They remēbred not that the Fowlers whistle soundeth swéetly when he deceiueth the bird most cunningly according to the saying Fistula dulce canit volucrem dum decipit auceps Neither Cato lib. 1. that faire words make fooles faine and that vnder the gréene grasse often lurketh the suttle serpent nor that in the fairest floure a man may soonest find a canker Poemata Ciceronis 249. fol. 161. Nullae sunt occultiores insidiae quà m quae latent in simulatione officij aut in aliquo necessitudinis nomine Tully de amicitia saith Apertè enim adulantem nemo non vidit nisi qui admodum est excors callidus ille occultus ne se insinuet studiosè cauendum est They had also forgotten the counsell which Vicount de Melloir a Frenchman gaue to certaine of them in his sicknesse at London Holinsh 603 Booke of Martyrs fol. 214. which was as followeth I lament saith he for your destruction and desolation at hand because you are ignorant of the perils hanging ouer your heads for this vnderstand that Lewes and with him sixtéene Earles and Barons of Fraunce haue secretly sworne and vowed that if fortune should fauour him so much as to conquer this realme of England The oth of Lewes the French kings sonne with other his Earles ◠Barons and to be crowned king to kill banish and consume all those of the English Nobilitie which now do serue vnder him persecute their owne king as traitors and rebels and furthermore to dispossesse all their linage of such inheritance as they now hold in England And because saith he you shall not haue doubt hereof I which lie here at the point of death do now affirme vnto you and take it on the perill of my soule that I am one of those sixtéene that haue sworne to performe these things and therefore I aduise you to prouide for your owne safeties and also of your realme which you now destroy and that you kéepe this thing secret which I haue vttered vnto you After this he shortly died but the curteous offer of Lewes to the Barons as is aboue remembred so lulled thē on sléepe as it were Holinsh 601. that they regarded not this good aduise for after this diuerse of those which before had taken part with king Iohn as William Earle Warren William Earle of Arundell William Earle of Salisburie William Marshall the younger and diuerse other supposing verily that the said Lewes should now attaine the kingdome reuolted to Lewes but after that Lewes was setled Note here what followed by trusting of faire words and had gotten the tower of London diuerse other holds Castles defencible places of this realme into his hands and thought himselfe in maner sure of the kingdome then the Frenchmen began to shew their inward disposition and hatred towards the Englishmen and forgetting all former promises such is the nature of strangers whē they are become Lords of their desire they did manie excessiue outrages in spoiling robbing the people of that country without pitie or mercie and bare little good will towards the Engish men as it appeareth sundry wayes and first of all in that they had them in maner in no regard or estimation but rather sought by all meanes to spoyle and kéepe them vnder Booke of Martyrs fol. 257. not suffering them to beare any rule nor putting them in trust with the custodie of such places as they had brought them in possession of Secondly they called them not to counsell so oft as at the first they vsed to do neither did they procéede by their directions in their businesse as before they were accustomed and thirdly in all their conuersation neither Lewes nor his Frenchmen vsed them so familiarly as at the first comming they did but shewed more loftie countenance towards them whereby they greatly encreased the indignation of the English Lords against them who might euill abide to be so ouerruled To conclude Holinsh 602. where great promises were made at their entring into the land they were slow enough in performing the same so as the expectation of the English Barons was made quite voyd for they perceiued daily that they were despised and scoffed at for their disloyalty shewed towards their owne naturall Prince hearing now and then nips taunts openly by the Frenchmen saying that as they had shewed themselues false and vntrustie to their owne lawfull king Note so they would not continue anie long time true to a stranger Hereupon the Barons better considering the words of the sayd Vicount of Melloit and withall the great daunger that the realme was brought in by their dissention and opposition against their soueraigne Lord and the litle account the Frenchmen made of them Booke of Martyrs 247. gaue them iust occasion to take a better course and so they reuolted to king Henrie their naturall Liege Lord for King Iohn shortly after the comming of Lewes into England departed this life and they ioyned with the King in battell against Lewes where he had a great ouerthrow whereupon he and all his companie departed into Fraunce and king Henrie possessed the Crowne after that in quiet Caesar was wont to say of such as were false to their Prince and countrey Caesar that he loued Traitors to serue his turne but abhorred them as monstrous to the common wealth It is written of Alexander the Great Alexander who had conquered many countreys that he did long time séeke many wayes to winne a certaine countrey pertaining to Darius king of Persia and perceiuing that it was inuincible he dealt with a noble man that had the charge thereof vnder the king for a great summe of money to yéeld that countrey to his possession and so did Alexander giue good countenance in his Court to this noble man a good space and in the end entring into a déepe consideration of the matter and meaning thereby to make an example to such as hée might commit trust vnto to beware of such treasonable practises he suddenly commaunded execution to be done of this noble man who hearing thereof and litle deseruing the same as he thought desired to come to Alexanders presence which was graunted besought him to know the cause of this sudden execution who sayd thou hast bene false to thine own Prince how can I then trust thée or hope thou wilt deale truely with me or be my true subiect Tullie lib. 2. officiorum Alexander if I should credit thée with the like and so he was executed Philip king of Macedon did greatly blame his sonne Alexāder in an Epistle which he did write to him saying what occasion or consideration hath brought thée into this hope that thou shouldest thinke that they wil be and continue true and faithfull vnto thée whom thou hast corrupted with money I reade of one Christopher Paris Holinsh 98. Christopher Paris Irish Chron. that had the charge of a Castle in
presented her selfe before him in his chamber and promised him faire vntill she had lulled him asleepe with drinke and then making her praiers to Almighty God to assist her against the proud Assyrian Holofernes she tooke out his sword and stroke of his head and passed through his host with her maid hauing Holofernes head in a bagge and so came to her castle in the night and the next day fixed his head vpon a powle for the view of all his army wherevpon they remoued and so she deliuered her Citie by the great mercy and fauor of God towards her What shall I say of Curtius that noble Romaine and Assurus the kings sonne of Phrigia either of which seeing in their country a dangerous breach of cliffe in the earth which they were perswaded would not be closed vp againe vntill the best thing in the citie which they tooke to be a man were cast into it willingly threw themselues into the same for the safety of the people But forraine examples are innumerable and not so well knowne vnto vs as our owne ¶ This Chapter sheweth sundrie examples of diuerse Noblemen of this land who haue aduentured their liues in defence of their countrey and how that euerie man ought to indeuour him selfe to follow their steps and most valiantly and resolutely to fight in defence of his Prince and countrey against all foreine enemies CHAP. 5. IT is not vnknowne vnto you Aduentures of the Nobilitie how valiantly the Kings Princes and Nobles of this our Nation haue in diuerse and sundrie warres ventured their owne persons and with their owne handes incountred their enemies As for example Did not Henrie the first in a battell in France Holinsh 356. smite downe to the ground Crispio Earle of Eureux by meanes wherof he was taken prisoner at the kings féet Ibidē 1181. 1170. Was not king Henrie the fifth in person in the battell at Agincourt in Fraunce and there likewise fought in his owne person Battell of Agincourt in Frāce fought by K. Henrie the 5. and caried away the stroke of the enemie vpon his helmet and man of the French at that time a glorious victorie And concerning the valiant seruice in field of a great number of the Nobilitie and others of this realme how they haue also endaungered them selues in the defence of their Prince and countrey against the enemie performed most famous actes of chiualrie therein to their great honors immortal fames which obliuion the cankred enemie to fame shall neuer be able to blemish but they shall remaine as spectacles to posterities for euer to behold and to encourage them to ensue their martiall actes and enterprises Among other what valiant and faithfull seruice hath the noble house of the Lord Talbot done from time to time to their Princes and countrey The valiant seruice of the noble house of the Lord Talbot Hall 596. Mauns in Fraunce when the Earle of Suffolke hauing the charge of Mauns in France and the magistrates specially the cleargy of the same citie conspired with the French assuring them that if they would come to surprise the citie they should find them ready to receiue them and so they did by meanes whereof the said Earle with the rest of the said English men were forced to take the castle there and keepe it and in all hast sent to the Lord Talbot who then lay at Alaunson certifying him in what state they stood hauing neither victuall nor munition and their castle almost vndermined so