proofe should be condemned but rather iudicially called and heard to aunswere for himselfe Again as nothing more hindereth or plucketh down the kingdome of Satan and setteth vp the kingdom of Christ then the worde and Gospel and the comfortable preaching thereof So there is 〈◊〉 vvherein he is more diligente then to accuse and slaunder to deface and depraue the Preachers of the worde as the readiest meane to hinder the credite and course of the Gospell to retaine the wicked in their 〈◊〉 and so to holde the worlde as it were in his clawes That this hath bene the practise of Satan from time to time not onely by his ovvne vncleane mouth but other conuenient instrumentes for that to forge accusations and slaunders to carrye and recarrye misreportes especially agaynst the ministers experience of all ages and examples in Scriptures doe plentifully recorde He moued Corah Dathan and Abyram to accuse and slaunder Moses and Aaron in the open face of the congregation he procured the Priests and false Prophetes to accuse Ieremy and Amaziah to accuse Amos he 〈◊〉 the Scribes and Pharises to slaunder Christe himselfe hee stirred vp the eloquent Orator 〈◊〉 to accuse Paule So it is a 〈◊〉 of the Gospell till this day to be subiect to captious enimies and the preachers thereof to the persecution of 〈◊〉 lous tongues vvhich no doubt vvere able to discourage vs from oure duties and vvounde vs to the very heartes if vve had not that good shield left vs Mat. 5. Blessed are you when men shall speake all manner of 〈◊〉 sayings against 〈◊〉 Now Sir if you bee founde in the rable of these accusers and youre accusations though in manye vvoordes yet most of them vntrue then vvith what Spirite you vvere led in penning these things your conscience will tell you euen with the Spirit of him vvho as a liar from the beginning and the father of the same thing And all men may easily coniecture that malice in your heart exiled trueth from youre tongue and bashfulnesse from your countenaunce For if to report a lye to a meaner person hath bene euermore counted shame and dishonesty Then so malepertly to insinuate suche manifest vntruethes into the eares of a prince yea of so wise godly and vertuous a Prince because you vvould do the greater hurte I doubte not but it shall purchase to your selfe perpetuall discredit and 〈◊〉 You lay to our charge the odious crime of disobedience and contempt of lawes and magistrates and this you seeme to proue partly by our actes as violent rushing vp into the pulpit being forbidden partly by certeine propositions of doctrine published at the generall fast in Stamford as you are informed by a minister there present Now hovv greatly your minister that gratified you with these 〈◊〉 did therein abuse you and consequently you abuse others you shal soone perceiue First concerning the note of disobedience I say that the 〈◊〉 of Stamforde vvho 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 person in that towne vvith the other 〈◊〉 by one assent and consent and by earnest suite requested mee to 〈◊〉 that good worke my 〈◊〉 which is my L. Byshop of 〈◊〉 by his letters 〈◊〉 date the 〈◊〉 day of August did nominate and by speciall name appoint me to that 〈◊〉 to occupy the place that day Therefore 〈◊〉 by the alderman and his brethren requested and by the Byshop appoynted and neuer after had nor heard of any restraint or countermaund nor any 〈◊〉 tending to that purpose what trueth can be in your assertion that I would not obey my charge lieth not in that place and therefore no cause why I shoulde intrude my selfe against authority Concerning youre foure propositions of Doctrine inferred as it seemeth altogether from the Prophete Ionas hath not so muche as any face of trueth seeing my text vvas in the prophesy of Esay Vppon these Articles as false 〈◊〉 you grounde a moste vvicked conclusion that vvee vvoulde haue no ruler nor gouernour at all Notvvithstanding I doubte not to approue my loyalty to my Prince and my good affection tovvardes magistrates vvell ynough hovvsoeuer you dare so maliciously 〈◊〉 port it In that place and not long time before I proued that neyther City nor Kingdome nor Socictye of men vvas able to endure but by the benefite of good and vvholsome Lawes and that Lavves were nothing vvorth 〈◊〉 there should be Magistrates to execute the same for Lex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 autem est lex 〈◊〉 The lavve is a dumbe Magistrate but the Magistrate is a speakinge lavve I declared openly that by them vve enioye our landes liuings goods and possessions in safety that by them our controuersies are decyded the vveakest vvhich els vvere like to go to the vvalles by this meanes godly defended And therefore the sunne in his brightnes not more needefull for the increase of the fruites of the earth nor meate and drinke for the sustentation of this our nature then the vse of good and godly magistrates in euery cōmon vvelth As occasion then required I styrred vp the peoples heartes to thankfulnes to God for the happie and peaceable gouernment of this Realme All vvhich may argue hovv farre I am from suche Anabaptisticall opinion of vvishing no ruler or gouernour at al. At that instant time of the generall Fast I made prayer my selfe and exhorted the people to pray asvvell for her Highnes as her most honorable Counsell and all other the Nobilitie of this Realme all Iudges Iustices and ciuill Magistrates and by special vvords for her Maiesties preseruation agaynst all trayterous practises eyther of domesticall or forreyne enemies for the multiplying of her dayes and yeres in abundance of peace and godly lyfe for the continuance of her and the Gospell if it vvere his good vvill and pleasure euen to the days of Methushelah And can any man thinke that in the turning of a hande out of one fountayne should flowe svveete vvater and sovvre also first to shevv honest and hartie affection to Magistrates and immediatly to breath out hatred and contempt of Magistrates to make a diuorse betvveene my vvords and my heart to vvishe there should be no ruler or gouernour at all No it is you and your sect of stisnecked Papistes that pinch at Magistrates vvhile you exempt your selues from 〈◊〉 obedience you knovve vvho ground them selues vpon that saying of the Psalme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meos Touche not mine annoynted doe vvrest this and suche like places retche them as Shomakers do their lether to serue your purpose for the Popes shauelings A learned father confuting your vanitie sayth you might aswell make a syllogisme of Quem terra pontus to proue of nothing something VVhere you are pressed vvith the authoritie of S. Paule Rom. 13. Let euery soule submit himself to the authoritie of the higher powers you knovve vvho shift of the matter vvith this glose Onnis anima secularis non item 〈◊〉 Euery secular soule and not euery spirituall soule But Chrysostome confuteth your saying Omnis
