the roome was the principall cause of the Rebellion of Corath Dathan and Abyram yea Gods owne words greatly honored Aarons Priesthood when he sayd The sonnes of Leuy should waight vpon him and the Tabernacle Among the Heathen Romaines the office of the chiefe Byshop was of such account as Iulius Caesar when he began to aspire only laboured for that dignitie And yet before the ambitious climing of the Pope Chronicles make no mention that they were the head rulers of any gouerment Among the Iewes the Prophets were priuiledged to reprehende the faultes of the Prince but both the Prophets and Priestes were subiect vnto the sword and commaundemente of the Prince King Iehoas appoynted Iehoiada the Bishop and the Priestes how they shoulde imploy the money that was brought into the house of the Lord and when they fulfylled not hys commandement he sharpely reprehended them Iehu put all the Priestes of Baal to the sworde The Emperour Tyberius put the Priests of the Idoll Anubis to the sworde because they were the instruments for the wanton Knight Mundus to commit adultrey by theyr deceipt with the chaste Romaine Ladie Paulina Yea from the beginning and to be short at thys daye it can not be denyed but that the reuerence which is giuen vnto the Cleargie is due vnto theyr profession and not vnto theyr person and when theyr pompe was at the highest the greatest Archbishop that offended in treason had the tryall of a common subiect Since then the holinesse of theyr profession priuiledgeth the Cleargie to reprooue the faultes of Princes and giueth them place among the chiefe Pieres they are bound and holie Scripture commandeth them to glorifie God with theyr holie lyues that theyr holy words may the better edifie men Sainct Paule setting downe the office of a Bishop and in that dignitie containeth the duetie of the whole Cleargie sayeth that he must be blamelesse and so goeth on with many honest vertues which are well knowne and I pray God they may be as well followed of the Cleargie Sainct Peter commandeth them to be of so honest conuersation among the Gentiles that where as they backbited them as euill doers they might sée their good workes and praise God in the day of visitation A great many that would faine haue an excuse for wickednes say that the word of God is the life of the soule and not the works of the Preacher so that if the doctrine be pure it skilleth not if the Diuell preach the same The word I graunt remaineth pure but the working will be to little purpose if it be deliuered by such a Minister for the holy Ghost loueth not to accompanie the Diuell I hope this small note shall worke no offence whiche is not meant to instruct the Cleargie which amply knowe theyr dutyes but reuerently to shewe theyr error that are forgetfull of theyr duties King Phillip of Macedon helde no skorne to be dayly remembred by a Page of his chamber that he was a mortall man Pope Sixtus the fourth that vaunted how he passed Sainct Peter bécause he had golde siluer and pretious stones was not wroath with the beggerlie Frier that aunswered hym he lacked notwithstanding much of Sainct Peters holynesse for hée coulde not saie vnto the lame and impotent arise and walke and certainely although the Pope were bluntly crossed yet he was thereby charitably counselled to labour rather to become holie then riche whiche is a speciall dutie in the Cleargie for by theyr godlinesse they please God and instruct men when by the abuse of riches they may dishonor the one and be an euill example to the other With this admonition of the Frier the blowe that a Countrey peisant gaue the Archbishop of Cullen ought to be as patiently receiued of the Cleargie as the holâ—…e tale of the saluage Mylo was of the Senate of Rome Upon a daye as the Archbyshop trauelled accompanied according to the custome of Germanie with an armed troupe a Countrey fellow encountred hym with a rude laughter whiche the Archbishop noting demaunded what mooued him to laugh so the fellowe aunswered to sée Sainct Peter prince of the Prelates who lyued and dyed poorely to leaue suche wonderfull pompe and riches to hys successors the Archbishop that was a little galled to excuse himselfe said my friends I goe with thys companie because I am a Duke as well as a Byshop wherevppon the loute doubled his laughter and boldly sayde my Lord I beséech you if the Duke which you speake of were in Hell where shoulde then be the Archbishop as who woulde haue sayde that two professions become not one man for sinning in the one he cannot be iustified by the other King Richard the first laughed when he had
