her Maiestie Heb. 12. Beware that no roote of bitternesse spring vp to trouble vs as S. Paul saith and many be defiled by it Isaeus ex Philastration Sophistis Isaeus the Zophist being demaunded of the walles of Sparta aunsweared that the walles of Sparta were man to man and sheilde to sheild Euen so the inner wall of England next to the blessed prouidence of God which is as a wall of defence round about her Maiestie and our Countrie is man to man and sheild to sheild Let all true subiectes of her Maiestie fortifie that inner wall of England with harte to harte man to man and sheild to sheild and then taking God to be our foreman and guide we shall not need to fâ—â—â—e the inuasions of forraine enemies Onely let vs feare God and be hartely thankfull to him for his great blessings and for his wonderfull woorke of late and vsing all good and ordinarie meanes as his giftes earnestly prayâ—â—â— to him that his fatherly prouidence will be the continuall protection of the royall person of our Queene her estate and our Countrie Thus of the inner wall of England and the true fortification thereof Now of the outward wall of Engnland and fortification of it which is the shipping The outward wall of England the shipping nauigation nauigation and the furniture thereof One not experienced in publike affayres cannot well esteeme the great blessing benefite strength and fortification that commeth to the realme by the shipping nauigation and furniture thereof For because we are inuironed with Seas it is the outward wall by Sea against inuasions by land And without it we cannot creepe out of our Countrie but we shal be cut off and there will be an open way by Sea vpon vs to be inuaded by land and the portes as the gates of our Countrie wil be naked and open to our enemies But this outward wall of the shipping nauigation and funiture thereof by the good mother of England our gracious Queene is so made vppe and fortified as vnder no Prince the like Many imploy themselues in building and furnishing of sumptuous houses but she as the great mother of manie children hath builte fortified and furnished the great and outwarde wall of England to the great comforte of our Countrie and safetie of the lande What want wee for the defence of the land if we want not the feare and fauour of God for without the feare and fauour of GOD all walls Arnobius in Psal 146. munitions and fortifications are nothing Arnobius the auncient father about the yeere of our Sauiour 329. saith my shippe may saile but it is God saith he which strengthneth both the maister and marriners of the shippe which sendeth prosperous windes and gales and conducteth the shippe in her course that shee may fetch the right hauen and before let my horse run furnished for the warres yet say thou it is the God of strength which geueth strength to my horse to runne Thus Arnobius What then are worldly forces fortifications and munitions without the feare and fauour of God Naham 3. As the Prophet Naham saith strong Cities shal be like Figgtrees if they bee shaken the fall into the mouth of the eater Let vs earnestlie praye for the grace of God that wee may feare him and for his continuall fauour in the preseruation of the long life and prosperous raigne of our Queene and our Countrie Nowe I will shewe you the experience of our owne Countrie in time past King Edgarâ— shipping â—ouching this outwarde wall of the shipping and nauigation and the fortifying and furnishing thereof King Edgar a valiant Prince so fortifyed and furnished this outward and woden wall of the shipping and nauigation that though there were great multituds of Danes vnder him Fabian in his Chro. of England the 6. part cap. 193. King Egelredus yet they were quailed and kepte vnder in his time And yeerely Fabian reporting it he scoured the Seas and brought great quietnesse to the land After him Egelredus his soone by Estrild or Alfride who succeeded Edward called the martyr slayne by treason of Estrild his steppemother to bring the Crowne to Egelred her sonne was so hunted and chafed of the Danes The Danes shippings partely by treasons within the lande and partly by meanes of their shipping nauigation and furniture thereof that hee was fayne to forsake the land and to fly into Normandy And in processe greatly they did preuaile ouer the land and by meanes of their shipping when they were prouided to be encountred in one cost then they would take their shippes and woden horses and land in an other place and so by their shipping and nauigation they wearied the land and at last wonne the land King Edmond surnamed Ironside King Canutus And first king Edmond surnamed Ironside was faine to deuide the land with Canutus king of Danske and after the death of Edmond Canutus raigned ouer the land