of the Israelites God shewed by an euident terrour to all gouernours that he did not allowe suche right as the prophet sayed the king wolde vse ouer his subiectes For whan king Achab wolde haue bought of his subiecte Naboth his vineyorde which he neded not to haue done if the subiectes goods be the kīges ād he refused to sel it as he might doo for by Goddes lawe he had a propretie therin from which without his will and consent he could not be forced to departe the king fretted so muche bicause he could not haue his will that he fell sicke in his bedde ād wolde not eate His wife Dame Iesabel a woman full of malice and mischief as that kynde is very ◅pte and prone to those vertues and within shorte space doo so therin excell as fewe men can in long tyme matche them taketh the matier in hande What sayeth she be you a mete man to be a king ouer Israel that will suffre suche dishonour at your slaues handes one that bi your auncient prerogatiue which hathe continued thes hundred and three score yeares yea from the first king of Israel ye maye vse in body and goodes as pleaseth you Phy for shame pull your courage to you arise eat your meat be mery I waraūt you the vineorde Out goeth a Cōmission in the kinges name to certain Cōmissionares where Naboth dwelt suche as the Quenes grace was sure fauoured her procedinges Those she requireth to cause Naboth to be endyted and con demned for an heretike and a traitour and so to cause him to be stoned to deathe Her will is furthewith satisfied matier ynough against Naboth prisoner at the Barre bicause she wold so haue it no man might be admitted nor durst speake the truthe in the prisoners cause least they had ben clapped fast and trussed vp also for speaking against the king and Quene no queste durst quite him for fear of kissing the flete no lawes no equitie no iustice might defende the poore innocent So the vineiorde is the kinges by the ordre of lawe Those newes be caried in post to Iesable she sheweth them to her husbande wherwith he as sone as he hearde them was recouered and goeth to take possession of the vineiorde But what foloweth this crueltie ād tirānie Are not bothe the kinges Maiestie and the Quenes highnesse within while after killed ād their blood licked vp of dogges according as the Prophet declared to hi in the vineyorde whā he toke possession of it and all his house so destroied that ther was not lefte therof so muche as a dogge to pisse against the wall Thus ye maie see thende of lustie lordes and ladies that will haue their lustes a lawe and their will to be folowed and obeied of their subiectes as a right in dede The true right and prerogatiue of a king was written in a particular boke by the Prophete Samuel and laied vp by the Arke which boke among many other was loste yet who so lusteth to knowe it maie see it set out by God ī the boke of Deu teronomie After that God had prescribed who shold be their king that is no aliene or straunger but one of their owne brethren for naturally straungers doo not fauour straungers And a straunge prince seketh by all meanes to destroy the natural inborne that he maie with quietnesse and suretie enioie and vse that he cometh euil by and so leaue it to his succession than is set furthe the right and prerogatiue of a king thus Whā your king is made he shall not kepe many horses nor putting his trust in his horsemen he shall not bring the people again into Egipte He shall not haue many wiues least they altre his minde frō God nother yet great treasure of siluer ād golde But whā he is set in his throne he shall cause a copie of these lawes and statutes to be written out of thoriginal remaining with the Leuites and the same he shall haue with hī all the daies of his life that he maie learne to feare the lorde his God ād to kepe not to breake all the wordes and ceremonies that be cōmaunded in the lawe and also to fulfill thē in his doinges And he shal not be prowde and hault ouer his brethren neither shall he swarue from the lawe towarde the right hande or lifte hande that he and his children maie long reigne ouer Israel But besides this lawe appoīted for all kinges he that wilbe accompted a christian king or gouernour must remembre that he is a christian man and that bi being made a king he is not exempt from the lawes and duetie of a christen mā which eueri one professeth in Baptisme but as he is called and exalted aboue the rest of his brethren so should he be an example to them of good lyuing and vertue in obseruīg the lawe which saieth aswell to kinges as to beggers Thou shalt not steale thou shalt not couet any thing that is thy neighbours and so it stablisheth and confirmeth that euery one maie iustly kepe that is his owne and none maie take it from him by ani meane against his will be it king or kaiser And by the doinges of Samuel who albeit he were not a king in name yet hade he being the lieutenaunt and viceroie to God the chief king as great autoritie as any king in the earthe it maie appeare that all thinges of the subiectes be not the kinges owne propre For if they had ben his owne what neded Samuel at the surrendre of his office to offre to make an accompt And to whom I praie you To any bribing Auditour No he offred to make it to God and to the king that succeded him Beholde saieth the I haue done all that ye desired me I haue made you a king to rule you My children yet shall be with you But I am olde and hore headed that is I cā not long cōti nue I haue bē amōg you frō a child to this daie Lo I ā ready to make mine accōpte before God and your kīg for all thīges that cā be laied to me by any of you whose bullocke haue i takē whose asse haue I hade to whom haue I done any uiolence or wrong whom haue I oppressed of whom haue I taken any bribes to maintene him in his wickednesse to winke at his faultes or to stoppe iustice let him come furthe and I will make satisfaction And none of them could saie blacke was his eie No saieth Samuel I take God and your king to witnesse agaīst you I am so nette that ye shall not finde one iote in my fingres but I am hable to laie ynough against you wicked people c. O Samuel Samuel what king or prince can saie to the as thou diddest to the Israelites They loke not to make an accompt no they haue counsail of craftie Alcibiades how they maie make non accompt But they can not escape it they shall mete with an other maner of auditour than any of Mousire
is so playne and easie to be vnderstanden that no ignoraunce cā or will excuse him that therin offendeth Against thoffendours of this lawe ther was no corporal punishement ordayned in this worlde til after the destruction of the worlde with the great floud For albeit Cayn and lamech had committed horrible murthers yet were they not corporally punished but had a protection of God that none should laufully hurte them But after the flood whan God sawe his gentilnesse and pacience could not worke his creatures to doo their dueties vnforced but iniquitie preuailed and mischief daily encreaced and one murthered and destroyed an other than was he constrayned to chaunge his lenitie into seueritie and to adde corporal paynes to those that wold not folowe but transgresse his ordinaunces And so he made this lawe which he declared to Noha He that Sheadeth the bloud of man his bloud Shal be Shead by man For man is made after the ymage of God By this ordināce and lawe he instituteth politike power and geueth authoritie to mē to make more lawes For he that geueth man autoritie ouer the body and life of man bicause he wolde haue man to lyue quietly with mā that all might serue him quietly in holynes and righteousnes all the dayes of their life it can not be denyed but he gaue him autoritie ouer goodes landes possessiones and all suche thinges as might bried controuersies and discordes and so hyndre and let that he might not be serued and glorified as he requireth This ordinaunce also