The Poets pleaſantly deuiſe that when Iupiter had made man, glorying in the workemanſhip thereof, he brought him to find-fault Momus, and demanded what he could eſpie in him worthy reprehenſion: Momus commended the orderly feature and ſéemely diſpoſition of the lineamēts: but one thing (ſaith he) I greatly diſlike, that thou haſt forgotten to frame a window in his breſt, whereby it might be known whether his hart and his tongue went together or not. If the conſciences of traitorous Papiſts might be as througly ranſackt, and as déeply ſounded, as they may be iuſtly doubted, there would be found cakes of foule cankered malice, & long feſtred choler buried vnder painted hoods, & mealemouthed proteſtations. Then would the grutchings & murmurings of Eſau come to light, Geneſ. 27. who threatned to ſlay his brother Iacob after the daies of mourning were finiſht. But take ye héed to your ſelues, leſt the miſchiefe ye intend againſt others, be in the end deriued vpō your own pates. For it often times commeth to paſſe that God ſnareth the wicked in their proper inuentions, and puniſheth them by the ſame meanes whereby they offend. Thomyris quéene of Scithia, after ſhe had vanquiſhed Cyrus, ſmote off his head, and threw it into a veſſel of blood, ſaying: Now drinke thou blood thy belly full, which thou haſt hitherto ſo much thirſted after. Craſſus being flaine in the expedition againſt the Parthians, they tooke molten gold and poured it into his mouth, ſaying: Now glut and accloie thy ſelfe with gold, Iudic. 1. wherwith thy vnſtaunched hunger was neuer yet ſatiſfied. And when the Iſraelites had taken Adoni-bezek, they cut off the thumbes of his hands, and the great toes of his féet: wherupon he confeſſed, ſaying: Seuentie kings haning the thumbes of their hands and of their feet cut off, gathered bread vnder my table: as I haue done, ſo God hath rewarded me.

Your deſire is to erect a freſh the pageant of papiſtrie; and for the compaſſing thereof, ye are willing, not onely to contribute your bracelets & earerings to the making of the golden calfe, Exod. •• . as the idolatrous childrent of Iſrael did: but ready alſo to offer your ſons in ſacrifice, as the vnnaturall king of Moab did, 2. Reg 3. to pacifie his incenſed Gods: naie, The Papiſts are content to hazard theyr liues for the reſtoring of the Romiſhe Religion. contented to make your owne liues a prate as the Athenians did, when they accorded by caſting of lottes to ſurrender themſelues to be deuoured of that hideous monſter Minotaurus. Thoſe among you that haue rotted in the corruption, and wallowed in the filthines of their opinions, longing with the dogge to returne to theyr olde vomite, deſerue to be laughed at for their madnes: concerning whome we may cry out with the Prophet: Is there no baulme at Gilead? Ierem. 8. is there no Phiſicion there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people healed? And thoſe maie be compared to the Scarabie, which beeing bred in the dunghill proſpereth there exceeding well: but if ſhée happen to ſettle vnder the roſe trée, ſhe dieth incōtinently. The other that neuer ſawe papiſtrie in his higheſt ruffe, but through the ſeducing of their olde maiſters, haue bene brought to the bent of their bow, are to be pitied for their follie: of whome we may ſay with the Orator, that they may ſeeme to haue ſucked error out of theyr Nurſes breſtes with the verie milke of theyr infancie; and theſe are like the fooliſh flie that dallieth ſo long with the candle, till ſhee ſenge her winges in the flame: theſe playe as did the fond Satyre, who eſpying the fire that Prometheus firſt brought downe from heauen, would needes kiſſe it becauſe it gliſtered in hys eyes. Both theſe ſortes iointly conſidered, reſemble that ſottiſh Grillus; who, when he with the reſt of his companions had by the polliticke and ingenious ſtratageme of Ʋliſſes eſcaped from out the denne of that deformed Ciclop Polyphemus, would needes haue gone back, with the hazard of his life to haue recouered his girdle that he left behind him. And beeing afterwardes in the ſame voiage by the inchantments of Circes chaunged into the forme of an hog refuſed to return to the ſhape of a man. The pope is that monſter and aſtoniſhment of nature, who hath ſo long inchained chriſtian ſoules in miſerable thraldome and more then Egiptian ſeruitude, The Romiſh Religion more infected with errors then Augaeus ſtable was filled with ordure. where they haue continued lockt vp in his darkeſome dungeon as in the ſhadow of death: which is more replentiſht with ordure then Augaeus ſtable, and therefore requireth a mightier and more puiſſant champion to purge it then Hercules was. He is that abhominable ſtrumpet that ſo long beſotted ye world with her witchcraftes and ſorceries; that made The kings and inhabitants of the earth dronken with the wine of her fornication. Apocal. 17 But in the hand of the Lord there is a cup and the wine is red, it is full mixt, & he poureth out of the ſame: Pſalme. 75. ſurely all the wicked of the world ſhal wring out and drinke the dregs therof. If all the wicked ſhall drink of it, then of all the moſt wicked, in reſpect of whom Ieroboam may be reputed for righteous, he, euen he of all others ye moſt wicked, ſhal haue a large draught for his ſhare, he ſhall turne off a full carouſe.

If ye would but faſten your eyes vpon me a while, ye might in my forehead eaſilie reads what woulde be your own deſtinies vnder his gouernment. For though time hath healed the wounds with which he deſpitefully mangled my body yet ye ſkars and blemiſhes remain ſtil behind. My meaning is, there yet liueth many a one, whoſe father, mother, brother, ſiſter, kinſman or friend, this ſauage Antichriſt hath wrongfully murthered, & by vntimelydeath abridged ye date of theyr days; cōfiſcating their goods, and leauing their poſterity not onely fatherles children, but alſo comfortles orphans. When I look back to the calamity of thoſe times, I féele my poore hart begin to reſolue into ſtreams of blood, & mine eyes melt into flouds of teares, at the onely remembrance thereof; euen as the carcaſe of a murtherd man guſheth forth into bléeding at the preſence of the murtherer. Hercules when he came vp from hel, looking back at the wonderful dangers that he had waded through, ſhooke for ioy. And how can I but reioyce with trembling before my Lord God, who hath takē off my purple garment, and clothed me with a white robe; who hath wiped away the teares from mine eies, and crowned me with ioy and gladnes? Therefore bleſſed be my Lord ye hath greeted his ſpouſe with this conſolation: Behold winter is paſt, Cant. 2. the ſtorm is blown ouer, & gone awaie. Yea, for euer magnified he his name that hath reſpected the lowly eſſate of hys handmaid. How might I now expreſſe ye moitie of grief that I then felt when my boſome was bedewed with the warim blood of guiltles martirs? when reuerent old age wanted due obſequies? Theſe things are too true to be denied, and to apparant to be diſſembled. when flouring youth was cauſeles cropt in his prime? when womans weaknes was not ſpared, no, not the woman with child? but (O more then barbarous cruelty) when the infant ſpringing out of the mothers wombe was thrown againe into the fire? what ſhould I ſpeake of burning the hands of perſons vncondemned? or of priuie ſlaughters cōmitted in priſons? ſeeing to ye former example I doubt whether Phalaris hunſelf (if he had then liued) could haue added ame thing for the aggrauating of their tiranny. Thinke with your ſelues how I groned vnder the importable waight of ſo lamentable diſtreſſes: which if they did then craze my hart, they would now force it to breake in ſunder.

But (as Capnio ſaid) quum duplicarentur lateres, tum venit Moſes: when Pharao cauſed the taſk of brick to be doubled, then came Moſes. And when burdens begin to grow ouergrieuous, then ariſeth vp deliuerance. When ye Philiſtines offred ſacrifice to their God Dagon, Iudic. 16. ſcoffing and inſulting at the miſerie of Samſon, whoſe eyes they had before bored out, then was their comical paſtime interturbed with a tragicall concluſion: the houſe came tumbling on theyr heads, & God made him their ſcourge whome they made theyr game. Prouerb. 16. For pride goeth before deſtruction and a high mind before a fall: Luc. 18. and could it be that God ſhoulde not auenge his elect which cried daie and night vnto him, yea, though hee ſuffered them long?

