the kyng and haue the greatest offices Thus were our countreymen the Britaynes remoued from their king straungers placed in all offices and holdes and at leynght the lande was ouerrunne and possessed of Straungers And the mane of Britayne put awaye and the realme called Englande The Danes after vnderstanding how fertile and pleyntifull England was sought meanes by litle and litle to place themselues in Englande and after a king of DeÌ„marke in his owne persone inuaded EnglaÌ„d in the Northe aÌ„d made woÌ„derfull cruell warres they spared none they burned and wasted Yorkeshire Northumberlande and all places so that the enhabitauntes were forced to sue for peace at the Danes han des Then built they the towne of Dancastre that is the Castle of the Danes and whiles they had peace sent for moo Danes and whan they thought their for ce and power bigge ynough they passed not vpon promyses and leagues that they had made but renued the warres killed burned aÌ„d spoiled in euery place til thei came to Excestre the people and realme was most miserably tormented and made tributarie to them Diuerse of the nobilitie of England vpon light yea no occasiones but only bicause they were thought not to fauour the Danes were taken their nose trilles most villanously slytted their handes cut of â–ª Ah good God who can remembre these thinges without weping Who that feareth thy wrathe lorde will not amâ—…de his life aÌ„d call to thee for mercie What naugh tie nobilitie were that that wolde oppresse the commo nes and afterward be vsed and oppressed them selues by straungers as their predecessours haue ben before tyme What deuillis he CoÌ„mones might that be called that wolde repyne or rebelle against the nobilitie and gentilmen and than to be ouerrunne them selues with priestes and forayners and to be pyned with suche miserie as ye heare that our auncettours were and all bicause the gentilmen and coÌ„mones agred not among them selues Who is a natural Englishe man that will not in tyme forsee and considre the miserie towarde his countreye and him selfe aÌ„d by all meanes seke to let it who is it that caÌ„ hope for quietnesse pea ce healthe pleyntie and such like giftes of God without Goddes fauour and mercie And how is it possible that God should vse mercie with them that beare inwarde hatred and grudge one to an other aÌ„d will vse no merci with others If ye forgeue other meÌ„ their offenses that thei coÌ„mitte agaiÌ„st you saieth Christ your heauenly father will forgeue thoffenses that ye haue coÌ„mitted against him But if ye doo not forgeue other meÌ„ their faultes neither will your father forgeue you your faultes No whilest ye saye the lordes praier aÌ„d be full of raÌ„cour malice hatred aÌ„d eÌ„uie towarde your neighbour ye coÌ„demne your selues and desire Goddes plages and vengeaunce to fall on your selues for ye meane veÌ„geauÌ„ce to your neighbours aÌ„d wishe all euill to fall on them And so it dothe fall on you as ye see by experieÌ„ce of the playes aÌ„d miseries that are aÌ„d shall come to you But from inwarde sedicion and ciuile discorde that briedeth so muche mischief let vs come to outwarde warres and inuasiones made by strauÌ„gers But ye will saye ye haue no warres with any forain prince It is true but shall ye haue none yes yes the tyme is not yet come all is not hatched that is vnder the henne Your winges must be dubbed your fethers must be pulled your coÌ„bes must be cut you must be cleane piked your substaunce shalbe gotten by littel and littell out of your handes by taxes and subsidies by beneuolences and loanes and so froÌ„ a litell to more and froÌ„ more to more and at leynght all the marchauntes goodes to be confiscate in Flaunders by an inquisitioÌ„ and others in England by an opeÌ„ excoÌ„municatioÌ„ And whan ye be ones cleane stripped of your stoare and thus weakened out of courage aÌ„d your harte in your hose as they saie than shall your king returne to his welbeloued wife England with great poÌ„pe aÌ„d power and shall coÌ„pell you in despight of your hartes to reÌ„ dre and deliuer her holly in to his handes Than shall the easter linges vpon hope to recouer their olde and greater priuileges aide him with meÌ„ money and ship pes as allready they haue offred and promised as diuerse credible lettres haue declared ThaÌ„ shall they in uade Englande and shalbe by shiploades if no worse happeÌ„ vnto you caried in to newe Spaine aÌ„d ther not lyue at libertie but bicause ye are a stubburne and vn faithfull generacioÌ„ ye shalbe tyed in chaynes forced to rowe in the galie to digge in the mynes aÌ„d to pike vp the golde in the hotte sande And so with soro we to your soppes your three maÌ„nes song shall be Alas and Weale awaye Than shall ye knowe the pride aÌ„d lorde lynesse of the Spanyardes though for a while til they maie get the ouer hande they crepe and crouche fede men with swete wordes Baso las manos and women with confettes swete wynes pleasaunt pfumes gaye apparail and suche like vayne to yes but whâ—…n they be ones alofte ther is no nacioÌ„ vnder the cope of Christ like theÌ„ in pride crueltie vnmercifulnesse nor so farre froÌ„ all humanitie as the Spanyardes be which thig the realme of Naples the Dukedome of Milane the citie of Siena many partes of Duchelande and the lande of Iulike Cleuelande and Geldre lande can to theyr coste right well testifie And maie it not be thought that the FreÌ„che kìg whaÌ„ he seeth oportunitie wil set in a fote makìg clayme to Englande in the right of the Quene of Scottes as heire to hing HeÌ„ry theight by his eldest syster And maie it not be suspected that the pope to doo the Frenche king a pleasure shall saye the Diuorce betwene king Henry and the dowager was by the canon lawes laufull and shall excommunicate the realme onles they reuoke thacte of parliament wherby the Dyuorce of late was iudged vnlaufull RemeÌ„bre remembre good countrey men and true English hartes the miserie that folowed in our poore countrey vpon the conquest made by thambicious William Duke of NormaÌ„die vpon how small a title he entred aÌ„d how tyraÌ„nously he vsed him self His only colour was a bequest or promise made to him by king Edward brother to Cauntus and Heraldus kinges of England whaÌ„ he was a banished man in Normandie if he should dye without issue as he did At his first en trie he had a great batail with the newe choseÌ„ king of EnglaÌ„d aÌ„d slewe hì aÌ„d tweÌ„tie thousauÌ„t of our couÌ„treye meÌ„ which put suche a feare in all men the Nobilitie the cleargie the LoÌ„doners aÌ„d others the coÌ„mons that it mâ—…de theÌ„sue for peace aÌ„d to geue pledges for their â—…delitie whom he sent in to Normandie At the first he made theÌ„ many fayre promises of peace quietnesse aÌ„d iustice wherwith the folishe foÌ„de people were sone begyleâ—… They thought they had
bringing in a great power of Ammonites ād Amalekites two kinds of people in beggerly pride and filthinesse of life muche like to the common nature of Italianes and Spaniardes as well to garde his pson as to fortifie the strōg holdes ād mu niciōes that by ād by seīg himself strōg ynough with his straungers and Inborne traitours he brought the countrey and people vnder his subiection by fine force so that he continued their ordinary Prince and chief ruler xviij years long What oppressing of the poore what robbing of the riche what taking vp of corne and vitail for the king and his straūgers and no money paied for it what taxes and paimentes the people were yowked withall what rauishing of mennes wiues daughters and seruauntes what heading and hanging of the natural Israelites to make the straungers lordes and gentilmen what common miseries and continual calamities ther were during that space no doubt it is vnspeakeable But what remedy No man durst make moane to his neighbour for feare of bewraieng none durst ones whistre against the king they must bende or breake no remedy pacience perforce all were faine to serue and please king Eglon. But at leinght they sent as their yearly accustomed maner was a present to the king by a wittye messagier called Ahud who hauing accesse to the kig saied he hade to saie vnto his Maiestie secretly from God And whan the king hade commaunded all his seruauntes awaie so that Ahud and the king were alone in his somer parlour Ahud thrust his dagger so harde in to the kinges fatte paunche that ther laie king Fglon dead and Ahud