the crovvn to the right heires I haue sent you the copy of the saÌ„e will bâ—cause ye may know perfectly that she shall neuer bee able to restore the crown again to the right heires Then seing the Quene and all your lordships doe knowe assuredly before hand that she shal neuer be able to make recompence in restoringe the crowne againe to the right heires and yet will presume to doe suche wrong as vnlawfullye to take it from theÌ„ ye must nedes grauÌ„t and beleue it truely that not onelye the Quene but also your lordeships if ye resist not this wickednes and al other that help her or geue her such cursed counsell may be sure for such deuilishe presumpcion to goe to the deuil and be damned withoute mercye For Christ hath iudged youre doinges before hande saying whosoeuer sinneth againste the spirite shall neuer be forgeuen in this world nor in the world to coÌ„e Do ye not know my lordes that ther was neuer traitor against king or Quene that colde loÌ„g prosper wil your lordships sek the destructioÌ„ of the queÌ„e the hole realme think to lyue prosperously afterwards wil ye be false traitors to the Quene al your own couÌ„trey think to be put in trust made meÌ„ of great power in straunge contries There is no man at this present that thinketh any treason to remaine in ani of the queÌ„s most honorable couÌ„sel but surely if ye crown king Philippe though ye could doe it by a iust law or if ye receue him in with disceitfulnes guile aide fraude or subtiltie to destroie the lande vndoubtedlye all the world will accoumpt you rancke traitors and the very Spaniardes theÌ„selues durst neuer reste in quietnesse till it were rewarded accordingli â—il ye crowne the king to make him liue chast with his wife contrary to his nature peraduenture his maiestie after he â—ere crowned would be content with one woman but in this meane time his grace wil euery night haue v. or vi to see whiche of them pleaseth him best If thei wer ladies or geÌ„tle wemen it were more tolerable but bakers daughters and such other poore whores is to abominable In Antwerp before shroftide ther werâ— as there be many at thys present certeine merchauntes which had verye faire wiues whom the king cold not haue priuely But hearyng by chaunce of spyes that some of the same wiues wer vpon a night with their neyghbours wife to helpe her in her trauel or laboure of childe the kinge with certaine other wente masking the therin womans apparell and the kinges maiestie as all Spaniardes reported for a greate honore helde the wiues backe till she had brought forth her childe But what was wrought amongest the middwiues afterwardes lette other men iudge for I had not knoweÌ„ this but that all Spaniards bragged of it themselues that we mighte reioyce to haue for our king in EnglaÌ„d suche a stowte bolde and myghtye prince as durst maske amoÌ„g wemen and plaie the midwife at midnight I could not for shame write this but that I thinke the Quenes highnesse hath heard tel how sharpeli the goâ—d bishoppe of Castila was checked because he desired the king to kepe him selfe for his wife and told him it was not lawful for him to liue in such lothsoÌ„e lechery The notable sermoÌ„ that this good bishoppe made though he lost his rochet for speaking agaynste lechery and such other vices is talked of so much throughout al these parties that I am sure this tale caÌ„not be hidden I write his name because the Quenes highnes is bounde to geue him thankes and rewarde him wyth another bishoprick that would put himselfe in such daunger of trouble to cause the king her graces husband to loue her But know ye their reportes they saye the good bakers daughter is more worth in her goun then Quene Mary without her crouÌ„ God witnesseth with me that it greueth my hart sore to heare such vile reportes and so vnlike similitudâ—s They say olde wiues muste be cherished for their yong riche giftes For old wiues say they for faire wordes and a litle craftie cuckering wil geue al that they haue but how they be vsed afterwardes let the Quenes Ladies and gentill wemen discusse If the king do so much esteme his wife in these dayes when he seketh to obtaine by her honor and great commodite after what sorte will he vse her highnesse when he hath obtained his purpose doth the Quenes grace thiÌ„k to cause the kynges maiestie still to remaine in Englande with geuynge him the crown No I assure you plaiÌ„ly and perfectlye the counsell of Spaines purpose is to establyshe other matters they haue determyned and agreed amonge themselues to a poynte a viceroye with a greate armye of dronken douche men with diuers other souldiers And that the lord Paget knoweth by the false flatteryng words whych I heard the Emperour speake before him to the kiÌ„g the xv day of Aprill biddinge the king make much of that man for he was worthy to be cherished promising to make him the greatest man in Englandâ— to kepe vs in subieccioÌ„ as I haue tolde you before and lette the Quens highnes liue at her bedes like a good auncient Ladie Ye se the further I goe and the more I write the greater euils I find â–ª but I promes you assuredlye â—f I shoulde write so muche of their viciousnes as I know most perfectly the ladies and gentell wemen woulde be muche ashamed VVoulde to god the honorable ladies of Englande knewe the vile reportes which Spaniardes haue reported by them for then I assure you the good Ladies would not loue to kisse so pleasauntlye and so many times with straungers nor to receue and sende into Flaunders so many milke mouthed messengers and moste vntrewe taletellers nor receue send so many tokens with so louing and humble coÌ„mendacions to their most louing or rather most dissemblynge Spaniardes in whom lyeth all their loue all their hope all their trust and confidence Oh moste abominable whores for I speake of no good Ladies were ye borne in Englande do ye liue in Englande haue EnglishmeÌ„ kept you all this long tyme doe Englishe men put all their trust in youre honesty because ye shoulde be Spaniards whores â–ª and leauing your own naturall husbandes and frendes putte all your trust all your loue whiche is very littell to those whom ye ought to loue al your hope al your comfort in vile pockie Spaniards If I beyng an englishe man shoulde haue so lytle honesty and tell so many of your names openlye as I haue heard Spaniardes name to bee their whores many of you would lose your freÌ„ds many be banished the courte many be deuorced from their husbands sent to their most trusty and moste louing Spaniardes I would name diuerse of you which within these few days haue sent your messengers whoÌ„ I could also showe and tokens to spaniardes in Flaunders like
