MOst mightie Prince: the An­gelicall graces wherewith your kingly spirit is indued the diuine excellencie of whose vertues worthinesse, your royal hand hath in hea­uenly lines vnto the worlde commended, as an apparant testimonie of your sound belief, arightly grounded vpon the corner stone Christ Iesus: by the grace of whose asistance your sacred Maiestie is made to be the worlds chiefe Christian king: so that in all the kingdomes of the earth, that doth homage to the name of Christ, there is not any Prince of so abso­lute a power, being arightly incorporated in the proper strength of his owne inheritance, that can cōpare with the greatnes of your Magnificence, nor is their any king vnder the heauens great Canopie, that standeth like your royall selfe, so clearly seque­stred from the Romane Antichristian leprosie: the demonstration of which apparant truth doeth vn­doubtedly prognosticate that God hath raisde your highnesse vp vnto the throne of royall dignitie, that [Page] by the happines of your godly gouernment, you may encrease & beautifie the glorious kindgom of his blessed Son. And that your Maiestie like a most valiant, victorious, and triumphant captaine vnder the banner of the worlds Redeemer Christ, should with maiesticke power confront, and vnderneath your princely foote treade downe all oppositions, that by secret plots of diuelish treacherie, or publike force of hostile armes, dares but presume by their ti­rannicall aspiring menaces to threaten the ruine of the house of God. And as the Church in Englande hath for these last precedent foure and fortie yeares, beene ruled by a godly religious maiden Queene, renownde Elizabeth of famous memorie, vnto the glorie of whose vertuous gouernment, Reuel. cap. 12. may with a Christian consideration be ascribed the long-agoe prophetical wonder seene in heauen: Of a woman cloathed with the Sunne, in whome the Church was figured, compassed about with the illustrate and shining beames of the Gospell of Iesus Christ. And vnderneath her feet the wauering and vncon­stant Moone was put. For by her meanes from forth the Church was cast the vaine inconstant mutabi­lities of Romes inuented straunge traditions. And vppon her head a crowne of twelue starres stoode, which did foreshew, as was by her made manifest, that from the doctrine of the twelue Apostles should deriued be, the forme and order of her go­uernment, the brightnesse of whose illuminating light shoulde with an vncontrolled power: from forth her kingdome driue, the loathsome darknesse [Page 2] of that soules poysoning contagious smoke which flies from forth that hell-borne pit, the gulfe of An­tichrist. And in despite of that great red Dragon, ha­uing seuen heades, and ten hornes, & seuen crownes vpon his heades. By which is mentioned the diuel, the Pope, Spaine, Monkes, Friers, Iesuites and Se­minaries, with the rabblement of that Antichristian power, burning with furie agaynst the Spouse of Christ, hauing made themselues red with the effu­sion of those streames of bloud, which their cruel­ties caused to gush forth from the innocent bodies of thousād martired Saints: yet maugre the force of al their hellish tyrannising rage, diuine Eliza during all the time of her most happy, blessed, peaceful, and victorious raigne, trauelled in the desire of her re­ligious care to be a gratious mother, and a tender nurse vnto the children of the Church of God, and in the continuance of her now out dated, and yet datelesse time: her subiects being fed with the Nec­tar and Ambrosia of a heauenly diet, by the mini­stry of that euer-enduring truth contained in the ca­nonicall Scriptures of the olde and new testament: many thousandes were begoten vnto Christ and taught arightly how to ground their faith, vpō the al and onely sufficient sure foundation of their redee­mers loue. That plain and simple people in her land could with diuine and godly wisedome maintaine the argument of their faithes beliefe, against the cunning coosening sophistry of a pernicious Popish Priest.

But now that our late mayden Queene, whose [Page] sanctified soule vnto her God, brought forth so ma­ny Saints, hath left this earth to bee a Saint in hea­uen, whither should my eyes returne themselues with ioy, vnlesse to looke vpon your Maiestie. And in this thought my soule is rauished with a priuate meditation, my Countrey England hath stoode as a glorious Cittie built vppon a Mountaines toppe, whose beautie, wealth, strength, and gouernment, hath lifted vp it selfe with admiration to the world; the temple of the house of God was from mount Sion brought and placed in the midst of Englandes territories. VVere the go­uernment of Rome now as then it was when England was conuerted there should be no Pope as now the [...]e is, nor Masse, nor Purgatcrie, nor approba­tion, to any of their erroni­ous constitu­tions, Ethelde­rius brought with him none of their new blasphe­mous doctrine Ioseph of Ara­matheus be­fore him was a stranger there­vnto. And since this Island first conuerted was from Pagan Athisme, it neuer stoode so dignified by the true profession of a sound religion as now it did, by the instrumentall meanes of heauens Eliza­beth: And when this glorious England seemed to feare if selfe being mourner-like wrapde vp in sable blackenesse, and timerous mindes speaking to themselues that their best dayes were past, and dan­gerous times were neare at hand, the sillie Lambes that feared the tyrannie of the Romane Woolfe, wept in their thoughts, and did this question aske: Where shall we sing our songs of Sionnow: The Woolfes they met in flockes togither, hoping that their long wishde for time was come, when they a­gaine should glut themselues with bloud, the rich did feare to loose their wealth, the poor did feare to loose their liues, the vilder sort did hope to liue vp on their countries spoile. And when this cloude of danger had brought it selfe euen vnto the strength of his supposde combustion, then as a vapor into [Page 3] ayre dissolued were all the meateors that did seeme prodegious for the liuing mistres of our happines, Our late Qu [...] did in the time of her sicknesse bequeath her crown vn­to our now king, affir­ming it (as in in deed it is) his proper right. did in her life time bequeath her crowne to him whose right it was, and when her soule was vnto heauen ascended, forth with heauens God, into the mouth of Englandes nobles put, the name of him who by their Queene was named to be their soue­raigne, and they togither with vnited loue, did vn­to Englands commons straight praclaim that great King Iames was made their lawful king, Then Eng­lande did vnto her selfe retaine, the vigor of her former strength, and the beautie of her glorie was presently sequestred from all occasions that might diminish, extinguish or in the least sorte eclipse the Sunne-shine of her precedent dignitie, neuer was a land to God more bounde then England is for this aboundant mercie, who hath vnto vs raysde a King, not onely heyre vnto Elizaes Crowne, but also an inheritor of all those gracious vertues wher­with her righteous soule is crowned. And now my soueraigne Lord from saint Elisa to your godly selfe discended is her kingdoms gouernment, and all the Saints on earth, within the limits of your large and spacious confines, doe humbly wayte vpon the as­surance of your blessed hope. And for your royall hand hath manifested that your princely heart o­beyeth the precepts of heauens written worde: what should I say, but certainly resolue your royall selfe, descending from a race of Kings, and from that mightie King, whose euerconquering arme, at first did breake the heade of Romes vsurpde [Page] authoritie, that now the mightie God of heauen, whose wrath hath alwayes threatned the destruc­tion of that Babilonian Whoore, hath raysed vp your regall Maiestie to breake the necke and backe of that soule deuouring beast: Reuel. cap, 12. ver. 8. 9. so as the Dra­gon, and his Angels shall no longer rule in Chri­stendome, nor shall the nations of the earth conti­nue to be deceiued with the infectious Locusts of their lyes and heresies, but his kingdome shall bee razed to the earth, and the worlde shall wonder at his destructions, ouerthrow (sure I am) this truth must come to passe before the second comming of the king Christ Iesus, since whose being vpon the earth, vntill this present time, there neuer was a true beleeuing king (remooued from the Popes autho­ritie, and yeelding to the gouernment of Christ) that was of so absolute a power, to bring to passe, the prophecies against the Citie of Rome, as is your ma­iestie vndoubtedly, my soueraigne Lord, this rely­ing age is leaning to the latter ende of time, and all the signes forerunniug the day of iudgement, haue put themselues into a perfect view, the reuolution of the heauens, being so shaken as that the planets are remoued from their wonted stations, one ha­uing stept into an others place, and this massy globe of earth, hath oft with fearefull earthquakes trem­bled, the seuenth and last Angell in the Reuelation specified, hath (as it well was calculated by a reue­rend and learned minister in your Scotlands king­dome) beene sounding the last generall summons for this already fiftie fiue yeares past: Reue, 11. ver. 9 and time it selfe [Page 4] hath almost brought his course vnto a whole vnited period, whereby is threatned more then ordinarie change. And at this present your kingly selfe, hauing as it were by miracle been vntil this time preserued, and now being created Gods great Lieutenant vp­on earth, and the onely warriour and chiefe Cham­pion for his Iesus Christ, why should not euery Christian souldier then resolue that your magna­nimious spirit, and glorious race from you procee­ding, shall be the guard vnto the Church of God, & bring confusion vpon all her enemies. For as from the roote of righteous Iesse did proceede the liniall race whence Christ himselfe descended: so vnto me it seemeth that heauens eternall King in his secrete wisdome, knowing the worlde is measured with a little length, hath raysde you vppe (most mightie Prince) that from your righteous selfe might spring a glorious ranke of godly and religious Kinges, and Queenes, that might vnto the Nations of the earth, maintaine the glorie of his heauenly name, vntill himselfe shall in the Cloudes appeare, and summon all the world vnto a generall iudgement.

