I see for the happy and flourishing estate therof and for the maintenaunce of Gods true Religion and defence of his Church and congregation wanteth no enimies to pursue the daunger of it nor coullorable freendes that seeke to betraye it to spoyle which could they as easilie accomplishe as they willinglie put in practise and had not GOD more care of his chosen then their malicious stomackes can affoord God knowes the heauie burden should lye on our necks which I pray God they neuer liue to lay on nor we â—o feele But as the marke is easilie seene which they so mightilie and continuallie ayme at and for that God praysed be his name therefore hath hytherto preuented all their trayterous attempts turning their daggers into their owne bosomes and causing them to fall into the pitte they made for others so is it expedient for vs to continue in prayer that it may please him long to vouchsafe that prouideÌ„t care ouer vs and that we lykewise applie our owne duetifull wisdome and pollicie to vphold that plant by whose meanes we prosper and preuent their deuises who would robbe vs of so high a treasure It is our dread and soueraigne Lady whose shyning vertues fret the polluted eyes of these vnnaturall Subiectes whose heroicall gouernement which no Realme in the world is able to match for peaceable continuaunce that sticketh lyke sharpe needles in their venoumed and disdainefull stomackes and it is the rare president of her famous lyfe her Christian zeale and aboundaunce of all excellent giftes which woorthelie winneth the heartes of her true Subiectes and inflameth them with desire of her long prosperitie that calling their barbarous conceite into question thundreth such Maiestie into their deceyued eares as they pollishe theyr tongues to depraue spare no penne-worke to slaunder whette their weapons and deuise all tretcheries that lost and forsaken mindes can doo to extinguishe the lyght of that Sunne whereon their seared-consciences wyll not suffer them to looke and to deface that perfect Emeralde which the more they seeke to blemishe with the oyle of venemous reportes the more perfect it sheweth it selfe in beautie I neede not report vnto you for that your wisedomes and iudgementes are verie well acquainted therewith that the prosperitie of the Prince is the assured safetie of the whole Kingdome and common wealth and the least motion of greefe that toucheth her concerneth the whole state ingenerall by reason that her Highnesse is the most louing Mother and Nurse of all her good Subiectes and is lykewise the husband of the common weale maried to the Realme and the same by ceremony of Ring as solemnly signified as any other mariage Can we then that are her Maiesties chyldren her true and faithfull subiectes endure to see our mother wronged her authoritie defamed her lyfe endaungered and shall we not thinke the same concerneth vs Can we see proud reprobates seeke to seuer the knot of loue and agreement which hath beene iustly and lawfully vnited betweene her and vs to yeelde our liues in slauerie and seruitude to an vsurping tyrant and shall not the breach of this bonde of sacred wedlocke mooue vs to regard how highly it harmeth vs Nature causeth the chylde to worke all policies he may for his Mothers defence and the estimation of that holy league of loue is of force to compell the faithfull to maintaine and continue it The case then touching vs so neerelie as it dooth the verie meanest subiect is bound for his Princes defence much more they whome God hath called to office of Magistracie and bearing rule their care ought to be both night and daye how to set downe good lawes and orders to be vigilant and carefull in dilligent search and enquirie to bring such stubborne and gracelesse men to open lyght who spurne at her Maiestie that hath put the Sworde in your handes of honour and authoritie and trying theyr deedes to be contrarie to the duetie of good Subiectes to let them be soone cutte off by the sword of Iustice. And if I maye without offence speake one word to your Honour and VVorshippes not by waye of teaching but for vnlading some part of the burden of true loue I beare to my Countrie I would desire you to haue an especiall eye to the Cittie of London for it is a receptacle to many of these bad people and many fauourers freends they haue in the Cittie who bearing the countenaunce of good and honest Subiectes are neuerthelesse but hollowe hearted and giue aide and releefe to such as seeke the ruine of the whole state Your Honour and VVorships shall notablie witnesse the loue you beare to God and his Church and the zeale affection and duetie you owe to her Maiestie in being respectiue to this especiall cause for it is high tyme the enimies are nowe growne so bolde and full of mischeefe as if such as are in authority doo not laye too theyr helping handes to represse them they will in tyme beso wylde as they will be past bridleling This shall be therefore my last request vnto you that the premisses considered the effect may be put in execution and when you haue perused this smal worke I doubt not but you will thinke my request honest and lawfull and expedient to be redressed to the vttermost of your powers Thus wishing prosperous successe to all you goe about that may set foorth Gods glory and be to her Maiesties defence from her enimies I humbly take my leaue Your Honours and Worships well-willer A. M. A VVatch-vvoord to England THE state of this Realme considered and specially such accidentes touching the same as late troubles haue ministred doo make it dailie more and more euident how precious and how déere a Iewell is the safety of the Quéenes most excellent Maiestie our most louing and beloued Soueraigne Ladie Compare the time of her most noble and gratious gouernment with the times and ages long since past and gone and especiallie with the miserable and dangerous daies immediatlie precéeding her most happie princelie and comfortable raigne call to mind the weaknes and perils wherin the common weale stoode before the comming of her highnes to the Crowne weigh the infinite benefites bothe bodilie and ghostlie that the whole Realme hath and all her Subiects both haue had and doo enioy by her meanes thinke vpon the gréeuous and vnspeakable miseries that we all shall be like to sustaine by the losse of her vnualuable presence It shalbe plaine that he is wilfullie blind that cannot sée he is wickedlie malicious that will not acknowledge he is obstinatelie stone harted that wil not with sorrowe and trembling déepelie imprint in carefull hart those motions and thoughts that such consideration shall lay before him Remember the quiet of conscience the comfort of true seruing of GOD the fréedome of the Realme the deliuerance of soules from foreine thraldom the escape of the heauie yoake of straunge Dominion the recouerie of wealth the benefit of
