her brother had redeemed it Ninthly And from this act of Q. Maries did proceed another equally euill or worse whereby she hath got a name of blood and crueltie and whereby she hath run her selfe into the highest degree of euill and this was the persecution of holy and faithfull men slaughtering Gods Saints with such fury and heathenish heate as may well declare the Religion and Faith of the persecutors For there is no profession of Christian Religion in all the world except the Papisticall that thinke to merit by murder blood and persecution neither is there any that haue made their names so odious by the effusion of Christian blood as they whereby they haue made themselues the friends or Antichrist but enemies to God and to the truth of his holy Gospell God hauing commanded his seruants to suffer and not to inflict afflictions for a Christians profession is to beare the Crosse and not to make it and in euery euill worke holy men must suffer and wicked men doe for such was the condition of Christ the Lord of Christians bearing the rebukes of all men applying his sacred hands to heale the infirmities of men and not to wound and destroy them and as in the Nature of God his mercie doth reioyce ouer all his workes so all the sonnes of Grace delight in the workes of mercie and abhorre the deeds of miserie and desire to preserue and not to destroy the Images of God nor the Temples of his holy Spirit for such were these holy Martyrs who in this time of Queene Mary witnessed the truth of their Christian profession in the burning flames of persecution and cruell torture Tenthly So great was the persecution in these times as that no Sex no age nor any condition of men were spared the blind the aged and the Infant sleeping in the holy death of Martyrdome And if wee may beleeue the remembrance of those miseries as they are recorded then children new borne at the stake did perish at the stake little but holy Martyrs giuing their liues as soone as they had them for the witnesse of their Lord Christ Iesus and his truth an example of strange and incomparable crueltie yet did the enuie of these times reach further to the Sepultures of holy men deceassed where the persecutions euen there also would triumph raking vp the bones and ashes of good men and after with great Ceremonie and acclamation burne them a reuenge very admirable and such as onely the mallice of the diuel could deuise For the Graue is euery mans Sanctuarie from which no man nor no offence can take him without the breach of the Lawes of Nature and humanitie and to persecute and burne mens bones the life hauing long before left them is a Iudgement most mercilesse for the doome of Nature will haue one man to die but once neither ought reuenge to reach the graues of our greatest enemies it being enough for any that his enemy is dead but more then crueltie to reuiue his death and to make him die againe And therefore as Iob did blame his vncomfortable friend because they did persecute him as God and were not content with his flesh So wee may lawfully condemne this Popish persecution because they reuenge like Diuels and are not content with the Death of them they loue not but will then persecute the body when they cannot the soule God hauing taken that into his bosome of mercie and into the saftie of his protection Eleuenthly And if we truly consider the bloody persecution of Queene Maries time and with what vehemency it was moued it will appeare to be of like crueltie with them of the heathen Emperours in the Primitiue Church not for the number though very many but for the manner and cruell circumstance Twelfthly Againe the Queene in marrying with King Philip of Spaine may bee said to haue offended the Catholike Faith because by that meanes shee tooke away all hope to be reclaimed from the stiffe defence of Popish superstition the King of Spaine being in most neare confederacie with the Pope And this how preiudiciall it was to the profession of the Catholike Faith may be easily considered hee being chosen to assist the Queene in her defence of faith by whom the enemies of faith were principally to be supported and one so nearely bound to the Popes fauour in respect of State practise the Pope and the Spanish King being one anothers Ladder whereby they haue ascended the steps of reputation and worldly greatnesse 13. Againe if wee regard the care of State the Queenes marriage with the Spanish King was not for the prosperitie and honour of the English Nation but rather a meanes to depresse the glory thereof For howsoeuer the Queene and the State did articulate with King Philip thinking thereby they had secured the souereigntie of England by binding him to certaine Limitations yet was that no assurance but onely a false colour to blinde and satisfie the grosse vnderstandings of the vulgar lest by Rebellion and tumult they should oppose themselues against that purpose for it is not to be thought that any obligation can binde such men as aspire soueraigntie neither is it in the practise of great States to binde themselues but onely for aduantage and then to cast off their bonds when their practise is ripe and when they dare discouer their true intentions For bonds to him that hath power to breake them rather offend then profit and in great Spirits the remembrance to bee tyed to any Conditions doth beget in them a desire of Libertie and provokes them to breake that faith whereunto they are obliged And from this marriage of Queene Marie what could be hoped but either ciuill strife in disposing the Succession which by this meanes might haue had many Competitors or else that this Kingdome and the dominions thereof belonging should haue bene vnited to the Soueraigntie of Spaine which already like Hydra is become monstrous in largenesse hauing vnited to that one body many heads many large dominions And if this had succeeded which no doubt was the expectation of Spaine then had the glory of this Isle euen then perished and our condition had bene alike miserable as is now that heretofore famous Kingdome of Portingale and other great States by him obtained And this kingdome which heretofore hath benee the supporter of that should then haue stood at discretion loosing the soueraigatie and fortunate honour which worthily had made it very famous the ambition of that State rising by the fall of ours the misery of this raysing the glory of that and we of Conquerors should haue bene seruants and slaues to that people whom before we had conquered and they by our oppression should haue wanted a power to haue restrained them from the generall Conquest of Christendome the which by vs hath principally
