of Edgar king of England after he had lost his retinue in hunting withdrew him selfe to the Castle of Corf where Queene Elfride or Estrild his stepmother with Egelredus her yong sonne kepte house Fab. in chro 6. par ca. 117 where being courteously inuited to lodge that night 〈◊〉 courteouse manner excusing himselfe as he sat on his horse drinking and the cuppe at his mouth of a traytor and murtherer suddenly set on by his stepmother he was stabbed and when he felt himselfe stricken suddenly he set spurres to his horse King Edward surnamed the martyr Fabian in Tab. 6. part and by ryding and much bleeding fainting fell and his foot hanging fast in the stirrop was trailed of his horse to a place named Corinsgate where hee was found dead This Edward was surnamed the martyr and being induced of a curteouse nature to visit his friends as he supposed and not suspecting any treason fell into the mouth of his enemies Charles of Fraunce Charles king of Fraunce surnamed the simple returning out of ciuill warre with victorie on Duke Robert that rebelled against him Ro. Gag in an Re. Fran. lib. 6. was by Hebert Earle of Vermendois in the waye of gratulation for his victory humbly inuited to lodge at his Castle of Peron The king of simplicitie not forecasting treason and ouercom with curtesie humbly offered yeelded to his request and after he was lodged there and his strength gon from him then Hebert set on by his wife tooke the kinge prisoner Earle Hebert his treason Fabian in Chro. 5. part cap. 89. and made him away that hee neuer came abroad to raigne any more Hengist the Saxon inuited Vortigern king of Britain with his Lords to his Castle called Thongcastle whither the king with his Lordes came Hengist Fabian in Chro. 5. part cap. 89. 〈◊〉 the middest of the feast and mirth a fayned fray began the Saxons fell on the Lordes and slew them all and tooke the king prisoner A daungerous thing it is for Princes to aduenture their royall persons with them of whome they haue not vndoubted assurance and in places where they are not garded with their strengthes The same Hengist fearing the great hoast of Britons appointed in readinesse made meanes for a parley and treaty of peace a day was prefixed on a May day on the plaine of Salisburie and so many Britons for so many Saxons should meete Thither king Vortigerne came with a certaine of Britons in peaceable manner In midest of the parley Hengist gaue the watch Nempnith your sexes as Fabian telleth it that euery one should draw his long knife out of his hose and the Britons were slaine like sheepe among Woolues as Fabian saith The Deuill neuer more raueneth then vnder the visard of friendly parles meetings entertainments curtesies and such like deuices which he vseth as occasions of aduantages opportunities to put placs of high treason in practise Trayterous and hypocriticall hartes are like a deepe hel on earth Queene Ethelburg alwayes gaping after opportunities to deuoure theÌ„ whose destruction they seeke Fab. in chro 6. par ca. 157 Ro. Gag in an Reg. Fraâ— lib. 2. Brightricus the first 〈◊〉 of the west Saxons was by Ethelburge 〈◊〉 wifâ—e after sundry attempts of treason for making him away poysoned with many other of his meany Fredegund Queene of Soisous in Fraunce before mentioned hired and sent two murtherers into the campe of Sigisbert king of the Countrie of Mees or Austracie as Fabian termeth it her brother in lawe who awayted for opportunitie aduauntage and they slew the king Queene Fredigond The same Fredigond that by treason procured the death of king Chilperick her owne husband and of king Sigisbert her husbands brother inflamed with enuy against Queene Brunchild because she was set vp in more fauour and honour then she as Gagwin reporteth it was conceiued with new treasons against her Ra. Gag in an reg Fran. lib. 2. and fell in trauel for the execution of them in this sorte There was an old executioner of murthers called Holderick Holderick the traytor a fit instrument to vndertake her treason him shee sent into Queene Brunchilds Court he according to the method of maisteries in the Deuils art of practising treasons first began with flattering and fawning about in the court as the Scorpion doth fawne with his taile ere hee strike but there he met with as cunning in that art as himselfe By his great flatterie he grewe in suspition and being coÌ„mitted 〈◊〉 â—â—ture confessed the whole plat One might 〈◊〉 that Queene Fred. in plats of treasons 〈◊〉 peere Queene Brunchild but Queene BruÌ„child king Sigisberts wife the aforsaid far surpasseth her hath won the prize of such plats practises froÌ„ her She was charged at her death to haue bene the death of ten Princes Continually she was traueyling with some plat or other as soone as she was deliuered she conceiued and fell in taruaile againe about the execution and practise of her plats Notwithstanding outwardly who was couÌ„ted so deuout as Brunchild Ro. Gag in an Reg. Fran lib. 2. the foundresse of many Colledges of Priestes Monkes in BurguÌ„dy as father Gag writeth of her Thus the Diuell vnder mists of hypocrisie worketh maisteries of murthers and treasons against Princes and vnder pretence of religion committeth such outrages in the world And in the taruaile and execution of their plattes the cheife point of practise of masteries in the Diuels art concerning the execution of suche things is fawning flaterie for life and double diuellish diligence seruile at all assaies to creepe into credit and fauour and to win opportunitie of the place for execution Gagwin the generall of his order in Fraunce saieth that Holderick mentioned before Holderick the traytors boldnes was Audax assuetus caedibus bolde and draween through many murthers He kept his course aforesaid for the execution of his plat vpon Queene Brunchild but that his cunning was soone incountered there Cum multis iam diebus saith Gagwin consuetudinem familiaritatis apud Reginam Brunchildem assentatiunculis blanditijsque comparasset WheÌ„ saith hee by the space of many dayes by flattery and fawning he grew to be familiar and conuersant with Queene Brunchild His fawning flateries familiarities at last hee began to bee blasted with suspition when in flattering and currying he went beyond himselfe and beganne to be too broade in it as Gagwin saith Blandior indies visus in suspicionem venit This is the monstrous method of the Deuils art and cheifly in these latter dayes The serpent The Aspe The SerpeÌ„t wil craule into the very bosome the Aspe wil be familier and play Plutarch wryteth and Volateran reporteth it out of him that in Egypt they haue familiar Aspes at their Tables Rapha Vela lib. 25. Plin. naâ— Hist lib. 10. cap. 74. they bring them vp with their childreÌ„ to eate with them to
in an Reg. Fran lib. 5. then of his iudgement and after his execution This Hebert Countie of Vermendoies humbly inuited Charles surnamed the simple king of France to lodge at his castle of Peron as he returned out of ciuill warres against Robert the sonne of Eudo who contrary to his alleageance had seased certaine Cities and holds of the kings inheritance whome the king had slaine in the field The king surnamed the Simple casting no perils though Earle Heberts wife were sister to Duke Robert late slaine of the king in the fielde vouchsafeth his courteous inuiting and came to lodge with him After great feasting when the king was lodged and his strength sequestred from him Hebert by the setting on of his wife in reuenge of her brother Roberts death taketh the king prisoner and maketh him away that neuer he was enlarged and raigned againe Thus of Heberts treason against his Prince vnder colour of inuiting him to his castle and lodging him Now of his iudgement vnder Lewes the 5. After the making away of king Charles by treason of Hebert Lewes the 5. his son reigned in his place Hee in reuenge of Heberts treason deuiseth this manner of iudgement that Hebert out of his owne mouth vnwares and in a pretensed case shoulde pronounce sentence of death vpon himselfe Ro. Gag in an Re. Fran. lib. 5. This deuise and plat was furnished in this sort As hee sate in councel with his Lords in the Citie of Laon whither this Hebert was also warned procured to be present as Robert Gagwin a famous writer of the French story reporteth it a suborned Poast came thither in Englishe mans array with a letter of hast praying the kings presence and being brought to presence he deliuered the letter And at the secrete reading therof by the king his Secretary to him the king smiled The Lordes as if his smiling boded good said they trusted there was good newes out of England Then hee saieth that one Herman as Gagwin telleth it Fabian the â— part ca. 186. but as Fabian saith one of his owne cosins and especiall friends of England moued him of a case in his letter asking his iudgement and resolution in it He proponeth the case among theÌ„ to heare their opinions and iudgements of the case The case was of a countrie or husbandman that inuited his Lorde to his house and there murdered him Say my Lordes saieth he as Gagwin vttreth his speech what death you deeme and iudge him worthie of Theobald of Blois a sage Counceller first gaue seâ—tence Theobald of Blois his iudgement that though he was worthy of sundrie tortures yet it seemed good to him that the hangman should trusse him at the gallowes strangle him with a rope And after his verdit all assented to it and Earle Hebert also accorded to it Earl Heberts iudgemeÌ„t out of his owne mouth on himselfe and his own sentence was as it were the cord to trusse him vp Iudgement out of his owne mouth was giuen on himselfe there remained no more but execution The Foxe was taken in his owne case Thus iudgement was contriued in a deuised case and Heberts mouth pronounced iudgement of death vppon himself Now of the execution Sodainly rushed in the crue appointed of the king before they caught giltie Hebert Earl Heberts execution and according to his owne sentence carried him to a hill without the citie of Laon hoised him to the Gibbet or gallowes and before the hangman straÌ„gled him Ro. Gag in an Re. Fran. lib. 5. the king turned to him as Gag reporteth and said Thou Hebert art the same countrieman that madst away my Lorde and father and thy Soueraign in prison bonds now according to thy desert suffer thy deserued death Thus Heberts iudgement was deuolued on himselfe and his treason against his Prince returned on his owne head May it not be a mirror of gods iudgement touching the ende execution of traitors which intrap others with treasons sodainly are trussed vp themselues Little thought Hebert to hang at the gallowes at Laon when he came to the kings presence to sit with the Lords in couÌ„cell Little know traitors what sodainly will befall theÌ„ Gods reuenge ruÌ„neth after theÌ„ and will sodainly ouertake theÌ„ He was too suttle for the simple king As a guest the king came to his house but as a lamb he fell into the butchers hands God seeth not this Hebert saith in his hart there is no God to reuenge Psal 14. as Dauid saith of that Nabal the is the foolish wicked maÌ„ His wife wil haue her reuenge of her brothers death Hebert is the executioner of reuenge See how gods iudgemeÌ„t meateth him his owne measure He commeth to Laon as a guest inuited to sit in couÌ„cell his own mouth vnawares giueth iudgement on himself The crue appointed carieth him away to make him away As by treason he made away his Soueraign vnawares so by gods iustice he is taken vnawares for his secret treasoÌ„ hath open executioÌ„ The hill on which Hebert was haÌ„ged Heberts hill was after called Heberts hill Edric Edric the traitor had his head exalted on a high gate or his head body cast into a stinking ditch as some say Elfric had his eies plucked out Elfric Sir Andrew Hardikell Sir Roger Mortimer Sir Andrew Hardikell sir Roger Mortimer were drawn as traitors to death God giue al grace to bee warned by the example of Hebert of France Edric Elfric of England such like traitors against their Soueraignes set vp by Gods prouidence to raigne ouer countries Thus of the treason iudgement and executioÌ„ of Hebert Earle of Vermandois in France Now let vs brieflie tell of the strange execution of Queene Brunchild wife sometime to Sigisbert king of Mees or Austracia according to FabiaÌ„ for her manifold treasons murders of Princes of her owne blood Queene Brunchild Shee is noted in the storie to haue been the death of ten Princes of royal blood beside others She sette her owne sonnes and brethren Theodobert and Theodorich on blooddie warre together and one to teare out an others throate And after king Theodobert was slain in the warres by treason and Theodorich by poyson made away shee set vp a base of Theodorich called Sigisbert against king Clotare who discomfited him and took Brunchild in the field on whoÌ„ all the hoast cried a shamefull death as Gagwin telleth Ro. Gag in an Re. Fran. lib. 2. and after shee was beaten with a cudgell foure times king Clotare commaunded her to be set on a horse and to bee carried about all the hoast then by the haire of the head and armes to be tyed to the taile of a wilde horse and so to bee trailed and drawne to death And this was the 〈◊〉 iudgement and execution of Burnchild king Clotare Let 〈◊〉 heare likewise of the strange iudgement and execution done on the traitors