driuen avvay by your tiranny and you 〈◊〉 the chaires alone then you fighte vvith youre ovvn shadovves either hauing them in your handes also both svvord and fire at your commandemēt to mainteine your chalenges then you are strong enough to enter into disputations with them or being abroad by your truces and safe conductes you can vvhope and prouoke them by your sweete alluring 〈◊〉 and fawning till you haue them faste vvhose 〈◊〉 you haue burnt to ashes vvhen they haue come to 〈◊〉 the cause of God to giue a reason of their 〈◊〉 in your generall Councils Thus trayterously you hold thē in your limed spray as Mantuan pretily describeth you bring them to the spit Iohn Hus and Hierom of Prage shall vvitnesse this to be true to all posterities to the perpetual shame of al such faithlesse traitors and trucebreakers This the Concill of Constance shall witnesse during vvhich there vvere sometimes at once thre popes somtimes tvvo one and none altogether by the eares in whiche that goodly decree was ratified that faith is not to be kept with here tikes where in steede of the holy ghost vvhō they blasphemously said they looked sor an vnlucky owle 〈◊〉 that same monster of birdes portending some notable mischief one of your great ancesters was president that so troubled the Pope and all the company that two vvhol sessions vvere frustrate and vvithout effect sauing that they murthered the pore owl with 〈◊〉 and cudgels Seing therfore it is in printe you may ansvvere it make vvhat exceptions you can take your best aduantages And as for being done to a noble man a cheefe 〈◊〉 in our Land what other thing can it argue but that you are such dangerous enemies as they haue good cause vnder her maiestie chiefly to vvatche against to haue a diligent eye to the maintenance of the gospell and to the preseruation of her maiesties royal person the defender of the same to whom as faire shewes as you make you wish no good Concerning that you attribute to my person calling me a brainsick fellow and in your popish heate and burning charitie twite 〈◊〉 vvith mine imprisonment in Newgate I will onely saye this vnto it the vvoordes of a brainsicke man shoulde not so greatly haue rent your catholike heart But if you call me brainsick and mad as the vvicked haue called the prophets and the Iewes haue called Christe and his Apostles because by the grace of God I haue and do stande for the trueth against your Popish and Antichristian corruptions I haue to reioyce in it and I consider you do but your kinde you coulde doe little if you coulde not rayle and thankes be to God though you grenne you cannot byte As for my beeing in Newgate the cause vvas not such as should fasten vppon mee any suche vile reproche as you obiect And how standeth this rehearsall of my imprisonment vvith your complaint made before vvhere you saye that no punishment in a manner is avvarded those that offend against the booke As for my pregnancy vppon report of sraning nevv religions the veriest Owle in the worlde vvoulde not so publikely in print haue charged a man vvith such a hainous crime vpon the report of others In deede this is common vvith the papistes whose religion being not grounded vpon the Scriptures they varie it as euery mans braine and fancie leadeth him Besides that fame is an euill lyer especially vvhen suche are blowers of it as can breath out nothing but slaunders and reproches against the trueth and the true professors of it yea it deserueth no more credite then 〈◊〉 Howlet should 〈◊〉 and affirme that the papistes are no traitors But hereby may plainely appeare vvhat light 〈◊〉 rashnes vncharitablenesse and impudencie there is in papists that receiue credite blaze and vtter vvithout all shame whatsoeuer commeth into their brainsicke heads againste the true professors of Christs gospell A man would haue thought that he vvho praised modesty and humility in the author of this peking letter vvoulde haue put it in botter practise himselfe VVhereas he 〈◊〉 me Puritane and to require me sheweth the doctrine of tvvo of my preachers 〈◊〉 as pleaseth him to call them vvho preached at an exercise of a fast at 〈◊〉 and that against the B 〈◊〉 c. I vvill not say much in it in this place because I haue proued that a lovvde and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the end vvhich as slaunderous and 〈◊〉 as it is is yet the principal and mayn ground woorke of his vile 〈◊〉 This is 〈◊〉 that vvhereas it vvas at firste somevvhat feared that it vvoulde not proue orderly ynough and by the intymation of some 〈◊〉 not best affected to such holy exercises yet vvas it afterwards procured both by honourable and vvorshipfull and done by suche consent and authority and vvith so good 〈◊〉 that the vvhole Church vvas comforted by it The preachers vvere suche and so vvell knovvne to bee godly learned and vvise as vvoulde not vtter suche positions as this Momus and his reporter haue spitefully patched together and blazed abroade The collector therfore vvhome hee nameth a minister must needes eyther be some such nightebyrde as himselfe not able to abide the light or else 〈◊〉 carterly misreporter who giuing them some little endes those Spiders haue VVouen according to their owne humour to bring the trueth of God into hatred if they coulde with her royall Maiestye But thankes bee to God her Maiestie is wise not to be carried avvay vvith such malitious parties Her highnes trusteth not but with good trial wher she trusteth she will not be carried away by 〈◊〉 In hearing reportes she reserueth an eare alwais sor the absent she is experienced to know 〈◊〉 euill thinges are made at the second hande and specially vvhen they are vttered of mallice by such as are not indifferent but partial not sincere but spitefull And thus much for the circumstances Now to the proof of my matter that pincheth you so sore to vvit firste that you are enemies to God and then I saye not enemies onely but traytors to her royall Maiestye That you are enemies to God the vvhole truth of God agaynst which you papistes do mischiuonslye set your selues doth manifestly proue For vvhosoeuer is an enemy to his word 〈◊〉 himself against his glory wrestleth against his wil ordinance corrupteth his religion robbeth him of his greatest honor murthereth his people he must needes be his enemy That al the papists are such holding of Anti christ it shal appeare more plainly hereafter In the meane vvhile to proue the pope Antichrist as the captaine head of al this band of enemies althogh it be needles considering howe it is a beaten argumente in euerye booke yet to satisfie the Reader I vvill in a fevve lines speake of it He is the speciall Antichriste that directly 〈◊〉 him selfe againste Christ both
it to read the bookes of these lecherous Locustes to see vvhat questions and cases of plexitie they put and take vppon them to handle concerning these things were it not the iust iudgement of God that they should bevvray their filthy heartes and leaue suche dung behinde them to infect the vvorlde which is to bee cast in their ovvne faces to choake them seeing vvithout shame they vvill dare to open their mouthes against the euerlasting trueth of God It vvere an infinite vvoorke to reckon vp all their heresies but this is certaine that the vvhole lumpe of popery is compact of heresy They are Iudasses vvith Iudas vvhome they vvorship for betraying Christ. They are Ievvs vvith the Ievves vvhome they iustifie for killing Christe and they plead that they had sinned deadly if they had not done it They vvorship the 〈◊〉 vppon vvhich 〈◊〉 died the nayles thornes 〈◊〉 and instruments vvhere vvith he vvas executed of which they make as sundry Idols as they haue increased the number of such 〈◊〉 reliques in sundrye countries And to the crosse they haue dcdicated a day 〈◊〉 it holy roode day vvhich they vvorship 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 worship which belongeth to 〈◊〉 VVith the 〈◊〉 they agree almost in all things in 〈◊〉 separation apparell pride 〈◊〉 vvishings obseruations ceremonies doing 〈◊〉 things like 〈◊〉 to be seene of men 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then to be 〈◊〉 iustified of 〈◊〉 VVith the Saduces some of them haue 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the soule and the life to come 〈◊〉 did Iohn the 23. and Pope Leo the tenth and as they saied that it vvas in our vvill to doe good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so do they 〈◊〉 that a man needeth not the grace of God to be good The Essees the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Melitans Donatists 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Iusticiaries vvould be saued by their ovvne workes and so vvill they Simon Magus as they them selues take him vvas one of their first founders for besides that he vvas a sorcerer hee vvould haue bought the giftes of the holy ghost and so would they of whomsoeuer they lerned it For as Syluester the second Ioh. the 19 Ioh the 20. 