that yeelding now must follow for resistance would not helpe if they were not aided with speed Did not the said Lord Talbot hearing this newes with all hast assemble his Captaines and souldiers to the number of seauen hundred men of warre and in the euening departed from Alaunson and that night entred into the said castle of Mans at a posterne gate secretly Whereupon about sixe of the clocke in the morning the English men issued out of the Castle crying aloud S. George Talbot The Frenchmen within thinking nothing lesse then of this sudden approchment rose out of their beds and fled leauing all their horses armour and riches behind them at which time there was slaine and taken foure hundred gentlemen of the French And thus was the Citie of Mans reduced againe vnto English Mauns takē by the Lord Talbot Holins 1262. Awians Ibid. 1262. mens possessions by this most noble seruice and bold enterprises of this Lord Talbot Did not the Lord Talbot likewise with a companie raise the siege of the French at Awrans then being in the allegiance of the king of England Did not he the Lord Scales and others hearing the Frenchmen to be come within foure leagues of Rone which then was then also Rone vnder the subiection of the king of England by night issue out of that citie and in the morning by day came to the place where the Frenchmen were and then set vpon them where many of them were slaine and taken prisoners Also did not the Duke of Burgundie when he beseeged the towne of Cretoy with ten thousand men Ibidem 1263 Cretoy hearing of the comming of the Lord Talbot raise his siege the sayd Lord Talbot sending him word that he would giue him battell if he would not that the said Earle would wast and destroy his countrey in Picardy and according to his promise so he did Was not Iohn Lord Talbot for his approued prowesse and tried valiancy performed in the warres of France Ibidem 1276 Camden 462. Iohn first Earle of Shrewsburie Normandy Hall 31 h. 6. Aquitaine Burdeux taken Diuers other cities and townes taken created Earle of Shrewsburie about the ninteenth yeare of Henrie the sixt and after sent againe with 3000. men into Normandie for the better defence thereof who neither forgot his duty nor forslowed his businesse but daily labored and hourely studied how to molest and indanger his enemies Did not the kings Counsell then send the said Earle with an army into Aquitaine at the earnest sute of the Magistrates and inhabitants of the citie of Burdeaux who receiued him and his power into that citie by a posterne gate where they siue many of the Captaines and others of the Frenchmen and so was Burdeaux taken by the said Earle which he fortified and after rode into the countrey thereabout and obtained diuers cities and townes without dint of sword And among others did not he take the strong towne of Castillon in Perigot Castillon in Perigot where the French king whē he vnderstood thereof assembled twenty thousand men and entred into Aquitaine Aquitaine Castillon befieged by the french where Castillon is and besieged the said towne of Castillon with a strong siege where vpon the Earle of Shrewsbury assembled 800. horsmen and 5000. footmen and went to the rescue of the said towne in which battell very valiantly he behaued himselfe Earle of Shrewsbury slaine Anno 1453. Camden 462. and there
whereby you may see the miseries of warre that though they had yéelded and thought themselues sure of their liues paying their ransome according to the lawes of armes yet vppon such necessary occasion to kill them was a thing by all reason allowed for otherwise the king hauing lost diuerse valiant Captaines and souldiers in this battell and being also but a small number in comparison of the French kings army in a strong countrey where he could not supply his neede vpon the sudden it might haue bene much daungerous to haue againe ioyned with the enemy and kept his prisoners aliue as in our Chronicles largely appeareth ¶ Diuerse and sundry practises and deuices heretofore deuised and made with many of our owne nation both by the King of Spaine and the Pope to inuade our countrey and also what preparation hath bene made by her Maiestie to preuent the same CHAP. 7. NOw for as much as the continual plots practises of the Pope Practises of the Pope against vs. the vowed enemy to this Realme to the intent to sow discord and deuision within the same to make an easie way for the enemy to inuade our coūtrey haue bin strange I haue thought good to make mention here of some part of her Maiesties proclamation published in the 33 yeare of her most gracious raigne Proclamatiō 33. Eliz. by which it appeareth that the Pope hath practised with certaine principall seditious heads being vnnaturall subiects of her Maiesties kingdome but yet very base of birth together with great labour vpon his charge a multitude of dissolute yong men who haue partly for lacke of liuing partly for crimes committed become fugitiues rebels and traytors and for whom there are in Rome Spaine and other places certaine receptacles made to liue in and there to be instructed in schoole points of sedition and from thence to be secretly by stealth conueyed into her highnesse countries and dominions and with ample authority from the Pope to moue stirre vp and perswade as many of her highnesse subiects as they dare deale withall to renounce their allegeance due to her Maiestie and her Crowne vpon hope by forreyn inuasion to be inriched endowed with the possessions dignities of her other good subiects These sorts of traitors rebels and fugitiues do bind her highnesse subiects with whom they practise by oathes yea by Sacraments Renounce allegeance to forsweare their naturall allegeance to her Maiestie and yeeld obedience with all their powers to to a forreyn Prince and to assist forreyn forces and for the more forcible attraction of these vnnaturall people This is treason by 13. El. cap. 1. Buls being weake of vnderstanding to this they bend these seedemen of treason to bring certaine Bals from the Pope some of indulgences pretending to promise heauen to such as wil yeeld and some of cursings threatnings damnation and hell to such as shall not yéeld to their perswasion And it is certainely knowne It is high treason to practise with any forreyners to inuade this Realme 13. El. cap. 1. that these heads of these dennes and receptacles which are by the traytors called Seminaries and Colledges of Iesuits haue heretofore assured the king of Spaine who is lately deceased that though heretofore he had no good successe with his great forces against this Realme yet if now he would renew his war there should be found ready secretly within her highnesse dominions many thousands as they make their accompt for their purpose of able people that will be ready to assist such power as he shall set on land and by their vaunting they do tempt the sayd king hereunto who otherwise wold not peraduenture hope of any safe landing here considering what successe he had in the yeare of our Lord 1588 when he made so great preparation to conquer this land that one named Parsons and one Allen haue shewed to the sayd king of Spaine certaine schroles or beadrolles of names of men dwelling in sundry parts of her Maiesties countries as they haue imagined them but specially neare the sea coasts with assurance that these their seedmen named Seminaries Priestes and Iesuits are in sundry parts of this Realme secretly harbored which shall be ready to continue their reconciled people in their lewd constancy to serue their purposes both in their forces and with their trayterous enterprises when the Spanish power shall be ready to land Besides this vpon their impudent assertion to the Pope and king of Spaine though they knew a great part thereof to be false they had lately afore this proclamation aduertised into diuerse parts of this Realme by their secret messengers wherof some haue bene taken and confessed the same that the king vpon their informations and requests promised to employ all his forces that he could make by sea in the yeare of our Lord God 1592 to attempt once againe the inuasion of this Realme but because some of his wisest Counsellers doubted that he should not preuaile he altred his purpose besides many other leud practises treasonable cōspiracies by the sayd fugitiues But her Maiesty doubteth not but Almighty God the defender of all iust causes will as he alwayes hither to hath make all their deuices voyd and by the helpe of her faithfull subiects to increase her their forces and by execution of her lawes by other politicke ordinances to impeach the aforesayd seditious practises and treasons and doth exhort all the Ecclesiasticall State by their example of good life and by their diligent teaching to retaine the people stedfastly in the profession of the Gospell and in their duties to Almighty God and her Maiestie and also she hopeth to haue such sufficient forces in readinesse by sea as by Gods goodnesse and with the helpe of her good subiects shall be as great or greater then her highnesse hath had in any time heretofore to withstand all her enemies and that her subiects will consider of all things requisite to performe for horsemen armor footemen to be fully furnished as time shall require for seruice to defend their countrey And further her Maiestie doth most earnestly require and charge all manner of her subiects with their hands purses aduices yea all persons of euery estate with their prayers to God to moue him to assist this so naturall honourable and profitable a seruice being only for defence of their naturall countrey against straungers and such wilfull destroyers of their natiue countrey and monstrous traytors And moreouer to prouide speedy remedy against other fraudulent attempts of these Seminaries Iesuites and traitors without the which it appeareth these forces should not be continually vsed the same being wrought onely by falshood by hypocrisie and by vndermining of her good subiects vnder a false colour face of holinesse to make breaches in men womens consciences It is fellony to receiue aid or maintaine any lesuit c. 27. F. l. cap. 1. so to traine them to their
