desyred to walk at libertie in the wyde world and were wearie of Cloysters and spiritual exercises Anno 28. to loose no tyme all small religious howses of or vnder 200. pownds per annum with all ther lands and haeteditaments of vvhich there vveare 376. wear giuen to the king by parliement and these vvear able to dispend aboue 3200. povvnds per annum of old rents of Assise and the mooueables of these howses being sovvld at vndervalevv amounted to aboue 100. thowsand pownds The religious and ther dependants vvear all voyded and left vnprouided of habitation so as moe then ten thowsand persons weare turned owt of ther own doores to seak ther fortunes Which mooued the common people to much compassion to see them forced to liue by almes vvho by ther bountiefull hospitalitie had releaued so manie Anno 30. Battel Abbie in Sussex Martin in Surrie Stratford in Essex Lewes in Sussex wear suppressed and converted to the kings benefitt and vse for all things wear doon politiquelie and by degrees At last anno 32. and 33. generallie all other monasteries of what valew soever and all the lands of S. Iohns of Hierusalem wear giuen to the king and the corporation of the knights was dissolued and to satisfie them with some contentment they had pensions distributed emong them of 2870. pownds during ther liues So hear was left in England and Ireland no care of the general good of the Church to mantain anie succors assistanc or fortification of Europe against the Turk nor no nurceries of deuotion and prayer again sinn and the deuel And to conclude all Chantries Colledges and Hospitalls for the releafe of the poore vvear offred and bestowed vpon the king and left to his order and disposing anno 37. The valew of all the Church lands in England at that tyme amounted to aboue 320180. pownds 10. per annum wheareof the king took into his own possession and appropriated to the crovvn 161100. per annuÌ„ The which was so great a bootie that an offer was mayd once in the parliement as Howse reporteth in preface to H. 8. to create and mantain with those reuennues fortie Earles 60. Barons 3000. knights and 40. thowsand soldiers and also that so the Commons should never after be charged with anie more subsidies or impositions The like motion and proiect was commended The Cavvses of the Supression and offred at the lay mans parliement in the tyme of king Henrie the fourth by some that loued Wiclef better then the Church and wear better frends to ther lands then to ther Religion but Thomas Arondel Archbushops of Cantorburie ded stowtlie and vertuouslie resist ther motion and preuayled with the king to preuent there platts and the mallice of auarice The Lutherans in England ded reuiue and set on foot again the same motion by ther book called the supplication of Beggars which was opposed by the supplication of Sovvles endited by the vertuous and learned penn of Syr Thomas Moor. yet at last they fownd a patrone an vnworthie Thomas of Cantorburie to geue waye to ther deÌ„uises and to fead the kings humor and so he vvho should haue bean the cheafe protector and intercessor for the Cleargie prooued the Cheafe Cateline that betrayed the Church and conspired ther oppression Add to this the kings own inclination to vayn-glorie which begot his auarice whose prodigal expences could not be mantained vvithovvt such extraordinarie support And think yow that the Lords and courtiers disliked the proposition no they knew what a rich praye it would prooue whearof each man hoped and thirsted to haue a share and speciallie maister Cromwel who knew no better ladder to climbe to greatnes and welth then by an innouation so full of spoyle whearby one might easilie rise by the fall of so manie who being a man of experienc and bred vp in a forge knew the better which way to hammer and frame his busienes in some good forme that the king might vndertaike the action and stand stowtlie to a matter of his domination and profitt knovving well that his conscience was all readie buried in Ann Boolens tomb And tho maik he waye playner and remooue all blocks the thre principall Abbots Glastenburie Reading and Burie thre Barons of the parliement stowt and religious men and likest to crosse and empeach these practises wear executed for denijng the supremacie bothe to discoorage the Bushops from mediating for them and to terrifie the rest of the religious that they might not withstand the king who was now armed with suffieient powre to bring them vpon ther knees all forren intercession being cut of But quo iure quo titulo vvas this suppression The titl of the religious hovvses compassed The Abbies hold these lands in frank Almoine and in see they vvear possessed of them by the donations of Saxon English and Norman kings and subiects continued legallie by prescription