〈◊〉 the 4. 〈◊〉 the 8. Ioh. 21. 〈◊〉 9. 〈◊〉 the 3. Gregory the 6. 〈◊〉 the 7. were sorcerers cō 〈◊〉 so they make no conscience to buy and sell their orders and 〈◊〉 all their places by mony from the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the lowest hedge prieste VVith 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 a new 〈◊〉 and as 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 and Tatians ho'd that Christ vvas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the virgin Mary So they hold that all 〈…〉 tooke flesh of the virgine Mary and came and 〈◊〉 Hel. VVith 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 vvater waxe Palmes bread wine and many other things as may appear by their own Pōtificall with the Gnosticks they mainteine images with Montanus they comād superstious fastings forbid meates that God hath cōmaunded to be receiued with thanksgiuing with Cerinthus they corrupt the scriptures with Marciō apelles they vrge vncōmāded ceremonies with the Ande ans Anthropomorphits they make God like an old man with the gentiles they make images of al sorts of foursooted beasts creping wormes with Donatists thei tie the vniuersal church not to a part of the world as they did to afftick but to a lesse place euen to a citye both with thē with the Anabaptists Pelagians they maintein free wil. They offer to the virgin Mary cal her the Queene of heauen as did the Colliridians with the Cataphrigians and others who held that Christ ascended without a body they hold that that body is stil in their rouud cake and in infinite places at once And as Seuerus sayd that a vvoman vvas the Diuels vvorkmanship and man also from the nauill dovvnward So Pope Innocent the 8. auouched that they that vvere married coulde not please God aleadging that place Qui in c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deo placere non possunt VVith Manes they make them selues Christe and aboue him VVith the Catharists they boast of a perfection in this life of such worthincsse as deserueth heauen both for them selues and others agreeing vvith Henrye Nicholas that Arch-heritique that monstrous head of the frantike Familie of Loue who peruerteth all the scriptures and glorieth of an essentiall righteousnes VVith the Anabaptistes they deny maiestrates by cutting thē of from the principall part of their office gouernment in their ovvn 〈◊〉 countries making thē hogges swine in cōparison of their Pope and his annointed ones to whom no knowledg of god nor duety in aduancing Christian religion doth belong Such enemies they are to God as directly set themselues against all the commandements of God not only breaking them as all other men do when they say notwithstanding they can fulfill them as other 〈◊〉 haue done but in the vvhole course of their doctrine quite thvvart and ourthrovv them In steed of one God the soueraine only Lord vvho is onely to be worshipped called vpon trusted in praised for al his benefits they set vp a number of gods exceeding the 〈◊〉 gentiles robbing God of his glorye Euery disease must haue a seueral God both in men in beasts must be called vpō with a paternoster for the cure therof beside the abo minable 〈◊〉 that was made a salue for all soares that being first had must prosper al the seers helpe hūters purge pigges and preserue hogs cause rain faire vvether deliuer out of purgatory direct gene rall coūcels VVhat was it the masse coulde not doe And yet least there should be lacke for any thing not so much as the toothake but it had a saint Apolinari Valentin was for louers S. Loe for smithes Chrispiā Martin sor shomakers Nicholas Cletus for clearks George for warriers for England Andrew for Scotland Denis sor Frāce Iames or Iac ques for Spain Patrike for Ireland There was no town 〈◊〉 priuate house or country but they had a sundry saint patrō or God vpō whō they chiefly depēded Euery church and church stepeple must beare the name of one S. or other or of al Saints that they might match the old idolaters who had their Pantheō at Rome vvhich was more grosse their stinking reliques must be sought to not so much as Huberts key but must haue the vertue to heal the biting of a mad dog vpō relique sunday the Parsōs brich must be hanged out at the top of the steeple These detestable idolatries buried in the darke scatrered amongst al christians by the light of the gospel this horsce owl that seemeth to the birds another won der certein other impudent Iesuites from Rome that they may intangle many in the lime tvvigges and bring them to the spitte of vtter destruction labour to reuiue bring againe from hell amongst
And most 〈◊〉 amongst the rest hath that notable Apostata Hieronim Bolsek expressed the image of his father in that filthy slanderous booke that he hath written of the life of that excellent man of God Iohn Caluin whom without all shame being layde vp 〈◊〉 peace a great vvhile since and buried vvith Honour he taketh out of his graue and gnavveth vpon his 〈◊〉 carkase and bones more barbarously then any tygre or carian Crovve the enuye of vvhose honour and 〈◊〉 of Gods 〈◊〉 thoughe it haue 〈◊〉 his serpentine tongue and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eythere vppon 〈◊〉 or slaunderous reportes yet his 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 confirmed by so many rare monuments of learned works and graue testimonies of those that lamente his lacke in the Church of God that though he swelt his heart and burst for anger he shall neuer bee able amongest the godly to empaire his credite the value of the paring of a nayle or one haire much lesse hurt the trueth of God which dependeth vppon no mans person but haue credite and authority from God the only author thereof Let the vvhole armie of these slaunderers that ly by tradition one from the credite of another doe vvhat they can the trueth shall stande inuiolable Howsoeuer men haue their faultes vvho as they are men haue the infirmities of men and must plead mercie before that sincere seate yet this false vvitnesse bearing reacheth not to men but to the dishonour of God him selfe and thetefore that railing Staphilus Lindane VVicellus Vaquerius Cocleus Frarin and others that belche out their malice againste Luther Beza and suche like instrumentes of God doe but barke in vaine like dogges against the Moone that is farre from them without their reach Their lies are so notorious as that of Luthers and Caluines death that vvhole countries can and are ready to testifie the contrary But admit that some of these things vvere to be credited reported by indifferent men yet considering these vvretches to be shameles and 〈◊〉 enemies hovv vnequall a thing vvere it to accept them for vvitnesses beeing of a false and contrarye Religion beeing euen 〈◊〉 vvith malice and 〈◊〉 against them vvhose learning and rare 〈◊〉 they coulde neuer attaine to and hauing no conscience in greater matters vvil make no conscience to belye them being aduersaries to their falsehoode and superstition vvhom they labour to bring into hatred that they may vvinne some credite to them selues being in deede but monsters in the shape of men such lyers and slaunderers backbyters and railers as are more fitte I am sory to speake it to 〈◊〉 agaynst VVispes and to be set vppon Cuckingstooles vvith