at Magonce commaunded the Archbishop before them and so partially heard the matter but the one gaue sentence against him by meanes whereof he was depriued of his dignitie and Arnold who had solde him as Iudas did our sauiour Christ was placed in his place this iudgement being pronounced the Archbishop Henrie there present deliuered these words God knoweth that I am vniustly condemned neuerthelesse I haue little care to appeale from your sentence for that you shal be sooner beléeued in your leasings than I in deliuering of the truth for this cause I receiue your iudgement before the iust and eternall Iudge which is Iesus Christ before whom I adiorne you The Iudges hearing the same began to smile and bad him go before and they would follow after This sentence was giuen in the yeare of our Lord a thousand one hundred fifty sixe The Archbishop thus depriued sustained his iniurie with great patience and liued the residue of his life in a Monasterie to conclude God would not suffer this wickednesse vnpunished to the ende that the innocencie of the iust might bée knowne one yeare and a halfe afterwards Henry died in his Monestarie and as it is to be hoped mounted into the glorie he so desired The newes of his death being come to Rome the two Cardinals vppon a day being mearie together saide that they failed to finde the Archbishop Henrie but within few dayes after the one of the two was so soundly strocken by one of his owne people that his intrailes issued out at his fundament and so miserablie dyed The other grinding of his téeth and tearing and eating his hands dyed mad Touching Arnold for his cruelties and seditions which he intertained among the people he was so much hated that one day being set in a Monestarie hée was slaine and after left thrée dayes among the diches of the Citie where all the people men and women exercised vppon his bodie all the cruelties that might be possiblie inuented Who so that is curious of more examples touching Gods seuere punishments inflicted vppon partiall iudges next vnto the sacred Byble let him search the Actes and Monuments of the Church collected by the reuerent deuine M. Iohn Fox and he shal be liberally and profitably satisfied and so I end this Chapter CHAP. 5. Of the worthy reputation of the Iustisers whom we commonly call Iustices of Peace and of the publike benefite of their seruice being duely administred THere néede no other demonstration to shew the worthinesse of their calling that are Iustisers of Peace then the signification of their office distribution or administration of the right pretious blessing Peace They are numbred among the eight beatitudes that are peacemakers For they shal be called the children of God The greatest peare of England taketh not scorne of the office yea by statute is chosen for that seruice and to the intent that necessitie in such as lack liuing may be no cause of iniustice it is prouided that no person that cannot dispend xx pound land by the yeare shal be a Iustiser of Peace vnlesse they be certain celected men Barrators and men of euill name shall not be assigned Iusticers of Peace Trespasses committed and specified in the greatest part of the penal lawes are committed to their examination and determination M. Lambeard and others haue written learnedly and largely of the administration of this office according to Law but much moreouer may be said of the administration thereof according to Christian charitie and Iustice The diligence of the Iusticers of Peace is of power to kéepe the Iudges idle in Westminster Hall and the plow to be alwayes occupied in the Countrie the true administration of Peace is as well to appease the discords of neighbors as to aprehend felons and euill liuers All controuersies in Law grow either of violent oppression stubborne mallice or manifest folly if the sute procéede of violent oppression what oppressor will be so cruell as to withstand the good mediation of these maiestrates who for the most part are the principall men of the sheare if of stubborne mallice the accord that they shall make wil be farre more godly and profitable than the agréement of the Law for Law for the most part endeth controuersies and increaseth mallice when a friendly agréement determineth both and if the matter be of light reckoning it wil grow to a hauie charge in Law which a peaceable mediation would charitablie end Almost there is no matter tried by law without this censure It is pittie it was not ended by friends and truely in Christian equitie this pittie is a blame in the Iustisers of Peace that they wil not looke into the discorde of neighbours which is a breach of Christian Peace and labour to accord them which is a point of their duetie The Right noble Lord Francis late Earle of Bedford whose life and death is a myrrour of true honour and Christian nobility when he liued in the westerne parts in short time so abredged the number of Nysi prius as the Lawers murmured against his Charitie but so honorable was the slaunder as I may with charitie wish that the example generally through England would begger their facultie The Reuerend Iudge the late Lord Dyer would vsually say if there came any controuersies of poore men to be tried at the assises that the parties were wilfull or their neighbors without charitie because their sutes were not quietly ended I heard a question once