A TOIL FOR TWO-LEGGED FOXES: Wherein their noisome properties; their hunting and unkenelling, with the duties of the principal hunters and guardians of the spiritual vineyard is lively discovered, for the comfort of all her highness trusty and truehearted subjects, and their encouragement against all Popish practices.  
By I. B. Preacher of the word of God.  CANTICLES 2.15. 
Take us these Foxes, and these young Cubs which destroy these vines, while our vines bud forth.  2. CHRON. 15.8. 
Asa made a law in his time, that whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be slain, whether he were small or great, man or woman.  
A Maxima.  
As Popery and treachery go hand in hand, whilst Popery is kept under; so Popery and cruelty are companions unseparable, if once Popery get the upper hand.  
LONDON. Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for Thomas man.. 1600.   

TO ALL FIRM AND FAITHFUL LOVERS OF TRUE RELIGION and loyalty, increase of peace, and joy in Christ jesus.  
MAnifold have been the opinions of men, concerning the sovereign good and welfare of mankind. 
Different opinions about man's sovereign good. Epicures.  The swinish Epicures sought it in sensuality and carnal delights; and to cover their shame, have bestowed great travail to disguise their lady pleasure, and to make her go for an honest woman. 
Stoics.  The Stoics placed their welfare in moral virtue, and in the right reigning of reason: as though man were made for himself, and not for common society: & fearing lest their surmised felicity should fall to the ground, they have sought to underprop it with health, wealth, strength, courage, measurable pleasure, etc. The Peripatetics 
Peripatetics.  make two sorts of blessedness, the one consisting in action, which is politic or civil; the other in contemplation, which they call wisdom. The Academics 
Academics.  or Platonists mount somewhat higher, and considering that contemplation is but a continual wrestling, sometimes against the obscurity of things, and sometimes against the dimness of our minds: say that felicity is, to be joined unto God, and to become like unto him, who is the furthest end, the highest top, & the uttermost bound of all blessedness. Thus some of them have groped in the darkness of this world, for that which cannot be found here: and others have soared aloft, but yet far too short in finding out that resting point, whereat every one ought to aim. 
True religion the means to attain our well fare, and what true religion is.  How then must we attain unto it? surely by that which they knew not, that is to wit, true religion: which is the right rule of serving God, & of reuniting man unto him, that he may be saved: of the which true religion there be three especial marks, so much the more worthy of deep impression in our minds, because many foolish ceremonies have disguised themselves in the attire of true religion.  
The first mark is, 
The first mark of true religion.  to worship the only God of Israel: wherein behold how Satan hath tyrannised over mankind, in making men forge as many gods, as they had fancies: as that people in Africa, who worshipped that which they met first in the morning; or the Assyrians, that worshipped as many gods as they had towns; or the Persians, 
Man's vanity being destitute of God's word.  that worshipped as many gods as there be fires in the earth, or stars in the sky; or the Egyptians, that worshipped as many gods as they had plants or trees; or the Romans, who subduing nations, won their superstitions, & so became the sinck-pan of Idolatries. In a word, the devil by God's permission so deluded the world, that some made gods of their goods, some worshipped the beasts which God gave them for their benefit, some builded Temples to their passions, some made gods of themselves, some deified their kings, as the Egyptians their king Apis, the Babylonians their Belus, the Macedonians their Cabyrus, the Latines their Faunus, the Sabines their Saucus, the Romans their Quirinus: what Christians will not shudder at the remembrance of such mysteries, when Euripides could speak thus: 

Euripides.  Thou Neptune, and thou jupiter likewise,  
with other gods, whom feigning words disguise,  
If that due justice unto you were done,  
both heaven & temples should be empty soon.  Then the first chief note of the true religion is, that the true immortal God be only worshipped, who founded the earth, and stretched out his meat-line over it, who shutteth up the sea within the banks, and boundeth the waters, who maketh light and darkness, holdeth back the Pleyades; and unbindeth Orion, who spreadeth out the heavens like a curtain, and maketh his chambers in the depths, who maketh the winds his messengers, and the elements his servants. This I say is the true God, who in his worship admitteth no collateral companions: and as for the rest, gods in name, and not in nature, they are like unto dog leeches, which profess but the curing of one disease only, or common craftsmen which profess but the skill of some one mystery.  
The second mark of true religion is, 
The second mark of true religion.  that we serve this only God aright. As for the Philosophers, they also were pricking at this point, but so that they were always too wide or too short: for which of them ever said that God is a spirit, and aught to be served in spirit? True it is, they set down many moral precepts for direction of men's manners: but when they come to the matters of God, they either speak of them dreamingly, or deem of them overthwartly; yea, the services of God, invented by man, are but so many childish imaginations, not only unbeseeming the majesty of God, but far inferior to the discretion of a man: as gamings, stage plays, running of horses, sword playings, wrestlings, buffet, and such like. Aristotle in his metaphysics, commendeth a certain answer of Simonides to Hieron. King of Sicily, which was, that none but God ought to have skill of things that are above nature, much less than to dispose of Religion, that is, to show the means how to surmount nature. The country clown should show himself ridiculous, if he should take upon him to set down how his Prince should be served: and yet is he a man as well as his Prince, differing in state, and not in nature. What is to be said then of man, being a worm, & less than a worm, in respect of the everliving God, if he will needs prescribe him his service? Surely as none can see the sun, but by the help of the sun; so none can serve God, 
The third mark of religion.  but by the light of his word.  
There is a third mark, without the which religion (although in itself the path to salvation) is nothing else but a book wherein we read the sentence of our own deaths. Therefore religion must show us a means to satisfy God's justice: without the which, not only all other religions, but even that which containeth the true service of God were unavaileable. Indeed man's reason perceived that some means was needful to make atonement: but what it was, reason was too shallow to find out. The Platonists have busied themselves about many cleansings, but to small purpose: others say it must be done by abstinence, good behaviour, jupiters' mysteries, etc. Hierocles said, that religion is the study of wisdom, which consisteth in perfecting and cleansing ourselves, that men may be at one with God: which perfection also, standeth in confession of sins (as he saith) but alas, whereas in religion we look for life, upon confession followeth death. Then to find a plank to save us from shipwreck, religion showeth three persons in unity, of one essence coeternal, and coequal in all respects: the Father as the ground and wellspring: the Son as the everlasting word and wisdom of the Father: and the holy Ghost as the bond of love, whereby the Father and the Son are linked together. The one of these must make atonement: for God himself must be feign to step in betwixt his justice and his mercy, and as he created us at the first, so to create us new again: and as he created us in favour, so now to acquit us from wrath: and as he uttered his power and wisdom in making us, so now to utter his wisdom and goodness in repairing us. But yet behold a mystery, this infinite godhead is not to discharge our disobedience, 
These speeches are understood by a communicating of properties, as the like, Acts 20.28  otherwise then with obedience, nor our undesert, otherwise then with desert, nor our pride, otherwise then with lowliness, neither is he to purchase grace but by punishment, nor a crown but by suffering, neither life but by death. Therefore would he abase himself that he might obey; serve, that he might deserve, stoop down beneath himself, that he might become lowly; become weak, that he might suffer; become mortal, that he might die. Therefore was it behoveful that our mediator should be God and man: man to be borne under the law, God to perform the law; man to serve, God to set free: man to humble himself to the uttermost, God to exalt himself above all things; man to suffer, God to overcome; man to die, and God to triumph over death. And sithence it pleased him of his infinite goodness to be humbled for us, himself no way bound, needs must his obedience become a discharge for the disobedience; his desert, a discharge of the undesert, & his sufferings a satisfaction for the stubbornness of them that believe in him. Now than if religion should but send us to the true God, what were that more than the sending of an offender to the judge, or a laying of stubble to the fire, considering that God is infinitely good, and man infinitely evil. Secondly, and if in religion we should but read the will of the creator, what have we yet found since mankind is corrupt from his root, and rotten at the core; but our own inditements, arraignments, and condemnations? Therefore this third note of religion, by making satisfaction for sins by the death of Christ, is the very substance, and in shape of it, without the which it should be altogether unprofitable. Now all this serveth first to show you the tyranny of Satan over mankind, and the horrible darkness whereinto it is plunged, being destitute of the aid of God's word and his holy spirit. Secondly, how greatly we are bound to receive our gracious calling, and to promote Gods holy religion, by which we are brought to that sovereign good, for the which we were made and created, and without the which having all things else, yet are most miserable: for proof whereof hast thou the authority and sovereignty of a Prince. Let Princes say whether one rebellion of their subjects do not more vex them, 
No welfare to be found in this world.  than all their honourable triumphs can rejoice them. Art thou exalted to honour? let honourable persons say whether they be not spiteful or spited, doing mischief, or receiving mischief, overmating or overmated. Honour is but virtues shadow, a wind that makes many swell, but cannot satisfy. Art thou rich and wealthy? Let Merchants say what wealth is worth, since sea can drown it, fire consume it, pirates and robbers bereave us of it. To love riches, is to do as children do, which take their greatest delight in pins and checkstones: or as fools, which should deem the goodness of an horse to consist in his strappings. Art thou beautiful? Let the daughters of vanity say whether the sun doth not tan it, or a star doth not blemish it, or sickness doth not waste it, or old age doth not wear it. Beauty is but a vain thing, and gladdeth more the beholders, than the havers. Art thou strong and healthy? Let all the world say whether man's body be not subject to a thousand diseases, fraught with frailties within, wrapped in miseries without; uncertain of life, sure of death. Now what are all these and the rest, but resemblances of the apples that grow about Sodom, pleasant to the eye, and provoking to the appetite, but vanishing into smoke, being touched with the teeth? Therefore it is only true religion that leadeth Prince and people, noble and unnoble, rich and poor to true felicity, and reuniteth them unto God. Happy be that day, and blessed from above, in the which God gave us this token of his favour: let that month be respected of God, and let it be the head of the year: let all such as love their salvations, bless that day wherein they were redeemed from the darkness of Sodom, and of Egypt, and the day star of righteousness appeared upon them: yea let it be made the beginning of the supputation of years, as we read that the jews reckoned their years from the years of jubilee, and from the finding of the law in josiahs' time: for than cometh the true year of jubilee, the year of freedom and deliverance from bondage, when the Gospel which is the glad tidings of salvation cometh unto us.  
Furthermore, 
Temporal blessings have accompanied religion.  that nothing might be wanting to make us with joy to receive Gods holy religion, behold since the Church hath begun to flourish, and to spread her boughs throughout the whole land, the common wealth hath never been endowed with more ornaments of ●eace, never less vexed with incombe●ances of war, never like adorned with bountiful blessings. Why? when our neighbour nations have been infested ●ith martial horror, clattering of ar●our, thundering of shot, when infants have been drawn out of their mother's wombs, 
By looking a broad better behold your blessings at home.  and dragged from their nurse's breasts, when their wives and daughters have been ravished, their countries wasted, their cities sacked, their houses fired, their temples defaced, with many more such spectacles of dread and horror: yet England hath remained still victorious without contention; and thou famous London her Queen city, confident without trouble: so that now it may be boldly averred, that mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Now than ye noble Lords, grave sages, valorous captains, resolute soldiers, brave gentlemen, worthy citizens, laborious commonalty, show your honours, your valours, your worthiness, your trustiness, and painfulness in promoting that which is, and aught to be your glory; rather hazard the last drop of your dearest blood, then see her dishonoured, without whom, all your honours are but vanities. Nay, 
Peace and plenty, the children of Religion.  if you receive her not as you should for her own sake, yet respect her for her children; and think it not too much to bestow your wealth to maintain her, your honours to countenance her, your authority to assist her, your wisdoms to plead for her, against the profane policy of that miscreant Machivel, who is become a counsellor amongst the greatest Statesmen of Eu●ope, against hellish Atheism, which ●oeth about to persuade the world that ●here is no religion at all, and especially ●gainst that common strumpet, Romish superstition, who is not ashamed to bor●ow religions name: So shall you show a studious zeal, and affectionate love towards your Prince also, whose prosperity is the pillar of your peace.  
lastly, I have in this treatise detected treacherous dealings of Roman Ca●holikes, and manifested their dangerous proceed to the view of every good subject: the which I have published under the patronage of all you that love the Gospel, whom the Almighty protect with his power, and guide with his grace.  
Yours in the Lord, I. B.   

THE SUM OF THE CHAPTERS.  

Chapter. 1 AFfliction hath been, is and shall be the common condition of God's Church, and the lot of his inheritance.  
The lamb standing on mount Zion is more mighty to save, than the enemy to destroy.  
Chapter. 2 The enemies of the Church are either cruel Tigers, or crafty Foxes. household enemies most hurtful to the health of the Church.  
Chapter. 3 The true semblance betwixt a two-legged, and a foure-legged Fox.  
Chapter. 4 An oration from old Rainard to his jesuitical cubbes, and extravagaunt Fox-priests: wherein his experienced wiliness directeth them from curious contemplation, to treacherous practice.  
Chapter. 5 The semblance betwixt the Fox and the Lion Antichrist and Mahomet, in broaching their damnable doctrines, and levying many nations to their laws.  
Chapter. 6 Of sundry sorts of Foxes that are most of all troublesome to this our Church.  
Chapter. 7 Of the unkennelling of the Fox, and the duties of the Terriers used for this purpose.  
Chapter. 8 Two principal reasons why Foxes are suffered in the Church.  
Chapter. 9 Eight reasons proving all perfect papists rotten-hearted subjects to true Christian Princes.  
Chapter. 10 Twelve reasons proving by divinity, and true Christian policy, that Foxes ought to be tied shorter.  
Chapter. 11 Two principal gardiens of the vineyard, Magistrates, and ministers; where first of the duties of ministers in hunting of the Foxes. Also see an inditement found against many Patrons of benefices.  
Chapter. 12 The duty of Christian Magistrates as well Sovereign as others, in purging of the Church from these noisome vermin.  
Chapter. 13 Two Toils wherewith Foxes must be taken: there see the miserable end of Traitors.    

A TOIL FOR TWO-LEGGED FOXES.  

CHAPTER. I.  
Affliction hath been, is, and shall be the common condition of God's Church, and the lot of his inheritance. The Lamb standing on mount Zion, is more mighty to save, than the enemy to destroy.  
THey do greatly abuse themselves, which are persuaded to see the Church in so quiet and calm estate, as to be without afflictions, either within or without, or both together within and without; the contrary experience whereof the histories of all ages do sufficiently declare. For if we look into her continual course heretofore; 
It is Bellarmine's dotage to make outward prosperity a mark of the Church.  or consider what the spirit of God hath prophesied concerning the future state of the Church, we shall find that it hath been from the creation of the world until this day, and shall be unto the consummation thereof, tossed to and fro with many cruel storms, subject to many afflictions and persecutions: for proof and experience whereof, consider the estate of the Church under Adam. 
Church's persecutions.  Was not righteous Abel a principal member thereof, unnaturally murdered by the bloody hand of his elder Brother? 
Genesis.  Thus first arose the tempest against the boat and little bark of jesus Christ; the same continued under Abraham, Isaac, and jacob, under Moses, the Israelites tyranized by Pharaoh, 
Exodus.  distressed in the wilderness, and diversly tempted before they could take possession of the land of promise. If ever the Church enjoyed a pleasant and a fair time of weather, 
josua.  it was under josua and those which then ruled the people, being most triumphantly planted in Canaan together with the service of God: 
judges.  afterwards under the judges until Samuel, for one day of fair weather ●n whole year of stormy and foul; then behold the ark of covenant taken captive, 
1. Sam. 4.11.  Silo ruinated and all brought into an utter confusion: howbeit God pitying his Church, raised up Samuel, by whose ministery this storm ceased, 
1. Sam. 7.  and the schools of the Prophets were reform. But this Sun was scarce up, when horrible darkness was brought in by wicked Saul; the priests themselves being massacred, the sorcerers restored, 
1. Sam. 28.8.  the people exposed to ignominy, being no better than a body without an head; 
2. Sam. 2.  until that David holding the sceptre the welfare of the Church began to grow; as also under Solomon, 
1. King 6.7 8. etc.  who furnished the Lords house ●oth within and without, with a most triumphant magnificencey, yet this happy state is overturned; ten tribes ●gainst two, 
1. King. 12.  the synagogues ruined to ●odge jereboams' calves in, the levites expulsed, the poor prophets constrained ●o be hidden in holes, 
1. King. 18.13.  and there to be sustained with bread and water; 
1. King. 17.4.  Helias himself being brought to that extremity, that he was feign to be fed with a Raven. Now as for the kingdom of juda, there the faithful servants of God had no worse enemies than the Kings and the Priests, namely under Achaz and Manasses. 
2. King. 16. 2. King. 21.  What grievous affliction did the Church sustain, when in the days of jeremy, the Chaldeans wasted jerusalem, 
2. King. 25.  spoiled the Temple, slew the Nobles before the prince's face, put out his eyes, dishonourably led him away captive to Babylon, leaving that populous country admired for prosperity, a barbarous wilderness and dreadful example of misery?  
To come unto the shipmaster himself, 
Luke 2.17.  what cold entertainment received he in this world, borne in a stable, from thence forced to fly into the deserts of Egypt, 
Math. 2.14. Mark. 6.3. john 1.4.  brought up and nourished in a poor carpenters house, in a city of so small reputation, that it is demanded whether any good thing could come from the same? 
Luke 4.31.  From thence forced to retire himself unto the rock of Capernaum, 
Luke 9 58.  not having an house wherein to put his head; 
Luke 23.  afterwards as a principal malefactor, crucified betwixt two thieves.  
The Disciples were dealt withal much like to their Master, 
Acts.  as is to be seen partly in the Acts of the Apostles, 
Ecclesiastical histories.  and partly in the histories of those times, wherein Nero, Domitian, Dioclesian, and other tyrants of the like disposition lived: But yet no time so bloody, as since the child of perdition was borne, and hath usurped tyrannical jurisdiction. For the Church could convey itself into no corner of the wilderness, but this bloodhound hath found it out to pursue and persecute it: what blood by him hath been shed, and what murders committed in these latter days, France and Flanders, England and Scotland, can sufficiently record. And this is the way wherein the whole Church truly Apostolic being in this world, 
Corint. 6.5. Heb. 11.38. Apo. 12.14.  as waifarers and wanderers hither and thither, must walk; the same being foretold unto the last day. 
Church's preservation.  Yet behold the conquering lamb Christ jesus standing on mount Zion, is more mighty to defend, than the prince of darkness to destroy: the Lord of Hosts cannot forsake his tabernacle; 
Psal. 84.  and though the little bark of his Church be tossed to and fro amids the seas of this troublesome world, yet he which holds the stern is able to command both wind and sea: wherefore although from time to time it hath been hoist to and fro with wind and waves, yet the Lord hath been continually assistant to the same; so as it hath never been overwhelmed, neither can be. For proof whereof, see how the creator in the person of him who after was made our redeemer, and deliverer, in person did run after those two forlorn children Adam and Eve, after they had fallen away from him through infidelity; applying unto that deadly wound so soon as it was made a remedy of immortality, far more excellent than that whereof they had deprived themselves and all their posterity. Look further and behold Abraham, 
Genesis.  Isaac and jacob, mightily preserved, notwithstanding the infinite and dangerous by-ways wherein they walked, 
Exodus.  for the space of four hundred years amidst most profane people, multiplied unto the number of six hundred thousand persons, beside women and children. Look again and behold the indauntable insolency of proud Pharaoh vanquished by frogs, by flies, by louse, at the shaking of the rod of one of the servants of the Lord of Hosts. Behold afterward the Church pursued on dry land by an huge multitude of the Egyptians, swallowed up of the red sea, which was as a wall on either side of the people of Israel. Behold what memorable and marvelous things did he for his people in the wilderness, how he sent bread from heaven, how with the stroke of a small rod the most hard rocks cleave to water, almost forty years long, this whole multitude. See and consider how it arrived at the river jordane, passing the river on dry ground, 
josua. 3.6.  making the high walls of jerichoe to fall down before it, battering down, dashing in pieces, trampling under feet thirty Kings beyond jordan, how victoriously they were placed in the land of Canaan, how they beat down their enemies sometime with an ox goad, 
judg. 3.31. judg. 7.20. judg. 15.15. 1. Sam. 5.4.  as did Samgar the son of Anath, sometimes with pitchers as Gedeon, sometime with the jaw bone of an ass as Samson. God suffered the ark to be taken prisoner, but it was to th● overthrow of the Philistians Dagon: under the reign of King Saul the Church did abide many a cold blast; but he raised up his servant David a King & prophet to refresh the same, who left hi● successor King Solomon, a figure of the true Solomon King of peace and eternal son of David.  
Now to pass beyond Solomon, we● shall find the Lord no less assistant t● his Church then before; yea even vnt● the consummation of this world we● shall find the nearer the time, an● term appointed of God approacheth for the execution of his promises, th● more ardent affection will he show to his Church; who although many time● he scourgeth and afflicteth the same, 
Why the Church is afflicted.  he dealeth but even as the husbandman doth with his corn, which the oftener it is winnowed and sifted, so much the more purer it is. Neither doth he set hi● enemies on work to ruinated and destroy his Church, but as it were to unthaw his people waxed stiff, and be numbed through overmuch ease, and to unburden his Church of a grea● number of villainous profane persons ●●ept into the same. For when the Chaldeans laid jury waste, led the people captive unto Babylon, insomuch as the Church seemed utterly razed; yet how captive and prisonerlike soever they were, behold the Lord present with his Church, behold the royal edicts for the worshipping of the God of Daniel, behold the tyrant Nabuchadnezzar, not being content to be the chiefest amongst men, made the vilest amongst beasts; behold Babylon itself captive, Israel restored and re-established with great privileges, and restitution of their holy vessels. And thus if we proceed, we shall evidently see how the Lord hath been present with his Church in the spirit of comfort, assistance and deliverance; how he hath beaten down that great mount of the Roman monarchy, and daily bloweth to ruin the beast moulded upon this pattern, and seated in the temple of God upon the very same seven hills. The declaration whereof one Chapter cannot afford, nay the life of one man after an other can hardly perform it. But to let pass foreign lands, and to speak of the great love that the Lord hath showed towards the Church and common wealth of England: 
God's great mercies to England.  I may truly say, happy are we, if we continue happy; and blessed are we above al● other people, if we be still blessed of the Lord; who, if insurrection hath been moved, hath suppressed it; if conspiracy hath been intended, revealed it; 〈◊〉 treason hath been attempted, confounded it; if war by foreign foes threatened, hath delivered us from it: we dwel● still in safety, though threatened by Spanish tyranny; we triumph in garlands o● olives, though threatened to wear the wreaths of Cypress; we sing te deum with cheerful hearts, though foreign cruelty have threatened a mournful miserere. O then let us never forget the good things that he hath done for us! the great kindness that he hath showed to let his Church. Tell it to your children; and them tell it to their posterity, from one generation to another, even the good things that the Lord hath done for England under the regiment of a gracious princess: yea tell it how by his anointed Deborah he hath repelled the rage of ●●in, how by his Hester he hath hanged up Haman, which sought to bring us and our posterity into perpetual slaveries; and how by jael a woman he hath stricken a nail into the head of Sisera, even then when his mother and his wise ladies had thought he had been dividing the spoil. Blessed be that people whose God is the eternal, blessed be the Lord God which hath thus blessed Egnland, and greeted his children with so manifold consolations, Amen.   