fled awaie Now was this well done or euil For so the the dede is so commended in scripture that the holy goost reporteth Ahud to be a saueour of Israel But note by the waie the texte saieth not that Ahud was sent of the people to kill the king nor that he tolde them what he intended for by that meane one Iudas or other wolde haue betraied him and so should he haue ben drawen hanged and quarted for his entreprise and all his conspiratours haue lost bothe life landes and goodes for their conspiracie Only the scripture saieth that Ahud being a priuate persone was stered vp only by the spirite of God Likewise whan Sisara lieutenaunt general of king Iabins warres fleing from Barac sought succour to hide his head hauing long noied and hurt Israel with oppression and warres a woman named Iael called him in to her house and hidde him vnder a Couering He thought him selfe sure and for wearinesse dropped harde on slepe Iael taketh a great long spikig nayle and driueth it with a hāmer so harde in to his braines that Sisara troubled Israel no more nor neuer tolde who hurt hī Mattathias being by the kinges Commissionares required and commaūded to conforme him self to the kinges procedinges which was to committe Idolatrie as all his countreymen the Iewes hade done and as the like case standeth now in Englande not only refused to obey king Antiohus commaundement or to folowe his procedinges in that behalfe but also whan he sawe a Iewe committee Idolatrie before his face he ranne vpon the Iewe in a great zeale and slewe him and fell also vpon the ordinary Commissioners sent from Antiochus the ordinary king of the Realme and slewe them out of hande These examples nede no further exposicion the scripture is plaine inough But if neither the hole state nor the minister of Goddes worde wolde doo their common duetie nor any other laufull shifte before mencioned can be hade nor dare be attempted yet are not the poore people destitute all together of remedy but God hathe lefte vnto them twoo weapones hable to conquere and destroie the greatest Tirāne that euer was that is Penaunce and Praier Penaunce for their owne sinnes which prouoke the angre and displeasure of God and make him to suffre tirannes warres famine pestilence and all plages to reigne among the people And praier that he will withdrawe his wrathe and shewe his mercifull countenaunce Hereof we haue not only commaundement but also manifest examples in the scriptures For whan the Arke of God was taken awaie from the people of Israel by the Philistines in batail and the glorie of Israel brought vnder foote the people being miserably for their sinnes pressed and plagued by the Philistines twentie yeares long so that the people despering of their honour and libertie and seing no mar◅ial wepon nor helpe of man hable to redresse their state cried and continued in lamenting their thraldom and greuous condicion at leynght by the aduise and commaundement of the good Prophet Samuel the people fell to these two meanes Penaunce and praier with fasting and the lorde God not only deliuered them out of thoppression of the Philistines vnto their former libertie but also gaue them suche victories that the Philistines many yeares after durst not ones moue warre against them Thus was also the cruel tiranne Herode vainquished Thapostles ād people in the primatiue churche lamenting their sinnes and calling to God for mercie the angel of God stroke Herode sitting in his throne in his princely apparail making an Oracion to the people and they cōmending it to be the voice of God and not of man and so he was eatē vp of lice or wormes Likewise whan Iulian themperour and Apostata had long persecuted the churche at leinght wh◅ the people fell to repentaunce and common praier he going in to Persia was slaine and none of the familie of Constantine wherof he came after that was Emperour And in like maner not long sith whan that tiranne Duke George of Saxonie persecuted all suche as professed the worde of God reuiued and pulled out of purgatorie by the worthy instrument of God D. Luther and at leynght threatned that he wolde burne and destroye the vniuersitie of wittenberg which whan Luther hearde he went in to the pulpit and exhorted eueri man to put on his armour that is Penaunce and prayer And sone after God rid the worlde of that tiranne and so not only deliuered his churche but also augmented it with an other vniuersitie called Lipsia and all the hole countrey of this cruel duke was conuerted to Christes Gospell These be the wonderfull workes of almightie God whose power is as great and as ready at a pinche as euer it was and his mercie as willing to be shewed if his poore afflicted people wolde doo on their weapon that is be sory for their sinnes and desire him to with drawe his sourges and to holde his mercifull hande ouer them VVHAT CONFIDENce is to be geuen to princes and potentates WHAN the kīg of Macedonia Alexander the great hearde the philosopher Anaxagoras saye ther were many worldes the worme of ambicion so tickled and troubled his harte that the water gushed out of his eies And whan he was asked what made him to wepe haue I not iuste occasion to wepe saieth he that hearing of so many worldes I
of Gardier but he was not vnskilled I saie ì the arte of practices No in dede he was excellent in that feate as it well appeared For whan he had wrought and made sure the great mariage to auoide the hatred of the people he made his scholar to father it and to haue the outwarde thankes And no maruail of his conning For he was his maister and hade studied longer the arte than the proctour and hade a better witte and spent yearly the halfe of his bishopriche in bribing or elles he had lost his head long before for his treasones were not alltogether vnknowem albeit they were couered and hidden But what dothe this maister or proctour of practices Dothe he not dissemble with the erle of warwike serueth his turne ì al that his wittes wold serue But what at leinght becometh of our practiceing P. He is committed to warde his garter with shame pulled from his legge his robe froÌ„ his backe his coate armour pulled downe spurned out of Windsore churche troden vnder fote and he him self at leinght with great fauour obteinâ—…th that he might redeme the rest of his corporal paines with open confession at the barre in the Starre chambre on his knes of his bribery extorcion dissimulacion ambicion robbing of the king and suche like vertues wherby he became noble If we minded in this place to displaye the packing and practiceing of the Nobilitie and counsail of Englande in the sickenesse and at the deathe of king Edwarde the vi for the pretensed placeing of the lady Iane in the regaleseat and their sodain slipping the coler and deceauing of one an other it were mater ynough to teache men how litel confidence and trust ought to be geuen either to the smothe couÌ„tenaunces faire wordes confident promises bloody othes or swearing vpon the holy Euangelies either yet to the lettres aÌ„d haÌ„de writinges of the Princes aÌ„d potentates of the worlde They that were sworne chief of counsail with the lady Iane and caused the Quene to be proclaimed a bastarâ—…e throughout all Englande and Irelande and they that were the sorest forcers of men yea vnder the threatned paines of Treason to sweare and subscribe vnto their doinges bewraied the mater them selues vnder hande by their wiues aÌ„d other secret shiftes and afterwarde became counsaillours I will not saie procurers of the innocent Lady Ianes deathe and at this present are in the highest autoritie in the Quenes house and the chiefest officers and doers in the common wealthe And som of them that wrote most earnestly to a certain auncient lorde of the Realme among many other in the fauour of the Lady Iane bebastarding and railing vpon the Quene were not ashamed within fewe daies after whan the same lorde was locked vp in the towre for his constaunt although constrained obedience to the common ordre of the Counsail to be his most straunge and rough examiners on the contrary part as though they them selues hade neuer halted in the mater But I knowe these practicers answer that if they hade not vsed that practice they should not only haue standen in hasarde them selues but also failed of their priuie purpose Well In the meane tyme it is ynough to knowe that a man maie not trust nor beleue