established by law and confirmed by the Charters of kings and so they held ther inheritanc and immunities by the same lawes the temporall Lords hold ther Baronnies and the king his reuennues What nead I remember the Charters of the realme the magna charta 9. H. 3. or the confirmation thereof 28. Ed. 1. vvhear it is granted that the Church of England shall be free and haue her liberties inuiolable and cap. 2. iudgment against them shall be held for naught and 4. Bushops wear authorised to excommunicate those that shall seak to vndoe ther charters And 3. E. 1. the Bushops ded accurse those that attempted to spoyle the Church or by force and craft to diminish ther liberties or the charter of the realme and all those that either should maik statutes or obserue them being mayd against the sayd liberties for which is to be noted by one and the same Charter both the Church and all the subiects hold ther liberties so as king H. 8. might as well break the one as vndoe the other and yf the parliement could geue powre to abrogate the one that is a president to dispence with the other But in Peterboâ—ow Ledgerbook yow shall fynd king Iohns grants more at large and fullier then anie printed book setteth down What nead I remember sententia lata super confirmatione cartarum by E. 1. or 42. Ed. 3. cap. 8. yf anie statut be mayd contrarie to magna charta it shall be voyd Or the confirmation of all these 1. 6. 7. 8. of R. 2. and 4. H. 4. Which all wear intended to preuent tyrannie to secure the Church then being visiblie knowen and generallie reuerenced for to no other Church they wear granted nor no other can enioye theÌ„ yf the king so please But to return to the suppression The The surrendors king to maik his title either to be or to appear stronger to which he had no title of hym self but by parliement and hovv farr that powre is extended to geue awaye the lands of a third parson not being hard nor convicted
king And vvhat estimation Musculus holds them vvorthie of appeareth locis commun cap. 10. tit de officijs ministrorum So yow see neither of them bowe the knees to this Baal nor magnifie Caluins Idol But yf yow would look thorough with a pearcing eye the absurdities of the Disciplinarians read Schulting his Hierarchica Anacrisis lib. 15. cap. 19. 20. and 22. Whearby yovv may perceaue how all kings ar mayd subiect to ther excommunications the trevvlie Brutum fulmen of these Eldors and what confusion it breadeth in the ciuil state which learned Hooker wiselie noted and gow both nobilitie and commons must assamble at the summons of the pastor as the head of the parish the President of the Counsell and then vvhat conclusions they determin and decree arr rules and of sufficient authoritie to bynd the Parish to obedienc So euerie parson is a demi-Pope in his parish the elders ar suprem magistrates and Caluin really Papa and cheaf pastor though ovvt of his humble pryde he vvill not vouchsafe to be nor be called Doctor Besides maister Butler knevv that vvheare Philautia and Phantasia arr conioyned and raign as matches predominant in the breyneand bodie ther must neads be a hart svvelled and blovvn vp vvith singularitie and vvith a conceipt that they onelie knovv the truthe and the trevv vvorship of God and that onelie they stand in grace as men predestinated to glorieand blesse Vpon this dreame they contemne all others for ther defects and imperfections and being transported vvith strong passions and inflamed vvith the feruor of a provvd spirit more then of charitie and sober zeale they ronn into desperate actions as furies that regard neither Maiestie iustice or gouernment And in dead ther be some diseases that ronn in a blood and arr almost hereditarie to some of ther familie as frensie oft doth vvhich leaueth alvvaies a taynt and a spice of the staggars in ther vitall spirits as yf they had bean bitten with a mad dogg And therfor maister Butler knovving the sumptomata of ther disease might with skill and iudiciouslie sett it dovvn as an Aphorism That a Puritan vvas a Protestant ovvt of his vvitts And so I leaue hym till it please God to cure or convert hym speciallie in Scotland TITVLVS QVARTVS TOVCHING HOLLAND AND THE VNITED PROVINCES VVE ar now to arriue by course at Holland and Zelland that horrible The 4. proof of disloyaltie By exampl of Holland Akeldama and feald of blood and the theater of tragical and lamentable stories Whear I will rather declare then delate with what furie the Lutheran faction begonn and with what violenc the Caluinists proceaded and with what calamitie they both continued for as yow haue hard ther axiomes and positions before at large so the practises and tyrannie of ther followers ar hear best to be discouered And aboue all the actions of ther conspiracie the Vnion of Vtreght