teacheth makers of lawes how they should behaue thē selues in making lawes that is to set aparte all affectiones and to obserue an equalitie in paynes that they be not greater or lesse than the fault deserueth and that they punishe not thinnocent or smal offendour for malice and let the mightie and great thefe escape for affection And out of this ordinaunce groweth and is grounded thautoritie for Magistrates to execute lawes for lawes without execucion be no more profitable than belles without clappers But whether this authoritie to make lawes or the power to execute the same shal be and remayne in one person alone or in manie it is not expressed but lefte to the discreciō of the people to make so many and so fewe as they thinke necessarie for the mayntenaunce of the state wherupon in som places they haue ben content to obey suche lawes as were made by one as the Israelites were with those that Moyses ordayned the Lacedemones with those that Licurgus made the Athenes with those that Solon gaue them And in some places with suche as were made by certayn outchosen men as in Rome by the ten men And in some they receaued none but suche as all the multitude agreed Vnto Likewise in some countreyes they were cōtent to be gouerned and the lawes executed by one king or Iudge in some places by many of the best sorte in some places by the people of the lowest sorte and in some places also by the king nobilitie and the people all together And these diuerse kyndes of states or policies hade their distincte names as wher one ruled a Monarchie wher many of the best Aristocratie wher the multitude Democratie and wher all together that is a king the nobilitie and cōmones a mixte sta te which men by long continuance haue iudged to be the best sort of all For wher that mixte state was exerciced ther did the cōmon wealthe longest continue But yet euery kynde of these states tended to one ende that is to the mayntenaunce of iustice to the wealthe and benefite of the hole multitude and not of the superiour and gouernours alone And whan they sawe that the gouernours abused their autoritie they altred the state As among the Israelites for the iniquitie of the children of Samuel their iudge from Iudges to kinges among the Romaynes for the tyrannye and oppression that Tarquinius vsed ouer the people as the chief occasion and afterwarde for his sonnes lewdenesse as the outwarde occasion from kinges to Consules and so from Consules for their euil demeanour to Decem viri and Triumviri that is to ten rulers and three rulers and so from chaunge to chaunge tyll it came to the state Imperial yet alwayes preseruing and mayntening thautoritie albeit they altred and chaunged the kinde of gouernement For the Ethnikes themselues being ledde only by the lawe of nature and their owne reason sawe that without politike power and autoritie mankynde could not be preserued nor the worlde continued The riche wold oppresse the poore and the poore seke the destruction of the riche to haue that he hade the mightie wold destroye the weake and as Theodoretus sayeth the great fishe eate vp the small and the weake seke reuenge on the migh tie and so one seking the others destruction all at leynght shoulde be vndone and come to destruction And bicause this authoritie and power bothe to make lawes and execute lawes proceded from God the holy goost in scripture calleth them Goddes not for that they be naturally Godds or that they be transubstantiated in to Goddes for he sayeth they shall dye like men and in dede their workes declare them to be non other than men but for thautoritie and power which they receaue of God to be his ministers here in earthe in ruling and gouerning his people and that the people should the rather obeye them and haue them in honour and reuerence according to his ordinaunce And the wonderfull prouidence of God is herein to be wel noted and considered of all suche as loue and feare God that in all places and countreyes wher Goddes worde hathe ben receaued and embraced ther for the tyme the people folowed God no tirannye could entre but all the membres of the body sought the prosperitie and wealthe one of an other for Goddes worde taught them so to doo Thou shalt loue the lorde thy God sayeth it aboue all thinges and thy neighbour as thy selfe And what ye will that men doo vnto you doo you euen so vnto them The frutes of his worde is loue one of an other of what state or degree in this worlde so euer they be And the state of the policies and common wealthes haue ben disposed and ordained bi God that the headdes could not if they wolde oppresse the other membres For as among the Lacedemonians certain men called Ephori were ordayned so see that the kinges should not oppresse the people and among the Romaynes the Tribunes were ordayned to defende and mayntene the libertie of the people from the pride and iniurie of the nobles so in all Christian realmes and dominiones God ordayned meanes that the heads the prīces ād gouernours should not oppresse the poore people after their lustes ād make their wil les their lawes As in Germanye betwene thēperour ād the people a Counsail or diet in Fraūce and Englande parliamentes wherin ther mette and assembled of all sortes of people and nothing could be done without
Octauia in to an Ilan de he byndeth her in chaines and causeth her to be let blood in all partes and fearing least feare wolde dryue the blood to the harte and so she lyue longer than he wolde he setteth her in a bayne of hotte water that her blood might the soner come out But what becometh of his deare dearling Puppie he dalieth a while with his Puppie and at leynght his hotte loue being turned in to displeasur he spurneth her being with Childe on the belye and so she dieth To late he repented but yet ceassed not his crueltie He killed his maister Seneca he persecuted the churche of Christ most miserably and so thinking that he might doo what him lusted and that all was well done were it neuer so euil done he neuer lefte of his crueltie til the people finding occasion and oportunitie to vttre their dissembled hatred slewe him But what thinke you who were to be blamed for these cruell actes He for doing theÌ„ or others for flat tring hiÌ„ or the Senate aÌ„d people of Rome in suffring him Surely ther is none of them to be excused but all to be blamed and chiefly those that might haue bridled him and did not He is a good citez in that dothe non euil saieth a noble wiseman but he is a better that letteth others that they shall not doo hurt nor vniustice to others The blood of innocentes shalbe demaunded not only at the handes of the sheaders of blood but also of those that make or consent to wicked lawes to condemne innocentes or suffre their head to kill them contrary to iust lawes â–ª or to spoile them of that they iustly enioie by the ordre of the lawe Now sithe kinges princes and gouernours of common wealthes haue not nor can iustly clayme any absolute autoritie but that thende of their autoritie is determined and certain to maintene iustice to defende the innocent to punishe the euil And that so many euilles and mischiefes maie folowe wher such absolute and in dede tiraÌ„nical power is vsurped let vs praie that they maie knowe their duetie and discharge theÌ„ selues to God and to the worlde or elles that those which haue the autoritie to refourme them maie know and doo their duetie that the people finding and acknowlageing the benefite of good rulers maie thaÌ„ke God for them and labour euery one to doo their duetie and that seing the head is not spared but euillesin it punished they maie the more willingly absteine froÌ„ tyraÌ„nie and other euil doinges and do their dueties and so all glorifie God VVHETHER KINGES princes and other politike Gouernours be subiecte to Goddes lawes and the positiue lawes of theyr countreyes HE that noteth the procedinges of princes and gouernours