atteÌ„pte some other enterprises of no lesse weyghty and graue importaunce dedicate theÌ„ also vnto your name In the meane season God the Author of all goodnes and the myghty shelde of them that repose theyr affiaunce in hym â—ought vouchsafe to preserue your good mastership in continuall worshyppe and dayly encrease the same more more vnto the glorye of hys name the conseruacion of the publique weale the coÌ„teÌ„tacion of your good mynde the coÌ„forte ioye of so many as vnfaynedly loue you AMEN The pollecy of warre Who seethe not nowe howe miserable the state of the Christiannes is vnder this moost cruell Tyraunte whiche notwithstandynge hath exalted encreased his myghte aboue all Christen Monarchies or Empyres â–ª And it is to be feared seynge he hath such prosperous successe tryumphant victories agenst the Christians that no nacioÌ„ shall be able to resist and wythstonde his tyranny excepte there be some godly remedy found shortely For al thynges prosper so well wyth hym that no man nedeth to doubte but that he is the scourge of God to ponish vs for our wycked and abhominable lyuynge whiche without all shame is at this daye vsed amonge vs. Thus se we in what state y â— christen publique weale stondeth yea rather lyeth is troden vnder foote Let vs nowe behold what the occasion of it is and by what meanes it may be repayred brought agayne vnto the pristme beauty olde glory that we hauing the victory of al our enemies maye with one accorde synge perpetuall prayses to y e name of our Lorde God Amen What the occasioÌ„ of all these cruel warres is wherwith we are so miserably oppressed it may easly be ê‘ceaued by Histories of the holy scriptures For verely so ofte as I poÌ„der this matter w t my selfe me thyncke I se more clerely than the Sonne y â— as the only occasion of Goddes blissyng is the true worshyppyng of hiÌ„ and the followynge of his worde so lykewyse the alone occasion of hys cursynge that is to saye of his plages whyther it be by swearde pestilence or hoÌ„ger for by these thre wayes God is wonte to ponysh the wickednesse of his people is Idolatrye straung worshyppyng of God despisynge of hys worde â–ª kyllynge of the true preachers wycked lyuynge Do not the diuine Histories shewe euideÌ„tly that so longe as the people of Israel obeyed God serued him accordynge to his worde hathened to hys preachers walked in his wayes led a pure and innoceÌ„t lyfe they enioyed all kynd of felicite pleasure and euer gat the oueâ—hand of theyr enemies Howe dydde the publique weale of Israel florysshe vnder that moost noble Captayne victorious Prynce Iosue What kyngdom did they inuade and not subdue What dyd they take in hande broughte not vnto fortunate successe prosperous ende Howe came thys to passe by theyr owne pollecye wytte and strength Na verely For they dispayred of theyr owne strengthes and sayde we are not able to go vp agaynst the people for they are stroÌ„ger than we They are meÌ„ of a great stature yea we are like greshoppers in coÌ„parison of them It was God that dyd fyght for them God slewe theyr enemies God gaue them the victory and brought them into the possession of that londe Feare not y â— people of that londe sayd Iosue for they are but breade for vs. Theyr shylde is departed from them the Lorde is wythe vs feare them not therfore The Lorde youre God he shall expell and cast them out before you and ye shall conquere theyr loÌ„des as the Lorde youre God hathe sayde to you One of you shall chase a thousand for the Lord your God he fyghteth for you But howe came it to passe that they prospered on thys wyse had God so on theyr syde that nothyng was able to preuayle agaynste theÌ„ Uerely because they dyd abyde stedfast in the lawe of the Lorde They ranne not an whorehuntyng after straunge Goddes They dyd stycke fast vnto y â— Lorde theyr God They harkened to his faythfull prechers They worshipped serued him not after theyr owne faÌ„sy but accordiÌ„g to the prescripte of his holy worde They sought hys glory in all thynges and wrought accordyng to hys holy wyll So came it to passe that they were made blyssed fortunate of God Agayne in the boke of Iudges of Kynges do we not se in theÌ„ that so long as the Israelites walked accordyng to Gods worde they prosperred and floryshed aboue all nacions and whan they fell vnto Idolatry wycked lyuynge that god stored vp some TyraÌ„t which oppressed theÌ„ w t cruell battell sheddyng theyr bloud spoylyng all y t they had Nether dyd God cease thus to ponyshe theÌ„ vntil they fel to repeÌ„taÌ„ce know ledged theyr faultes ameÌ„ded theyr wicked lyuing becam faythful to y e Lord. Moreouer what was y e occasioÌ„ y â— God at the last suffered the Israelites to be led awaye captiue into Babylon of the kynge of Caldey the yong men to be slayne w t swerd in the holy TeÌ„ple yea nether yonge man nor mayden to be spared neyther olde man neither yet so muche as him y â— stouped for age al y e vessels of y e house of God both great smal the tresures therof y â— treasures of the kyng of his Lordes to be caryed to Babylon euery whytte the house of God to be burnt the waulles of Ierusalem to be brokeÌ„ downe all the places therof to be burnte wythe fyre and all the goodly stuffe therof What was y e occasion I say that all thynges wente thus to hauock w tout mercy Forsorth y e scripture sayth theyr kynge Sedechias fyrst of all dyd y e which displeased y â— Lord. He huÌ„bled not himselfe before Ieremias y e Prophet at the mouth of the Lord but was styffe necked hard harted to turne vnto y â— Lorde God of Israel All y e rulers also of y e prestes wyth the people trespassed apace after all abhominacions of y e Hethen polluted the house of the Lorde which he had halowed in IerusaleÌ„ And the Lorde God of theyr fathers sent to them by his messangers sendyng them betymes for he had compassioÌ„ on his people and on his dwellyng place But they mocked the messangers of God and despised theyr wordes and misused his Prophetes vntyll the wrath of the Lorde so arose agaynste hys people that it was past remedy Here se we agayne that the occasioÌ„ of this miserable captiuite whiche y â— Iewes sustayned was bicause they receaued not the Prophettes harkenned not to Gods worde but folowed theyr owne saÌ„tasies wroughte that whiche was good in theyr owne syghte and lyued after theyr owne seÌ„suall beastlyke appetites What shall I speake of the finall destrucciou of the Iewes at HierusaleÌ„ after Christes ascension What was y e cause of that theyr greuous misery and vnoutspeakable calamite Was it not because they