them either by their wordes othes or hande writinges further thaÌ„ he seeth and heareth them and scarcely so farre And I praie you hathe not the realme good cause to thanke and trust the potentates Prelates and Parliament men for banishing the sacred testament and Gospel of God with the sincere administracion of his holy Sacramentes and for bringing the deuillishe power of the Romishe Antichrist in to Englande again with his miserable Masse and all popishe slauery By the which they haue not only brokeÌ„ their othe aÌ„d loy altie to God and to themperial Crowne of Englande pullìg eternal coÌ„deÌ„nacioÌ„ vpoÌ„ theÌ„selues aÌ„d â–ª puokig the heauie haÌ„d of Goddes wrath aÌ„d plage vpoÌ„ their sede aÌ„d vpoÌ„ the hole realme ì coÌ„pellìg the people to sinne by fallìg froÌ„ the true seruice of the liuìg God ìto most wicked supersticion and idolatrie alas therfore but also haue ben and are giltie of the innocent blood of thankes and the Quenes fauour increaced towarde him But his iuste rewarde yet is not come let hâ—… not loke to spede any better than Heracleo if he continue Iudas still I wolde wishe he wolde in time become a Petre I trust he is not so farre past but he maie be praied for He is my good lorde and Mason ones my great frende aÌ„d nere neighbour I wishe them bothe well Thus ye see the final successe and rewarde of traitours Wherfore it is to be wondred that suche practicers which worke so muche mischief for others can not take hede of the euil that is towardes them selues But Goddes worde must be verified of the wicked Beholde the wicked trauaileth with mischief saieth the worthy prophet and king Dauid a man of great experience He hathe coÌ„ceaued unhappines and brought furthe a lie He hathe grauen and digged up a pitte but he shall fall him self in to the pitte that he hathe made For the mischief that he mindeth to others shall come on his owne head and his wickednesse shall fall on his owne pate But forasmuche as all these fetches and practices be only made and laied to disceaue those that be honest faithfull true and natural to their countreie it is requisite to treate how they maie be auoided Deceat wold not be knocked out with deceat if it might so be but honest men should alwaies and at all times deale plainly and honestly And therfore the honestest meane before thinges be done is to be wise and circumspecte and to forsee thende what mischief maie folowe before they sodainly rashely and vnaduisedly consent to ani thing To vse suche honest wisdom and forsight is permitted bothe by Goddes worde and nature Yea Goddes worde and nature commaunde honest men to vse it For those thinges that can but ones be done and wheron so great weigh thangeth ought to be well done Therfore men ought not to geue credite to faire wordes large promises and great othes for these are the instrumentes to deceaue the honest and well meaning but the fairer the wordes be the larger the promises aÌ„d the greater the othes the more to suspecte For godly and honest thinges maie be well ynough done without painted and smothe wordes faire promises and othes Ther ought to be such equalitie in doing of thinges that such deceates nede not Only subtiltie and crafte deuised long writinges great promises and many solempne ceremonies WhaÌ„ the great mariage was treated in the priuie Counsail aÌ„d so great promises made the olde Duke of Nor folke saied they were golden wordes but how shall they be perfourmed saied he Afterwarde whan it was propouned to the lordes in the parliament to be ratified the Lord Windsori like maner asked who should be suertie for the perfourmaunce therof aÌ„d who should sue the forfaite
ye passed nothing on it but as the Iewes being downed in sinne mocked scorned and murthred the prophetes of God which long before prophecied vnto them their captiuities and vtter destruction so ye laughed and iested at your preachers wordes nothing regarding the threattes of God but contēnyng thē yea increaceīg in your wickednesse ādnowat leyn ght murthering most cruelly the ministers of God And seing wordes of warnyng toke no place with you God for his louing mercie hathe warned you also by monstrous maruailes on the earthe and horrible wonders in thelement to put you beside all maner of excuses What wonderfull monstres haue ther now lately ben borne in Englande What celestial signes most horrible A childe borne besides Oxforde in the yeare M. D. LII with two heades and two partes of two euil shaped bodyes ioyned in one A childe borne at Couentree in the yeare M. D. LV without armes or legges A childe borne at Fulhā by Londō euen now this yeare with a great head euil shaped the armes with bagges hanging out at the Elbowes and heles and fete lame A childe newe borne at Lōdō furthewith speaking as a prophet and mes sager of God An horrible Comete this year besides diuerse eclipses whiche folowe But what were these only bare signes No certaynly they doo and must signifie the great wrathe and indignacion of God Not long after the passion of our saueour Christ whan the Britaines our cōtreymen went about to re couer their libertie and to be despeched of the most cruel seruitude and miserie which the Romaines kept thē in wherein no Britayn was certayn of wife childrē goodes no not of their liues all thigs were so in bōd◅ ge of the cruel Romaynes pleasur ther were of our coūtreymē slayne at one tyme three score ād ten thousaūt mē ād at an other tyme thrittie thousaūt Before which slaughters ther were many wōders sene in Eng lād Thimage of the Idole which the Romaines hade in their tēple called Victorie was turned backe as though she gaue place to thenenies The sea was like blood ymages of mēnes bodyes founde on the sea syde And womē were out of their wittes ād cried destructiō at hāde destructiō at hāde so that the Britaynes were in great hope ād the Romaynes in great feare Before Britayn now called Englād came in to the full power of the Danes kīg Edmūde the sōne of Ethelberte beīg slayne ther were diuerse straūge thinges wherby all men gessed that an alteration of the Realme was towarde but chiefly they gessed the great calamitie by the sodain swelling of the sea without any euidēt cause which so brake in to the lande that it destroyed many townes and people Before that great slaughter of Englishe men and Normādes which was by reason of the warres that were in Normandie betwene king Hēri the furst king of Englāde and Robert Duke of Normandie his brother at which tyme Normandie was ioyned to Englande the ryuer of Trent did not runne one hole daye together but was so emptie that men passed ouer on fote and at that tyme a sowe brought furthe a monstre with the face of a man and a henne a foure foted monstre So that by that that is past ye maye the boldlier diuine of that that is to come The childe by Oxforde what did it betoken but that our one swete head king Edwarde should be taken awaye as he was in dede and that ther should be in his place two headdes diuerse gouernours and a towarde diuision of the people but not all together which so manyfestly folowed that no man can denye it or two people should be knytte together but not in god proporcion nor agrement The childe of Couentrie without the principal membres to helpe and defende the bodye must nedes signifie that the natural body that is the people of Englande shalbe helpeles ready to be troden vnder the fote of euery creature and non to releue or succour it The childe of Fulham what can it signifie but that the natural body of England shalbe weake the chief membres tharmes and legges which is the nobilitie so clogged with chaynes of golde and bagges of money that the hande shall not be hable to drawe out the sweorde nor the heles to spurre the horse to helpe and defende the body that is the commones And as the head of it is the greatest part and greater than it ought to be with to muche superfluitie of that it should not haue wherfore it must pull from the other membres to confort it and lacke of that good proporcion it ought to haue so shall the gouernours and headdes of Englande sucke out the wealth and substaunce of the people the politike body and kepe it bare so that it shall not be hable to helpe it self yet shall the head neuer come to that nature requireth What is to be gathered of the yōg chil de I doo not saie it is true bicause the father was forced onles he wold haue lost his life