treason they tearmed by the name of Gods Church their phantasticall opinions Gods knowne trueth and their poysoned heresies the inspiration of Gods spirit It were tedious too long to repeate their names who continually haue slaundered Loyaltie with base tearmes when themselues haue deserued most badly both of the Church and of the Common wealth Thus might I with teares remember the wrong that I suffered in the Northerne Rebellion where though the fact was so infamous as the memorie is odious to this day yet did they pretend a reforming of religion a freedome of consciēce and a bettering of the Common wealth I passe ouer without speech but neuer to be remēbred without sighes the lamentable rebellions made in Lincolneshire the disorder in Norffolke by Ket his bad companie the intollerable boldnes in Kent by Iacke Straw and his accomplices These and such like haue laboured to roote me from the place of mine abode to pull out Loyaltie from the mindes of subiects to make them offend thinke there is no fault to raise a flame that may giue light whilest the Common-wealth shall burne to stirre vp those vnder pretence of right who haue desired to subuert the state of the whole land Iosephus an ancient writer setting downe the rebellious reuolting which the Iewes made from the Romanes vnder colour of rude and vntoward dealing which they found in Florus their gouernour he setteth downe the particular remonstrance that King Agrippa made touching the small apparance of occasion which they had rebelliously to exempt them from their lawfull obedience the Iewes replied that it was only against Florus and not the Romanes that they bare armes whom Agrippa tolde it was easie to say so but their actions were such as worse could not haue been by the greatest enemies of the Romane Empire for the townes they sacked the treasuries they robbed the houses they burnt the fields they wasted neither were the townes the treasuries the houses the fields of Florus and no man had wrong but the Romanes to whom these belonged In like manner when in former times for I am loth to mention these later faults wrong openly was offered to them of our countrie the townes takē the churches robbed the houses burnt the men slaine and not so much sacred as the very sepulchers of our forefathers the pretence was onely this not a wrong or disobedience to the Prince but a reuenge and reformation of the oppressing cormorant And thus lately for I must needs touch it whilest Lopez most Iewishlie nay Iudaslie had concluded with the Spanish Pharisies to sell his Soueraigne yet shamefully hee protested this whereunto common sense will hardly allow credit that he onely ment to deceiue them of their coyne and to saue her from harme Can we thinke the Spanyard so credulous as in a matter of so great importance to credit without good cause Can wee thinke it likely that he who had concealed it hetherto from her Councell ment after to impart it to her Maiestie These things and manie such howsoeuer smoothed ouer with a faire shewe haue been committed by vnnaturall subiects since her Maiesties raigne that our very enemies for the state of our countrie could by no meanes possible haue deserued worse And howsoeuer the lawe tearme them not enemies but simplie as rebels and seditious to their owne countrie yet they ought not to be honored with the name of peace nor as subiects any way to be made partakers thereof vnles the infinitly ouerflowing mercie of their Prince vouchsafe them vndeserued so great a fauour When Anthonie rose vp in armes against his countrie he was iudged condemned worthilie by the Senate to bee a rebell and when some intended to send vnto him to intreate of peace Tully thought it was most strange farre differing from the state of the Senate to affoord a rebel the priuiledge of an open enemie France can testifie of the like when trayterous subiects vndeseruedly giue mee leaue to tearme them by that name haue been so mightie to withstand the King that he hath sent without cōtrolling tearms as to an open enemie England hath not now and I happilie wish as I hope it neuer shall any cause to deale in the like manner But the time was in the dayes of Edward the sixt when a base pesant so braued the Kings armie that they vouchsafed them parle as if Rome had sent Ambassadors to the men of Carthage But rebellion being the canker of a Common wealth time hath taught vs by lamentable experience in the warres of Rome That sedition doth grow by suffering and that clemencie is rebellions spurre which if it had not bin a state so florishing had not so soone failed And for France in the time of holie Lewes sedition had not been so soone cut off no rebellion had been rooted out if the sword had not been made sharpe for to cut them off for it be commeth a Prince like a good Surgion to cut off the putrified parts least the sound bee infected with the like contagion Furthermore to groūd my seueritie vpon the tearmes of honor for Loyaltie cā hardly indure clemencie towards treason there is no Gentleman vnles degenerate that will indure the lye of his companion without recanting and shall the Prince not onely suffer this but wrongs dammages iniuries despitefully at the hands of traytors Then band your selues Honorable Lords wise Prelates braue Captaines worthie Gentlemen resolute Soldiers trustie Citizens and painful Cominaltie that the smallest part of treason may not take strength in our time and all of you rather hazard the last droppe of your dearest bloud then by treacherous dealing the least wrong may bee offered to her sacred Maiestie This is a iust quarrell wherein Loyallie we are to vnite our selues for loosing but the bridle to such dangerous treasons our Prince our liues our Countrie our fortunes are all indangered at the same instant Besides either to pardon these at home or fondly to credit those abroad can bring no other benefite to the land but this a contempt of our authoritie a certaine danger to the Princes person a perpetuall and needfull feare of some new attempts yet euer I must reserue a prerogatiue to my gracious Soueraigne for gracious clemencie a worthie vertue to a subiect but dangerous to a traytor giues them but leasure to fortifie themselues graunts them but time to renew their force the storme is no sooner past but there is present feare of as great a tempest For it is great simplicitie to suppose at least the extremitie of follie to beleeue that those who are once plūged in the gulfe of treason and haue throughly plotted for a kingdomes conquest can possibly be reclaimed with the greatest kindnes or let goe their hope before their liues giue vp the latest gaspe If a kingdome were so weake or a Prince so timerous as almost it was