CHAPTER. 2.  
The enemies of the Church are either cruel Tigers or crafty Foxes. Household enemies are most hurtful to the health of the Church.  
THe enemies of the Church of God are of two sorts either open and known persecutors, of whom it this place I purpose not to entreat; these in holy scriptures ar● called by the names of Tigers, and Lions: or else they are covert and priui●● enemies; 
Cantic. 2. Math. 7. Revel. 20.  and these are called Foxes Wolves in sheeps clothings, false horned lambs. Of the first kind were th● Edomits, the Moabits, the Ammonits the Chaldeans, and Babylonians against Israel; the jews, Arabians, Saracines Turks and Tartarians, 
No strange news to find Foxes in the Church. Numbers 16.  against th● Christian Church. Of the second so●● were in the time of Moses, Chore, D●than and Abiram, who, as it is written being in the midst of the vineyard, ●●ught to undermine the same: such were the wicked priests and false prophets, 
Ezech. 22.28.  which promised peace when there was no peace, smothered the sins of the wicked daubed with untempered mortar, conspiring against the law, profaning the temple, maintaining the iniquity of the princes, opposing themselves against the true prophets, 
2. King. 22. jerem. 18. Math. 21.41.  as did those miscreants Zedechiah against Micheas, and Hananias against jeremy: such were the Scribes and Pharisees, Essenians and Herodians, who stily ventured to entrap the Lord of the vineyard, who in the person of a redeemer came to take order for the same. And afterwards, although the principal hunters of these Foxes travailed painfully to dress and trim the vineyard, the branches whereof were spread from East to West, and had provided it of labourers to husband it; 
Fox's most troublesome to the Church.  notwithstanding, (as their histories do witness) they had always more to do i● the hunting of these Foxes, then against other open enemies whatsoever, ●●her within, or without the Church. If you look into the infancy of the Church apostolic, 
Church apostolic annoyed with Foxes. Acts 15.  such Foxes shall you find, such namely which would match jesus Christ and Moses together; such Foxes, false Apostles, and false brethren were at Corinth, 
1. Cor. 15.  teaching that there was no resurrection at all, or else that it was already past, as did Himeneus and Philetus; 
Coloss. 2.  such were some at Colossa, which were of opinion that the traditions of men were necessary to be observed, that the superstitious afflicting of the body, was a religious serving of God, that difference should be betwixt meat and drink and days, according to the jewish custom; 
2. Tim. 2.17.  such were in Asia and in Crete, which mingled the truth with vain fables and genealogies, who thought how such as believed might live licentiously, which imps of Satan are by the epistle of Jude worthily confuted. 
Jude verse 4.  After these succeeded whole armies of Foxes, 
Armies of Foxes.  heretics of all sorts, some assaulting the divinity of the son of God, as Cerinthus, Ebion, & Arrius; some his humanity, as Eunomius which taught that Christ had a body without a soul, and Apollinaris which taught that he had a soul without sense. Others confessing both the one and the other, but dividing jesus into twain, as Nestorius who taught that as Christ had two natures, so he had not one but two persons. Others making a monster of him, which should be neither God nor man, as did that dog servetus, who said that Christ was but a figure of the son of God, and that his body was compounded of three uncreated elements, and so confounded both natures. Others degrading him from his office: others mingling the pure word with a million of errors: what should I say utterly false, yea altogether monstrous.  
But above all other, there is an old grey Fox, 
The old grey Fox.  which under the colour of the Church of Rome, and because the grace of God did sometime shine forth there, doth seek continually to supplant the vineyard of the Lord, whose cruelty, and subtlety the silly lambs of jesus Christ have tasted of from time to time. This old biting dog-foxe having hatched up his cubs, and taught them their lesson, that is, to transform Christian religion into policy, and policy into treachery; then fall they from contemplation to practise, and are ready to trudge from one country to another, like vagrant rogues, to what place soever it shall please the old Fox to send them. And as amongst the Scythians he was reputed the bravest gentleman that spilled most blood: so is he canonised for the worthiest Catholic, that can bring most souls to confusion. So that never were the fens of Lerna so dangerous, never was that monster Hydra so pernicious to the near inhabitants, as are these Foxe-cubs to the safety of the church, that is to wit, popish schoolmasters, jesuits in profession, Ischariots in condition, seminaries of falsehood, straggling extravagants, roguish pedlars of whorish merchandise; 
The drift of priests and jesuits.  whose drift is nothing else, but to reconcile simple people to the obedience of the Pope, to power into their hearts pestilent opinions against her Majesty, and the laws of this Realm, to sound the secrets of inward intentions, to set discontented hearts on fire with the flames of rebellion, to feed foolish humours with vain hope of alteration: in the mean while, teaching rebels to practise popular behaviour and to carry countenances friendly to conformity (howsoever their eyes dazzle with looking for that which comes not yet; nay, better their eyes were out of their heads, and their heads from their shoulders, than ever it should come: 
A posy sent from Rainard to his Foxe-cubs. ) else to what end serveth that posy sent from old Rainard to his cursed cubs, da mihi cor tuum & sufficit. Give me thy heart and it sufficeth. O cunning old Fox! thou knowest full well that the heart will carry the hand when opportunity serveth; and what thy Foxlike wiliness did foresee, that experience hath taught this kingdom; namely that thy cubs as they repine at the princess safety: so are they and still will be, the first that will set foot in traitorous attempts.  
God preserve the prince, her nobles, and the true subjects from woeful experience: nay, God give them wisdom and courage to tie thy cubbes shorter; else I can tell, it is an infallible maxima, 
Note well a Maxima.  that young cubs in time will prove old Foxes, and old Foxes if time serve, will prove cruel Tigers.  
But is it true, can the Fox strip himself out of the lambs skin, and play the Lion in his kind? can subjects hands acquaint themselves with tempering Italian physic, and English breasts giu● harbour unto Spanish hearts? Yea it i● too true; and if time should turn, w● should find the Wolves would put of their sheeps coats, and play the wolf in their right kind, and show their ravenous nature by their cruel deeds; a heretofore they did when reverent ag● was not respected, 
Queen Mary's days.  when flourishing youth was cropped in the prime, when women's weakness was not spared: (but more than barbarous cruelty!) whe● the tender babe springing out of th● mother's womb was cast into the fire What should I range into so large a field there yet liveth many one, whose father, mother, brother, sister, kinsman o● friend, was through antichristian cruelty abridged of the natural date of the● days. Such was the calamity of forme● times, and such are the times that these Foxes gape after, to quench their thir● with the blood of the lambs.  
O fie upon you unnatural monsters! that seek the subversion of your own natural prince, and country, which seek your own desolation, ruin and misery. What mean you, uncircumcised Philistines, to labour to pull the house upon your heads? what hath bewitched you, that you should trust a trothless Spaniard? I can justly compare you to that mad musician that fell to tuning of his instrument when his house was on fire: or to the fool, that laugheth and maketh show of mirth, when he goeth to the stocks. 
The old Fox his cognisance.  I know that some of you wear the mark of the beast, as a cross, an agnus dei, or some character of the Babylonish whore, whereby you hope you shall be marked from Hugenotes, if that day should come that you look for: so bold you are to trust a Spaniards courtesy. I can fitly apply the fable of the Lion unto you, who being hurt by the Bull, commanded all horned beasts to avoid the forest upon pain of his displeasure: amongst the rest the hare understanding of this, made haste to be gone; whom the Fox meeting by the way, asked whither she footed so fast: in sooth (quoth the hare) I neither truly can tell, nor greatly regard, so I were gone. What is the matter (quoth the Fox?) tush what a question is that (saith the hare:) as if thou were ignorant o● the late proclamation of the Lion, that no horned beast should remain within the wood. What is that to thee (saith the Fox?) for thou art no horned beast. Mary that is true, but what if the Lion saith that mine ears be horns, who then? Even so though you profess your selue● to be catholics, though you have the stamp of the beast, have your crosses, your medals, and such like badges; yet I will warrant you, if your purses be well lined, you shall either burn fo● heretics, or pay well for the faggots: whether you can say shibboleth or siboleth, it makes no matter, they will bear you down that you are Ephramites; and if the Spaniards say that your ears be horns, no remedy you must to the pot as if you were protestants. Such are the Spaniards, such are their fruits, such is their treachery, such is their tyranny ask them of the low countries, ask the Neapolitans, ask the Indians, 
Spaniards courtesies are unnatural cruelties.  and they can tell you of the execrable tyrannies of the Spaniards, which as they surmount all credit, so I am not furnished with effectual terms to display them. 
another cost gives a watchword to a wise man.  What these hellhounds have done in the low countries, it is better known than I am able to report: yea it is extant how they have curtalled the prerogatives, ingrated upon the liberties: what grievous exactions they have raised, what customs they have imposed upon all manuary trades, and mechanical faculties, whereby gain might grow to the inhabitants of Naples: in a little more than forty years, what realms they have dispeopled in India, which now remain as desolate wildernesses; what millions of men, women and children they have murdered; in so much as they have waged amongst themselves who should most bravely broach his sword in the blowels of an Indian, 
Savage immanity.  or with one blow most lustily strike off his head, giving eight hundred Indian souls for one Moor, tearing in pieces men and women with mankind mastiffs, broiling the Lord and nobility on gridirons with a soft fire underneath them, that howling & despairing in linger torments, they might end their lives. Are not these warning peals sufficient to make you fear? d● you look for greater courtesy at Spaniards hands? Will you follow the Hiaenaes' voice? or dare you swallow a Spanish bait? are you so foolish to look● for grapes on thorns? or so mad t● hope for mercy at the hands of merciless tyrants? Learn learn to answer than, as the Fox did the sick old Lion when he entreated him to enter into hi●den.  
Name me vestigia terrent, omnia 〈◊〉  
adversum spectantia, nulla retrorsum.  
The tracks and footsteps that I spy,  
makes me to doubt some train,  
Sith all trace forward to thy den,  
but none tread back again.  
But you are like affected to the Israelites, you would change both Moses an● Aaron, magistrate & minister, you are 〈◊〉 bewitched that you would change you Samuel for Saul; nay more than that, you Christ for Barrabas; which change yo● do seek for, although you pay you● heads to boot, if you should have you desires. But I trust the Lord hath blessed England with wise and provident council, who may learn by your former practices to beware of afterclaps. For papists prove traitors apace. And so it is high time they were provided for.   