to r◅cant it but might it not be true Is ther not as muche to be saied for it as for the popes trāsubstāciacion Dothe not Eusebius Pamphili a man of as good credite as Thomas Aquinas Scotus Gratianus and suche other the inuētours and mainteners of transubstanciacion write that a lambe contrary to nature and possibilitie did in plaine wordes before declare the nature and disposicion of Bochorus king of Egipt They that write the cronicles of the Romaines saie that a dogge a serpent and oxen did speake But scripture plainly saieth that Baalams asse a creature vnreasonable without possibilitie to speake did saie to his maister why beatest thou me And Iohn the baptist contrary to the common course of nature lept and reioiced in his mothers wombe whan Christes mother being with childe came to see Elizabeth his mother If men that beleued not the miracles which the gogle ◅ied Roode of Boxley the Idole of walsinghā the bawde of willesdō which euery foole might see to be deceates and open illusions were condemned and burned for heretikes how should they be taken that doo not beleue the manifest workes of God The horible Comete and blasing starre that was sene this yeare greater in Englande than elles wher what elles dothe it betoken but the great displeasure of God and therfore famin pestilēce warres sediciō deathe of princes inuasion of forain naciones destruction of som or many cities and countreies and the alteracion and chaungeing of the state and gouernement For if it be laufull for man to diuine of Goddes wonderfull workes and by the like thinges past coniecture those that be to come why should we not affirme that these plages will folowe Before the great warres made by Xerses against the Grecianes and the ouerthrowing of the hole state of Grece ther was a blasing starre sene of the shape of an hor◅e and an eclipse of the sunne Before the last and vtter destruction of the citie of Ierusalem ther was sene hanging in thelement ouer
the tēple a burning sweorde almost the space of a hole yeare In the time of cruel Nero ther was a Comete that continued sixe monethes After that folowed great sedicion and alteracion in thempire and the kingdome of the Iewes marke well was vtterly destroied Before the deathe of our countrey man Constantine the great who was the furst professour of the Gospell of Christ among all themperours and no doubt a special fauourour and promotour of it For he did not prohibite laie men to reade Goddes worde as som princes doo at this tyme but he caused examples of the Bible to be written at his owne charges and sent in to all countreyes ther was a great Comete and afterwarde folowed a wonderfull and cruel warre which who so deliteth in histories maie perceaue Before the dissension and deadly warres that was betwene the brethren of Lotarius themperour sonne of Lodouicus Piu◅ ▪ for the diuision of thinheritaunce whereby suche slaughter grewe in Fraunce that the Frenchemen were neuer after hable to recouer perfitly their force ther were many Cometes sene About the yeare of Christ M. I. ther was an horrible Comete sene and than folowed wonderfull famines and pestilence In the yeare MLXI. before thinuasion of Williā Conquer our in to England and the conquest of the same and in which Heralde king of England with twentie thousaunt true Englishemen in the defense of their countrey against the tiranne were slaine◅ther was sene a wonderfull Comete which euery man thought as in dede it folowed to be muche mischief and thalteracion of the state as herafter ye shall heare A litle before the great warres in Normandie wherof ye haue hearde before ther was sene in Normandie a great Comet and two full mones at one time shyning thone in the easte thother in the west In the yeare MCCXXI whilest the warres were in Asia betwene the christen men and the vnchristen wher vnto king Henry the thrid sent a power of Englishemen vnder therle of Chestre for the maintenaūce wherof the nobilitie furst graū ted the king the wardeship of their children as Polidore writeth before the Christen men lost the citie of Damiata and a great ouerthrowe of them was in Egipt many wonders were sene in diuerse places and also in Englande a very great Comete a wonderfull great earthequake all the wynter horrible thonders which in Englande seldome in Somer be hearde suche great raines and tempestes of windes that it ouerthrewe many houses and the sea drowned mani places which euery man saied betokened the hurt that folowed on christen men In the yeare MCCXLI a little before wales was brought to the subiection of the king of Englande ther appeared in England a terrible Comete by the space of xxx daies In the yeare M. D. XXXI ther was an horrible Comete And what folowed of it The Turke occupied a great parte of Vngarie the kig of Denmarke Christierne inuading his coūtrey with a great armie and so minding to recouer his kingdome was taken and his sonne And why should not ye of England t◅ike that these signes be only or at the least chiefly for you Compare your selues and your liues and doinges with the Iewes or the worst nacion if any can be worse ād see whether ye be not hable to matche them yea to ouermatche them and to droppe vie three for one In what nacion vnder the cope of heauen hathe God shewed greater tokens of his sauour and it so litle set by as in Englande What contempt of him his worde and ministers hathe bē ther What dissimulacion with God what hipocrisie What swearing and soreswearing What traiterye to their countreye What disobedience to the gouernours in good godly and necessary thinges What ready obedience to their rulers in wicked and euil thiges What vnnatural bitcherie vsed betwene the father and daughter brother and sister What abominable hooredome suffred vnpunished yea in many and the chiefest places the greatest hooremongers the impudentest ribauldes the peltingest bribers and the lewdest persones made Iustices of the peace and correctours of vice What railing and reuiling of the worthy pure preachers of Goddes gospell for only rebuking of vice What horrible murdres secret and open not only of priuate persones but also of the most honourable peeres and reuerende ministers of God What bochering and burning of true Englishe christianes yong and olde hole and lame seing and blynde man woman and childe without respecte of age sexe or astate What pillig and polling taking and snatching stealing and robbing not only among the meane sorte but among the greatest Wher is so great hatred and malice so litle loue and charitie as in Englande ▪ I should neuer make an ende if I should tell but that I haue my self sene and knowē muche lesse if I should declare all that other credible persones of their owne knowlage report to be most certain and true But to retourne to the mater Loke well England loke well whether this Comete past and eclipses to come touche the Art thou not all ready plaged with famin Yes and with suche a famin as thou neuer before heardest of It is true ye had darthes in the time of kinges Henry and Edwarde but those were dearthes without nede only they were occasioned by the gredinesse and malice of naughtie men without scarcitie or lacke of thinges ād for lacke of diligēt ouerseing and good gouernement and not by the directe plage of God But these two yeares since kīg Edwardes deathe from the restitucion of your cursed popishe masse ye haue had scarcitie by the directe plage of God The earthe not brought furthe suche plaintie as it customably did before Wher before time the countrey fedde London London contrary wise was and is forced of her former prouision to fede the countreie Wher Dantis◅e ād other the northe east partes were the barnes and garners of corne for they had the prouision of corne for many yeares before hande ād nourished all the lowe partes of Germanie Denmarke Friselande holande Zelande Brabaunt Flanders Hispaine and many other now by reason of their bringing so muche to releue Englande onles a staie be made in time they them selues will perishe of famin Whan were euer thinges so deare in Englande as in this time of the popish masse ād other Idolatrie restored Who euer hearde or redde before that a pounde of beefe was at iiij d. A shepe xx s. A poūde of Candelles at iiij d. A poūde of Buttur at iiij d. ob A poūde of Chese at iiij d. two egges a penie a quarter of wheat lxiiij s. A quartre of malt at l. s. or aboue the people driuen of hongre to grinde accornes for bread meale and to drinke water in stede of ale And what Shall this famin awaie before his walkīg mate and felowe pestilence come No surely without your earnest spedy repentaunce and Goddes exceding miraculous mercie it is not possible for hitherto the one went neuer before but the other cam either arme in arme