Worlds peerelesse Prince, and my renowned Soueraigne, the consideration of these things be­fore discribed, haue compasde me within a heauen of ioy. And though I am the vnwoorthiest of manie thousandes that in your Englande liues, and farre vnfitte to vndertake this waightie busi­nesse, hauing beene alwayes trayned vp in the exercise of Armes, yet for I know there is nothing [Page] dignifieth a Souldiers sword so much, as well to vnderstand the iustice of the cause for which hee fights, I haue in the hope of your Maiesties accep­tance, aduentured to make this little worke, the ar­mour of a Christian Souldiers Resolution, and doe resolue for God, and for his truth, in life and death, to vow my selfe a faithfull seruant to you my soue­raigne Lord: the earths most godly and chiefe Chri­stian king. And so much the more haue I tasked my weake and shallow vnderstanding muse, to this performance, because I must confesse vnto your Maiestie; that in a zealous loues affection to your high­nesse, I haue before this time aduentured to let a lit­tle Pamphlet, A booke intituled, A Souldi­ers wish vnto his Soueraigne Lord King Iames. passe vnto a publike view, which hath drawne vnto it selfe, a partial iudgement from some opinions, as I thinke, not worthy any great respect, for by the idlenes of their inuectiue wordes, they seeme to proue, that I deserued blame, because I dealt so roundly with the sea of Rome, which vaine imagination found some shewe of cause to ground it self vpon, the present times incertaintie, feeming as if they desired to make a doubt, The Papists desire to make a doubt of the certaine conti­nuance of our religion in the forme which now it doth. whether Religion should stand in that same forme, which now it doth or whither it should be brought vnto a more neare affinitie with Gehenna, the Antichristian church of Rome. When this I heard, I could not choose, my soueraign Lord, but secōd that my foregoing work, with this my named Resolution: For when I with my self considered how Rome was figured by your owne disoription, and sawe with what feruencie of [Page 5] spirite your diuine and sanctified heart did oppose it selfe against that worldes disceiuing, irreligious, pernicious, blasphemous monstrous Pope; I could not but in my soule resolue with a Souldiers Reso­lution, to follow your kingly Maiestie in your vertues steppes, and not to suffer a little Monkish Mowle hill heape of tongues, that rides vpon the skirt of Peeuish Popery, to derogate from your kingly name, the glory due vnto the honour of your faithes profession, nor suffer that the godlie people in your land (whose heartes prepareth, as befitteth loyall, faithfull and obedient Subiectes, to bid your Highnes welcome to your Kingdomes Crowne) that the ioy which they conceiue in the excellencie of your great Maiestie should be eclip­sed by the inftigation of any secret Papisticall ob­iected doubt, The doctrine of Rome and Spaine poyso­neth both bo­dy and souls, but helpeth neyther. what should let my resolution to speake plainely to my King, whole Highnes know­eth what drudges are sent from Rome, and there­fore will not take Phisicke for his soule from their impoysoned proiected potions. Boniface 3. by the leaue of Phocas the foolish Empe­rour, did first write himselfe papa, and then presently begā the ruine of the Church, the ful effect whereof was concluded by Adrian. since whose time as saith planlina in the life of popes, there was neuer any Emperour of might, nor pope of any vertue. The Chronicles with innumerable Tragike scenes, haue made dis­cription of the Roman regement, shewing to the world, that not any king nor Queene, nor Prince in Christendome, that euer did displease that proud vsurping Bishop, since he rulde alone, and gainde vnto himselfe, the name of Papa; but they were all of them eyther poysoned, murdered, or otherwise betrayed, or their lands inuaded, or their Subiects moued to rebellion, or many times nearly brought in danger of those euils, eyther by Monkes, Fryers, [Page] Iesuites, Seminaries, or some other villanous min­ded slaues, sent from the Popes diuelishnes (but mis named Holines, to put in execution those three damned purposes, Bohemia, Lombardy, Germany, France, & bleeding Belgia haue bought their to true experience, with a deare and bloudy prise. And though that Spaine be Romes chiefe Champion, yet king Philips eldest sonne, euen in his Fathers sight, must bleed to death, when he displeasde the Pope: England hath had a hard experience of his Tyran­ny, and in the dayes of Queene Elizabeth, the multiplisity of trayterous plottes laide against her life, all wrought by Romes confederates, were to long to specifie: and for your Scotlandes Kingdome, (Mighty Soueraigne) neyther your royall person, nor your publike state, haue stoode exempt from their most vilde attemptes: and as­suredly (my Soueraigne Lorde, no other then such like strategems are to be expected from their hands who by their oathes haue sworne and vowed alle­giance to the Sea of Rome; yet among them, but not of them, Some seeme as if they were papistes, but indeede are not. is there some, that giues themselues vnto the vse of ceremoniall customes, first brought in by Rome and yet no doubt they see the hellish e­uils that springes from thence: but what they do, is done for fashion, & for custom sake, and peraduen­ture with some religious obseruation, yet in their heartes I verily belieue they hate the proud­nes of the Popes supremacie, and grieues to see the Villanies wrought by his Workeman­shippe, and such as these I thinke are nothing [Page 6] dangerous, for I haue obserued in them a due o­bedience to your Englandes lawes: but for the former sort, your Maiestie knoweth, the daunger of their euill effects, for be they but once reconciled to the Pope, so as they dare not like louing and o­bedient Subiectes, VVhat maner of Subiectes, papists were vnto the Queen, & now what hope there is of them. take their oath to your suprema­cie; it cannot be but their intentions must be dan­gerous, they cannot in their harts endure to be your subiects, but as they lately were her Maiesties, in cō ­tinuall hope of change, nor doe I wonder at their minds in this, for their subiection hath vowed it self an other way, and vpon the pain of deadly sin, their consciences are tied vnto the lawes of Antichrist, & they are taught by the doctrine of Rome, & Romane dispensations, to suppose, that vnto you belongeth no obedience; then vnto them I am sure there be­longes no trust: The Schooles of Rome and Spaine, are the nurseries of treason. And for the schollers, that the scholes of Rome & Spaine brings vp, your kingly self and al your kingdoms, haue by an often taught ex­perience learnd the true vnderstāding of their trai­terous documents: Iesuites, Seminaries, and Popish Priests, I do resolue, will neuer be thought to loue your Maiestie, nor cā they at any time deceiue your Highnes, when they are at no time trusted, & sure­ly no trust to them belongeth, that are the empoy­soned branches, sprong from the venomous heade of earthes corruption. And because I would not haue the Papists thinke, I speake by gesse, but want authority whereon to ground my selfe, I haue to that end set downe some of the dangerous decrees made by the lawes of their misbeleeuing church, [Page] for the Pope to establish his diuelish authority hath thus decreed.

First, Dist 40, etsi papa, 9. q. 6. ea cuncta. that no man may iudge the Pope, nor giue sentence about his iudgement, for he is to iudge al men vpon earth.