it was not only knoweÌ„ to y t Athenians but also to the coÌ„trary parte what auÌ„swere was gyuen Codrus of Apollo therfore y â— enemies gaue a commaundement that no manne should hurte the body of kynge Codrus Which whan he perceyued he conueyed himselfe out of the army put of his princelyke armours clad hymselfe lyke a coÌ„mon Souldiour and returned shortly into the hoost where both manfully and wyllyngly he dyed and by this menes saued his contre O moost excelleÌ„t Prince worthy immortalite O condigne spectacle for all rulars to beholde A lyke thyng do we read of that noble Consulle Publius Decius which whaÌ„ he sawe his army greatly disconforted and almoost slayne spoored vp his horse sharply and w t a valeaunt courage braste into the myddes of his enemies army wher after that he had slayne many and by his valeauÌ„â—e encouraged of new the hartes of his Souldiours he beynge greuously wounded dyed at y â— instant for the healthe of his countrey so that notwithstondynge by his woundes bloud and deathe the Romans gatte the victory wherof before they dyd so much dispayre A certen woman also among the Lacedemonians caulled Gyrtias whaÌ„ she herd y â— Acrotatê° her doughters sonne was greuously wouÌ„ded in the warres yea and dead therof aunswered wyth a lustye harte and sayd whan he went forthe vnto the enemies was it ony other lyke but that he should dye or els slay them It is more mery to heare that he is dead as it was worthy hym and y â— citie and his progenitours than to lyue all his lyfe lyke a dastarde and shew no poynte of valeauÌ„ce O hart more courageous thaÌ„ the feminine sexe requireth Grand mothers are wonte for the mooste parte to loue theyr neuewes and childres chyldreÌ„ more teÌ„derly than y â— very mothers Yet this granddame Gyrtias lameÌ„ted nothyng the deth of her neuew but entierly reioysed that he died so valeauntly in the warres Another womaÌ„ of Lacedemony after that she had sent forth fyue of her soÌ„nes vnto battaile stode before the suburbes of the cytie waytyng what should be the ende of the battell In the meane season came a certen man and shewed her that all her sonnes were slayne To whome she sayd I dyd not demauÌ„d this of the O thou sluggysh slaue but in what case the contrey stondeth Whan he had auÌ„swered that the contrey had gotten the victory she sayde oh thaÌ„ very well I am glad that my soÌ„nes are thus dead This noble woman dyd set more by the safegarde of her contrey than by her priuate affecte toward her chyldren Damatria also an womaÌ„ of that nacion slewe her owne sonne at his returne from the battell because he behaued hymselfe lyke a coward in the warres and dyd not fyght manfully for the wealthe of his couÌ„trey This semeth to smell barbaryke immanite and to be to moche cruell notwithstandyng it is a goodly example to shewe y t all mothers should desyre nothynge so muche in theyr chyldren as to haue them euermore bent to serue the publique affayres of theyr contre eueÌ„ to y â— very deth The Emperour Otho Syluius was determined at a certeÌ„ tyme I knowe not for what cause to gyue ouer the regimente of his Empyre Many came vnto hym and desyred hym very instantly that he woulde not leaue of his imperial dignite so forsake the commoÌ„ weale and the valeaunt company of noble warryours y â— he had besides other Among all one beynge but a Souldiour taken at aduenture perceauyng that the Emperour persisted in his determinacioÌ„ toke out his swerd sayd O Emperour knowe thou that we all are franckely encouraged thus to do for the. And streyghte wayes he kylled hymselfe O lusty harte fraÌ„ke couragious stomacke Whom woulde it not animate to gyue hys lyfe for the health of his contrey seyng so many goodly examples viuely described and lyuishly set forth in histories before his face To moche brutall is he that is not moued w t these moost memorable antique monumentes But yf I shoulde go forthe to rehearse all the Histories whiche declare how greatly the feruent petie the godly affeccion the reuerende loue toward the countrey hath ben euer estemed in times past of all geÌ„tle and naturall hartes I should coÌ„ pyle a worke moche longer than the Iliades of the Greke Poet Homere yea I shoulde not only farre excede y â— limites of an epistle but also onerate and ouercharge the reader But to make few wordes euen the very same godly affeccioÌ„ owe we at this daye to this our natiue countrey Englond that meÌ„ of olde time haue shewed vnto theyr countrey except we be estrauÌ„ged from all naturall humanite And what soeuer oure Auncetours haue done in tymespast vnto the very same are we bouÌ„d nowe lykewyse So that who so euer detrecteth refusethe to do for his countrey what so euer lieth in his power is an vnnatural brauÌ„ che and a corrupte seed vnworthy to enioye ony fruyte or commodite therof as I may adde nothing here vnto But all men haue not all gyftes neyther can