to minde gentle Reader the tyrannicall persecutions and cruell martyrdomes perpetrated in the bloudie and pitilesse raigne of Queene Marie imagine withall thou seest as then to the griefe of many thousandes was seene the tormenting furnace of Nabuchadnezer glowing hote scorching and consuming the fleshe and bones of Christes deere saintes and blessed martirs For professing y e trueth ofhis Gospell Imagine thou hearest and seest though to thy small edification or profite the administration of his blessed word and sacramentes in a toong to thee vnknown Imagine thou seest deuine honour and spirituall adoration performed to stocks and stones and other sencelesse shadowes and thou on paine of death compelled to performe the like Imagine yet further thou seest thy Christ robbed and dispoiled ofhis honour to be geuen vnto saintes and other his creatures thou not onely to be in danger of life but to be excommunicated and held accursed if thou doo not participate of this blasphemous impietie and when thou hast called to thy remembrance these and thousandes such like extremities then compare that time of tyrannie with this sweete time of mercy and thou wilt bee constrained to say Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his people hath raised vs vp a Queene by and vnder whose godly and gratious gouernment we may serue him without feare in true holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the daies of our life And therefore let all true Israelites praie for hir from whome as from the instrumentall cause these manifolde benefites and irrecompensible blessinges are deuolued to vs. Let vs not not with Isops frogs growe wearye of hir gentlenesse least Ioue in requitall of our great ingratitude send the stork to deuoure vs. No man hath managed the charge of any one priuate household more duly orderly then since the beginning of hir reigne she hath doone this populous kingdome Therefore O England let thy yoong men and maides old men and babes thy beasts and cattell thy fish foule thy mountaines and hils thy riuers welles thy plants and trees thy corne and grasse thy fieldes and meades thy citties and townes thy woodes and groues thy downes and dales each in their kinds laude and praise the Lord for giuing vs such a Queene in and by whom we are so happy for thrugh whome we are blessed and in whom as in a streame of Maiestie and princely magnanimity all the gifts and graces which God bestoweth vpon the children of men doo swim and to his praise and hir perpetuall renown with out fault or imperfection doo superabound O but some will saie if so they durst Sir you are too too extreame in hir commendation you infringe the bounds of trueth whereby it seemeth you aime at hir fauour by the leuell of flatterie Shee is not so endowed with giftes and graces as you vainlie and most vntruely affirme Neither is she so faultlesse and praiseworthie as you make hir Indeed did not hir deserts merite my praises my flatterie were too too palpable but beeing no more then hir proper right the repetition thereof I know is vtterly repugnant to hir pleasure and therefore they are deceiued whiche imagine that I poore snake and contemptible worm aime at so high a marke with so grosse a shaft But for that which first I did attribute vnto hir besides hir zealous forwardnesse in the execution of Gods will and the matter of hir and our soules welfare hir exact knowledge of the toongs hir deepe sight in the sciences hir quicke capacitie hir swift vnderstanding hir mercie to offenders hir care of hir subiectes and hir peaceable regiment doo plainely manifest All whiche and manie other such like as inuincible arguments doo proue mine assertion To the second be it graunted that she is not vtterly faultlesse and therefore not vtterly blamelesse I replie she is though a most gratious Queene as I said a mortall creature framed of the same substance that we be and therefore subiect to those passions and infirmities that we are But so was Dauid of whome GOD saide I haue chosen a man according to mine own heart euen Dauid my seruaunt yet whether he were faultlesse or no his owne wordes doo manifest when hee saide The woundes in my soule doo fester and stincke euen thorough my owne faultes and offences and againe Turne thy face O Lord awaie from my sinnes and blot out all my misdeedes and againe My sinnes are more in number than the haires of mine head And again I acknowledge my faultes and my sinnes are euer before me and they thrust me down euen as an intollerable burden but if thou wouldest know wherein he offended the holy Ghost will resolue thee in the second booke of Samuel and the 11. chapter And letting passe all the holy kings and prophets mentioned in the old Testament y t acknowledged their infirmities and yet God tendered as the apple of his eye come we to sainct Paul who although he were no king yet was he a blessed Apostle and had the spirit of God in great measure yet said he ofhimselfe as his owne Epistle to the Romains testifieth The good that I would doo that doo I not But the euil that I hate that doo I. If then it appeareth by these and such like vndoubted testimo nies that