Thus by experience of our owne Countrie heretofore we see what a blessing and benifite it is when the outward wall of shipping and nauigation is fortified and furnished God blesse and long preserue the good mother of our Countrie which hath fortified and furnished this wall to the great benefite and comforte of our Countrie Thus of the outward wall of England the shipping and nauigation therof and of the fortifying and furnishing therof by Elizabeth our gracious Queene The tenth cheefe matter Of those that make breaches in these walles The tenth is of those that make breaches in these walles by a lingering hope and looking after inuasions of forrayne forces Those the haue such euil dispositions in theÌ„ doe not onely make breaches in these walles but seeke to betray as much as in them is their owne Countrie to forraine enemies Of those that make breaches in these walls And such are monsters not only in nature but also in the body politique of realmes and Countries The very heathen men abhorre such Cicero Cicero one of the consulls and great gouernours of the estate of Rome when it was heathen Cateline against Cateline and other conspirarours against the state bringeth out the great mother of their owne Countrie rebuking charging them to depart out of her Wherfore saith she should I thus be in continuall feare for you Thus Cicero in the behalfe of their common Countrie as their vniuersall mother and out of the bowels of nature it selfe in heathen people dealeth in charging the conspirators and traytors against the state of Rome Vipers The vipers eate through the wombe of the dam that breedeth them or through the coat and skin in which they lie as is written of them Such are of the generation of vipers as S. Iohn the baptist called the Pharisies and Scribes and so growen out of kind that they are monsters in nature Mat. 3. They were wont in old time to carry monsters of nature into farre Countries
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
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
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
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
liued in this fleshe who said that he payed not as a debter but lest he should offend them And Nicholaus de Lyra the famous fryer and writer of postiles vpon the text speaking of those that vnder pretence of Religion would claime freedome and exemption for not paying tribute Nico. de Lyra in Postilla in 1. Pet. 2 sayth Retinendo illud quod debebatur dominis temporalibus committebant furtum By retaining or withholding that saith he that to temporall Lords was due they committed theft Thus much of my fourth and last note also Hereby appeareth howe wee should frame our affections and obedienee to the higher powers according to the rules of the worde of God And if our Sauiour and his Apostles thus gaue in charge to Christians liuing vnder Heathen Princes as Tiberius Caligula Tiberius Caligulae Claudius Nero. Claudius and Nero the Emperours amongest whom Nero was the first persecutor of the faith of Christe as Tertullian saith Orientem fidem primus Nero cruentauit Tertul. lib. cont Gnosti◠Nero saith he first embrued with blood the faith of Christ in the first springing vp thereof howe much more should Christians yeeld dutifull subiection and obedience to Christian godlie Princes which are Fosterfathers Nurses to the church of God Esai 49. as the Prophet Esay calleth them Ignatius the auncient Father Martyr about the time of the Apostles Ignatius Epist 8. ad Antiochense renued this charge of our Sauiour and his Apostles Be subiect saieth hee to Caesar in all thinges in which your subiection is without perill Hee meaneth the perill of their soule faith bounden dutie to God because Princes at that time were Heathen And thus how according to the rules of gods word wee should frame our affections and obedience to higher powers The 3. chiefe matter The third principall point or chief matter is how according to the rules of Gods word the Christians in the primitiue Churche framed their affections and obedience to Princes higher powers being then heathen Tertul a very auncient father Tertul. in Apolog cap. 4. about the time of Seuerus the Emperor as by his owne words appeareth who was after Christe about the yere 196. openeth the very hearts affections praiers of christiās for Emperors Princes then being Heathen and their fidelitie obedience and subiection to them according to the lawes of God Tertul. in Apolog cap. 30 We saith he for the health and wealth of the Emperor cal on the euerlasting God the true God and the liuing God whom the Emperors thēselues though Heathē wish to be gracious vnto them aboue others And in an other place speaking of the praiers of the ancient christiās in