To the reader HE that generallie readeth the histories not oneli of the old auncient Philosophers but also of al writers in these daies shal easely perceiue and vnderstand that the most hard and difficill thiÌ„ge of al other is for any mortal man to wythstande the inuincible force of nature who as we see dayly endeuoreth her selfe to the verye houre of death to ouercome mans witte reason and force For althogh we be encouraged earnestlye by our master and sauyoure Chryst with the hope of perpetuall pleasures and the perfyte beliefe of euerlastinge lyfe to leaue these vayne folyshe and most vncerteine desiers or delectacions of thys most wretched world and boldely without feare to passe through the ports of death out of this vile caducke and most transytorye life yet ye see that nature is of such a mightie power in her moste ouerthwart operacions that al manlines all force strength power riches honor wisdome and knowledge not with standing she compelleth all meÌ„ generallye to feare death to resiste death and to flye from that porte througâ— the whiche we should passe to euerlasting life and eternall felicite I meane that like as nature forceably compelleth vs contrarye to all reason to resiste death for the vtter moste of oure power when by no meanes we can escape or flie from it Euen so nature coÌ„pelleth me being an Englishe maÌ„ for the natural loue which I beare towardes my countrye to take vpon me contrary to al wisedome if I would seke mine own priuate safetye to declare the nature of spaniardes ct discouer their most vile and detestable treasons whiche by no meanes I can deuise to expres plaiÌ„ly or to bryng to any perfect end and good order because their moste cursed condicions be so vncerteyne and notable But although I can not expresse my maters either wittelye eloquently or learnedlye yet I shall desier thee moste geÌ„tile reader al rethoricall writinge and eloquent stile layde a parte to haue an earnest respecte to the perfecte grounde of the matter whiche is either the preseruacion or destruction of the whole realme The preseruacioÌ„ of the land if all Englishe men wil loue charitably faithfully truly and Iustly together and euery one from the hyghest degree to the loweste seke as we ar most bounden stoutly boldelye and iustly to defende his natiue countri and without feare manfully to wyth stande and resist the fallible force of our enemyes The destructioÌ„ of our most noble kingedome if one part of our nobilite and commons doe resist another and treaterousli receaue our enemyes assist them aide them or maintaine them if ye suffer them to carye youre treasure oute of the lande as they haue done very muche lately if ye permit them to inhabite or plant themselues strongly within youre coastes holdes or hauen â—ownes if ye beleue false promyses if ye wil be disceaued wyth greate giftes or beggerly bribes if any ambicion blinde your eies And finally if there fall amongest Englishe men dissension strife treason sedicion or rebellion the whole realme shalbe destroyed and all englyshe men brought to perpetuall bondage and slauery yea the first chefe and principall workers of these mischeffes how many so euer they be shall be brought to the most shameful death as thou maiest plainly perceiue in reding this letter that foloweth In the first parte of the whiche letter thou shalt finde suche examples as if thou diligentlye peruse and folowe according to my exhortacion and doctrine thou shalt finde out easely a million and moe mischeues touchynge the vile nature of Spaniardes then I haue plainly expressed in writinge In the seconde part I haue discouered suche treasons as I founde written in their letters And I declare theyr wordes whereby thou mayest plainly perceaue to what purpose al their flattering promises craftye polices great giftes and large bribes be preteÌ„ted and how it appeareth playnly by their own wordes and letters that they pretende none other thing but only to bryng our countrye vnder their subiectioÌ„ then to bring all our nobilitie to their vtter confusion and destruction Tâ—rdlye I haue showed the orders of tie kiÌ„gs courte the maner of Spaniardes lyuing how they purpose to appointe vs a viceroye and how vilie he shal vse the Quenes maiestye and al the whole realme afterwardes Laste of all I haue showed thee what vilany shame and dishonor they haue reported by the Quenes highnes and her honorable Ladies what honor LondoÌ„e hath wonne in punishing vice and exhorted all men to kepe loue quietnesse peace and tranquillite amongest themselues and when necessite compelleth them to take all wholly one perfect way in defendiÌ„g their countrye withstanding their enemyes whiche exhortacion if englishe men will obserue and kepe puttyng their whole trust in oure Sauioure Christ he will vndoubtedlye defende them that they may be sure to liue quietly in their couÌ„try wythout feare of the malice or cruell tyrannye of all nacions One thinge I haue thought necessary to admonish the in good reder because I am but yonge and a seruyng man continuallye brought vp in seruice without all knowledge or learnyng and am at this present among Spaniardes where I can haue the aduise of no lerned man as thou maiest perceiue by the vnsauery telling of my tale and the rude stile of this my inordinate letter to place my worke in order adorne my matter with apte wordes or fine eloquent frases of rhetorike that thou nother reproue my work thoughe there be many barbarycke wordes and folishe frases ignorantlie placed out of time or good order Nor thinke me parciall because I speake alwaies of Spaniardes vyces without reciting any vertues Nor yet be not offended wyth any folishe reasons which I according to my coÌ„science haue made concernynge our religion But rather thynke trulye that the naturall loue which I beare â—o my natyue country consyderyng all these eminent mischefes whyche â—e at hande and the detestable treaâ—ons whiche at this present be worâ—ing for your destruction coÌ„pelled â—e to sende ouer this rude letter hately without correcting or ameÌ„diÌ„g it and plainly without dissimulacyon â–ª to discouer such treasons as I knew and geue englyshmen warninge spedely lest I should haue come to late when the matter had been past remedy I thought it not nedeful to write of their vertues because they sette out al their vertue to the vttermost themselues when they were laste in Englande so that euery maÌ„ knoweth it perfectly but to showe their hidde vices and treasons whiche few men did vnderstande And for religion I wil not in suche posting spede take vpon me to teache ani doctrine knowing mine own ignoraunce though I haue shewed my rude reasons but therin wil submitte my selfe to the correccion of those which be perfectly learned in scripture confessing this worke not to bee made to confirmeâ— any doctrine most humbly besechiÌ„g thee although many men bee of dyuerse and sundrye iudgementes to iudge the best of this my rude letter â—o
showe your lordeships other matters briefly I could write of the nature of Spaniardes A volume importable But If I should write all that I knowe ye woulde not credite me ye ought to beleue al that whiche I haue writteÌ„ because ye knowe perfectlye I haue written nothing but that whiche euerie man knoweth to be their commen customes and immutable maners And ye see by these exaÌ„ples that I write not halfe the morishe maners whych they vse continually Manye of my frendes haue geuen me couÌ„sel to write my letter but not my name for feare your lordeshippes wold punishe me with imprisoÌ„ment rackiÌ„g hanging drawing and quarteryng for speakyng agaynste the kinges coronacion which I thynke ye cannot doe lawfully for so long as he is not crowned that manne is no traitour that speaketh agaynst his coronacioÌ„ but after his maiestie hath the crown the best of you all that speaketh agaynst the Spaniardes proceadings shalbe proued and ponished lyke a raÌ„cke traitor But I haue written my name plainly that I may thereby eyther geue youre lordeshippes warninge to kepe youre honours the whole realme oute of their bondage Or els that I maye goe honestlye to the galowes and ende this pore life with an honorable death for me my countrye VVhen your most honorable liues if ye disenherit the realme of the crowne shalbe ended with great dishonor wretchednesse miserie and shame for you and your successours for euer yet I wolde hope to escape when you are sure to die For doubteles after that Spaniardes haue safely planted theÌ„selues in the â—ande thei wold trust me to be their faithful freÌ„d because they knowe I â—oue trueth and am trewe to my couÌ„â—rey when thei wil neuer trust your â—ordeshippes if ye wilbe so rancke â—als traitors as to geue theÌ„ the crown of our realme willingly I woulde not your lordshippes should thinke me so foolyshe as to speake agaynst his coronacion if your lordeshippes graunt to it Some men saie ye haue gone so faire ye caÌ„not turne backe I know not what