mankind vnder heauen are sold vnder sin who can then be so malitious to entwite hir maiestywith that which is proper to all in generall Neither can she be touched with any blot of infamie other then that which is incident to the most vprightest liuers If this be true as what man liueth findeth not the same so tobe O then ye priuie whisperers and secret backebiters whose toongs are as the stinges of Scorpions full of deadly poyson cease to sting hir whom youshal neuer hurt or haue power to defame though like vnnaturall paracides you seeke it with all greedinesse and as by hir gratious gouernment you breath haue your being so acknowledge it and be not such vngratefull monsters as to render hir euill for good but requite hir louing kindnes with thankfulnes hir princely beneficence withall dutifull obedience Think reuerently ofhir for Gods sake and in respect of the great perils she still sustaineth for our sakes for the paines she taketh for our onelie profite and for the waightie charge imposed vppon hir and if as one wise man saith the cares that attendeth a crown were duely considered it is not worth the taking vp if wee found it in the streetes then what a worthlesse iewell hath she ofhir crown in respect ofhir cares no one can expresse them saue shee that hath them and for our sakes doo indure them Therefore maligne hir not by worde nor thought But wish hir well and saie Good lucke haue you O gratious Queene with your honor according to the great renowme wherewith the king ofkings hath ennobled you Peace and prosperitie be vnto them that loue you but confusion of face
and horror of conscience be vnto al them that hate you For your diuine giftes and graces all people doo praise you and for the peace and plentie wee enioy by your meanes wee will euer honour you Wherby you shall highly please God in accomplishing his will who hath by the mouth ofhis Apostle commanded all men to praie for kinges and princes and all that are in aucthoritie to the end they may liue a godly and peaceable life vnder them According to which commandement let all that be truely English fall prostrate before Gods mercie seat with al feruent deuotion and say HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE DIEV ET MON DROIT The Praier COme downe ô Lord come with thousāds of thy Saintes come downe I saye O God of Iacob and blesse Israell yea come and blesse thy chosen and deare beloued seruant Elizabeth our Queene whome thou hast set vp a mightie prince and mother ouer thy people and cittie Sion and made the cheefe gouernor among the nations O let Elizabeth liue and not die neyther let hir Honour be any thinge diminished for our sinnes and offenses Heare O Lorde the voice ofhir humble and daielie praiers and lette hir continue a prince of peace and Royall Ruler ouer thy people Hir handes shall be good inough for hir if thou helpe hyr still as thou hast doone against hir enimies Right and light be with thy gratious handmaide whome thou didst proue with great temptations and trial as thou diddest Io seph before thou diddest annoint hir Queene and whome hitherto thou hast preserued a pure and vndefiled virgine to promote thy glo rie as thou didst thy seruant Dauid She that in all hir manifolde afflictions hath more esteemed the seruing of thee hir God than sauing ofhir selfe and loued not hir life so deere as shee loued thy lawe yea that preferred thine obedience before sacrifice O let hir our gratious Queene Elizabeth who hath thus doone hir dutie be plentifully rewarded of thee from heauen with the perpetual crown of glorie and palme ofvictorie Shee euen she hath taught Iacob thy iudgementes and Israell thy lawe She hath put incense be fore thy face and the burnt offering vpon thine altar Shee euen sheO God hath with Hezechias restored thy sincere religion and worshippeth thee aright with eue rie one that is godly Blesse therefore O Lorde hir substance and first fruits accept the workes ofhir handes Smite through the loines of them that rise vp against hir of them that hate hir that they rise not againe O let the beloued of the lord dwel euer in safetie yea do thou ô lord vouchsafe to bee hir vaile and defence all hir life longe and dwell with hir heere in the church as hir beloued spouse head and gouernour Laie thy left hand O Lord vnder hir hed and let thy right hand embrace hir that shee may finde continual comfort in thy presence O fountaine of the gardens O well ofliuing waters arise ô north and come ô south and blow vpon thy spouse which is as a goodly pleasant garden inclosed and as a fountaine sealed vp for thy selfe and water it with the springes of Lebanon that it may grow great and the sweete spices and smell thereof may flow out into thy nostrils and thou eate of the pleasant fruit in hir Kisse hir with the kisses of peace and righteousnes and let hir two breasts satisfie thee and bee like two yongroes that are twins feeding vpon the lillies Let hir be a sure wall and foundation wherevppon thou mayest build a golden pallace and let hir breasts be as towres vnassaultable that she may be meet for thee hir spouse to dwell in and be in thyne eies as she that findeth perpetuall