christianes and bring them to the one and twentie Commissionares or to the bishoppes colehouse or whan he willed and commaunded them to destroye such as wold not denie Christ and folowe his procedinges worshipping idoles did they bring them to the fire ād stande about that they should not speake and to see that none should come nere thē to conforte and streinghten them in their faithe or whan they spake did they cleaue their headdes in pieces with their halbeardes or stoppe their mouthes with their billes No they confessed that in that themperour of heauen thalmi ghtie God and not thēperour of the earthe a wicked mā and a rebelle against God was their emperour ād Captaī ād therin they wolde not obeie Iuliā nor doo that he commaunded in that behalfe And this answer bothe S. Ambrose and S. Augustine yea ād the papistes although they thē selues doo not so propounde and set furthe for a christē doctrine ād a catholike exāple how christē ād good subiectes shoulde behaue thē selues towarde wicked prīces ād their wi cked cōmaundemētes that is in no wise to obeie thē but to leaue thē undone And as mē ought not to obeie their superiours that shall cōmaunde thē to doo any thīg agaīst Goddes worde or the lawes of nature so maie they not doo that they shall cōmaūde thē cōtrary to ciuile iustice or to the hurt of the hole state Nei ther will good prīces attēpt or goo about any suche thing for it is the next waie to bring thē out of their seates and to make thē of kinges no kinges How can that head liue ād cōtinewe wher the body is cōsumed ād dissolued And how cā that body be lustie wher the sinowes the lawes are broken and iustice the marie that should nourishe it vtterly wasted and decaied Antiochus the thrid king of Siria wrote thus to all the cities of his dominion that if he did cō maunde any thing that should be contrary to the lawes they should not passe theron but that rather they should thinke it was stollen or forged without his knowlage considering that the prince or gouernour is nothing elles but the minister of the lawes And this same saieng of this most noble king semed to be so iuste and reasonable that it is taken for a com mon principle how subiectes should knowe whan they should doo that they be commaunded and whan they ought not Likewise a bishop of Rome called Alexander the third wrote to an Archebishop to doo a thing which semed to the Archebishop to be vnreasonable and contrary to the lawes the pope perceauing that tharbishop was offended with his writing and wolde not doo that he required desired him not to be off◅nded but that if ther were cause why he thought he should not do that he required he wolde aduertise him and he therwith wolde be satisfied This is a popes saiēg which who is so hardy dardie to denie to be of lesse autoritie than a lawe yea not felowe but aboue Goddes worde Wher vpon this is a general rule that the pope is not to be obeied but in laufull and honest thinges And so by good Argument from the more to the lesse that princes being but foote stooles and stirrop holders to popes commaunding their subiectes that is not godly not iuste not laufull or hurtefull to their countrey ought not to be obeied but with standen For the subiectes ought not against nature to further their owne destructiō but to seke their owne saluacion not to maintene euil but to suppresse euil for not only the doers but also the consentours to euil shalbe punished saie bothe Goddes and mannes lawes And men ought to haue more respecte to their countrey than to their prince to the common wealthe than to any one persone For the countrey and common wealthe is a degree aboue the king Next vnto God men ought to loue their countrey and the hole common wealthe before any membre of it as kinges and princes be they neuer so great are but membres and common wealthes mai stande well ynough and floris he albeit ther be no kinges but contrary wise without a common wealthe ther can be no king Common wealthes and realmes may liue whan the head is cut of and may put on a newe head that is make them a newe gouernour whan they see their olde head seke to muche his owne will and not the wealthe of the hole body for the which he was only ordained And by that iustice and lawe that lately hathe ben excuted in Englande if it maie be called iustice and lawe it should appeare that the ministers of ciuile power doo somtimes commaunde that that the subiectes ought not to doo Whan the innocent Lady Iane contrary to her will yea by force with teares dropping downe her chekes suffred her self to be called Quene of England◅ yet ye see bicause she consented to that which was not by ciuile iustice laufull she ād her husbande for company suffred the paines of Traitours bothe headles buried in one pitte Whan the blessed mā of God Thomas Cranmer Archebishop of Cantorbury did what he might to resiste to subscribe to King Edwardes will wherby his two sisters the ladies Mary and Elizabeth should haue ben wrongfully disherited yet bicause he afterwarde to contēt the kinges minde and commaundement yea in dede to saue the innocent king from the uiolēce of most wicked traiterous tirannes did subscribe vnto it against his will was it not laied vnto him by the wicked Iudge Morgā whom God not long after plaged with taking awaie his wittes that was a foole before that he ought not to doo any thing unlaufull bi commaundemēt of any power And so he an innocent piked out among a great nombre of very euil doers to satisfie the lawe was condemned as a traitour before he suffred as a martir Were not the ymages ād Roodeloftes in Englande destroied by autoritie of ciuile power And dothe not Boner the Archbocher of londō for all that force them that obeied the authoritie bicause he saieth it was not lauful to make thē vp agaī at their owne charges But Boner thou that allow est nothing to be well done by what so euer autoritie it be done except it be laufull nor nothing to be laufull that is not agreing to thy Canon lawes I haue to saie to thee ▪ Stāde stil a while whilest I rubbe the. Tell me plainly and face not out a lie as thou arte wont speake not one thing and thinke an other as thy nature is ones in thy life tell the truthe and shame thy maister the deuil If thou were the sonne of the earthe by thy fathers side and of an erraunt hoore by the mother and so a bastarde hy what autoritie saiest thou thy masse whan thy lawes suffre no bastardes to be priestes without dispensacion how comest thou to be a bishop whan thy lawes saie thou maiest be no priest How be thy iudgementes laufull whan thou by thy Canones maiest be no
other that for a litel while he maie the more liue after his owne lust Where contrarie wise pouertie maketh men to remembre seke and call on God to loue and defende their countreie one to loue an other like brothrē and finally deuiseth and worketh what so euer good is But none maie pille or polle robbe or spoile or doo any mischief saieth thapostle that good maie therof folowe and specially kinges and gouernours of people whom bicause they be ordained to doo good and should doo nothing but well Christ called Benefactours and not Malefactours If they doo it whilest they pretende but meane it not to bring others to heauen they maie be sure to bring them selues to hell The seconde sorte be those that robbe the people in dede yet wolde not haue their doinges knowne They walke in nettes and thinke no mā dothe see thē And of this kinde be those that contrary to all lawes bothe of God and man and contrary to their othe countrefaicte the coine that is ordained to runne betwene mā and mā turning the substa◅ce from golde to copper frō siluer to worse then pewter ād aduaunceing and diminishig the price at their pleasure For in coines all lawes commaunde and equitie will that these foure thinges be obserued and straightly kept First the purenesse of the matier that it be not corrupted or countrefaicted Seconde that it haue the iust weight Thirdly that it be not clipped The last that it be not at the princes will