Ireland to the vse of his Lord Thomas Fitzgerauld and being dealt withall by the king of England his Lieutenant there to yéeld to him to the vse of the king the sayd Castle for a certaine summe of money agréed in the end so to do and deliuered vp the hold accordingly and receiued his money After the Lieutenant considering the vniustnesse of this man to his Lord which had put him in trust with the safe kéeping of his Castle and to whom he was déepely beholden meaning to make an exāple of such treacherie caused this Captaine presently to be executed declaring thereby though for the time he imbraced the benefite of his treasōs yet after he could not disgest the vnfaithfull dealing of this traitor to his Maister that had trusted him with a place of such great credence and defence Christian van de Veque betrayed for a great pension the the Castle of S. Christiā van de Veque Iohn being one of the most importāt fortresses of Portugall to king Philip who in the end was rewarded with such as a traitor deserueth for being a while entertained with hope was at last banished to the wars of Affrica for ten yeares The like vsage in maner receiued all his fellowes which betrayed the king of Portugall their lawfull king by deliueries of such places as they had in gouernement or by doing the king of Spaine any other seruice to the preiudice of Don Anthonio king of Portugall Haue we not séene the vnnaturall practises of Shelley Charles Paget and others with the Spaniards to inuade our countrey and to haue ouerthrowne this happy state and gouernement thereof looke into a litle treatise published 1585 where it is set downe at large Esay 22. Sobna The Prophet Esay speaketh of one Sobna whom the king Hesekiah had greatly aduaunced who outwardly shewed that he would liue and dye with him but he had a false hart to his Prince and more fauoured the Assirians the kings enemies who sought to inuade his countrey but he was caried captiue into a forreine countrey farre off according to Gods ordinance and there dyed in confusion Such as are traitors to their owne countrey may be well compared to the viper Rhetorik Wilso fo 64. Plinie whose nature and propertie is as Pliny writeth that when by course of time he is to come foorth of the belly of his damme he eateth a hole through the same by meanes whereof she dyeth and so is he the cause and the destruction of her that did breed nourish and preserue him It is a commō saying He is an euill bird that defileth his owne neast and so is he a monster and no man that conspireth or intendeth any perill or daunger to his natiue country Who that desireth to know what hath bene the end of traitors and false conspirators against their Prince and countrey in old time may reade M. Renegers booke Reneger wherein they are disclosed at large As ciuill warres Ciuill wars and dissentions are perillous to all states so are all occasions to be preuented which may bréed the same amongst which there is no one thing that sooner ingēdreth such discord Contention for religion breedeth oftentimes ciuil dissentiō then contention for religion which carieth away men with such vehement passions that they will fight for the same more willingly then for their wiues or children lands or goods in respect of it they regard nothing through the diuersitie thereof French Academie ca. 63 the father is against the son and the son against the father they which are nearest of kinne loose their naturall loue they which are of the same country and linage persecute one another as mortal enemies sundry nations abhorre one another for the same cause To raise seditiō tumults in a Citie Bodinus li. 4. fo 486. nothing is more daungerous saith Bodinus then to be diuided in opiniō whether it be in matters of state or of lawes and customes or for religion therefore the causes whereof such mischiefes may ensue by all pollicies in the beginning are to be looked vnto He is not counted a good Phisition onely that cureth the disease but that preserueth health and preuenteth sicknesse to come A small sparke raiseth great flames of fire as the saying is Concitat ingentes flammas scintilla minuta In the beginning a fire with litle water may be suppressed Nota. which if it increase to great flames without much ado will not be quenched Ouid. as the Poet Ouid verie well saith Ignis ab exigua nascens extinguitur vnda Sed postquam creuit volitantque ad sydera flammae Vix putei fontes fluuij succurrere possunt And the same Poet writeth also De arte amandi Principijs obstat serò medicina paratur Cùm mala per longas conualuêre moras Withstād the beginning for the medicine is too late prouiuided when the disease by ouerlong tarying is increased Afore religion is established Not meet to argue against religion setled by authority Bodinus li. 4. fo 481. Paradox fo 1 to argue of religiō to try the truth is allowable but when it is set downe by common authoritie it is not after to be disputed vpon or brought in question as Bodinus affirmeth for there is nothing so firme or stable which by force of argument can not be peruerted and to that effect Tullie writeth Nihil est tam incredibile quod non dicendo fiat probabile nihil tam horridum aut incultum quod non splendescat oratione tāquam excolatur And Plutarke affirmeth Quod extat Licurgi lex antiquissima Plutarke 5. quam Florentini disputatores omnium acutissimi in populari statu inferunt nec scilicet de legibus semel receptis ac probatis disserere liceret Bodinus li. 4. fo 48. intelligit leges disputatas in dubium reuocari dubitationem verò iniusticiae opinionem afferre ex quo legum ac magistratuum contemptum reip interitum sequi necesse est Quod si Philosophi Mathematici suarum disciplinarum principia in dubitationem reuocari non patiuntur quae demētia est de religione non modo priuatim sed etiam publicè disputare velle There is an ancient law saith he amongst the Ligurians which the Florentines most quicke in disputation did commaund to be holden that of lawes once receiued and allowed to dispute it should not be lawfull for to call in questiō lawes afore determined vpon doth bring in doubt the thing afore agréed vnto as though it were not right and iust whereupon contempt of the lawes and gouernement and the ouerthrow of the common wealth doth consequently ensue If the Philosophers Mathematikes will not suffer the grounds of their learning to be brought in question what madnesse is it then priuately or publikely to dispute of religion once set downe and allowed Fo. 5. Doctour Smith in his booke de Repub. Angl. saith Certaine it is
THE MANSION of Magnanimitie WHEREIN IS SHEWED THE most high and honorable acts of sundrie English Kings Princes Dukes Earles Lords Knights and Gentlemen from time to time performed in defence of their Princes and Countrie set forth as an encouragement to all faithfull subiects by their example resolutely to addresse themselues against all forreine enemies Published by RICHARD CROMPTON an Apprentice of the common Law 1599. Whereunto is also adioyned a collection of diuerse Lawes and Statutes meete to be knowne of all men with a briefe Table shewing what munition ought to be kept by all sorts of her Maiesties subiects for the defence of her Highnesse Realmes and Dominions LONDON Printed for VVilliam Ponsonby 1599. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE ROBERT EARLE OF ESSEX AND EWE EARLE MARshall of England Viscount Hereford Lord Ferrers of Charâ—ley Bourchier and Louaine Knight of the most noble order of the Garter Maister of her Maiesties Horse and Ordenance Chauncellor of the Vniuersity of Cambridge and one of her Highnesse most honorable Priuy Counsell RICHARD CRVMPTON desireth eternall felicitie THere is no kingdome Right honorable so strongly seated or with Castles so fortified or that so aboundeth in wealth which without valiant men trained vp in martiall discipline can be defended from the force of the enemy for the stronger or richer the countrey is the more are the snares and sleights prepared by the enemy to compasse and conquer the same for which cause and for that also occasions of warre are often offered vpon the sodaine it is necessary that some number of men should be trained vp continually in martiall actions as in other countries is vsed and so much the rather where long peace hath bene had which often taketh away the feare of warre causeth men to liue too securely and without regard of forreyne danger whereby they are vnskilfull in warres affaires and that such trained men may be alwaies ready and able to informe and leade others vnexperieÌ„ced in that seruice for it is not the number of men that alwayes obtayneth the victory in battell but such as are couragious and well exercised in martiall skill as Erasmus sayth well Erasmus Non refert quà m numerosum militem ducas in praelium sed quà m fortem quà m exercitatum Homer in these few verses following Homer setteth forth the whole military discipline which resteth in the valour of the souldiers and their obedience to their Captaines and Leaders Graeci fidentes animis audacibus ibant Ductorum quamuis premerent formidine vocem VVhere he sayth that they trusting in their couragious minds went against their enemies there he commendeth and extolleth their valours in armes and where he sayth they feared the commandement of their Captaines there he highly praiseth their great discretion and modesty VVhat bred such fame to the ATHENIANS who being but ten thousand ouerthrew great numbers of the PERSIANS in one battell in that time when they most florished in their conquests and did rule ouer many nations but valour and skill in the souldiers and obseruation of orders in battell By order all things are preserued and maintayned and without order all things come to ruine and confusion as the Scripture sayth Vbi nullus ordo ibi est confusio And as these things are requisite in