Gagwin â—n anna Reg. Franc. lib 2. Holderich the traitor iâ—â—reward and seeing Gods iudgement on them vtterly they may shun and detest them The wickednesse of traitors commeth on their owne heads their mischief on their own pates What was Holderich the olde and ranke traitour and murderer his rewarde who of Fredegonde Queene of Soisons in Fraunce was hired to murder Queene Brunchild in her Courte Hee was putte to torture and the bastinado And after hee came to Queene Fredegond for her reward shee charging him with cowardice caused his hands and feete which in treasons and murders long he had abused to bee cut off and that was the traitours rewarde The two Traitours that of the same Fredegond were set sent to kill Sigisbert king of Mees or Austracia according to Fabian in his campe Ro. Cagw in annali Fran. â—ib 2. awaiting their time committing the murder were hewen of the souldiers in peeces Edricus the traitor Edricus surnamed of StrattoÌ„ was a rank traitor first to Egelred after to king Edmond surnamed Ironside after him to king Canutus the first king of Danes that after Edmond reigned ouer the land to his own country in the inuasion of Danes How euer the Prince changed Edricus did not chang but was a traytor to his Prince a traytor to his Country He was grown in great estate of honour vnder king Egelredus and vnder others after But hee coulde not containe himselfe in his estate He turned truth into treason With many treasons hee trauailed and hee reaped the reward of his treasons in the end Because it is a notable example of our owne Countrie and worthy as a spectacle to be set vp to warne all I wil open it more at large Edricus was from a low state and birth as Fabian saith by king Egelredus first aduaunced to bee Duke of Mercia Fab. in chro 6. par ca. 199 and hee coÌ„mited the conduct and regiment of soldiers vnto him And when vpon the kings commaundement hee hadde assembled the west Saxons to withstand the entrie of the Danes vnder Swanus their king and the hoastes should ioyne Edricus sicke when he should fight Edricus fayned himselfe sicke and fled from his people to the great aduantage and comfort of the enemies Thus when it coÌ„meth to a dead lift Fabian in Chro. the 6. part cap. 198 Edricus treasoÌ„ in the battaile treason betrayeth al. And vnder king Edmond called Ironsid in a battaile in Worcestershire as Fabian telleth it when the Danes were like to be discomfited Edricus the traytor pight a dead mans head on a speares head and cryed to the English hoast Fabian in Chro. the 6. part cap. 240 that it was the head of kinge Edmond to daunt the courages of English men and to set the Danes agog vpon them But king Edmond sped him to that parte of the field and so incouraged his souldiers that he had rather the better then the woorse After Edricus fearing the great courage and good successe of kinge Edmond and to saue his land as Fabian saith humbly shued to be receiued into his grace and fauour Fab. in chro 6. par ca. 204 swore to bee true subiect to him But olde trecherie would not suffer new sworne truth to take place in him for after when the hoasts of king Edmond and Canutus mette at Ashdown Edricus after long sight fled to the coÌ„fort of the Danes Thus fighting and flying it was all one with Edricus for when hee should fight he would flee or be sick and haue some excuse and with smooth words set forth matters of small importance Edricus the traytors excuses His flying out of the battaile at Ashdowne he did so excuse as Fabian saith that no man might charge him with any defaulte Hee would turne himselfe vnto manye excuses as Poets fayne that Proteus kinge of Egypt would turne himselfe into manie formes Proteus king of Egypt because the manner was of the Egyptian kings to weare on their heades the formes and forepartes of a Lion Bull Dragon Caro Ste. in dictio Hist Poe. or armes of their estate and sometimes a tree or fire or fragrant ointmentes and thereof Poets fayned of Proteus that he chaunged himselfe into many formes So Edricus could change himselfe into many formes of excuses Hee was eloquent of speech as Fabian sayth and false of heart Fabian in Chro. 6. part cap. 199. and with faire wordes would blanch out fowle treasons Hee was onely constant in his inconstance warbling with a wayward minde and doubling in dealings of great importance He practised treason gainst his owne Country for the Danes vnder kinge Egeldredus and vnder kinge Edmond after him Fabian telleth the reporte of Guido King EdmoÌ„d killed at the withdraught howe by his and Edricus his sonne their treasons Edmond came to his death As hee satte at the withdraught Edridus his sonne awayting him strocke him with a speare into the fundament wherof shortely after hee died Then Edricus the father with great haste sped him to king Canutus Edricus the traitors head exalted on the highest gate who then with king Edmond reigned ouer halfe the lande for by composition for ending of ciuill warres the land was deuided betweene them and hee thought for his tidinges greatly to haue been exalted But king Canutus according to Guido his reporte cammaunded his head to be stricken of and pight on a speare and exalted vpon one of the highest gates of London Chronica Fructus temp the 6. parte Thus according to that storie Edricus was exalted for his treasons which returned to his own head Though it seeme fabulous to Polidore that Chronica Fructus temporum telleth of king Edmonds death and Edricus treason yet because of the straÌ„gnes of the deuise I wil note it This Edrick of Stratton inuited king Edmond to lodge at his house and at night as the king should goe to his lodging in the way was set vppe a beautifull Image with a bowe bent and an arrowe in it and when the king approched to see it anone it discharged the arrowe and shot the king through the bodie for it was an engin made for that purpose to lure the king to the gase and to slea him And after that Edricke his report to king Knoght thereof for Canutus so is called hee abhorred him for his treason and as a traytor commaunded him to be bound and cast into the riuer of Thames Thus Chronica Fructus temporum rehearseth the storie or the deuise in steed of the storie as it seemeth to Polidor Fabian noteth out of Marian the Scot another varietie of the storie that king Edmond dyed at London of naturall sicknesse for there out of the same Marian he telleth that after the death of king Edmond Edricus flatterie Fabian in Chro. 6. parâ— cap. 205. this Edrick grew in such deepe fauour with king Knoght or Canut by his sugred wordes as
then disgarnished of the robes of his estate Polid. Hist Angl. lib. 18. and after put in execution Polidor telleth of a pacte or platte of treason made with Robert kinge of Scotes by him with his owne opinion in the ende Thus Sir Andrew Herkelies treason turned on his owne head in the ende Sir Roger Mortimer surnamed of Wigmor may for his aduauncemeÌ„t first Sir Roger Mortimer Fabian the 7 part in an 1324. corruption and treasons after well bee ioyned to him Vnder Edward the second being committed to the Tower hee made escape by giuing a sleeping drinke to his keepers as Fabian witnesseth Then he gotte him into Fraunce to Queene Isabell daughter to Philippe Lebew and wedded to kinge Edward Polidor Hist lib. 18. whom kinge Edward with her sonne hadde sent into Fraunce to intreat a concord and peace betweene Charles the French king and him After the returne of Queene Isabell Prince Edward her son with force of armes after the deposing of Edward the 2. in the Parliament holden at London Fabian in an 1328. Fabian the 7 part in an 1326. Sir Roger Mortimer who returned likewise in their retinue was by the singular fauour of Queene Isabell in wthose Court he bare the sway aduaunced in the Parliament of Salisburie vnder Edward the third to bee Earle of March as Sir Andrew the aforesaid was vnder Edward the second his father preferred to bee Earle of Carlile or Cardoile as is mentioned before And in the end this Sir Roger of Wigmor was executed for treason against his Prince and Countrie as the same Sir Andrew was But this Sir Roger was mounted farre higher in fauour in the Court and in the regiment dealings of estate and cause of profite that did accrew to the Crowne And hee had great troupes and routes hanging on him Chronica Fructus temp the 7. parte as Chronica Fructus temporum telleth what a number of knightes were retayned to him when hee was taken The regiment of the lande and affayres of profitte passed through the Queenes hands and his And the Lordes before assigned to haue the guiding of the yong king were sequestred so that alone the rule of the lande as Fabian sayeth rested in the Queene and the said Sir Roger Fabian the 7. part in an 1328. And great things of the realme saith he were out of order But Sir Roger bare himself so high that at length hee plucked both the king and his Councell vppon him So that in time by the king his assent and the meanes of Sir William Montague and sir Rafe Stafford and sir Iohn Neuel and others hee was by a compassed meane as Fabian termeth it arrested and takeÌ„ in the castle of Nottingham Fabian the 7 part in anno 1329. where the king and Queene then lay The keyes of the castle were daily and nightly vnder the ward and keeping of the said sir Roger as Fabian saith Chronica Fructus Temporum telleth Chro. Fruct temp 7. part that the Constable of the Tower led sir William Montague and his companie a priuie way vnder earth euen into the Tower where sir Roger was lodged From thence with sir Simon of Bedford and others he was sent to the Tower of London And in the end for his priuitie to the death of king Edward the second the king his father Fabian the 7 part in anno 1330. for other treasons charged and proued against him in the Parliament at London he was by authoritie of the same Parliament Fabian witnessing it iudged to death And vppon S. Andrewes euen next ensuing at London he was drawen and hanged He was charged not onely with treason against Edward the seconde the kings father to haue been the meanes of his most traiterous death fearing least nature woulde worke in the young king to set him at libertie againe Polidor hist Ang. lib. 18. as Polidore noteth and because Queene Isabel had written likewise letters of kindnesse vnto him but also hee was charged with treason against king Edward the 3. his sonne against his countrie to haue been the meane that the Scots escaped from the king at Stanhop park where they had fallen into the kings danger ne had byn the fauour of the said sir Roger then shewed to them further that an vnprofitable dishonorable peace as Fabian termeth it was by his meane concluded betweene the king and the Scots For first as Fabian writing of the Parliament of Northampton saith the king released to the Scots their fealtie and homage Fabian the 6 part in anno 1327. And he deliuered to them olde auncient writinges sealed with the seales of the kings of Scots Lords of the land both spiritual and temporal with many other Charters and Patentes by the which the kings of Scots obliged theÌ„ to bee â—eodaries to the crowne of England At which season also were deliuered certaine iewels which beforetimes had been wonne from the Scots The blacke crosse of Scotland Chro. Fruct temp in Edward â—qe 3. among the which the blacke Crosse of Scotland is specially named Chronica Fructus TemporuÌ„ according to the blacke darknesse of the superstitious time saith that this black Crosse was a ful precious relike which good king Edward conquered in Scotland brought it out of the Abbey of Stone And maketh mentioÌ„ also of the famous Indenture called Ragman Ragman the Indenture of the homages and fealties of Scotlande which the Scots made to king Edward king Henry his son in which were conteined all the homages and fealties first of of the king of Scotland all the Prelates Earles and Barons of the Realme of Scotland with their seales set there vnder other charters remembrances that king Edward and his Barons had of their right in the aforesaid realm of Scotland Fabian the 7 part in anno 1327. Of this Indenture Ragman mention is made also in the article obiected to this sir Roger at his arraignment before the iudges of the Parliament in London Thus the said sir Roger for sundrie treasons against his Prince Countrie was openly arraigned condemned executed as is aforesaid And thus of the treasons of Edric of Stratton of Eltrick the Admiral sir Andrew Hardikel sir Roger Mortimer of Wigmor and the executioÌ„ done on theÌ„ To these I will adde the notable exaÌ„ple of Hebert Earle of Vermandois in France of his treason against Charles king of France surnamed the Simple Hebert his execution vnder Lewes the 5. of the name And the example of Q. Brunchild in France Brunchild for her treasons the straÌ„ge execution done on her Metius Suffetius And likewise on the murderers of Charles Earle of Flaunders on Metius Suffetius and on two Traitors of the chamber of Frotho king of Danes Polido And these abundantly may suffice for the ending of this treatise First touching Hebert his treasons against Charles the Simple Ro. Gag
