MEdicines be applied to the bodie, sicke and diseased, but exhortati­ons are vsed to giue courage and more stomacke to the forwarde stout, and industrious, that the spark of vertue alreadie ingenera­ted in them, may grow to a big­ger flame and substance with in­crease, or els to stir vp, raise, and plucke forward the mind of man when it languisheth.

I therefore of the lowest sort of all among the learned, purposing to vtter my conscience, and knowledge by way of exhortation (my most bounden dutie first towardes the Quéenes Maiestie, and ne [...]t to the people of my natiue soile and Country of England déeply considered, and moo­uing me thereto) doo earnestly pray and instantly require al true English men of euery degrée as they tender y ^• safty of their soules and bodies, to giue attentiue eare, and wel to marke the whole discourse of this my purposed treatise the rather because it is of waight & of most great impor­tance, touching the weale publique in this litle Isle of England, and preseruation of our most royall and gra­tious Quéene Elizabeth, and next of vs all English in­generall, our countrie, wherein we are bred and borne, our wifes, children, kinsfoolkes, and posteritie, whereof we should haue a most cheefe and especiall care, & regard, especially and aboue all of religion, which concerneth our soules to liue here, and euer in the world to come.

[Page 2]In al which by God his grace I intend to vse perspicuity, to be as briefe as the vrgent occasiō of so necessary a cause shal suffer me: yet pretermitting many things, which o­therwise should haue bene touched, to auoid tediousnes and prolixitie in matter now apparant already, and ma­ny yéeres alredy past made manifest vnto y ^• whole world. Cōsider O noble Eugland that thou hast enimes that hate thée deadly, that go about as much as in them is to work thy destruction, Consider how the professors of the word of God els wher in Europe, far hence, and those that dwell next almost vnto vs be manaced, vexed, and persecuted, & with all rigor and crueltie from time to time afflicted, e­uen to death: the malice whereof procéedeth of causes of long time afore growen, hereafter specified, and fore war­ned in holie Scriptures. Ponder déeply and call to minde with your selues, Nos incidimus in tempora periculosa. We are fallen into the perillous time. The latter daies of the world. Nos sumus in quos fines Seculorum deuenerūt. We be those vpon whom the ends of the world be come. The tokens thereof be plaine and manifest, told afore by our Sauiour and Lord Iesus Christ, which be these, Nation shall rise against nation, and Realme against Realme, then shall they put you to trouble, and shall kil you, and yee shall be hated of all Nations for my names sake. And then shall many be offended, and shal betray one another. &c. So the time is certaine that the day of iudgment is at hand. But of the day and hower (saith Christ) knoweth no man, no not the Angels of heauen, but my father onely. The A­postle S. Paule in his 2 Chap. of his Epistle of the Thessa­lomans, [...]hessalo. teaching when the day of Christ shall be at hande, thus saieth. Let no man deceiue you by any meanes. For the Lord shall not come, except their come a departing first, and that the sinfull man be opened, the sonne of perdition, which is an aduersary and is exalted aboue all that is called God, or that is worshipped so that he doth sit in the Temple of God, [...]ichrist. boasting himselfe to be God. Remember yee not that when I was yet with you I told you these things. And now you know what with­holdeth, euen that he might be vttered & reuealed at his time. [Page 3] For the mistery of iniquitie doth alreahy work. &c. Againe in the 10 Chap. of S. Mathew, these be Christ his words. The brother shal deliuer vp the brother to death, and the father the sonne, and the children shall arise against theic fathers and mo­thers, and shal put them to death, And ye shal be hated of all for my names sake. But he that endureth to the end shall be sa­ued.

Now considering that these be the latter daies, & that the end of the world is hard at hand, by these tokens manifest and dayly to be séene euery where in Christendom before our eies, let vs diligentlie search of whence this variance and deadly discorde sowen and sprong vp through all Eu­rope is deriued, Variance and deadlie dis­cord through­out Christ [...]n­dome. out as it were of a welspring or fountaine. For euery malady proceedeth of his cause: take away the cause and imediatly ensueth the curing of the sore or dis­dase. What hath bene and is the originall cause that the knot and band of brotherly loue is broken in the partes of the world professing Christ, that the rage cruel, and beast­ly fearcenesse taketh place, bearing sway, that the Peace which was in one house, is put to flight: that enuy, hatred and ma [...]ce créepeth in, that War and the sword threat­neth destruction euery where, The Pope the cause of vari­ance euen to the Innocentes: That Sathan is let loose abroad to increase the malice of men, and to kindle the fier brand of all wickednesse. Ue­rily the originaull causes of all these troubles at this pre­sent broiling, and afore this time many yeares past, hath bene, and is the holie Father (as they call him) the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, whom Saint Paule as ye haue heard now before, couertlie describeth to be Antechrist, the Son of perdition, which is exalted aboue all that is called God. I beséech you gentle Readers bée yee indifferent Iudges, euen as the trueth of God his word shall leade you, & as the interpretation vpon holie Scripture, made and set downe by the ancient & approoued Doctors of the Church, euen from the Apostles time, til 1000 yeares past shal direct you: when the Pope rideth from his castle to S Peters Church in Rome, and is caried (sitting in a Chaire) [Page 2] [...] [Page 3] [...] [Page 4] aloft by men, The Pope ex­alteth himself aboue all that is called God. vpholding the same vpon their shoulders. And the Sacramentall bread is set in a Pyx on a Nag or white horse backe, led by a Priest in a white Surplice, go­ing afore him, his gard enuironing the holie Father, and crying with aloud voice to the people gazing on to sée the sight, in this Italian word, Abasso, Abasso, which is to say Bow and bend downe your selues, or knéele downe, not so much to the Pix as to the Pope. Is not here the Bi­shop of Rome exalted aboue all that is called God, and a­boue the God in the box? For the Popes doctrine teacheth men to cal the Sacramētal bread God, when they term it their Maker, & when the make it a Sacrifice propiciatory for the quick and the dead, in their Masses, when they rei­terate day by day on the Altar that oblatation once offered vpon the crosse once for all, for filthy lucre and gaine, as in trentals of Masses, &c. Doth not the Pope boast him­selfe aboue all that is called God, The pride of y ^• Pope. when hee sitteth in S. Peters Church enthronished thrée or foure yardes higher then the Altar or Sacramental bread reserued in the Pix, blessing and crossing them that lie prostrate before him: when he vnder his Buls writtē or printed in shéeps skins, & sent to those that dwell 1000 or 1500 miles from him, being at Rome, forgiueth (vpon mony taken) horrible mur­ders, Pardons for murder. incest parracide, and such like crimes, the heartes of the parties not considered, whether they be trulie and vnfainedlie penetent or no. When the Pope most arro­gantly peruerteth the wordes spoken in the Psalme 90. only of Christ. Super Aspidem & Basiliscum ambulabis, & conculcabis Leonem & Draconem. Thou shalt goe vpon the venemous beast and Adder, the yoong Lion and Dragon shalt treade vnder thy feete: and applieth them with a Sathani­call pride vnto himself, and to those that from time to time [...]it in his Chaire, which is horrible basphemie. But here I will vse a litle digression from the man to the certaine place of his habitation, The Pope knowen to bee An [...]echrist by his habitation and place. that the Beast may the better bee knowen by his den and accustomed haunt, where he fat­teth and franketh himselfe. For more and better prooffe [Page 5] of the sequele of this matter, and so to settle their conscien­ces in the truth, which hitherto haue but blinded: Hear (I desire you in the Lord Iesus) certaine authorities from the Primitiue Church to this age, consenting and agrée­ing together, that Babylon specified in the Reuelation of S. Iohn, doth [...]te and signifie vnto vs the Cittie of Rome in Italie.

First it is vsuall in holie Scripture to set downe some word by some Trope to signifie a thing turned away from that which it properlie betokeneth. And it is vsed in wri­ting, when an argument commeth in handeling, out of which may grow either vehement suspition or feare of an imminent danger. In this sort S. Paule. 2. Tim. 4. sayeth himselfe to haue bene deliuered out of the mouth of a Li­on: meaning by naming the Lyon, the cruel Prince Nero. That in this place the sence is, Nero to be taken for the Lion: The ancient Doctours of the Church, as Hierome vpon the life of Paule, Chrisostomus, Theophilactus, Aquinas [...] Lyranus, Interpreters vpon holie Scriptures, doe agree & consent. By like Trope our Lord Christ in the 13 of Luke, calleth the King Herode, by the name of a For. Ignatius an holie writer in the Primititiue Church, vsing this maner of spéech, saith that he he himself was compassed about with ten Leopards, which Ignatius afterwarde interpreteth to be ten cruel souldiors to bring him capti [...]e to Rome. Thus as S. Paule couertlie by the name of a Lion would haue to be vnderstanded Nero. Our Lord Iesus by the name of For meaneth Herod. And Ignatius by the Leopardes tearmeth Souldiors. So the authour of the Reuelation would haue Rome to bee knowen by the vo [...]able of Baby­lon.

