only taketh that place but will thus be called Domine Deus noster Papa O Lord our God the Pope they may perceiue in him a fulfilling of the prophet Daniel that he should place himselfe aboue all things in the worlde that he should distribute lands kingdoms to such as should take him for a God worship him Leauing to write further of this monsters other damnable sinnes which being past number shall purchase him torments wtout end I will in his enuious tyrannies towards such Princes as were not the seruants of his will reueale this prophecie continue my purpose Morrall Esope reciteth a fable of a snake which being nie frozen to death was by a good husbandman pitied and brought vnto the fire but when the fire had giuen strēgth to this viper he forthwith stung the husbandmans children euen so this Apostata or reuolter from Christ did with all the venime he coulde afflict weaken the Emperiall dignitie whose rulers gaue him first earthly promotion and from time to time sustained him in all his troubles Behold how Pope Benedictus the third enuyed the soueraintie of Emperors anointed Kings who condemned for heretiques one Okan and Dant two persons blinded with al his idolatries superstitions saue that they maintained that Emperors helde their Empires of God and not of the Pope this Pope might more properly haue bene adopted Maledictus then Benedictus as one wiped out of the booke of life which it seemeth he little read and lesse regarded for if he had studied the sacred Bible the perfect mirror both of heauenly grace morrall gouernement it is like he might haue light vpon these passages of holy scripture By me kings raigne and Counsailours discerne iustice by me kinges rule and rulers iudge the earth hearken then you kinges c. for power is giuen you of the Lord. Dauid thus saith The Lord teacheth the kings hands to mannage armes and his fingers to war c. the Lord establisheth Kings hath power ouer kingdoms and disposeth them at his pleasure and to whome he please The great King Artaxerxes acknowledgeth that the most great good God gaue him his forefathers their kingdom And briefely to conclude the excellencie of imperiall and regall dignitie there is no superiour power but of God well though the least of these vnreproueable authorities suffice to condemne these tyrannous Popes to hel no wonder that they all stopped not his accursed mouth that pronounced the vniust sentence against these two innocent persons for he the Pope I meane who striueth to matche the Maiestie of God enuyeth the recordes of his power and feareth not what is writte of his vengeance much lesse can endure that Emperors Kings and such potentates should be Gods Lieutenantes on earth his pride bewrayeth the one and his enuie dayly discouereth the other The Chronicles of euery christian common wealth are testimonies that since Princes became the subiects of this proude Pope their kingdomes were neuer free from curses excommunications nor Kinges cleare from depriuement of kingdomes their subiects free from priuie seditions nor their countreyes vnoutraged with open rebellions if his worde gouerned not the sworde and his will stood not in steade of law so that it is a question whether his hypocrisie haue wrought more mischiefe in the West or the Turkes open tyrannies in the East Upon some enuious suggestions Gregory the ninth and Innocentius the fourth Pope of Rome did depose the Emperour Fredericke the second excommunicated and banished his faithfull and obedient subiects absolued the rest of their othe and furthermore graunted great indulgences and pardon to such as would rebelliously rise to confound him yea after he had with an hundred and twentie thousand markes redeemed himselfe from this excommunication he was notwithstanding that once againe banished and accursed The perfect histories of Fraunce witnesse that Pope Vrbane the fourth about the yeere of our Lord 1264. violently did depose Conradus of his kingdome of Scicilia being his right inheritance and gaue the same to Charles Earle of Angion and brother to Lodouicke the French king to frustrate which gift Pope Nicholas the thirde about the yeere 1268. caused Peter king of Arragon to come out of Italie to depriue the said Charles and to possesse him thereof hee wrought a practise that in one night all the French both men women and children within the Iland of Scicilia were murthered by the inhabitants thereof In remembrance of which crueltie to this day there is a worde called the Scicilian euensong Pope Boniface the eight enuiyng the maiesty of the Emperour Adelphus de nassan predecessor of the Prince of Orenge for challenging to be the Popes superiour stirred vp Albert the first Duke of Austriche of that name and race to take armes against the Emperour for the imperiall seate and assisted him with the secreat councell and strength of Gerrard Archbishop of Maience in which battaile the Emperour was slaine and Albert succéeded in the Empyre In so much as puffed vp with pride for the lucky successe of his vngodly practises this vngratious Pope in his Iubile caused two swoordes in triumph to be carried before him making the bearer of the one to cry O Christ see there the Vicar on earth And the other O Peter see there thy successour In so much as the French king called Philip le Bell hating his pride refused to acknowledge him for his superiour For which contempt he pronounced the recited Albert king both of Rome and Fraunce whervpon the said Phillip secreatly in the night vnder the conduct of Sarra Colomna sent out 400. horse men tooke the Pope at Anagnia and from thence ledde him prisoner to Rome To whom the king in this scoffing maner wrote Sciat fatuitas vestra c. and after his beastlye death which shortlye followed his arriuall at Rome he was long remembred with this reproch Intrauit vt vulpes regnauit vt leo morritur vt Canis Sée what large coates Pope Gregorye the 7. cut of other mens cloath because he could not make the Emperour Henry the fourth the vassaile of his will he firste excommunicated the sayde Emperour and cursed all his adherentes and after gaue Ralphe Duke of Swaben his kingdome with an imperiall crowne bended with this trim verse Petra dedit petro petrus diadema Radulpho A diadem the rocke gaue Peter and his race And Ralph receaued a royall crowne from Peters holy grace But although the Pope were prodigall in his gift yet his holines nor power could shield the vnfortunate Ralphe from the vengeaunce due vnto traitours who shortly after was pitifully slayne who hauing his handes first cut off lamentablye exclaimed before the bishops that through the Popes their prouocations he and his confederates were accursed for rebelling against his owne lord supreme head Not long after this succéeded pope Paschalis the seconde who excōmunicated the emperor a freshe
whome shée thought that the enemye coulde not afflict so much as the inhabitauntes of Rome but how so euer it was Alaric commaunded vpon payne of death that no man should hurt anye person that fledde to the Churches for safety which was obserued the rest of this Citye with an innumerable sorte of people were consumed with fire and swoord The Emperour Honorius laye all this while at Rauenna with out taking care for the reliefe of distressed Rome In derision of whome the Gothes ledde a young man vp and downe a whole daye attyred lyke the Emperour and the next daye likewise ledde him cloathed like a slaue This was the first time that Rome since her prosperity fell into the handes and power of straungers but after this sacke by the Gothes the greatnes both of the city and Empyre decreased yea manye tymes was destroyed and subiected The successe whereof briefly to touch I hold it necessarye that the Reader maye vnderstande the frailtie of kingdomes and worldlye powers About forty yéeres after the Gothes had thus sacked Rome outraged Italie the Vandals vnder the conduct of their king Genserick entred Italie without any resistāce tooke Rome the greater part of the inhabitaunts being before fledde who for the space of foure dayes spoyled and in manye places fired the Citye Twentye and seuen yeeres after the conquest by the Vandals Odoacrus king of Euryles and Toringnes came before Rome with a great power whome the Citizens not able to resist receaued louinglye and in peace who naming him selfe king of Rome raigned foreteene yeeres afterwards Theodoric king of the Gothes beeing in friendship with the Romane Emperour to recouer Rome incountred Odoacrus with a great power and not onelye chased Odoacrus from Rome but also foorth of Italie Theodoric vpon this victorye made him selfe king and raigned thirtye yeeres in peace After whose decease his sonne Artalaric with his wife Amalasonte raigned about tenne yeeres Afterwardes the Emperour Iustinian comming to the Empyre the Gothes returned againe into Italie with their most cruel king Tottil vnder the Emperour Iustinian the two moste valiaunt and hardy Captaynes Bellisarius and Nassettus gouerned in Italie who in manye moste cruell battailes foyled Tottill besiedging of Rome In fine by the treason of one of the inhabitauntes Tottill gat the Citie and although at his first entraunce by the intercession of Pelasgus then Bishop of Rome Tottill moderated his furye yet in fine vpon an vnpleasing aunsweare from the Emperour Iustinian he furiouslye destroyed the greatest part of the Citye and left not the third part of the wall standing but to be briefe after Tottill had an other time taken Rome by the valiauntnesse of the most worthy Captaine Narsettus both Tottill the whole power of the Gothes were chased out of all Italie within a while after the Longebards came into Italie who making them selues Lordes of Gawle Cilsapine of whom it hath euer since beene called Lombardie who about three yeeres after the chasing of Tottill vnder the conduct of king Clowis besiedged Rome to the great dammage of the neighbour Townes but Rome out helde both that besiedging and also an other most dangerous siege by Atanlfus likewise king of the Longebards by whose furye Rome had beene leuiled with the ground if that Pepin king of Fraunce had not succoured her distresse Further in processe of time in the time of the Emperour Lewis the Mores and Sarizins Disciples of Mahomet besieged and entered Rome who prophaning the Church of Sainct Peter and burning a great part of the Citye with many riche spoyles retourned vnto their ships But the moste greate ruine of Rome was in the time of Pope Gregorye the seuenth and Henrye Emperour of Almaigne betweene whome there was mortall warres in whose quarrelles there was at one time two contrarye armies in Rome burning and wasting the Citye But in fine the Normans in the behalfe of the Pope were victors But their conqueste made Rome almoste desolate that where there are now Uineyardes Gardens and large waste places shée was before beautified with goodly Churches and other sumptuous buyldinges And for laste example euen of late time the Emperours armye vnder the leading of the moste worthy Prince Charles Duke of Burbon Rome was taken and although the Duke vpon the enteraunce was slayne yet his souldiours as victors spoyled a great parte of the Citye These often and sharpe punishmentes hath Rome suffered as a wonder and warning to the whole worlde and which is much to be regarded there is almoste the people of no Nation which shée here to fore had subiected but at one time or other were at the sacking and spoyling of her beauty For the further and necessarye inlarging of this historye I haue adioyned this Chapter of the enuious humors of the Popes of Rome CHAP. 6. How the Popes of Rome enuiyng the soueranityes which the Emperours had in the election and confirmation of them and their successours by sundrye shiftes wrought them selues foorth of this obedience and by the aduantages of time grewe to vsurpe authoritye to approoue and confirme the election of the Emperours them selues with a supreame power to depose and establishe annoynted Kinges from and in their kingdomes A Chapter for the varietie of the matter worthy the regarde LArge and vnreprooueable are the testimonies which witnes that the bishops of Rome vnder many tirannous emperours truly professed sincerely preached the Gospell of our sauiour Iesus Christ and to confirme the Euangelicall doctrine patiently and constantly imbraced many sharpe persecutionsand martyrdomes but O the venime of riches she no sooner entered into the Church then she poysoned her pastours and ministers with enuie pride ambition heresie idolatrie and all abhominations the riches liberties and great possessions with which Constantine the great endowed the Bishops of Rome although they eternize his name with the tytles of a good zealous deuoute and christian Emperor yet were they the causes which haue bread these soule effects or iniquities in the greater number of the Popes of Rome True it is that before the Emperours were christians the Bishops were chosen by the christian Priestes in Rome neither did any seeke that office by other meanes then vertue But after the Emperours became Christians as a witnesse that the soueraigne Bishoppe of Rome was the subiect of the Emperour the election of the Pope appertained to the cleargie ioyned with the voyce and consent of the people which done they were driuen to send to Constantinople to bee confirmed by the Emperour this was the first order of the election of the Popes after Constantinus the great which approueth a souerainitie which the Emperous had ouer them but by little and little to wind themselues out of this subiection they first made suit to be confirmed by the Emperous deputies in Rome after wardes Pope Pelagius the second administred this office without the confirmation of the Emperour but being afraid of the
cut down like the grasse and be withered like the greene hearbe The bosting of the tyrant shal be abased and the desire of the vngodly shal perish And in many other places he heapeth vengance vppon the wicked and pronounceth confusion of their Counsels Againe he promiseth millions of blessings vnto the godly and safe deliuerance out of their enimies hands England hath plentifully tasted of all this goodnesse and with the Psalmist may iustly say The Lorde will be a defence for the oppressed euen a refuge in dew time of trouble It is alredie reported what sundrie seasonable victories Noble Quéene Elizabeth where the vengance of war scarce fastined of any one person saue her enimies hath had from the first houre of her blessed raigne vntil anno 1580. which yere the Pope had prouided a Challice to drink her maiesties pretious blood the king of Spaine expected her Crowne and the Duke of Guise to be domine factotum in Scotland Regard the strength of their pollicie and easinesse of their confusion and you shall plainly sée that the wisedome of the world is folishnesse before God The king of Spaine had prouided a mighty power vnder pretence of some exploit in Aphrica for the inuasion of England Don Iohn should haue maried haue done wonders with that army with which I purpose not to medle but God be praised Don-Iohn was faire buried The yeare was not too farre spent for the king of Spaines purpose who had lost al his cost if that the old king of Portugal had not that yeare dyed with which power he inuaded that kingdom The Duke of Guise should haue occupied Scotland with martiall exercise but the troubles in Piccardy and Dalphine so weakned his strength as his purpose was more then half maimed somwhat was attempted in Scotland but not to the expected purpose The Pope he vndertooke the matter of Ireland and as he thought had laid a sure foundation he picked out a daungerous instrument for his purpose euen Iames Fitz-morice a natural Irish a man wise valiant learned and of great experience in martial affaires he was a great traueller and I may safely say to stir vp troubles which powred destruction vpon his own head This Iames Fitz-moris was sent before to make a passage for the Popes power anno 1579. he ariued in Ireland soone intised the Earle of Desmond Sir Iohn his brother to be traitors but as wise as stout as this traitor Iames Fitz-moris was he was yet peaceably confounded euen in the entrance of his mischieues for he purposing to burne the countrie of the Borkes a noble yong