in these our daies how ambicious they are to vsurpe others Dominiones and how necli geÌ„t they be to see their owne well gouerned might thiÌ„ke hat they beleue that either ther is no God or that he hathe not care ouer the thiÌ„ges of the worlde or that they thinke themselues exempt frome Goddes lawes and power But the Wonderfull ouerthrowe of their deuises whan they thinke themselues most sure and certain is so manifest that it is not possible to denye but that bothe ther is a God and that he hathe care ouer the thinges of the worlde And his worde is so playne that non can gaynsaye but that they be subiecte and ought to be obedient to Goddes lawes and Worde For the hole decalog and euery part therof is aswell written to kinges princes and other publike persones as to priuate persones A king maye no more committe Idolatrie than a priuat man he mayâ—… not take the name of God in vayne he maye not breake the Sabbat no more than any priuate man It is not laufull for him to disobeye his pareÌ„tes to killany persone contrary to the lawes to be an hooremoÌ„ger to steale to lye and beare false witnesse to desire and couet any mannes house wife seruaunt mayde oxe asse or any thing that is an others more than any other priuate man No he is bounden and charged vnder greater paines to kepe them than any other bicause he is bothe a priuate man in respecte of his owne persone and a publike in respecte of his office which maâ—…e appeare in a great meigny of places whe roâ—… parte I will recite The holy gost by the mouthe of a king and prophet saieth And now ye kinges â—…nderstande be ye learned that iudge the earthe Serue the Lorde in feare and reioi ce with trembling Kisse the sonne that is receaue with honour least the Lorde be angrie and ye lose the waye whan his wrathe shall in a moment be kyndled And in an other place thus The Lorde vpon thy right haÌ„de shal Smyte and breake in pieces eueÌ„ kinges in the daye of his wrathe Esaias also the prophet saieth The Lorde shal comme to iudgemeÌ„t against the princes and elders of the people Likewise saieth the Prophet Micheas speaking to all princes and gouernours vnder the heades of the house of Iacob and the leaders of the house of â—…srael He are ye princes and gouernours saieth Micheas Should ye not kno we what were laufull and right But ye hate the good and loue the euil ye plucke of meÌ„nes skynnes and the fleshe from their bones ye cheoppe them in pieces as it were in to a Caldron and as fleshe in to a potte Now the tyme shall come that whaÌ„ ye call vnto the lorde he shall not heare you but hyde his â—…ace from you by cause that through your owne ymaginationes ye haue dealt so wickedly And again he saieth O heare ye rulers and gouernours ye that abhorre the thing that is lauful and wraste asyde the thing that is straight ye that builde vp Sion with blood your magestie and tirannie with doing Wrong For so maie Sion and Ierusalem be well expounded O you iudges ye geue sentence for giftes O ye priestes ye teache for lucre O ye ê“phetes ye prophecie for money yet Will they be takeÌ„ as those that holde vpoÌ„ God and saie â–ª Is not the lorde amoÌ„g vs How can than any mysfortune happen to vs But Sion that is your cities for your sakes shalbe plowed like a fielde and IerusaleÌ„ that is your palaces shall become an heape of stones and the hill of the teÌ„ple that is your Monasteries frieries and chauntries shall be come an high woodde The holy goost also by the mouthe of king Salomon sayeth Heare O ye kinges and vnderstande O learne ye that be iudges of the eÌ„des of the earthe Geue eare ye that rule the multitudes and delyte in muche people For the power is geueÌ„ unto you of the lorde aÌ„d the streinght from the highest who shall trye your wor kes and searche out your ymaginaciones how that ye being officers of his kingdom haue not kept the lawe of righteousnesse nor Walked after his will Horribly and that sone shall be appeare vnto you for vpoÌ„ the most high
thinges ciuile power hathe autoritie ne yet how farre subiectes ought to obeye their gouernours And this they doo not for lacke of knowlage but of a spiritual malice bicause it maketh against their purpose that the truthe should be disclosed If any christian prince should goo about to redresse the abuses of the Sacraments brought in and deuised by the papistes to maintēe their kingdome to correcte their abominable life their hooredome buggery dronkenesse pride and suche like vices than is he an other Ozias an other Osa an heretike aschismatike cursed from toppe to too with boke bell and candle as blacke as a potteside no obedience of the subiectes ought to be geuen vnto him But if he be contented to wynke at their abominaciones to runne with them to dishonour God to commit idolatrie to kill the true ministers and confessours of Christ to destroye the poore innocētes which abhor the papistes wicked vices and be desirous that Goddes kingdome should be promoted than is he an other Ezechias a Iosias a catholike prince a deare sonne of the churche the protectour of the churche the defendour of the faithe the fosterour of the churche a confessour while he lyueth after his deathe a saynt yea a saint deuil canonized with Ora pro nobis whan Beelzebub daunceth at his Dirige Suche a one saie they must be obeyed in all thinges none maie speake against his procedinges for he that resisteth the power resisteth thordinaunce of God and he that resisteth purchaceth to him self dam naciō as though to leaue euil vndone and to doo good were to resi ste the power And here also they wryng this sayeng of S. Petre Seruauntes obeie your maisters although they be froward and churlishe to free subiectes vnder a king as if bounde men and free men were all one and kinges and bondemens lordes hade like authoritie So with violent wringing and false applyeng of Goddes healthe geuing worde Caiphas and Herode ryde cheke by cheke and walke arme in arme with bothe the sweor des and crosse before them Frende to the one frende to bothe and he that is an heretike with Caiphas must be atraitour to Herode ▪ Thus they goo about to bleare mennes eies to con firme and encreace their deuillishe kingdome But popis he prelates practices are no warraunt to discharge a christian mannes conscience He must seke what God will haue him doo and not what the subtiltie and violēce of wicked men will force him to doo He maye not robbe petre to clothe Paule nor take from God his due to geue it vnto ciuile power neither maie he make confusion of the powers but yelde vnto euery one that is his due nor yet obeyeng the inferiours commaundement leaue the commaundement of the highest vndone Yelde vnto Cesar those thinges that be Cesares sayeth Christ and vnto God those thinges that be Goddes Ciuile power is a power and ordinaunce of God appointed to certain thinges but no general minister ouer all thinges God hathe not geuen it power ouer the one and the best parte of man that is the soule and conscience of man but onely ouer the other and the worst part of man that is the body and those thinges that belong vnto this temporall life of man And yet ouer that parte with thappurtenaunces hathe he not only not geuen man the hole power and stripped him self quite of all thautoritie but also he hathe reserued to him self the power therof For we reade that whan ciuile power his minister hathe ben necligent in doing his duetie or winked at the euil life of the people God hathe not holden his hande but hathe whipped and plagued suche people as he did the Sodomites Gomorrianes and diuerse tymes the Iewes And in our dayes his hāde is not shortened but he hathe and daily dothe plage blasphemours hooremongers dronkerdes murtherours theues traitours tyrannes suche as in mannes sight no man durst or at the least wolde touche som with incurable plages of their bodye some with losse of their children some with losse of their