With this also agreeth S. Peter, 1 Pet. 5. who in the end of the fifth chap. of his former epistle writing from Rome, saieth thus. The Congregation which is at Babylon saluteth you. Here note that vpon this place of Peter, as well the olde and ancient Interpreters, as the newe doe agrée that the word Babilon is set downe for Rome, as testifieth P [...]pias [Page 6] Hierapolites in Eusebius, vpon the Ecclesiasticall Historie. 2 booke 15. Chapter, Hierome vppon the life of Marke the E­uangelist, Papias. Eus. bi [...]. Nicolaius Lyra, an approoued writer, by the Ro­mishe Church, and many other, which heere to rehearse, it were to long. And so much the more this hath a resem­blance of truth, that the Apostles had reueiled vnto them many and sundry things concerning the latter times: of the falling of the Romaine Empire: of the reueiling of the acurssed sonne Antichrist: of the abhomination, stan­ding in the holy place. All which, the Apostles set out as it were shadowed somewhat darkly, as it is left vnto vs in writing, and may be séene in the 24. of Mathew, 2. Thessalo­nians. In which two places, there is spoken of these mat­ters, as it were by points, and prickes, rather than by any oopen speach.

Againe, the same Papias taught afterward in Alexan­dria, and had bene the scholler of S. Iohn the Apostle, wher­vpon we should be perswaded that he must néeds heare the same interpretation of his maister, concerning Rome to be named by Babylon, and that the same interpretation was as well in the Churches of Asia, where S. Iohn preached as in Europa, where S. Peter taught.

And least peraduenture any might doubt, that no good and iust testimony may be brought out of the ancient and approoued writers of the Primitiue Church, succeeding next to the Apostles age, you shal hear the opinion of those which were next to the Apostles.

Tertullian Tertullian. did write in the yeare 170. after Christ. He in his worke against the Iewes hath this written. Babylon in the writing of Iohn, bereth the figure of the city of Rome, in that it is great, proud in force, and a beater downe of the saints. Who will now doubt, but that the said Tertullian heard this at the Apostles mouthes.

Also Origines Origines. liued in the yeare 200. And he wrote in A­lexandria many bookes, and the 12 Homily vppon Ezechiell the Prophet, he thus expoundeth that there is Babilon: where is confusion of maners, by vices & mischieuous doing, con­tinually [Page 7] growing. And therfore it is no maruell if the holy writers, pondring what was y ^• state of the Romains Em­pire, which was the head of the world, especially the city of Rome haue defined Rome to be Babilon in their bookes.

Now hear an euident manifestation of this: where Hie­rome wrote about the yeare of our Lord 380. Hi [...]ronimus. teaching the Churches, both in Asia and Europa, in his commentary vp­pon Esay 47 chap. hee witnesseth, y ^• many beside him in his time and age, did interpret the daughter of Babilon, which should be made humble, not to be Babylon in Caldea, but to be the city of Rome in Italie, which is called specially by the name of Babilon in the Reuelation of S. Iohn, and in the E­pistle of S. Peter, & all threatnings which be spoken by the Prophet against Babilon to be referred to the distruction of the city of Rome. Likewise the said Hierom, in a certaine E­pistle to Assella, complaining of the corrupt maners of the city of Rome, calleth Rome by the name of Babilon. Againe, the said Hierom, in the end of his 2▪ booke against Iouinian▪ turning his oration to the city of Rome, I speake vnto thée (saith he) which hath blotted out the blasphemy written in thy forhead, by the confessing of Christ. O mighty city, lady of the world, interpret thy name, Rome is by the Gréekes a name of strength, by the Hebrues a name of highnes, kéep that that thou art called. Let vertu make thée high, let not voluptuousnes make thée low. Thou maist eschue by re­pentance the curse which our sauior hath threatned in the Reuelation. Thou hast the example of the Niniuites. Be­ware the name of Iouinian, which is deriued of an Idoll.

S. Avgustine liuing in the time of S. Hierom, but yet a litle yonger, S. Augustine. accounted the chief among the latin Deuines, and hauing respect to al that was spoken of Rome, by those that had written afore in y ^• Church, declareth many things to be like in Rome and Babilon: for in his booke De ciuitate Dei, the fifth Booke, and second Chapter, he calleth Babilon the first Rome. In his 18 book, and 22. chap. he compareth Rome with the city of the wicked whi [...]h Cain builded. The one saith he was builded of c [...]in which [...]ue his brother abel. [Page 8] The other was builded by Romulus which killed his bro­ther Rhemus.

Againe Orosius a Spanish writer liuing in the time of S. Augustine, sheweth that Rome and Babilon were alone, and especiciallie beside all other wickednesse in opressing the Saintes of God. Lib. 2. cap. 3. and again. lib. 7. cap. 2.

But perchance some to this afore may make obiection, alledging, that at that time when these ancient writers did write, Rome was gouerned by most cruell Emperours, which persecuted horibly all good Christians, inflicting vpon them all torments and most sharpe death. But now Rome is no more gouerned by Emperours that be wic­ked, and thirst the blood of the godly, but Rome is vnder the iurisdiction of the holie Pope, and for that cause to be re­uerenced and honored of all. Therefore if any man should now say in these our daies that Babylon mentioned in the Apocalips might betoken Rome, no sufficient cause or ground of matter were to confirme or corroborate his as­sertion to be found. But the answere to confute this is ready of great force and validitie, and not to be conuin­ced.

Albeit wicked Emperors euen from the Apostles time and long after, Nero and o­thers persecu­ted the Chri­stians: The Popes doe the same. by some hundred yeares held Rome for the chiefe seat imperiall, and put manie to sundrie kindes of torment and death for confessing Christ: yet S. Hierom, who liued about 380 after Christ, and after S. Augustin and Orosius whose ages were during the raignes of Ioui­nian, Valentinian, Gratian, and Theodosius Emperours, who not onely fauoured, but greatly aduanced Christian re­ligion, did in their bookes taxe & sharply reprehend Rome, by the name of Babylon, then gouerued rather by Popes and Bishops, as it is knowen, than by temperall princes.

And here is further to be noted, that these Christan Em­rours aforesaid ruled and made their abode in Constantino­ple, and the Popes administred all at Rome, by litle and li­tle mal engin, deceit, sinister practise with hypocrisie, counterfeit humblenes now and then by force entermin­led, [Page 9] encroched not to bee onely equall, but chalenged to haue superioritie, not vpon the Cleargie onely, but ouer Emperors and kings, to make lawes at their lust & plea­sure, to wage war, make battel, yea, to tread down vnder their féet the whole world, if they might bring it to passe.

All hitherto said and written doth the testimony of the Church of Leodia in the low countries confirme, set down. about the year of our Lord 1100 against Pascalis the se­cond of that name, then Pope. The testimo­ny of the Church of Le­odia against Rome. That is as followeth hi­therto (saith he) I haue but interpreted that S. Peter wold by the name of Babylon note Rome, because at that time Rome was spotted with all kind of Idolatrie, sin, and fil­thines. And now my sorrow doth interpret vnto me that S. Peter terming with a spirit of prophesie, the congrega­tion gathered together in Babylon, did foresée the confusion of dissention, by y ^• which the Church is at this day tornin sunder: for although the Church be in Babylon of the world, yet it ought to be gathered by brotherly vnanimity. And a litle after Esay saith, Babylon my welbeloued is turned to me into a miracle: but I say Rome my beloued is turned to me into a miracle, yea what is so marue [...]lous, yea what is so miserable. Dauid saw the Angel of the Lord standing with a drawn sword ouer Ierusalem: we, the daughters of the Romish Church behold, we sée the Bishop there, which is or should be the Angell of God, ready with a drawn sword ouer the Church. Dauid praied that y ^• people might not be killed: our Angel reching to the Earl of Flanders the sword, praieth that we may be slaine: wher many mo things tou­ching the crueltie of Babylon be adiected in their place, whosoeuer listest to search and read the history at large.

About the yeare of our Lord 1200, S. Barnard the Monke liued in great estimation with Kings and Prin­ces, S. Barnard. euen with the Kinges of this Land: For he was a man of great fame, both for his godly life and learning.

This S. Barnard in his bookes written to Pope Eugeni­us, doth rehearse and carpe so many and such crimes, both of the Bishops, and Citizens of Rome, how many and such [Page 10] as none of the old prophets is read to haue obiected to the Babilonians, which to [...] tediousnes here I omit to re­hearse, who so is [...] to seée his words, the books be ex­tant at this time though written 400 year past & more.

Likewise Petrus Iohannes Pyranensis about 1330 did o­penly in schole teach, that as the Pope was Antichrist: So no other Church but the Romish to be vnderstood by the name of the whore of Babylon.

Also Wickliefe of England, and Iohn Hus, and Hierome of Bohemia, taught & affirmed the same doctrine of the Pope, and of Rome: the first of these thrée, his bones burned 18 yéeres after he had bene dead: the other two brent aliue, yet consenting in opinion to all the godly Fathers and Doctors in these points that be aboue rehearsed. Now it hath bene sufficiently spoken with the approoued testimo­of euery age euen from the Apostles time, and the opinion and sentence of the best learned cited thereto touching the place, that Rome is signified by Babilon. Now let vs return againe to the ruler of this Babylon and his tragicall acti­ons who putteth on him the vizard of piety and is altoge­ther vnder his Maske impiety it selfe.