When Neſſus the Centaure intending to rauiſh Dianeira, had receiued his deathes wound for his hire at Hercules hand, he then beſought her of pardon, and making ſemblance of great ſorrow, he gaue her of his blood, enioyning her to reſerue it as a rare monument and riche treaſure, the vertue whereof hee ſaid was inualuable: for therby ſhee might at her pleaſure reclayme the wandering affection of her huſband, if hee ſhould chance at any time through diſtoialtie to eſtraunge himſelfe from her companie. Of which thing ſhee afterward making triall, waſhed his ſhirt in the bloud, which ſo ſoone as he had at vnawares put on, he was therewith poyſoned. In like caſe the Pope indeuouring to deſpoile the Church of England of her dignities by incrochement and intruſion; and to curtoll the prerogatiue of the royall ſtate by vſurpation: had in a happie houre both the check and the mate giuen him; wherupon he almoſt in vtter deſpair of filling vp ſo great a breach, hath ſcattered abroad his lying ſpirites to inueigle our malcontent Romaniſtes, to reuolt from obeyſance, warranting them by force of his abſolution, as by Neſſus bloud, to rectifie all imaginarie and ſuppoſed iniuries, wherewith they ſhal find themſelues neuer ſo little agreeued: and thus doe they (you I meane) practiſe to execute this deuiſe: but (thanks be giuen to our mercifull God) to your own ſubuerſions. The differences are: what Dianeira did was vpon ignorant zeale: what you doe is vpon peſtilent rancour. Hercules imbraced ſtrange loue contrarie to dutie: but her Maieſtie tendereth you farre aboue your deſertes.

But leaſt I might be thought to compoſe clamorous inuectiues againſt the Sea of Rome, not ſufficiently poized with their iuſt moments of reaſon; I wil alledge ſome ſpecialties for the confirming of my aſſertion. As touching the ſcope of their doctrine, becauſe it is a matter not wholie incident to the meannes of my caparitie, and ſomewhat without the compaſſe of this diſcourſe, I purpoſely relinquiſh it. Howbeit if I ſhould deſcend to the diſcuſſing of particularities I coulde challenge him of many ſciſmaticall points built vpon humane tradition, and repugnant to the veritie of holie Scriptures. For howe hath hee inferſed his 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to continue the wodden worſhipping of images? to the whiche I may (not vnfitly) applie the poeticall Ironie, which is vſed againſt the Egiptians that adored Onions and Garlike, as the Papiſts do trees and ſtocks: O ſanctae gentes quibus innaſcuntur in hortis Numina. O holie people they whoſe Gods Within their Gardens grow.

How hath he multiplied Mediatours, making ſome of ſaluation, others of interceſſion; derogating from the office of Chriſt, to maintain ye inuocation of Saints? whereas the Scripture preciſely deſigneth one, ſaying: There is one God, 1. Tim. 2. and one mediatour betwene God and man, which is the man Ieſus Chriſt. How hath he foiſted in his diſtinction of mortall and veniall ſinnes, to prop his Purgatorie that is now ſo ruinous for lack of reparation? We are taught in Gods worde, that all ſinnes are venial in Chriſt, except the ſinne againſt the holie Ghoſt: (which is therefore called of Saint Iohn, 1. Iohn. 5. Rom. 6. Marc. 3. a ſinne vnto death) and all mortall in theyr owne nature. For the wages of ſinne is death. And, all ſinnes ſhalbe forgiuen vnto the children of men, and blaſphemies wherewith they blaſpheme: but hee that blaſphemeth againſt the holie Ghoſt, ſhal neuer haue forgiuenes, but is culpable of eternall damnation. Theſe may ſerue to giue you a taſte, ſéeing it ſtands not with my purpoſe to frame any cōtrouerſial treatiſe: but ye may geſſe the beaſt by his paw. In generall this is to be obſerued in their doctrine, that they when they are had in chaſe, they haue ſo manie muces, inturninges: winding corners, and ſtarting holes, that but for the tracke of their footing it were hard to ouertake them. In their intricate ſophiſines & inexplicable quiddities, they play like the fiſh called the Cuttle, which when the fiſherman is readie to lay hand vpon her, caſteth forth a ſlimis blacke humour like vnto inke, which darkening the vpper face of the water, cauſeth the fiſherman to fayle of hys ayme, and by that meanes ſhe eſcapeth: and I may ſay of them as Ceſar ſayd of the Scithians whoſe maner it was to lurke in vncouth thickets: Difficilius eſt inuenire, quàm ſuperare: It is an harder matter to find them out then to ouercome them.

Touching his gouernement, it is nothing elſe but a mightie faction of men, and armed power of Princes bending their forces directly agaynſt the Goſpell of peace. Howe intollerable is his ambition that arrogateth to himſelfe Ʋniuerſalitie, truſting to draw not onelie Iordan like the Behemoth, but the foure quarters of the world into hys mouth? Iob. 40. And yet behold his ſhameleſſe hipocriſie, The Pores ambitious pride ſhadowed with a ſhow of humility. who claiming ſupreme iuriſdiction in al cauſes, and throughout all Countries, yet vaileth bonnet, and abaſeth hys ſtile calling himſelfe ſeruum ſeruorum Dei. Of which diſſembled humilitie this Diſtich was compiled, not altogether vnworthie the rehearſal. Roma tibi quondam ſuberant Domini dominorum, Seruorum ſerui nunc tibi ſunt Domini: Which is Time was (O Rome) when Lords of Lords, to thee did becke and bowe: Time's paſt: and ſeruantes ſeruantes are thy Lordes and maiſters now.

Hath he not always vnder a colour of pietie and religion, broched moſt impious and leaſt religious practiſes? So that long ſince the Germanes perceiuing hys iugling, howe he foſtered contentions, cloked murthers wincked at hereſies, and diſpenſed with all crimes how capitall ſo euer, if he might thereby either dilate his ſegniories, or furniſhe his treaſurie, reiected his pretenſed aucthoritie: and marking howe outragiouſly hee ſet vp his briſtles and whetted his tuſkes againſt ſuch as croſſed his deuiſes, anathematiſing them with the horrible curſſe of Shimei, and ratling out his excommunications againſt them, they both ſharply reprooued and openly derided his Bulles before the which he was accuſtomed to prefix the name of the almightie, moſt blaſphemouſly making it to leade the waye to his diueliſh execrations: ſo that it became amongeſt them a common byworde: In nomine Dei incipit omne malum: all miſchiefe beginnes in Gods name. And to gleane a fewe eares out of a full ſheafe, I will ſet downe ſome ſeuerall examples. In the tyme of Gregorie the ninth, ſprang vp the diuiſion of the Guelfes and the Gibellines: the Guelfes bolſtering out the ſwelling inſolencie of the Popedome, and the Gibellines aſſiſting the iuſt title of the imperiall maieſtie. Through the whiche occaſion, moſte tumultuous vprores and deadly warres were arreared: the furie wherof being ſcarſe calmed & allaied within one hundred yeares after, hath left a perpetuall memorie to the world, How the fable of Elſes & Goblins firſt came vp. by thoſe tearmes of elfes & goblins, that are at this day more generally knowne then rightly vnderſtood. During which faction Boniface the eight aſpired to ye Sea: who beeing maliciouſly inflamed agaynſt the families of Columne and Ʋrſini, becauſe they fauoured the Gibellines, wrought them all poſſible deſpite, in putting theyr bodyes to the ſword, their houſes to the ſacke, and theyr goodes to the ſpoyle. And ſo irreconcilable was this his wrath that on Aſhwedneſday whē he ſprinckled aſhes on his Cardinalls heads, cōming to Porcherus Archbiſhoppe of Genna, who was of the Gibellines, whereas he had vſed theſe words to the others: Memento homo quod cinis es, & in cinerem reuertêris: That is; Remember man that thou art aſhes and into aſhes thou ſhalt returne: Here was a hote ſtomacke and colde deuotion. a ſodaine fit of cheler boiling in his ſtomack, cauſed him to forget the depth of his deuotion, and alter the forme of his ſpeeche; ſo that throwing the aſhes into the Archbiſhops face, hee bluſtred out in theſe terms; Memento homo quod Gibellinus es, & cum Gibellinis moriêre: Remember fellowe that thou art a Gibelline, and with ye Gibellines thou ſhalt to the pot. Deus bone, tantaenè animis coeleſtibus irae? Good God, can holie heades harbour ſuch rancorous hatred?