scoldes then to bee admitted to giue euidence agaynst such godly graue and learned fathers But this hath alvvaies beene the propertye of the kingdome of darknesse to slander the trueth and the true professors therof They haue not* spared the Prophets Christ himselfe nor his Apostles and therefore vvee must not looke that they vvill spare vs. Trueth vvas alvvaies hated of lyers and none finde greater friendship in the vvorld then the children thereof He can say little that being corrupt of nature can not speake yll but he that speaketh the trueth is of God This hath hene the practise of popish heretikes vvhen they find themselues too vveake to mainteine their wilfulnes then they fall to playne rayling and lying Then haue at Beza at Caluin at Luther the dutch Beare vvhose Mother vvas a vvhore and slept by the Diuell Then Caluine to get credite to his doctrine must be made a miracle worker wil he nil he though the myracle in deede if any such were be set out to haue bene attempted by one of their ovvne Iesuites vvho in steede of raysinge a man from deathe killed him and vvas fayne to entreate the VVoman to be contented and so persvvade the people because he could not effect it that it vvas long of their vnbeliefe This goodly tale is set out by Surius and dubbed since forsooth by that Apostata Bolsecke But the children of God they deale by trueth they take no aduantage of any enuious accusation nor stand vpon vain coniectures and ghesses as they are vvōt to do vvhat papist hath 〈◊〉 taught in expoun ding this ninth commandement to refrain frō vnsea sonable and vncharitable report of their neighbors faults 〈◊〉 or credite and yet the truth is and knovvn to them that scan this commaundement 〈◊〉 that the same God which forbiddeth vs to defame our brother doth therwithal enioyne vs to be as carefull ouer his credite as ouer our own and not to speake of our neighbours faultes but to the ende that they maye bee amended and other warned to take heed of the like vvhich is wel known to be only practised amongst the professours of the Gospell and not amongst them Lastly concerning coueting our neighbors house 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 maide Oxe Asse or any other thing they thinke this lust as before I haue partly mentioned to be so farre from sinne that they vvill not onely possesse whatsoeuer a Christian man hath but they vvill neuer be satisfied till they haue his life also 〈◊〉 his religion please them not As for concupiscence it selfe flying thoughts and desires vvhiche the * lavve condemneth they make no accounte of them though by them it bee manifeste that vvee are in that respecte not fully replenished vvith the spirite of GOD nor free from that corruption vvhiche vvee oughte dayly by nevvnesse of life to grow vnto Such enemies to God are these papists that they subuert al religion teaching for doctrin the vnsauory * precepts traditions of men they mingle their lead vvith the Lords gold and * fill his haruest full of darnel They breake as you haue heard al the commandements of God to maintein their own waies and stop from vs the springes of the vvater of life that vve might drink of their puddles For their own dreams they make vs forget the name of our God and leade vs from that simplicitye that is in Christ Iesus They are vnthankfull vvretches for al Gods benefits and to say grace vvith them vnlesse it bee after some mumbling sorte in an vnknovven tong eyther before meate or after is a note of a ranke Heretique At their tables they neyther loue to talke nor to heare any thing of God of his word religion or any godlines but al their delighte is in idle talke iesting scoffing taunting mocking and nipping at them that be absent or beeing present bee better disposed then themselues They wil talke also filthily and vnshamefastlye to recreate both them selues and suche fleshly familiars as themselues be They naturally hate the word of God and sit vpon thornes vvhere the exercises of it are vsed And if they lay iust accusations and execute iudgementes vppon 〈◊〉 offences yet they doe it not in loue but deuise things that were neuer
sonne of perdition aboue al that is called god or worshipped for God They allovv his dispensations againste God and his lavves and as for his sake such beastes they are they set them selues againste God So doe they not care in regarde of him and in respecte of that idoll the masse to betray their ovvne country Prince Parents kins folkes and friends to the veriest straungers and enemies in the world yea and to lay dovvne their ovvn liues Let any come forth deny this if they can with any coulor of truth Our country hath founde it too true and there is none that haue had any dealing in any place of 〈◊〉 vnder her Maiestie but can confirme it by particulars in their continuall practise not only for casting abroad their 〈◊〉 lil elles but also for sending into this realme their pestiferous and trayterous bookes and bulles against the Queenes maiesty her honourable councel state and peace that haue bene the very sparks and firebrands of rebellion vvould haue bene of further flame and greater destruction had not God in his greate mercye by the light of the gospell taught and instructed men how they should hold themselues in dutifull loyalty and true obedience Put of this a little more afterwards Such enemies to God they are as deuour pore widows houses vnder colour of long praiers sticke not to compasse sea land to bring men to theire false fayth or else to death as Alphonsus did by his own brother Ioh. 〈◊〉 * Blinde guides they are wicked fools tithers of mint Anise cumin omitting faith iudgement 〈◊〉 Hipocrites they are that make clean the outside of the cup platter but within they are full of rauen and * 〈◊〉 They are vvith the 〈◊〉 VVolues in sheepes clothing painted sepulchres outwardly glorious but within full of rotten and dead bones They beare a shew of Christianity and yet are full of 〈◊〉 and murther they * say if they had ben in their fathers daies they woulde not haue slaine the 〈◊〉 and apostles and yet marke vvhat they 〈◊〉 in all Countries against the christians Let Queen Maries time the continuall murthers and 〈◊〉 that haue 〈◊〉 in Fraunce Flaunders Spayne Scotland Ireland at home amongst our 〈◊〉 abroad wheresoeuer 〈◊〉 hath gotten in a foote beate witnesse Are not these therefore enemies to God Is not Antichrist the Pope of vvhome all this hellishe rovvt hold an enimy to God 〈◊〉 not his seat where he 〈◊〉 the doctrine he tea heth the maners that he 〈◊〉 quite contrary to Christe and playne marks of his Apostasie Is not Rome as Franciscus Petrarcha calleth it the whore of Babylon the mother 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 from vvhence all shame and 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 Doth not Peter in the first epistle vnder the name of Babylon name Rome by their ovvn confession and by Hieromes ovvne interpretation and as Campion him selfe graunteth And herefore as Iohn * describeth it it is that Romane vvhoore that sitteth in her Scarlet robe full of names of blaphemy the habitation of diuels the holde of all soule spirites the cage of all vncleane hatefull birds out of vvhose cup al the nations in the vvorlde haue drawne the draught of the vvine of the wrath of her vvhoredome Such enimies they are as through the * effectual wor king of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word of 〈◊〉 to whom God 〈◊〉 sent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they should beleeue lies and preferre the 〈◊〉 fables of a lying legend before the blessed byble receiuing as a iust recompēce the fruits of their 〈◊〉 rebellion to vvit ignorance blindnes a levvd vnderstanding and in the ende