Prince her subiects that most cruelly by the meanes of her own countrimen These were they who iustly conuicted of treason by lawes made 200. yeare since in the time of Edward the 3. do openly but wrongfully boast that they haue suffered for religion yet I may say this that such as repenting their follie shewed a sorrowe and were willing to performe amendment were pardoned a thing not to be expected in so great a fault although iniuriouslie some of them haue not been ashamed to say that neuer religion was persecuted more then vnder the most vertuous peaceable milde mercifull religious gouernment of Queene Elizabeth nay I can confidently say this that in stead of punishing those who haue not offended she hath suffered many to keepe their religion stil to liue without danger of law and such as haue professed themselues to be Romish Catholiques aske but that graue and reuerend father Nicholas Heath somtimes Archbishop of Yorke and Lord high Chancellor of England he must needes confesse and vndoubtedly would doe it if he now liued that he tasted of his Soueraignes clemencie in so great a measure that those who for religion tearme her to be cruel are such as seeke by all meanes possible to defame her gouernment Pole the Bishop of Peterborough Cutbert Tonstall a reuerend graue man VVhite Oglethorp Thurlbie VVatson Turberuile Fecknam such as all of them had been zealous against mee yet she pardoned them their liues because they had not traiterously sought hers for since the beginning of her raigne to this present day there is no man able to proue howsoeuer some haue bin malicious to affirme the same that Queene Elizabeth hath for religion onely put any to death of the Romish sectaries It were long for me to repeate things alreadie sufficientlie knowne wherein Rome hath so malitiouslie dealt to suborne her Iesuits that from them this 36. yeares England hath had the greatest cause to feare the subuersion of her whole state Pius the fift vngodly and cruell in this poynte intended to free the subiects of this land from their allegiance to their dread Soueraigne a thing abhorring against diuinitie a matter neuer heard of with any of my followers and hated euen of the heathen themselues who neuer tasted of my trueth to graunt pardon and openlie to auouch it to subiectes and against their Prince and to English men against their owne countrie it is such a faulte as former time neuer thought of the age present dooth abhor and shall make thereat the dayes insuing to be astonished it were too lamentable to be thought of Religions superstition should make any so fearefull of the Popes authoritie Fraunce howsoeuer thou art now distracted into small peeces yet in the daies of thy second Henry thou hadst little feare of the Popes Bulles when impatient of his proude and vsuall vsurping within thy territories thou didst not onely by edict decrees parliaments proclamations disanull his supreame authoritie but denied him stoutlie those yearelie reuenewes which he exacted out of thy dominions And Philip thou which now gouernest Spayne and fondly intendest to be the worlds Monarch what minde then didst thou beare against the Pope when sending with thy Duke of Albanie an Armie into the coasts of Italy thou spoyledst their towns destroyedst their fields sackedst their cities and with thy canons girt them within the compasse of their owne walles This shewed to the world how little being offended thou esteemedst of the Popes Bulles and thy father that worthie Charles the 5. tooke Pope Clemence captiue and the whole Colledge of Cardinals made him pay for his ransome 400000. Duckets valued the Cardinals at a higher rate And least thou which art openlie my professed enemie shouldest thinke that Englands Elizabeth wanteth presidents of her countrie valiantly to withstand and scornfully to make account of the roring of thy Bulles remember but the time of Queene Mary a gracious Soueraigne if she had not been blinded by thy meanes when thou wert offended with her cosin Cardinall Pole and in disgrace of him sent vnto Petie a begging Frier the Cardinals Hat she crossed thee in thy purpose and made small account of thy great threats I could alleadge the worthie Henry the 8. regestred in Honors Catalogue to liue for euer how couragiously to aduance me he shaked off thy seruile yoake and exempted his subiects from the Romish tyrannie But to let these passe as matter apparant without proofe I must needes complaine of two notorious enemies such as in the daies of peace haue done me the greatest wrong that euer woman suffered and least wondering thou stande amazed how this should be in the land of knowledge in Elizas raigne I meane the prophane Atheist and the zealous but falsely Puritane And although I poore Religion am not so good a states man that willingly I intermeddle with matters of the common wealth yet I must say thus much in the true defence of my selfe that since prophane Machiuell hath obtained so much credit amongst the greatest states men of all Europe Atheisme hath perswaded the world of my death tolde Princes that there was no religion Can any counsell bee more pernicious to a Common wealth more dangerous to a Countrie more fatall to a Prince then onely to relie in causes of greatest importance vpon his owne wisedome to seeme to haue that religion in shew which he neuer meaneth to imbrace in trueth to preferre Heathens before me to ascribe felicitie to fortune and not to vertue and true religion And these with diuers others of like impuritie that prophane A theist broched vnto the world which was no sooner drunke by the states of Europe but some of their kingdomes haue come to ruine Nay I will take vpon me without presumptiō to prophesie thus farre that the greatest kingdom that Europe hath the most mightie people that euer was and the most famous common wealth that euer florished shall all of them by contemning religion become desolate And howsoeuer I will not presume so farre proudly to make with Bellarmine temporall prosperitie a note of the true Church seeing she is ordained to suffer many calamities vnder the hands of tyrants yet I dare say thus much that religious Princes while confidently in a good cause they haue fullie relied vpon Gods assistance they haue notablie triumphed ouer all their enemies thus in the old Testament Abraham Moses Iosua Gedeon Samuel Dauid Ezechias Iosias and the Machabees all triumphed ouer multitudes of their enemies because I howsoeuer contemned by prophane Machiuel was the sole conductor of all their armies thus almost as Moses did Pharaoh in these latter times Constantinus ouercame Maxentius The like might bee spoken of Theodosius the elder of whome Theodoret maketh honorable mention of many priuiledged fauours he obtained for his true profession thus in the
studies from whence taking leisure but to pause a little my penne grewe passionate and my idle papers scattered vnawares flew abroad I protest not to offend any thus I binde thee by that credit which truth deserues whosoeuer thou art which reads to beleeue what I haue spoken herein and if thou please for my sake to accept this And because euery Balductum makes diuine poetrie to be but baserime I leaue thee sacred eloquence to be defended by the Muses ornaments and such despised to liue tormented with endles pouertie Farewell Diluuium terrae motus contagia passim Bella fames mundi quid reliquum exitio est Ignis ipse prope est vnde haec ex arce tonantis Tot mala quid mundo congerit Impietas Anne salutis adhuc spes vlla est vnica quisnam Porriget hanc piet as haec vbi nullus habet Quid stas munde rue vt pietas est nulla ruentem Sic video auxilium numina laesa negant Inscriptio portae Si nihil aedificas quià spectas nostra viator Aut mea ne carpas aut meliora struas Si meliora tenes id divos poscito mecum Ne quod vterque tenet fascinet inuidia Labor O labor ô sudor scelerati proemia morsus Ah satis natos occule terra tuos Nec omnia nec omnes mihi placuere quìnam ego omnibus non omnibus Cous senex non Eremita Spagirus num tu viator omnibus deo placere cura abei POLIMANTEIA BEfore we come particularlie to speake of Diuinations lawfull vnlawful for the true and better vnderstanding of them we will first define what Diuination is Diuination is a foretelling of things to come performing it in diuers manners as well artificially as naturally But those that more curiously subtilize vpon the Etymologie say that to diuine is properly to foretell and to foresee things to come by an exteriour motion without hauing any subiect cause or signe before hand to coniecture so and therefore in this sort God testifieth of himselfe that he alone knoweth things to come which afterward he reueiled by his Prophets and Apostles as it pleased him Now Satan desiring in this to bee