and murderers of Charles Earle of Flaunders at the commandement of Lewes surnamed the grosse king of France Charles Earl of Flaunders by treason slain in the Church This Charles was by treason slaine in the Church of S. Donatus in Bruges as hee was in his deuotions of one Bocardus brother to the Prouost of the same Churche Fabian calleth him the Prouost of Bruges that was the principall of this treason and murder Ro. Gag in an Reg. Fran. lib. 6. I followe Gagwin the writer of the French storie in reporting of it Lewes king of Fraunce aforesaide because Charles was neere of blood to him entered Flaunders besieged the Churche which the traitors kept as their castle Bocardus the traitor his death Bocardus fering the sequell stole out for feare and was taken and put in execution His eyes were stricken out with a reede his face was shot in with arrowes and after hee was dead he was put on the wheele To this strange and greuous death was Bocardus the traitor and murderer put to of Lewes the king of France in reuenge of Charles Earle of Flaunders death his sisters sonne Bertopus a traitor and murdererh strange deaâ—â— And one Berropus his consort mate in the execution of the murder was by the foresaid king Lewes his order put to a strange greeuous death Hee was hange◠〈◊〉 â—â—lowes and by him a mastie or 〈…〉 whom when the hangman smoteâ—◠〈◊〉 Bertopus body hanging by rent tore his fleshe and so Bertopus was baited to death Thus the most strange and greeuous execution of Bertopus for treasoÌ„ murder as Gag master of his order in France writer of the French storie reporteth it The other their coÌ„plices that were taken in the Tower The execution of other craitors were throwen headlong froÌ„ the top of the Tower one Isaak which took on him the vow of monkery hoping to escape was straÌ„gled with a rope Thus of their treason strange executions Frotho king of Denmark Frotho king of Denmarke the first of the name caused two of his chaÌ„ber conuicted of treason against him to be tyed to two great maine stones and to be throwne into the Sea as Saxo the writer of the story of the Danes Saxo Gram. hist Dane lib. 2. saith Animi crimen annex corporibus mole mulctando With waight put on their bodies saith he he punished the waightie sin of their soules Tullus Hostilius the 3. HeatheÌ„ king of the Romans caused a very strange and greeuous execution to be done on one Metius Suffetius for his treason practised in the fielde against him Metius Suf. his treason This Tullus Hostilius fought a battaile with certaine people in the confines of Rome called Fideriates Veientes and Volsci Metius Suffetus being of his obedience and subiection was sent for with certaine ensignes â—orces out of Alba and was present at the battaile And before the battaile did ioyne hee warbling with a double heart got him aloofe to the hilles and busied himselfe among his bands till the battaile was fought And when victorie fell to Tullus Hostilius then he commeth in with fresh bands to gratulate victory to the king At first the kinge shewed good couÌ„tenance to him but after he had assembled his hoast inuironed Metius with his bands and had made him safe from mutening and resisting he gaue order for the excution of him which was thus because he distracted his forces from him in the battaile betraied him his body also should bee distracted dismembred Titus Liuius Deca de 1. lib. 1. TheÌ„ as Titus Liuius telleth the storie he caused him to be laid bound between two Charets by horses set to driuen on diuers wayes his body was dismembred his lims plucked asuÌ„der FroÌ„ so greeuous a sight saith Liuius they turned their eies No nation as he saith may glory more of milder paines and executions Thus of the end of Metius Suffetius for his treason against his Prince in the field as we haue hard of K. Frotho also his executioÌ„ on 2. of his chamber for treason against him Thus I haue opened the examples before mentioned of me for the ending of his part 〈◊〉 Earle Hebert Queene Brunchild Bocardus Bertopus and others and two of king Frotho his chamber Metius Suffetius the last which are verie pertinent exaÌ„ples to this purpose concerning the end of treasons traitors in other countries I ioyned theÌ„ to notable examples out of our own countrie of Edric Elfric sir Andrew Hardikel sir Roger Mortimer which after certain examples out of holy scripture and other beside I haue laid down at large Would God as Polid. in writing the English storie witnesseth these verses of the Prophet Dauid were as a table alwaies hanging before the eies of such Whither then shall I go from thy spirit Psal 139. or whither shall I go then from thy presence If I clime vp into heauen thou art there if I go down to hell thou art there also And after If I say peraduenture darknesse shall couer mee then shall my night be turned to day yea the darknesse is no darknesse with thee but the night is as cleare as the day the darknes light bee both alike Thus far the Prophet But while the wicked are contriuing their diuelishe plats they clean forget the power prouideÌ„ce of God till his prouidence ouerthrowe their plats his power confound the wicked practisers of them and the saying of the Prophet Dauid be verified in them Hee hath grauen digged vp a pit is fallen himselfe into the destruction that he made for others For his trauaile shall come vpon his own head and his wickednesse shall fall on his owne pate Thus of the ende of treasons rebellions and suche like wickednesse Nowe of the last The last of the principal parts of this treatise concerning thanksgiuing and praising of God by occasion of the woordes of Dauid I will praise and giue thanks vnto the Lord according to his righteousnesse and will sing praise to the name of the Lorde the most high AS hee endeth his Psalme with this Of thankesgiuing and praising of God so with exhortation to praise thanksgiuing to God I will end my treatise And herein I will refer my self to these special points First The order how by Dauid his example we shoulde stir vp our selues to thanksgiuing praising of God Secondlie what a bundant matter of thanksgiuing and praising God the bountiful goodnes of God hath ministred to vs. Thirdlie the more to stirre vs vp to be thankefull to God for the preseruation of our gracious soueraigne the good instrument of the manifold blessings of god vnto vs what thankfulnesshe hath shewed to her faithfull subiects of late what compassion to her poore people what hearts her people should beare to her againe pray that the mercy of God will long maintain
Chaunceller red it before the king he rent his clothes his hart melted and he humbled himselfe before God and he clensed the temple of God from idolatrie and he◠gathered all his people from the greatest to the smalest as the Scripture saith 2. Chro. 34. and hee red in their eares all the wordes of the booke of the couenaunt that was found in the house of the Lord. And the king stood by the Piller made a couenaunt before the Lord to walk after the Lord to keepe his cōmaundemēts his testimonies his statutes with all his hart with al his soule and that he would accōplish the wordes of the couenant written in the same booke And he caused all that were found in Ierusalem Beniamin to stand to it And the inhabitātes of Ierusalem did according to the couenant of God euen the God of their fathers Hitherto the words of the Scripture What a blessed state was in Iuda and Beniamin then when the harts of the Prince people melted at the word of God were knit in one to serue God according to his law their Soueraigne in true fidelitie according to it How good comely a thing is it as the Prophet Dauid saith for brethren to dwell together in vnitie Psal 133 It is like the precious oyntment vpon the head that ran down vpon the beard euen vnto Aarons beard vnto the skirtes of his clothing c. So far Dauid And if this we ioyne our hartes together to serue God in true faith and our Prince in true loyaltie and fidelity we shal find cōfort helpe frō God God wil blesse the prince for the people the people for the Prince forraine enemies wil feare traitors wil trēble rebels wil be ready to run into caues dens seditious persons wil shrink in their owne secret imaginatious Psal 58. the wicked ones like snayles shall be readie to melt away in their owne wicked wayes as the prophet praieth they may Thus how acceptable a thing it is to God when the people ioyne their hartes together in the true faith to God harty fidelity to their Prince The 5. is of Dauid his loyaltie and fidelitie to the royal person of king Saul The 5. cheefe matter notwithstanding he sought his life While Dauid was yet a subiect to king Saul The Example of Dauid his loyaltie to the person of king Saul 2. Sam. 24. by the euil spirite sent of God on him he was so incensed against Dauid that he chased him as abird from couert to couert to deuoure him His spies hunted him and they told him behold Dauid is in the wildernesse of Engaddi and the men of Ziph brought him tidings that Dauid lurked in the hill of Hachilah by them Psal 11. And how say yee saith he as some lay downe the words in the Psalme to my soule that shee should flye as a bird to the hill Yet notwithstanding he was thus chased for life and driuen out to the vttermost and put on his garde for safety of life yet he bare such loue loyaltie and fidelitie to the royall person of his Prince that when God eftsoones had put him into his handes he would suffer none of his retinue or garrison to offer violence vnto him 2. Sam. 24. For he said the Lorde keepe me from doing that thing vnto the Lordes annoynted to lay my handes vpon him for he is the annoynted of the Lorde And with these words he quailed his owne seruantes which said vnto him See the day is come which the Lord said vnto thee Behold I will deliuer thy enemies into thy hande and thou shalt doe to them as seemeth good to thee But Dauid would suffer none of his men to lay hands on him euen when hee came as it were into his mouth into the caue to ease himself Dauid saued kinge Saules life in the caue wher Dauid his men were hid in the inward partes thereof And his men said now is the day c. And they were sharpe set euen to haue torne him with their teeth And if Dauid in the plung had not pacified his men and garded the person of his Prince which notwithstanding persecuted him to death king Saul had bene dispatched of them And an other time God put king Saul into his handes Dauid saued king Saules life being asleepe in the campe 1. Sam. 26. when Dauid came vpon him as he was a sleepe and the people lay round about him And Abishai said to Dauid God hath closed thy enimie in thy hand this daye I pray thee let me smite him once with a speare to the earth and I wil not smite him againe And Dauid saide to Abishai distroy him not for who can lay his hand on the Lords annointed be giltlesse And he tooke the kings speare and the pot of water from Sauls head and from the toppe of a hill he cryed to Abner the captaine of Sauls hoast and to the people This is not well done of thee as the Lorde liueth ye are worthy to die because you haue not kept your maister the Lordes annoynted and now see where the kinges speare is and the pot of water that was at his head And Saules hart rued he said I haue sinned come againe my son Dauid for I will do thee no more harme because my soule was precious to thy eyes this day Behould I haue done foolishly and haue erred exceedingly So farre the Scripture Thus king Sauls life was precious to Dauid though hee did persecute him to death because he was his Soueraigne Lord placed of God in the royall seate His priuate causes and oppressions he commited to God abyding his pleasure and leasure and as his prouidence shoulde dispose of him and them But he cold not frame his hart either himselfe or to suffer any other vnder his regiment to offer any violence to the person of his Prince notwithstanding they were in armes and had him at their deuotions And his conscience was so tender touching his loyaltie to the person of his Prince that when in the caue mentioned before he had cut off but a lappet of Sauls garment in signe that God had put his life into his handes he was touched in his heart after as the Scripture saieth because he thought he had bene to bold with his Prince 1. Sam. 24. Dauid resolute loyaltie Though he were cast out of his protection yet so he abhorred treasons violence against the person of his Prince that he was resolute whatsoeuer should become of him not for the winning of his kingdome to the person of his Prince 2. Sam. 26. or sauing his own life to do or suffer violence to be done to his person For this was his resolutiō touching the person of his Prince As the Lorde liueth saith he either the Lorde shall smite him or his day shall come to die or he shal goe downe to battail and perish
