Lordes Knightes and other to the number of thrée score and fiue were taken All these were condemned by the iudgement of Andrew Herkeley Earle of Carlile and on the two and twentie of March following Thomas Earle of Lancaster was beheaded and Warin de Lile William Tochet Thomas Manduit Henrie Bradbourne William Fitzwilliam the younger and William de Cheyney Barons were hanged and quartered at Pomfret Iohn Mowbray Roger Clifford and Goceline Deynvile were drawne and quartered at Yorke Bartholmew Badlesmere at Canterburie Henrie de Mountfort and Henrie Willington at Bristow Iohn Clifford and Roger Elinbrough at Glocester William Kerdife and Henrie Chies at London Frances de Aldham at VVindsore Thomas Culpeper at VVinchelsea The rest of their complices were bestowed in diuers prisons Andrew Herkeley Earle of Carlile vnder colour of peace feigned a mariage which by the King his Nobles was reputed for Treason wherevpon he was apprehended by his trustie fréend Sir Anthonie de Lucy and afterward was disgraded of the Earledome by the taking the swoord from him and cutting off his spurres then was he hanged and quartred at Carlile his head being sent to London and his quarters to foure partes of the land Hugh Spencer the elder and Hugh Spencer his sonne were verie troublesome persons to the Realme and caused many seditious treasons to arise daily but the Father was taken at Bristowe where he was drawne to the Gallowes in his Armour and so hanged then was he taken downe and beheaded and his body hanged vp againe and after foure daies his body was cutte in péeces and cast to the Dogges to be eaten but his head was sent to Winchester Hugh Spencer his sonne was brought to Hereforde where he was condemned without aunswere and was drawne and hanged vpon a paire of Gallowes thirtie foote hie and afterward was headed and quartered Simon Reading and Robert Baldocke Bishoppe of Norvvich and the Kinges Chauncelour who were pertakers with them in their traiterous rebellions the saide Simon Reading was drawne and hanged on the same Gallowes but ten foote lower and Robert Baldocke died in Newgate with many tormentes And many of their confederates were executed in other places so that but fewe of them escaped without punishment In the raygne of King Edward the thirde ROger Mortimer for consenting to the murthering of the Kings Father and many other notorious treasons was condemned at VVestminster in the presence of the whole Parliament and afterward was drawne to the Elmes and hanged on the common Gallowes where he hanged two dayes and two nightes by the Kinges commaundement there were hanged with him Sir Simon de Burford Knight Sir William Burford that was Iustice and Iohn Deuerel Esquier who was desirous to haue made open confession of the Kinges Fathers cruell death but he could not be suffered The Londoners sought to kill Iohn of Gaunt the Kings Sonne Duke of Lancaster for a word which he had spoken against their Bishoppe wherevpon the King deposed the Mayor and Aldermen of London and appointed other in their places and Sir Iohn Minsterwoorth Knight with others were drawne and hanged for the same In the raigne of King Richard the seconde BY the wicked perswasions of Iohn Ball a seditious Préest the Commons of Kent and Essex rebelled against the King chusing for their Captaines in their rebellion Watte Tiler and Iacke Strawe They came to Blacke Heath and so on to London and entred the Cittie on Corpus Christi day where they destroyed many goodly places of the Nobles and others as the Sauoy Saint Iohns by Smithféeld the Manour of Highburie by Yseldon and the Temple where the Prentises of the Lawe were lodged for the increase of their Studie They tooke out of the Tower of London where the King was then lodged Simon Sudburie Archbishop of Canterburie Lord Chauncelour of England Robert Halles Priour of Saint Iohns and Treasorer of England William Apelton a Frier Minor the Kinges Confessour and Iohn Legge a Seriant of the Kinges and beheaded them all on the Tower Hyll They beheaded diuers other in many places as Sir Iohn Cauendishe Lord chéefe Iustice of England the Priour of S. Edmundes-burie and other Richard Lions a famous Lapidary of London was drawne out of his house and beheaded in Chepe They beheaded all men of Lawe as well Prentises and vtter Barresters as Iustices and all Iurers that they might get into their hands They spared none whome they thought to be learned were it neuer so lyttle especiallie if they found any to haue pen and inke they pulled off his hoode and cried out all with one voice hale him into the stréetes and cut off his head The King to pacifie their furie offered them peace on condition they would cease from burning of houses and slaughter of men which the Essex men tooke and returned home but the Kentish men remained burning and killing styll as before Wherevpon the King sendeth Sir Iohn Newton Knight to Wat Tiler their Captaine to intreate him to come talke with him about his owne demaundes the Knight hauing doone his message Wat Tiler mallepartlie aunswered that he would come at his owne pleasure neuerthelesse he followed softlie after the Knight and when he came néere Smithféeld where the King tarried his comming the same Knight was sent againe to méet him and vnderstand his requests Wat Tiler séeing the Knight come néere vnto him on horse backe proudlie saide it had become him better to be on foote in his presence the Knight aunswered that it was no harme sith himselfe was also on horsebacke therewith Wat Tiler drew his Dagger and offering to strike called the Knight Traiteur wherevpon the Knight drew his dagger too and aunswered him that he lyed The King séeing the Knight in daunger commaunded him to alight on foote and to deliuer his Dagger to Watte Tyler whose proude minde would not be so pacified but would néedes run on the Knight wherevppon there came to the King William Walwoorth the Mayor of London and many other Knightes and Esquiers who affirmed that it would be a shamefull reproch if they should suffer the Knight to be murdred At last the King commaunded the Mayor to arrest the Rebell which Mayor being a man of verie valiaunt courage arrested Wat Tyler on the head with such a mighty stroke as he caused him to fall downe greatly astonied then a number more enuironed the Rebell round about and gaue him so many woundes as he had no life left in him c. Iacke Strawe being likewise taken when at London he should lose his head by the iudgement of the Maior confessed as followeth The same time sayth he that we came to Black Heath when we sent for the King we purposed to haue murdred all Knightes Esquiers and Gentlemen that should haue come with him and to haue led the King royallie vsed vp and downe that with the sight of him all men especiallie the common people might
For this is credible to be supposed that the saide wicked Gardiner of VVinchester had long laboured his wits and to this onelie most principall marke bent all his deuises to bring this our happie and deere Soueraigne out of the waie as both by his wordes and dailie dooinges sufficientlie appeared But such was the gratious and fauourable prouidence of the Lord to the preseruation not onelie of her Royall Maiestie but also the miserable and wofull state of this whole Iland and poore Subiects of the same whereby the proude platformes and peeuishe practises of this wretched Achitophell preuailed not but contrarywise both he and all the snares and trappes of his pernitious councell laide against an other were turned to a nette to catch himselfe according to the Prouerbe Malum consilium consultori pessimum After the death of this Gardiner followed the death also and dropping awaie of other her enimies wherby by little and little her ieopardie decreased feare deminished hope of comfort beganne to appeare as out of a darke clowde And albeit her Grace as yet had no full assuraunce of perfect safetie yet more gentle entertainement did dailie growe vnto her tyll at length to the moneth of Nouember seuentéene day of the same thrée yéeres after the death of Stephen Gardiner followed the death of Quéene Marie After whose deceasse succeeded