¶ A discourse touching the pretended match between the Duke of Norfolk and the Queen of Scots.  
FOr as much as of late it hath been given out, that the continuance of the Gospel here among us, and the safety of our Sovereign, should depend upon a match to be had between the Duke of Norf. and the Q. of Scots: for that otherwise she marrying a foreign Prince, might grow to that strength, as our Sovereign's forces should not be able to countervail the same (a thing very dangerous, considering her asspiring mind) whereby both this present state and religion should be in hazard. And further, that the uniting of these two realms by this match might make us equal in strength to our neighbours that border about us, I thought good by consideration of her parson and of his person, of the match to be had between them, and of the present state of this realm, to see whether there should not be less danger in common reason to have hur matched rather abroad, then at home, though it seem a very strange Proposition to be proponed by any subject of this land, whether it be better to have hur married abroad, then at home, she remaining under our Sovereign's government, to dispose of her marriage or not marrying, as shall seem to make most for her safety. What is it else but to call in question whether her Majesty may govern or not govern in her own Realm?  

A consideration of the Q. of Scots person.  
IN Religion she is either a Papist, whilk is evil, or else an Atheist, whilk is wrose, and in league joined with the confederate enemies of the Gospel, by the name of the holy league, to root out all such Princes and Magistrates as are professors of the same. A thing well known, though not generally.  
Of Nation she is a Scot, of whilk nation I forbear to say what may be said, in a reverent respect of a few godly of that nation.  
Of inclination how she is given, let her own horrible acts publicly known to the whole world witness, though now of late certain seduced by practice, seek to cloak and hide the same.  
Of alliances of the mother side how she is descended of a race that is both enemy to God, and the common quiet to Europe, every man knoweth, but alas to many have felt.  
In good will toward our Sovereign, she hath showed herself sundry ways evil affects whose ambition hath drawn her by bearing the Arms of England, to decipher hur selfe to be a competitor of this crown. A thing publicly known. I leave to touch other particular practices that hath discovered her aspiring mind.   

The consideration of the Duke's person.  
TOuching his religion how he is affected, I leave to God & his own conscience, but that he should not be settled in religion, it shall appear by sundry reasons to the contrary.  

First, his education of his son under the government of a Papist doth show.  
Secondly, the corruption of his house, his chief men of trust being Papists.  
Thirdly, the confidence and reposed trust he has in the chiefest Papists in the realm.  
Fourthly, his last marriage with a Papist.  
And lastly, this pretended match.   
Touching his calling, he is in state the second person of this Realm.  
Touching his credit with the Nobility and Commons, it is well known to be great, with the one in respect of his alliance, with the other in respect of a kind of familiarity is used towards them in public sport, as in shooting and ●eckefightes, a thing not to be discommended, if this match of his did not discover it to savour of an ambitious and aspiring intent.   

Consideration of the match.  
All matches in marriages whilk promise good success and continuance of concord, are joined in the fear of God, and coupled by sincere love, the true & only knot of good agreement, whilk love is engendered by the eye and by the ear, & cannot be perfect, unless both senses be satisfied in either party: whilk eye liking in them cannot be, for that neither of them hath seen the other. Now let us way, whether sincerity of love be the maker of this match.  
First for degrees sake let us begin with the Queen. Is it likely that the Q. of Scots, that could not like of Derley, should like well of the Duke, such as know them both do think very unlikely.  
Now to the Duke. Is it likely that any man that professeth true religion▪ or resp●cteth worldly honour, or regardeth his own safety, would match with one detected of so horrible crimes, in respect of love, surely none that is either honest, or religious can think so. Then must it needs follow, that neither the eye in hur, if the Painter hath discharged his duty, for other eye liking hath not passed between than, nor the ear in him is contented, but that some other respect should be the knitter of the knot: whilk respect carrieth in itself manifest presumption of evident danger.   

A consideration of the present state.  
Touching religion for lack of doctrine, it is thought that the realm divided into three parts, two of them be inclined so Papistry and Atheism.  
Touching government such hath been the lenity of our Sovereign, a thing very commendable in a prince, if our corruption abused not the same, as men for the most part are grown so remiss in duty toward her majesty, as they both contemn laws, & inferior magistrates. I leave to descend into some other particularities in this behalf.   

