Ierusalem so must thou beare witnesse also at Rome God had appointed him the rest waighty charges the execution whereof the malice of men might not withstand examples of great comfort to the godly terror to the wicked The godly may learne by them that his mercy succoureth them in the sharpest aduersitie and the wicked may be assured that his iustice will confound their policies in the chiefest hope of successe Her Maiesty to whom I euery way may apply the former examples beset with death as dangerous as Daniel in the Lions den as after in her own thanks-giuing may be séene comforted her self in the strength of God which always defended her which good God hauing compassion both of her patient suffering the general affliction of his Church mercifully burned the rod of correction by calling away Quéene Mary setting of gratious Elizabeth in the emperiall chaire of England France and Ireland for which excéeding mercie his holy name be praised Amen CHAP. 7. Of the peaceable entrance of Queene Elizabeth our gratious soueraine vnto the crowne diademe of England and other obseruances of Gods especiall fauor mercy IT is commonly séene that vpon the death of princes enuy ambition dissentiō shew their humors that secret discontentment breaketh forth w e publike disturbāce And although in England hereditary succession be a great bridle vnto these passions yet vpō such changes they many times haue foūd the meanes to shew themselues as after the deathes both of king Edward the 4. king Edward the 6. vpō the death of Quéene Mary the difference in religion was a likely cause to sow discord among the people But almighty God that had as it were by especial miracle preserued our gratious Quéene Elizabeth the visible image of himselfe frō the spoile malice of dangerous enimies aforthand prouided that her sacred Maiestie should receiue hir crowne in peace should gouerne hir people in peace my hope doth assure me where she now peaceablie raigneth her maiesty shall long liue and die in peace who the 17. day of Nouember 1558. the very day of Quéene Mary her sisters death with the sound of a trumpet both at Westminster and in the City of London was proclaymed by the name of Elizabeth Quéene of England France Ireland defender of the saith c The newes wherof raised a suddaine ioy amōg the people so harty as their louing affectiō was presently séene by publike feasting banqueting benefiers in the open stréets The 23. of Ianuary following her Maiesty from the Tower passed through the City of London toward her Coronation but before her Chariot set forward her Maiesty lifted her eies vp vnto heauen and acknowledged Gods mercie in this thankes-geuing O Lord almighty euerlasting God I giue thee most harty thanks that thou hast been so mercifull vnto me as to spare me to behold this ioifull day and I knowledge that thou hast dealt as wonderfully with me as thou didst with thy true faithful seruant Daniel the prophet whom thou deliueredst out the den frō the cruelty of the gredy raging lions euē so was I ouerwhelmed only by thee deliuered To thee therefore be only thanks honor and praise for euer Amen Her maiesty by this thanksgiuing published her sure confidēce in God the effects the tyranny of hir enimies and the conclusion a speciall comfort to the godly The Citizens of London to shew thei rzeale in welcome of her Maiesty attyred the Citie with many stately shewes the most whereof they deriued from her proper vertues who was the liuely substance of all their painted bewties The first pageant shewed the long desired vnitie which God her maiesty be thanked is knit betwene vs and the holy Gospell of our Sauiour Christ. The second set foorth the seate of gouernāce which her maiesties liuely vertues bewtified more then their gorgious deuises The third which they applied vnto her maiesty depainted the 8. beatitudes mentioned in the 5. of S. Mathew truly if any earthly creature deserued them they are worthely heaped vpon her maiesty God hath blessed her humble spirit both with a spirituall and temporall kingdome God hath dried vp the teares of her persecution with spiritual tēporal cōfort God hath blessed her méekenes with large possessions on earth God hath blessed her scarcetie for righteousnes sake with abundance God hath blessed her mercy with the fulnes of his mercy God hath blessed her chaste vndefiled hart with the sight of himselfe in the true knowledge of his holy word God hath blessed her trauell for peace as his proper child with the visible image of himselfe God hath blessed her periceution for righteousnes sake in assuring her soule of the inheritance of his heauenly kingdome God hath blessed her to reuenge the reuiling and persecution of the Papists with the disgrace ouerthrow of the Pope The fourth declared the ruinous state of this realme which as they prophesied is by her maiesty restored to the dignity of a florishing common weale Yea in her miraculous procéedings an old by prophesie is effected which was A mayden Queene should do wonders in England The fift compared the expectation which her heroycall vertues promised with the politike gouernement of the worthie Debora Her maiestie was in Cheape side presented with the holy Bible in English which she reuerently kissed and thankefully receiued as hir spirituall comfort her temporall crosse and godly counseller The Maior of London presented her maiesty a thousand marks in a pursse with humble petition that she would cōtinue their good lady she gaue answer that if néed required she would willingly spend her blood in their defence which magnanimious saying all her after actions haue declared Although this most royall entertainement shewed the dutifull loue of her faithfull subiects which zeale God hath requited with many blessings yet Gods wisedome that comprehendeth all knowledge foresawe that her Maiesties clemency compared with Iulius Caesar that would not heare the accusation of his enimies with Augustus who gaue life to Cinna that sought his life with King Frances the first of France who pardoned the commotion of the Rochellers adioyning therevnto that he chiefely reioyced that his seueritie caused no man to weare a moorning gowne clemencie well bestowed that both inlarged the renowne and safetie of these princes for Pompeys friendes were thereby wonne to Cesar Cinna became most faithfull to Augustus and the Rochellers afterwards loyally obeyed King Frances but God I say who knew the greatnesse of her Maiesties compassion would rather bréede presumption then dutie in her dangerous enimies therefore to rid her roiall person realme and good subiects whome he determined to blesse from continuall conspiracies his mercy ioyned with iustice alittle before and after the death of Quéene Mary caused death likewise to attach the bloodie Atheist Steuen Gardener Bishop of Winchester the seditious Cardinall Poole and others whose heads were alwaies occupied with