How miſchieuouſly did Gregorie the ſeuenth conſpire with the ſtates of Saxonie, againſt Henrie the fourthe Emperour of Germanie, when commencing quarrell againſt him, he cōuented him of hereſie, for beſtowing eccleſiaſticall promotions vpon perſons both inſufficient for theyr giftes, and defamed for theyr behauiours? and ſentencing againſt hym, hee adiudged him to doe dayly penaunce at the Churche-dore of Peter and Paule, for the ſpace of one whole yeare. Moreouer he inforced hym barefooted and barelegged to creepe to kiſſe his feete. And during this turmoyle, hee ſuborned Rodolphe Duke of Saxonie to inuade the Empire: wherof the Emperour beeing aduertiſed, thought it was nowe high tyme to reſiſte ſo daungerous a practiſe, and haſting into Germanie hee encountred Rodolphe, A guiltie conſcience is a biting corroſiue. and in fiue ſeuerall battayles diſcomfited him. Rodolphe ſhortlie after lying on his deathe bed, was preſented with hys owne hand that had beene ſmitten off in fight. Whiche when he behelde, turning hys face to the Biſhoppes that ſtoode about hym, hee ſayd: This is the right hand, wherewith I vowed my fayth to the Emperor; now is the ſame become a witneſſe of my breach of fidelitie, and traiterous attemptes againſt my ſoueraign: chiefly by your, euen by your inſtigation and procurement, my Lords. If I might without offence ſpurre the Pope a queſtion, I would faine know whether S. Peters keyes hang (as he ſaith) at his girdle for that end to barre the gates of vnitie, and open the doores of diſſenſion? If there be a bleſſing laide vp in ſtore for the peacemakers, let him tell me what ſhalbe the reward of ſuch as kindle coles of mutinie and ſedition? Eſpecially ſéeing he is in double fault that giueth offence by his example. Was not the preſumption of Alexander the third vnmeaſurable, and the pride Lucifer-like, that he exerciſed againſt the Emperour Fredericke, ſurnamed Barbaroſſa, vpon whoſe backe when he had ſet the ſtates of Italie and Ʋenice, and alſo captiuated Otto the Emperours ſonne, working vpon this aduantage he conſtrained him to yéeld to ſuch vnreaſonable condicions, as better agréed with his impudent and vaineglorious nature to demaund, then with Frederickes magnanimitie to condeſcend vnto. So that he was driuen to proſtrate himſelfe in Ʋenice at the Popes féete; and yet he not contented with this, more then humble ſubmiſſion, contumeliouſly trode vpō his necke, abuſing that text of ſcripture: Pſalme. 91. Super Aſpidem & Baſiliſcum, &c. Thou ſhalt walke vpon the Adder and the Baſiliske, the yong Lion and the Dragon ſhalt thou tread vnder thy feet. The Emperor ſéeing himſelfe ſo diſdainefully ouercrowed by a dunghill crauen, could not ſuppreſſe his heroicall ſtomacke, but anſwered againe; Non tibi ſed Petro: I doe this in reuerence of Peter, and not for feare of thée. Whereat the Pope rauing, with open mouth intercepted his wordes exclaming, Et mihi & Petro: thou ſhalt dos this reuerence both to Peter and me. This ruffling champion was (no doubt) profoundly inſtructed in the ſchoole of Chriſt; Mat. 12. whoſe lowlineſſe was ſuch that he brake not the bruiſed reede, nor quenched the ſmoking flaxe: he reproued his Diſciples, when they would haue had fire to come down from heauen and conſume the Samaritans, Luc. 11. Mat. 11. Chriſtes ſchoole is of humilitie: but the Pope may be turned out for a non profi • ient. ſaying: Ye know not of what ſpirite ye are. He willed them to learne of him: For I am (ſaith he) lowlie and meeke: and ſo ſhall ye find reſt to your ſoules. What ſhould I rehearſe the broiles, wherewith Gregorie the ninth peſtered Frederike the ſecond? who for that in a cauſe which admitted no dilatorie circumſtance, but as it imported matter of ſinguler conſequence, ſo it required meanes of preſent expedition, for that (I ſay) he departed without taking ſolemne farewell & humble leaue of the Popes holines, hauing leuied a ſupply of ſouldiours to paſſe into Aſia for reſkuing of the diſtreſſed Chriſtians in their wars againſt the Saraſens, he was retracted by the Popes countermaund, that he ſent to the Chriſtian armie ſtraightly interdicting them to follow the Emperous conduct: neither could he by any interceſſion obtaine releaſe, vntil he had throwne a honie ſop into Corberus iawes, and ſtopt the Popes mouth with paiment of an hundred and twentie thouſand ounces of gold.

Theſe things being ſo plaine that they can not be ouerſhadowed with anie pretence, me thinkes the painters anſwere was reaſonably framed, that he made in defence of his workemanſhip: who being checkt becauſe he dad drawne the counterfeit of S. Peter too high coloured, whome they affirmed to haue béene of pale countenance, foreworne with carefull vigilancie and paineful trauaile, which he alwaies tooke about his paſtorall affaires & Apoſtolicall negotiations: I haue (ſaid he) made him not as he was on earth, but as he is now in heauē: from whence looking down into the liues of his ſucceſſors, he bluſheth for ſhame to ſée their ſhameleſſe miſdemeanure. And as the Pope hath in other countries plaide his vagaries, to the diſturbance of publike vnitie and racking of common wealthes by pillage & extortiō: ſo hath he vexed me with violēt turmoiles & chargeable impoſitions to my no ſmall griefe, and no leſſe detriment. I can not yet forget the dealing of that gréedie cormorant, and ſweating Bull of Baſan, A laſt of the Popes practiſe here in England. whom I laſtly recited, who in the raigne of king Henry the third, ſent ouer his Legate, rentgatherer, or caterpiller, to purloine from mee of euerie Church throughout the Realme a yearely reuenue of foure markes: the which to what ſumme it amounteth I refer to your conſideration. His letters mandatorie were deliuered into the hands of the Archbiſhops & Biſhops for aſſiſting of the Legate in his collection: enioining them withall to prouide thrée hundred of the beſt benefices, to be imploied vpon thrée hundred Italians at his appointment. Was not this to charge them to rend the fléeces from off their own backes, for the couering of his filthineſſe? The king being certified of the matter calleth a Synode of Biſhops, and cauſing conference to be had in their conuocation houſe, The king of Englands care for the welfare of his Realme and ſubiects. he thereupon addreſſeth his letters to the Pope, in his owne name, and in the behalfe of his ſubiects. But when he ſaw his trauell beſtowed this way to be fruſtrate, he imparted the matter to his Lords aſſembled in Parlement, diſcourſing what inconueniences muſt of neceſſitie enſue, if they obeyed the Popes precept: and in moſt earneſt and diſcrete maner he debateth the cauſe ſeuerally with euerie particular Biſhop, willing them to weane their affection from ſtraungers, and not practiſe the vndoing of their natiue countrie for gratifying of the Pope. But finding them peruerſe he mingleth his intreatie with menaces, denouncing openlie againſt them the penalties of the lawes and auncient ſtatutes of his Realme: charging them further vpon their allegeance to deliuer no money out of the Realme to the beggering of the State. They (as beſt became them) yéelded at the laſt, obedience to their Liege Lorde.

