stoute Germayne the bolde Britayne the hautie Spaniarde the politike Frenchman neither subtile Egyptian with warlike weapons were euer able to vanquish in the plaine field could not auoyd in the Senate at Rome in tyme of peace the short daggers of such faithlesse friendes And that I may omit those common speeches that true faith and constant promises can not settle themselues about high estates The deuil himselfe when hee spyeth the weapons and wittes of wicked men blunt and dull in such eases as hee hath bin an insatiable murderer from the beginning so then doth bee practise all his olde policies and attempteth all meanes to cast downe the Magistrates and with them to ouerthrowe the whole multitude And that those things are moste true many woorthye wightes haue approued and confessed who studying to apply all their endeuours with commendation and good conscience to execute their callinges haue seene good meanings and deuises for the most part turned vpside downe These things caused Tiberius the Emperour often to call Regiment a monstrous beast WheÌ„ Pompeius Magnus was aduertised by letters sent vnto him from the Senate that all power and authoritie was conferred from Scylla vnto him by the generall consent of the people hee sorowfully smit him selfe vppon the breast saying thus Ah troubles and sorowes without end Had it not biâ—better for mee to haue discended of obscure parentes than thus to bee wasted with publyke cares to bee vndermined with malice and Enuie and euer to bee a straunger not only in my owne house but to my deare and louing wife and children Of Pompey his iudgement haue byn many excellent men who being delited with the prinate and quiet life and wearied with weighty offices in the common wealth haue most willingly resigned and giuen vp their authoritie It is written of Diocletianus Augustus that of his own electioÌ„ he left his dignitie refused his Crowne willing to passe his latter dayes rather in some solitarie place in the couÌ„trey thaÌ„ in a Palace in the eye as it were of a mightie Empire I am not ignoraunt what some Authors reporte of that facte of Diocletianus but howsoeuer it was it swarueth not from this purpose Dyon in the lyfe of Adrian maketh mention of one Similis who often vsed to saye that hee accompted that priuate condition of his which he lead in Campania to be his lyfe but these other dayes spent in Court be called death and not lyfe For so soundeth that Epitaphe which hee willed to bee ingraued vpon his Tombe Here lyeth Similis whose name was auntient but in deede he liued only seuen yeares The noble man made so small accompt of that his tyme spente in prease of mightie men himselfe the chiefe in all honour and dignitie Xenophon in that dialogue intituled Tyrannus seemeth of purpose to induce Hiero disputing with Socrates often repeting and confirming by his owne experience the priuate and meane estate of lyfe farre to excell the publique callyng of officers and the high condition of noble menne not only in tranquillitie of mynde and ease of bodie but oftentymes in competent and laudable wealth and riches All these wise men did well perceiue that to exploite weightie affayres and to guyde the common wealth is a matter of much moment enwrapped aboue all other kyndes of lyfe in infinite perilles and most desperate and daungerous troubles The Emperours of Rome haue well confirmed these things for of fourtie of them nexte succeeding Iulius Caesar scarce ten dyed naturally in their beddes And so much did men shunne that calling the end whereof by experience they often did see to be eyther the piersing swoorde or priuie poyson that by coaction or constraint they supplyed the office And in these our tymes beyng no doubte the laste and yron age of the worlde wherein all liuing thinges in strength and might doe decaye the firmament and earth growne olde and in force and power spent and as it were worne out what other thinges see wee than iniquitie according to the worde of Christ to abounde and especially disobedience in all degrees almoste to superabounde The late conspiracies tumultes and vprores in thys our natyue countrey and the harde harte of Adamante not possible to be mollifyed without bloude hath openly displayde a I cocenesse in discipline an obliuion of loyaltie a monstruous contempt of a moste mylde mothers meekenesse and mercy Sathan hath spitte out his poyson agaynst the prince and magistrates he hath discharged his great ordinance against the Castle of peace and concord The sedulitie and great care of the magistrate hath not wanted in watching and warding the same but vnlesse the lord of heauen and earth had kept this forte all the keepers had watched in vayne If he had not bin on our syde then as the Prophet sayth had we bin swallowed vp quicke Then had the swelling waters gone ouer-our soule and we lyke to them that goe-downe into the Pitte These things deepely weighed and oftentimes considered of the noble for they ought neuer to be forgotten admonisheth them not only to bee thankefull to God for so miraculous a deliuerance who hath not giuen them as a pray vnto their enimies teeth but moreouer teacheth them what protection defence they ought principally to prouide hereafter in sembable tumults and troubles The Heathen Magistrate would accompt his chiefe suertie and best defence to consist in store of money in great horses in valiant Souldiers in great and mightie armies The Christian Magistrate wil not refuse these externall helpes but principallye will acknowledge his defents to come from God therefore will not feare what man may doe vnto him The Heathen Magistrate would make flish his right hande and comforte The Christian Magistrate wil lift vp his eyes vnto the mountaynes make the Lorde his ayde and helpe and will seeke his consolation out of Gods worde The infallible and present consolation and the firme fortresse of christian Princes and Magistrates consisteth vpon foute principall pyllers First of his vocation and callyng Secondlye of the worthie and moste notable promises of God in the scripture that hee wil bee their helper and defendour Thirdly of the honour and obedience which God seuerely commaundeth to be giuen vnto magistrates Fourthlye of innumerable examples in holye write whereby wee see the good Magistrates alwayes to haue bin mayntayned and preserued and the rebellious and disobediente to haue bin suppressed and punished ¶ The first Consolation of the Magistrate in respecte of his calling and of the dignitie thereof The Magistrate is a person ordeyned and instituted of God himselfe both to bee a maynteyner and defendour of the firste Table wherein those thynges are especially comprehended whiche appertaine to the worshipping of God and also to be a keeper and preseruer of the second Table conteyning externall disciplyne and obedience in humane societie and to be gods Liefetenant sounding the voyce of the lawe