the souldiers so is experience valour and skill also in the Captaine for if the blind leade the blind both fall into the ditch as the Gospell witnesseth therefore such Captaines are alwayes highly to be honoured imbraced aduanced and rewarded according to their places callings and deserts as the defenders in the time of warre of the Prince and state of the kingdome and common-wealth that they may be incouraged in that seruice and such as lightly esteeme these men or preferre them which liue idlely and daintily afore them are enemies to the Common-wealth as Osorius writeth and to be taken as the destroyers thereof in that they doe as much as in them lyeth to lay open their Countrey to the force of the enemie And because the matter of this Treatise concerneth the defence of our Prince and Countrey against the enemie which seruice appertaineth most properly to men of honour who ought to hold nothing more deere to them then the safety of the same of which they be the chiefe props stayes defenders and mayntainers vnder her Maiestie I haue thought it conuenient to dedicate this little Treatise to a man of such state and vnto your honour chiefly to the ende you may therein see the notable actes of Chiualrie performed in that seruice that thereby you may be incouraged to followe their steppes and increase the fame honour and renowme which you haue attayned in your late valiant seruice at CALES in SPAINE and else where Humbly beseeching your honor to accept this my small labour as a token of my desire to coÌ„mend your Honourable name to posteritie At your Honors commaund RICHARD CROMPTON AN ORATION TO BE MADE BY THE GENERAL TO THE WHOLE ARMIE AFORE THE BATTEL ALthough Warres are by all good meanes to be eschued for the auoiding of the great effusion of bloud that thereby often doth ensue yet when intollerable wrongs and iniuries are offered either by a forreine Prince or his subiects no recompence is made for the same The cause of the war must be published that it may appeare to arise vpon iust occasions which much doth encourage the souldier to fight warre must be taken in hand and Bodinus saith Bella non nisi propulsandae iniuriae ac pacis causa suscipienda sunt that is Warres are to be entred into to withstand iniuries and to procure peace The causes which haue drawne vs at this present into the field against these our enemies are knowne to many of you namely how these our enemies most violently and in warlike maner with Ensignes displayed in the time of peace without anie proclamation of Warre first made according to the lawes of Armes haue entred into our territories and countrey burned some of our Churches defaced the auncient monuments of our elders put multitudes of her Maiesties people to the sword yea women and children wasted their dwellings with fire despoiled them of their goods and rauished most shamefully their wiues daughters kinswomen euen afore their faces to be short there is no cruelty or tyrannie whatsoeuer which might be deuised but they haue afflicted her Highnesse subiects therewith without all pitie or mercie For which due recompence hath bene diuerse times by her Malesties Embassadours required and yet none is made Therefore either we must with sword and fire be reuenged of these most extreme dealings or otherwise they will be encouraged to attempt the like yea they will account vs men of no courage but cowards and base hearted a name which to our nation hath bene alwayes most odious in that it hath bin accounted valorous in armes in all countries as one writeth Anglia Bistonio gens semper inclita Marte Euerie man is borne
enterprises are not holden to proceede of courage and valour but rather of rashnesse which often bringeth danger to the whole Army And you couragious souldiors submit your selues to the order and direction of your chieftaines and leaders of whose great experience and skill in martiall affaires you shall not need to doubt by reason of their continuall training vp therin and so much the rather you must thus do because you are not yet such men of vnderstanding in warlike discipline Herodotus So did the noble Graecians as Herodotus writeth whereby small companies gaue sundry notable ouerthrowes to great multitudes of the Persians in battel euen when they were in their chiefest conquests moste triumphed of their glorious victories Where no order is the scripture saieth there is confusion and vtter ruine Keepe therefore your rankes break not your arraies stand fast in your places to which you are appointed for out of doubt as obseruation of orders in battell is neuer without hope of victory so doth disorder open the way to the enimy to ouerthrow you If you keepe order you shall be euen like a strong Bulwarke against the enimie which they will with all their forces attempt to breake being the only way to gaine them victorie of which purpose if they faile then they will bee vtterly discomfited and fall into your hands To conclude forsomuch as the chance of war is vncertaine and the sequele therof standeth doubtful although the causes afore remembred ought greatly to encourage you in this seruice and to hope of victory yet let vs all make our selues readie for whatsoeuer it shall please God to lay vpon vs and let vs make our humble prayers to Almighty God confessing our sinnefull liues and heartilie repent vs thereof who giueth grace in the very instance of time as by the example of the theefe which was hanged with our Sauior Christ appeareth who vsed these few words vnto him Lorde remember mee when thou commest into thy kingdome And Christ said vnto him This day shalt thou be with me in Paradice And let vs cal vpon him for his gracious assistance against our enemies who no doubt wil ayde and defend vs against them according to his promise for heauen and earth shall passe before one iòte of his Couenant or promise which he hath made to such as serue and feare him shal faile as the scripture doth plainely testifie Now let vs all kneele down and lift vppe our hartes to the throne of Gods Maiesty pray ALmightie God father of our Lord Iesus Christ maker of all things Iudge of all men we acknowledge and bewaile our manifold sinnes and wickednesses which we from time to time most greeuouslie haue committed against thy diuine Maiestie prouoking most iustly thy wrath and indignation against vs we doe earnestly repent and are hartily sorie for these our misdooinges haue mercie vpon vs most mercifull Father for thy blessed son our Lord Iesus Christs sake forgiue al our offences past graunt that we may euer hereafter serue and please thee in newnesse of life to the honor and glory of thy holy name through our onely mediator and aduocate Iesus Christ our Lord. And O thou most mighty God that art the King of kings and Lord of lords and gouernour of all things whose power no creature is able to resist stretch out thy mighty arme and come help vs and be our defence for without thee vaine is the help of man We go not against this multitude trusting in our owne strength but in thy name and in thy most gratious ayde and assistance let them know that thou art the Lord of hoasts and the onely giuer of victory and deliuer them into our hands if it be thy good pleasure that we may glorify thy holy name through Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee the holy Ghost that most sweet comforter that art one in three and three in one true and euerlasting god be all honor glory and praise for euer and euer so be it Now in the name of God almighty aduance our Standards display your Ensignes and set vpon them couragiously for the honor of your prince and country for all England prayeth for our good successe in this buisines this day THE MANSION of Magnanimitie ¶ Of the strength of this Realme in respect of the scituation pleasantnesse of ayre fruitfulnesse of soile aboundance of al sorts of Graine Cattell and other necessaries for the vse of man how it is replenished with thousands of couragious valiant men wherby to withstand all forren inuasion Also how it is defended with many strong holdes in places needfull and furnished with a Royall Nauy with mnnition sufficient to incounter the enemy Chap. 1. ALthough I doubt not both in respect of your loyalties to her Maiestie and fidelities to her Crown things due by all Lawes from euery true Subiect to his Prince and Soueraigne gouernor and also of the great loue and affection that euery man doth naturally beare to his natiue Cuntrey but that you wil be alwaies ready with hart and hand to ioyne in the defence of these against the enemy yet haue I thought it not vaine to set downe some speciall causes and reasons which shall the rather moue vs hereunto Amongst which as in the first parte of this booke I will commend to your considerations the strength of our Country in regard of the scituation therof The first cause of incouragement in respect of the scituation of our Countrey how our countrey is inuironed with the maine Sea sauing that part onely adioyning to Scotlād which is a sufficiēt defence to this realme in that the Quéenes most excellent Maiestie the noble King of that country are most surely linked as well in respect of the néernesse of bloud as also by reason of most honourable couenants and agréementes of league peace and amity which by Gods grace shall long continue concluded and passed betwixt them so that we may well assure our selues that none can come to vs but by shipping wherby what aduantage we haue that stand vpon the firme land ready to receiue or defend the enimy which must lie open to our forces from the sea euery man of any reasonable sence or vnderstanding may easily conceiue It is placed in that part of the world which is temperate neither vexed with too much heat nor oppressed with ouer much colde as many other Countries be It is also of a most delicate holsome ayre full of pleasant springs fountaines and riuers A Country of fruitfull soile Commodities of our countrey yeelding Corne of all sorts abundance of Wooll Allom Copper Mines of Leade Tin Yron Stone Wood Seacole Pittes to make Salt of and of all manner of Cattell Horsses Fowles Fishes Beasts of Venery of all kindes plentiful and all other things necessary for mans sustenance vse and pleasure A Country apt for traffick by sea from all places of the world in respect whereof we are of our selues
