THE Birth, Purpose, and mortal Wound of the Romish holy League.  
Describing in a Map the envy of Satan's Shavelings, and the folly of their wisdom, through the Almighty's providence.  
By I. L.  Psalm. 2. Vers. 2. & 4. The Kings of the earth band themselves, and the Princes came together against the Lord, and and against his Anointed. But he that dwelleth in Heaven shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 
Imprinted at London for Thomas Cadman. 1589.   

The Birth, Purpose, and mortal Wound of the Romish Holy League.  
THe Antichristian intrusion into the Empire, having manifested the Pope to be that man of sin whereof S. Paul speaketh to the Thessalonians; and the innumerable deceiving fantasies, traditions and vain inventions, wherewith the erroneous Church of Rome hath made drunk the Nations of the earth, discovering her to be that purple Whore sitting on the Beast with seven heads, or rather (as the Angel interpreteth in the Revelation) on the City with seven hills: hath (through the mighty working of God's spirit by his zealous Ministers) so laid open the skirts of their filthiness, that the most part of Christian Princes with their people have embraced the free liberty of the Gospel, and freed themselves from her Antichristian yoke. Whereupon Satan (chief Patron of that Regiment) seeing the decay of his Empire, the discredit of his Vicegerent, and the open defamation of his infamous Spouse (the Romish Church); thought it high time to set too his helping hand, the rather for that his kingdom draweth so near an end. Therefore in the silentst time of night (a fit hour for the Prince of darkness to take in hand a hellish enterprise) he posted to his terrestrial Palace at Rome; where seating himself in the secret chamber of his Papal Vicar, heethus' begins: The care (right trusty and well-beloved) of infinite thy predecessors, together with thy approved diligence for the suppressing of Christian verity, (the only obstacle and hindrance of my happiness) is to me no less known, than graciously accepted: but thou seest that notwithstanding all your travels (being my device) as giving indulgences and promising heaven to traitorous subjects for the dispatching of their natural but our adverse Princes, or the daily excommunications thundered against the said Princes, we canneither by the cursing of the one, or the blessing of the other so prevail, but that the disciples of Luther, Caluine, Beza, and such like backsliders from our Church of Belial, do openly & hourly preach and publish his Almightiness, whose name I tremble to rehearse; attributing to him, and none but him, all power to forgive sin: whereby my kingdom (founded upon me the chief corner stone, and laid together by divers Popes, Cardinals, Abbots, & other Cloisterers is so sorely shaken, our pardons, pilgrimages, and purgatory so little feared, that as the walls of jericho, so fall our principals at this evangelical sound. This therefore is my will, (which may in no wise be delayed) that seeing there is yet some hope, by reason every Christian Prince is not fully dissuaded from our faction, there be forthwith a uniform League of fatal confederacy by such as favour us, against our foes; especially our Arch-enemies, Elizabeth Queen of England, & Henry King of Navarre: This League proceeding from my spirit of malignity, (as a Daughter worthy no other father) I would have thee beautify with some hypocritical style of outward holiness, and if thou list call it the Holy League. Touching the Princes thou shalt confeder, I need give small instructions: only this I charge that thou be sudden and circumspect to assemble thy Synod, among whom I will as a chief compear sit. The Devil had no sooner said these words, but a Senate of sacrilegious Shavelings were assembled, and Satan himself by the Pope's high Chair proudly seated? (as appeareth in the Map at the letter A.) Here was it concluded, how this League now named Holy, should also prove mighty in operation against the Princes professing the Gospel. First it was ordained, that the Duke of Guise (being by nature ambitious and bloody, yet through riotous excess utterly unable) should have his necessity supplied with Spanish & Romish superfluity: provided that