iust demnation Suche enimies they are as giue heede to spirites * of errour to the diuelish doctrine of such as spea false thinges through hipocrisie hauing their conciences branded vvith an hotte yron are * grieuous vvolues making no conscience to teare and deuour the flocke * concealers of Gods counsayles speakers of peruerse thinges and dravving disciples after them For they vvold haue al the vvorlde to follovv them vvithout any examination They shut vp the kingdome of heauen and vvill neither enter themselues nor suffer others to enter They are Hipocrites and Gomorrians in deede of the seede of Cain children of the diuel blasphemers bloudy persecuters They hedge in the Catholique Church like the Donatists into a little corner of the vvorld They crye they are the catholique church and yet vvould dravv vs to one that is more particu lar then many others of the Greek that vvere neuer ioyned and continued vvith them And none must be of their Catholique church but such forsooth as subscribe to their synagogue much like as if they should affirme that all Christendome vvere to bee included in Kent They confounde the humanitye of Christ making I can not tel hovv many thousand bodies turning the Godhead into the manhood the manhood into the Godhead agreeing vvith all the auncient heretiques that erred about his diuinity and humanity for vvith the Futichians Monothelits they make him to consist of tvvo natures but not to haue two natures neither tvvo vvilles or else they make him to haue a phantasticall body as Marcion Cerdon and Manes did to be in infinit places at once in heauen and in earth denying the trueth of the humanity as Valentinus they make him to haue a body of an ayrie insensible and inuisible substaunce as also Apelles did vvhereas his * ovvn vvord teacheth vs that vve should not beleeue him to be present in body except by our senses vve could perceiue a difference betvvixt him a spirite Such enemies they are as beleeue they cannot be saued vnlesse they bee subiecte to the Pope vnlesse they acknovvledge him to haue all authoritie in heauen earth hell purgatorie and vvheresoeuer Do not they herein plainly deny God from vvhom alone is all saluation as did Hebion Cerinthus Basilides Carpocares Photinus Artemon Paulus Samosetanus Ennomius AEtius Theodotinus vvhē they vndoubtedly beleeue that the Pope can forgiue sinne A grosser heresie then euer the * Scribes and Pharisees vvere infected vvith vvho deeminge Christ to bee onely man thought it extreeme blasphemic for him to take vpon him to forgiue sinne They are persvvaded that the Pope by his Benediction can make thinges more holy then cuer God made them in their creation that he can dispence vvith Christe Peter Paule Moses and all lavves both of God and man VVhosoeuer kisseth his shoe though hee vvere excommunicated yet for so doing he hath cleane remission a poena culpa both from the punishmente and faulte VVhat shall I saye they are suche enemies to God that they beleeue vndoubtedly that if a prieste or one in holy orders knovv an harlot carnally hee sanctifieth and blesseth her
body the head and members is that Babilon Aegipt and Sodome enemies to Iesus Christ the true and onely head of his Church and to all his members Novve it followeth to prooue that they are enemies to Christan princes and namely the moste daungerous and greateste enemies that oure Souereigne the Queenes Maiesty that novv by the grace of god reigneth ouer vs hath Being proued as they are 〈◊〉 to God hovv can they be friends to his ministers magistrates vvhome he hath appointed vnder him If true christiā obediēce to princes must necessarily flow from dutiful obediēce to God how can they obey christiā mē that haue no fear of God wel they may couch and crouch for fear of the whip yeeld an outward ciuil reuerence such as M. 〈◊〉 speaketh of but they can neuer loue truely as children but feare as slaues vvhom true knowledge hath not framed for in respect of God to 〈◊〉 obedience and duty That this true obedience hath bene taught aduanced and established in the hearts of men by the gospell it is apparant to 〈◊〉 men that vvill not be vvilfully blinde and of mallice kicke against the pricke For vvhere hath there bene greater and more godly 〈◊〉 humble lowely and faithfull loyalty in the hearts of subiectes tovvards their princes vvith the willing bearing of al burdens paying of al taxes impositions and such like ciuill duties but vvhere the gospell hath moste florished let all the countries in the vvorld where it hath bin receiued speake the truth thereof Contrari vvise the troubles that haue arisen as it cannot be denied but that there haue beene greate troubles by occasion thereof in many places of the vvorld yet they haue al sprong from the vnquiet and hammering heads of faythlesse and trayterous Papists vvho in fauour of their idolatry haue alwayes with a deadly hatred persecuted the trueth and the true professors of it And be they what they mighte be of what estate or condition so euer superiors or equals Magistrats or vassals Princes or subiectes they haue alwayes bene set against vndermined and ouerthrown with out all respect if once they haue made but shevv to embrace the Gospell And hereof haue Christian princes found their troubles common weales their vvastinges and ouerthowes Christian people pitiful effusion of bloud ioyned vvith hideous cruelty such as vvas neuer exercised amongest heathen Tyrantes And though all the simpler sort of papists amongst the common people bee not to be dravvne into this companye of 〈◊〉 conspiratoures 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 but rather are to be deemed as ignorant deceiued and reduced by the finer sorte of heads yet these greatest and 〈◊〉 their captains and 〈◊〉 beeing politiques haue offended of knowledge and making that reckoning of the pope that they doe they must needs be enemies and traitorus to oure souereigne prince the Queene euen such as they are to God For they being fully persua ded in cōscience in deed that the pope is Christs vicar that princes must reigne by him muste needes deny that those princes who allow not his 〈◊〉 and are so 〈◊〉 off from being 〈◊〉 by him that they are excommunicated and deposed as much as 〈◊〉 in him from their crownes and dignitye they must deny I say as in deed they do that such at 〈◊〉 princes therfore deny them al obedience And hence it is that popery is alvvayes accompanied 〈◊〉 treason rebellion and consparacye vvhereof as our 〈◊〉 Lad hath 〈◊〉 more then her highnes noble progenitors in regard that she hath more aduanced the gospel yet God be praysed hath bene deliuered frō thē so they making but the least shew that could be of fauoring the 〈◊〉 religiō such as those dark times cold afford thē which 〈◊〉 very dim haue yet had their hands full being many times put to their shifts hardly escaping the losse both of their crowns liues So was Henry 〈◊〉 2. dealt withal whē his crown was plucked frō his head he cōpelled like a priuate man to the no smal disgrace of the maiesty of a Prince to creepe to the 〈◊〉 legat to be restored againe So was king Iohn dealt withal whē frō the pope by the means of the 〈◊〉 monks he was discharged frō his gouern mēt his subiects released frō their alleageāce his no 〈◊〉 in arms in field against him at length finished his miserable life by the treasō of a monk that poisoned him himself with him as their own stories haue deliuered vnto vs. So dealt they with Henry the 8. a famous prince stirring vp the emperor against him the french king others wherein those same notable traitors the one a negromācer Cardinal VVolsey Cardinal Poole both special dealers doing as much as lay in them to depriue him of his kingdōe As for that