victorious vertue a hidden power whereby God himselfe is as it were ouercome yea when he hath determined the destruction of a rebellious people he is wonne by praier to repent him as it were of his decree as appeareth by Nineueh who ioyning repentance with prayer appeased God And because praier in faith is of such a force with him he saith vnto Ieremie Pray not for this people as though hee should haue said though I haue decreed to destroy thē yet I may bee ouercome by prayer to spare them and therefore pray not for them that will not pray for themselues It appeareth then that the prayer of one preuaileth with God to preserue a multitude as amonge many other examples is seene by Iudith who praied for the deliuerance of the people of Bethuliah and obtained not that alone but a mighty destruction of the enemie Hereby was the counsell of Achitophel made void and tooke no effect against Dauid and if we therein repare vnto our God all these threats great prouision and huge hoast of Antichrist shall be made likewise frustrate as it hath beene once fresh in our memories whē he fought for vs by his windes and brake their power by his prouidence Therefore let vs set not onely this his late mercie before our eies wherein hee defended vs and confounded them but applie the example of Hezekiah who prayed against the inuasion of his enemies with their inuincible armies at whose petition GOD slue of the Assyrians 185000. men 2. Chron. 32. 25. So did Iehosaphat obtaine against his enemies a mightie and memorable victorie how shall we then dismay at this foolish Hoobub whereby onley the weake are daunted such as know not the power of the highest are afraide But let vs aboue the multitude of our men the furniture of our munition take holde of this assured anchor and pray to God who will heare euen before we speake he considereth the thoughts and will giue eare to our sighes And let vs thinke that if one haue preuailed for many surely he will heare many for England wherein there are many godly that pray continually for the preseruation thereof not vnto the helples Saints but to the helping God to the God alsufficient To whom let vs onely runne in a liuely confidence not omitting the necessary implements of warre which by faith God will so blesse in euery mans hand that we shall haue the victorie and God the glorie Let vs begin to hate sinne and continue constant in righteousnesse and let vs not doubt but that he which hath freely imbraced vs with so great fauour alreadie will defend vs also most mightilie and to our great comfort deliuer vs from the wicked Now my louing countrimen why should wee feare the force and threatnings of these men seeing wee haue the Lord himselfe to be our king Let vs not be afrayd but trust vpon the sure protection of this our alsufficient God Let vs magnifie his mightie name which is most terrible to our aduersaries it is holie and therefore all honour power mercie praise and thankes bee giuen to him by whom we are onely saued An humble petition to God for the preseruation of Queene Elizabeth and the protection of the Church of Christ not vnfit to be daily vsed of euery Christian but also in euery Christian familie OH most high mightie and inuincible God king of all the kings kingdomes of the earth wee fall downe before thy maiestie not as though wee would dispute with thee why the heathen doe rage against vs and why the Antichristian crue do mutter within themselues as if we were ready to become a pray vnto them we come not to charge thee with iniustice in that thou sufferest the kings of the earth and the multitudes of malitious men to band themselues against vs the sheepe of thy pasture and against our Queene thine annoynted No father mercifull and louing we come vnto thee as wretches deseruing thy heauie displeasure wherin thou maist without doing vs any iniurie bring vpon vs this vnciuill people by whom if thou wilt thou maist iustly punish vs for our sinnes yea thou maist doe with vs what thou wilt who haue not done in our callings to thee as thou hast commanded Yet Lord for thine owne names sake cast not out of thy mercifull remembrance thy sweete promises annexed vnto thy Gospell which thou hast giuen vs long time to enjoy The fruits wherof we doe acknowledge haue not so fully appeared in vs as is required at our hands and therefore are we the lesse assured of thy protection But Lord sith thy mercie exceedeth thy iustice consider that we are but flesh and therefore prone to fall as were our fathers Looke not so narrowly oh Lord into our corruptions neither take thou such vengeance against vs as that wee should become captiues to such as seeke to persecute vs not for our faults but euen thy Sonne in the truth of his sacred Gospell in vs although thou only knowest vs them Thou searchest aswell their imaginations as our sinnes wherein as we haue offended thee so Lord let vs by thy mercie reforme vs or at least receiue punishment from thee in loue and not in their futies whose harts are bent against thy true Catholike Church and who couet to bereaue vs of our Queene whom thou hast in meere loue to thy chosen children placed as a mother in thy Church of England whose life they haue by many wicked and rebellious practises sought to take away shewing thereby oh Lord that there is no true religion in their proceedings no true faith in their workes nor