A discourse upon the foresaid considerations.  
NOw let us see upon the consideration had of either of the persons, and of the match, and of the present state, what likelihood there is of continuance of Religion, and safety to our Sovereign. And first let us resort to the consideration had of her person, & begin with religion.  
Is it likely that the Gospels shall all have continuance by her, who is enemy to the Gospel, and joined in league and confederacy with the conjured repugners of the same?  
It may be said, that in Religion by persuasion she may be altered. It may well be answered that it is only God's office to incline hearts to true religion, and that otherwise to think proceedeth of vain presumption. Surely, if we way her inclination by the experience had of the fruits of her behaviour, we shall see small cause to hope that sincere religion can dwell in so corruptible a vessel: Then in reason consider further how unlikely it is that upon consideration of the present state, she finding two parts of this Realm inclining to her religion, where she thinketh to have a great party, will alter the same, to join with the fewer in number.  
Now as touching our Sovereign's safety, is it like that our Sovereign's safety should be grounded and depended upon her, who hath deciphered herself to be our competitor of this Realm? I speak of things publicly known. I leave other secret prastises tending to the same end.  
It may be said, that so that the Q. can be brought to like of the match, and to restore her to her kingdom, and establish her in the succession, she will by oath and subscription confirm any thing that may tend to the Queen's safety. If she falsify her faith, no pleading will serve, the sword must be the remedy.  
But how like is it, that one ambitious, a born Scot, a defamed person, who hath made shipwreck of all honour and reputation, & lastly a branch of the house of Guise, whose profession is to keep none Edict never so solemnly promised, will keep faith? I leave it to the consideration of those that judge without affection.  
Now having showed how unlikely it is that any safety to our Sovereign, or continuance in religion can grow by her person in this match, let us see whether the deserts in her are likely to be supplied by the consideration of his person. And first will we come to the weighing of his religion▪ which having showed to be unsettled by sandrye reasons of good moment, let us now see, whether by this match there is not like to ensue an evident and undoubted danger of his revolt. And for proof hereof, let the only example of Solomon teach us so to think. Did not he by matching with an idolatress Egyptian, become an idolater, whereby ensued to him God's high displeasure, to the great plague of his kin and posterity?  
If wisdom might have stayed him, he was likest to have been stayed, for he was of all that ever was the wisest. But when wisdom passeth the bonds of God's commandments, it turneth to folly. That law which forbade Solomon to marry with the Egyptian idolatress, standeth in force still, & forbiddeth the Duke to marry with the Scottish idolatress, lest that punishment which fell upon salomon's kin, teach the Duke to beware of like punishment. But let us go further in applying.  
Solomon married one meaner witted than himself: but the Duke would marry one equal in wit, and in subtlety superior. To conclude, if Solomon marrying one in degree his inferior, and in wit meaner, became an idolater: what shall we then look for of him, that in degree is inferior, and in wit rather meaner then equal with hur, whom he seeketh to marry? But well, suppose he will continue constant: is all the danger gone? No: For if either she mislike him, which is likely, for that she can hardly love him, having to delicate an eye: or if that she overrule him, for that he is her inferior, whilk is not unlikely, considering her courage: or if he die, a thing to be thought of, for that he is mortal: or if his life be taken from him by indirect means, a practice wherewith she is right well acquainted, and by a Pope may be dispensed withal: what shall then become of the continuance in Religion?  
Now let us see further what safety may grow to our Sovereign by his matching with her. Before in the consideration of his person, I showed how that by calling in birth he was honourable, and of credit great, with both Nobility & commons, which two qualities as they are good gifts of God, and such as being well emplode by him whom God hath endued withal, yield no small benefit to the common wealth and Prince where he liveth, so on the other side, being abused thorough ambition, they breed to the Prince danger▪ and to the common wealth disquietness.   

Now let us see what doubt groweth by this match of the abuse of the said qualities.  
FIrst, the match itself not grounded in the fear of God, nor upon due respect, as afore was showed, can never yield good fruits, but must needs taste of ambition, of all other the most dangerous fruit.  
Secondly, the party herself whom he is to match withal, having showed herself once a Competitor of this Crown, is like to draw him from the due consideration of his allegiances by her cunning persuasions wherein she excelleth. To abuse the said qualities in attempting the said crown for the thirst of a kingdom, can never be quenched, until it hath hazarded the uttermost trial.  
It may be objected that by divers capitulations that mischief may be well prevented.  
It may be well answered, that such as with simple eye weigh her favourers in respect of religion, his friends in respect of calling, alliance, and popular familiarity, and therewith the eging of foreign practices, may well see no bond sufficient to bridle so incorrigible an humour as ambition is.  
These things well weighed with the consideration of this present state, how little awe reigneth commonly, through the lenity of our Sovereign, in the hearts of the subjects, whereby they may the more easily be seduced by practices, be drawn from the consideration of their duty, it must needs appear that the home match carrieth in itself most evidnt danger.  
I leave to Lawyers to define of what quantity this presumption is, for a subject to seek to match with a Competor of this Crown, without making his Sovereign first privy thereof.   

A comparison between the home match and the foreign.  
Having showed the danger of this home match let us now consider with the foreign match, & see whilk of them yieldeth most danger.  
If she marry a foreign Prince, her party here within the Realm will not be great, for hardly is an Englishman brought to like of a Stranger or a foreign governor, then must her means to annoy us, consist in foreign aid, whilk though it be dangerous, yet doth it not yield like danger to the home enemy. For one enemy within a City besieged, is more dangerous, than a hundredth abroad.  
If she marry a foreign Prince, as for example with France, then will Spain be jealous, for it were contrary to the Spanish policy to see France and England united under one governor. And therefore England might look for any Spanish aid, to keep France from this purpose.  
But if she marry at home, whereby the jealousy of these two Princes may be taken away, than they both in respect of that league wherein she is joined with them, and the desire they have to disquiet this estate, will join together in aiding of her. And so besides her home help, she should lack no foreign aid. By this short comparison, evidently you may see the home match more dangerous, than the foreign, as well in respect of the continuance of Religion, as of the safety of our Sovereign.  
God be thanked that hath so provided for the continuance of our Religion, as he hath given us a Prince that favoureth Religion, & that we need not seek no further stay at her hands, who is enemy to Religion.  
God also be thanked, that hath so provided for her majesties safety, as she hath no need of this new found remedy.  
Touching the other respect of this home match, which is the uniting of England and Scotland, if we look well upon the uniters with a single eye, that leaveth the continuance of God's glory, and the safety of our Sovereign, and the quietness of this state, we shall see more profit in division, then in union.  
notwithstanding, it hath pleased God in this behalf so favourably to deal with our queen, as he hath raised up in scotland a Governor during the nonage of the young king, so faithfully inclining to her Majesty, as of no subject in this Realm she may dispose more of them, then of him: whereby during his Government she may assure herself of most perfect union God grant that she may make that account of him, that he deserveth.  
Thus ye see the Queen in safety, the two Realms united, and this remedy needles.  
God grant her Majesty may seek the advancement of God's glory in simple sincerity, execute her laws with convenient severity, and then no doubt of it, he will bless her with long and assured safety.