CHAPTER. 3.  
The true semblance betwixt a two-legged, and a foure-legged Fox.  
THe covert enemies of th● Church, because they accord in condition, and a●● like them in properties, ar● therefore called Foxes Now amongst many, 
The Fox hath a foul smell.  one property is that the Fox hath a foul smell. Wherein the two-legged and foure-legge● Foxes agree as cubs of one kind: Men lives & religions are commonly alike neither can their conversation have 〈◊〉 sweet smell, whose religion hath a loath some taste: Wherefore behold a posi●● made first of popish doctrines; then o● their lives; by the smell whereof you ma● judge of the soundness of a Catholic profession. Behold I say an hotchpotch and miserable mingle-mangle, if yo● respect their religion, of all Satan's forgeries and devilish heresies, as the● may serve the old Fox his turn, 
A posy of popish doctrines gathered out of the desert of heresies.  patched together like a beggar's cloak made of a thousand shreds: Therefore with Carpocratian heretics he is bold to set up the Image of Christ and other Saints, with the Anthropomorphites, to paint God the Father like an old man with a grey beard; with the Pelagian heretics, to maintain free-will, power to justify ourselves, and to fulfil the commandments; with the Messalians, to mumble his matins, pater nosters, & seven psalms by number upon a pair of beads; with the Tatians, Cataphrygians, Montanists and Ebonists, to seek sanctification in eating and not eating, in marrying and not marrying. 
Whereupon the Romish faith is founded.  To be short, in many things, he is Heathenish, Turkish and jewish: so that whosoever is hot stark blind may behold, whereupon the Roman catholics build their faith: not upon the doctrines of the Prophets and Apostles, but partly upon the scriptures sophisticated and quintessensed in a limbeck, to serve for a corrective in the poisoned drench of the whore; partly upon such sayings of the ancient fathers as serve for their turn; partly upon the scum of general counsels; partly upon the Caballa the jewish Rabbins; partly upon the Turkish Alcoran, and lastly on the profound divinity of Ovid and Aristot●● In this manner skipping like muck y●● from one place to an other, they pick what may best serve for their purpo●● even as if a man would pick rotten o● of an apple, with this proviso, that a Roman Catholic hang as fast on the foundation, as a thief on the gallows, to w●● on his holy mother the Church of Rom● which can stumble no more than a ma● when both his eyes are out. And this their invincible Stratagema and P●●nopila, their strong furniture and fight weapons of war, which they v● for the defence of their religion: whe● by it may evidently appear, that th● bottomless pit is open, and the diurn is broke lose, and that the Pope is th● porter of hell gates. Beware then of t●● poisoned cup of the whore, 
Can. 2. Math. 7. Revel. 20. Phil. 3. 2. Cor. 11.13. Rom. 16.  and th● wiles of such Foxes, Wolves in sheep● clothing, false horned lambs, maski●● hypocrites, deceitful workeme● crafty companions, cozening knaue● 〈◊〉 by dissembled zeal & palpable flattery creep into men's houses, wind themselves into men's consciences, lead away the simple captive: beware of these scorpions with stings in their titles, who when they look most de●●●rely, pretend greatest mischief; ●●ound the sorest, when they speak the forest; with smooth speeches captivate men's consciences, when they pretend greatest liberty. Let not your hearts be deceived, there is no such vice as that which is hidden under the colour of virtue; no such arrant strumpet as she that seeks to shroud herself under the show of a grave matron; no such judas kiss as with an Apostles face, nor fawning devil as like an Angel of light; no such enemies against the Church, as those which under the name of it, seek the supplanting of the same.  
To leave their religion, & to speak of their lives: can there be a sweet behaviour where there is no sound faith? certes no, 
Corporal and spiritual whoredom companions collateral.  and therefore experience will teach thee, that corporal and spiritual whoredom 〈◊〉 hand in hand: for who more hot in the service of Baal, then wicked jesabel? yet was she but a painted harlot. It is needless to tell you some sweet parts played in the popedom, and to glance at the filthiness of those chief chaste fathers and maiden priests, the smell whereof hath ascended to heaven, and annoyed the Lord of hosts; yet to the end you may know the birds by their kind, the colts by their dams, and the young cubs, by the smell of the old Foxes: I will give you a little taste of the unsavoury manners of holy Foxes, (holy fathers say they) whereof some have been famous and renowned heretics, some notorious blasphemers of God, some shameless scorners, some whorehunters, adulterers, and sodomitical beasts, some wretched and ravenous hellhounds, some conjurers and Necromancers, 
Anastasius. 2. The old Foxes have foul smells.  as histories do declare. Anastasius the second consented to the Nestorian heretics, which denied the humanity of jesus Christ, and at last being stricken by the hand of God, did void his entrails, as did the heretic Arrius before him. Boniface the eight was in a general council holden in Paris, 
Boniface. 8.  accused and found guilty of three capital crimes, namely of heresy, murder, and simony, and for these causes was dispossessed of the popedom: and afterwards cast into prison, desperately gnawing and devouring his hands like to a dog ended his days, for whom the devils did wonderfully mourn and shed many a salt tear. For on the same day was heard in the prison where he died, called castrade S. Angelo, such horrible thunderclaps, and terrible stirs, as if all the Popes, Abbots, Prelates, Canons, Priests, monks, and Friars in hell had been singing his requiem. Pope john the fourteenth, who with an Italian trick picked over the perch Pope Alexander the fifth, 
john. 14.  and afterwards very featly created himself Pope, was convicted in the council of Constance an apparent heretic, an un godly knave, an oppressor of the poor, a persecutor of the righteous, a stay to the wicked, a pillar to the barterers of benefices, a glass to dishonesty, a vessel full of all vice, yea a very devil incarnate: and therefore put beside the cushion, and deposed from his apostical seat. What should I leave john the dog Fox, 
Pope joane the bitch-fox.  and spoke of joan the bitch-fox from whom Monks, Friars, pole-shorn● Priests, and the Romish spiritualty ar● sprung. This joane was well content t● be gotten with child by one of he Cardinals, and was delivered in th● midst of the street, as she was devoutly treading in procession, by th● same token, that at this day there dot● remain an Image of stone hewn ou● of the earth, as their histories do report and that the Popes in their procession never do pass that way, lest that th● like might happen unto them. Nevertheless for the avoiding of such a foul● chance the holy Church did ordains two chairs to be hewn out of Porphy stone, where they used to feel fro● under, utrum habet testiculos. But tha● custom is now left, for it may well b● that they make the matter manifest b● the brood of their bastards. john th● thirteenth, 
john. 13.  was in property muc● like to Pope joan, who as he was descended of whores and knaves: so was h● no changeling, but did show full we what stock he came of, for he was s● vowed to incontinency, that he maintained an open stews: the Emperor ●●to causing a council to be gathered, ●●erin he was complained upon, & accused of many foul things, as that he ●●d committed whoredom with two si●●rs, that he had made Bishops of children, that he had deflowered many virous, that of Saint john's palace at Lateran, he had made an open stews, that he ●●d offered up wine to the devils, and ●●playing at dice, had called for aid ●his grand Captain the prince of darkness. But what can we expect at ●ir hands, who are so near linked and ●●d with that foul fiend? For is it not ●orded in their histories, that many them were Necromancers, familiarly 'quainted with the devils? Search Car●al Benno in his books of the life and ●●ngs of Hildebrand, and he will tell you ●●t many have obtained the pope●ne through devilish arts: as Sylue●● the second, john the eighteenth, john nineteenth, john the twentieth, Benet eight, Benet the ninth, Gregory the ●enth, erst called Hildebrand; who ●●pered his treacle so well, that as ●●d as five or six Popes by the Italian dram were brought to their bane, to the en● he might have a beaten path to their places. Now to speak of the same knacks i● the popish clergy descended from th● stock of such grandsires before mentioned, it would be too tedious; nay we may not imagine that those maid priests which daily handle a bread god, can play legerdemain, when the seem to give absolution.  
But here the old Fox will reply, th●● all the flowers in Priapus, that Dryad and Naiads, and Satyrus, that is, all th● flowers in hills, and dales, and many green forest, have not so sweet a sm●● as a Catholics conversation. For th● old Fox, 
Popish mortification lively depainted.  poor beast, abides the 〈◊〉 brunt of the weather; his poor cu● have such straight rules of lives as no● have more, some of them not eating ●ny flesh a great part of the year, so●● of them eating no flesh at all, being lean as if they had lain seven yea● diseased in their dens of Idolatry; others going woolward; others doi●● perpetual penance, and whipping themselves a vie, who shall whip mo● others utterly forswearing the maria●● b●ed, and vowing virginity. Thus warrant you the Fox doth love mortification as dearly as a dog doth a cudgel. 
Austerity of life no true mark of the Church.  And what if your Austerity of life ●ere as you would make the world be●eue: yet come you not near Baals ●riestes, who cut & lanced themselves, ●hom notwithstanding the prophet ●lias mocketh with full mouth; no nor ●et near the superstitious Mahome●●nes of diverse sorts.  
But ye worlds deceivers, ye painted sepulchres, ye meale-mouthed counterfeits, your priests indeed vow conti●ent lives: but O heaven! O earth! O ●●ousand millions of rapes, adulteries, ●●cestes, fornications committed under ●is goodly vow of virginity! You vow ●ouerty, but it is to nestle yourselves in ●●llaces, and there to pamper your values at other men's charges. You ●atch in the night: but it is to sleep in ●●e day. O what pains takes the old ●●xe to ride on men's shoulders, and to 〈◊〉 up his feet to have his pantofle kissed, tell over so many thousands of crowns 〈◊〉 come tumbling in on every side! O ●hat pains he takes to have the spoil and booty of so many millions of souls so miserably bewitched? O what a mark of mortification is it in the reverendissimies, to have their tails carried up by their trainebearers, and to ride up and down in their coaches with their concubines? Alas for pity, those religious men which merit both for themselves, and for others, how ill be they lodged in their princely chambers? poor men alas, how are they famished, when the world is together by the ears who shall bestow most upon them, and their hands so troubled with the gout, that all is fish that comes to net? O the small warmth they have in their jacobine chambers! how ill be they clothed in their cold cassocks! O what hunger abide our English popelings, and poor catholics, in abstaining from a piece of resty bacon, to feed of dainties that are fetched out of far countries? how pale faced are they, in drinking the strongest wines they can come by? a● what great price do these Romanistes rate paradise at, when thus they do work to be serviceable?  
Here whilst we give them the challenge for seeking the kingdom of heaven in their drunken dotages, and stinking cistern of their own traditions: they in the mean while most wickedly slander us, that we disjoin amendment of life from remission of sins. And why so? because we settle the consciences of men on him, who hath paid so dear a price for them. But as touching our doctrine compared with theirs, we will make him judge, who shall judge us all by his word. And as for our lives we acknowledge that we have too great cause to humble ourselves before the highest majesty. But as for them, their Sodom & Gomor, their plaunches and swinesties of all impiety, their harbours and lurking holes of idleness, and all manner of dissolution, yieldeth such a loathsome smell, as doth infect both heaven and earth.  
The second property of the Fox is wiliness, 
The second property of the Fox is wiliness.  and this is one of his unseparable accidents. To find out all his deceits is almost as difficult as to sound Satan's depths: and therefore, if in this I be too short, it is no marvel, for the Fox is full of subtlety. Amongst many his properties of cunning compass, 
The Fox woorieth aloof from his den.  this is reckoned one, that he dare not worry near his den, least timely watch should take him tardy: In like sort these subtle seducers wander far and wide, & compass sea & land, whereby to make a Catholic after their own profession.  
Secondly, Rainard rangeth in the night, 
The Fox rangeth in the night.  & keeps his den in the day: In like manner the two-legged Foxes dare not abide the day light, but seek lurking holes, & wander in by-ways, marching on like maskers with shameless frontes in stead of visors, disguising themselves, lest wont attire should broach their wiles, & mar their mumming.  
Thirdly, the craft of the Fox appeareth in this, 
The Fox fasteneth on the young lambs.  that he loveth to fasten and feed upon the young ones, the poor lambs of little force to escape his cruelty: of like condition are the spiritual Foxes, they fasten upon such as are poor in knowledge, and weak in faith, that they may more easily pervert and draw them to error. For survey bona fide the dealings of priests, jesuits, Seminaries, or other seducers; see and consider whether they read not in the steps of the old serpent: 
The dangerous practices of Foxe-priestes and jesuits.  seek they not to seduce poor simple women, that they may entice ●heir husbands, as Eva did Adam? Ma●ame must be recusant, and Mounsire a monthly church-hant. The mean gentlewoman or yeoman's wife forswears ●he Church, 
Practise of papists.  and faceth out the force of ●ur laws; the good man of the house ●eepes into the Church for fear of a ●ine, setting more by his dames pater no●ter in her closet, than any Christian exercise in the congregation: as if our ●awes were made to rule men, and not women, husbands, and not wives. This shuffling would be suspected; for thus ●●ngender Foxe-cubs, who threaten fu●ure danger.  
If simple men be recusants, 
Mark this.  and re●ounce our fellowship, many not greatly regard it; because either they want authority, or their purses be not well ●ined: but be not deceived, for such little sparks may serve the Pope's turn, ●y being kindled to a flame, and that is wiliness is a ware of. The ivy creeping along the ground, beginning at ●he first to compass the lowest part of the oak, at the last, by getting ground, overpeereth the highest branch, pierceth still the pith, sucketh the sap, to the ruin of the whole trunk: so these subtle Foxes by insinuation, and sugared speeches seek first to enter into the consciences of persons inferior; hoping by daily addition, of new addicted fools to the flesh-pots of Egypt, to fortify their faction: but indeed the mark that they level at, is to raze up the foundation of our peace, and to over-peare the head of her royal person.  
Fourthly, the subtlety of the Fox is herein discerned, because persuading men unto virtue, and revoking them from vice, 
The Fox is a counsellor for his own advantage.  he doth it for his own advantage, and then especially seeketh the spoil of the Church. So that fitly they may be resembled unto thieves, traveling by the high way, and lighting into true meaning company, can talk of simple dealing, of sober living, of the reward of the virtuous, of the punishment of the vicious, to the intent that unsuspected they may take their bootyat unawares; or to the crafty gamester, who suffereth the simple man to win for a while, that afterward being greedy of play, he may lurch him as he listeth: Even so these deceitful workmen speak some good things, but they intermeddle evil things; they speak the truth but to scatter lies, & to root them in men's hearts, as Sinen in Virgil mingled falsehood with truth, that he might more easily entrap the Troyans'; they speak peace with their mouths, but have conceived mischief in their hearts; they can say salve frater with joab, & ave Rabbi with judas, when their purpose is to stab with the one, and to betray with the other. To conclude, they are deceitful merchants, which utter evil wares, and set them out with lying words to make them saileable. Wherefore as Paul commanded the devil to silence, although he spoke truth, lest that his uttering of truth might advantage his lying, and gain credit to his kingdom; and as jesus Christ sharply rebuked the devil, saying unto him, we know who thou art, teaching us not to give ear unto the devil although he tell the troth: so let the rulers which regard the honour of the highest, labour earnestly to hinder the course of these seducing spirits which are scattered in our land, and to put the devil to silence in them, that his people be not beguiled and drawn away to strange worship.  

The Fox craftily dissuades from religion and loyalty.  Another of their wiles is in their manner of persuasion, first, against religion; & secondly, against loyalty. Against religion by whispering into the ears of the seduced, Church agreement, counsel consent, father's harmony, teacher's credit, universality, antiquity, unity, apostolical traditions, all which an alblasted Moter hath tricked trimly in colours, having put as it were an new coat upon an old deformed body; as if, where the ass had put upon him the Lion's skin, the world could not discern him by the length of his ears: but the name of God be magnified, he is discovered, and his new varnished leaden dagger stabbed in the entrails of his holy mother. My purpose in this pamphlet is rather to discover the wickedness of English Italionates, then to dispute against the wilful obstinacy of any Catholic champion: yet because this is the dust that Master Alabaster, with others more, cast in the eyes of our countrymen to put them quite out; or at leastwise, to blear them: I will briefly scatter it, and so proceed in my former course.  

Church agreement, an old Motive to the popish faith, removed and confuted.  
BY the Church they would have you to understand the Church of Rome, 
The Catholics in their brags understand by the Church the Romish Church.  for her eminency; and then when they tell you that the Church agrees, the Church degrees, the Church cannot err: all this in their language is to be spoken of the Romish Church. Now, if this proud Moter, or any other of his fraternity, can bring you any prophecy or promise by which this her privilege may appear, that Rome is the mother City of the universal Church, 
Urge this against a Roman Catholic.  as she was of the ancient Roman Empire; as also, that this is her prerogative, that she cannot err: them have they done some thing; but they may assoon find Paradise in hell, as any such text in the scripture. Contrariwise she is pointed at, 
2. Thes. 2.3. Apoca. 17.  as by that finger to be the seat of apostasy, by Saint Paul. 2. Thess. 2.3. vers. and by Saint john in the Apocalypse; 
Rome the sea of Apostasy.  yea by many ancient fathers, Greek, and Latin; albeit they in their times saw not that was before their eyes. Again, if it were lawful for men, why should Rome rather be chosen then jerusalem, the first and the ancientest of the Churches, called of the prophets the city of God, 
Esay 2.  from whence the word of God should go fourth into all the world, founded by Saint Peter and the rest of the Apostles; or rather than Antioch, 
Acts.  where were named the first christians, and where it is apparent that Peter and Paul lived?  
Sirs, what can you say for yourselves? faith sometimes flourished at Rome. And what then? so did it at jerusalem, at Antioch, at Ephesus, etc. But was not jerusalem turned into jeruskaker? Was not Bethel, that is, the house of the Lord, turned into Bethaven, the house of iniquity? Is not the candlestick removed from those famous Churches of Asia, Ephesus, Pergamus, Thiatira, Philadelphia, etc. These places are altered for wickedness, and Rome for bad life and bad religion. And thou Rome, though sometimes faithful, art now the Queen of pride, the nurse of idolatries, the mother of whoredoms, ●he shop of heresies, 
Rome's abominations.  where the entrance into God's house, that is, the scriptures, wherein he hath placed his eternal truth, is forbidden unto his people, where the Church is not only made a place of merchandise of men's souls, ●ut is changed into a shop of more abominable Idolatry than ever was amongst the pagans themselves: where ●he true jesus Christ is changed into a ●ead and senseless thing, having nei●her head nor feet, which cannot keep ●t self from the talents of thieves, nor ●et from the teeth of mice and rats, which perisheth of itself, if it be not ●he sooner devoured.  
But here some favourite of popery will ●ell you, 
What if the Pope sit in Peter's chair.  that the Pope sits in Peters ●haire: answer him, that so did the Pharisees in Moses' seat, 
Matt. 23.  yet never ●he better, no jot the holier for all that: ●o that I may justly say to him, as did Themistocles to a certain odd Seriphian, who objected to Themistocles, that his ●lory received greater brightness from the renown of his country, then from the merit of his virtues: not so said Themistocles; for if I were a Seriphian I would not live without renown, and if thou werest an Athenian, thou couldst not live without shame. In like sort say, if Saint Peter were at Rome, he lived not like the Pope, and if the Pope sit in Peter's chair, he lives not like Saint Peter; but even as Neanthus, having gotten Orpheus his harp, jangled and jarred so long, that whereas he looked for the trees to skip, he brought the dogs about his ears: even so the Pope hath so long boasted of Peter's succession, that the simple discern his doublings, and novices in religion, begin to espy his juggling.  
But some man will say, is there the● no certain visible place, 
Whether there be any certain place on which to build our belief.  on which a Christian man may depend so far as to say we must believe, and do that which is taught and commanded in such a place? Christ resolveth this demand, but answereth not that it is Rome, or any other place: but saith he where the dead body is, thither the Eagle gather themselves together: and what i● this dead body, but jesus Christ and him crucified, besides which, I will know nothing saith the Apostle? understanding by the name of, Christ his person, and by the word of crucified, all his sufferings for us, until that last cry of his which shaked both heaven and earth. 
Math. 27.  This concerneth doctrine. Now for outward service; hear him answering to the woman of Samaria, whose demand was, 
john. 4.  whether they should worship in the Temple of the Samaritans, or of the jews; that for a time it was the Temple of jerusalem, and none other which God had chosen to be worshipped in. But saith he, the time is come that men shall worship neither in this mountain, nor in jerusalem; but the true worshippers shall worship in spirit and in truth: that is to say, they shall serve God with a pure spiritual worship, without distinction of place. By this, I trust the ignorant shall be able to descry what the Catholcikes mean by their Church agreement; as also how to keep themselves unsnared by such Moters as go about to entangle them. As for ourselves, we give the Church of God all her true honour; confessing that whosoever hath not this true ancient Catholic and Apostolic Church to his mother, the same hath not God to his Father.   

Counsels consent, a false challenge of a Roman Catholic, with a caveat how counsels are to be gathered and received.  
THe catholics make many a goodly Bravado, and whosoever is willing to be deceived, may believe them upon their bare words. The ancient fathers in an holy wisdom, have called Counsels as befitted their times, for th● abandoning of heresies, and establishing of truth: such were these old Counsels, the first Nicene, the Council of Constantinople, the first Ephesine and such like, which we refuse not but theirs are latter, and are n● better many of them, then if th● whoremasters & whores were gathere● together to take order for the stews But let us consider, whether all Counsels serve for a Catholics comfort Many hundred years ago the Council of Constantinople decreed, that Images placed in the Church should be overthrown and dashed in pieces. 
Counsels condemning popish opinions.  The Council held at Eliberis in Spain in the time of Constantine decreed, that women should not frequent vigils, that Images should be banished out of the Church, and that nothing should be painted on the wall to be worshipped.  
The Council of Gangrenes, accursed them that condemned the priests marriage.  
The third Council of Carthage decreed, that the chief bishop should not be called the prince of priests, or highest priest, but only the bishop of the chief sea.  
The Council of Hippo decreed, that the bishop of the head sea, should not be called the chief priest; that no scripture should be read in the Church, but Canonical.  
In a Council holden at the City of Pize, both Gregory & Benet were deposed, & Alexander the fifth lected Pope; they notwithstanding holding still the title of papality, and so a lease of Popes until the coming of Constance.  
At the Council of Basil, Pope Eugenius concluded an heretic, deposed, and a Duke created Pope in his place.  
Thus they crack much of the authority of a council, and blear men's eyes with so glorious a name, when as indeed their drunken superstitions by them are utterly condemned. It is truly said of many Counsels, that In nomine Dei incipit omne malum. 
How counsels are.  Therefore are they to be received with this caveat, tha● they be gathered in the name of Christ, decree according to his rule, & aims at his glory. So shall they be no other wise received, than they bring the judgement of Christ; and the Pope shall b● put to silence, who for all show of pr● and con, will determine for his purpose wheresoever he is precedent.  
Gerson and Panormitanus, not new protestants, but ancient fathers, being at the Council of Basil, where it wa● argued, what authority a Council hath decreed, that we must rather beleeu● one simple man alleging the scripture than an whole Council to the contrary: the thing itself is ratified in the grea● Nicene Council, where many woul● have forbidden priests marriage, and only Paphnutius being unmarried, & alleging the scriptures which allow marriage in all men, did evince the contrary.   