ye haue doÌ„e but I am sure what ye may do if ye haue grauÌ„ted hiÌ„ the crown it shalbe muche better for you to staÌ„d to that which ye may do theÌ„ performe that which ye haue proÌ„ised For I am sure so loÌ„g as the king of IerusaleÌ„ is not crowned in Englande ye may chose whether ye wil crowne him or not And surely if I were worthie to be one of the counsell in Englande my counsel shoulde be that the king should firâ— be crowned in the Citie of Ierusalâ— lawfully because it is the more auncient and more noble kingdome and bring all the Iewes into subiection and make them good Christians before he shoulde haue the crowne oâ— England wrongfullie either for faâ— wordes great bribes false flatterinâ— promises cruell manacinges terriblâ— threatninges or ani other false crafâ— polices I thought your lordeshippes haâ— knowledge partly of their counsel as they reporte that the frenche kinâ— knoweth yours But now I perceiâ— their secrete priuie and conclude counsels lie hidden from your lordshippes when ye know not the 〈◊〉 principles where vpon many greâ— matters be grounded if ye do knowe them and wil not credit them pardoÌ„ me for writing in vaine if ye know them not howe can ye bee offended with me for declaring to your lordeshippes such thinges as be preteÌ„ded to your destruction the losse of your â—iues landes wiues and children and finally the losse of your honors the â—uine of the realme the suppressioÌ„ of â—he commenwealth the bondage of your countrie for euer Ye ought â—he rather to credite me beecause I speake nothing god I call for wytâ—es for malice of Spaniardes nor to â—atter Englishe men I thinke neuer â—o come seke bribes at youre handes â—or my labour and therfore it appeaâ—th plainly that I write for none oâ—er purpose but only to geâ—e youre â—rdeshippes knowledge and warâ—ng of their most morishe maners and cursed condicions that ye maye â—e more prudently prouide to with â—and their terrible threatninges pretensed treasons and pestiferous polices and so preserue youre honorable persons and the whole realme oute of their tiranny and bondage Do ye think I durst be so bolde as to offeÌ„de god in speakinge contrarye to the trueth and lying slaunderousli and shamefullie against my ChristeÌ„ brother I know we are all brethren if we haue the loue and feare of God continually before our eyes in our sauiour Iesus Christ and we oughte to loue one another mutuallye like brethren but as god deuided the langguages of men so hath he caused euery nacion to loue more naturally all those that be borne in the same self country then foreners and hath geuen according to his ineffable goodnes certeine places of the earth for euery nacion seuerally to inhabite coÌ„maunding vs straightly that one of vs shal not wrongfullye couete anothers goodes and specially our Christen brothers which coÌ„maundemeÌ„t the Spaniardes saye they will kepe For whatsoeuer saye they is done in England touching the crown or the gouernaunce of the realme shall coÌ„â— through procuremeÌ„t but of the couÌ„sell themselues For we knowe well enoug h say they that there be suche deuillishe people in EnglaÌ„d to work treason and make insurrections that it is in vaine for oure kinge to haue the crown except the counsell wyll also deliuer him certeine of the strongest holdes and porte townes mark my wordes well for his refuge at all times till his maiestie maye be able to bring in power to withstande his enemies and then we shall make all our hauen townes more stroÌ„ge to the â—andes warde then they be towardes â—he see But know ye for what purpose they pretende this policie that â— small nomber of Souldiours maye â—ee able to keepe the Realme quietly and burne the countreye .iii. or iiii times eueri yere til we can be contented to obey all their constitutions ordinaunces and lawes they bragge that if thei may be vitled by the see at their backes thei shal trouble and toile Englishe men so long til we be able to suffer no longer for what great trouble wil it be for vs to burne betwene SouthhaÌ„pton Douer Thei trust the quenes hignes for the kinges maintenaunce wyll poole the realme with subsidies and beneuoleÌ„cies so much as in her grace lieth and geue al our treasure out of the lande now at the kinges coÌ„ming to her grace so that the kinges maiestie with our treasure and his owne reuenewes in this time of peace shal enriche himselfe that when we haue small force of money because ourâ— treasure shalbe caried out of the laÌ„d the king and all our enemies mai coÌ„â— into the realme and worke mischefe against vs for thei shall haue moneâ— from all places and aide of many nacions And they beleue assuredlie to be aided by the greatest part of oure own countre men For the Quene good men wil take their part against
heretikes thei thinke there bee but fewe noble meÌ„ in Englande but they wil be contented ether by gift of the Quenes highnes or els for greate bribes riche rentes and good giftes to graunt that the king may haue a iustâ—e title to the crown or els receue him in vpon one partye that he may ouercome the other perforce And thei thinke there wilbe but few men against them for at their firste comming thei wil geue suche great gifts and pay mony to poore souldiers so largely liberally and surely that wheÌ„ we haue scante of money poore men wilbe content to serue for their money gentell men and noble men for couetousnes to eÌ„crease their liuings and landes but wott ye to what end â—ll this coÌ„meth Thoughe ye receiue them into the laÌ„d serue vpoÌ„ their part yet dare thei not trust you but ar miÌ„ded to pay you well for a time that you may fight maÌ„fully againste your own couÌ„trey whiles they come skirmishing at a backe winge or els staÌ„d loking vpoÌ„ you for thei say thei be not so madd as to fight with english men be killed like beasts but wheÌ„ ye haue brought theÌ„ in woÌ„ne theÌ„ the victori stablished theÌ„ surely quietly theÌ„ as I haue told you wil thei destroy all you gather vp agayne their great giftes vpon your treasures Is not this a lamentable case that we englishe men for feare of mutabilite or chaunge of religion which coÌ„meth by gods ordinaunce shall seke to plant willingly such a nacyon in our own country as seke the vtter destruccion of the same But thys is most miserable most shamefull mosâ— detestable moste abominable that so noble and prudent gouernours aâ— your lord shippes shoulde either for faire words loue feare gifts bribes threatnings manacings or any kind of couetousnes seke the subuersyon of their couÌ„try the destruccioÌ„ of the commeÌ„ wealth the vtter decaye of your most noble bloud for euer this last point doe I lameÌ„t more theÌ„ al the rest for if any of your moste noble linage might liue in autorite as the Spaniards sai in dede we might haue some comforte to restore the realme and the weale publike to his olde perfecte estate but if ye deliuer the crown out of your haÌ„ds I meane not the crown of gold onely but also the power that goeth with it ye shal in short time haue so great a fal that their shal not liue one of youre â—inage that shalbe able to defend his own right nor to rule as his predecâ—sâ—ours haue done nor yet to reuenge â—is fathers death This ye must nedes graunte that it is necessarye for the â—inges maiestie to worke the sureste â—aye for hys owne commodite and preseruacion that can bee deuysed or founde out by the aduice of his counsell And then I am sure there is none of you so foolyshe that thinketh to beare rule in the common wealthe or about the kinges maiestie for all the worlde knoweth the moste detestable and most abominable treasons whiche our nobilite doe worke against their own natural kinges continually And therfore Spaniardes myghte be called men of small wisedome if thei cold not forecast such dauÌ„gers but thei haue prouided