Gentleman in the defence of his fathers country slew him before he saw any successe of his conspired treasons The Popes malice might haue bin quailed by the presagement of euil successe hauing his ankor principall Captaine Fitz-moris thus peaceably vanquished but he incensed more with the displeasure of his death then restrained with the cogitations of Gods prouidence armed his power against Ireland and comforted his souldiers that they shoulde finde in that Countrie manie more friendes then enimies his Cappitaine Fitzmoris had seduced some of the principals and his legate Doctor Saunders had bewitched the multitude vpon a hope which hetherto hath deceiued him the Pope vnder his banner sent out of Italy dâ—…ers Capitaines and bands of souldiers of his owne furnished with treasure munition victuals ensignes banners and all other things requisite for the warre into the Realme of Ireland where the same forces with other auxillier companies out of Spaine landed and fortified themselues very strongly vpon the sea side and erecting the Popes banner proclaimed open war against her Maiesty I am bound by the duety of a true subiect to set downe the ioy and cheerefull behauiours of the English fugitiues in Rome vpon the newes of the Popes forces safe landing in Ireland to the end that those which will beleeue a trueth may knowe that the comming of these disguised Iesuites was absolutely to practise to bring the realme into a warre externall and cyuill hoping by an alteration of gouernement to bring in a change of Religion and not simply as they smothly pretend to saue their Countrie mens soules without any motion of disobedience to her Maiestie their lawfull Quéene In the beginning of Nouember 1580. I returned from Naples to Rome at which time the newes was freach in Rome of the Italians Spanyards ariual in Ireland who promised a wonderful hope of a great victorie against her Maiestie and truely the newes was not so quicke in the Romaines tongues as the ioy was fresh in the English mens faces they could not suppresse the reuealement of their traiterous hearts their common speach was The time drew on that the continuance of the heretikes prosperitie for so they termed the Protestants would make their ouerthrow more gréeuous they so assured themselues of the change of her Maiesties gouernment as in a maner euerie man painted out his owne office The matter was so sure in their owne imaginations as some few that pretended a sorrow for Englands myserie wished that the onely vengeance might light vpon her Maiestie and some of her Maiestrates but they further said that God would not haue it so his iustice could not but send a general subuertion to reuenge the iniurie done vnto so many holy Catholikes which for their Consciences were driuen forth of their countrie with these and such like words they published the wishes of their hearts no one one onely except that in word or gesture séemed to be sorie that straungers should haue dominion in their natiue Countrie wherein they shewed to haue dispositions more vilanous than the seditious Iewes when Ierusalem was beseiged by Titus who although they continually killed one another with cyuill frayes yet to withstande the assault of the Romaines they would in their egerest scyrmiges part themselues and vnite their forces to withstand the forraine enimie Nature teacheth sauage mastiues who how cruelly so euer they fight togeather at the sight of a Beare they will part themselues and fal vpon their natural enimy but these be worse then Mastiues and without they amend God send them the destinie of Dogges And now to the matter of the former newes they ceased not to importune the Pope to sucker his force in Ireland with newe supplies to which end Cardinal Forze with present Commission all along the lower way by Raconati Loretto Ancona and so to Bologna in the Popes proper dominions mustered pressed souldiers 3000. Caliuers were in a readines to be shipped at Lygorne but this preparation was not so spéedie but before al things were set forward Rome receiued newes that the most worthy Captaine the Lord Gray her Maiesties deputie then in Ireland had vanquished and put all the Italian and Spanish souldiers to the sword a few of the principall Captaines except they could not vaunt that they dyed with the
reported that his notorious crimes exceeded the dayes of his age which I ouerpasse as examples necessary for other purposes and vnto this impious parte I will ioyne this following crueltie Upon a day one tolde this naughtie Emperour that his cosen Mamertius Antomenes resembled him in comelynesse of bodie and magnanimitie of minde vpon which report Commodus pronounced death both vpon the reporter and his innocent cousen holding it for reason that it appertained to no man to vaunt lesse to resemble him and in my opinion if Antomenes resembled him in deuilish qualities death was too easie a scourge for so lewde a life Mulla Abdula father of Moley Mahumet commonly called the blacke king in whose cause the mortall battaile betwéene the king of Portugall and Amoley Muluco king of Fees was fought the 5. of August 1578. as in the alteration of the latter common weales by enuy shal be more largely shewen vpon an enuious suggestion that his brethren by the priuity in nature and bloud loked to liue in greater liberty then subiectes by the assistaunce of a noble man of the countrey called Alcatho Alley caused the throates of a eleuen of his brethren to be cut in one morning Now to conclude these particular tyrannies of enuye vnto which millions of notorious examples may be enserted the monstrous murders of king Richard the third a tyrant of our nation is worthy note in whose wretched end yet worthy his wickednes the happines of Englande began againe to florish and enioyed her auncient renowne This tyraunt at such time as he was Duke of Glocester with an enuious eye behelde the soueranity of king Edwarde the 4. his brother and yet inforced by necessity obeyed him For annoynted kinges with weake policies are not depriued but vnable to hold his hand from their throates who for their dignities toke the vpper hand of him against the lawes of honor with his impious handes he stabbed Prince Edward to the hart beeing taken prisoner at the battaile of Tewksbury Next like an Alehouse ruffen with his dagger he slew the infortunate good king Henry the sixt in the tower of London Then heaping murder vppon murder he caused George Duke of Clarence his naturall Brother to be drowned in a Butte of Malmesey And last though not the least to rowle vp a number of noble subiectes endes with the death of king Edward the fift and Richard Duke of Yorke the kinges brother his nephewes whom he caused to be murthered in the Tower and buried without honor to infame the name of king Edward the fourth and his posterity he pronounced his mother like a filthy harpye to be a strumpet and that the sayd king Edward was a Bastard and him selfe onely legitimate as I think sonne of the diuel for it séemeth wonderful that so inhumane a creature should take life of humane séed CHAP. 3. Enuy originall of warre and capitall cause of the destruction of the first Monarchies MAny yéeres after the beginning euery king qui etly enioyed the countries in his own possession vntil Ninus king of the Asserians enuying the soueranity of his neighbour kings put him self in armes vnlawfully to inlarge his owne dominions by deposing other froÌ„ their kingdoms Thus byenuy froÌ„ the bottom of hell came war by war confusion of deuine humaine blessings the aduauncement of thousandes of diuelish iniquities For whereas lawes giue place to armes the honor of God is wounded his word is misprised Iesus Christ is blasphemed and persecuted his Gospell is reiected and his Sacraments are prophaned fire is put to the house of the lord Wolues are thruste into his stéepefolde and wilde Bores among his vines truth and equity is peruerted charity is cold innocents and the iust are oppressed youth bee ill instructed publicke orders are broken discipline and rules of good life are abolished ignoraunce is raysed knowledge is abased proud ambitious and men of leaste estimation doe gouerne the learned wise and vertuous are disofficed as ideots and men of no merite countries bee vnpeopled fayre Cities are burned peaceable citizens are murthered their wiues and daughters are rauished their groundes lye vntilled goods compassed by the trauels of a mans whole life in one hower doe become the spoyle of a riotous souldiour And to conclude though short of a number of other curses which follow warre vice mounted in her chariot of triumph arrogaÌ„tly treadeth pore vertue vnder foot therby they that shold cry out of this outrage against God and man are dumb and the reformers of these enormities deafe these vengeances by war the enuious eye and ambitious hart of Ninus bred in the worlde which died not with the destruction of Th'asserian monarchy Notwithstanding enuy the erecter was the destroyer therof For Arbactus leiftenant of the Meades enuiyng the soueranity of Sardanapalus a man more effeminate then a woman by the assistaunce of other lords gaue battaile vnto the king Sardanapalus discomforted â—…led into his pallas there enuiyng the fortune of Arbactus more to reaue him of the glory of his triumph then moued by sorrow of his own defeat Sardanapalus set fire of his Pallas his wealth him selfe so by the prodigall spoyle of his life recouered the reputation of a man for manhood is most truely tried by constancy in the trembling passage of death The like enuious part was committed by Ariathes king of Capidocia who being ouercome in battail by Perdicas one of Alexanders successors fled into the Citye enuiyng Perdicas good fortune more then he lamented his owne mischance caused the city to be set on fire incouraged his souldiers citizens to slay their wiues children holding it lesse euill to die by the violence of friends then to liue a seruile life vnder the controlment of their enemies And by this means in truth he reaued Perdicas of the spoyle of his victory but did both vnto him selfe and countrey an iniury against nature and reason against nature in committing wilful murder vpon him selfe posterity against reason in that time was able to repaire his ruines of fortune But to kéep an order in discoursing the actions of enuy by the victory which Arbactus had ouer Sardanapalus the empyre of Th'asserians was traÌ„slated into the Meades which corse most conquerors adopted Princes euer since haue taken to crown their natiue countrey with imperiall title to leaue the places conquered or by other meanes gayned to the tyrannye of leifetenants Well this monster enuy which mortifieth the naturall affection of a father robbeth dutifull obedience from the son made the one of these the cause the other the ouerthrow of this second empire For Astiages the last king of the Meades receauing answer of the Oracle that his daughters sonne should gouerne his empire as it were to despight the Gods that had fore destined this honor vnto his daughters sonne vpon an enuious thought first
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
man the Emperour made many great offers to Megolo all which he refused and answered him that he was not come thither for the couetousnes of goods but for his owe the name of the Genowaies honour and that he demaunded of him none other thing then that in remembrance hereof he would build at Trebisonde a fayre shop for the marchandise of the Genowaies about which should be painted this historie which the Emperour accomplished and vsed the Genowaies with greater fauour then before and so Megolo returned to Genowaie gratified and receiued of euery man with great honour CAAP. 11. The contention that enuie set betweene the Emperour of Constantinople the Lord of Bulgarie and other Princes was the first grounde and sure foundation of the great TVRKES Empire THe puissant kingdome of the Turkes at this day so much renoumed and feared together with the linage and familie of their Ottomans and kings are of late yeeres sprung vp as a scourge sent and suffered by God for the sins and iniquities of the Christians It is not yet 300. yeeres since the first beginning of their kingdome which at this day is multiplied to the terrour of the whole world the name of the Turks are neuerthelesse auncient but to say that they came of the ancient Troians because they are called Teucres is a manifest errour Plinie and Pomponius Mela in the ende of his first booke say that their originall cōmeth frō the Sarmats which are of the confines of Scythia néere vnto the sea Caspia who in ancient times were called Turaci and now Turkes these Scythians or Turkes liuing before as sauadge men came forth of Scythia into Asia Minor which is by reason of their name to this day called Turkie where they robbed and conquered certaine prouinces these as barbarous infidell people receyued the damnable sect of Mahomet as the first that was presented vnto them which best agréed with their wicked customs these people wtout gouerner or head but being a multitude fiercely ioyning together setled thēselues in the lesse Asia in fine they chose one Soliman of the kingdom of Cilicia for their K. whom Godfrey of Bolloine other christian Princes vtterly ouerthrew so discomfited the Turkes that of long time after they had neyther K. nor captaine of account In the end Ottoman a man of base linage got the fauor of the people was made their K. and by vertue great valor somewhat inlarged their dominions he raigned 28. yéeres dyed An. 1308. whose K. continueth to this day in the ligne of the heire males Orkan succéeded his father Ottoman a man as valiant and more industrous then his father he was a great inuenter of militarie engins magnanimous liberal who after he had raigned 22. yéeres dyed of a hurt which he receiued at the assault of a city he had by the K. of Cilicias daughter a Christian whō he married a son named Amurat that sucéeeded him a man farre vnlike his father in vertues of the mind or strength of body yet very ambitious desirous to inlarge his Empire to compasse which enuy presented him a faire occasion at that time the E. of Constantinople was at controuersie with certain Princes his subiects which fauoured the L. of Bulgarie who charged the E. so hard as he was driuen to demaūd succour of this Amurat K. of the Turkes who sent him 15000. chosen men by the aid of whom the E. vanquished his enemies which done he kept the greater part of the Turks in his owne dominions Amurat vnderstanding the disposition of the coūtrie vnder the colour to ayd the E. against his enemies came into the dominions of the E. with 60000 footemen and a great number of horsemen in despight of the E. made himselfe L. of the cities of Calipoli Andronople he ouercame Marke the grandmaster of Bulgarie and Lazarus the despos of Seruia with a great number of Christians and Malgre the E. possessed himselfe of the gretest part of Thracia Greece in the end a slaue of Lazarus slew him when he had liued 23. yéeres which was An. 1373. Amurat left 2. sons Soliman Baiazet Baiazet slew his brother Soliman and made himselfe King in the beginning of his raigne he prepared great wars against the Christians to reuenge the death of his father and with a great armie he incoūtred in battaile with Marke L. of Bulgaria and with the greatest part of the nobilitie of Bulgaria and Seruia whom he slew and vtterly defeated 3. yéeres after this victorie he returned a newe vpon the Christians in Hungarie but chiefely in Albania and Valaschia and from thence sente many Christians slaues into Turkie and being possessed of the greatest parte of Greece to wit of the ancient countries of Athens Boetia and Arcania he laid siege vnto the great Citie of Constantinople which draue the Emperor in proper person to desire aid of the westerne Princes in which behalfe K. Charles the 7. succoured him with 2000. launces among whome there were two french gentlemen of great expectation who ioyned with Sigismond K. of Hungarie afterwards Emperour who for the same purpose raised a great armie with whome also ioyned the grandmaster of the Rhodes the Despos of Seruia and a great number of other christian Princes whereupon Baiazet leauing his siege at Constantinople sodeinly with 300000 men set vpon the Christians who were about a 100000. men betweene whom there was a most bloudy battaile in fine the Christians were ouerthrowne and the greater part slaine the King of Hungarie and the grandmaster of Rhodes hardely escaped by flight and the Frenchmen were neere all slaine or taken this battell was Anno 1395. vpon Michaelmas euen After which victorie Baiazet returned againe to his former siege of Constantinople and had surely won the same if the newes of Tamberlaines entrie into his countrey and that he had already gained many townes cities and prouinces constrained him to trusse vp his baggage and with his full power to go finde his enemie in Asia now two of the mightiest princes of the world encountered eache other in battaile where Baiazet was ouercome and taken who endured the most vile and hard prisonment that euer was heard of for Tamberlain still carried him with his armie in an iron cage and alwayes when he moūted vpon his horse he set his foot vpon his shoulders moreouer at meales he tyed him vnder his boorde and like a dog fedde him with fragments in this sorte ended this Prince his life who had bene the most aduentrous the most renowmed and the most feared Prince of his time The sons of Baiazet which escaped the battaile where their father was ouerthrowne in their flight taken vpon the seas by certaine galleis of the Christians and certainely at that instant a faire occasion was offered the Christians to haue kept vnder for euer their capitall enemie the Turke but their sinnes forbad