this seruice of defence Shall we now distrust more of the ayde of our mercifull Lord God then our forefathers did whom he so graciously assisted against their enemies or think he wil forsake vs now more then our elders whom he hath alwaies defended in their iust and lawfull accions Surely if we indeuour our selues to serue and feare him to walke in his waies to call vpon him in our troubles and necessities no doubt hee will ayde vs according to his promise Call vpon me saith he by his Prophet Dauid in the time of trouble We must call vpon God to ayde vs against our enimies and I will heare thée and thou shalt praise me And agaiue Knock and it shal be opened vnto you aske and you shall haue Whatsoeuer ye shall aske the Father in my name he will surely giue it you Did not the children of Israell ouercome their enimies in battell so long as Moyses held vp his hands and praied vnto God for victorie and when he ceased the enimie preuailed Moyses 2 Chron. 14. Did not the Almighty turne away his displeasure from the children of Israell at the praier of Moyses when they worshipped the golden Calfe as it is written in the 106. psalme So he said he would haue destroyed them Psal 106. had not Moyses his chosen stood before him in the gap to turne away his wrathful indignation least he should destroy them Did not Asha the godly king of Iuda when Sarache king of Ethiopia came against him with an hoast of aboue ten hundred thousand chariots 2 Chron. 14 when they ioyned battell in the vale of Zephera cry to God for aide against Sarachc saying Help vs O Lord our God for wee do put our trust in thee and in thy name wee go against this huge multitude thou art our Lorde God and no man shall preuaile against thee And the Lorde smote the Ethiopians before Asha and Iuda and they were ouerthrowue that there was none of them lefte but were destroyed before the lord and his hoast Did not the good king Iehosophat when the grat number of Iehosophat the Amorytes and Moabites ioyned battell with him before the battell began 2 Chron. 20 stand vp and said Heere O Iuda and inhabitants of Ierusalem put your truste in the Lord your God that you may be found faithfull giue credit to the prophet and so shall you prosper and their enimies were ouerthrowne without stroke amongst themselues and with their owne forces consumed themselues Besides the example of Senacherib king of Assour who with an hoaste of one hundred foure score and fiue thousand as the prophet Esay witnesseth Esay 37. could not preuail when he inuaded Hesechia king of Iuda for Hesechia did put on sackcloth and went vp to the temple and prayid and sent Heliachym and other prophets to Esay that he shuld pray to God for them and God sent his Angels who slew the Assirians hoast Wherby it doth appear that it is not the great multitude of men of war horses chariots but the lord God that giueth victory in battell who is called the lord of hostes who euer fighteth for his owne people and neuer leaueth them distitute that put their trust in him These are left to vs for examples that we should not put trust in our owne forces and strength Psal 127. but repose our confidence in him that hath made all and therfore hath power of al things Psal 108. he must keep and defend the City or els the watchmen that kéep it watch in vaine as the prophet saith and so he must aide and fight for vs or else we cannot preuaile And againe he saith O helpe vs against the enimy for vaine is the helpe of man through God wee shall doe great things it is he that shall tread downe our enimies There is no king that can bee saued by the multitude of an hoast neither is any mightie man deliuered by much strength A horse is counted but a vaine thing to saue a man neither shal he deliuer any man by his great strength Behold the cie of the Lord is vpon them that feare him and vppon them that put their trust in his mercy And yet we may not leaue forces and other ordinary waies deuised and ordained for defence but must vse them as the said godly Kings and princes did against their enimies Psal 118. alwaies hoping in the gratious aid and assistance of almighty God and if he be on our side who is against vs as the Proph. saith The Lord is on my side I will not feare what man doth vnto me Now therefore considering these miseries and calamities which happen where the enimy doth preuaile and the great preparation which they haue made to bring vs vnder their subiections and bondage if euer we will shew our loyalties to our Prince our cuntrey or naturall affection to our parents our loue to our wiues Persvvations to encounter the enemy children and litle infants which cannot defend themselues our good will to our kinsfolkes friends and allies if euer we will shew our selues carefull to preserue our posterity to succéed vs if euer we will haue desire to mantaine the honour worship and fame of the houses wherof we are descended if euer we will shew our selues to come of the séed and generation of our valiant ancestors and couragious forfathers if euer we will leaue honour or fame to our posterities of our valour in arms wherby our ofspring may be also incouraged to follow our steps therein for vertues and acts of fame liue when men are dead as the saying is viuit post funera virtus nowe is the time for it or neuer Therfore let vs pluck vp our harts like mē make ready our horses scowre our armor sharpen our swordes and make bright our weapons which wée are charged to haue by the lawe of this Realme whereof we may haue a view in this booke and furnish our selues further with things méet for the warres according to our ability and when we shall be commaunded by her maiestties authoritie let vs be ready and sette our rest vppon it determining rather to die in field in defence of our Prince and Countrey then that the enimy should preuaile whereby the miseries calamities and bondages afore remembred should fall vpon vs. If we stand to it like men then shall we preserue the word of God amongst vs our gratious Quéene and her most honorable Counsel the state of our common wealth our owne liues and our fathers mothers wiues children friends kinsfolkes allies then shal we posesse our lands our goods and liuings in peace then shall wee preserue and continue our liberties and fréedomes and saue our selues and our posteritie from thrawledome and bondage and we shall passe the rest of our liues to our owne good contentment and likewise according to Gods good pleasure On the other side if we flie which God defend then shall the word of
was slaine with a small shot and this was the end of this noble Earle after he had with much honor more fame and great renowne serued his Prince in warrs foure and twenty years in France and was honorably interred amongst them on whose Tombe in ingrauen as followeth Inscription on the tomb of Iohn first Earle of Shrewsbury Here lieth the right noble knight Iohn Talbott Earle of Shrewsbury Washford Waterford and Valence Lord Talbot of Goodrige and Vrchengfield Lord Strange of the blacke Meere Lord Verdon of Alton Lord Crumwell of Wingfield Lord Louetoft of Worsop Lord Furniuall of Sheffield Lord Faulconbrige knight of the most noble order of S. George S. Michaell and the Golden fleece Great Marshall to king Henry the sixt of his realme of France who died in the battell of Burdeaux in the yeare of our Lord 1453. 1453. If I should set downe euery particular seruice of such as haue discended of this noble house done from time to time in the warres for their prince and countrey it would aske very long time therefore he that desireth to knowe more thereof I referre him to the Chronicles of this realme where they are set forth at large to their great honor and glory And touching the loyalty of this noble house to the Crowne I find it not attainted for any disloyalty to the same sithens the conquest of this realme for which they are most deepely bound to yeeld their most humble thankes to the goodnesse of Almighty God that so from time to time hath blessed the same and so much the more for that a great number of other Peeres and Nobles of this land haue bene attainted sithens that time for their disloyalty In honor of which house of the Lord Talbot I haue made these few verses following TAlbot I am that euer haue bene true Vnto my Prince her crowne and dignity And hope in God my fathers to ensue So as my bloud shall neuer stained be Prest I will be my countrey to defend As doth belong to men of my degree And on her foes my life and land will spend As each man ought for her securitie The acts of warre performed by my name I shall increase as God shall giue me might To serue my Prince when she commands the same As doth belong vnto a faithfull knight My gracious Prince hath honored me With name of thorder of the garter knight Of which great kings haue much desired to be Wherein these words with golden letters bright Hony soyt qui mal y pense are seene As much to say as ill to him befall That ill doth wish vnto so good a Queene And so I pray and during life I shall And for some among many examples of the loyaltie of that noble house Holinsh 368. first I find that William Lord Talbot in king Stephen his time tooke vppon him to defend Hereford in Wales as diuerse other nobles of this Realme did other Castles and townes in England to the vse of Maud the Empresse and her sonne against the sayd king Stephen who vsurped and detayned the Crowne against her sayd son contrary to his oath made to the sayd Empresse her said son being the right heyre to Henry the first his Realme of England Iohn Earle of Shrewsbury was slaine at North taking part with Henry the sixt against the Duke of Yorke others then I find how Sir Gilbert Talbot