somtyme priced at a more value and somtyme at a lesse For if a prince might doo herein euen what him lusted how might he not lightly spoyle his subiectes of all that they haue or could come by ▪ Which thing the great deuil and cut throte of Englande the papistes God in his Sermon that he made at Paules crosse vpō this Theme now is is the tyme to wake from slepe my brethren for now is our ioie and pom pe more nye than whan we before dissembled to beleue in Christ. Be of good cheare my disciples our trouble is past our ioye i◅ at hande letted not to blustre out In this Sermon to bring the dead innocent and blessed king Edwarde whom for his vertue he hated in hatred of the people for he imputed to him a childe and a warde the lewde and wicked behaueour of his cruell Counsailours and saied he maruailed that the people could suffre so great iniurie to be robbed of their prin ce by altring the coyne from golde to copper and sil uer to leade and to pull it from twelue pence to sixe pence and not rise against the king to redresse their iniurie He sawe that this and suche like iniuries were not tolerable in a prince and wolde haue hade the people doo that against him whom he for his vertue hated which neither for this nor any vice he woldet haue done where as he semed to fauour For at the be ginning to mayntene Boloigne warres which he deui de to pull king Hēries minde frō matiers of religiō or as afterwarde good likely hood appeared to haue hym taken in the warres and caried to the bishop of Rome the same deuil Gardyner was than the chief Counsaillour to haue the money abased to maintene the same And now lately whan he hath broken his chayne deuised Rose mary pence worse than euer any coyne was before as thexperience sheweth they being at leinght cryed to be nothing The thrid sorte of these euil princes be those that clai me all their subiectes good for their owne who allege for them this common sayeng All thinges be the kaisers all thinges be the kinges all thinges be the Princes And as the deuil brought fur the scripture so serue his purpose against Christ so thei abhorring all other partes of scripture that teache them their office or Christen duetie pike out onely a pece that maye mayntene their tyrannye It is thus written saye they in the first boke of kinges This shalbe the right or lawe of the king that shall rule ouer you he will take your sonnes and put them to his charettes and make his horsemen of them and they must runne before his charet and will make him Captaines of them ouer thousaūtes and ouer fifties and will set them to aire his grounde and gather in his haruest and to make instrumentes of warre and cartes And of your daughters he will make him oyntement makers his cokes and bakers And he will take the best of your fieldes and of your olyue trees and geue them to his seruauntes And he will take the tenthe of your sede and of your vines and geue it to his lordes and to his seruauntes And he will take the best of your men seruauntes and women seruauntes and yongm◅ and of your asses and do his worke with them And he will take the tenthe of your shepe and ye shalbe his seruauntes But whan ye shall crie out at that tyme vpon your king which ye shall haue chosen you the lorde will not heare you at that daie This pece of scripture is their clooke but it serueth no more a kinges wicked doinges than that of the wicked sonnes of Eli and the sacrisicers whome men call priestes to take out of mennes pottes what pece them lusted or to take their porcion rawe contrary to Goddes ordinaunce For as in thone place it is called the right or lawe of the king so is it in the other place called the right or lawe of the priestes But in nother of these places it is called the lawe or right that God appoited to kinges or priestes which he set out in other places but suche is they wolde vsurpe ouer the people Nother will this mayntene the purpose that here he speaketh of a king and not of a tyranne for at the first a kinges name was as odious and as muche abhorred as a tyrannes But this was spoken of the prophet Samuel to feare the people that they should not goo about to altre the ordre and policie that God had ordayned which if they did they should fele what a plague it were to haue a king geuen in Goddes furie And if they had onely sought to be ruled by one as partly in this that one alone ruleth a king do the diffre from other gouernours they wolde haue ben content with Samuel alone who as he was appointed by God to rule alone ouer the Israelites so did he exercite and vse his office most vprightly but they wolde nedes haue a galaunt and pompous king one that should ryde out with his trompettes before him a great trope of horsemen before and behinde him his garde all together in silke with their halbeardes about hym and eueri one to fall flatte to the groūde that should mete him as the Gentiles hade who were in dede tyrannes as appeareth by the first called Nemrod who for his rebellion against God and deuourig of Goddes people was called the stowte huntour before or against God And in the same kingdome
Nother of thē lacked wisdome and forsight to see that vnder painted papir muche mischief was hidde Long erperience had taught it the duke being long trained in Princes practices and nature suffred not the other lorde to be vtterly voide of it But bothe of them lacked that courage magnanimitie and fortitude that ought to be in noble men But it might be that they hade it but durst not vttre it partly for that thone was in hope to recouer that he had a time lacked and the other for feare to lose that he hade but chiefly as it maie be gathered bicause they sawe their peeres mouth◅s stopped But let them be sure all will not serue if practicers parte maie take place For suche thinges wold be all together ouerthrowen or not meddled with for at leinght the least let wilbe called to memorie they maie be sure And bicause publike maters of a Realme that concerne all and euery mannes life wife children landes goodes and what so euer can not be tretted vpon by all mē but all must put their trust in a fewe men ought to be wise and circūspecte whō they trust For ther be to many that passe not what become of their neighbours so they maie prospre them selues what become of the hole Realme so their owne families maie stande still He that maketh sute to be a deputie for a multitude semeth to sue for his owne vainglorie or profit Those that sende lettres not to chose this man but to chose suche a man haue in their headdes more than the vniuersal wealthe of all He that bringeth lettres to be preferred meaneth not the benefite of them that he wolde serue He that geueth moneye and maketh great feastes thinketh som other fetche than the seruice of his neighbours He that refuseth or releasseth his ordinarie wages loketh for som greater extraordinarie rewarde He that is alwayes or ofte at prīces platters or in practi cers Palaces cā not long cōtinue the peoples true pro ctour And therfore in Venece as they write none of the Senate and officers vpon payne of his head dare talke pryuily with an other nor take rewardes or fees of any forayn Prince For they are so gelous of the hole state bicause they haue ben so often deceaued by practicers in their owne companies Which lesson all wise men and honest men should learne and by all meanes suspecte princes promises and withstande practicers doinges and not beleue one worde that they saye be it neuer so gentil nor yet their dedes what so euer shyne or pretense of loue they declare Such a realme as Englād is is well gottē how so euer it is gotten But thou that arte a true englishe man seing the fetches ād fal◅ehead of these named and such other ◅s they be loke in tyme to thy selfe and to the state of thy naturall countraye and trust not vnto them though their vse neuer so muche fliering though they sweare neuer so fast though they speake neuer so faire and though they geue thee their hande writing Be thou Pr◅metheus and not Epimetheus Remembre that our countrey man Adam Afterwitte hathe a great while ben the lorde For rewittes foole Be taught therfore in tyme before thou be taken Saye not to late Hade I wist Thou hast sufficient warning God geue thee grace to considre it and vse it AN EXHORTACION or rather a warnyng to the Lordes and Commones of Englande IHARTILY wishe natural englishemen and good countreymen that