vvas the most capitall and infamours A deuise according to the rules of Iunius Brutus an imitation of Swiz and the Cantons and a strong argument to conuince them of rebellion though they euer marched vnder the name of Religion and bellum sacrum This Vnion was mayd by the states 1578. The formâ— of the vnion of vtreght who seing the fortunate proceadings of the Duke of Parma and the course of the Malcontents entered into a perpetual league comprised in 20. articles for ther mutual support and succor First they of Holland Zelland Frize and Gelders ded ioyn Contra omnem vim quae sub praetextu nominis Regij aut religionis inferetur After that the contriuer and ringleader of all the Prince of Orenge and they of Anvvarp and Gand cam vvith into the league and subscribed it the 14. Februarij 1579. the vvhich vvas after ward again confirmed at Haghe 20. Iulij 1581. and the scope of all this was to abandon and expell ther leage lord the King of Spayne and to depose hym from his ovvn dominion and inhaeritanc Therfor vpon that they established an edict que le Roy d'Espaigne est descheu de la Seigneurie du Pays-bas And to maik it more authenticall they deuised a forme of Abiuration from the king and a particuler reuocation and dispensation of ther former promise and oath of obedience in these vvords I. W. N. Svvearanevv and bynd my self to the prouinces vnited to be loyal and faithfull to them and to ayd them against the King of Spayne comme vn bon vassal du Pays And when they had taken that oath they broke all the kings seales pulled dovvn his armes seazed and entred vpon his lands rents customes and all other haereditaments and took the same into ther own hands And as absolute lords they coyned moonie in ther own names placed and displaced officers of the state banished all the kings counsellors published edicts possessed the church liuings suppressed Catholick religion beseaged Amsterdam and vsed all the marks and notes of sooueranitie in ther own names Whearupon Raald a counsellor for frizeland hearing this new oathe which was generallie tendered to all men vpon the horror and greaf thereof he dyed soodainelie as of an Apoplexie The reasons they gaue why the king of Spayne had forfeited his title and right wear these For 1. suppressing ther religion 2. for oppressing them vvith tyrannie 3. for abrogating ther priuiledges and for holding them in bondage and seruitude for such a magistrate they ar not bownd to obey they said but to eiect hym as a Tyrant An example and president of daingerous consequenc and which deaplie concerneth all princes to look vvel to For yf subiects may depose ther prince and maik them selfs iudges when he shall forfeit his crown and dignitie vvhich praerogatiue the Rochellors may challenge as lawfullie as the Hollanders qui stat videat ne cadat kings had nead to maik ther seat sure and sit fast for these men maik it but a slipperie hold And in dead ambition and treason can neuer fynd a fitter cloake for ther wearing then that which is mayd of the Holland fashion by religion Now that yow may the better iudg of The general quarrell the particuler quarrel of the Hollanders I will set down the trew grownds for the defenc of the general and why they took armes at first The original and principal cawse of this long and crewel warr was the spring of the new sects in the low contries and vnder the shadow of religion all the factions in the state and all discontentements wear masked singulare commodum and priuatum odium And as the peoples natural inclination to noueltie ded set it much forward so ther wanted not a concurrenc of forreiners who serued as bellowes to blow the coles both owt of France and England Charles the fifth owt of his wise prouidenc remembring what a peace of work Luther had cut owt for hym in Germanie and with what dainger charge and difficultie he overcame it Intended for the quietnes of this contrie and
manie princes in 32. yeares haue acknovvledged and vsed them as a free State Yf they hold onelie by prescription I may iustlie saye that tyme will not serue ther turne except they can therwith plead a title and bona fides for tyme may coÌ„firm a title but creates none and the opinion of forrein princes maiks not ther bad clayme better but geueth onelie a reputation to the vsurper and in so bad a quarrel brauelie defended not the cawse but the success not ther right but ther prosperitie haith doon them honor Besides it is nor trew that they haue bean so reputed of Princes to negotiate with princes vnder that title and that so princes confirm ther title be different things I grand that they offred to Quene Elizabeth the sooueraintie of these prouinces and laboured that she vvould entertain them but the counsel speciallie the L. Treasorer ded not vvelcome the offer