15. â—1 Let his prayer saith he in annother Psalme bee turned into sinne The sacrifices of the wicked as Salomon saith are abhominable to God If therfore we lift vp such hearts and handes as the wicked doe with vnrepentant hearts in their sinnes then we harbour the common enemies in our owne bosomes Wee praye for the Prince and beare good hearts vnto her but looke into our owne bosomes and there lurke the Ghostly and common enemies euen grosse greeuous sinnes which breake out carry all before them ouerflow all Osee 4. One sin as Osee saith toucheth an other and ouertaketh an other Esai 5. they are linked together as if they were drawne with Wainropes as Esai saith and they are heaped vp to heauen as S. Iohn saith of the sinnes of Babylon Reue. 18. And they are in the eares of the Lorde of Hoasts as Esai saith Esai 5. Alacke for the greeuous sinnes of England our sinnes are the common enemies our sins arme our enemies against vs Chrysost ho. 1. de ver Esai vide Dom. as Chrysostome saieth Ones heart may bleed to thinke it cannot but rue in the speaking and hearing of it The great and greeuous sinnes of England are readie to conspire to pluck out our gracious deare mother out of the Royall chrone Because for the sinnes of the people God taketh away a godlie Prince and giueth them a Prince in his wrath Osee 13. as the Prophet Osee saith and sendeth oppressours and effeminate persons to rule ouer them as God by the prophet Esai sheweth Esay 3. Iob. 34. And as Elin saith in the booke of Iob for the sinnes of the people hee causeth an hypocrite or wicked man to raigne ouer theÌ„ For the word Chancph doth signifie both because commonly they are concurrent So Iosiah the godlie Prince was taken away Iosiah Hier. lament for whom Hieremie the Prophet wrote Lamentations and all singing men and singing women as the Scripture saith mourned for Iosiah in their Lamentations to this daye 2. Chro. 25. and made the same Lamentations an ordinaunce in Israel and there succeeded hym Iehohas a Prince of three Moneths Iehohas and after him Ichoakim an vngodly king Ieoachim 2. Chro. 26. Hesechiah 2. Chro. 32. So after the godlie and gracious King Hesechiah by Gods visitation ended his life whome all Iuda and all the inhabitantes of Ierusalem did honour at his death Mannasse 2. Chro. 33. as the Scripture saith Manasse his sonne succeeded him an vngodlie and idolatrous Prince Iehosaphat Iehoram 2. Chro. 21. till by repentance after he was reclaimed Likewise after Iehosaphat the religious and vertuous Prince Iehoram his sonne followed who embrued himselfe in the blood of his brethren and walked in the wicked wayes of Ahab Abiah Absha c. And for Abiah and Ashah and other godlie kinges eftsoones followed wicked and idolatrous Princes which were snares and stumbling blockes to the people of God This is the course of Gods iudgment for the continuall multiplying of greeuous sins in Countries he withdraweth the blessing of gracious and godly Princes from them If therefore our hartes melte ouer the Prince by occasion of the late daungers as the hartes of all faithfull subiectes doe let vs put from vs those great and greeuous sinnes which continually prouoke his displeasure against vs. Let vs cast our sinnes from vs as by Ezechiel God warneth that they bring vs not to ruine Ezech. 18. I haue no pleasure in the death of a sinner sayth the Lorde God shall he not liue if he returne from his wayes Now is the Are put to the roote of the tree as S. Iohn the baptist sayth Luke 3. God by his late wonderful worke hath giuen generall warning to all and summoneth all to repentance Let vs fal to hartie repentance and turne to God from greeuous sinnes and wicked life with an vnfeyned purpose to leaue them and a gracious purpose hencefoorth to lead a godly life And in this purpose let vs lift vppe pure handes to God as Paul exhorteth for the long and prosperous preseruation of the royall person and estate of our Prince that the goodnesse of God in the tender mercye of Christe will vouchsafe to accepte our prayers Thus of the laste clause of this matter with what mindes wee should make our prayers for her that the goodnesse of God may vouchsafe to accept them The 9 cheefe matter The ninth is of the inner wall of England which is true faith to God vnfeyned fidelitie to our Prince and mutuall loue and concord amongst our selues And of the outward wall which is the shipping nauigation and the furniture thereof wherewith her Maiestie hath fortified our Countrie and what a comforte and blessing it is to our whole Countrie The inner wall of Engnland is made of liuely stones as Peter calleth Christians closely couched to Christ the corner stone The inner wall of England 1. Pet. 2. Ephe. 2. Col. 2. Act. 15. Ephe. 3. as Paul calleth him by true liuelie faith which is the gift of God and his effectuous worke to purifie and clense the heart and by which hee dwelleth in the hartes of the faithfull as Paul sayeth And in the bodie politike and ciuill building of the same liuely stones are layed and linked together with hartie fidelitie to their Prince as the Principall stone of that building and in the reste of the building the same liuely stones are ioyned and coped togither in mutuall loue and Christian concord and charitie together Thus the inner wall of the Realme is built and arreared vppe by true faith to God hartie fidelitie to the Prince and mutuall loue and concord amongest our selues Dauid speaking of the walls towers munitions of Herusalem willeth vs to walke about Syon Psal 47. to tell her Towers to marke well her Bulwarks and withall and without the which all the rest is nothing saith hee for this God is our God for euer and euer hee shal be our guide vnto death And if we will truely consider of the inward wall of England these be the Towers Bulwarkes and munitions therof true faith to God loyaltie to our Prince and mutuall loue amongst our selues and with all and without the which all worldly munitions and fortifications are nothing if in the spirite and faith of Dauid we say This God is our God for euer and euer he shal be our guid vnto death Therefore let al good subiects of England earnestly indeuour to lay themselues close and firme in the building of the inner wall of England by true faith to God vnfeyned fidelitie to our Prince and mutuall loue amongest our selues Beware there be none like loose and sagging stones which lye in the middest of the wall and deceiue and weaken the building of it and make riftes and rentes in it by infidelitie to God disloyaltie to the Prince and malicious hate of true subiectes to
Monsters that the fame of them should not be hard to wound the tender sent of nature that neere them there might be no speach of theÌ„ Would God such monsters in nature that are ready to betray their own Countries were so far from vs that we might not heare the fame of them much lesse that we should need to feare them But the greatest daunger is when they are in the bossome and bowels of our Countrie which secretlie gnawe in them and are readie to eate through them They may be compared to Sobna of whom the Prophet Esai maketh mentioÌ„ who was greatly aduauÌ„ced of the godlie king Hesechiah Sobna Esai 22. outwardlie bare his countenance that he would liue and die with him made for himself a sepulcher in Herusalem as if he would lay his bones there But he had a false hart a lingering in his hart after the Assyrians the enemies to his Prince and Countrie which made inuasion on them And his false hart deceiued him for he was carried away captiue into a far CouÌ„trie according to Gods threatning by the Prophet there he ended his life in confusion God deliuer vs from such Sobnaes that haue lingering harts after the enemies of our Prince Countrie whatsoeuer countenaÌ„ce outwardly they make and lay open their trayterous harts and practises against the sacred person of our prince her royal estate our Countrie Thus of those that haue lingering in their harts after inuasions of forraine forces The 11. cheefe matter The 11. is what hath been the case of this Realme in inuasions of forraine forces and strangers heretofore and of other Countries in like case and what should be our refuge and stay against such inuasions Our own Country doth minister to vs sufficient experience in the case Of inuasion of strangers and forraine force The fouÌ„taines are small that feede great riuers Of small occasions at first as out of fountaines issue grow and flow out great floods gulfes that ouerflow whole Countries We may see the experience in king Vortigerne his time King Vortigerne Aurelius Vter Who being distressed by troubles at home and fearing ciuil wars inuasioÌ„ by Aurelius Vter the sons of king Constantine whose death by treason he had procured and practised before sent for forraine forces Panims Saxons for his aid The inuasion of the Saxâ—â— Horsus Hengist Fabian in his Cron. the 5. part cap. â—3 Then came in Horsus Hengist the Saxons first into this land for Vortigerne distrusting his own subiectes affied himselfe in strangers forrain forces in the end he was himselfe vnhorsed discoÌ„fited by Aurelius Vter whoÌ„ he feared and the whole land was made a bootie pray for the Saxons They caÌ„e in first stealing in by troupes after troupes companies after coÌ„panies The Caspian Sea Plinius nat ra Histo 〈◊〉 6. cap. 3. Like the Caspian Sea stealeth in and breaketh in at streightes at first as Plinie writeth but after mouÌ„teth into a great Sea ouerfloweth in the maine land First Horsus and Hengist came in with their coÌ„panies after the fame spraÌ„g of the fat of the land FabiaÌ„ the 5. part cap. 83. Ella Porch Fabian the 5 part cap. 94. Vffa Fabian the 5. part cap. 96. as Fabian saith one Ella a Saxon came in with his 3. sons landed in the south part of BritoÌ„ And after came in a Soxon named Porch with his two sons of whoÌ„ the hauen Porchmouth is called as FabiaÌ„ noteth And one Vffa a Saxon with his troupes intruded himselfe into Norfolke and Suffolke and other Saxons in other places Finally as Catterpillers they deuoured the fat and fruite of the land they raigned the Britons serued This may be a president and mirror for Englishmen to looke into to see what hath beene the case of their Country when strangers and forraine forces haue come vpon them Let vs perticulerlie looke into the storie of Hengist Hengists storie it is notable and worthy to be renued in remembrance of Englishmen When Hengist so liked the land Ronouen Hengists daughter Fabian the 5 part cap. 82. that he thought to plant himselfe here he sent for Ronouen his daughter who came in with 16. saile After he had got footing in the land first he conteined himselfe in certaine boundes but after at a Sea he brake ouer the bankes and ouerflowed the maine land He obtayned of king Votigerne first so much land as he could lay out with a Buls hide which he cut out into thonges and hee compassed a great circuit of ground with it Thongcastle Fabian the 5 part cap. 83. and built him a Castle thereon and he called it thonge Castle And after he left cutting out of thonges out of the Buls hide and be fell to cutting out Prouinces and Countries out of the maine land in the East part of Briton Then in steed of Thongcastle Fabian the 5 part cap. 89. Hengist king of Kent Fabian the 5 part cap. 95. Ella his kingdome Fabian the 5 part cap. 94. Vffa his kingdome Fabian the 5 part cap. 96. hee made himselfe kinge of Kent and raigned there 24. yeeres and after him Ochra his sonne ruled other 24. yeeres This kingdome endured aboue 300. yeeres as Fabian rehearseth out of Polichronicon Ella another Saxon set vp his kingdome ouer the South Saxons Aurelius being then king of Briton And Vffa an other Saxon reigned ouer the Eastangles now called Norfolke Suffolke Thus they fel a deuiding the land amoÌ„gst theÌ„ first they came in for aide of king Vortigerne when diuision was in the land and after they fell to deuiding the land and making shares to themselues till they got land and al. Will not such examples of our owne experience in our owne Countrie heretofore make Englishmen wise against al practises of inuasions and forraine forces What hartes or bowels of nature haue they which can haue any lingering hope after forraine forces Doe they looke to aduaunce themselues in the ruins of their Countrie Either they knowe not or haue forgotten the saying of Caesar Caesar I loue treason but I hate the traytor The verie heathens abhorred them notwithstanding they reaped benifite by them Let all true harted subiectes of England beware of them which by the dore of diuision at home would let in forraine forces to make their shares out of the bodie and bowels of our Countrie The inuasion of the Danes Let vs looke into the inuasions of the Danes also which is an other glasse of like experience for all true Englishmen to looke into In the first inuasion of the Danes when they descried diuision in the land they ioyned themselues with one part made theÌ„selues a partie with the West Britons against Egbert king of west SaxoÌ„s Fabian the 6 part cap. 158 And after they had made themselues a partie in the land so had their confederates in the land they