put the empire into his fathers hands now because of his inabilitie to gouern he alledged that of right he should returne it vnto him againe The old man was greatly perplexed with these matters especially with the disobedience of his sons this diuision of the brethren was the death of many of their adherents but Selim the yongest had euer the better hand who vnder the color to craue pardon of his father to defend him against his eldest brother Acomat so won the fauor of the Ianissaires the other men of war as by their help he tooke the empire from his Father banished him from Constantinople afterward poysoned him An. 1512. This traitour Paracide Selim caused him self to be crowned with great solemnitie which don he highly rewarded the Ianissaires men of war which strengthned him Soone after he went into Turkie againste his brethren where he slew the Children of his brethren which were fledde before his comming and with all so pursued his brother Corcut as falling into his handes he killed him Acornat the eldest by the helpe of the Sophy and the Soudan gathered a great power whome Selim ouerthrewe and tooke prisoner and afterward caused him to be strangled This wicked Paracide hauing thus slayne all those of his â—…loud was rid of the ielous feare of his Empire and disdayning the Soudan and the Sophy he confirmed the league with the Venetians and made peace with Ladislas king of Hungarie and so with a great power he went towarde the Sophy who nothing dismayed abid the battayle which was sharpe on both sides but in the ende the Sophy was vanquished hurt and driuen to flye greatly to the increase of the Turkes honor and reputation the yeare following the Turke make war vppon a great prince which gouerned vpon the mountaine Taurus whome he slewe and got possession of all his dominions this done Selim prepared his forces againste the Soudan and approching the coastes of Surie with his armye he caused a brute to be spead abroad that he would wage warre againste the Sophy But the Soudan suspecting his pollicie prepared a great power vnder the colour to suppresse the rebellion of a great Lorde in Surie In fine these two puissaunt Princes affronted each other neare vnto the City of Damas in Surrie and after many skyrmiges on either side their powers ioyned the 24. of August 1516. the same two yéeres after the ouerthrow of the Sophy This battaile was sustained a long time valiauntly of either partie in the ende the Turkes had the victorye and the Soudan was found dead hauing neuer a wound other then by treading of the horses beeing of the age of 76. yéeres after his victory he seased vpon all Surie the Palestine and Iudea those which escaped the former battail chose for their Soudan the gouernour of Alexandria named Tamonuey betwéene whom Selim was fought the cruellest battaile that euer was heard of notwithstanding ouercharged with the multitude of the Turkes Tamonuey was vanquished in th' end betraied into the hands of the Turk who caused him to be slayne after the death of Tamonuey the Turk soone tooke possession of the auncient puissant kingdom of Aegypt where as also in Surie he left a good order for the gouerment afterward in great triumph he returned vnto Constantinople where he died of an impostume An 1520. in the 8. yeare of his raigne 46 of his age this tirant was of so gret a courage as he was neuer known to be afraid of any thing Soliman his onelye sonne succéeded Selim who was crowned Emperour Soliman hauing subdued Gazellus that vsurped the segniorie of Tripoli and other domestick rebels the yeare following in proper person he made wars vppon the Christians and besieged Belgrade the port strength of Hungarie which with vaine successe had béen attempted by manye of his predecessours But Lewes then king beeing very young and gouerned by the Princes of his countrey by negligent defence suffred the City to be taken by the Turkes Soliman retyred from this exployte in proper person contrary to the mindes of his Bassas layde siege vnto Rhodes with an innumerable power of men and artillerie both by land and sea during this siege the notable feates of armes of either parties can not be sufficiently praised But at the 6. monethes end the Grand maister of Rhodes named Phillip de Villiers a French man was driuen to yéeld the City vnto Soliman who retourned to Constantinople proud of so great an enterprise Three yeeres after which was An. 1526. he entred Hungarie with a maruailous army with whom king Lewes ill aduised encountred with a small power betweene Buda Belgrade where the sayde Lewes was vanquished and founde drowned in a ditch after which the Turke tooke Buda and other bordering townes and as a conqueror retourned After this Soliman came with a huge army of sixe hundred thousand men into Hungarie and Astria with a desire and determination to conquer all Christendome to withstande whose enterprise Charles the 5. presented him selfe in proper person with lesse then halfe the number of the Turkes through feare of whome the Turke forsooke his purpose with the losse of many of his people as he did An. 1537. when both by lande and Sea he came into Italie and had taken certaine places in the kingdome of Naples Sultan Selim succéeded Soliman in the Empire During his raigne the Venetians loste the famous City Famagosta and a great part of the Isle of Cipres In which conquest of Famagosta there were slaine and taken prisoners a great number of Christian noble men and captaines amongst the rest the tiraunt Mustafa Bassa by the traine of fauourable vsage intrapped the noble Bragadino go uernour of Famagosta and contrary to his own faith the law of honor and humanitye he first caused his eares to be cut off and then to bee cruellye stretched foorth vppon the grounde to whome the tiraunt thus blasphemouslye spake where is now thy Christ that he helpeth thee not to which the patient Gentle man made no aunswere After this the noble Bragadino after manye vile and spitefull disgraces was in the market place tacked to the pillory and fleaed a liue whose skin béeing stuffed with straw was hanged vpon a bowsprite of a foyste and so carried along the port Townes of Siria Amurathe that now raigneth succéeded his father Selim by murther of fiue of his yonger brethren of him selfe he is afraid of the noise of armour and therefore committed the charge of his wars to his Bassas he is politicke and in the East wonderfully feared the Sophy occupieth him with harde warres and yet the king of Spaine from whom he hath won the kingdom of Tunis nor yet the Venetians whose seignorie he almoste possesseth dare not but be in league with him when he waiteth but oportunitie to spoyle not onely them but all Christendom I would to God his
aduantage were lesse and the swoordes that are now in Christian mens handes ready to gore one an others intrailes were mutually bent against this tiraunt the sworne enemy of Christ and blasphemer of his blessed word CHAP. 12. The wonderfull conquest of Tamberlaine reconquered and his large kingdom ouerthrowne by the enuy and discord of his two sonnes AMonge the illustrous Captaines Romaines and Grecians none of all their martiall acts deserue to be proclaimed with more renown then the conquest and millitarie disciplines of Tamberlaine but such was the iniury of his fortune as no worthye writers vndertooke his historye at large although Baptista Fulgosius in his collection Campinus florintin in his history of the Turkes make some mention thereof about the yéere of the Lorde 1390. Tamberlaine being a poore labourer or in the best degrée a meane souldiour descended from the Partians notwithstanding the pouertye of his parents euen from his infancy he had a reaching an imaginatiue minde the strength and comelinesse of his body aunswered the hautines of his hart This Tamberlaine as Fulgosius reporteth kéeping beasts among other youthes of his condition his companions in a meriment chose him for their king wherevpon Tamberlaine hauing a ruling desire after an othe of obedience commanded euery man to sell his cattaile and to contemn their meane estate to follow him as their captaine in smal time he assembled 500. heardmen laborers whose first act was to rob the marchants that passed that way he parted the spoyle continually among his companions intertayned them with such faithfulnes loue as the rumour thereof dayly increased his strength the king of Partia vnderstanding these matters sent one of his captaines with a thousand horse to take him but Tamberlaine so be haued him selfe as he won this captaine to be his coÌ„panion assistant with al his strength who thus ioined did things of greater importance then before these matters in question enuy had â—…owen discord betwéen the king of Persia his brother Tamberlaine ioyned with the kings brother and so valiantly behaued him self that he ouerthrew the king seated his brother in the kingdom the new king created Tamberlaine chiefe captaine of his army who vnder colour to inlarge his kingdom raised many people found the means to make them reuolt from their obedience so deposed the new king whom he lately ayded to the kingdom â—…en made him selfe king of Persia redeeming by this industry and dexterity in armes his countrey from the seruitude of the Sarizens and kinges of Persia. Tamberlayne hauing a puissaunt armye in processe of time conquered Siria Armenia Babylon Mesopotamia Scitia Asia Albania and other prouinces with many goodly and inuincible Cities it is pittie his pollicies and battayles be not largely written which in these conquestes could not but be famous but of his militarie discipline thus much wryters commend in his armye was neuer found mutine he was wise liberall and rewarded euery souldiour with his desert there is no remembrance of a greater army then his his gouernment and order was such that his campe séemed a goodly City wherein euery necessary office was found marchants without feare of robbing or spoyling repayred thither with all maner of necessary prouision for his army the reason was he suffered no theft vnpunished and as louingly honored praised and payed the vertuous and valiaunt souldiour which favour ioyned with iustice made him both feared and loued he ledde a greater army then king Darius or Xerxes for writers affirme that he had foure hundred thousand horsemen and 6. hundred thousand foot men the which he ledde to conquer the lesse Asia Baiazet the great Turke of whose worthinesse and wonderfull prowes is sufficiently spoken in the former chapter aduertised of Tamberlaynes procéedinges was driuen to leaue his siege to Constantinople and with all expedition to inlarge his power to the vttermost to incounter with Tamberlayne by estimation he had as manye horse men as Tamberlayne and a great number of foot men these two puissant captaines in whom wanted neither vallour pollicye nor anye aduauntage of war with equall courages mutuallye consented to abide the fortune of battaile and so incountring on the confines of Armenia at the dawning of the daye with all their power they beganne the fiercest battaile that in any age was foughten which by the huge number of people and the experience of their captains may be lawfully supposed the slaughter continued of both parties and the victorye doubtfull all the whole dayes In fine the Turkes of whome two hundred thousand were slaine vanquished by the multitude of their enemies tourned their backes which Baiazet perceiuing to incourage his army with an vnappauled spirite resisted the furye of his enemies But such was Gods will for lacke of rescue by the ouercharge of foes he was taken prisoner and pre sented to Tamberlaine who closed this great Emperour in an Iron cage and as a dog fed him onely with the fragments that fell from his table as in the former chapter is showne a notable example of the incertaintye of worldly fortunes Baiazet that in the morning was the mightiest Emperor on the earth at night and the residue of his life was driuen to féede among the dogs and which might most grieue him he was thus abased by one that in the beginning was but a poore shéepheard Tamberlaine thus possessed of Asia minor which was before in the possession of the Turke he spéeded into Aegypt and by the way raised all Siria Phenice and the Palestine he tooke manye famous Cities and among others Smirna Antioch Tripoli Sebastian and Damas In Aegypt he encountred with the Soudan and the king of Arabia and ouerthrew them he was euer best at ease when he found a stout resistance in his enemy that his pollicie and prowesse might be the better knowne as appeared at the city of Damas which after he had taken the principle and most valiaunt men retyred vnto a tower which was thought impregnable afterwards they offered him composition but he refused vnlesse they would fight or yéelde vnto his mercy and with diligence beyond expectation he raysed a tower leuel with theirs from whence he battred them in such sort as they were vnable to resist it is sayde that in his batteries and assaultes he vsed the firste daye to raise a white tent which gaue knowledge that if that daye the Citizens yéelded they should haue both their goods liues and liberty the seconde daye he raysed a red tent which signified that if they did that day yéeld he would saue all but the maisters and chiefe of euery house the third day he raised a blacke tent which signified that the gates of compassion were closed and all that were that day and afterwardes subiected were slaine without respect of man woman or childe it is written that Tamberlaine besieged a strong city which with stood