peace and quietnesse O God in whose sighte hir fathers did walke Thou O GOD which hast fed hir all hir life long vnto this daye and deliuered hir hitherto from many treasons and dangers Blesse hir still euen with the blessing of Abraham Isaac Iacob and all the patriarches with all the blessings of thy mercies pro mised vnto hir father Dauid In hir let Israell also bee blessed in hir let thy graces so plentifullie and manifestly appeare that the people may thense take a pattern ofblessing thee and teache theyr posteritie to blesse and praise thee for thy goodnes and mercy both towards hir and them For she is to vs thy might thy strength thy noblenesse of dignitie and the excellencie of power Shee as a Lionesse is laide downe and couched safelie after the spoil Who shall stir hir vp hir enimies doo all feare hir and doo thou stil charge the daughters ofIerusalem that they stir not vp thy loue nor awake hir by troubling hir quietnesse and peace vntill she please O let not the brethren of euill the reuengers ofbloud nor the instru ments of violence and crueltie be in hir court and habitation O let not crueltie or falshood come into hir soule into their secretes let not hir soule come neyther let hir glorie bee ioyned or stained with the assemblye or damned crue of the wicked Cursse them that cursse hir and blesse them that blesse hir deuide them in Iacob and scatter them in Israel which shameleslie in theyr rage dare cruelly attempt any trecheries or treasons against hir innocent and royall person yea let them be condingly punished who soeuer go about to troble the state or ouerthrowe hir kingdome The time is now come that the blessings of God shewed vnto her father shall take effecte and bee stronger in hir than the blessinges ofhir elders vnto the vttermoste endes of the worlde they shall all beblessings vpon the head of Elizabeth and on the toppe of the head of hir that is separate from hir birthe and consecrated from the wombe to dignitie and honor farre aboue hir fellow virgines and made the annointed of the Lorde to beare rule and to haue dominion ouer men Hir beautie and glorie let it bee like the firste borne bullocke and hir strength as the vnicorne with the horn ofhir power let hir smite the people togither euen the tenne thousandes of Ephraim and the tenne thousandes of Manasses Blesse hir going out and comming in and prosper her at home and abroad in all hir affaires both by land and sea Make hir glad ioyefull and willing to call thy people vnto thy holie hill of Sion and there in thy Church to offer with them together the offeringes of righteousnesse that she and they may sucke of the aboundance of the sea and the treasures hid in the earth A lions whelpe let hir bee to leape from Basan and make hir stronge inough to defend hir selfe from Balaaks cursse and againste all the treasons of Zimri and Achitophel O satisfie hir with thy fauour and fill hir with thy blessinges let hir possesse both the East West South and North partes of the earth Blesse hir with people and make hir acceptable vnto hir brethren and sisters and to dip hir feete in oile
Hir shooes let them be iron brasse and hir glorie health welth and strength to continue as longe as the sunne Who is like thee O GOD of Israell which though thou sit vpon the heauens and ridest vppon the Cherubins yet art thou our helpe and Sauiour whose glory is in the clowdes and Celestiall places The Eternall God bee still her refuge who hath established her throne amongest the English nation to his owne glorie and their vnspeakeable comfort Thou hast restored againe the liberty of our countrie and the sinceritie of doctrine with peace and tranquilitie Thine thine O Lord was the benefit the meanes the labour and seruice was hirs a burthen too heauie alas for a wo mans shoulders yet easie and tollerable by thy helping hand Assiste hir therefore O Lorde neither respect hir offences or the deserts of hir parents or the manifolde sinnes of vs her people but thinke vpon thy wonted compassion alwaies at hande to thy poore afflicted That Israell as euen nowe at this present may still dwell alone in safetie and the fountaine of Iacob bee plentifull in issue in the land of wheate and wine and the heauens droppe the deawe of thy blessing plentifullie vppon hir and hir country Happie and blessed art thou O Israell that hast such a Queene that is so honourable among women Let not the Scepter depart out ofhir hand nor kingdome be diminished but let this thy moste wise lawe-giuer our meeke Moises continue amongst vs with honor to iudge the people and gather them vnto thee long in reste and peace euen vntill Silo our sauiour Iesus come to crowne her in his euerlasting kingdome with honour and triumph Blesse hir still O Lord and giue power vnto thy Queene that she may bestrong to keepe the feet of thy saints within the walles of thy Church and cause the wicked for euer to keepe silence in darkenes Amen quoth Iohn Dauies The Authors submission WHen I considered the variable disposition of the sonnes of vanitie to gither with the crosse constructions of the ouerthawart carpers of our time I had wel neere withdrawne my