But Gregorie thus defeated of his purpoſe and croſt with a contrarie cue, cleane beſide his expectation, began to make batterie with his gunſhot of excommunication, directed to the Biſhop of Worceſter, of whoſe inclinatiō he was beſt perſwaded, with cōmand to proſecute it in moſt vehement ſort, that no poſſible furtherance ſhould be omitted for the effectuating thereof againſt a certaine day preſcribed, wherein the Audit of this ſacred receipte muſt bee giuen vp. The matter was ſo diligentlie trauerſed, what with the kinges Embaſſadors on the one ſide, to appeaſe the Pope; what with the inſatiable couetouſneſſe of the Pope on the otherſide to impoueriſh the Realme, that notwithſtanding all importunitie, ſubmiſſion and reaſonable proffers that the king could make, no ſpéeche of reconcilement would be harkened vnto, vntill he had graunted the Pope a tenth of all goods moueable in England and Scotland: The king in his owne Realme ouerwaighed by the vſurped authoritie of the Pope. and then (to vſe Matthaeus Pariſienſis his own words) Our Lord the Pope being before inwardlie inflamed aboue all thinges to ſuppreſſe the hautineſſe of the king, recomforted with theſe promiſes, was made to conſent. The which how pernicious it became to the ſtate of this Realme can hardly by anie eſtimate be comprehended. For irregular cuſtome hauing once ſet in his foot, would not for many yeares after take the repulſe. So that the Church of Rome hath to her ſhame approued the veritie of this ſaying; Religio peperit Diuitias; ſed Filia deuorauit Matrem: Religion brought forth Riches; but the Daughter ſwalowed vp the Mother, like the Vipers brood. Such gourmandiſers as praie vpon Princes, whereas they ought of duetie to pray for them, will be found to haue runne farre into arrerages, when it ſhall be ſaid vnto them, Giue account of thy ſtewardſhip, for thou maiſt be no longer Stewarde. Of ſuch it may bee ſaide, as Alcibiades ſaid to Pericles, when he perceiued him very carefull to make vp his reckonings to the Athenians; O how much better were it for thee, if thou couldeſt deuiſe to giue no accounts at all. The king of Englands Exchecquer diſfurniſhed vnder pretence of ranſoming the Pope. It is not vnknowne howe the treaſure of this realme was of late yeares tranſported, when that ambitious Prelate Cardinall Woolſey conueied at one time out of the Kinges Exchecker two hundred and fourtie thouſand poundes ſterling, for relieuing of Pope Clement, whom the Duke of Bourbon after the ſacking of Rome, drew foorth of the Caſtle of Saint Angelo, and detained him priſoner in the Emperours armie. The which ſummes of monie he conuerted to furniſh the french King with neceſſaries to make warre vpon the Emperour, who was then in league with King Henrie of England.

What ſhould I ſpeake of pardons, Peter-pence, with a number ſuch polling & pedling deuiſes of oppreſſion wheref the manifeſtation of the Goſpel hath clearly diſburdened you? What ſhould I declare how licentiouſly he hath preſumed to cōtroll the mightie kings of England, infringing their liberties, abrogating their ordinances, repealing their ſtatutes, and ingrating vpon their prerogatiues? Wherein if hee were at any time gainſaid or ouerthwarted, he then caſt about to depoſe them. As, Henry the ſeconde was ſuſpended from his Crowne by the ſpace of foure daies; went barefoote to Thomas Beckets Tombe dying the rough ſtones with his blood: and moſt vnkingly deiecting himſelf to be diſcipled with the rod, of the Monkes of Canterburie. King Iohn was miſerably vexed by Innocent the third, forced at laſt to reſigne his Crowne with all title of ſoueraintie both in England and Ireland into Pandulphus hand, who detaining it fiue daies, then reſtored it. This infortunate King after a troubleſome and litigious raigne was in the ende poiſoned by a traitorous Moonke; as alſo Henry the ſeuenth Emperour of Germany was by a Dominicane Frier, who miniſtring ye ſacrament vnto him, had before dipped the oſte in poiſon. I muſt néedes highly commend the courage of king Henry ye firſt, The magnanimity of king Henrie the firſt, in withſtanding the Hope. who beeing in contention with Anſelme about inueſtitures, pleaded the ſufficiencie of his owne authoritie within his proper territories, ſaying; There is an ancient cuſtome of my kingdome ordained by my Father, that no perſon ſhal ſue anie appeale from vs to the Pope: whoſoeuer will attempt to violate this cuſtome, doeth offend againſt our Maieſtie, and the Crowne of Englande: hee that will ſeeke to deſpoile vs of our Crowne, is an enemie, and a Traitor to our perſon. And againe, when Anſelme would haue had him follow the Popes Letters: what haue I to doe with the Popes Letters, I will not breake the lawes of my Realme for the pleaſure of anie Pope.

As touching his market-making and whole ſale of ſpirituall promotions to rawe and bankerout chapmen, it was truely ſaid that the ſtate of Aſſes was much better then of Horſes; becauſe the Horſes were faine to poſt to Rome for benefices, but the Aſſes obtained them. Of his ordinarie abſolution for mony without reſpect of crime, he deſcanted pretily that ſaid, Friers were fed fat with mens ſinnes. Of the ſciſmes in his Sea, he ſpake rightly, ye being aſked why in their ſuffrages they praied not for Cardinals & Biſhops, that is (quoth he) vnderſtood where we ſay, Oremus pro ſciſmaticis & haereticis; let vs praie for ſciſmatikes & heretikes. I omit his beaſtly gaine raked out of ye ſinkhole of brothel-houſes. I loth to think vpon his tolerating of ye moſt ſtinking ſin of abhominable Sodomitrie: in commendation whereof Iohn Caſus Archbiſhop of Beneuentane, ye Popes Legat to the Venetians wrote a booke. O deteſtable impudencie, to magnifie that in words, yea in writing, ye onely thought wherof woundeth the heart with horror. Indéed Sineſius wrote a pamphlet in praiſe of Baldnes: Fauorinus commended ye quartane ague: Apuleus ye Aſſe: Eraſmus not vnwittily blazed the praiſe of Follie: & one of late painted out the praiſe of nothing, yet to ſome purpoſe: but what age euer hatched ſuch a forlorne monſter as this? Yet was he a deuout Catholike, a Romiſh Prelate, and one of ſpeciall account with his holineſſe: therefore I mate well thinke like maiſter like man: But roome now, els ſhall we bring all Rome on our back: for the Pope ſits in S. Peters Chaire forſooth. Why, ſo did the Scribes and Phariſies in Moſes ſeate: yet no into the holier men for that. So that I maie iuſtly ſay of him, as Themiſtocles ſaid to a certain odde Seriphian, who obiected to Themiſtocles that his renowne aroſe more through the glorie of his countrie, then by the merite of his vertues: Not ſo: ſaid Themiſtocles: for if I were a Seriphian I woulde not liue without honour: and though thou were an Athenian thou couldeſt not liue without ſhame. So, if Saint Peter were at Rome, It is an odious compariſon betwixt S. Peter, and the Pope. he liued not like the Pope: and if the Pope ſit in Saint Peters Chaire, yet he liues not like Saint Peter. Yet dare his blinde bold bayards make compariſon, and caſt him their gauntlet that will auouch the contrarie. For they affirme his integritie of life to be vnſpotted, and the ſinceritie of his doctrine vncorrupted. They wil ſay Saint Peter wrought miracles: I cannot denie it: and to counteruaile that the Pope ſpeakes Oracles: I dare not belieue it: and they cannot proue it. But I iump in opinion with him, who anſwered, when as the Pope vainely vaunted of his heapes of gold, ſaying: I cannot ſay as S. Peter did, gold and ſiluer haue I none: No (ſaid the other) nor you cannot doo as S. Peter did, cauſe the lame to ariſe and walke. But as Neanthus hauing got Orpheus harpe went about iangling and iarring ſo long, that wheras he expected the trées ſhould haue danſed after his pipe, he brought the dogs about his eares: ſo ye Pope hath ſo long boſted of Peters ſucceſſiō, that ye ſimpleſt diſcern his doubling, & he that hath but halfe an eie may find out his groſſe iugling, & legerdemain. Yea, God hath raiſed vp diuers of his owne part, to publiſh his dealings, who if they ſhould all haue held their peace, the verie ſtones would haue cried out for the diſplaying of the ſame. I will not wade any farther in recounting the actions of holy Father Pope, & holy mother Church, beeing matter ſo tedious for the length, and for the beaſtlines ſo loathſome; but will knit it vp with this conceited Paſquine: Roma quid eſt? amor eſt. qualis? praepoſterus. Vnde hoc? Romamares. Noli dicere plura, ſcio.

