it was not only knoweÌ„ to y t Athenians but also to the coÌ„trary parte what auÌ„swere was gyuen Codrus of Apollo therfore y â— enemies gaue a commaundement that no manne should hurte the body of kynge Codrus Which whan he perceyued he conueyed himselfe out of the army put of his princelyke armours clad hymselfe lyke a coÌ„mon Souldiour and returned shortly into the hoost where both manfully and wyllyngly he dyed and by this menes saued his contre O moost excelleÌ„t Prince worthy immortalite O condigne spectacle for all rulars to beholde A lyke thyng do we read of that noble Consulle Publius Decius which whaÌ„ he sawe his army greatly disconforted and almoost slayne spoored vp his horse sharply and w t a valeaunt courage braste into the myddes of his enemies army wher after that he had slayne many and by his valeauÌ„â—e encouraged of new the hartes of his Souldiours he beynge greuously wounded dyed at y â— instant for the healthe of his countrey so that notwithstondynge by his woundes bloud and deathe the Romans gatte the victory wherof before they dyd so much dispayre A certen woman also among the Lacedemonians caulled Gyrtias whaÌ„ she herd y â— Acrotatê° her doughters sonne was greuously wouÌ„ded in the warres yea and dead therof aunswered wyth a lustye harte and sayd whan he went forthe vnto the enemies was it ony other lyke but that he should dye or els slay them It is more mery to heare that he is dead as it was worthy hym and y â— citie and his progenitours than to lyue all his lyfe lyke a dastarde and shew no poynte of valeauÌ„ce O hart more courageous thaÌ„ the feminine sexe requireth Grand mothers are wonte for the mooste parte to loue theyr neuewes and childres chyldreÌ„ more teÌ„derly than y â— very mothers Yet this granddame Gyrtias lameÌ„ted nothyng the deth of her neuew but entierly reioysed that he died so valeauntly in the warres Another womaÌ„ of Lacedemony after that she had sent forth fyue of her soÌ„nes vnto battaile stode before the suburbes of the cytie waytyng what should be the ende of the battell In the meane season came a certen man and shewed her that all her sonnes were slayne To whome she sayd I dyd not demauÌ„d this of the O thou sluggysh slaue but in what case the contrey stondeth Whan he had auÌ„swered that the contrey had gotten the victory she sayde oh thaÌ„ very well I am glad that my soÌ„nes are thus dead This noble woman dyd set more by the safegarde of her contrey than by her priuate affecte toward her chyldren Damatria also an womaÌ„ of that nacion slewe her owne sonne at his returne from the battell because he behaued hymselfe lyke a coward in the warres and dyd not fyght manfully for the wealthe of his couÌ„trey This semeth to smell barbaryke immanite and to be to moche cruell notwithstandyng it is a goodly example to shewe y t all mothers should desyre nothynge so muche in theyr chyldren as to haue them euermore bent to serue the publique affayres of theyr contre eueÌ„ to y â— very deth The Emperour Otho Syluius was determined at a certeÌ„ tyme I knowe not for what cause to gyue ouer the regimente of his Empyre Many came vnto hym and desyred hym very instantly that he woulde not leaue of his imperial dignite so forsake the commoÌ„ weale and the valeaunt company of noble warryours y â— he had besides other Among all one beynge but a Souldiour taken at aduenture perceauyng that the Emperour persisted in his determinacioÌ„ toke out his swerd sayd O Emperour knowe thou that we all are franckely encouraged thus to do for the. And streyghte wayes he kylled hymselfe O lusty harte fraÌ„ke couragious stomacke Whom woulde it not animate to gyue hys lyfe for the health of his contrey seyng so many goodly examples viuely described and lyuishly set forth in histories before his face To moche brutall is he that is not moued w t these moost memorable antique monumentes But yf I shoulde go forthe to rehearse all the Histories whiche declare how greatly the feruent petie the godly affeccion the reuerende loue toward the countrey hath ben euer estemed in times past of all geÌ„tle and naturall hartes I should coÌ„ pyle a worke moche longer than the Iliades of the Greke Poet Homere yea I shoulde not only farre excede y â— limites of an epistle but also onerate and ouercharge the reader But to make few wordes euen the very same godly affeccioÌ„ owe we at this daye to this our natiue countrey Englond that meÌ„ of olde time haue shewed vnto theyr countrey except we be estrauÌ„ged from all naturall humanite And what soeuer oure Auncetours haue done in tymespast vnto the very same are we bouÌ„d nowe lykewyse So that who so euer detrecteth refusethe to do for his countrey what so euer lieth in his power is an vnnatural brauÌ„ che and a corrupte seed vnworthy to enioye ony fruyte or commodite therof as I may adde nothing here vnto But all men haue not all gyftes neyther can euery man profitte his countrey alyke Yet oughte the studious endeuours and diligent employmentes of all men tende vnto this that the coÌ„modite of the publique weale and the helth of the couÌ„tre should be sought aboue al thynges The rytche man with his rytches the stronge maÌ„ w t his streÌ„gth the wyse with his wisdome the poletike with his pollecy the eloqueÌ„t with his eloqueÌ„ce the learned with his learnynge the artificer wythe hys science the plough maÌ„ w t his tillyng and so euery man in his degre accordyng to his knowledge ought to serue his couÌ„trey For vnto this doth the lawe both of God nature bynde vs the whiche to resist is extreme impiete playne wickednes But if ony nacion be estraunged from y â— vnnatural affeccioÌ„ towarde theyr couÌ„trey certes I thinke Englonde I meane the Inhabitauntes therof maye iustly contende wythe ony coÌ„trey for the alienacioÌ„ of this vice It doth me good yea it maketh me seriously to reioyce euen at y â— very harte to se how glad my countre meÌ„ are to serue the commodities of this our countrey Englond What so euer our moost excellent Prince or ony in his name commaundeth it is with all reuerent feare and louyng expedicion accomplyshed No man grutcheth no man muttereth no man thyncketh the precepte vnrighteous nor the burden heuy so feruente a loue do they beare vnto theyr countrey All with one coÌ„sent employe theyr endeuours to satisfy euen vnto the vttermoste of theyr power the imperiall precepte of the kynges moost royall maieste This hath Gods word wrought in them so myghty and fruytfull is y t swerd of the spirite Thanckes be to God for it The Lorde of heauen myghte graunt that it may longe prosper yea florish in this Realme of Englond So maye we be sure neuer to be w tout his diuine blyssyng Lorde let it
euen by the commauÌ„dement of God and the lawe of nature they are bounde to gyue theyr lyues woulde by no meanes breake the bonde of Christen amite wythe no man but rather suffer moche in iury than they would be once at displeasure wyth ony man But in as moch as they are fyrst prouoked yee and that vnworthely seynge also it is no priuate iniury but a common wrong to inuade ony Realme and to disturbe the inhabitauntes therof therfore they come nowe in the name of God vnto battell not for theyr owne cause but for the coÌ„seruacion of the publique weale that they enioyenge peace tranquilite for euer after maye the more freely prayse God and lyue accordynge to his moost holy worde Moreouer all the tyme of y â— warres it shall be necessary y t they kepe theÌ„ selues so pure as they can and by no means haue ony felloweshyp w t the vnfrutefull workes of darkenes but apply them selues vnto the frutes of the spâ—rite that they may remayne in the fauour of God and haue hym theyr myghty captayne Let theÌ„ that can read whaÌ„ they haue coÌ„uenâ—â—t leasure rede the hoâ—y Scriptures chefely suche histories as declare the omnipotency and almyghtye power of God whiche he hath shewed to his seruauntes in tymes past by gyuyng them the victo ry ouer theyr enemies let theÌ„ conceaue a sure faythe in theyr hartes therof nothyng doubte but that he wyl be that same puyssauÌ„t Lord to them if they walke accordyng to hys word that he in times past was to the other For he is styll a Lorde of that same puyssaunce strength Let them that can not rede herken to them that do rede and gyue vndoubted earnest faythe thervnto It would helpe moch vnto true godlines for to haue faythfull preachers also amonge y â— souldiours in y â— tyme of warres whiche myght declare vnto them the feare of God exhorte them vnto vertue moue theÌ„ vnto the true coÌ„fidence in Goddes helpe encourage them manfully to fyght when tyme requireth shew them howe honest godly a thynge it is to ieoparde theyr lyfe for y â— welthe of theyr