it had pleased God to haue geuen som cause wherby ye with me and I with you might haue reioyced and not to haue lamented one of vs to an other of our miserie For sorowfull thinges are neither grate to the hearer nor pleasaunt to the teller But as if one should come to his deare frende or good neighbour finding him very so re wounded and did but lament with him ād not went about to helpe him to cure his woundes he should ra ther augment his paynes and increace his sorowe so if in this miserable miserie wherin we and our poore countrey of England stande and yet is not come to the full and ripenesse I should but lament and wayle with you which I can not but doo onles I should shewe my seelf toto vnnatural and vnkynde I should but encreace I thinke your sorowes and paynes but most certaynly I am sure myne owne But as it is a most sure token of deathe whan the sicke man feleth not his disease nor cā tell wher his grief is being asked in what place his payne lyeth so in all Realmes and congregaciones of people whan they doo not fele the common calamities and miseries that are among them it is a most certain and infallible signe that the destruction and thende of it is at hande And therfore geue me leaue I beseche you to open your woundes and to searche the cause of your calamities and than to ministre and powre in to them some holsome bawme and couer them with some comfortable plastre And albeit I doo it not so finely as som others can but boisteously after my rude maner yet I doubt not but by Goddes grace ye shall finde confort or at least perceaue that I haue an earnest desire to see you holpen For I meane your wealthe and healthe as one brother ought of an other that is borne of the same father and mother Ther was neuer great miserie destruction plage or visitacion of God that came on any nacion citie or countrey which as they be in dede so may they iustly be called woundes but be sent of God for sinne and be not sodaynly layed on the people but are before prophecied and declared by the prophetes and ministers of Goddes worde or by some reuelaciones wondres monstres in the earthe or to kens and signes in thelement For God as he is most iust and will not faile to punishe synne so is he most mercifull and will not the deathe of sinners but rather that they should turne to him and lyue And therfore before hande geueth them warning what shall folowe if in tyme they repent not as by the histories of all ages it dothe appeare And none of these admoniciones haue ye lacked countrey men For the preachers and ministers of Goddes worde in the tyme of the godly Iosias king Edwarde the Sixthe preached and prophecied vnto you what miseries and plages should certaynly come to you the foode of Goddes worde to be cleane taken away frō you famyn of the body pestilence warres the losse of your goodes the deflouring and rauishing of your wyues and daughters before your eies the captiuitie of your bodies wyues and children the subuersion of the policie and state of the Realme that a straunge king and straunge people not only in countrey but also in condiciones and maners in respecte of your owne should reigne and rule by force ouer you if ye in tyme repented you not of your wickednesse amended your lyues and called to God for mercie But than
or elles quickly after But it shall almost come to late for common persones for they be so hanged vp by xx and xl in a plumpe and a great nombre of them bicause they confessed and professed that they should be saued by thonly merites of Christes passion that the pestilence shall haue litel matier amoÌ„g the meane sorte to be occupied on but therfore must be the more occupied with the great And hast thou England had no sedicion and inwarde grudge Yes so muche that the headdes and gouernours durst not pepe out of their priuie chambres nor one neighbour seme to talke with an other for feare to be noted and accused of conspiracie Yea and that that is worst of all and to be lamented of all englishe men ther is inwarde grudge and secret malice betwene the membres that is the Nobilitie aÌ„d Commones The one hateth and contemneth the other which is the worke of the deuil and his ministers the popishe Prelates and priestes They cast water in to the coles to make the fire greater for they knowe onles such diuision and dissension be fostred and nourished their kingdome wolde sone lie in the dirte This is the practice of suche as minde the conquest or vtter destruction of any people to maintene and pricke forewarde dissension diuision and discorde among the people For Christes wordes are true who saieth that euery kiÌ„gdome diuided in it self shalbe desolate and euery citie or house diuided against it self shall not continue The prophet prophecieng of the destruction of the kingdome of the Iewes saied before that ther should be ciuile and inwarde sedicion as ther was in dede in Ierusalem betwene three pestilent factiones and partes wherof Symon Ioannes and Eleazarus were the autors and headdes This was Xerses practice to set the Grecianes by the eares to maintene Ciuile warres and dissension among them that so whan one had destroied an other he might easily enioye all This policie haue all other ambicious monarkâ—…s hitherto in all places practiced And as Gardyner whan he should dye did not lament his synnes but sent for the Quene and wept to her that he could no longer lyue to serue her grace that is to vndoo the nobilitie and coÌ„mons of the Realme but he desired her to procede as he counsailed her by his worde and writing so Granuell whan he should also dye sent worde to theÌ„perour Charles and required him not to forget his counsail but still vse it thâ—…t is to nourishe and mayntene dissension among the sta tes of Germanie and so he should at leynght easily come by the hole In like maner if the traiterous bishoppes and priestes can ones set the coÌ„mones against the nobilitie and gentilmen they will sone the nobilitie being ones suppressed sende the coÌ„mones to clymbe a dawes nest and vse them at their pleasur But wise meÌ„ and suche as loued their countrey in tyme past foresawe this mischief that came by inwarde grudge and ciuile discorde and euer as muche as in them laie went about to let it They thought it was most necessare to prouyde for the sauegarde of the hole by all meanes and not for any particular parte which maye wel appear by the wisdoÌ„ of Thrasibulus who beiÌ„g dry uen out of Athens his countrey by the xxx tirannes bicause he wolde not consent to their tirannye ad to see his countrey destroyed at leynght gathered to gether all those that were banished with him and by the helpe of the Thebanes their neighbours toke a castle besides Athenes and afterwarde in batail he ouercame the tirannes and restored all those that wer banished to their couÌ„trey aÌ„d their olde lawes that we re takeÌ„ awaie by the tyraÌ„nes And seiÌ„g what mischief might folowe if he did not tak awaie thiÌ„warde grudge that was among the people and make an vnitie betwene theÌ„ albeit the poore banished men were spoiled of all that they had and their goodes in those handes that hade no right therto yet made he theÌ„ all to geue a promyse that non should claime any thing of an other but that all should be forgeuen and forgoten And the same wisedom did the Romaynes many tymes vse to make quietnesse among the people and to preserue the hole common wealthe Yea the noble men of Rome albeit they were as ambicious as others and one enuied an others glorie yet whan the common wealthe was in hasarde and that their seruice must be vsed for the defense of their countrey they did cleane forgeue and forget all priuate iniuries and inwarde grudge yea it was the chief meane to reconcile enemyes And no maruail among wisemen for they sawe if the hole body of their countrey should perishe they could not prospre Ther can be no arme wher ther is no body and it is a feble body that lacketh the armes and legges Yea it is a most misera ble body wher the armes and leggs beate the body aÌ„d the body goeth about to shake of tharms and legges And albeyt ther be no people that haue ben more pla ged by inwarde sedicion and ciuile discorde than Englishemen yet is ther none that lesse considre it I can not tell wherof it cometh but commonly they neither remembre that is past nor forsee that is to come but only as vnreasonable creatures loke vpoÌ„ those thin