blessed 〈◊〉 king Edward al the cōmotiōs treasōs that were stirred vp practised against him both at home abroad came from the pope papists at Rome Let the stories be searched I speake not so much of those former times I could shew how king Harrold lost his kingdome for banishing one Robert 〈◊〉 of Canterbury who flying to the duke of Normandy was not only resto 〈◊〉 to his Archbishopricke again whether the king vvould or no but the said duke being 〈◊〉 by the pope got the whol kingdō So did Anselmus a traitor trouble VVilliā the 2. about the election of byshops which vvas by his ovvn right that in spight of the kings teeth he brought it to the pope that 〈◊〉 christ I could also shevv hovv one Raphe a pilde shorn bishop of Chester did so iustle vvith the king about a tribute for vvhoores that he suspended the churches stopped vp the dores vvith thorns com pelled the king to yeeld vnto him vvhich he coulde neuer haue done had not the pope diuers of that traiterous ciue assisted him So one Stephan Langtō an archbishop caused the realme to bee enterdited stirred vp rebellion in Ireland prouoked the pope to cōquer it til the king became the popes tenant receiued the crovvne at his handes So Thomas Arundell being also Archbishop of Canterbury and chauncellor for then all offices might 〈◊〉 in any of their men in the time of king Henry the second beeing exiled vvith the earle of Darbye belike for some treason vvhen the king vvas abient they deposed him aftervvards put him to death So raged they also against good duke Hūfrey the stories shew ing that he began to see and smel out their knauery the bishop of VVinchester set first vpon him at Lōdon and aftervvards in a parliament time not 〈◊〉 from Bury they murthered him VVhat shoulde I speake of Richarde Scrovvpe Archbyshoppe of 〈◊〉 in the time of Henry the fouth who vvas in the fielde againste the king and had the revvarde of a Traitor And hence vvas it that they made suche
for conscience sake though they bee euill both to pray for them and to 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 duety 〈◊〉 their conuersion vnto God and if they cannot be vvonne patiently to beare 〈◊〉 is layde vppon them The other are seruauntes and 〈◊〉 these are children The one obey of feare the other of loue Those fulfill their willes with the breach of Gods These submit themselues to suffer and pray the chaunging of their mindes that they may enioy a kingdome vvhere there shall be no respect of 〈◊〉 If any 〈◊〉 obiecte the troubles of Fraunce and Flaunders and 〈◊〉 countries vvhere they 〈◊〉 to haue colour of charging the professours of the Gospell to haue taken armes against their princes as I haue sayde 〈◊〉 to I say agayne they 〈◊〉 arisen by occasion from 〈◊〉 owne vvicked and wretched 〈◊〉 for that through treason and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haue 〈◊〉 drawne moste dishonorably to break 〈◊〉 ovvne fayth and 〈◊〉 to goe 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 lawes and 〈◊〉 whiche armed subiectes 〈◊〉 against their Princes but vvith and 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of them againste the 〈◊〉 heady 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 singular persons And therefore they haue euermore bene 〈◊〉 by their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 discharged from all disloyaltie by their publique instrumentes and vvritings their souldiers haue bene payed from their Princes paye and so haue bene discharged As for rebellion and the schollers thereof haue alvvayes sprong out of the Schole of Popery it is a vvhelpe of your ovvne litter and an egge of your owne nest Macke Morris vvas a Papist so is Saunders if he be yet 〈◊〉 that set in of late for Ireland brought a company thither out of Italy to get a kingdome to 〈◊〉 a place vvherein to lay their dead 〈◊〉 and to bury their bones It is your doctrine Hovvlet and those of your fether that holde that 〈◊〉 be duely discharged from subiection and 〈◊〉 Prince from dominion by the 〈◊〉 authoritie of the common Pastor of 〈◊〉 VVe haue and do acknowledge our selues subiect of duetie by the institution of God vve confesse her Hyghnes lawfull authoritie to extende to and ouer all sortes and no mans profession to exempt him from obedience fealty vvhich you do not for if you yeelde any you saye It is but 〈◊〉 common 〈◊〉 sake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so farre 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the accustomed vse of a natural 〈◊〉 and onely in temporall thinges You haue no cause therefore to storme in suche 〈◊〉 nor to take it in suche dudgeon for beeing sayde to be enimies to God and to her royall Maiestie And it is a levvde lye that this broadefaced owle vvould face downe that Papistes set her 〈◊〉 into her gouernment and wil likewise be ready to maynteine her in it vvhen all the 〈◊〉 knovveth and euery Court vpon record soundeth that they haue shaken her seate and endeuoured from time to time as muche as laye in them to depose her from her peaceable and rightfull Scepter To conclude therefore The Papists erring in doctrine and beeing members to 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 of sinne aduersary to 〈◊〉 Christ and beeing the most 〈◊〉 liuers that euer vvere setting them selues 〈◊〉 agaynst the righteousnes of the Gospell and beeing playnly proued to be deadly enimies agaynst all gouernment the 〈◊〉 of treasons the styrrers vp of strife and rebellion in all 〈◊〉 vvheresoeuer they become beeing persvvaded that the Pope can not erre vvho hath pronounced our Soueraigne to be a Schismatique and hath 〈◊〉 his Bull to depriue her of 〈◊〉 royall 〈◊〉 and dignitie and to discharge her Subiectes of all loyaltie and duetie reconciling persvvading and vvithdravving her subiectes to the pretended authoritie of Rome I conclude that they are enimiesto God to their ovvne Realme and countrie to their naturall Prince and to them 〈◊〉 and I beseeche God either to turne their hearts or els to giue them the 〈◊〉 of traytours And thus muche to require this Papist in asseuering that vvhich I set downe in my dedicatory Epistle Novve a vvorde or tvvo concerning the Fast at Stamford and so an ende VVhereas this 〈◊〉 Ovvle to bring the trueth into hatred vvith her Maiestie by vvaye of comparison setting his quiet Catholiques and their doctrine of obedience agaynst vs and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the same matter to 〈◊〉 me vvho haue as he sayde so falsly infamed them promising to set dovvne certayne propositions 〈◊〉 out of tvvo 〈◊〉 of my Preachers c. I 〈◊〉 no farther credite of the vvhole Church of God of her 〈◊〉 of all indifferent men then I shall be able to proue the same by sufficient testimonies to be most shamefull and 〈◊〉 And first before I enter into it vvhat colour of 〈◊〉 can it haue that those propositions out of their Sermons should be gathered by a Minister vnlesse it vvere some such 〈◊〉 as Euerard Hans vvas alias Ducket vvho 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thereabouts before his going ouer Thinke you there vvas any Minister so familiar vvith this Ovvle beeing of the darke broode of Papists If he vvere a Minister eyther he must be some such hypocriticall lyer and an accuser 〈◊〉 of his b. 〈◊〉 or els this ougly owle hath out of his ovvne heade to declare himselfe a 〈◊〉 like his father 〈◊〉 these shameful vntruthes He 〈◊〉 that this 〈◊〉 was forbidden by the L. Superintendent of Lincolne by his letters bearing date the fifth of Septēber yet that these Preachers vvould not 〈◊〉 that the letters vvere directed to the 〈◊〉 Comburgesses there In deede it is true that after the allovvance of this Fast by former letters 〈◊〉 the Byshop and at the request of others all vvhich 〈◊〉 are set dovvne that the Bishop sent some such restraynt 〈◊〉 by some rumor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that his appoynted order should not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 obserued both as touching the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 also 〈◊〉 bringing in some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for vvhose doings he could not answer but M. 