euery man profitte his countrey alyke Yet oughte the studious endeuours and diligent employmentes of all men tende vnto this that the coÌ„modite of the publique weale and the helth of the couÌ„tre should be sought aboue al thynges The rytche man with his rytches the stronge maÌ„ w t his streÌ„gth the wyse with his wisdome the poletike with his pollecy the eloqueÌ„t with his eloqueÌ„ce the learned with his learnynge the artificer wythe hys science the plough maÌ„ w t his tillyng and so euery man in his degre accordyng to his knowledge ought to serue his couÌ„trey For vnto this doth the lawe both of God nature bynde vs the whiche to resist is extreme impiete playne wickednes But if ony nacion be estraunged from y â— vnnatural affeccioÌ„ towarde theyr couÌ„trey certes I thinke Englonde I meane the Inhabitauntes therof maye iustly contende wythe ony coÌ„trey for the alienacioÌ„ of this vice It doth me good yea it maketh me seriously to reioyce euen at y â— very harte to se how glad my countre meÌ„ are to serue the commodities of this our countrey Englond What so euer our moost excellent Prince or ony in his name commaundeth it is with all reuerent feare and louyng expedicion accomplyshed No man grutcheth no man muttereth no man thyncketh the precepte vnrighteous nor the burden heuy so feruente a loue do they beare vnto theyr countrey All with one coÌ„sent employe theyr endeuours to satisfy euen vnto the vttermoste of theyr power the imperiall precepte of the kynges moost royall maieste This hath Gods word wrought in them so myghty and fruytfull is y t swerd of the spirite Thanckes be to God for it The Lorde of heauen myghte graunt that it may longe prosper yea florish in this Realme of Englond So maye we be sure neuer to be w tout his diuine blyssyng Lorde let it
crucitied the sonne of god despysed his doctrine slewe his Apostles walked after theyr owne tradicions followed theyr olde wycked forfathers lyued all in pleasure regardyng nothyng the threatenynges of God c Howe chaunced it that the mighty Monarchies or Empyres of the Assyrians Grekes which floryshed not only wyth all kynd of temporal rytches but also wyth moost eâ—cellent learned wyttes are nowe so miserably opprest of the Turkes tyranny Was not theyr disobedience to Gods word cause therof theyr wycked lyuynge more lasciuious wantoÌ„ than that effeminate kyng Sardanapalus Howe came it to passe that the Rhodes euen in our tyme is subdued of the aforsayd Tyraunt turned from Christ vnto Mahumet from the christen religion vnto the Turkish profession Was not supersticioÌ„ Idolatry Hypocrisye fayned holynes colored chastite that is to saye fylthy whoredome stinckyng forntcacioÌ„ vncleane aduoutry dissolute lyuing c. cause therof If we roÌ„ne thorowe oute all the histories bothe holy and prophane where is entreated of warres we shall fynde that y â— contempte of Gods worde wicked lyuyng are the only occasions that suche bloudy battels and cruel warres haue at ony tyme bene stoored vp For God is a ryghteous Lorde a longe season prouoketh he vnto repentaÌ„ce If there followeth none amendment than storeth he vp one TyrauÌ„t or other to take vengeauÌ„ce on vs to shed our bloud to oppresse vs wyth sweard to â—yll our wyues sonnes and doughters to consume wythe fyre all that euer we haue to make oure kyngdoms desolate at y â— last vtterly to roote vs out of this world that hys name thorowe our abhominable lyuyng may no more be blasphemed rayled vpoÌ„ and euell spoken of If ye wyll be obedieÌ„t and heare me sayth God by his prophet ye shall eate the good fruytes of the earth If that ye wyll not but prouoke me to anger surely y e swearde shall deuour you for the mouth of y e Lorde hathe spoken it Agayne my people is led captiue and broughte into bondage bycause they haue no knowledge And theyr noble menne haue dyed for honger and theyr army haue peryshed for thyrste They haue cast awaye the lawe of y â— Lord of hoostes saythe the Prophet and haue blasphemed the worde of y e holy one of Israel And therfore is the wrath of the Lorde kyndled agenst his people and he shaketh his hand at them yea he shall smyte so that y â— hylles shall tremble And theyr karkases shall lye in y â— open stretes lyke mier c. Also in another place thou shalt be desolate bycause thou hast forgotten God thy sauiour haste not remembred thy stronge helper Therfore shalte thou plante a fayre plante graffe a straunge brauÌ„che but in the day of haruest thou shalt reape an heape of sorowes miseries Agen these people are obstinate they prouoke me vnto anger they are lyenge chyldren and euen suche chyldren that wyl not heare y â— lawe of God They saye to them that se se nothyng and to the southsayers tell of nothynge for to come if it be eyther good or honest but speke plesaunt thynges vnto vs and preach vs false thynges Tread oute of the waye go oute of the path turne awaye the holy one of Israel from vs. Therfore thus saythe the holy one of Israel for as moche as ye haue cast awaye this worde haue conforted your selues wyth power and nymblenes and put youre coÌ„fidence therin therfore shall ye haue this mischefe agen for your destruccion faull lyke as an hygh waull that falleth because of some ryfte or blast whose breakyng cometh sodenly And your destruccioÌ„ shall be lyke as an earthen potte which breketh no man towchynge it but breaketh so sore that a man shall not fynde a sheuer of it to fetche fyre iÌ„ or to take water with all out of the pytte For the Lord God euen that holy one of Israel hath promised thus Also in another place who suffred Iacob to be troden vnder foote and Israel to be spoyled Was it not y â— Lord hym selfe agenst whom we haue synned We had no delyghte to walke in his