could neuer be gotten out againe But as Fabian saith they wer cōtinually abiding in one place or other till the time of Hardikinitus the last king of the Danes blood as the English Chronicle calleth him Fabian the 6 part cap. 198 who is called also Canutus of other And they did so ouerspread and ouerflow the land The Danes called Lord Danes in Englishmens howses that as Fabian telleth the Danes were as Lords in priuate mens houses and they called them Lord Danes They imployed the husbandmen to care sow the ground to works of al druggery as Fabiā saith the Dane held his wife at his pleasure his daughter seruant And when the husbandman came home he should scarsly haue of his owne as seruants had as Fabian reporteth it Yet for feare and dread in euery suche house where they had rule they called them Lord Dane But after the Danes were voyded the land in despite derision of them it was turned into a word of reproch whē one wold rebuke an other he would as Fabian saith for the most part call him Lurdane Lurdaine a word of reproch Is not this a notable glasse of experience in our own Countrie also to warne all true Englishmen to be warned and armed against all inuasions and forraine forces if they wil be maisters owners of their owne houses of their wiues childrē goods as by experience in their own Coūtrie heretofore they may see in such cases As we haue looked into the leaders Captains of the Saxons so let vs hear of the Captaines leaders of the Danes into this land The leaders of the Danes Fabian the 6 parte Hubba Hunguoar or Hungar Guttran or Garmund Fabian the 6 part cap. 172 Vnder king Etheldredus the 3. son of king Adaulphus Hubba Hunguoar or Hungar were Captaines and leaders of the Danes into the land Vnder king Aluredus one Guttran or Gothian or Garmund as the English Chro. calleth him was the great leader ruler of the Danes with whō king Alured made cōpositiō that he should be christned 20. of the cheefe and principall persons of them were Christned with him And he allotted to him East Anglia contayning Norfolke and Suffolke and parte of Cambridgeshire to abyde in But greedie Guttrū could not be satisfied with these coūtries for while he liued he continued a tyrant by the space of eleuen yeres An other Captain called Ciyto landed in East Englande vnder Edward surnamed the Elder Clyto And at last vnder Egelredus king of this land driuen to flie first into the Wight Swanus Fabian the 6 part cap. 198 Canutus Fabian the 6 part cap. 24. Edmund Ironside after into Normādy they aduanced their kingdom vnder Swanus king of Denmark after him vnder Canutus his son with whō king Edmund surnamed Ironside first diuided the land and after his death by treason of Edricus Canutus alone reigned ouer the whole land Thus of the leaders of the Danes and their diuiding of the lande and how at the last the whole land fell to their share Nowe though Hubba and Hungar their Captaines were slaine as Fabian reporteth out of Polichronicon Fabian the 6 part cap. 170 yet Captaine Hungar still remaineth Captain Hūgar the Dane who hungreth after the fat of this land and fain wold be bringing in of forraine forces to haue dealings in the land and in diuision to make thēselues a partie as the Saxons and Danes did and that they may fall a sharing the lande as Saxons and Danes did before and at length get the land and all as they did And by whatsoeuer name they bee called if wee looke into the right qualitie and disposition of suche though they are not captaine Hūgar in name yet in true meaning and intent they are of his right rase for they hūger after the land wold fain haue diuision amongst vs that they may make themselues a partie and so haue their confederates in the land to winde themselues in and at last to winne the land Though captaine Guttrum or Gurmond be dead Captaine Guitrum or Gurmond who coulde not bee satisfied with a share of great Countries in England but played the Tyrant and cutthroate still yet such greedie guttrans or gurmands remaine who gape ouer the Realme ready for occasions and woulde faine satisfie their greedy guts with the rauen and ransacking of it And is there any that hath true Englishe blood in him that can betray his owne Countrie and cast it as a pray into the rauening iawes greedy guts of such Guttrons or Hungars God keep our Prince and Realme from such Hungars Guttrons that continually gape ouer her and vs to deuoure vs and giue true wisedome to all naturall subiects of England by such experience and examples of our Countrie heretofore to be warned against all such as practise by confederating themselues with forraine forces to bring suche Captaine Hungars or Guttrons vpon vs whose hunger cannot bee quenched but out of the body and bowels of this land Thus of the inuasion of the Danes and their leaders The inuasion of the Normans Fabian the 6 part ca. 217. After the Normans inuaded this land vnder William the Conquerour and king Harold being slaine in the field they subdued it The Normans had the preheminences of honours and offices in both estates The Englishmen were vnder them Fabian the 6 part ca. 222. and great tributes were laid on them and after sundrie attempts by sundrie persons made in vain the Englishmen learned to serue straungers into whose hands God had put thē The Romans The Romans ruled in this land had so good liking thereof that Seuerus the Emperour after his great victories of the Parthians and Arabians Seuerus the Emperor imploied himselfe here Fabian the 4 part cap. 61. and for the defence of the Coūtrie against the inuasion of the Pictes he caused a wall of Turues to be made of the length of 122. myles as Polichronicon witnesseth and at length in a battaile himselfe against Fulgenius Leader of the Pictes who inuaded the lande hee was slaine and buried at Yorke Fulgenius leader of the Picts The Troians The Troians vnder Brute first entered the lande and well liking the fruitfulnesse thereof determined heere to pitch their dwelling and by the Riuer of Thames they built a Citie which in remembrance of their owne Countrie they called Troy-nouant London and which after was enlarged by King Lud and was called Luds Towne and which nowe is called London as Fabian reporteth Thus of the experience examples and case of our Countrie touching forraine forces and inuasion of strangers If any warning will serue seeing God hath set vp so many warninges spectacles in the experience of our owne cases in our owne Countrie we should now receiue warning and be wise in such cases vnlesse wee will be still strangers in our owne stories and affaires
rer memora additis Ab. Vrsperg and said for his excuse that hee did he did prouoked of vs before and he would haue reuoked the curse but that hee was coped and kepte in against his owne liking Clemens 6. Clemens the 6. blowed vp the fire which Benedict his predecessour would haue quenched And euen at the Lordes supper he cursed the Emperor as Cuspinian writeth Io. Cusp in vita Ludou As Iudas was at the Lordes supper that betrayed his maister But notwithstanding the curses of Popes Ludouick reigned about 37. yeeres as Cuspinian accounteth Alber. Cranz Saxo. Lib. 8. cap. 22. and hee ouerliued two of the Popes that cursed him and hee dyed not without suspition of poyson as Albert. reporteth Philip the Emperour Philippe the Emperour about the yeere of our Lorde God 1198. as Vrspergensis accounteth is praysed of him for a milde and gentle Prince valiant in warres at chiof him with good successe yet because hee was not currant in the fauour of Pope Innocent the third Ab. Vrsperg in gest Phil. first hee vrged an excommunication of Pope Celestine against him And after by his practise and other Emperour called Otto was sette vppe against him but Philippe by treason ended his life in the ende Then Pope Innocent fell a cursing of Otto also Otto the Emperour whom as his darling he had Crowned before Thus a common practise it is with Popes to make quarrels to curse Princes if they stand not in their grace and bee not at their deuotions and if they make not their composition with them Philip the Emperour As Philippe the Emperour was 〈◊〉 come to composition with Pope Innocent the third Abbas Vrsperg in titulo de bellis Philippi by Ambassadours sent for that purpose who promised a mariage betweene the kinges daughter and the Popes brothers sonne for reconcilement of Phillippe to the Popes grace as Vrspergensis vowcheth of the reporte of credible men Frederick the first Emperour of that name Frider. the 1. was fayne to put a masse of gould into Pope Hadrian his mouth to make his composition with him by his solliciters for the recalling of his curse against him Ab. Vrsperg ex cremoneÌ„s and for reconcilement to him As the Abbat of Vrsperg out of the Cremonensis called Iohn the Priest rehearseth Otherwise if suit be not made for reconcilement and composition with them the common enginne and practise of Popes against Princes is to drawe out the banning blade vppon them As Hornets haue their stinges and Scorpians their tayles so the common enginne of Popes reuenge vppon Princes is their excomminging and cursing of them Saxo Craâ— Hist Danâ—s lib. 14. Saxo the wryter of the Danes storie sayeth the Bishoppes reuenge is his curse And the same Pope Innocent the third afore rehearsed didde drawe his banning blade vppon king Iohn of England King Iohn of England Fabian the 7 parte in anno 1212. Phil. le Bewa king of Fran. Who was fayne 〈◊〉 make his composition with Pandolph his Legate to pay a yeerely fee to the Pope of a thousand markes for the Realmes of Englande and Ireland and as his Feodarie to houlde the Crowne of him Boniface the eight did proceede in like sorte to cursing and banning of Philippe surnamed the fayre Ro. Gag in annalibus regum Fran. lib. 7. king of Fraunce but he in the steed of coÌ„position suborned Sarra the Italian and sent Nogaretus a French man to his aid and at Anagnia sodenly they surprised the Pope by force of armes and brought him to Rome where with chafe and greefe he died Gagwine generall of the order of the holy Trinitie in Fraunce Bonifacius 8 in his storie saith of Pope Boniface that being too proud he priued Philip of his kingdome and gaue it to Albert Duke of Ostrige together with the Empire of Germanie And after the same Gagwine had told of the taking of the Pope and of his death he saith Such an end of his life had Bonifacius the despiser of all men who without remembring the commaundementes of Christ went about to take away and to giue kingdomes at his pleasure Rob. Gagwins iudgement of Bonifacius 8. when he was not ignorant that hee occupied his place on earth whose kingdome was not of this world and of earthly thinges but heauenly Thus farre father Gagwin as they call him the generall of his order We see the Pope is sent into Christes schoole of his own deuout disciple as father Gagwin was and the birdes of his owne nest are readye to scratch out his eyes What treason was this against the Popes person and power to say that he remembred not the commaundements of Christ while he went about to take away and to geue kingdomes at his pleasure And yet he calleth him selfe Christes Vicar His kingdome was not not of wordly thinges but heauenly Thus father Gagwin who was in the Popes own bosome for his Religion yet is a witnesse against his vsurped power pride and tyranny in deposing of Princes and disposing of kingdomes And turneth them into Christes schoole whose Vicars they professe theÌ„selues to bee to learne an other lesson of him whose kingdome was not of earthly but heauenly thinges Thus of banning Bonifacius his ende and father Gagwines witnesse against the vsurped power of Popes in taking away and giuinge the kingdomes of the earth Paulus 2. Clemens 5. Paulus the second excomminged and cursed George kinge of Beme and Clemens the fifte the Venetians the Florentines and them 〈◊〉 Luke and diuers other Popes haue cursed and banned many other Princes and people And euen yet they blush not in the light of the Gospell to do the like as they were wont to do in darkenesse and in the night of grosse idolatrie and ignorance they cannot hould themselues but if Princes reuolt from their viâ—due obedience and hee reclaymed from their idolatrous errors then they fall to managings their cursings bannings in the names of Peter and Paul by whose doctrine their vsurped power and tyranny is condemned Thus of the vsuall enginne of the Bishoppe of Rome commonly vsed of them in contriuing and managing of practises of treason and rebellion against Christian Princes and Realmes which is their excomminging and cursing of them The 2. chiefe point of the first matter The second point and matter of my first parte is at what time chieflie the Bishoppe of Rome beganne to vse this engine of excommunicating and cursing of Princes and Realmes and practising of such treasons and rebellions gainst them OTto Bishoppe of Frising a famous writer of Cronicles Otto Bishop of Frising and of great account in the Church of Rome in his storie writeth that before Henry the fourth Emperour of that name hee could neuer finde Roman Emperour or king to haue beene excomminged and cursed of any Bishoppe of Rome This Otto by parentage was of the blood imperiall by his mothers side before hee was a