her foresaide Sister Lady Elizabeth into her right of the Crowne of England who after so long restraintment so great daungers escaped such blustering storms ouerblowne so many iniuries digested and wrongs susteined by the mightie protection of our mercifull God to our no small comfort and commoditie hath beene exalted and erected out of thrall to libertie out of daunger to peace and quietnesse from dread to dignitie from miserie to Maiestie from mourning to ruling breefelie of a prisoner made a Princesse and placed in her throne Royall proclaimed now Queene with as many glad heartes of her Subiectes as euer was any King or Queene in this Realme before her or euer shall be I dare saye heereafter the Lord long holde his hand ouer her and send her to rule many and happy yeeres I beseech him Amen In this pittifull and rufull Historie thou hast O England three especiall thinges to consider First the hardnesse of the time then being and the vnmercifulnesse of those mens hearts who prepared all their deuillishe pollicies and inuented a world of wyles and deceites whereby they might gaine oportunitie to destroy this woorthy and famous Lady whose innocencie could not appease their blood thirstinesse nor whose vertues could not asswage their cruell dealing but euen as the wicked Iewes cried death against our Sauiour euen so these vnnaturall men did their vttermost against this Noble Lady Secondlie thou art to note her woonderfull patience her assured trust in God who neuer fayled her and euen when death was most of all threatned to her and that many occasions was giuen for her to doubt the same her patience was not any iote the more mooued but being confident in God to whom she referred the state of her innocencie and extremitie of their rigorous intentes she passed through all those agonies with a cheerefull and vndaunted heart and their practises to feare her was not so horrible but her patience in suffering was as admirable Thirdlie thou must remember the ready working hand of God for her in all her daungers how gratiouslie he preuented their deuises and had such an especiall care ouer his Daughter as no extremitie whatsoeuer could preuaile against her For which exceeding loue towardes thee how highlie thou art bound to his heauenlie Maiestie the manifold happy blessinges thou hast and doost receiue by her can sufficientlie tell thee But as I haue heeretofore giuen thee to vnderstand the punishment of Treason and tretcherous practises in the raignes of the Kinges before passed so likewise I must craue leaue a little to speake of such matters as hath happened since the raigne of our Soueraigne Lady and Quéene and then will we procéede on with the rest of our intent ¶ Since the raigne of our most gratious and Soueraigne Lady Queene Elizabeth THe fourth and fift day of Ianuarie did suffer at Durham to the number of thrée score and six Constables and other who were pertakers in the rebellion in the North with the Lordes of Westmerland and Northumberland amongst whome an Alderman of the Towne and a Priest called Plometree were the most notable Then Sir George Bowes Marshall finding many to be faultors in the foresaide rebellion did sée them executed in euerie markette Towne and other places betwixt Newcastell and Wetherbie about thrée score miles in length and fortie miles in breadth On good Fridaie the seuen and twentie daie of March Simon Digbie of Askew Iohn Fulthorp of Isilbecke in the Countie of Yorke Esquiers Robert Peneman of Stokesley Thomas Bishoppe the younger of Poklinton in the same Countie of Yorke Gentlemen were drawne from the Castell of Yorke to the place of execution called Knaues-myre halfe a mile without the Cittie of Yorke and there hanged headed and quartered their foure heads were set on the foure principall gates of the Cittie with foure of their quarters the other quarters were set in diuers places of the Countrie Oscolph Clesbe was with them drawne to the gallowes and returned againe to the Castell One Hillyard the Earle of Northumberlands man and a vagraunt person named William Godswher were taken among the other rebelles and were brought to Bervvicke where they were executed the foure and twentie day of Maie The seuen and twentie day of Maie Thomas Norton and Christopher Norton of Yorkeshiere being both condemned of high treason for the late rebellion in the North were drawne from the Tower of London to Tiborne and there hanged headed and quartered A conspiracie was made by certaine Gentlemen and other in the Countie of Norfolke whose purpose was on Midsommer day at Harlestone Fayre with sound of Trūpet and Drum to haue raysed a number and then to proclaime their deuillishe pretence against Straungers and other This matter was vttered by Thomas Kete one of the conspiracie vnto Iohn Kensey who foorthwith sent the same Kete with a Constable to the next Iustice before whome and other Iustices he opened the whole matter Whereupon Maister Dreugh Drewrie immediatlie apprehended Iohn Throckmorton and after him many Gentlemen of the Cittie of Norwich and the Countie of Norfolke who were all committed to prison And at the next Sessions of Gaole deliuerie at the Castell of Norwich the seuentéene of Iulie before Sir Robert Catlin Knight Lord cheefe Iustice Maister Gilbert Gerrard the Queenes Attourney generall and other Iustices ten of them were endighted of high Treason and some others of contempt diuers of them were condemned and had iudgement the one and twentie of August and afterward thrée of them were hanged bowelled and quartered which were Iohn Throckmorton of
the poysoning of him at length the giuing the Land to the French Kinges sonne the inuading thereof by the Dolphin of Fraunce his so long possessing a great part of it the rebellion of the Barons to take the French mens part all the mischéefes that fell in all this whyle were they not the good workes of Popes and Papistes The great deuision of the two noble houses of Lancaster and Yorke which cost so much Englishe blood that there remayneth no house of high or meane Nobilitie that hath not smarted for it So many foughten fieldes within the Realme so long and so great vncertaintie which side were true men and which were Traitours and for how many dayes or howres they should be so estéemed such desolation and miseries to whome are they to be imputed but to the Popishe Clergie and Papists and among other to Thomas Arundell Archbishoppe of Canterburie that trayterouslie practised the deposing of his lawfull Soueraigne Lord King Richard the second But come yet to later times Howe was the Quéenes Maiesties most noble Father assaulted by the Pope and Papistes His Realme was interdited and giuen away to him that could catch it Legates and one notable English traitour were sent about to perswade Christian Princes to inuade England to destroye and depose King Henrie and to take the Realme in reward for their labour When Charles the late Emperour was setting forward against the Turke Cardinall Poole being sent by the Pope made a solemne Oration to him which is yet extant in print to perswade the Emperour to turne his prepared power from inuading the Turke and to bend it against King Henrie the eight as one wurse then any Turke What turmoile was then raised by the Northren Rebelles against him whereof some by his clemencie a good example haue liued to this day to raise a new rebellion How troubled they her Maiesties most excellent Brother with vnhappy seditions How vexed they and how endaungered they the Realme and the Quéenes own person in her Sisters time as in the Storie before rehearsed you may reade at large What might Charles the Emperour haue doone for recouery and enlarging of Christendome if his force that way intended had not by the Popes practise béene peruerted sundrie wayes and times to â—â—â—in shedding of christian blood and wasting of Christendome and to the ouerthrowe of his victorious course What tempests hath the late conspiracie of Trent blowne vp in Christendome that cannot yet be quieted and all because the Pope hath instilled an opinion into his Papistes that Princes if he dispence with them are not bounde to kéepe