the 1. 2. daies assault the 3. day the people fed with a vaine hope of mercy set open the gates and with their wiues children cloathed all in white hauing Oliue branches in their handes they humbly beséeched grace but Tamberlaine in place of compassion caused his squadrons of horsemen to tread them vnder their féete and not to leaue a mothers child a liue and afterwardes he leuiled the city with the ground At that time there was a marchaunt of Genowa somewhat fauored of Tamberlaine pittying the cruelty boldly demanded why he shewed such cruelty to those that yéelded and beséeched pardon whō Tamberlaine with a countenance fiered with fury answered thou supposest that I am a mā but thou art deceiued for I am no other then the ire of God and the destruction of the world and therfore sée thou come no more in my sight least I chastē thy ouer proud boldnes The marchant made spéed away was neuer afterwards séene in the campe And in truth Tamberlain although he was endued with many excellencies vertues yet it séemed by his cruelty the God raysed him to chasten the kings proud people of the earth In the ende this great personage without disgrace of fortune after sūdry great victories by the course of nature died left behind him two sons euery way far vnlike their father betwéen whō enuy sowed such dissention that through their incapacities to gouern the conquests of their Father the children of Baiazet whom they kept prisoners stole into Asia so won the people to disobedience as they recouered the goods possessions that their father lost The like did other kings princes whō Tamberlaine had spoyled in so much as in small time this Empire was so abased that many dayes agoe there was no remembrance left either of him or his linage saue that Baptista Ignatius a great searcher of antiquities saith that the successors of Tamberlaines sons possessed the prouinces conquered by him about the riuer of Euphrates vntil the time of king Vsancasan according to the opinion of some writers of the heyres of this Vsancasan was chosen the first Sophy who to this day to the benefit of all christendō maintaineth mortall wars against the great Turk But it séemeth that their empire was cleane ended for as it is set down in the chapter of the great Turke one named Ismaell a false Prophet gathered a multitude of the cōmom people together of whom by continual fauor of time and fortune the Sophy is growne of power to incounter the great Turke And herein although the lightnes inconstancy of the common people be heretofore noted yet occasion here and in sundry places ministreth matter to blame their enuious and froward dispositions there was neuer inuention so fantasticke nor captaine so wicked that they refused to follow they erected the tirannous empires of the Sophy the great Turk Tamberlaine and ouer threw the famous and prudent gouernments of Athens Lacedemonia Rome c. The Swizers enuying the authority of their nobility gentlemen by generall consent slew them al euer since haue bene gouerned by that base gouerment called Democratia where mecanical people haue the only segniorie a gouermēt which resembleth a monster with many heads yet they all haue neither will nor capacitie to cherish vertue learning worthy enterprises the beauties and strength of a good common wealth Neuertheles Iosua simler of zurich in his booke of the Swizers common wealth both for their militarie discipline in war and sound administration of iustice in peace compareth the gouerment of their Cantons vnto the common wealth of the Venetians time and necessity hath much reformed the same from their originall and yet how be it he greatly praiseth their iustice yet his owne report thus much testifieth of their weaknes that to martiall and gouern their wars they haue bene oftentimes driuen to obey and follow the direction of forraine captaines which lamenes in a common wealth can neuer be but an open blemish and a secret daunger For a perfect common wealth resembleth a well proportioned man wherof the military defence resembleth his handes which being maimed or cut off bring misery to the whole body CHAP. 13. The calamitie and seruile bondage of Portugall vnder the gouernment of Phillip king of Castile c. by the aduenturous battaile and death of Sebastian king of Portugal the 5. of August 1578. and especially by the enuious malice of Henry which succeeded in suppressing the lawfull title of Don Anthonio the now reputed king THe renowne of the kingdome of Portugall both for the commodities of the naturall countrey as for the wonderfull riches of the east and west Indies with diuers cities and townes in Africa subiected annexed to the crowne equalled of lateyéeres the fame of most christian gouernments and certainely at this day the calamity and bondage of the people by the conquest and violent rule of the king of Spaine requireth the compassion and reliefe of all true Christian princes the groundes and causes of whose miseries follow By succession of time and lawful decent Sebastian was crowned king of Portugal whose vertues outward giftes promised great honor vnto his kingdom but the inconstancy of worldly dignity is liuelye figured in his much lamented death king Sebastian being about the age of 24. yéeres vpon the earnest labour suite of Mulei Mahumet king as he pretended of Fez and Marocoes who by Mulei Maluco his brother was driuen foorth of the kingdome condescended with a puissant army to passe into Africa to restore this Mulei Mahumet to his kingdome the enterprise agréed with the magnanimity and greatnes of yong king Sebastians mind besides to relieue and restore this expulsed king among indifferent iudges was a matter of great honor and vertue so that resolutely to execute his promise king Sebastian departed with his armye from Lisbone in Iune 1578. and ariued at a port in Castile called el puerto de Sancta Maria where he tried the breach of the king of Spaine his vncles promise which was the ayde of 50. Gallies and 4000. armed souldiours neuertheles the sayd king Sebastian like as he was a magnanimous prince hauing a 1000. sayle of ships in a readines pursued his voyage landed his army in Africa to the number of 15000. fighting men and on the 5. of August in the same yéere in a plaine field called Alcazar there was a most fierce battaile fought betwéen him and the enemy wherin the yong king Sebastian and Mulei Mahumet whose part he tooke were both ouer come and slaine in the field Neither did Mulei Maluco the king their enemy escape for with sicknes wearines he died during the battaile a battaile very vnfortunate wherein neither party gained and most rare and worthy of remembrance that thrée kinges were slaine in the same and aboue 600. of the chiefest nobility and Gentlemen of Portugall After the death of king
Sebastian Henry a Cardinall and a very old man the fifth issue male of king Emanuell was presented vnto the crowne Don Anthonio being then prisoner in Africa and his right vnknown by reason that he was thought not legitimate Within a few dayes after by Gods prouidence Don Anthonio was both deliuered forth of prison and by probable witnes ses was assured of his legitimation the knowledge whereof so mooued the old and foreworne king Henry his vncle as poysoned with enuy malice he not onely banished him the court but stopped the course of iustice in the pursuite of Don Anthonioes lawfull clayme and not finding his malicious humor satisfied because Don Anthonio had procured the Popes inhibition to disable the sayde king Henrye to attempt anye thing preiudiciall to his right he therefore tooke an other course to disgorge his rancour which was vnder pretence that Don Anthonio disobeyed his commaundement in comming with in sixe miles of the court he commaunded him vppon paine of death within fiftéene dayes to depart out of his realme How iniuriously this old king that by course of nature coulde not liue long dealt with his naturall countrey and kinsman the calamities of the one and oppression of the other largely testifie This old and withered king Henry if enuy and disdaine had not both mortified reason and naturall affection vpon the certaine knowledge of Don Anthonioes right to the kingdom had great cause to thanke God and comfort his affections that when the glory of Portugal lay a dying for want of linall succession of the heyre male that so worthye a personage as Don Anthonio in whom there wanted no commendable vertue a naturall Portugall and of the bloud royall was by deuine prouidence reserued to raigne and receiue the glory of the kingdome I haue read of many aged princes yet more able to gouerne then this king Henry the estate of whose kingdom so hastely required not a sufficient and able king as Portugall that haue voluntarily resigned their gouernment to yong and sufficient men but I haue seldome heard of anye that euen at their entraunce into their graue haue furthered the clayme of a straunger before the right of their naturall kinsman countrey man But whether malice or feare or both were the causes king Henry banished Don Anthonio and suspended his right and shortly after died before anye order taken for the strength and succession of the kingdome after whose decease who in most of all his claimes maketh force his iudge would not tarry the determination of the estates but with fire and swoord made his passage to the crowne The estates of Portugall the Cleargie nobilitie and comminaltie now too late looked about them and foorth with elected and made Don Anthonio their king they annoynted and swore him with all kingly ceremonies but they prouided not a strength to settle him in his kingdome which if king Henries rancour had not banished him his wisedome would haue foreséene they perswaded the king of Spaine to retyre his army vntill that iustice had determined his claime A weake perswasion where the victory was so swéet a kingdome and the king of Spaine a party whose desire coueteth vniuersall rule And as Euripides saith to gaine a kingdome the breach of lawes are halfe priuiledged but so or no he stood in awe of no iudge The munition and Gunpouder by the corruption of the Gouernours of Portugall Sede vacante was conuaied into Castile so that he made an easie conquest of a rich kingdome king Anthonio by Gods prouidence miraculously hath sundry times escaped his cruelty although the kingdome dayly fele his tiranny Out of their calamities of Portugall I speciall obserue this counsell of Gods iustice to admonith semblable traitours to their country Iohn Masquerannas Francis de Sa and Diego lopes de Sosa thrée of the Gouernours of the realm who by bribes and fayre promises of promotion by the king of Spaine solde the munition in effect their country Al which thrée vpō the election of Don Anthonio fledde into Spaine where they all with griefe that they had sold their countrey and melancoly that the king kept not his promises with them soon after died Iristan vazde vegna without any necessity yéelded the strong Castile of S. Iohn by Lisbone to the duke of Alua vppon the promise of a great pension during his life who presently vpon the deliuery without other rewarde then the iust rewarde of traitours vpon a slender quarrell was banished into Aphryca to serue ten yéers against the Mores and truely therein the king did both iustly and honorably for he that will be false to his countrey will be true to no man neither deserueth he to haue any promise kept with him yea as Phalaris made Perillus to be firste executed with his owne torture and tirannicall deuise it is sound counsell to receiue suche traitours seruice and to hang them for their labours or at the least to banishe them for euer For such heades are apt to dammage more then they profite whose mindes seldome leaue groning vntill they clymbe to the Gallowes CHAP. 14. The true report of the chaunge of the gouernment of Florence in the yeare 1478. and the outrages and murthers which followed the enuye which the Archbishop of Pisa they of the howses of Saluiati and Pazzi beare towardes the family of Medices for the authority which they administred in the common wealth SAint Paule declaring the offices of a bishop among manye other duties sayeth that a bishop ought to be no fighter him selfe yea to abhorre fightinges and dissentions in others intending with all that fighters the sustayners of fraies and vnnatural murders were the sworne enemies of charity and publicke prosperity vpon whom bishops are bound to pronounce the curse and vengeaunce of God least the Gospell which they shoulde preach being it selfe true loue peace and charitye rebuke in them selues the sinne they might blame in others But small is the wonder though Frauncis Saluiati archbishop of Pisa contraried this doctrine being the true Disciple of the Pope and S. Paule the faithfull Apostle of our sauiour Iesus Christ betwéene whom there is no vnion neither in life nor doctrine For our sauiour Christ attyred with humilitie preached the vnmeasurable power of God and peace vnto men and the Pope cloathed with the riches of the worlde proudly aduaunceth his owne traditions aboue the glory of the almighty and laboureth to so we sedition in the bowels of mightye Princes This vngratious Archbishop as an earnest follower of the Popes errours or rather wilfull sinnes beholding with an enuious eye the estimation and authoritye of Iulian and Laurence de Medices brethren and of the people of Florence high ly fauoured with a malitious hart desired the ruine of their glorye and to giue successe to his naughty wishe he conspired with the families of Pazzi and his owne of the Saluiati two of the most auntient and famous houses
wicked practises haue compassed the death of a great many with all which procéedinges the Cronicles will largely acquaint the Reader And certainely if outward actions of barbarous crueltie may condemne the blasphemie of the Pope his ministers in Fraunce Flaunders and Scotland haue already sent the same vnto hell haue elected him to be the Archtyrant of the earth For where was there a more sauage crueltie euer coÌ„mitted then the massacre of Paris where by the traine of amitie the celebration of a marriage betweene the King of Nauarre and the Kinges sister which in outward appearaunce promised much peace and honour to the long afflicted realme the peeres of bloud and nobilitie of the religion to honour that wished accorde repaired vnto the Court where the good Admirall was slaine and by that stratageme or rather deuice of the Deuill many a thousand innocent and fearelesse Protestants in Paris and other cities of Fraunce were cruelly murthered which monstrous massacre although many other trecherous murthers in Fraunce reproch the Papistes with the extreamest name of crueltie is remembred with the blame and exclamation of the cruellest Pagans in the worlde This traiterous and butcherly warfare waspractised with the murther of the King and many noble men of Scotland The pretence of the tyrannical gouernment of the Spaniards in the low Countries and contrary to the auncient lawesof priuiledges â—…he said Countries at their first entraunce their killing and destroying of the principall nobilitie and persons most worthie of gouernement was coloured with the maintenance of the Romish religion but what excuse by religion haue they for the destroying and dishonourable murthering of many Romaine Catholiques among whome the right noble County of Egmond was that wayes especially affected euen forsooth some such reason as the theefe had who said he robbed none but Papistes when he spared not any that had a crosse in his pursse which crosse he tooke to be the marke of a Papist so the Spaniardes tooke these noble men for Protestants because they were of honourable dsspositions maintainers of their countries liberties and louers of vertue which are not the ordinarie markes of Papists the riches of these countries by common estimation aunsweared the vallew of the king of Spaines Indias and from this root procéedeth all their ruines The proud Spaniardes enuied the greatnesse of these Lordes and the prosperity of the people and to féed their owne wastefull humours they hungred after absolute dominion and possession of their riches In all matters of obedience that appertayned vnto the king they serued his maiestie with all faithfulnesse so that the Spaniard could pickt no quarrell of disloyaltie They were driuen to square about the Pope though these people obeyed the king they charged them with Catholicke disobedience vpon this cause as they alleadge more then these twenty yéeres the insolent Spaniardes with swoorde famine and many other cruell maners of death haue afflicted and destroyed the naturall people of those countries and haue ransacked spoiled the most of their fayre and rich cities And yet these proud Spaniardes vpon a true account haue neither gayned honor nor profit by the ruines of these most rich countries While the godly Prince of Orange liued the Spaniardes had many foyles and few honorable victories the compassing of whose death with the worthy destruction of their own mur thering instruments testifie the tiranous spirites both of the Pope and the king of Spaine that neither obey the lawes of God honor nor humainitie by working by anye meanes the deathes of their enemies After the good Prince of Orange was traiterouslye slaine the order whereof is vniuersallye knowne and condemned the afflicted people of these countrys by their increasing calamities