〈◊〉 his brethren very wisely considering that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now already appointed and vvarranted and beeing cleare in their 〈◊〉 knovvledge from any 〈◊〉 of altering that vvhich vvas prescribed and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they should seeme to yeeld to suche suppositions as they 〈◊〉 dreamed of so shew them selues 〈◊〉 they kept their determinatiō according to thorder which was prescribed And therfore thogh Parsons Howlet by some of his inteligencers gat notice of such a letter yet he was not acquainted with the premisses nor with al that belonged to this matter And it might well be that by practise of some enemy giuing false insormation as lightly there lackes none to hinder good things vvhen the fast had beene in diuers places of the Realme els where 〈◊〉 the fearefull earthquake a token of Gods anger and vvas ordinarily sought for by the Alderman and Comburgesses there to the ende they might shevve their forwardnesse to humble them selues beforc the Lord as 〈◊〉 had done it may be I say that that exercise vvas then sought to be stayed as the first vvas
Text being the 2. of 〈◊〉 12 13 14 15 16. verses And to conclude I vvill by the grace of God bee ready to iustifie that they or eyther of them at that present spake not anye of the articles obiected agaynst them by the sayd Hovvlet neither did they vtter any manner of speache agaynst the good and godly gouernment of the estate of this our Realme of England In 〈◊〉 vvhereof I haue vvritten this same vvith mine ovvne hand and set my name to the same this xii of February 1580. 〈◊〉 Houghton By these testimonies alleadged by mee concerning the Fast of 〈◊〉 it appeareth I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hovv vayn the accusation is that these enimies of God and of her highnes haue made against those Godly and learned men the Preachers that preached there against the vvhole Borough Magistrates therof and against my selfe vvho neuer was acquainted with the matter neither had any dealing at that time or at any other 〈◊〉 any suche thing And novv because I haue sufficiētly discouered this vvhol trovvp of papistes vnder Antichrist the Pope to be enemies to our Lord Captain Iesus Christ to his religion to our gratious Soueraigne for professing it and to vs as 〈◊〉 as vnder her highnesse gratious gouernment hartily embrace it 〈◊〉 that he hath seuered vs from them to the ende vvee should holde out his glory against them and not be ashamed of his Crosse in the groatest 〈◊〉 they shall be able to laye vppon vs and that 〈◊〉 should haue no fellovvship vvith them And therefore I moste humbly befeech her Maiestie vpon the 〈◊〉 of my heart vvhome God hath 〈◊〉 to that high top of honour to honour him to holde vs 〈◊〉 in al obedience vnder his septer and gouernment vvhich these enimies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 both against God 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and against her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of it that she vvil in that 〈◊〉 knovvledge of the truth wherof by the singuler 〈◊〉 of God shee is made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 measure and in that 〈◊〉 the Lord in mercy hath 〈◊〉 in her gracious heart agaynst 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vvithout famting to the 〈◊〉 on of all 〈◊〉 her most 〈◊〉 and louing 〈◊〉 vvherein as 〈◊〉 haue by Gods assistance pitched our staues to stand fast so 〈◊〉 fully 〈◊〉 our selues of her gracious defence euen to the ende It is no time 〈◊〉 for vs to looke backe All the boastinges land proude challenges in the vvorlde of 〈◊〉 and nevve 〈◊〉 cannot 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to any suspence of the trueth VVe are not ignorant of their great speech proud vvords we know that Antichrist shal come with power yea with lying signes wonders his bulke shall be big his men shall appear as 〈◊〉 as great as euer were the Anakims and Goliah yet we are not by the grace of God afraid of thē VVe haue had suf ficient triall of their weapons armour vve knovv their standings their studies and euermore when we haue crapled with them by the 〈◊〉 of God we 〈◊〉 ben to hard for thē A tast was giuen in the beginning of her maiesties most 〈◊〉 since at sundry times at VVifbich of late this other day at the Tovvre And as euermore God hath knit victorye vvith his trueth so hee giues shame and confusion to salsehood vvith vvhat vvisedome of man soeuer vvith vvhat learning or pollicie it bee mainteined And therefore hauing by the grace of God founde the trueth vvee are fully determined to liue and dye in it And it is 〈◊〉 that as God and Satan can not be serued together so vve can not be faithfull Subiects to Elizabeth our Queene mainteining 〈◊〉 if vvee serue Antichriste VVee can not be 〈◊〉 to her if vve yeelde 〈◊〉 to her enimie and a 〈◊〉 vsurper And 〈◊〉 as vvee are made one vvith Christ our heade are sorted and 〈◊〉 into his folde as his Confederates vnder the leading of our Christian Prince on earth vve meame by his assistance faythfully to fighte his battels Neither can they 〈◊〉 vs thoughe they shoue in amongst vs as long as they come in vnder this Antichristes standered and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Markes both of false 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tyranny and vvicked life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if they 〈◊〉 to be vvith vs as friends and yet craftily vndermine vs to coole vs and hinder vs vvee maye for a time bee deceiued but our 〈◊〉 vvill at the length discouer them and vvhen they are found out oure eyes shall not 〈◊〉 them They shall be vsed not as confederates to him vvhich only the fathfull are but as enemies vvhom vve being commaunded to strike vve dare not spare neither reserue hovve goodly and fatte Oxen soeuer they bee and vvhat good shevvs soeuer they haue VVe dare not trust neither the 〈◊〉 whining of these Curres in this time of their bondage tying vp The time vvas vvhen they vvere lose and then they played their partes they shewed their kinde and we knowe that there is no change but by regeneratiō Their snarling their barking agaynst the trueth their lying in vvaite and continuall looking for aduantage vvhen they maye crush vs euen in this time testifieth vvhat vve vvere like to finde if they had any power ouer vs. And thoughe in this 〈◊〉 of them vp as VVolues they haue licked out hands whilest we sed them to traine thē to humanity yet lying lose they wilbe the more 〈◊〉 against vs God of his gracious goodnes keep vs out of their handes And we giue him most hūble harty thanks who in so exceeding mercy wonderful patience waiteth for our conuersion euen ouercomming our sinne vvith his goodnesse in protecting and defending vs against the madnesse and 〈◊〉 of these open and deadly enemies VVe humblye thanke him for defending this Realme oure Queene her Counsailours and all her people For it is vvell knovvne and vve 〈◊〉 it that if he had looked vppon our vnthankfulnesse vve should haue bene as a pray vnto them and they would haue eaten vs vp aliue he hath done it not vnto vs that is not for our sakes but vnto his owne name that he may haue the glory of it And surely if we faint not but go cheerefully sorward in that glorious trueth in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he hath called vs vnto if we labor to approue our selues to him giuing him a pure woorship seruice according to his own appointment will striuing to sincerity aud cleansiug our churches from that popish filth this man of sinn hath left behind him in thē if we giue him the honor of leading vs will bee ruled by his woord renouncing mans wisdome pollicie and strength in the worke of our saluation then shal wee not neede to feare though these enemies be neuer so many or mighty If God be vvith vs vvho can be against vs Though their Parsons be taule and terrible their furniture vvell appointed their strength in the iudgement of men inuincible their knovvledge in martiall affairs equal vvith ours their learniug vvealth riches