was sent by the yong Earle of Shrewsbury being within age and ward to Richard the third with two thousand of his tenants and friends to ayde Henry Earle of Richmond against the sayd King Richard Stow. 121. being not onely an horrible murtherer of his Nephewes king Edward the fourth his childrē but also an vsurper of the Crowne whom the sayd Earle ouerthrew at Bosworth field and so obtayned the Scepter Royall of this Realme I note also the great loyalty of the right noble George fourth Earle of Shrewsbury that where diuerse euill disposed persons in the rebellion in the North parts of this Realme about the 28 yeare of the raigne of King Henry the eight gaue forth very slanderous and dishonorable speeches against the sayd Earle Holinsh 1567. as though he had fauored more the part of the rebels then of the king his Maister for a full testimony and declaration of his truth to his Prince he caused his Chapleyn to minister to him an oath in the presence of a great number of people assembled by him to represse the sayd rebels by which oath he did protest that as his Auncesters had bene euer true to the Crowne so be wold not staine his bloud in ioyning with a sort of rebels and traytors against their Prince but sayd he would liue and die in defence of the Crowne if it did stand but vpon a stake How faithfully did the Lord George last Earle of Shrewsbury discharge the great trust reposed in him by her Maiestie and her whole Councell in the garding safe keeping of the Quéene of Scots by the space of seuenteene yeares at the least a matter of such importance as the like so long time was neuer committed to any State or Péere of this Realme sithens the conquest thereof and how carefully he did preuent the sundry deuises and subtill practises wrought by her selfe and others for her escape it is sufficiently knowne The trust was the greater for that if she had escaped no small danger might haue ensued to the person of our most gracious Queene and to the whole Realme as may appeare by her sundry conspiracies against the same In like manner when any matter of great importance for the seruice of the Realme in those parts was committed to him as often many were how carefully and painefully Camden 463. and with what expedition he would dispatch the same the world can testifie what great confidence was reposed in him by the Queenes Maiestie when he was made Lieutenant of the counties of Darby and Stafford in those dangerous dayes and how he performed the same trust to the preseruation of the common peace and quietnesse of those Shires is well knowne to all men what great trust was committed to himselfe also when he had authority in times of rebellion and other outrageous actions in those parts to suppresse the same in forcible manner and to execute the offenders by Marshall iustice without further proceeding in law against thē by the large Commission directed vnto him is manifest Gilbert now the seuenth Earle of Shrewsbury And lastly was not the right honourable Gilbert now Earle of Shrewsbury in the xxxviij yeare of her Maiesties most gracious Raigne sent into Fraunce to receiue the oath of the French king for the confirmation of the most honorable league betwixt her Maiestie and the said king and did not he performe that Embassage to his great honour And did not the sayd king in proofe of his great good acceptation thereof His Embassage most honorably performed in Fraunce giue him
a ring with a diamond therein as I haue heard valued at xv hundreth pounds a thing meet to remaine as an heire loome to that house for euer for a remembrance thereof And now to returne to the valiant seruice of diuerse others to their Prince and countrey let me tell you of Iohn late Duke of Northumberland Iohn Duke of Northūberland of whose fall by his disloyalty to his Prince though there be great pitie yet his courage valiancy and hardinesse in wars and his great aduenture therein I trust without offence may here be remembred as an incouragement to others to follow his steps therein who being in king Edward the sixt his time sent as Generall to suppresse the rebellion of Ket in Norfolke Holinsh 1672. his number being but small by reason his whole power was not yet come to him and the rebels were many was by some of his army aduised to regard his owne safety and to leaue the City of Norwich for that it was thought he was not able with his small company to defend the same against the sayd rebels to whom with noble courage shewing an inuincible hart he sayd that so long as any life was in him he would not consent to such dishonor but rather would suffer whatsoeuer either fire or sword should worke against him and thereupon did draw out his sword as other of the honourable and worshipfull then there present likewise did and commaunded that each one should kisse the others sword according to an auncient custome vsed amongst mē of war in time of great danger wherupon they all made a vow binding it with a solemne oath that they would not depart from thence vntill they had either vanquished the rebels or lost their liues in manfull fight for defence of the kings honour Ambrose Earle of Warwicke Ibid. 1532. How valiantly did Ambrose Earle of VVarwicke in the fourth yeare of the Raigne of our Soueraigne Lady the Queenes Maiestie that now is defend the towne of Newhauen in Fraunce notwithstanding they died in great numbers of the plague so as they wanted men and other things necessarie for defence yet would not yéeld the towne by force but manfully stood ready in the breaches to receiue the assault whē the Frenchmen had with their Cannon made great breaches verie easie for the enemie to enter wherupon the Frenchmen perceiuing the resolutenesse of the Englishmen sounded their Trumpet of parley and so vpon honorable agréement then concluded vpon the towne was yéelded vp to the Frenchmen Besides how valiantly did Sir Iames Wilford and other Captaines with their souldiers defend the towne of Haddington in Scotland against the French and Scots being about eightéene thousand in king Edward the sixt his dayes and would not yéeld it although they had scarsitie of men and munition and were also greatly visited with the plague so as manie died thereof dayly but most valiantly and with inuincible courages defended the same Holinsh 1638. so as it was not surprised by the enemie How valiantly resolutely did the Lord Gray of Wilton Lord Iohn Gray the Lord Ed. Seymer Edward Shelley Preston and others to the number of seuen and twentie all Gentlemen set vpon the foreward of the battell of the Scots at Musclebrough in Scotland Expedition paten folio in king Edward the sixt his time meaning to haue broken their array but the Scots had so strongly fortified themselues that they could not enter and so in their retiring they were all slaine sauing the Lord Gray of Wilton and the Lord Iohn Gray and Lord Ed. Seymer who not without wounds and marks vpon their bodies of their being there escaped By these examples it appeareth that those Noblemen and others respected not their liues nor any painfull seruice or extremities in the seruice of their Prince and countrey for which they shall liue in fame for euer Mē may not respect any trauell or pain to serue their Prince and country He that hath desire to liue in name when he is dead in bodie must indeuour himselfe according to his calling as God hath indowed him to leaue some memorie whereby it may appeare that once hee liued as these verses following shew 1 THough Death the fatal threed of ech man cuts in twaine Yet vertues ay shall liue and worthie acts remaine 2 For others to ensue their painefull steps therein Whereby they may attaine like lasting praise to winne 3 But such as not regard to leaue some deed of fame When they are dead shall lie without regard or name 4 And soone shall be forgot as they had neuer bin And shall not be thought of no scarce amongst their kinne 5 What difference shall be then twixt great and meanest man When of their worthie acts no booke record ought can 6 What booteth titles great of honour for to haue Or Croesus golden store when men lie in the graue 7 More worth a thousand fold t is famous for to be For vertues and noble acts then all the rest to thee 8 That moued mightie kings and great States of this land And manie others mo great things to take in hand 9 Some kingdomes to subdue by sword both farre and neare Their persons ventred haue and dangers did not feare 10 And manie worthy Peeres their Prince to serue in field And countrey to defend great acts with speare and shield 11 Performed haue which fame with blast of trumpe hath spread Whereby they liue in name though they in graue ly dead 12 And some haue Churches built in honor of our Lord Where they did giue him thanks and praise with one accord 13 Some Colledges for such as learning list embrace Their countrey and their Prince to serue in euerie place 14 Some Schooles to traine vp youth in skill and vertues lore While tender yeares do last in age to haue in store 15 Some Hospitals for poore where they may be relieued When crooked age of strength to worke hath them bereaued 16 And these they haue endow'd with liuing and with land To their immortall fame for euermore to stand 17 These for their Founders pray and benefactors all And for their off-spring eke on God cease not to call 18 For their prosperitie and foes eke to withstand That all things prosper may which they do take in hand 19 And when they are gone hence that in the latter day They may rise vp with Christ in ioyes to dwell alway 20 None only for himselfe but for his countrey too Is borne and bound for her the best he can to do 21 The Brutish kings that long did beare the scepter here Faire temples to their gods and Castles strong that were 22 And cities large and townes erected manie one The enemie to defend they walled them with stone 23 And manie famous men the founders of our skill Their learned works haue left to studie on that will 24 Before that Christ was borne whose glorie liues this day And while the