countrey whyche of all deathes y â— very Ethnyckes recouÌ„ted moost glorioê° of highest renowne It is also very necessary that the Souldiours gyue them selues vnto feruent prayer desyre y â— healpe of God wyth moost humble supplicacions that he wyll be theyr mighty shelde defence but chefely whaÌ„ the tyme coÌ„meth that they must enter battell with theyr enemies Let them than wythe one mynde caull vpon God desyre his helpe praye that for hys mercyes sake he wyll strengthen them yea fyght for theÌ„ be theyr captayne gyue them the victory of theyr aduersaries y t they returnyng home agayne lyke valeaunt conquerours maye syng perpetuall prayses to his moost blyssed and holy name This done let them go to fyghte valeauntly hauyng theyr whole affiaunce reposed in God alone and in hys myghtye helpe Yet let them so fyght as though the victory dyd only depeÌ„d of theyr owne streÌ„gthes wyttes and pollecies Let them not dispayre but take a good harte vnto them beynge perfectely persuaded that God is on theyr syde and wyll surely helpe them But if they shoulde dye seyng that theyr cause is lawfull iuste and ryghteous seynge also they fyghte not for theyr owne priuate coÌ„modite but for the wealth of an whole Realme let theÌ„ not doubte but that theyr death is precioâ—s in the syght of God therfore they maye be sure for this mortall lyfe to receaue a lyfe of immortalite full of eternall ioye glory Therfore lette them not once feare but steppe vnto it with a lusty valeaunt courage come theyr lyfe or come theyr death Thus moche haue I spoken concernyng the Souldiours and them that shall fyght for the safegarde of the countrey that they maye know howe to behaue them selues y t God maye be on theyr syde and returne home agayne wythe a glorious and triumphant victory Nowe it remayneth to shew how they shal behaue theÌ„selues y â— remayne tary at home vnlesse the valeaunce godly behauour of y e Souldiours do not profytte so moche as our wicked dissolute manner of lyuynge shoulde hynder hurte For howe canne GOD be in oure army and fyght for vs if we be wicked vngodly If we therfore wyl haue prosperous successe in our warres we must fyrst so lay asyde all vngod lynes that there maye appeare nothynge in vs wherby God maye be displeased For God wyll only fight for them that are pure clene faythfull charitable modeste mercifull benigne honest louers of theyr couÌ„trey haters of discorde seakers of peace maynteners of amite c. The other he refuse the knowledgethe theÌ„ not for his people nether wyll he fight for them We must therfore repent vs of oure olde wicked manners take vpon vs a new lyfe if we wyll haue God on our syde in y â— battell Lette euery man consyder hys faulte wherin he knoweth himselfe gylty and quickely put it away froÌ„ hym Let no man be quycke sighted in other mennes faultes and stoÌ„ne blynde in his owne Let al meÌ„ seake howe they maye best please God For the stroÌ„gest Bulwarke moost inuincible fortresse that caÌ„ be made for the safegarde of the countrey is to lyue well If ony domage chauÌ„ceth to the couÌ„trey our wyckednes is cause therof And as I may speke my mynd frely certes it doth moch greue me to beholde the iniquite of the worlde to se how vertue is set asyde I hadde almoost sayd set at nought What shall I speke of the familiare coÌ„municacion dayely talke y â— is vsed among y â— Christians What other thyng do we heare in theÌ„ thaÌ„ cursynges bannynges backebytynges blasphemies euel reportes waÌ„ton wordes idle tales vnclene communicacioÌ„ c Of theyr thoughtes God shal iudge but theyr dedes are so manifeste that euery man maye easly iudge the tree by the fruyte the lyon by his pawes Howe lytle do many ciuile magistrates regarde the publique affaires of the cominalte so that theyr cofers maye be enryched they lyue in all wealth and pleasure Nowe lytle do many lawers tender the pytiefull complaynt ryghteous cause of the poore oppressed Howe lyke gaping wolfes do many of theÌ„ inhiate gape after wycked mammon so that whosoeuer bryngeth moost mony is moost allowed hathe the lawe moost on his syde in what so euer case the matter stoÌ„dethe be it ryght or wronge Howe long also do they suffer the cause coÌ„mytted vnto them to hange in the lawe before ony iudgement can be gyuen or finall determinacion had all to poll and pyll the poore men and vtterly to empouerysh them so that thorow theyr deceatfull crafte couetous mynde the symple people are beggered theyr wyues and chyldren brought vnto extreme misery and set in suche case that they are neuer