wayes neyther were we obedieÌ„t to his lawes Therfore hath he poured vpon vs his wrathful displeasure straunge battell which makethe vs haue to do on euery syde yet wyl we not vnderstond He burneth vs vp yet synketh it not into our hartes The Prophet Ieremy also sayth what man is so wyse to vnderstond this or to whome maye the worde of the Lordes mouth be spokeÌ„ that he maye shewe wherfore the lond is peryshed so burnte lyke a wyldernes so that no man goeth thorowe Yea the Lorde hymselfe sayde Bycause they haue forsaken my lawe y e I gaue them haue not hearde my voyce nor yet walked therafter but followed y â— wickednes of theyr own hartes ronne after straung gods as theyr fathers taught theÌ„ Therfore thus sayth the Lord of hoostes the God of Israel Beholde I wyll fede this people wythe wormeode gyue them gall to dryncke I wyll scatter them also among the HetheÌ„ whome neyther they nor theyr fathers haue knoweÌ„ And I wyl send a sweard among them to persecute them neuer leaue vntyll I bryng them to nought IteÌ„ yf ye wyll not obey me saythe the Lorde to walke in my lawes whiche I haue gyuen you and to heare the wordes of my seruauntes the Prophettes whome Isent to you risyng vp tymely and styl sendyng If ye wyll not followe them I saye than wyll I do vnto this house as I dyd vnto Sylo wyll make this cytie to be abhorred of al the people of the earth Thus se we not only by histories but also by manifest textes of y â— holy scripture that the despisynge of Gods worde and the dissolute manner of lyuynge is the occasion of all the greuous and fearce plages that God poureth vpon vs. And we nede not doubt but these very same thinges are euen at this daye the fountayne and head spryng of all the ponyshmentes that God lay vpon vs. For euen as it was in the tyme of y e olde Iewes euen so is it now in the worlde They hated Gods word thaÌ„ euen so do they nowe They persecuted the Prophettes true prechers of Gods verite eueÌ„ so do they nowe They mayntayned the wicked tradicions of theyr forefathers euen so do they nowe They estemed theyr owne imaginacions aboue Goddes worde euen so do they nowe They preferred theyr owne actes lawes decrees constitucions c aboue the ordinaunces of God eueÌ„ so do they nowe They coulde not abyde theyr wycked lyuynge to be reproued no more can they do now They hated the lyght of Goddes worde and loued to walke in darkenes eueÌ„ so do they nowe They lyued in all kynde of wycked abhominacion euen so do they now Theyr men of law for lucres sake mayntened false matters contrary to equite euen
Ieremy that maketh flesh his arme whose harte departeth from the Lorde But blyssed is that man that trusteth in the Lorde whose hope the Lorde hym selfe is For he shall be as a tree that is planted by the water syde whiche spreadethe oute the roote vnto moystenes so that ne neadethe not to feare whan the heate commethe and hys leâ—ues shall be grene c. Wo be vnto theÌ„ sayth the Prophet Esaye that go downe into Egypt for helpe trust in horses coÌ„forte them selues in charettes because they be many and in horse meÌ„ because they be lusty and strong and haue not put theyr confideÌ„ce and trust in the holy one of Israel Agayne what presuÌ„pcioÌ„ is this that y u trustest vnto Or by what couÌ„cel or strength doste thou determyne to go to warre vpon whome doste thou trust seynge y â— castest thy selfe of froÌ„ me Lo thou puttest thy trust in a brokeÌ„ staffe of rede I meane Egipt which he that leaneth vpoÌ„ it goeth into his hande shuâ—teth hym thorow The Lorde is our captayne y e Lorde is our law gyuer the Lorde is our kynge he it is that shall saue vs. For he gyueth strengthe to the wery one power vnto the faynt Chyldren are wery faynte the strongest men â—aull lyke weakelynges but they y e truste in the Lorde shall be endewed with strengthe They shall haue wynges lyke Aegles they shall ronne not â—aull they shall walke not be wery Feare not saythe God for I am w t the. Turne not once backe for I am thy God I haue made the strong I haue holpen the the right hand of my ryghteous one hath takeÌ„ the. Behold all they shall be confounded ashamed that fyght agaynste the. Yea they shalbe as thogh they were not the meÌ„ shall perysh that once speake agaynst the c. I wyll go before the bryng downe the proud arrogant of the earthe The brasen dores wyl I breake burst the yron barres And I wyll gyue the y â— hyd treasures the thynge whiche is secretly kepte that thou mayst know that I am the Lorde The vnryghteous shall perysh at one clappe as Dauid sayth the remnauntes of the vngodly shall vtterly be destroyed but the health of the ryghteous is of the Lord he is theyr defeÌ„der in the tyme of trouble The Lorde shall healpe them delyuer them he shall set them free from the wycked yea he shall saue theÌ„ in dede because they haue putte theyr trust in hym Agen the Lorde is my lyghte my healthe whome then shall I feare The Lord is y e defender of my lyfe for whome than shall I be afrayde WhaÌ„ the wycked came vnto me for to eate my flesh they that wrought me ony wo and were myn enemies stoÌ„bled fell so that now although an hoost of men were layd agaynste me yet shall not my hart be afrayd And though there rose vp warre agaynst me yet wyll I put my trust in hym God hymselfe also sayth by the Psalmographe for asmoche as he hath trusted in me I wyl deliuer hym yea I wyll defend hym seynge he hath knowen my name He cryed vnto me I wyl fauourably heare hym I am wyth hym in tribulacioÌ„ I wyll delyuer hym glorify hym I wyll replenyshe hym withe longe lyfe and at the last I wyll shew him my sauyng health All the scriptures heretofore rehearsed declare euidently that God alone is the myghtye helper that he only it is whiche