his shéep both such as they haue destroyed and such as they may destroie by any possibilitie héereafter Item that all aduises to great personages to perswade neutralitie or an entertaining of contrarie sides in Religion with vncertainty of countenaunce and fauour is the waie to supplant assured safetie to make sure enimies and vnsure fréendes to lye open to parasites and traitours to be vnknowne to other and to be vnable to discerne what other be to them Item that timerous policie is the wurst policie that may be whatsoeuer the cause be good or bad and wurst of all it is in best causes Wherein as her Maiestie hath neither want of constaunt magnanimitie nor cause of feare so is it méete that her enimies haue no stomacke to contemne her nor by excesse of clemencie to misconstrue her goodnesse as lacke of daring Item that by the great nouelties and alterations of times that haue happened within our memorie there is risen a coÌ„mon policie among the people to ioyne to strong and safe sides whereby they are aliened from the fearefull and therefore it is to be prouided that there be a boldnesse of safetie to serue the Quéenes Maiestie truelie and zealouslie and an assurednesse of daunger to her enimies Item by boldnesse and sharpe execution vpon enimies the fréendes are encouraged and contrariwise if the dauÌ„gerous traitour be not remooued the true Subiect may be left in perill and thereby the rest of good Subiects disabled or at least discouraged to venter so farre againe and the fréedome of consultation in the meane time for preseruing the Prince impeached Item that it is as truelie saide Improbum hominem praestat non accusasse quam absoluere It is better not to meddle with a daungerous naughtie man then to let him goe for what were it else but to set an house on fire and run away by the light Item that occasions and â—â—tte oportunities ouer slipped are not recouerable Item that many times it is as small an offence to giue a warrant to kill a true man as to pardon a murderer or a traitour as a wise Shéepheard will rather giue leaue to a Hunter to kill the best Lambe in his flocke then to let goe a Fore or a Woolfe Item that the liues of Kinges and Princes are the liues and soules of their Kingdoms and Common weales whereby they are to consider that in being prodigall of their owne safeties in excesse of clemencie to traitours or in securitie of exposing their personnes to perilles Largiuntur ex alieno they be liberall of that which is not their owne to giue Item that no Traitour is more perillous then he that wresteth the Lawe to raise an vnderminer of the Princes Crowne to her daunger Item that he is iustlie to be suspected that shall practise with any vaine deuise of pacification or coullored clemencie to rebate or blunt the edge of the Princes sword or so to tye it in the scabberd that it may not be drawne for her defence as if such qualifiers hiders and cloakers should séeke to abuse that most reuerend and holie figure of Maiestie to no good end or other end then God ordained it Item that God cannot well take it if he be lesse zealouslie serued then the deuill that there be lesse feruencie shewed by truelie learned Princes for auauncing of Gods honour against his enimies then hath béen by abused and deceiued Princes for setting vp of the kingdome of the deuill and Antichrist Item that Gods commaundements of placabilitie and forgiuenesse extend to our owne enimies but not to his enimies against reuenge of priuate displeasures and not against seueritie and sharpe execution in cases of Gods honour and Common weales wherein is alwayes to be noted that the Prince is so not a priuate but a publique person as no attempt against her Maiesties safetie can or ought to be accounted a priuate cause The full proofe and large explication of these conclusions though it be easie as a thing which not onelie all conueniencie of reason affirmeth but also daylie experience laieth before all mens eyes that haue a frée consideration not accombred with corrupt zeale and affection so yet surelie were it a méete thing to be handled by some man as could adde thereto such ornamentes of spéeche such strength of eloquence and pith of perswasion as might not onelie be vnderstoode and beléeued but be felt and mooue Héere any most excellent Orators speciall vertues might be well imployed A fit argument sure it were to shewe wit and knowledge but speciallie trueth good meaning But tyll some fit person shall take it in hand to bestowe his more profitable trauaile that waie let vs yet for vnlading of some of the aboundaunce of intire deuotion for Gods trueth for her most excellent Maiestie and our Countrie haue some remembraunce of the particularities thereof For the first article that defineth Papistes that accuseth them of treason to God to Kinges and to Realmes if it be well weied it cannot but quicklie be séen for vndoubted trueth Though it be true that euerie one that holdeth any one error or article of doctrine that the Pope teacheth varying from the word of God is in that article a Papist as for example the heresie of Transubstantiation the blasphemie of popishe Masse or any such other yet count I not euerie such a one wholie a Papist within compasse of this article that is vnder the title of a traiterous Papist But such a one as holdeth all the Popes doctrine to be true that the Romane Church erreth not that it hath rightfully such superioritie and primacie in others Kingdomes and Dioceses as it hath proudlie claimed and vsurped and that Christians are bound to referre their faith vnto it and to hang vpon the Popes determinations Many men otherwise good and honest Subiectes are not purged of all errors wherewith Rome hath infected them and must haue their time to be better instructed But those that are perfect Papistes that publishe the Pope to be head of the Church which yet in déede is no member of the true Church and would haue vs with an implicite and bonde faith to depend vpon that Sea and for that reason will refuse by all meanes to confesse the right of Princes in their Kingdomes ouer all their Subiectes they be perfect traytours in déede yea and the learned sort of them be wilfull Heretikes and Traitours For though in the darke times when controuersies of Religion were not brought into searching the streame of error carried men away without doubting yet since that by debating the light hath béene euidentlie opened and men haue sought and throughlie examined the matter there is no learned Papist but he knoweth that he maintaineth error and in defending and spreading the same he defendeth spreadeth and so directlie aduisedlie wilfullie and maliciouslie putteth in execution to his vttermost power high treasons against