Gods Ape thereby the better to abuse the world to drowne men in intolerable superstition by a naturall curiositie to know things to come hath iniuriouslie and falselie vsurped the same authoritie to diuine and from thēce proceedeth the word Diuination so that thereby Satan so much the more vnder a cloak of naturall things is for the most part as a forger and coūterfeiter excepting the diuination whereupon the subiect of this matter depends and therefore it is necessarie to trie and examine in the first place the might subtiltie and craft of the diuell in whom we shall finde as great knowledge and vnderstanding excepting the Angels as in all the other creatures besides wee shall finde as great subtiltie for interpreting the signes of diuers things a matchles vigilancie an incomparable cunning to inuent trumperies and deceit vnder fine coloured but false pretences And to conclude a most perfect malice accompanied with a perpetuall hate against mankinde and the rather seeing that it is not in his force to doe any thing of himselfe to hinder the course of things naturall ordained by God to destroy and to make againe to sound the depth of mans heart or to foresee how God gouerneth the course of the world the affayres of Kings and Princes before the reuelation of his diuine prophesies Notwithstanding he perceiueth by his subtiltie the hid properties of things bodily and spirituall His knowledge is exceeding by his manifold experience of things past he diueth so farre as may possibly bee sounded into mens maners and copies out their actions from whence he deriueth his greatest profit Thus he incombers the actions of Kings Princes of each in particular that contrarie to all reason and opinion of men they are all so intermedlingly inwrapped each in other states that scarse anie knoweth how to escape himselfe Thorough the deepe whereof he so lancheth without sight that he maketh one of them to entrap and beguile another whereof euerie where are examples sufficient and therefore S. Paul to the Ephesians setteth downe most liuely Satans puissance But let vs see a little neerer the diuels policie of what force efficacie it is especially in those things which concerne the ruines of Gouernment or change of a Common wealth First then although that the diuell knoweth not the state and affayres of Kings and Princes in particular as God from the beginning hath predestinated them in his immutable counsel nor how he wil dispose and change them contrarie to the opinion of men ordinarie course of things natural yet notwithstanding the knowledge which men by the permission of almightie God haue drawn out of the diuine prophesies of ancient time is not comparable to that of Satan by reason he farre surpasseth man in fine quick nimble subtiltie which he vseth to his owne aduantage These know by the predictions of Prophets that such Kings and Princes shall come to gouerne besides by what meanes they shall attaine it and by whom God will giue the Scepter into their hands besides when and how it shall be taken from them And in one word Satan knoweth the estate of Gouernment which must happen and how long it shal endure and the enemies which shal rise vp for the ruine of it From these such like reuelations would they drawe their diuinations They haue found out by the prophesies of Daniel the estate chaunge of Monarchies which must happen the ruine of Darius the destruction of Asia and that the Monarchie of Babylon shall be transported to the Greekes By meanes whereof when Alexander the Great consulted with the Oracle at Delphos Pythias answered him Eris inuictus Alexander Thou shalt be vnconquered Alexander And afterward for confirming and giuing credit to his Oracle hee ceased not to shewe signes wonders together with vaine illusions in the behalfe of Alexander which way soeuer he marched with his armie on the contrarie not to daunt Darius too much he nourisht in him a vaine hope by doubtfull dreames perswading him fondly of victorie against his enemie For the temptations of Satan are of that sort that they promise vs all ioy and happines whatsoeuer but no sooner they are entertained of vs but in their place commeth despayre with a perpetuall torment By the prophesie of Daniel and Esai the diuell knewe that the Monarchie of the Assyrians should be wholly desolate and giuen into the power of the Medes and Persians and that al this should be done by Cyrus For this cause it was foretold that King Croesus should be chased and spoyled of the kingdome of Lydia And therefore knowing the might of King Cyrus Satan ceased not to moue and incite Croesus by a bayte of ambition to
preseruation of their estate It is most certaine that GOD permitteth Satan somtimes to tyrannize ouer one or other as we see in the King of Babylon who was giuen into his power for seuen yeares yet notwithstanding whē it pleased him hee made a restraint and brideled his vnruly will We see sometimes how hee keepeth and vpholdeth the Realmes of wicked Kings for to make them a meanes to maintaine his Church as appeared in the kingdomes of Babylon Persia and the Romanes in the time of Nero Natures most strange monster in respect whereof it is sayd that the societie of man is resembled to a flocke of sheepe whereof though some indaunger themselues yet the faithfull shepheard endeuoureth himselfe by all meanes possible to saue his flocke whole and defend it against the rage of the wolues which would deuoure it For if wee would but consider the matter a little further we shall finde by the scripture in the time of Noah after the building of the tower of Babylon that Nimrod was elected by diuine prouidence to guide and gouerne the people then when as the children nephewes and linage of Noah wandered without townes to dwell in destitute of cities or houses liuing by hunting and vpon the fruites of the earth without any tillage who then represented a maiestie force and valour in his person by reason wherof the holie scripture saith that hee was Robustus venator Domini aut Coram Domino a strong hunter of the Lord by reason of the might and puissance that hee had to tame the sauage and wild beasts Whereby we may well conclude that Common wealths had their beginnings by violent Tyrannies that Nimrod by force violence obtained the soueraigntie Notwithstāding we find in scripture that he was a most heroicall King and no Tyrant howsoeuer some doe intend otherwise because that by his meanes was established the forme of a Common wealth most durable to gouerne and to keepe the people in order and discipline And so from this first diuine wisedome humane societie was kept vnited from time to time This likewise is the cause why the Prince is tearmed Gods Vicegerent vpon earth Finally he was garded with such force that the Empyres which wee call Monarchies by this meanes were ordained then of the selfe same Monarchies by reason of an insatiable ambition and desire to rule proceeded Tyrannies But although that Tyrants by the permission of God seemed sometimes by reason of their horrible murders and destructions to bee willing to cancell all law and peruert all iustice that tended to the maintenance of a Common-wealth and whereby Empyres flourished yet notwithstanding wee finde by the discourse of histories that the verie Tyrants themselues by a diuine prouidence haue oftentimes left behinde thē good lawes as the true markes of Iustice tending to the maintenance and conseruation of kingdoms to the intēt that humane societie should not either be disperst or raced out God hath the meanes to vs vnknowne to keep them from such wickednesses that he turneth the euil of present ruling Tyrants vnto the especiall good of gouerning posteritie for his will is the perfect rule and the infallible direction