soone missed the benefite of his graue counsels But God be praised for the life and happines of her sacred maiesty euen good Quéene Elizabeth who with a mercifull eye and a Princely hand hath both beheld and giuen large sucker to their afflictions to the afflictions of these appressed people of the low countries to them I say with royall defence publicke succour and to the persecuted ChristiaÌ„s of all nations as their calamities required her sacred maiesty euen her onely zeale and vertue hath preserued Scotlande from forraine outrage and ciuill destruction the yonge kinge of Scots whom God blesse with deuine and heroicall vertues confesseth her maiesty to be his mother by whom next vnder God he liueth and raigneth she hath giuen him a kingdome in redéeming of it foorth of the tyranny of straungers and disobedience of awelesse subiects Her mediation hath much pacified the furies of Fraunce and her clemencye hath refreshed the woundes of Portugall her mercy is the Phisition of forraine afflictions and her holinesse the sure grounde of Englandes peace and prosperity England at this day and from the first hower of her maiesties blessed raigne the wonder of nations England I say of absolute gouernments onely in peace onely in prosperity onely free from féeling the vengeance of enuy many enemies be thou thankful for this deuine protectioÌ„ Englande or rather Englishe men be you counceled by the ouerthrowes of the fore recited monarchies kingdomes and common weales I haue presented you with these conquestes of enuy that you may be fore warned of your worst enemy euen this monster enuy which euer more contendeth against peace and prosperity you are plentifully blessed with both the blessinges and vniuersally besieged with enuy It is miraculous that you haue escaped the mischiefe of all her stratageames and dangerous war The Athenians were ignoraunt of no pollicy to withstaÌ„d their enemy yet could find no defence against enuye but to tame and kéepe vnder their prosperitye they yéerly banished their noble men not such as had offended the law but those which the common people woulde haue banished their wisedomes made the common weale to florishe but neither their wisedomes nor force could banishe enuy out of the hartes of the people they feared this passion more then Alexanders power and good cause why for her venime poysoned Alexander her pollicy murthered Caesar and quelled most of the worthies We néede not search forraine examples to teach vs the power of enuy she destroyed the house of Brut at whose gouernment we begin our Englishe cronicles for Ferrex his brother Porrex striuing for sole soueranitie sought each others confusion Porrex slew Ferrex and their mother murthered Porrex in his bedde in whose deathes the linage of Brute was ended Enuy was the cause of the chaunges of gouernment by the Saxons Danes Britans and lastely the enuy betwéene Harold and his brother after the death of king Edward the confessor was the meane that crowned William the conqueror with the Diadem of England The mischief which enuy sowed in king Richard the secondes dayes brought forth continuall murders ciuill warres and deadly quarrelles during the raignes of sixe kinges that succéeded him To be short this passion since
tiranny of Princes they war without warrant that rebell against their worst kinges Were there neither authority deuine nor prophane to reprooue rebellion yet in their best quarrel destruction which is the ende of traitours sheweth their beginning to be naught God manye times suffereth both good and bad Princes to fall into the handes of their subiectes but woe be vnto those subiectes by whom either perishe We need no other torment to relish our present peace and prosperity then the remonstration of the ciuill warres bloudshed and manye grieuous calamities which for the space of 85. yéeres yea during the raignes of 6. kinges afflicted this small kingdome After the violent depriuement of king Richard the second from his crowne and dignity but in the end the Lorde hauing compassion of our manifold miseries séeing our priuate dissention ready to grow to publicke destruction euen when his wrath séemed to be moste hot euen then the beames of his mercy sodenlye comforted vs by the destruction of our arch tyraunt Richard the third who caused and committed more wicked saluadge murders then fiftéene of the most tirannous kinges of England But humbly confessing Gods prouidence with this old age Nullum violentum perpetuum This tiraunt that was giltye of the death of king Henry the 6. Prince Edward his sonne and his own naturall brother George Duke of Clarence and afterwardes within the space of thrée yéeres of his vsurped raignes caused his nephewes king Edward the 5. and Richard Duke of York his brother to be murthered in the Tower not caring for his alleageaunce towardes the one nor fearing to breake the sanctuary for the other who repudiated his owne mother offered to marry his brothers daughter as is a fore saide After these and many other murders without the procéeding of law this manifest monster the ende of Englandes ciuill misery was slaine at Boshworth field by that prudent Prince king Henry the 7. by Gods planting the root of Englandes happinesse and naked like a hog was carried vpon a bare horse backe to Lecester there buried who meriteth neither the monument of King nor Man CHAP. 3. A sommarie of the vertues of the prudent prince King Henry the seuenth THE fayrest buylding hath a foundation and the fruitfullest trée his root and albeit the beuty of either be in the outward attyre yet the strength of both consisteth in the inwarde substaunce And certainely in all discriptions the cause ought to be as well set downe as the effect that Anatomie is perfect that discouereth all the inward as well as the outward workemanship of man Uertue I grant conuayeth honor simply from a mans owne good actions yet the same is much inlarged if from desent to desent honor be issued from the monumentes of his auncestours vertues And sure the glorye of a man is much iniured or eclipsed that is blasoned but by his owne proper regardes when the same maye bee truely illustred by such auncient graces But touching my purpose some will suggest that as it is a needlesse labour to seeke a Diamonde with a torche which glimmereth in the darke so as bootelesse is the curiositie to deriue her maiesties glorye further then from her owne sacred vertues when her wicked enemies renowne her perfections and wilfully pursue their owne destruction through presumption that her excellencye is composed all of grace and mercye I am bounde reuerentlye to acknowledge that her maiesties perfection is the true discouery of imperfection and in this regarde absolute that enuye and the worste sworne enemies of God assault her prosperity yet if anye thing maye be added to extoll her name this meriteth regarde that the fruites of vniuersall comfort which her deuine and heroicall graces plentifully distributeth grow from the root of Englandes happines which no priuie conspiracy could vnplant euen king Henry the seuenth And of that gréene trée which the stinging Locustes could by no meanes wither king Henry the eight And doubtlesse who so shal zelously contemplate how that the prouidence of God euen in our greatest destructions alwaies sustained vs may easily perswade him selfe that God would haue his glory to sâ—…ine ouer the world next his word from the lights of this little Iland seperated as some write from the world or at the least ioyned to the outermost end thereof How easie a praye had we béene for the ambitious desire of some bordering king during the blouddye contention betwéene the two illustrous houses Yorke and Lancaster for imperiall dignitye but God would not our subuertion The history of Richard the thirds tiranny is a most lamentable cronicle yet the same considered by Gods prouidence assureth vs by that sharpe remembrance a remembraunce of his mercifull goodnesse in deliuering vs from a continuall calamity in she wing vs through the vnlawfull procéedings of the tirant a lawfull meanes to accord these two puissant houses But before this great blessing his incomprehensible wisedome so sharply scourged this realme as all her estates suppressed their priuate desires and hartely praied and laboured for this happy vnity who mercifullye regarding our patient bondage crowned king Henrie the 7. with title of both houses by taking to wife Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter to king Edward the 4. And albeit the end of our ciuill destruction in the beginning of his prudent raigne be sufficient alone to crowne king Henry the 7. name with euerlasting fame yet to gouerne vs right God indued this noble Prince with vertues answerable to so great a blessing as a general peace And certainly if Alexander surnamed Seuerus be reckoned among the number of the most wise emperors King Henry the 7. meriteth semblable title as the true imitatour of Alexanders gouernment King Henry the 7. entered vpon a kingdome no lesse disordered with continuall tumults then did Alexander with the vnmeasurable voluptuousnes of Helyogabalus the necessitye of time made him a seuere executioner of his lawes and testifieth the same to be deriued from perfect iustice he punished offences without respect of persons Honor was no plea for the mighty he iudged the trespasses of Lawyers with his owne knowledge of the law he onely pardoned ignoraunt offences and graciously relieued his poore subiectes oppressions he was thought somewhat too seueere in punishment But such murmuringes were no lawfull complaints to a fore that is deepe festered with corruption sharpe corsiues are to be applyed Euen so in a disordered common wealth seueere lawes are to be ministred He was a iust vertuous valiaunt and learned Prince a true distributour of peace plentye and prosperitye to his subiectes who in his life time had had a moste liberall portion of happinesse if in his dayes the Gospell of IESVS had had a free passage But leaue we Gods will therein who would not haue his outward temple builded in Dauids time but in his sonne Salomons and yet was Dauid a righteous man after the Lord in whose hand the harts of princes are had established a setled peace
in this long disquiet realme in the 24. yéere of his raigne he peaceably called this noble king Henry vnto his heauenly kingdome and as a visible signe that he blessed the ioyninge of these two kingly houses in one hee gaue vnto this noble king by Quéene Elizabeth his wife sundrye goodly children of which as the vndoubted heyre of the kingdome by both titles was crowned the victorious king Henry the eight CHAP. 4. A sommarie of the royall vertues of king Henry the eight THe most victorious king Henry the 8. sonne of king Henry the 7. beganne his triumphaunt raigne the 22. of Aprill 1509. whose inuincible courage was feared and admired through al Europe He was a moste bountefull Prince towardes well descruing subiectes the magnanimity of his countenaunce kept them in a louing obedience In the 5. yéere of his raigne a fore presagement that he should clymbe aboue the Pope of Rome The Emperour Maximilian the Popes lawfull soueraine and all the nobilitie of Holland Braband and Flaunders receaued wages vnder king Henries banner whose puissaunce discomforted and abashed the whole power of Fraunce This royall king besides that he was Alexander in fielde he was a Philosopher in the Uniuersity And in his great learning blessed his subiectes with the fruites of this olde Prouerbe happy are those people whose king is a Philosopher And doubtlesse where the Prince is learned the people are peaceably gouerned Science which containeth all duties with varietie of examples so liberallie instructeth the louers and followers of her lore In the thirtéenth yeare of his raigne the King wrote with his owne hand a booke against Martin Luther for which the Pope named him Defender of the faith but little fore-feared he that God would make him the capitall offender of the Romish superstition Saule breathing out threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lorde receiued a speciall charge from the high Priests for the persecution of all sort of Christians at Damasco but God whose wisedome iudgeth the determinations of men wrought a wonderfull change in Saule for of a persecutor he made him a faithfull Apostle and chiefe strengthener of the Gentiles Euen so gratiousâ—…ie dealed God with this most noble King whereas the Pope imagined to haue by this title made him the sustainer of hys Idolatrie God by his holie spirit moued him to vse the same to the first capitall disgrace of Antichrist the Pope But as the good Father Latimer certified his Maiestie the title Defender of the faith simplie considered was more then was due to any earthly prince wheÌ„ his holy word deliuered by his Ministers both fostered and defended the same But in as much as it was Gods good will that vnder this kings and his offsprings authoritie the same should haue the most visible protection it may be lawfully thought that it was his will that the Pope should so intitle him as foreséeing by his wisedome that this prince in his séed should ouerthrow the Popes vsurped authoritie the most publike enimie of the true auncient and Apostolike faith Many interprete this prophesie of Esdras ecce leo concitatus de sylua rugiens c. loe a Lyon hastely running out of the wood roring who with a maÌ„s voice reprooued the saucie and misproud Eagle to figure thys noble prince Henry the 8. The rauening Eagle that had the victory ouer the foure beasts which God would haue had rained in the world that troubled the méeke c. is likewise interpreted to be Antichrist the Bishop of Rome The Armes of Rome which is the Eagle and the actions of the Pope wel approueth their interpretation Now who is more like to be this Lion that came roring out of the wood and shewed the rauening Eagles villanies to all the princes of the earth then King Henry the eight who euermore stoutly defied the Pope who euermore plainely painted his murthers deceits and abhominations then King Henry the 8. nay who first catched him by the throte but King Henry the 8. When all christian princes stood in awe of his curse he banished all his authoritie out of England when the meanest Bishops in other realmes would checke their Kings in his cause he caused the whole Cleargy by his learned Councell to be iudged in a premunire for mainteining the power legantine of Cardinall Wolsey who being called by processe into the Kings bench were glad by submission to pray pay á hundred thousand pounds for remission When other princes feared to murmur against the Pope secretly King Henry in the name of himselfe and his Nobles wrote a booke against the counsell appointed by the Pope at Mantua signifying to the whole world that the Pope had no more authoritie then an other Bishop and how that the appointment of Counsels only appertained to the Emperour and other Princes of Christendome What Lion was euer so bold with the Eagle of Rome as this Lion of England What Lion is so like to come roring out of the wood as the Lion of England The Lion of Vennice commeth out of the water The Lion of England is proper passant bowes and arrowes which are his strength commeth out of the wood I would the Popes english fauourers would wey this prophelie with the pride enuy outrage both of diuine humane blessings setled in the hart and séene in the actions of this Emperious Pope and then by allegorie they would peraduenture repute him to be this ambitious Eagle signified by the armes of his sea capitol city Rome And on the contrary part if with the like regard they would behold the wonderful disgraces that this noble king by himselfe princely children hath daily giueth this enuious Pope they should haue large cause to beléeue that our Lion signified by the armes of England with his mans voice should set this misproud Eagles head awâ—…y should vanish his wings weaken his kingdome in fine set his whole body of fire If they had any sence they might féele that our Lion in the name of the Lord thus saith hence thou misproud Eagle appeare thou no more neither thy horrible wings thy mischeuous heads thy rauening clawes nor thy hollow body coÌ„pact of vanities The cause straight foloweth that thou once gone the earth may be refreshed that thy kingdome once fallen men may returne to freedom c. I demaÌ„d what reckning they caÌ„ make of the egles 12. wings that ouerspread the earth by Gods appointment since our Lion first shoke him vp or as the text saith since the wind K. Henries thuÌ„dring voice spread abrod his wickednes Sée if EnglaÌ„d be not shronk froÌ„ him ScotlaÌ„d denieth him Hol and Brabant and Flanders delieth him Germany paints him as a moÌ„ster Denmark is parted froÌ„ him France is deuided Polland is indifferent if Spaine Italy be constant they be well paid for their frendship The Eagle the Pope that sometimes was capitalis dominus as well as summus pontifex