authoritie or dissention Yea about this time that the fall of Antichrist might be visibly séene by the taking awaie of such Christian princes as were his setled supporters when as Lodowicke Guiccerdine reporteth ther was not any where either brute of pestilence or extraordinarie disease there died within the space of one yeare the Emperour Charles the fifth the Quéene of Hungary Quéene Mary of England two Kings of Denmarke Bona Sforza Quéene of Polonia Henry the third king of France Ierolme Priuli Duke of Vennice Hercules da este Duke of Ferrara and Paule the fourth Pope of Rome a change verie vniuersall wherein Gods prouidence is not to be ouerpassed with a light consideration whose will vndoubtedly was by the change of these princes the most of them drunken with Poperie to make a ready passage through Europe for the gospel of our sauiour Iesus Christ which vpon this change began to florish in most of the recited gouernements And albeit the fall of Antichrist in many places of the scripture be liuely presaged vpon the authority whereof there is sure and sound building when the prophesies and dreames of a number are but rotten foundations yet I hope I may without iust reprehension say that God many times acquainteth the minds of some good men with an imaginatiue knowledge of things to come which many yéeres after falleth out according to their presagement and for example belōging to our matter the reformation of the Church vnder her Maiesties raigne before her noble fathers death was set downe in this following prophesie Post H sequetur E post E quod mirum M M coronabitur breue confundetur Post M sequetur E vel A Et tunc conuertetur ecclesia In English E shall follow H next E with wonder M M shall be crowned and soone confounded Next vnto M E or A shall raigne Then shall the Church conuerted be againe Noble King Henry the eight first vnmasked this proude Pope King Edward the fixt the parragon of yong princes helped to vncase him Quéene Mary fauoured but liued not to strengthen him and now our soueraigne Elizabeth hath geuen him a mortall disgrace his painted Church abideth not the tuch Gods Church is vniuersally reuerenced The multitude are more delighted to reade a fewe godly sentences written vppon the Church wall then to sée his rarest rotten reliques layde vp in a golden chest Against her Maiestie he principally warreth as the chosen instrument of almightie God to abase his imperious mind to the wonder of the world and comfort of all good Christians CHAP. 8. Of the peaceable and honorable victorie that her Maiestie had against the french forces in Scotland which were raised with a determination for the inuasion of England the second yeare of her Maiesties raigne AFTER the death of Henry King of France his sonne Frances the second succéeded in the kingdome of France a prince of the age of sixtéene yéeres who being married vnto Mary Quéene of Scots and néece to the Duke of Guise suffered the affaires of the estate to be gouerned by the ambitious policy of the Duke and family of the Guises who hauing wished successe in their practises in Quéene Maryes dayes about the winning of Callice hoped and hungred after the spoile and conquest of England And the better to colour their purpose they intituled the King of France in the right of the Quéene his wife to the Crowne of England and knowing the difference betwéene the Quéenes Maiestie of England and the Pope in matters of religion they easily obtained of Paulus the fourth a disablement of the Quéenes Maiestie and an approouement of the Quéene of Scots right but King Frances had béene well aduised if he had not accepted this gift vntill the Pope had set him in possession of the kingdome which would haue troubled both him and his whole Colledge of Cardinals This depriuation by the Pope the Guises practised to moue the Papists of England to their part taking and arming theyr purpose by degrées to worke a feare in her Maiesties loyall subiects they wrote a booke of the weakenesse insufficiencie of feminine gouernement and by their owne reasons wounded the strength of their owne title which they deriued from the Quéene of Scots This scandale of feminine gouernemente was soundlie aunswered by an vnnamed authour in an english printed book at Strasbrowgh entituled A safe harbor for good subiects And truely although the soueraigne place of rule the chiefe credit of knowledge in Artes and Mecanicall craftes together with all other giftes of grace nature and education be giuen vnto man yet there haue béene women that in all maner of artes qualities and vertues which haue equalled the perfitest of men Innumerable are the testimonies of womens profound learning pure chastitie rare constancie patient martyrdome and a number most valiant whereof Chawcer reciteth nine Woorthies aunswerable to the nine Woorthies of men And touching regall gouernement from whence this question is deriued the Iewes recorde the sage gouernemente of Quéene Alexandra with more renowne then they did the tyrannie of her husband Alexander with reproch whose bodie they were determined to haue giuen vnto the dogs as also to haue murthered his two sonnes to haue rooted out Alexanders name if that her wisedome had not redéemed out either Theodosia the Empresse of Constantinople with admired prudence ruled the whole Empire during her life The gouernement of Senobia was no lesse renowmed Dydo the Amazones and many other were absolute Quéenes Semiramis enlarged the bounds of her Empire and Quéene Tomyris slewe Cyrus and his whole hoaste c. But if the enuy of men would suppresse and murther the worthines of women yet the diuine vertues of our soueraigne Quéene Elizabeth doth and will alwaies kéepe aliue their diuine memorie Of whome Guiccerdine in his Commentaries although all his writing defendeth the pope and reproueth Religion thus reporteth The good Queene Mary being dead without issue Elizabeth her sister was proclaimed Queene c. a Princesse of great learning and ouer and aboue the Laten and her mother toong she is possessed of the French and Italian language which she eloquently speaketh a yong Lady of a hye spirit wise and endewed with rare and noble qualities He might haue added the Greeke Spanish and some other ordinarie tongues with many extraordinary vertues which may as hardly be sampled by anie other lyuing Creature as the Sunne by the fairest of the Planets The worthinesse and strength of whose Gouernment euen from the beginning confuted the scandule of this lybell which was grounded vppon noe generall Lawe of God or man There haue béene priuate Lawes in some perticular Gouernments to take away and to disable the absolute gouernment of women when the generall Lawe possessed them with Imperiall authoritie As in Rome the Law Voconia so called because Voconius Tribune of the people pronounced the same In Fraunce the law Salique which they fetch from king Pharamond which bindeth the present