2 That the seat of Rome, 30 q. 1 Cap. giueth strength & might vnto all lawes, but it is subiect to none.

3 That hee hath authority to breake all oathes, In 6. lib. 2. de sen. bondes, and obligations made betwixt any man of high or low degree.

4 That he hath power to interprete, 26. q. cap. Quouenc. declare and lay forth the holy scriptures, according to his own will, and to suffer no man to expound it contrary to his owne pleasure.

5 That he is a God vpon earth, In. 6. lib. de sent. Apostela­tus in verb continetur. ouer all heauenly, earthly, ghostly and worldly, and no man may say vnto him, what doest thou.

6 That he hath authority to dissolue subiectes from their obedience to their Lordes and Princes, In 6. lib. 2. de sen. and that he hath power to depose kings. King Herold exiled Robert Archbishop of Canter. Ro. gat him to Williā D of Norm. Pope Alexander to he reuenged of King Herold, sent vnto duke W. a banner to go and conquere England, and eleane remissiō of sins both a pena & a culpa, to all that would follow the banncr, & by this means was Eng­land the last time conquered.

7 That he may giue cleane remission vnto whom he will, both a pena, & a culpa, & he whom he for­giueth must needs be the child of saluation: for he hath absolute power to bind & to loose vpon earth, and saith he, the holy Church hath so determined and the force thereof (as faith his lying blasphemy) is greater then the canonicall scriptures.

From the authority of these lawes doth this ef­fect proceed, that so soone as any Prince displeafeth Rome, he is presently by the pope cursed, excōmuni­cated [Page 7] & proclaimed no right inheritor, & that it is not lawfull for to hold of him, his subiects are absol­ued frō their true alegāce & blessings, with clean remissiō of sins sent to all those that wil inuade, spoile, or conquer the land of any kingdom or Prince, with whom the Pope shall be displeased, And the beter to effect these his often performed deeds of charitie, he sendeth his leaden Bulles, vnto whome hee listeth, thereby giuing authoritie vnto subiects, to resist their kings; and lustely to take vp armes against them, when by the Pope they shall be commaun­ded. Their oathes for their allegiance are dispen­sed with, so as although a subiect betray, murder, or by any meanes kill his lawfull Prince, Perpetual malses apointed to be sūg in Swin fted Abbey for the Monk which poyso­ned king Iohn. So is it now in Rome for him which slew the Prince of Orringe, & for the Frier which kild the French King. and Gods annoynted king, yet shall not their accounted very honest executioner, bee adiudged a traytor, but ra­ther a holy man, for that hee hath done, it on the Popes behalfe, and in that respect, his acte shall bee registred for a heauen purchasing meritorious deede, and after the death of such a one, there shall be diuers misnamed holy, but vnhallowed Masses, sung by a company of blacke, white, gray, and pibal asses, for the redeeming of his soule, out of their fooles inuented purgatory. And although this monstrous euil be against al laws of God, and godly men, yet doth the brasē, impudēt, & shameles pope, with al the multitude of his masse-monging shaue­lings, striue to maintain the lawfulnes therof, against the writē word of the eternal law of God: affirming that on earth, al power is giuen vnto him, & that his seat is established by general counsels (which as he [Page] sayth cannot erre: Declectio et Significatio, Panormitanus saith that councels may erre, as they haue done inter raptorem et raptā Hierom, 39. q. 2. tria: doth af­firme as much and August. de bap. lib. 2. ch 3. contra Donatistas.) And therefore what the Pope decre [...]th, must stand of force against all authorities, for saith his law, Dist. 19. 51. Ro. er enim vero et nulli facit cap. 5. omnes. What the Sea of Rome doth de­crce, must needes be allowed: And what she repro­ueth, must be of no strength: For so must the de­crees of the Sea of Rome be accepted, as if they were spoken by the godly mouth of Peter himselfe. And the more to approue his presumptuious blasphemy, the Pope hath prouided that himselfe may be avil­laine, both to God and men; and yet himselfe not to be found falt with. For, sayth his law, Distinction the 40. Who doubteth but the Pope is holy, the which is exalted vnto so great a dignity, in whome though good workes of his owne merits bee wanting, yet were those good works sufficient, which were done by his predecessors. And therefore hath his lawe, in the place before recited, thus decreed, that though the Pope sinne neuer so grieuously, and draw with him to hell, by his example, thousandes innumerable: yet let no man be so hardy to rebuke him: For he is head ouer al, and none ouer him. And by this vsurped authoritie, is that 7. headed beast, approued the very open and reuealed Antichrist, of our time, who by the trecherous and diuellish au­thoritie of his Antichristian lawe, hath giuen vnto hsmselfe a power, to set vp and at his pleasure to cast downe kings, Pope. Celesti­nus. 4 crowned the Emperour Henricus 6. with his secte. and with his fowle vngodly hel-path treading feete, to set the Crowne vpon an Emperors head, and vpon an Emperours necke to tread, when he displeaseth him: And vnto such a base subiection hath he brought the mighty Princes of the earth as [Page 8] that they thinke it no small honour, to kisse the stin­king feete of that inhumane monster. A true descrip- of Rome, as is declared in the Reuela, ch. 17. This is the rich and wealthie whore, bedeckt with Iewels and orna­ments of gola: Whose Scarlet robes, are dyed in Christi­ans bloud: Whose variable garments, betokens diuers liueries of religious orders: Holding in her hand, a cup full of abhominations: the Popes decrees, Bulles, dispensations, suspensations, and cursings: And the beast she sitteth vpon, is the papall sea of Rome: And with this whore the nations of the earth hane committed filthinesse.

But now sith that the the light from darkenes is distinguished by the glorious ministrie of saluations Gospell, and that Romes Idolatrous whore dome, is made knowne vnto the world. Oh that any Prince should desire to contaminate his soule with her vn­cleannesse, or endure to rest himselfe in the serpen­tike bosome of such daungerous wickednes. But Rome thy pacht vp Iron legs are broken, and like a haulting cripple, thou standest reeling in thy weak­ned strength: Thy nakednesse is made a publicke scorne, and but a verie few (to what had wont to be) are left to stand on thy pernicious part: Thou maist perceiue how God doth by degrees r [...]e downe the kingdome of thy Sathans Sinagogue. I wil not labor to aduertise thee, Fury, wrath, and indignatiō is thy portion, thou art throwne out vnto a fierce & strong destruction. And in thy day till which it is not long, thou shalt not finde any meanes for to preuent the fearefull stroke of thy all confounding iudge­ment, vnto which I leaue thee: bee thou an heire [Page] vnto thy prepared inheritance.

This truth discribed, I know my Lord and king, is rightly knowne vnto your Maiestie, your selfe haue drawne the portrature, of Romes Antichristi­an beast, and layd him open in his full discription. And in your Scotlands kingdome, all the time of your most blessed gouernment, hauing once growne past the yeares of your minoritie: your highnesse, did religiously maintaine a reuerent, lear­ned, wise, and godly ministrie, whose labour was to cast Romes Kingdome downe, and in true forme, for to erect and gouerne the house of God, and Church of Iesus Christ. And should I bee so vilde to thinke, The Authors Resolution doth in this place resolue vpon sufficient reason that the King hath no affection vnto papists. that now your Maiestie would let a Tyrant loose, or lend an eare to helles inchaun­ting charmes, or please to loue, or in weighty cause, to trust the daungerous Imps, by oath in­grafte into the Romaine stocke, whose heartes hath vowed alleageance to the Sea of Rome, by whose vilde lawes, a seeming iust authoritie is giuen, to execute the deedes of villainie, and vn­der pretext whereof, so many haue beene made approued villaynes, thrusting themselues into the speedy execution of bloudy trecherous strange in­humane stratagems, accounting as if in them they had performed honest & Christiā like meritorious deeds: Or that your Maiestie would suffer a po­pish tolleration, to bring forth thornes, whose poyntes will turne themselues against your life, and strine to worke your kingdomes ouerthrow. No, no, my soueraigne, my Resolution shall in life [Page 9] and death, resolue that your Kingly Maiestie, hath not a thought, that bendes it selfe to such little pur­poses: Your highnesse hath already ioynd vnto your Maiestie, a company of honourable, valiant, graue, prudent, wise, godly, and religious Councellers: whose foreseeing prouidence, in the time of our late Queene, and euer renowned Eli­zabeth, did at all times worthily preuent the euill ef­fecting policies of Rome.