God against Kinges and their Kingdomes Against God I call them treasons though our Lawe the iudge of ciuill treasons in England haue no such name because the nature of the offence so properlie receiueth that tytle and also the vsuall name of high treason in Iure gentium in the common lawe of Nations and in other languages dooth so plainelie expresse it High treasons are in their true nature offences against high Maiestie that is either to the destruction of the persons or deniall and defacement of the iust dignities and authorities of those that beare the name of Maiestie and to whome the highest duetie of obedience faith and alleageaunce extendeth And therfore is treason called Crimen lesae Maiestatis the crime of violating or abating Maiestie Greater Maiestie then the Maiestie of God cannot be therefore higher and verier treasons then against God cannot be His person cannot be destroyed or touched but his dignitie honour glorie and authoritie may be slaundered and blasphemed and his Subiects who are mortall men may be withdrawne from their due obedience and drawne into rebellion against him And this I say is high treason to God to violate or abate the Maiestie of God and this doo Papists For though God be King of the whole world and so is rightlie called the Lord by vniuersall name yea euen of deuilles yet is his Church his more proper and certaine kingdome whereby he is more restrainedlie and aplie called our King and our Father and so more fitlie called our head in respect of the body which is his Church and not the rest of the world In this Kingdome his highest dignitie is to be the onelie head therof which the Papistes take from him and deriue it to their Pope And though with gloses they excuse it that their Popes take it not from God but vse it vnder God as his Uicares yet must they be admonished that without sufficient deputation and warrant from the King him selfe which the Pope hath not the Subiect to thrust him selfe into the gouernance of the kingdome is high treason where he that being a straunger would séeke to conquere it were but an enimie And so is it rightlie to be saide that the Turke is to God an enimie and the Pope is to God a traitour and all his adherents are principall traitours for treason admitteth no accessaries But now let vs come to that part which toucheth men more néerelie then any loue of God Let vs now sée how they be traytours to Kinges and Kingdomes If we haue minde to sée that Papistes which holde all the Popes doctrine to be true are traytours in déede to Kings and Kingdomes it behooueth vs to call to minde what are the Popes doctrines dooinges and practises concerning the Crownes of Kinges and states of Kingdomes Popes haue challenged and Papistes that affirme the Popes to be frée from error their doctrine to be true and their authoritie to be lawfull doo also holde that it is their due which they challenge that is To haue authority of both Swords Spirituall and Temporall the one in exercise the other in power To haue the disposition of all the Crownes of Christian Princes To haue the iudgement of deciding to whome the right of any kingdome belongeth To haue power for disobedience to him or by his discretiō to transferre the Crownes of Kinges to whome he will To haue lawfull power to giue Kingdomes to prey spoyle and conquest to such as can inuade and possesse them To haue power to assoyle and discharge Christian subiectes from faith and alleageaunce to theyr lawful and naturall Soueraigne Lordes Kinges and Princes To haue power to giue leaue yea commaundement blessing reward forgiuenesse of sinnes and Heauen it selfe to Subiects to rebell against theyr Prince to depose the Prince disherite and destroy him That there is of common right and by the méere lawe of God reserued to the Pope a speciall subiection resorte appellation and obedience of one great part of all Princes Subiectes yea and of all Subiectes of all Princes in one great part of theyr causes Be not these heinous treasons And these cannot be denied to be the naturall and verie treasons of all Papists that is to say of all that depend vpon credite of the Pope that holde him for Gods Uicar for Peters successor for whome Christ prayed that his faith should not fayle that applie to him this title Ad quem perfidia non potest accedere to whome falsehood cannot reach that holde him for a constant Rocke an assured Preacher of trueth an Apostolicall man if he be not some other thing then a man to whome our beléefe is bounden with such other false tytles wherewith Popes themselues haue garnished themselues and theyr Parasites haue ouerloden them Consider the ordinarie practise of Popes and Papistes according to these doctrines and then you shall sée that from the most high treason which the Pope committed against his Soueraigne Lord the Emperour the renting and destructiō of the Empire all the victories and successes of the Saracens and Turkes against Christendome all the tearing away of most noble and large Kingdomes and prouinces from the body of Christianitie all the subduing and thralling of infinite Christian soules to Mahomet and the Deuill all the deposinges murderinges turmoylings ciuill warres debates betwéene Christian Princes shedding of Christian blood indignities and oppressions of Christian Kinges and Emperours conquestes rebellions and mischéefes for these fiue hundred yéeres and aboue are wholly and chéefely to be imputed to the treasons of Popes and Papistes All Grecia sometime most noble and learned yet lamentably rueth it All Affrica the mother of most constaunt Martyres féeleth it The Germane Emperours with most heinous reproches and fowle treading on theyr neckes may not forget it The Kinges of Fraunce and