and others began new Commotions in Yorkeshire which were soone appeased with their confusions the Insurrection of Somerset shire had no better successe but which most daungerouslie touched the kings life and safetie of his good subiectes this vngratious Cardinall Poole this whirlepoole and firebrand of desencion séeing that king Henry with an easie hand appeased many and mightie insurrections at home labored an inuation by the power of Fraunce but all the daunger was not in the french forces he had drawne in the Marques of Exeter his brother the Lord Mountacute and Sir Geffray Poole and with them his kinsman Sir Edward Neuell to be traitors these labored no small matters they sought euen the change and alteration of the kings godly gouernement they were daungerous traytors not so much for their power but for that they were all so bounde vnto the king for many benefits as common reason tooke away all occasion of suspition to condemne whose vnkindnesse and monstrous ingratitude there be many examples of vnreasonable creatures Lysimachus had a dog which he much estéemed and the dog to shew his loue when he saw his maister dead and cast into the fire as the manner of buriall was then he likewise leaped into the fire and died with his maister Plinic sheweth that Hiero King of the Syracusans had a dog which did euen the same but the Romaine histories make mention of a more strange matter when Titus Fabinus and his family were slaine there was a dog that for no stripes would depart from the dead carcase of his maister and when the standers by gaue him meate he ranne and layde it at the mouth of his maister in fine when the bodie was throwne into the flood of Tyber the dog lept in after and as long as he could he kept his maister aboue the water much more might be said to reproche ingratitude a vice which our vulgar worde vnkindnesse sheweth to be against kinde or nature the former examples approoue as much but enuy and ambition the ordinarie passions of Papists are so farre from grace dutie and thankefulnesse as they contend with God and violate the bonds both of nature and frendship The Traytor Parry in his confession sayd that his accusor Neuill vsually sayde that all the aduancement that her Maiestie could giue hym should serue but for her scourge if euer time ministred occasion I knowe not whether he spake of mallice or no but experience teacheth that these persons resemble the frozen Snake which the pitifull husbandman comforted by the fire which in recompence stoong his children The Marques of Exeters father was for treason committed to prison by King Henry the seuenth King Henry the eight discharged him and with great fauour tooke his sonne into his priuie chamber and vsed him alwayes more like a companion then a seruant The King helped the Lord Mountacute from the state of a poore Gentleman to his mothers land being thrée or foure thousand markes by the yeare Sir Edward Neuill was of the Kings priuie chamber and in great fauour The Pooles were of the Kings blood and so bound with princely fauours as when Sir Geffrey Poole was apprehended the rest were not so much as suspected but God will not haue treason lye hid nor Traitors vnpunished though the Diuell and man labour in the behalfe of either The Diuell was héere set a worke but he laboured in vaine against the iustice and mercie of God the giltinesse of Sir Gefferey Pooles conscience condemned him he now only respected the safetie of the Marquesse his bréethren and Cosen Sir Edward Neuill hys conscience was witnesse against them all he feared that torture would wrest out the truth and in this doubtfull perplexitie he resolued desperately to kill himselfe and in this passion vppon oportunitie he stabbed himselfe vpon the brest with a knife the Diuell plaied his part now sée how God as he oft doth turned all the Diuels worke to his glorie and Sir Gefferayes saluation the knife was blunt and as God woulde made the wound not mortall yet the abundance of blood which followed his wound made him to feare God to feare hell and to detest the murther both of his bodie and soule and where as before he woulde haue died to saue his bréethren and Cosen he now desired life for no cause so much as to bring them to that which they worthely deserued Finallie he accused them all and by lawfull tryall the Marquesse the Lord Mountacute and Sir Edward Neuill were adiudged and executed as traytors good King Henry ioyned his mercy to Gods prouidence so pardoned Sir Gefferey whom God appointed to be the instrument of this discouerie the like blessings were heaped vpon the King and confusion vpon his enimies the residue of his triumphāt raigne which continued all the daies of his most blessed sonne King Edward the sixt In the third yéere of his raigne there were almost generall commotions through England The Papists tempted and mooued the commons to rebellion with a perswasion to throw downe inclosier and for themselues foysted in to haue their old religion and Acte of sixe Articles restored but what followed the rebels in euerie countrey were vanquished slaine and vtterly discomforted And to continue with truth in this report Quéene Mary had albeit she was superstitious the like victories against her domesticke enimies but as it is said as God gaue the Idolater Abias victorie against Ieroboam for his great Grandfather Dauids sake so he gaue the like to Quéene Mary for her godly father King Henries sake To come againe vnto the peaceable victories obtained by the Quéenes Maiestie as in the former reports it is manifest although the Diuell gaue her enimies wit to begin treasons he failed to giue them strength to effect them yea the Diuell himselfe lacketh strength where God hath any thing to do as appeareth especially in the preuention of the odious and desperate treasons of Someruile Parry To conclude the ouerthrowe of her last knowne enimies which happinesse I beséech God to continue many yeares and to the last moment of her Maiesties life the wonderfull discouerie of the dangerous treasons of Frances Frogmorton Esquire deserueth a speciall remembrance I meane a remembrance of thanksgiuing vnto almighty God in reuealing of such a couert mischiefe that threatned her Maiestie with a perticular danger and her realme and people with a generall calamitie it was no ordinary conspiracy that Frogmorton labored but an vnnaturall subuersion of his countrey by forraigne inuasion he wrought to haue brought in the Pope the King of Spaine the Duke of Guise and all he purposed her Maiesties death to possesse he knewe not whome with the Crowne perhaps such a one as would all haue béene iealous of him for those by whome they are benefited dare hardly trust a Traitor he was discouered in time but yet more by Gods prouidence then mans policie he was too subtill to lay his head vpon