he fill France with inhuman massacres, (explained in the letter B.) thereby to weaken the King of Navarre: to which he was animated by the Pope's Messenger, who to whet him on powered treasure at his feet (letter C.) persuading him also to stir up such ill affected English as he might against the person of their Royal Sovereign. But Navarre fortified from heaven, armed at all points like a Christian Chevalier defended the Gospel (letter D.) & England happy through her Elizabeth, sat crowned with a wreath of peace (making Christ her hope) as a Rock unmovable (letter E). This fretted the Pope; and Philip King of Spain made drunk and deceived with the superstitious cup of Romish abomination, was whetted on according to his promise in the Holy League, championlike to prepare his people, and discharge his abundance of Indian earth: in satisfaction of which I warrant ye, he had no small rewards, for his very Horse was trapped with Bulls and pardons (letter F.) Allen also that caitiff Cardinal, and English Arch-traitor, from his Cannon of corrupt conceit dischargeth two seditious Libels against his Sovereign: to which the English Friars and seminary Priests give fire (letter G). Now to make this League an able Body, to bear down the adversaries of Antichrist both by land and sea, her head was beautified with a horned Moon (letter H) of huge and mighty ships, ready to join with the bloody Guise, and also to unite them to the Prince of Parma, that in a moment they might swallow up little England, as the ravenous Crocodile doth the smallest fish in the seven mouthed River Nilus. But God the only Patron of England and our Elizabeth dismayed first the appointed Army of the Prince, so that like the Syrians that besieged Samaria in the days of Eliseus the Prophet, they fled away unsought with from joining with their fellows at Sea, and would not by the gentle entreaties nor severe threatenings of the Prince their General (letter I) be any way persuaded to set foot aboard the small skiffs, appointed to transport them to their holy or rather unhallowed mates: their fear arising (as it evidently appeared) from that Fleet whereof the Lord Seymor was General (letter K) which with the Hollanders was ready to give them their deserved welcome. This Fleet and all the rest of their worthy warre-fellowes overshadowed with the wings of the Almighty, honourably vowed to sell their worthy lives in the defence of this Island, (his little Israel, and their native Nurse) animated courageously every man his mate, with resolution to attempt the ruin of this unhallowed League: whose Mooned Cronet was decked with sundry pendants, of painted Saints, (sufficient guides for superstitious sots full gaudelie adorned with the finest gold, raked out of wretched India's Womb, whose senseless bowels the Spaniards (slave-like) ceaselesllie tear out (letter L), only to satisfy the ravenous appetites of their Wolvish inquisitors, who submit forthwith at the feet of their Papal God, the travails both of Prince & people, making them vassals to an unworthy Priest: and applying their labours gained with venture of their lives, & hazard of their souls to the strengthening of the forenamed League. But all is vain: for the breath of the Lords mouth hath dimmed the brightness of her Moon, and scattered those proud ships, whose masts seemed like Cedars to dare the Sun, the treacherous Libels of traitorous Allen, are with himself held infamous to the world: The Guise also (one of greatest helps) is dead deserved lie. She being with these sorrows surcharged, and mangled with many maims, she languisheth in a consumption on her bed (letter M.) The Pope (on earth her chief Patron) promiseth his help in what he may, & feeling her pulses, assureth her there is yet good hope. But the Devil belike being the better Doctor, and not loving to dissemble where his daughter was Patiented, protests after he had cast her water, there was evident sign of death. Thus is this devilish League devised by the Devil, and confirmed by the Pope, weakened and wasted through the Spirit of Truth, & power of our Lord jesus Christ: To whom let England sing so all her victories; Not unto us o Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name be praise.  