bewayle our cause to his diuine maieste Lette vs desyre hym to be our captayne and valeaunt defender in oure warres And that we maye be the more fraÌ„ckely encouraged to go vnto God for helpe let vs set before our eyes the histories of y â— holy scriptures whiche shewe howe greatly y â— true and christen prayer hath holpeÌ„ the people of God in tymes paste to get the victory ouer theyr enemies Moses was assuredly bothe a very good and valeauÌ„t captayne of y â— Israelites and procured nothynge more than ther helth and saluacion yet notwithstandynge whan Amelech came to fyght agaynste Israel he went not forthe streyght wayes wyth them vnto battel but toke w t hym AharoÌ„ and Hur and went vp into the toppe of an hyll and there prayed appoynting Iosua to be captayne of the Israelites in his stead He doubted not but that he should do more good beynge absent wythe hys prayers than he shoulde do beynge present wyth the martiall armours as it came to passe For whaÌ„ Iosua his coÌ„pany began to fighte agenst Amelech who fought best I praye you By whose valeauÌ„s was the victory gotten By the Souldiours that were preseÌ„t in the battel or rather by Moses which was absent from it Let vs heare what the scripture sayth WhaÌ„ Moses lyfted vp his haÌ„des Israel dyd ouercome but if he dyd let hys handes downe neuer so lytyll than had Amelech y â— better Therfore whan Moses handes were wery Aharon Hur toke a stonne and put it vnder hym and he sate downe theron And Aharon and Hur steyed vp hys handes the one on the one syde the other on the other syde And it cam to passe that his handes were steadye vntyll the SoÌ„ne was downe So that Iosua chased awaye Amelech and his people wyth the edge of the sweard Iosua also that moost victorious captayne thorow prayer did not only ouercome his enemies in the battell but also caused the Sonne and the Moone to abyde and stond styll wythout ony remouyng for y â— space of an whole daye vntyll he was reuenged of his enemies WhaÌ„ y â— Philistines came to fight agaynst the Israelites the chyldren of Israel were greatly afrayd of theÌ„ in asmuche that they came to Samuel and sayd Cease not to cry vnto the Lord our God for vs that he maye saue vs out of the handes of y â— Philistines Samuel toke a yonge lambe and offred it all togyther for a burnte offering vnto the Lorde cryed vnto y â— Lorde for Israel And the Lord heard him And it came to passe that whaÌ„ Samuel offered the burnt offeryng vnto the Lorde the Philistines began to fyght agaynst Israel but the Lorde thondered a great thonder that same daye vpon the Philistines and turmoyled theÌ„ that they were slayne of the chyldreÌ„ of Israel so brought vnder that they came no more into the coostes of Israel Agayne by prayer kyng Asa ouer came Zarach the Morian wyth all his army By prayer also hys sonne Iosaphat valeauntly subdued the Moabites and Ammonites Item Ezechias that moost holye Prynce thorowe prayer ouercame y e proud tyraunt Sennacherib wyth all his hoost Dyd not the moost vertuous womaÌ„ Iudith by prayer ouercome Holofernes and his army By prayer Iudas Machabeus gat the victorye ouer hys enemies But in two battels wheÌ„ he shoulde fyght wyth Antiochus and prayed not he fled away And when he dyd fyght wyth Bacchiddes Alcinus he was slayne because he dydde not praye as before By prayer Ionathas when all had forsaken hym excepte a fewe obtayned the victory Of these sewe histories it is euident manifest how greatly y â— true christen prayer that procedeth froÌ„ a faythfull and repentaunt barte profyteth in the tyme of warres to obtayne the victory of our aduersaries Unto prayer therfore as an holy anchore must so many as tary at home flye incessantly desyryng god for his sonne Iesus sake to haue pitie on vs to strengthen our armye to be our captayne to syght for vs to discoÌ„â—yte our enemyes to gyue vs the victory But these our prayers maye not be colde lasye only procedyng from the lyppes but seruent earnest rysynge of the very effecte of the harte For to mumble with our lyppes to bleate with our tonges to rore with our throtes to shake our heades to lyfte vp our haÌ„des c. profyteth nothyng at all