and knowledge that he might worthelie iudge the people Plutarke and Aulus Gelius recite that when Alexander was borne king Philip his father wrote in this manner vnto Aristotle I thanke not God so much for that I haue a sonne as for that he is borne in the time of Aristotle c. to whose instruction Philip committed him and truely his worthy actions bewrayed the wisdome of his education This Alexander shewed the loue he bare to learning when hearing that Aristotle had written certaine bookes of naturall Philosophie hee wrote vnto him in this manner Truely Aristotle thou deceiuest my desire in publishing of this speculatiue philosophie which I thought should properly haue honored my selfe for know thou I had rather exceed all men in knowledge and learning than in riches and dominions Antigonus king of Macedone to be instructed in wisedome knowledge by his letter thus saluted the Philosopher Zenon The king Anty gonus wisheth health to the Philosopher Zenon I know well that I passe thee in riches and fauours of fortune but I must confesse that thou farre passest me in the true felicitie which consisteth in the knowledge discipline and studie of the lyberal sciences Alexander afore named so loued Homers Illyads as he appointed the magnificēt Iuel box of Darius to kéepe the same Cesar the best Captaine that euer was by his singular learning raised a question whether he was more honored with the lance or the penne Certainly they be both so necessarie as without the knowledge and vse of either a royal prince is maymed The multitude as Sophocles saith is a beast with many heads and therefore to gouerne such a monster requireth many pollicies in which the works of learned men will liberally instruct a prince but to acquire perfite knowledge the principall induction is the feare of the Lord which as Salomon saith is the beginning of wisedome The prince that will haue good subiects ought chiefely to instruct them with the example of his owne good life for for the most part the manners of the people incline to the affections of the Prince The noble prince ought to shake the flatterer from his eare and to raise the oppressed that fall at his féete for the one lieth in waite to disgrace the good and the other by opening their wrongs discouer the bad Hard and bitter words of a prince is the cause of much murmuring discontentment in the subiects where the prince is noted to be temperate no man wil be so hardy as to demand a wicked vile request O happy art thou Marcus Cato saith Cicero of whom no man dare demaund a wicked thing He is worthy of a kingdome and soueraigne rule and giueth hope of a good prince that pursueth the wicked hateth the intemperate reiecteth the lyars as the pestilence flieth the counsels of voluptuous persons for who so effecteth the desires of such counsellers his infancie wil be shameles his youth effeminated and his age infamous The preacher saith wel is thée O thou land whose king is come of nobles whose princes eate in due seasō for necessity not for lust king Lamuels mother counsaileth to giue the king no wine nor princes strong drink least in being drunken they forget the law and administration of iustice When king Alexander became a drunken Epicure in his drunkennesse he slewe his deare friends and by misgouernment hastened his owne death King Balthafar in his general banquet to his thousand Lords when he was drunken with wine commaunded his vessels of gold and siluer which his father Nabuchodonosor had taken out of the Temple at Ierusalem to be brought vnto him that he his wiues concubines might drink in them in contempt of the liuing Lord. but in the middest of his banquet the vengance of God with a visible hand wrote his destruction vpon the wal Dronkennes containeth all vices and the least vice is a great blemish in a prince Temperance in dyet bredeth sobrietie in manners reposed words are the glory of a Iuditial throne The sound safetie of a king is in the cherishment of religion and maintenance of his Lawes for the one vpon pain of damnation kéepeth subiectes in loyall obedience the other for feare of temporal punishment brideleth the dispositions of the wicked it is not ynough for the honor and maiestie of a prince to administer the vertue of all these vertues to his subiects alone but as Xenophon in his Cyropedia writeth a prince well quallified ought so to vse his enimies as his enimies may become his friends Pompey the great hauing vanquished Tygranus king of the Armenians hée established Tygranus againe in his kingdome saying that it was as Magnanimous a thing to giue a king his kingdome as to take it from him but the magnificent clemencie of Philip Maria Duke of Mylaine toward his vanquished enimies deserueth more than mortall honour This Philip Maria by victorie in a battaile vppon the Sea tooke Alfonsus king of Aragon and Sicile with two of his brethren Thierry king of Nauare the Prince of Tarent and three hundred men of great reputation all which he sent backe freely into their owne countries and where by the Law of Armes he might haue taken great ransomes of these Estates such was the honour of his mind as hée gaue vnto euerie one of them rich presents The senate of Rome deliuered 2700. Carthagenian prisoners without ransome I coulde resite manie of the like examples but small perswasions instruct the wise the vertuous desire glorie rather by their owne Actions than by the examples of other men And aboue all men a Royal Prince ought to be bewtified both with diuine and heroycall vertues for that the names dispositions and doing of the meanest princes are regestred in the Capitols of the whole world writers so narrowly search the doings of Princes as the prudēt Emperour Alexander surnamed Seuerus would oftentimes say that he stoode in more feare of one writer than of a hundred souldiers for that the wound of a pen remaineth after death when the sharpe stroke of a launce bereaueth a man but of life it is not onely conuenient that a Prince doe exercise pietie Iustice Temperance and all other offices of vertue for his honour and good renowne but it is néedfull that he do the same for his owne safetie for albeit there be no penall Law to chasten a Royall king yet Tyrannie is so odious to God and man as we seldome reade of any that raigne long and of as few that die peaceablie A number of whose ignominious deathes briefely to touch I hold not impertinent that other Princes may by the terrour thereof be feared and warned from Tyranny The Tyrant Abimelech slew 70. of his brethren and in the end a woman from a hie tower tombled a stone vpon his head the wound being mortall he willed his Page to runne him through with his sword that it might not be said a woman slew