The harmony of fathers, a false motive to popery.  
IT cannot be denied, but many fathers stand hard for their Catholic religion, as father Piggius, father Hosius, ●ather Lombard, father Thomas, father ●cotus, father Caietan, 
Father's pleading for the Romish religion.  one of the best Car●inals; father Bellarmine, father Staple●on, and many more hireling villains, which are at the Pope's pay, which although in many things they agree no ●etter than Herod and Pilate, yet can ●hey consent to degrade jesus Christ from his office, as well as the other did ●o bereave him of his life: So that you ●ee what a consent of fathers here is, ●or the defence of a Popeholy faith▪  
But there are other ancients, as father Moses, father David, Esay, jeremy, etc. In a word, our fathers are the Patriarches, Prophets, and Apostles; and when they shall prove that we descent from these ancient fathers, that is, our worship, our faith, is not builded upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, as on the other side that theirs is; then have they spoke to the purpose.  
Now if they mean by father's consent to bring in Augustine, Chrisostome, Cyprian, Basil, Athanasius and the rest, with one accord to make their plea for popery, then shameless beasts, they are convinced already by the friends of the bridegroom, and confounded of their own consciences, if they have any at all.  
Lastly, for this point, how far the ancientest and holiest men next after the Apostles are to be listened unto; hear Augustine himself, 
How far the ancient fathers are to be hearkened unto by the judgement of Augustine.  where he saith. That the testimonies of Cyprian and Agrippinus, are not to be alleged; as if it were not lawful otherwise to think; if they perhaps shall speak otherwise then the truth doth require. And in an other place he saith: That we ought not to believe the Catholic Doctors, if they shall avouch any thing contrary to the Canonical scriptures: and confesseth that in his own books many things may be found, which without rashness may justly be censured.   

Teacher's credit, a popish snare to entangle the ignorant, and a bait to draw them from searching of the scriptures.  
O Foxes full of all subtlety! for hence it is that you have forbidden the scriptures to be read in the vulgar tongue, and such as all Christians understand; 
The common faith of the Catholic.  and moreover have taught ●t to be sufficient to believe what your Church believeth, without inquisition what it is, and to credit your teachers without search of the scriptures: but provided a man have a good meaning, refer himself to the articles of your ●aith, kneel down before a crucifix, ●e apt to say an ave Maria, or a Pater ●oster; O then behold a merit by and ●y achieved, 
john. 4.24. 1. Cor. 16.13. Ephes 16. 1. Pet. 3.9.  and God's wrath appea●ed! Is this to serve God in spirit, and ●n truth? Is this which you teach the ●aith by which we stand, & which must ●eat back the fiery darts of the enemies? namely, to build upon the affiance of Bellarmine, Stapleton, Alabaster. Indeed if you could bring the matter to this pass, that in stead of, Sic dicit Dominus exercituum: sic dicit Dominus Deus vester Papa, that is, in stead of thus saith the Lord of hosts, thus saith your Lord God the Pope, and in stead of, os Domini locutum est, 
The next way to make all the world papistes.  the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it: Os Bellarminianum ve● Stapletonianun dixit, the mouth of Bellarmine or Stapleton hath said it: then is i● likely that all christendom shall be papists shortly; nay Atheists perhaps, for I am sure of all your teachers, the Pope mus● have the credit. And then what if his holiness be as devoutly minded as Paul th● third; 
Paulus. 3.  who lying on his death bed, said he should shortly understand whether there were a God in heaven or no, whereof he had always doubted: or as john 22. who taught that men's souls did sleep with their bodies: 
john. 22. john. 23. Atheists.  or john the twenty three, who taught that men died after the manner of beasts; for which heresy and many more flagitious deeds, he was deprived of his papal jurisdiction, in Concilio Constantiensi. What if the Pope were thus minded, and so would proclaim it: I say undoubtedly all the world, as noster magistellus Alabaster would bear us in hand, are bound to believe him. But we are taught to search the scriptures, 
1. john 5.  and to try the spirits, both by commandment and example; by the light whereof all this your darkness hath been and shall be discovered. 
john 4.    

Universality, a false mark of the true Church.  
THere are no greater deceivers in the world than they, who to discern the true Church (members whereof we ought to be, if we will be saved) from the false (from the which we ought to separate ourselves, if we will not be damned) stand wholly upon a multitude. For if in worldly affairs more fools are to be found then wise: how is it then, when the point concerneth supernatural goodness and wisdom? If the adversary will not credit Christ himself, speaking in plain terms of the broad way which leadeth to destruction, through which many pass; and the narrow gate that leadeth unto life which few do find; yet perpetual experience might better teach them, then to stand upon universality, as a mark of the true Church: when the deluge came upon the world, 
The greater number the worse.  whether was paucity or multitude a mark of the Church? what was Abraham's house in comparison of the Canaanites? what was Israel (to comprise hypocrites in the number) in respect of the whole world? what Church was the multitude a mark of, when Christ being in the earth in his person, the rulers rejected him, and the multitude cried away with him, away with him, crucify him, crucify him? what multitude was the number of sixscore persons, when the Christian Church began? To conclude, when these proud boasters of their great numbers, shall well have counted what they are in comparison of the rest of the world which acknowledge not the Messias; then may they prove, if they will not maliciously err, that the multitude is rather to be suspected, then reckoned a true note of the true Church.   

Antiquity of religion, a vain brag of Roman Catholics.  
MEn, time without mind, have accustomed to commend themselves under the name of antiquity, specially unto the ignorant, whose ●gnorance also they do abuse: and ●●us it cometh to pass by God's just ●●dgment, that they who will not suffer themselves to be taught, take many ●●mes that for latter, which was for●er, and for new which is old: such are ●●ey of whom Peter speaketh, who said ●f that time when a man spoke unto ●●ē concerning the coming of Christ 〈◊〉 judge the world, that all things were ●s they are now since the first fathers, ●hich thing is false, saith he: 
2. Pet. 3.4.  for they ●●ould know that the world was not ●reated in such sort as now it is, and ●hat God hath already executed an horrible judgement on the corruption ●hereof. 
jer. 44.17.  In like sort they reproached ●eremie, that he had marred all with his ●ew preaching: yea, and when they ●eare Christ himself, they say what kind of new doctrine is this, 
Mark. 1.17. john. 5.39.  but he bids them search the scriptures, for they speak of him. In like sort, say these great asses that will know nothing, what new doctrine is this you teach? where was the new Church of yours threescore years ago, before Luther ran out, and like a fugitive fled from his mother! behold their common language. We answer them that primum quodque verissimum. 
The protestants would that the prophets, Christ, and his Apostles should end all controversies.  And we will appeal unto Moses, David, the prophets, apostles, and ancient fathers to be tried for the antiquity of our religion, if they dare put the controversy by them to be ended. Look what form of service was in the Tabernacle and salomon's temple in their time; and whether it cometh nearer our service, or the Pope's portuis: they read Moses and the prophets, and expounded them, and do not we so? we have nothing touching the substance of religion, but we are able to prove it from the scriptures for antiquity; so cannot they their transubstantiation, purgatory, invocation of Saints, prayer for the dead, or any such pelting trash. But as for their Mass, it is like a beggar's cloak made of a thousand patches, 
The Mass like a beggar's cloak.  one patch being fivehundred, an other foure-hundred, an other three-hundred year old. The vine which the Lord transported out of Egypt, hath been a long time in the hand not of vineyarders, but destroyers, from whom it now being taken, restored and husbanded by the servants of the eternal, the enemies cry out with full mouth, that all is new which is against their corruption. We here then do protest, that in the times of our fathers there was a Church, that is to say, a number of the children of God, as it were secret and shut up (as may be proved by writings from age to age, that there were some who opposed themselves against those superstitions and idolatries) which by little and little, got the upper hand in the West Babylon, called three hundred years ago by one of their own Poets a temple of heresy, in the which, the Lord for this, suffered not that baptism should be utterly taken away and abolished.  
We protest further, that in our time in which it hath pleased God to display the banner of his truth, there doth sti● remain some of the elect buried, as 〈◊〉 were in the midst of this Babylon who in respect of the eternal counsel of God, appertain at this present vnt● the true Church; but by little and litt●● as it pleaseth God to draw them out 〈◊〉 this gulf, are actually made member of the same. Lastly we protest, that tho●● great personages which the Lord of h●● goodness of latter years hath raised up have not built us a new Church, as the falsely call it, but have gathered together the poor sheep, who were scattered amongst the Wolves.   

Unity falsely pretended a mark of th● Romish Church.  
The Lord jesus speaking of himself sayeth that he came not to sen● peace upon the earth, 
Math. 10.34.  but rather division; which division is the foiling o● Satan, the breach of his peace, and th● overthrow of his kingdom. 
1. Cor. 11.16.  Saint Pa●● saith, that heresies must be, but yet f●● the benefit of the believers. The disciples followed Christ, but yet the people even then, were divided into pharisees, Sadduces, Herodians, Essenians, Nazarites, and Samaritans. Therefore if the adversaries mean to find out a Church where there should be no division, nor diversity of opinion, let them say where it is: If they say it is theirs, it is a loud lie: what unity is that when the blackfriars are against the grayfryers, and the crouchet against them both, and all for their brows? what unity is it, when Canus is against Caietan, and Bellarmine against them both? what unity is it, 
Non tànta nobiscum quam secum est contentio.  when some amongst them for their sects are called Thomists and othersome Scotists, etc.  
Truth it is, the catholics would feign have unity amongst themselves, and therefore they, 
Deal of papists to maintain their unity.  if there be any thing that condemns any point of their Popish opinion in the books of their writers, they blot it quite out, as their dealing is to be seen in the writings of Ferus, one of their honestest.  
To be short, betwixt the jars of the Roman catholics and ours, this is a difference worthy your diligent observation, that ours are petty jars in matters of discipline, all of us holding the foundation, which is Christ crucified: Theirs are capital, concerning salvation itself; like unto Herod's and Pilat's, wherein both were against Christ; or like unto those of the Stoics and Epicures, wherein both were against Paul.   

Apostolical traditions made a masking weed for popish unwritten verities.  
The adversaries to gain some credit for their own speculations ring out as loud, as they can, this word of Apostolical traditions; whereo● they produce divers examples scattered here and there throughout Sain● Paul's epistles: as of the vail of women, of the order of speaking the word of God in the assembly, of collections gatherings for the poor and alms. To give direction for this point, it is on● thing to make laws to tie men's consciences to, as to say, this you must believe, and not believe, do, and not do upon pain of condemnation: and an other thing, to have respect unto ●hat which is requisite for use and practice, as well of the doctrine as of the discipline, which God the only lawgiver ●ath ordained requisite: I say according to time, place and persons, which ●eing subject to variety; yea to contrariety, sometimes the Lord of the new ●ouenant, (if I may say so) could make ●o certain nor perpetual ordinances, ●eeing this policy is accidental and not ●f the substance, either of doctrine or government of the Church. Wherefore ●t pleased him in respect of this, to give general commandment, that whatsoever he ordained should be executed orderly. Contrariwise, the Scribes and ●harisies not contented to sit in Moses ●haire, that is, to deliver the doctrine ●nd discipline taught by the ministery ●f Moses, would needs make laws for ●he consciences of men, and so add something of their own unto the service of God; whereupon the Lord had ●ather scandalise and offend them, then subject his disciples unto them, shew●ng that he accounted not the usage of ●uch traditions indifferent, but called them the abolishing of the divine ordinances, and a leaven to be taken heed of. I speak concerning the new covenant, because under the old, the Church being enclosed within the limits of one people, of one country, of one holy place, the Lord not only set down the doctrine of the service and government of the Church as touching the substance, but particularized the ordinances according to persons, times, and places, inviolately to be observed, without adding to, or clipping from; & le● this suffice concerning the sovereignty of him who hath written in his thighs the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords  
All which if it be true, as it cannot b● denied, than those Apostolical traditions, and goodly unwritten verities which the new upstart Moter Mouns●● Alabaster, or any other birds of his feather, shall whisper into the ears of the●● followers, are but so many sacrilegious degradations from the royal or prophetical state of our Saviour Christ, an● a tyrannical usurpation over the portion and heritage of the Lord (serving th● head of the Church, as Sampsons' companions served him) against the express commission delivered unto the Apostles, against the express example of Saint Paul: and therefore their new ordinances, unwritten verities, Apostolical traditions, in am of being obeyed, are to be held accursed, and had in execration, by the ordinances of God. Deut. 18.20. Galath. 18. though they should be taught by the Angels of heaven themselves. 
Deut. 18.20. Gal. 1.8.   
Hitherto for the preserving of the unlearned sort from the pestilent persuasions of crafty companions, as creep ●nto men's houses, and captivate their consciences, whom I beseech by the care of their own salvation, to beware of these Foxes and workmen so deceitful.  
Although the adversaries would bear us in hand that the nail they do drive at, is to bring men to their Catholic religion; yet experience hath ●aught us, that the principal mark that ●hey aim at, 
The level of popish devices.  is to move them to treason or rebellion, crimes so capital in themselves, and execrable, as barbarous ●eeds must they be, that live to do them them: kingdom, prince, and people, lamentably miserable that live to suffer them. And hereupon it comes to pass, that in stead of disputation to prove their faith, they bring us dispensations to withdraw from loyalty; and in am of reasons to confirm their religion, they bring us treasons to entrap the Realm, Prince, and Nobles: whereof they have been already justly convicted, though feign they would be canonised in the popish Calendar as martyrs, & in the array of Euangelick & Apostolic reformers.  
But howsoever they would feign cover disobedience, under the cloak of freedom of conscience; treason, under the colour of religion; and rebellion, under the shadow of a Catholic profession; yet magnified be thy name, O God our king, and protector, who hast allotted them success answerable to their sinister meaning, taken them in the pit that they had digged for others, and hanged them as Haman upon the gallows, whereupon they thought to have hanged Mordecay.  

The Fox is ravenous and greedy.  Another property of the Fox is, that he is ravenous and greedy on his prey: even so these unsatiable sea-gulfs under pretence of long prayer, have devoured widows houses, 
The Pope like The Philistians Dagon.  and gotten to themselves the goods of this world, through counterfeit merchandise. The Philistians Dagon was said to be like a man in the upper parts, but from the ●auell downward, like a fish: That Dagon of Rome is neither flesh, nor fish, but as he flesheth himself in bathing ●n the blood of innocent martyrs; so ●he maketh all fish that comes to net, by fashioning religion as may best serve for the enriching of his coffers. And ●herefore it was wittily answered of an Abbot, who being asked, Papa cuius par●is orationis: said that he was participij par●is, and why think you? 
What part of speech the Pope is.  quia partem ca●it à clero, partem à seculari, partem ab vtro●ue, that is, this word Pope is a participle, that is, of the quality of those that ●ut forth their hands on both sides the ●ish, for he pills the spiritualty and polbeth the temporalty, & without mean ●nd measure partstakes on both sides, ●o the great woe of the world. The ex●erience of this is sufficiently tried by ●he taxes and valuing of benefices, whereout the old Fox must have his share. To let slip many of the scraps, which he so carefully gathereth under the table of the beneficed like a dog, only the first fruits, which the Prelates, Bishops, Abbots, & other benefice buyers have allowed the Pope, have amounted in France year by year (as it is reported) but to ten times an hundred thousand crowns: and then ponder what a monstrous mass of money all other countries, under his usurped tyranny, do bring in; for you must think they are served with the like sauce. It is well known how the treasure of this Realm was transported, when the ambitious Prelate Cardinal Woolsey conveyed two hundred and forty thousand pounds sterling out of the king's Exchequer at one time, for the relieving of Pope Clement, whom the Duke of Bourbon, after the sacking of Rome, drew forth of the Castle of Saint Angelo, & detained him prisoner in the emperors army. What should 〈◊〉 speak of the revenues that are paid him, every year of the strumpets of Rome, amounting (for each paid a ducat) above forty thousand ducats? What should I speak of that which is brought him in the chamber of penance, where ●emission of sins is rated at reasonable reckoning? What should I speak of his daily dispensations granted for ●he grossest sins, such mercandize is daily thirst to the Romish pilate's and ghostly fathers? 
But especially the polluters of the name of jesus.  And hereby it is come ●o pass that the old grey Fox is become the Lord of the whole earth, and ●et not contented, daily coineth new ●eates out of Satan's forge, whereby to ●ncrease his pomp and pride. His Car●inals, Bishops, & Abbots, are become Princes and Lords of whole countries; ●is monks, Friars, and Massing priests, ●hat with begging, what with singing ●aue raked no small heaps together. What, call you this Peter's successor? O ●uantum mutatus ab illo! I will never believe that Peter's chair can contain so monstrous a monster. Peter forsook ●he world and followed Christ, the Pope ●ath renounced Christ and followed ●he world. Peter had neither gold nor silver, but he had gifts and graces; the Pope hath neither gifts nor graces; but he hath so much silver as he can find in his heart to shoe his concubines palf-freies therewith. Peter would not suffer captain Cornelius to crouch unto him: the Pope is in his ruff, rides on cockhorse, is carried on men's shoulders, treads on Emperor's necks, keeps a quoil like the Devil in every kingdom of the world: so that now the Devil and the Pope are both one, and agree as well as two heads in one hood. The devil promised Christ all the world if he would fall down and worship him; the Pope promiseth heaven and earth to those that will fall down and adore him.  