purpose in publishing this treatie But when I cald to mind the causes that made me first take in hand this thankelesse task which is expressed vpon the forefront thereof it emboldened mee to prosecute what erst I had intended and pre suming vpon mine innocencie in that whereofI may any way be suspected or malitiouslie misconstred I haue vn der the protection of my prince and countries fauour published the same to such end and purpose as in it is men tioned Howbeit if I haue spoken any thing vnfitting so vnlearned a clarke or contrarie to the truth mine own experience which are the soundest auerments I humblie submit my selfe and refer my little booke to be refourmed and corrected according to the rules of perfect pietie by those of greter learning more approued iudge ment But for that I cheeflie aimed at namelie the securitie of my soueraign and the prosperity of my countrie I hope God stirreth vp by more worthy instruments farre better meanes dayly for the continuance therof This shall bee nothing preiudiciall if it in that respect proue not so behoouefull as God grant it may The ch urch militant wherof I hope I am a sillie mem ber shall not hereby bee impaired if not reedisied the godlye offende d if not amended nor the il disposed made worse if not bettered For mine owne part if the least iot of any good y t may be imagined proceed from my small paines heerein taken to the Churche aforesaid or to the least member thereof I shall thinke my selfe yea though I endure as I know I shall the taunts of euill toongs and the bitter fcofs of the scornefull and if I doo endure them as I am well contented so to doo the world giues me no worse mesure then it did the Sauiour of the worlde whose holinesse and innocency oflife which I vilde earth and ashes cannot imitate could not shield him from wronges of like nature but out it breathed all bitternesse against him yea though hee came to redeeme it from the bitternesse of bondage wherevnto it was by transgression worthily fallen and therefore farre be it from me to grudge to drinke of Christ his cup that grudged not to drinke of deathes dolefull cup for my misdeedes So commending my countries protection to the power inscrutable and my soueraigns safetie to the deitie vnutterable I rest to hir and it the same I seeme or as I ought to be Iohn Dauies HAILE SACRED Sâ—â—RAIGNE THE COMFORT OF ISRAELL IOie thee betide O Englands Parragon Whose grace preserues hir glorie vndefaced Whose sacred heds the royall seate whereon Rich Conquests Crown triuÌ„phantly is placed Whose luckie life prolongs thy peerlesse peace which God maintain with high renowms increse O England England ten times happie Isle Reioyce thou maiest in this thy iemme ofioy On whom the king of heauen in loue doth smile And foiles hir foes that would thy peace destroy Then sith a king and Queene thy state doth stay O blesse them both with condigne praise alwaie And cast thine eyes vpon thy neighbours woes Behold the plagues wherwith ech land's opprest With iudgement then coÌ„pare thy state with those And thou alone wilt thinke thy selfe art blest Blesse him therefore that so hath blessed thee And thou from age to age shalt blessed be Compell thy peeres to keepe obedience bounds That they may loue their souer aign as they ought Pen vp thy pleasures in repentance pounds oue that is good abandon that is naught And from thy coastes expell Hypocrisie In steede whereof embrace synceritie Beware of pride eschew the sap of sinne How sweete so ere it seeme vnto thy tast With oile of grace now let thy lampe begin To giue a light to all the world at last That such as are in darkenesse may thereby Attaine the light that lasts eternally Vnto which light thy light thou shalt extend If in this light thy light be not suppressed Then with this light let thy delight ascend Vnto that light which light alone is blessed Thy light a loadstone leading to that light Which light is light of lights still shining bright More bright without coÌ„pare theÌ„ burnisht gold More glittering gloriousthen the sparkling sun So bright that mortall eies cannot behold The light thereof vntill their light be done Vnto which light as to our chiefest good Bring thou vs al that boughtst vs with thy blod Iohn Dauies Iob 22 13 14 and 24 1 2 34 19 Psalm 10 4 13 14 1 53. 1 73. 11. Not to bee tempted exercised w t afflictions is rather an argumente of reprobacie then a testimonie of Gods fauour For the crosse of affliction is laid on all true beleeuers Gen 4 8. 27 41 37 18 Exod. 2 15 1 king 19 2 Matth. 10 9 10 16 24 9. Mark 13 9 13. Luke 14 26 21 17 Iohn 15 18 16 2 Acts. 9 14 Gal. 4 26 1 Thes. 3 3 4 2 Timo 3. 12 1 Pete 4 22 Exod 29. 45 Deut 10 15 Psalm 148 Gen 1 Esaie 66 1 Matth 8 26 14 32 Dan 7 9 10 1 Tim 6 16 a Iere 23 24 Ecclus. 16 vers 17 18 b Mat 19 26 Luke 18 27 Mark 10 27 c Deu. 32 39 d 1 Kings 18 ve 36 37 38 e Isa. 4 2 8 45 23 f 2 Chro 36 verse 23 Est. 16 16 Matt 10 26 Acts 17 18 Gene. 1 14 15 16. 17 18 Genc 33. 11 Iames. 1 17 Genes 1 26 Mat. 27 46 47 48 49 Romans 5. 8 1 Cor. 15 3 2 Cor 5 15 1 Peter 3 18 Exod 14 21 22 23 27 28 29 Gen 1 Gen 6 17 7 10 Dan 6 16 14 16 to 31 Iosua 10 12 Gen 11 9 Psal 2 9 Exod 8 2. 3 4 5 9 3 4 5 6 7 10 5 6 Dan 4 3 4 Gen 19 24 Reuel 1 8 11 17 21 6 1 Cor 8 6 Ephes 4 6 Matt. 24 30 31 39 Matt 24 22 Eccle 5 1 3. 4 6. 7 7. 3 Wisd. 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. 10. Phil 3 19 Deu. 32 32 33 Esaie 59 4 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11 Wild. 6. 2 3. 4 5. 7. Phil. 19. 10. 11 1. Pet 2. 12. Psal 38 5 Psal 51. 3 Rom 7 18 19