towards the Pallace where all the Archbishop of Pisas people were taken and without respect of persons were in the place put to the sword touching the Archbishop himselfe he was hanged as a fearfull example to others Iames de Pazzi and the rest of the conspiratours rode vp and downe the Citie crying Libertie libertie but perceyuing that none multiplied the crye and that all in a maner in their countenaunces discouered an affection toward Seignior Lawrence de medicis sought to saue himselfe and his people except Barnard Baudin who lay sore sicke in his bed of a wound which he gaue himselfe The Citie in armes in the behalfe of Seignior Lawrence de medicis who as one very sory for the lamentable death of Segnior Iulian his brother made great pursuite after those of this conspiracie insomuch that an number which were but suspected of this trespasse passed the course of their fellowes The yong Cardinall nephew of the Pope was long detained prisoner in the end through his innocencie was deliuered Barnard Baudin was naked lead vnto the Pallace and in this Equipage was hanged by the Archbishop Anthony de Volterro and Steuen Preast which would haue slaine Segnior Lawrence were themselues slaine in the furie of the people which cryed in euery corner of the citie Medici medici slaying and sacking all their houses that were aduersaries to those of Medicis to be briefe it were too much to set downe in writing the cruelties and inhumane murders committed in this furie Iames de Pazzi was taken as he was flying and conuayed to Florence where he was hanged and after torne in pieces and vnchristianly buried all his goods and reuennues were ceased and confiscated vnto the Segniorie after the malefactours were thus punished the body of Segnior Iulian was with great pompe interred Behold the issue of this conspiracie of the Pazzies in lesse then three houres the Lord Iulian de Medici was slaine the Archbishop of Pisa was hanged with many of the conspiratours together with the sacke and ouerthrowe of their houses Pope Sixtus and Ferdinando King of Arigon so stomacked this act of Florence as they sent a great armie against the Florentines who with the ayde of their friendes maintained long and cruell warres to the small aduanntage both of the King and the Pope foule fall enuie the beginner of this fraye the conspiratours that thought by this outrage to haue acquired honour and promotion lost their liues set their countrey in an vproare and made their enemies more strong for the Lord Lawrence de medici was chosen to be sole gouernour of Florence and by the wisedome of his ofspring the saide gouernement is become the hereditorie dignitie of the Medici which before was Oligarchie where a fewe of the mightiest bare the swaye so that the posteritie of the Saluiati and Pazzi the auncient gentlemen of Florence haue not onely by the enuie of their auncestours lost their places of authoritie but are the subiects and abiects in fauour of the medici who by al possible meanes will keepe them vnder CHAP. 15. A briefe report of the calamities of Fraunce Flaunders and Scotland hatched by enuie and ambition vnder the quarrell of Religion relieued by the compassion of Queene Elizabeth and prosperitie of England THe diligent Readers and searchers of histories shall find in the Cronicles of all Gouernmentes since the comming of Christ and that the knowledge of the true God was published and receiued among the Gentiles that the enuious and ambitious or more properly rebellious people of all nations haue made for the most part religion the colour of their vnlawfull quarrels neither vntill this generall warre betwéene the Papistes and Protestants there was almoste in anye gouernment any ciuill insurrection but that some Monke Friar false Prophet or heretique was a ring leader and at this daye all Christendome is so deuided about the maintenance of the Pope and the defence of the Gospell that if hell gates were set open and all the Diuels had liberty to weare visible armour they should be intertained to fight vnder the standard of some religion vnder the protection and banner of the Pope al theiues murtherers traitours enuious ambitious and discontented persons arme them selues againste their Prince and peace of their countrey The lamentable estate of Fraunce Flaunders and Scotland our bordering neighbours in all which countries there hath béene no setled peace this twenty yéeres and odd coloure all their calamities with this quarrell of religion when the true causes procéeded from ambition enuy and priuate discontentment The true reportes of the troubles of Fraunce testifie that long before the Catholicke wars as the Papistes tearme it in Fraunce where of the Popes side the Duke of Gwyse their friendes haue béene the chiefest Captaines the sayde family of the Gwyses mortally hated the Constable of Fraunce and the Admirall Chatillion The causes were that the Constable and Admirall were high both in authoritie and fauour while Frauncis the firste and Henrye his sonne raigned in Fraunce who hauing care of the honor and prosperitie of Fraunce were as the Gwyses thought some lets of their ambitious clyming but especially for that the Admirall satisfied not the expectation of the Earle of Aumale about the furtheraunce of a marriage for the Marquis du Maine with the Dalphines Curtesan the Senescales Daughter Their enuie and malice brake foorth into open fury when Frauncis the second came to the crowne who béeing both very young and with also married to the Quéene of Scots their Niece they gouerned both the king and affayres of the realme as they listed who now by all meanes possible not onelye sought the disgrace of the Constable and the Admirall and their fauourers but also their liues and the trouble of all Fraunce The Cardinall of Lorraine complained of the disobedience and many misde meanours of those of the religion and made the Admirall and the chiefe Péeres of Fraunce to be touched with fauouring of them To be briefe the Cardinall and the Duke of Gwyse then being neuer ceased their practises vntill the Papistes and protestauntes were in armes and that ciuill warre had set all Fraunce in an vprore which from the beginning of her trouble hath neuer entertained assured peace vntill this day when there was no open hostilitye there was neuerthelesse dayly newes of inhumaine massacres murders and pollicies of barbarous cruelties executed by the Papistes and there professed Captaines The deuision of Scotland first grew from the sayd Gwyses who sent the Bishop of Amians and other confederates into Scotland who to compasse their purpose practised the deathes of the nobility of the religion but God that iudgeth the counselles of men frustrated their wicked purposes and hath hitherto giuen the vpper hand to those of the religion albeit since the first landing of the Frenchmen in Scotlande in Frauncis the secondes time the Papistes haue sundrie times attempted warre against the Lordes of the religion and by