true zeale in their desires but all that they doe is by the power of sinne as if they should openly vow to preuent thy prouidence by their power to pull downe and set vp whom they list when they list and inioyne them to doe what they list pretending in all their deuises be they neuer so bloudie and sterched with open massacres with dispoyling of thy people eating vp euen innocents as if they did eate bread to doe thee great seruice Oh high and louing father consider this and look into their thirstines wherein they will neuer be satisfied with bloud if thou giue them scope yea but a little to preuaile And therefore giue them not the power to worke what they haue imagined least that thine elect bee turned through the bitternes of their tyrannies to doubt of thy mercies But for asmuch as thou broughtest vs out of that cruell bondage wherein wee were tyed and fettered with humane precepts which are contrary to thy word by the hands of our Queene Elizabeth thine annointed as were thy children of Israel from Egypt by the hands of Moses and Aaron so Lord giue her long life to gouerne vs and power vnder thee to protect vs from these cruell men whose hearts are hardened and whose consciences are seared as appeareth that they wil not be pacified but if thou preuent not will seeke to
swallow vs vp We acknowledge oh Lord our weakenes and appeale to thee for strength we confesse our sinnes and fall downe to thee for pardon heare vs and deliuer vs. Let thy Gospell deere father for thy Sonnes sake not onely continue amongst vs but let the fruits of our true zeale bee so watered with thy holy spirit that they may become acceptable vnto thee that thou maist be vnto our Queene an high tower and a safe refuge to vs that are afflicted Rise vp rise vp oh God inuincible list vp thine hand in our behalfe against the power of this mightie Senacherib who in his vaunts declareth that there is no helpe for vs in thee But thou canst smite them oh Lord smite them vpon the cheeke bones breake their hairie scalpes and make their deuises vaine Our fathers trusted in thee oh Lord they trusted in thee and thou didst deliuer them Strengthen our faith deare Father that we may likewise trust in thee and be deliuered So shall not the praise redound vnto our selues but vnto thy glory And all the worlde seeing how thou protectest vs shall likewise come vnto thee seeke thee honor thee and as thou hast beene art and shalt bee vnto vs all in all so all nations frame their obedience to thy will as vnto the al-sufficientito whom be immortal praise as thou only deseruest oh Lord increase our faith A priuate Prayer to be sayd of Magistrates that they may be fit to performe in these dangerous daies what their seuerall places shall require OH Father full of wisedome power and Maiestie for as much as euery man in himselfe and of himselfe is so far from all ablenes to performe what is required of him to the discharge of his dutie not only to thee in regard of his seruice due vnto thee but also to his countrie in regard of his place wherein he is to liue in the common-wealth as that he can performe nothing aright and therefore I do come vnto thee beseeching that as thou hast found mee out howsoeuer vnfit of my selfe to discharge it and hast laid vpon me the function of a Magistrate to rule thy people in the place whereunto thou hast appointed me Let me now be shaped and framed anew let my thoughts my heart soule and bodie be changed from vanitie to truth from sin to repentance from weaknes to strength from ignorance to knowledge from pride to humilitie froÌ„ all things that I ought not to be to that I ought to be That as mine eies are to bee set on all to the ende I might see al approue or reproue al and punish or defend all within my charge and as euery mans eies are on me to note my steps how I walk in my function so I may conforme my selfe not only to the precepts of superiour powers in performing theÌ„ to the publike example of others but also in true zeale to thy word I may be a laÌ„tern of light vnto them not by my slacknes in my calling in breach of any duetie giue example to any to followe that is euill Therefore teach me thy statutes oh Lorde that I may walke in thy waies guide me in my pathes that I may practise righteousnes and execute iustice truly That I may appeare to be as I ought to be and not to followe mine owne will which is prone to euill euermore supply all my wants oh Lord in giuing me an vnderstanding heart a mercifull heart a contrite heart and an humble spirite the spirite of meeknes the spirite of knowledge the spirit of loue the spirit of faith and the spirit of true fortitude That as now the man of sinne is busie his ministers diligent and his most dangerous practises readie to bee put in execution to subuert iustice equitie truth religion and to suppresse thy word by violence So make euery man but especially such as thou hast made rulers ouer any to bee vigilant and full of true wisedome and courage all which as they are thy giftes so graunt vnto me oh Lord and to all other in authoritie that we may not beare the name only of Magistrates but may bee endued with all vertues requisite for Magistrates That by our negligence nothing may be done to thy dishonour or dangerous to thy Church and that nothing may be omitted which may aduance the same And as religion is the best and most glorious