kingdome by suffering the bloodie Bishops to misuse her Emperiall sword she in their procéedings outragiouslie tyrannised the true professors of the Gospell which God her noble father and good brother his instruments bée therefore praysed had taken a sound holde in the hart of England whose crueltie and contrarietie in Religion may no wayes slaunder her godlie father and his off-spring We sée the Rose trée that bringeth foorth the swéete Rose lykewise bringeth foorth sharpe prickels but to come more néerer the matter the kyrnell of the best apple will growe to be a crabbe vnlesse some good fruite bee grafted on the stocke and looke what the Sience is suche will be the trée looke what is â—…owen in youth is euer séene in age the following example teacheth a good pollicie to haue an eie vnto Schoolemaisters and the education of Papistes children The séede of Idolatrie superstition and send Ceremonies were sowne in the heart of Ladie Mary béeing a childe which grewe to the disworship of God and the destruction of the godlie Ladie Mary béeing a Quéene But God no doubt suffered thys prickle to growe of thys gréene Rosier and thys irreligion to be grafted of thys religious stocke to chasten the sinnes of England who hauing a righteous Prince peace and plentie both of spirituall and temporall blessings neyther saluted the giuer of thys goodnesse with hartie thankes nor sought the continuance thereof with a dutifull regarde of the Kings Maiestie but in some of her members hauing an eye fixed vppon the Kings tender yéeres and not an hart setled vppon hys firme vertues she began to worke matters hatefull to GOD offensiue to the Prince and most hurtfull to her selfe and therefore God 〈◊〉 Englande of the most milde vertueus godlie and well disposed Prince King EDWARD the sixth and in wrath sente vs euen suche a Prince as the Prophete speaketh of that shoulde oppresse vs with most greeuous bondage that should by taxes great impositions take froÌ„ vs the fruites of the feeld vineyards oliue trees and should giue them to his lords and seruants Euen Quéene Mary that imposed many great summes of money vppon vs to enrich strange Lords that by committing the waightie affaires of the publike weale to Bishops almost wilfully lost Callis an auncient ornament belonging to England which Citie the notorious Atheist Gardener vaunted that he would kéepe with a white wand an vnlikely matter that his courage serued him to defend Callis against the power of a puissant King with a white wand that armed troupes to gard the vnresisting Martyrs to burning but which stained her gouernement with euerlasting crueltie she by her ministers in fyue yéeres tyrannouslie burned fiue times more innocent and quiet Protestants then good Quéene Elizabeth in 27. yéeres raigne by her lawes hath executed notorious Papists that committed treason when my soule durst sweare that there be double the number of the poore Protestants that then constantly professed the holie Gospell that now in their harts wish her Maiesties depriuement both of life and crowne and yet liue This persecution made many to flée the Realme for their consciences sake but they sought not libertie by rebellion they confessed this bondage and persecution to procéed from the Lords heauie displeasure and humblie awaighted his fauour for their deliuerance No one hath more cause to exclaime of this hard gouernement then our gratious Quéene Elizabeth She was not entertained like the daughter of a mightie King and heire apparant of a rich kingdome Good Lady she was emprisoned her attendance small her libertie nothing When her innocencie disprooued publike accusations the Cleargie sought her life by secret tyrannie sought it do I say yea they had wrought it had not God beyond mans expectation wonderfully deliuered her Maiestie her assured friends despaired of her worldly welfare her Maiestie that behelde the bloody knife a sharpning misdoubted not her deliuerance Her friends trembled because there was no measure in the Papists crueltie her Maiestie looked chéerefully because she knew the Diuell had no might but such as God suffered In the holie Bible the louing embracements whereof was her Maiesties persecution her excellencie had learned these pretious comforts and in them reposed The Lord sayeth Who so honoreth me him will I make honorable In another place Dauid sayeth Who so dwelleth vnder the shadow of the almighty him God couereth with his wings and keepeth safe vnder his feathers I know saith he the Lord helpeth his annointed and euen from heauen heareth them Some trust in chariots some in horsses but we in calling vpon the Lord. God can and oft times doth pine man and beast euen in the middest of plentie God where he setteth too his hand worketh wonders and sturdie strength standeth in no stead God thus speaketh to Dauid and yet by a spiritual interpretation maketh like promise to all kings and princes that hartely séeke his glorie Because thou hast set thy loue vpon me I will see thee rid from all thy troubles I will defend thee why so it followeth Thou hast knowen my name thou seekest my glorie and therefore whensoeuer thou callest vpon my name I will heare thee yea I am with thee in all thy calamities and will deliuer thee from them I will set thee higher in honor send thee long life and shew thee thy saluation Her Maiestie builded vpon these comforts her soule desired and hoped to be an instrument of his wonderfull glorie examples of Scripture told her that those whome God had appointed to any speciall seruice euen those he guided through mortall dangers he preserued Ioseph from the murthering enuy of his brethren to saue old Iacob his father his malitious brethren and al Israel from the sharp death of famine Against the tyranous decrée of Pharao which was that the Midwiues should kill all the male children of the Hebrewes his prouidence saued Moses from drowning and made him his instrument to leade the children of Israell out of the bondage of Pharao vnto the land of promise God in the deapth of the sea fetched Ionas the Prophet foorth of the Whales belly to saue Niniuey from destruction God deliuered Peter forth of the prison tirannie of Herod the Iewes that he might open the gates of faith and preach the way of saluation euen vnto his enimies God sundry waies miraculouslie deliuered Paule from the vengeance of death to preach the Gospell of saluation vnto the Gentiles at Philippos in Macedonia he caused him Sylas to be deliuered forth of prison In Lycaonia the Iewes the people stoned him and drew him forth of the City as a dead man God raised and reuiued him againe God againe redéemed him out of the hands of the Iewes when as forty of them swore they would neither eate nor drinke vntill they had slaine Paule yea God in his extremitie stood by him comforted him saying Be of good cheere Paule for as thou hast testified of me at
authoritie or dissention Yea about this time that the fall of Antichrist might be visibly séene by the taking awaie of such Christian princes as were his setled supporters when as Lodowicke Guiccerdine reporteth ther was not any where either brute of pestilence or extraordinarie disease there died within the space of one yeare the Emperour Charles the fifth the Quéene of Hungary Quéene Mary of England two Kings of Denmarke Bona Sforza Quéene of Polonia Henry the third king of France Ierolme Priuli Duke of Vennice Hercules da este Duke of Ferrara and Paule the fourth Pope of Rome a change verie vniuersall wherein Gods prouidence is not to be ouerpassed with a light consideration whose will vndoubtedly was by the change of these princes the most of them drunken with Poperie to make a ready passage through Europe for the gospel of our sauiour Iesus Christ which vpon this change began to florish in most of the recited gouernements And albeit the fall of Antichrist in many places of the scripture be liuely presaged vpon the authority whereof there is sure and sound building when the prophesies and dreames of a number are but rotten foundations yet I hope I may without iust reprehension say that God many times acquainteth the minds of some good men with an imaginatiue knowledge of things to come which many yéeres after falleth out according to their presagement and for example belōging to our matter the reformation of the Church vnder her Maiesties raigne before her noble fathers death was set downe in this following prophesie Post H sequetur E post E quod mirum M M coronabitur breue confundetur Post M sequetur E vel A Et tunc conuertetur ecclesia In English E shall follow H next E with wonder M M shall be crowned and soone confounded Next vnto M E or A shall raigne Then shall the Church conuerted be againe Noble King Henry the eight first vnmasked this proude Pope King Edward the fixt the parragon of yong princes helped to vncase him Quéene Mary fauoured but liued not to strengthen him and now our soueraigne Elizabeth hath geuen him a mortall disgrace his painted Church abideth not the tuch Gods Church is vniuersally reuerenced The multitude are more delighted to reade a fewe godly sentences written vppon the Church wall then to sée his rarest rotten reliques layde vp in a golden chest Against her Maiestie he principally warreth as the chosen instrument of almightie God to abase his imperious mind to the wonder of the world and comfort of all good Christians CHAP. 8. Of the peaceable and honorable victorie that her Maiestie had against the french forces in Scotland which were raised with a determination for the inuasion of England the second yeare of her Maiesties raigne AFTER the death of Henry King of France his sonne Frances the second succéeded in the kingdome of France a prince of the age of sixtéene yéeres who being married vnto Mary Quéene of Scots and néece to the Duke of Guise suffered the affaires of the estate to be gouerned by the ambitious policy of the Duke and family of the Guises who hauing wished successe in their practises in Quéene Maryes dayes about the winning of Callice hoped and hungred after the spoile and conquest of England And the better to colour their purpose they intituled the King of France in the right of the Quéene his wife to the Crowne of England and knowing the difference betwéene the Quéenes Maiestie of England and the Pope in matters of religion they easily obtained of Paulus the fourth a disablement of the Quéenes Maiestie and an approouement of the Quéene of Scots right but King Frances had béene well aduised if he had not accepted this gift vntill the Pope had set him in possession of the kingdome which would haue troubled both him and his whole Colledge of Cardinals This depriuation by the Pope the Guises practised to moue the Papists of England to their part taking and arming theyr purpose by degrées to worke a feare in her Maiesties loyall subiects they wrote a booke of the weakenesse insufficiencie of feminine gouernement and by their owne reasons wounded the strength of their owne title which they deriued from the Quéene of Scots This scandale of feminine gouernemente was soundlie aunswered by an vnnamed authour in an english printed book at Strasbrowgh entituled A safe harbor for good subiects And truely although the soueraigne place of rule the chiefe credit of knowledge in Artes and Mecanicall craftes together with all other giftes of grace nature and education be giuen vnto man yet there haue béene women that in all maner of artes qualities and vertues which haue equalled the perfitest of men Innumerable are the testimonies of womens profound learning pure chastitie rare constancie patient martyrdome and a number most valiant whereof Chawcer reciteth nine Woorthies aunswerable to the nine Woorthies of men And touching regall gouernement from whence this question is deriued the Iewes recorde the sage gouernemente of Quéene Alexandra with more renowne then they did the tyrannie of her husband Alexander with reproch whose bodie they were determined to haue giuen vnto the dogs as also to haue murthered his two sonnes to haue rooted out Alexanders name if that her wisedome had not redéemed out either Theodosia the Empresse of Constantinople with admired prudence ruled the whole Empire during her life The gouernement of Senobia was no lesse renowmed Dydo the Amazones and many other were absolute Quéenes Semiramis enlarged the bounds of her Empire and Quéene Tomyris slewe Cyrus and his whole hoaste c. But if the enuy of men would suppresse and murther the worthines of women yet the diuine vertues of our soueraigne Quéene Elizabeth doth and will alwaies kéepe aliue their diuine memorie Of whome Guiccerdine in his Commentaries although all his writing defendeth the pope and reproueth Religion thus reporteth The good Queene Mary being dead without issue Elizabeth her sister was proclaimed Queene c. a Princesse of great learning and ouer and aboue the Laten and her mother toong she is possessed of the French and Italian language which she eloquently speaketh a yong Lady of a hye spirit wise and endewed with rare and noble qualities He might haue added the Greeke Spanish and some other ordinarie tongues with many extraordinary vertues which may as hardly be sampled by anie other lyuing Creature as the Sunne by the fairest of the Planets The worthinesse and strength of whose Gouernment euen from the beginning confuted the scandule of this lybell which was grounded vppon noe generall Lawe of God or man There haue béene priuate Lawes in some perticular Gouernments to take away and to disable the absolute gouernment of women when the generall Lawe possessed them with Imperiall authoritie As in Rome the Law Voconia so called because Voconius Tribune of the people pronounced the same In Fraunce the law Salique which they fetch from king Pharamond which bindeth the present