4. fol. 480 for as Bodinus writeth whē ciuill warres were raised amongst the Florentines and great slaughter and bloudshed happened amongst them in the Citie and no force of man could restraine the same Frauncis Soderinus the Bishop hauing on his pontificall ornaments and a companie of Priests attending on him and the Crosse borne before him entred into the middest of the Citizens thus assembled whereupon they forthwith for the feare they had of religion did put off their armour so did Iudas Bishop of the Hebrues High Priest when Alexander the great came to the citie of Ierusalem with a great host being apparelled in his holy vestiments met him which sight and the brightnesse whereof being feared Alexander did reuerence the Bishop did not spoile the countrie nor holy Citie but with great benefites did inlarge the same By like meanes Vrbane the Pope is said to haue turned and remoued away the siege of Attila from the citie of Aquila 5. Ioseph in anti as Iosephus writeth but when none of these will serue then the extermitie of armes must be vsed And because good perswasions and mild spéeches are thought so conuenient to be vsed to appease such vprores I haue thought good to set downe this simple exhortation which followeth After that Almightie God had destroyed the world for the finne of man Exhortation to rebels sauing Noah and his family who were preserued in the Arke by Gods prouidence and that nations and people did againe increase and multiply vpon the face of the earth knowing in his euerlasting wisedome how necessarie good and wholsome lawes should be for the gouernment and direction of his people he gaue the lawes of the tenne commandements in the mount Sinay wherein is contained first our dutie to almighty God and next to our neighbour then he also ordained Kings Princes and Gouernors to rule and order their subiects and to punish the offenders thereof by these lawes and gaue them power to make lawes as Salomon saith Prou. 8. By me kings raigne through me Princes make good lawes And lastly he gaue straight commandemēt to the subiects touching their obedience to their Soueraigne Lords and rulers Rom. 13. as Saint Paule saith Let euerie soule submit himselfe to the higher Powers there is no power but of God all powers that be are ordained of God whosoeuer therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist procure to themselues damnation for rulers are not fearefull to them that do well but to them that do euill Wilt thou be without feare of the power do well then and so thou shalt be praised of him for he is the minister of God ordained for thy wealth But if thou do euill then feare for he beareth not the sword in vaine for he is the minister of God to take vengeance of them that do euill Wherfore we must obey not onely for feare of vengeance but for conscience sake also for that cause we pay tribute for they are Gods ministers seruing for that purpose Now what euill counsel hath moued you thus to enter into armes against your naturall Prince and Liege Ladie whom Almightie God hath ordained to supply his place and to raigne ouer you Who hath be witched you thus to abuse the great loue and fauour of so gracious a Quéene which she hath borne alwayes and doth dayly shew to her good subiects to oppose against her that is studious to set forth the Gospell that is and hath bene so carefull to maintaine such common peace amongst vs these fortie yeares and more Though this be touched afore yet it is not vnmeet to be vsed here to these men as the like hath not bin séene nor heard of neither is to be found in anie record or Chronicle of this realme sithence the conquest therof which is aboue 528 yeares for the like time of gouernment that is desirous to raigne with mercie with loue with pitie and tender compassion and not by tyrannie nor by effusion of bloud neither alwayes by inflicting the extremitie of her lawes vpon such as most iustly haue deserued the execution of the same that is mercifull to offenders bountifull to well deseruers of her Maiestie and their conntrey that to her great charge hath fortified this realme with strong Castles and a Nauie of warlike shippes and all other things necessarie for the warres in great aboundance for the defence of her kingdome and people that hath not laid vpon vs any taxes or tallages but the like thereof hath bene before her time and greater also that hath made good lawes and taken a solemne oath in the day of her coronation to endeuour her selfe that the same shall be holden kept and executed vnto all her subiects indifferently without respect of persons and is also well pleased to be ordered by the same her selfe If you consider the horrible murthers of great persons the pitifull slaughter of man woman and child by fire and sword the lamentable rauishments of maids wiues and widowes the ransacking and spoiling of Cities and townes with many other miseries and calamities which haue hapned continued in other countreys not farre hence these many yeares by occasion of ciuill warres and dissention you shall find that we haue cause to thinke our selues most bound of all nations to the goodnesse of God in that he hath not suffered vs to be afflicted and visited with the like all which haue bene preuēted by the great wisedome and prouidence of her Maiestie her graue Councell These besides other infinite great kindnesse and benefites her highnesse hath daily most graciously bestowed vpon vs that more nor greater no Prince can extend to her people and shall we now be vnthankfull for the same shall we yéeld vnkindnesse for kindnesse shall we recompence her daily care studie to do vs good by seeking danger to her person and perill to her state which may ensue by your forcible and violēt opposing against her There is nothing worse bestowed then that is done to the vngratefull and forgetfull man as Erasmus writeth Nihil peius confertur quà m quod hemini ingrato atque non scienti A man that receiueth a good turne if there be any good nature in him will alwayes be thankful and so much the more when he is not able to deserue or requite the least part thereof king Dauid that receiued many good things at the hands of God shewed not himselfe vnthankfull but breaking out as it were on a suddaine sayd vnto himselfe Quid retribuam Domino pro omnibus quae retribuit mihi calicem salutaris accipiam nomen Domini inuocabo Psal 116. 107. What shall I yeeld vnto God for all that he hath done vnto me I will take the cup of thankesgiuing and call vpon the name of the Lord. It is all that Almighty God doth looke for at our hands that we should be thankfull vnto him for all his mercies louing kindnesse that
stung to death with strange kinds of fiery serpents sometime the earth hath opened and swallowed thē vp quicke the Captains and bands of such murmurers with their wiues children families Then if such strange and horrible plagues haue hapned to such subiects as did but only murmure and speake euil against their heads what shall become of such subiects as conspire arme themselues assemble great numbers of men in armes encourage and leade thē against their Prince countrie spoyling robbing slaying as manie of their good subiects as do withstand them and against whom they may preuaile We are forbidden by the holy Scripture Eccle. 10. so much as to think euill to the Prince for the birds of the aire shall betray thee with their wings shal bewray they voyce If we may not think euil much lesse may we do anie thing that shal or may tend to her danger as rebellions do alwayes imply peril to her person state Sam 24. King Saule was a wicked Prince sought the life of Dauid the seruant of God diuerse wayes yet Dauid wold not hurt him no when he might haue slaine him in his caue but said The Lord keepe me that I lay not my hands vpon the Lords annointed 2. Tim. 2. S. Paule saith I exhort that aboue all things prayers supplications and intercessions and giuing of thanks be made of all men for kings and all that are in authoritie that we may liue a quiet life with all godlinesse for that is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Sauiour So did the people of God Apol. cap. 30. which liued vnder Pagans and tyrants as Tertullian witnesseth If the Princes be good they are a great blessing of God bestowed on the people if they be vngodly tyrants then they are appointed for their punishment yet must they pray for them whatsoeuer they be for when S. Paule taught to pray for rulers then Caligula Clodius and Nero who were no Christians but Pagans and most cruel tyrants were gouernors rulers of the people When Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon after he had slain their kings nobles wiues children the people of God wasted their country spoyled their cities yea and Ierusalem it selfe the holy temple and caried the residue with him captiue to Babylon Baruc. 1. 