robe and ornament that a Magistrate ought to bee decked with for that out of it as out of a pure fountaine thou causest to flowe wisedome how to gouerne and all other vertues answerable to that high functioÌ„ grant that we may all flie thereunto and imbrace it in such sorte as like a light the fruites thereof may in our proceedings shine to the inferiour by our examples and vouchsafe that our obedience to our superiors may learn the lower sort how to obey and as wee are taught by thee know how to gouerne And farre be it from vs to glory in our high callings but to reioyce only in this that thou hast taught vs how to performe our dueties both to them that doe well and to the offenders both in peace and warre and that we accordingly performe the same that in the ende when wee shall giue account of our bayliwickes thou maist acquite vs in the mercies of thy sonne as faithfull dispensers of our seuerall callings Amen Oh Lord increase our faith FINIS The Spaniardes â—egard not the â—ause why God â—oueth them â—o inuade vs. They haue a â—wo fold blinde â—eale in theyr â—esire The king of â—paine y e Popes â—hampion â—ngland hath â—obbed y e Pope â—f his credite What reckning the Pope maketh of the death of our Seminaries The thinges whereof wee â—aue robbed the Pope The second â—ause moouing â—he king of â—paine The Spaniard longeth for England How the Spanâ—ard fisâ—eth foâ— kingdomes The end of â—mbition The occasion is 〈◊〉 our selues which hath stirâ—ed vp this hooâ—ub Causes of daâ—ger are not sâ—perficially to be glanced at The diseases of a common wealth must be cured in time Al things haue a chaunge Euery man must looke into him selfe The fire of Adams disobedience must bee quenched in vs. Euery maÌ„ must looke vnto him selfe and not vnto others Sinne the cause of this hoobub Our fruits must approue vs. The difference betweene christian and Antichristian religioÌ„ In Gods mercie wee inioye the gospel of Christ The Spaniardes build the hope of conquest vppon their owne deseruings The Spaniardes blaspheming God An examinatioÌ„ of the speciall euils which in y e iudgement of God draw on the Spaniard We make slender reckning oâ— grosse sins Blasphemie noâ— punished Dronkennesse not punished Pride vnpunished Couetousnesse vnpunishable Coldnes of loue appeareth by y e present dearth where plentie is Spending of corne to make starch a cause of dearths in plenty in Gods Iudgements The negligent minister hath much to answere Delayes of sutes We must reforme quickly or be punished seuerely Religion can neither be brought in
or driuen out by man What naturall reason flesh bloud will argue in this daÌ„gerous time The conceyts of the worldly Our duties to God carry with it a great traine of virtues The repeatance Nineueh The practise of Nineueh an example for vs to follow What wil follow vs in our following the reformation of Niniueh How we must reforme vs. Gods peculiar loue to England England not the 200. parte of the earth The Turkes possesse the places where Christ was borne first preached England is more to be charged for breach of our league then any other nation How we kill Christ againe We must call to minde Gods blessings which will giue vs cause to reforme out liues God chose vs when wee thought not on him Euery one hath a court in his owne conscience Now is the time for the Magistrate to shew himselfe zealous in the Lords good The worde and the swor must concur Euery man must begin his dutie at the feare of God God wil keepe our aduersaries blinde if we feare God and desire to see What is required of the Magistrate A good song for a Magistrate if he sung it truely Moses and Aaron the Magistrate and Minister are to be Martialed together in a christian common wealth All things are written for our instructioÌ„ The Spaniards in strength are not like the sonnes of Anake Which parte God taketh hath the victorie Warre offered by inuasion is fully furnished with militarie necessaries William the Norman took from his men hope of retire Wisdome and trueth beare away the victorie God will defend vs for his Gospels sake Queene Elizabeth goeth forth in person to incourage her people Our secrete Papists discourage our people Whence we are fallen In regarde of the truth imbraced notwithstanding our sins God is with vs. The true catholicke religion is with vs an argument of Gods presence Poore vnlearned Christians haue stopt the mouthes of Romish doctrine The truth will confound Antechrist The enemie standeth on his owne strength we on the blessing of God they on the popes power we on Christs merrits Queene Elizabeth shall cut off the power of Antechrist The romish hope al in outward things They are strong inough and neede not God God is strong in weakenes Few ouercoÌ„e many They feare the weake in diminishing our munition Queene Elizabeth a chosen woman to confound Romish Ihericho by the protection of the word God will assist such as war either to defend his truth professed or to winne anye thereunto Agencourt fielde The Spaniard hath tasted English power and policie to his paine The Spaniards no doubt would not admit the tryall of the contrauersie to equal multitudes Inward desire of the Princes danger or subuersioÌ„ of your country is before God high treason The Spaniard abhorreth traytors though he make much of theÌ„ for a time The course entertaynement of the best of our