Cruelty another property of the Fox.  Another property of the Fox is cruelty, wherein the two-legged Foxes do far exceed the other, and of that Christendom once hath had most lamentable experience: for this is undeniable, that as popery and subtlety go hand in hand, whilst popery is kept under; so popery and cruelty are mates unseparable, if once popery get the upper hand. Here my loving countrymen, though former trial hath given you good cause not to trust an old Fox; yet by gleaning a few ears out of a full sheaf, it shall not be bootless to give you a warning by others. Amongst the rest as not the least notorious, Boniface the eight may be remembered, who reigned in the time of the emperors Adolphus and Albertus, 
Boniface 8. bears the bell for barbarous cruelty.  this proverb in those days passing of him, intravit ut vulpes, regnavit ut lo, mortuus est ut canis, that is, he entered as a Fox, reigned as a Lion, and died like a dog. It came to pass on a time in the city of Genoa, that he had in hand the Archbishop Procherus upon the day commonly called ashwednesdaie, who being inflamed against him maliciously, because he took part with the Gibellines, which assisting the just title of the imperial majesty, withstood the swelling insolency of the popedom, did use him with such cruel courtesy, as followeth: that whereas he used these words to other, memento homo quod cinises & in cinerem reverteris; that is, remember man that thou art ashes, and into ashes thou shalt return, he casting ashes into his face, thundered out this terrible threatening, memento homo quod Gibellinus es, & cum Gibellinis in terram reverteris: that is, remember fellow that thou art a Gibelline, and with the Gibellines thou shalt to the pot. Deus bone, tantaene animis caelestibus irae? is it even so sirs? can Pope holy hearts harbour such cruel hate? then Lord deliver us from the cruelty of two-legged Foxes. If you read john Carion in his Chronicle, and other writers, you shall find how lovingly Pope Alexander the third, used the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, 
Alexender 3. his cruelty against the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.  who after he had anathematized him with the horrible curse of Simei, and thundered his rattling excommunication against him, took him in the end within the town of Venice, trodden upon his neck even with his feet, who for the establishing of his authority, did openly pronounce before the people this saying in the Psalm, Super aspidem & basiliscum equitabis, & calcabis leonem & draconem, that is, thou shalt ride upon the Asp, and the Basilisk, the Lion and the Dragon shalt thou tread upon. Likewise was Franciscus Dandalus Duke of Venice, excommunicated and banished by Pope Clement the fift, 
Clement 5. his cruelty against Franciscus Dandalus duke of Venice.  and enjoined to a certain penance, which was that he should go ●long the Pope's palace upon his knees, with a collar about his neck ●ike a dog. Who would think they ●ould confirm this rough cruelty, by ●laine scripture? but yet they can, after ●he exposition of the Church of Rome: ●or wots you what is written in the ●ight psalm? thou hast put all things ●nder his feet, sheep and oxen, 
A pretty Romish commentary.  yea ●ll the beasts of the field, that is, Christians, jews, Turks, and Tartarians; ●he fowls of the air, that is, the souls ●nd Saints departed; and the fishes in ●he sea, that is, the souls that are in purgatory. And this is it, which Cardinal Poole being the Pope's lieutenant at the council of Trent, did fortify by the words of Christ, that he would make Peter a fisher of men, which after the sense of the Church of Rome, is to be understood thus: that he would drive all Emperors, Princes, and Potentates into the Pope's net to broil them, or fry them, even as his holiness should think best for his own diet. The Lord deliver England from such fishing, least after fishing, come frying; and the Foxes bring faggots.  
But what should I speak of foreign Princes? how lycenciously & presumptuously hath he dared to control the mighty Princes of England, infringing their liberties, and encroaching upon their prerogatives, wherein if he were at any time withstood, he straightway cast about to depose them? As King john was most miserably vexed by Innocent the third, 
King john vexed by Innocent third.  and forced at last to resignethe crown with all his title of sovereignty both in England and Ireland. 
Henry 2. suspended from his crown.  As Henry the second was suspended from his crown, and for the space of four days went barefoot to Thomas Beckets' Tomb, dying the rough stones with his blood. What a solemn oration made Cardinal Poole, being sent by the Pope to Charles the Emperor setting forward against the Turk? whose purpose was to persuade the Emperor to turn his prepared power from invading the Turk, and to bend it against King Henry the eight, worse than any Turk, as he said. What blustering storms of rebellion hath that late council of Trent blown up in christendom that cannot yet be appeased? 
Council of Trent of the bellows of rebellion.  And all because the old Fox ●ath persuaded his young cubbes that ●hey may lawfully devour the lambs, ●hat is, the Pope hath powered an opinion into the papists, that if he dispense with them, 
The harmony of Popish doctrines and dealings.  they may lawfully break promise's. And herein their doctrines ●nd dealings jar not one jot, for what ●oe they teach? that the Pope hath the disposition of the crowns of christian princes, that he hath the right of de●iding to whom any kingdom belongeth, that he hath lawful power to give kingdoms to such as can conquer and get them, that he hath authority to ●ischarge Christian subjects from their dutiful loyalty to their lawful princes, that he hath power to give leave, ●ea blessing, reward, immortality and eternal felicity to such rakehells and ●ebels, as attempt the tearing of the ●rowne from the Prince's head. And what is the practice of our papists? they savour rebellion, they join in conspiracy with strangers to convey the crown to a foreigner, they agree with the enemy in faction, to offer our country to a pray.  
I cannot more fitly compare them, then to those kind of Scorpions and little Serpents which Pliny and Aristotle mentioned to be in Mesopotamia, which never hurt or harm strangers, but deadly sting the natural inhabitants: nay, of worse condition they are than the serpents, for they have venom to hurt others, but not themselves; bu● these, to hurt their princes, their noble● and people, are content to hazard their own states. far more bewitched thei● that foolish fellow, who was well contented to be deprived of one of his own eyes, so that conditionally he might deprive his companion of both. It seemeth to me, that he which framed the picture of Fury as followeth, meant to describe these desperate dealings; who is painted with a sword in his hand for his greedy desire of revenge, and desperately rusheth upon a javeline, murdering himself whilst he seeketh the spoil of another.  
Countrymen degenerous (if not so far alienated from loyalty, you are unworthy of the name of countrymen) what drunkenness hath covered your spirits, that you should woo the Spaniard to work your woes, 
No trusting to a Spaniards courtesy.  cruelly wish your own evil, by opening your gates ●o strangers, & prostrating your wealths ●o the courtesy of him who hath vowed your overthrows? It is an old saying, that he blameth Neptune without cause, who having once made shipwreck, will ●enture to the sea the second time: you have had trial of the Spaniards disposition even in Queen Mary's days, his courting terms were but painted colour's to deceive your simplicities; when he spoke most fair, he meant most false●y, and when Spain began to show treacherous, England began to seem suspicious, whereupon in happy time ●hey parted. If these be forgotten, take notice by your neighbour nations, and ●ook to your own house when thy neighbour's is on fire. What should I here re●ort out of histories, their cruelty laid upon the Indians, which as they surmount all credit, 
Beware by others harms.  so am I not furnished with words effectual to display them, sometimes raging amongst themselves, who with one thrust of a sword should braveliest paunch an Indian, sometimes roasting them alive with soft fires, sometimes murdering them with mankind mastiffs, sometimes a shambles of Indian man's flesh, and causing them to eat one another.  
Amongst the rest, there is a strange story of an Indian Lord, flying from the I'll Hispaniola into the I'll Cuba, who was by the Spaniards so hotly pursued, 
An holy hypocrite.  that at the last he was apprehended and tied to a stake to be burned, where a devout fransciscan Friar began to inform him in his catholic religion, telling the Indian noble man, that if he did believe those things he taught him, he should go to heaven presently, and enjoy everlasting happiness; else no way but to hell to endure perpetual torments. The Indian Lord making a pause at the matter, asked him whether the Spaniards went when they died to heaven (quoth the Friar) because they die in the catholic faith. The noble man hearing him say so, answered forthwith, that he would not go to heaven, nor have any fellowship with s● bloody a nation.  
Mournful Mexico for the desolation of thy nobles in whom thy joy and glory did chiefly consist, thou hast warned succeeding posterity to beware of trusting Spanish courtesy. Mo●enzuma King of Mexico, his thousand presents were not able to keep him from Giues and wrongful imprisonment. These examples teach you, that ●f you let this cruel Tyrant but to tread ●pon the shore, his desire will not be satisfied until he have footing with●n your walls, and if once he tread within your walls, he will harbour in ●our houses, and have his hands in your treasuries; nay, though you would give ●im as many presents as Motenzuma, ●hey should not be able to redeem ●our feet from the Gives or necks from ●●e Rope. 
A vain reply.  But some man will answer ●●e, that these were heathenish creatures, without God in this world; but they ●re catholics, of the Spanish faith and profession. I confess indeed that the ●panyards greatly pretend the upholding of the catholic faith, but their ●eeds declare that they wholly intend ●e increase of their private commodity. Their large proffers are but Sodoms' fruit, 
Spanish proffers like Sodoms' fruit.  for they although goodly in show, yet being handled they fall to ashes: these beautiful in outward appearance, touched, turn to poison, to the overthrow of them that credit them. For look a little into the Low countries, hath their catholic religion freed them from Spanish invasion? Are not many of them willing to entertain any religion, and to forsake all to please the King of Spain? and are they for all this at better peace?  
Their long and multiplied grievances may teach you (unless utterly undocible) that the catholic religion is but a Spanish masking weed, to obtain his purpose; and that howsoever he promiseth you, to set the crown upon a Popish head; yet his captains, & soldiers shall cast lots for your lives, his gentry and nobles for your livings, and you as many as should live, should be slaves & drudges, evermore suspected, and disinherited, from which servitude never to be delivered, unless your wives should conspire. Lastly, if other nations have so felt these furies, though scarce thought to have done him any wrong, what treacheries, what cruelties, 
Spanish hearts most bitter against English men.  what villainies must we needs look for, to be performed unto us of him, whose malice is multiplied according to the number of so many supposed received harms, and foul dishonours. Then countrymen Italionated, or Englishmen Spanyardized, let me thus much persuade you, that the benefit of your treason, (if unhappily success should answer your sinister meanings) (which God forbidden) is that your country should be desolate, yourselves feared or suspected, and the garland of your peace shall adorn the heads of your deadly foes; your stately houses shall harbour stinging serpents, a thing lamentable, but yet a just reward of traitors.    

CHAPTER. 4.  
An oration from old Rainard to his jesuitical cubbes, and extravagant Foxe-priests, wherein his experienced wiliness directeth them from curious contemplation to treacherous practices.  
Dear sons, before I take my leave and last farewell, I cannot choose but revive the remembrance of my ancient love, not that by recounting my abundant favours which from time to time you have tasted, I mean upbraid, but rather to recomfort myself, whose love towards you, by nature or forwardness to fit you to further service, is so well recompensed with diligence, to execute what I shall give you in charge. You know sons, how I have erected seminaries, and to what end, (which mine enemies do call bad conventicles, no better than cockatrices to hatch treason) in these I never thought any cost too dear, 
Not causelessly.  whereby either to make your bodies fit for travail, or to help your nature's inclination with fallacious art, for the accomplishment of our purpose. And now my sons, it is high time that you fall from contemplation to practise, which is to transform religious superstition, into policy; 
Popish practic divinity.  and policy into treason, wherein let none of you scorn your old father's direction; for though your younger years be riper in art, yet my experience may teach you in treasons to be acted. English you are, and to England must I send you, whose Albion cliffs seem to me a far off like rocks of pure Diamond, where some right dearly love me your old father, 
Too many.  and from the depth of their entire affection, shall embrace you my dearest children. 
And more shall, the more thou art discovered.  But the greatest part pursue me with deadly hate, terming me no better than a bloudsucking Cannibal, a robber of Churches, 
Fit titles for thy Foxe-ship.  a patron of heresies, a father of falsehood, the broacher of quarrels, the head master of mutinies, the seede-man of sedition, the infringer of liberties, the controller of Princes, the enemy of Christ, the monster and astonishment of nature, enchayning Christian souls in miserable thraldom, and more than Egyptian servitude.  
But the time may come when all this may be repaid, the hope whereof is unto me, as it were a restorative, to revive my faint and languishing spirits, which hope doth depend chief upon your cunning, 
Two reviving cordials for the old Fox his heart.  in compassing; and cunning consisteth in this which followeth: first, that you work upon such as are fit to be added to our catholic faction; and secondly in the manner of the performance. Those that are the likeliest to be fitted to this frame, that is, to lend an hand when opportunity strikes alarm, (I speak not sons of those who already are devout catholics, earnestly expect, and heartily pray for success of our cause, 
Who are likeliest to be framed to popish practices. ) either are male contents, whom envy or inconstancy may make desirous of a change; or lose professors, proculstants, who have lent their love to voluptuous delights or prodigalities, children, whom extreme want hath made desperately minded; or wanton wanderers, whom long travail hath deprived of natural affection.  
And thus began Mahomet to strengthen his state, 
The Lion and the Fox jump in the manner of strengthening and enlarging their kingdoms.  by joining himself with the angry soldiers of Heraclius, stirring up their minds against the Emperor, and encouraging them in their defection: whereupon in process of time it came to pass, that although many could not abide him for the baseness of his birth, 
Mahomet his beginning.  and odiousness of his former life; yet growing from a thief to a seditious soldier, and from a seditious soldier, to be a captain of a rebellious host; his mahometical force began to subdue mighty people. Now as you must strike with Mahomet whilst the Iron is hot, and work those with diligence, whose inclination you find pliable; so must your wisdom appear in the manner of this work, wherein I would have you to propound to yourselves, 
The old Fox sendeth his cubbes to school to the Lion.  the deceitfulness of that damned wretch before named: I would not for all this world it were known my sons, you followed so base a pattern of a cozening knave, for an example of Imitation. This Mahomet not only to gratify his companions, but also the more easily to allure all nations, received all religions, the pertinacy of Arrius, the error of Nestorius, 
The religion of Mahomet.  the vain invention of the Thalmudists: therefore from the jews he received circumcision, from the christians sundry washings as it were Baptism, & with Sergius, denied Christ his divinity.  
Secondly, to enlarge his kingdom, he made such laws as were fit to win, 
The manner how Mahomet enlarged his kingdom.  and allure the vilest, as to his Arabians, base wretches accustomed to live upon the spoil, he alloweth theft, and setteth a law of revengement: Hurt him, which hurt you, he that killeth his enemy, or is killed by him, entereth into Paradise: he permits having of many wives, divorcement for trifling causes, promiseth Paradise to them that give liberally, and fight for his sake.  
Thirdly, mistrusting his fall, with many bulwarks hath he fenced his law, 
Three bulwarks of laws mahometane.  that no way be open to subvert it. First, by commanding to kill them which speak against the Alcoran. Secondly, by forbidding men to confer with a contrary sect: And thirdly, by prohibiting credit to be given to any of a contrary religion. Now sirs, why should not we prevail as well as this deceiver, whom for example I have mentioned to you my children? 
Mahomet an example of imitation to the Pope.  have we not as wany motives, as plausible Rhetoricians to perwade? for first as he; to allure all nations received all religions, so I your old father, have found out such a religion as is compounded of all sorts, that all might be pleased: and therefore our enemies have called it the truss and budget of heresies. Secondly, 
Why mans corrupted nature doth so easily incline to popery.  our doctrines are as mighty to prevail as ever were the laws of Mahomet. If their old men be covetous, their young men voluptuous, their nobles ambitious, and the common sort ceremonious, 
The Catholics faith fit for a covetous heart.  we have such allurements as are able to win them. To the rich covetousness with craft and cruelty, & the rest of her factors: we have coined a purgatory the fire of our gain. 
For the voluptuous. For dissolute and idle to no-things.  To feed the voluptuous, our religion admits simple fornication, and our practice hath erected a stews. To draw on the riotous, the dissolute & idle do-nothings: we have ordained many odd holy days, half holy days, at Rogation to carry banners, after Pentecost to go about with Corpus Christi play, to ring at All hallows, etc.  

For such as would not see their sins.  To keep men from the sight of their sins, we have taught them to mince it, and that the first motions are no sins, unless they go with consent, that some are venial, & need but an asperges of holy water, or a bishop's blessing. To win ambitious heads that feign would be aloft, 
For aspiring heads.  you must teach that my power is to give kingdoms to such as can conquer them, to free subjects from loyalty, and to give immortality to such as can pluck the crown from the prince's head.  

For wilfully ignorant.  If the people will know nothing, to fit their humours, we teach that Ignorance is the mother of devotion, that Images are books for lay men, that knowledge of the scriptures makes heretics, & that it is sufficient for them, that their faith be folded up in our Romish Church belief, without understanding or knowing what it is.  
Lastly, lest simplicity either in church-service, 
Outward painted service of the popish Church mere policy to steal men's hearts.  or administration of sacraments should breed contempt, we have added many petite matters to make them more-commendable, and our followers more devout: as in our Churches, gilded Images, altars, super-altars, candlesticks and such like: In our massings and Church service, golden garments, costly colours, strange gestures. Trash, warbling, numbering of beads, etc. in our priests, square caps, bald crowns, great hoods; in our orders, crossing, anointing, shaving, forswearing wedlock, etc. In our baptism, washing of hands, salting, spatling, exorcizing, crossing. In receiving, to come with beards new shaven, & an imagination of a body where none is.  
And lastly, 
Four bulwarks of papism.  lest this our juggling should be espied, we have made as strong fences for papism, as ever did that wicked beast for Mahometisme: for first, we have buried the scriptures, lest, by that light, our darkness should be discovered.  
Secondly, church-service we have thrust upon silly people in a strange language: Sons you know well why for Simon Magus was never detected before Christ was preached in Samaria.  
Thirdly, we have forbidden our followers to confer with the Hugenotes, for they are always striking at us with the sceptre of the word, and still cry, to the law and the testimony, etc.  
Fourthly, we have an argument drawn, à fasciculis, which we command to be form in a new mood and figure against such as speak against our traditions. 
Vain hope, uncertain promises. Absalon a courtlike politic a pattern for popish priests.  And what can we do more, yea what doth there else remain, but that you do all diligence, feeding your favourites with strong hope and large promises, standing at the court gates with Absalon, the lively image of courtly politics, seeming to pity the people's estate, when his ambitious humour did greedily aspire after his father's kingdom: Even so you my sons, tell them that their religion is good, and their cause is good, & how I your father & theirs do pity them; and that if I had the disposition of the crown, plenty should follow the sceptre, and peace should follow plenty; there should be no distrust of secret treason, nor fear of foreign invasion. But above all, see that you nourish in them a strong persuasion of Spanish love, and an earnest desire of Indian gold, that even as Philip made the Athenians believe, that he pretended enmity against the Plotenses, and Olynthians, when he meant to ride upon the back of all Grecia: so must you make them believe, that the purpose of the Spaniard, 
Believe them that list.  is only to reform religion, and to pass no further. And thus there being a conjunction of English plots, with Spanish practice, how should we but prevail, except sons, with my elder brother Baalam, we have laboured to curse where the Lord never cursed, and detested where the Lord never detested: and I your old father be constrained in the end, to roar with julian the Apostata, saying, vicisti Galilaee vicisti. I say no more unto you, but walk closely, and keep yourselves in tenebris: for your predecessors, I know not whether to ascribe it to angry stars, the influence of the heavens, neglect of opportunity, want of secrecy, by too great security have had so sinister success, that in stead of supplanting a kingdom, they have broken their necks at Tyburn, and in stead of reconciling souls to our Romish faction, 
Not so, but just reward of treason.  their heads have been united to an halter: This cruelty have they sustained for my sake, whom therefore I have crowned with martyrdom, as your elder brother Campion & the rest, the remembrance of whom (in whose endeavours I have heretofore placed my hope, of effecting that whereunto I now employ yourselves) doth but increase my sorrow and grief.   