of the proud scattereth the imaginations of their heartes He that bruseth his enimies with a rod ofIron and breaketh them in peeces like a potters vessell Hee whose outstretched arme turneth the wheele of prouidence and keepeth all things in a wonderfull order He that did many wonders in the land of Egipt and shewed many mercies in the land of promise He that humbled Nabuchadnezar for all his pride plagued him right sore for all his tyrannie He that rained downe fire and brimstone vpon Sodom and Gomor and preserued Lot from the fierie storm He that saith ofhimselfe I am Alpha and Omega and hee that is father of all aboue all through all in all yea all in all and the same for euer He yea euen he it is O earth ashes whome thou doest prouoke by thy lewd inuentions and incense to wrath thy licentious liuing and carelesse securitie O crooked and peruerse generation doo yee make the merciful forbearance of so great a maiesty an occasion of sinne will you for that hee is full of long suffering and not as a mortall prince reuenge by death the least iniurie offred more and more offend him Will you for that the king prorogeth his greate session of parlement for your onlye good and gaine because hee woulde haue you repent and not die in your sinnes conclude there shall be no such session yes sure there shall or else the sonne of God is a liar which to thinke were in the highest degree most blasphemous c. Therefore omitting all that which might procure you to loue him where is become the natural care you haue to auoid punishment which might prouoke you to feare him if not as children yet as seruants or subiects Thinke you O ye obdurate Libertines that because GOD if you thinke there is a God is mercifull hee is not therfore iust O know ye athists his iustice is as great as his mercy and either of both as great as himselfe For as soon can he cease to be God as cease to be iust iustice and mercie are properties peculiar to him and deny them by your words and denie him as to your greater damnation you doo by your workes If this be true as moste damnable it were to doubte thereof what furie then so bewitcheth you that you can cast off all care yea and y t natural feare wherof the verie brute beastes are not depriued And with such greedy appetites from day to day seeke to fill vp the measure of your iniquity to the brim As though indeed there were no God or as though there were no future reckoning to be made As though you could keep your transgressions from his knowlege or as the eie maker did not or could not se your abhominations hee both knoweth them seeth them though with greef and will in the daie that you so doubte of least suspect pay you home with a vengeance if you preuent it not by your speedie repentance which daie thoughe it hath pleased him to delaie for the triall of his chosen yet for their sakes he will shorten it and hee that is comming will come and bring his reward with him Moste ioyfull to the godly but woful to the contrarie And therfore ye wanton worldlings whose eies doo as it were swell with fatnesse ofyour aboundance and surfet with all worldly delight call to mind your mortalitie abandon your iniquitie forsake your infidelitie and so remember Gods mercie that you forget not his iustice being his propertie which is a depth without bottom it glorifies the godly and confoundeth the wicked Trust not vnto thy riches and say not I haue inough for my life for it shall not help in the time of vengeance and indignation and say not I haue sinned and what euil hath come vnto me for the almightie is a patient rewarder for he will not leaue thee vnpunished Saie not the mercie of God is great hee will forgiue my manifold sinnes for mercie and wrath come from him and his indignation commeth downe vpon sinners make no long tarrieng to turne vnto the Lord and put not offfrom day to day for suddenlie shall the wrath of the Lord breake foorthe and in thy securitie thou shalte bee destroied and thou shalt perish in time of vengeance Sowe not vpon the furrowes of vnrighteousnes leaste thou reape them seuen fold Saie not with your selues our liues are short and tedious and in the death of a man is no recouerie neyther was any knowne that hath returned from the graue For we are borne at all aduenture and wee shall be heerafter as though we had neuer bin for the breath is a smoke in our nostrils the words as a sparke raised out of our harts Which being extinguished the bodie is returned into ashes and the spirit vanisheth as the soft aire Our life shall passe awaie as the trace of a cloud and come to naught as the mist that is driuen awaie with the beames os the sunne and cast downe with the heate thereof Our name also shall be forgotten in time and no man shall haue our works in remembrance