for it well enough would to god your lordships knewe perfectly so muche as I haue sene with mine eies and heard with mine eares or els woulde for youre own profit your owne honor youre own wealth the preseruacioÌ„ of your country the loue of your children the safegarde of your own liues credit my wordes For then youre most prudent wisdomes coulde the better prouide to withstande their pretensed treasons Ye will saye howe coulde this felow see heare or knoâ— matters of their counsell I was as all men knowe chamberleine to one of the kinges priuie counsell And gaue my selfe with all diligence to write and reade Spanish which thing once obteined I kept secrete from my master and his seruauntes that I myghte the rather with diligeÌ„t seruice be trusted in my masters closet or studye and so reade suche letters as I sawe broughte to the counsell chamber VVhich thinge I did as opertunite serued yet I cannot vnderstande any part of their priuie and concluded counsels but the effecte of suche letters as were written from one counseller to another I knowe not how nor what they haue determined vpon the said letters but I founde this written in certeine letters that were sent from the Emperours maiestie also a yeare beefore the kinges comming oute of Englande that the kinges maiestye should make his excuse to the quens highnes that he woulde goe see hys father in FlauÌ„ders returne immediatly But seing the good simple Quene pardon me though I folowe the frase of the letters is so Ielous ouer my sonne as the letter termed it we shal make her agree to al our requestes before his return or els kepe him here exercised in other effaires til we can agree with the counsell who vndoubtedli wil be easeli woÌ„n with faire wordes great bribes and good giftes politickly placed in tiÌ„e with many other things how these matters must be handled how they must be brought to passe how al parties muste bee folowed whom they might truste what men woulde disceue them whom they muste winne with bribes and whom thei myghte winne with faire promises whoÌ„ thei thought like trewe meÌ„ would vvith stand them and hovve the false traitours vvoulde receue them that the Emperoure vvould appointe the king such counselers for the same purposes as he in many yeares had proued to be trevve and vvise in their doinges so that the kinges maiestye myght be bolde at the first presente to putte his truste in them vvhom his father in loÌ„g processe of time vvith greate experieÌ„ce had proued and circumspectly picked out amoÌ„ge many false dissemblinge flatterers vvith innumerable such prudent couÌ„sels touchinge Fraunce Flaunders Naples Millane Boemia Hungery Turky and diuerse other countryes as betvvene Spayne and the Mores VVherof I knowe perfectlye they haue brought many thiÌ„gs to passe mani thei be like to obtein al which maters because they pertein litle to our couÌ„trey I wil passe ouer wyth silence In other letters I haue founde the case disputed that the quens highnes was bounde by the lawes of god to endowe the kinges grace her husbande in all her worldly possessions and goods so farre as in her maiestie lyeth and they thinke she will doe it in dede to the vttermoste of her power â–ª No man can thinke any euill in the Quenes highnesse thoughe her grace be something moued wheÌ„ such bondes as touche her conscience bee beaten into her memorie priuely Let all men therfore take hâ—de beware diligentlye that no man be so bolde or rather so deuelishe as once to pretende any euill towardes the quenes maiestie in pain of perpetual punisment For vndoubtedlye â—f any euyll should be wrought against her hyghnes person god would not
onely require her bloude with condemnyng such malefactors for euer more therfore but also would plage the whole realme most greuouslie for such wickednes But if I wer worthy to geue your lordeshâ—ppes counsel ye sholde banishe from the courte except wheÌ„ the king is present which wil be very seldom what wai soeuer ye work mistres Clarentius Elizabeth Dyas the Ladie of phisike I know not her name and all other that speake Spanishe I wil not say that like foolyshe girles doe loue Spaniardes whyche might seme like to geue the Quene counsell in these matters For they vndoubtedly haue and dooe beate into her heade more then all you caÌ„ deuise to pull oute The Spaniardes knowe not whether the crowne do belonge to the Quenes maiestie or the realme whether it be in her power to geue it wher please her or in the power of the whole realme to bestow it lawfulli wher it of right shold be neuertheles they can wel be contented to flatter youre lordeshippes till that be perfectly proued And if they receiue any comforte therin to bribe you freli til the same be deliuered but then they must begin to gouerne and beare rule For which gouernmeÌ„t would to god I knew their counsels or els that your lordships woulde beeleue that whiche I haue heard and sene I haue founde other letters which I woulde not that any man should credit touching mi lord Paget That he should be the kinges aduersarie and the French kings sede debite to declare vnto him all youre counsels But in these letters be conteined diuerse other as the lord Treasorer is counted the kinges ytter enemye the lorde Talbot is not their frende the lord Grey they trust not the lord Clinton thei loue not therfore they think if these and diuerse other lords in the North were made awaye thei should be in lesse dauÌ„ger and the rather obtaine their purpose And yet thei say thei must of necessite flatter my lord Treasorer and my lord Paget craftili til thei mai obtaine their purpose Because thei two bee apte vessels to worke treason by Ye may well perceiue therfore that they will flatter al you seeiÌ„g they flatter these whom they take for their enemies and so fayne these lies againste my lord Paget inuented treaterously to make him out of the way with the rest For if euer the kinge beare rule these which I haue named shalbe examined as straitlye as the Spanishe lawes wil extende to haÌ„dle the kiÌ„gs enemis There be many other noble men whose stowtnes must be pulled down their power abated I write not this to bring any of these noble men in suspection but that ye maye perceue what wayes thei inuente to bring variaunce amongest you that thei might be called to mak agremeÌ„t â–ª for thei hope if one part of the nobilite would once withstande the other that then shoulde they be receiued thoughe they preuaile not beefore time But reade further and you shal know the trueth They thinke your lordeshippes my Lorde Admiral the erle of Oxforde and diuers other to be their frendes therefore they purpose if euer they beare rule to ioyne with you in councell for a time the state of the realme once knowen let you die pleasauntlie with racking hanging drawyng quartering and whirling vpoÌ„ whils iusâ—ly according to youre desertes ye wil say the king doth not vse his couÌ„sellers so in any countrei in dede the king hath in euery countrey certene churles of the same lande picked out whiche be craftie knaues and canne finde at their hartes for their owne lucre and priuat gaynes to inuent all the waies possible to pole their own country according as his counsel can deuise to commaunde them and to liue as ye shal reade hereafter according to the nature of Spaniardes and so the true men to their country are traiterouslye ouer come perforce but thei make another reasoÌ„ for your destructioÌ„ and sai thei may not trust those men long in the counsel nor about their king nor kepe theÌ„ in auctorite that willingly will bee false traitors to their own country I fouÌ„d two peces of a letter but the third I could neuer finde or els I shold haue knowen perfectlye what bribes had been appointed for euery noble maÌ„ wherin the Erl. of Penbroke was appointed to be gouernour of the