of Vrsperg proceedeth in his answere to Bishop Otto Such things also saith he otherwhere and in our times haue bin seen to be done yet though the Roman Bishops doe ascribe and take to themselues the doing thereof we find saith he these things to bee done by diuine iudgement the sinnes of Emperors so requiring Princes and people vniting themselues to resist them Heere hee rippeth vp the roote out of which such actions grow the diuine iudgement for sinnes of the Emperors stirryng vp Princes and people against them and that the Bishop of Rome doth but take it on as if hee by cursinges did cut of Emperors Princes from their estates and carued out kingdomes at his pleasure The Abbat to his former saying putteth two examples the one of Fredericke the first Emperor of that name Frederick the first who was excomminged cursed of the popes Hadrian and Alexander and other there successors yet neuer lost the Empire So Philip the sonne of the same Frederick Philip the Emperor notwithstanding the cursings of Celestin the 3. about our time saith the Abbat neuer lost the Empire Thus the Abbat voucheth these exāples to shew that Emperors and Princes though excomminged of Popes yet notwithstanding kept their soueraignties estates kingdoms Emperors excōminged of popes kepe their empires as Frederick Philip and manie other And hereof we haue a mirrour of the great mercie of God in the heauenly happie light of his word Queene Elizabeth in Elizabeth our Soueraigne sent of God who by diuine prouidence notwithstanding the cursings of proud Popes not onelie keepeth her royall right and seat but for their cruell curses hath receiued boūtiful blessings of God not only shewed on her Royal person but on the whole Realme Euen right as the Prophet Dauid saith Though they curse Psal 109. yet thou shalt blesse they shall arise and bee confounded but thy Seruant shall reioyce God giue all subiects grace with true hearts to pray to God that he will turne their cruel curses into aboundance of blessinges on her Royall person and estate and his Church and our whole Countrie Thus what time chieflie the Roman Bishops began to practise suche things against Christian Emperors and princes of Bishop Otto his protestation of the Abbat of Vrsperg his answere how by diuine prouidence notwithstanding the cursing of popes christian Emperors haue kept their soueraignties estates and Realmes heretofore The 3. chiefe point of the first matter The third chiefe matter of my first part is by what means the Bishops of Rome doe manage and carrie on their practises THE vsuall meanes of their practises is after their cursing to set on Subiects against their Princes Greg. 7. Rodol Duke of Sueuia as Gregorie the 7. did set on Duke Rodolph of Sueuia or as Platina noteth of Saxonie or as Vincentius of Burgundy or as Cuspinian Coūtie of Reinfield to rebell against Henry the 4. Emperor his Soueraigne and not only subiectes but the sonne to rebell against his owne father as Henry the 5. Henricus 5. against Henry the 4. Emperor of the name his own father In these two exāples as glasses set before vs wee may see the treacherie and practise of the Bishops of Rome against Christian Emperours and Princes Briefly I will set down the first touching the rebellion of Duke Rodolph against Henrie the 4. The exāples of Duke Rodolph and Henry the 5. and his repentance for it The latter example I will lay foorth at large because it is a notable storie to set foorth the horrible treasons vnnatural warres and raging rebelliōs not only of subiects but of the sonne against his own father Soueraigne Lord vpon pretence of the Popes excōminging cursing the father for executing of the popes curse And therfore in the Popes cause it is counted pietie though it be ioyned with treason rebelliō vnnaturall outrage against his own father Touching the first example of Rodulph against Henry the fourth I will note his setting on his rebellion Duke Rodolph his setting on to rebellion and after his repentance He was set on to falsifie his faith and to rebell against Henry the fourth by Pope Gregorie the 7. called Hildebrand the monk before and to pul him on to this troublesome action with all hee sent him a Crowne or diademe with this posie or word Alb. Cranz Saxo. lib. 5. cap. 7. Albertus reporting it Petra dedit Romain Petro tibi Papa coronam The rocke that is Christ gaue Rome to Peter the Pope hath giuen the Crowne to thee Thus he allured him to trayterous rebellion against his Prince to whom he had sworne fidelitie Now of his rebellion Euil chiued the Crowne that Pope Gregorie had sent him Henry the fourth whom the Pope had cursed notwithstanding wore and bare the Crowne by Gods prouidence giuen to him Rodolph that of the Pope receiued the Crown could not escape notwithstanding the curse wrath and iudgment of God in this worlde for his periurie treason and rebellion against his Prince but that he repented in the ende So whom the Pope cursed God blessed Rodolphos Rebellion The sequel of the rebellion Whom the Pope blessed God cursed Touching the sequele of the action in this world Rodolph with the Popes blessings spedde euill Henry the Emperor with the Popes curse wan the field Ab. Vrsperg in Chro. Rodolph discomfited hauing his right hand cut off as the Abbat of Vrsperg reporteth it was carried out of the battaile to Morisburg and straight after died Alber. Krāz. Saxoniae lib. 5. cap. 5. Albert telleth that he was carried out of the field to Herbipolis wounded in the right hand whereof he dyed Thus of Duke Rodolph his rebellion Duke Rodolph his repentance Now let vs heare of his repentance Whē Duke Rodolph sawe the stump of his hand he said to them that set him on there present This same is the right hand with which I haue sworne fidelitie to my Lorde Abbas Vrspergensis in chro Behold now I leaue my life with his reigne See you to it which made me clime to this place should haue led me the right way following your aduertisementes Thus wofully he moued himselfe to the Bishops that set him on Alb. Cranz Saxo. lib. 5. cap. 7. Albert thus reporteth it that he sent for the nobles Bishops of his side to Herbipolis elata dextra in astantes and lifting vp his hand saith he to those that stood by Duke Rodolph his dolefull mone for his rebellion this is the right hād with the which I sware to Henry my Lord but by your vrging so oft with such euil hap I haue fought against him goe fulfill your fidelitie to your king for I shal goe the way of my fathers so he died Thus the rufull words of Duke Rodolph repenting his rebellion before the nobles Bishops of his side His conscience not onely his right
Saxo. li. 5. cap. 20. he told him the processe of their proceedings who pitying his case conducted him to Colon with 800. souldiers After this beeing toyled and persecuted of his sonne and brought as it were to the pits brinke as in his letters written to the estates of the Empire frō Ledes he pitifully cōplained he dieth at Ledes The crueltie shewed on the corps of Henrie the 4. Now let vs heare the crueltie that was shewed vpon his corps whom they thus persecuted aliue they persecuted also in his graue The Abbat of Vrsperg telleth how that the Bishop of Ledes others that tooke the Emperours part were reconciled to the Pope Ab. Vrsperg in an 1106. and receiued into the communion of the Church vppon this condition among others that they shoulde dig vp the corps of the Emperor buried of them before The corps digged vp and without all honor of funeral lay it in an vnhalowed place which decree he saith was made with the cōsent of the Archbishops Bishops that were there Alb. Saxo. li. 5. cap. 24. Albert reporteth that the corps stoode in a desert chappell at Ledes vnburied by the space of fiue yeeres and after was buried at Spires Ab. Vrsp in an 1106. The Abbat of Vrsperg telleth howe that the Corps was transported to Spires with consent of the king his sonne and there remained without the church vnburied by the space of fiue yeeres Thus whom they woulde not suffer to rest while hee liued they woulde not suffer to rest in his graue also The Popes curse ransacketh the graues of the dead The graues cannot hide their corses for his crueltie Wigberts the Archbishop of Rauenna his corps digged vp Wigbertes the Archbishop of Rauenna his corps bicause he was set vp of Henrie the 4. to be Bishop of Rome for Grego the 7. was also turned out of his graue and the corses of other Bishops also which were made of Wigbert Bishops corps cast out of Churches were cast out of the Churches as the Abbat reporteth This was the persecutiō of corses Death quencheth not the malice of Rome but she runneth to graues to turne vp corses as if shee were mad Hiaena As the mad Hiaena turneth vp graues Plinie witnessing it and rageth in corses Mantichorae Plini natu hist li. 8. cap. 30. Pli. nat hist lib. 8. cap. 21. And as the monstrous Mantichora mētioned of Plinie also is greedie of mans flesh euen to plucke it out of the graues But it is zeale saieth Vrspergensis not malice or crueltie for speaking of the rāsacking of corses of false Bishops as hee termeth them out of their graues he brayeth out In tantum diuinae legis subito zelus efferbuit So greatlie saith he the zeale of Gods law sodainly boyled vp Ab. Vrsperg in an 1106. Is it maruaile though he call Henrie the fourth Iulian Aman Nabuchodonezer who calleth the turning of corses of Princes and Bishops out of theyr graues the zeale of Gods Lawe It is zeale but not acording to knowledge as the Apostle Paule calleth it Rom. 10. Blind zeale 1. Cor. 2. Blinde zeale crucified Christ If they had knowne the Lorde of glorie they woulde not haue crucified hym Blinde zeale continually persecuteth the members of Christe ransacketh their very graues and triumpheth ouer corses The Abbat of Vrsperg bringeth in the Churche of Rome triumphing with hornes on her head to runne vpon her enemies and to make the liuing agast when they see corses of the dead turned out of their graues Ab. Vrsperg in Chro. Iam enim saith he exaltatus diuinitus ecclesia Romana cornibus ad incutiendum timorem cunstis vsque quaque scismatum membris c. Nowe saieth hee the Church of Rome hauing her hornes by diuine power exalted The hornes of the church of Rome set on by the Abbat of Vrsperg to make all the members of schismes to quake caused the bones of Wigbert their head by Henrie the 4. placed pope Archbishop of Rauen. before to be cast out of his graue Thus the Abbat bringeth foorth the Church of Rome in her triumphe castyng out bodies of the dead out of their graues to make the liuing to be afraid of her As Zedekia the false Prophet made hornes of yron Zedekiah and saide to Ahab the wicked and idolatrous king 2. Re. 22. with these hornes shalt thou pushe the Syrians vntyll thou haue made an ende of them And the false Prophets prophesied euen so goe vppe to Ramoth in Gilead and prosper for the Lorde shall deliuer it into the kings handes But kyng Ahab was brought home dead in his Chariot So the Abbat hath made yron hornes for the Church of Rome to push downe all her enemies and to cast them out of their graues and they come vnto her as they did to Ahab goe and poosper The Lorde shall deliuer all into thy hands If any Church may weare iron hornes and tryumph with them the Chuche of Rome may as for turning corses out of graues none euer might compare with her Thus of the death of the Emperor Henrie the fourth and the crueltie shewed on his corse The fift chiefe poynt of the discourse of this storie is The 5. The iudgement of their owne writers the iudgement of their owne writers of the case Otto Bishop of Frising of the Imperiall line touching his parentage and in superstition not behinde for hee tooke Monkerie on him Otto B. of Frising and among the Monkes of Morimond hee died and touching his storie for his indifferencie in laying it downe he is commended of Aeneas Syluius Aeneas Syluius in hist Aust Historiae sayth hee legem seruauit vt neque cognatio veritati neque cognationi officeret veritas Hee kept saieth hee the lawe of storie that neerenesse of blood shoulde not hinder truth because hee was neere of the Imperiall blood nor trueth neerenesse of blood This rebellion and outrage of Henrie the fift against Henrie the fourth hys father Otto Frising Episc anna lib. 7. cap. ◠vppon pretence of the Popes curse hee calleth Tam inauditum inhumanum hoc mundi factum So vnquoth and neuer the like hard of and vnnaturall a fact of this worlde which may prouoke vs to the contempt of the worlde as hee saith to see suche outrage in it Alb. Kranz Sax. lib. 5. cap. 16. Albert Deane of Haumburg maketh a wonder of it in the worlde and sayth Brethren haue made warre one against another and most neere frendes haue fought togeither Sed filium saith he insurgere patrires est sine exemplo But the sonne saith he to rise against the father is a thing without example Thus Albert as if nature it selfe were wounded wondereth at so monstrous a facte procured and practised vnder pretence of the Popes curse the execution whereof they coūt pietie though it be treason and rebellion of the sonne against his owne