And when of late the house of Dagon, was in it selfe diuided: Secular Priestes and Iesuites, bee­ing each to other, The Church of Rome is in it selfe di­uided, secular priests and se­suits being at a desperate variance. in apparent opposition, the Priestes by printed Pamphlets, proued that the Iesuites were the Arch Traytours of the worlde: and that by them were complotted all the treasons, against the Maiestie of our late Queene: The Priestes thinking by this their accusation, to gayne vnto themselues a fauourable opinion, and by that meanes, The reasō why the priests did accuse the Iesuites and what their labor did vnto them procure. in time to win the minds of men vnto their loue: then presentlie the wisedom of our Queene, with those your now honoured Councellors, per­ceiuing both sortes to bee no lesse, then dangerous Traytours to the publike state: did forthwith re­quite their cunning, with proclaymed banishment, annexing thereunto the penalty of death to bee in­flicted vpon all those that by their wilfull staying, should exceede the time limitted in the Proclama­tion.

And should I thinke your Maiestie would not now commaund the performance of the selfe-same [Page] course, against those, who by their continuall practises, haue alwayes sought the vtter ruing of the house of God, the murdering of Gods annoin­ted, and the subuersion of all your kingdomes: In this for to resolue the doubts of men too timerous, thus much assuredly, my Resolution knowes, that the obseruatiō your kingly self haue made of Romes performed trecherous tyranous and tragicke massi­kers, will giue warning to your Maiestie, with pru­dent wisedome, to preuent their mischiefes, and were they not altogether in their vaine expectatiōs, meerly reasonlesse: I wonder what shewe of hope, could giue occasion to suspect that nowe the reine of iustice, which did gouerne them, should bee let slip, and they turnd loose vnto a daungerous liber­ty, The name of iudifferenttol­leration could not be endured in the dayes of Qu. Elizabeth. when in the time of our late Queene, the smoath coynd name of indifferent tolleration, was alwayes counted in it selfe to hold a threatned desolation to the publik state. And frō time to time the Lords and Peeres of England assembled in high court of Par­liament, did with one consent ioyne with our So­ueraigne, to enact those lawes and Statutes, which alwayes did suppresse the least raisde vppe shewe of an Antichristian head: And when they were thus confronted by a Mayden Queene, and such course taken during the happy time of a wo­mans gouernment, vpon whose Sexe a smal perswa­tion is sayd to worke with an accounted greatest force, and yet in all those times they could neuer bring to passe the effecting of the leaste materiall [Page 10] substance vpon the gound, The papists in the time of our late Qu. were alwayes ouer­throwne in the least occation of their hope. whereof their weakest hopes were flattered, and yet now a swarme of droanes, which desires to liue vpon the spoile of the labouring bees sweete hiue, flyes bussing vp and downe, and sends a whispering noise vnto the eares of men, and tels that now they hope the time of their deliuerance draweth neere, and that forsooth they shall be smilde vpon with gracious fauour, and their long (as they say) continued hard restraint shal now be pitied, The hope of the papists, & the effects therof. and that their (supposed holy) but vnhallowed patcht together seamerent sacraments, shall be quietly amongst themselues administred: for either an alteration (which desires freely to feed vpon the foode of blaspemie, and fat it selfe with this landes confusion) or a tolleration secretly bending it selfe to such like purposes, shall now, say they, assu­redly be accomplished.

But as the mightie God of heauen doth in deri­sion laugh their hopes to scorne, The God of heauen & our godly king on earth, doe de­spise the secret imaginations of the Papists. 1. Sam. chap. 15. ver. 32. 33. so doth the great King Iames, Englands God on earth, in the priua­cie of his meditation smile, to see a rablement, of trayterous mindes and soule deuouring murthe­rers, expect to reape kinde fauours from his kingly hande, but so fare they all, as did Agag, at the handes of Samuel, who came smyling forth in the expectation of his supposed liber­tie.

So shall it bee vnto them all, my Souer­aigne Lorde, for my Christian Resolution telles my soule, that your Highnes is in the zeale of [Page] your faithfull thoughts resolued, neuer in the least sort to leane vnto their vilde profession. And a­gainst the aduersaries of God and of his Christ, The sword of iustice cannot take to strike a course againgst the enemie, of God. the sword of iustice, cannot take too strict a course that valiant Ioshua the first, & worthiest Worthy, stood alwayes cleared from a tyrants name, although his powerfull arme did euer execute a strong austere seuerity vpon the heads & harts of them, that were the foes to God and to his truth, the sword of Ioshua in a glorious battell offered vp a pleasing sacrifice vnto the eye of heauen, the sight whereof so pleasd the heauens Creator, that he gaue power vnto Io­shuas tonge, that by his word he did command the Sunne against the nature of her fiery swiftest course to stand and giue him light, till he had slaine his e­nemies, fiue mighty kings he trāpled vnder foot, & was loath to leaue the smalest remnant of their seed.

Your Maiestie may still bee mercifull, as late our Queene Eliza was, Parsons and Sanders, on the behalfe of the Papists haue in their printed books affirmed that ourlate Queen was a cruell tyrant, & they affirm that Q Mary was more merciful to the prote­stants, then E. vnto their na­med Catho­likes. and for your labour reape her recompence from those your enemies, vnto whome your mercy chiefly doth extend it selfe: Her Maiestie was by the Papistes in printed bookes accounted farre more tyrannous, then was Dioclesian, or that murthering Nero: Parsons and Sanders in their trayterous libels, did liberally af­firme so much: And I know a Papist, ye aliue in England, that did verifie vnto my face, that Queen Mary was farre more mercifull vnto the Prote­stants, during her raigne, then was Elizabeth vnto the Catholikes, what thanks your gratious lenity [Page 11] shall reape from such like minded men: Your Ma­iestie can with best commended wisedom iudge: how they affect the right of your succession, their Dolmans Booke doth plainly specifie, in which with cunning shews, strange deriued pedegrees, & vp­rearde mountaine-lyes, they haue intituled the Infant of Spaine to your inheritance, The Papistes haue intituled the infant of Spaine vnto the crown: of England. and striued with a diuels inuented policie to dispossesse your Maiestie of your lawfull right; this course they tooke before you were their king, and since that time, as by a truth which my selfe reueald vnto the Lords of your most Honourable Priuie Councell, it seemeth that your Englands Papists haue amongst themselues aduentured to calculate the number of your dayes on earth, The secret in­tention of the Papistes is meerely tre­cherous both vnto the king and publike state. if your Highnes shall deny to graunt one of the two before deseribed dangerous extreams, which are either alteration or tolleration in religion: so as what loyalty is to be expected frō their hands, more then by constraint, your Maiesty may directlie iudge. And therefore because I know the remnant of these Roman Moabites, will be the cō ­tinuall sowers of seditious seed, and dangerous dis­sturbers of your Englands publike weale▪ I could be contēt to wish for Gods glory, my countries good, the safty of your royall selfe, and security of all your princely progeny: that the whole packe of Papists were sent vnto their Holy father the Pope, that they euen in his Citty Rome might stand together vnder the safe protection of the Popes abhomi­nable blessing, meane while during their stay, if so they dare but once beginne to stirre, I doubt [Page] not, but al the argumentes wherewith they fine­ly vse to pleade, will bring themselues to bee de­uided into fiue seuerall partes, which deuision will in England worke Romes dissolution, and in time I hope the gates of Rome will all bee ramparde vp, so as we shall no more be troubled with his strag­ling runnagates, but that the Pope shall bee enfor­ced to liue within himselfe, and onely take the pro­fite that his town allowes, his contributary whores can pay him 30. thousand pounds a yeare, and no doubt he hath many other such like honest helpes. Assu­redly, the times will shortly come, when all the true religious kinges in Christendome will ioyne toge­ther, and fire his sinke of sin about his eares.