This impudent and shameles man of Rome, yea rather beast he may be called, which doth the iniuries afore rehersed to our Lord Christ: what presumeth not he to aduen­ture vpon, daily among his inferiors for equals hee will haue none, and both Emperor and King professing Christ, within Europe, he hath made subiect vnto him, and ready at [...]all to do his will and command [...]ment. He maketh War himselfe: he prouoketh one prince with fire & sword to as­sault another: he sheddeth innocent blood, in persecuting those that dare or wil open their mouth against him. Hée maintaineth Subiects so rebell against their Soueraigne Lords & kings: he is the firebrand to set an outrage of burning in al parts of Christendome: he is a deadlie poison which hath infected y ^• church of God with notorious dregs

Did not the Pope stir & prouoke Sigismond the Emperor and the noble Princes of Germany with force of armes to [Page 11] inuade the realm of Bohemia? Upon what ground or occa­tion? Truly because Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage, had by preaching of the word of God, began to reueale the son of perdition in the same country of Bohemia. The Pope therfore féeling himselfe touched to the quicke, endeuoured as much as in him did lie to destroy, and extirpate all the Bo­hemians, First Hus & Ierom were cruelly burned, and yet the desire of the people to the knowledge of true religion thereby not quenched, but inflamed and kindled the more. What ensued of this, with huge power and most puissant [...] the Bohemians were inuaded two yeares together. And both the times with wonderful courage & prowes of the Bohemians, the assault makers were repulsed, and put back to shameful flight by the miraculous power & migh­ty hand of God, who fought for them, & did set thē at rest & peace, in despite of the Bishop of Rome, his Cardinals & cleargie.

I omit here for breuities cause, to inferre manie ex­amples, how the Popes frō age to age moouing war, haue procured by their Legates and messengers, one Prince to wage battel on his next brother and Prince adioining, and when the Armies were readie to encounter and méete, then would he colourably as though no fault were in hym, Friers and other messengers were despatched be­tweene, perswading peace and reconcilement. The Chronicles in euerie Realme can sufficientlie testifie the same. And therfore I remit those that be desirous to know further herein to the said Chronicles.

This I say and affirme boldlie, that it was the Pope that did animate and set on Robert Earle of Flanders a­gainst Henry the fourth Empero [...]r.

It was he the Pope that maintained the warres with ten thousand Italians and gaue money to pay them wa­ges on the behalfe of the Emperor Charles the fift against the Duke of Saxony and the noble Pée [...]es of Germany, be­cause the said Pope would haue had the light of the Gos­pell darkened, which at that time had sprong vppe from [Page 12] the first preaching of Luther, séeking to bring ignorance in place againe, though it wer with the shedding of Chri­stian blood, and vtter vndooing and spoile of many both men, women, and children.

It is he the Pope, that to his great ignominy and shame for euer, cherished a ranke Traitor named Stukeley a man of euill life and conuersation, Stukley trator maintained by the Pope. and mainteyned him a­gainst his Soueraigne Ladie and Quéene, with money, men, Shippes, and munition to enter Ireland, God con­foundeth the deuises and purposes of the wicked, and ma­keth them frustrate, contrary to their expectation. What followed? Stukeley when he had sailed from Italie to the Bay of Portugale, and there hearing that the King Seba­stian was going ouer into Barbary with all royall prepa­ration of warre, offered his seruice to the said King not for any zeale or good will but vpon a subtill pretence, that Warres there ended, hee woulde borrowe a summe of money of the King, the better afterwards to goe through with his enterprises in Ireland. In the battell in Barba­rie, the King of Portugall, the blacke King with others, and this Stukley also was slaine. This you may sée that God sent a curst Cow short hornes, and Ireland was deliuered and England also from a most cruell enemie and Traytor, though he died a fairer death then he should haue done, or had deserued, yet such was the malice of the Pope, this enterprise began by Stukley, was afterward prosecuted by the sayd Antechrist of Rome, who first sent Buls full all impiety, as it were with a bayt to allure the wilde Irish to rebellion, and armed shippes and Souldiors to infringe the publike peace there, The popes men vanqui­shed by the L. Gray in Ire­and. who not long after their arriuall, had their welcome, so that of faure or fiue hun­dred, not past twentie escaped aliue. The English vnder the conduct of the Lord Gray, Lord Deputie of Ireland, atchieuing the victorie vpon the Pope, his Italians and Spaniardes, the fourth day after they came to the place where these Strangers had entrenched themselues in good order of war.

[Page 13]He remarke well gentle Reader, the great goodnes and mercy of God towards our most gratious Quéene Eliza­beth, and her realme of England and Ireland. Note the wise­dome, forwardnes, and diligence, of the Noble man, chief [...] Captaine, and General of her highnes Armie. How he spa­red not to catch hold of oportunitie, in the colde and deepe of the winter: according to the saying: Principijs obsta, & ar­ripienda est occatio. For if they, with the badge of the crosse Keies of their brests, might haue bene suffered to harbour the winter time there, this small sparke would haue gro­wen to a bigger flame, and not so easilie haue beene quen­ched. But the Lords of England, be so hot with their soul­diers vnder them, that let the enemies make triall when they will, let them trust to it, they shalbe fought withal, if they attempt to come on land, before the swimming grow­en of the Sea-sicknes bee quite out of their heads.

The Pope can and will, Church plate taken out of the Vestries by the Pope to make war. raise warre to spill Christian bloud, take out of the Uestries Church plate, (for not any must controlle him) exact tasks vpon his Cleargie, to cause his Cardinals and Bishops to giue contribution to bestow the same where it pleaseth him to murther innocents, to force wiues and widowes, to deflower virgins. For these be the fruits of warre, the benefits that be reaped vpon in­solent victories.

Now take in few woordes, The wicked liues of the Popes. of what godly conuersa [...]ion and life, Popes haue bene of late time, that either the Ca­tholiques may be ashamed of such spirituall and holy Fa­thers, or els, in time to forsake them, and to begin to abhor and detest them, and their most wicked and abhominable actions, and to learne to bee of better vnderstanding than they haue bene, For the successor is commonly worsse and more had than his predecessour.

Séeke and sée the writer Raphaell Volaterranus, Raphael Vo­laterranus. Xistus the 4. whether I make true report of them or no. Search in other faith­full Historiographers, what Xistus the 4. was in his Sée of Rome. A man not caring (so hee might haue his will) whether it were right or wrong, raising warre for euerie [Page 14] trifling matter, selling benefices and offices for mony, rou­ling himselfe middle among harlots.

What was Innocentius the eight, Innocentius the eight. a man both couetous, and factious giuen, to set out the Sword and pike, boasting aboue measure of his aduoultries, and bastard Children, and occupied continuallie in aduauncing and promooting them to high dignities.

What was Alexander? Alexander the sixt. the sixt, a man of lust and carnal desire, that it is to be wondred at, and for shame almost not to be named, which thing very cunningly did he paint out, which wrote these two verses of his Daughter.

This Alexander created of his bastard sonnes, not with­out great ignominy to true Nobilitie, Earles, Dukes, and marquesses and did beare the charge of the Armie, of the which, is sonne was generall.

Of this sort and facultie was Iulius the second, and like­wise also like to these, I [...]lius the second. was Leo the tenth.

And to these is annexed, Clement the seuenth. Clement the 7. a subuerter and destroyer both of Rome, and of his natiue soile, the city of Florentia.

And after these, succéedeth Paulus tertius, Paulus tertius for his auarice, wicked liuing, incest, tyrany, and other horrible crimes so odious, that men indewed with any sparke of honesty and godlines abhorre to remember them, the Heauens, the Earth, and the Seas wil flie away from the hearing of them.

Heere, (the place moouing me thereto) let such as bee ad­dicted to the Church of Rome, beware in season, that they be [Page 15] no longer seduced, and take héed and learne to knowe the bad from the good, by that token which our Lorde Christ himselfe gaue, saying: Ex fructibus eorurn cognoscetis eos. Ye shall know them by their fruits. These Popes afore re­hearsed, These Popes, not men, but monsters of men. were not men, but monsters of men, and to read their liues trulie penned and set down, and déepely to con­sider of it, were sufficient to drawe away any man from that selfe-will, loue, and confidence, they haue put in that whoorish and Babilonicall Church of Rome. Homines sunt, ergo errare & labi possūt saith he. But these be men & mon­sters of men, as I haue already said, and their errors be so grosse and palpable, that children and boyes sée them, and are able to confute them, their maners & actions so wicked and vicious, that euery good Christian must condemne them.

I am bere further to vse a few wordes to the Papistes, Catholiqu [...]s. who call and terme themselues Catholiques, by a word as it should seeme, that many of them doo not well vnderstand or if they doo, they haue no great reason to vse it. For Ca­tholique a Gréeke word, signifieth vniuersall in English, and Ecclesia Catholica in our Cr [...]de or Articles of our be­liefe, hath Sanctam set afore that is the Catholique Church of God dispearsed wheresoeuer it bee vppon the fa [...]e of the Earth, not tied to any one certaine or terminate place, but vniuersall, where the Congregation, small or bigge is di­spersed throughout the world, professing truly Christ and his holy Gospell. We beléeue one holy vniuersall Church to be.