play with them Plinie reporteth that Plut. telleth of a familiar Aspe bred and fed at a table in Egypt which had yong ones in the house that of one of the yong the good maÌ„s son of the house was killed It is not good hauing trusting a familiar serpent Though his poyson seeme qualified it is alwayes ready and at sometimes more ranke The Scorpion hath a fawning tayle but a deadly sting and his taile alwayes waueth wayting all occurrentes and occasions as Plinie sayth Plin. nat Hist lib. 11. cap. 25. Semper cauda in ictu est ne quando desit occasioni So the wicked though they fawne neuer so finely glose neuer so pleasantly yet continually they wait for their occasions and opportunities The murtherers that were sent into king Sigisbert his campe of Queene Fredigond to kill him as Gagwin saith In familiam regis Sigisberti se insinuaÌ„t Ro. Gag in an Re. Fran. lib. 2. did wind themselues into the familie of king Sigisbert This is the first point of their practise in the Deuils art by glosing hypocrysie first to come in place and after to wait for opportunitie Sobna the hollow hypocrite to king Hezechiah and the state Esay 22. was gotten vnder the winges of the godly king 2. Sam. 15. Achitophel the traytor was neere and a great person about king Dauid 1. Reg. 1 Absalon the rebel and traytor came out of of his owne bowels Adonias his sonne ouerreached by aspiring to that was not alotted to him If the Arrian heretikes hadde not wound themselues into the Court of Constantine the Emperour surnamed the great Arrians got into courts of Emperors â—eâ—râ— about them and into the Court of Constantius his sonne the Emperour after him and in to the Court of Valentinian the Emperor and Iustina the Empresse wife to Valentinian the Emp. the elder of that name into the court of Valentinian the yonger the son of Iustina aforesaid and Emperour they could neuer haue spred their heresies ouer so many Countries and so oppresse with persecutions the Church of God Ruff. Hist Eccle. lib. 1. cap. 11. An Arrian Priest that was a priuie practiser of the Arrians heresie gotte himselfe in house and neere about Constantia sister to Constantine the Emperour as Ruffius witnesseth Vbi multa familiaritas saith hee copiam tribuit paulatim sermonem caepit inspergere inuidiam dicens Arrio generatam When saith hee great familiaritie offered him opportunitie he began first by little and little to insperg and sprincle her with words of his humor saying that enuie was procured against Arrius Thus far Ruffinus We see the first point in the execution of diuelish plats so wel against the state of religion as against the royall persons and estates of Princes is to wind themselues into familiaritie fauour and credite after to attend their purpose The serpent wil first be cruiling and when there is any hole open he will winde himselfe in If those cunning cumpassers should goe plaine to worke as ramping Lions rauening Woolues on their pray by and by they would be betrayed Therefore they doe it by circumstance and by crooks Socrat. Eccle. Hist lib. 1. cap. 25. This Arrian Priest Chaplaine to Constantia aforsaid was growen into such credit with her that at her death with special recoÌ„mendation of him she put him to ConstaÌ„tine her brother the Emperour Then the slie Serpent began to craule into Constantine his bosome also and was entred so deepe into fauour and credit with him that hee was the man with Constantine the Emperor in such singular credite and trust that at his death he put him in trust to conuey his testameÌ„t sealed to Constantius his son and Emperour after him Socrat. Eccle. Hist lib. 1. cap. 39. And by that occasion so he won the hart of Constantius and so wound himselfe hauing opportunitie and accesse at will into his hart and humors Ruff. Hist Eccle. lib. 1. cap. 11. that as Ruffinus saith he suffered himselfe to be ruled of him whose desire was to rule al. TheÌ„ he so plyed him after he had gotten the pan by the stele that he poysoned him with his heresie and many that were neere about him So the Arrian Priest got more by his creeping in the Court by insperging his humors heresie there by reason of opportunitie aduantages of fauour accesse theÌ„ the whole brood of blasphemous Arrians abroad Eusebius Socra Hist eccle lib. 1. cap. 37. Euseb Bishop of Nicomedia a practiser of that side had such countenance froÌ„ the court that he minaced Alexander Archbishoppe of ConstaÌ„tinople to procure him to be deposed vnlesse he wold admit Arrians whose name the horrible heresie doth keepe into the Church CoÌ„munion fellowship of the faithful Eudoxius Theod. Hist eccle lib. 2. cap. 26. Eudoxius the Bishoppe of Germanicia an Arrian supported by those that were neer to Constantius the Emperour intruded himselfe to bee Bishop of Antioch with mislike of the Emperor at first but he salued it by those that were of his side about him after tyrannously hee thrust himself in to be Archbishop of Constantinople with discontentment of the Emperour But what dared he not by the support of those that were his complices in the Court Auxentius the Arrian got to be Bishop of Mil. in the west Theod. Hist eccle lib. 2. cap. 27. by whose practise the princes of the Gothes were infected with the Arrian heresie And neuer coulde the Arrians haue so hoised vppe their sailes so spread theÌ„selues in the world but for practise of those that crept into the Court Sozo Eccle. Hist lib. 6. cap. 23. credit fauour of Princes who by reason of their opportunities importunities continual accesse were in their eies eares to procure assistance and countenance to their sect to disgrace discouÌ„tenance the zelous professors of true faith So the trauaile of the wicked when once they are resolute in errors plats of treasoÌ„ is first for the place oportunity after for their purpose if they may win the fouour of the place neuer Roscius could more cuÌ„ningly playe his partes on the Roman Stage where hee did excel theÌ„ they can manage their plats of treasons if they maye haue their course but that sodainly they are checked froÌ„ heauen They can bow to the bent yeeld to humors as waxe and frame theÌ„selues to all aduantages That the Chamelion hath in nature by chauÌ„ging of so many colours Volat. li. 25. the wicked haue in continuall practise by chaunging all colours of hypocrisie and infidelitie The rauening fish Polipus chaungeth himselfe to the colour of the ground where hee lyeth for his praye Plin. lib. 9. cap. 19. Ouid met lib. 11. Morpheus mutabilities chauÌ„ges as Poets describe him may signifie the monstrous mutabilities chaunges and vnstabilities of the mindes of the wicked after once they are conceiued and
comfort of his Church and our countrie We haue heard how when the wicked fall to trauaile with plats of treasons rebellions and such like they bend themselues to take all occasions and presse into Courtes and winde themselues into fauour and creepe into credit to haue oportunities and aduātages for their diuelish intents and how Princes following the example of Dauid in the wisdome of God shoulde make their resolutions for choyse of faithfull and godlie persons to bee neere vnto them and about them and whom they shoulde auoide out of their housholds Thus muche of the third principall matter what trauailing is who setteth and whetteth them continually on to trauaile how they bend themselues to take all occasions and aduantages for the execution of their wicked plats The 4. principall matter After trauailing what fruite such wicked persons bring foorth HE shall bring foorth saith Dauid a lie or vaine thing Sheker the worde Sheker signifieth a lie Some expounde it Rem inanem A vaine matter in respect of the sequell and effect which will deceiue them The Septuagint translate it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in respect of the trāsgression vnrighteousnesse excesse outrage against Gods lawe and mans lawe of which sense the Septuagint giue occasiion And in respect of the sequell and successe not aunswering their plats but cōming to an afterdeale and disappointing them they are called lies vaine matters which sense doth grow out of the Hebrewe worde The 1. sense out of the Septuagint Touching the first sense if the Diuel himselfe shoulde trauaile to bring fruite on earth would he not bring the like iniquitie impietie transgressions and outrages against the law of God man Where such wicked are there is as it were an hel on earth Verres hell on earth as Cicero said of Verres regiment in Scicilie that whether he came because of the troupes of wicked that hanged about him thither came another hell on earth God blesse vs from them that bring such troupes and from all troupes of traitors rebels conspirators and confedrates against the Prince estate gods church our country The second sense springing out of the root of the Hebrew word The 2. sense out of the Hebrew word and the aptest in that respect to which I refer my tract or treatise touching it is they shall bring foorth a lie a vaine matter that will not take effect but they shall sticke in the gappe and perish in the breach that themselues haue made Though king Saul had neuer such deadly food against Dauid King Saul like a woode Lion or wild Panther ran into the woods wildernesse to kill him yet will it not come to effect but hee had his trauaile for his paine wretchednes was his reward In the title of this Psalme in the word Chush the sonne of Iemini Psal 7. the Hebrews note Saul to be signified who is called Chush Chush as much to say as an Ethiopian or a manne of Ind Ob immutabilem animi malitiam contra Dauidē as Monster expoūdeth it Monster in scho in ti Psal 7. because of his immutable or vnremoueable malice against Dauid As the mā of Ind cānot change his naturall blacknes of hew so hee such other like to him are called by the name because of the blacknes of their malice within which neuer can be washed out vnles god powre out the cleane waters of his spirit as Ezechiel calleth thē to wash whiten them Ezech. 36. But though Sauls malice was neuer so rooted in nature that he put himselfe in armes made vprores against Dauid 2. Sam. 23. and threatned to searche him out through all the thousandes of Iuda yet for all his trauaile hee brought foorth but a lie and a vaine thing For Dauid and faithful godlie Princes vnder the protectiō of God are garded and as it were mured and walled in the high and heauenly castle of Gods prouidence where the Councels and trayterous trauels of the wicked cannot reach them Car therfore the Saulites and Chushites The Saulits Chushits and men of Ind of England for they are degēdred out of the true kinde of their owne Countrie that are such plucke the crowne from Q. Elizabeth her head Psal 21. which God hath set on it As Dauid said of himselfe thou shalt set a crown of pure gold vpon his head Psal 15. Can they vndertake the wonderfull workes of God to flie on the winges of the winde Psal 18. as Dauid saieth of God or mooue mountaines out of their places Then let them vndertake to pluck Princes out of their thrones also For it is God as Iob saith Iob. 12. that looseth the coller of kings and leadeth away Princes as a pray ouerthroweth the mightie As easie it is to mooue mountains out of their places as to remooue the estates of Princes maintained by the prouidence of God Psal 30. Dauid saith Thou hast made my mountaine so strong hee meaneth his estate maintained and established by the prouidence of God He questioneth with the high traggie hilles in an other Psal wherfore they so skippe leape against Gods mountaine Psal 68. Craggie hils against Gods mountaines so calleth he the state of Gods Church stayed established in God So likewise the stayed estate of godly Princes is called as the Prophet calleth his owne Princely estate established of God which of craggie hilles though they vance themselues neuer so high Traytors like blind moles are taken in their owne trenches cannot be remooued As blind moles cast hilles and make trenches vnder earth and are taken themselues in them so they that trauaile with treasons are like the blind moles which walk in trenches vnder the earth and yet at certain ventes and breaches of their owne making they are descried and taken Though in their treasons they moile and mine as in worke vnder ground because of the priuitie of them as they conceiue of them yet as they worke trenches vnder ground so they cast hilles a-aboue and in the veutes and breaches of their owne workes they are bewrayed and in sted of fruit they bring forth a lie or a vaine thing Is it not a vaine thing for molehilles to rise against mountaines Such is the state of godly Princes in respect of the trauaile of traytors rebels and enemies that vndermine the same Let thē heare therfore the great proclamatiō of God by the Prophet Dauid Be still then and know that I am God I wil be exalted among the Heathen I will bee exalted in th◠earth The proclamation of the spirit of God to traitors all that encounter the workes of God The spirit of God warneth al Saulites Chushites craggie hilles mole hils against the mountains of God to be still and quiet to desist from wicked attempts of treasons against God the encountring of