excepte the prayer coÌ„meth froÌ„ a â—ayth full repentaunt harte as we may perceaue by dyuers places of y e scripture as I haue abundantly proued in my Pathwaye vnto prayer This people honour me with theyr lyppes sayth Christ but theyr hart is farre from me Uerely they worshyp me in vayne Let vs looke welâ— vpon our owne wayes sayth y e Prophet Hieremy remember our selues and turne agen vnto y â— Lorde Let vs lyfte vp our hartes w t oure haÌ„des vnto the Lord that is in heaueÌ„ Therfore let our prayers be feruent harty that God may se that there is amendment in vs and that we thyrst the glory of his name and the health of our countrey And although it be necessary to pray at all tymes yet at that tyme chefely let vs hartely call vnto God whaÌ„ oure Souldiours shal fyght All y e tyme by no means let vs cease from prayer but incessauntly crye vpon God neuer leaue vntyll he hath gyuen vs the victory whiche thynge vndoubtedly he wyll do if he perceaue that we call feruentely vnto hym For the Lorde is full gentle good saythe the Prophet to them y â— seake hym But as coÌ„cernyng the publique prayers as Processions Masses c â—t were expediente that before ony such thynges were done there were sermons made to the congregacion in the whiche they should be exhorted admonyshed to repent to beâ—eue to take a newe lyfe vpon theÌ„â—nles they pray in vayne and God â—eteste theyr supplicacions For w t â—ut repentaunce â—ayth and renouaâ—ion of lyfe prayers bothe publique and priuate are nothing acceptable â—n y â— syght of god To al such as pray â—o God the father by SalomoÌ„ speaketh on this manner Seynge that I haue called ye refused it I haue stretched out my hand and no man regarded it but all my couÌ„cels haue ye despised set my correccions at nought Therfore shal I also laugh in youre destruccion mocke you whan the thynge that ye feare commeth vpoÌ„ you euen whan y â— thyng 〈◊〉 ye be afrayde of fallethe in sodenly lyke a storme youre misery lyke â— tempest yea whan trouble and heuines commeth vpon you Than shall they caull vpon me but I wyll not heare they shall seake me earelye but they shall not fynde me And y â— because they hate knoweledge receaued not the fear of the Lord â—ut abhorred my councell and despised my correccion Also by the
Prophet Esaye whan ye shall stretche out◠youre handes I wyll turne awaye myne eyes from you and whan ye shall be styll bablynge of your prayers I wyll not heare you Therfore whē we entend to pray let vs bring with vs repentaūce sayth amendment of lyfe so may we be sure to be hearde The sermon once done let them fall earnestly vnto prayer desyre God wyth one mynde to be mercyful vnto the countrey as I taught before After the prayers let euery man quietly returne home euer bearing in his mynde the safegard of his cōtrey with a continuall eleuacion of hys harte vnto God for y ◠welth of the same And let them so behaue them selues y ◠God may be pleased wyth them And as they haue promysed God to become newe men so let them walke in a newe lyfe euery man doynge hys office accordynge to hys vocacion callyng For yf after our prayers and the promisse of amendement of lyfe we returne agayne vnto oure olde wyckednesse what other thynge do we than prouoke God vnto anger mocke him seake the very destruccion of our cōtrey Lette vs therfore be the very same in dede that we haue promised in worde So shall it come to passe assuredly that God shall be in oure army fyght for vs strengthen oure Souldiours chase awaye our enemies and giue vs y ◠victory so that nether Turke Iewe Saracen nor any other Tyraūt shall may be able at ony tyme to preuayle agenst vs. Whan we haue once gotten y ◠victory ouer our enemies so that now the tyme requireth that our Souldiours shall come home agayne it must be prouided y e theyr returne be godly modest sober and thankefull vnto our Lorde God for the victory which he hath giuē vs. And whā they be once come home let the people gather togyther the preacher make a solemne sermon vnto them declaring how greatly we are boūd to God for this tryumphant victory that he hath gyuē vs and exhortynge them to be thanckefull agen to God for inestimable kyndenes The sermon once done let all the people bothe men women and chyldren wyth ioyfull voyces syng harty prayses to oure Lorde God confessyng that by hys omnipotent power alone it is come