How holy the Romish Church is, let indifferent men iudge, where such good liuers as the Pope [...] aboue mencio­ned be the chiefe a [...]ors in the plaie. So the word Catholike maketh quite against the papists, who would haue the true church at Rome, & depending vpō the same Romish church, as tied to one certaine place, where many of the Bishops of the same church haue bin, & at this day be as wicked and cruell as were in times past. Phalaris Dionysius, Nero, or Diocletian. Nam vitiato capite viti [...]ntur & mēbra corporis. [Page 16] The head being corrupt, Exhortation to the Papists, to recurne to the true Church. néedes must the members of the body be infected with corruptiō. I therfore pray you which be not yet come out of the mistie clouds of Papisme, in the bloud and bowels of our Lorde Iesus Christ, deceiue not your selues. Look wel about you in time. Pin not your faith vppon another mans sléeue. No man can make attonement for his brothers soule. It is the bloud of Iesus Christ the son of God, that clenseth vs from all sin, as witnesseth S Iohn, in the first Chapter of his Epistle: Againe, he the same A­postle saith in the same Chapter. If we acknowledge our sins, he (that is Christ) is faithfull aend Iust to forgiue vs our sinnes, and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnes. And our Lord him­selfe giueth vs this lesson: Venite ad me omnes qui labora­tis, & onerati estis, & ego reficiam vos. Come vnto me all yee that Labour and are heauie laden and I will refresh you. It is he our Lord Christ that hath borne our sinnes, and paied the ransome for them vpon the Crosse. Now brethren, wil you trust in the Popes Pardons, who hath no more authority, than any brother Bishop or Minister hath to forgiue sins, and to pronounce absolution to them that be hartely peni­tent, by authoritie giuen to the Apostles generally, Equal auctority giuen to all the Apostles to forgiue sins and so to their successours, and all Ministers that come not in by the window, but by the doore. For as for the wordes spo­ken by Christ to Peter alone of binding and loos [...]ng, it is answered. If all the Apostles had the same authoritie by Christes his worde, as it may appeare in Mathew 18. and Iohn 10. Than Peter being but one, had it not alone. But if if it were spoken to him alone, in Mathew, yet it doth not re­straine the generall grant, made to others in the places ci­ted before.

Quorum remiseritis peccata &c. Whose sinnes yee shal for­giue, they shalbe forgiuen, & quorum retinueritis, retenta sunt: For those words are spoken in the plurall number, where­by all Priests claime true interest in absoluing. For will you hear what the Priests vtter after auricular confession hard at any mans hand, and iudge your selfe. Dominus Ie­sus qui est summus Pontifex, absoluat te ab omnibus peccatis [Page 17] tuis &c. & ego auctoritare mhi commissa, absoluo te in no­mine patris, & filij, & Spiritus sancti Amen: (which is to say) Our Lord Iesus, which is the highest Bishop absolue thee from all thy sinnes, and I by the auctority committed vnto me absolue thee in the name of the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost, Amen. Where is sinnes reserued in the Canons to the Pope one­lie to forgiue? Why practiseth hee to send abroad his par­dons in parchment, with leaden seales for money? where is his warrant in holy Scripture? wherevpon our Saui­uiour Christ saith in the fiftéenth of S. Mathew. In vanum colunt me homines docentes doctrinas & mandata ho­minum. In vaine doe they serue me, teaching the doctrines & precepts of men. Here I must put you in remembrance of a fond fellow, who hath set out a book: intituled, Hierar­chia, Hierarchia, a Gréeke word, a glorious title, a shewe or promise by the word, of a great matter, where in the end and effect, it prooueth nothing.

It is a rehearsall by name of the popes, from Peter, which was the first Bishop of Rome, (if it so be true) and how one succéeded an other, from time to time, and this was by E­lection in diuers sorts, one whi [...]e by the voice or suffragies of the people, as though Democratia were in vre, sometime by the consent of the better sort in degrée, as when the Deane and Chapter elected, and that doth adumbrate A­ristocratia. And lastly and principally, when the chiefe go­uernour maketh his choice of any person, where is the rule of Monarchia.

But succession by election is one thing, and the right of inheritance another. We daily sée, that a good father hath sometime an vngratious sonne, that godly parents haue a child descended from them afterward to be euill disposed. I haue found a man according to my hartliking saith God of Dauid the king. And yet his son Salomon succéeding him, fell to women and Idolatry, insomuch that God being an­gry, rent his kingdome after his daies into two parts, viz. Rehoboam reigned ouer 2 tribes, & Ieroboam ouer 10. If this be where state of inheritance claimeth his right, that for sin [Page 18] God put teth downe one, and setteth vp another, and often­times changeth the inheritance from one line of kindred in to another, Succession by i [...]heritanc, & Succession by Election. of what force is succession that commeth by E­lection which is grounded upon humaine pollicie. The E­lectors naming and appointing to office whome they will, mooued thereto somtime by méed and corruption of mony, sometimes by fauour and friendship, procured, somtimes, by hatred and enuie, the better ma [...]r [...]iected, and the worse chosen. It is not denied, but that many lerned, vertuous, & of laudable life, haue bene Bishops and Pastors professing Christ in Rome. But t [...]ey with their whole flocke, as they might be caught for the most part, suffered Martirdome, vn­der the persecuting Emperors of the same city, as Nero, Diocletian, & others. A body of the best complection, which is sanguine by continuance of time, and disorder of diet in meats, drinks, and other féeding draweth vnto it grosse hu­mors, and so [...]alleth into diseases, that the alteration wil be such, that ye shall not know it to be the same. So the See of Rome, both during the time of the Primitiue Church, and long after retained a beautie of knowledge and holy­nes, but by litle and litle, it fell away and was defaced, as rust créepeth vpon yron and other metals by contin [...]ance, especiallie, when they be not rubbed, scraped, and dried, S. Paule spake these words in this time, Etiam mysterium ini­quitatis operatur, and now the mistery of [...]iquitie doth worke. And againe, as is aforesaid by the said Paule, what with­holdeth euen that the sonne of perdition might bee reuealed at his time. Most true it is where Christ saith, Ego sum vo­biscum vs (que) and consumationem Seculi, I am with you euen to the end of the world, that the holy ghost hath bin, is and will be with his Church to to the end, and wil neuer leaue it de­stitute. As when the Heresie of the Arrians oue [...]owed the worlde, the holy Spirite of God stirred vp Athanasius, to defend his truth, which Athanasius albeit, [...] the [...] is, there is the Church. he was forced to flie & hide himselfe oftimes in dens & ca [...]es, for the space of diuers years, yet the Church of God was with him in hys dens and caues. For where the truth is, there is the church [Page 19] Idolatry, worshipping of Images, masses, dirriges, and Heauen to be sold for mony, murdring of saints, stewes in whole stréets of Curtesans, blessings for méed, cursings for enuy, are to be found in Rome, yea, and Antichrist himselfe who exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God, therfore there is not the true Church. What monsters haue bene admitted to the Papacie after one thousand and od yeares after Christ, it hath bene somewhat afore touched, & may séeme to such as haue not read Histories almost incredi­ble? What execrable practise was this to enter and possesse the Popes chaire by Magicke and Art forbidden both by Gods law and mans, to giue himselfe to the deuill: to gette worldly dignitie and promotion, to infame himselfe for e­uer, to purchase a momentary and transitory pelfe: to win wealth & glory on the earth, to léese eternal ioy and heauen. Upon this monster last rehersed, & popes afore mencioned, iudge of this said Hierarchia, of this holy principality or gouernment of the Church, which the author of the book wold onely apply to the see of Rome, as to the chiefe of the same, where good & bad popes are associated together in the reher­sall, as though Gods church, were not from the beginning guided & conducted in all truth by the holy ghost, before the Papacy took place, or as if gods spirit could not blow wher it listed, not in one circuit of ground only, but in the church whersoeuer dispersed euen where gods word is truly pre­ched, & the sacraments rightly administred, whether it bee in the east of the world, the west, south, or north part of the same. This fellow doth not only sanctifie the impurest mon­sters of the world, but also restraineth and tieth the grace of God & his spirit to the Popes girdle. Succession in the See of Rome, is of no more force to prooue principalie in the Church, then that the Bishopric [...]es of Cullen in Ger­many, of Toledo in Spaine, may prooue the line by discent by Regester Bookes many hundreth yeares. O mad and fantasticall heads of such as of selfe wil beléeue him, to wit, the Pope and Rome his See to haue of right the superio­ritie of the Church.

[Page 20] Hierusalem and mount Sion had these wordes spoken of her that follow. Hierusalem fo [...]s [...]ken, much more Rome. Psalme 132. For the Lord hath chosen Sion too be an habitation to himselfe. This shalbe my rest for e­uer. Here will I dwell, for I haue delight therein. Yet Hie­rusalem 40. yeares after that Christ hath suffered, was sac­ked (to pretermit in silence, what was doone afore to it by the Assirians & their king) The Temple with the city wals and houses was taken, rased, wasted, and consumed, that one stone was not left vppon another by Titus and Vespaci­an.

For what shal we now think of Rome? whe [...] was there any promise made to it, which Rome by trope is painted out, and spoken in the 14. and 17. Chap. of the Reuelation of S. Iohn, to be Babylon that gret whoore, Harlots or curtesans in Rome. where whole stréets of Curtesans liue without checke, sauing that at the bee­ginning of Lent, they come to auricular confession, & take ashes, receiue the Sacrament, and pay their taxes to the Pope and his officers. After Easter, they returne to theyr old life againe, and so continue all the yeare. See what fil­thy lucre may cause. For these women pay swéetly: what heads of the Church are these? who would trust or haue a­nie confidence in them. I pray and desire all men, as they loue their soules and saluation, to looke into the holy Scrip­tures, to study and read them diligently, and to conferre the Bishop of Rome his doings and doctrine with gods Booke, and they shall quicklie espie and confesse, that the Pope is the selfe same son of perdition spoken of by S. To read scrip­ture, bringeth k [...]wledge, vnderstanding. Paul to the Thessalonians as is afo [...]esaide, and so spéedly forsake him. What is the let, what is the stop and bar that these Catho­liques (as they call them selues) draw backe and come not forward.