faith and promise no not the word of a King wherby no peace can be assured Whereof yet ryseth one good admonition to trust them no more and to be well ware of them and speciallie to thinke of this one particular that wicked persons who haue giuen occasion of daungerous rebellions against the Quéenes Maiestie their chéefe and onelie succour and refuge will neuer be withholden by any respect from attempting or procuring to be attempted any most high and heinous treason and mischéefe against our Soueraigne Ladies safetie if an auauntageable oportunitie may serue them so long as such persons are infected with Papistrie and can thinke the Pope able to pardon or rather willing to reward them yea so farre as they shall suppose themselues not onely to winne the Kingdome of England therby but also the kingdome of Heauen It is perillous to thinke what traiterous rage may doo being armed with drunken superstition It is a sore thing to consider the impotencie of ambition specially when it is ioyned with the furie of reasonlesse loue The common experience is how daungerous those knottes of théeues be where there is a woman in the company Thus is it plaine that for as much as the Pope claymeth such wrongful vsurpation and tiranny ouer Kings Realmes and sith Papists holde that he sayth true and claymeth but his right and cannot erre in discerning it all such Papists are Traitours to all Kinges and Kingdomes As for the second Conclusion which accuseth Englishe Papistes of treason to the Quéenes Maiestie it is sufficientlie prooued for that it is a perticular within a generall included in the former Yet for the speciall confirmation of it it hath certaine priuate and seuerall reasons It is well knowne and you haue read the whole discourse before how they sought her Graces death in her Sisters time what practises what fetches were vsed for it what examinations what searchinges were to finde couller of her destruction yea how farre without couller they procéeded if God had not miraculouslie kept her to the preseruation of this Realme and the comfort of all Christendome But to make some demonstration of their hatred to her Maiestie by reason after to discend to the examples and practises let vs examine the causes Whereas the Papistes holde that the Pope is head of Gods vniuersall Church and that such authoritie as the Quéene claimeth in England ouer Ecclesiasticall persons and in Ecclesiasticall causes as due to her Highnesse in right of her Crowne is not due to her but belonging to the Pope in so saying they must saye that her Maiestie claymeth an vniust tyrannicall power And who so euer shall so saye though not in the same sillables is an vniust and an errant traitour and cannot loue her that hath pul led him downe whome they call head of their Church Where the Pope hath accurssed the Quéenes Maiestie as an Heretique and Scismatique all those Papists which suppose that the Pope hauing the disposition of Gods sentence and the thunderbolte of excoÌ„munication in his hand cannot erre doo also suppose that the Quéenes Highnesse our Quéene Elizabeth I meane is not lawfull Quéene of England as many of them haue not spared to saye for so must all Papistes holde that holde the Pope to say true for the Pope dooth not so accept her And Papistes haue published that Gospellers whome they call Heretiques ought not to haue any office among Gods people much lesse a Kingdome And this point is well to be considered that they which take from the Quéenes Maiestie the Supremacie ouer Ecclesiastical persons and causes doo transferre the same iurisdiction to the Pope for they neuer yet vouchsafed to giue it to any other And yet I am sure that after so many examples of Bées and Beastes and other thinges they will not nowe haue any perticular Church headlesse and destitute of a supreme Gouernour either vniuersal like a Monarch as they would haue it or speciall vnder God of eche Kingdome or Dominion as Gods good disposition hath forced it If then the Pope haue in their opinion any Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction in England he must haue I us excommunicandi lawfull power and authority to excoÌ„municate in England without which the Ecclesiasticall power cannot stand Which power if he iustlie haue hath excommunicated and accurssed her Maiestie
peace the common and equall distribution of Iustice the familiar cherishing of Nobilitie the good preseruing and loue of the Commonaltie the mutuall and tender kindnes at home the amitie and awe abroade the swéete enioying of all these happie commodities match héerewith the danger and feare of loosing them how can it then be but that the minde shalbe meruailouslie distracted Great and full of diuersities are the fittes of a passioned Louer but yet greatest where reason rulest least Farre greater to a good minde must be the panges of consideration in this case but yet greatest where reason ruleth most The sillie Louer is transported as they complaine poore soules in their ditties sometime with ioy of his enioying sometime with feare of his foregoing there is no meane or order of his excessiue affection and all is because the abused creature hath set his felicity in a wrong conceite But if such vaine short repentable and féeble delight of fancie haue such force vpon the minde of man howe much more ought the déepe wise naturall and true impression of the eternall comfort of the soule the good and safe estate both of the common weale and of the priuate hauiour of himselfe and of those thinges and persons that he holdeth dearest yea and of his posteritie for euer worke more mighty violent continuall effects in the mind of an honest good man that setteth his thoughtes vpon iust and assured groundes All these contemplations cannot but fill a good Christians and a good Subiects eie with sight and knowledge how vnestimable a treasure our noble and vertuous Quéene Elizabeth is to the Realme of England and the same cannot but pierce his heart with strong feare care for her preseruation so farre as surely it were able as in the dumbe borne sonne of Cresus breake the stringes of a tyed tongue to drawe spéeche out of the most barbarous and rudest Subiect to crie out at her Highnesse peryll and with such noyse as he is able to make though it were but as a Goose of the Capitole to giue warning to the watchmen of the Tower of our safetie This hath mooued me to forget how vnskylfull and how vnapt I am to treate of matters so farre aboue me and only to remember how méet it is for all men to thinke of those things that touch them so néerely when they haue from point to point made due examination of them to ring out the larum bell of good councell to their Country or giue them some watch-word of passed perils wherby they may the better preuent imminent extremities wherein they may both manifest the care they haue of theyr Princes safetie as also the vnfeined affection they beare to theyr Countrie It hath béene and yet remayneth extant to be séene the many and sundrie disordered attemptes which haue threatned daunger to her Maiesties most royall person and perill to the whole state ingenerall whereby many good mindes haue béene greatlie discomforted and those bad spirites which haue thirsted and laboured in these vnduetifull actions haue béene encouraged to runne on in their disloyall determinations A thing much to be lamented that in the Sun-shine of so many happy blessinges whereof this Realme so long time together neuer héeretofore tasted such wicked and malitious natures should bréede amongst vs both to ouerthrowe our selues and the quietnesse of a number well affected It is good for such wilfull heads to take héede in time and that the ouerthrowe of such seditious practises wherewith this Realme from time to time hath béen too much troubled may remaine for a warning to them and in middest of their secret confederacies to remember this that to exalt their hearts against Gods annointed is the verie ready way to bring themselues to confusion The onely roote and originall of such vnnaturall humours in men is Treason which of all other things is most odious in the sight of God and amongst men hath least