CHAPTER. 5.  
Certain semblances betwixt the Fox, and the Lion, Antichrist, and Mahomet, in broaching their damnable doctrines, and levying nations to their laws.  
FOr as much as the covert enemies against the Church, do most of all deceive simple people, by shrouding their deformities under the mantle of devotion, I have thought it pertinent to set down these semblances following, betwixt the Pope & Mahomet, the which thoroughly pondered of every Christian man, are sufficient to bring him to a full detestation of the Romish religion.  
This Mahomet was an Arabian soldier, and took wages of the Emperor Heraclius, to serve him in his wars. In a mutiny he was chosen to be a commander of a rebellious host, so base a vassal was he, that the people of Mecha who worship him at this day, condemned him to death for his murders and robberies. 
Mahomet's confession of himself.  Yea he confesseth himself what he was, namely an Idolater, an adulterer, given to lechery, subject to women, in such manner as it is a shame to report. This is that prophet without prophesying, 
The first semblance in their manners.  that lawmaker without miracles, that irreligious former of religion, that man without God, which hath by his ignorance choked the truth, and by his violence enforced falsehood. That many of the Popes have been as desperate and damnable varlets as ever was Mahomet, 
Some Popes as very varlets as ever was Mahomet.  the legends written by their own secretaries do bear witness. Amongst whom, that monster Boniface the eight carrieth the bell: of whom themselves give testimony, that he entered like a Fox, ruled like a Lion, and died like a dog. Whosoever listeth to rake in the dounghil of Popes, shall find some of them to be stark Atheists, as Paul the third, some blasphemers and sodomitical knaves as julius the third, some whoremasters as john the 12. who abused his father's concubines, some necromancers as Sylvester, who was made Pope, auxilio diaboli, by the aid of the devil. Yea so holy are these unerring fathers, that one being demanded, why in their suffrages they prayed not for Cardinals and Bishops? that, saith he, is to be understood, ubi oramus pro schismaticis & haereticis, where we pray for schismatics and heretics.  
The means whereby Mahomet deceived the world, were as followeth. This new Captain many could not abide; his manners were so monstrous: beside, he was vexed with the falling sickness; therefore to redeem himself from this contempt, pretended a divinity in his doings, feigning himself to confer with God, and so to be ravished out of himself: and that he was no more a prince elected through favour of soldiers, but a messenger of the Almighty. Having laid this foundation politicly, he beginneth to make a minglemangle of all religions: For to allure the jews, he exalted Moses, and retained circumcision; not to estrange the Christians, he confessed Christ to be the spirit, word and power of God; to please the Nestorians, he said that Christ was not very God, nor the son of God, but that he had indeed the soul of God.  
The Fox layeth a foundation for his absurdities and blasphemies, 
The second semblance in the ground plot of enlarging their kingdoms.  much like that of the Lion: for as Mahomet coosened the world, in making it believe that he entered communication with God, when he fell into his fit of the falling sickness: so the Pope whilst he maketh thousands believe that he is God's vicar, as the other made his believe that he was, and is God's messenger, and that he cannot err in giving sentence, though he may slip as a private person, poisoneth the Church with pestilent opinions, and draweth whole cartlodes of souls after him into hell fire. The groundwork once laid, that the Pope cannot err: then like to Mahomet beginneth he to make an hodge-podge of heresies, as to worship Christ and other saints, with the Carpocratians; to worship the virgin Marie, with the Collyridians; to paint God like an old man, with the Anthropomorphits; to hold free-will, and a possibility to fulfil the commandments, with the Pelagians; to restrain meats to days and times, with the montanists, and Manichees; to condemn marriage with the Tatians and Cataphrygians; and in many pilgrimages, prayer to the dead, justification by works, to show himself a right Mahometan.  
The third semblance is in the likelihood of their blasphemies against Christ, 
The third semblance in broaching their blasphemies.  for Mahomet fearing I say, lest that he should alienate the Christians, confessed Christ to be the spirit, word and power of God, but not very God, nor the son of God, and himself to be the servant of Christ: but yet so, that in the end he preferreth himself before him, and maketh himself the last refuge, for mankind to fly unto.  
The Pope denieth not the person of the great son of God, for than should he not be Antichrist; but yet if you mark well how he degradeth him of his dignities, you shall see that Christ is much alike beholden to them both, and that every one may understand what his flatterers give him, and what he challengeth. Let us hear what is written. Christopher Marcellus said to the Pope, and it pleased him well, Tues alter Deus in terris: Thou art an other god upon earth. Again, it is written of him, Dominus Deus noster Papa, Our Lord God the Pope. In the proheme of the Clementines fol. 3. Papa, id est, admirabilis, nec Deus nec homo, quasi neuter es inter utrumque. The Pope is so named, because he is wonderful, thou art neither God nor man, but as it were a neuter betwixt both. Again, Excepto peccato omnia potest quae Deus, except sin he can do all that God can do. He can make holy that which is unholy, pardon sins, justify the wicked, dispense against the old and new Testament. Again, Omnis potestas data est mihi in terra: All power is given to me in earth. Now I report me to all them, whose judgement is not quite perverted, whether Mahomet ever did or could speak more blasphemously against the honour of God or jesus Christ, than these devilish Doctors.  
But we must remember here that as Mahomet having renounced the person of the son of God, yet calleth himself his servant: So the Pope claiming supreme jurisdiction in all causes, and throughout all countries, yet vaileth bonnet, and stoopeth his style, calling himself servum servorum Dei. Of whose shameless hypocrisy or dissembled humility, this Distich hath been framed worthy remembrance, 

Roma tibi quondam suberant Domini Dominorum:  
servorum servi hunc tibi sunt Domini.   

Time was o Rome when Lord of Lords,  
Did yield thee fealtee:  
Time's past and servants servants now  
Thy Lords, and masters be.  
The fourth semblance is in their laws.    
For Mahomet in his Alcoran commandeth his followers to kill the infidel, 
The fourth semblance in the likelihood of their laws.  to avenge themselves, and to take no wrong; and telleth them that whosoever killeth his enemy, shall have the greater share in paradise: he permitteth the having of many wives, & divorcement for trifling causes: by which damnable ways he hath enlarged his kingdom by his successors, and partly by fraud, partly by force hath brought a great part of the world under his tyrannical subjection.  
Now see whether the Fox and the Lion agree not as well as two heads under one hood. For as Mahomet commands to kill, and promiseth paradise to them that kill most; so the Pope gives authority and power to kill the true Christians, and promiseth immortality to them that murder their natural princes.  
Secondly, as Mahomet commandeth his to avenge themselves: so the Pope's doctrine is not far short of it, when he teacheth it to be the counsel of Christ not his commandment, to love our enemies.  
Thirdly, as that damned wretch alloweth the having of many wives, and divorcement for trifling causes: so the Pope although he admit not Polygamy, yet simple fornication with him is no deadly sin. He erecteth stews and brothel houses: yea the sin of Sodom hath been allowed by some of these maiden fathers, 
joan. Ravisius Textor in his book called officina.  and gelded bishops, as by Sixtus the fourth, who also gave licence to all the generation of the Cardinal of Saint Lucy, (who was his huntsman) to use this sodomitical filthiness in the three hot months of the year, namely, june, july, and August. What should I tell you, that johannes de Casa an Arch-prelate, and grand-captain, writ a book in commendation of it? 
Of Catholic  O shameless harlot to magnify that in writing, the only thought whereof, aught to wound the heart with horror!  
Thirdly, as Mahomet permitted divorcement for trifling causes: so is it a clear case that the Pope in this point hath also contradicted the doctrine of Christ.  
Lastly, as he promiseth paradise to the vilest creatures; so the Pope granteth his pardons de paenitentijs iniungendis, that is, to a man before he sin; and what is this but with Mahomet to open heaven to the basest villains in the world?  
The which untolerable beastliness of them, God hath raised up divers of their own country to display.  
Venalia nobis  
Templa, altaria, sacra, Coronae,  
Ignes, thura, preces, coelum est venale, Deusque.  
Thus englished: 
Wares of all sort,  
are here to be sold,  
Buy what you will  
for money down told;  
Churches, priests, offerings,  
altars, and crown,  
We pass for quick sale,  
all cities and towns,  
Fire, frankincense,  
dirges and pardons from pain,  
Hell, Heaven, God,  
the Devil, we give all for gain.  
Fontana di dolore albergo d'ira,  
Schola d'errori ètempio d'heresia.   
That is to say.  
A gulf of grief,  
a rock of furious rage,  
And take it in brief,  
a school or common cage  
Of errors most strange,  
fair Rome to look upon.  
But mark well the change  
now beastly Babylon.  
O dungeon most deep  
of fraud, deceit and guile.  
O cage fit to keep  
hot hate and vengeance vile.  
Where vices prevail,  
and virtue lies stark dead;  
Where sin with full sail,  
all states hath long misled.  
O whirlpool of hell,  
o foul and stinking jakes!  
Such as in thee dwell,  
all goodness quite forsakes.  
A rare and strange world wonder  
thou wilt of all be thought,  
If Satan keep thee under,  
and Christ set thee at nought.  
O nest of deulish treason,  
from whence all vices issue!  
O enemy to reason,  
and fatal foe to virtue!  
O drudge to drowsy drunkenness,  
and surfeiting excess!  
O shroud of shifters shameless,  
as whores and such like guess.  
I will knit it up with this pretty Pasquil.  Roma quid est? amor est. Qualis? praeposterus. unde hoc? Roma mares, noli dicere, plura scio. 
The first semblance is in cloaking their falsehood, 
The first semblance in cunning cloaking of their knaveries.  for Mahomet notwithstanding his impiety, and blasphemies, saith that his doctrine is answerable to the old and new testament; but yet so, that no man examine his laws upon pain of death: as if one paying money, should charge the receiver never to look upon it in the daylight; and I beseech you, who would not suspect such pay? even so dealeth the Pope, for they count it heresy for the vulgar people, to read the scriptures in a known language: and as for them unto whom they must refer themselves, they have scarce seen the coverings of the books, for the greatest part of them. In deed there be some wallet brethren, who are still chattering, until their chaps be made up: but as for the scriptures, they either are buried, or else yelled, howled, censed, adored, clouted, and patched up in a strange language, and upon some solemn feast day, sophisticated; provided that their laity, neither suspect, nor sifit them, but that they have a good meaning, and refer themselves to their articles.  
The sixth semblance is in the likelihood of their bulwarks, for the fence of their kingdoms. Mahomet commands first, 
The sixth semblance in making like fences for their falsehood.  to kill them which speak against his Alcoran. Secondly, he forbiddeth to confer with a contrary sect. Thirdly, that no credit be given to any of a contrary religion. In like sort the Pope murders them that contradict his own constitutions. Secondly, he forbids his catholics to confer with the protestants. Thirdly, he hath buried the scriptures, lest their light should discover his darkness: and lest the common people should espy his juggling, he commands them not to meddle with the word of God. There needeth no more to make men grow suspicious of the popish religion, than these things well weighed.   

CHAPTER. 6.  
Of sundry sorts of Foxes that are chief troublesome to the Church of England.  
FOr the better avoiding of these enemies so pestilent and pernicious, it is further to be considered, that sundry sorts of them are crept into the Church, to supplant and undermine it: for some are heretics, either denying the person of the great son of God, or degrading him from his offices, and infecting his word with a million of errors, of whom hath been entreated before, and more shall be spoken hereafter. Others are schismatics, who without cause departed away from the communion of the Church: others are hypocrites, or counterfeit christians, reform in name, but more than deformed indeed, who by their scandalous manners, and wicked examples, waste and destroy the vines, especially the young ones. Which sort of Foxes are otherwise called scabbed sheep, and are compared to leaven which soureth the whole lump, of which the Apostle giveth us a rule, in the person of the incestuous sinner, that we should not company together: If any that is called a brother be a fornicator, 
1 Cor. 5.11. Heretical Fox's recusant papists.  or covetous, or an Idolater, or a railour, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such an one eat not.  
Of Foxes infected with heresy, which do especially disturb the church of England, there be two sorts; the one called recusants, because they have forsaken our fellowship; the other churchhaunts, who with false hearts frequent our assemblies, temporising for fear of a fine, or further penalty. The first sort plead Baal's cause with open mouth, despise the Lords temple in jerusalem, post from Dan to Bethel to please jeroboam, hate our congregations, and count it damnable to tread in our assemblies. If these Foxes were as sharply punished, as they are easily discovered, we should not have so many Masses, neither so many go to Mass; and yet Mass rated at so round a reckoning. I need not stand to mark out these malapert merchants, their practice betrays them, they show outwardly how they are affected inwardly; old doting dames, and young minions, old foolish fathers, and young boys, that cannot tell why they were borne, speak boldly for Popery in defiance of the Gospel, refuse the Church, and check the reprover, make a mock of the ministery, and scorn true religion; and yet have peace and prosperity. If a prince be misused, death is thought too small a punishment for the offender; if a man be so wicked as to procure an insurrection, or raise a rebellion, he must lose his head for it, and good reason: But whereas God hath sovereign dominion over all, a worm of the earth shall set himself against him, deface his majesty, rob him of his honour, blaspheme his blessed name, yet escapeth without severity of punishment, and that is no good religion. These are those wretched people that have sold themselves to be vassals of iniquity, and have received the stamp of the beast in their foreheads, that are ready to lie in wait for the Lords anointed, and have cursed David to his face. These are the sons of those bloody fathers, that have murdered the prophets. These are the posterity of Amelech, unworthy to live amongst Israel, which have served Baal Hamon, and have run unto the golden calves of Dan and Bethel. These are the relics of jebus, and the remnants of the Hittites, that have been pricks and thorns in the sides of righteous men, and will be knives to our throats if that might come which their hearts faint in waiting for: but the same God that hath hitherto preserved us, detected their dissembled zeal, and sheathed their sword in their own entrails, shall still continue our most gracious protector, unless the overflowing streams of our sins stop the course of his mercies, and eclipse the brightness of his favour, which hitherto hath shined upon us. 
Church papists.   
There is an other sort of Foxes in nature, not much different from the former, but yet not so easily described, neither are they oftentimes reputed as they are.  

A token sent from the old Fox to his young cubs.  It is not many years ago, since there came a token from the old grey Fox to the cubs of his kind; wherein was printed the five wounds of Christ, with this poesy, fili da mihi cor tuum, that is, son give me thy heart: whereby it appeareth that either Rainard was so well disposed as to maintain dissimulation, or else his brood were in a wrong box, for they took his emblem in no other meaning. Therefore have they learned to temporize, and with double hearts to halt on both sides, having one for God, and another for Baal; one for the prince, 
Temporising papists described.  and an other for the Pope; one for the Mass, and another for the communion. The manner of these for the most part is to peep into the Church once in a month, but preaching their queasy stomachs cannot away with, especially if Idolatry and papistry be discovered. I cannot more fitly compare these, than to cunning watermen, who look one way, when they take their journey an other: or to Cacus that notorions robber, of whom it is recorded, that he was wont to drag beasts backward into his Cave by their tails, to the intent that by contrary track of their feet, he might be freed from the suspicion of felony: even so the popular demeanour of these hollow minded votaries, looks one way, when their secret plots and practices tend an other; and when they come to the Church, they do but drag backward with Cacus, hiding their hollow hearts under show of conformity: yea howsoever these deep dissemblers in outward appearance, show mild and gentle, promising all loyalty to their prince, agreement to government, and consent to religion; yet trust them not, for a Fox will show himself a Fox, when time serves his turn.  
The poets wittily feign, that when jupiter had made man, 
A poetical fiction fitly applied.  being delighted with such a cunning piece of workmanship, he demanded of Momus findefault, what he could spy, in so fine a feature and curious frame, out of square and worthy just reproof: Momus commended the proportion, and comely disposition of the lineaments; but one thing (saith he) I like not well, that thou hast forgotten to place a window in his breast, through which we might behold whether his heart and his tongue did accord. If a window were framed in the breasts of these discontented catholics, that her majesty and the state-guiding counsel, and all the true friends of this kingdom might know their secret intentions; or if their consciences were as deeply sounded, as they may be justly doubted: then I know full well that many false hearts would be found lurking under painted hoods, and cakes of foul cankered malice, under meal mouthed protestations; neither would it be troublesome to find out a two-legged Fox; or if the coals of long festered choler were of that condition, as that being heaped together in their malicious minds, they could blister their tongues, or scald their lips, we should need no further search to find out a Roman catholic. Howbeit although they have no windows in their breasts, wherethrough we may see into every corner of their consciences, how they pack and shuffle now; and (as it is greatly to be feared) mean to cut also if Popery should get the upper hand; yea although they shroud their wicked devices with a vail of obscurity, and contrive their cruel crafts in tenebris: yet if that foresight and circumspection be had, which the subtlety of such household enemies requireth, I doubt not but it shall be easy to espy the Wolf, though he wander in sheeps clothing, by the manner of his howling; and the Ass, though he jet in the Lion's skin, by the length of his ears.  
Before I proceed further, 
A linsie woolsie religion.  I will here admonish that kind of our gospelers that are of a linsie woolsie religion, common pedlars and patchers of Christ his coat, which had no seam in deed: Who because they are better affected to the state than the former, I would be loath to term them Foxes; and yet having no warrant for a particoloured profession, I may not honour them with the title of sound Christians: you shall know them by these colours. They hold it a matter of charity to say God have mercy on the souls of the dead: and show them their error; then they reply, what shall we bid the devil go with them? Their ave maria sticks close betwixt their teeth, though their Pater Noster was forgot many years ago. They cannot be well persuaded of children dying without Baptism: therefore they cry out for headlong hast to the ministration of this sacrament. They will not believe that it is a sinful and superstitious thing, to swear by the Saints, and every other creature; and when they are told that it is a robbing God of his honour, they fall a woundering at the very first principles of religion. Thus the Serpent gets his ground by creeping, and where Satan cannot get an ell, he will take an inch; hoping by little inches of superstition, in the end, to make up an ell of Idolatry: and thus by little and little, Popery hath stolen into the Church. Those that are thus tainted, I exhort in the fear of God to read the scriptures, and to hear his word, the knowledge whereof, is able to purge them from these filthy dregs of the Babylonish cup.  
Having spoken of Foxes heretical, 
Fox's schismatical.  who most of all endanger the safety of the Church: it followeth that we entreat of Foxes schismatical, which of late years have peeped out of their den, to the disturbance of our peace. These are they whom in ancient time they called Catharists, as also the Donatist Browinsts, 
Brownistes.  we commonly call them: imagining a perfect beauty of a Church in this world, and severing themselves from all others, as if in their particular conventicles this perfection were to be found; in whom behold a two fold error. First, in that from the Church's blemish, by indirect consequence, they conclude her nullity. 
Two fold error.  This is a gross absurdity. Secondly, in that these mote catchers see a mote in the eye of an other, and will not see the beam in their own eyes; this is blind singularity. For if they speak of manners, they should know that how corrupt so ever they are, either in the pastor, or in the sheep, they may not enforce this outrageous conclusion, that where such corruptions are found, there is a nullity of the Church, so long I say as the life of the Church is, that is, so long as the truth is there taught. 
Christ his truth the life of the church. Math. 23.2.  Of this the Lord himself is witness, speaking to the Scribes and pharisees, so long as they sit in the chair of Moses, that is to say, so long as they teach the doctrine of Moses, do you (saith he) that which they say, but do not that which they do: although there be no cause, but that a man may withdraw himself from such infectious companions: as Paul admonisheth, 
1. Cor. 5.11. Psal. 17.4. Psal. 1.1.  as David showeth by his own practice, and warneth us to do the like.  
Again, if they speak of imperfection of doctrine, many circumstances are to be considered before we deprive any assembly, great or small, of the name of a Church. In the Church of Corinth, not only touching manners, the discipline of the Church was loosely observed; 
1. Cor. 15.17.  sincerity of preaching, by an affected kind of babbling was much profaned: but also a pro and con holden, touching the resurrection of the flesh, an article of such weight, that withouten it the preaching of the word should be in vain; and yet Corinth holds the name of a Church. The Galathians were most of them turned aside by the false Apostles from free justification, which is the principal ground-plot of the christian Church; and yet notwithstanding, Saint Paul gives them the name of a Church. The like is to be seen by that which the Apostle writeth to Timothy, 
1. Tim. 4. 2. Pet. 2. jude.  also by the second of Saint Peter, and that of Saint Jude, that there were homebred enemies, and false Disciples in the bosom of the Church; which for all this, neither lost the name, nor nature of true Churches. But the case is otherwise in a body rotten in the noblest parts, as the synagogues of the jews, which stubbornly resisted the preaching of the Apostle; from which for this cause he disjoined the Church of Ephesus: or as that sinful assembly, that sits upon the seven hills, 
Acts. 19.9. From what Church we ought to separate ourselves.  and opposeth itself directly against the kingdom of Christ, whose name with a desperate impudency, it borroweth; for which cause we have it in just execration, following the doctrine of the Apostle. But I need not to pursue these schismatics, the name of almighty God be magnified, this land is well washed from them. O Lord, show mercy still to this Church, and send us also a strong purging pill for Popery and superstition: Then shall we see jerusalem in prosperity, and the hearts of thy faithful servants shall be replenished with gladness.  