all Princes magistrates ought to apprebende and bolde fast They were withoute doubt written to thys ende that all such as continue in Gods feare might knowe wherevnto to trust For whatsoeuer things are written afore time are written for our learning that wee through pacience and comforte of the Scriptures myghte haue hope Whensoeuer then any Prince or Magistrate will make Gods word his chiefe solace and treasure will loue and feare God and trust in his grace and mercie he shall haue God his righte arnre his buckler and shield his patrone and defender that bee may quietly and safely lay him downe to sleepe and take his rest for that the Lorde of heauen and earth susteyneth him And therein obserue and diligently recorde the often repetition of these wordes Be strong and of good courage If he had bin a milkesoppe and faint harted in his office he coulde not haue serued God nor executed his calling nor prouided for hys army This example if the mightie would folow they shuld not be so easily coÌ„fouÌ„ded they shoulde not hazarde and make shipwracke of their fame honor and dignitie We see worldly Princes onely or principally to depende vpoÌ„ their wisedome streÌ„gth and riches ignorant as it should appeare that all Potentates are by Gods Prouidence adâ—aunced and set vp and by his hand displaced and pulled downe For preferment is neyther from the East nor from the West nor from the South but God is the Iudge he maketh lowe and be maketh high Such men therefore leaning to suche brittle and weake posts are wounded vppon the splinters and shiuers their fall and ruine is greate their shame and ignomie is greater the triuÌ„ph of their enimies is greatest of all That noble and Godly Prince Dauid may be liuely example and spectacle vnto all Christian Magistrates For being rich and mightie yet hee accoumpted the promises of the Lorde and confidence in the liuing God to be his principall Armory The saluation of the righteous men shal be of the Lord he shal be their help in time of trouble for the Lorde shall help them and deliuer them he shall deliuer them from the wicked and shall saue them bycause they trust in him And agayne at such time as he was to be annoynted King and to assume that great office and charge he comforteth him selfe in the holy Ghost after this manner The Lord is my light and my saluation whome shall I feare the Lorde is the strength of my life of whome shall I bee afrayde When the wicked euen my enimies and my foes came vpon me to eate my fleshe they stumbled and fell Though an host pitched agaynst me mine hart shoulde not be afrayd Though warre be raised agaynst mee I will trust in this One thing haue I desired of the Lord that I will require euen that I may dwell in the house of the Lorde all the dayes of my life to beholde the beautiâ— of the Lord and to visite his temple For in the time of trouble he shal hide me in his Tabernacle in the secret place of his Pauilion shall he hide me and set me vpon a Rocke What neede many authorities in so cleare a case You see euidently that God withstandeth and resisteth the most puissant and fierce enimies of hys Magistrates that he promiseth to coole theyr courage to mitigate their madnesse and to represse their rage Agayn that what commoditie and ornament soeuer may beautifie their calling God giueth and graunteth farre aboue their expectation Which wondeful loue and mercie of God for that some Nemroth and mightie men of this worlde being as it were drunken with their so prosperous successes haue not aknowledged they haue at the last bin made seruile slaues too obiect and cruel rascalles and being a little before baughty as Lions haue bin for their vnthankfulnesse throwne downe theyr honor layd in the dust and them selues haue layne in the way like dead Dogges Wherefore these considerations ought alwayes to be in the eyes and mindes of Princes and magistrates that they may feare and reuerence God and repose their confidence rather in his maiestie thaÌ„ in outward power streÌ„gth For to what purpose are expert Captaynes and Souldiers Irmies well ordered store of all munition plentie of victuall Are not all these lost in a momente and euen as wee doe cut downe greene grasse so the God of heaueÌ„ confoundeth all the glorie of warre of battell What a huge power had Holofernes at the seege of Bethulia what policie and counsayle was vsed to stoppe the water from them so to inforce them to yeelde theyr Citie yet how easily did God destroy and scatter suche a Captayne suche an Armie so many engins of warre by the hand of a woman What shall we say of so many kings as were linked togither agaynste Iosua and so many nations againste the onely Israelites in the time of Gideon and others Who woulde not haue perswaded him selfe of his good successe And who woulde not haue exhorted the Israelites to yeelde them selues especially if they had compared armour to armour ancients to ancients men to men countrey to countrey But how foolish and fondly did they triumph before the victorie Let Princes and Magistrates ceasse let them ceasse I saye to fire theyr hartes in Castels Fortes Captaynes Armies monie or any lyke thing whiche worldlings haue in price and only esteeme Let them rather consider the terrible threats of God left in this worlde whereby men are drawen from fragile to firme things from flesh to spirit from maÌ„ to god God speaketh by the mouth of Esay Wo vnto them that goe downe into Egipt for help and stay vpon horses and trust in charets bycause they are many and in horsemen bycause they are very strong but they looke not to the holy one of Israell nor seeke vnto the Lorde for when the Lorde shall stretche out hys hande the helper shall fall and they shall altogyther fayle Dauid speaketh in lyke manner The Kyng is not saued by the multitude of an host neyther is the mighty man deliuered by greate strength A horse is a vayne help and shall not delyner any by hys great strength Beholde the eye of the Lorde is vppon them that feare him and trust in his mercie to deliuer theyr soules from death and to preserue them in famine In these wordes the spirite of GOD comprehendeth all suche tâ—ings as menne make accompt of to atchieue waightie affayres yet they so paynte them out with significante tearmes that if all worldly might were knitte togither you maye not ascribe victory vnto them for that they shall vanish away like smoke and bee scartered like chaffe before the face of the wind in the day of battell It is the Lord alone then at whose hande wee must aske counsayle It is the Lorde that when man determineth prosperitie in pulling backe his hand sendeth aduersitie And agayne it is he alone that when men