wicked practises haue compassed the death of a great many with all which procéedinges the Cronicles will largely acquaint the Reader And certainely if outward actions of barbarous crueltie may condemne the blasphemie of the Pope his ministers in Fraunce Flaunders and Scotland haue already sent the same vnto hell haue elected him to be the Archtyrant of the earth For where was there a more sauage crueltie euer coÌ„mitted then the massacre of Paris where by the traine of amitie the celebration of a marriage betweene the King of Nauarre and the Kinges sister which in outward appearaunce promised much peace and honour to the long afflicted realme the peeres of bloud and nobilitie of the religion to honour that wished accorde repaired vnto the Court where the good Admirall was slaine and by that stratageme or rather deuice of the Deuill many a thousand innocent and fearelesse Protestants in Paris and other cities of Fraunce were cruelly murthered which monstrous massacre although many other trecherous murthers in Fraunce reproch the Papistes with the extreamest name of crueltie is remembred with the blame and exclamation of the cruellest Pagans in the worlde This traiterous and butcherly warfare waspractised with the murther of the King and many noble men of Scotland The pretence of the tyrannical gouernment of the Spaniards in the low Countries and contrary to the auncient lawesof priuiledges â—…he said Countries at their first entraunce their killing and destroying of the principall nobilitie and persons most worthie of gouernement was coloured with the maintenance of the Romish religion but what excuse by religion haue they for the destroying and dishonourable murthering of many Romaine Catholiques among whome the right noble County of Egmond was that wayes especially affected euen forsooth some such reason as the theefe had who said he robbed none but Papistes when he spared not any that had a crosse in his pursse which crosse he tooke to be the marke of a Papist so the Spaniardes tooke these noble men for Protestants because they were of honourable dsspositions maintainers of their countries liberties and louers of vertue which are not the ordinarie markes of Papists the riches of these countries by common estimation aunsweared the vallew of the king of Spaines Indias and from this root procéedeth all their ruines The proud Spaniardes enuied the greatnesse of these Lordes and the prosperity of the people and to féed their owne wastefull humours they hungred after absolute dominion and possession of their riches In all matters of obedience that appertayned vnto the king they serued his maiestie with all faithfulnesse so that the Spaniard could pickt no quarrell of disloyaltie They were driuen to square about the Pope though these people obeyed the king they charged them with Catholicke disobedience vpon this cause as they alleadge more then these twenty yéeres the insolent Spaniardes with swoorde famine and many other cruell maners of death haue afflicted and destroyed the naturall people of those countries and haue ransacked spoiled the most of their fayre and rich cities And yet these proud Spaniardes vpon a true account haue neither gayned honor nor profit by the ruines of these most rich countries While the godly Prince of Orange liued the Spaniardes had many foyles and few honorable victories the compassing of whose death with the worthy destruction of their own mur thering instruments testifie the tiranous spirites both of the Pope and the king of Spaine that neither obey the lawes of God honor nor humainitie by working by anye meanes the deathes of their enemies After the good Prince of Orange was traiterouslye slaine the order whereof is vniuersallye knowne and condemned the afflicted people of these countrys by their increasing calamities soone missed the benefite of his graue counsels But God be praised for the life and happines of her sacred maiesty euen good Quéene Elizabeth who with a mercifull eye and a Princely hand hath both beheld and giuen large sucker to their afflictions to the afflictions of these appressed people of the low countries to them I say with royall defence publicke succour and to the persecuted ChristiaÌ„s of all nations as their calamities required her sacred maiesty euen her onely zeale and vertue hath preserued Scotlande from forraine outrage and ciuill destruction the yonge kinge of Scots whom God blesse with deuine and heroicall vertues confesseth her maiesty to be his mother by whom next vnder God he liueth and raigneth she hath giuen him a kingdome in redéeming of it foorth of the tyranny of straungers and disobedience of awelesse subiects Her mediation hath much pacified the furies of Fraunce and her clemencye hath refreshed the woundes of Portugall her mercy is the Phisition of forraine afflictions and her holinesse the sure grounde of Englandes peace and prosperity England at this day and from the first hower of her maiesties blessed raigne the wonder of nations England I say of absolute gouernments onely in peace onely in prosperity onely free from féeling the vengeance of enuy many enemies be thou thankful for this deuine protectioÌ„ Englande or rather Englishe men be you counceled by the ouerthrowes of the fore recited monarchies kingdomes and common weales I haue presented you with these conquestes of enuy that you may be fore warned of your worst enemy euen this monster enuy which euer more contendeth against peace and prosperity you are plentifully blessed with both the blessinges and vniuersally besieged with enuy It is miraculous that you haue escaped the mischiefe of all her stratageames and dangerous war The Athenians were ignoraunt of no pollicy to withstaÌ„d their enemy yet could find no defence against enuye but to tame and kéepe vnder their prosperitye they yéerly banished their noble men not such as had offended the law but those which the common people woulde haue banished their wisedomes made the common weale to florishe but neither their wisedomes nor force could banishe enuy out of the hartes of the people they feared this passion more then Alexanders power and good cause why for her venime poysoned Alexander her pollicy murthered Caesar and quelled most of the worthies We néede not search forraine examples to teach vs the power of enuy she destroyed the house of Brut at whose gouernment we begin our Englishe cronicles for Ferrex his brother Porrex striuing for sole soueranitie sought each others confusion Porrex slew Ferrex and their mother murthered Porrex in his bedde in whose deathes the linage of Brute was ended Enuy was the cause of the chaunges of gouernment by the Saxons Danes Britans and lastely the enuy betwéene Harold and his brother after the death of king Edward the confessor was the meane that crowned William the conqueror with the Diadem of England The mischief which enuy sowed in king Richard the secondes dayes brought forth continuall murders ciuill warres and deadly quarrelles during the raignes of sixe kinges that succéeded him To be short this passion since