And thus my soueraigne Lord with further ioy­full hope, then is as yet reuealde by mee: vnto the vnstaynde beauty of your princely Maiestie, my resolution humbly bringes it selfe, and though per­haps the Diuell will shortly roare, and send abroad his instrumentes to holde his kingdome vppe.

Yet most puisant and valuorous minded Prince, I know your kingly heart being indued, as it is, with true prowes, and perfect fortitude, can not endure the operation of timerous effectes, but your kingly wisedome will prudently preuent all the occasions, whence those monsters are begoten▪ stand fast therefore & God frō heauen wil giue vnto your maiestie a powerfull & vncontrouled strēgth. And by the best cōmended ordinary meanes, the better to protect your safety, I make no doubt, but your highnes shalbe continually attended with ho­norable, [Page 12] valiant, wise, & faithfull gentlemen, whose loyall harts will carefully defend the safety of your royal person: & sure I am, the subiects of your king­dom generally, All well affec­ted people do reioyce in the establishing of our now re­nowned king. vnles some few scattered cōpanies of Romā straglers, do in their soules reioice that God hath raysde your royall vertuous selfe to bee their righteous king: millions of thousands in your Eng­land liues, whose spirites by the instinct of nature giues themselues to loue the lawfull exercise of Armes, & they with ioyfull willingnes, will waite vpon the summons of their kinges commaund, and spend their liues, their lands, their goods in the per­formance of faithfull and obedient seruice: your England hath for these many yeares obserued the maner of your neighbor bordering kingdoms go­uernment: & with what prudēt wisedom your ma­iesty did protect the safety of your land, the conti­nued true report of your renowned vertues fed your Englands people with delightfull ioy, and to their hearts it did a comfort giue, when as they thought vpon that blessed hope, which built it selfe vpon the well known right of your succession, & though in christian policie. A publike note was taken from the vulgar view, yet all the world may witnes that our late Queenerenownde Elizabeth, did with her Lordes and honoured Councellers long ago de­cree to yeeld vnto your Maiestie, the proper right of your inheritance, and that the people of your kingdom did expect no lesse, was certainely appro­ued by that ioyful & general applause, whichal your Englands subiects gaue, when as they heard king [Page] Iames proclaimde to be their Soueraigne.

And now (most mightie Prince) sith that in de­spite of Rome, the God of heauen hath establi­shed your name on earth, and made you greater then euer yet was any Christian king, and hath in peace confirmed the regall seate of your imperiall throne, I make no doubt but your Maiestie, with a Christian constancie, and religious care, will con­firme the strength thereof, by the inuisible force of a prudent, wise & godly gouernment, which doth vnto two speciall poynts direct it selfe, The well or­dering of di­uine things is chiefely to be respected in a kingdomes gouernment. which is vn­to the well ordering of diuine and humane things, wherein the obedience vnto God belonging, doth challenge to it selfe a title Capital, the celestiall dig­nitie whereof, is first before all other things in the chiefest place to be preferred.

Diuine regiment doeth therefore take vnto it selfe the matter of Religion onely, and the ordi­nāces to be vsed in the church; which in the time of the Law, were commanded by God himselfe vnto his seruant Moses, and hee by the appointment of God, committed the principall charge thereof vn­to Aaron, and his sonnes, and the tribe of Leui: but now in the time of the Gospell, they were taught and commaunded by Iesus Christ himselfe, and by him left vnto his Apostles: and from them the prin­cipall charge thereof is committed vnto the Bishops and Pastors of the Church.

And as in the time of the Law, Aaronthough he were the high Priest vn to God, yet was he subiect vnto Moses vnto whom was reserued the supremacy of kingly ho­nou: for he was vnto Aaron in the stead of God. Exod. 4. ver. 6. Aaron though he were the high priest vnto God, and had chiefe authoritie in diuine things, yet was not he the king, [Page 13] Prince, or supreme Magistrate ouer the people of God, but that supremacie of kingly honour, was giuen vnto Moses, who was vnto Aaron in the stead of God, and therefore next vnder God. Aaron and his sonnes were accounted subiects vnto Moses. So in the time of the Gospell, though Bishops and Pastors haue the chiefe authoritie to deale with the administration of diuine and holy things, yet they, nor any of them are the kings, princes, or supreme Magistrates ouer the people of God, and Church of Iesus Christ. But that supremacie of kingly honour is giuen vnto Kings, and Princes in their seuarall king­domes, who are vnto Bishops and Pastors, in the stead of God. And therefore all Bishops and Pastors, are to be accounted subiects vnto their seuerall Kings and Princes.

And as Moses in the diuine ordinances concer­ning the law of God, Kings & prin­ces in cause diuine, should not command vnto their subiects thinges contrary vnto the word of God. did commaund nothing vnto Aaron, and the tribe of Leui; but that he had expres­ly receyued from the mouth of God. So Kings and Princes in the diuine ordinance of the Gospel of Ie­sus Christ, are not to commaund vnto their Bishops and Pastors, any other thing then can bee expressely warranted by the doctrine of Christ himselfe, or his Apostles:

Lastly▪ as in the time of the Law; the Kings and Princes of Israel, and their Priests, and Leuits, did bring on them and their posterity, Disobedience vnto the word of God bring­eth confusion vpon prince and people. the eternall curse of God, when they fled from the obedience of the Law, written by Moses in the old testament of God. Euen so in the time of Gospel, shall Kings & Princes [Page] with their Bishops & Pastors bring vpō themselues & their posteritie the eternall curse of God, when they shall flie from the obedience of the Gospel written by the Apostles and Euangelifts, and left vnto vs in the new Testament of Iesus Christ, in which is con­tained the freedome, libertie, and iustification of our best esteemed, and most blessed peace. And from the obedience therevnto, The peace of Englands happinnesse hath beene conti­nued by the ministrie of the Gospel. hath proceeded the long continuance of Englands peacefull quietnes: and by the meanes thereof (most mightie soueraigne) your royall person, and your Scotlands kingdome (from euery threatned danger) haue vntill this time most safely beene preserued. And for from hence must spring the firme continuance of your royall state, and kingdomes blessednesse, your righteous soule, no doubt, will most desire that things diuine be chiefly lookde vnto. and because there neuer was a church so rightly ordered, Kings & prin­ces in their se­uerall king­domes haue authoritie to reforme those things that are amisse in the Church of God. but that some errors were therein remaining, the reformation whereof did belong vnto the kings, vnto whose charge the gouernment thereof in their seuerall kingdoms was principally committed, it now therefore remaineth euident, that your religious vnderstanding, wise, diuine, and sanctifyed heart will in the beginning of your most happie raigne, looke first amiddest your Englandes kingdome with godly care to beautifie the Spouses of Iesus Christ. My Soue­raigne Lorde, I doubt not, but your highnesse will be pleased to obserue the order giuen vnto your princely son the happie comfort of your Englands hope, and account it for your greatest honour, to see the Church of God well gouerned. I am a soul­dier [Page 14] (my most mighty king) and my dutie is (when iust cause requires) to fight for God and for his Church, and for you my soueraigne, next vnder God, within the compasse of your kingdomes con­fines, the onely supreme heade and gouernour. Be then (most mightie Prince) vnder your captaine Christ, a glorious instrument, as to that ende you were ordained, Salomons song. ca. 6. ver. 10. 11. and aboue all things chiefly see his Church to be well ordered. O then let your Maie­stie vouchsafe with Salomon, To walke downe into the Garden of Nuts, The Sinagogues & congregations in England, and see the fruit of the valley, see if the Vine buddeth, and looke if the Pomegranets flourish. Beholde what profite hath proceeded from the doctrine of the Law & the Prophets, and in many Congregati­ons see nothing that your highnesse can take know­ledge of, but onely ignorance, disobedience, and rebellion. The fearefull daunger of whose desperate estate is principally occasioned, by the want of Pastors, able to teach them to vnderstand that peace in whome the lawe and the Prophets is fulfilled, and then from the loue of those vngodly guides, which taketh vp the place bequeathed to better men: let your di­uine and heauenly soule, as swiftly flie as did the Princes of Salomon in their Chariots, and them re­mouing, commaund that in their place be set the siluer-sounding voyce of godly, reuerend, learned, wise and preaching Ministers, who by the power of their ministerie, may cause the true vnderstanding of the peace of Iesus Christ, to shew it selfe vnto the ignorant people of your land;, and that the onely [Page] light procuring beames of the most glorious Gos­pell, may with a sweete reflexion beautifully shine, and goldlike richly gilde all your poore and deso­late, darke, and desart townes and villages, that thereby all your English people may with ioy be­hold the beautie of Zion, and glorie of Ierusalem, shining in the Church.