their congregations We pray saith he for Emperors their ministers and potentates Tertul. in Apolog cap. 39 for the state of the worlde for quietnes of all things for the stay of the ende Thus Tertul. Though the Emperors before and after Tertul. time were Heathē Tiberius Caligula Claudius Nero Domitian Traiā Marcus Aurelius Seuerus as Tiberius Calig Claudius Nero Domitiā Traian Marcus Aurelius Seuerus in Tertulliās time sundrie of thē persecutors of christiās to death yet such were their affectiōs praiers fidelitie subiectiō to thē according to Gods ordinance that in their congregations they praied for their health wealth prosperous state Hiere 29. And God by Hiere willeth the Iewes which were captiue in Babylon to seeke the prosperitie of the Citie where I saith God haue caused you to be carried away captiue pray vnto the Lord for it for in the peace therof shal you haue peace Thus far Ieremie According to this Tertull. the aforesaid witnesseth how the anciēt christiās in whose times so many blessed martyrs by life death glorified God were wont in publike prayers to cōmēd to god the prosperous estate of their Emperors though they were Panims many of them persecutors Precantes sumus saith hee omnes pro omnibus Imperatoribus vitam illis pro lixam Imperium securum domum tutam Tertul. in Apolog cap. 30 exercitus fortes senatum fidelem populum probum orbem quietum quaecunque Caesaris hominis vota sunt We all pray saieth hee for all Emperors for long life vnto them securitie of their Empire safetie in their house puisant hoasts a faithfull Councell a good people a quiet world and whatsoeuer Caesar or man would wish Thus far Tertullian And further the same Tertullian in commendation of the subiection fidelitie of the auncient Christians to their Princes doth shew how though by the great blessing of God they were so ouerspread and multiplied on earth that their Citties Countries and Ilands were full of them as hee saith Vestra omnia implemus Vrbes Tertul. in Apolog cap. 37. Insulas c And if they shoulde reuoult from them they shoulde leaue the Cities of their Empire so desolate that themselues would wonder at them if they should conspire and ioin their forces together they might soone ouerrun them yet notwithstanding according to Gods ordinance with such humble subiectiō fidelitie alleageance they bare themselues euen to them that rigorously reigned ouer them eftsoones persecuted them And see the great blessing of God on them therefore more more The more they multiplied the more they were persecuted as Tertullian to Scapula saith Tertul. ad Scapulam The sect of christians the more it is builded vp the more it is cut and hewen downe And in an other place he saith Tertul. in Apolog cap. 45 Plures efficimur quoties metimur à vobis Semen est sanguis Christianorū The more saith he we growe the more you mowe vs. The seed is the blood of Christians Thus Tertullian Though Panim Princes Emperours in the primitiue auncient Churche watered it with the blood of Christians yet God so blessed it that by that seed it sprange spread ouer the face of the earth And notwithstanding to Princes though Panims then these auncient Christians yeelded their subiection fidelitie according to the ordinance of God It is good thus to looke into the exāples of the Primitiue Church on which God powred out so abundantly his spitit out of the which issued such numbers of blessed Martyrs whose memorie is blessed whose state is glorious in the kingdome of God Plinius Secundus of the ancient christians to Traianus the Emperour Plinius Secundus an Heathen and Noble man writeth vnto Traian the Emperour a Panim prince of the conuersation behauiour of the ancient christiās by occasion that in the gouernment of his prouince he saw such multitudes of thē so meekly to endure persecutions some condēned to death som disauthorised priued of their estates wherat being amazed as wonderfull not only strange he maketh relatiō to the Emperor therof of their assemblies and conuersation and thus he writeth his intelligence of thē Tertullian the foresaid