Morall guyding his subiectes according to the same And as this ordinance is of God so hath it byn of most auntient tyme For in Noha his dayes immediatly after the floud when God gaue leaue to mortall men to kill liuing creatures for their foode and sustentation he forbad them to eate beastes being yet aliue in their bloud as Wolues deuour lambes and as the Griphon renteth doues least men abusing such livertie might in tyme being fleshed as it wer in crueltie kill one another and shead mannes bloud The liuing Lorde requireth a kinde of pittie and mercy towards creatures albeit vnreasonable not to deale with them as with insensible things wherein Cato Censorius is iustly reprehended of Plutarch who without all humanitie solde his bondmen now olde and altogither wasted in his seruice God therefore thundereth a seuere intermination or threatning saying whoso sheadeth mannes bloud by man shall his bloud be shead For in the Image of God hath he made man In which wordes of the Lord we see the institution of a Magistrate to the end he should succour and defend the poore and innocent from iniurie and vyolence and correct and punish the transgressours for their faults and offences In tymes paste Kings and rulers therefore cōsidering not only the antiquitie but also the dignitie of their calling to be of God haue in their stiles vsed this Phrase N. By the grace of God King. Acknowledging that all preeminencye of Maiestie aucthoritie and power of Emperours Kings Princes and of all other Magistrates and officers whatsoeuer are giuen and conferred by God himselfe Which cogitation is verye profitable not onlie to represse the insolencie and hautinesse of mynde which commonly accompanieth dignitie and authoritie being very pernitious in all regiment but also much furthereth to the better administration and discharge of their calling in the feare of god For as they see and vnderstand themselues appointed in their places and degrees by God euen so are they seriously put in mynd that they must yelde an accompte of all their doings to him and therefore they will endeuour with all their power strength to obey and serue him with all feare and reuerence according to the saying of the King and Prophet Be wise now therefore yee Kings be learned ye iudges of the earth Serue the Lord in feare and reioyce in trembling Now as we learne the worthinesse of this calling by the light of Gods worde so may we see the same in the Gentiles folowing the light of most woorthie titles and names as the Persians who both called their Kings Gods and lying prostrate before them signified an opynion of their royall myndes and maiestie Afterward the Grecians excelling in all science and learning called their Princes Pastors or feeders of the people with which name excellent Homere hath celebrated woorthie Agamemnon Mynander aptly and briefly calleth a King The liuely Image of God. Albeit that saying seemeth to bee drawen out of Hesiodus an auntient Poet who numbred noble vertouns Princes amongst the Gods attributing vnto them after this life a kinde of diuine power ouer men Which opinion was afterward receiued both of the Grecians and Romaines as it is most euident to them that obscrue their languages For as amongst the Romaines all such as were translated for their noble actes amongst the number of the Gods were called Indigetes as if you woulde saye dwellyng with the Gods. So the Atheniensians named suche worthie wightes Iupiters sonnes of God enioying heauen as it were by right of inheritance But in proces of tyme the Romaynes most honorably termed their Emperours and nobles Fathers of their countrey and added the names of Royaltie and Maiestie And finally accompting such speeches not answerable to their great enterprises and exploits they erected vnto them Images Altars Chappels Churches Holidayes and Sacrifices Which doings if you trie by the touchstone of true religion I confesse they will appeare drosse and be founde blame woorthy Yet I say by some sparke or glimse of nature or by some celestial inspiration they reuerenced nexte and immediatly vnder God the creator of things and somdeale adored the Magistrates These examples must needes please all sache as doe not barbarously reiecte the light of naturr and the Ladie of man Reason I meane and vnderstanding But most pithie perswasions comfortable consolations are drawen out of the welles of liuing water not only quencting mens drye and thirstie affections in this lyte but springing to life euerlasting Almightie God therfore in the regiment and policie of his owne people the Israelites after their entrance into the lande of Promise first appoynted Iudges and then Kinges vnto whome hee made the common people subiecte which authoritie and secular power of Magistrates Christ him selfe and the Apostles haue allowed and confirmed The answere of Christ touching paying of Tribute euen to a Heathen Magistrate is most euidēt Giue saith he to Caesar those things that belong to Caesar and vnto God those things that belong to God. Which precepte Christ himselfe fulfilled in paying Tribute The blessed mother of Christ Marie the virgine accompanied with Ioseph wente to Bethleem to bee taxed among other Citizens and subiectes The speeche of Christ to one of his company caryeth weight with it Put vppe thy swoorde in his place for all that take the swoord shall perith with the swoord In which sentence wee see the power of the Secular swoorde allowed hauyng annexed vnto it ordinarye and lawfull correction and punishment whereby priuate murders and other offences may be stayde and letted It followeth then of the premisses that thys condition of lyfe is bolye and acceptable to God whereby the disobedient are brideled and the innocent maynteyned and conserued Sainte Paul the chosen vessell enlargeth and expoundeth the wordes of hys maister Let euery soule be subiecte vnto the highe powers for there is no power but of God and the powers that bee are ordeyned of god Whosoeuer therefore resisteth the power resistech the ordinaunce of God and they that resist shall receyue to them selues iudgement for Princes are not to bee feared for good workes but for euill Wilt thou then bee without feare of the power doe will and so shalte thou haue prayse of the same for hee is the minister of God for thy wealth but if thou doe euill feare for he beareth not the swoord for naught for he is the minister of god to take vengeance on him that doeth euill Wherefore you must be subiect not bicause of wrath onlye but also for conscience sake For for this cause ye pay also Tribute for they are Gods ministers applying themselues for the same thing In this place the holie ghost calleth three tymes the Magistrate by the name of Gods minister And is not this a true a stedfast and an excellent comforte Is not the great and heauie burden of Magistrates made lighte Is not their pensiue myndes and carefull