Spaine both at home in their natiue Kingdomes and abroad as well in Naples Sicilie Lombardie as in other territories of Italie and of the Empire haue sharply felt it The Lordes and States of Italie haue béene daylie and long shaken with it The Kinges of England haue béene poysoned whipped beaten with rods murdered deposed the Land giuen in conquest interdited made tributarie robbed pylled and scraped of theyr treasure brought into slauishe subiection depriued of honour and estimation euerie way most villainously abused To let passe the elder times and further Realmes let vs speake of deposing of olde Emperours erecting of newe setting the Sonne against the Father the Subiect against his Lord making them come bare footed themselues with theyr wiues and children long waighting with submission in colde frostes treading on theyr neckes spurning of their Crownes a thousand such abhominable prides of Popes and slaueries of Princes Let vs deale but with our selues and with our owne féeling knowledge and memorie The accursing of King Iohn the receyuing him vassaill the making his Realme subiect and feudatorie to the Pope the arming his Subiects against him
common wealth All men are bound in duetie to defend their Countrie Herodotus in his Booke called Clio which is the first Booke of his Story The whole hody being out of quiet the members must needes fare the wurse The marke that these Traytours ayme at may be easily discerned The prosperity of the Prince is the safety of her Kingdome The eare of the Princes safetie concerneth the verie meanest Subiect much more the Magistrate to whome she hath giuen office of honour The safetie of her Maiestie a thing most pretious to all good Subiectes The Queens Maiesties gouernement ought with heedefull care to be considered The Queens Maiestie a Iuell of most high estimation to the Realme of England Res est solliciti plena timoris amor The Realme of England neuer so long tyme together more godly and quietly gouerned William Fitz Osbert got him a trayterous cōpany and rebelled against the King 1196. A Scholler of Oxford attempted to kyll the King 1239. Iohn Poydras a Tanners sonne of Excester claimed to be King 1316. Edward de Bruis for vniustly crow ning himselfe King of Ireland was beheaded 1317. They that betraied the Towne of Berwick were hanged for theyr labour 1317. Thomas Earle of Lancaster beheaded for rebelling against the King and many of his confederates executed 1321. Andrew Herkeley Earle of Carlile hanged and quartered 1322. The two Spencers very trouble some traytors to the Realme in the ende had theyr iust deserts 1326. Roger Mortimer and others executed for consenting to the murdering of the Kings Father 1330. The Mayor and Aldermen of London deposed because the Londoners sought to kyll the Kinges Sonne 1377. The Commons of Kent Essex rebelled against the King theyr Captaines being Iacke Strawe and Watte Tyler 1381. The King offereth the rebelles peace The King sent to Wat Tyler Note the pride of a traytour Wat Tyler arrested by the Mayor of London and afterward slaine The confession of Iacke Strawe One of the Rebelles cast into the fire by his fellowes Two and thirtie of the Rebelles mured vp in a Seller The Rebelles murder one an other Iohn Ball Priest the comforter of the Rebelles hanged 1382. The names of the Rebelles that would haue made themselues Kinges Iohn Wrawe one of the leaders of Rebels hanged 1383. The Noble men rebelled against King Henrie the fourth and priuilie conspired to murder him 1399. The people of the Towne fought against the Rebelles and tooke the cheefest of them and beheaded them King Henrie escapeth a great daunger 1401. A Priest a Prior and a Doctor of Diuinitie being a Gray Frier were all executed for treason 1403. The Earle of Worcester Sir Richard Vernon and the Baron of Kindertō beheaded for rebelling against the king 1404. The Archbishop of Yorke and the Earle Marshall beheaded for rebelling against the King 1406. A Welch Rebell executed 1412. A secrete conspiracie against the King according as it is set downe by I. Stowe King Henrie kept the Feeld by Saint Giles aboue Holbourne Many of the Rebelles hanged burnt in Fickets feeld and others executed soone after for the same offence 1414. Three Noble men whome the King best trusted and made great account of conspyred his death 1416. Iohn Bennet executed for scattering seditious Lybelles in London 1417. William Mandeuill Captaine of a lewde company of rebellious persons at Abingtō executed there and others of his company in diuers other places 1433. Richard Russell executed Conspiratours of the Kings death by Necromancy Roger Bolingbrook executed 1442. A Combate betweene a Maister and his seruaunt who appeached him of treason 1447. The Duke of Glocester arrested died soone after but fiue of his men were hanged and after pardoned 1448. Blew beard hanged for raising rebellion 1450. The Commons of Kent rebelled Iacke Cade being their Captaine 1451. Walter Walker beheaded for wordes against the King 1461. The Mayor of Canterbury and other executed for rebellion The Bastarde Faulconbridge lost his head 1472. Thomas Burdet beheaded for treason 1478. The Lord Marques Dorset and the Lord Hastings great enimies Note the care of a Prince for his Countrie The daunger where flattery is more esteemed then true and faithful dealing A speciall note for all traitours Ambition a pestilent and deadly Serpent whose infection where he commeth turneth all to mischeefe The remembraunce of misfortunes past ought to teach vs to be fearefull of the lyke A good note for this present tyme of peace The Lord Riuers put in warde The Duke of Glocester caused the Lord Riuers the Lord Grey and Sir Thomas Vaughan to be beheaded The young King and his Brother brought to the Tower The Protector crowned King by the name of King Richard the third King Richard sendeth to haue the two young Princes put to death in the Tower The young Prince informed that his Vnckle would be King and his aunswere to the same The Prince his Brother shut vp close prisoners Sir Iames appointed who should murder the Princes The young King and his Brother murdered King Richard thanketh Syr Iames for murdering the Princes Myles Forrest rotted in peeces to death Dighton in good forwardnes to be hanged Syr Iames Tyrrel beheaded for treason King Richard himselfe slaine in the feeld Certaine persons executed for making seditious slaunderous Lybelles against