English runnagates The cause in policie why the Syaniards hangeth not traytors presently The best end of our traytors if the Spaniards should preuaile If God haue wrought a meane beyond reason to dicouer a murder much more will he discouer treasoÌ„ There is in al subiects loue or hate which will show it selfe by the fruits The difference betweene plaine dealing and dissimulation The end of blinde zeale The thirst of papists is the drought of treason A glasse for traytors The Spaniard thinke them neuer true to him that are false to your anoynted prince The spaniards are rude like the Macedonians to call a traytor a traytor The state of a trayor Distinguish the spirits The pope is like the serpent that commandeth forbiddeÌ„ thinges with promise of rewarde A wonder that Papists wonder not at their blindnes Beasts loue the place of their education shewing better loyaltie theÌ„ papists The pope fawneth on papists like a Crocadile who sheds teares when he will destroy Benefits receiued in our natural countrey is an obligation to bind vs to be true vnto it Antechrist the head corner stone of blind zeale The waye to finde out the cause of blindnes is to repaire to the truth The daye which the papists wish to see will be to themselues most fearefull The waye of the foole is right in his owne conceit We ought all to pray for the peace of our countrey How our papists might become happie Euery magistrate ought to know what duty belongeth to his charge Euery commonwealth is a bodie pollytique As euery part of the bodie hath a necessarie place in his place steadeth the body so euery man in a common wealth Sundrie pettie bodies within the whole body of the commonwealth Diuers inferior heads of diuers inferior bodies Peace dangerous without carâ—in Magistrates Officers as also euery subiect ought to discouer a daÌ„gerous person Inferior Magistrates haue their power froÌ„ the higher power Ciuill iustice is the commoÌ„ wealths publike benefite Warre appreueth or reproueth the faith all men towards their country Premeditation of euery mans dutie is necessary before the run to far vnder a good intent The Magistrats ought to foresee things to come The English alwaies valorous Rashnes to be auoyded A subtil practise of the enemie to moue tumults amongst our selues Pryuate men must not stirre before the Magistrate Her Maiestie her counsell the first mouers Suddayne newes dangerous Three things to be auoyded in followers Weapons and pollicie nothing vnles God blesse the vse of them God giueth the victorie in a combate betwene two sparrowes The force of prayer more then the force of weapons God is moued by prayer to alter his decree The prayer of one preuaileth with God to preserue a multitude Prayer a sure anker in danger
in generall euery one of vs hath a court in his owne conscience wherinto all our thoughts words and actions must be presently summoned and inquisition must bee strictly made what error is found in himselfe and finding himselfe guiltie of any negligence in performing his dutie to God commaunded or pronenes to offende God in things forbidden he must as a Iudge farre from partialitie giue sentence against himselfe and commit the euils done to true and vnfained repentance bind himselfe by the law of obedience not to sinne agayne Which were it performed of al men in particular there were no neede of the Magistrates sword to compell the same in generall But sith our corrupt inclinations doe fight daily against this godly course the Magistrate who beareth not the sword for nought must now if euer he did shew himselfe zealous in the Lords cause for the good of al the land in general Which as it seemeth much missed with negligence of euery mans particular dutie to God and his Soueraigne whereby God is not honoured of vs as he ought nor the lawes of the land obeyed as they should be there must be a generall care in the Ministrie to teach euery man his duetie for hee is bound to teach to reproue to approue and improue in season and out of season and in the Magistrate an endeuour to see euery man performe it as farre as to his power and authoritie belongeth who must compell theÌ„ by force that will not doe their dueties in loue And if then the vulgar and inferiour sort striue not to amende and to coÌ„forme themselues to the word of truth taught and to the example of the godly Magistrate propounded before them they shall all dye in their sinnes but the Minister and Magistrate shall be excused But if there appeare negligence in the Ministers the watchmen of the whole flocke the people will also bee negligent if they be ignorant the people will be ignorant if they be wicked the people will be wicked as Hosea saith Such priests such people Therefore now call your dueties to minde ye Ministers and speedily with diligence performe the same And thinke it not enough to bee called the messengers of God vnlesse you speake pronounce the will of God truely and disdaine none that shew their good willes to speake as the occasion of this time requireth For they that feare the Lord vnderstand his will The feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedome And therefore euery one from the highest to the lowest Prince and Ministers Magistrates and subiects must here begin As a Prince coueting to gouerne prudently as Ministers endeuouring to speake truly and boldly as Magistrates desiring to rule in their places righteously and couragiously and as people willing to liue obediently and religiously So shall there bee a most happie concord and pleasant harmonie in al estates There shal be no want of blessings no cause to feare the enemie no cause to complaine one of anothers wrongs in our land Sinne shall beare no sway but godlines shall flourish in all parts of this land and then as we haue alreadie seene how God hath fought for vs so he will giue vs new encouragements And as Christ sayd to Nathaniel we shall see greater things then these not onely in his fighting for vs but in powring out his heart vnto vs causing vs to vnderstand his word Prou. 1. 