gouernment of Fraunce no otherwise then the auncient statutes of the Danes Britans or Saxons doe at this day the Gouernment of Englande This vnnaturall Lawe had a barbarous beginning for the reporters thereof confesse that anno 420. the Franconians hauing abandoned their Countrey inhabited along the Rhine and especially about Treues The manners of these people being barbarous they liued vnciuilly without Lawe Which considered by Pharamonde their first Kinge the sonne of their Duke Marcomir He chose foure of the principall men of the Sicambrians whom he authorised by their wisedomes to giue a Law vnto the people The names of these foure were Vsucast Losocust Salgast and Visogust These foure made the Lawe Salique by which Lawe Emperiall gouernment say they is taken away from the daughters and heires of the Kinges of Fraunce This dead Lawe and many other to as little purpose were reuiued to bury the true and lawfull title of King Edwarde the 3. to the kingdome of Fraunce in the right of Quéene Isabell his mother the daughter heire of King Phylip le bel But King Edward nor his successors would not loose their right vpon such canterburie suggestions And some of them subiected the Frenchmen to English obedience And to this day the Armes and Imperiall title of Fraunce are ioyned to the honour of Englande To what purpose doth the law Mentall in Portugal forbid feminine gouernment King Philip deriueth his title from Marie the daughter of Iohn the third of that name king of Portugal and by that title is possessed of the kingdome It is God that disposeth kingdomes and the works of busie heads that vnlawfully séeke to withstand the law of nature in succession To be briefe this inuectiue prooued but a scare-crow it was indiscreatly written and negligently regarded King Francis or more truely the family of the Gwyses ancored their hope vpon the Popes sentence and in all the kings patents and other instruments caused to be intituled Frances of France Scotland England and Ireland king and in his shield quartered the Armes of England and to conquer the kingdome Come era apparente as Guiccerdine reporteth dyuers french forces were daily conuayed into Scotland who tooke and by force kept the strong townes and fortrises there The inhabitants oppressed thus with straungers were for their owne safegard driuen to sew vnto the Quéenes maiesty of England for aid to expel the french who sought the spoile and subuertion of Scotland The malicious purpose of the Guyses ioyned with commyseration of the daungerous affiction of Scotland the Quéene whereof was married and gouerned in France and so barred to vse the lybertie of her Crowne bound the Queenes Maiesty by the vertue of honour pollicie and charitie to sucker them with expedition To accomplish which matter her Maiestie sent a sufficient power towards Scotland by the Duke of Norfolke as generall who remained at Barwicke and the Lord Greay of Wilton being Liuetenaunt entred into Scotland and with her royall power ioyned with the Scots against the french who were soone weary of the English-mens comming But almightie God had set downe a more milde order to honour her Maiesty with the vanquishment of her enimies then by dynt of sword to accomplish which her highnesse sent Syr William Cycill knight at that time her Maiesties principall Secreatorie and nowe Lord Treasorer of England for the full knowledge of whose excéeding worthynesse I retourne the good reader to the Athenians commendation of the Philosopher Euxin and with him accompanied the learned and graue Gentleman Master Doctor Wotton to treat with the french who with their wisedomes so vanquished the french as to the quietnesse and safetie both of England and Scotland they forced them to depart with this following dishonour as Guicherdine reporteth who if he be pertiall it is in fauour of the french First that the King and Quéene of Fraunce and Scotland should leaue the Armes and title of the King of Englande and Irelande and that within sixe monethes at the furthest they shoulde cancell and renewe all their writings and instruments if there were any so made with the former Armes and Titles Further that the Realme of Scotland should be gouerned by the Counsell of twelue persons of the Nobilitie of the said kingdome whereof seuen shoulde bée nominated by the Scotish Quéene and siue by the thrée estates of the Parliament That the iniuries and trespasses committed on either part during the commotion should be forgotten and for the better assurance should be confirmed by the said Parliament That the Garrisons of french souldiers should retourne into Fraunce sauing onely in two fortes sixtie a péece subiect to the Iustice and paie of the Parliament of Scotlande That euerie man shoulde be restâ—…red to his office in the saide Realme and that no french man should haue any more office benefite or administration what so euer in Scotland That the french shoulde not at anie time conuay Munition of warre or souldiers into Scotlande without consent of the saide Parliament with sundrie other straight obseruaunces on the behalfe of the french which Guicherdine concludeth Con grandissimo vantaggio honore della regina Inglese with the greatest aduauntage and honour of the Quéene of Englande a victorie no doubt of great glorie and honour Whereby her Maiestie not onelie deliuered her owne Countrey from the daunger of inuasion but also fréeed Scotlande from the bondage of forraigne Gouernment and thus her enemies hungring after an vnlawfull spoyle lost the disposement of an assured benefite which fortune befall to all those that miswish her Amen CHAP. 9. Of her Maiesties peaceable victorie against the rebels in the North ioyned with her quiet vanquishing of sundry other conspiracies to the vniuersall benefit of England PIus Quartus who succéeded Paulus 4. in the Popedome finding an abasemeÌ„t of the glorie with which his predecessours were honoured and fearing with all that the example of England Scotland Denmarke and Germanie would draw other Nations from the obedience of the Romishe erronious Church to the profession and receiuing of the Gospell of our sauiour Iesus Christ the life of the soule and destruction of this accursed Antichrist laboured with the consent of manie Princes to reuiue the Counsell or more properly the conspiracie of Trent A conspiracie I may iustly say the pollicy whereof was to kéepe vnder the glorious merite of our sauiour Iesus and to aduaunce to the highest degrée of reuerence the painted Idolatrie of the Pope And appointing for his Legates 5. Cardinals who with a great number of Bishops and other doctors of their Church the eyght day after Easter 1561. beganne this vnholy Counsell And truely as in the intent of their assembly was séene this saying of the Psalmist The kinges of the earth stande vp and the rulers take consell togither against the Lorde and his annoynted So likewise in their vaine idle successe this continuance of the Psalme is further séene He that
liuer and euerie man that hath authoritie is bounde both to correct the offence and to enquire after the offender If euerie man in his calling woulde thus truely doe the office of a good Common wealthes man Enuie and all euill woulde bee easilie withstoode men woulde soone looke into the dueties of their proper vocation for feare that others looked into the abuses thereof I haue with the authoritie of the wise and learned set downe what is needefull for euerie man to consider of his calling if they will striue against vertue and the credite of their vocations they are worthy of double punishment both for the fault and for wilfulnesse being warned of which I hope the godly reader will be admonished MIRROVR Lib. 3. CHAP. 1. Of the excellency of Royal dignities and dueties of a good King and of the short raignes and violent ends of Tyrantes THE dignitie Royall is so greate and holy as kings that are protectors and defenders of humane society imitate the prouidence of God whose office action is to gouerne al things and therfore rightly and properly are they called Uicars and Ministers of that most soueraine puissant and vniuersall gouerner And he himselfe calleth them gods figuring in that sacred name two hie charges the one that kings crowned with so glorious a name should imitate God whose lieuetenants they are in their religion Iustice and gouernement the other that subiectes knowing the honour that God giueth vnto kings should adore and worship them with all possible reuerence S. Paul saith he that resisteth the ordinance of the king resisteth the ordinance of God Looke what dignitie instruction is giuen vnto the king the Lord vouchsafeth to say that he bestoweth the same himselfe as in these passages of Scripture By me kings raigne Harken then you kings for power is giuen you of the Lord. Dauid thus singeth the Lord teacheth the kings hands to mannage Armes and his fingers to war And to the like effect are many other authorities Porrus king of the Indians being taken in battaile Alexander demaunded of him how he would be intertained Porrus answered as a king Alexander demaunded againe if he would say any thing else Porrus said no for all honor is contained in this word king This name king was held of so great reuerence among the people of many nations as the Indians and the Persians worshiped their kings as deuine Idols held the incounter happie if by chance they saw their king The Ethiopians so reuerenced their king as they adiudged him worthie of death that did but spit in their kings presence The Poets celebrated Iubiter more by the name of king than any other title It is wonderfull with what patience the Romanes and other Nations suffered the tyrannie of their vitious Emperors and barbarous kinges and if by Gods Iustice any of them were cut off the vnciuile multitude were the instruments thereof for the graue and wise senators were seldome guiltie of their destructions At this day the Turkes so reuerence their Emperors commaundements as they execute themselues if their Emperour pronounce the sentence Christian kings are nothing so seuere towards their subiectes but Christian subiectes are farre lesse obedient to their kings well euill will fal vpon his house that resisteth against the ordinance of the king for he that resisteth receiueth vnto himselfe damnation Yea albeit the king bée a tyrant so long as his commaundements are not to the dishonour of God He that resisteth because the king is a tyrant encreaseth his sinnes and doubleth Gods wrath who sendeth Tyrants to punish the sinnes of the wicked who saith I will do vengeance on my enimies by my enimies God saieth Iob maketh the hypocrite to raigne for the sinnes of the people In O see God speaketh thus I will giue thee a king in my furie And in Esay Assur is the Rodde and staffe of my furie By these and many other testimonyes it is apparant that God setteth kings in their kingdomes by they good or euill and will not haue them remoued at their subiectes pleasure A man that placeth an euill steward ouer his house in no case will allow that his seruaunts shall put him out of office for that such boldnesse would lessen the authoritie of their master who hath the prerogatiue to place and displace his officers much more presumption is it if subiects displace their prince who hath a greater power ouer them than a master ouer his seruaunts for the master in some cases shal answere the sute of his bond-man but the king in no case de Iure shall answere a trespasse done to his subiect for his prerogatiue is aboue the law although many good kings suffer themselues to be gouerned by their good Lawes God setteth them in their kingdomes and God alone will haue the authoritie to remoue them Saul vniustly persecuted Dauid yet Dauid hauing aduantage to slay him said to Abisai distroy him not for who can lay his hands of the Lords annoynted and bee guiltlesse And he further saide The Lord keepe me from laying my hands of the Lords annoynted In auncient times kings not onely gouerned the common wealth but also tooke charge of the Sacrifices and Ceremonies The Hebrewes annointed their kings with the selfe same Oyle that they did their hie Priestes which prooueth that kings are sacred and who so euer layeth violent hands vppon them cannot but bée guiltie of Irriligion Wée sée dignitie of Royall gouernement which dependeth vppon one soueraigne heade to be liuely figured in man himselfe in whom reason gouerneth as soueraigne Quéene The world it selfe where aboue our eyes we behold infinite bodies and motions which hindreth not one an others course belowe we sée a Sea that continually threateneth the earth and yet ouerfloweth it not The earth being verie waightie and massiue we may perceiue to be set or rather hanging in the aire and yet stirreth not all which would soone be out of order if it were not gouerned by the wisedome of one onely God Euen so a kingdome which as Plato defineth is composed of a mightie number of people and as the prouerbe goeth So manie men so many iudgements would soone haue come to naught through the couetous desire to raigne and disdaine to obey if there were not one soueraigne commaunder of these infinite affections which prooueth that Monarchia which is the gouernement of one is far more sacred excellent and perfite then Aristocratia Democratia Oligarchia Laocratia or any other compound gouernement for it is a harder matter to finde out many than one that is good The contrarietie of affections where there are many heads can hardly but bring forth enuie deuision and to conclude continuall dissention Considering then the worthines of Monarchia and the maiestie of a king obedience is not onely required of a subiect but the daunger that followeth counselleth and forbiddeth so much as to murmure against princes There is an auncient
and knowledge that he might worthelie iudge the people Plutarke and Aulus Gelius recite that when Alexander was borne king Philip his father wrote in this manner vnto Aristotle I thanke not God so much for that I haue a sonne as for that he is borne in the time of Aristotle c. to whose instruction Philip committed him and truely his worthy actions bewrayed the wisdome of his education This Alexander shewed the loue he bare to learning when hearing that Aristotle had written certaine bookes of naturall Philosophie hee wrote vnto him in this manner Truely Aristotle thou deceiuest my desire in publishing of this speculatiue philosophie which I thought should properly haue honored my selfe for know thou I had rather exceed all men in knowledge and learning than in riches and dominions Antigonus king of Macedone to be instructed in wisedome knowledge by his letter thus saluted the Philosopher Zenon The king Anty gonus wisheth health to the Philosopher Zenon I know well that I passe thee in riches and fauours of fortune but I must confesse that thou farre passest me in the true felicitie which consisteth in the knowledge discipline and studie of the lyberal sciences Alexander afore named so loued Homers Illyads as he appointed the magnificēt Iuel box of Darius to kéepe the same Cesar the best Captaine that euer was by his singular learning raised a question whether he was more honored with the lance or the penne Certainly they be both so necessarie as without the knowledge and vse of either a royal prince is maymed The multitude as Sophocles saith is a beast with many heads and therefore to gouerne such a monster requireth many pollicies in which the works of learned men will liberally instruct a prince but to acquire perfite knowledge the principall induction is the feare of the Lord which as Salomon saith is the beginning of wisedome The prince that will haue good subiects ought chiefely to instruct them with the example of his owne good life for for the most part the manners of the people incline to the affections of the Prince The noble prince ought to shake the flatterer from his eare and to raise the oppressed that fall at his féete for the one lieth in waite to disgrace the good and the other by opening their wrongs discouer the bad Hard and bitter words of a prince is the cause of much murmuring discontentment in the subiects where the prince is noted to be temperate no man wil be so hardy as to demand a wicked vile request O happy art thou Marcus Cato saith Cicero of whom no man dare demaund a wicked thing He is worthy of a kingdome and soueraigne rule and giueth hope of a good prince that pursueth the wicked hateth the intemperate reiecteth the lyars as the pestilence flieth the counsels of voluptuous persons for who so effecteth the desires of such counsellers his infancie wil be shameles his youth effeminated and his age infamous The preacher saith wel is thée O thou land whose king is come of nobles whose princes eate in due seasō for necessity not for lust king Lamuels mother counsaileth to giue the king no wine nor princes strong drink least in being drunken they forget the law and administration of iustice When king Alexander became a drunken Epicure in his drunkennesse he slewe his deare friends and by misgouernment hastened his owne death King Balthafar in his general banquet to his thousand Lords when he was drunken with wine commaunded his vessels of gold and siluer which his father Nabuchodonosor had taken out of the Temple at Ierusalem to be brought vnto him that he his wiues concubines might drink in them in contempt of the liuing Lord. but in the middest of his banquet the vengance of God with a visible hand wrote his destruction vpon the wal Dronkennes containeth all vices and the least vice is a great blemish in a prince Temperance in dyet bredeth sobrietie in manners reposed words are the glory of a Iuditial throne The sound safetie of a king is in the cherishment of religion and maintenance of his Lawes for the one vpon pain of damnation kéepeth subiectes in loyall obedience the other for feare of temporal punishment brideleth the dispositions of the wicked it is not ynough for the honor and maiestie of a prince to administer the vertue of all these vertues to his