of all right and equitie By reason whereof some are of that mind that although the Empyre of the Turkes in dignitie and greatnes exceeded the foure Monarchs of the worlde yet notwithstanding it could not bee reputed for a true Monarchie because that amongst those barbarous people there was neither humanitie nor forme or shewe of iustice but a meere deuastation of Empyres and a reall destruction of all lawes and policies which were established and dreamingly obserued of other Monarchies vnder whom notwithstanding their enormities God had continually preserued miraculously a forme of iustice to the intent to preserue his owne people I will onely alleadge two examples not to bee too troublesome without touch or mention of the Romane lawes afterward brought in to shew by them the equitie and iustice which Tyrants and Infidels themselues haue somtimes in the gouernment of their Common-wealths vsed as well in regard of their ciuill and politicke order as Militarie The one long since famous is the example of the execution of iustice in King Cambyses otherwise a great Tyrant which he executed vpō the Iudge corrupted with bribes in the person of Sysannes who after he was put to death he was fleyed and his skinne hung ouer the Iudgement seate where his sonne was commanded to sit as Iudge that in iudging he might remēber the offence of his father The other is the famous and memorable example of Anaxilaus whom the Lacedaemonians vsed thus He seeing that in the time of the siege of the citie Byzance Clearchus the Gouernour begā to take the goods of the Burgesses that dyed for famine to diuide amongst his Souldiers to the intent to hold the towne longer he dealt in the absence of Clearchus with the enemie to yeeld vp the towne vpon good conditions which soone yeelded without pillage or shedding of bloud Afterward Anaxilaus was accused to thē of Sparta for rendring the towne who vsing a most honest excuse answered that they ought to make warre against the enemie and not their owne selues and that it was a thing most vniust to handle the Burgesses more rudely then the enemie And for these excuses full of reason they absolued him This example may serue at this day sometimes to excuse publique persons whō some indeuour to accuse and blame slanderously without discretion not considering that God miraculously gouerneth the heart of those whom God hath placed to gouerne others to the intent to hinder and preuent the totall ruine of his people and Common wealth as we may reade of the Prophet Ieremiah who gaue counsell to the King Zedechias when he was besieged in Ierusalem to yeeld himselfe to the Chaldeans to the intent to preserue the people and the towne notwithstanding many others perswaded the contrarie Many such examples full of naturall equitie are largely handled by Saint Ambrose in the third booke of his Offices On the other side to returne to our former subiect it is knowne vnto all that the diuell hath knowledge concerning the ruines and changes of Common wealths and that he hath learned much by the periods of yeares and the fatall age of Realmes and Empires knowing by obseruation of times that they are limited and because their state is subiect to change that serues him for all occasions Cicero in the twelft of the Nature of gods speaking of the inuention of sundrie diuinations and superstitious obseruations hath these wordes Multas res diuturnus vsus ita notauit vt artem Diuinationis efficeret in another place he saith Obseruatio diuturna notandis rebus fecit artem The histories of all times doe teach vs in case wee would carefully obserue them search them throughly that the most parte of the
periods of time he disanulleth changeth and altereth their estates as it pleaseth him This sheweth Salomon plainly where he sayth Because of Iniustice Kingdomes are translated from one place to another for the sinnes of the land some after others are made Princes and by reason of a wise and vnderstanding man the Empire is more durable Thus wee may see the reason of the contrarietie in respect of the chaunge of the periods aboue mentioned Master Peucer treating the difference of them sayth that three sorts of sins are noted in the holie scripture which principally cause the ruines changes of a common wealth Impietie ruinating the Church Iniustice corrupting the Common wealth and Lecherie destroying the familie with which Pride is intermedled their seueral harmes redound vnto al for this cause Intemperancie Pride mixt is noted by the Poet to bee most speciall for the subuerting of a state Nam caetera regna Luxuries vitijs odijsque superbia vertit Aristotle ascribing the chaunge of Empyres to sinnes comprehendeth them all vnder this one word of inequalitie the difference of the degrees of honor and dignities and that for vertue although not for religion But the causes and occasions going before these chaunges consist in the manners and actions of men which all are not of the same sort but exceeding diuers And therefore the same author addeth and reproueth the former opiniō that states are troubled by diuers meanes I take it here not a thing impertinent seeing the subiect of our matter to stay a little and examine somewhat the opinion of some authors which are willing to set down rules to iudge of the happenings for the euents and chaunges of Common wealths Amongst others Plato ascribeth not this either to a celestiall influence nor to the motion of starres but to the dissolution of Harmonie This is his opinion but wee finde at this day a great contrarietie amongst the late writers for the true vnderstanding of Plato his mind and chiefly of the word Harmonie Master Iohn Bodin is of that minde that this Harmonie is to bee vnderstood of tunes melodious sounds For the better interpretation whereof and the more to confirme his opinion in the fourth booke of his Politicks he hath made the forme of a Triāgle with certaine numbers thereupon to groūd a musicall harmonie and so apply it to Plato his opinion Wherein he is reprehended by Master Augier Ferrier Lord of Castillon who making the distinction of the word Harmonie to put away all equiuocatiōs sayth that the word Harmonie is a generall terme applied to all things well beseeming and to all good proportions to all Common wealths well framed to all families well ordered and generally to euery thing iustly and orderly disposed of perfect measure and of fine accorde So the Phisitians call the best constitutions of bodie The Musitians take the word otherwise and referre it to tunes melodious soundes and so Plato saying that Common wealths come to ruine when the harmonie faileth that is to say when the policie the lawes the order the vnion of the inhabitants is broken vseth the word in the first signification for it is then that a way is open to troubles seditions whatsoeuer And speaking to Master Bodin thinke you sayth he that Plato vnderstood that of tunes melodious sounds which Plato neuer thought of concerning the change of Kingdomes and Common-wealths And giuing another reason against the former interpretation hee saith that all proportion is not song or melodie although otherwise it bee a harmonie for his good structure and equall figure he alleadgeth onely this place for the defence of the true vnderstanding of that which Plato wrote and of the word Harmonie for concerning the maine poynt Bodin himselfe is of that opinion that changing or preseruation of Common wealths no way depends on the Harmonie of soundes But a man ought more to feare it when the citizens begin to stray from the naturall harmonie of good lawes wel ordered and from manners rightly disposed to lawes customes and maners vnlawfull wicked and pernicious although he denyeth not that Harmonie of sounds hath