to passe y ◠we haue gotten the victory as that noble mā Pytho returnyng from the warres sayd to the Athenians whā they meruelled greatly at hys prosperous chaūse and praysed hym because he hadde slayne kynge Cotys There is no thancke sayth he to he gyuē vnto me but vnto God alone who beyng the Author thys acte is very nobly done As for me I dyd none other thynge but put my helpynge hande and diligence vnto it God alone gaue the victory to hym therfore be all the thācke prayse honour and glory We read also in diuers places of the holy Scripture that after God had gyuen the victory to his people ouer theyr enemies they brast oute streyght wayes īto prayses gaue God harty thanckes as we rede of the chyldren of Israel at theyr delyueraunce out of Egypt which whā they sawe theyr enemy kynge Pharao wyth all his army drowned in y ◠see and them selues preserued what goodly songes lawdes and prayses dyd they syng to theyr Lorde God Howe dyd Debora and Barach after the victory prayse God because Sisara his company were slayne and they graciously kepte safe Whan y ◠Holofernes was slayne and his army put to flyght what a goodly songe dyd Iudith synge to y ◠Lorde Howe ioyfully came all the people togither vnto Ierusalem for to gyue prayse thākes vnto theyr Lord God and to offer theyr burnt sacrifices and promysed offeringes After thexample of these deuout and holy parsonnes ought we also whā we haue gotten the victory to gyue God thanckes and to offer the Sacrifice of prayse vnto hym So shal we shewe our selues not vnworthy hys beneficence yea so shall we prouoke God to continewe a gentle fauourable Lorde vnto vs when he shall perceyue that we be thāckefull and do not forget his inestimable benefites which he dayely sheweth vnto vs. Nowe remayneth the laste parte of thys oure worke whiche is to de clare after what sorte we shall be haue our selues whan we haue gotten the victory of our enemies tha◠we maye enioye peace and tranquilite for euer after We heard before that the cause why God plageth vs eyther with warres pestilēce or hōger is Idolatry false worshyppyng◠of God y ◠despisyng of Christes gospell wycked lyuyng effeminate māners c. Nowe if we wyll be fre frō these plages and lyue in rest quiet we muste cease to commyt suche greuous synnes agaynst God and seake both to serue hym accordyng to his word and also to lead a pure and innocent lyfe By this means shall God blysse our countrey wyth peace encrease it with thabundans of all thynges make it to floryshe aboue all other nacious That thys thyng maye the more aptely be brought to passe it is conuenient that the ciuile magistrates and head rulars of euery countrey prouyde that there be learned curates which maye teache the people y ◠true worde of God that they maye knowe howe to worshyp hym accordyng to the holy scriptures It shall profit also not a lytle vnto true god liues to haue modest learned graue and godly Scholemasters in euery coūtrey that maye bryng vp youth not only in y e knowlege of humayne letters and ciuile māners but also in the feare of the Lorde that they maye learne euen frō theyr cradles as they saye to knowe God to vnderstond his worde to honour hym aryght to walke in his holy pathwayes This thyng also ought al fathers mothers masters mastresses do in theyr houses that suche as be vnder them maye knowe serue God aright By this means shall all Idolatry and false worshyppyng of God shortely decay vanysh away and the true seruyse of God only remayne among vs. Nowe as concernynge purite of lyfe thys shall easily follow of y ◠true knowledge of God For he that is engraffed in God is a member of God hath Gods spirite in hym which exciteth and moueth hī vnto all goodnes as Christ sayth I am the vyne ye are y ◠braūches He y ◠dwellethe in me I in hym he bryngeth forth muche fruyte The fruytes that we brynge forth must be for euery man to lyue accordyng to his vocacion callynge Let them that be tēporall rulars procure peace in theyr Realmes aboue all thynges vse theyr office iustly seke not only to be feared but also to be loued shewe them selues mercifull gydes and tender captaynes of the people and so behaue thē selues in all thynges that they may be the very Image of GOD. By this means shall theyr kyngdōs well prosper and longe continewe Let them agayne that be subiectes shewe all reuerēt submissiō to theyr