care eased and relieued In tymes of darknesse none were thought to serue God but such as went into the church to heare mattins and masse But S. Paul the organe and instrument of God tracheth that a Magistrate sitting in iudgement hearing pleas examining causes succoring the widdow and orphane and pronouncing sentence according to iustice and equitie doeth God true and faithfull seruice Wherefore albeit many griefes cares sorrowes calamities and incommodities doe accomber this lyfe doe waste and consume them yet haue they this consolation I execute this my condition and estate by Gods ordinance and calling whither therefore God prolong or shorten my dayes it forceth not I lyue and dye in that function whiche is acceptable vnto god And God surely doth not onely gouerne their externall doings but boweth inclineth theyr harts and denises after his will and pleasure according to the saying of the most prudente Salomon The Kings hart is in the hande of the Lord as the riuers of water he turneth it whether soeuer it pleaseth him Thus you see with what waightie words the spirit of God extolleth their callings and that not withoute brgent 〈◊〉 For if we take away the Magistrate or wilfully violate their sacred authoritie we take the sunne out of the world we abandon truth and peace we make the whole earth a denne of theeues CHAP. 2. The seconde consolation drawen from Gods manifolde promises to help and defende the Magistrate IF Princes or Magistrates dyd turmoyle and tumble in their regiment without Gods speciall help and prouidence no maruell it were if the thought and care of one day did vtterly ouerwhelme and oppresse them But therefore haue they an vnspeakeable solace that God both conferreth dominion and rule at his owne pleasure and also directeth and guideth them accordingly vsing them only as externall instrumeÌ„ts And his exceeding greate loue is most euident toward them in that to euery Magistrate and Prince in their dominions be appointeth speciall Angels to defende strengthen and conserue them Wherof we haue an example in y Prophet Daniel where mention is made that the Angell Michaell sloode on the Israelites side against their enimies It were impertinent to this matter to alledge mens opinions of Angels wherin there is some diuersitie But this is truely gathered that as the wicked fiende Beelzebub sendeth legions of Diuels into Princes palaces to stirre vp seditions and to bring in al kind of calamities so Gods Angel pitcheth his camp round about them and if they feare God they haue always more nuÌ„ber with them than against them to shield theÌ„ from the darts of Sathans Souldiers and to bridle their malice and furie The Philosophers into whom nature poured viuacitie and sharpnesse of wit did see that monarchies and kingdoms could not coÌ„tinue by humane policie were constreyned to cofeffe that by Gods prouidence kings kingdomes 〈◊〉 maintained defended The Fathers of the first age amongst the Gentiles vsed first before they wente to the Eloction of their prince to offer sacrifice to their gods crownd him King who by Oracle was pronounced most meete to the office wherein they haue opened their minds in this matter verily y without gods help they are able to accomplish nothing agayn the through his help they are able to 〈◊〉 Wâ— Somnius that Philoâ—pher â—â— Egypt betâ— how Great Alexander went to off 〈…〉 vnto Iupiter of Ammo in Egipt 〈◊〉 many 〈◊〉 naturlled he answered wel That al men were vndor Gods hand and poyce but to 〈◊〉 he and to be a prince is the highest and greanst benefite He added moreouer that God was a parent ginerally vnto al me but that he especially a dopted vnto himself as his most louing childreÌ„ y princes magâ—â—rats And certen it is that many who haue him cast out by the it parentes or kinssblke as it were an vntimely fruite haue vin by Gods singular prouidence preserued yea being obiected to Beastes haue bin of buite beastes nourished and at last became greate Princes and Lords of the world We reade in histories that Romulus was nourished of a Woolfe Cyrus of a Bitche Abidus of a Doe Hiero of Bees that broughte hony into hys â—ppes And finally that I may not omit king Dauid who in his yong yeeres was a refuse among his brethren in his fathers house how woÌ„derfully was he preferued from the mouth of the Lion and Beare howe miraenlously was the yong Babe Moses taken out of the deepe waters and appointed to leade the children of Israell through the redde Sea. Such ensamples bothe prophane and diuine if they are to be called prophane that minister so good matter do playnely declare that such as are ordeyned to be Princes and Rulers are euen from the houre of their virth receyned into Gods Iutele and protection The summe and effect thereof consifleth in this that the Magistrate haue onely and alwayes before his eyes Gods prouidence and mercy in his sonne Christ so shall he and all his businesse be farre from perill and daunger and safely stand without all compasse of gunshot Let him remember Gods earnest promise to the Israelites obeying his commaundements If thou hearken vnto my voyce and do all that I speake then I will bee an enimie vnto thy enimies and will afflicte them that afflict thee If hee feare God in deede this notable promise will more encourage him than all Castles Towres munitions and Armies For if God will be an enimie vnto their enimies let their aduersaries deuise imagine conspire and bend all force against the Magistrate they cannot preuayle they cannot vndermine or supplant them so long as God defendeth the Magistrate and fighteth against their enimies How is it possible that the one shoulde preuayle and the other perish Dauid hauing approoued the trueth of Gods promise in him selfe farre aboue hys expectation vttereth this sentence I wil loue thee deerely O Lord my strength The Lord is my rocke and my fortresse and he that delyuereth me my God and my strength in him will I trust my shielde the horne also of my saluation and my refuge And agayne Thou diddest cause thy Iudgemente to bee heard from Heauen therefore the Earthe feared and was still When thou O God arose to iudgement to all the meeke of the worlde The worthy Captayne Iosua called to ruls and conduct Israel into the lande of Promis receyueth most heauenly encouragements at Gods mouth speaking vnto him in this wise There shall not be a man able to withstande thee all the dayes of thy lyfe Is I was with Moses so wil I he with thee I wil not leaue nor forsake thee Let not this Booke of that law departe out of thy mouth but meditate therein day and night Haue not I commounded thee to be strong and of a good courage feare not for I the Lord thy God will be witâ— thee whethersoeuer thou goest These wordes are mightie and ardent which