goodes and some with shamefull deathes And contrary wise whan the worldly powers haue violently tyrannously ouer sharply and wrongfully oppressed and condemned innocentes God to testifie that he hathe also power of the body hathe many tymes in all ages myghtily and miraculously deliuered his people from the power of tyrannes as the Israelites from Pharao Mardocheus from A man Susanna from the lecherous iudges Sedrach Mesach and Abednego srō the burnyng ouen Daniel from the lyons denne Petre from Herode and infinite other examples we haue in scriptures and histories And the like haue not wanted in our daies also if we will aduisedly cōsidre the condicion and state of our tyme. So that we see God to be the supreme power of the hole man aswell to punishe as to deliuer at his owne will God is the highest power yea the power of powers frō him is deriued all power All people be his seruaūtes made to serue and glorifie him All other powers are but his ministers set to ouersee that euery one he haue him selfe as he ought towarde God and to doo those thinges that he is iustly commaunded to doo by God ◅hat so euer God commaundeth man to doo he ought not to considre the mater but straight to obeie the commaunder For we are sure what he commaundeth is iust and right for from him that is all together iuste and right no iniustice nor wrong can come So did Abraham whan contrary to that semed to be right and iust yea contrary to Goddes general commaundement he made himself ready to kill and offre in sacrifice his onely promised sonne Isaac according to Goddes special commaundement So did also the children of Israel contrary to the general commaundement Thou shalt not steale robbe and spoile the Egipcianes by Goddes special commaundement And so did Phinees who albeit he were no Magistrate yet of a great zeale by the inward mocion of Goddes spirit thrust his sweorde through those two whom he founde committing Horedome But cōtrary in m◅ānes cōmaundementes men ought to considre the matier and not the man For all men what so euer mynisterie or vocatiō they exercice are but mē and so maye erre We see coūcelles against cōcelles parliamētes against parliamētes cōmaundemēt against cōmaundement this daye one thing to morow an other It is not the mannes waraunt that can discharge the but it is the thing it self that must iustifie thee It is the mater that will accuse thee and defende thee acquyte thee and condemne thee whan thou shalt come hefore the throne of the highest and euerlasting power wher no temporal power will appeare for thee to make answer or to defende thee but thou thy self must answer for thy self and for what so euer thou hast done And therfore christen men ought well to considre and weigh◅ mennes commaundementes before they be hastie to doo them to see if they be contrarie or repugnaunt to Goddes commaundementes and iustice which if
and gouernours making them to yelde accompt of their doinges than without faile will the princes and gouernours be as diligent to see the people doo their duetie And so shall the common wealthe be godly and prospre and God shalbe glorified in all But thou wilt saye what if the nobilitie and those that be called to cōmon Coūselles and should be the defendours of the people will not or dare not execute their autoritie what is than to be done The people be not so destitute of remedie but God hathe prouided an other meane thas is to complayne to som minister of the worde of God to whō the keyes be geuen to excōmunicate not only common people for all notorious and open euilles but also kaisers kinges princes and all other gouernours whan they spoile robbe undoo ād kill their poore subiectes without iustice and good lawes And what so euer suche minister of Goddes worde byndeth vpon those occasiones here in earthe it is fast bounden in heauen before the face of God And no meane to vndoo it by any good worke muche lesse by popes pardone or friers prayers without repentaunte of the partie offending ād satisfactiō made to the partie offended for the iniustice and iniu ries committed and the mercie of God through the on ly merites of our saueour Iesus Christ. Exāple we haue of S Ambrose who being no pope nor popes Com missary but bishop of Millane excommunicated the Emperour Theodosius Whose doinges bicause thou maiest the better knowe I will in fewe wordes expres se theffecte of the historie This Theodosius albeit he were an Emperour and a Christen man yet was he of nature colerike and muche disposed to be āgrie and as it semeth without consideration It chaunced that in a sediciō at Thessalonica sōof his officers were stoned to deathe and some very euil intreated He in a rage sendeth thider a nōbre of merciles men of warre who making no differēce betwene thautours of the sediciō and thinnocent people make an horrible slaughter of the poore people mā woman and childe Afterwarde thēperour after his accustumed maner came towarde the churche and S. Ambrose mette him at the churche dore ād wolde not suffre him to entre but not only tolde him it was no place for murtherers but also did excommunicate him out of all christen companie til he repented and made satisfactiō for the hor rible murther cōmitted by his souldiours Thēperour being brought vp and instructed in the worde of God as I wolde to God all christē princes were at this pre sent and knowing thoffice bothe of the minister of Goddes worde ād of an Emperour obeyed and return◅d wepīg ād crieng to his palace Eight monetes af t◅r came the feast of the natiuitie of Christ ād Ruffinus lorde great maister or stuarde of his house came to thēperour whō he founde very heauie weping and sobbing He beig familiar with him desired to knowe the cause of his sorowe Ah Ruffinus saieth thempe rour thou art mery for thou felest not mi paines I l◅ mēt ād mourne for my calamitie It is free for slaues and beggers to goo to the churche ād ther to praye to God but I maie not come ther no heauē gats be schut to me Christes words goo not out of my hart what so euer ye binde on earthe shalbe boūdē also in heauē At leynght beīg ēcouraged by Ruffinus that he might be absoiled of S. Ambrose he sendeth hī before to be a meane for hī ād he him selfe folowed But Ruffinus could not intreat the bishop After themperour cometh but durst not entre in to the churche but without the dores fell on his knees to S. Ambrose and desired absolucion S. Ambrose saied he was not mete to be absoiled for his comyng was more like a tiranne one that wolde by force be absoiled than a christen man that shewed him self penitēt and sory No sayeth thēperour I wil not presume against the ordre of the churche to entre in by force but I hūbly beseche thee to lose me out of these bōdes of excōmunicatiō ād that thow wilt remē bre the mercie that God useth and that thou wilt not shutte against me the gate that God opened to all that be penitent The bishop asked him what worthy penaūce he had shewed syth the tyme he had cōmitted that wicked acte or with what medicine he had healed those most greuous woundes It is your part sayeth themperour to prepare the medicine and myne to re ceaue and use it At leynght S. Ambrose required ther might be a lawe ordayned that thexecucion of reuēge should not be done sodainly but delaied so as it should not proced of angre and thēperour made that lawe Afterwarde he was releassed of thexcōmunicatiō ād commyng in to the churche he made his praiers not standing nor kneling but lyeng flatte on the grounde pulling his heare beating his browe wepīg lamēting and cryeng with Dauid My soule cleaueth to the pauement quicken me O lorde according to thy worde ād asked mercie ād forgeuenesse Thus ye see what any minister of the churche maie doo upō the greatest prince if he will execute his office ād the power that Christ geueth him But thou wilt saie what if the minister passe not on his duetie but be contēt to winke