the King 1494. Peter Werbecke a Flemming named himselfe King Edwardes second Sonne for which diuers of his company were executed in sundry places 1497. A commotion against the King by the commons of Cornewall vnder the conduct of the Lord Audley and Michael Ioseph a Blacke Smith 1498. A Shoomakers sonne hanged for fayning him selfe to be the Earle of Warwicke 1499. Perkin Werbeck hanged 1500. Edward Duke of Buckingham cōdemned for treason beheaded 1522. Conspiracie at Couentrie to haue taken the Castell of Killingwoorth and to make warre against the King 1524. The holy Mayde of Kent other executed 1535. Certaine Charterhouse Monks and other executed for treason 1536. Charterhouse Monkes executed for treason Bishop Fisher Syr Thomas More beheaded 1536. The Earle of Kyldare and fiue of his Vnckles executed Rebellion in Yorkeshiere An other conspiracie Lincolneshier rebelles executed at Tiborne 1537 A commotion in Sommersetshiere and diuers of them executed 1538. Frier Forrest hanged burnt 1539. Abbots of Reading and Glastēburie executed 1540. The Lord Cromwell beheaded Six Priests three burnt and three hanged Seuen executed at Tyborne for treason 1541. A new rebellion in Yorkeshiere The Lord Leonard Grey beheaded A Welch minstrell hanged 1542. Germaine Gardner and other executed 1544. A commotion in Sommersetshiere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Commotion in Cornewall and Deuonshiere Certaine executed for ayding the Rebelles The Rebelles in Norfolke and Susfolke encamped themselues Robert Ket Captaine of the Rebelles taken and many of them slaine and executed Commotion in Yorkeshiere The Rebelles refusing the Kings Pardon were shortlie after executed at Yorke Captaines of the Deuonshiere rebelles executed Bell a Suffolke Rebell executed 1550. Rebelles of Kent
are mur derers of Gods flocke The seuenth conclusion of the causes of supplan ting assured safetie The eight conclusion how tymerous policie is wurst in a good cause The ninth conclusiō of zealous boldnesse in seruing the Queen The tenth conclusion that boldnesse dooth encourage the freendes The eleuenth conclusion of the daunger in medling with a naughty man The twelfth conclusion of tyme. The thirteenth conclusion as good the killing a true mā as sparing a traitour The foureteenth conclusion that the life of a king is the lyfe of his kingdome The fifteenth conclusion the most perillous traytour The sixteenth conclusion of such as stand against the Princes defence The seuenteenth conclusion when God is lesse serued then the deuill The eighteenth conclusiō that no attempt against her Maiestie ought to be accounted a priuate cause The meaning and proofe of the first conclusion Not all Papistes are traitours Note this England Which Papistes are traytours Learned Papists wilfull traitours Treason offence against Maiesty Treason against God Papists violate the Maiestie of God which is high treason against him The Pope an high Traitour against God and the Turke but an enimie Papists Traitours to Kinges and Kingdomes Traiterous doctrines of Popes for Kinges and Kingdomes The Pope will giue heauen to Subiectes to rebell against their Prince Traiterous dooinges of Papistes against Kinges Kingdomes speciall matter for England to marke Behold the horrible pride and villainous dealing of Popes Papistes and slauerie of Princes Example of the Popes Papistes dealing with King Iohn The great deuision between the two noble houses of Lancaster and Yorke caused by the Popish Clergy and Papistes Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury practised the deposing of King Richard the second King Henry the eight assaulted by the Pope and Papistes King Edward the sixt vexed by the Papistes The conspiracie of the late Coūcell of Trent The Pope teacheth to keepe no faith The whoore of Rome an actuall dealer in all wicked practises against Kinges Kingdomes The second conclusion prouing Englishe Papistes traytours to the Queene Papists that hold the Pope head of the Church in England are traytours to her Maiestie Papistes that hold the Popes excommunication against the Queene lawfull are traytours The Pope cannot excommunicate in England vnlesse he had iust authoritie so to doo Papistes drawe obedience from the Queene Papistes meritorious treason Seditious writers that send theyr trayterous Lybelles into England The circūstances of those trayterous Bookes These trayterous Bookes want no fauourers to spread them abroad and to credit them with what cōmendations they may The euyll dealing of Papistes a good lesson for England The third conclusion proouing English papistes traytours to the Realme of England The Papistes reuerence to theyr Pope hath made them carelesse of theyr Prince and Countrie Such an one as alloweth of all these wicked causes must needes be a traytour to his Countrie Clemencie cannot win a Papist whyle he continueth a Papist speciall examples for England to remember All dueties of loue kindred and nature broken by Papistes Example of the Papistes thankefulnes to Bishop Cranmer Example of the Papistes kindnes toward her Maiestie for the great lyberalitie of her most noble Father Papistrie increaseth and flourisheth by lenitie Christian trueth respecteth Heauen and Papistry the world Too much clemencie may be great crueltie A Booke called the Court of Conscience which I entend God aiding me to publish verie shortly God graunt that such Papistes as be enimies to her Maiestie and the Realme may be quickly cutte off