gyueth the victory of theyr enemies to his people that is to so many as beleue trust in hym and that withoute hym all hymayne industry labour wyt conueyaunce pollecy c. are of none effecte yea rather hurteth than profytteth hyndereth then furdereth destroyeth than sauethe Blyssed is that londe whiche hath God theyr mercyfull Lorde puyssaunt defender For they shall prosper in al thinges and what so euer they shal take in hand shall vndoubtedly come vnto good effecte nether shall ony maÌ„ be he neuer of so greate baleaunce myght streÌ„gth puyssaunce and power be able to do them ony harme If God be on oursyde who is able to preuayle agaynst vs as the holy Apostle Paule sayth But it wyll be demaunded peraduenture how God maye be made so mercyfull that he wyll gyue vs y e victory of our enemies I aunswere by oure vnfayned conuersion from wickednes vnto true godlynes We heard bâ—fore that al the plages that God casteth vpon vs whyther they be battell honger pestilence or ony other chaunse vnto vs for our synfull abhominable lyuyng wher w t God is so greatly prouoked vnto anger Agayne that he wyll not cease thus to plage vs if he loueth vs vntyl we earnestly repent studiously amende our lyfe If he seeth y t none amendment wyll followe his correccion yet wyll he go forth styll to ponyshe vs and neuer cease vntyll he hath rooted vs our memory oute of the earth because his holy name may be no more blasphemed among the Hethen thorow our wyckednes and abhominacion Your misdedes sayth Esay haue seperated you froÌ„ your God your synnes haue hyddeÌ„ his face from you that he should not heare you For your handes are defyled wyth bloud â–ª your fyngers with vnrighteousnes Your lyppes speake leasynges your tonge setteth out wickednes No man regardeth ryghteousnes no man iudgeth truely Euery man hopeth in vayne thynges imaginethe deceate conceaueth werynes bryngeth forthe euell They brede cockatrice egges weaâ—e the spyders webbe who so euer eteth of theyr egges dyeth but if one treadeth vpon them there coÌ„meth out a serpeÌ„t Theyr webbe maketh no cloth nether can they couer theÌ„ wyth theyr labours Theyr dedes are the dedes of wickednes and the worke of robhery is in theyr haÌ„des Theyr feete runne vnto euell they make haste to shed innocent bloude Theyr councels are wycked councelles harme destruccion are in theyr wayes but y e way of peace they know not c And a lytle after our offenses are many before the O Lord our synnes testify agaynst vs yea we must nedes confesse that we offende and knowledge that we do amysse namely transgresse dissemble agaynst the Lorde and faull awaye from our God vsyng presuÌ„ptuous traytorous imaginacions castyng false matters in our hartes For equite is gone asyde and ryghteousnes stondethe a farre of Trueth is fallen downe in y â— strete that thyng that is playne open maye not be shewed Yea truethe is layde in presonne he that refraynethe hym selfe from euell must be spoyled When the Lorde sawe this it displeased hym sore y â— there was no where ony equite He saw also y â— there was no man whiche had pitie therof or was greued at it And he helde hym vp by hys owne power cleued to his owne ryghteousnes He putrighteousnes on hiÌ„ for
euen by the commauÌ„dement of God and the lawe of nature they are bounde to gyue theyr lyues woulde by no meanes breake the bonde of Christen amite wythe no man but rather suffer moche in iury than they would be once at displeasure wyth ony man But in as moch as they are fyrst prouoked yee and that vnworthely seynge also it is no priuate iniury but a common wrong to inuade ony Realme and to disturbe the inhabitauntes therof therfore they come nowe in the name of God vnto battell not for theyr owne cause but for the coÌ„seruacion of the publique weale that they enioyenge peace tranquilite for euer after maye the more freely prayse God and lyue accordynge to his moost holy worde Moreouer all the tyme of y â— warres it shall be necessary y t they kepe theÌ„ selues so pure as they can and by no means haue ony felloweshyp w t the vnfrutefull workes of darkenes but apply them selues vnto the frutes of the spâ—rite that they may remayne in the fauour of God and haue hym theyr myghty captayne Let theÌ„ that can read whaÌ„ they haue coÌ„uenâ—â—t leasure rede the hoâ—y Scriptures chefely suche histories as declare the omnipotency and almyghtye power of God whiche he hath shewed to his seruauntes in tymes past by gyuyng them the victo ry ouer theyr enemies let theÌ„ conceaue a sure faythe in theyr hartes therof nothyng doubte but that he wyl be that same puyssauÌ„t Lord to them if they walke accordyng to hys word that he in times past was to the other For he is styll a Lorde of that same puyssaunce strength Let them that can not rede herken to them that do rede and gyue vndoubted earnest faythe thervnto It would helpe moch vnto true godlines for to haue faythfull preachers also amonge y â— souldiours in y â— tyme of warres whiche myght declare vnto them the feare of God exhorte them vnto vertue moue theÌ„ vnto the true coÌ„fidence in Goddes helpe encourage them manfully to fyght when tyme requireth shew them howe honest godly a thynge it is to ieoparde theyr lyfe for y â— welthe of theyr countrey whyche of all deathes y â— very Ethnyckes recouÌ„ted moost glorioê° of highest renowne It is also very necessary that the Souldiours gyue them selues vnto feruent prayer desyre y â— healpe of God wyth moost humble supplicacions that he wyll be theyr mighty shelde defence but chefely whaÌ„ the tyme coÌ„meth that they must enter battell with theyr enemies Let them than wythe one mynde caull vpon God desyre his helpe praye that for hys mercyes sake he wyll strengthen them yea fyght