at all the uices of the gouernours be thei neuer so wic ked so he maie haue a bishopriche a deārie a prebēde or a good fatte benefice ād liue ūpunished in all abomi naciō Yea ād what if ther be suche special grudges be twene the nobilitie and commones that the one sorte neither trusteth nor loueth the other so as the one dare not open the necessitie ād meane of suche correction and redresse of the euil gouernours vices for feare least if the purpose come to light before hande the mater be dashed and the mocionar leape headles for his labour as it is in these daies often sene What shifte than In dede ther be certain examples and paternes in the holy Bible Which I will not sticke to rehearse though not expounde but holly referre them to the further debating and iudgemēt of thine owne conscience through the holy goost by whose prouidence they are enrolled for our learning We reade that after the lorde God hade sondry times deliuered his people of Israel from wicked tirānes with whom he hade plaged them for their wickednesse and Idolatrie at leinght whan through aboundaunce of wealthe and quietnesse they fell to a certain careles securitie of life not only forgetting God and his holy sincere worde but also seking euery one his owne singular self gaine with the hurt and contempt of his neighbour God toke from them their natural liege lorde the good Iudge Othoniel and placed yee saieth the scripture he streynghtened a straunge prince among them an Idolatrous persone and a wicked called Eglon. This Eglon vsed the matier so with bribing those Israelites that for preferrement wold be traitours to their natural countrey and specially in
of Gardier but he was not vnskilled I saie ì the arte of practices No in dede he was excellent in that feate as it well appeared For whan he had wrought and made sure the great mariage to auoide the hatred of the people he made his scholar to father it and to haue the outwarde thankes And no maruail of his conning For he was his maister and hade studied longer the arte than the proctour and hade a better witte and spent yearly the halfe of his bishopriche in bribing or elles he had lost his head long before for his treasones were not alltogether vnknowem albeit they were couered and hidden But what dothe this maister or proctour of practices Dothe he not dissemble with the erle of warwike serueth his turne ì al that his wittes wold serue But what at leinght becometh of our practiceing P. He is committed to warde his garter with shame pulled from his legge his robe froÌ„ his backe his coate armour pulled downe spurned out of Windsore churche troden vnder fote and he him self at leinght with great fauour obteinâ—…th that he might redeme the rest of his corporal paines with open confession at the barre in the Starre chambre on his knes of his bribery extorcion dissimulacion ambicion robbing of the king and suche like vertues wherby he became noble If we minded in this place to displaye the packing and practiceing of the Nobilitie and counsail of Englande in the sickenesse and at the deathe of king Edwarde the vi for the pretensed placeing of the lady Iane in the regaleseat and their sodain slipping the coler and deceauing of one an other it were mater ynough to teache men how litel confidence and trust ought to be geuen either to the smothe couÌ„tenaunces faire wordes confident promises bloody othes or swearing vpon the holy Euangelies either yet to the lettres aÌ„d haÌ„de writinges of the Princes aÌ„d potentates of the worlde They that were sworne chief of counsail with the lady Iane and caused the Quene to be proclaimed a bastarâ—…e throughout all Englande and Irelande and they that were the sorest forcers of men yea vnder the threatned paines of Treason to sweare and subscribe vnto their doinges bewraied the mater them selues vnder hande by their wiues aÌ„d other secret shiftes and afterwarde became counsaillours I will not saie procurers of the innocent Lady Ianes deathe and at this present are in the highest autoritie in the Quenes house and the chiefest officers and doers in the common wealthe And som of them that wrote most earnestly to a certain auncient lorde of the Realme among many other in the fauour of the Lady Iane bebastarding and railing vpon the Quene were not ashamed within fewe daies after whan the same lorde was locked vp in the towre for his constaunt although constrained obedience to the common ordre of the Counsail to be his most straunge and rough examiners on the contrary part as though they them selues hade neuer halted in the mater But I knowe these practicers answer that if they hade not vsed that practice they should not only haue standen in hasarde them selues but also failed of their priuie purpose Well In the meane tyme it is ynough to knowe that a man maie not trust nor beleue them either by their wordes othes or hande writinges further thaÌ„ he seeth and heareth them and scarcely so farre And I praie you hathe not the realme good cause to thanke and trust the potentates Prelates and Parliament men for banishing the sacred testament and Gospel of God with the sincere administracion of his holy Sacramentes and for bringing the deuillishe power of the Romishe Antichrist in to Englande again with his miserable Masse and all popishe slauery By the which they haue not only brokeÌ„ their othe aÌ„d loy altie to God and to themperial Crowne of Englande pullìg eternal coÌ„deÌ„nacioÌ„ vpoÌ„ theÌ„selues aÌ„d â–ª puokig the heauie haÌ„d of Goddes wrath aÌ„d plage vpoÌ„ their sede aÌ„d vpoÌ„ the hole realme ì coÌ„pellìg the people to sinne by fallìg froÌ„ the true seruice of the liuìg God ìto most wicked supersticion and idolatrie alas therfore but also haue ben and are giltie of the innocent blood of thankes and the Quenes fauour increaced towarde him But his iuste rewarde yet is not come let hâ—… not loke to spede any better than Heracleo if he continue Iudas still I wolde wishe he wolde in time become a Petre I trust he is not so farre past but he maie be praied for He is my good lorde and Mason ones my great frende aÌ„d nere neighbour I wishe them bothe well Thus ye see the final successe and rewarde of traitours Wherfore it is to be wondred that suche practicers which worke so muche mischief for others can not take hede of the euil that is towardes them selues But Goddes worde must be verified of the wicked Beholde the wicked trauaileth with mischief saieth the worthy prophet and king Dauid a man of great experience He hathe coÌ„ceaued unhappines and brought furthe a lie He hathe grauen and digged up a pitte but he shall fall him self in to the pitte that he hathe made For the mischief that he mindeth to others shall come on his owne head and his wickednesse shall fall on his owne pate But forasmuche as all these fetches and practices be only made and laied to disceaue those that be honest faithfull true and natural to their countreie it is requisite to treate how they maie be auoided Deceat wold not be knocked out with deceat if it might so be but honest men should alwaies and at all times deale plainly and honestly And therfore the honestest meane before thinges be done is to be wise and circumspecte and to forsee thende what mischief maie folowe before they sodainly rashely and vnaduisedly consent to ani thing To vse suche honest wisdom and forsight is permitted bothe by Goddes worde and nature Yea Goddes worde and nature commaunde honest men to vse it For those thinges that can but ones be done and wheron so great weigh thangeth ought to be well done Therfore men ought not to geue credite to faire wordes large promises and great othes for these are the instrumentes to deceaue the honest and well meaning but the fairer the wordes be the larger the promises aÌ„d the greater the othes the more to suspecte For godly and honest thinges maie be well ynough done without painted and smothe wordes faire promises and othes Ther ought to be such equalitie in doing of thinges that such deceates nede not Only subtiltie and crafte deuised long writinges great promises and many solempne ceremonies WhaÌ„ the great mariage was treated in the priuie Counsail aÌ„d so great promises made the olde Duke of Nor folke saied they were golden wordes but how shall they be perfourmed saied he Afterwarde whan it was propouned to the lordes in the parliament to be ratified the Lord Windsori like maner asked who should be suertie for the perfourmaunce therof aÌ„d who should sue the forfaite