iniuries and harmes which they the former Kings and Queenes of England had many times inflicted on that Kingdome And thâ—refore haue they good cause to honour her remembrance and to giue her name the best merit of all the rase of her princely predecessors Sixthly But she who was large in the vse of her Christian mercy could not thus bound her vertues in the limits of an Iland neither could she content her selfe that she had done well but delighteth to continue her well-doing And therefore being inuited by the necessitie of the French Kings occasion Henrie the Fourth she reacheth him her hand of fauour to France and there she witnesseth the greatnesse of her power and the greatnesse of her mercifull regard that notwithstanding that Nation had bene the corriuall of this and had euer enuied the prosperity of our many victories And though the Queene her selfe was lawfully interested into the title of that Crowne yet would she not take aduantage of these opportunities but so powerfully she assisted the King as that by her meanes he might well say to haue gained the garland which without the Queenes assistance had either not bene got or not so gainfully obtained Seuenthly And if any one obiect the Queene was improuident to conferre her fauours to a nation which had euer more enuied opposed the prosperity of her owne kingdome whereof she had no assurance let them remember that the Queene was neuer altogether ruled by the perswasion of State reason and that in this particular shee deuiseth not how to inlarge her owne kingdome but how the kingdome of God might by her be any way aduanced And because that then the French King did declare himselfe to professe the Protestant Religion she therfore thought it the office of her high place to defend him in the cause of ReligioÌ„ to defend that christian faith whereof she was made Defendresse the which she did so fortunately that he obtained his kingdome she a name of honour that wil liue for euer in al those places of the world where the vertues honourable deeds of noble personages are recorded And let the French-men for euer remember her name thankefully as their noble Defendresse let them remeÌ„ber also that as our english Kings haue euer bene a terror to their natioÌ„ so this Q. of EnglaÌ„d was their coÌ„fort she by whose fauour they obtained that benefit which preseÌ„tly they enioy in their King and in their peaceable State Eighthly Another instance of the Queenes fauorable commiseration was the King and kingdome of Portingall the poore King Anthonie being executed by Philip King of Spaine a power that by much did ouermatch Anthonie and therefore this Portingall made his resort to implore the fauour of Queene Elizabeth who after the Nature of her gratious spirit compassionates his great miserie and furnisht him very princely towards the reobtaining of his kingdome Ninthly And though this businesse had not successe answerable to hopefull expectation God otherwise disposing it yet doth not that diminish the Queenes gratious merit for it is not in any earthly power to giue victory at pleasure but to attempt onely and to leaue the successe to the will of God Againe we see that the greatest earthly powers haue often failed in the like attempts because as I haue said no Prince can giue victory at his pleasure but must abide the fortune of the day which is alway vncertaine And who can tell but that God in iudgement to that people would not suffer the Queenes good purpose to preuaile neither doe all men agree on the lawfulnesse of Anthonies title many approuing the right of the King of Spaine to the Crowne of Portingall to be more iust than that of Anthonies yet the Queene is not to be blamed for taking part with Anthonie against her profest enemie the King of Spaine then hauing declared himselfe such an enemie to the Queene and her State as made it behoofull for the Queene to apprehend all occasions to weaken him Tenthly The Queene therefore had a double respect in this Portingall voyage first to repossesse the wronged king for so she beleeued him secondly to disaduantage the great enemie of her State whereby to make him the lesse able to offend her And therefore though she failed in finishing yet was her purpose good and doth merit to bee ranked among her other honourable deeds because it was done principally in fauour of a distressed Christian Prince to relieue him in the extremities of his hard fortune it deserueth so much the more of honourable remembrance and to bee reputed as an effect caused by the Queenes most gratious disposition Eleuenthly A fourth instance of the Queenes gratious fauour to forraigne Princes is Belgica the States of the Low-Countries where the Queene hath done so much as hath made her famous in all the world receiuing those little pettie States into her protection against the King of Spaine at that time the greatest Prince in Christendome the which quarrell shee did maintaine with such aduantage as made the king feare her and the world admire her Twelfthly And howsoeuer there be that obiect the Queene did iniurie to the Spanish King to assist his rebellious subiects against him for so they repute the States of the Low-Countries yet doe I verily beleeue otherwise For though I will not dispute the title of the king of Spaine to these Countries being impertinent both to me and to this Historie yet may it assuredly be concluded that the Queene a godly and religious Ladie at that time ordered by as wise and honourable a Counsell as was in Christendome would not rashly haue entred into any dishonourable quarrell or haue done ought in the generall view of the world that stood not with the reputation of her princely name And this doe they well vnderstand who best vnderstood the Queenes nature who respected the honour of her princely name as much as any other Prince euer did 13. And though it be iudged that the states were Rebells to the King of Spaine yet considering the full opposition of that time betweene England and Spaine it may seeme reasonable in the Queene to take this aduantage offered by the Low-Countries and to protect them for the security of her owne peace aswell because of their conformity in Religion as also for the better disinabling of her mortall enemie who by all contriuement sought the detriment of her state And besides there is a great difference in them who moue Rebellion and them who imploy Rebells being moued to opportune purposes especially considering the enmity of him against whom they Rebell 14. And this I write to answer the euill rumors of such men who are most ready to traduce the Queenes most honourable deseruings For neither do I condemne the States for Rebells neither do I acquite them of that imputation but onely answere for
Queene from heauen absoluing her subiects from their obedience deposing the Queene and disposing of her Kingdomes as he thought conuenient And this by reason of the fauour of Romish Religion did some hurt in the State the Earles of Westmerland and Northumberland by this incouragement raise Rebellious Armes against the Queene and the State of Religion But God the great enemie of Traitors confounds this practise of the Popes confounds his rebellious instruments the two Earles scatters their rebell troopes and giueth the Queene and honourable victory Seuenthly The Pope finding these oppositions to weake incites a more able enemie against her Philip King of Spaine who by reason of his Indian Wealth and his large command of people may bee thought the most able Prince in Christendom between whom and the Queene the Warres were maintained with much resolution and valour yet by reason of the maine distance betweene their Kingdomes they were lesse fearefull than otherwise they would haue bene if these two England and Spaine had bene neighbour Nations And therefor the common attempts on both parties were to Roue at Sea and make prey of such Merchants and others as had not power to resist them whereof it happened that both of them both lost and wonne according as good occasion and the fortune of VVarre would fauour them Eighthly And in these heates and prouocations did these warres continue whereby both Nations became in the greatest hatred of one another that could be And the Spanyard naturally proud and hauing got many victories in other parts of the world thought it much to his dishonour that little England should be able to resist his greatnes the rather he being ayded by the Pope and England vnassisted by any other confederate saue the Low-Countries Therefore he made great preparation to inuade this kingdome that by the Conquest thereof he might declare his greatnesse and at once end