both in regard of ther title for nemo potest plus euris transferre in alium quam ipse habet they could not geuer her that which vvas not ther owne and in respect of the safetie and honor of the Quene who could not hold and mantain such a tile withowt the censure of the world and withowt geuing forrein princes and her own people a president against her self Although for her own priuate ends afterward she was content to protect them and he who furthered most that protection was as glad so clenlie to be rid of the sonn as the Marques of Winchester was to be deliuered of the father And therfor the Quenes commissioners at Burborough as I haue hard affirmed trewlie Auersata est Regina delatam sibi saepius illarum regionum summam potestatem Neither was Syr Noel Caron in Quene Elizabeths tyme esteamed as an Embassador but as an agent But to ioyn issew with them yf they can maik good ther hold and Clayme it By lavv must be either by the Gospel and patronage of religion or it must be by lawe for yf by neither of these they leane vpon a rotten stake first the lavv is directlie against them For at the Ioyfull entrie they wear subiects absolutelie and the king was soouerain and to Oreng he committed the liuetennancie of these contries Ouem lupo Oreng and the people withdraw ther obedienc vpon surmises defended ther townes against the king depriued hym of his inheritanc and mayd them selfs sooueraines Whether wear these men guiltie by lavv of Treason or no this is the case trevvlie Dambouderius your contrieman in prax criminal cap. 132. haith drawen your proces saith he Seditiosi sunt 1. qui moluintur conspirationem 2. aduersus rectores admmistratores regionum 3. ilâ—â—citas congregationes populi cogunt â—iues commotionibus turbant c. This compared with ther dealing against Alua Don Iohn and the Duke of Parma with ther manie meatings at Breda and Osterweal with ther incensing and encooraging the Geuses with ther defenc of Harland and Alcmar is as good as a comment to explayne the law But cap. 82. Vi bâ—â—â—a sint insta requiritur 1. iusta causa 2. recta intentio 3. personarum idoneitas 4. authoritas principum sine qua est laesa Maiestas Now yf the states mark that sine qua they may hold down ther heads and blush for in all ther warres they neither had good coolor nor iust cawse they wear secured for ther religion by the pacification of Gandt by the perpetual edict by the articles of the treatie at Coolen and by enioying all withovvt disturbanc and yet would they not ioyn vvith the states generall and accept the same Also ther vvas not recta intentio for it was to noorish discord they pretended euer religion and the peoples safetie but the Prince perswaded them to armes and the vnion not for the loue of them but for his own preseruation Ambition and dispayre wear his motiues and counsellors and reueng and dispossessing the king wear his ends And he was the more disloyall seing he being a person of honor betrayed the trust of so great a charg reposed in hym And touching that sine qua it was a warr on ther parts mayd against the king and not by his authoritie and not onelie his sword was shaken against the king but his penn and Apologie which was a great error bycause they wear not aequallie matched and of one degree He had in the low contries neither office nor command but vnder the wings of the Aegle or authoritie of the Lyon And he held all his Belgick lands in fee of the Duke of Burgondie as of his Leage Lord and ded homage and fealtie for the same and he knew also that a soouerain geues law to his subiects aswel as offices and haith power of lyfe and death and as a learned man noted Eoâ—in the law signifieth the power and command of hym that haith the sooueraintie Besides Claudius le Brun in his book of proces ciuil and criminal addeth this Whosoeuer surpriseth tovvnes Castles and forts vvithovvt order of his soouerain as the Prince ded cawse Count Lumay doe in HollaÌ„d and Vorst and Barland ded Flushyng VVhearby the peace of the contrie is broken or vvho attempteth against the lyfe of the soouerains liuetennant it is treason And these all Europe doe hold as iudgments decrees of reason and principles of state which ar not to be called in quaestion and yf the states in Holland doe not obserue hold and practise the same they can never expect either peace order or obedienc in ther contrie So as it is manifest that the Hollanders in the beginning ar to be charged with sedition and in the progress with rebellion and treason And then being traytors by law they haue admirable luck and art to maik them selfs also Lords by lawe and it will be a good encooragement to ther soldiers yf men may winn dignities by offences to share the novvnes of Holland emong them or to induce them to a bellum pyraticum or sociale