vs the God of Iacob is our defeÌ„ce Thus far Dauid His prouidence doth checke controule forraine forces and inuasions which like floods are ready to rage ouer al. And when the plats are laid he saith it shal not goe foorth neither so come to passe Esai 7. Ahaz king of Iuda as he said in the Prophet Esai of the inuasions of the two kings Razin of Siria and Pechach of Israel against Ahaz king of Iuda Where his prouidence is the watch and wall the floddes of forraine forces cannot preuaile no more then they did against Asha the godly king of Iuda Zarah king of Ethiopia 2. Chro 14. when Sarach the king of Ethiopia came out against him with an host of ten hundred thousand and three hundred Chariots And when Asha ioyned battaile in the valley of Zephota with him Ashaking of Iuda he cryed vnto the Lord his God Helpe vs O Lord our God for we trust in thee and in thy name we goe against this multitude Thou art the Lorde our God and no man shall preuaile against thee And the Lorde smote the Ethiopians before Asha and Iuda and they were ouerthrowne as the Scripture saith that there was none of them left but were destroyed before the Lorde and before his hoast Thus the scripture of the inuasion of the Ethiopians vpon Asa king of Iuda And no more then the great multitudes of the Moabitas and Ammonites Iehosophas The Moabites Ammonits of mount Seir. and mount Seir could preuaile against Iehosophat the religious and faithfull king when they ioined their forces together to make inuasion vppon him and before the battaile stroke vp hee stood vp and said Heare me O Iuda and yee inhabitants of Hierusalem Put your trust in the Lord your God that you may bee found faithfull Giue credite to the Prophets 2. Chro. 20. and so shal yee prosper And their enemies were ouerthrowne with strokes among themselues as the Scripture saith and with their owne forces consumed themselues And no more then Sancherib king of Assur Hezechiab Sancherib Esay 37. who with an huge hoast of an hundred eightie and fiue thousand as the Prophet Esay setteth downe coulde preuaile when he made inuasion vpon Hezechiah king of Iuda who put on sackcloth and went vp to the temple to pray to God and he sent Heliakim others to the Prophet Esai that he should lift vp prayer to God for them And God sent out his Angell that slue the Assyrians hoast And after that Sancherib himselfe also was slaine in the temple of Nesrah his God by his owne sonnes Adramalach Saraser So notwithstanding the rabbles and multitudes of Sancheribs hoast the great hurliburly of his inuasion and the roaring out of blasphemous Rabsakeh his Captaine against Hierusalem Esai 36. as if it were but a morsel in Sancherib his mouth Gods determination was concerning the execution of his exploite and inuasion as the Prophet saith Hee shall not come into this Citie and shall shoote no arrow into it there shall no shield hurt it neither shall they cast ditches about it The same way that hee came hee shall returne and not come at this Citie saith the Lord. And I will keepe and saue the Citie saith he for my own and for my seruant Dauids sake So far the Prophet We may see what our refuge stay should bee against forraine forces and inuasions to trust in the mercifull prouidence of God and hartily to humble our selues in praier to God King Hezechiah as king Hezechiah and the Prophet Esay did against the roarings of Rabsakeh and the inuasions of Sancherib And with the godly king Ashah to crie vnto God King Asha reposing our trust and affiaunce in his tender mercy and almighty power when the raging Seas of forraine forces and inuasions are readie to breake in As Ashah did when the Ethiopians came mounting as the Ocean Seas to swallow vp his land King Iehosophat And as Iehosophat the zealous and religious Prince did for before he marched with his forces against the Moabites and Ammonites and them of mount Seir which came with ruÌ„ning camps like roaring Seas and Gulfes of many waâ—ers to ouerflow and deuour his land first he â—â—ustred his people in publike prayer and supplication before God and begged comfort and conduct of God against the feareful inuasion and committed himself his estate affaires and exploites to the mercie of God and cryed to his people to beleeue the prophetes and all things shuld be prosperous to them God send vs such harts to commit our selues to the prouidence tender mercy of God in such cases to humble our selues in heartie prayers before God with assured persuasion trust and confidence in his help protection against all forces inuasions of enemies And that vnder the couert of the wings of his merciful prouideÌ„ce our Prince and Countrie may haue coÌ„tinuall safetie defence and protection against all inuasions and enemies whatsoeuer Thus what hath been the state of this Realme in inuasions of strangers heretofore of other Countries likewise what our refuge stay should be against all forraine forces and inuasions The 12. chiefe matter The last is a generall warning to all subiects to shunne such vices as hinder true faith to God and true loyaltie to the Prince which are hypocrisie and a hollow hearte to God and hypocrisie and a hollowe heart to the Prince and estate and peruersnesse frowardnesse vncontentment of malcontents mislikers and murmurers against the Prince and state A generall warning to all subiects Touching the first hypocrisie and a hollow hart to God hinder true loialty to the Prince for they that are faithfull to God are