23. when yet â—ee will hold our aduersaries still blind that seeing they shall not see in hearing they shall not heare and nothing that they imagine against vs shall prospet but all shall turne to their owne confusion Therefore let the eyes of vs all be towards the Lord and with Dauid let vs all the day stretch out our hands to him that is one and the same for euer louing and powerfull And forasmuch as Princes and Magistrates must in this necessary reformation giue such examples as may tend to the amendment of the inferiour sort it behoueth that they be learned and wise vertuous and valorous so shall the people follow their steppes as it were a light in the darke And therefore the Magistrate must pray for wisedome not to seeme singular in policie but religious in zeale applying the same to the glorie of God to discerne betwixt good and euill that by them sinne the cause of our daunger may bee remoued and faith and religion the strength of our land may bee increased that the vngodly bee not more set by then the righteous that vice be not more aduanced then vertue so shall euery Magistrate be able to say freely Be thou my Iudge O Lord for I haue walked innocently Surely as the Israelites thought themselues happie when they had gotten Debora to gouerne them so most happie are wee that haue Queene Elizabeth to gouerne vs. For as Debora seemed so much the more to be a carefull mother of Israel by how much she liked those gouernours which were likest her selfe which appeareth by that she sayed My heart is set vpon the gouernours of Israell so doubtles the godly care of our gracious Debora to haue all the causes of Gods displeasure to bee taken away appeareth in coueting as much as in her lieth to place godly Magistrates vnder her God make them apt to answer it She matcheth Moses the Magistrate with Aaron the Minister the Word and the Sword which both truely executed must needes make due obedience in the people to the Magistrate and like in the Magistrate to the law and consequently in all to God And then as the Magistrates are placed aboue other men in authoritie so they will goe before the rest in pietie and then no doubt but our Common-wealth shall be secure and bee in the protection of the King inuincible who iudgeth them that iudge vnder him and he will subdue the disobedient hearts to loue and reuerence rulers and to fight couragiously against the enemies of our state as he subdued the people vnto Dauid and made them all incline to his will That whatsoeuer the King did pleased his people Wee see then that wee neede not feare this vaine hoobub of the Spanyard if euery one would forsake sinne and conforme himselfe truly to seek after God And to the end that God may blesse the hearts of all it behoueth all to pray which shall bee considered in the end of this sillie labour CAP. 3. That all men ought to yeeld their vttermost power to resist the pursuers of this blasphemous Hoobub by experience of the power of God shewed vnto our fathers of old HAuing as it is before sayd taken away the causes why God hath intended to moue this fierce nation against vs by a general reformatioÌ„ of our liues which if it appeare by the fruites of our regenerate mindes let vs rest resolued that God the God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob the God of Israel the God of the faithfull will bee assuredly on our side The Lord our God as saith
Moses shall fight for vs therefore let vs not be afraide of them that in so high a malice haue lifted vp their thoughts and prepared their weapons not only against vs but against Christ himselfe let vs take courage by the euidence of things before done for VVhatsoeuer is written before time is written for our vnderstanding And for our better encouragement wee may examine some particular examples out of the sacred scriptures imploying them to assure vs of Gods loue towardes his and of his power to confound his enemies by vs if wee yeeld our hearts to follow him as our guide No doubt but this spanish hoobub may something dismay the weake in regarde that it soundeth with so open an exclamation as if the breath of their mouthes could ouerthrow our Churches and their little fingers great mountaines But let vs thinke and we know them to bee but men and men of no such stature as were the Anakimes whom the little Israelites did master at their willes as long as they feared God although at the first they were afraid of them because the spies returned such newes of their terrible strength and fiercenes But the newes dismayd not their captaine Iosua who by the spirite of the Lord gaue them such encouragement as qualified their feare when hee sayde Feare not the people of the land for