and cantonize that prouinc by ther own example They haue yet one euasion which is rather of consequenc then of substanc to prooue ther title a playster they think to salue all sores that the Archduke haith renounced his right and the king ar knowledgeth them to be now liberas prouincias in quas ipse nihiliuris pretendat though it is no aenigma no ridl nor such an argument as will pose a lawyer to answer it yet bycause I vvill not doe hurt whear I would doe good I leaue it to the consideration of that honorable and learned Chancelor Peckins who can best in a fitt tyme satisfie the world that it is but a sharcrow and thunder withowt a bolt So then by law yow haue hard in what state they stand for procuring the effusion of so much blood and breaking the peace By diuinitie of Christendome so now I desire all both Gomarists and Armenians to heare the opinion of Doctor Bilson a great Piller of
vse and exercise of ther religion and 2º that they might enioye ther priuiledges and not be mayd hereditarie or fall into the hands of Spayne to the preiudice of the Electors and 3º that hearafter the election of king of the Romans might be in the povver and Choyce of the Protestant Princes by the pluralitie of voyces So he thought they should not be forced to hould the stirrop while the Popes wear mounted and Papists ded gouern all in the Empyre And peraduenture for that end purposed yf they could to hinder that FerdinaÌ„d might not be chosen king of the Romans For so Anhalt ded vvrite to Donau in May 1619. that it wear better the Turk or the Deuel should be chosen and preferred to vvear that crown then Ferdinand and B. Gabor by his letters certified the Turk that the Pal. and Brandenburgh vvear resolued no longer to endure Ferdinand and that all these Prouinces vvho vveare in the league Sultano totâ—ationi Mahumeticae corde animaomnia officia fâ—delissime prastabunt and that Ferdinand shortlie should be expelled Germanie to seak his succor in Spayne Is not this a holie league Be not the ends charitable and the media most Christian But the truthe is Ambition vvas Hongrie they consulted who should haue the beares skinn before the beare vvas taken they conspired to share emong them the spoyle of the Cleargie of Germanie and to maik a praye of the hovvse of Austria For by the rolls of ther Chancerie it appeareth that they intended to aduance the Palatine to Bahemia Alsatia and a part of Austria and to enlarg his dominion by the Bushoprick of Spyrts and a part of Mentz Bethlem Gabor should be assisted to keap Hongrie the vvhich he hauing no issew might also happilie fall to the lott of the Palatine Too manic crownes so purchased to expect anie in heauen Onoltzbach gaped for two fatt benefices the Bushopricks of Wirtzburgh and Bambergh his next neighbers and therfor it vvas agreed that there should be the Rendeuous of the armie The Marques of Baden thirsted after Brissack and to be inabled to continue his vniust possession of the vpper Marchionate and to owt face the Count Eberstein who had endured much wroug at his hands Wirtzburg was a mote in the eye of Brandenburgh it laye near and fitt for hym and therfor his dessein vvas to haue a share in it Anhalt hoped to supplie his wants by a part of the spoyle both of Ments and Bambergh and by some lands and lord ships which wear like to escheat in Bohemia And yf the Venetians would ioyn in this Association they might with so good assistaÌ„ce easilie maik them selfs Lords of Istria and friuli and by this meanes Oceanum cum Adriatico sayd they posse coniungi A great conquest surelie and it showed a deuowring stomach that could swallow so great morsells and sowell digest and dispose them before they had them It resteth novv to demurr vpon these poynts and to examin what Apologie and what arguments can they alledg strong enough to defend a proiect and a conspiracie so pernicious to the whole state of Christendome and so directlie against the law of natioÌ„s and the peace of the Empyre All the pulpits in England and the churches â— Reason called reformed ded generallie and lowdelie sownd an Alarum against treason and rebellion of the league and leaguers of France and yet that ded not extend it self beyoÌ„d the Alpes or the Maze as this dothe And yt was at first vndertaken quietlie withowt anie sedition or insurrections in the state And vvas for defenc onelie of ther ancient religion withowt anie temporall respects and confirmed with the kings oath and allowance and afterward it was continned in reueng of Murder and actions of tyrannie Now consider what was ther scope Monsieur de Villeroy in the relation of his seruices maiks it euident they ded not seak the extirpation of the king of Nauarr but his reformation and yf they might be assured of his religion he should be assured