and pollicie aboue ours yet in the name of the Lord of hoastes vve vvill not feare them if God be in the middest of vs compasse vs about fight for vs if vve be vnder his leading howe can they preuaile against vs And surely cōfortable experiēce we haue had of his good nesse these many late years in protecting this realm so beset with enimies our gracious prince by nature a vveake vvoman and subiect to many infirmities her counsellors exercised vvith many difficulties hard tentarions her people giuen vp in peace as commonly common people are in suche times to 〈◊〉 their profites and pleasures that God I say hath yet so mightily defended them and enriched vs all with so many blessinges both of this life and of the life to come which are moste precious vvhat other argument can it yeelde vnto vs then of great incouragement This shoulde euen encrease oure hope and adde newe strength vnto vs to make vs stande fast to our God The trueth is that our pollicie and arme hath not wrought it but our 〈◊〉 God who hath kept continuall vvatch ouer vs to the end vve should vvalke in holy and 〈◊〉 obedience in fear and trembling as in his presence not that vve should be secure and carelesse arming these enemies of ours vvith our sinnes and transgressions against vs but that vve should feare before his 〈◊〉 trust in him being armed vvith the righteousnes of Iesus Christ our head which shal not only shroud vs from their fury but from his ovvne vvrath and 〈◊〉 damnation Thus muche I thought good beeing specially dravvne in by the aduersary to speak in the defence of Gods euerlasting trueth If I giue any iust offence to the godly by any slippe of humaine infirmitie I craue pardon for it but I protest beefore him that knoweth the secretes of all heartes that I haue not of any malice sinister affection or desire of reuenge vvritten any thing but for in the simple desēce maintenance of the trueth and to the end to discredite error and 〈◊〉 And concerning one Hovvlet vvhome I 〈◊〉 in my Epistle dedicatory to aym at and since haue vnderstood that the name by all likelihood shoulde be counterfaite and taken vppon by one 〈◊〉 a runnagate Iesuite I am very sory for the wrong if any be that I haue done to Howlet vvhom I supposed it to be And I vvould the vvillingliar crye him mercy for it 〈◊〉 the Lorde vvoulde vouchsafe him an happy conuersion from that false religion of popery which I vvill vndoubtedly pray for vvith all my heart The Lorde God of all glorye vvho is king of kinges and Lorde of Lordes preserue our gracious Soueraine Queene Elizabeth and all her honourable counsellors 〈◊〉 inferior officers and people and so strengthen them in the trueth as all may haue iudgement to discerne those thinges that differ and in their seuerall callings knovve vvhat belongeth vnto their speciall duties that they may all detest popery false doctrine and heresie and vvith the glorious profession of the truth ioyne a sincere and godly conuersation in life so hold out the glory of Christ their heade through the sanctification of his blessed spirite till they be gathered the vvay of all flesh and arriued at that happy Hǎuen of 〈◊〉 rest vvhich hee hath purchased Amen I haue hated the Church of the Malignant FINIS Esa. 58. 10. Ier. 10. 21. Eze. 22. 25. Mat. 23. Mat. 6. 2. Luk. 11. 42. c Psal. 11. 25. 5. Psal. 30. 7. 1. Sam. 17. 〈◊〉 140. 3. 1. Sam. 22. 9. 2. Sam. 7. 10. 2. Sam. 4. 8. 2 Sam. 15. 〈◊〉 2. Sam. 16. 7. 1. Reg. 22. 〈◊〉 2. Par. 18. 10. 2. Reg. 22. 12. 2. Par. 18. 11. 10. 10. In the Epistle dedicatory to her highnes Pag. 3. 4. 5. 6. c. Fol. 2. Howlers causes of dedicating the book to he highnes Fol 2. 〈◊〉 Mat. 26. 49. a Saund. lib. 7 pag.730 b Pref. Fol. 3. 〈◊〉 fol. 5 a Brist Moti 6. fol. 〈◊〉 mot 12. fol. 〈◊〉 Saun lib. 70. pag 130. eadem pag. 7. 3. b Hovvlet epileafe 4 the 14. fol. 5. c Hovvl pres fol. 6 fol. 15. The prince is 〈◊〉 chiefest 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 land to 〈◊〉 the care of Gods matters doeth specially belong to see Gods 〈◊〉 established a 〈◊〉 mot 40 vnder the title of obe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mot 15. fol. 72. 〈◊〉 b 〈◊〉 lib. 2. pag. 78 〈◊〉 d. 〈◊〉 c 〈◊〉 lib. 7. pag. 130. 734. d 〈◊〉 imprin ted of 〈◊〉 a table at Paris and therein setteth out the Queene crounle ie though in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 amended e Mor. Phi. his booke of suc cession Hovvlet pre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The papistes are 〈◊〉 and their seruice and 〈◊〉 idolatry to be 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 August de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lib. 2 cap. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 18. de 〈◊〉 dei cap. 22 〈◊〉 17. b Excom Pii 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 obteined by 〈◊〉 vvho vvas executed in Cornevvall c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the papists dangerous to rel gion and to 〈◊〉 vvhole 〈◊〉 d Allen in his Apologie of the English Seminarie s. cap. 4. e Chronica 〈◊〉 Mathia 〈◊〉 Math. VVest Harding in his confutation of the Apology a Sun 〈◊〉 lib. 1. cap. 4. Bulla paspae pii 〈◊〉 b 〈◊〉 mot 40. fol. 154. c VVood the priest solicited 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to vvhoredome and gaue her mony and a comfite to make her mad vpon him d If our lavves be vnsupportable that 〈◊〉 not vvith life for religion what 〈◊〉 theirs that 〈◊〉 none Fol. 6. pref Hovvlets impudencye and presumption a Gregory 〈◊〉 book of Schisme hath the very 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deficit in 〈◊〉 but he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in his minor b See the examples 〈◊〉 in the epistle Fol. 6 Praefat. a Conci Constantiense 〈◊〉 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pata Philip. 〈◊〉 Plat. volater b 〈◊〉 RomPla 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Benno Bucchingerus Blond lib. 3. Mirandensis Concil Constantiense 〈◊〉 19. Quod non obstantibus saluis conductib c. c Nicholas de Clamangis in quadam colatde fut Concil d Concil of Constance was begun at Rome vvhere this owle shevved 〈◊〉 selfe vvhich they haue concealed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a I et 〈◊〉 v. ordes one of Saunders chiefe 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 spoken in the parliament house anno primo of her 〈◊〉 reigne 2. Kin. 9. 11. Ioh. 10. 20. Act. 26. 24. b Hovvlet fol. 3. pref Popery a religion patched together of al heresies and variable A bird of diuers fethers a The fast at Stamford don orderly with consent by authority as shall appeare in the end of this booke a The pope Antichrist and head of all papistes * Dan. 7. 11. Apo. 17. 1. 18. * 2. Thes. cap. 2 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. c. 2. Thes. 2. 4. a This being prophesied of before cannot be intended of any singuler man but of a company and state of men because it shal endure till the comming of Christ. * Apo. 9. 12. 2.