also faithfull to their Prince Take example of the Prophet Dauid Psal 42. Who was more faithfull to God then he whose soule longed after God as the Harte desireth the water brookes and hee was so faithfull to the person of hys Prince that he was pricked in conscience for cutting off but a peece of the vesture of king Saul when in the Caue God put him in his hands How farre woulde hee haue been from offering any hurt or violence to the person of his Prince Eliakim Esai 22. Eliakim in the Prophet Esay is called a father of the house of Iuda and the key of the house of Dauid Hee was a faithfull seruaÌ„t to god he was faithful to his Prince for life And God saide of him I will fasten him as a nayle in a sure place and hee shall be the glorious seate of his fathers house A worthie glasse of faithfulnesse to looke in The faithfull to God and their Prince shall finde it at his hand True faithfulnesse shall weare the garland hypocrisie shal be vnder the hatch Sobna See the example of Sobna in the same Court of Hezechiah the godly king and mentioned in the same place of the Prophet Hee had a hollowe hearte to God and
king to heare thee O that I were made iudge in the land that euery man that hath matter might come to me that I may doe him iustice Thus as a malecontent himselfe he eggeth the people to discontentment mutening against the state and gouernment of king Dauid his father And after from discontentment hee fell to flat treason So likewise Dathan Coreh Dathan Coreh and Abyram Nu. 16. and Abirā first began with discontentment and mislyking after they fell to murmuring and mutening and at last to open rebellion Sheba blewe vppe his trumpe and said Sheba wee haue noe part in the sonne of Isai so in disdaine he called Dauid 2. Reg. 20. He was a murmuring malecontent at first a ranke rebel after Beware we be not touched with the first lest happely wee bee tised on to the later Where affections are framed perswasion is halfe made The fier flyeth to the tow The match and powder are soone mette Euill affections open a gap to others to make an entrance into vs to assaile vs and to lay snares for vs and so they become stumbing blockes to vs and bring vs to ruine Take heed therefore they doe not carrie vs on and be occasions to plucke vs into the gulph of great daungers by custome they growe into an habit as into an other nature then ther is no sence feeling or remorse of them as in the sicknesse called Hectica Febris when it is growne into an habite and nature Hectica Iowbertus de curan sc lib. 2. cap. 1. and setled in the substance of the bodie though they be in daungerous state yet they lacke sence and feeling of greeuous paine Beware that our mindes be not possessed with like sicknesse whereof though we haue not feeling and remorse by reason it is so rooted and setled yet it may plunge vs into daungerous state It is good therefore to hearken to the councell of the holy Ghost by S. Paul 1. Thess 4. 2. Thess 3. how we should carry our selues in outward dealings affaires That we endeuour ourselues to be quiet and to imploy our owne businesse and not to stake our owne and to bee curious in the affaires of others and as busie bodies whome likewise the Apostle S. Peter reproueth to spie and prie in other mens dealings 1. Pet. ◠to be as controulers of other mens causes to put our sickle into other mens corne to haue an oare in other mens matters to bee climing aboue our calling and to put our selues in great and dangerous actions not appertaining to vs. But let euery one as he is called so cōtent himselfe as Paul exhorteth vsing better if God giueth 1. Cor. 7. and beware that by vncontentment he grow not into bitter affections or eager humours against the Prince and estate and become vnquiet and troublesome in publike and priuate dealings mingling his speech with gall and his actions with bitternesse but that he with a quiet minde keepe himselfe within the precinct of his vocation and within the limites of affaires and actions belonging to him least by aspyring with Adonias and by venturing hazarding and ouerreaching hee loose himself and by lifting at burthens too heauie for him he bee crushed of them God giue grace to all Subiectes to carry themselues in true faith to God true fidelitie to their Prince and to nourish louing and loyall affections in dutifull hearts to their Prince and to powre out heartie prayers and supplications to God for her long life and the long preseruation of her Royall person and prosperous raigne ouer vs to the glory of God the singular comfort of his Church and the great blessing of our whole Countrie THE Second part Against Treasons Rebellions and such like disloyalties PSALME VII Behold hee trauaileth with mischiefe or iniquitie hee hath conceiued sorrowe and