cut down like the grasse and be withered like the greene hearbe The bosting of the tyrant shal be abased and the desire of the vngodly shal perish And in many other places he heapeth vengance vppon the wicked and pronounceth confusion of their Counsels Againe he promiseth millions of blessings vnto the godly and safe deliuerance out of their enimies hands England hath plentifully tasted of all this goodnesse and with the Psalmist may iustly say The Lorde will be a defence for the oppressed euen a refuge in dew time of trouble It is alredie reported what sundrie seasonable victories Noble Quéene Elizabeth where the vengance of war scarce fastined of any one person saue her enimies hath had from the first houre of her blessed raigne vntil anno 1580. which yere the Pope had prouided a Challice to drink her maiesties pretious blood the king of Spaine expected her Crowne and the Duke of Guise to be domine factotum in Scotland Regard the strength of their pollicie and easinesse of their confusion and you shall plainly sée that the wisedome of the world is folishnesse before God The king of Spaine had prouided a mighty power vnder pretence of some exploit in Aphrica for the inuasion of England Don Iohn should haue maried haue done wonders with that army with which I purpose not to medle but God be praised Don-Iohn was faire buried The yeare was not too farre spent for the king of Spaines purpose who had lost al his cost if that the old king of Portugal had not that yeare dyed with which power he inuaded that kingdom The Duke of Guise should haue occupied Scotland with martiall exercise but the troubles in Piccardy and Dalphine so weakned his strength as his purpose was more then half maimed somwhat was attempted in Scotland but not to the expected purpose The Pope he vndertooke the matter of Ireland and as he thought had laid a sure foundation he picked out a daungerous instrument for his purpose euen Iames Fitz-morice a natural Irish a man wise valiant learned and of great experience in martial affaires he was a great traueller and I may safely say to stir vp troubles which powred destruction vpon his own head This Iames Fitz-moris was sent before to make a passage for the Popes power anno 1579. he ariued in Ireland soone intised the Earle of Desmond Sir Iohn his brother to be traitors but as wise as stout as this traitor Iames Fitz-moris was he was yet peaceably confounded euen in the entrance of his mischieues for he purposing to burne the countrie of the Borkes a noble yong Gentleman in the defence of his fathers country slew him before he saw any successe of his conspired treasons The Popes malice might haue bin quailed by the presagement of euil successe hauing his ankor principall Captaine Fitz-moris thus peaceably vanquished but he incensed more with the displeasure of his death then restrained with the cogitations of Gods prouidence armed his power against Ireland and comforted his souldiers that they shoulde finde in that Countrie manie more friendes then enimies his Cappitaine Fitzmoris had seduced some of the principals and his legate Doctor Saunders had bewitched the multitude vpon a hope which hetherto hath deceiued him the Pope vnder his banner sent out of Italy dâ—…ers Capitaines and bands of souldiers of his owne furnished with treasure munition victuals ensignes banners and all other things requisite for the warre into the Realme of Ireland where the same forces with other auxillier companies out of Spaine landed and fortified themselues very strongly vpon the sea side and erecting the Popes banner proclaimed open war against her Maiesty I am bound by the duety of a true subiect to set downe the ioy and cheerefull behauiours of the English fugitiues in Rome vpon the newes of the Popes forces safe landing in Ireland to the end that those which will beleeue a trueth may knowe that the comming of these disguised Iesuites was absolutely to practise to bring the realme into a warre externall and cyuill hoping by an alteration of gouernement to bring in a change of Religion and not simply as they smothly pretend to saue their Countrie mens soules without any motion of disobedience to her Maiestie their lawfull Quéene In the beginning of Nouember 1580. I returned from Naples to Rome at which time the newes was freach in Rome of the Italians Spanyards ariual in Ireland who promised a wonderful hope of a great victorie against her Maiestie and truely the newes was not so quicke in the Romaines tongues as the ioy was fresh in the English mens faces they could not suppresse the reuealement of their traiterous hearts their common speach was The time drew on that the continuance of the heretikes prosperitie for so they termed the Protestants would make their ouerthrow more gréeuous they so assured themselues of the change of her Maiesties gouernment as in a maner euerie man painted out his owne office The matter was so sure in their owne imaginations as some few that pretended a sorrow for Englands myserie wished that the onely vengeance might light vpon her Maiestie and some of her Maiestrates but they further said that God would not haue it so his iustice could not but send a general subuertion to reuenge the iniurie done vnto so many holy Catholikes which for their Consciences were driuen forth of their countrie with these and such like words they published the wishes of their hearts no one one onely except that in word or gesture séemed to be sorie that straungers should haue dominion in their natiue Countrie wherein they shewed to haue dispositions more vilanous than the seditious Iewes when Ierusalem was beseiged by Titus who although they continually killed one another with cyuill frayes yet to withstande the assault of the Romaines they would in their egerest scyrmiges part themselues and vnite their forces to withstand the forraine enimie Nature teacheth sauage mastiues who how cruelly so euer they fight togeather at the sight of a Beare they will part themselues and fal vpon their natural enimy but these be worse then Mastiues and without they amend God send them the destinie of Dogges And now to the matter of the former newes they ceased not to importune the Pope to sucker his force in Ireland with newe supplies to which end Cardinal Forze with present Commission all along the lower way by Raconati Loretto Ancona and so to Bologna in the Popes proper dominions mustered pressed souldiers 3000. Caliuers were in a readines to be shipped at Lygorne but this preparation was not so spéedie but before al things were set forward Rome receiued newes that the most worthy Captaine the Lord Gray her Maiesties deputie then in Ireland had vanquished and put all the Italian and Spanish souldiers to the sword a few of the principall Captaines except they could not vaunt that they dyed with the