a great force and effect to chaunge a Common wealth for sayth he we haue a memorable exāple of the Cynethian Common wealth in Arcadia which hauing forsakē the pleasure of Musicke soone after fell to seditions and ciuill warres attributing the effect to Musicke to appease and mollifie a people so barbarous and sauage By meanes whereof he confesseth that this causeth the naturall harmonie of well agreeing lawes which causeth mē to continue in good and perfect order and thereupon followeth the preseruation of the Common wealth It is verie likely that Musicke hath a great force to appease the minds of men as diuers examples may giue vs witnesse namely of Saul and Pythagoras who as well before as after his sleepe vsed a certaine Musicall and melodious Harmonie And as Censorin speaketh Vt animum sua semper diuinitate imbueret To furnish the minde with the diuinitie of it The same author sayth that Asclepiades the Phisitian vsed ordinarily a musicall harmonie to call furious and phreneticall spirits to their own nature and there upon is it common sayth he Ut legionibus in acie dimicantibus metus mortis classico depellatur in nauis metu vel vt facilius laborem sufferant à vectore Symphonia adhibetur Yet notwithstanding he teacheth vs that Musicke at this day hath not the effect to withstand the sedition of our age because she hath lost much of her anciēt nimblenes by reason whereof Musicke is not esteemed of all equally in generall On the other side we may obserue the opinion of those who would iudge of the chaunge of Kingdomes although they are founded vpon a ground ruinous as those who build vpon the Horoscopies of townes thereby to iudge of Common wealths Imagining that some Planets and fixt Starres are the workers and contriuers of the worldes aduentures of which by reason of their incertitude I will not speake as being a thing meerely ridiculous to referre the acts manners of men cities and particular euents to any such cause Others as curiously obseruing the same matter concerning the state of kingdomes haue not onely noted the yeares but the moneths as Master Iohn Bodin who saith that if we marke the great and notable changes of states and kingdomes we shall finde the most parte to haue been in September in which moneth the lawe of God gaue his beginning to all the world and for better confirming his opinion hee giueth diuerse examples amongst others the great victorie of Augustus against Marc. Anthonie which happened the second day of September being a contention for the greatest Empire that euer was Paulus Aemilius changed the great Empire of Macedoma into many popular estates and sent King Perseus prisoner to Rome obtaining
sunne which seemeth to belong to the starres themselues following the opinion of the forenamed Astronomer that of Tully alleadged before yet notwithstanding I report me to the best learned mens iudgemēts Vpon the other side to returne to Dreames whereof wee haue begun to speak before those dreames that come by reason of a Sympathie are placed amongst those of presaging as when one friend dreameth of another As for example wee haue that of Calphurnia wife of Iulius Caesar who dreamed the day before he was murdered that she sawe her husband lye wounded in her bosome and for that cause she prayed him earnestly not to goe that day vnto the Senate But to the intent he might not be thought to be skarred with a womās dreame he went was slaine It is sayd that Catherine of Medices dreamed one day that King Henry her husband had one of his eyes put out as it happened vnto him the next morning But by reason of the trueth certitude of euents which these dreams haue brought with thē some are of that opinion that they deserue rather to be called Diuine and Supernatural then Diuinatorie to the example of that of Pilats wife who being set in the iudgemēt Hall she sent to him and told him that he should not haue to doe with that iust one for that night in her dreame she had suffered much because of him as it is in Matthew That likewise of Caius Gracchus by reason of a Sympathie and naturall coniunction when that hee dreamed of Tiberius his brother is of the number of presaging dreames as Ualerius Maximus writeth But because all the aboue mentioned dreames cause nothing but an encrease of superstition in the world by reason of vnlawfull meanes which men vse to attaine to the knowledge of the euents of things to come for this cause wee ought not either to obserue or giue credite vnto thē nor interpret them as God hath commanded The trueth and effect of prophesies which is drawne from them is discouered and made knowne by the ende and impossibilitie as the scripture speaketh by the works of the Prophet Although wee see oftentimes by experience that the diuell sayth the trueth for feare although in the Acts hee mocketh the Inchaunters which knowe not Christ and entreateth them so ill that they go hurt out of the chamber And in the 8. and 9. chapter of Exodus after the dust was turned into lice the Inchaunters themselues finally confessed that the finger of God was there and that they were not able to imitate the last miracle as they had done the former For example of these times it is not long since that in the countrie of Northland there was a mayd by whō the diuell foretold the euent of things which came after and he failed onely in one point by which it was found out to bee an ill spirit which being disguised from the beginning at length discouered himselfe such as he was The diuine Dreames which come by the immutable counsell of God are those whereof the holie scripture maketh mention as of the Prophets and other persons containing the reuelations of great matters of weight and importance as of Iesus Christ the gouernment of his Church and other vnlooked for changes Such were the dreames of Ioseph the Prophets which were knowne by their certaintie and by the testimonie of trueth it selfe Some haue made more degrees of diuine Dreames to the intent to make knowne the diuersitie of meanes which it hath pleased God in former time to vse in the reuelations of his prophesies which may bee read at large in the fourth chapter of the first booke of Master Bodin his Demononania there he obserueth as well in the reuelation of diuine prophesies as in many other miracles that God is serued by persons of diuers qualitie condition which had not the degree of ordinarie Prophets whereof the scripture maketh mention as of Esai Ieremie others But wee shall finde that oftentimes the same is done by persons heroicall and of great respect as appeareth by the dreames of Pharaoh Nabuchadnezzar others especially in great matters concerning the state of Monarchies Empires The same he doth sometime in things particular and of lesse moment as may bee proued by infinite places of scripture other histories The dreame of the Emperour Mauricius by reason of the diuine prouidence which may be marked in it may serue vs for an example who dreamed that he should be deliuered to a seruāt of his named Phocas to be slaine for this cause he sent for the Captaine Philippick to come out of prison and demanded of him if there were not one named Phocas the other answered that there was such a one a centurion ambitious and fearefull Wherevpon the Emperour sayd alleadging an olde prouerbe to that ende If he be a coward he is a murderer This was the same who after that he had first slaine his wife and children caused his head to bee cut off but the recitall of it is memorable that Maurice seeing his children murdered by Phocas and that he himselfe must be put to death presently he spake often in this manner O Lord thou art iust and so are all thy workes In like manner the dreame of Alexander the Great is also worth the marking who marching