Fabian termeth it and fawning flatterie and glauering glosing of the which hollow hypocrits make an art in Pallaces of Princes and houses of estate that he aduaunced him to one of the foure regimentes of England called Mercia Notwithstanding he could not keepe himselfe true to his Prince that hadde beene drawne through so many treasons for that is rooted in the marrow and bones will not out Hee was taken tardie in treason againe and being accused and conuicted iudgment was giuen immediatly executed his head cut off and his body cast into a foule and filthy place Ranulph saith Edricus the traytors death that he was slain by the kings agreement within his Pallace at London his bodie with the head throwne after into the towne ditch Whether for his treasons against king Edmond before he dyed as some write or for his treason against king Knoght after as others tell all agree that he dyed for his treasons whether his head were exalted on the highest gate of London for king Edmonds death or whether his head and bodie were cast into the towne ditch for treason against king Knoght Pol. Verg. Hist Au. li. â— So his treasons turned on his owne head Polidor telleth how king Knoght after the death of kinge Edmonâ— greatly endeuoured himselfe to banishe thâ—â— sonnes of kinge Edmond who as he sayth departed into Pannonia and there were well intreated and ended their liues in exile Chronica Fructus temp the 6. parte And Chronica Fructus temporum telleth how that after the death of king Edmond Edrick aforesaid surprised the sonnes of king Edmond and presented theÌ„ to king Knought to put himselfe in great fauour with him and that of the king they were sent after to Denmarke from whence by a Dane called Walgar that pittied them they were conuaied to the king of Hungarie Saxo Gram. Hist Danicae lib. 10. Saxo GraÌ„maticus the auncient famous wryter of the storie of the Danes telleth that king Kanutus was very careful not to be touched with suspition of the death of king Edmond whoÌ„ he called Edward And that some reporte the king Edmond whoÌ„ he calleth Edward by Kanutus commaundment and practise came to his death and that by his coÌ„maundment likewise more greeuous execution was don on the traytors to cleere him selfe of the suspitioÌ„ thereof yet notwithstanding saith he the same thing did greatlie rack the kings fauour in his houshould those that were neere him Thus out of Saxo. Fabian reporteth of him Fab. in Chro. the 6. part cap. 205. that he did so abhorre the vnnaturall treason of the English men that hadde sworne to bee true to the blood of kinge Edmond that though by their treasons the Crowne wholy was deuolued to him and his posteritie yet hee hadde the workers against kinge Edmond his sonnes in continuall mistrust whereas they thought they should haue beene in high fauour with him And as Fabian telleth he dispatched the more part of them some by banishment some were slaine some by Gods punishment soddenly died Canutus loâ—thed traytors though he gained by them Thus traytors are loathed of them that gayne by them and their treasons turne on the heades of the workers of them Touching the end of kinge Edmond his sonnes Fabian thus reporteth it out of the opinion of some that kinge Canut sent Edmond and Edward king Edmond his sonnes to Swanus his brother kinge of Denmarke to bee made away And that hee abhorring the deede sent them to Salomon king of Hungarie where Edmond died and Edward suruiuing was surnamed the outlaw because he neuer returned into England againe Caesar Caesar was wont of treasons traytors to say that he loued treasons but he loued not traytors he loued treasons to serue his turne Plutarchus in vita Rom. but he shunned traytors as moÌ„sters in the ciuil body the wold be ready to practise on him that they haue proued in others Plutarch telleth Plutarcus in Apoth Rom. that the king of Thraci vpbraied him at the table that from Anthonie he had reuolted to him He rouned 〈◊〉 other king that satte by him in the eare anâ— sayeth that he loued treason but not traytors In like sort king Philip said Philip. that hee loue not traytors but those that would betray meaning though he had his turne serued by them he would not trust them Io. Stub There was in the time of this Edrick of Sratton Elfricus vnder king Egelred and when the Danes pressed the land in diuers places an other traytor of great countenance and estate called Elfricus maister or Admirall of the kings Nauie Fab. in Chro. the 6. part cap. 197. as Fabian calleth him who was bought and sold of Danes against his Prince and Countrie When with the kings nauie furnished he lay for the Danes to encounter them he was blinded with bribes and the Danes had their chase and rechase by sea and land notwithstanding him Fabian the 6. part cap. 199. He was by sea like to the scharcrow by land which standeth with bow bent and the arrow set in the bow and yet is blind and cannot discharge Such a watch was Elfrick by sea the Portes and passages were open to the Danes Polidore saith he was a hot and fierce man Polidor Hist Angl. lib. 7. but the Danes so cooled his courage with corruption that there was no valew in him for his Prince and Countrie When he shoulde fight a battaile with the Danes by sea and trye for the maine chance then Elfrik fled to the Danes Pol. Angl. Hist li. 7. the Nauie was dispersed some taken some drowned Thus Elfrick by sea and Edrick by land played their partes in flying when they should fight and when they were most trusted betraying their Prince and Countrey This Elfrick after his first fight was recoÌ„ciled to the king againe After he fled the 2. time Then the king as Fabian saith in wreak of the father commaunded the eyes of the sonne Algarus to be plucked out of his head Fab. the 6. part cap. 197 Polidor reporteth that wheÌ„ the Danes came not of with their rewardes to Elfrick his contentment hee put himselfe to the mercie of kinge Eldred or Egelred to whom saith he the king Effossis oculis vitam condonauit After his eyes were plucked out of his head pardoned his life Thus traytors come short of their reckning and Gods iudgmentes suddenly ouertake them as they did Elfrick and Edrick Polidor Hist Angl. lib. 7. Because Elfrick was blind when he should see the kings enemies therefore the king plucked out his eyes that he should not see his own freindes It was the iust iudgment of God reuenge suddenly ouerreacheth the wicked in the parts they offend eftsoones they are punished What marueile when ther were 2. such as Elfrick and Edricâ— were though king Eldred or Egildred was fayne to flee the lande the Councell of the land was bewrayed the seruices
and prouisions betrayed to the Danes the king driuen to forsake the land the Danes in peaceable possession reigned ouer it Canutus the elder first Pol. Angl. Hist li. 7. and Canutus the sonne after in the English Chronicle as Polidor saith falsly called Hardy-Canutus Polidor nameth before them Stueno called Swanus in the Englishe Chronicle Saxo Gram. Hist Danic lib. 10. Saxo Grammaticus who wrot the storie of the Danes 300. yeeres since telleth how Harald Earle Godwines sonne ridde the Danes of the lande by feastinge them with sumptuous entertainment firste and after by setting on them vnwares by night So that way they came in that way they went out by treasons they preuailed and by treasons they were dispatched as Saxo the wryter of their stories noteth Nothing could satisfie the Danes but the whole land No honours could satisfie Elfrick and Edrick that by sea and lande kinge Eldred first layed on them The Countrie wolud not conteine them the estates of honour would not houlde them They are like to those that haue the hungrie sicknesse called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Appetentia canina as Galen calleth it which is a deuouring and vnsatiable hunger Galenus de Symp. causis lib. 1. And as greedy stomackes surcharged with surfets are ouercome and quaile and bring the whole bodie to decay so their greedy appetits surcharged aboue strength bringeth their whole state to decay The greedinesse of traytors is like to the sicknesse Appetentia canina compared to rauening of Dogges for they would deuoure Princes and rauen Coūtries if they were powerable as their greedy stomackes serue them But looke on the ends of them whom the regiment by sea would not content as Elfrick nor Dukedome of Mertia by lande as Edrick Fabian reporting it the first was made blind by land that would not see by sea the other was cast into a stincking ditche as some note or his head was exalted on the highest gate of London as others tel of him who was not satisfied to haue his head exalted in the highest estate of honour vnder his Prince aboue all subiectes in the lande Fabian the 7 part ca. 260. Eight foote of lande houldeth him as in the funerall verse of Henry the second is mentioned whom beside England great climates and Countries would not contayne When the gates of England were committed to Elfrick and Edrick two such cappitall traytors so corrupted with treasons no maruaile though the Danes not onely rushed in but at length ouercame 〈◊〉 land If they had not fought with gold by traytors in the land they could not with their yron so haue made their way to haue wonne the land It is an old pollicie and practise of Danes Saxo Grammaticus writeth Saxo Gram. Hist Danicae lib. 2. whē that Frotho the first kinge of Danes of that name inuaded Scotland and the Englishmen came down to the reskew he seeing himselfe like to be ouerset that there was no trying of it with the yron blade deuised with glittering gold to fight against them Hee causeth all the gold that was in his hoast and stuffe of price to be strowed ouer the fildes as they should come And when they fell on their pray and were laden hee fell on them as Saxo saith and the Britons with their blood bought their pray So it hath been the aunciēt practise of Danes with gold to make their way for their yron And hauing 2. such gulfes of gold as Edrick and Elfrick were what maruaile though the gates of England were sette open to them As they got themselues in by gold and the infection of treason in the lande so they were as Saxo their owne Countreeman reporteth at last put out by the potte Saxo Gram. Hist Dani. lib. 5. when after great feasting they were ouerladen And Saxo confesseth it to be the infection of his Countrie Dani vt patria pace loquar siccandis certatim calicibus assuescunt The Danes saith he by my owne Countries leaue bee it spoken are wont to trie maisteries in making drie cuppes Fabian the 6. part cap. 200. King Edgar brought the Danes to obeisans and he bridled that vice in them by making a law against quaffing and appointing cuppes with nailes and markes to restraine that excesse which by example and prouoking of Danes began commonly to grow Thus of Elfrick maister or Admirall of king Eldred his Nauie and Edrick the two Capitall traytors of the land who betrayed their Prince and Countrie And beside them one Almaricus a Deacon of Canterbury the Cittie of Swanus being besieged 20. Fab. the 6. part ca. 200. Almaricus dayes betrayed it to the Danes This Almaricus had his life saued before by Elphegus Archbishoppe there and for recompence he betrayed him and the Cittie also There is no more vngratfull monster in the worlde then treason It will bee ready to teare out their throtes that haue saued their liues As for benefites they passe through them and washe ouer them as the seas our the sandes and shoares and they nothing the better One Hugh a Norman of Queene Emma aduaunced to bee Earle of Deuonshire for requitall of so great an honour betrayed Exeter to Swanus kinge of Danes as Fabian in his Chronicle telleth who beat downe the walles and brake into the land Fab. the 6. part ca. 198. Sir Andrew of Harkeles Fab. the 7. part in anno 1321 Sir Andrew of Harkeley for seruice done to kinge Edward the second in the Barrons warres in taking Thomas Earle of Lancaster and other Barrons was aduaunsed to be Earle of Carlile After that he was sent to leuie a great power to bringe to the kinge into the North against the Scotes But hee had deuoured so much gold of Sir Iames Douglas of Scotland Chronica Fructus temp the 7. parte Fabian the 7. part in an 1223. as Chronica Fructus temporum noteth that hee could not come in time to the kings aide at the battaile of Beigland Abbay So the king was like to haue beene taken at dinner his hoast was discomfited his treasure and great ordinance taken Then fame began to blow her trumpet that this was long of Sir Andrew of Harkley his treason In proces the Earle by the kinges commission was arreasted of Sir Anthonie Lucie Fabian in an 1224. and Fabian reporting it out of Gefferie of Mommuth was arrayned at Cordoile in Wales Fabian noted before that hee was of Edward the second made Earle of Carlile or Cardoile Polidor Hist Angl. lib. 18. Polidor calleth him Comitem Carleolensem and there conuicted for taking mony of the Scotes to betray the king for which treason he was there or after other at Westchester or Shrewlburie drawen and hanged and his head sente to London and sette on the Bridge Chro. Fruct temp 7. part Chronica Fructus Temporum telleth howe hee was for his treason first disgraded his spurres hewed from his heeles his sword broken ouer him and