11. yet Baruc the Prophet of God exhorted the people being in captiuity saying Pray you to God for the life of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon and of Balthaser his son that their dayes may be as the dayes of heauen vpon the earth that God also may giue vs strength lightē our eyes that we may liue vnder the defence of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon vnder the protectiō of Balthaser his sonne that we may long do them seruice and find fauor in their sight If they then prayed for tyrants and vngodly kings how much more ought we to pray to God for the life preseruation and prosperons estate of so gracious a Quéene soueraigne Gouernour as we haue What shall I say of you shal I call you subiects that assemble your selues in this forcible maner and breake the common peace of the realme and in stéed of quietnesse ioy and felicitie which do follow of blessed peace and due obedience do bring all trouble sorrow disquietnesse of mind and bodie and all mischiefes and calamities and turne all good order vpside downe bring all good lawes in contempt and tread them vnder foot oppresse all vertue and honestie and all vertuous and honest persons and set all vice and wickednesse and all vitious and euill men at libertie to worke their vngodly willes and vngracious purposes which were before bridled with wholsome lawes and do weaken ouerthrow and consume the strength of the realme aswell by wasting and spending the treasure thereof as by slaying the good subiects of the same and make our countrie readie as it were to be a pray and spoyle to all outward enemies and to bring vs our wiues children and posterities to perpetuall captiuitie slauerie and bondage that strangers may possesse our lands goods liuings to our vtter vndoing destruction Though God do often prosper iust lawfull enemies which be no subiects against forraine enemies and though a small number vpon wars begun vpon iust causes hath many times prospered against huge nūbers of their aduersaries that haue offered them wrong and iniurie yet neuer did rebel prosper against their Prince Note how noble or great soeuer their Captaine or number of people haue bene and whether their pretence of rebelling haue bene for reformatiō of religion or for any other cause whatsoeuer yet they haue bin alwayes ouerthrowne by the iust iudgemēt of God and so Sir Thomas Wyat vpō his arraignmēt for the sayd rebellion of Kent Hol. 1. ma. affirmed openly lamenting heartily his brutish and beastly fall as he rightly tearmed it into the horrible offence of the law requiring all the audience there present to remember his spéeches and to be taught by his infelicitie and most wretched case as in the Chronicle doth appeare If you be grieued with any thing which is to be reformed exhibit your supplication to her Maiesties Lieutenant here present and make your humble submission confessing your great offences and crauing together on your knees her most gracious pardon with faithfull promise that by Gods grace you will not enter into the like horrible offence hereafter against her highnesse and her lawes and so ye may the rather obtaine the same which her sayd Lieutenant hath authority vnder her great seale of England to graunt to such of you as shall do as is afore remembred herein you shall do as was vsed in king Edward the sixt his time Holinsh by some which then opposed themselues against the sayd king as you do now against her Maiestie who vppon their like submission had their pardon and by order from the king also present redresse of their griefes If ought be to be remedied it belongeth not to the subiect to performe it for if the Prince should make a law neuer so hard against the subiect impose a great punishment to the breakers thereof yet the subiect may not presume to attempt to remedy the same but must submit himselfe to the punishment of the law as Saint Perer saith Peter submit your selues to euery ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the king as to the head or to the rulers as to them sent of him for the punishment of euil doers but for the cherishing of such as do well for so is the will of God If you will not take this course but stand to the vttermost assure your selues that you shall be consumed with the sword and such as escape that death shall suffer the execution due by law to traitors in such terrible manner as is aboue remembred To conclude if neither the feare of God your dutie to your
s. which amounted to an inestimable sum Holinsh f. 11. Graft abridg An. 1085. when it came all together into his exchequer And did not he shortly after cause all mens goods and chattels to be valued and raised thereof also a maruelous great masse of mony to the great greife and impouerishment of our people who so sore lamented the miserable case wherein they were thrawled that they hated the Normans in their hartes with deadly mallice howbeit the more they spake and séemed to grudge against such sore touls tallages and cruell oppressions as were daily deuised to their vtter vndoings the more they were burdened after the manner of the bondage which the children of Israel sometime suffered in Egipt for on the other side the Normans perceiuing the hatred which the Englishmen did beare towardes them were sore offended in their mindes and therefore sought by all manner of waies how to kéepe them vnder In like sort did not Wil. Rufus ouerthrow diuers and sundry townes Holinsh 313. parishes villages and buildings for the space of thrée miles together to make thereof a Forrest which to this day is called the new Forrest for wilde beasts and deare whereby no small member of the poore lost their houses their lands and liuings for the maintenance of sauage beasts Nevv forrest Camden 188. of whose hard dealing in this case Doctor White Bishop of Winchester hath these verses written as Camden affirmeth fo 198. B. of Win. Templa adimit diuis fora ciuibus arua colonis Rufus instituit Beanlensi in rure forestam Rex ceruum insequitur Regem vindicta Tirellus Non bene praeuisum transfixit acumine ferri Did not he cause a greiuous paine to be ordained insomuch that who so euer did kill any of the same deare he should haue his eies put out Eies put out for hunting wherevpon many refusing to sustaine such an intollerable yoke of thrauldome as was dayly laid vpon them by the Normans choose rather to leaue both lands and goods and after the manner of outlawes got them to the woods with their wiues children and seruants meaning from thenceforth wholy to liue vppon the spoyle of the Countries adioyning and to take what so euer came first to hand wherevpon shortlie it came to passe that no man might in safetie trauel from his owne house or towne to his neighbours and euery quiet and honest mans house became as it were a hould or fortresse and was furnished for defence with Bowes Arrowes Billes Pollaxes Swordes Clubbes and Staues the dores kept locked and strongly boulted and namely in the night season for feare to be surprised as it had bin in time of war and amongst publique enimies Prayers were made also to almighty God by the maister of the house to saue and defend them as though they had bin in the middest of the seas in some stormy tempest by meanes of these hard dealing towards the English nation The people in the North parts of this Realme did rebell whome the Normans suppressed Hands cut off for rebelling and caused some of their hands to be cut of in token of their rebellious dealings and others by death to be punished and tooke so great a displeasure with the inhabitants of those parts that he wasted all the land betwixt Yorke and Durham so that for the space of 90. miles there was left in manner no habitation for the people by reason whereof it laie waste and deserte by the space of nine or tenne yeares so that no greater misery in the earth could happen then that into the which our nation was now falne Likewise did not he take from the Towns and Citties from the Bishops and Abbies all their ancient priuiledges and frée Customes to the end they should not onely be cut short and made weaker but also that they might redéeme the same of him for such somes of money as it pleased him to appointe to obtaine their quietnesse and made protestation that as he came to the gouernance of this Realme by plaine conquest so he would and did seize into his hands the most parte of euerie mans possessions causing them to redéeme the same at his handes againe and yet retained a parte in the most parte of them so that they that shoulde afterwardes inioy them shoulde acknowledge themselues to hold them of him in yéelding a yearely rent to him and his successors for euer In like manner when the Spaniards by violence possesthe sed Crowne of Portingall Booke of the estate of Fugitiues did not the king of Spaine vse the authoritie of a Conqueror and the tyrannicall cruelty of an vsurper altring their Lawes confounding their priuiledges ouerturning the whole estate of their gouernment strangling some of their Nobilitie and other of them beheading imprisoning and banishing some other of them with many other horrible and pittifull actions These are also other miseries which followe where the enemy doth get the vpper hand and shall we looke for any other dealing if they should ouercome vs ¶ That we shal preuaile against our enimies by faithful praiers to God wherof diuers examples are here set down out of the Bible also diuers other good perswasions to withstād the enimy and how that euery man is bound so to do whereby great fame is attained and left to posterities Chap. 4. IF we wil consider how valiantly our forefathers haue alwaies resisted forren forces prepared against our countrey 6. cause of incorragemēt and what great renowne and same they haue gotten for their valour in Armes which is spread amongest all Christian Nations of whom it is written Anglia Bistonio semper gens inclita marte England a Nation euer famous in battell Bysto is a coūtrey of valiāt people in warres in thrace Camd. fol. 7. Of whome Iohn Wheathamsted sometime the Abbot of S. Albons in his Granario writeth Sufficiat igitur Britannis pro nobilitatis suae orgine quod sint fortes potentes in praelijs quodque vndique debellent aduersarios nullumque penitus patiantur iugum seruitutis It is sufficient for the Britaine 's of whom we are descended for the beginning of their Nobility that they are strong mightie in battell and that they doe euery where beate downe their enimies and cannot suffer by any meanes the yoke of any bondage If we will remember that no Nation sithence the Conquest of this lande which is about 529. yeares past coulde yet ouercome vs praised be God therfore notwithstanding sundry attempts made to that end if we will call to mind the notable ouerthrowes which king Richard the first gaue the Infidels with a few Englishmen Foxe 245. Hol. 1191. and made the king of Cypres to doe him homage for his kingdome and besides him diuers other valiant kings and people haue we brought into subiection and made them stoope to the Crown of England as by our Chronicles is euident we haue nowe then great cause to be mightily incouraged in