that warre which had bene continued by Sea fights and other pettie grieuances a long time And for this end was that huge Nauie of Ships prouded by them Christened the inuincible Nauie which anchoring neere our English Coast appeared like a Citie of Ships or like another England come to inuade England so confident were they in the trust of this victory that before hand they would dispose of Earledomes Lordships and large Possessions bringing with them whips and other instruments of torment to afflict the victored English ouer whom they neuer were victors Ninthly But God who saw this their presumptuous pride and hated it in the Nature of his Angels would not flatter in the Nature of the Spanyards and that men might know that he onely and not the numbers of men can giue victory he in a trice dissolues this huge Congregation of Ships and by the wisedome Pollicie of one little man onely did he vtterly ouerthrow this mighty Goliah this huge hoast by the Spanyards reputed and reported to be inuincible Tenthly And thus did God giue a gratious deliuerance to his seruant Elizabeth making her triumph in the spoyle of her enemies and to ouerthrow that strength which in iudgement was thought inuincible And for the Queene her selfe in these weighty affaires she neuer gaue the least demonstration of feare but in her owne person and in her greatest hazard would shee by orations animate and inflame the valour of her people shewing the greatnesse of her noble Spirit with such proofes of Maiestie as the greatest courage in the world could not do more By these particulars out of many may appeare how much Queene Elizabeth was in Gods fauour and how admirably hee hath defended this most noble Defendresse of the Catholike Faith CHAP. XXX Of Queene ELIZABETHS resolute continuing the defence of the Catholike FAITH FIRST Before our end wee are not certainely knowne what we are because of the many alterations turnings whereto all Earthly things are subiect for wee see that the beginning and the endings of many vtterly disagree and that many haue a hopefull beginning whose ends are desperate and a man may enterprise well that cannot finish well Therefore as euery thing is iudged by the euent so euery man is iudged by his end he being most properly said to be such a man as he shall declare himselfe in his last resolutions Secondly It is then the glory of our life to continue in well doing and that no consideration moue vs to retire from the vse of vertuous deeds and to abandon that whereby we haue gotten a reputation of vertuous liuing Thirdly And this godly constancie hath well appeared in Queene Elizabeth who euer continued her selfe most constant in her Religious Resolution For as she was ruled being vnder gouernement so shee ruled when she had the gouernement and so she left the rule when she left the gouernement she was borne in the Faith of the Protestant Religion she liued in that Faith and in that Faith she died her aduersity in her Sisters time could not weary her nor her prosperity in her own time varie her but in both times was she one without alteration At her entring the State she tooke vpon her the Defence of the Catholike Faith the which she attempted noblely continued constantly and finished happily for as she began so she continued and as shee continued so shee ended Fourthly This her Christian constancie is most apparant in the view of her gouernement where her hands were euer working for the defence of Faith defending it at home defending it abroad for her selfe defending it and defending it for others euer in trauell for this holy businesse the particulars whereof if I should report them I should ouercharge my poore abilitie with too much businesse and peraduenture preuent the Labours of some other better able to report them For it cannot be that the honorable name of this great Queene should euer dye or that the remembrance of her vertuous and Princely deedes should perish in forgetfulnes because this Nation which she hath so much honoured hath many generous and sufficient Learned men whose honestie will neuer suffer that England lose the honour of her famous memorie by whose great Maiesty England it selfe and the name of English-man is throughout the world made very famous Fiftly And I heartily wish that these my poore vndertakings in this honorable cause may prouoke be it by enuie or displeasure some better sufficiency to report her most Princely deseruings and it iustly doth moue admiration in many that among so much sufficient Learning as this Land hath such a Queene such a Patronesse of Pietie Learning should not liue in the written monumēts of their best sufficiencie whose name hath got degrees aboue admiration with Princes of the greatest commaund in the World And most excellent Prince may it please your Grace I may report the loue I will euer owe the liuing name of this dead Queene and the content
alteration of time How God doth inuite men to their Saluation Religion did liue in death The cause of scisme in Christian Religion The Practises of the French Diuine Pollitique Morall The reformation of Religion Christian Religion deuided into Protestants and Papists How Religion was reformed England the first that with victory did oppose the Pope The first occasion of the alteration of Religion Luthers Booke de Captiuitate Babyl K. Henery the Eighth against Luther The purpose of the Kings Booke The greatnes of the Pope at those times The Popes pollicie The Popes secret purpose in stiling the K. Defendour of the Faith The Popes purpose disappointed by prouidence God moueth the King against his naturall disposition Luthers bitter writing Luthers misconceiuing Luthers zeale without discretioÌ„ Diuine Politique Morall The first Act of the Kings Defence Frederick Barbarossa Henry the Second The first occasion of difference betweene King Henry and the Pope The King first made supreame Head Anno regni 26. An Argument of the Kings greatnesse The benefit of Maiestie The inconuenience of Papall authoritie Diuine Pollitique Goodness and greatnes the two ends whereto all men intend Richard the Third of England The gouernment Monarchiall the best An inconuenience of Popish Supremacie Pretend and intend The practise of many Treasâ—ns Pride the most sensible signe of Antichrist Psalme The sinne of the Diuels in the Creation Nymrods sinne Supremacie God neuer altereth his purpose Vicessitudo rerum The variety of Fortunes The regard that was giuen to the Pop Church The first cause of alteration of Religion God most iealous of his honour The King well fitted for this businesse What might moue the K. in respect of himselfe Master Fox in the Act and Monâ— The Popes strength The cause mouing the King to the subersion of the Abbeyeâ— The outrruding of Fryers c. The suppressing of Abbeyes good to the Church and Common-Wealth A doubt Answer 1. 2. Cardinall Wolsey an euill president Pollitique Morall The weakenesse of the Kings resolution The King ruled by perswasion and not by Iudgement Cardinall Wolsey Thomas Cranmer D. Cranmer Stephen Gardiner Gardiner a great Polititian The sixe Articles Sir Thomas Moore The excelleÌ„t ornaments in Nature in Sir Thomas Moore The error of such as write Historie Truth the life of all History Moore an euemie to the Protestant Religion The vnequal comparison betweene Moore and Gardiner Lord Cromwell In moderation England beholding to the labours of the Lord Cromwell In this time Religion did proceed well His constancie in one course Diuersity of opinions cause of the Kings vnconstancie The Kings infirmitie Euery alteration in a state is dangerous The Kings error Diuine Pollitique Morall The cause pretended of the sixe Articles The cause of manie grosse and sencelesse opinions The nature of the Vulgar An euil cure Sixe Articles The power of perswasion The sixe Articles what they were The euil that redounds to a State when the Counsell are diuided The care of State Gardiner the meanes to hinder the King from reformation Gardiners wit Gardiners gifts The ReligioÌ„ at this time in England was neither the ProtestaÌ„t nor the Papist Three Protestants and three Papists die at one time and in one place for their Conscience Acts and Mon pag. 1375. The Kings Counsell the one halfe Protestants the other Papists The miserie of these times Tolle vnum tolle verum 2 Sam. 7. 