of ther obedienc But this vnion runneth a wilder race It is not onelie a new religion but the lands of the old religion they gape after and the affection they haue to the latter maiks them more greadie to suppresse the former And yet all must be sayd to be doore for religion though it be doone most irreligiouslie hauing neither the order nor the media nor the end religious hovv could it then succead add prosper well that begonn so ill and hovv could it beginn worse them to march vnder too such standards as ambition and auarice And therfor most wise he ded that excellent 2. Ratio Duke of Saxonie as a frend of peace aduiâ—e the Count Palatin to renounce Bohemia and seak for pardon bycause this warr ded open the gates of the Empyre to let in the Turk which of it self was a sufficient cawse to condemn ther vnion for yf ther quarrel had bean good yet the effects yt ded work wear bad Moreouer plessen confesseth in his letters 3. Ratio to Anhalt that which is most trew the actions of Holland and Bohemia eodem fundamento niti so Holland is the pattern Bohemia the imitation suits of one cut lessons of one schoole And seing that of Hollond is sufficientlie disprooued all readie I nead not vse anie new argument to refell this but referr yow to the precedent discourse for they took armes against a king lawfullie elected solemnelie crowned and by consent of the states established in possession vvhat could be more orderlie and so hortlie after to depose hym and vpon so weak surmises to show so much leuitie neads better arguments then yet y could ever heare And it was mayd the more odious by nominating the Duke of Saxonie as a competitor and a stale to maik hym suspected to the Emperor as reum affectati imperij knowing that he had refused ther offer when they employed Count Slick to perswade that he would imbark hym selfs in the busienes and accept the crown of Bohemia which in dead they never intended to a Lutheran prince An other reason doth much exaggerate 4. Reason the offenc By ther president Austria vvas corrupted see hovv stronglie examples vvork vvith a multitud The people saithe the Register of the Chancerie by the correspondenc of the Turk and Gabor took coorage and told Ferdinand that yf he would not grant them toleration of religion and freedome of conscienc they vvould ioyne vvith the Bohemians and Hungarians and renounc ther obedienc to hym And they vvear maisters of ther words for in August 1620. the lower Austria abandoned ther Lord the ancient inheritor of that noble patrimonie quitted ther obedienc and accepted a new protector in his stead I am sure the subiects of England would condemn the Catholicks and so they might iustlie yf they should staÌ„d vpon the like tearmes and ther ancieÌ„t tisle and in defenc of that seak to expell ther soouerain and invest a strainger in
Smith and it vvas mayd according to the liturgie of the straingers of Frankfort 1544. all of them of Bucers stamp and not much varijng from that in king Edvvards tyme. The which Parr Russel Grey of Pytgo and Cicil approoued but all those of Geneua vtterlie disliked not knowing the Quenes reasons nor regarding them 8. Lastlie the instrumentall cawses and cheafe artificers for building this new work wear choyce men all bothe for experience and pollicie Syr William Cicill mayd second Secretarie in king Eduuards dayes in an age whearin a man might learne more conning them vertue a wise man for practise and one that knevv well how much this alteration would serue his turn and raise his fortune and at that tyme he vvas hongrie hauing onelie the personage of VVimblton and certan lands abowt Stamford as appeared by his letter to the lord Marques 1560. vvhen Syr Robert Cicil vvas borne desiring the lord Threasorers furtherano that the Quene would grant hym some means and maintenanc for these two C. C. solike to be famous in England herafter Syr Nicholas Bacon was an others his brother in lawe a man of Deap iudgment of more knowledg in the lawes and a more plausible Orator I may not forget the Lord Robert who solelie to posses the Quenes fauor by a trick discarded Syr Williā Pickering then a fauorite and a courtlie gentlman neither can I omitt Seigneur Nicholas Throgmorton S. Tho. Smith and manie others who wear now in hope to fynd that which they had long gaped for such offices and preferments as they wear like to loose who held them in Quene Maries tyme. Better Enginers and fitter men could neither haue bean wished nor fuwnd then all these wear to vndermine and cast downe the Cleargie and the old Church governement vvho possessing vvholie the eare and grace of the Quene satt vvith command at the stearne and as pylots of great estimation guided the course both of the Church and commonwelth at ther pleasure thoughe manie men