as they haue béene Alas canst thou thus blindlie ouerthrowe thy selfe in conceite Doost thou not consider that all these euill impes haue béene of thine owne bréeding and that thou hast fostred such Children as haue pierced into thy bowelles shaken all thy sinewes yea and almost haue wrung the verie marowe out of thy ioyntes whereby thou hast béene so féebled and thy strength so farre decaied as without Gods great mercie thou hadst béene vnable euer to arise againe And cannot these irking occasions yet make thée mindful of thy good Cannot these bitter passions cause thée to look better to thy children To traine them vp in more awe of God in better affection to their Prince and in more effectuall loue then they yet shew to thy selfe If thy children be so vnnatural as to make their mother smart thou shalt but shew thy selfe naturall in ministring correction for better they wéepe then thou bléede so shall they in time finde it to their benefite and thou thy selfe liue to be a happy mother But if thou séeke that state of quietnesse and art desirous to weede out such badde plantes as trouble thy whole Soyle thou must looke into the dealinges of thy Children more heedefullie then thou doost and spying where the inconuenience lyeth rather slippe off that braunch suddenlie then hazard the perishing of the whole body and then thou shalt take an vndoubted good course then treason and tretcherous practises will neuer be so rife and such queazie stomackes as cannot brooke necessarie councell but follow euerie disordered humour will be glad to call themselues home againe and liue within compasse of duetie and modestie But whence grow these daungerous practises And who are they that set foote in these traiterous attempts Alas it is soone seene by reason the open apparaunce from time to time dooth make it euident There is no one that repineth at her Maiesties safety no one that lifteth at the wel setled gouernement of this Realme nor any one more ready to pul down the chéefe piller of our happines but either he is a Papist or else meruailously addicted that way And haue we not good cause so to perswade our selues when we sée it dailie before our eyes that they are men of that coate and either haue receiued encouragement amongst their fellowes beyond Seas or else haue béene imboldened by such as secretly flippe ouer into the Realme to follow that traiterous intent which they long time haue practised And then when God reuealeth their wicked spirites and bringeth them into the lyght that they may be example to other then they crie out I am a Catholique I will dye in the Catholique cause and thus vnder shewe of Religion they would deceiue the world with their horrible treasons It is now hie time therfore when Traitors themselues haue giuen warning of their owne treasons to search the confederacie yea and as Miners followe the signes euerie way as they spread in the ground till they be guided to the trunke or body of the Mettall so to followe the apparaunces of suspitions and likelyhoods tyll it appeare plainlie what light made the shaddowe or what fire made the smoke It is not good tarying tyll the flame mounting in the ayre aboue the house toppe the principals and pillers consumed and eche part so imbraced with fire that no aide dare approche doo plainlie declare the whole building past hope of recouerie Fires oftentimes negligentlie raked vp sticks endes not throughly quenched embers not regarded a candles ende not looked vnto haue brought many an honest man to pittifull calamitie I like therefore better the honest wisedome of those that studie how the Quéenes Maiestie our most gratious Ladie may stand and not fall then the reaching pollicie of those that deuise how themselues may stand when the Queene is fallen God preserue her Highnesse long for her falling would make a Sampsons poste with vs all yea and rightlie a Sampsons poste for no doubt it would broose them too that be busiest to pull it downe But now England I will be so bolde as to emblazon the Papists a little better that thou maist be the more héedfull to them and giue no credite to their secrete perswasions and according as a woorthy learned man hath héeretofore painted them foorth in notable conclusions euen so since the time place matter requireth it so fitlie it shall not be a misse héere to remember thée of the verie same conclusions and surelie all true Christians and all true Englishe subiectes ought to beléeue and may well knowe that these are verie true and vndoubted conclusions First that euerie Papist that is to saye euerie one that beléeueth all the Popes doctrine to be true is an enimie and traytour against the Maiestie and honour of God against the Crownes and dignities of all Kinges and temporall Princes and against the wealth and safetie of all ciuill Kingdomes policies and Common weales Secondlie that euerie such English Papist is a traitour to the Quéene of England and hateth her life wisheth the alteration of her gouernement and liueth in hope of an other world which euen by an ordinarie by-word it is said themselues doo call their Golden day Thirdlie that euerie such Englishe Papist is a speciall traitour to the Realme of England and hath no regard into what slauerie subiection to forreine tirannie dishonour or other miserie it be throwne so that their false Idolatrous and superstitious religion be restored with liberty to spoile and murder without respect of dignitie age sexe learning reuerence honestie or nature Fourthlie that no clemencie gentlenesse benefits or louing dealing can win a Papist while he continueth a Papist to loue her Maiestie how much so euer he dissemble nor bring them to ascribe their safetie to any her benefites nor to any praise of her owne goodnesse but either to their owne dissimulation practise and falsehood which some call cunning or to the holinesse of their cause for whome God forsooth so prouideth as his annointed ones may not possiblie by Lawe or at least execution of Lawe be touched Where in déede if they continue styll vnpunished it must be thought that GOD so purueyeth because the punishments of this world are not sufficient for them but yet in the meane time it serueth to make them vnexcusable by whose default so daungerous Woolues remayne in the flocke Item that Papistry hath this propertie of heresies contrarie to the nature of Gods trueth that is to be throwne downe with aduersitie and to flourishe with indulgence and lenitie Item that as it is reason that the owner of a shéepbiter Mastife knowing his dogges qualitie should either hang vp his dogge or pay for the shéepe that his dogge worrieth So those that haue notorious Shéepbiters murderers of Gods flocke in their custody and power must make their account either to hang vp or otherwise dispatche their curres or else to aunswer to God for the blood of