5. God would not that K. Henry but that King Edward should finish this reformation King Henry deserued well in doing more then was done before him by any other The King exceeded expectation God assisted the King The Kings desert Diuine Pollitique Morall The difficultie in the Kings attempt This opposition was ordered by the power of God The wisedome of pollicie is foolishnesse with God The King gaue aduantage to his enemies The Popes Curses vpon King Henry The power of the Popes censure Faction the first part of Conquest A second Reason The equall partage of Christendome to many Princes The care of those times England and France in continuall faction A pollitique regard England with Spaine France with Scotland coÌ„federates The aduantage the French had of the English by reason of this popish quarrell God and not pollicie ordered the king Considerations in respect of the Pope The Pope degraded of authority The Kings example daÌ„gerous for the Pope The Pope enuied of Christian Princes The Popes diligence The respect the Pope had to the dishonorable yealding How it did import the Pope to continue friendly intertainement with the King The Pope lost the King by his too much neglect pride Authority in an euill person ruines it selfe A saying of Byas How to iudge men God confoundeth the Popes pollicie God and the Pope vtterly disagree Papall suprepremacie gotten by state practise Charles the Great father of the Popes ambition Luther Areason of the Popes obstinacie A principall of Papistrie The fashion of antient Heretickes The pride of the Pope To know how to distinguish good and euil by their ends The Pope intituleth himselfe the seruant of Gods seruants but insulteth ouer Emperors Dissimulation commonly in The Popes greatnesse like Nebuchadnezzars Tree couered the whole Earth When great dissemblers dare discouer themselues The Kings proceedings very important The Kings orderly proceeding The bodie of Popery must needs fall when Supremacie the head was cut off The Christian Princes stood mute at the Kings businesse The French had at this time aduantage of the English by reason of the Pope England and France enuious of one anothers gloriâ— The King fortunate The Kings care to satisfie the Princes of Christendome The reason thereof A pollitique discretion Religion at this time but in reforming The Pope had his head broken Diuers law-makers diuers lawes The euill gouernement of the state at this time The King himselfe otherwise inclined D. of Saxony Master Fox Act. and Mon. pag. 1478. The Kings dislike of Gardiner The repentance sorrow the King made for the Lord Cromwell The Kings affection How the K. left the state Whether the King defended the faith or not Obiection The King the first Christian King Defendor of the Faith The King defended the Faith in two particulars A double inconuenience to a Christian state The King made way for his Sonne King Edward finished what his Father had attempted A comparison betweene King Henry and King Edward To finish a good is more then to begin it In respect of greatnes K. Henry was more excellent in respect of goodnesse King Edward King Henry did wound Idolatry but King Edward destroyed it Diuine Pollitique Morall The King the Emperor famous for their bold Attempts The Emperour against Pope Alexander the King against Pope â—lemeÌ„t They both quarrell the Pope for Soueraigntie The King intended reformation the Emperour did not The Emperour more forward least fortunate The Kings weakenesse was the weakenesse of Nature not of Courage The two Popes their enemies neerely agree They both curse but with vnequall successe
expectation what would be the issue of so strange an opposition it being thought very dangerous in the King to oppose himselfe against a power so generall as the Pope then was and in a quarrell wherein no Prince in Christendome would assist him And doubtlesse in respect of State practise the attempt was very hazerdous and of little hope to bring it to that honourable end as by the fauour of God hee did wherein the King did exceede the expectation of all men saue himself and erected the Trophyes of his honour higher then any one before him durst reach And therefore this dangerous but honourable attempt was not by the prouidence of State or by any earthly wisedome but by the power of heauen God leading him thorough many dangers and vnlikelihoods to an end most holy and honourable whereby God would seeme to make the worke his owne and to denie to Pollicie and the vaine contriuements of men the honour thereof who commonly proud themselues to much in their owne opinion of wisedome which with God is found lighter than vanitie and follie it selfe Secondly For the Kings particular it may appeare how much hee did hazard the peace and fortunes of his kingdome in giuing aduantage to them that loued him not to combine with his great enemie the Pope who with all diligence sought to make the King odious to all other Princes sowing the seedes of enuie in the hearts of all men against this practise of the Kings cursing him from the fauour of God and traducing him with all dishonor his euill practise could deuise And this in those times was great disaduantage because the greater parte of the Kings Subiects thought they were in conscience bound to obey the Popes Censure whereby the Kings strength being deuided in it selfe became weake by this meanes was the kingdome made fit for forraigne inuasion For this is generall in the practise of all states that where wee purpose Warre there we must haue faction for faction is the first part of Conquest because there is no opposition more resolute then that which is neerest to it selfe and therefore of all Warre the ciuill is most dangerous being led by the greatest furie of hate and the continuall offer of occasions Thirdly Againe the seuerall Kingdomes of Christendome at this time were come to that equality of power as made them enuiously regard one another not as in the time of the Romane Emperors subordinate to one absolute Prince of all neither as in the time before them when as that which is now but one was many seuerall kingdomes So equall was the partage to Christian Princes at this time and euery State had need to feare the greatnes of his neighbour and to take the least aduantage to lesson him in his reputation and strength especially then when the power of any one became extraordinarie or their reputation in Armes so fortunate as might threaten their Neighbour Nations Fourthly This was the care of those times and in particular a matter most considerable betweene those two famous kingdomes of England and France which Nations what by reason of the King of Englands claime to the Crowne of France as also being both of them prouoked with enuious honour to exceede each other in the honour of armes there hath often bene emulation and difference betweene these neighbour Nations neuer almost concluding peace but for pollicie sometimes making Sessation from Warre that they