kingdoÌ„e of Granatha and to haue fourtie thousande crownes of yerely reÌ„t but thei purpose he shall enioye it but a short time Do ye thinke my lord of Penbroke that ye shall haue fourtie thousande crownes from Granatha and liue safely in England ye muste goe thether with the king or some other to take such sure possession that ye shal neuer returne For I assure you thei dare not geue you so much power more theÌ„ ye haue and let you liue in your own countri â–ª bee ye assured ye shall offende their lawes a thousande times before ye know them and your head shall perhaps pay for the first My lord of Darby shal perceiue that nother he nor his sonne shal liue long after the kiÌ„g is crownd The Erle of Shreusbery may well perceiue they flatter hym shamefully when they goe about to destroy the noble lord Talbot I am sorie that my lord of arundell hath escaped so many treasons as haue beeÌ„ inuented beefore agaynst him and shall now be disceaued and destroied amongst vile treaterous and moste false flattering Spaniardes And yet I am sory that the realme should be robbed of so wise so noble and so manlike a gentell man as the Lorde matreues his only sonne do ye thiÌ„ke these thinges wil not come to passe or doe ye beleue I haue not told you trueth or truste you to liue styll in your countre ye vndoubtedlye my lords they dare not suffer you The reason is this thei say that nacion those men that will woorke treason and be false traitours to and against their own naturall kynge and countrey the same men so sone as they be agreued and beginne to smart will woorke treasons againste them and their king but these thinges may be wrought in their time Ye thinke I speake my pleasure but I assure you most truely I wryte nothinge of suspeccion nor blinde iudgemente but those things which I haue seene and proued perfectlye and that be moste surely pretended and will vndoubtedly be wrought if ye take no better counsell to withstand them Marke my lordes if these bee well gotten goodes that shalbe the destruccion of you your countrey for euer doe ye not encrese your rentes properly when ye seke the losse of your liues and children without remedy be not those bribes dere bought that bring with theÌ„ the ruine and the subuersion of youre countrey the bondage of the lande the suppression of the coÌ„men wealth the beggerie of al the quens subiects the losse of our liberte the death of our nobilite the perdicion of al oure rentes
laÌ„ds goods and childreÌ„ these thinges I haue found in their letters buâ— doubteles the kings couÌ„sel haue pretended waightie maters towards you in deuising how these thynges shalbe brought to passe these be but rude principles but in the grounde worke be prudent counsels I knowe ye wil cal and accompt me a veri fole because I shewe you the trueth plaiÌ„ly and put my selfe in daunger of haÌ„ging to saue your liues and preserueâ— my countrey from bondage but foolishly or prudently I speake nothing but that which I knowe perfectly yâ— may take my wordes as it shal please your honors if ye worke wittelye as your lourdships caÌ„ do if it plese you I shal reioice at your preseruacionâ— but if ye wil submit your selfe to boÌ„dage willingly nowe ye knowe the daungers that wil folow what man liuing would lameÌ„t the miseres that shal fal amongest you Herken there words after their writings Thei purpose if their power will serue not to leaue one liuing that by any maner title ought to make claime for the succession of the cowne Ye will thinke there could not remaine in them suche crueltie it is in vaine for me to write trueth if ye beleue me not It is damnable without remedy to call God for witnesse in false maters and what would it profit me to saue your liues preserue al Englande or wine the whole world and condemne mine own conscience But in truth I dare folow the example of S. Paul and call god for a iuste and true witnes that I haue hard with mine eares and sene the same persoÌ„s with mine eies that haue said if euer the king might haue a iust title to the crown and obteine it he wold make that most vertuouse Ladi Elizabeths grace sure for euer comming to inherite the same or any other of oure cursed nacion for thei say if thei cold kepe Englande in subiection thei could doe more with Englande and Flaunders then all the rest of the kinges kingdoms therfore thei wyll not worke so foolishly as to make dissension betwene these two lands and bring theÌ„ in controuersie or sett them at variaunce But inuente all polices to ioyne them both a like vnder their subiection I speake of no fooles but of the wisest sort and no meane persons though they knewe not me in such corners to heare their counsels RemeÌ„ber if this warning be not sufficiente to cause noble men to take hede that so vertuous a Lady so beautifull and so comly a princes should first of all besyde all the greate nomber that shoulde folow afterwardes be eyther banished the lande or els putte to death miserabli for that whiche should be her own righte by iuste and lawfull discente If they that loue wemen so wel wil not fauour suche a Ladie how much lesse wil thei fauoure youre lyues I speake not this as some men woulde accuse me to make sedicion nor treson in the realme for that were the beste waye for Spaniardes to come to their purpose For our enemyes can neuer hurt vs till we make dissension amongst oure selues suche a time they looke for suche a time thei desier and such a time some noble men haue promysed them Lette all menne because I knowe not those traitors names that woulde prepare thys time endeuour themselues to lyue loue one another charitably and quietly that ye maye all take one waye and hold together lyke good people the better to preserue your country withstand al these deceitfull and most detestable treasoÌ„s and premeditate mischifes which be pretended against you and your couÌ„trie Ye haue heard many euils but god is witnes I cannot for shame write nor declare the vile shamefull detestable and moâ—e abomâ—nable reportes whiche they haue spoken by the Quens maieâ—ie and yet her grace thinketh theÌ„ to be her very frendes but this one trueth I wil shew couertlie and wrappe it in as cleane cloutes as I can desiring all men and the Quenes highnes herself most humblye to take it after their words The Spaniards say if they obtaine not the crown tâ—e may curse the time that euer their â—inge was bounde in mariage to a â—ife so vnmete for his maiestie by natural curse of yeres but yet if the thing maye be brought to passe which was ment in the mariage in a king thei shal kepe old riche robes for high festifâ—l dais If there be any man that doth not vnderstande this saying of Spaniardes let the Qâ—enes highnes so loÌ„g as her grace â–ª 〈◊〉 haue any fauourable frendship of the kinges maiestie kepe her selfe as heigâ— in auctorite as rich as she is at this preseÌ„t or els her grace shall perceiue perfectly as she maye partly at this present that Spaniards naturally loue freshe wares yoÌ„g deiÌ„tie dishes and chaunge of new thiÌ„gs I thinke the Quene will blame me for showing this one trueth but by that time her grace shall be glad to tie horsses vnderneth her chamber windowe to suffer vile stinking doÌ„g hils at her priuie chamber staires to see her garde chamber garnished about with plaine wals finely furnyshed with riche pallets of stâ—oÌ„g corse canuas wel stuffed with strawe the wals most comly colored with coles to see sitting amoÌ„g her graces ye meÌ„ curriers carmen and coblers woode monges vintners and waggeners pointers piÌ„ners and pedlers showe makers surgeaunts and sadlers boke binders bakers breâ—ers with al kiÌ„de of lowsie loiterers and euerye one a bagge a budget or a botâ—ell â—anged open beefore him tyed vnder hys arme or behinde vpon his backe more like a moste misordered hospitall then