for theÌ„ be theyr captayne gyue them the victory of theyr aduersaries y t they returnyng home agayne lyke valeaunt conquerours maye syng perpetuall prayses to his moost blyssed and holy name This done let them go to fyghte valeauntly hauyng theyr whole affiaunce reposed in God alone and in hys myghtye helpe Yet let them so fyght as though the victory dyd only depeÌ„d of theyr owne streÌ„gthes wyttes and pollecies Let them not dispayre but take a good harte vnto them beynge perfectely persuaded that God is on theyr syde and wyll surely helpe them But if they shoulde dye seyng that theyr cause is lawfull iuste and ryghteous seynge also they fyghte not for theyr owne priuate coÌ„modite but for the wealth of an whole Realme let theÌ„ not doubte but that theyr death is precioâ—s in the syght of God therfore they maye be sure for this mortall lyfe to receaue a lyfe of immortalite full of eternall ioye glory Therfore lette them not once feare but steppe vnto it with a lusty valeaunt courage come theyr lyfe or come theyr death Thus moche haue I spoken concernyng the Souldiours and them that shall fyght for the safegarde of the countrey that they maye know howe to behaue them selues y t God maye be on theyr syde and returne home agayne wythe a glorious and triumphant victory Nowe it remayneth to shew how they shal behaue theÌ„selues y â— remayne tary at home vnlesse the valeaunce godly behauour of y e Souldiours do not profytte so moche as our wicked dissolute manner of lyuynge shoulde hynder hurte For howe canne GOD be in oure army and fyght for vs if we be wicked vngodly If we therfore wyl haue prosperous successe in our warres we must fyrst so lay asyde all vngod lynes that there maye appeare nothynge in vs wherby God maye be displeased For God wyll only fight for them that are pure clene faythfull charitable modeste mercifull benigne honest louers of theyr couÌ„trey haters of discorde seakers of peace maynteners of amite c. The other he refuse the knowledgethe theÌ„ not for his people nether wyll he fight for them We must therfore repent vs of oure olde wicked manners take vpon vs a new lyfe if we wyll haue God on our syde in y â— battell Lette euery man consyder hys faulte wherin he knoweth himselfe gylty and quickely put it away froÌ„ hym Let no man be quycke sighted in other mennes faultes and stoÌ„ne blynde in his owne Let al meÌ„ seake howe they maye best please God For the stroÌ„gest Bulwarke moost inuincible fortresse that caÌ„ be made for the safegarde of the countrey is to lyue well If ony domage chauÌ„ceth to the couÌ„trey our wyckednes is cause therof And as I may speke my mynd frely certes it doth moch greue me to beholde the iniquite of the worlde to se how vertue is set asyde I hadde almoost sayd set at nought What shall I speke of the familiare coÌ„municacion dayely talke y â— is vsed among y â— Christians What other thyng do we heare in theÌ„ thaÌ„ cursynges bannynges backebytynges blasphemies euel reportes waÌ„ton wordes idle tales vnclene communicacioÌ„ c Of theyr thoughtes God shal iudge but theyr dedes are so manifeste that euery man maye easly iudge the tree by the fruyte the lyon by his pawes Howe lytle do many ciuile magistrates regarde the publique affaires of the cominalte so that theyr cofers maye be enryched they lyue in all wealth and pleasure Nowe lytle do many lawers tender the pytiefull complaynt ryghteous cause of the poore oppressed Howe lyke gaping wolfes do many of theÌ„ inhiate gape after wycked mammon so that whosoeuer bryngeth moost mony is moost allowed hathe the lawe moost on his syde in what so euer case the matter stoÌ„dethe be it ryght or wronge Howe long also do they suffer the cause coÌ„mytted vnto them to hange in the lawe before ony iudgement can be gyuen or finall determinacion had all to poll and pyll the poore men and vtterly to empouerysh them so that thorow theyr deceatfull crafte couetous mynde the symple people are beggered theyr wyues and chyldren brought vnto extreme misery and set in suche case that they are neuer
after able to helpe theÌ„ selues nor theyr neyghbours nor yet to profyt y e publique weale of theyr countrey O gapyng wolfes O raÌ„pynge lyons O insatiable dogges O crafty foxes What crafte deceate subtilite falshode vse marchauntes in byyng sellyng Howe reioyse they whan they haue begyled theyr christeÌ„ brother What a sporte haue they to deceaue a simple hobbe and playne fellowe of the countrey How fayre do they speake to hys face lowte hym behynde his backe How false sleyghtye wares do they vtter for true and good The other men of al occupacioÌ„s vse lyke crafte and subtilite Fewe walke vpryghtely All gyue theyr mynde to couetousnes No man studieth to serue the publique weale w t theyr science as they are bounde to do All seake theyr owne profyt and not that whyche is Iesus Christes Where is y â— christen charite become whiche seakethe not her owne Let no man seake his owne sayth saynt Paule but the profyt of other Howe do many Gentyll meÌ„ not only get into theyr haÌ„des other meÌ„nes landes and tenementes y t they maye lyue lyke Lordes alone in a towne and yet kepyng slender houses and hongry hospitalite but also after suche sorte let out theyr loÌ„des to other yea and that for so hygh a pryce as they were neuer wonte to be iÌ„ tymes past iÌ„ so moch y â— they whiche hyre theÌ„ are vtterly beggered redact to extreme pouerte By this means is the galant pompe lasciuious pleasures of Gentyll menne mayntened but the poore fermers are greatly empouerished hospitalite is decayed releuynge of the poore people is vtterly layd asyde the coÌ„mon wealth is miserably oppressed penury scarsenes dearth of all thiÌ„ges is brought into y â— Realme Few