Their Maister the Pope would not haue them once o­pen or looke into the holy Bible, translated into the vulgar tongue, And they will not read it, nor any other booke that may bring knowledge of the truth, they loue to dwell in ig­norance. God grant of his infinit mercy, that they maie a­mend and waxe wise in time Amen.

[Page 21]It may séeme to some that I haue bene somewhat too long in this discourse of Rome, and of the Pope, & I pray thē of patience, seeing the matter is so far forth not impertinent, that it touched and concerneth not a few but all: not one region or countrey, but all the partes of Christi­andome: not the saftie of mans bodie only, but the health of the soule: not temporall, but eternall life. And no inue­ctiue can be sufficient on him, til his name and tyrannical seate be raised vp from the bottome, and his memoriall quite extinct, his pride thrust downe together with Luci­fers in Hell. His doctrine abolished, as these few Latine verses following doo partlie declare.

Which verses may be thus englished, not following word for worde, but the sence truely taken out.

For it is the Pope that is the [...]eade and C [...]le [...]taine of the Confederates in Europe at this day, The Pope the head of the holy league that practiseth to trouble & mo­lest England. who the last yeare, viz. 1588, endeuoured to bvxe and spoile this no­ble realme of England, to molest & trouble our most grati­ous soueraigne Lady & Quéene▪ but in vaine (thanked be God, they were fr [...]strate of their purpose) & if they might haue had any good successe, they determined afterward to [...]lea and root out all the professors of true religion in Chri­stendome.

This was the resolute determination, purpose and in­intent of this Antichrist, Chieftain, and his confederates the Spaniardes with their societie. The Spaniard his preparatiō for war against England ma­ny yeares. To prosecute the same with effect, diuers yeares past preparation hath bene made, of money, armor, weapon, ships, ordinance, victuals and all other necessarie furnitur [...] for mortall warre to in­uade England: But God, euen the God of Abraham, Isaac and Iacob: God, the God of Elizabeth Quéene of England, whom she dayly and hourly honoureth and serueth, hath confounded their deuises, broken their cros-bowes of stéel, shortened their armes, weakened their bodies which they bragged to be so strong, made faint their heartes and cou­rages in Iulie, last past, 1588: and in August following [Page 23] and September, that the Deb [...]ra of England may say; God hath bin on our side. God fought for her, God ouerthrew her enemies.

Thus it is apparant, our deadly enemies is the Pope, that aduersary (as S. Paule tearmeth him) that is exalted aboue al that is called God, maintaining the war made vpon England this la [...] yeare, The Popes pr [...]mise to saue the soules of them that perish. with [...], and men▪ a­betting and encouraging al the rest with promises, to giue them the blesse of heauen, if they perished in the war, and died in the fight.

O Sathā, transfigured into an Angel of light. O false i [...]gler! O crafty Apostle, yea rather Aposta [...]a. O bloody mur­derer, that vnder pre [...]ence of holines, would séeme to sit at home in thy chaire, and y [...]t ar [...] the grea [...]est slaughter man in the front of the battaile. O fierce brother of Cain that killest the innocent Abels. S [...]rcease to animate & main­teine the Spaniards thy partakers in war: Learne by the euent of their late enterprise, to sit stil to study on gods booke and to leaue the [...]an [...]ling of war to temporal princes. But religion is the chiefe occasion and ground of the debate & breath of peace, beside other quarels. The deciding of true religion & false, and iudgement thereof consisteth onely as they say in the Pope, and therefore pronounceth vs English, heretiques. And where he cannot consume vs with fagot and fire, because he hath not our Lady and Quéene at commandement to be his executioner, as hee hath Princes in other regions [...] thral to his ty­ranny.

This blessed man of Rome maketh vs a pray to the Spaniards or any other that will assaile vs. Where, note that the Pope gaue the crowne and kingdome of England to the king of Hispaine.

O impudent monster of men. O thou that hidest the commandementes of God in the Latin, from the lay, The Pope a murderer. sim­ple and vnlearned people, and wittingly and wilfullie breakest them thy selfe, which knowest them, and vnder­standest them.

[Page 24]It is written in the 10 and last commandement. Thou shalt not cou [...]t thy neighbours house, nor any thing that is his. These bee the wordes among others in the commande­ment: If to couet be sinne and breach of the precept: what horrible offence to God is it, impudently to take and giue away that which is anothers, as though the whole earth were the Popes to bestowe and destribute at his pleasure. Not found in scripture that the Apostles di [...] assigne Princes, c [...]ownes. But y ^• Popes do it. Where is it read, that Christ or his Apo­stles or any other Bishoppe of the Primitue Church or prelate of any other place since, but this of Rome, did giue or assigne Princes crownes, or kingdomes: the same Bi­shop of Rome, at the first being a beggar, and liued but of almes and deuotion of the well disposed, who at the first went on foote as others doe. And after that Constantines donations had enriched the Sée of Rome, began to ride on horsebacke, Constantines donations puffed vp th [...] Se [...] of Rome with pride. and now through pride is so puffed vp that he is caried vpon mens shoulders in a chaire. A kinde of most arrogant insolencie: for pompe, that no Prince in any age for glorie hath vsed the like, but the Pope.

Religion (as I said before) is laid to the charge of vs English. Touching Religion, we answere, that we are in the true, and the Pope and his adherents in the false. The iudgment whereof appertaineth not to him being an aduersary of Christ, a persecutor of poore innocentes and professors of true Religion, a Tyrant, a blood-sucker. But the t [...]uchstone must be the holy Sceiptures, as our Saui­our Christ hath [...] and taught in these wordes. Scruta­mini scripturas. Search the Scriptures. And againe thus, Erra [...]is, nescientes scripturas, Ye erre out of the way not know­ing the Scriptures, which shew and declare who goe right, and who goe wrong. And we answere with the word [...] of S. Paule in the 24 Chapt. of the Actes of the Apostles. But this we boldly confesse with S. Paule the Apostle vnto the whole world, that after the way which the Pope and his Cleargie call heresie, so worship we the God of Abra­ham, beléeuing all things which are written in the Lawe and Prophets. &c. This is the Pope of whom the Pro­phet [Page 25] Daniel speaketh of in y ^• 7 Chap. of his Prophesie that shall destroy the Saintes of the most highest: and in the 8 Chapter, Hee shall slea the strong and holy people. In lay­ing heresie to thy charge (O England) which is no heresie, but the true worshipping of God, then it is God cause that thou art blamed for, that thou art manaced, [...]ated, enuied, and sufferest. Keioice therefore and be glad, that thou may be counted worthy to suffer these reproches for Christes sake. The Spaniards, the Popes owne chéefe Darlinges, The Spaniard tooke in hand the execution of the Popes malice, 1588. afore all other people in Europe, did take in hand this last yeare viz. 1588 the execution of the Popes malice and War, adding thereto quarels of their owne: But as the Spaniard liketh his last aduenture made vp­on England, so let him and his partakers come againe, We English put in God alone our trust, they shall go wée ping away, if any go away or escape. The cruel [...] of the Sp [...] ­ards. For I trust it nei­ther is, neither will be forgotten, the manacing of the Spaniards this last Sommer, their whippes, their scour­ges, their Yrons that they brought in their ships to mark the youthes of each Sex of the conquered nation to make their bond-slaues: for so they vaunted, and according to the Prouerbe, Antè victoriam canebant triumphum, that is, They assured themselues of victory before thoy did strike a­strcke for it. And if euer they come againe, they shall bée recompensed seuen folde in their bosom and shall bee vsed as Perillus was, according to the Prouerbe, Be whipped with their owne whippes, and marked with their owne Yrons. For they be a people disdainfull, cruell and proud in heart aboue measure, euen frō the lowest degrée of men in their common weale. Will you heare for a proofe thereof, what I haue seene.

A poore Spaniard Fisherman, which onely gaineth his liuing by going to Sea to catch Sardines, a kind of Pil­chard, sillie wretch in his olde ragges, scant woorth ta­king vp if they were found vpon the donghill, after he hath caught some fish, and returneth with his small Skiffe, or boat home, his poore wife waiteth at the shore side for him. [Page 25] The man leapeth out vpon the shore, leauing his fish to b [...] solde by his wife, and his boat also to be made cleane by her, and going home to his house, putteth off his sea appa­rell, claddeth him selfe with his best doublet and hose, and couered with his Spanish cape or cloke, with his Rapier and Dagger by his side, walketh and [...]etteth in the place of the towne whereto marchantes, and the wealthiest of the Towne resort to buy and sell. As the Spaniard is proud, so is he crue [...]l excéedinglie: and where hee can or may ouercome, his tyrannie is intollerable: what infinite slaughters haue the Spaniardes made in the West Indi­ans in America, as well of women and children, as of men, silly soules of that Country.