they are but bread for vs. If such an inuincible courage came vpon them that they feared not mightie Giants and to enter into the territories of such strong men because they were assured by Iosua that the Lord would fight for them being assured that whose part the Lord God of hoast took that side should haue the victorie It were more then weakenes in vs for whom the Lord most assuredly will fight to feare these men of farrelesse puissance then these Philistines who also come to inuade vs who are more apt to resist them then they to oppresse vs they must land wee are on shoare they must pause and refreshe themselues wearied wee are readie suddenly to receiue them they are of number fewer then we and therefore for any matter in themselues or of themselues we need not to feare them And the lesse for that as Iosua sayth Their shield is departed from them they haue forsaken the Lords truth and they are led by a blind zeale on the one side and by ambition on the other they are conducted by falshoode and pride and the Lord no doubt is with vs his promise assureth vs that he will be with them that feare him Although by the way it is fit to consider that warre offered by inuasion neuer commeth without absolute prouision of military necessaries He that will inuade commeth in all points resolute resolute to enter resolute to fight resolute to die and resolute not to retire but to the last to hope for victorie This resolution appeared in VVilliam the last Conqueror when hee fyred his ships to take from his followers all hope of flying and it may be said that this resolution is in al that endeuour a conquest Al which being grāted let vs enter into our own thoughts whether the theefe that commeth resolutely to rob can bee so freely resolute to fight as the true man although no doubt he be desperate yet is he fearefull but in the other it is otherwise who in true magnanimitie is truly resolute to keepe his owne So fareth it with vs and them that make this proude alarnm to take away our good liues and liberties they come no doubt as men desperate but wisedome and trueth beare away the victorie And were there in vs but ordinary hardines which resteth in Paynims and Moores Turkes and Barbarians we should thinke our selues more able to keepe our owne then to bee dispoyled by force But wee haue the Lord himselfe on our side who notwithstanding manie of our imperfections who are but flesh and blood will not though not for our sakes yet for his gospels sake which wee holde inuiolate in it selfe and haue the true seales of our obedience vnto his maiestie in our proceedings suffer this Antichristian power in their owne opinion inuincible and therein most weake to preuaile against him in ouercomming vs. And to assure vs further herein let vs looke into the time of king Hezekia in whose daies the blasphemous hoast of the proud Senacherth made inuasiō vpon the inheritāce of Gods childrē in Iuda hauing like right as the spanish Senacherib to England but only to enlarge his dominions therfore did good Hezekia by helpe of his counsell call together his captaines and souldiers preparing them against this mightie king and huge armie who were not to come by sea as this king Catholique must but he was come as it were to the walles of Ierusalem alreadie to besiege it But bee strong saith Hezekia vnto his people Be strong couragious feare not neither be afraid for the king of Ashur neither for al the multitude that is with him for there be moe with vs then is with him with him is an arme of flesh but with vs is the Lord our God So doth our good Hezekia Queene Elizabeth by the aduise of her discreet Counsell prepare against this threatning hoast of Spayne and in her we are al encouraged to withstand the same who in person goeth foorth with her armies and consulteth not onely with her Counsell and expert martiall men but with the almightie of whose power mercie and prouidence she hath deepe experience both before she tooke on her the Diademe of gouernment as also since and therefore she saith also Feare not the Spanyards my English subjects whose strength is flesh the Lord is with vs that will fight for vs. But loe Hezekia prayed against this mightie multitude and the Lord out of heauen fought for him who by his Angell slew all the valiant men of Ashur the princes captaines souldiers to the number of 185000. men and in like manner as we haue had experience shall he doe with this inuincible nauie and mightie hoast for hee is that consuming fire that shall deuour our aduersaries as dry straw and by the breath of his mouth confound them that stand against his word to peruert his trueth And therefore Queene Elizabeth no doubt humbleth her self in prayer as Hezekia did an argument of like victorie Let vs all ioyne with her Maiestie therein and then assuredly shall that God that sought against Ashur for Israel fight against Spayne for England Yet some amongst our selues our vnnaturall contrimen I know seeke to put feare in the hearts of our people saying most blasphemously that wee are heretikes and that God cannot prosper vs wee are sinners and God cannot blesse vs. These are English Antichristians Spanish hirelings and deceiued and deceiuing papists who lurke amongst vs as snakes in a corne field no more deseruing the libertie of English lawes her Maiesties protection or benefits of our peace then did the