Foxes called scabbed sheep.  The last sort of Foxes are those which before I called scabbed sheep, Saint Paul prophesieth of these, that in the last days should come perilous times, 
2. Tim. 3.1.2.3  men should be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, cursed speakers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, intemperate, fierce, despisers of them which are good, traitors, heady, hy minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a show of godliness, but have denied the power thereof: these are they which give the Lord jesus after a sort the courtesy of judas. 
Math. 26.  These are like to Simon the sorcerer, who walked with Philip like an Apostle, 
Act. 8.  but wrought with money, like a wordling: like to Achabs' wife, who went most demurely when the would speak with the Prophets. 
Why hypocrites are well likened to Foxes.  And surely as in other respects, so in this these pargetted professors of the gospel are rightly called Foxes: because as the Fox his skin is more worth than his carcase; so their skins, that is, their outward profession, is more worth than their conversations. Truth it is, these after a sort have cast off the Pope with his superstitions, 
The Idolatry of gospelling hypocrites.  but they have not put upon them jesus Christ with his righteousness. They have renounced the Idols of wood and stone, but harbour Idols as dangerous in their hearts, covetousness, theft, cruelty, fornication, uncleanness, wantonness and such like goddesses. There is a mighty generation of these kind of Foxes in this land, and these late years of scarcity and dearth hath laid open the hearts of many of them, 
These dear years have laid open many deceitful hearts.  who contrary to their holy professions, and to the power of religion, have taken their advantage of the time, and made a prey of the poor without all mercy, not caring to pass away their birthrights for Esau's soup, nor to sell paradise for a liquorous morsel. But what should I need to broach the hypocrisy of this people, since they themselves without common care of their holy callings, to the great shame of themselves, have cried at the market cross? But ye Gourmandisers, Grubbers' and grinders of the poor, ye crafty pryers into the needy man's extremity, to make your gain of his pain, and your commodity of his misery, you cunning contrivers for private profit, ye artificial forgers of dearth and famine, devourers of men's quick and live flesh; how long will you presume to come into God's house, as if you were of it? Ye false fingerers, sellers with false sleights, false measures & false weights, terrigenae fratres, adorers of your God Mammon, when will you shake off the cloak of hypocrisy? Ye tipplers & tavern hunters, ye epicurean companions, & beastly belli-gods, ye quarrel broachers, and action threatners; ye bellows of hell fire, which live by setting others on pleading, which beat your brains to lengthen the perchment as long as you can; how long shall the Lord suffer you to appear in his house, in which there is nothing but peace and equity? Ye lease-mongers & rent-rackers, ye enclosers and make-beggars, never well at ease until ye have taken possession of Naboth his vineyard; ye towne-batterers, joiners of house to house, and land to land, until there be no place for the poor, when will you leave to come to Sermons for a show, and to make religion a cloak for such horrible impiety? You are bastard children, and not the true generation of jacob: Therefore presume not to say that you are the sons of Abraham: for if you thus walk, the devil is your father. It is you that have opened the mouths of our enemies, whose blind charity layeth so hard to your lame faith: you have caused the gospel to be ill spoken of, and the name of our God to be blasphemed; the Lord reform your hearts, and grant you greater mercy. On the other side, you that by the grace of God are not guilty of this great contempt, be diligent, earnest, true, and faithful in your duties towards Almighty God, who in the day appointed, shall set you with his Angels for ever to praise him, and shall cast the polluted and unclean out of his Church. This great God, and righteous judge save us from the temptations of Satan, that we may cleave unto him in faith and truth. Amen.   

CHAPTER. 7.  
The unkenelling of the Fox, and the duty of the terriers.  
Having before declared the conditions and manners of these Foxes which destroy the vines: it followeth next in order that we speak something concerning the unkenelling of these Romish Foxes, which of all other are most dangerous to the state, both of Church and Commonwealth. The which we shall perform the better if we still compare a Fox with a Fox. Now first of all it is well known to Foxe-hunters, that the Fox holds the strongest coverts, that he flieth from the field as a beast which trusteth not in the swiftness of his legs, 
Properties of a Fox when he is in chase.  nor the strength of his body, that he wheeleth about the thickets, and though he find none other help but a bush, he will fly to it for his safeguard: so it is with this kind of cattle for being hunted, they run abroad here and there, but especially fly from the fields into the woods, 
Wither the two-legged Foxes fly being hunted.  inquiring where there is one that makes no conscience of his ministery, that will be content for handfuls of barley, and morsels of bread, for tithe cocks, and tithe sheaves to cloak a Catholics knavery; inquiring also where there is an untaught people, fit for all religions, and all princes reigns, and consequently apt to swallow a bait of poisoned persuasion; that is a covert for a Catholic, thither flock the Foxes, and feed without fear.  
Again, another property of the Fox is, 
How the Foxes make their kenels.  to make his den in the ground that is hard to dig, as in galt, clay, or such like earth, the passage into his earth being straight, and going very far in before it come to his couch, having also many holes thorough which to unearth himself: Even so it is with this kind, they make their burrows strong, they have so many straight passages, so many muses, so many winding corners, so many turnings, so many interturnings, and starting holes, that it is a matter full of difficulty to find the couch of a Catholic, 
Hard to unkenell a Foxe-priest.  especially of a Priest or jesuite: In so much as I may justly say of them, as Caesar said of the Scythians, difficilius est invenire, quam superare, It is harder to find them than to foil them. For experience hath taught us, that when it hath been a matter undoubted that a Fox priest hath been ready to say mass, and therefore his den hath been compassed, the terriers have wound him, and all his pretty trinkets have been found prepared for so great a piece of work: yet in the end the Fox would not be found. Perhaps he serves the hunters now and then, as the fish called the Cuttle serves the fisherman, which when she is like to be taken casteth forth a slimy humour like unto ink, and so darkening the upper part of the water, and dazzling the fisherman's eyes, mars his aim, and escapeth the danger. Which sithence it is so, the greater the care ought to be, that there be such godly wisdom and cunning in hunting them, such toils, such nets as are fit for such service, that there be such ministers as are able to handle the sword of god's word with both, hands, that is to say, be able to confirm the established, 
Great need of good Foxe-hunters.  to reclaim the backsliders, to confute the adversary, and if the will of God be, to transform the Foxes into sheep; such magistrates as have a zeal to fence and hedge in the vineyard of the Lord of hosts, from the subtle invasions and underminings of these noisome vermin; such toils as are able to hold both the great and little Foxes. For where blind guides are placed in the watch tower, and the basest lives are in the highest rooms, there Foxes endanger the flock, and many times find more favour than stands with the preservation of the sheep, or safe continuing state of the best affected subjects.  

Pursiuants Parators.  In this place fit occasion is offered to speak (neither may I pass it over with silence) of a couple of terriers appointed for the hunting and unkenelling of these Foxes, whose true and hot hunting of them, as it is rightly to be commended where it is to be found: so the contrary doth breed great corruption in the Church, and is much to be lamented.  
For the better redressing of these deformities which are too manifest, & bringing of these terriers into good hunting: it would be carefully respected of them that have power to reform it, that they buy not their places: for this is an approved truth, that they will sell dear in the retail, which they bought in the gross: that is, will suck profit out of the vilest things, & cut men's garments off by the skirts for desire of gain: & hereby have rushed horrible inconveniences both into church & commonwealth.  
Again, the Fox hath many wiles whereby to make these Foxe-hounds at a fault, or to hunt counter; & especially he hath a mixture made of cogworth broad way, 
Vox populi.  & penimate together with a few ratle flowers called goold maries, or mary-goolds, which being steeped in a little devils milk, & cast into their eyes makes them stark blind, & stops their scents: & hence it cometh to pass that popery beareth such swinge, because papists can pay well, & that adultery & fornication scape without punishment, because wantoness have money. I say no more, let this be a watchword to them whom it especially concerneth   

CHAPTER. 8.  
The principal reasons why God suffereth homebred enemies to be in the bosom of his Church, fit to be considered of such as are not thoroughly persuaded in this point.  
IF the Christian Church be impugned by open enemies, as jews, Turks, Tartarians, and such as have openly renounced the person of the great son of God, and are cut off as rotten members, men not greatly regard it: But when such as are bred and nourished in the bosom of the Church, seek to undermine and supplant it; those household conflicts & homebred battles are they which trouble many in these days. 
Household conflicts trouble many weak Christians.  O say they, here is so much arguing and disputing, such divisions and diversities of opinions, that a man knows not which way to turn himself. To help such, as without any good cause are thus put to a gaze: They must first understand that it is the will of God that his Church shall not be free from these inward offences; and secondarily, know the principal reasons why he will have it so.  
Although our God, as he is the God of order and not of confusion, commendeth and delivereth unto us his discipline; yet notwithstanding he suffereth the hypocrites for a time to have their being amongst the faithful, until the full restoring and reforming of his kingdom in the last day. 
The Church shall not be free from offences. Math. 13.  Which thing is taught by that of our Lord jesus Christ, where he resembleth the kingdom of heaven to a net cast into the sea, and gathering all kind of fishes, etc. to a field, wherein whilst the good husbandman soweth his wheat, the envious came and scattered his tears. The Apostles also have foretold the same, that the Church of God shall be pestered with pestilent enemies, and that they shall come with an efficacy of error. This know (saith saint Paul) that in the latter days some shall departed from the faith, 
1. Tim. 4.1.2.3.  and shall give heed unto spirits of error and doctrines of devils, which speak lies through hypocrisy, and have their consciences burned off with a hot iron, etc. But there were false prophets, saith Saint Peter, 
2. Pet. 2.1.2.3.  also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you: Which privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord, that hath bought them, and bring upon themselves swift damnation. 
The mystery of iniquity began to work in the Apostles time. 1. john. 4.1.2.  Thus the mystery of iniquity began to work in the Apostles times, as appeareth in Col. 2. & Galath. 1. Therefore Saint john exhorteth not to believe every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: for many false Prophets are gone out into the world. And why should this trouble you so much? Do you not see that the cockle & the corn grow both in one field, the lily and the thorn both on one ground, the blossom and the blast both on one tree, the flower and the weed both in one garden, the sheep and the goats do feed both in one pasture? know you not, that in one ark were beasts clean and unclean, and that the Apostle saith, that in one house be vessels of honour, and vessels of dishonour? then wonder not to see the good, and the bad mingled together; but consider the reasons, give God the glory, and take heed to thy faith.  
There be two principal reasons, why the Lord suffereth these household enemies to be in the midst of his vineyard, the first is for the probation and trial of his servants, whether they be unfeignedly coupled unto him, in the spiritual bond of faith and of love. 
Deut. 13.  If there arise amongst you (saith Moses) a Prophet, or etc. Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that Prophet, or unto that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart & with all your soul. And indeed it is necassarie that we be kept in continual exercise of faith and prayer, of patience, and constancy: and therefore is it said, that the Lord would not cast out before his people of Israel any of the nations which josua left when he died, that through them he might prove Israel whether they would keep his ways to walk therein or no? And to this effect Saint Paul saith, 
1. Cor. 11.  that there must be heresies that they which are approved might be known. 
1. Corin. 11.  Where also that of Augustine is worthy remembrance, let us use heretics (saith he) not to that end to approve their errors, but that by defending the Catholics doctrine against their deceits, we may be more watchful and wary: because it is most truly written, there must be heresies, that the tried & approved may be manifested or discovered from the hollow hearts amongst you. Let us use this benefit of God's providence: for heretics are made of such as would err or be nought, though they were in the Church: but being out, they profit us exceedingly, not by teaching the truth which they know not, but by stirring up the carnal in the Church, to seek truth, and the spiritual to clear the truth. Thus than it is apparent, that both the weaker and the stronger, the carnal and the spiritual may profit by heresies and schisms which the Lord suffereth in his Church; the one by learning, the other by teaching: for they shall try our faith, and our love, whether we be counterfeits, & dissemblers; whether we will be suddenly windshaken; whether we will forsake the truth, and follow falsehood; or whether faith be grounded in our hearts or no? For like as in the time of Moses, God suffered great magicians to be in Egypt, that he might make his own power more evident in Moses: so he suffereth heretics, as sorcerers or enchanters, to be in the Church, that the power of prayer, of faith, of love, of zeal, might be more apparent. A crab oftentimes carrieth the coat of an apple, and is not well known but by the taste; copper hath the colour of gold, & is not so well tried as by the touch: an hypocrite may lurk under the shadow of a believer, and is not thoroughly manifested until his faith be tried; but the belief of God's children is like unto the glazeworme which glittereth most brightly in the darkest night, or like the lamp that gives most light in the dark. But some will say, alas we are no clerk, and in these divisions and dispute, here is every one alleging scripture for himself, what shall we do, or what course shall we take that are unlearned? For the better helping of you in this hazard, first look whether every one allegeth scripture or no? for that goeth for scripture many times, with the Catholics, which is no more to be found in the book of the Bible them Paradise in hell. Secondly, know them to be false teachers, which for confirmation of doctrine of faith allege any other testimonies, over and beside the scriptures: for man's writings are no further to be credited, than they bring warrant from the word of God, which containeth the whole counsel of God touching our salvation. If they reply, that all is not written which the Apostles taught, answer them with that which is said by the Apostle, who requireth nothing besides the scriptures to make the man of God complete: then compare their unwritten traditions with Gods written truth, the light will strait discover their darkness. Thirdly, if the interpretations be repugnant, so as one or more of them must needs be erroneous; then confer scripture with scripture, and expound, scripture by scripture, as Christ teacheth; and lastly, refer the whole unto the correspondency of the articles of faith, the brief abridgement of christian religion: and then if thou bringest with thee a teachable mind, and a desire to learn in humility, thou shalt not err, but find Christ in his own home, that is, in his word.  
The second reason why the Lord suffereth his Church to be troubled with deceitful companions, is his proportionable justice against the unbelievers: And that Saint Paul meaneth when he saith, that when men have no mind to obey God and his truth, 
2. Thess. 2.10.  he sendeth them false prophets even with an efficacy and speediness of error. The beguiling of Achab showeth this evidently. Who is it, saith God, that shall deceive Achab? as if he should say, I see that he will needs be drawn unto the bottom of hell; for the wretch was defiled with his Idols, had perverted God's service, was full of all stubbornness, 
2. King. 22.2.  and malice against the prophets, would receive no admonition. Therefore God seeing him a man forlorn, sendeth a lying spirit to beguile him. But here mark one thing especially comfortable to God's children, that when God had given Satan commission to execute his vengeance upon the unbelievers, he not only giveth him leave to punish them with loss of goods, sickness of body, etc. but gives power to lead them into error, utterly to deceive them and to carry them away with lies. This is apparent in the history of the trial of job where Satan his first commission is to touch his goods, and the second, to touch his body: but he may not meddle with his soul. Thus you see, it standeth both with the manifestation both of the mercy and justice of God, to send deceitful workmen into his Church.   

CHAPTER. 9  
Eight reasons unanswerable, proving all perfect papists rotten-hearted subjects to all true christian princes.  
THere is a kind of people, who feign would that David should always sing of mercy, that as it may seem by excessive clemency, our Sovereign might nourish a serpent in her own bosom. Wherefore, although this matter hath been handled heretofore of such learned and godly men, as tender the safety of her Majesty, and the flourishing state of her trusty and true hearted subjects; yet since the argument fits this place so well, I have thought good to lend my hand to my brethren, and to prove, that no perfect papists can be sound & faithful subjects to their christian princes. And I say perfect papists, because that every one that is blemished or holdeth any one error or article of doctrine that the Pope holdeth, as perhaps purgatory, or prayer for the dead, is in that article a papist. Yet I count not every one that thus is tainted, within the compass of false heartedness to the realm, or under the title of traitorous papists: for many, otherwise sound subjects, are not purged from all infections, wherewith the whorish Church hath poisoned them: wherefore the consequent reasons must be understood of perfect papists, whose hearts since they be Italianated, I thus frame my first reason to prove them rotten hearted subjects.  