haue heauinesse in the euening sendeth ioy in the morning and deliuereth them out of al distresse I Woulde not haue any to gather hereof that I reiect the foresight and prudent policie of the Magistrates for no man but he that is starke madde wold haue them so witlesse that as the superstitious Iewes woulde not take armour vpon them for their necessarie defence on the Sabboth day so that Princes shoulde cast away lawfull meanes to defend them selues But I vrge this to my port habilitie that they first seeke help at Gods had and then mans lawfull ayde which wheÌ„ they haue on euery side well furnished themselues withall euen then I exhorte them also to depend totally vppon god And I woulde not haue them dull or slouthfull for albeit God do without intermission care and labour for them yet they ought to be workers withall if I may so speake and folow him shewing them the way and if any want by humane imperfection I woulde haue them to solace them selues in the perfection of god For as in maladies and sicknesse of our bodies we go vnto the Phisition to recouer health Euen so it is fitte and conuenient in some times and seasons to haue in readinesse munimentes of warre to withstand our enimies God is not pleased with carrlesnesse he is tempted and displeased with negligence in all conditions and callings The conflict of Christ with the Deuill in the wildernesse teacheth vs not to be idle And the wise man Syrach sayeth He that loueth daunger shall perish therin They must therefore bend all their force to saue and preserue their charge They ought to approoue all good meanes and vse all honest consultations to ordeyne profitable and commodious things for the common wealth But this caution ought alwayes to be obserued that they doe not make the Lady the handmayde and the handmayde the Lady but that they make the Lorde their shootanker that they so procide artillarie and engins of warre that the Lorde may be the moderatour and director of the same otherwise without God weapons will wooke their owne woundes and strength will be their confusion Proude Pharao folowed the Israelites with so mighty an Army that the hearts of the Israelites melted with feare but God was againste him who stroke his shoulders with a suddayne terrour and vnpinned the Charret wheeles and tooke them away with so mighty and miraculous a bande that the Egiptians cried we will flie we will flie for the Lord fighteth for Israell When the two Tyrauntes Eugenius and Arbogastus endeauoured after the example of Iulianus the Apostata to reduce the superstition of the Gentiles into Europe and were furnished with many thousandes of bloudy Panims that Theodosius the Emperiour hymselfe was strikeÌ„ with fear and herror at their vieâ—e be himself spent al the night in prayer and receyued comforte in a vision of good euent The day folowing the battayle was ioyned in the first charge many of Theodosius souldiers were put to flight the Emperour being in a great agonie of mind falleth flat vpon the ground he sigheth and groneth in his soule he perceth the heauens with prayer he is heard of God who raising a mighty strong wind blowing toward the face of the Tirants which violently turned backe againe the arrowes and dartes sent from the infidels host into their owne harts and bowels And finally God with his elementes fighting against them put them to most horrible shamâ— and confusion For Eugenius falling vppon his knees before the Emperoure to obtayne mercie had his head cut off by Theodosius Souldiours beyng in some rage and Arbogastus the author of that calamirie and bloudshed after he had fledde two dayes and sawe no hope of life he fell lyke vnto Saul vppon his sword and powred out his bloud Of this miraculous victory writeth the Poet Claudianus O nimium dilecte deo cui militat aether Et coniurati veniunt ad classica venti Whosoeuer therefore can say truly of them selues Some trust in Chariols and some in Hories but wee will remember the name of the Lord may be bold to say that whiche foloweth in the Psalm They are brought down and fallen but we are risen and staÌ„d vpright But that the difference betwene dinine and humane help may be more lueulent I thought it conuenient to adioyne the speeche of Dauid vttered at what time he marched against moÌ„strous Goliath the Philistine For out of the wordes of that most renoumed captaine and champion this diuersitie will appeare Thou sayth Dauid coÌ„mest vnto me with a sword and with a speare and with a shielde but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts the God of the hoste of Israell whome thou raylest vpon This day shall the Lorde close thee in my hande and I shall smite thee and take thy head from thee and I will giue the carkases of the host of the Philistines this day vnto the foules of the heauens and to the beastes of the earth that all the world may know that Israell had a God and that all this assemblie may know that the Lorde saueth not with sword nor with speare for the battayle is the Lordes and he will giue you into oure handes Suche was the voyce and hearte of Dauid wherin his inuincible faith is euident to haue done more woÌ„derful things thaÌ„ either his enimies or his own couÌ„â—reymen wer able to doe wyth policie or armoure Surely this notable courage in the name of the liuing Lord might happely seeme in the eyes of carnall men to be rashnesse and not boldnesse foolishnesse and not wisdome that a dwarffe would fight with a Gyant a boye with a man of florishing age vnarmed against one wel armed ignorant of war against an old beaten souldier a sherphook a sling against a spear sword and shield Ind yet the victorie fell to this vnlikely side suche an approued cote armour is Gods name which all men ought to accompt their chiefe poste and piller their hauen sure anker Achior Captayne of the sonnes of Aminon in that his notable oration before Holofernes confirmeth that the Iewes whilest they sinned not before their God prospered against their puisant enimyes euery where not with bowe swoord or shielde for it was the Lord that with his miracles and wonders fought for them and gaue them victorie in the day of battayle Therefore to conclude this place you playnly see that Princes Magistrates ought not only to be busied in prouyding humayne helpe but their principall care ought to bee in seruing the Lord in obeying his worde and fearing his holy name so may they safely settle and grounde themselues vppon gods most comfortable promises which he can and will performe bothe bicause hee is able and moste of all power and might and also is louing and mercifull and will fulfill the desires of them that feare him and call vppon him faithfully The thirde