vvondered how maister secretarie could so soone forget his beads and his breuiarie whearwith he counterfeited a Catholick and vvonn Cardinal Pool to stand firmelie his frend Notwithstanding all this choyce of men and preparation of meanes ther courses and cownsells gaue occasion of more trowbles continual feares and greater hazards and daingers to the Quene the realme in all her tyme then ever anie architects of innouation committed And no maruel for ludit in humanis diuina potentia God doth skorn and frustrate the pollicies and shifts of men that haue nothing els to trust to but shifts and he vvill euer teach the wisest to see ther follies and a litl to humble them those that ar most prouident shall by ther errors learn that plus est in arte quam in artifice For now the Quene by this act of Innouation left destitute of all her allies and confaederates vvas driuen to stand vpon her own gard and lie open to all stormes hauing France an enemie and Spayne a frend skarse contented and so was driuen euen at first to ronne vpon a rock forced to assist the rebells in Scotland against ther Soouerain and to send them ayd to expell the french employed ther for ther Quenes seruice It may de yow think this a trifle mark the rest To succor the Admirall and rebells in France she Inuaded Normandie and took possession of Nevvhauen and Deape deliuered to her by the Vidame of Chartres was this a glorie the disgrace in loosing and ill defending Newhauen was a greater bleamish to them then it was honor to haue them yealded and offred to the Quenes disposing and speciallie seing they might therby either haue brought Callice home againe or haue locked vp the gates of Roan and Paris And they ded neither but bring home the great plague as a scourge to the realme for that offence furthermore for the securitie of the realme and to diuert all warres from home they wear driuen not withowt touch of the Quenes honor to kindl the fyre in all other adiacent nations and then to publish a declaration and reason of ther actions as yf the world could not read the trew cavvses of actions vvithovvt the spectacles of those ancient Senators Whearupon they ded ayd the Princes of Orenge against king Philip vnder pretenc of amitie and league vvith the howse of Burgondie and the kings of England which was a litl to grosse for so excellent vvitts considering that the amitie vvas contracted with no subiects nor states but betwean the kings of E. and the Dukes of Burgondie wheareof the states had the benefit and wear partakers but not authors comprehended in the treaties but not treators fayre coolors for fovvle errors And why for so she gaue a president against her self that forrein Princes might be vvarranted by her example to inuade her ovvn kingdomes to releaue her subiects yf they should rise for religion and to learn the waye to Ireland and requite her And the showe of Religion serued them fitlie for there purpose But surelie I haue hard verrie wise men much condemn the course Bor though England ded assist there neighbors on all sides vpon the reason of state which Polibius prescribed Vicininimium crescentis potentia maturè quacunque ex causa deprimenda which is an axiome that is oft inconuenient and ofter iniurious and sometymes pernicious Yet the counsell of Thucidides vvas more proper and safer Nullus princeps à suis subditis iuste puniendis arcendus est qui id facit parem in se legem statuit ne suos ipse puniat delinquentes And heare I must commend hym to haue said this vviselie who saith all things wittielie The vvisidome of the latter tymes in princes fayres is rather in fine deliueries and shifting of damgers vvhen they ar near then solid and grovvnded courses to keap them aloaf The grownd of all these trowbles vvas the pretenc of Sinon Viz. Actum esse de ea si pontificiam authoritatem in quacumque re agnosceret as Camden saith the Quene vvear vndoone yf she acknowledged the Popes authoritie Mark his reason duos namque pontifices matrem illegitimè nuptam pronunciasse and by that argument he suggested that it was best to alter religion inuest her self in the sooueraintie and banish the Popes bulls from grasing in this kingdome and all obedienc to that sea This was a course neither at home nor abroad to keap daingers aloofe and vndowbtedlie yf Henrie the 2. or Frances the 2. of France had liued that error was like to haue wrapped the realme into ineuitable perills and might by all probabilitie haue serued as a bridg to haue let the Quene of Scots passe over into England vnder her own title and the banner of the Church solliciting for her better warrant the renewing of the bulls of Clement the 7. and Paulus 4. against her moothers marriage and her own illegitimation and the rather this might haue bean doon by the error of them that