It is beside my purpose, here to rehearse: whosoeuer is desirous t [...] knowe the trueth thereof, let them reade whole bookes written of the same matter both in French Latine, and other tongues. And to know the same by rea­ding it, will make any Christians heart to bléede. O­uer and beside, the crueltie of their Cleargie in matters of Religion repugnant to Papistrie, Superstition, and idolatrie. Woe, woe, yea thrée times woe to them that shall fall into their handes. It is comparable with all the inuentions of punishment and forture of all Ty­rantes read of in all histories before this time, if it [...] not passe or surmount them. Consider what the Strapado The Strapa­do. is: a Diabolicall inuention, which is to let downe into the threate a fine péece of linnen, wrapped round and [...]ast to­gether, [...]i [...]d to a smal string, and to pul it vp and down, that a man would choose ra [...]her seuen times to die, if it were so possible, then to suffer this paine once. Againe the mar­tirdome of Gardiner, an Englishman borne in Bristoll, and suffering at Lisbona in Portugall, was it not equall with Phalaris Bul? First his right hand was chopped off, and after his left hand. After this he was hanged vpon an high gibbit, and fire so made vnder him, that it could burne but his féete & shanks, then that done a space of time betwéene his knées and thighes: after that his bellie, and intralles [Page 26] were consumed with fire, so that all this while his breast, hart, and head, wherin the pincipal seat of life is, were vn­touched: last, by Gods mercie the rope wherwithal he was tied vnder the arme pits sodenly, brake, and so the whole man fell into the fire sooner then they expected or wished. To hear this torture wil it not make christiā eares to glow and any heart to quake. I will leade the Reader with no more examples, for they be so many of this sort, that will and may make vp whole bookes. Now let vs come to the Religion of the Spaniard. Pilgrimage is vsed & frequen­ted euen at this day freshly to S. Iames in Galitia, & through all Spaine accompted an holy & meritorious thing to salua­tion. If any man die of any wealth there in that countrey, the Friers of the four orders so flock about and the priests that it is estéemed but a small funerall, the charges wher­of doth not amount to 200 Markes, which is deuided a­mong Friers and Priestes for the most part, for saying of Masses, Diriges, and funeral Obsequies, making the peo­ple beléeue, that they with their oblations and praiers can saue their soules. Of whence commeth this, the Cleargie so perswade the people there, they wil deliuer any mans soule from hell, and send it vp to heauen, applying their merites thereto, and with their Sacrifices of Masse a­uailable both for the quicke and the deade. I haue seéene a yoong Priest in Spaine (for there be many Priestes there belonging to one Chuch, which liue onely by these means following) coming to the Church in the morring, and ha­uing mumbled to himselfe Mattyns (as they call it) hath (stāding at the Altar) put on his Albe, looking round about him, and expecting who woulde lay downe and offer their deuotion vpon the Altar: I [...] there were so many that the summe offered or giuen did amount to ten or eleuen Roy­als of plate, he would put on his Palle or Cope, say Masse that morning, otherwise he would put off his linnen Albe and will the people to come againe the next day.

Behold be not Masses wel sold? be not Priests wel main­tained? What doth the Priest all the day afterwardes? [Page 27] He [...]etteth vp and downe not after the maner that sad and sage Priests vse, but like a Courtier in a cloake without a cape down to the ground. O noble England, O England thou maist by this treatise behold as it were in a glasse, England be­ware. thy aduersaries, the Pope, his Cardinalles, Cleargie, and the Spaniardes, the former sort to raigne ouer the soules of Christians, with great tyranny to maintaine their pomp, wealth and glory, the other and latter ready to prosecute the Popes commandents, & to raise vp a new monarchie & Empire to ouertop al other in estate his equals. To the which better to be accōplished, they haue practised as y ^e old Prouerb is, That where a Fox skin cannot reach they haue sowed to a Lions skin. And as they haue done already the yéere past, so they wil perchance again vse force & violence although they haue had a faire warning already, to leaue & surcesse by their harmes sustained: Howsoeuer it may fal out, England▪ call vnto the Lord & trust in him. arme your selues (O valiant Britaines & English men) first aboue all with Spirituall defences, as the king­ly Prophet teacheth Ad Dominum cum tribularer clamaui & exaudiuit me, when I was in trouble I called vpon the Lord, and he heard me euen to the granting of my petition. Againe God himselfe scholeth vs in this sort, Inuoca me in di [...] tri­bulationis & ego exaudiam vos. Cal vpon me in the day of trouble and I wil heare you. England be so­ry & lament for thy sinnes past. Let vs be sorie for our offences past: let vs be sorie and most sory for the sinnes we haue comitted, from the bottom of our hartes with ful purpose of amendement of life hereafter to be led by Gods grace & assistance of his holie spirit. Let vs sing in hart & say with tongue, The Lord is my light and saluation, whom then shal I feare? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom then shal I be afraid: Though an host of men were layed against me, yet shal not my heart faint. If warre rise vp a­gainst me, yet will I put my trust in the Lord. Againe the Prophet thus saieth. England cease not to pray continual [...]y. The Lord is on my side, I will not feare what man may doe vnto me. The Lord taketh my part with them that helpe me, therefore shall I sée my de­sire vpon mine enemies.

[Page 28]Be ye therefore full of courage: Our en [...]mies hate vs fo [...] [...]e­ligion. O ye English hearts. Our enemies hate vs for religion. Their principall quar­rell is religion, our religion is constant, and agréeable with the word of God: there religion is repugnant to it. Yea let the holy Bible bee an vpright iudge betwéene vs. They brag to assaile vs: we are to defend our selues boldly, man­fully, couragiously: What dasterlie heart beareth that man that will not strike, rather then be stricken: who wil not kill, rather then be killed: The heathen mans l [...]on, [...]o fight for our countri [...] the Heathen mans lesson is Pugna pro patria, pro Principe, pro aris & pro focis, Fight for thy Countrey, for thy Prince, for religion, for thy house, wife, and children: Gods law commandeth vs so to doo. For as they which saile in a ship by all meanes and force, they can pos­siblie endeuour to saue and preserue the ship. If the ship perish and sincke, or be cast away, the passengers and ma­riners all be lost and die. So euerie man indewed but on­lie with the gift of reason, besides that, he is by duty bound thereto, and so commanded by God, Bound by gods law to defend our Prince and Countrey. will and must with all his might of body, spending of his substance, studie, and i [...] ­dustrie of witte and soule, protect, defend, and saue his na­tiue soile, land, & place where he hath his originall of birth, [...]ostering, feeding and bringing vp, abod, and dweling link, of kindred, societie of friends and countrimen, euen to the losse of life and liues, if one man might haue an hundreth liues.

If the land wherein thou dwellest fall into captiuitie, then thou that escapest aliue shalt be in worse case than he that is dead. A continuall torment, pinching, tearing of a man liuing, is worse then any sharpe death. The senses by death are taken: the anguish on the other liuing in torment in the day time is euill, and in the night worse. It fretteth and suffereth still and continually as is the fable of Prome­theus his liuer, which as it wasteth by féeding the gréedis vultures mawes. So it is renued, and encreasing againe, ministreth matter euery day of n [...]w and fresh torment and punishment.

This one chiefe and principall comfort (but there bee [Page 28] many mo besides) may make glad all true Subiects to call to remembrance, how our Quéenes most excellent Maie­stie, Comfo [...]t of the Q [...]eenes [...], and her most wi [...]e c [...]uns [...]ll. Quéene Elizabeth together with her Graces prudent Counsellers, haue prouided such plenty from the begin­ning of her Raigne of principall Armour, Artillarie, Mu­nition, a [...]d all other necessary furniture of warre, as ne­uer was in England at any time before, and thanked be god therefore, England fur­nished with Armour and Artillery, as it was neuer in any princes daies [...] this time. the English throughout the Realme so appoin­ted and fenced with Corselets, and weaponed in all sortes, with such readines at one houres call, so forward in theyr musters, that the children and yonglinges leape and spring for ioy at the sight of the same, & imitate men in their or­der of warlike array. A greater comfort is, that our gra­tious Lady and Quéen, hauing reigned ouer vs now thir­tie one years, The commen [...]ation of the Q [...]eene Eli­beth. with al clemency & administration of Iustice, hath conserued this noble Island of England in long [...] with increase of great wealth in euery sort, and her high­nes gouernement is such, that it farre excéedeth the rule of any whatsoeuer Princesse, either in Affrica, Asia, or Europa, from the beginning of the world to this day, except Debora that beloued of God among the Iudges of Isra­ell.

Read the Cronicles and Histories in g [...]nerall written in Greeke, H [...]r vertues & worthy quali­ties. Latine, or any other tongues and it may be séene that her Maiestie is without comparison. Elizabeth of Eng­land, her gifts of the mind be so rare, so excelling▪ so surpas­sing, (that is) her most fine and royal peircing wit in al her Princely spéeches and communications, H [...]r knowledg in the Greeke Latine, and o­ther t [...]ngues. fre [...]ent and mo [...] apparant, her learning and knowledge in the Gréeke, La­tine, Italian, French, and Spanish tongues well knowen to all Ambassadours and others, who haue conference in causes with her Grace farre aboue the capacitie in the Fe­minine Sex, oner and beside the gifts of the body, and other that they make this Queene of the West, noble through the whole world.