say if we mayntayne our causes so precisely and withstand the magistrates so stubbornely we shall exasperate them and pull the house vpon our owne heds But if we yeeld vnto the time God may alter the Princes heart and we may eate our bread in rest and quietnesse Vnto suche obiections I will otherwise aunswere than Demades answered the Athenians in times past Cassander the Macedonian practised with the Athenians that they shoulde worship Greate Alexander as a God who staggered somewhat at the matter Wherefore Cassander denounceth open warre againste them if they woulde not doe it Demades made then an Oration vnto the people and amongst other things vsed this speech That it stoode them vpon so to consider of heauen that they might not lose the earthe But I thinke it best to transpose the sentence That it standeth men vpon to take heede so to consider of the earth that they lose not heauen Therefore albeit all potentats of the earth grinde their teeth against vs yet it is our parts to shew our boldnesse in god And as in worldly matters some vse to say Let iustice go forwarde albeit all the world perishe So let Christians saye Let vs do Gods will and pleasure albeit heauen and earth do perish Augustine hath a golden saying Men may not commit sinne in shewing obedience Daniel disobeying the King forbidding him to serue his God excuseth him selfe saying Vnto thee O King haue I done no hurt that is to say I haue not trespassed against thee for I haue obeyed the lyning God. This admonition of the limittes of lawâ—ull obedience is taught by perfit reason and confirmed by prophane examples acquitting sâ—â—ayes men from the spot of disobedience that bend their endeuours to obey the supreme power and maiestie Antigona grauely excuseth â—â—â— selfe to King Creon saying that she may not for his commandement or feare violate the law of nature being diuine And wheÌ„ Telemon the kings son with vehement speech defended his esponsed wife Antigona the King said How darest thou contend with thy 〈◊〉 He answered bycause thou wouldst do monstrous things Creon Do I moÌ„strously to honor my estate to vse my prerogatiue Hemon Thou canst not O King honor thy estate by any meanes when thou dishonorest God. Stobaeus reporteth a worthy answer giuen to a yong man by one Musonius in thys sort Ther was a yong man giuen altogyther to the studie of Philosophie and other liberal sciences but was hindred by his father who most earnestly forbad him those studies willed him to frame his life another way Thys yong man repaireth to Musonius vseth these words Musoni are children bound to obey their pareÌ„ts generally or are ther some priuate causes excepted vnto 〈◊〉 he answered In my opinioÌ„ it is a thing very commendable for children to reuerence their parents but it were necessary to know what dutie and obedience is and if wee consider the contrary namely what the vice stubbornesse and disobedieÌ„ce is we shall more easily know the vertue Wel then let vs by questioÌ„s sift this matter What if a father hauing no skil in Phisick nor knowing y qualities and temperature of simples compounds would command his son being sick to receiue some medicine which the father thinketh profitable but is indeed vnholesome mortall will any man accompte the sonne disobedient bicause in suche causes he bath not folowed his fathers â—antasie verily I suppose not Moreouer if y father himself being sicke doe call vnto his son to giue him some meate or drinke whiche will satisfie his appetite but augment his sicknesse If the sonne giue not â—ate vnto his father therein will ye pronounce him obstinate surely no man of perfect mynd will so iudge of him Muche lesse is he to bee called disobedient that being commanded of his father to deceyut to steale to murder or to attempt or doe any thing vnlawfull will not fulfil his precept and commandement Therfore when men refuse to folow the willes and mindes of suche as do commaunde any thing vnhonest and vnlawful whether they be magistraÌ„tes fathers or masters they caÌ„not rightly be fermed disobedient neither negligent in their dutie 〈◊〉 Musonius Touching other guestions hamely what if the Magistrate degenerate into Tirannie what if he woulde bring into the countrey aliantes and straung it s What if he would seeke â—o abanâ—on the truÌ„e worshipping of God and receiue 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 Religion These 〈◊〉 are withoute the conipasse of thyâ— my treatie beeing a consolation for magistrates only and cannot be discoursed with any edification neyther doe I finde any thyng written absolutely thereof by the learned And in deede sith that suche cases depend vppon Gods especiall dispensation without the whiche nothing can bee well enterprised nor more happily atchieued it were not only perilous but very hard to prescribe any generall rule in such cases Whereof that worthy Iewell late Bishop of Sarum hauing very good occasion to write largely by the prouocation of his aduersarie master Harding tempereth his stile in such sort that albeit he stoppeth the Papists mouthes touching the nobles of Scotland yet may the prudent reader very well perceyue his vnwilling minde to wade farre in that question It is our parts that be Englishmen with all gratefulnesse of voyce and hart to praise God for exempting vs out of such miserable cases and to pray for the continuance of the same vnder out tender and pitifull Lady and mistresse the Queenes most excellent Maiestie who by hir milde regimeÌ„t taketh away all occasion of suche questions And surely so long as she guideth the sterne of the shippe I haue good hope that we shall sayle in the calme and peaceable sea But it for our sinnes to almightie God srowardnesse towarde his maiestie shee faint or fayle then what will be out English tune but wo worth and wayle away For I see folowing hir dayes the lamentable times not of Henry the sixt Edward the fourth and Richarde the third sor xij or â—â—â— yeeres when the worlde was such as the Colyer that denied his seruice to eyther part and professed himselfe the Diuels man scaped best but the bloudy times of Ferrex and Porrex in whome the line and of spring of Brute ended after whose dayes this lande was rent into foure factions and for the space of 51. yeeres there was no lawe no iustice no peace but tumults vprorrs ciuill warres effusioÌ„ of bloud c. The remembraunce of these things must needes beate a wonderfull feare and horror into our bones and bowels and driue vs to prosâ—rate oure selues before his throne of Grace with deepe sighing and groning to craue that he woulde auert and turne away those sorowfull and ruthfull dayes or against those times prouide for our comforts some Gedeon or lepthe vnder whose couerts we may hide our selurs froÌ„ those terrible sâ—ormes and tempests The fourth Consolation of many examples out of diuine and prophane writers wherby we