ges that be present The dissension and discorde that was in Britayne our couÌ„trey which now is called En glaÌ„d and betwene our owne couÌ„trey meÌ„ brought first the Romaynes in to England who after they were en tred sone toke all to theÌ„ selues they murthered a great noÌ„bre of the Britaynes of som they toke their childreÌ„ pledges and sent theÌ„ to Rome aÌ„d to ridde the Realme of strong aÌ„d lustie ê‘sones that ther might be none to withstaÌ„de theÌ„ they sent armies aÌ„d garisones of theÌ„ out of the realme to serue in forayn couÌ„treies Those that were lest at home they spoiled of their goodes with great taxes and imposiciones and a great nombre made slaues and bondemen and glad was he that could fynde fauour to enioye any litel parte of his owne as long as he lyued By this meanes was the real me almost made desolate and than the Pictes a barbarous and cruel nacion inuaded Britayne and destroied man woman and childe that came in to their handes and so greater miserie folowed the people forced to flye in to montaynes wooddes and caues for their sauegarde and by that meanes the grounde not tilled great famyncame on them and than wonderfull pestilence as lightli thone goeth not without the other Thus our countreimen the Britaynes being oppressed by the Pictes sought aide of the Saxones men of great force but of little truthe who whan they were come in to the Realme and sawe the fertilitie of it subtily deuysed to marie Ronix daughter to their captayn Hengistus to the king of Britayne called Vortiger She being instructe what she should doo fouÌ„de the meanes that her owne countreymen should be placed nyghest
as his maistership dothe by the masse saieth he that bocher the bishop of LoÌ„doÌ„ wil cut al the geÌ„tilmeÌ„s throtes in EnglaÌ„d if he caÌ„ Thus ye maie see the marcke wherat these hippocrites the papistes shoote They make religioÌ„ aÌ„d Goddes worde nothing elles thaÌ„ a colour to couer their wickednesse aÌ„d to maiÌ„tene their lewdnesse And therfore they wraste and wrythe scripture to serue their purpose and so they haue nede to doo for ther is not one worde in all the scripture for theÌ„ but euery worde against theÌ„ And bicause ye be retourned to their deuociones haue forsaken God aÌ„d his worde aÌ„d cleaue to the pope and his tradiciones aÌ„d maintene suche a sorte of hipocrites dissemblers and open enemies of God aÌ„d the Realme of EnglaÌ„de therfore haue all these plages lighted on you aÌ„d the rest will shortly folowe without faile Loke vpon the xxviij Chap. of deuteronomie wher it is writteÌ„ thus If thou wilt not hearkeÌ„ to the voice of the Lorde thy God to kepe and to doo all his coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes aÌ„d his ordinauÌ„ces which I coÌ„â—…auÌ„de the this daie al these curses shal come vpoÌ„ thee aÌ„d ouertake thee Cursed shalt thou be in the tow ne aÌ„d cursed iÌ„ the fielde cursed shal thy basket be and thy stoare Cursed shalbe the frute of thy body aÌ„d the frute of thy lande and the frute of thyne oxen and the flockes of thy shepe The lorde shal sende vpon thee cursing destruction and rebuke to all that thou settest thy hande to and that thou doest vntil he destroie thee and bring thee to naught quickly bicause of the wickednesse of thyne inuenciones and bicause thou hast forsaken me The lorde shall smite thee with mad nesse blyndenesse and dasing of heart Thou shalt be oppressed with wrong and be polled euermore and no man shah succour thee Thou shalt be betrouthed to a wife and an other man shall lie with her Thou shalt builde an house and not dwell therin Thine oxeÌ„ shalbe killed before thine eies and thou shalt not eate therof Thine asse shalbe violently taken from the aÌ„d shall not be restored to the againe Thy shepe shalbe geuen to thine enemies and noman shall rescue theÌ„ The frute of thy lande and all thy labours shall a nacion which thou knowest not eat aÌ„d thou shalt continually suffre violence and be oppressed alwaie so that thou shalt be cleane beside thy self for the sight that thine eies shall see Thou shalt cary muche sede out in to the felde and shalt gather but a litel in for the gresse hoppers shall destroie it All thy trees and frâ—…te of thy lande shalbe marred with blasting The straunger that is among you shall climbe aboue thee on highe aÌ„d thou shalt come downe beneathe alowe Moreouer all these curses shall come vpon thee aÌ„d shal folowe the aÌ„d ouertake the til thou be destroied bicause thou herkenedest not to the voice of the lor de thy God to kepe his coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes aÌ„d ordinauÌ„ces which he coÌ„mauÌ„ded the aÌ„d they shalbe vpoÌ„ the as miracles and vpoÌ„ thy sede for euer bicause thou seruedest not the lorde thy God with ioifulnesse aÌ„d with a good heart whan thou hadest abouÌ„dauÌ„ce of al thiÌ„ges therfore thou shalt serue thine enemie which the lorde shal sende vpoÌ„ thee in huÌ„gre and thirst in nakednesse and in nede of all thing and he shall put a yowke of Iron about thy necke til he haue brought the to naught And the lorde shall bring a nacion vpoÌ„ thee a nacion whose tongue thou shalt not vnderstande an harde fauoured nacioÌ„ which shal not regarde the persone of the olde nor haue coÌ„passion on the yong The same shall eat the frute of thy catail and the frute of thy lande til he haue destroied thee and shall leawe thee neither corne wine nor oile neither the increace of thine oxen nor the flockes of thy shepe til he haue brought the to naught And the lorde shall sende vpon the and thy sede great plagues and of long continuaunce euil sickenesses and of long duraunce And it shall come to passe that as the lorde reioiced ouer you to doo you good and to multiplie you euen so he will reioyce ouer you to destroie you aÌ„d to bring you to naught And amoÌ„g these naciones thou shalt finde non ease neither shall the sole of thy foote haue rest But the lorde shal geue the an vnquiet hart aÌ„d dasing eies aÌ„d sorowe of minde c. And in the ende of the xxix Chap. of the same it foloweth Than shall all naciones saie wherfore hathe the lorde done on this facion vnto this lande And men shall saie â–ª bicause they lefte the TestameÌ„t of their fathers which he made with them whan he brought theÌ„ out of the laÌ„de of Egipt For they went aÌ„d serued straunge goddes aÌ„d worshipped the. Goddes which they knowe not and which hade geuen them naught And the wrathe of the lorde waxed hotte against this laÌ„de to bring vpoÌ„ it all the curses that are writteÌ„ iÌ„ this boke c. By this scripture ye are plain ly tolde the vndeniable cause aÌ„d mater wherfore the lorde God threatneth and sendeth plages Reade all the histories of the bible aÌ„d the ê“phecies of the Prophetes aÌ„d ye shal euideÌ„tly see how people aÌ„d nacions haue beÌ„ destroied for mainteniÌ„g of suche Idolaters aÌ„d wicked liuers as the papistes are and wher suche wickednesse hathe beÌ„ vsed as is amoÌ„g you aÌ„d not cor rected as I haue before declared But thow wilt saie what shall we doo to auoide the calamitie aÌ„d miserie that is bothe present and towarde wolde to God thou diddest aske it froÌ„ the botome of thy harte But I feare thou doest dissemble aÌ„d speake it with thy lippes only as thou wast wont WhaÌ„ the great sweat was in England in the tyme of king Edwarde a litle signi ficatioÌ„ of a greater scourge foloweing and many that were mery at dyner were buried in the euenyng som that went at night to slepe lustie were founde in bedde dead in the morning some that went not farre froÌ„ their owne house neuer returned Than as long as the ferueÌ„tnesse of the plage lasted ther was cryeng Peccaui peccaui peccaui I haue synned I haue synÌ„ed I haue siÌ„ned mercie good lorde mercie mercie mercie The ministers of Goddes worde were sought for in eueri corner thei could not rest they might not slepe ye must come to my lorde ye must come to my lady my maister prayeth you to come straight vnto hiÌ„ my maistres must nedes speake with you Come if ye loue God and if ye loue their saluacioÌ„ tarye not For Goddes sake M. Minister saye the sicke folkes tell vs what we shall doo to auoide Godds wrothe Ta ke these bagges paye so muche to suche a man for I deceaued him geue him so muche for I gate it of him by â—…surie I made a craftie bargain with suche a one restore him so muche and desyre him to forgeue me I haue taken bribes of suche a one