prosperous successe for proofe whereof and because this Watch-word may the more déepelie enter the thoughts and cogitations of them to whose handes it shall happen it shall not be much amisse for mée to make repetition of former tretcherous practises and withall to declare their end and successe which happilie may cause some men to alter their bad affections and séeing the accidentes that hath héeretofore chaunced in their owne Countrie they may forsake those contrarie natures whereby they are gouerned and so in time shew themselues more vehement in duetie In the raigne of King Richard the first THere was one William Fitz Osbert a Cittizen of London a man but of poore and meane degrée yet endued with a quicke witte and an eloquent tongue as many of these secrete perswaders are he perswaded the people to séeke liberty and fréedome and so prouided himselfe of two and fiftie thousand Londoners to rise against the King And to maintaine his traiterous enterprise he tooke the Stéeple of Bowe Church in Chepe and fortified it with Munition and victualles but in the end the Church was assaulted by the Cittizens and William with his Complices were taken and so brought to the Archbishoppe in the Tower where he was condemned by the héeles drawne from thence to a place called the Elmes where he was hanged with nine of his fellowes In the raigne of King Henry the thirde KIng Henrie the third lying at UUoodstocke a Scholler of Oxforde fayning himselfe mad enterprised to haue slaine the King in his Chamber but he was taken and after long imprisonment was torne in péeces with horsses at Couentrie In the raigne of King Edward the second THere was one Iohn Poydras a Tanners sonne of Excester who in diuers places of England named himselfe the Sonne of King Edward the first and saide that by a false Nurse he was stollen foorth of his Cradle and Edward that then was King put in his place but shortly after he was conuict of his vntrueth when he confessed that he did it by the motion of a familiar spirite which he had in his house in the likenesse of a Catte whome he had serued for thrée yéeres as all Traitours els forget God and serue the deuill but for this his seruice he was not long after hanged at North-hampton Edward de Bruis the King of Scottes Brother who for the space of thrée yéeres had assaulted Ireland and vniustly vsurping the King of Englands title crowned himself King thereof was at length taken by the King of Englands subiectes and was beheaded at Dundalke The Towne of Bervvicke was betrayed to the Scots through the Treason of Peter Spalding and other English men whome the King of Scottes in reward of their tretcherie caused to be hanged for being Traitours to their owne Countrie Thomas Earle of Lancaster hauing prouided himselfe of a great number of his confederacie rebelled against King Edward the second wherevppon the King pursued the Rebelles and at Borowbridge the saide Earle of Lancaster with
haue come vnto vs the more boldlie And when we had prouided our selues of a sufficient multitude we would haue suddenlie put to death in euerie Countrie the Lordes and Maisters of the common people in whome might appeare to be eyther councell or resistaunce against vs. And speciallie we would haue kylled the Knightes of Saint Iohns lastlie we would haue kylled the King himselfe and all men that had béene of any possession Bishoppes Monkes Chanons Parsons to be bréefe we would haue dispatched all such onelie begging Friers should haue liued that might haue suffised for ministring the Sacraments through the whole Realme And we would haue made Kings at our pleasure as Wat Tiler in Kent and in euerie Shiere one but because this our purpose was hindred by the Archbishoppe we studied how we might shortlie bring him to his ende Against the same daye that Watte Tyler was kylled we purposed that euening because the poore people of London séemed to fauour vs to sette fire in foure corners of the Cittie so to haue burnt it and to haue deuided the ritches at our pleasure amongst vs. He added that these thinges they purposed to haue doone as God should helpe him at the ende of his life After this his confession he was beheaded and his head set on London Bridge by Watte Tylers and many other When these Rebelles burned the Sauoy one of them tooke a goodlie Siluer péece and hid it in his bosome but an other had spied him and tolde his fellowes who hurled him and the péece of Plate together into the fire Two and thirtie of them entring the Seller of the Sauoy drunke so much of swéete wines that they were not able to come out againe but were shutte in with wood and stones that mured vp the doore they called and cried seuen dayes after and were heard of many but none came to helpe them so they died there After a number had sacked the new Temple what with labour and excéeding drinking of white Wine they laye downe vnder the walles and houses and were slaine lyke Swine hatred and contention so arose amongst them as they cruellie murdered one an other and others also made quicke dispatch of them thus the iust iudgement of GOD brought the Traytors to their deserued end Iohn Ball Priest who encouraged these traytors in their rebellion was brought to Saint Albones and there before the King was hanged and quartered he would not aske the King forgiuenesse as all traytors doo the like but vtterlie despised him The principall leaders of the Commons in rebellion were Wat Tyler Iack Strawe Iohn Kirkbie Allen Threder Thomas Scot and Ralphe Rugge these with other were leaders of the Kentishe and Essex men At Mildenhall and Burie in Suffolke was Robert Westbrome that made himselfe King and was most famous after Iohn Wraw who being Priest would not set crowne vpon crowne but left the name and crowne to the saide Robert At Norvvich Iohn Leicester a Dyer exercised the name and power of a King tyll he was taken and hanged for his paines and so were most of them in many places Iohn Wraw who was leader of them that rose at Mildenhall and Burie was drawne and hanged though many thought he should haue béene redéemed with money In the raigne of King Henry the fourth KIng Henrie the fourth enioying the Crowne of England and kéeping his Christmasse in his Castell at Windsore Iohn Holland late Duke of Excester and Earle of Huntington Thomas late Duke of Surrie and Earle of Kent Edward late Duke of Aumerle and Earle of Rutland sonne to the Duke of Yorke Iohn Montacute Earle of Salisburie Thomas Spencer Earle of Glocester Sir Ralphe Lumley Sir Thomas Blunt Sir Benedic Cely Knights with other that ioyned with them conspired against King Henrie and appointed priuilie to murder him vnder the couller of Iusting and other Pastimes pretended But the King vnderstanding of theyr pretence by the Mayor of London left VVindsore and came in his company to London so that they missed of him when they came to VVindsore where they entred the Castell with foure hundred men When they sawe how they were deceyued they came to Sunning where the Quéen that was wife to King Richard deposed lay where they perswaded the houshold that King Richard who before was deposed from his aucthoritie and kept prisoner in Pomfret Castel was as then escaped out of prison and they would goe to him From thence they went to Wallingford afterward to Abington warning the people to take Armes vppon them and to goe méete their olde King Richard Then they came to Circester where they bruted that King Richard was in company with them and to make their words of the better credite they had gotten a Chaplaine of King Richards called Madeleine so like him in all proportion and fauour as the one could hardlie he knowne from the other This Chaplaine they had put in Armour with a Crowne on his Helmette that all men might take him for King Richard but the people of the Towne remembring their duetie to their Prince mislyked of their procéedings wherevpon they fought against them and at length tooke the chéefest of them and led them to the Abbay there where they put them in a fayre chamber vnder safe custodie Then the Lordes séeing the people so vehement in duetie to their King stoode in great feare and imagined