see that good princes magistrates haue bin preserued from the furious hands of their enimies abroade and at home IT is a great coÌ„fort for godly and Christian Magistrates to haue before theyr eyes the worthy examples of Kings Princes in the old Testament and to obserue their famous and renoumed or rather miraculous actes which they did not by their own power and policie but by the ayde and prouidence of god Whereby they may both confirme and settle their confidence and faith in him and also haue presente admonition in all their distresse by the example of others what wayes and meanes they may vse to auoyde perilles and dangers Abraham the father of the faithfull being driuen into many greeuous miseries and calamities and tost too and fro with great carke and care yet for that he perseuered firme in faith and hope he was neuer forsaken of God but always deliuerd out of distresse Ind moreouer God gaue him glory in y day of batel For wheÌ„ Lot his brothers son was led away captiue froÌ„ Sodome he broght out of theÌ„ that were borne and bredde in his house three hundreth and eighteene persons and pursued diuers Kings sinit them destroyed them and recouered Lot his family and his substance and placed him in his house agayne Ioseph the Patriarche breyng solde into Egipt where he liued an alient and straunger and afterward was cast into Prison yet trusting in the liuing God he was not only set at libertie but also called to suche honor and dignitie that vnder Pharao he was chiefe ruler of the land of Egipt Carnal reason would thinke it vnpossible that a seelie poore Israelite being sold to straungers and loden with bolts of iron in prison shoulde aspire to suche authoritie But these are y wonderfull works of God who is nigh vnto all those that call vpon him faithfully And againe The Lorde restoreth my soule and leadeth me in the paths of righteousnesse for his names sake Yea though I should walke through the valley of the shadow of death I will feare no euill for thou art with me thy rod and thy staffe they comfort me Moses that notable Prophet was almost drowned in many greeuous calamities wherein mans reason coulde deuise no helpe nor fynde comforte especially when bee went before the children of Israel being preserued with a mightie armye hanyng before him the read Sea and the mountaynes on euery fyde but he both knew what God could doe and beleued also that God would cause the Sea to soake into the earth or to stand like a wall on both sydes whereby the Israelites might marche through on drye lande and that the same shoulde returne agayne to bys course and drowne all the Egiptians than in any one â—ote fayle in his promises or relinquish his elect and chosen people Gods word can not be false and therfore the Prophet saith Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lorde and whose helpe the Lord is and in an other place In an acceptable time haue I heard thee and in a day of saluation haue I helped thee and I wil preserue thee Iosua succeding Moses casted many bitter cuppes before hee was able to subdue and caste those seuen wicked nations but of the laÌ„d promised vnto the Iewes buÌ„t resting vppon that ioyful and sweete promise of God As I was with Moses so will I be with thee I will not leaue thee nor forsake thee be vanquished his enimyes and placed Gods people in the lande of Chanaan Gideon iudge of the Israelites accompanyed with three hundreth souldiers only went agaynst y mightie army of the Madianites Amelechites and other easterne people who came into the land of Israel with their Tentes as thicke as Greshoppers in multitude so that they and their Cammelles were without number hee vanquished them and put them to flight for the spirite of the Lorde came vpon him and he beleued the word of the Lord promising him victorye Daniel by the malice and â—ny of the Courtiers was cast into the Lyons denne yet through gods protection he was preserued safe and sound the reason is expressed in the Text Bicause he trusted in his God whereat the Kyng wonderyng and reioysing commaunded Daniell hys accusers their wyues and children to bee put in his place and the Lions had the maistery ouer them and brake all their bones in peeces or euer they came at the ground of their denne Dauid entyrely beloued of God elected accordyng to Gods owne hearte and thryce anoynted Kyng of Israell ledde yet a lyfe full of many miseries and calamities contemned of his wife Micholl for that hee seemed oueâ— precyse in the obseruyng of Ceremonies Saul conceyued deadly feude agaynst him and often sought to kill him Absolon his owne sonne defyleth his bedde and rebelleth against him Besides this what assaultes susteyned he the Phylistines the Moabites the Syrians the Idumites great and mightie nations yet hee is patiente in hys house constante in hys Kyngdome and victorious agaynst strauÌ„ngers For the almightie was his refuge hys hope and hys Protectour and therfore it was vnpossible for hym to bee confounded and destroyed Which for that hee approued passyng all humayne expectation bee singeth after this manner In thee O Lorde haue I put my truste lette mee neuer bee confounded delyuer mee in thy righteousnesse I will bee gladde and reioyce in thy mercye for thou haste seene my trouble and thou baste knowne my soule in aduersityes And thou haste not shutte met vppe in the hande of the enimye but haste set my feete at large Asa Kyng of Iuda abrogated horrible Idolatrie and superstition and commaunded Iudah to seeke the Lord God of their fathers to do according to do according to his coÌ„maundemeÌ„t and be tooke away out of at the Cittes of Iuda the high places the images therefore the kingdome was quiet before him hee built stronge Cities in Iuda and hee had no warre many yeares bicause the Lord gaue him rest Afterward there came agaynst him Zerach of Ethiopia with an hoste of ten hundreth thousand men and three hundreth Chariots Then Asa went out before him and set the battayle in aray and cryed vnto the Lord his God saying Lorde it is nothing with thee to helpe with many or with no power helpe vs O lord our God for wee reste on thee and in thy name we come against this multitude O lord thou arte our God let not many preuayle agaynst thee So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Iudah and they fled and the men of Iudah caryed away a mightie great spoyle and returned to Ierusalem Iosaphat folowed his father Asa in clensing the temple and reforming true religion he set Leuites in Ierusalem for the iudgement of the cause of the lord and he appointed Iudges in the land through out the strong Cities sayd vnto them Take heed what ye do for