brought foorth a lie or vaine thing Hee hath grauen and digged vp a pit and is fallen himselfe into the pit or destruction that he hath made for his trauaile shall come vpon his owne head and his wickednes shall fall vpon his own pate I wil giue thanks or praise vnto the Lord according to his righteousnesse and will sing praise to the name of the Lorde the most highest · DEXTRA · TVA · SVSTENTAVIT · ME · Psal 63 · MR · IN · IVGIS · AD · RHENVM · FLV · ¶ The Contentes principall points and chiefe matters of this Treatise 1 THE Bishop of Rome is the great Patron and practiser of treasons rebellions and such like disloyalties against Christian Princes and Countries with his adherents followers and practisers for him and by colour of authoritie from him In the treatise of this matter I followe this order 1 What engin he hath vsed continually vseth in the practise of such thinges by excommunicating cursing banning of princes cursing and interditing of countries 2 What time chiefly he began to vse this engin of cursing banning Princes lands and practising of treasons rebellions and such disloyalties against them 3 By what meanes the Bishop of Rome and his followers doe manage carrie on their practises of treasons rebellions such disloialties against christiā Princes Realms 4 Of the iudgements of God vpon the cursing and banning Popes 2 Of the conceiuing of treasons rebellions and such like disloyalties by occasion of these words of Dauid in the seuenth Psalme Psal 7. He hath conceiued sorrow 3 How they trauaile with their treasons rebellions and such like disloyalties and wickednesse by occasion of the wordes of Dauid in the same Psalme Hee trauaileth with iniquitie or mischiefe 4 What fruites Traitours Rebels and such like bring foorth by occasion of these words of Dauid in the same Psalme He bringeth foorth a vaine thing or a lie 5 Of the end of Traitors Rebels and such like by occasion of the words of Dauid in the same Psalme Hee hath grauen and digged vp a pit is falne himselfe into the pit or destruction that he hath made for his trauaile shall fall vpon his owne head and his wickednesse shall fall vppon his owne pate 6 Of giuing of thankes and praise to God for his righteousnesse and our deliuerance by occasion of the wordes of Dauid in the ende of the same Psalme I will giue thankes or praise to the Lorde according to his righteousnesse and wyll sing praise to the name of the Lorde the most high Against Treasons Rebellions and such like disloyalties NOw I wil bring foorth the vglie monster of treason rebellion such disloialties into the viewe and sight of all As the Lacedemonians were woont to bryng foorth their slaues and vnderlings whē they were drunken to the open gase and sight of the people that all by seeing of them might abhorre the vice that so disfigured man So I will bring foorth the vglie vice that all may see it and see into it that they may shun and loth it And first I will bring
the Emperor withdrawing himselfe a while The Bishops of Mens Colon and Wormes with violeÌ„ce deposed their soueraigne Lord Henrie the 4. inuested himselfe in the Imperial robes returning These saith he â—â—e the Imperiall ornaments of estate these by the goodnesse of the euerlasting king and election of Princes haue bin bestowed on me God is able also in these to continue vs and to hold your hands froÌ„ the worke you intend although we be now disgarnished of our forces and armies for supposing our selues to bee in safetie we made no preparation against suche violence But let the feare of God stay you whom pietie doth not reclaime and if you reuerence neither behold we are in presence we cannot resist your force The Bishops staggered The Bishops pluck the crowne from the Emperors head but after they encouraged one the other to set on the Emperor to pluck the crown froÌ„ his head and wheÌ„ they had plucked him out of his seat they turned him out of his Imperiall robes ornameÌ„ts The Emperor fetting deep sighes saith thus vnto theÌ„ God the Lorde of reueÌ„ge see it take reuenge of the wickednes you commit I susteine ignominie and dishonor that neuer the like was heard before for the sins of my youth of the iust iudge I am punished you neuerthelesse shal not be free froÌ„ sin because you haue falsified your othes of loyaltie The Emperor coÌ„pareth his Bishops to Iudas the Traitour you shal not escape the vengeance of that iust iudge your honor neuer prosper your portion be with him that betraid Christ But they stopping their eares go back carrying the imperial robes ornameÌ„ts to his son Thus far the report of the storie of the deposing of Henry the 4. out of Alberâ— who telleth it out of the Chronicle of Germanie for he saith Haec est narratio nostrorum aâ—naliuÌ„ Who that hath bowels of good