The Birth, purpose, and mortal wound of the Romish Holy League.  

IN silent night, when each thing takes it rest,  
Yet wakes the Devil, who never shuts his eyes:  
In darksome night he leaves his loathsome nest  
All in a rage, and towards Rome he flies.  
Where when to Palace of the Pope he came,  
He enters in, and thus his tale doth frame.   

Draw near my son, and listen to thy Sire,  
The world waxeth old and may not long endure,  
The time draws on apace, it must consume with fire:  
Then ends thy kingdom too, which standeth nothing sure;  
Because the Gospel spreads itself apace;  
While thou and thine, run headlong to disgrace.   

A Council call of all thy Prelates great:  
Cardnalls, Friars, and Shavelings of each sort:  
And I with thee will sit upon thy stately Seat,  
And for thy ruin'd state, erect a mighty fort,  
And build the same with Princes of this land,  
With other Kings fast bound in folly's band.   

Which band, though it be bound, by thee and me my son,  
Yet must it be adorned, with title of devotion;  
And call it Holy League, or else we are undone,  
And thou wilt tumble down from all thy high promotion;  
And he the Spanish King which Philip hath to name,  
Must be the chiefest of this League, and master of the game.   

He hath great store of gold, and will not spare for cost:  
He can supply the Guizes want, which now is far in debt,  
By riot and excess, his coin is spent and lost:  
And what will he not do, if that it be to get?  
I tell thee here my son, thou hast not such a boy,  
From East to West, or any where within thy princely sway.   

A fair religious Cloak, do spread upon his back,  
To cover his ambition, his cruel bloody mind:  
But Pistolets of Spain, and Coin he must not lack  
To execute thy tyranny, whereto he is assigned,  
Against both Christ & Christians that do profess his word:  
Yet say he sheddeth blood, with noble Gedeons' sword.   

And I will rule his heart, for there I have my seat;  
Thy Butcher he shall be, and humane flesh shall sell:  
No age his hand shall spare from smallest to the great,  
His mind I will so vex with furies out of Hell:  
But chief he shall aim at the good Navarre King,  
He is the mark, shoot right at him, for that's the only thing.   

Give him no leave, nor leisure, for to muse  
Upon the sacred word of his eternal God:  
But still do him pursue, as other Popes did use,  
Being yet in mother's womb, with their afflicting rod:  
And ever since his birth he hath been chased still:  
And yet unto our woe, we cannot have our will.   

He must be made away, because he is the heir,  
And next unto the Crown of France, by orderly descent:  
'tis he, 'tis he, that puts us all in fear,  
And he must down, or else you will be shent.  
He cares not for thy Curse, our Guyze must do the deed,  
Thy Bulls nor yet thy Charms, can never make him bleed.   

And yet there is a greater foe, and she of greater might;  
'Gainst whom our dearest Guise, nor scarcely Spain I ween  
May well prevail, to put her from her right;  
She rules brave Britain Isle, I mean the English Queen;  
'Gainst her my son, this League must join in one,  
For all too weak our Spain will be alone.   

Her Father first did wound thee to the heart,  
Her brother next thy wound did still renew:  
But sister yet did salve again thy smart,  
And healed thy wound as all the world did view:  
Till she came in that overthrew thy Crown,  
And in her Land by force doth keep thee down.   

Yea many other Foes, both Kings and Dukes of fame.  
I know we have, but first these two must down.  
Bend all thy force against that stately Dame;  
And then the rest will shrink, if thou but frown.  
This Satan said, wherewith away he vades,  
He leaves the earth, and flies to darksome shades.   

This guest thus gone, they all allow his tale,  
And strait proceed to practise his pretence:  
Wherein they had such luck, there blewe so brave a gale,  
They got their whole desire, and that with small expense:  
The King, the Peers, and many Prince's seals,  
'Gainst Heaven, 'gainst Christ, & Christian Common weals.   

And Philip now bestirs his aged limbs,  
He beats his brains, he tires his weary wit,  
He sends for Gold, and homeward fast it swims,  
And saith, herewith the mark I mean to hit  
Whereat so long I aimed have in vain,  
To join that famous Land unto the Crown of Spain.   

And Antichrist doth whip his posting haste with speed:  
And Cardinal Allen he must play the gunner stout,  
And shoot abroad great brags, without respect or heed,  
As Champion chief amongst this ruffling rout;  
So blazing forth his shame, as one devoid of grace,  
'Gainst his and our good Prince, her Crown & royal place.   

Then hugy Ships, as erst were never seen,  
Proud Spain prepares for to invade our Land:  
And all against the most renowmedst Queen,  
That ever yet bare Sceptre in her hand.  
Oh Lord what hath thy Handmaid done to these,  
That thus assault her Kingdom and her Seas:   

But worthily in thy great judgements just,  
Of thy good will thou didst confound their pride,  
And made them feel the smart of their ambitious lust,  
Not daring long our royal Ships abide,  
But fled away like sheep before the hound,  
Still here and there, some going to the ground.   

They felt the force of British n/a young bloods,  
Which quelled the Spanish hearts, & made them hide their heads:  
Some crept below the Deck and prayed to their roods,  
And other some to other Saints, while Friars took their beads.  
Then at the length, when we forsook the chase,  
Both wind and wave defied them to the face.   