liuer and euerie man that hath authoritie is bounde both to correct the offence and to enquire after the offender If euerie man in his calling woulde thus truely doe the office of a good Common wealthes man Enuie and all euill woulde bee easilie withstoode men woulde soone looke into the dueties of their proper vocation for feare that others looked into the abuses thereof I haue with the authoritie of the wise and learned set downe what is needefull for euerie man to consider of his calling if they will striue against vertue and the credite of their vocations they are worthy of double punishment both for the fault and for wilfulnesse being warned of which I hope the godly reader will be admonished MIRROVR Lib. 3. CHAP. 1. Of the excellency of Royal dignities and dueties of a good King and of the short raignes and violent ends of Tyrantes THE dignitie Royall is so greate and holy as kings that are protectors and defenders of humane society imitate the prouidence of God whose office action is to gouerne al things and therfore rightly and properly are they called Uicars and Ministers of that most soueraine puissant and vniuersall gouerner And he himselfe calleth them gods figuring in that sacred name two hie charges the one that kings crowned with so glorious a name should imitate God whose lieuetenants they are in their religion Iustice and gouernement the other that subiectes knowing the honour that God giueth vnto kings should adore and worship them with all possible reuerence S. Paul saith he that resisteth the ordinance of the king resisteth the ordinance of God Looke what dignitie instruction is giuen vnto the king the Lord vouchsafeth to say that he bestoweth the same himselfe as in these passages of Scripture By me kings raigne Harken then you kings for power is giuen you of the Lord. Dauid thus singeth the Lord teacheth the kings hands to mannage Armes and his fingers to war And to the like effect are many other authorities Porrus king of the Indians being taken in battaile Alexander demaunded of him how he would be intertained Porrus answered as a king Alexander demaunded againe if he would say any thing else Porrus said no for all honor is contained in this word king This name king was held of so great reuerence among the people of many nations as the Indians and the Persians worshiped their kings as deuine Idols held the incounter happie if by chance they saw their king The Ethiopians so reuerenced their king as they adiudged him worthie of death that did but spit in their kings presence The Poets celebrated Iubiter more by the name of king than any other title It is wonderfull with what patience the Romanes and other Nations suffered the tyrannie of their vitious Emperors and barbarous kinges and if by Gods Iustice any of them were cut off the vnciuile multitude were the instruments thereof for the graue and wise senators were seldome guiltie of their destructions At this day the Turkes so reuerence their Emperors commaundements as they execute themselues if their Emperour pronounce the sentence Christian kings are nothing so seuere towards their subiectes but Christian subiectes are farre lesse obedient to their kings well euill will fal vpon his house that resisteth against the ordinance of the king for he that resisteth receiueth vnto himselfe damnation Yea albeit the king bée a tyrant so long as his commaundements are not to the dishonour of God He that resisteth because the king is a tyrant encreaseth his sinnes and doubleth Gods wrath who sendeth Tyrants to punish the sinnes of the wicked who saith I will do vengeance on my enimies by my enimies God saieth Iob maketh the hypocrite to raigne for the sinnes of the people In O see God speaketh thus I will giue thee a king in my furie And in Esay Assur is the Rodde and staffe of my furie By these and many other testimonyes it is apparant that God setteth kings in their kingdomes by they good or euill and will not haue them remoued at their subiectes pleasure A man that placeth an euill steward ouer his house in no case will allow that his seruaunts shall put him out of office for that such boldnesse would lessen the authoritie of their master who hath the prerogatiue to place and displace his officers much more presumption is it if subiects displace their prince who hath a greater power ouer them than a master ouer his seruaunts for the master in some cases shal answere the sute of his bond-man but the king in no case de Iure shall answere a trespasse done to his subiect for his prerogatiue is aboue the law although many good kings suffer themselues to be gouerned by their good Lawes God setteth them in their kingdomes and God alone will haue the authoritie to remoue them Saul vniustly persecuted Dauid yet Dauid hauing aduantage to slay him said to Abisai distroy him not for who can lay his hands of the Lords annoynted and bee guiltlesse And he further saide The Lord keepe me from laying my hands of the Lords annoynted In auncient times kings not onely gouerned the common wealth but also tooke charge of the Sacrifices and Ceremonies The Hebrewes annointed their kings with the selfe same Oyle that they did their hie Priestes which prooueth that kings are sacred and who so euer layeth violent hands vppon them cannot but bée guiltie of Irriligion Wée sée dignitie of Royall gouernement which dependeth vppon one soueraigne heade to be liuely figured in man himselfe in whom reason gouerneth as soueraigne Quéene The world it selfe where aboue our eyes we behold infinite bodies and motions which hindreth not one an others course belowe we sée a Sea that continually threateneth the earth and yet ouerfloweth it not The earth being verie waightie and massiue we may perceiue to be set or rather hanging in the aire and yet stirreth not all which would soone be out of order if it were not gouerned by the wisedome of one onely God Euen so a kingdome which as Plato defineth is composed of a mightie number of people and as the prouerbe goeth So manie men so many iudgements would soone haue come to naught through the couetous desire to raigne and disdaine to obey if there were not one soueraigne commaunder of these infinite affections which prooueth that Monarchia which is the gouernement of one is far more sacred excellent and perfite then Aristocratia Democratia Oligarchia Laocratia or any other compound gouernement for it is a harder matter to finde out many than one that is good The contrarietie of affections where there are many heads can hardly but bring forth enuie deuision and to conclude continuall dissention Considering then the worthines of Monarchia and the maiestie of a king obedience is not onely required of a subiect but the daunger that followeth counselleth and forbiddeth so much as to murmure against princes There is an auncient