This defect in Englands ministrie hath long go beene seene, but not amended: and our late godly Queene was in her time a straunger vnto this corruption, & that which in the Church did chief­ly holde, the too long continuance of some things amisse, was the worde Improprio, from whence Im­propriations were deriued, Improptiatiōs are the hinde­rance of a learned ministery. which were they backe re­turnd vnto their proper forme, your Maiesty should quickely see a glorious Ministrie, and till in this poynt reformation bee, that men of godly know­ledge and honest life may go before the flocke, vn­to their charge committed, and by example teach the true performance of a Christian doctrine, your Englands people will neglect the duties due vnto their faythes profession. For though I know good workes can claime no merit: Faith doth onely iustifie before God, but good works doth iustifie our faith before men. yet as faith onely doth iustifie vs before the God of heauen: so good works should serue to iustifie the soundnesse of our faith on earth, agaynst all tongues that would desire to frame obiections against the puritie thereof. And vndoubtedly (most mightie Soueraigne) in your Englande there is nothing of more strength, that giues a powerfull libertie vnto the exercises of sin, then the vilde example of vngodly Ministers. Be­gin [Page 15] therefore (most mighty Prince) at the first with them, and purge the Sanctuarie, let it please your highnes not to suffer prophane and irreligious men in the place of Ministers, to haue to deale with the administration of diuine and holy things, nor once with their vncleane handes to touch the seales and Sacraments of our saluation.

For indeed they are no other then wormeaten trees; Iude. v. 12. 13. Isa. 56. v. 10. 11 Eze. cap. 13. 4. Ier. c. 23. v. 1. 2 clouds without raine, dumbe dogges, foxes, wolues, deceiuers, & destroiers, which haue thrust thēselues into the church by some vnlawfull means: their owne consciences can beare them witnes that in them their resteth no sufficient power to teach the church the way vnto the bridegromes loue: for they rather make deuorcement betwixt the bride­groome & his spouse, they haue no right, no vnder­standing, no knowledge, nor wisdoms skil, to marry them togither in the vnitie of peace, themselues are of all others merely strangers thereunto, they are in deed the vngodly number of those intrusiue flocks, which proudly and vniustly haue made themselues to seeme, as if they were the brides companions, but did the Church arightly know them as they are, she would not then of thē enquire the way which leads vnto the place where her souls beloued feedeth, nor would she endure any longer to be led, by their de­ceiuing, dissembling, and destroying, painted igno­rance, she would not assuredly be as one that turnes her selfe aside vnto the wickednes of their vngodly cōpany. A description of vngodly▪ ministers But whither am I led with such like words as these, to speake against their grosse impieties. [Page] Strange thing it is, that such should be the watchmē in the house of God, that better knoweth what an Alehouse meaneth, and more delighteth to watch whole nights at dice and cardes, then to spend one houre in the studie of diuine and heauenly things, a paire of true rūning bowles, are more esteemd with them, then all those truth teaching bookes, which should be the weapons for men of their profession, Come honest neighbors, and my good friends (in such like wordes consisteth all the smoothnesse of their elo­quence) Let vs in a merry humor go drinke halfe a doo­zen pots of Beare (this is the pith of their perswasion) at the signe of the Cocke, or some other place directly knowne vnto them: There is say they▪ as good heart­warming liquor as a man would desire to drinke (and in this is comprehended the whole argument of their diuinitie. Whereupon being once at their place ap­pointed togither met, they set them downe and fall to reasoning, and all their bare-barly proofs, being brought in pots, they vse of them so many, that at last growing all togither reasonlesse, they are plainly ouerthrowne in the dust, by the force of their owne argument: in as modest order as I can (most mightie soueraigne) I haue described the manner of their immodest brutishnesse, I will forbeare to speake of worse vncleannesse done by many of them. But it would make a Christian heart to rend it selfe with griefe in the consideration of that iniurious wrong, which is done by them vnto the church of god: but now in the loue your Maiestie beareth vnto Iesus Christ, let thē all be turned out that they may learne [Page 16] to vse their seuerall occupations, & find some means to liue without feeding vpon the soules of men.

For my owne part (mighty soueraigne) I affect not Browne, The author doth professe himselfe to be no Brownest. Barrow, Penry, nor the schismes by them inuented, I am a Protestant pro Deostans, and do in my heart accord vnto your Englands gouernment, by our late godly Queene established, and doe ac­count that the reuerend Bishops in your land, are worthy instruments for the glorie of God, and be­nefite of his Church, so farre forth as they will with a religious care striue in their places to beautifie the Spouse of Christ, by a conscionable and religious gouernment, to which ende they are vndoubtedly ordained, and there authorities approued lawfull: for the Apostle Peter which commandeth that men of their calling should not rule as Lords ouer Gods he­ritage, 1. Pet. ca. 5. v. 3▪ doeth not say, neyther shall you accept of a­ny such titles, nor indure to be called Lordes ouer the flocke of Christ, no though the Church of God shal in the loue and reuerence that they beare vnto you for their masters sake, cal you their Lords, their gouernors and teachers in diuine and heauen­ly things. Surely out of the Apostle Peters words, to me appeareth no such kinde of doctrine. For I haue reason to resolue, that the Apostle could not teach it to be a thing vnlawfull for himselfe, or any other of the apostles or minister after thē, to receiue liuing or honor at their handes, vnto whom they should administer in the Lord. For the Apostle Paule in his Epistle to the Corint. and 9. chapter, doth plainly ap­proue the lawfulnes thereof. And howsoeuer he did [Page] forbeare to exercise his power for the good of the Church, then being in her infant age, yet notwith­standing it appeareth euidently, that hee left that libertie of power to bee vsed in the Church. And therefore, if the Bishoppes since the time of the Apostles, haue by their lawfull libertie of power, wherof Paul speaketh, receiued as giuen vnto them by the Church, Oecumenius in. t. a. Tim. cap. 1. 2. idem in 4. vnto whom they administred grea­ter titles, riches and honor, then T. & Titus had (who were the 5. Pri matii praefatio in 1. ad Tit. Bishops in the primitiue Church, of which sort there must bee a continuall succession, 1. Tim. 6. 14▪ S. Ambrose in 1. ad Tim. c. 3. euen vntill the comming of the Lord Iesus, yet notwithstanding, if the Bishops now do execute no other office, and that in no other sort then Timothie and Titus did, then their titles, riches and honours being but externall things lawfully giuen, and lawfully receiued do, not preiu­dice the worthines of their calling. And about this the mēbers of the church of God ought not to con­tend. That the members of the church should not contend about the ti­tles of bishops For it is the zealous▪ godly, & religious care in the execution of their office, which doth onely dig­nifie the approbation of their calling. And if they fail in the performāce of those godly duties to their place belonging, then in the abuse of their titles, ri­ches, and honors, the fault consisteth. And whereas many in these our times do take offence against the names, titles, wealthes, and honors, which our Bi­shops haue on them bestowed, thinking that all such things at first proceeded from the Pope of Rome, they are therin deceiued: for since the time that christian Emperors, kings, & Queens became the nursing fathers and mothers of the Church, both titles, riches, and honors, were by them bestowed vpon the Bishops [Page 17] in the Church who were notwithstanding obediēt subiects vnto their Emperours, Kings and Queenes, and were approued glorious ministers of the Gos­pell of Christ Iesus, and all this was done before the Bishop of Rome did make himselfe the beast of Rome, which now he is, by vsurping vnto himselfe the sole authoritie ouer al the kingdoms in Christen dome: The maner how and cause why the Pope refused to bee ruled by the word of God. Since which time, both the Pope himselfe and all the Bishops vnder his Antichristian sea, haue fled from the approued authoritie of Timothie and Titus, in not being desirous to administer vnto the church, but like tyrannicall Lords to rule and ouer rule the same, and by their ouerruling vtterly to o­uerthrow the church, by extinguishing the purity of that light, which shined in the same, placing in stead thereof the traditions of men, by their appro­bation of vnwritten verities. And thus being desi­rous to raise themselues vnto a higher height, then vnto them was limitted, they lest to seeke the glo­ry of God, & onely sought by peruerting the Scrip­tures, to glorifie themselues aboue all the kingdoms of the earth, and by this his pride, the Pope hath made himself to be the open & reuealed Antichrist, as is before described.