by what meanes they might escape foorth of their handes so they caused some of their seruauntes to set fire on certaine houses in the Towne thinking the people would haue such regard to slake the fire as they would be glad to forsake them but it chaunced farre contrarie for the people then increased more and more in rage against them and drew them by violence into the Market place where they beheaded the Duke of Excester and the Earle of Salisburie and six and twentie of their attendants were led to Oxforde where they were beheaded in the Castell also Sir Thomas Blunt Knight was beheaded with them The wéeke next following Thomas Spencer Earle of Glocester was beheaded at Bristowe and at the same tyme Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington and brother to King Richard on the Mothers side was beheaded at Plashie in Essex and at London was beheaded Sir Barnard Brocas Iohn Madeleine the Priest that was so like King Richard and an other Priest called VVilliam Feribe and thus the traytors sped for rebelling against their King There was found in the Kinges bedde cloathes an yron with thrée sharpe pikes slender and round standing vpright layde there by some traytour that when the King should haue layde him downe he might haue thrust himselfe vppon them but by Gods assistaunce he escaped that trayterous deuise A Priest of VVarwicke who conspired against King Henrie was drawne hanged and quartered Also VValter VValdocke Priour of Laude in Leicester sheyre for trayterous spéeches against the King was hanged and headed Moreouer one Richard Friseby
shortlie after Ashbie was executed for the supremacie In the raigne of the noble Prince King Edward the sixt IN the month of Maie by meanes of a Proclamation for enclosures the commons of Sommersetshiere and 〈…〉 made a commotion but Sir Willam Herberd slew and executed many of the rebelles Also the commons of Cornewall and Deuonshiere rose against the Noblemen and Gentlemen and besieged the Cittie of Excester which was valiantlie defended Against these Rebelles was sent Iohn Lord Russell Lord priuie Seale with a number of Soldiours who entred the Cittie of Excester the fift day of August where they slewe and tooke prisoners of the Rebelles more then foure thousand and after hanged diuerse of them in the Town and Countrie about Diuers persons were apprehended as aiders of the foresaid Rebels of the which one was hanged within Algate and an other at the Bridge foote toward Southwarke both on Marie Magdalens day The Rebelles in Norfolke and Suffolke encamped them selues at Mount Surrey in a wood called Saint Nicholas Wood néere vnto Norvvich against whome Sir Iohn Dudley Earle of VVarvvicke went with an Armie where both he and a great number of Gentlemen méeting with the Rebelles were in such daunger as they thought all to haue died in that place But God that confoundeth the purpose of Rebelles brought it so to passe that as well there as in all other places they were partlie by power constrained partlie by promise of their pardon perswaded to submit themselues to their Prince The Earle of Warvvicke entred the Cittie of Norwich the seuen and twentie day of August when he had slaine aboue fiue thousand of the Rebelles and taken their chéefe Captaine Robert Ket of VVindham Tanner who might dispend in landes fiftie poundes by yéere and was woorth in mooueables aboue a thousand Markes and when he had put to execution diuers of the Rebelles in sundrie places about Norwich he returned About this time also a commotion began at Semer in the North-riding of Yorkeshiere and continued in the East-riding there ended the principall raisers whereof were William Ombler of East-hesterton Yeoman Thomas Dale parish Clarke of Semer and Steuenson of Semer. They being preuented by the Lord President from rising at Wintringham they drewe to a place at Semer by the Sea coast and there by night rode to the Beacon at Staxton and set it on fire and so gathered together a rude route Then they went to Maister Whites house and tooke him and Clopton his wiues brother Sauadge a merchant of Yorke and Berie seruaunt to Sir Walter Mildmay which foure they murdered a mile from Semer and there left them naked their number increasing to thrée thousand On the one and twentie day of August the Kinges pardon was offered which Ombler and other refused who were shortlie after taken and brought to Yorke where Thomas Dale and other were executed the one and twentie of September The seuen and twentie day of Ianuarie Humfrey A rundell Esquier Thomas Holmes Winslowe and Berie Captaines of the Rebelles in Deuonshiere were hanged and quartered at Tiborne The tenth of Februarie one Bell a Suffolke man was hanged and quartered at Tiborne for moouing a new rebellion in Suffolke and Essex Richard Lion Goddard Gorran and Richard Ireland were executed the fouretéenth day of Maie for attempting a new rebellion in Kent In the raigne of Queene Marie WIlliam Constable alias Fetherstone who caused Letters to be cast abroad that King Edward was aliue and to some he had shewed himselfe to be King Edward was arraigned at the Guild Hall of London hauing béene once before whipped for the same behauiour and deliuered but now he was condemned and the thirtéenth daye of March he was drawne hanged and quartered at Tiborne One Clober who sometime kept a Schoole at Dys in Norfolke with thrée brethren whose names were Lincoln made a conspiracie and being driuen to flight one Maister Shirman pursued and tooke him at a Towne called Eye in Suffolke where he was kept in prison till the next Sessions at Saint Edmundsburie whether his thrée mates being brought to him they were altogether drawne hanged and quartered Quéene Marie deceassing Elizabeth our most gratious and soueraigne Ladie second Daughter to the noble and victorious Prince King Henrie the eight to the great comfort of England enioyed her lawfull right and iust title being proclaimed Quéene of England Fraunce and Ireland defender of the Faith c. Now ceased the time of greuous vexation both in soule and body and the swéete comfort that euerie godlie minde desired did shewe it selfe shining in glorie and maiestie the greater cause haue we therefore to loue and honour that gratious Ladie who brought with her such aboundaunce of happines as neither tongue can woorthelie expresse it nor any pen sufficientlie set it downe Thankes be to God who preserued her Grace so woonderfullie in the time of many threatned troubles and daungers which by his prouidence she happilie escaped to our no small ioye and perfect consolation which troublesome time of her Graces suffering I haue héerto annexed according as it is set downe by that woorthy man Maister Iohn Fox in his Actes and Monuments the remembrance whereof may whet vs to be more duetifull vnto her then a number are and reioyce in God for our deliueraunce by her admirable patience ¶ The myraculous preseruation of Lady Elizabeth now our most dread and grations Queene of England from extreme calamitie and daunger of life in the time of Queene Marie her Sister BUt when all hath béene saide and told what soeuer can be recited touching the admirable working of Gods present hand in defending and deliuering any one person out of thraldome neuer was there since the memorie of our Fathers any example to be shewed wherein the Lordes mightie power hath more admirablie and blessedly shewen it selfe to the glorie of his owne name to the comfort of all good hearts and to the publique felicitie of this whole Realme then in the miraculous custodie and outscape of this our soueraigne Ladie now Quéene then Ladie Elizabeth in the straite time of Quéene Marie her Sister In which storie we haue first to consider in what extreme miserie sicknesse feare and perill her Highnesse was into what care what trouble of minde and what daunger of death she was brought First with great routes bands of Armed men and happy was he that might haue the carrying of her being fetcht vp as the greatest traitour in the world clapt in the Tower and againe tossed from thence from house to house from prison to prison from post to piller at length also prisoner in her owne house and garded with a sort of cutthroates which euer gaped for the spoile whereby they might be fingering on somewhat Secondlie to consider againe we haue all this notwithstanding how strangely or rather miraculouslie from daūger she was deliuered what fauour and grace she