a kynges garde chaÌ„ber that nother her highnes nor any of her nobilitie can passe that way For in dede the gardâ— in the kiÌ„ges courte be suche bawdye burly beastes that they neuer come in the kinges chappell excepte for necessite when strauÌ„gers come to the courte and abyde the smell of suche a stinkinge stue Her grace will say I speake not all VVhen her pallice gates shal stand open without porters that not only beggers slaues and all kinde of wretches but also oxen kine hoggishe olde swinne shepe and lambs goats kiddes and rammes cattes dogges geese duckes cockes and hennes with all other suche good houshold stuffe may enter into her courte and standing rubbing rowteing diggeÌ„g deluing and donging before her chaÌ„ber windowe like a good fermers house in the countrey wheÌ„ her highnes hall shall be one daye hanged with riche arreisse and halfe a yeare after ether shut and locked vp or els furnished finely with spinners silke-twiners weuers of laces rop makers coblars and botchers of olde hosen moste shamefullie without all order and be glad to kepe within her most princelike palice a vile stingking baudy tauerne that euerye one of these fore saied craftes men and all other baudes beggers slaues and vile droÌ„ken wretches maye bie within her courte breade beare nuttes apples and chese and fetche wine and water out of the kinges
courte by iiii penny pintes and that with the dearest accordinge to the olde auncyente and moste honorable customes of the Emperours maiesties courte the kinges maiesties palaies here in flaunders her maiestie shall wel perceiue that I kepe many thinges secret whiche I am ashamed to declare Ye will thinke I speake the worste but when the Quenes grace shalbe glad to fetche her wine out of the tauern by eight pense and a halfe peny the quarte as the king and bothe the Quenes doe here in this courte her highnes shall well know that I cold show much worse orders and manye thinges more vile more shamefull and more dishonorable then these and by that time all these thinges be wrought ordinarely in the court of Englande ye shall smell them more vnsauerly Al meÌ„ that be here coÌ„tiÌ„uallye doe see muche more and many worse thinges then I write But if these things wil not make your lordships worke wiseli and be circuÌ„spect in deliuering the crowne looke further vpon youre proceadinges and when your lordships shal be glad if ye might escape so well to be at the Spanishe counsels commaundemeÌ„t and wander with Spaniardes from one countrey to another and where ye liue at this present with all plentiful prouision in your own houses be compelled to lie in good tiplinge houses rost halfe a capoÌ„e to your supper and kepe the rest for your diner with a pinte of white wine and water a piggeâ— petitooes a younge shepe trotters halfe a loine of leane mutton and iiii or .v grene sallettes as the best of the kings counsell doe liue daily ye wil say woulde to god we had kept the crown in our owne handes for the right and lawful heires of the realme to whom it belongeth by iust and lawfull discent and bene trewe to our countrye so that we might haue reigned still and lyued more honorable in reste wealth and quietnes then any nacion in the world The Spaniards say your lordships most specially and al the rest of our nobilite with the moste parte of our counsel be without knowledge learning language or perfect experience and therfore thei hope though not spedely yet in proces of tyme to disceaue and ouer coÌ„e you with their learning wisdome craft and policy Let your children therfore if ye loue them be brought vp in learninge wisedome that they maye be able to gouerne the realme prudently after your dayes And folowe youre lordships for the preseruacion of youre lyues honor and children this worthy and notable example of the most worthy king Codrus who seing his countrey assauted by the most cruell tiranny of his enemies sought by all meanes possible to deliuer his people from bondage with least destruccion of his subiectes bloud and being answered that there was no way to preserue his realme except he himselfe should be slaine appareled hys most princelike person in a poore palmers wede and after great lamentacion of his subiectes whiche woulde rather haue lost life laÌ„ds goods then suffer so noble a king to die for their deliueraunce became a tourne spitte in his enemies kitchen and when hys aduersarie had prepared a great armi for the inuasion of his couÌ„tre he prouoked with cruell woordes remembring the commen and publike weal of his subiectes which he desired so earnestly his enemies so much that a skuruye kitchen slaue without mercye thruste him to the harte wyth a whote spitte of yrone â–ª who beyng stripped naked to be buried was knowen perfectly to be the king himself by a crosse vnderneth his brest whos death so muche discoraged his enemies that thei flyeng before his subiectes when the battell shoulde bee fought were slayne and taken in the chase his countrey preserued hys maiestie obteined immortal fame I wold wish your lordships for your honors the preseruacion of youre lyues and countreye as I truste assuredly ye wil though not so daungerously as this noble Prince did yet with suertie obserue thys counsell I meane ye are in suche estate at thys present that ye maye withoute the daunger or losse of ani maÌ„s life kepe the crown the realme quietli but if ye will deliuer the crown oute of your handes willingly then wher ye ought to venter ye to lose in dede life landes goods and rentes with honor for the preseruacion of your couÌ„trey ye shal not only lose life laÌ„des goods wife and children but also al honour fame and renowne with the moste noble and the moste mightie kingdome as Spaniardes say on the wâ—ole earth with the losse of innumerable thousandes of Christen meÌ„s liues For what nacion in the world is able to suffer the verye nature of Spaniardes haue I not showed you many things which ye cannot suffer ye may expell nature for a tyme as Spaniardes did in Englande lately but al the world can not expell her so much but she returnth in short space what deuelishe nature is this that no man can suffer the time is shorte or els I wold tel you much more their pride is of such nature that she can suffer no man to be felow with her Pride would euer be the highest and then who hath more pride then Spaniardes who canne beare rule aboue theÌ„ The Spaniardes denie not them selues to be the proudest and moste lecherous men liuing and can they then be without all other vices seeing pride is the roote of al sinne and the mother of all mischiefe Their hartes wil boile and borst to see any nacion nere about them prosper in welth and tranquilite I heare saye there be certeine bokes amongst you whiche in dede I neuer sawe as the lamentacion of Naples the mourninge of Millane and suche other which haue showed you the tiranny that Spaniardes haue vsed in other countries and in those points I wold couÌ„sel you to beleue the same bokes and take hede ye come not in like boÌ„dage For if ye do be assured that the same tiranny which thei haue vsed in other countries thei will vndoubtedly vse amongst you for if thei fauored not those noble men whiche thei say be Christned how much les wil they fauour you whom thei accoumpt worse then Iewes but like as thei haue destroied the nobilitie in other countryes euen so will they according to their pretensed purposes destroie and murther you priuely one after another so soone as they may beare rule amongest you Some Spaniardes say we must not take example by those countres which thâ—y be compelled to keepe perforce but be you assured thei must bee compelled within one yere to keepe England perforce also For doubtelesse English men will neuer pay such excises willingly as other nacions be compelled to pay againstâ— their wil nor let their rentes be raised so much aboue the rate whiche thei bee at in these daies as Spaniardes woulde amount theÌ„ Ye wil say the Spaniards kepe their olde rentaking how can that be when euery poore man must