For our time is as a shadowe that passeth away and after our end there is no returning for it is fast sealed so that no man commeth againe Come therefore let vs enioye the pleasures that are present and let vs cheerefullie vse the creatures as in youth Let vsfill our selues with costlie wine and ointments and let not the flower of youthe passe by vs. Let vs crowne our selues with rose buddes afore they be withered Let vs all be partakers of our wantonnesse let vs leaue some token of our pleasure in euerie place for that is our portion and this is our lot Therefore let vs oppresse the poore that is righteous let vs not spare the widow nor reuerence the white heares of the aged O debate not on this wise with your selues but flie from euill and doo good for God regardeth thee deeds of euerie man Call to remembrance the perillous times wherein we liue and the vncerteintie oflife How neere Gods iudge ments if not his generall iudgement approcheth vs. If we with a sound discretion consider it we shall find great cause to feare it and prepare our selues to preueut it Our liues as by hourlie experience wee proue hangeth by a slender twine by reason of our mortalitie incident to al men generallie But our liues hangeth by a weaker twine incident to vs in England as our case now standeth especiallie Which are compulsionsforcible inough to draw reasonable men to integrity of life and holy conuersation Yet fareth it with vs as with senselesse pictures that haue eies and see not eares and heare not heads and conceiue not the iminent dangers hanging ouer our heads We harden our harts with Pharao against the God of Israel they are not touched with threates nor terrified with torments till they be inflicted vpon vs as now they are too too neare vs. Now
blessed booke and true chronicle and so thinke vpon them that we may profit by them that is to learne by their harmes to auoid the like for though Gods plagues be long in comming by reason ofhis great patience yet when they come they come with a witnesse they come with a terror they fal with a mighty insupportable waight yea with such a waight as on whom soeuer they light they wil grind to powder Much more might be here incerted touching the seueritie of Gods iustice and our sinfull carelessnesse But what hope may I conceiue that my perswasions beeing a man as corrupt as the corruptest shoulde preuaile with the wantons of this worlde when neither the powerfull perswasions sweet promises sugred allurementes nor thundring threates which with an heauēly eloquence are written by the spirit of truth in the sacred bible togither with so manie learned and godly treatises all tending to this purpose now extant cannot preuaile no not in the least measure with this froward generatiō Howe be it though there bee nothing more common then bookes of suche importance yet haue I thought it conuenient to publish this briefe bearing my selfe in hand it shall rather amend manie then offend anie except suche as vnto whome Christ himselfe is become an offence For suche as I couet not to please so care I not to displease A contemplation full of heauines of minde and anguish ofspirit it is to cōsider the hugenesse of the iniquitie of this present age the waight whereof makes the earth to grone as not being able to sustaine so intollerable a burden It compelles euerie man regenerate and truely mortified to saie O that my soule had winges like a doue that I might flie awaie from this wicked and stiffnecked people and escape the vengeance to come this people of vncircumcised hearts and eares whose consciences are seared with hot irons whose God is their bellie whose glory is their shame and whose endes are damnation They do as it were oppose themselues against the Lord of hostes and with might and maine persecute his saintes They are so fraught with pride lust enuie and gaullie bitternes so full of mischief diuelish practises that they offer violence to their own soules in effecting their abhominations and stand at open defiance with heauen the sempiternall seate of the highest Their vineyard is the vinyard ofSodomites their grape is the grape of gall and their clusters of grapes are most bitter Their wine is the gall of Dragons and the poison of Cockatrices vncurable They put their trust in thinges of nothing and doo talke vanities they conceiue labour and bring foorth iniquitie they breake the egges of serpentes and weaue the webbes of spiders he that eateth their egges dieth the death and that which is hatched thence is a Cockatrice their webs make not cloth to couer them for that their workes are al vnprofitable and the work of iniquitie in their handes Their feete runne to euill and they make haste to shedde innocent bloud their thoughtes are wicked thoughtes desolation and destruction is in their pathes The waie of peace they knowe not there is none equitie in their goinges they haue made them crooked pathes whosoeuer goeth therein shall not know peace Therefore is iudgement farre from vs neither dooth iustice come neere vnto vs wee wait for light but loe it is darkenes for bright nesse but we walke in darkenes We grope for the wall like the blind