might againe beginne with greater violence and therefore would they euer combine themselues with such when the enemies had most reason to feare as England would confederate with Spaine and France with Scotland the neighbours of each other being most enuious one of another The wisedome of State trusting them best who liue furthest from vs because they are least able to hurt vs. The King then may be thought by making the Pope his enemie not onely to giue great aduantage to his enemie the French but also to deuide himselfe from the loue of all Christian Princes the Spanyards and all other his confederates for all these were deuided from him by his diuision no Prince daring to support him against the sentence of the Pope And therefore the King was ruled by a greater power then that of Pollicie by the power of God which made him both vsefull and very excellently fit to finish this holy businesse Fifthly Againe in respect of the Pope this businesse is very considerable as that which for the length of many yeares did most importune him being the first steppe of his discent from the honour of his vniuersall power which to himselfe he had appropriate For he could not but foresee the danger whereinto he fell if the Kings attempt succeeded who sought to degrade him from his vsurped authority and hee might thinke that other Princes hauing this president might happily attempt as much as King Henry had done especially considering the controuersie was for regallity which of all earthly things is most desired especially by them who haue loftie place and whose spirits are most free and generous And this needed speciall preuention in the Pope considering the enuie his greatnesse had procured him and the generall dislike was had of his too much authority which hee vsed not for the peace of the Catholike Church but vnto many vngodly ends whereto the Popes many times aspired Sixthly And therefore did it much import the Pope to make vp the breach King Henrie had made and to calme those troubled Seas that threaten wracke and desolation to his highest authorities to And surely there wanted not any diligence the Pope could vse make vp this Rent the king had made yet was it done with such respect to the Popes greatnes as that the king should rather in his obedience seeke it then the Pope out of any demonstration of feare offer it so respectfull was this man of earthly Maiesty and honour as hee forgot the vse of piety and humblenesse quallities that of necessity are tyed to the persons of all that truly be Religious Seuenthly In these respects it did much respect the Pope to continue a friendly intertainement with England and not to loose a Member whereof the whole bodie had such vse which had supported him many times against the power of his greatest enemies especially in the time of such a Prince who had published his loue in print not onely to defend the Pope but also the lawfullnesse of his vniuersall power which vniuersally was disliked King Henrie offering himselfe with his two friends Mars Mercurie the Word and the sword to defend him against all opposition And therefore the Pope to loose such a friend such a king and such a defence by his too much neglect and scorne to satisfie the trouble of that Kings Conscience may be thought in his iudgement foolish in his life wicked and in his downefale worthily punished and
so diuine was the heauenly composition of his Nature and so well ordered was his education as if both heauen and earth had desire to make him excellent and to make his Character an exact demonstration able to instruct the most excellent Christian Prince how to moderate betweene the power of Maiesty and the dutie of conscience For if State would iudge his Zeale and Religion his State he shall be found to deserue this high praise I giue him and both Religion and State would iudge him to be worthie and fit to gouerne a Religious State Fifthly This happie Prince in the little time of his gouernement gaue a large testimonie of his worth and did both exceed the expectation was had of him and inlarge their expectations that did hope well who though he was but young when hee entred his gouernement yet at his very entrance did he better the State labouring with admirable care and constance in the better reforming of Religion and for the safe protection of the Catholike Faith which Truth God willing in the processe of this Historie shall appeare most euident Sixthly And most Gratious Prince to whom I write and dedicate these labours let me with reuerence and exception of your Grace report my opinion that this Nation neuer had such a Salomon who in so poore a number of yeares had a like measure of those his rich treasures of Zeale VVisedome Loue and State Of the benefit that redounds to a State by a lawfull succession of blood CHAP. XII FIRST the benefit that redounds to a State by a lawfull succession of blood may appeare by the misery of many kingdomes and great states the which for want of succession haue indured the greatest extremities that could bee the examples whereof are very common in the stories both of Christian heathen kings Therefore I will onely produce one of the old world the mighty Alexander whose fortunes in the conquest of warre made the world tremble at his awfull name hauing subdued the greatest and best part of the earth yet leauing the conquest of his sword to his friends diuided and not to his owne succeeding blood entire wholy the Empire hee had got and thus left could not stand being not vnited in one soueraigne successor but deuided into parts whereof insued emulation and enuie and at the last vtter desolation which happily had not bene if Alexander had had a Sonne Alexander to haue succeeded in his Empire Secondly An example neerer vs both in respect of time and place is the Kingdome of France our Neighbour Nation A kingdome that hath indured the greatest extremities the misery of Warre could lay vpon it and this was onely occasioned by want of succession in blood the French King then not hauing Issue Male to succeed him in his Empire gaue occasion that the king of England Edward the Third made claime to the kingdome of France in the right of his Mother being suruiuing heire to Phillip sirnamed the Fayre to whom by the most allowable Law the Right must needs discend which the French vtterly withstand by reason of the salique Law which dis-inableth women in such inheritance yet hence hath proceeded the greatest alteration in that state that euer was the kings of England by many notable attempts and victories defacing the beautie of that famous kingdome which for largenesse of Empire and all other earthly blessings may bee said to bee the most soueraigne of all Christendome And therefore the spoyle of such a kingdome is very lamentable and the cause of that spoyle much to be condemned yea so great is the misery of that euill cause to that kingdome as that they still stand in the hazard of good or euill fortune expecting a dangerous warre whensoeuer the Maiesty of any English King shall please to make claime to that kingdome which both by succession and conquest is his owne Thirdly Within our selues also we haue notable examples of the misery of state when lawfull succession doth either faile or is by intrusion interrupted For vpon this foundation was builded that most famous quarrell betweene the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster a difference that made England to bleede in euery vaine neither could it euer be compounded vntill the succession of both those lines met in one particular whereby the Canons did know one vndoubted successor without competitor to whose seruice