subiects alone but as Xenophon in his Cyropedia writeth a prince well quallified ought so to vse his enimies as his enimies may become his friends Pompey the great hauing vanquished Tygranus king of the Armenians hée established Tygranus againe in his kingdome saying that it was as Magnanimous a thing to giue a king his kingdome as to take it from him but the magnificent clemencie of Philip Maria Duke of Mylaine toward his vanquished enimies deserueth more than mortall honour This Philip Maria by victorie in a battaile vppon the Sea tooke Alfonsus king of Aragon and Sicile with two of his brethren Thierry king of Nauare the Prince of Tarent and three hundred men of great reputation all which he sent backe freely into their owne countries and where by the Law of Armes he might haue taken great ransomes of these Estates such was the honour of his mind as hée gaue vnto euerie one of them rich presents The senate of Rome deliuered 2700. Carthagenian prisoners without ransome I coulde resite manie of the like examples but small perswasions instruct the wise the vertuous desire glorie rather by their owne Actions than by the examples of other men And aboue all men a Royal Prince ought to be bewtified both with diuine and heroycall vertues for that the names dispositions and doing of the meanest princes are regestred in the Capitols of the whole world writers so narrowly search the doings of Princes as the prudēt Emperour Alexander surnamed Seuerus would oftentimes say that he stoode in more feare of one writer than of a hundred souldiers for that the wound of a pen remaineth after death when the sharpe stroke of a launce bereaueth a man but of life it is not onely conuenient that a Prince doe exercise pietie Iustice Temperance and all other offices of vertue for his honour and good renowne but it is néedfull that he do the same for his owne safetie for albeit there be no penall Law to chasten a Royall king yet Tyrannie is so odious to God and man as we seldome reade of any that raigne long and of as few that die peaceablie A number of whose ignominious deathes briefely to touch I hold not impertinent that other Princes may by the terrour thereof be feared and warned from Tyranny The Tyrant Abimelech slew 70. of his brethren and in the end a woman from a hie tower tombled a stone vpon his head the wound being mortall he willed his Page to runne him through with his sword that it might not be said a woman slew
him Saul that slew the Sacrificatures to the number of 85. as also the wiues and yong children of Nobe vpon an ouerthrow in battaile slew himselfe Athalia the mother of Ochosias to reuenge her sons death slew al the race of the house of Iuda except Ioas who saued by Iehosaba was crowned in the temple and the wicked Athalia was slaine at the entrie of the Pallace Achas an Idolatrer and Paricide was deliuered vnto the hands of the king of Asiria The like vengeance was inflicted vpon the Tyrant Manasses The miserable vengeance that lighted vpon the séede and people of Ieroboam is set downe by the Prophet Abias how that the dogs should eate those that died in the Citie and the fowles of the aire those that died in the fielde which threatnings were soone executed for Nadab succéeding both in the principallitie and tyrannie was slaine by Baasa who according to the words of the Prophet rooted out the whole race of Ieroboam Baasa was slaine by Zamri which Zamri left not a kinseman or knowne friend of Baasaes aliue Zamri hauing raigned but seauen daies was pursued as a murtherer who séeing the Citie to be taken set fire of the roiall pallace and so burned himselfe Achab and his wicked wife Iesabell who caused Naboth to be slaine to be possessed of his Uineyarde according to the prophesie of Elia the dogs that licked vp the blood of Naboth also licked vp Achabs and of Iesabell the dogs deuoured flesh and all and further the vengeance of Ieroboam raigned vpon Achabs séede his sonne Ocozias died of a hurt and for that he sought succour of the Diuell to be healed Ioran his sonne was slaine by Iehu who by his letters caused the princes of Israell to slay the 70. sonnes of Achab which Iehu also rooted out the false prophets of Baal Zacharia raigned but sixe moneths and was slaine for hys tyrannie Sellum who slew Zacharia raigned but one moneth and was slaine by Manahem Pekahia the sonne of Manahem was a Tyrant and was slaine by Pekah Pekah was slaine by Hoseas and Hoseas was lead captiue by Salmanasar into Asiria this was the confusion of the Tyrants of Israell The effeminate Sardanapalus by the sharpe war of two of his princes Belochus and Arbaces fired his pallace and in the same burned himselfe and his concubines Senacherib by the Angell of the Lord had his armie ouerthrowne and 185000. of his hoast were slaine and he fléeing vnto Niniuy was in the temple of his idols slaine by his two sonnes Adramalech and Sarasar Ptholomy the thunder bolt that slew Seleuchus and maried his sister Arsâ—…a to sley her two sonnes was himselfe in most reprochfull manner slaine by Brennus and the Frenchmen Ptholomy Philopator so called in mockerie because he slew his father and his mother liued and died in great slauerie while his Curtisane Agathoclea and the baude Oenantus gouerned the affaires of his kingdome Ptholomy Phiscon so called because of his gluttonie for his crueltie called the great Tyrant who slew his brothers children and two of his owne sonnes and in the Colledge of Alexandria burned a great number of yong schollers as he liued he died like a beast Ptholomy Lamirus or the babler and Ptholomy Auletus so called for his flatterie were both cruell Tyrants and had dishonorable and beastly endes The ingratefull Ptholomy Dionisius that stroke off the head of his Gouernour Pompeius was for practising against Caesar ouerthrowne and drowned in Nylus Esay speaking of the plagues that shoulde raigne vppon Babylon figured how odious the Persian Tyrants were in Gods sighte vppon whome hys vengeance continuallye lighted Cyrus his whole army were slaine by Quéene Thomiris The cruel Cambises slew his brother Smirdis through enuy that he should raigne after him and by his sword falling foorth of his sheath slew himselfe The Tyrant Xerxes that slew his brother Masistes was slaine by his vncle Artabanus Ochus slew fourescore of his brethren and in the end was slaine by one of his Captaines named Bagoas and his carkasse throwne to the dogs The Monarkie of Alexander and the Gretians together with the tyrannie and violent ends of his successors is sufficiently showne before in the Conquests of enuie Nicocrates put to death most of the principall Citizens and was himselfe slaine by Leander Leander succéeded Nicocrates both in rule and tyrannie and therefore was put into a sacke of leather and throwne into the Sea Zela Prusias and Pharaces all Tyrants were violentlie slaine Aristotimus the Archtyrant was so odious as the people slew him in the temple of Iupiter and by the iudgement of the people his wife and two daughters readie to be maried were strangled Phraates King of the Parthians who slewe thirtie of hys brethren and strangled his father had his throte cut by hys bastard Eucratides King of the Bactrians slew his father draue his Coach through his blood and caused his carkasse to bée throwne vnto beasts but by the vengeance of God in one day he lost his kingdome his owne life and the liues of his whole race Archias Philippus Leontidas and Hyppias cruell Tyrants of Thebes were all foure slaine by Pelopidas and hys associates The Kings of Sicile were generally such Tyrants as they are specially thus registred The Tyrants of Sicile of whome horror and cruelty continually attended and as it appeareth in the question betwéene the Tyrant Dionisius the elder and the Orator Damocles the ende of a Tyrant is not only violent but his life is wretched and miserable so that leauing to shew the infamous ends of Caligula Nero Heliogabalus other Romaine Tyrants as also those of our age I will conclude this Chapter with a summarie of Damocles historie that princes séeing the best estate of Tyrants to be miserable may be counselled to hate tyranny as much as they are bound to loue their honor and safetie Damocles on a time praised the riches of Dionisius and maintained that the sunne neuer shined vppon a more happie prince wherevpon Dionisius to make him partaker of thys felicitie made him to be set vpon a magnificent bed caused the tables to be couered and furnished with vessels of golde and siluer and in them most delicate viandes and to attend vpon him he appointed many beautiful pages poudered with most comfortable perfumes and vppon euerie side of this mignion Damocles all manner of swéete musicke was placed but in the middest of his glorie Dionisius caused a naked sword with the point directly vppon Damocles head to bée fastned only with the hayre of a horse tayle who sodainely forgetting the felicitie that he so highly praised humbly beséeched the Tyrant to deliuer him from it which scourge of conscience or rather liuing death neuer punisheth the good Prince but as the Psalmist
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
a she vvolfe The empire of the Meades chaunged into Persian Iust. lib. 1. The empire â—…nslated into Macidonia The enuy of Alexander Alexander poysoned thorough Enuy. Thessalus a trâ—…i terous Phisition A necessary note for Prâ—…ces Kinges for there owne saâ—… tiâ—…s are bound to fauour their subiects Hippias a tyrant of Atheâ—… VVhere the feare of God stayeth not the loue of mony maketh passaâ—… for any mischief Counsels of K. â—…dinando The misery that follovved the incertainty of Alexanders succession A cruell part of Tamberlaâ—…ne A good counsel reiected The hugenes of Alexanders monarchie The greatnes of the Romane empire The nature of ambition One poyson remedy for an other Ruffâ—… pâ—… 〈◊〉 death Pollisie of Sâ—…licon Stilicons drift discouered Stilicons treason punished Rome sacked by Alaric Rome taken by the vandals Rome taken by Euriles and Toringnes Rome taken againe by the Gothes Rome taken againe by the Gothes Anno 830. Rome vvonne by the Sarizins Rome won by the Duke of Burbon Policies of the Popes to wâ—…nd out of obedâ—… 〈◊〉 and same of Constantinople The Priâ—… eleâ—…tours Apoc. 1â—… Can. si Papa de stâ—…et 42. Apocal. 17. 18. The names of the mountaines where Rome was builded 〈◊〉 2. circâ—… 〈◊〉 Apocal. 17. Thes. 2. 2. Dan. 11. A â—…able moralâ—…zed by the Pope Pro. 8. VVis 6. Psall 144. Dan. 2. 4. 5. Ierem. 25. 27. Rom. 13. Pride and cruelties of the Pope Looke in the Cron. of Germany Apol. of the prince of Orange Epitaph of Boniface the Pope The Popes war â—…ant or letter vvritten in the 2. booke of counsels â—…o 810 Rob. barnes cronicle Euseb Nanc Psal. 19. Lopes de goâ—…or in his hist. of â—…nd A daungerous policie of the pope Anno 1070. Cerimoniae Eccles Rom. lib. tit 〈◊〉 A presumptuons commandement A good â—…ing bound vnto the law A pleasant aunsvvere Anno 740. This taxe vvas peter pence Anno 1181. Apoc. 17. Apoc. 15. Vnâ—…nty of Mâ—…omets linage The vvicked counsel of the monek Seâ—… Mahomet an Athâ—…ist A damnable pollicie A matter is better vnbegun then not effectually followed A pleasing persvvasion of Mahomet Mahomets death Califus and Hali successours of Mahomet He vvas borne in a tovvne of Samarie called Tricon Tâ—…rt de here Lib. 1. cap. â—…0 Act. 8. S. Iustin. martyâ—… in his Apologie Iose. de bel Iud The Popes souldiers The Pope drâ—…ueÌ„ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plat. de vita Gâ—…eg 9. Sab. 〈◊〉 par 3. A reâ—…rd for Coâ—…tiers An â—…ous reâ—…ge A proud request Originall of the Turkes Pom. Mel. Lib. de Cosmo 1. cap. 18. The Turkes infected with Mahomets religion Godfrey Bulloyne Ottoman 1. Succession of the Ottomans Orâ—…an 2. â—…at 3. The enuie of the Emperour and nobles first sure foundation of the Turkes Empire Baiazet who slew his elder brother Soâ—… Victorie against the Christians Constaâ—… 〈◊〉 beâ—… 〈◊〉 Christians ouercome Miserie and ouerthrow of Baiazet Calapin Christians ouerthrowne Mahomet 6. Christians ouercome Turkes ouerthrovvne Bassa a 〈◊〉 Lord of 〈◊〉 Christians ourthrovvne Originall of the Ianissaires Mahomet 8. Constantinople conquered Io. Vaiuode Turkes defeated Christians ouercome Determination of the siegniorie of the christians in the East Fraunce the antient refuge of the pope Baiazet 9. Christians ouerthrovvne Beginning of the Sophy his empire Selim 10. Paracide Inhumaine murâ—… This battaile vvas the 24. of August 1514 The Soudan ouercome Soliman 1â—… Soliman his vâ—…tories The Hungâ—…ans slaine Selim 12. Mustafa Bassa cosen to the theâ—… vvhich honge on the left side of Christ. Aâ—…urath 13. murdred 5. of his brethren Camp fâ—…o de his tuâ—… Originall of Tamberlaine Tamberlaines first attempts Enuy 〈◊〉 of Tamberâ—…es kingdome Tamberlaine king of Persia. Tamberlaines conquest Tamberlaines militarie discipline Creatâ—…es of Tamberlaines army Battaile betvveene Baâ—…t and Tamber lâ—…ine Courage of Bâ—…iazet Baiazetâ—… ouer throvv anâ—… misery A notable example Tamberlaines order at assaults A great cruelty Enuy ende of Tamberlainâ—…s kingdome Baptis Ignatius Ios. Simler dâ—… râ—…epub Swiâ—… Henry king of Portugall a Cardinall A senere iudgement of king Henry The king of Spaine his owne iudge Dâ—… Anthonio â—…de king by the 3. estates K of Spaines greedy desire of rule K. Anthonio put to â—…light A good example for traitours Tim. 2. cap. 3. Vertue the cog nizance of a gentleman Policie of the Medices A necessarie counsell to be followed 〈◊〉 Iudas kisse Iuâ—…ian de Medicâ—…â—…ne Assemblie of the Segnewâ—… Fury of the multitude The archbishop hanged Barnard Baudin hanged The ground of the Florentine dukedome Enuy of the Gwyses firste cause of the troubles of Fraunce Deuision of Scotland â—…cre of Parts Murther of the king of Scots Tyrannie of the Spaniards in the â—…ovve countrie A staffe is soone found to strike a dog The prince of Orange diuelishly murthâ—…red Admonition to England and English men Pollicy of the Athenians to â—…dle enuy A pollicie of Demosthenes to get audieÌ„ce Varietie delightfull to the reader A law of Socrates Pitty vvithout charitie Ciuill vvarres of the Romans Honour giuen to peacemakers Octauian Chanius Preter Iohn A speciall honour The benefite of histories All the kinges named Henry of Englande vvere vvorthy kinges An. doâ—… 1400. Henry the 4. A 〈◊〉 for â—…es Enuy of Nâ—…o Rom. 13. Iosep. bel Iude. Reg 1. 26. 1485 Antiquitye a great beauty of vertue A necessarye â—…onsideration King Henry the 7. compared to Alexander Seuerus 1509 1513 1521 Acts Cap. 9. Acts and Monuments Esâ—… 4. cap. â—…2 1530 Vide Chro. of England Cant. Cantico cap. 4. 1546 A vvonderfull victory in Scotland Muskelborrough feeld 1553 A godly poâ—… 〈◊〉 Câ—…p 〈◊〉 1. Sam. Cap. 〈◊〉 The protestants neuer rebelled in England The Papists cruelty without measure Comfortable examples for the godly in time of persecution Her Maiesties thankes-giuing Her Maiestie visibly blessed with the eight beatitudes in the 5. of Matth. A prouidence of God in taking avvay of seditious paâ—…ls Lodo. 〈◊〉 Comment lib. 〈◊〉 Lod. Guic. 〈◊〉 Com. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lib. 3. The law Voconia in Rome â—…avv 〈◊〉 in Fraunce lib. sec de Aâ—… veâ—…d 10 2â—… The law Mental in Scotland Lib. 3. 1560. Articles of accord betweene Englande and Fraunce taken out of Guicherdines Coment Lib. 3. 1561 Psal. 〈◊〉 Vide in the booke of the execut of Iustice in Engl. The Northerne rebels vanquished 1571 1570 Exod. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 14. The plagues of Aegypt and destruction of Pharao Actes 23. 24. The Queenes death practised by Negromancy Doctor Stories confession Plut. de defeâ—… orat Looke the chapter of herâ—… fol. 61. Psalme 4. 18. Actes 13. Genes 41. Exod. 8. 9. Esay 47. Daniel 2. Doctor Stories confession at his execution Prestall and Phaier deliuered foorth of the kings bench without triall Phaer executed for coyning Prestall condemned for â—…reason but not executed They â—…ors presume of her â—…iesties merâ—… Murther punished Actes 28. Matth. 27. R. cap. 12. Reg. 2. Cap. 21. Genesis 4. Psalme 37. Madder and Barlow Somernile Psalme 64. Doctor Parry Parties letter to the Lord â—…sorer Martiâ—… Psalm 1. 7. 37. 52.