if it could be prooued by me For I knowe my selfe I thanke God to be out of the daunger thereof wishing that I were as cléere out of the perill of mine enimies and then I am assured I should not be so locked and bolted vp within walles doores as I am God giue them a better minde when it pleaseth him About this time was there a great consulting among the Bishoppes and gentlemen touching a mariage for her Grace which some of the Spaniardes wished to be with some Stranger that she might go out of the Realme with her portion some saying one thing and some an other A Lord who shall be heere namelesse being there at last saide That the King should neuer haue any quiet Common wealth in England vnlesse her head were stricken from her shoulders Wherevnto the Spaniardes aunswered saying God forbid that the King their Maister should haue that minde to consent to such a mischéefe This was the courteous aunswere of the Spaniards to the Englishe men speaking after that sort against their owne Country From that day the Spaniardes neuer left off their good perswasions to the King that the like honour he should neuer obtaine as he should in deliuering Lady Elizabethes Grace out of prison whereby at length she was happilie released from the same Héere is a plaine and euident example of the good clemencie and nature of the King and his Councellers towardes her Grace praised be God therefore who mooued their heartes therein Then héerevpon she was sent for shortlie after to come to Hampton Court But before her remoouing from VVoodstocke we will a little stay to declare in what dangers her life was during this time she there remained First thorowe fire which began to kindle betwéene the boordes and seeling vnder the Chamber where she laie whether by a sparke of fire gotten into a creuis or whether of purpose by some that meant her no good the Lord dooth knowe Neuerthelesse a woorshipfull Knight of Oxfordshiere which was there ioyned the same time with Sir Henrie Benifield in kéeping that Lady who then tooke vp the boordes and quenched the fire verilie supposed it to be doon of purpose Furthermore it is thought and also affirmed if it be true of one Paule Peny a kéeper of VVoodstocke a notorious Ruffian and a butcherlie wretch that was appointed to kill the Lady Elizabeth who both sawe the man being often in her sight and also knewe thereof An other time one of the priuie Chamber a great man about the Quéene and chéefe darling of Stephen Gardiner named Maister Iames Basset came to Blandenbridge a mile from UUoodstocke with twentie or thirtie priuie coates and sent for Sir Henrie Benifield to come and speake with him But as God would who disposed all thinges after the purpose of his owne will so it happened that a little before the saide Sir Henrie Benifield was sent for by a Poste to the Councell leauing straite worde behinde him with his brother that no man whatsoeuer he were though comming with a Bill of the Quéenes hand or any other warrant should haue accesse to her before his returne againe By reason whereof so it fell out that Sir Henrie Benifieldes brother comming to him at the Bridge would suffer him in no case to approch in who otherwise as it is supposed was appointed violentlie to murder the innocent Lady At what time likewise that the Lady Elizabeth was in the Tower a Writ came downe subscribed with certaine handes of the Councell for her execution which if it were certaine as it is reported Winchester do doubt was deuiser of that mischeuous drift And doubtlesse the same Achitophell had brought his impious purpose that day to passe had not the fatherlie prouidence of Almightie God who is alwaies stronger then the deuill styrred vp Maister Bridges Lieuetenaunt the same time of the Tower to come in haste to the Quéene to giue certificate therof and to know further her consent for her Sisters death Wherevppon it followed that all that deuise was disappointed and VVinchesters deuillishe platforme which he saide he had cast through the Lordes goodnesse came to no effect Where moreouer is to be noted that during the imprisonment of this Lady and Princesse one Maister Edmund Tremaine was on the Racke and Maister Smithwike and diuers other in the Tower were examined and diuers offers made them to accuse the guiltlesse Lady being in her captiuitie Howbeit all that notwitstanding no matter could be prooued by all examinations as she the same time lying at Woodstocke had certaine intelligence by the meanes of one Iohn Gayer who vnder a coullorable pretence of a Letter to Mistresse Cleue from her Father was let in and so gaue them secretlie to vnderstande of all this matter Wherevppon the Lady Elizabeth at her departing out from VVoodstocke wrote these Uerses with her Diamond in a glasse windowe Much suspected by me Nothing prooued can be Quod Elizabeth prisoner And thus much touching the troubles of Lady Elizabeth at VVoodstocke Wherevnto this is more to be added that during the same time the Lord of Tame had laboured to the Quéene and became suretie for her to haue her from vvoodstocke to his house and had obtained his graunt thereof wherevpon preparation was made accordinglie and all thinges ready in expectation of her comming But thorowe the procurement either of Sir Henry Benifield or by the dooing of vvinchester her mortall enimie Letters came ouer night to the contrarie whereby her iourney was staide Thus this woorthy Lady oppressed with continual sorrowe could not be permitted to haue recourse to any fréendes she had but still in the handes of her enimies was left desolate and vtterlie destitute of all that might refreshe a dolefull heart fraught full of terror and thraldome Wherevpon no meruaile if she hearing vpon a time out of her garden at vvoodstocke a certaine Milke maide singing pleasauntly wished her selfe to be a Milke maide as she was saying That her case was better and life more merier then hers was in that state as she was Now after these thinges thus declared to procéede further where we left before Sir Henrie Benifield and his Soldiors with the Lord of Tame and Sir Ralphe Chamberlaine garding and wayting vppon her The first night from vvoodstocke she came to Ricotte In which iourney such a mightie winde did blowe that her seruauntes were faine to holde downe her cloathes about her in so much that her Hood was twise or thrise blowne from her head Whervpon she desirous to returne to a gentlemans house there néere could not be suffered by Sir Henrie Benifield so to doo but was constrained vnder a hedge to trim her head as well as she could After this they iourneied the next night to Maister Dormers and so to Colbrooke where she laye all that night at the George And by the way comming to Colbrooke certaine of her Graces Gentlemen and Yeomen mette