And yet behold, your reſtles and retchles deſire longeth and laboureth to inthronize this bloodſucking Canniball, this brocher of quarrelles, this patrone of hereſies, this robber of churches, this controller of Princes, this enemy of Chriſt. Both the meanes and the end of alteration are matters of exceeding miſchiefe and extreme follie. Neither are the meanes whereby ye would plant him any leſſe peſtilent, then the ende wherfore. Inuaſion of the Spaniard is the meanes; aduancing of Papiſtrie is the end. It is a common ſaying, He blames Neptune without cauſe, that hauing once made ſhipwracke, will to ſea the ſecond time. You haue had alreadie ſome experience of the Spaniardes diſpoſition among your ſelues, and may elſewhere take perfitter notice. So that in this your intent I cannot more aptly compare you then to a foole that laugheth and maketh ſemblance of mirth when he goeth to the ſtocks to be puniſhed for his follie. But if it be a point of wiſedome for a man to looke to his owne houſe when he ſeeth his neighbours roofe on fire, then firſt learne that point, leaſt in neglecting it ye ouerſée the beſt point in your tables. What the Spaniard hath attempted in the low countries, is better knowne then I am able to report: and what he had attained ere this, may partly be coniectured, if God had not mooued her Maieſties minde, and ſtrengthened her hand to bridle his tyrannies, to ſuccour their diſtreſſes, and ſupport his owne trueth. Conſider what he hath done in the kingdome of Naples and in the Indies, and truſt him accordingly. When Naples came to his hands, it had in it ten Princes, nine chiefe Officers, nineteene Dukes, one & twenty Marquiſes, three & thirty Earles, beſides of Barons and Lords a great number. He obtained it by a pretenſed title of marriage, after it had bene defended a longe time againſt the Emperour by Francis the french king: vnder whoſe regiment the people had retained theyr accuſtomed franchiſes & liberties. How ye king of Spaine came to ••• y the realme of Naples. But when the french king was taken priſoner at Pauia, one condition of his deliuery was, that he ſhould from thence forward withdraw his forces out of ye kingdome of Naples: by which meanes it came to the king of Spaines poſſeſſion. The Spaniardes at their firſt comming ſhewed themſelues moſt pliable in their behauiors, promiſing golden moū taines, & vowing all ſeruice to the Neapolitanes for the defenſe of their coūtry & continuance of their fréedomes. And thus by cloked amity they crept into credit: ſo that diuers of the chiefe of them were imployed in the ſtrongeſt fortreſſes, & beſt fenſed caſtles in the country. The king of Spaine to curry fauor with them and to rock ſuſpition a ſleepe, appointed ye Prince of Salerne their owne countriman to be his Lieutenant. During the while he was ſole gouernour they enioyed all benefits that they had afore time. Not longe after he ſent thither one Don Pietro a Spaniard, whom he ioyned in cōmiſſion with the Prince. This fellow ſought by raiſing falſe reports of the Prince to diſcredit him with ye king and cōmons: and by indirect practiſes to indaunger his life. Which when the Prince ſawe, he willingly ſequeſtred himſelfe departing to his caſtle, & left all affaires to be ordred by Don Pietro. The Spaniard not thus contented contriued matter of accuſation againſt the Prince, charging him with treaſon: whereto he refuſed not to make his anſwere. Which when he came to haue done, the Spaniard had ſuborned a villayne pryuily to lurke in the mountaines to haue murthered him with a gunne, who miſſing his body ſtrake him in ye leg. The Prince ſéeing himſelfe enuironed with manifeſt perill, tooke his way to Venice: vpon whoſe departure the Spaniard immediately proclaimed him traitor. The prince framed his cō plaint to the king, but founde no remedy. Not onely was the offendor releaſed from ſentence of law: but al inborne ſubiects of ye realme were diſcharged from bearing rule or office whatſoeuer. All Marchants and artificers were prohibited to kéepe any kinde of armour or weapon in their houſes: yea, ſo much as ſworde or dagger. Only to gentlemen it was permitted to haue their ſwords & targets & none other. If all paiments which al the kings ye raigned before in Naples were laid togither, they are not cōparable to th'extraordinary taxes ye king of Spaine hath exacted of them. The greuous exactions raiſed vpon the Neapolitans. Euery fourth or fift yeare they paide ſometime two hundred thouſande, ſometime foure▪ & ſometime a million of gold. Al ſuch as had lands were called to know by what title they kept thē: if they had not euidence preſently to ſhow, they were defeated, thogh they were able to declare their poſſeſſion of an hū dred or two hundred yeares. Againe, all ſuch, as either themſelues or their anceſtors had born any kinde of magiſtracie, were called to account, & notwithſtāding they had bene cleared many yeares before by receiuing theyr quietus eſt: yet if ye quittance were loſt by reaſon of time, they were condemned to repay ye whole. I might make ſpecial relation of all acciſes, cuſtomes, & exactions, that he impoſeth vpon al manuary trades & mechanicall faculties: vpon al cōmodities ye may any way grow to the inhabitants: but they woulde require a large treatiſe. But think to what an huge maſſe of mony it amoūteth when the Farmar of the butchery and pultry of the city of Naples payeth daily thrée hundred ducats: when vittailers pay fiue ducats for yerely obedience: ſhoomakers one french crowne: filkemakers fiue: when for euery chimney he hath ſixe ſhillings thréepence: of euery ſtrū pet or curtizan thrée ſhillings peny half peny, and of all others in proportion. Euery head of great cattel payeth thrée Caualluchi (of the which, fourtéene or fiftéene make a peny) euery head of ſmall payeth two: and (as it is credibly recorded) that taxe in one yeare, onely in two ſhieres Apulia & Calabria came to foure hundred thouſand french crownes ſterling: and there followed the next yeare after, a taxe of ſix hundred thouſand frenche crownes. We vſe to ſay, where nothing is to be had the king looſeth his right. But ye Spaniard though he make his gaine his right, and his will his law: though he haue brought the people to a low ebbe & a miſerable ſtate, yet will he haue what taxes ſoeuer he liſt to leuie, though he rake it out of their bowells, and pull their ſkins ouer their eares for it.

Theſe are his practiſes in Naples: The cruelty of the Spaniards in the Indies. but ye execrable tyrannies which the Spaniards haue ſhewed on ye Indians, as they doo almoſt ſurmoūt credit, ſo can they hardly be furniſhed with termes effectual to decipher them. They haue diſpeopled in India more then ten realmes, greater then al Spaine, Aragon, & Portugall: which nowe remaine as a wildernes abandoned & deſolate, being before as populous as was poſſible. Within the ſpace of forty yeres, they as in a cōmon butchery ſlaughtered of innocent lambs, aboue twelue millions, men, women, & children. At their firſt arriuall they were intertained we performance of al ſeruiceable curteſies, ye Indians moſt humbly ſubmitting themſelues vnto them, & after a ſort adoring thē as diuine creatures deſcēded from heauen: but after they were too well acquainted we their ſauage cruelties, they fled frō them as frō hatefull furies broke looſe out of hell. The Spaniards made it a ſport to murther the Indians. The Spaniards cuſtomarily diſported thēſelues in laying of wagers which of them ſhoulde we one thruſt of a ſword panch or bowell an Indian braueſt in the midſt: or we one blow moſt deliuerly ſtrike off his head: or beſt diſmēber him we one ſtroke. They vſed to mutrher ye lords & nobility, by broiling them on gredirons with a ſoft fire vnderneath, that yelling and deſpairing in thoſe lingring torments they might ſo giue vp the ghoſt. Foure or fiue of the Lords on a time being roſted on this maner, with their pitifull roring and lamentation diſquieted the Captayne (the caytiffe I ſhould ſay) and broke his ſleepe: wherevpon for his better quiet he commaunded them to be ſtrangled: This Perillus wanted but a Phalaris to ſerue him of the ſame ſauce. the Ser geant woulde not ſuffer them to die ſo eaſie a death: but himſelfe putting bullets in their mouth to the ende they ſhould not crie, roſted them ſoftly after his deſire. If at any time by due order and formall proceſſe of lawe, a malefactor being a Spaniard were put to death by the Indians, the Spaniards ordayned a decree among them ſelues, that for one Spaniard they were to flay an hundred Indians. A certaine Indian Lord flying from out the Ile Hiſpaniola into the Ile Cuba, was by the Spaniards ſo continually purſued, that at laſt they apprehended him, and burned him with the reſt of his company. When he was bound to the ſtake, a Franciſcan Frier began to common with him touching the knowledge of God & principles of Chriſtian faith. Which thinges albeit the noble man had neuer heard of before, yet hee gaue good eare to ye Frier who was earneſt to perſwade him ye if he belieued thoſe matters wherein he inſtructed him, he ſhould goe to heauen to inioy euerlaſting happines: otherwiſe, there was no way but to hell with him to indure perpetual torments. The L. ſomewhat pawſing at the matter demaunded of the religious, whether the Spaniardes went. To heauen without queſtion, ſaid the Frier, becauſe they die in the Catholike fayth: the L. hearing him ſay ſo, The Indian though it better to be in hel then to liue with the Spaniards. anſwered immediately without any further deliberation, that he would not goe to heauen, becauſe he would not come in place where Spaniards were, nor haue ſociety with a nation ſo cruell. When a certain tyrannicall gouernor entred vpon the firme land, a Lord of the country to gaine his good will and to auoid torture, preſented him with the waight of nine thouſand Ducates. The Spaniardes thinking to wring out of him an ample booty by compulſion, who of his voluntary accord had made ſo large a proffer, layde holde on him, faſtned him to a ſtake, and ſetting him on the earth with his feete ſtretched out, put fire thereto, to make him bring forth more treaſure. The L. ſent to his houſe, and cauſed three thouſand Caſtillans more to be brought and deliuered to them. They not yet ſatiſfied gaue him the torments a freſh: not ceaſing to frie his feete at the fire, till the ſinewes braſt and the marrowe ſpange forth, trilling downe to the ſoles of his feete: ſo that of the ſame cruelty he died.