the kyng and haue the greatest offices Thus were our countreymen the Britaynes remoued from their king straungers placed in all offices and holdes and at leynght the lande was ouerrunne and possessed of Straungers And the mane of Britayne put awaye and the realme called Englande The Danes after vnderstanding how fertile and pleyntifull England was sought meanes by litle and litle to place themselues in Englande and after a king of DeÌ„marke in his owne persone inuaded EnglaÌ„d in the Northe aÌ„d made woÌ„derfull cruell warres they spared none they burned and wasted Yorkeshire Northumberlande and all places so that the enhabitauntes were forced to sue for peace at the Danes han des Then built they the towne of Dancastre that is the Castle of the Danes and whiles they had peace sent for moo Danes and whan they thought their for ce and power bigge ynough they passed not vpon promyses and leagues that they had made but renued the warres killed burned aÌ„d spoiled in euery place til thei came to Excestre the people and realme was most miserably tormented and made tributarie to them Diuerse of the nobilitie of England vpon light yea no occasiones but only bicause they were thought not to fauour the Danes were taken their nose trilles most villanously slytted their handes cut of â–ª Ah good God who can remembre these thinges without weping Who that feareth thy wrathe lorde will not amâ—…de his life aÌ„d call to thee for mercie What naugh tie nobilitie were that that wolde oppresse the commo nes and afterward be vsed and oppressed them selues by straungers as their predecessours haue ben before tyme What deuillis he CoÌ„mones might that be called that wolde repyne or rebelle against the nobilitie and gentilmen and than to be ouerrunne them selues with priestes and forayners and to be pyned with suche miserie as ye heare that our auncettours were and all bicause the gentilmen and coÌ„mones agred not among them selues Who is a natural Englishe man that will not in tyme forsee and considre the miserie towarde his countreye and him selfe aÌ„d by all meanes seke to let it who is it that caÌ„ hope for quietnesse pea ce healthe pleyntie and such like giftes of God without Goddes fauour and mercie And how is it possible that God should vse mercie with them that beare inwarde hatred and grudge one to an other aÌ„d will vse no merci with others If ye forgeue other meÌ„ their offenses that thei coÌ„mitte agaiÌ„st you saieth Christ your heauenly father will forgeue thoffenses that ye haue coÌ„mitted against him But if ye doo not forgeue other meÌ„ their faultes neither will your father forgeue you your faultes No whilest ye saye the lordes praier aÌ„d be full of raÌ„cour malice hatred aÌ„d eÌ„uie towarde your neighbour ye coÌ„demne your selues and desire Goddes plages and vengeaunce to fall on your selues for ye meane veÌ„geauÌ„ce to your neighbours aÌ„d wishe all euill to fall on them And so it dothe fall on you as ye see by experieÌ„ce of the playes aÌ„d miseries that are aÌ„d shall come to you But from inwarde sedicion and ciuile discorde that briedeth so muche mischief let vs come to outwarde warres and inuasiones made by strauÌ„gers But ye will saye ye haue no warres with any forain prince It is true but shall ye haue none yes yes the tyme is not yet come all is not hatched that is vnder the henne Your winges must be dubbed your fethers must be pulled your coÌ„bes must be cut you must be cleane piked your substaunce shalbe gotten by littel and littell out of your handes by taxes and subsidies by beneuolences and loanes and so froÌ„ a litell to more and froÌ„ more to more and at leynght all the marchauntes goodes to be confiscate in Flaunders by an inquisitioÌ„ and others in England by an opeÌ„ excoÌ„municatioÌ„ And whan ye be ones cleane stripped of your stoare and thus weakened out of courage aÌ„d your harte in your hose as they saie than shall your king returne to his welbeloued wife England with great poÌ„pe aÌ„d power and shall coÌ„pell you in despight of your hartes to reÌ„ dre and deliuer her holly in to his handes Than shall the easter linges vpon hope to recouer their olde and greater priuileges aide him with meÌ„ money and ship pes as allready they haue offred and promised as diuerse credible lettres haue declared ThaÌ„ shall they in uade Englande and shalbe by shiploades if no worse happeÌ„ vnto you caried in to newe Spaine aÌ„d ther not lyue at libertie but bicause ye are a stubburne and vn faithfull generacioÌ„ ye shalbe tyed in chaynes forced to rowe in the galie to digge in the mynes aÌ„d to pike vp the golde in the hotte sande And so with soro we to your soppes your three maÌ„nes song shall be Alas and Weale awaye Than shall ye knowe the pride aÌ„d lorde lynesse of the Spanyardes though for a while til they maie get the ouer hande they crepe and crouche fede men with swete wordes Baso las manos and women with confettes swete wynes pleasaunt pfumes gaye apparail and suche like vayne to yes but whâ—…n they be ones alofte ther is no nacioÌ„ vnder the cope of Christ like theÌ„ in pride crueltie vnmercifulnesse nor so farre froÌ„ all humanitie as the Spanyardes be which thig the realme of Naples the Dukedome of Milane the citie of Siena many partes of Duchelande and the lande of Iulike Cleuelande and Geldre lande can to theyr coste right well testifie And maie it not be thought that the FreÌ„che kìg whaÌ„ he seeth oportunitie wil set in a fote makìg clayme to Englande in the right of the Quene of Scottes as heire to hing HeÌ„ry theight by his eldest syster And maie it not be suspected that the pope to doo the Frenche king a pleasure shall saye the Diuorce betwene king Henry and the dowager was by the canon lawes laufull and shall excommunicate the realme onles they reuoke thacte of parliament wherby the Dyuorce of late was iudged vnlaufull RemeÌ„bre remembre good countrey men and true English hartes the miserie that folowed in our poore countrey vpon the conquest made by thambicious William Duke of NormaÌ„die vpon how small a title he entred aÌ„d how tyraÌ„nously he vsed him self His only colour was a bequest or promise made to him by king Edward brother to Cauntus and Heraldus kinges of England whaÌ„ he was a banished man in Normandie if he should dye without issue as he did At his first en trie he had a great batail with the newe choseÌ„ king of EnglaÌ„d aÌ„d slewe hì aÌ„d tweÌ„tie thousauÌ„t of our couÌ„treye meÌ„ which put suche a feare in all men the Nobilitie the cleargie the LoÌ„doners aÌ„d others the coÌ„mons that it mâ—…de theÌ„sue for peace aÌ„d to geue pledges for their â—…delitie whom he sent in to Normandie At the first he made theÌ„ many fayre promises of peace quietnesse aÌ„d iustice wherwith the folishe foÌ„de people were sone begyleâ—… They thought they had