with his armie toward Iudea met with the hie Priest clothed in his solemne attyre who came to demaund peace of him in the name of the people Alexander seeing that lighted from his horse and saluted him with great reuerence and promised them peace His Captaines amazed hereat incontinentlie demanded what made Alexander to do such honor to the Priest Alexander said that before the warres of Macedon hee had seene him in a vision in the same forme and fashion that hee came vnto him calling him to come into Asia and commanding him to make warre with the Persians and he put foorth his hand as it were to guide him And so seeing now that this high Priest is most like to the former visiō he was perswaded that God had some care of his people there and for that cause he would spare them as indeede he shewed afterward both by freeing them from tribute and defending them against their enemies By reason whereof some are of that opinion that it is very likely that the Iewes aduertised Alexander then of the prophesie of Daniel hauing foretold 200. yeare before that the King of Greece should conquer Persia. The dreame of the Emperour Theodosius was such like then when as sleeping it seemed vnto him that by a certaine vision hee was commaunded to goe combat Eugenius and Argobastus both Tyrants sworne enemies to the name of God which hee did and in fighting vpon a sodaine such a great storme arose that in all respects so hindred the enemie that that was the cause of the victorie and the victorie the cause of
the heart cooled by the lightes in the soule the affections ruled by the reason and what nature hath done in these shall wee thinke vntollerable in a Common wealth Looke but vpon the Low-countries where vnequall Cantons bred such a fire increased by false reporte that whilst some boasting of their valour did disgrace others all haue bin in danger of the enemies conquest and howsoeuer their gouernours could not easilie see to what this tended yet lamentable experience hath taught them now that discorde is fatall to a Common wealth The disagreement of Italie was the ouerthrowe of their conquering empire the same made the Gaules subiect to Iulius Caesar thus if Europe the grandmother of vs poore Ilands had not dealt by misconstring her owne friendes the Turke had not so farre made entrance into Greece Slauonia Hungarie and other countries that he should proudely dare to encounter the German Emperor and stand thereby to threaten vs like as a tempest vpon the top of a mountaine readie with his showres to ouerflow the valleyes But what firme constancie can bee expected in the vniuersall palsey of all Europe How can kingdomes vnite themselues when I but one small Iland haue a number of such contrarie mindes to harbor in mee This might possiblie bee hoped for if wee had but learned this that one of vs cannot perish without another and as wee see in a firme pillard vaulte that some few stones being taken away the other incontinentlie fall and then in time ruines the whole worke so fareth it with my state whose contrarie minds may seeme smallie dangerous at the first view but swiftlie though vnseene it doth tumble downe Surueie but the groundes of our libertie and foundations of our Common wealth which were laide by the mercie of God the valour of our vnion the reliefe of brethren and the concord of all if I were indangered by my allies and distressed by the multitude of my acquaintance as sometimes hath beene the state of Flaunders whose enemies haue caused by corruption her supposed friendes to diuide her body selling her to them that haue offered the vtmost farthing then might I iustly blame not you but those whom coloured tearmes christened by the name of friends but now seeing I haue relieued manie sent my souldiers to take armes not for my own but for their good seeing I opened not my citie gates to admit strangers who were able to commaunde my strongest walles but hoyste vp my sayles to conuey out my souldiers to defend others then let not mee perish by you whom I haue deemed no lesse deare then my owne life trecheries haue taught states to take heed with whome they ioyne in amitie and Demosthenes wished the Greekes to take heede of this which if they had wisely followed Amintas sonne and his successors had not oppressed Greece by a fained amitie Thus forewarned Nicolaus vnder vauld the Flemmings forefathers to take heede of forrainers which if they had wisely followed so many cities of trafficke had not been townes of Garrisons But my ruine if it vnhappelie happen which God forbid is not by strangers force for they are too feeble to weaken my state but by such as I kindely nourish in mine owne bowels for whilst one holdeth for Spaine another for France the third for the Lowe Countries and euerie quarter of the land hath such as being displeased with mee are desirous to please strangers it must needes happen that my ioynts being racked with so great a torment I liue feeble confesse that mine owne inhabitants did worke my ouerthrowe the gold and siluer of mine enemies is able to preuaile as much with my vniustly tearmed English men as in the daies of Scaurus Fondlie are you deceiued with a hope of quiet to your minds howsoeuer in show they pretend so for credit me that haue tried it long since they meane nothing lesse But as Philip made the Athenians beleeue that he had pretences against the Plotenses Olynthians and others thereby to passe further but Demosthenes told the citizens that if Philip had once wonne Olyntha and Loreyra who demaunded succour of the Athenians hee would not rest till hee had conquered whole Grecia which by little and little he effected after And howsoeuer coūtrimen Philip may perswade you that his purpose is but onely to reforme religion and to passe no further yet vnder this pretence hauing gottē footing within your walles harbor within your townes and hands within your treasuries you shall finde his entent to be farre otherwise and neuer vnles your wiues conspire against them to bee rooted out Thus hauing obtained Corinth hee shall after come to ride vpon the backe of Greece or as Cassius perswading the Heluetians vnder pretence of alliance and showe of a good cause broched a discorde and so made France subiect to the Romane Empire For if Maximilian the Duke of Austrich durst say that hee treated of agreement with King Lewes the 12. onely to be reuenged of the seuenteen iniuries which he had receiued of the French men although they were scarce thought to haue done him any what shall wee thinke the Spanyard will performe against vs of whō he supposeth to haue receiued so many harmes and so foule dishonors No valerous and noble Englishmen credite not so farre either the hope of Spanish gold a canker that hath fretted the greatest kingdomes or the free passage of religion a thing neuer thought of by them but shewe your selues valiant as earst you haue bin loyall as still you should be then shall you be conquerous as stil you may be For Flanders had neuer bin so firmely vnited with France if Lewes the 12. being but then Daulphin sollicited by Pope Eugenius and Fredericke the Duke of Austrich to breake the counsel of Basill and to ouerrun the countrey had not bin incountred with some fewe Flēmings and put to such famous flight that he was constrained to praise their valour and to make an alliance with them which continued long after The like had the French King stirred vp by Pope Iulius who considering their ancient magnanimitie hath desired to be vnited with the Flemmings as the chief pillar of his crowne and kingdome this was continued to them in the said manner first obtained by their true valour by Henry the 2. and after by Charles the 9. and so lately by these two last Henries In like manner if you continue as you haue begun to bee vnited amongst your selues to be suspitious of forraine flatterie to distrust vpon al pretences the Spanish treacherie then shall I florish as most fortunate and cause them sue for my truce That one conquest when seas did swel with so great pride obtained against their Nauie 1588. hath by Fames alarme been sounded in the vtmost parts of the world hath made the Spanyard desirous of my fauour And if I bee challenged to buy my