pay yerely for euery chimney in his house and euery other place that is to make fire in as ouen fornes and smithes forge a frenche crowne wil englishmen or can thei suffer to be poled and pilled moste miserably in payeÌ„g continually suche poling pence and intollerable tollages for all maner graine and breade beâ—e beare and mutton goose pigge and capone henne mallard and chicken milk butter and chese egges apples peares wine white and reade with all other wines beside salt white and graye al thinges must pay small nuttes and wall nuttes cheries and chest nuttes plumbes damassens philbeardes and al both gret smal whatsoeuer thei maye se to fede the pore coÌ„menalte Salmon and hearing this is a shamefull thing tench ele or conger this shall kepe vs vnder and make vs die for hunger flounders floucke plaice or carpe here is a miserable warke that Englande must abide to maintaine Spanishe pride ye paye youre tenthes for all these thinges but I speake not of churche rentes nor balifes fees for that is but the tenthe part but this shall greue your harte to pay the thirde part more that burthen waieth sorer then fines or reÌ„ts tak hede therfore Ye wil think their coÌ„meÌ„s be not so opprest there is not a ye man farmer nor husbande man in these partes that dare eate a capoÌ„e in his own house if his frende come to viset him but the capoÌ„e must cost him a noble if it wer worth xx peÌ„ce and euen so of hennes pigges geese chickins â–ª and all other thyngs Dooe ye thinke to make prouises for all these mischefes which I haue rehearsed the best prouiso ye can deuise to make is that for the auoiding of all these and innumerable moe mischefs ye kepe the crowne in youre owne handes and geue it to no forreyne prince For when the king is crowned who dare withstand his doings doe not the lawes of Englande bind al men to obeie him but seing thei vnderstande not our lawe maye not the kinge chaunge it as shall seeme good for him by the aduise of his couÌ„sel I nede not to feare the daunger of my boke for I heare say I shalbe outlawed with a pension writte for .iii yeres pension in cliffords inne Do it spedely least it take none effecte for if Spaniardes beare rule fare wel all Englishe lawes the kiÌ„g will reach you Spanish lawes and looke what lawes Spaniardes make is not he a traitor that speaketh to the contrary but til his grace be crouned it is mete for all trewe men to holde with the right and speake against his coronacioÌ„ Ye say the quenes highnes hath al power in her hande we must obey her surely in actes that bee paste by parliament and coÌ„firmed by the hole realme we ought to obey her highnes during her life but I think there is no law confirmed and past where by the Quene may lawfully disinherite the realme of the crown And for that which is to come eueri man mai lawfully speake against it for she can make no such law without your aide Yf ye read the enchiridioÌ„ of Erasmus in the leafe lxxv ye shall finde that the Quenes highnes or any other Prince that wil folowe goddes commaundement and seke the kingdom of heauen ought not to make any lawes or statutes agaynste the commen wealth of her countr and that she ought not to doe that which she may by her power but that which she maye doe iustlye by the lawes of the realme For lyke as Christe was not borne for himselfe nor died not for himselfe but was borne to fulfil the law liued to teache vs the perfecte trueth of the law and died to redeme al those that woulde folow his steps and kepe his commaundementes eueÌ„ so the Quene ought not to do that thing which is for her own profet her own pleasure or her own pryuat commodite but that which is for the commodite of the whole countrey the profite of her poore people and the strength aide preseruacion and the comfort of the whole realme Her grace ought not to gouerne vs if she wil folowe Christe but to se vs gouerned vprightly in all spirituall maters after gods worde and in all temporall maters accordinge to the lawes of the realme iustlye for oure preseruacion In the .iiii. nexte leaues folowynge ye shall finde the offyce of a kynge a magistrate an officer and bishoppe I shewe you the place because ye shoulde remember it and folowe it in this case But if the Quenes grace wil not seke to winne heauen with folowing Christe and keping his order for the commodite and profet of all her people then she must without grace in breakeynge Christs order and leauing his steps without any seconde way folow the steps of the deuill and so seking her owne priuat commodite her owne wil her own pleasure ruÌ„ne straight headlong to hell Mary if the Quene be the last heire so that the crown remaine wholly perfectly and lawfully in her without any other discente she may by gods lawe geue it for the commen wealth of her subiects and the realme where or to whom soeuer pleaseth her and then if it be for the commen wealth of the realme as ye se plainly it is not she mai geue it to her graces husbande the kinge but if it belong to the heires of the realme after her death and if ther be any heires in Englande liuing after her to whom the crown oughte to come by iuste and lawefull descente she and all that geue her such cursed counsell doe committe deadlye and damnable sinne in taking and geuiÌ„g it from them wrongfully Yf ye could restore it againe afterwardes and so make them recompence she myghte haue pardon of god but I am sure the Quenes grace and all her honorable counsell haue seene the kinges style where he writeth himselfe kinge of xxviii kingdomes with Englande Fraunce and Yrelande and there ye perceue that he leaueth out the quen in all his writinges and deades whatsoeuer he maketh or confirmth And in the first leafe and first side of the patten or rather the Emperours will which he hath made to establishe the king iointly with him in the Empir they write that the kinge woÌ„ne englande by the Quenes mariage and vpon the seconde side of the saÌ„e first leafe they write that the king at this preseÌ„t hath autorite to make chauÌ„ge ordeine and constitute what decres statutes ordinauÌ„ces or lawes soeuer please him in the same kingdom of England Seeing the king hauynge but the name geuen him doeth take vpon him suche power and beeâ—ore he hath the crowne dooeth expulse the Queene from all title of the realme or the crown ye may be sure that when he hath the crown he wil take from her all power and honor sauing only she may haue the name to be his wife vvith his more beloued harlots so that she shall neuer be able to restore