Note also, how oft by the mercie and great prouidence of God, and carefull watch of her most noble Councellers, [Page 29] her Maiesties person hath beene deliungred from perill and daunger of Treason, and lately from the deuelish pra [...] ­ses of Pary, He [...] [...] wonde [...]ful [...] ­liuerāce from trea [...]on at [...]me. first alias Vphary called after that of Babington and his fellowes, a thing miraculous in the sight of all good Subiectes, in the which, the wonderfull mercy, and loue of our God; hath bene shewed to her grace and Realme of England.

Looke and read ouer the Chronicles of all nations, for the long raigne of women Princes, The long raigne of a man princes. and ye shall find non to haue raigned so long, but Debora and one more, (wee English trust in GOD shee shall double her yeares of her raigne with like felicitte and victorie, as her Maiestie hath already inioyed) which one thing is a sure token of the fa­uour of God towardes the Realme and vs the inhabiters of the land. Salomon. For as it is written in the Prouerbes of Salo­mon.

Short raignes of Kings and Princes, Short raignes of prince what it b [...]to­keneth. and oft changing of the regall seat signifieth that God is displeased with that Country or land. And contrary the long raigne of a prince, betokeneth Gods great blessing. God grant Quéene Eliza­beth long to raigne, Amen.

Ouer and besides this, The long ra [...]gne of a Prince. the care, study, and diligence by her highnes Lords [...]f the priuie Counsel, hath beene and is such, for to continue good gouernement, and to preserue in vnitie, peace and loue, both England and her Subiects, that it must néeds breed a comfort and ioy in all true Englishe people.

Further, The Quee [...]s care and [...]u­dy to stop and represse the rage and [...]u [...]ie practised in France an in y ^• Low-coun­tries. howe déepely hath her Grace lamented the rage and furie now many yeares practised and put in execution both in France, and in the Low-Countries.

How hath her highnes ende [...]oured with all Godly zeal first to stoppe and represse the great cruelties there exerci­sed.

Secondly, to make mediation for vniting perfect ami­tie and peace betweene the one side [...] the other heerein, and in this poi [...] ▪ the [...] Noble and valiaunt Robert Earle of Leicester, who from hence lately deceased, meri­teth [Page 31] his commendation of eternall fame and glory, who of his own frée will and zeal to true religion, leauing at home his deare Lady and wife, his lands and possessions in ma­ner and sort neglected, his ease and pleasures altogether a­bandoned, hath in two seuerall voyages, very fortunate, in the yeares 1586. and 1587. aduentured and hasazarded his person, spent and consumed his goods, money, and plate, euen to the great endebting of himselfe. The first time he went ouer, in the deepe and middest of the winter, in a dark and stormy night taking shipping at Harwich, Sir Henry Palmer knight Captaine, and M. Gray, Maister of the ship, and landed the next day at Flushing, & so passed by Zea­land into Holland. And this is to bee remembred, that du­ring his ab [...]ad in Zealand and Holland, for the more force of his martiall affaires, hee was accompanied with the Earle of Essex, the noble and valiant

• Lord Willoughbie.
• The Lord burrowes.
• The Lord Wentforth.
• Lord Rich.
• The Lord North.
• Sir Thomas Cicil son & heire to the Lord Burghley, Lord high Treasurer of England
• Sir Phillip Sidney.
• Sir Thomas Gorge.
• Sir Thomas Sturley, knight.
• Sir William Pellam, knight,
• Sirr Thomas Perot, knight.
• Sir William Druery, knight.
• Sir Phillip Butler, knight.
• Sir William Goodier, knight.
• Sir William Read, knight.
• Sir Iohn Connaway, knight.
• Sir Iohn winckefield, knight.
• Sir Robert Sidney, knight.
• Sir Cholmely, knight.

And many other worthy Knightes and Gentlemen of England, furnished with great Horse, Geldings, and Ar­mour, that it was a most worthy sight to bee séene. What care, study and watch being there in the Low-Countries: as a most wise and politike Captaine and Generall, did hee vse in the night? what industrie, labour and paines, did hee take in the day, both in the house, in consultations necessa­rie, and abroad in the fieldes, present in person at skirmi­shes [Page 34] and sieges of sorts and strong townes. What occasion rei benè gerendae, as the latine phrase is did this Earl omit, either to aduance the honour of his Country, either to pre­ferre the weale publique there? what good example of reli­gion and good life, did not this valiant Gentleman, and no­ble Lord giue, hauing two godly and famous learned men adorned with degrées of the Schoole of the Vniuersitie, M. D. Tomson, and M. D. Holland, euery day preaching Gods word, and saying diuine seruice? what Hospitality and o­pen house as we terme it? what princely Court did this Earle kéepe, for bread meat, wine and béere, and all other delicate chéere, so amplie, so plentifully, so aboundantly, that the best sort in the Countrey, had him in admiration, the second and meanest, praied, wished, and desired that he might continually dwell among them. How did he tender the poore, redresse wrongs, restraine and bridle the enemie from iniurying those vnder his charge, win many strong townes, castles, and forts, and as it were wall Holland, and that part of Zeland, that the enemy might not approch but with great danger and difficulty. And at the two yeares end came away from thence with great honor, loosing in fight very few, especially of fame and name, but that noble hardie and most worthie knight, Sir Phillip Sidney. sir Phillip Sidney, who bée­ing hurt in a very hot and bloudy skirmish, with a musket shot a farre of, afterward returning to Arnam, died of his wound: whose fame & glory, no age at any time shall weare away. Carolus [...]eo­bussextus king of Scots la­mented his vn­ripe death. The noble king Carolus Iacobus Sextus king of Scot­land, and diuers others of the Nobility of the same country, beside infinite numbers of euery degrée in England, mooued with his vertues, valour and prowes, made Latine verses most learnedly lamenting his vnripe death happening in the flower of his age. Truly, yea most truly, there was no­thing els sought, either by the puissant Quéene Elizabeth & the Lords of her Counsell, either by the said noble earle, but to preserue true and pure religion, that it might not be troden vnder the foot, and to stop effusion of bloud, which o­therwise would haue bene much. And that ought to be the [Page 35] care and studie of euerie Christian king and Quéene, to stoppe and inhibit outrage of spilling of Christians bloud.

Finally, the gouernement of the said Noble Earle of Leycester, in his abode beyond the seas, hath bene such, that the wise and well disposed euery where, grauely consinde­ring vpon the same, giue to it condigne praise to the great benefites of the Countrey where he hath bene, and to no small strengthening of vs Englishe at home, in such sort, that the Low-Countreis reaped thereby the benefite of qui­etnes and rest, from the molesting of the enemie, which otherwise would haue assailed them most sharpelie to their vtter confusion and vndoing.

This also haue wee English to ioy and to comfort our selues with all, The Lord Charles How­ard Lord Ad­mirall of Eng­land. and to deliuer the same for an euerlasting memoriall to our posteritie, that the last yeare it pleased God of his infinite mercie and goodnes, to giue victorie by Sea, to the right noble and valian [...] Lord, the Lord Charles Howard, Lord high Admiral of England, vpon and ouer the Spanish Armado or fléet, so huge, so strong, so great, so fur­nished with double Canons, and Canons, and Culuerins, and all other sort of geat ordinaunce and small, as musket shot, calyuer and others so fraught with Captaines, soul­diers, and marriners to the number of 28000 so garni­shed with armor & all maner of weapons, so laden and stuf­fed fully with euerie kind of victuall, to serue for long time, all which did so farre passe, surmount▪ and excéed, that it was Vique ad mundi miraculum, Euen to the wonder of this age, that the Spaniardes vpon the confidence they had in the same, their owne strength, were so puffed vp with pride that they had denoured all England in their hearts, whilest they were yet in Spaine, and before they came any thing néere our coast.

Neither is this here to be vntouched, how the said Lord Charles Howard, Lord Admiral, with the nauie of England, went to the Seas in the moneth of December, His going to Sea in the deepe of win­ter. 1587. beeing the deepe of winter, to expect the enemies comming, and so continued till August following.

[Page 36]What watch, what labour, what paines, especially in winter. What stormes and foule weather this noble man and his company did sustaine and abide, and indure out, during these nine monethes. It cannot be vnknowen to al those which haue experimented voyages by Seas.

And in the Comming & approching of the Spanish Ar­mado, to the west part of Cornewall, which was about the 19 of Julie, 1588. How ready, desirous, & glad, the said Lorde Howard was to méet and encounter with the Spaniard, it doth by this appeare: His victory o­uer the Spani­ards. that the said Lord Admiral, accom­panied but with fiftie saile, not exspecting the rest of the Queenes Nauie, or any further aide so come, did begin and enter fight with the Spaniards, and so continued pressing and chacing the Duke of Medina Sidonia high Generall of the enemies companie, and his hundreth and thirtie two saile, from Sonday till Saterday following, by the space of seuen daies, night and day, forbearing sléepe and bodilie rest which nature of man doth exact and require. Al which time, my Lord Thomas Howard, my Lord Shiefield, Sir Ed­ward Hobby knight, of yeares but young, yet for the gifts of the mind, wit, learning, knowledge, boldnes and courage equall to the best Captaines, and many other Gentlem [...]n in this our English Nauie of good and ancient houses, for the loue, zeale, and dutie they did beare to the Quéenes Ma­iestie, their Countrey, and my Lord Admirall, did volun­tarilie, not without their great charges, as it were not on­lie offer, but intrude them selues into the seruice of the sea, in this warre to winne honour and same, and most cou­ragiouslie, and with lyons hearts, did assault, pursue, and terrifie the Armado, that where their purpose and pretence was to inuade and land in Englande, they durst not once drawe néere to any shore, but kept their course still in the chanell and déepe streame, alwaies flying and seeking by night if it might bee, in the darke to leese the sight of our ships.