as they haue béene Alas canst thou thus blindlie ouerthrowe thy selfe in conceite Doost thou not consider that all these euill impes haue béene of thine owne bréeding and that thou hast fostred such Children as haue pierced into thy bowelles shaken all thy sinewes yea and almost haue wrung the verie marowe out of thy ioyntes whereby thou hast béene so féebled and thy strength so farre decaied as without Gods great mercie thou hadst béene vnable euer to arise againe And cannot these irking occasions yet make thée mindful of thy good Cannot these bitter passions cause thée to look better to thy children To traine them vp in more awe of God in better affection to their Prince and in more effectuall loue then they yet shew to thy selfe If thy children be so vnnatural as to make their mother smart thou shalt but shew thy selfe naturall in ministring correction for better they wéepe then thou bléede so shall they in time finde it to their benefite and thou thy selfe liue to be a happy mother But if thou séeke that state of quietnesse and art desirous to weede out such badde plantes as trouble thy whole Soyle thou must looke into the dealinges of thy Children more heedefullie then thou doost and spying where the inconuenience lyeth rather slippe off that braunch suddenlie then hazard the perishing of the whole body and then thou shalt take an vndoubted good course then treason and tretcherous practises will neuer be so rife and such queazie stomackes as cannot brooke necessarie councell but follow euerie disordered humour will be glad to call themselues home againe and liue within compasse of duetie and modestie But whence grow these daungerous practises And who are they that set foote in these traiterous attempts Alas it is soone seene by reason the open apparaunce from time to time dooth make it euident There is no one that repineth at her Maiesties safety no one that lifteth at the wel setled gouernement of this Realme nor any one more ready to pul down the chéefe piller of our happines but either he is a Papist or else meruailously addicted that way And haue we not good cause so to perswade our selues when we sée it dailie before our eyes that they are men of that coate and either haue receiued encouragement amongst their fellowes beyond Seas or else haue béene imboldened by such as secretly flippe ouer into the Realme to follow that traiterous intent which they long time haue practised And then when God reuealeth their wicked spirites and bringeth them into the lyght that they may be example to other then they crie out I am a Catholique I will dye in the Catholique cause and thus vnder shewe of Religion they would deceiue the world with their horrible treasons It is now hie time therfore when Traitors themselues haue giuen warning of their owne treasons to search the confederacie yea and as Miners followe the signes euerie way as they spread in the ground till they be guided to the trunke or body of the Mettall so to followe the apparaunces of suspitions and likelyhoods tyll it appeare plainlie what light made the shaddowe or what fire made the smoke It is not good tarying tyll the flame mounting in the ayre aboue the house toppe the principals and pillers consumed and eche part so imbraced with fire that no aide dare approche doo plainlie declare the whole building past hope of recouerie Fires oftentimes negligentlie raked vp sticks endes not throughly quenched embers not regarded a candles ende not looked vnto haue brought many an honest man to pittifull calamitie I like therefore better the honest wisedome of those that studie how the Quéenes Maiestie our most gratious Ladie may stand and not fall then the reaching pollicie of those that deuise how themselues may stand when the Queene is fallen God preserue her Highnesse long for her falling would make a Sampsons poste with vs all yea and rightlie a Sampsons poste for no doubt it would broose them too that be busiest to pull it downe But now England I will be so bolde as to emblazon the Papists a little better that thou maist be the more héedfull to them and giue no credite to their secrete perswasions and according as a woorthy learned man hath héeretofore painted them foorth in notable conclusions euen so since the time place matter requireth it so fitlie it shall not be a misse héere to remember thée of the verie same conclusions and surelie all true Christians and all true Englishe subiectes ought to beléeue and may well knowe that these are verie true and vndoubted conclusions First that euerie Papist that is to saye euerie one that beléeueth all the Popes doctrine to be true is an enimie and traytour against the Maiestie and honour of God against the Crownes and dignities of all Kinges and temporall Princes and against the wealth and safetie of all ciuill Kingdomes policies and Common weales Secondlie that euerie such English Papist is a traitour to the Quéene of England and hateth her life wisheth the alteration of her gouernement and liueth in hope of an other world which euen by an ordinarie by-word it is said themselues doo call their Golden day Thirdlie that euerie such Englishe Papist is a speciall traitour to the Realme of England and hath no regard into what slauerie subiection to forreine tirannie dishonour or other miserie it be throwne so that their false Idolatrous and superstitious religion be restored with liberty to spoile and murder without respect of dignitie age sexe learning reuerence honestie or nature Fourthlie that no clemencie gentlenesse benefits or louing dealing can win a Papist while he continueth a Papist to loue her Maiestie how much so euer he dissemble nor bring them to ascribe their safetie to any her benefites nor to any praise of her owne goodnesse but either to their owne dissimulation practise and falsehood which some call cunning or to the holinesse of their cause for whome God forsooth so prouideth as his annointed ones may not possiblie by Lawe or at least execution of Lawe be touched Where in déede if they continue styll vnpunished it must be thought that GOD so purueyeth because the punishments of this world are not sufficient for them but yet in the meane time it serueth to make them vnexcusable by whose default so daungerous Woolues remayne in the flocke Item that Papistry hath this propertie of heresies contrarie to the nature of Gods trueth that is to be throwne downe with aduersitie and to flourishe with indulgence and lenitie Item that as it is reason that the owner of a shéepbiter Mastife knowing his dogges qualitie should either hang vp his dogge or pay for the shéepe that his dogge worrieth So those that haue notorious Shéepbiters murderers of Gods flocke in their custody and power must make their account either to hang vp or otherwise dispatche their curres or else to aunswer to God for the blood of
God against Kinges and their Kingdomes Against God I call them treasons though our Lawe the iudge of ciuill treasons in England haue no such name because the nature of the offence so properlie receiueth that tytle and also the vsuall name of high treason in Iure gentium in the common lawe of Nations and in other languages dooth so plainelie expresse it High treasons are in their true nature offences against high Maiestie that is either to the destruction of the persons or deniall and defacement of the iust dignities and authorities of those that beare the name of Maiestie and to whome the highest duetie of obedience faith and alleageaunce extendeth And therfore is treason called Crimen lesae Maiestatis the crime of violating or abating Maiestie Greater Maiestie then the Maiestie of God cannot be therefore higher and verier treasons then against God cannot be His person cannot be destroyed or touched but his dignitie honour glorie and authoritie may be slaundered and blasphemed and his Subiects who are mortall men may be withdrawne from their due obedience and drawne into rebellion against him And this I say is high treason to God to violate or abate the Maiestie of God and this doo Papists For though God be King of the whole world and so is rightlie called the Lord by vniuersall name yea euen of deuilles yet is his Church his more proper and certaine kingdome whereby he is more restrainedlie and aplie called our King and our Father and so more fitlie called our head in respect of the body which is his Church and not the rest of the world In this Kingdome his highest dignitie is to be the onelie head therof which the Papistes take from him and deriue it to their Pope And though with gloses they excuse it that their Popes take it not from God but vse it vnder God as his Uicares yet must they be admonished that without sufficient deputation and warrant from the King him selfe which the Pope hath not the Subiect to thrust him selfe into the gouernance of the kingdome is high treason where he that being a straunger would séeke to conquere it were but an enimie And so is it rightlie to be saide that the Turke is to God an enimie and the Pope is to God a traitour and all his adherents are principall traitours for treason admitteth no accessaries But now let vs come to that part which toucheth men more néerelie then any loue of God Let vs now sée how they be traytours to Kinges and