gods worde â–ª the prists rewarde yf we receue worthely we shalbe saued iudging oure selues saith paul The rewarde of a good priest â–ª the abuse of gods seruice damnable this oght not to be Hearing of masse doth saue no man God would haue vs to folow his commaundementes in worde and dede what people the lord will pardone Christ is the oneli redemer and the perfect fulfiller of the lawe Note Ergo thei be not only neighbours to mors but also morishe Iews theÌ„ selues hipocrits Good ChristiaÌ„s doubtles and so is belzebub Almes Mat. vi Mark this multiplicacion I meane with thoughts care and miserie to be in slauerie The authors excuse Morishe maners take hede your selues for this toucheth your lyues Like as it is honore for a trew man to dye for the defeÌ„s of his couÌ„trie so it is shame to die like a traitour against his countrey Note Spa. wyll neuer trust traitors I say not ye be so It lieth yet in your power For christ chose to be king of the Iewes Rude priÌ„ciples It preuaileth not to disclos treason if ye will not with stande it or credit the truth God witnesseth with trueth which boweth to nother party whi this letter is written Take warning in time or els Nature causeth me to discouer the Spani treason As England for Englishe meÌ„ Spa. for Spa. c. SeiÌ„g this must coÌ„e to passe take good hede to your selues Marke this police The kiÌ„gs first good worke to England At that marke thei all shote Let them not haue such vantage at youre handes For the king siÌ„ce his commiÌ„g into England cannot yet get a grote froÌ„ Spaine The kiÌ„gs treserer weÌ„t oute of englaÌ„d but returned not till oure moneye was coÌ„e ouer and new stamped which made store euer sins in antwarpe Take couÌ„sel be tiÌ„e These rentes be better lost then found But wheÌ„ thei be holpeÌ„ and bear rule you shall pay it triple in excises If ye be true among your selfs thei dare neuer geue you battaile If they kept not couenauÌ„t with MillaÌ„e or Naples howe shold thei kepe couenaunte with you Let not these thinges bliÌ„d your eies theÌ„ may you like most noble gouernors defende your own country If ye nother care for youre own liues nor your children I caÌ„ geue you no counsell to care for the whole realme This suspicion haâ—eth youre death I beseche your lordships to loke vprightly I desire you not to remeÌ„ber me nor my profit Make good prouision with this warning Yet will thei deny that euer thei thought hereof I wil shew onli that I saw in the leters The effect of the Emperours letters Marke if thei practise not after thys sort daily take hede mi lordes ye can kepe your gifts but at the kinges pleasure Marke whom thei cal trew meÌ„ and traitors But why then is not the Quene endowed as fully in al his .xxv. kingdoÌ„s For her own destruccioÌ„ Lette no man preteÌ„de euill to the Quenes person for then god wyll plage the whole realme Beyng crowned he wil liue away and appointe you a sp viceroye wemens councels deuelishe Marke diligentlye what thei pretende after wardes Here beginneth destruction Talbotte the lords Greye Clinton must dye for captaynes Ye se my lordes what the Spa. prepare for you It shalbe more for your commodite to agree among yourselfe Be true to youre countrey To thys ende ye shall proue their freÌ„dship to extende ObiectioÌ„ Crafty chourlish knaues Mark I se names what example shal destroy you It is better for your lordship to be Earle of Penbrok stil I cannot tel what sholde be done but this ye were appointed at the first If they do not yet moue it to you to goe thether they wil cut of your head ni England for such profet caÌ„not long come out of Spain The erle of Darby betrewe my lorde Shreusbery lest ye lose your sonne your auncetors praise for their trueth Of your soÌ„ne my lorde of Arundell thys was written or he died fear the sequel in youre selfe The Spaniardes wold ended this or you shold vnderstode it therfore now denye it Marke what manyfolde mischiefs the beggerly bribes do bring if it be not youre deathes at the end receiue them The craftie treasoÌ„s be to hard for you to vnderstande but by Suspecting many thiÌ„gs whiche if ye wolde then preserue England from bondage I would shew theÌ„ if I hanged for it Youre lordships shall first curse the time of these bribes false flaterye So my lord Darbes soÌ„nes title to the croun by hys wife will cost al iii. their life The Ladie Elizabeth condemned thei haue promysed to bring eÌ„glande in subieccioÌ„ to Flaunders VVhen she muste die trust not ye to liue loÌ„ge after Sedicion among your selfs wilbe your destruccion for traitors seke in englishmens variaunce to bring in Spa â–ª vpon theÌ„ If ye liue quietly within yourselfs ye preserue your couÌ„trei agaiÌ„st your enemyes c. The Quenes grace disceaued with flaterers The Spaniardes reporte of the Quenes maiestie There wordes arge thei meÌ„t more then was perfourmed to speake trueth thei purposed rather to wine her crown then her body Marke the most honorable and courte like customes in their courtes here in FlauÌ„ders A misordered hospitall The chappel chamber made wheÌ„ straÌ„gers be presente the garde chamber The kiÌ„gs courte much more carterly theÌ„ a farmers house in the countrey the king is the vylest tauerner of all his court The kiÌ„ge selleth wine and water more dearer theÌ„ other and hath the lyes hymselfe The kiÌ„gs wine fetched out of the tauerne by the quart but in England freely by Iugges bottels My lord Ambassadour is worthye of blame if more then this be not written for he should se the Quene be not disceaued herin Thus ye shal liue when ye be in bondage Tak hede ye sai not hereafter would to god we had done it for now ye may do it I desir ye shold folow your own preseruacion The king a turne spitte If paniÌ„s so muche loued their couÌ„trey shold we ChristiaÌ„s betraie ours Kepe the state that ye haue Spaniardes report Englande to be the strongest and beste kingdom on the earth The nature of Spani Doubteles I know no man can set forth more mysery then the peo ple be in in Naples and if ye go forth ye shal come to the lyke But if ye wil not take warning of them which do shew you then shal you suffer al the plages that be named in this boke for youre incredulitie ObiectioÌ„ Marke ye people of England howe ye muste be taxed Note thys If ye can suffer this then crown the king of Ierusalem The third part of al thinges kepe your selues froÌ„ that bondage Marke this yo men and husbande meÌ„ kepe your liberte that ye pay not for your own chickens wheÌ„ ye bee sicke If ye folow this counsel ye saue your lyues your landes contrey And will with spede For all your learning is lost your law destroyed al your liuinges decayed for euer â–ª the office of trewe men ObiectioÌ„ Erasmus VVhat the quene oughte to doe A trewe example How the Quene ought to gouerne vs Mi lords for suche counsell ye shalbe more hardly plaged in hel then ye caÌ„ be in the towre See what they take vpon theÌ„ or this Geue a Spa. one inch and he wil take a huÌ„dreth fote She shall be at low estate in short tiÌ„e Beware of this it were better for your lordships â–ª to lose your heades die in the trueth then damne your fols in presuÌ„ption Ye dysceaue the Quene when ye cause her to lose her husbande and her power also Ye are disceaued Mark this parte of their nature So wil the great Turke Poore bakers daughters of brussels A farmers acte of the kinges maiestie in Antwerpe VVhere the king is so vicious the people must neds be muche worse They bragge more of this then of all the warres that euer their king made The kiÌ„gs maiestie a meri midwife at midde nighte The Byshop of Castyll They esteme the crowne aboue the quen Vnlyke similitudes Some good Lady shew oure Quene thys trueth that her grace be not brought into mor miserye Paget should brought in douch men and ben viceroy if vprors cold ben moued by the wroÌ„ges that the QueÌ„e atteÌ„pted last yeare The Quene shalbe a Nunne wheÌ„ the king is crowned And eueÌ„ so shal ye doe if ye write as long as ye lyue Pockye Spani Ye wold be offended to be openly named for whores yet ye loue Spa which name you openly so Amende good Ladyes or els The maner of Spanishe wemen This is greate dishonor for youre husbaÌ„ds shame for youre selues a great slaunder for youre countrey But take hede with this warning or els ye wil shortly be named and shamed London MoÌ„grels It is the chefest vertue to punish vice Mi desier in writiÌ„g this letter Note Kepe this order and ye shal saue your countrey Be sure to flye these mischiefes or els ye worke your own destruction All you haue ben disceaued by the flattering of Spa. take hede with this warning Yet thoughe your lordship wer not perfect beefore take hede at the last I desire your safe garde Thys should been doÌ„e if the Quene coulde haue moued sedicion by her quarels last yeare to the gentel men VVe haue al one father which is in heaueÌ„ then we ought to loue together like brethren