they might addresse themselues whereas before they were diuided into parts some adhering to this others to that as authority and loue could moue them whereby they broake their vnity to make a fraction and the truth of succession being doubtfully vnderstood was the cause that men were more easily drawne by perswasion to the bloody enterprize of Warre which happily had not bene or at the least not so violent if the right of inheritance had not bene interrupted by intrusion Fourthly But that most Worthie of note is the late time of Queene Elizabeths Reigne a Ladie worthy of best memorie who being vnmarried made her Subiects haue doubtfull expectation who should succeed her the which then was most dangerous when the Queene was past the hope of hauing naturall issue And this did not onely breede a Ielousie in the heads of her owne people but also gaue occasion that forraigne Princes had regardfull eye to the vncertaine conditions of those times and among them such especially as did most enuie the prosperity of our Nation For they might then hopefully beleeue that the Queene leauing the State in these vncertainties and as they thought to many Competitors it could not be but needs the glorie thereof would ruine by ciuill discord and part-taking and that then would a time bee offered them to reuenge and in rich themselues And how soeuer God hath preuented the euill which was worthily feared yet certainely euen then was the danger great and the euill hopes of our enemies vpon likely-hood conceiued neither is there any that hath vnderstanding in the affaires of State but will acknowledge the euēt of these times did exceed the expectation that all men had of them and that the Kings Maiesties comming in that last was was a worke of Gods speciall prouidence whereby he did direct those iudgements the which at this time did very much threaten our Nation Fifthly By those examples may bee vnderstood the danger that redounds to a state when succession doth either faile or is by intrusion interrupted the euill experience whereof is not onely to be found in the alteration of states but also in the subuersion of priuate houses For a Son is neerer in disposition and consent of Nature then one further off in the degrees of blood and for state such are most fit to succeed in gouernement that are the seede of Gouernours Nature traducing to them the Maiesty and iudgements of their Progenitors and for the fauour of the people that Prince or heire apparant hath
And this was to the Queene so great offence as they onely can conceiue who haue endured the torment of an offended conscience Fourthly Another cause of Queene Maries discontent was King Philip her husband who either in truth or as she thought did not so louingly respect her as the sacred bonds of marriage required neither had shee issue by him according to her owne hope and the expectation of her Subiects and this did very much offend the Queenes patience being by the Nature of her Sex most inclinable to apprehend such discourtesie and the rather because of her princely place and the great spirit of Maiestie which shee wanted not For the Kings not regarding or his cold regarding her did conclude that in his opinion she wanted of that worthinesse he had formerly imagined and that shee did not merit the truth of his loue and most kind affection whereto his bond of Marriage did binde him his not regarding her debasing her in worth and estimation whereat shee might worthily take offence the rather because the Queene in her owne election had preferred him to her loue and to the honour of that Marriage before all other Princes in Christendome communicating with him the honours of her Crowne and Dignities to the hazzard of her life and State being contrary to the generall liking of her Subiects and for which had bene very dangerous Rebellion in her kingdome And therefore this offence taking of the Queene was very causefull and vpon iust consideration conceiued shee hauing done so much for him that deserued so little and he not recompensing the merit of her high deseruing Fifthly A third cause of Queene Maries griefe was the losse of Callis a towne of most importance for the English State especially considering the quarrell of those two kingdomes England and France who besides the English claime to that Crowne Dignity haue euer had an honourable Contention to exceed each other in the reputation of Armes and warlike exercise neither is it in reason to bee hoped that these two warlike Nations shall alwayes conspire peace and for euer forget the emulation and glorious conquests of former times hauing these maine prouocations to hinder it the nearenesse of place the equallity of power the difference of Religion and the claime to the lawfull inheritance the least of which occasions may serue to incense a forward spirit with desire of honourable Warre and Conquest And then considering the importance of the Towne of Callis for the English wars and how by hauing it the passage was euer open to enter that kingdome and being recouered by the French England may be then said to haue lost the key by which it hath heretofore so easily entred In these respects had the Queene good cause to grieue at so dishonourable a losse and the rather it being lost by a meane power and in little space which had bene honourably defended many years against the whole power of France and what other enuie soeuer to the glorie of her predecessors the disaduantage of her Successors and her owne perpetuall dishonour Sixtly lastly the rebelling of her subiects did very much discontent her because shee thereby vnderstood how her gouernment was disliked by many of her best Subiects For though it bee not a necessary Conclusion that where there is Rebellion there the State is misgouerned yet is Rebellion euer a cause that the gouernment is suspected and those grieuances that are able to prouoke such numbers of people against their Souereigne are generally belieued to arise vpon more then common considerations And therefore it is required in the person of a Prince not onely to bee of worthie deseruing but also to seeme to be such because it is most needfull for them to satisfie opinion without which no Prince in the world can be said to be great Seuenthly Againe the Rebells had such forward successe in their attempting as thereby they did much distresse the Queene and threaten the fortunes of her state For if the proiect had proceeded according to their plot and as it was deuised by the chiefe Conspirators the issue was likely to haue proued much more dangerous But Sir Thomas VVyat one of the chiefe Conspirators imagining the proiect was reuealed discouered himselfe in Armes before the practise was Ripe and before the time agreed vpon whereby he was vnassisted by his other Confederates and the practise by this meanes became abortiue and perished by vntimely birth which in likelyhood had otherwise succeeded if the whole power of the Conspirators had bene vnited Sir Thomas onely with his Countrie-men of Kent hauing done so much as may seeme to haue wanted but little to haue finished the whole businesse And this no doubt was GODS worke who is enemie to euerie euill practise bee the pretence neuer so fare and reasonable Eighthly Those and many other occasions of Discontent had Queene Marie whereby God gaue her to vnderstand how much he was displeased with her bloodie gouernement and whereby it may be he had mercie on her weakenesse in laying these gentle corrections on her who had deserued the seuerity of his angrie Iustice she being most vniust most seuere in her persecuting the Children of faith whom by the authority of