as his maistership dothe by the masse saieth he that bocher the bishop of LoÌ„doÌ„ wil cut al the geÌ„tilmeÌ„s throtes in EnglaÌ„d if he caÌ„ Thus ye maie see the marcke wherat these hippocrites the papistes shoote They make religioÌ„ aÌ„d Goddes worde nothing elles thaÌ„ a colour to couer their wickednesse aÌ„d to maiÌ„tene their lewdnesse And therfore they wraste and wrythe scripture to serue their purpose and so they haue nede to doo for ther is not one worde in all the scripture for theÌ„ but euery worde against theÌ„ And bicause ye be retourned to their deuociones haue forsaken God aÌ„d his worde aÌ„d cleaue to the pope and his tradiciones aÌ„d maintene suche a sorte of hipocrites dissemblers and open enemies of God aÌ„d the Realme of EnglaÌ„de therfore haue all these plages lighted on you aÌ„d the rest will shortly folowe without faile Loke vpon the xxviij Chap. of deuteronomie wher it is writteÌ„ thus If thou wilt not hearkeÌ„ to the voice of the Lorde thy God to kepe and to doo all his coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes aÌ„d his ordinauÌ„ces which I coÌ„â—…auÌ„de the this daie al these curses shal come vpoÌ„ thee aÌ„d ouertake thee Cursed shalt thou be in the tow ne aÌ„d cursed iÌ„ the fielde cursed shal thy basket be and thy stoare Cursed shalbe the frute of thy body aÌ„d the frute of thy lande and the frute of thyne oxen and the flockes of thy shepe The lorde shal sende vpon thee cursing destruction and rebuke to all that thou settest thy hande to and that thou doest vntil he destroie thee and bring thee to naught quickly bicause of the wickednesse of thyne inuenciones and bicause thou hast forsaken me The lorde shall smite thee with mad nesse blyndenesse and dasing of heart Thou shalt be oppressed with wrong and be polled euermore and no man shah succour thee Thou shalt be betrouthed to a wife and an other man shall lie with her Thou shalt builde an house and not dwell therin Thine oxeÌ„ shalbe killed before thine eies and thou shalt not eate therof Thine asse shalbe violently taken from the aÌ„d shall not be restored to the againe Thy shepe shalbe geuen to thine enemies and noman shall rescue theÌ„ The frute of thy lande and all thy labours shall a nacion which thou knowest not eat aÌ„d thou shalt continually suffre violence and be oppressed alwaie so that thou shalt be cleane beside thy self for the sight that thine eies shall see Thou shalt cary muche sede out in to the felde and shalt gather but a litel in for the gresse hoppers shall destroie it All thy trees and frâ—…te of thy lande shalbe marred with blasting The straunger that is among you shall climbe aboue thee on highe aÌ„d thou shalt come downe beneathe alowe Moreouer all these curses shall come vpon thee aÌ„d shal folowe the aÌ„d ouertake the til thou be destroied bicause thou herkenedest not to the voice of the lor de thy God to kepe his coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes aÌ„d ordinauÌ„ces which he coÌ„mauÌ„ded the aÌ„d they shalbe vpoÌ„ the as miracles and vpoÌ„ thy sede for euer bicause thou seruedest not the lorde thy God with ioifulnesse aÌ„d with a good heart whan thou hadest abouÌ„dauÌ„ce of al thiÌ„ges therfore thou shalt serue thine enemie which the lorde shal sende vpoÌ„ thee in huÌ„gre and thirst in nakednesse and in nede of all thing and he shall put a yowke of Iron about thy necke til he haue brought the to naught And the lorde shall bring a nacion vpoÌ„ thee a nacion whose tongue thou shalt not vnderstande an harde fauoured nacioÌ„ which shal not regarde the persone of the olde nor haue coÌ„passion on the yong The same shall eat the frute of thy catail and the frute of thy lande til he haue destroied thee and shall leawe thee neither corne wine nor oile neither the increace of thine oxen nor the flockes of thy shepe til he haue brought the to naught And the lorde shall sende vpon the and thy sede great plagues and of long continuaunce euil sickenesses and of long duraunce And it shall come to passe that as the lorde reioiced ouer you to doo you good and to multiplie you euen so he will reioyce ouer you to destroie you aÌ„d to bring you to naught And amoÌ„g these naciones thou shalt finde non ease neither shall the sole of thy foote haue rest But the lorde shal geue the an vnquiet hart aÌ„d dasing eies aÌ„d sorowe of minde c. And in the ende of the xxix Chap. of the same it foloweth Than shall all naciones saie wherfore hathe the lorde done on this facion vnto this lande And men shall saie â–ª bicause they lefte the TestameÌ„t of their fathers which he made with them whan he brought theÌ„ out of the laÌ„de of Egipt For they went aÌ„d serued straunge goddes aÌ„d worshipped the. Goddes which they knowe not and which hade geuen them naught And the wrathe of the lorde waxed hotte against this laÌ„de to bring vpoÌ„ it all the curses that are writteÌ„ iÌ„ this boke c. By this scripture ye are plain ly tolde the vndeniable cause aÌ„d mater wherfore the lorde God threatneth and sendeth plages Reade all the histories of the bible aÌ„d the ê“phecies of the Prophetes aÌ„d ye shal euideÌ„tly see how people aÌ„d nacions haue beÌ„ destroied for mainteniÌ„g of suche Idolaters aÌ„d wicked liuers as the papistes are and wher suche wickednesse hathe beÌ„ vsed as is amoÌ„g you aÌ„d not cor rected as I haue before declared But thow wilt saie what shall we doo to auoide the calamitie aÌ„d miserie that is bothe present and towarde wolde to God thou diddest aske it froÌ„ the botome of thy harte But I feare thou doest dissemble aÌ„d speake it with thy lippes only as thou wast wont WhaÌ„ the great sweat was in England in the tyme of king Edwarde a litle signi ficatioÌ„ of a greater scourge foloweing and many that were mery at dyner were buried in the euenyng som that went at night to slepe lustie were founde in bedde dead in the morning some that went not farre froÌ„ their owne house neuer returned Than as long as the ferueÌ„tnesse of the plage lasted ther was cryeng Peccaui peccaui peccaui I haue synned I haue synÌ„ed I haue siÌ„ned mercie good lorde mercie mercie mercie The ministers of Goddes worde were sought for in eueri corner thei could not rest they might not slepe ye must come to my lorde ye must come to my lady my maister prayeth you to come straight vnto hiÌ„ my maistres must nedes speake with you Come if ye loue God and if ye loue their saluacioÌ„ tarye not For Goddes sake M. Minister saye the sicke folkes tell vs what we shall doo to auoide Godds wrothe Ta ke these bagges paye so muche to suche a man for I deceaued him geue him so muche for I gate it of him by â—…surie I made a craftie bargain with suche a one restore him so muche and desyre him to forgeue me I haue taken bribes of suche a one
I pray you geue him so muche more again I haue spokeÌ„ euil of suche a maÌ„ God forgeue it me I haue ben a hooremoÌ„gre a bawde God perdone me Dyuide this bagge among the poore carie this to the hospital pray for me for Goddes sake Good lord forgeue me I haue dissembled with thee I pretended to loue thy worde with my lippes but I thought it not with my hart but now I see thou knowest the secretest secretes aÌ„d wilt not leaue euil vnpunished Haue mercie on me and forgeue me good lord I beseche thee from the botome of my harte This was the dissimulacioÌ„ of the people for three or foure daies whiles thexecucion was but after whaÌ„ the rage was somwhat swaged than returne they to their vomite worse than euer they were Than that they had before caused to be restored and geuen in almose they seke to recouer by more euil fauoured Cheuisaunses But God is not blynde nother is his hande shortened he hathe begonne to mete with you and will paye you that he oweth you to thuttermost But whether thou requirest me vnfaynedly to knowe how to auoide the plage to come or doest disseÌ„ble with me I hade rather thou shouldest be founde in fault than I not to doo that I before promised thee Goddes worde requireth and coÌ„ maundeth euery man to helpe his neighbour in worde and dede as muche as in him lieth I will therfore tell thee my best aduise and hartily pray God thou maiest earnestly folowe it All these plages that before thou hast hearde rehearced famyn pestilence sedicioÌ„ warres destructiones of countrayes captiuitie of people â–ª and alteraciones of states are the instrumentes of God sent aÌ„d powred on the people for their synnes that they