moued what was the cause that there were so many bad Lawiers which was presently answered because there were so few good preachers In déede although most ministers will generally speake against discord of nighbors in the Church few of them do trauell to bring peace vnto their houses their godly perswasions no doubt may profite with the honester sort but the credite and authoritie of the other Maiestrate will preuaile against the most obstinate wrangler I know in Bedfordshire and in some other places that once a wéeke sundrie of the principall maiestrates and of the chiefe deuines méete the one to instruct the people in the rules of Christianitie and the other to appease the controuersies of neighbours If the example were generall this generall benefite would follow the oppressor would forbeare to doe iniurie for feare of shame and the oppressed shoulds haue ease without expence of money I am bound reuerently to confesse that the honour and mercie of the Chancery Law is a fountaine of compassion and sucker for oppressed suppliants but the court is so pestered with iniuries as common course kéepeth a man néere hand foure yeares from iuditiall hearing in which space as the tale goeth of a condemned man that vndertooke within tenne yeares to make a Tyrants Ape to speake vppon this hope that before the time were expired the Tyrant the Ape or himselfe might haply die so the opressor hopeth by the complainants expence toile and lacke of friends in such a lingring sute
112. Psalm 9. 1580. Don Iohn dyed 1580. Portugall inuaded by the king of Spaine 1579 Iames Fitzmoris slaine 1580 The reioycing of the English fugitiues vpon newes of the Spaniards arâ—…uall all c. Ioseph de bâ—… Iud. Italians c. pâ—…t to the sword The Earle of Desmond Doctor Sanders Sir Iohn of Desmond A monster in Yorkeâ—…hire Of the execution of Iustice c Disposicion of the multitude Difference betweene the Apostles and the Iesuites Act. 14. 16 23. Actes 23. Exod. 22. Looke in the book called the Execution of Iustice. c. Iob. 18. Cicero â—…se lib. 5. 1579 Treason of Quintianus discouered Sceuinus discouered October 1536 February 3. Aprill 1537 1538 Lysimachus dog Hieroes dog A Romaine dog The villanous nature of ambition and 〈◊〉 Ianuary 1538 1549 Frogmortoâ—… Treason 3. Reg. 19. Daniel 6. Iosue 5. Iud. 13. Daniel 3. Plut. lib. de orat Plut. de mor. de verit de reb Christ. 17. Hero in Cat. â—…ust 〈◊〉 Pet. Pemist in vâ—… Greg. 7. 〈◊〉 2. Rom. 13. Prou. 8. VVisd 6. Psal. 144. Rom. 1â—… It is not lawfull to resist a tyrant Toâ—… 〈◊〉 tot sententâ—…ae Monarchia the most worthy gouernement Eccles 10. Pont. de princ Plut. de vâ—… Ces. Pet. mes de reb mend lib. 4. Pet. Mes. lib. 4. Chron. 2. 1. Aul. Gel. lib. 15. 3. Plut. de viâ—… Alex. Fâ—…les â—…0 Daniel 5. Ant. Verd. lib. 4 A worthy example for princes Tyrants ouer the Iewes Abimelech Saul Athalia Reg. 4. 11. 2. Chro. 22. 23. Achas Ieroboam Nadab Reg. 3. 15. Baasa Reg. 3. 16. Zamri Reg. 3. 16. Achab. Iesabell Ocozias Reg. 3. 21. 22. Reg. 4. 9. 10. 11 Zacharia Sellum Pekahia Pekah Hoseas Reg. 4. 15. 17. Tyrants of Asiria Iust. lib. 1â—… Senacherib Reg. 4. 19. Tyrants of Aegypt Ptholomy the thunder bolt Pthol Philop. Pthol Phiscon Pthol Lami. Pthol Auletus Pthol Dionis Tyrants of Persia. Cyrus Cambises Xerxes Ochus Vide. Tyrants of Bithinia Nicocrates Leander Zela c. Aristotimus Phraates Bucratides Archias Tyrants of Sicilie Cic. de tusc. lib. 5. Psalme 4. Sir Thomas Smith de repub Angl. Cooper Dict. Callâ—…pin Dispositions of the people Plutarke de vit Caesar. The Lavve of Ostracisme Ioseph de bel Iud. Nomb. 16. Nomb. 16. 18. Pluâ—… de viâ—… Câ—… Reg. 4. 12. Reg. 4. 10. Antâ—…rd lib. 4. 8. 1. Tim. 3. Pet. 〈◊〉 2. Fabâ—… Chro. Exod. 18. Psal. 8â—… Offic. 〈◊〉 Lampr. de viâ—… Alexand. A vvorthy law in Calcydone Iohan. de proym de sum predi 20. R. 2. 3. 8. R. 2. 2. 33. H. S. 24. 9. H. 3. 29. 14. Ed. 3. 14. Psal. 82. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Genes 6. Amos. 〈◊〉 Daniel 13. Pet. mes de cho â—…emo Gont. de vit Fred. 1. 〈◊〉 E. 3. 16. 18. H. 6. 11. 〈◊〉 E. 3. 16. The godly example of the late Earle of Bedford Saying of the Lord Dyer A question A charitable exercise Honour of the Chancery Law 18. H. 6. 11. Fort. sol 11. Tit. 〈◊〉 lib 〈◊〉 Fol. 8. Cic. pro Archia Poeta Sir Thom. Sâ—… 〈◊〉 de repub angloâ—… A gratious pollicie abused Iudges 9. Ierom. 27. Reuel 2. Profane examples of Atheists punished Pausan. lib. 9. Aeneyd 6. Antho. Verd de diui lect 173. Iustin. lib. 1. Aul. gel lib. 3 cap. 9. Reue. cap. 9. Psal. 14. Psal. 5â—… Prouerbs 30. Dutyes due to God Vertues of a good Prince Homadge of subiectes Dutyes of Iudges Obedience of the inferiours Offices of a friend Conscience of Landlords Dutyes of Tenants Claime of neyghberhood Charge of Parents Obedience of Children Office of Maysters Dutie of Seruants VVarning for yong men Vertues in a Vâ—…rgen Rules for the riche Item for the poore Counsell for Citizens Target for Soldyers Caueat for Atheists Conclusion to the Cleargie