her princely place shee was bound to protect The God of mercy be for euer praised who hath ended in this Kingdome the miserie of persecution making it die in the Death of Queene Marie in whose gouernement it had got authority and life and may it euer please God to deriue vpon his Church of England a perpetuall succession of holy and resolute Defendors of the Catholike Faith to the honour of Gods diuine Maiestie the good of his beloued Children the Children of Faith and the true glorie of the English Nation Amen Obseruations Diuine Pollitique Morall FIRST Gods temporall afflictions are mercies for they doe but remember vs our sinnes and inuite our repentance yet they haue contrarie effects in contrarie subiects For to some they are physicke to others poyson they rectifie some and destroy others This difference haue the elect and the reprobate Secondly The common pretenced quarrell in all Rebellions is either Religion or vsurpation of Empire yet neither of these can giue successe to such treasonable attempts because they that would alter and transpose of Gods gouernement and his officers doe but fight against his prouidence and contradict God in his owne appointments In this case then the best Pollicie is for men with patience to suffer and let God with victorie doe Thirdly Discontentment is such a sicknesse in the soule as that where it is vnmoderated there is a necessarie distruction Therefore the wise Morall man will oppose this enemie with reason and inuincible patience and outtrude him from all society with his thoughts For if there be any thing on Earth that can resemble hell it is
These banning Popeâ— like Shemei and Balam The Princes agree not in their ends The Emperors bad fortunes The indignities wherewith the Pope did vse the Emperor The Popes insulting pride The Emperors end vnfortunate The King very fortunate In respect of themselues the two Princes were equalls in respect of their fortunes they disagree The Emperours praise God the fouÌ„taine of goodnesse All men naturally euill Grace the gift of God God decreeth the good and deuiseth the meanes K. Edward K. Edward fit to finish the worke of Reformation God had the greatest part in this businesse The King beloued of God The King the best of all Christian Princes then liuing The Nation happie in K. Edward to defend the Faith The praise of King Edward The miserie of manie kingdomes Alexander of Macedon Alexander leauing his Empire to his friend diuided did sooner perish The kingdomes of France Edward the Third The title of England to the crowne of France FraÌ„ce much vexed with English warres France still in the hazard of English warres English examples Yorke and Lancaster The cause of the Eâ—glish ciuill warres was the interrupting of lawfull Succession Queene Elizabeth The danger that was feared by her want of Issue The danger of the State Gods preuention The euent did exceed expectation The subuersion of great houses The Sonnes of gouernors are best fitted for gouernement King Edward did exceed and succeed his Father Diuine Pollitique Morall The Kings praise His mercy to his enemies The particular of his deserts The King did inherit his kingdome and hâ—â— care for Religion together His first care He secondeth his Fathers attempt His first act of defence to the Faith King Edward was not tempted as was King Henry by euill counsell His holy zeale for reformation The King well fitted for this businesse The King not moued by any respect Wherein K. Edward principally defended the Faith Popery vtterly extirped by the King The consent of Parliament An vniforme order of common prayer appointed by the King Verity could not stand without vnitie Iosias of Iuda The ceremonies of Poperie like the rites of the Heathen Priests Anno 1547. The repeale of statutes concerning Religion Sixe Articles Gardiner Bonner The Kings renowne The King put out the fires of persecution The King did cure the wound his Father made The Kings furtherance The orders of the Church â—stablishâ—d by the King The King most mercifull and compassionate In mercie men resemble God His care for poore Hospitalls by him erected The workes of mercie the best witnesses of holy Faith The King deserued his Stile Diuine Pollitique Morall Contraries iudge one another Note There must be faction Prouidence The reason of this opposition of good and euill Goodnesse not confounded but confirmed by the opposition of euill The way is good if the end be happy Truth Euill men and euill practise against the King Scotland The Marriage with Q. Mary of Scotland The importance of that Marriage King Iames our Soueraigne The King euer victor RebellioÌ„ moued by perswasion and not by any proper motioÌ„ The Papists The practise of rebâ—lâ—ious Iesuits and Priests The Duke of Somerset Protector His deserts The reforming of Religion diuided the kingdome into a faction The Dukes care to compound these differences The Duke slandered The variance between the Lord Protector the Barrons Honour and desert beget dangerous enuie The Dukes error in pollicie Post est occasio Calua Note This ouersight was his death The cause of this discord The Dukes improuideÌ„ce His euill gouernement of the State Ambition This opinion is all malice no truth The true cause was a practise of enuie A double enemie The nature of great and enuious spirits Vertue most subiect to enuie The tryall of law onâ—ly a colour to satisfie reports The Dukes extremitie of hard fortune The greatest are most subiect to the fall of Fortune Diuine Pollitique Morall Life is a sicknesse The contempt of life Holy men neuer feared the Image of death Holy death setteth open the gates of life The ChildreÌ„ of Grace The sonnes of nature The iudgement of sense can iudge miserie of mans life The antient Romanes and GreciaÌ„s Against the rule of Religion A notable demonstratioÌ„ Man hath more to afflict him than all other Creatures Because of sinne The cause of the many grieuances of mans life Sickenesse Sickenesse ordained to subdue the pride of our nature A double respect First the number of sicknesses Secondly the generality All men being subiect at all times to all infirmities Rich men The poore the rich are both alike â—fflicted with sicknesse Pouertie of life Pouertie hatefull to men The false opinion of the world The honourable and the vile man do oâ—cupiâ— on the others place Want dâ—iecteth the spirits of well deseruing men The griefe of noble spirits Pouertie to a good man is like the foyle to the Diamond The desperate effects of pouertie Mutability and change The continuall trouble of mans life The graue the resting place 〈…〉 Custome is another nature Men by their naturall motions moue to euill but to goodnesse by the mouing of Grace That Roman Conquerour The Duke of Somerset A custome among the antient Romanes Variable fortune maketh men miserable Discontent Minde Discontent a dangerous disease The danger in discontenting great spirits All men haue at some times their discontents Holy men haue bene discontented Griefe is a greater torment then sickenesse The greatnesse of Discontent Death Death an enemie against whom there is no resistance Death doth controule the prosperities of our life Death is not a misery to all men Death maketh holy men immortall Good men hope for death and bad men feare it Death and the graue make all things equall No man hath pleasures but with limitation To good men there is no miserie How to vse the pleasures of this life Who are happie No man can know any part of Gods secrets vnles God reueals them God not contrarie but aboue reason The cause of false constructions In diuine matters Christians must belieue when they cannot iudge The vse that God can make of all our actions K. Edward The wonderfull effects of Gods prouidence The blood of the Martyrs was the seed of the Gospell The deaths of a few was the life of many God is mercifull in his iudgements The Kings death Great occasions of trouble in the kingdome The nobility commâ—ns disagree in the choice of their Prince King Edward euill counselled Northumberland Suffolke the cause of this great iniurie Reasons why the King did it not of his owne motion but by perswasion A doubtfull question resolued Good ends cannot be compassed by euill meanes God is the Father of truth What good men must do Diuine Pollitique Morall Iosias of Iuda and Edward of England Their age when they began their Reigne Both of these Kings conspiring one holy end Both their Kingdomes were corrupted with idolatrie Both of them yeeld their obedâ—ence to holy perswasion effect their purpose Both these