But now my hope is, that not any will continue to contend about the estate of Bishops as now they stand, sith by their lawfull liberty of power, they may receiue dignities, on them bestowed by those vnto whō they administer, which example was obserud by many christian Emperors, & kings, & many holy and reuerent Bishops, long before the Pope was [Page] knowne to be that diuell, which now he is. And therfore let not any so contend about these things as if they thought the abuse of the Antichristian sea could extinguish or race out the lawfull liberty of power, Eusebeus lib. 7 cap 3▪ he deriueth the successiōs of Bishops in the 4. principall churches of the world. Ierusalem, Antioch, Rome, & Alexandria, from the A­postles age, vnto the counsell of Nice. A. 320 which was by the Apostles of Iesus Christ, left vnto the godly Bishops in the church. This may it please your Maiestie, I haue aduentured to speake because I know some few vnlearned people in your land do desire to striue to much in this contention. And though the authority of bishops be approued lawful, yet al within the cōpas of your highnes kingdoms, are your subiects, and in their harts no doubt they vnfainedly desire to be so, and do in their souls reioyce because they are so: and your Maiestie shall find them reuerent, godly, wife & learned men: yet if there be negligent defects in any, The reason why the author hopeth that the defects in the Church wil be amended. they will assured­ly, perceiuing that your highnes do looke into their course, speedily by your directiō amend, the things amisse, & henceforth not suffer that such vnworthy guides as are before described, should by the laying on of hands, be admitted to the ministry, nor alow of any Nisi probatus vel Episcoporum examine, 1. Con Carth. 3. cap. 22. vel po­puli testimonia, Vnlesse he be allowed by the exami­nation of the Bishops, or testimonie of the people. And the better to direct this course, no doubt our Bishops will obserue the saying of S. Ambrose, who speaketh thus in his exposition of Paules Epistle vn­to Timothie: S. Ambrose in 1. ad Tim. ca. 6▪ Paul Chargeth Timothie before God the Father, and Christ the Sonne, and the elect angels: Vn­der this charge be commaundeth those things to be kept, which pertaine to ordination in the Church, least easily a­ny [Page 18] man should get an Ecclesiasticall dignitie, but inquisi­tion be first had of his life and maners, that a meete and approued minister or Priest may be appointed: neither a­ny to be ordayned: whose faults deserue suspition, for hee sinneth, which or dayneth and trieth not.

This course obserued, then shall your Maiestie ioyfully behold your Englands famous vniuersities: send forth worthy men, A description of godly mi­nisters. faithfully to labour in that worthiest work: then should your highnes see your England furnished with the blessed number of those preaching pastors, whose heauenly minds diuinely sanctified, will iustifie the approbation of their cal­ling, by the inward testimony of the spirit of God: Whose mouthes are touched with an hote coale, taken from the fire of the Altar: Whereby they are purged that the worke of God may be done by them with a pure performāce, the approbatiō of whose ministry shall for euer ground it selfe, vpon the foundation of that written truth, contained in the holy Scrip­tures, by the authority whereof, they will like faith­full ministers, truly teach the church of God, aright­ly to vnderstand the worthines of hir peace in Iesus Christ, vpon which corner stone the truth of their doctrine being established, it will manifest vnto the world, that they are sent of God, and by the power of the holy Ghost, are called to be the preaching ministers of saluation vnto all beleeuers. Such as these are those of whome the Prophet Esay with ad­miration speaketh. Oh how beautifull are the feete of those that declareth and publisheth peace: that declareth good tidings, and publisheth saluation, saying vnto Sion, [Page] thy God liueth. These are the well commended watchmen, which do continually with carefull dili­gence attend and waite vpon the Church, & giueth warning when the enemie approacheth neere vn­to it, or vnto any member of the same, and so well they know all the publike and priuate enemies that they can describe the power, likenesse, craftes, and policies by which, and vnder pretext whereof, The diuell with all his boares, and beares, and wolues and foxes, seeketh to deface the beauty of the Church, & vtterly to destroy the same, & so wise these godly watch men are, that they can prescribe and teach the true and perfect vse of euery powerfull meanes where­by the euent of each dangerous opposition shall soundly & securely be preuented, so that the church notwithstanding, the force of all occasions, shall at al times know how to enioy the safety of her peace.

These are the faithfull sheapheards, who being desirous not to lose a sheepe, without hauing any chiefe respect vnto the fleece, carefully and conscio­nably in the aboundancie of humilitie, loue & zeale, do wholy betake themselues to feede the flocke in the sweete and pleasant pastures of Gods eternall grace, warily keeping and protecting them, that they might not eate nor taste of any rotten or infectious foode. These are indeede the Stewardes of the house of God, greatly dignified with the fauour of the Bridegroomes loue, and these can inuite the soule vnto a most delicious and spirituall banquet and feede it with the bread of euerlasting life, and can open vnto it the rich treasury of the heauenly [Page 19] paradise & shew vnto it the celestial glories, which are prepared for all those that serue and feare the li­uing God. And these are those that should be ex­ercised in the ministrie, and to the number of them now in England, I doubt not, but by the assistance of your Maiestie, there shall bee added a glorious companie: that then your highnesse may speake as the Prophet Esay did: Esay, cap. 62 v 6. 7. I haue set watch-men vpon thy walles, O Ierusalem, which all the day, and all the night shall not cease, yee that are mindfull of the Lord: and keep not silence, and giue him no rest, till he repayre, and vntill he set vp Ierusalem, the prayse of the world. A godly, reue­rent, wise, and learned mini­stry is the beau­ty of the church Then shall the beauty of the Church appeare in the sanctitie of her perfection, and all Gods people shall reioyce to see their godly and religious king, to dignifie honour, and adorne the sanctuary of Iesus Christ and then no doubt, many that are now fallen off, will with ioyfull and obedient loue, yeeld them­selues vnto your blessed gouernment, and then your people being taught to vnderstand the word, will proue themselues to be a chosen flocke of hea­uenly Lambes, by yeelding true obedience to the truth-teaching shepheardes voyce: by meanes whereof they shal be brought with christian fruits, to shew the glory of that faith, which they haue built vpon that once for all, for euer sacrificed spot­lesse Lambe Christ Iesus.

And thus when by your Maiestie, the Ministe­rie shall bee refined, and corruption taken from forth the Church of God; Your Highnes then shal see, that for you first did seeke the thinges to heauen [Page] belonging, all things else shall be administred, and the house of your royall kingdome, shall be built vpon a rocke immoueable, and the strength thereof shall bee of force impregnable, & on your throne there shall for euer sit, a godly King or Queene, lineally discending, in the glorious issue of your royall bloud. And in your dayes (and to your posterity,) your kingdome England shall re­taine a long continued happy peace.