we grope as onewithouteies we stumble at the noone day as in the twilight we are in solitarie places as dead men Weroare all like Beares and mourne like Doues we lookefor equitie but there is none for health but it is far from vs. But O sacred Souereigne and my peereles Princesse in whom for whom and by whom wee enioy these blessed benefits of peace and plentie with infinite others Let it please thy Royall Maiestie of thy superaboundant clemencie to take in good woorth these few aduisementes fent from the senter of a poore subiects heart that reuerenceth thee as it is moste bounden in greater measure then wordes can posfibly expresse And albeit the rare and admirable discretion which is alwaies resident in thee as in the locall place where it of right ought to be togither with the moste sound aduise of those prudent Senators whiche are of the councell can and doo foresee with great circumspection the imminent dangers insuing thy absence and cut off with such due regard as wel befeemeth them al occasions that may preiudice thy sacred life crowne and dignitie yet ô yet giue thy poore subiect leaue with all humility prostrate vpon my face I beseeche thee to mind thee of that whiche in respect of earthly welfare is our summum bonum namely thy safetie whereon dependeth the safetie liues and liuinges of so manie thousandes If then the head cannot perish but the members must needes come to naught and that the losse of thy dear life is the catastrophe of ours It stādeth me in hand to the vttermost of my power to practise by all possible indeuours though conscience compell me not all that might tend to the preseruatiō of the same And therefore I beseech your maiestie in the bowels of a dutiful and loyall heart to restrain the accesse to your princely presence of such as may anie waie be suspected of disloialtie be they high or low or of what conditiō soeuer and althogh my request seem vnto your great wisedom needlesse in respect of your owne proper care yet haue I some reason to minde you of this for that it is well knowne you haue bene heeretofore with your mercifull leaue bee it spoken too too affable vnto the bloudthirstie and ouerbold with suche as haue intended your destruction and ours which although it be a gratious disposition in you yet to vs your poore subiects it is no smal danger although y e innocēcie of your hart make it void of feare and suspition how beit in regard of our sinnes and Gods iustice be yet the more circumspect And albeit by reason of humaine ignorance you cannot vnderstand the thoughtes of their heartes that intend mischiefe yet with heedefull regard the power whiche haue hitherto preserued you pulling their maskes from their faces and discouering their handes you shall apparantly perceiue their trecherous countenances and plainly descrie their butcherly handes imbrued with bloud and all outragious villanie Take heede therefore good Queene againe I saie take heed giue not the vnknowne or suspected opportunitie least the Lorde in the heate of his wrathe now iustly kindled by reason of our sinnes depriue vs of you to the end he may be auenged on vs as on a people vnworthie of so praise-worthie a princesse and so pay vs home with such insuiug plagues calamities as since the calling home of our grand ancestors to humaino ciuilitie was neuer seen in our lād Therfore ô sweete comfort of Israel as muche as in you lieth
preuent these miseries if not so muche for your owne sake yet for your poore subiectes and the gospell sake that wee may liue in safetie and long inioy this thrice happie tranquilitie ANd you Ladies of honour and others that liue vnder hir obeysance speake honourablie and thinke reuerently of hir for whose sake and by whose meanes you are so highlie honoured and reuerenced Backbite hir not no not in your priuie chambers for the doore-cheekes of those clossets wil blab it abroad to your perpetuall shame and deserued destruction Please God and this renowmed Paragon by your vnfained obedience so shall you preuent these calamities wee shall liue in safetie and inioy this blessed peace and tranquilitie ANd you ô noble Lords of England let neither the cause of conscience ambitious desire of honour and soueraign tie cōceiued vnkindnesse or secret enuie nor ought besides that may be imagined falsifie the faith and allegeance you owe to hir maiestie hir crowne and dignity but preuent these calamities in being honorably resolued to die in defence of hir and your country containing your selues within the lists of loialtie So shall wee hir subiectes liue in safetie and inioy this blessed peace and matchlesse tranquilitie YOu Lordes spirituall vnto whose vigilant regard our soules are cōmitted see well to your charge and as your callinges are so let your conuersations be instruct your flock'es as wel by workes as words Plant sound and sincere doctrine that it may fructifie and increase knowledge Abandon slouth and couetousnesse from your houses In steede whereof entertaine holy exercise and hospitalitie for their reliefe and comfort that are in aduersitie Suffer none by any meanes to enter the ministerie but such as you shall find by the