But all this while proud Parma with his barges,  
Can nought prevail to drive his men aboard,  
But lost his toil, with all his costs and charges:  
Sometime he spoke them fair, strait threatening with his sword;  
But all in vain, his Sailors ran away,  
And left his Boats to set him home his hay.   

They wift full well, that in the narrow Seas  
Was nothing got but stripes and English blows;  
Which they forsook, as glad to live at ease,  
And left the Prince quite bored through the nose.  
But God (my friends) he took away their barts,  
To make them know his power and fury of his darts.   

Yet that which most doth show the arm of God,  
In all these bloody broils we lost not threescore men;  
To them a certain sign of heavens heavy rod,  
To us a show of love: let us be thankful then,  
And praise that Lord, which is the Lord of host,  
That doth defend and shield our English Coast.   

And makes our Land abound with flesh and bread,  
And  most fine, from cold to guard our back:  
With Timber store, good Iron, Tin and Lead,  
And many other things, which other Nations lack:  
But yet a greater grace, we have his word in peace,  
God grant it may continue, and bring forth more increase.   

Let Spaniard then go delve and dig for hidden gold;  
Let him go rend rich Indies bowels out;  
Let him go try his friends, and let his Bulls be sold;  
Let him raise taxes more, and let him cast about;  
Let him, let Pope, let Devil and all the rest,  
Do what they can, yea let them do their best.   

Let them not cease to boast and brag to come again;  
Let them with speed prepare like Forces treble told:  
Let us repent, amend; pray for our Prince's reign;  
Let us be true in one, let us together hold:  
Come Devil then, come Pope and all the crew,  
And as you sped of late, so shall you speed a new.   

For England yet both is, and shall be English still:  
And English Brutes do bravely keep the same:  
Though bastard Britain's boast and brag their fill,  
And leave their Land and scorn the English name:  
They scorn not us, but bring themselves in scorn;  
By leaving us, they lose themselves and seed unborn.   

Our Papists play the Bat, that left the flying foul;  
Because he thought that Beasts more stronger were than they:  
Who dares not now appear, but with the skriching Owl  
Flies always in the night, not daring view the day:  
So do our Papists proud, who scorn our little Isle,  
In flying to the mighty Beasts, which now have got the foil.   

They would be Birds again, but shame doth beat them back:  
They wish themselves unborn, or else untimely birth:  
Their hope is overthrown, their Beasts be gone to wrack:  
So they bewail their loss, while we sing praise with mirth.  
We praise our God which doth us safely keep,  
While they may howl like hounds, & wring their hands and weep.   

And long may you so howl, till you repent and change,  
And turn unto the Lord, from whom you go astray;  
And yield unto your Realm, from which you run & range:  
Good subjects to your Prince, become while yet you may;  
or else be sure, more plagues will still ensue  
Upon your loathsome League, and also upon you.   

Which League now lieth sick, your Doctors do despair:  
Your Pope doth scratch his head, your Spanish ships are lost:  
Your Cardinals cry out, your Friars tear their hair:  
Your combs now are cut, your Clergy cease to boast:  
The French king now espies whereto your league was hatch  
And like a King he cutteth short those that him overmatched.   

Because he suffered long, you thought that he would bear:  
Because that he forbore, you thought ye might him lad:  
Because once you made him fly, ye thought him still to fear:  
Because he would not be of Romish League and trade,  
You thought to cut him off, you thought him to betray;  
Which heed your Guise must do, and make the King away.   

But Guise hath his reward, and in his guise is slain  
The bloody Guise hath bloody end, most justly to his hire,  
The bloodiest man that France ere bred, that made of blood a gain,  
Lies now in dust, who was your hope and top of your desire.  
Loath then the League that leaveth you, & is in falling down,  
'Gainst Christ it first was made, and Heavens thereat frown.   

Forsake the Church of Rome, and fly that man of sin,  
Return to Christ his fold, that you with us may joy;  
And pray with us in heart, yea let us never lin,  
That God protect his Church, and keep from all annoy  
Our thrice renowned Queen, our royal Realm and Land,  
From secret foes at home, and from the Romish band.    
FINIS.