lately in the Realme of France yet it were easie to proue out of the histories of al times that traytors seditious persons howsoeuer they haue been so bold that they durst in the field incounter the Lords annoynted yet he whom the scripture calleth the author of victorie and the God of battell shall make them to flie when no man followeth shall cause ten thousand of them to bee chased with a thousand and in the day of battell giue victorie to his owne annoynted The rebellioÌ„ that was made in Spayne against the Emperour Charles the 5. in the beginning of his raigne together with the happie successe of his Maiestie may serue as apparant proofe to confirme this seeing the seditious faction was foyled and the most of theÌ„ taken captiue It shall be needles to adde this that in the daies of Queene Mary when first she came vnto the Crowne finding the people to be mutinous and in the land nothing almost but flat rebellion in shorter time then the space of two moneths worthely she was conqueror ouer all her enemies such was the state of Flanders 1566. and three yeares after yet neuer heard of that rebellious sedition preuailed against a lawfull Soueraigne all ages afoorde multitude of examples in this kind the vnnaturall riot of Duras the wonderfull successe of the battell of Dreux in France and after of Poncenas and not to stand in particulars of that country the euent of things hath made known vnto vs that rebellion builded vpon a weake foundation cannot possibly stand if the Lord in anger do blow vpon it neither speake I this to make a Prince more seuere against his rebellious subiects to make the Scepter of a King plow vp the bowels of his owne countrie men but to shew that Loyaltie cannot brooke rebellion that sedition is odious to a good subiect that treason is intollerable in a CommoÌ„ wealth if I lincked with Religion a thing hardly to bee hoped for in this bad age coulde but liue for a small time safe from treason if some of Englands subiects had continuallie remained in my fauor then durst I boldly haue compared with the proudest nation and hauing religion a crowne and loyaltie as a strong defence she might valiantly haue incountered her stoutest foes for I may confidently auouch in the reuerend securitie of an vpright minde that excepting treasons blowne into the heartes of her subiects by forraine enemies England hath been as free from danger as far from distresse in as great prosperitie as euer was Iland in so bad an age Then countriemen giue mee leaue to perswade thus much that the benefite of treason shall bee this if vnhappilie which God forbid you obtaine your purpose your countrie shall bee desolate you your selues shall bee feared and suspected of your enemies and these ample ornaments garlands of long peace shall crowne your enemies for the victories obtained in your conquest I that haue made your children dutifull in whose mindes the name of a Father did extinguish disobedience I that haue made your friendes trustie in whome the name of sacred Friendship was wont to banish all deceite I that haue made your wiues in the honorable reuerence of your loue to respect no perswasion of strangers thereby wantonly to commit adulterie I I say intreate you by these fauours that being children in duetie you bee not disobedient to so good a mother being friendes by promise and that confirmed with a sacred vow you bee not found deceitefull to so dread a Soueraigne lastly being those whom nature religion time and countrie haue matched nearlie for this 36. yeares with so gratious a Prince that you bee not seene to prostitute your bewtie to a stranger to admit Tarquin into your fauour and neuer to bee vnpunished to violate so great an oath for what the seuen Ambassadors commended in their common wealths vnto King Ptolomey that England may iustly vaunt she professeth at this day and where as they in three things compared which should excell England possessing one twentie may iustly in comparison out strip the proudest that Europe hath The Ambassadors of Rome boasted that their Temples were honoured their gouernours obeyed and their wicked punished may not England doe it more iustly if you compare it with those times And yet for honouring our Temples I cannot so much commend vs but onely that that little honor which they haue amongst some it is in true sinceritie The Ambassadors of Carthage iustly boasted that their Nobilitie was valiant to fight their CoÌ„minaltie to take paynes and their Philosophers to teach was there euer countrie I except not Carthage in his best estate where either the Nobilitie is more valiant the CoÌ„minaltie more laborious or the teachers more profound then in England at this day The Ambassadors of Cicely boasted that their countrie executed iustice loued trueth and commended simplicitie neuer Common wealth I dare auouch since the first societie that man had was ruled with more vpright iustice was honored with greater trueth and admired for more simplicitie then generallie is the state of England the Ambassadors of the Rhodians bragged that the old men were honest the young men shamefaste and the women peaceable and may not England iustlie boaste of all these The Ambassadors of Athens that they consented not that their rich should be partiall their people should be idle their gouernours should be ignorant and is not all this now as true in England amongst vs as euer it was in Athens amongst them The Ambassadours of Lacedemon vaunted that there was no enuie because all were equall no coueteousnes because all were common no idlenes because all did labour and are not the same banished from our land howsoeuer procured by a better cause For England wanteth enuie in her selfe not because all are equall but all friends England is not couetous not by reason of communitie but because of conscience And idlenes out of this land was banished long since with the Lorde Dane The Ambassadors of Sictonia glorified iustlie in these three wherein England is supposed to bee farre shorte that they admitted no strangers inuentors of new toyes that they wanted Phisitions to kill the sicke and aduocates to make their pleas immortall wherein I must needes confesse for trueth onely becommeth my talke that howsoeuer in the aboundance of her wealth England hath giuen strangers money for very toyes yet it was not for loue of them but to shew the world that their plentie was not debarde from euery stranger for Phisitions I may truly say thus that the Aesculapins honoring Padâ—â—â—â— in the aboundance of her skill is vnequall to make comparison with vs in England and lastly for our aduocates a slaunder I confesse common but yet most vntrew men so learnedlie wise so wiselie religious and so respectiuely learned wise and religious as if Europe would seeme to contend in this doutles shee should bee