Another monſter after he had wrought a moſt bloody maſſacre vpon diuers Lords and other Indians, out of whoſe handes one noble man with his retinew to the number of thirty or forty had eſcaped, & incloſed themſelues within a temple, the Spaniarde following after them, neither waighed ye reuerence of the place, nor the innocenci • of the perſons, but deuoide of all humanity & compaſſion, ſet fire on ye temple & ſo burned them. Himſelfe in the meane while vſed like geſture & behauior, as did Nero when he had cauſed Rome to be fired, & he beholding it ſate ſinging & playing on his harp. This tyrant paſſed on to Mexico trampling in humane bloode. Motenzuma king of Mexico being aduertiſed of his cō ming ſent a thouſand preſents to welcome him, Corpora magnanimo ſatis eſt. &c. & met him at the barres of the citie attended on with an honorable troope of nobles: but that ſame daie by a diueliſh Spaniſh ſuttletie they got the king into their hands & then loded him with bolts & gyues. The Indians thogh they were greatly agréeued at the wrongfull impriſonmēt of their king, yet becauſe he had giuen thē ſtraight commandement that they ſhould not ſéeke to reuenge ye deſpite, they indeuored themſelues with pageants, danſings and ſuch paſtimes, as they could beſt deuiſe to recōfort their captiue king, aſſembling as nigh the houſe where their king was as they could. Beſides the floure of theyr nobility gathered together in a place adioyning to the walles of ye palace where Motenſuma was, vnder ſhow of fained mirth hiding ſad hearts & heauy chéeres. The Spaniard purpoſing to ſtrike a terror into the inhabitants bordering & confining thereby, determined to publiſhe a frightfull ſpectacle: and gaue his helhoundes charge that at an appointed houre they ſhould ſet vpon them, The Indians lamentation for the merciles cruelties of the Spaniards at Mexico and ſiue ye yong gentlemen being aboue two thouſand, and ſlue ye reſt with an horrible ſlaughter. The Indians are wont in dolefull maner to bewaile & deplore ye outragious calamity of ye day, eſpecially the deſtruction of ye ofſpring of theyr nobility, in whom theyr ioy & glory did principally conſiſt. This diuell incarnate was accuſtomed when he went to make war on any City or prouince, to carry thither of the Indians yoaked together an huge multitude, to fight againſt their neighbors & brethren, & allowing no ſuſtenāce to ten or twenty thouſand ye hee led a long in his army, he licenſed them to eate ye Indians which they could take. So ye he had in his camp an ordinary ſhambels of mans fleſh, where before his face they killed & roſted children; they murthred men only to haue frō them their hands & their féete which they counted ye daintieſt morſells. Another villainy he vſed, which was to ouercharge ye miſerable people we cumberſome burdens chaining them togither by the neckes; & when any hapned for lack of meate, or length of iourney, or exceſſe of waight to faint or fall ſick, becauſe he would not ſtay to vnlock the chaine, for ye ſpéedier diſpatch he cut off the head from ye ſhoulders, ſo ye head tumbled one way, & the body another. Thus many times of thrée or foure thouſand ſhere returned not to their houſes ſixe a liue. The poore wretched creatures, when they wer to go on theſe voiages in this maner, parting ye one from ye other they wold ſay: In ye places where we were wont to ſerue the Chriſtians, howbeit we trauailed ſore, yet at ye laſt wee came home againe to our houſes, our wiues, & our children; but now we go without hope euer to come back again to ſée them. What ſhould I talke of eight hundred Indian ſoules partakers of reaſon giuen for one Mare? Or of their forraging with fierce mankinde Maſtifes, hunting after men & women? From the which a ſéely woman ſéeing ſhe coulde not eſcape, hanged her ſelf, hauing tied at her foote her yoong babe of a yeare old: but by the time ſhée was dead, the curres came & ſtraightwaies deuoured the infant. Another hunting abroad after Veniſon, & finding no game met with a woman, whom hee bereft of her tender childe: cut off firſt his armes, then his legs, caſting them to his dogs for liuerie, and laſtly threw the whole carcaſſe among them.

It is impoſſible for me to vtter in wordes the merciles dealings of the Spaniardes in the Indies, Non mihi ſi centum Dens or a ſonanti • linguis Ingeniumque capax totumque Helicona dediſſet, &c. the gaſtly remembrance whereof is able to daunt the ſtouteſt courage. So that after this ſhow it is altogither ſuperfluous to bring vpon the ſtage the wicked practiſes of the holie Inquiſition, vnles it were to fill vp a roome of impietie if anie bee vacant. Therefore only thus much, they greatly pretend ſupporting of the Catholike faith, but they wholly intend the multiplying of their priuate commoditie: to whome I may apply the fable of the Lion, who being hurt by the Bull commanded all horned beaſts preſently to auoid the forreſt, vpon paine of his diſpleaſurs. Amongſt the reſt ye made haſt away, was a beaſt ye had a bunch of fleſh in his forehead: the For méeting him aſked whether he poſted ſo faſt: he anſwered, good faith I neither iuſtly know, nor greatly care, ſo I were once gone. Why ſo I pray thée? Tuſh, what a queſtion is that? as if thou were ignorant of the late edict ye Liou cauſed to be publiſhed, that no horned beaſt ſhould remain within the wood. I know it well: but that is no reaſon why thou ſhouldeſt either flée or feare: for thine is no horn & therfore it cōcerns thée not. Marry, that is true: but yet if the Liō ſay it is an horn, in what caſe am I then? So he that comes within the clawes of that holie Court, whatſoeuer his religion be, if his purſe be well repleniſhed, he ſhall either burne for an heretike, or paie well for the ſagots. Whether hée can ſaie Shibboleth, or Sibboleth it ſkilleth not: they will bear him down he is an Ephraimite. Such are ye Spaniards, ſuch are their fruites: fruites farre worſe then the fruites of Sodome. For they though bewtifull in ſhew, yet being handled fall to aſhes, only to the deluding of him that would crop them: theſe glorious in appearance, but being touched turne to poiſon, euen to the deſtroying of them that credit them. Are ye then ſo fooliſh to looke for Grapes vpon thornes, or Figges vpon thiſtles? Doo ye take pleaſure in the Sirenes ſong? or pitie of the Crocodiles teares? will ye follow the Hiaenas voice? or dare ye ſwallow a Spaniſh bait? Sic notus Ʋliſſes? Know ye not an Eft from an Eele? Learne to anſwere them as the Fore anſwered the ſicke olde Lion, when hée intreated him to enter into his denne. Naie, ſaith the Fore: —Nam me veſtigia terrent: Omnia te aduerſum ſpectantia, nulla retrorſum. The tracks and footeſteps that I ſpie make me ſuſpect ſome traine: Sith all looke forward to thy denne, but none looke back againe.