is by and by going to the place that they all preach of But this shall I desire you to remember that the one part of you is of my blood the other of my alyes and eche of you with other either of kindred or affinitie which Spirituall kindred of affinitie if the Sacraments of Christes Church beare that weight with vs as would God they did should no lesse mooue vs to charitie then the respect of fleshly consanguinitie Our Lord forbid that you loue together the wurse for the selfe cause you ought to loue the better and yet it happeneth and no where finde we so deadlie debate as among them who by nature and lawe ought most to agrée together Such a pestilent Serpent is ambition and desire of vaineglorie and soueraigntie which among States where he once entreth créepeth so farre foorth till with deuision and variaunce he turneth all to mischéefe first longing to be best afterward equall with the best and at last chéefe aboue the best Of which immoderate appetite of worship and thereby of debate and discention what losse what sorrowe what trouble hath within these fewe yéeres growne in this Realme I praye God as well forgette as we well remember which thinges if I could as well haue foreséen as I haue with my more paine then pleasure prooued by Gods blessed Lady for that was euer his oath I would neuer haue wunne the courtesie of mennes knées with the losse of so many heads But séeing thinges past cannot be called againe much ought we the more beware by what occasion we haue taken so great hurt before that we est soones fall not in that occasion againe Nowe is all these gréefes past and all is God be thanked quiet and likely right well to prosper in wealthfull peace vnder your Couzins my children if God send them life and you loue of which two thinges the lesse losse were they by whome though God did his pleasure yet should the Realme alway finde Kinges and peraduenture as good Kinges But if you among your selues in a Childes raigne fall at debate many a good man shall perishe and happilie he too ere this Land finde peace againe Wherefore in these last wordes that euer I looke to speake with you I exhort you and require you all for the loue that you haue euer borne to me for the loue that I haue euer borne to you for the loue that our Lord beareth vnto vs all from this time foreward all gréefes forgotten eche of you loue other which I verilie trust you will if you any thing regard either God or your King affinitie or kindred this Realme your owne Countrie or your owne suretie And therewithall the King enduring no longer to sitte vp laide him downe on his right side his face towardes them and none was there present that could refraine from wéeping But the Lordes recomforting him with as good wordes as they could and aunswering for the time as they thought to stand with his pleasure there in his presence as by their wordes appeared eche forgaue other and ioyned their handes together when as it after appeared by their déedes their heartes were farre a sunder The young King after the decease of his Father came towardes London when the Duke of Glocester his Unckle began greatlie to thirst for the kingdome and wexed very enuious that so young a Prince should reigne whervpon he depriued the young King of them that were néerest about him and whome he thought would hinder his aspiring minde First Sir Anthonie Wooduile Lord Riuers and brother to the Quéene who had the gouernaunce and ordering of the young King he caused to put him in duraunce and afterward euen in the Kinges presence he procured a quarrell to be picked with the Lord Richard Grey the Kings other Brother by the Mother and arrested him and Sir Thomas Vaughan Knight and so farre procéeded he in his determination by the aide of the Duke of Buckingham and others as the Lord Riuers the Lord Grey Sir Thomas Vaughan were sent into the North partes to sundrie prisons but afterward were all beheaded at Pomfret Then did he take vpon him the gouernance of the young King and was called the Lord Protectour when hauing the King in his custodie he could not be yet contented except he had the other brother too and therefore by meanes of the Lord Cardinall he preuailed in his purpose and brought the other Childe to the King his Brother into the Bishops Pallace at Paules and from thence through the Cittie honourablie into the Tower out of the which after that day they neuer came abroade When the Protector had both the Children thus in his custody he opened his intent more boldly both to certaine other men as also chéefelie to the Duke of Buckingham that he would néedes be King himselfe in all the haste and he should haue the Dukes aide to make him King besides the Protectors onelie lawfull Sonne should marie the Dukes daughter and that the Protectour should graunt him the quiet possession of the Earledome of Hertforde and beside these requestes of the Duke the Protectour promised him of his owne minde a great quantitie of the Kings Treasure and of his houshold stuffe In bréefe the Protectour taketh vpon him to be King and so preuailed that he was crowned King but when he remembred that his two Nephewes were liuing in the Tower and one of them the right King in déede he perswaded himselfe as verie well he might that men would account him to haue no right to the Realme therefore he thought to dispatch them out of the way as though the killing of his kinsemen could amend his cause make him a kindlie King Upon this he sent one Iohn Greene whome he specially trusted to Sir Robert Brakenburie Constable of the Tower with a letter credence also that the same Sir Robert should in any wise put the two Chyldren to death but when Iohn Greene had doone his errand to Sir Robert he plainlie aunswered that by no meanes he would put them to death When King Richard perceyued he could not preuaile that way he brake the matter to Sir Iames Tirrell whome he found verie tractable to his intent wherefore he sent him on the morrowe with a Letter to Sir Robert Brakenburie by which Letter he was commaunded to delyuer to Sir Iames all the keies of the Tower for one night to the ende he might there accomplish the Kinges pleasure in such thinges as he had giuen him commaundement After which Letter deliuered and the keies receiued Sir Iames appointed the night ensuing to destroy the two young Princes deuising before and preparing the meanes The Prince so soone as the Protectour had lefte that name and tooke vpon himselfe to be King was thereof infourmed that he should not reigne but his Unckle would haue the Crowne At which wordes the Prince being greatlie abashed fetching a heauie sigh saide Alas I would mine