England with one hundred thousande at the least as all histories agree Paulus Iouius noteth the malaparte confidence of Iames in his hoste that he thought himself able with spear-men to holde vp heauen if it had bin slydying but behold xxvj thousand Englishe men encountereth him vanquisheth his strength and slew the king with the most part of the nobilitie of ScotlaÌ„d at BrauÌ„ston in Cheuiot Finally the field foughteÌ„ at Mouscleborough is fresh in most mens memory where God punished the periury of the Scots with the losse of xv thousand soldiers miraculously without any great effusion of english bloud for there perished not aboue one hundred on our side gaue vnto our countreymen a tryumphant victory Such examples are plentie but I haue chosen a fewe giuing occasioÌ„ vnto noble men therby to fixe their hartes vppon Gods fatherly prouidence in all their distresses and to sing with diuine Dauid The King is not saued by the multitude of an hoste neither is the Gyant deliuered by great strength A horse is a vayn thing and shall not deliuer any by hys strength beholde the eye of the Lorde is vppon them that feare him and vppon them that trust in his mercy to deliuer their soules and to preserue them in famyne And as God Defendeth good Princes agaynst soren enimyes so doth he most seuerely shew his wrath and powre his borrible and sharpe punishmentes vppon Rebelles and Traytors at home Chore Dathan and Abiron rebelling agaynst Moses were swalowed into the earth quicke and perished with a new and horrible kynde of death Absolon rebellyng agaynst his father was put to flight by Dauid vis army and seking to escape through the woods as his mule ranne vnder a thicke oke his heare was intangled in the boughes and he taken vp betweene the heauen and the earth and the mule that was vnder him weÌ„t away so Ioab the Captayne came and ranne him through wyth dartes Sybas the sonne of Bochrus conspiryng agaynst Kyng Dauid had a wretched ende his head 〈◊〉 of by the counsayle of a prudent woman in Abela and the same was caste ouer the walles to Ioab The acte of the sonne of Ebed is notable who with a seditious oration styrred the men of Sichem to disobey Abimelech beyng in deede but a Tyrant for hee monstrouflye murdered about seuentie of his bretherne yet God fauoured not that cause but suffered Abimelech to vanquish those Rebelles and vtterly to subuert then Citie The enterprise of the children of Ephraim against good Iephthe had lyke euent for there fell of them by the handes of Gylead two and fourtie thousand Theudas Gaulonites made a shewe of earnest â—eale and loue to deliuer his countreye from seruitude and therefore by his pleasaunt perswasions allured many to arme themselues agaynst the Romaynes but he was slayne and his folowers as Gamaliel declared were dispercled and brought to nought And in our owne countrey we may beholde the seditious dealings of VVatte Tyler Iacke Strawe Iohn VVall and others who albeit they were fanored of the moste parte and had an army of 60. thousand men yet being in their chiefe ruffe Watte was slayne and they lyke sheepe scattered aâ—road Thomas Flamocke and Mighell Iosephe the blackesmith procured the Cornish men to rebel agaynst their Prince and assembled such a company that they astonied al good and faithfull subiectes but their power was discomfited at Blackeheath their chiefe Captayne the Lorde Audeley beheaded Thomas Flamocke and Mychaell Iosephe were drawen hanged and quartered and their quarters pitched on stakes after the manner of Traytors to warne others to beware of like crimes and offences Fynally the vnhappy insurrectioÌ„s in the dayes of King Henry the eight of King Edward the â—xt and of our soueraigne Lady the Dueenes maiestie made vnder pretence of defending the faith and holye church and of deliueryng the common wealth from oppression do with ruful ruine of noble families with sauage spoil of goodly countreys with dreadfull executions of couragious personages paynt before all mennes eyes the hatefull hatred of almightie God agaynst Rebelles and Traytors and there withall doe shewe Gods fatherly prouideÌ„ce in assisting good Princes and noble men being enuironed on euery syde with enimyes and oppressed with extreme miseries and calamities Notwithstanding I graunt some speciall examples may bee founde repugnaunt to the premisses and it commeth to passe now then that wicked and seditious persons prosper and preuail that good lawful magistrats decay perish which things haue wonderfully astonied the myndes of mortal men moued them to think that eyther there is no God or at the least that there is no diuine prouidence at all ouer earthly things for if ther were any effectual care theÌ„ surely the world shuld go happely with the godly vnhappely with the vngodly Such firy darts wound euen ChristiaÌ„s reasoning thus with themselues if almightie God do care for earthly creatures and especially for the church why did godlesse Cain kil godly Abel why did y lecherous filthy struÌ„pet oppresse clean chast Iosephe why was the holy prophet Esay giuen into y hands of cruel Manasses whi did not y pietie of religious Dauid touer him from so many stormes tempestes why did God suffer y slinking Gote Herodias to behead him than whoÌ„ ther was no greater amongst the sonnes of women why was y monstrous Tyrant very froth of mischiefe Nero suffred to murder those two notable disciples of Christ truÌ„pets of true religioÌ„ Peter and Paul Marcus Cato wheÌ„ tidings came vnto him inâ— Cicil that great Pompei through fear of Caesar had forsakeÌ„ Italy he cryed out saying O immortal Gods how obscure and variable are your coÌ„solations in humayne affaires For vnto this daye haue you fauored Pompei not so exactly ministring equitie and iustice but now in defeÌ„ding coÌ„mon libertie and in a most iust cause of his couÌ„trey you haue forsakeÌ„ him Pompei himselfe scaping y sword in the fielde foughteÌ„ at Pharsalia sailed to Mytelene where Cornelia his wife made hir abode repairing to y Philosopher Cratippus lameÌ„ted much his aduersitie questioned whither ther were any prouideÌ„ce at all And now in France who seeth not poyseners trucebreakers Tyrants bloudit Papists to ttiumph again obedieÌ„t and ouer câ—edulous subieus oppreste professours of true religioÌ„ murdered honorable gray whyte heads are cleft asuÌ„der y great bellies wombs of Ladies gentlewomeÌ„ are ripped infantes and sucking babes are with pykes perced and fynally no kinde of crueltie vnpractised Albeit such lameÌ„table calamities of good meÌ„ and sauage libertie of wicked meÌ„ both in churches coÌ„mon welaths seeme to take away gods prouideÌ„ce yet god to remoue such doubts hath set before meÌ„s eyes his workes ordinarie extraordinary hath added thereunto his expresse manifest word thereby shewing the properity and aduersitie come not to men by