Remember the reward the Sabines beſtowed vpon the damoſell Tarpeia, A friendly caueat, to forewarne traitors from perill by the example of others. when ſhée in lieu of betraying the Citie of Rome into their hands, had demanded thoſe things which they wore on their left armes: they granted, and after they had compaſſed their purpoſe, they performed their promiſe. But whereas ſhée thought to haue receiued their golden bracelets, ſhée was ouerwhelmed and ſlaine with their ſtéele targates: both which thinges they carried on their left armes. The Spaniardes are perfect in Gordians precept, who willeth, if thou wouldeſt haue thine enemie flée, to make him a golden bridge to run ouer. The Spaniard knoweth that ye readieſt way to win a fort is to batter it with bullets of gold. He knoweth this; he vſeth this: too well he knoweth this to his aduantage; too much hee vſeth this; and too late he hath vſed it to my griefe. It is a ſaying well knowne; Proditionem amo ſed odi proditorem. Me thinkes your dealings are liuely deſcribed in the picture of Furie, who is painted with a ſword in his hand, and for the impatient deſire of reuenge wherwith he is inflamed, deſperatly ruſheth vpon a iauelin, ſlayeng himſelfe while he attempteth to annoie his aduerſarie: ye are farre more beſotted than that fooliſh felow that was content to forgo one of his eies, conditionallie his companion might looſe both. But if this that I haue ſaid do not alter your minds, I doubt whatſoeuer may be ſaid will be inſufficient. And therefore in reſpect of your obſtinacie I am to wiſh that ye might be dealt withall as the eagle dealeth with hir yoong ones, who tumbleth ſuch out of hir neſt as can not ſtedfaſtly looke againſt the ſunne beames: or that there were ſome deuiſe for the riddance of traitorous papiſts out of the realme, like to that which king Edgar inuented for the auoidance of wolues when he bound the Welſhmen to paie their tribute with wolues ſkinnes.

If haply your maladie be paſt recouerie, I will notwithſtanding comfort my ſelfe by repeating the words which Mardocheus vſed, in a caſe that threatned as great extremitie. When Haman had obtained of king Aſſuerus that all the Iewes within his Prouinces ſhould be deſtroied, Eſter. 4 An example of ſinguler comfort to all faithfull ſubiectes. & had got the proſcription cōfirmed vnder the kinges ſeale manuell, Mardocheus being a Iewe, & vncle to quéene Eſter, certified her by the kings Eunuches of Hamans procéedings, and ſent her the copie of the commiſſion, charging her to become petitioner and frame ſupplicatiō to the king for her people. When Eſter heard the wordes of Mardocheus ſhe commanded the Eunuche to tell him, that the law was ſo: whoſoeuer ſhould come into the kings preſence vncalled, muſt die, vnleſſe the king of his grace held forth his ſcepter vnto him: Now, ſaith ſhe, I haue not beene called to the king theſe thirtie daies, which when Mardocheus vnderſtood, he returned her this anſwere: Thinke not with thy ſelfe that thou ſhalt eſcape in the kinges houſe more then all the Iewes. For if thou holdeſt thy peace at this time, comfort & deliuerance ſhall appeare to the Iewes out of another place, but thou & thy fathers houſe ſhall periſh. And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for ſuch a time? So though you being animated through the Popes abſolution, and in hope of I know not what lordlie preferments haue agréed among your ſelues to make away with ſuch as ſhall not be found to haue an Auemaria ſticking betwixt their téeth, or an Agnus Dei couched in their boſome: yet becauſe your rage is raiſed againſt the Lord, & your tumult aſcended into his ears, I truſt he wil doe to you & to your confederats as he did to proud Senacherih, put an hooke into your noſtrils and a bridle into your iawes. For as it was prophecied of Troie, that it ſhould not be ſubdued ſo long as the Palladium, which fell down frō heauen vpō the wals therof, remained within it: ſo I am aſſured that England ſhall haue reſt frō all her enimies ſo long as Gods holy word ſhalbe ſincerely preached & diligētly followed. Our ſins the meanes to draw Gods plagues vpon vs. For there is nothing that can withdraw his bleſſings from vs, or draw his puniſhments vpon vs, but our ſtiffnecked and vncircumciſed harts, which neither haue thankfuly receiued his truth, nor yéelded obedience vnto ye ſame. And were it not ye there is a zealous Moſes among vs, whoſe praiers appeare before the Lord as incenſe, & the lifting vp of whoſe hands is as an euening ſacrifice: 1. Pet. 2. were there not a iuſt Loth who day by day vexeth his ſoul in ſeeing our vnlawfull deedes, & by continuall interceſſion ſlaketh the heat of Gods wrath: I feare me your vngodly purpoſes had ere this preuailed, & his heauy indignatiō conſumed vs. Exod. 17. But whenſoeuer Moſes hands ſhal begin to ware wearie: when Loth ſhall once depart out of Sodome, then I feare leſt God lay the raines on your neck, and ye yoke on ours: leſt he grant vnto you power to deſpoile, & allott vnto vs ſodaine deſtruction: then I feare leaſt as the floud was in the ſpring of the yeare, and the burning of Sodome at the riſing of the Sunne: So I feare (I ſay) leaſt Gods comming vnto vs be in the winter of our faith, and the ſummer of our pride: and leaſt hee thruſt the ſickle of his vengeance into the full harueſt of our iniquities. Let vs therefore learne to loue him as a father: and let vs not forget to feare him as a Lord. Let vs not deſpiſe the riches of hys bountifulnes patience, and long ſufferance: knowing that by the ſame he allureth and leadeth vs on to repentaunce: the differring whereof is moſt daungerous, for ſo muche as it is to be giuen of hys mercie, & not commanded at our pleaſure: Nam qui promittit poenitenti veniā, non promittit peccanti poenitentiam: He ye promiſeth pardon to him that repentes, doth not promiſe repentance to him ye offends.

As for you let this ſuffiſe, that there was a curſſe denounced againſt him, that ſhoulde build vp Iericho againe: that Achan, with his familie, his cattell, his implementes, and all that hee had, was ſtoned and burnt in the vallie of Achor becauſe he had taken a Babiloniſh garment, certaine ſhikels of ſiluer, and a wedge of gold, being excommunicate things, and hid them in his tent: & dare ye then ſhrine ſuch abhominatiōs in your harts? Surely I greatly doubt, ye as the Lord plagued al Iſrael till they had puniſhed Achan, ſo hee will not leaue to ſcourge vs till we haue rooted out all of Achans brood. The example of Tarquin in cutiing off the toppes of the poppies was moſte happilie imitated to the glorie of God and benefite of the Realme: for by that meanes I truſt the ſtalkes will ſoone wither away. The Queene of Scots the roote of infinite miſchiefes. But while the roote remained whole, it nouriſhed a great number of noiſome and ſuperfluous branches. Our malcontent Romaniſts were ſo affectionately deuoted to the contriuing of her contentment, as Aeolus was deſirous to gratifie Iuno when hee ſayd: Tuus, O Regina, quid optes Explorare labor: me iuſſa capeſſere fas eſt. To thinke the thing thou faine wouldſt haue, pertaines (O Queene) to thee: But to performe what ere thou craue, that dutie longs to me.

Your villanies before theyr late diſcouerie, ſeemed in your owne conceits wellnigh to haue attained the higheſt ſtep of theyr perfection: ſo that if Sinon could haue brought the horſe within ye gates of Troy, he ſhould then haue giuen the watchword to the Grecian Fleete houering aloofe at Tenedos. Then would it haue bene to late to haue wiſhed for Hector, whē Politus ſhould haue bene ſlaine at the altar and ſanctuarie; when Caſſandra ſhould haue bene rauiſhed in the temple; and Priamus murthered in his own Pallace. O vnſpeakeable grief! all theſe valefull calamities to haue ſprung from one Helena? How much better had it bene that that Helena had neuer bene borne? or being borne, a thouſand tymes better, ſhe ſhould haue bene throwne into the middeſt of the ſea with a milſtone about her necke, then to haue bin the ſubiect for ſo many tragedies. When Iabin king of Canaan ſought to oppreſſe Iſrael by the handes of Siſera his captaine; • udic. 4. the Lord raiſed vp Deborah and Barak to ouerthrow his power. But the mother of Siſera making iuſt reckoning of victorie, looked out at the windowe, and cried through the latteſſe, why is his Chariot ſo long a comming? why tarrie the wheels of his Chariot? haue they not gotten, & nowe they deuide the ſpoyle? &c. The mother, ſiſter, coſin, or friend of Siſera, or howe ſoeuer ſhe were allied vnto him, looked, & long ſhe looked; but in ſtead of Siſera, contrarie to her hope, ſhe ſaw Iehu come to doe iuſtice. The Lord looked alſo downe from heauen, hee ſaw your deuiſes: hee liked them not, but laughed becauſe hee perceiued your day was comming: yea, hee looked long: at laſt he ſawe iuſtice done, and it pleaſed him well. For my part I will euer pray, that I may rather beare the burthen of Deborahs ſong, then the burthen of Phineas wiues ſorrow. The ſong of the one was; So let all thine enemies periſh O Lord: Sic 〈…〉 di ••• 〈◊〉 . bethae mal • v • lunt. but they that loue him ſhalbe as the ſunne when he riſeth in his might. The ſorrow of the other was; The glorie is departed frō Iſrael; for the Ark of the Lord is taken.