naturâ— in him would he not rue to heare the pitifull plaint of so valiant a Prince to his sworne subiects that had been aduaunced to so high dignitie of him Hee gaue ghostly counsell to them which shoulde haue giuen it to him But their eares were stopped like the deafe Aspes Psal 48. They wilfully brake the oth of their alleageance they layde violent handes on the Royal person of the Prince they vndertook the execution of treason and the Popes curse vppon the sacred person of their prince by whome they were mounted vp in high estate of honor Thus in the treason and rebellion of the sonne against Henry the 4. his father and in the deposing of him in the ende the bishops which chiefly should haue bene faithfull and loyall to him were the principall actors and instruments against him and tooke on them the execution of the Popes curse and the violent deposing of the Emperor from his Imperiall estate King Iohn of England Fabian 2. vo part 7. in anno 1205 So in king Iohn of England his time the execution of the Popes curse vpon him and the realme was committed to the Bishops of London Ely Winchester and Herford who after they had denounced it against the king the land were fain to flie the land And in that blind time when the Pope sate in the consciences of simple people to binde and loose the king by practise of the Pope and popish Prelates was so encountred and wrapped in troubles that at length he yelded himselfe to Randolph the Popes Legate by oth Fabian 2. vo part 7. in anno 1212 to stand to the Popes order Finally hee was driuen on his knees to take the crowne from his head as Fabian reporteth it to resigne it with solemne wordes into the Popes handes and after to resume it as Feodarie to the Pope as Fabian telleth vppon a yeerely fee of a thousand marks to be paid vnto him So wheÌ„ there is variance in the land and the Pope is vmpire by cursing of Princes and lands hee fingreth and filcheth gaine and setteth a sale his cursings and blessings againe Popish Prelates are the Popes hands and bowels in Countries To whom chiefly doth hee commit the trust of the execution of such things to popish Prelates They are as the Popes hands in countries they are as the bowels of his own body and as if their conscience liued of him they are made actors and instruments eftsoones against their own Princes for him as in the practise of stories we see Running to Rome And if there grow quarrell betweene the Prince them they goe round to Rome The Pope is the vmpire they keepe that string for their bowe whatsoeuer faileth at home Tho. Becket packed him to Rome againste Hen. the 2. Thomas Becket returned with authoritie froÌ„ the Pope against the Prince Anselme Archbishop of Canter Anselme Archbishop of Canterb. sped him to Rome against Henrie the first at his return held a conuocation at London by the authority of the Pope against the Prince Lanfrank Archbishop of Canterburie Lanfrank likewise Archbishop of Canterburie Thomas of York pleated the libel of their preemineÌ„ce at Rome vnder William the conqueror Abbat Benet Abbat Benet had 5. times been at Rome Rome was their paradise on earth to run in pilgrimage to it The Pope as a God sate in dark consciences as hauing Peters key to bind lose The Abbat of Vrsperg who himself had bin at Rome runneth in Romish religion with them and raileth vpon Hen. the 4. for resistance against Popes of Rome yet hee cryeth out on Rome for sucking the gaine of the world and saith Gaude mater nostra Roma Ab. Vrsperg in Chro. quia aperiuntur catarractae the sauroruÌ„ in terra vt ad te confluant riui aggeres nummorum in magna copia our mother Rome reioyce saith he because the sluces and Gulfes of gaine are opened on earth Mother Rome sacketh the treasure of the earth that streames and heapes of money may come flowing in to thee in great abuÌ„dance Thus the Abbat though hee were her deare sonne yet crieth out on his mother Rome for sucking the treasures of the erth And now because his mother Rome hath byn kept so long fasting froÌ„ England the gulf of her great gaine stopped there not only she is hungred but with rauening iawes gapeth coÌ„tinuallie ouer it by practise of monstrous treasons and rebellioÌ„s to pluck it in again Thus of the taking and deposing of Henrie the 4. and of the Bishops that were chiefe instruments and actors in it The fourth chiefe point of the discourse of this storie The 4. The death of Henry the 4. and the crueltie on his corps is of the death of Henry the fourth and the crueltie shewed on his corse After that Henrie the Emperor was of the bishops aforesaide thus deposed and dispoyled of the robes of estate and the Imperiall ensignes he fled to Limburg and lighting on a prince a hunting Alb.
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