touchstone of trial to be sufficient for so high a function whose giftes may euery waie answere the sinceritie of their calling and ifyou maie or can expell all those that are alreadie entred whiche either are vngodly or vnlearned Set your affections on thinges inuisible for so it well beseemeth you and not on thinges mortal for so the heathen doo And for that our merciful God manie times conuerteth the practises of the wicked to the profit of the godly and woulde that they should make the most of this profit Imagine it pleased him in his inscrutable wisdom as knowing what is most behouefull for you to suffer a pack of puritants falsly so called to reuile and slander you yea and to put foorth libels against you therby to awake you and to make you attend the worke of your vocation more diligently and carefully Now therefore let this be to you an aduantage make your profit heereof and if you so doo reioyce and bee glad for great is your reward in heauen for so slandered they the Prophetes and Apostles whiche were before you and practise hencefoorth by preaching and praier to preuent these calamities that wee and you may liue in safetie and long inioy this peace and tranquilitie OYe graue and learned Iudges of this land peruert not the lawes for loue of lucre let not the glorious glasse of golde whiche is but painted earth dazell the eies of your vnderstanding corrupt the secret corners of your consciences For Salomon the prince of prudence speaketh vnto you on this maner Giue eare yee that rule the multitude for the rule is giuen you of the Lord and power by the most high which will trie your workes and search out your imaginations because that yee being officers of his people haue not iudged aright nor kept the law nor walked after the will of God Horriblie and sodainly will he appeare vnto you for an hard iudgement shall they haue which beare rule For he that is Lord ouer all will spare no person neither shall he feare anie greatnesse for hee hath made the small and great and careth for all alike Take no bribes therfore neyther by your selues nor by substitutes for though by that sleight you can auoide a checke ofhir maiestie you cannot escape his cursse that raines in eternitie But measure your sentences by the line of equitie suppresse vice without partialitie and aduance vertue with al possible industrie So shall you please God and preuent ech callamitie We shal be safe and liue in peerelesse prosperitie and long inioy this peace and matchlesse tranquilitie YE knights Squires and Gentlemen ofEngland O surcease your ciuill dissentions whereby the greater number of our shieres are deuided and mightilie disquieted to the vtter wracke and ruine of manie partakers and whereby also the most Honorable industrious and worthie Lord Chancellor with others in authoritie that else shoulde otherwise bee occupied spend most of their time in appeasing of discords and making of concordes Surcease I say these vncharitable con tentions embrace each others loue friendship ofreconciled foes become vnfained friends and in amities band Knit all your powers togither to repell and subdue the power and pride of the common enimies of vs all So shall you by your charitable dispositions each to other and byyour knightlie prowesse and manlie resolution ech for other and each with other preuent their purpose that would procure this calamitie So shall wee liue in peace and safetie and long enioy this prosperous tranquilitie YOu Landlordes of this lande improue not your rents nor inhance your fines but affoord your poore Tenants that alwaies rests at your disposition a liuers bargaine intreat them as neighbours and not as villaines extend not your power to oppresse them by might but stretch out your handes to defend their right that they maye heereby be enabled to paie your rent maintaine their families and answere hir Maiesty such taxes and impositiōs as shall be laid vpon them for the defence and preseruation of our safetie that we may enioye this happie tranquilitie YE Councellors and learned in the lawes of this land be ye more industrious in dispatch of your poore clients causes vse no procrastination painefull to them though gainefull to you If neither lawe nor conscience fauor their case as many suche Cases shal come to your handlings and most commonlie prosecuted by the wealthy worldlings O then flatter them not in their peruerse proceedings but a duise them to cease their sutes and misdooings yet for that many causes are so ho nest and lawdable in appearance at the first though in truth they are nothing lesse and therefore you cannot discerne the right from wrong vntill by due course oflaw it be discussed O yet when you shall perceiue by exami nation of euery circumstance in particular that you haue the weaker side by reason of the weakenes and insufficiencie of the cause ô then euen then I say aduance not the glorie of your wits in the maintenance of falshoode and dishonest actions Thinke it not a discredit to giue place to truth but rather a fowle impietie to oppose you against hir wander not in the wildernes ofsophisticall sorceries nor decke your speech with flowers of eloquence