are able to helpe theyr Prynce whaÌ„ nede requirethe No man is able to set forth hys chylde vnto learnyng wherby it is come to passe that such blynde ignorancy and rude Chaos of baâ—barous and rusticall maÌ„ners reynge nowe in the world vniuersally These thynges desyre are dresse God graunte it maye come to passe shortely What shal I speake of certeÌ„ ritch and gredy cormorauntes those locustus and caterpyllers of the common weale whiche whan they haue plenty of grayne and se abundans therof reygne amonge the people are greately greued therat and do not only not sel theyr owne corne to mayntayne the coÌ„modide of y e poore but also by other mennes grayne hoorde it vp vntyll they haue made a great dearth and than scarsenes of corne beyng in euery place bring they forth theyr grayne sell it vnto the vtter empoueryshment extreme vndoynge of the poore cominalte O cruell murtherers and vn mercifull bloudsoupers The wysâ— man sayth the bread of the nedy is the lyfe of the poore he that defraudeth hym of it is a mansleare Salomon also sayth Who so hooredeth vp his corne shall be cursed amonge the people but blyssynge shall lyghten vpon theyr heades that sell it How can these deuouring caterpyllers than escape the vengeaunce of God that hangeth ouer theyr heades seynge they esteme more theyr owne priuate fylthy lucre than the welth of so great a multitude God mought once quenche theyr outrageous insatiable thyrst of couetousnes gyue theÌ„ grace to vse his giftes vnto the profyt of the Christen people As touchyng the common byers sellers barga yne makers what falfe swerynge crafty iâ—glynge and deceatfull gyle do they vse amonge them that they maye begâ—le theyr christen brothers How lytle is this cammaundement of S. Paule obserued among them Let no maÌ„ go to farre and defraud his brother in bargaynyng for the Lorde is a venger of all suche thynges Dothe not he thyncke hym selfe moost wyse y â— can moost deceaue his neyghbour Here is a wonderful charite and an harty neyghbourhoode As I may come to y e grosser synnes what whoredom reygneth ther nowe a dayes Howe lytle is honorable wedlocke estemed Howe many wyncke I wyll not saye laughe at y â— abhominable vnclennes which not a fewe commytte at this tyme Who careth though it be knowne y â— he hath lyghen wythe an whore all nyght and so defyled hymselfe men haue so rubbed theyr forhedes now a dayes and become past all shame so lytle ponyshment also is there ap poynted for this fylthy abhominacion I would whoredome were not growne vp into suche boldnes that it dare compare wythe holy matrimony for pleasaunt easy lyuyng I would stynckyng fornicacioÌ„ were not so had in price that it were preferred aboue honorable wedlocke I woulde there were not which whaÌ„ they haue wrought wickednes glorye rejoyse and boste of it vnto the euell example of other What shall I speake of false wytnes bearers which for a lytle mony or for hatred borne towarde the parsoÌ„ are redy streyghtwayes to gyue false euidence yea and to be sworne also that it is true whan nothynge is more false So that by theyr vniust and false wytnes bearynge the innocent is wrongefully condeÌ„ned the wycked hathe the vppermoost hande Thorowe such is muche innocent bloud also oftentymes shedde O pitefull case O lameÌ„table chauÌ„se Would God al false witnes bearers were handled according to the commaundemeÌ„t of God Deutronomy the .xix. SalomoÌ„ sayth A false witnes shal not escape vnponyshed and he that speaketh lyes shall peryshe I let passe manslaughter thefte glotony surfetyng dronckeshyp dysyng cardyng quarellyng with an whole see of euels mo which at this daye reygne in the worlde Do not all these thynges prouoke God vnto anger and make hym displeased wyth vs Howe can God be in oure army and make the warres to prosper seynge that they for whome the battell is are wicked and replete w t all synne and abhominacioÌ„ Certes this our iniquite must he redressed it we wyll haue God mercifull vnto vs blysse our endeuours in martiall affaires But as I may leaue of to speake of grosse and corporal vices turne my communicacion vnto spirituall matters what shall we saye vnto y â— Idolatry supersticioÌ„ false worshypipyng of God confidence in ceremonies trust in popysh pardons gaddyng on pylgrymage gyldyng of ymages settyng vp of candelles c whiche reygne yet in diuers places of the worlde What a sorte of ydle moÌ„struous sectes also are there yet noryshed in many Realmes vnder the pretexte of holynes which do nothyng but lyke gredy cormorauÌ„tes deuour the paynfull laboures of other mennes handes Moreouer howe slacke almooste vniuersally are the curates spirituall sheppardes to do theyr office Howe negligeÌ„t are they to fede chri stes flocke wyth the sincerite of goddes word How lytle do they esteme the soules of theyr parysheners for whose saluacion oure Lorde Iesus Christe disdayned not to haue hys blyssed body brokeÌ„ and his precious bloud shed so y t they maye deuoure the sat of the shepe gorgiously be clad with theyr wolle Howe many