should be sorie aÌ„d repeÌ„t theÌ„ of their former wicked life call to God for mercie aÌ„d leade a newe life in holynesse and righteousnesse al the dayes of their life Which if ye will earnestly doo no doubt but as God is mercifull so will he vse mercie towards you For God that neuer deceaued any but abhorreth all practices all deceit and all practicers the workers of deceipt promiseth it by the mouthe of his prophet Ezechiel If sayeth he the vngodly will turne awaye from all his sinnes that he hathe done and will kepe all my coÌ„maundementes and doo the thing that is iust aÌ„d right doubtles he shal lyue aÌ„d not dye For al the sines that he did before shall not be thought vpoÌ„ any more but in his righteousnesse that he hathe done he shall lyue For I haue no pleasur in the deathe of a synner saieth God but that he should repent him of his wicked lyfe aÌ„d lyue c. It foloweth in the prophet thus â–ª wher fore repeÌ„t and returne froÌ„ your wickednesse aÌ„d your wickednesse shal not be your destructioÌ„ Caste froÌ„ you all your vngodlynesse make you a newe hart aÌ„d a new spirite wherfore will ye dye O you house of Israel that is all such as trust to be saued by christ seing I hare no pleasur in the deathe of him that dieth sayeth the lorde God Turne therfore and ye shall lyue This is not holy water of the court bare wordes of course as the princes of the worlde vse whiles they goo about to deceaue the poore people with their practices but he saieth no lesse than hewil doo he pro miseth no more than he will iustly and fully perfourme Scripture is full of exaÌ„ples to proue it After thâ—… deathe of Gedeon the children of Israel fell from the worshipping of the true God became Idolaters and worshipped Baalim and Astaroth and other Goddes as the Ethnikes did wherfore God plaged them wonderfully with inuasiones and ouerrunning of the Philistines by the space of xviij yeares they semed in wordes to doo penauÌ„ce but god sawe they did but dissemble with him and therfore he wold not heare theÌ„ But after they hade done penaunce in dede that is destroyed the Idoles and cast them out of their countreye than God sent theÌ„ the noble captain Iepte who defended them and reuenged the malice of the philistines Likewise wher the children of Israel had in the tyme of Hely the priest receaued by the Philistines many slaughters of the people and had lost many cities and townes for the Idolatrie thei had committed yet whan by thadmonicion of Samuel they repented as ye heard before and turned to God God turned to them and was mercifull And whan the philistines had prepared a wonderfull great force against the children of Israel God sent sodaynly such a terrible thondre and lightenyng that they were dispersed and raÌ„â—…e awaye The childreÌ„ of Israel ê‘secuted theÌ„ aÌ„d slewe theÌ„ aÌ„d recouered their cities aÌ„d all that they had lost WhaÌ„ the moabites aÌ„monites aÌ„d Idumites thought to haue ouerruÌ„ne Iuda in the tyme of king Iosaphat yet whan the king aÌ„d his people lamented to God and called for mercie God turned awaie his wrathe and poured â–ª it on their enemies and made them to fal out among them selues and so to kil one an other Whan Benadab the king of Siria besieged Samaria ther was so great a fami in the citie that womeÌ„ eâ—…e their owne children but whan king Ioram aÌ„d the people fel to re pentauÌ„ce aÌ„d called to God for mercie they had in one daie pleiÌ„tie of al thinges For God sent such a terrour among the Sirianes with the noise of armour that they fled aÌ„d lefte all their vitaile bagge and baggage behinde them for those of Samaria Ye haue hearde before also how Olofernes and SeÌ„nacherib that inuaded Israel were with their hole armies destroied of God after the people repeÌ„ted theÌ„ of their sinnes and called for mercie And so ye haue iÌ„numerable exaÌ„ples of the great mercie of God towarde al that repented truly and called for mercie As of the citie of Niniue whom albeit God had threatened vtterly to destroie theÌ„ yet whaÌ„ God sawe they were peniteÌ„t for their for mer wicked life â–ª aÌ„d called vnto hiÌ„ for mercie he withdrewe his plage aÌ„d held out his mercifull hande ouer theÌ„ eueÌ„ so ye good couÌ„trey meÌ„ aÌ„n true englishe hartes if ye wil in time earnestly repeÌ„t you of your sinnes leaue your Idolatrie aÌ„d honour and worship God truly as ye were taught â–ª iÌ„ blessed kiÌ„g Edwardes time abhorre the fonde phaÌ„tasies and folishe tradiciones of meÌ„ â–ª aÌ„d cleaue to the sincere worde of God aÌ„d be desirous of the knowlage of it leaue your blasphemie and vaine swearing aÌ„d horrible for swearing aÌ„d periurie no loÌ„ger hate your countreie but be true and faithfull to it aÌ„d by all godly meanes seke the wealthe and sauegarde of it if ye wil obey Goddes coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes before your gouernours aÌ„d your gouernours in that is godly honest and iust and not â—…lles â—…f ye will leaue your bawdrie horedome aÌ„d bitcherye aÌ„d driue out of al places al hoores hooremoÌ„gers aÌ„d stuehouses â–ª aÌ„d all suche as fauour aÌ„d maiÌ„tene theÌ„ â—…f ye will absteine froÌ„ cruel murthering of the Saintes of God aÌ„d innoceÌ„tes aÌ„d rather your selues be coÌ„teÌ„t to suffre all martirdome thaÌ„ ye wil embrewe your fingres iÌ„ their blood or coÌ„sent to it if ye wil leaue oppressing of your neighbours your subtiltie crafte and deceat aÌ„d your selues leaue to loue gredinesse and inordinate desire of the trashe of this worlde if you leaue your inwarde hat reed grudge aÌ„d malice one to an other if the nobilitie will loue aÌ„d chearishe the coÌ„monaltie aÌ„d the coÌ„mones honour aÌ„d loue the nobilitie if one wil shewe him self a brother and neighbour in dede to an other thaÌ„ no doubt if ye doo these shiÌ„ges froÌ„ the botome of the har te that the mouthe aÌ„d harte agree together your saienges aÌ„d doinges be al one than shall ye ê‘ceaue that God wilbe easily intreated to turne ThaÌ„ maie ye boldly aske of God in Christes name aÌ„d your desires shal be hearde aÌ„d grauÌ„ted But ye maie iÌ„ no wise dissemble with hiÌ„ as the Israelites did whaÌ„ they saied thei wold coÌ„mitte no more Idolatrie aÌ„d yet kept their Idoles as you pulled downe your ymages but yet kept them secretly in your chaÌ„bres nor yet as Iudas Iscarioth did who lamented his sinnes aÌ„d repeÌ„ted but returned not to God nor yet as your selues did dissemble in the last sweat whiles Goddes whippe was in your neckes but ye must cleane doo awaie the olde maÌ„ and put on the newe ye must refuse aÌ„d cast awaie all euilles and doo that is good aÌ„d euer studie to do that shal please God aÌ„d in no wise loke as lottes wiâ—…e did backwarde but still goo forewarde And thaÌ„ if ye call to God for mercie putting your ful aÌ„d onely trust in him he wil heare you aÌ„d take froÌ„ you those plages that lie on you aÌ„d the other which most certainly if ye repeÌ„t not hang ouer you and wil come vpon you Than will he sende you his benedictioÌ„ for maledictioÌ„ pleiÌ„tie for famiÌ„ heal the for pestileÌ„ce peace for warres quietnes for trouble for cruel tiraÌ„nie a godly aÌ„d iuste gouernemeÌ„t for sedicioÌ„ suche force aÌ„d power that you beiÌ„g a fewe shalbe hable to withstaÌ„de all the tirannes of the worlde and enemies of God aÌ„d our couÌ„trey aÌ„d vtterly coÌ„fouÌ„de theÌ„ aÌ„d destroie theÌ„ Ye shall auoide the eternal paines of hel prepared for sinners and at leinght ye shalbe sure also to make a chauÌ„ge froÌ„ your earthly couÌ„trey to the heaueÌ„ly Paradise froÌ„ variable EnglaÌ„d to the coÌ„staunt Ierusalem froÌ„ the coÌ„pany of men to the feloweship of Angelles from mutable and frowning couÌ„tenauÌ„ces of worldely powers to the vnchauÌ„geable aÌ„d most coÌ„fortable sight of the kiÌ„g of all kinges our most merciful eternal heaueÌ„ly father To whoÌ„ with the sonne aÌ„d the holy goost be all honour praise and glory now and euer Amen