But becauſe a liue dogge is more to be doubted then a dead Lion, I wiſh that all theyr lurking holes may be narrowly ſearched, and they ferretted out of theyr Conniburrowes, Pſalme. 101. where priuily they lay wayt for innocent bloud. I pray God, her Maieſtie may perfilly learn Dauids ſong, Traytors preſume upon her M • i ••••• s mercie. who ſaid he would ſing vnto the Lord of mercy and iudgement. Her clemencie hath bene moſte notoriouſly abuſed; the muſick had almoſt bene mard, and all like to be brought into an vnpleaſant diſcord, while ſhe harped ſo long vpon one ſtring. The ſeruauntes of Benhadad king of Syria, 1. Reg. 2 • . what iniuries ſoeuer they had wrought Iſrael, yet when they were fallen into the lapſe they comforted themſelues with theſe wordes: Behold, we haue heard ſaie that the kinges of the houſe of Iſraell are merciful kings; let vs therefore put ſackcloth about our loynes, & ropes about our heades, and go to ye king of Iſrael: it may be that he will ſaue our liues. They ſtood vpon what may be, and what he wil do: not vpon what muſt be, & what he ought to doe; & thus they made mercy the groundwork of their miſchiefe. But the king of Iſrael was reproued by the Prophet, who tolde him; becauſe thou haſt let goe out of thy handes a man whome I appointed to die, thy life ſhal goe for his life & thy people for his people. No leſſe are thoſe runnagate ruffians to be regarded, who practiſe to ſteale away the harts of ye people, crying out with the black mouth of Rabſakeh: What ſay ye vnto me, we truſt in the Lord our God? Eſay. 36. Is not that he whoſe high places, & whoſe altars Ezechias took down? & am I come vp without the Lord to this land? therfore let not Ezechias deceiue you, for he ſhall not be able to deliuer you. And as Artabanus king of the Perſians anſwered the letters of Alexander emperor of Rome, ſaying: In ſtead of paper J aſsigne him the field, a lance for the pen, bloud for inke, & wounds for words: So theſe companions for diſputations bring diſpenſations: for reaſons treaſons, arguing ab vtili, and not ab honeſto: concluding neither honeſtum nor vtile: arming their religion with atheiſme: and ſupporting theyr faith by faithleſſe trecheries. Yet when they are cut ſhort by iuſtice, Papiſtes make treaſon the truit of conſcience. they wouldimpudently face out the matter, that they die for their conſcience, whereas (God knoweth) their conſcience was dead long before. But we may anſwere their great maiſter, as king Richard the firſt did, when the Pope ſent to him commanding him to releaſe the Biſhop of Beauuois and his Archdeacon, whome hee called his ſonnes, being taken by Earle Iohn the kinges brother in the field, and by the king cōmitted to priſon, he ſent to the Pope theyr complete armour, with this meſſage, Geneſ. 37. Ʋide an tunica filij tui ſit an non: ſée whether this be thy ſonnes coate, or not. Let the pope looke whether his Ieſuites iett in the garments of godly Churchmen, or rather of roiſting vagabondes: let him ſaie if theſe be the doings of men that deale vpon zealous conſcience, or rather vpon traiterous intent. Theſe are they yt by their whiſpering tales would put men in fear where there is no cauſe of feare: giuing falſe fires, and ſtriking vp hote alarmes, when there is neither ſhot nor ſouldier nigh hād, Papiſtes indeuour to amaze men with cauſeleſſe feare. thinking to make men afraid of ſkarcrowes, of their own ſhadows, or rather of nothing at al. Theſe are they that conſtrue euerie accident that befalles to ye aduantage of their purpoſe, ſpeaking as they would fayne haue it. Theſe are they that vſe wicked conſultation in holie places, prophaning temples by their lewd conference, and making the houſe of prayer a den of theeues. In a Church-yard in Paris ſhortly after the bloudie maſſacre ſprong vp a Palme tree: which the Papiſtes ſtraight interpreted to be a ſigne that the Proteſtants were fullie vanquiſhed, and the lott of victorie falne to theyr part. But it was indeede a true token, and Time which is Truthes mother, hath prooued it ſo to be, that howſoeuer they practiſed by violence to extirpate true profeſſors, yet maugre their malice, his ſeruants ſhould floriſh like the Palme trée, and that from their blood as from the aſhes of the Phenix ſhould reuiue a glorious of ſpring. For the blood of Martyrs is the ſéede of the Church. And therefore as Alexander the great couragiouſly anſwered, when his ſouldiors would haue diſſwaded him from going vnto India becauſe the image of Orpheus ſwet: what? (quoth Alexander) doth Orpheus ſweat? then I know we ſhall make worke for the Poets: ſo we, though, not Orpheus image, but Orpheus Ape, Neanthus whom I touched before; though (I ſay) the Pope ſweat and ſweare, and take on as one of his predeceſſors did for his pie: yet we know that in mainetaining Gods truth, & obeying our ſoueraigne we ſhall doe a worke acceptable to him: but they and you, which doe the contrarie, will make worke daungerous to your ſoules, damageable to your countrie, & onely profitable for the hangman. I wiſh you better, & I would I might hope better of you; and when I ſée you begin to amend, then ſhall you ſée me leaue off to miſtruſt. But though faintnes now inforce me to ſhut vp my complaint, yet vntill that time, neither can I be fréed from feare, nor you cleared from ſuſpicion.

O Louing God, and moſt mercifull Father, A prayer for the preſeruation of her maieſtie and continuance of the goſpel. who holdeſt in thy hand the harts of all Princes, & turneſt them which way ſtandeth beſt with thy diuine pleaſure, we beſéech thée ſo to order the thoughts of thy ſeruant our dread ſoueraigne, and ſo to diſpoſe all her actions, that as a faithfull handmaide, ſhe may ſtudie to pleaſe thée, and as a carefull nurſe ſéeke to cheriſh thy Church. And foraſmuch as thy glorie is chiefly ſhewed by bringing to paſſe thy will through weake meanes & féeble inſtruments, aſſiſt her we pray thée with thy ſpirite, that being weake in her ſelfe ſhe may be ſtrengthened by thy arme, to confound all ſuch as ſhall with Holofernes aſſault thy people. And as thou haſt hertofore oftentimes redéemed her out of ye mouth of the lion, ſo defend her ſtill, that neither open force nor ſecret villanie at anie time preuaile againſt her. And ſéeing theſmall graine of thy Goſpell which by her hand thou haſt graciouſly ſown amongſt vs in the field of thy Church, hath béene ſo watered with the heauenly dew of thy bleſſing, that the birdes come now & build in the branches thereof: and the ſlender vine that thou broughteſt out of Egypt, and plantedſt in this land, hath through thy goodneſſe taken ſuch roote, that the mountaines are now couered with the ſhadow of it, & the boughes therof ſpread abroad like the goodly Cedar trées: we beſéech thée to watch ouer it, that neither the Caterpiller which lurketh in corners conſume it, nor the wilde Boare out of the wood deſtroy it, but that being nouriſhed by thée, it may grow vp before thée, & bring forth fruite vnto thée. Remember not our former iniquities, but let thy tender mercies preuent our imminent miſeries. And as in the daies of Ioſua thou didſt ſtay the ſunne in the firmament vntil thy people had cleane vanquiſhed their & thine enimies: ſo now maintaine the throne of thine annointed, that her daies may be as the daies of heauen for brightnes, and as that day of Ioſua for continuance, that ſhe may wéed out the aduerſaries of thy truth, that ſo the worke which thou haſt mercifully begun, may be proſperouſly perfited by her. Let it neuer be tolde in Gath that the glorie of Iacob is darkened; let it neuer be publiſhed in Aſhkelon that ye ſcepter of Iudah is falne, leſt the daughters of the Philiſtines reioice, and the vncircumciſed begin to triumph. But let all the world know that thou careſt for thy people and vpholdeſt thine heritage. As for thine enimies they ſhall be as the ſmoke that vaniſheth in the wind; as the waxe that melteth at the fire; and as the duſt that is ſcattered before the tempeſt. They ſhall periſh, yea they ſhall all periſh at the rebuke of thy countenance.