Unckle would let me haue my life yet though I loose my kingdome Then he that tolde him the tale vsed him with good wordes and put him in the best comfort he could But foorthwith was the Prince and his Brother both shut vp and all other remooued from them onelie one Blacke Will or Willam Slaughter excepted who was set to serue them and sée them sure After which time the Prince neuer tied his pointes nor did any thing of himself but with the young babe his Brother lingred in thought and heauines till this traiterous death deliuered them out of that wretched estate For Sir Iames Tirrell deuised that they should be murdered in their beds to the execution whereof he appointed Myles Forrest one of the foure that kept them a fellowe fleshed in murder before time and to him he ioyned Iohn Dighton his owne horse-kéeper a big broad square strong knaue Then all the other being remooued from them this Myles Forrest and Iohn Dighton about midnight the sielie Children lying in their beddes came into the Chamber and suddenlie lapped them vp amongst the cloathes and they had so bewrapped them and intangled them kéeping downe by force the fetherbed and pillowes harde vnto their mouthes that within a while smoothered and stifled their breath failing them they gaue vp to God their innocent soules into the ioies of Heauen leauing to the tormentors their bodies dead in the bedde Which after that the cruell wretches perceiued first by strugling with the paines of death and after long lying still to be throughlie dead they laide their bodies naked vpon the bedde and fetched Sir Iames to sée them who vpon the sight of them caused those murderers to burie them at the staire foote méetlie déepe in the ground vnder a great heape of stones Then rode Sir Iames in great haste to King Richard and shewed him all the manner of the murder who gaue him great thankes and as some say there made him Knight but he allowed not their burying in so vile a corner saying that he would haue them buried in a better place because they were a Kinges sonnes Upon this as it is reported a Priest belonging to Sir Robert Brakenburie tooke vp the bodies againe and secretlie enterred them in such a place as by the occasion of his death who onelie knew it could neuer since come to light Uerie troth it is and well knowne that at such time as Sir Iames Tirrell was in the Tower for treason committed against the most famous Prince King Henrie the seuenth both Dighton and he were examined and they confessed the murder in manner aboue written but whether the bodies were remooued they could nothing tell And thus were these two noble Princes these innocent tender children borne of a most royall blood brought vp in great wealth likelie long to liue reigne and rule in the Realme shortlie shut vp in prison and priuilie thus murdered their bodies cast God knowes where by the cruell ambition of their vnnaturall Unckle and his despightfull tormentors Which thinges on euerie part well pondered God neuer gaue this Realme a more notable example neither in what vncertainty standeth this worldlie weale or what mischéefe worketh the proude enterprises of an high heart or finallie what wretched end ensueth such vnnaturall crueltie For first to begin with the bloody actors of this murder Myles Forrest at saint Martins péece-meale rotted away Dighton yet walketh as are mine Authors wordes at that time in good possibilitie to be hanged ere he die Sir Iames Tirrell died at the Tower Hill being beheaded for treason King Richard himselfe was afterward slaine in the féeld hacked and hewed at his enimies handes harried on horsebacke dead his heaire in despight torne and tugged like a curre Dogge In his life time by credible report of such as were secrete with his Chamberlaine after this abhominable déede was doone he neuer was quiet in his minde he neuer thought himselfe sure where he went abroade he still priuilie looked about him his body was secretly fenced his hand euer vpon his Dagger his countenaunce and manners like one alwaies ready to strike againe sore wearied with care and watch he rather slumbred then slept troubled with fearful dreames suddenlie sometime he sterted vp leapt out of his bed and ran about the Chamber so was his restlesse heart continuallie tossed and tumbled with the tedious impression and stormie remembraunce of his abhominable déede A notable example doublesse to all such as take like enterprise in hand that cannot be contented to liue within compasse of duetie but their aspiring thoughts must stretch furder then either their habillitie will serue them or God suffer them The seate of a Prince is a place of great Maiesty and none but such as GOD hath appointed can containe themselues in that Royall roome then if they wilfullie couet that place for which both reason and duetie sayth they are farre vnfit such is the iustice of him by whome Kinges rule and Princes swaie their Soueraigntie as the pleasure they thought to haue in that high Office is a verie dagger to their hearts and such an eating woorme to their consciences as by this example before you maye plainlie perceiue Let Princes therefore be honoured and feared as they ought and let Subiectes liue in true and faithfull obedience to them because it is a chéefe and an especiall article of their duetie In the raigne of King Henrie the seuenth ON the two and twentith day of Februarie were arraigned in the Guild Hall of London foure persons to wit Thomas Bagnall Iohn Scot Iohn Heth and Iohn Kennington who were Sanctuarie men of Saint Martins le Graund in London and latelie before were taken out of the saide Sanctuarie for forging of seditious Billes to the slaunder of the King some of his Councel for which thrée of them were adiudged to die so on the fiue and twentie day of Februarie the saide thrée persons with a Flemming and a Yeoman of the Crowne were all fiue executed at Tiborne Pierce or Perkin Werbecke a Flemming borne by the councell of Margaret Dutches of Burgoigne named himselfe Richard of Yorke King Edwardes second Sonne he and his company arriued at Deale in Kent where when they perceiued they could haue no comfort of the Countrie in their rebellion they withdrewe themselues to their Ships againe But the Mayor of Sandwich encountred with them and tooke aliue of them one hundred thrée score and nine persons among the which were fiue Captaines Mountford Corbette Whitbelt Quintine and Gemine And on the twelfth of Iulie Iohn Peche Esquier and Sherife of Kent brought vnto London Bridge these hundred thrée score and nine personnes where the Sherifes of London receiued them and conueied them in Cartes and long ropes to the Tower of London and to Newgate Not long after a hundred and fiftie of them were hanged in Kent Essox Sussex and Norfolke the residue were executed