Kingdomes If we haue minde to sée that Papistes which holde all the Popes doctrine to be true are traytours in déede to Kings and Kingdomes it behooueth vs to call to minde what are the Popes doctrines dooinges and practises concerning the Crownes of Kinges and states of Kingdomes Popes haue challenged and Papistes that affirme the Popes to be frée from error their doctrine to be true and their authoritie to be lawfull doo also holde that it is their due which they challenge that is To haue authority of both Swords Spirituall and Temporall the one in exercise the other in power To haue the disposition of all the Crownes of Christian Princes To haue the iudgement of deciding to whome the right of any kingdome belongeth To haue power for disobedience to him or by his discretiō to transferre the Crownes of Kinges to whome he will To haue lawfull power to giue Kingdomes to prey spoyle and conquest to such as can inuade and possesse them To haue power to assoyle and discharge Christian subiectes from faith and alleageaunce to theyr lawful and naturall Soueraigne Lordes Kinges and Princes To haue power to giue leaue yea commaundement blessing reward forgiuenesse of sinnes and Heauen it selfe to Subiects to rebell against theyr Prince to depose the Prince disherite and destroy him That there is of common right and by the méere lawe of God reserued to the Pope a speciall subiection resorte appellation and obedience of one great part of all Princes Subiectes yea and of all Subiectes of all Princes in one great part of theyr causes Be not these heinous treasons And these cannot be denied to be the naturall and verie treasons of all Papists that is to say of all that depend vpon credite of the Pope that holde him for Gods Uicar for Peters successor for whome Christ prayed that his faith should not fayle that applie to him this title Ad quem perfidia non potest accedere to whome falsehood cannot reach that holde him for a constant Rocke an assured Preacher of trueth an Apostolicall man if he be not some other thing then a man to whome our beléefe is bounden with such other false tytles wherewith Popes themselues haue garnished themselues and theyr Parasites haue ouerloden them Consider the ordinarie practise of Popes and Papistes according to these doctrines and then you shall sée that from the most high treason which the Pope committed against his Soueraigne Lord the Emperour the renting and destructiō of the Empire all the victories and successes of the Saracens and Turkes against Christendome all the tearing away of most noble and large Kingdomes and prouinces from the body of Christianitie all the subduing and thralling of infinite Christian soules to Mahomet and the Deuill all the deposinges murderinges turmoylings ciuill warres debates betwéene Christian Princes shedding of Christian blood indignities and oppressions of Christian Kinges and Emperours conquestes rebellions and mischéefes for these fiue hundred yéeres and aboue are wholly and chéefely to be imputed to the treasons of Popes and Papistes All Grecia sometime most noble and learned yet lamentably rueth it All Affrica the mother of most constaunt Martyres féeleth it The Germane Emperours with most heinous reproches and fowle treading on theyr neckes may not forget it The Kinges of Fraunce and Spaine both at home in their natiue Kingdomes and abroad as well in Naples Sicilie Lombardie as in other territories of Italie and of the Empire haue sharply felt it The Lordes and States of Italie haue béene daylie and long shaken with it The Kinges of England haue béene poysoned whipped beaten with rods murdered deposed the Land giuen in conquest interdited made tributarie robbed pylled and scraped of theyr treasure brought into slauishe subiection depriued of honour and estimation euerie way most villainously abused To let passe the elder times and further Realmes let vs speake of deposing of olde Emperours erecting of newe setting the Sonne against the Father the Subiect against his Lord making them come bare footed themselues with theyr wiues and children long waighting with submission in colde frostes treading on theyr neckes spurning of their Crownes a thousand such abhominable prides of Popes and slaueries of Princes Let vs deale but with our selues and with our owne féeling knowledge and memorie The accursing of King Iohn the receyuing him vassaill the making his Realme subiect and feudatorie to the Pope the arming his Subiects against him
are mur derers of Gods flocke The seuenth conclusion of the causes of supplan ting assured safetie The eight conclusion how tymerous policie is wurst in a good cause The ninth conclusiō of zealous boldnesse in seruing the Queen The tenth conclusion that boldnesse dooth encourage the freendes The eleuenth conclusion of the daunger in medling with a naughty man The twelfth conclusion of tyme. The thirteenth conclusion as good the killing a true mā as sparing a traitour The foureteenth conclusion that the life of a king is the lyfe of his kingdome The fifteenth conclusion the most perillous traytour The sixteenth conclusion of such as stand against the Princes defence The seuenteenth conclusion when God is lesse serued then the deuill The eighteenth conclusiō that no attempt against her Maiestie ought to be accounted a priuate cause The meaning and proofe of the first conclusion Not all Papistes are traitours Note this England Which Papistes are traytours Learned Papists wilfull traitours Treason offence against Maiesty Treason against God Papists violate the Maiestie of God which is high treason against him The Pope an high Traitour against God and the Turke but an enimie Papists Traitours to Kinges and Kingdomes Traiterous doctrines of Popes for Kinges and Kingdomes The Pope will giue heauen to Subiectes to rebell against their Prince Traiterous dooinges of Papistes against Kinges Kingdomes speciall matter for England to marke Behold the horrible pride and villainous dealing of Popes Papistes and slauerie of Princes Example of the Popes Papistes dealing with King Iohn The great deuision between the two noble houses of Lancaster and Yorke caused by the Popish Clergy and Papistes Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury practised the deposing of King Richard the second King Henry the eight assaulted by the Pope and Papistes King Edward the sixt vexed by the Papistes The conspiracie of the late Coūcell of Trent The Pope teacheth to keepe no faith The whoore of Rome an actuall dealer in all wicked practises against Kinges Kingdomes The second conclusion prouing Englishe Papistes traytours to the Queene Papists that hold the Pope head of the Church in England are traytours to her Maiestie Papistes that hold the Popes excommunication against the Queene lawfull are traytours The Pope cannot excommunicate in England vnlesse he had iust authoritie so to doo Papistes drawe obedience from the Queene Papistes meritorious treason Seditious writers that send theyr trayterous Lybelles into England The circūstances of those trayterous Bookes These trayterous Bookes want no fauourers to spread them abroad and to credit them with what cōmendations they may The euyll dealing of Papistes a good lesson for England The third conclusion proouing English papistes traytours to the Realme of England The Papistes reuerence to theyr Pope hath made them carelesse of theyr Prince and Countrie Such an one as alloweth of all these wicked causes must needes be a traytour to his Countrie Clemencie cannot win a Papist whyle he continueth a Papist speciall examples for England to remember All dueties of loue kindred and nature broken by Papistes Example of the Papistes thankefulnes to Bishop Cranmer Example of the Papistes kindnes toward her Maiestie for the great lyberalitie of her most noble Father Papistrie increaseth and flourisheth by lenitie Christian trueth respecteth Heauen and Papistry the world Too much clemencie may be great crueltie A Booke called the Court of Conscience which I entend God aiding me to publish verie shortly God graunt that such Papistes as be enimies to her Maiestie and the Realme may be quickly cutte off