Although I am a Souldier, yet peace is it I wish vnto your Maiestie; A well mind­ed Souldier neuer wisheth warre vnto his countries preiudice, nor peace vnto his kinges disho­nor. for safe and calme con­tented smiling peace, is the gratious Mistresse of a glorious and golden gouernment, the glory of a kingdome is to rule her state in peace, and plenty doth attend her regiment, when peace is with a conscionable and religious vertue ioynde, reason, vnderstanding, and wisedome being made her Councellers, then with a heauenly Souerainety, she beares her selfe, and dignifies the land in which she rules, with a most celestial happines. For where such a peace commandes, A discription of our Eng­lands peace. iustice beares the sword, good lawes are made, and duely executed, within the compas of her sway, each doth possesse his own and wealth so rulde, as that the rich, relieues the poore mans want, where she protecteth, riots are supprest, and robberies, doe not goe vnpunished, complaints are duely heard, the poore mans cause not wantes to be considered, right is done, where wrong hath iniured, from such a peace, oppressi­on is exilde, and quietly, not being hurt by warre, peace moweth, soweth, and reapes her fruit in ioy: [Page 20] this was the happie state of England in the time of our late (and now most blessed) Queene: and by your Maiestie, shall increased be, the vndoubted hope of Englands further happinesse, and what by chance had stolne without the compas of sufficient care, in the time of righteous Asa (now deceased) shall in the dayes of our Iehosaphat bee brought to light, and Church and common welth shall be pur­ged from corruptions blemish, that after ages shal in their worldes induring Chronicles report, how happie England was by the gouernement of a mai­den Queen, and how much more happy by a god­ly king, that vertuous Queene succeeding. Oh England let all thy well disposed people with one consent together clap their hands with ioy, & laude the mighty God of heauen, An admoni­sion vnto England generaly. whose mercies proui­dence, hath in Ioue prouided for thy publike weale so farre beyond the compas of thy own vnworthy­nes, God; chosen people the tribes of Israell did not receiue more mercie from his hand, then thou hast done: Iudea did endure a stronger scourge for her iniquitie, then thou as yet hast felte of, for thy worse impieties, no longer now prouoke thy louing God, but turne thy selfe vnto his statutes with obedient thoughts, redeeme the time by thy repentant care, and scape the iudgement of thy sins desert▪ behold thy king whose godly Presedent, shal leade thee on in pathes of godlines: ioyne with his righteous selfe, and let the world behold thy righ­teousnes, so shall Romes mouth bee damde vp, that speakes inuectiue wordes against the manner of thy [Page] carelesse liuing, and for thou dost professe the Son of God to be thy king, and gouernour, ioyn with thy Soueraigne Lord, Gods great Lieutenant vpon earth, and giue thy selfe with an vnfained heart to yeeld a true obedience to his gouernement, then shall the beautie of thy state like a lofty Cedar flo­rish and thou shalt stand a glorious spectacle vnto the world, The happy e­state of Eng. if her people shall obey the lawes of God. & make the nations of the earth to won­der at the fame of thy admired Worthines: thy land shal be enuironde with a Wall of brasse, no foe mans foote shall once inuade the same, but it shall be a peaceful habitation to thee and to thy children whilest the world endureth, in all which time the glorious gospell shall adorne thy peace, and with power and triumphant victorie on earth, thy hap­piest gouernment shall deriued bee, from the lineal race, gloriously proceeding from thy now vpraisde most mighty and religious King, this blessing God vnto our England grant, and let the brightnes of Englands Maiestie confirme in vs the full assurance of this happines, that king and people may together liue and walke before their God in righteousnesse and holines of life, then shall our Church bee the spouse of Christ, and he will come and lodge and dwell with vs: and all the blessinges that can make a kingdome happie, shall vnto vs be giuen, vnto the fulnesse of our ioyes content, and when this hu­maine course shall haue his ende, the vncomprehē ­ded glory of eternall life shall be our recompence. Thus England with a reioysing faithfull arme, in all aboundant loue embrace thy mighty king (for [Page 21] next vnto Christ) only by his meanes vnto thee is brought, the full confirmation of thy happiest happines.

And because most mighty Soueraigne your Eng­lands nation hath in times past, English men haue beene admired and feared for their deeds in warre. been accounted fa­mous in the exercise of Armes, and your people, for their magnanimious valour in warlike cheualry haue, not onely beene admired, but feared of all the kingdoms in Christendome, and beyonde those bounds, fayre Englands force hath marched with a conquering arrne, so as the glorious re­nowne of honourable deedes being brought vnto this present age (by the golden▪ trumpet of fames true report) dooth make such deepe impression in your Subiectes hearts, as that I cannot but suppose the flower of your Englāds youth desireth to be ac­counted souldiers, especially now that they are the subiects vnto a mighty king, lineally descended frō the royal bloud of Englands mightiest kings: yet vnto them whose hearts desires the exercise of armes, my resolution thus much speaketh, Warre is the shield of iu­stice, & ought not to be vsed, but when iu­stice puts it on and sayth, it is a thing conuenient for them to consider, that warre being the shield of iustice, is not to bee vsed, but when iustice dooth commaunde the vse thereof: and that peace with safety to the publike state, is in this christian common wealth before warre to bee preferred, And therefore those that would aright­ly be, true valiant minded men: ought thus to vse the exercise of martiall discipline, not thereby with­in your Maiesties vnited kingdoms, to infringe the happines of a long continued peace, but that by [Page] their experience in the vse of warre, they may be­come the most commended [...] is to main­taine the dignitie thereof, against all occasions and powers, that shall seeke to disturbe or ouer throw the same. Peace ought to be the mo­ther, and the nurse vnto the child of warre▪ and so bring vp wars children vnderh as that they might be able to defend their mothers right when iust oc­casion cals for them. And in regard the Church of God, your maiesties royal person, your princely progeny, your kingdomes, and your Highnes [...] are all to be defended by the sword of warre, when forraine foes, or priuate enemies shall with force in opposi­tion riser: no doubte but your Maieste will com­mand such course to be taken, as that your Subiects shall be taught the rudiments of warre: so as they shall be familiarly aqvainted with the thinges be­longing thereunto: And that a souldiers hand shal by your Highnes gratious fauour, be employedstd, Tac, liber, 6. in assisting those your Maiesties fa [...]thful friends and true beleuing Protestants, whose country, and whose people, God in his aboundant mercy, hath wondrously delivered from the tyranny of Rome, & bloudy Spannish Inquisition▪ and for they fight against the Beast, and those that on their foreheads beares his marke. The state of Holland from Rome and Spaine deliue­red, God hath iustified their proceedinees with coutinu­all blessings God hath with honour crownd the actions done by the [...] and dignified their at­tempts in warre with glorious victories the iustice of their cause (notwithstanding, the coynde obiections made by Spaine, is and hath beene by tho hand of God approued: as may vnto the world be witnes­sed, and your Highnes by assisting them doth (as it was thought by our late Queene, and stil renownd Elizabeth, giue a strong security vnto the safety of your Englands peace: for the maintenance wherof [Page 22] when your Maiesty shall see your people trayned vp with actiue skil to vse their weapons fit for fight, and well to vnderstand the ordering of their Files and rankes, and seuerall standinges in a pitcht Battalia, that all to bee commaunded may sodainely with speedy execution, know how to make a true performance, The Romanes taught their children how to fight and did euery 101. yeares, with great solem­nity record the actions by their people done in haughty deedes of armes. Horace. Certus vnde­nos decies per Annos. Orbis vt cantus re­ferat quaelu­dos. according to directions giuen: and that not any may commaunders bee, but such whose wise & valiant courage, with tride experience ioynd, shall make them worthy of their place, and then al these throughout your kingdoms gouernment, being by a godly ministery taught to vnderstand the iustice of their cause. More deeds of honour shall then in time to come by the con­quering hand of Englands king be done, then euer yet disciphered was by the Chronicle description of precedent time: for now the foes to God and to his truth, shall feare the name of English men, and your kingly Maiestie with the glory of your succe­ding princelie race, shall be a terror to the enemies of Christ. For this a Souldier prayeth, and all this to defend (being by his king commaunded) he hath his sword in readines. And thus most mightie Prince, and my renowned Soueraine, A poore Souldiers resolution humbly offereth vp his liues employment at your prince­ly foote.