the offence came happie had shee bene if they had neuer bene and happie were we if with vs they were not for where they are there is Faction Conspiracie and Treason and it is they and their house onely that is the house of Poperie that troubleth Israell Obseruations Diuine Pollitique Morall FIRST There is nothing in this world that can continue prosperity without all interruption For the Spouse of Christ the Church had neuer any such immunity but like all other things and for the worke of Gods glorie she doth often vary her State and like the Sunne often in clouds and sometimes in Eclipse The reason is the will of God who hath determined to leade vs through this wildernesse our pilgrimage to new Ierusalem Secondly It is the Popish Religion but no Religion to destroy and not correct to iudge without mercy and to bee terrible in the prosecuting their persecutions But our most diuine and sacred Lord Christ hath said Blessed are yee when ye suffer these things Surely then cursed are they that doe them Thirdly The iudgements of God haue relation to mens offence being the effect of that cause and therefore who knoweth but that God in iudgement to K. Henrie gaue him this contrariety in his Children to condradict and countermand one another in the forme of their gouernements because the King himselfe was so full of contrarietie and vnsetled constancie at one time persecuting both professions Fourthly To reinduce the Pâ—pall authority into the English State was a maruellous improuidence in the Queene and so direct against all rule of State as that questionlesse the Queene in this made her iudgement yeeld to conscience as she deemed it which if she had not bene a woman she would neuer haue done or at the least neuer so done without all limitation Fifthly The Marriage of Queene Marie with Spaine was an oportunity for Spaine to depresse the glory of this Nation for if the Queene had had issue by him the principality had bene translated to such a Prince as may yet iustly bee feared to what extremities his growing Empire intendeth Sixthly The Queenes error in these proceedings was to receiue her State instructions from such Counsellors as did labour onely to frame her to their owne designes not regarding the publike benefit of the State For doubtlesse had the Queene bene ordered by her Pollitique State or by any one Counsellor in the State of honourable quallity she had not giuen so much of her title and Maiestie to Rome and Spaine as by the perswasion of her Clergie Counsell she did Seuenthly So full of labour strife and error is their life that vndertake the charge of much businesse and great place that the Morall Philosophers doe pronounce them most happie and rich that can bee content with blessed pouerty CHAP. XX. Of certaine Discontents whereat Queene Marie tooke great offence FIRST there is no man in this life especially if he be of great place or great spirit that can free himselfe from occasions of discontent wherein euery man may make triall of his owne vertue and exercise his Christian patience in his moderate bearing them For there is no victory equall to that a man hath of himself neither any seruitude so base as to be ouercome of Discontâ—nt And therefore the most worthy men haue euer triumphed ouer Fortune thinking it a debasing of their Noble spirits to be vanquished by so meane an enemie And howsoeuer such men in common Construction are reputed most miserable that haue most cause of griefe yet in true vnderstanding it is otherwise and then especially when the grieued hath patience that true part of Man-hood whereby he is able to make the greatest burden of griefe easie For so did the famous men in old time by manly Constancie and so doe Christians now by patience support a liuing courage in the middest of greatest extremities Yet euer must this moderation be regarded that as our griefe may not vtterly deiect vs so wee must haue sense to feele and apprehend it least in the one extreame wee proue cowherds in the other Fooles For griefe is the true physicke of the minde which being well applied doth correct and heale vs but otherwise it doth destroy and make desperate and in this case doe men reuenge themselues on themselues and double the measure of griefe wherewith they are afflicted Secondly And this was Q Maries punishment who doubtlesse did verie much afflict her selfe in the remembrance of her euill fortunes some whereof I will relate not obseruing the order of the time wherein they were occasioned but ranke them according to their degrees in greatnesse and as the Queene found them most offensiue And as the greatest I remember first the trouble of her Conscience whereby she became enemie to her selfe and hatefull to her former proceedings iudging them much more violeÌ„t then the cause required or then might stand with the honour of her name and with the discharge of Christian Conscience and this shee vnderstood by a generall sense of mercy whereto in her Nature shee was inclinable and from which shee was violently moued by the breath of bad perswasion For though the Queene was made to beleeue that her vehement persecuting the Protestants Religion was necessarie for both states of Church and kingdome yet when Christian blood was shed in that abundance it much repented her that shee by that meanes had giuen her name so bloody a remembrance And in this case might she say of Gardiner and Bonner as Iacob did of his two Sonns Simion and Leui that they had made her name odious to euery mans eares and that therefore they were Children of Blood And surely the remorse of conscience for her bloody gouernment did very much afflict the Queenes minde whereof shee would oftentimes giue demonstration and by words of dislike witnesse how much she did distaste the furie of persecution and the generall waste those fires had made in her Kingdomes Thirdly Neither need this seeme strange to any that Q. Marie should dislike her selfe in her owne practise because wee know that Princes though they haue soueraigne power ouer their Subiects yet hath it such limitation as that Princes themselues somtimes are not free nor can compasse those ends which most desirously they would sometimes are they forced to that they would not The reason is because no prince in the world can support himselfe without the assurance of his Subiects and when the State is in Faction as then it was for Religion it is most dangerous for the Prince to Discontent them by whom he is principally supported And Queene Mary taking vpon her the protection of the Romish Religion did then binde her selfe to the heads of that faction lest by discontenting them she should haue runne her selfe into a generall offence and so haue hazzerded the fortunes of her State