graced Anthonie deserueth immortall praise from the haÌ„d of that diuine Lady who like Corinna conteÌ„ding with Pindarus was oft victorious Sir Dauid Lynsay Matilda honorably honored by so sweet a PoeÌ„ Diana Procul hinc procul ite profani England to be defended by schollers Your learned Doctors Cherish your youth The fault of Vniuersities England too kind She speaketh not to those that haue fled the land Rome altered The commoÌ„ wealth miserable that hath her foes within her selfe Excesse of these times Not safe for a countrey to bragge of wealâ—h if the Spaniard know it The fault of Empires Lawes for sobrietie the sinewes of a Kingdome Plentie and ease the Ca kers of a Kingdome Proud Kingdomes must fall How Rome fell Loose pleasure begets treason Discord vntieth the armour of a common wealth Happy daies Miserable state that is so Let the traitors accuse me if they can A thing done in other countries Yet these no causes to be rebellious Discorde Whom God keepeth in despigth of them A thing ofteÌ„ attempted Lybels No Iland caÌ„ remember greater benefits to her inhabitants Elizabeth No pen able to praise sufficiently No land so many Graue and wise Counsellers hath England still had The streÌ„gth of a kingdom are lawes and their execution the meanes to expell feare from her subiects England may iustly glory of her three daughters 1. CaÌ„bridge 2. Oxford 3. Innes of court Note this A thing miserable when the Vniuersities are poore A wicked policie An vndoubted truth The Spaniard Pope Frenchmen Scots and all laugh at our discord The cause of discorde A Kingdom can not stand without inequalitie The moderation of inequalitie Lamemtable times Greece perished by discord Beware true English meÌ„ Dangerous cause of vuion The praise of inequalitie Equality not to be hoped for of strangers Low countries dangered by emulation Discord * And chalenge him 1594. If Christians ioyne not together A true rule Note A thing to be respected As some haue done A thing lamentable If we our selues be vnited A thing too miserable if it should be so England can not perish but by English men The Spaniard is foolish to hope so Note this Trust him not Giue him an inch he will take an ell An vsuall policy at this day Offered to Iudas to betray his Master True English men Truth in a few is often victorious Ualour begets loue As still you haue beene Note this Dangerous to ioyne with Spaine Fraunce poore by warres Not so faithfull as they should be Why Spaine is so constant in her free offers No great ods betwixt theÌ„ if they had equall peace Beware of them both To Parry Babington c. Lopez executed the 7. of Iune 1594. Spaine not onely an enemie for religion Too great simplicitie to thinke so Take heede by others Inconstancie in religion is the mother of Atheisme The Spanish colonie Note this An exhortation to England Spaniards like Iewes Spanish Haman They preteÌ„d Religion but intend trechery Absolon a right Spaniard Take heede trust theÌ„ not Let Spaine answere Note this Note this Impossible to be so Let the Spaniard credit me S. George Fides Hispanica God himselfe will punish traytors Note this O happie England if this happen Discord fatall to great attempts The late mortalitie more lamentable then the losse of Aegypts first borne Religion brought froÌ„ heauenly loue Religion falsly accused Religions Apologie Religion no true cause of miseries in a common wealth Note this Mans ignorance makes false religioÌ„ Superstition Religion and superstition at continuall warres In England many religious fanorers Harmes for religion grieue not either the dooer or the sufferer Miserable blindnes So doth Romoaldus Scotus Superstition is most zealous Among the Atheists of this age Afalse accusation of religion Xerxes Zealte false Religion impatient of an indignitie The wrongs are infinite which religion hath suffered for being called relig Religion hath had coÌ„tinuall and great enemies Anno mundi 1517. God knoweth how to deliuer his Affliction may endure for a time but deliuerance is not farre from Gods church So the fier for the three children Superstition maketh dissention in the Church Libertatis amor stultuÌ„ quid decipis orbem â— King 24. 2. Chron. 36. Religion still perfecuted How Gods enemies seek to deface all parts of religion The Romans enemies to religion The Iewes sinne the cause of their punishment Iewes Vsurers A miserable state where there is no religion Many of theÌ„ still persist in their sinnes Religion in great danger amongst her owne friends Contention the ground of Atheism Arrius and so Heretikes grow mighty in the middest of contentions Heretikes neuer want followers Constantius an Arrian 105. Bishops Arrians Holar contra ConstaÌ„tium Alex. Athan Iudge if religion haue not suffered wrong Religion no where safe in earth A famous victory After King of France Godfrey of Bolloygne Whereof sweet Tasso song Martyrs all Religion hateth discord England the seate of religion The happines of England by religioÌ„s meanes The discorde of other countries England in peace Peace the child of religion begetteth plentie that kils the grandmother England note this In the dayes of our dread Soueraigne Essex Willowbie Norris Sir Francis Uere c. A false slander to make traytors Martyrs Neuer martyr was a traytor Iustitia Britannica Campia Martyrium Anvsuall fault Gregorie 13. Pius 5. Sixtus 5. Exceeding pittie Miraculous preseruation of Gods Church I feare to thinke of it Iusticia Britannica A greater number Stapleton Parsons This can not be denied In Queene Maries time Slander is neuer tongue tied In their libel against the English Iustice Papa pius moritur quintus res mira tot inter pontifices tantum quinque suisse pios Leaue giuen to Parsons Campion by Gregorie 13. 1580. April 14. to interpret the bull of Pius 5. Henry the 2. King of Fraunce his edict against the Pope Anno. 1550. King Philip once feared not the Popes Buls Duke of Albany with an armie against the Pope 1527. Whom he kept in Adrians tower 7 moneths Let the Pope marke this Cardinall Pole offended with the Pope Henry the 8. shaked off the Pope Religions enemies The Atheist and the Puritan so called Religion no states man but of counsell with theÌ„ Dangerous for a Prince Machiuell confuted States in Europe ruinated by Machiuell A certaine prophesie Note this Relig Princes doe still triumph Gen. Exo. Ios. Iudg. King Machab. Aug lib. 5. de ciuit cap. 25. Cap. 26. Lib. 5. histor cap. 24. Socrat lib. 7. histor cap. 18. Euagr. lib 4. histor cap. 16. ibid. cap. vlt. By sundry Doctors of great learning Brownists a sect to support Atheisme As since they haue written in their bookes Ambr. Catharinus Archiep. CoÌ„pusonus Ioh. Molanus Ioh Boterus Anonymos Petrus Corotus Posseuinus Iesuit Learned Puritans By wise authoritie and learned answers L. Archb. of Canturbury Bancroft Bilson Sutcliff Hooker c. A true fault in Englands Church Cruell patrons pittie the church hath not the fauour of an ordinarie ward Loyaltie vrgeth her benefits Loyaltie can not abide to heare of treason or sedition Understanding misled begets treason What is rebellion What men are traytors False pretenses in traytors and rebels Note this As may appeare by the six articles written in french Sir Iohn Cheeke wrote of Sed. Alex. Neuill Euer bad things haue good pretenses So may I say to the English traytors By Ket A thing vnlikely and impossible Reade the chronicles Mercy vndeserued Peace to enemies but not to traytors With open enemies out of her selfe Rome fell by clemencie to traytors If we can not suffer the lie much lesse treason An exhortation A necessary caueat Mercy often cruell Not safe to trust a traytor Charles the fift Some of the nobilitie Note this A thing lamentable What loyalty hath done Plutar. in lib. de exiâ—io 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Enuied of other nations Lourdane 7. Learned Iudges Serieants Counsellers As they account it Tell it not in Gath c. The ancient and graue counseller The misery of captaines Elius Spar. Loyaltie vehement against treason Traytors coÌ„pared with Uerres God A happie sight 4. King 15. Iudg. 4. 23. Iudg. 5. 20. 21. So the Spanish fleete In confutat Summarij Rat. Against my L. Keeper others The conclusion