On saterday night when y ^e enemies came to an anker a­fore Calis, The firing of the Spanish Ships. th'english anchored hard by thē y ^• they could haue [Page 37] no rest, expecting still when our men should boord them.

And it was deuised by the Lord Charls Howard the next night following by sira [...]ageme well known, and therefore not needful at large to be here rehearsed, to fire all the Spa­nish ships, which in part was done and had taken further effect, but the enemie for saking the rode, leauing Ankers & cables behind them for hast, set vppe saile and fled. And the next morning being Monday, my Lord Admirals number being augmented aboue the Spanish with my Lord Hen­rie Seimers fléet of warlike shippes, a feesh fight began: the Spaniard flying afore to the north towards Scotland, and the English, folowing the chace with most sharpe & bloudy fight.

In all which Battaile of nine daies together continu­ing, both great wisedome and manhood was vsed by the said Lord Charles Howard, by the Lords and Knights in hys company, Mariners and souldiours, and marueilous force was bent against the enemy. For one of the ships of the Quéenes on Monday, the last day of the fight, shot in eight houres fiue hundreth and 32. great pellets out of her great ordinaunce hard vnder the sides of the Spanish Arma­do.

What number may we thinke all the rest of the great shippes did discharge that day. They of this great fléete of the enemies, beside the great slaughter of their men, made and caused by our forces, were constrained to cast ouer­boord, their fine Iennets and horses, and waxed glad when night with darkenesse drewe on, setting indirect courses that the Englishe might with more dificultie espie, finde, or follow them in the morning ensuing.

There were from the beginning till this time taken Prisoners, and Spanishe shippes soo [...]cke and spoyled by the English forces, and brasen péeces and Artillery taken, as the true number of them apeareth in books already prin­ted, by the meanes aforesaid, the pursuit was omitted, and the spaniardes sought their way furthest about by the crag­gie rocks and Sea shore of Scotland, to the west of Ireland. [Page 33] Where God with windes and soule weather so tossed the remain of the Armado, that 17 of the greatest ships there, wracked, & were drowned with y ^• losse of some thowsands of their men, beside artillerie, ordinance, and other lading that perished in the water. Thus they that came to kil vs, were killed, taken, or drowned, except those that escaped by flieng and running away: and God fought for England with his mightie hand and stretched out arme, when the force of the English had ceased to pursue. Let any reaso­nable man or others that haue any experience be Iudge.

This proud and haughtie nation and people that came to conquer England, to kil man, woman, and child, to make the countrie wast, to take the land into their owne possessi­on, if they had not bene sore afraide, and self also the Yron pellets and blowes of our English ordinance and the for­ces of the Lord Charles Howard and his most famous band of Mariners and souldiers to the losse of liues of their men and great spoile of their ships, would haue returned home the same way they came; but they durst not, but sought Spaine the farthest way about.

The fame of this victorie, howsoeuer the Spaniardes may or will colour it, is spread ouer all Europe, Asia, and part of Africa, insomuch that the heathē haue our renow­med Quéen in admiration for her vertues, princely qua­lities, royall hart and courage, and principally for this vi­ctorie atchieued vpon the Spaniarde. O most high, O most mighty, O most mercifull God, how good and grati­ous diddest thou shew thy self to our Quéene Elizabeth, to her dominions and territories, to her subiects and people: How godly, how prudently, how thankfully did her Maie­stie at the last comming home and returne of the L. Admi­rall from the Seas, attribute and ascribe this victorie got­ten by fight vpon the Sea, only to God, giuing him all the praise, honor, and glorie for the same, speaking in open au­dience of her Nobilitie, Ladies, and gentlemen in Court, these words, which one of late hath p [...]uned in a book writ­ten in latine verse of her Highnesse. The verses follow.

And her Grace did not onely in spéech, but also in a­ction apparant to the whole world shewit, when her Highnesse accompanied with the Bishops of the Realme, and Nobilitie came through the stréetes to the temple of S. Paule within the citie of London, The Queenes going to Paul [...] Chu [...]ch t [...] [...] thanks vnto God. & knéeling humbly within the west doore of the same Church, gaue with heart, mind, and lowlines of body, thanks to God for his mercies & be­nefites bestowed vpon her and her people, and after heard a sermon at Paules crosse, tending to the same end. As this was done and said before, like a most Christian La­dy and Quéene, so it is worthy of remembrance, that con­trarie to the custome of man and womans nature, prouo­ked, irritated and stirred vp before to wrath & displeasure, vpon outrage & mali [...]e, practised by any enemie, her Grace with a most charitable and pitifull heart cherished and gaue almes, The Queenes clemencie & wonde [...]full [...], euen to the enemy. meate and drinke to the Spaniards, captiues and taken prisoners, forbidding that any iniurie or vio­lence should be proffered vnto them, according to the coun­sell of S. Paule. Vince bono malum. Ouercome the euill with doing good. Here I admonish and exhort all true English, of euerie degrée, to print in memorie at the benefites afore rehearsed, receiued by the mercie of God, and daily and ha [...]rely to be thankfull for the same, and to learne with the Prophet to say & sing Misericordias Domini in aeternū cantabo. My song shal be alwaies of the louing kindnes & mer­cies of the lord, with my mouth wil I euer be shewing of thy truth from one generation to another▪ Again in the 146 Psal. Praise [Page 35] the Lord O my soule, while I liue will I praise the Lord, yea, as long as I haue any being, I wil sing praises vnto my God▪ Let vs follow the example of Mardocheus the 9 chap. England be continually mindfull of y ^• great benefites receiued at Gods hand. of Hest. who inioyned the Iewes the 14 day of the moneth of Adar, and the 15 day of the same, euery yeare, according to the daies wherein the Iewes rested from their enemies and the moneth which was turned to them from sorrowe to ioy, and from mourning into a day of myrth to kéepe them the dayes of feasting and ioy, and to send presents euery man to his neighbour, & giftes to the poore: wherfore was this done and enioined them? Because Haman the Iewes Ad­uersarie had imagined against the Iewes to destroy them & had cast Pur, that is a lot to consume & destroy them.

Let vs follow Iehoshophat, who, when the childrē of Mo­ab, & the children of Ammon came against him to battaile, did séeke the Lord▪ & proclaimed a fast throughout all Iuda So did the Londiners (God be praised for it) & the English, fearing God throughout all the Realme, and continued in praier from morning vnto night. I wish and exhort them in the Lord to kéep a memoriall thereof, & oftentimes to pray, and often to fast, many times to giue thankes for the manifold blessings of God poured vpon vs in preseruing (as he hath done) the Quéens Maiesties person from trea­son and imminent danger and peril, in sending her Grace a long and gratious raigne, that it may please him to send her victorie ouer her enemies (as he hath done) if any here after shal arise. [...] So shal it come to passe, that as Iehoshaphat the king and the Iewes, without any stroke stroken on their parts, had their enemies ouerthrowen at gods hand & they gathered the spoile 3 daies, & the 4 day they assem­bled thēselues in the vally Berracah & there blessed y ^e lord, then euery man returned with Iehoshophat to go again to Ierusalem with ioy. And they came to Ierusalem with viols & with harps, & with tr [...]mpets, euen vnto the lords house, & the feare of god was vpon al the kingdomes of the earth, when they had heard that the lord had fought against the the enemies of Israel, and so the Kingdome of Iehoshophat [Page 39] was quiet, and God gaue him rest on euery side, likewise in the 14. Chap. of Exodus in the end of the same, it is thus written. But the children of Israell walked vpon the drie land through the middest of the sea. And it followeth in the 15. Chap. Then sang Moses and the children of Israell this song vnto the Lord in this maner, I will sing vnto the Lord, for hee hath triumped gloriously, the horse and him that rode on him with all the rest, hath be ouerthrowen in the sea. The Lord is my strength and praise, he is become my saluation, he is my God he is my fathers God, and I wil exalt him. The Lord is a man of war, his name is Iehouah, &c. Let vs thus pray, & praise God with y ^• Israelites for the ouerthrow of our enemis in the Sea: and he wil continue our good and merciful God. Let vs continue to go to the temple with Iehosophat, and there with the harmonie of our cleane soules and bodies, giue there the Sacrifice of thanksgiuing. Let vs sing th [...] 21 Psalme. Domine propter robur immisum gaudet Regina, & quia tu author illi fuisti victoriae, exultat seriò. O Lord the Queene re [...]oiceth for the strength that thou hast sent vpon her, and because thou hast bene the principall giuer of vi­ctory to her, she reioiseth earnestly. Let her Maiesty spiritual­ly reioise as she doth: Let vs her Subiectes take bolde heartes, and be full of courage, if at any time forraine e­nemie should make attempt. The Lord will not forsake them that put their trust in him.

God grant her Highnesse a long life, a long and most prosperous raigne. God of his mercie, continue his bles­sings vpon this Realme of England. Amen.