of them dayly hunte hawke fyshe what not after spirituall promocions and whan they haue them neglecte theyr office be absent frō theyr benefices cōmit theyr cure to suche vnlearned prestes as canne scasely iudge betwene A and B what a nōber also of them come vnto theyr benefices non per ostium sed aliūde that is to saye not by the doore Christ nor for ony mynde or loue y t they haue to the glory of God and the saluacion of christen mēnes soules but for the desyre of fylthy lucre for an easy lyuyng for to be called master Parsonne M. Uicare M. Curate M. Chaplen c Howe lytyll liberalite do they shewe to paryshners Howe longe is theyr hande in receauyng shorte in gyuynge Howe wycked and abhominable is theyr lyuyng Howe colde litle feruent are theyr prayers Howe rare seldome are theyr studies in the holy scriptures wherin they are bounde to be occupyed both day and nyght Are these fytte prestes to stonde betwene the people God to pacifye his wrath Are these fyt prestes to make intercession for the synnes of the people Are these fytte prestes to whom the flocke of oure Lorde Iesus Christe should be commytted Our Lord be mercifull vnto vs. Undoubtedly there is greate scasenes of sheppardes whan it is come to this poynte that wolues muste haue the cure charge of shepe I feare moche that if this great absurdite be not redressed shortely the flocke of Christ shall be miserably spoyled rēt torne and deuoured God sende vs once suche sheppardes as maye fede his flocke wyth godly doctrine and vertuous lyuynge Agayne to whom is it vnknowē what dissension reygneth among y ◠Spiritualte Temporalte as they are called now a dayes in many places Seldome doth the one reporte well of the other The laye man hateth the preste the prest agayne bur nethe not in charite The laye man thyncketh all y t euer the preste hath is to moche seyng he taketh so lytle payne in settyng forth Gods word and in doynge hys duty The preste agen thyncketh all to lytyl though he maye dispende hondreds yearely and do nought for it Wyll this commaundement of GOD by his holy Apostle neuer be looked vpon earnestly put in execucion Qui non laborat non manducet He that labourethe not oughte not for to eate Certes vntyll the prestes be more seriously bent to loue God and his worde to preache the Gospell of Christe to lyue accordyng to theyr office they shall neuer be estemed nor regarded among the people but hated contēned and detested Let the prestes remember the sayenge of God the father by his Prophet take hede betymes Seynge therfore thou haste refused knowlege I wyl refuse the so y e thou shalt no more be my prest Agayne by the Prophet Malachy The lippes of a prest shal kepe knowledge and at his mouth shal men require the lawe for he is a messanger of the Lorde of hoostes But as for you O ye prestes ye are gone clene out of the way and haue caused ma ny to be offended at the lawe Ye haue broken the couenaūt of Leuy sayth the Lord of hoostes Therfore haue I made you to be despysed to be of no reputaciō among all the people because ye haue not kept my wayes but bene parcial in the law Here may all men se why prestes are so lytle regarded at thys daye verely because they hate knowledge kepe not y e wayes of our Lord God nor endeuoure them selues to fede Christes flocke wyth Goddes moost blyssed worde If they wyll therfore be had agē in price reuerēt estimacion as it is conuenient let thē cast away theyr olde manners shyne as the lyght of the worlde sauour as y ◠salte of the earth loue God and his word preach Christes Gospell purely meditate in the lawe of the Lord both day and nyght dissuade no mā from readyng the holy scriptures exhorte all men vnto pure innocency and a christen state of lyuynge aboue all thynges be the very same vnto the people in dede that they professe in worde So shall they recouer theyr olde dignite and be had in honour of al mē Yea so shal y ◠lay men haue them in reuerēce as true spiritual fathers giue them double honoure minister vnto them abundauns of all thynges receaue them as an Aungel of God yea as Christ Iesus himselfe and be redy at all tymes euē to dygge out theyr eyes to do them pleasure as Saynt Paule wryteth Furthermore nowe that y ◠lyght of Gods word is come abroad amog diuers nacions how vnthanckefully is it receued How many wynke and speare theyr eyes because they wyll not se it Howe many are obstinately blynde What a nomber is there that had rather walke styl in y e darkenes of mens tradicious thā in y ◠glorious lyght of gods trueth Yea I wolde there were not y ◠perse cute this open verite of Gods word theyr conscience bearyng wytnes y ◠they do euell and condemnyng thē for so doyng This is the condemnaciō sayth Christ that lyght is come into the world and men haue loked darckenes rather than lyghte For theyr workes were euel Euery one that doth euell hateth the lyght nether comethe he vnto the lyght because his workes shoulde not be reproued But he that workethe the trueth cometh vnto the lyght that his workes maye be perceyued that they are done by God Another sorte of people there are whyche receaue Gods worde at the fyrste entraunce very ioyfully and make moche of it shewyng them selues so feruent that they wyll seme to be ready for to gyue theyr lyues for it But full soone is theyr whot loue colde For whā they se that the worde of God fyghteth so manifestly wyth theyr wycked lyuynge and condemneth theyr ambicion pryde couetousnes effeminate māners c than are they wery of it despyse it caste it awaye being lothe that any man shoulde meddle wythe all Thā do they contemne the celestial Māna chose rather to be fed wyth the greasy fleshe pottes of Egipte Thā fall they agen vnto theyr olde blyndnes so that this cōmon sayeng may wel be verefyed of them The dogge is turned to his vomet agayne and the sowe that was was wasshed to her wallowyng in the myre Better had it bene for thē not to haue knowen the waye of ryghteousnes thā after they haue knowne it to turne frō y ◠holy cōmaūdemēt gyuē to thē There be yet another sorte of people which desyre to be called gospellers and earnest fauourers of Goddes worde promisynge many thynges for the glorye therof and yet in theyr conuersacion are they no lesse wycked than the other be They cōfesse that they know God but wyth theyr dedes they deny hym and are abhominable and disobedient vnto all good workes discommēdable Thorow theyr iniquite the name of God is