The first reason, proving perfect papists traitorous subjects to Christian Princes.  
ALl good subjects which obey for conscience, as every one ought to do, must have their consciences enfomed by the word of God.  
But perfect papists hate our assemblies, despise the preaching of the word, which should direct their consciences both in duty towards God, and loyalty towards their prince; and in stead thereof, entertain a strange worship.  
Therefore perfect papists cannot be sound hearted subjects. I have heard wise men say, that there is no knot of thieves so dangerous, as when there is a whore in the company. There is none so arrant a whore in the world as the strumpet of Babylon, 
Perfect papists the worst knot of thieves and why.  who is an actual dealer in wicked and ungodly practices against all Kings and kingdoms. Then whether hearts hating God's truth, which should rightly inform them, and carousing of this whorish cup, which doth strangely enchant them, be faithful to her princely person or peace of this realm, I commend it to the judgement of all them that love our prosperity.   

The second reason.  
THey that believe the Pope to have the disposition of God's sentence, 
Papists believe the Pope's sentence of excommunication against the Queen.  do also suppose that Queen Elizabeth is not lawful Queen of England, because the Pope doth not accept her so.  
But our Romish catholics believe that the Pope hath power to anathematize, and to dispose the sentence of excommunication, and consequently hold that her Majesty is not lawful Queen of England, because the Pope doth not so accept her. Therefore perfect papists are traitorously minded to the happy state of England.  
This reason would be deeply pondered, for since the old Fox hath excommunicated and cursed her royal person, and the young Foxes believe also according to his distilled opinion into their minds, that he doth this pro suo iure; then this is the consequent, that all their kindness and courtesies, all friendly countenances and conformities, all loyalty and allegiance, all service and obedience, is but from hollow hearts extorted, and not in any true love performed, either to the safety of the Queen's Majesty, or to the fortifying of this land against foreign danger; because they carry no other opinion of her and her loving people, than the Pope himself hath published. In good sooth this gear would make work for the hangman, if it were thoroughly sifted: for of necessity to this confession of traitorousnes must all be driven, that mean to continue perfect papists.   

The third reason.  
THey that carry a countenance conformable to her majesties laws no longer than it stands with the Pope's pleasure, 
Papisty obedience but at the Pope's pleasure.  can be no true hearted subjects.  
But perfect Papists obey her majesties laws no longer than it stands with the liking of the Pope, as the jesuit Hart sometimes confessed.  
Therefore perfect Papists can be no good subjects.  
Here let the true subjects understand, that the Pope hath powered an opinion into his papists, 
Greater cause to fear then to trust them.  that Kings and princes, if he dispense with them, may break their faith and promise: that nulla fides est servanda cum haereticis, no faith is to be kept with God's friends and his foes; that Papists with liberal permission may swear and unswear, if advantageable opportunity do occur: which since that they do believe to stand in his power to dispense withal, and that he is both able to pardon them, and willing to reward them; yea that it is within his reach not only to give them the kingdom of England, but the kingdom of heaven also: then let them swear, their protestations are not worth the paring of a rotten apple, their obedience is but at the Pope's ad placitum: Whereupon ariseth a good caveat, that we rather tie short then trust a two-legged Fox.   

The fourth reason.  
THey that receive, entertain, read and recommend such lying libels and hart-stealing pamphlets, 
Papists read and recommend popish libels.  as whereby her majesties right is impeached, her regiment reviled, her title of supremacy defaced, her faith defamed, christian religion nourished by her called heretical, devilish and damnable, and the professors thereof worse than nullifidians and infidelious Atheists, can be no good subjects.  
But this is the dealing of our perfect Papists.  
Therefore the conclusion followeth, that such can be no good subjects.  
Many wicked and traitorous pamphlets have been scattered in this realm to darken the glory of the Lords anointed, to weaken the good wills of her highness loving subjects, to win worthless malcontented malicious wretches treacherously to conspire with our sworn enemies, whereby to fortify the Romish faction. These have and do want no favourers to scatter them in corners, to send them to their lovers, to commend their substantialnes as matters unanswerable, both such merchants as send them, and such brokers as utter such Babylonish wares, are right worthy to pay their heart blood for custom.   

The fift reason.  
THey that receive pardons, 
Papists receive pardons to free them from loyalty.  absolutions and such like stuff to exempt, and free themselves from loyal obedience, are but subjects in show, watching their times to work their own wills.  
But our absolute Roman catholics receive pardons and absolutions, to acquit them from dutiful allegiance.  
Therefore shake a perfect papist out of the masking weed of his pretended conformity, and then shall you find that an heart devoutly affected to the Romish religion, is as deeply infected with the venom of treason.  

Gregory 13. Pius. 5. Sixtus. 5.  The dealings of the Popes is not unknown, of Gregory the 13. Pius 5. and Sixtus 5. who labouring our subversion by England's unnatural children, have sent their pardons and absolutions to free them from subjection; a thing abhorring from all religion, hated of the heathen, the age present loathes it, and succeeding posterity shall be astonished to hear of such cruelties.   

The sixth reason.  

The Pope erecteth seminaries for the hatching of Foxe-priests, and catholics receive them to nursing.  THey, for whose catholic good the Pope pretends the erecting of his seminaries, and therefore receive from thence such subtle treacherous and disloyal wretches, as infect them with poison, and persuade them to treason, cannot be faithful and true hearted subjects.  
But the Pope maketh his catholics believe that he erecteth seminaries for their good, and they also receive and entertain his jesuits and Foxe-preists, issuing out of those dens of Idolatry.  
Therefore the conclusion followeth, that such can be no good subjects.  
Parsons, Campion, and heart, 
Parsons. Campion.  with the rest, cast in the Pope's mould and fitted for the service of the beast that sits upon the seven hills, have wanted no entertainment in this land in their times, although there were nothing more intended of them then this, namely to set the subjects against their prince, & Englishmen against their own country, as leave was given to Parsons and Campion by Gregory 13. 1580. April 14. to interpret the Bull of Pius quintus.   

The seventh reason.  
THey that are weary of these days, 
Papists gape for a golden day.  and live inhope of another world, which in their ordinary byword they call their golden day or year of jubilee, can be no faithful subjects to her, by whose gracious government these days are continued.  
But the papists are weary of these days, and languish in looking for their golden day, which almighty God send them in leaden haste.  
Therefore papists can be no good subjects.  
That the papists are weary of these days and times, wish the death of her Majesty, and alteration of state and government; there needs no further proof than their conspiracies, 
Believe them without further proof.  their treasons and secret attempts, their platforms and practices for foreign invasion: whereby it is evident, that these are the days of their grief and sorrow; and that they regard the safety neither of prince nor country, so they may return to the flesh pots of Egypt, and eat their fill with peaceable freedom.   

The eight reason.  
THey that regard not into what subjection, slavery, shame and dishonour her highness, 
Papists regard no state, so that popery may prevail.  her kingdom and subjects be brought unto, so that ●heir blind worship and pageant of papistry may be erected, can be no good subjects.  
But perfect papists neither regard Majesty of the prince, nor dignity of the nobles, nor gravity of age, nor difference of sex, nor excellency of learning: so that popery may be set up in stead of the Gospel.  
Therefore such can be no good subjects.  
The desperate dealings and damnable practices of papists heretofore prove plainly, 
Woeful experience.  that allegiance to their prince cannot keep them from treason; the duty of love to their natural country cannot withdraw them from favouring rebellion at home nor linking with strangers abroad; that the duty of obedience of children to parents, or of parent's affection to children cannot keep them from unnatural cruelty; that the duty of mutual love, and society betwixt the husband and wife cannot remove them from monstrous immanity; that the duty of kind and natural pity cannot stay a papists hands from murdering feeble sex, tender babes or reverent age: lastly, that the duty of familiarity in youth, of friendship in graver years, of continual society during all the life passed, cannot stay a papists hands from sacrificing his dearest friends. Nay, which is more, not only are they contented to yield their bracelets and earrings to the framing of the golden calf, as did Israel, nor to offer their friends in sacrifice, as did that unnatural King of Moab in offering his sons to assuage the ire of his angry Gods; but to make their own lives a pray to their enemies, as did the Athenians, when they accorded by casting of lots to give themselves to be devoured of that ghastly monster Minotaurus.  
Wherefore since it is so clear a case, that the consciences of these catholics are altogether Romish; that they hold the Pope's excommunication against our dread sovereign the Queen's Majesty to be lawful; that they yield their obedience no longer than durant beneplacito of the Pope; that they receive and recommend such libels as deface our Church, abuse her highness person, and all her loving subjects; that they receive pardons to exempt themselves from dutiful obedience; that they receive and entertain the enemies of this realm, jesuits & seminary priests; that they look for a golden day and long for an alteration; that they care not to conspire at home with traitors, and to plot abroad with strangers, whereby to convey the crown to a foreigner: sithence I say, this is so, then two conclusions do follow, first that every perfect papist is a secret traitor to his prince and country. And secondarily, that it is a safer way to truss then to trust a two-legged Fox. Our gracious God that hath hitherto protected us, bless her Majesty and her honourable privy counsel, that through their wisdoms, zeal and courage God's glory may be promoted, the undermining of these Foxes, which destroy our vines, sound sifted, and secret traitors sharply punished. Then shall England less fear her ruin (which God forbidden) by stranger's force, when vengeance deserved shall strongly seize on household foes; nay else may England more suspect the weakening of her present state, by nourishing a viper in her own bowels, than Spanish power or any else, who gnash their teeth at her peace and welfare.    

CHAPTER. 10.  
Twelve reasons proving by divinity and true Christian policy, that Foxes must be taken.  
THe thing that our Catholics chief do aim at, is that her highness, and her counsel may be deceived, by erroneous pretence of policy, and colour of clemency, that they may lurk under the shadow, and be nourished as a Serpent in the bosom. It is therefore heedfully to be respected, that the Church of the devil be not maintained with indulgence, & multiplied with foolish mercy; but that it be kept under with sharpness of discipline and correction, that it grow not to such rankness as to choke the true Church. Foolish mercy may mar all, and clemency may be great cruelty, when it overfloweth to the hazard of God's Children. Where severity saith, one goeth into looseness, their edifying goeth into destruction, custom goeth into corruption, law into contempt, mercy is laughed, and godliness goeth into hypocrisy, execution of laws against God's enemies, and the enemies of this Church and Commonwealth, is the mark that is leveled at: and why should it not be hit, since divinity and godly policy will have it so? Wherefore although this point hath been no doubt handled religiously and zealously of the learned both in preaching and in writing: yet since it fitteth this place so well, I purpose to speak of it briefly and distinctly, and prove that both divinity and Christian policy require that sharp execution be used in punishing the enemies of the Church.  

The first reason proving by divinity, that laws ought sharply to be executed upon papists, and all idolatrous heretics.  

God commandeth Foxes to be 〈◊〉.  THat which the Lord commandeth must be done without mammering, staggering, doubting or delay. But he commandeth Foxes to be taken, and execution of laws to be done against them.  
Therefore Christian Princes and Magistrates do but their duties in rooting out such noisome vermin, as destroy the vines.  
If there arise among you, etc. 
Deut. 13.1.2. Cantic. 2.16. Deut. 7.1.2. Galat. 5.12.  Take us the Foxes, the little Foxes, which destroy the vines: when the Lord shall have brought into the land whither thou goest to possess it, etc. I would (saith the Apostle) they were cut off which trouble you.   

The second Reason.  
THat which the godly magistrates have done in defacing the Lords enemies, and defilers of his worship, 
Precedents for Christian rulers.  that ought still to be performed of Christian rulers in the like cause.  
But they have removed & destroyed the enemies of his truth, and perverters of his service, as their examples may be remembered.  
Therefore Christian magistrates in the same cause ought to show the same zeal.  
When the golden Calf was erected to Idolatry, Moses 
Moses.  willed them to arm their hands, and to sheathe their swords in the entrails of their nearest kinsmen, to make havoc of their lives; and he calleth it a sanctifying of their hands to the Lord. And how? What manner of holiness was that? Truly even to kill the Idolaters, and to put the corrupters of religion to death. And whom commanded he to do it? Even the Levites, even those which ought to have been the mirrors of all pity and compassion; even the priests which God had dedicated to himself, must be the executors of his rigour. And upon whom? Even upon their own kinsmen. Thus the mildest man that ever was behaved himself against God's enemies, for he was zealous in the cause of the highest. This was much, but Asa 
Asa.  did as much as he. For he put away the Sodomites, and banished the Idolaters out of the land, he removed Maacha his mother, and took the crown from her head, because she offered sacrifice to Priapus; and gave commandment, that whosoever would not worship the Lord God of Israel should be slain, from the greatest to the smallest. This was much, but jehu did as much as Asa. For he killed all the Prophets of Baal, and suffered not one of them to live; he defaced the Temple of their Gods, and made a draft house of it for ever. What wonderful things did those good Kings Ezekias and josias in their days? The one spared not an Idolater in the land; the other being but a young prince, was so zealous in the behalf of his God, that he put the idolatrous priests to death, burnt their bones and sacrificed them upon their own Altars, as the books of the Chronicles and Kings of juda do declare. These are good precedents for Christian princes to follow: neither was there more need at any time to draw the sword against profaners of the Lords service: For there is sprung up a mighty generation of wicked and disloyal men to disturb us, of disobedient and untoward children to provoke us, of deceitful and halting hypocrites to disquiet us, of Romish Baalims' & straggling extravagants, to withdraw us from the worship of our God.   

The third Reason.  

Papists convicted of high treason.  HIgh treasons are in their true nature's offences against the highest Majesty; for treason is called crimen laesae maiestatis, that is, tending either to the destruction of their persons, or defacement of their dignities.  
But the papists although they deny not the person, yet debase they the authority of the son of God. Therefore papists are guilty of highest treason.  
How many and how horrible treasons they commit against jesus Christ, it will be too long to rehearse: yet because every one to whose view these my labours shall be offered, may see how justly they are convicted, I will but glance at some of the chiefest.  
First of all therefore understand you, (I speak to the vulgar sort which do not so thoroughly conceive of these matters) that the Apostolical Church of Rome hath degraded our Lord jesus of all his degrees: 
Christ degraded of all his dignities by the catholics.  his dignity royal, his state prophetical, and his priesthood. In respect of his dignity royal, we say that unto him alone it appertaineth to command and forbid, 
john. 13.13. 1. Cor. 5.4. Apoc. 3.7.  to judge and absolve, having the keys to open, & to shut; so that it is not lawful for any, no not for the Angels themselves to make a law to bind the conscience, nor to establish in any point concerning the substance of it, the government of the Church. The reason is evident, because we are forbidden to add or diminish any thing from the commandments of the lawgiver, as also to make new ordinances, 
Deu. 4.2.12.32 Esay. 29.13 Coloss 2.8 1. Cor. 7.23.  and all the commandments of man in the matter of this spiritual kingdom, are once for all declared to be nullities.  
Now these traitors encroach upon his prerogatives, 
Papists traitors against Christ his royal dignity. Christ more be holden to Pilate then to the Papists. Math. 26.  by ordering the estate of the house of this king contrary to his own express will, in eclipsing some of his laws, in establishing others altogether new: So that Christ may seem to be much and more beholden to Pilate, then to these kind of teachers: for he writ him king of the jews, though he knew not what he did, for which cause the Pharisees were angry with him; but these writ him king of the Church, yet they crown him with thorns, and give him a reed in steed of a sceptre. As for his prophetical sovereign authority, by the spirit of whom all the ancient Prophets spoke, who afterwards plenarily in his own person declared the will of his father, & hath since his ascending into heaven until he return not to teach, but to judge, continued to declare the same unto the world by his faithful Apostles: how is it possible more in this point to betray him whom we are bound to hear in pain of extermination, 
Papists traitors to Christ his Prophetical state and how.  than first by falsifying that which he preached, both by adding to, and clipping from; and secondly, by forbidding his word to be read unto all nations & kindreds in a known language; fearing (say they) lest men should become heretics, that is, least light engender darkness, and truth lying? and what is this, but neither to enter themselves, 
Math. 5. The priesthood of Christ according to the scriptures.  nor yet to let others, and to hide the light under a bushel? The third office which is his priesthood, consisteth in two principal points: In our redemption & in his intercession; our redemption hath two parts, expiation, and sanctification. In expiation behold four special points: first, that the word betokeneth a full and entire payment of all that is due unto God.  
Secondly, that which is due, is death according to the sentence given by God himself, 
Gen. 2.17. Rom. 5.12.6 23  understanding by death not only the separation of the soul from the body which is called the first death; 
Genesis. 3.19  whence followeth putrefaction of the body in the grave: but the second death also, which is the frightful ire and malediction of God revenging with all perpetuity sin in the body and soul of the sinner, which horrible state is eternal in the devil and the damned.  
Thirdly, this expiation betokeneth not the payment for one sinner, but for all sinners, I mean the elect which have been, are, or shall be to the end of the world, not of one sin, but of all sins: except that against the holy ghost which is unpardonable.  
Fourthly, this payment was to be offered by him, who in respect of himself should be no way bound to this malediction, but a pledge & surety for others.  
Now of sins or debts to be paid, there be two kinds; 
Hebr 7.22.  some original, some actual: original sin must be considered in two divers respects, first touching the corruption of the whole man, which is as it were the essence of this sin. Secondly, touching that which followeth it, namely, that which makes us children of wrath, worthy of the curse of God from our conception. This is it we teach and build out of the word of God.  
In this, behold how many ways the papists play the traitors. 
How the papists play the traitors against the priesthood of Christ.  For first demand of them how the fruits of this original rancour are washed away: they will tell you by the sufferings of jesus Christ. Wish themselves further to declare their meaning: then the devil showeth his horns, that before appeared like an Angel; and there ariseth by and by a smoky distinction out of the bottomless pit, 
Popish distinction of sins mortal and venial.  of sins some mortal, some venial, whereby the glory o● Christ his passion is darkened. For venial sins (say they) deserve but temporal punishment, whereof a man by some displeasance of them is washed with an holy water sprinkle, or a Bishop's blessing, or with saying à mea culpa, or by some petite penance, etc. Thus these Catholic physicians in steed of using one purgative remedy, without which every sin becometh deadly, cast men's souls into a lethargy deprived of all true sense and motion: as the imperial Practickes use the medicine which they call Narcoticall, that is to say, 
Popish distinction of sins going before Baptism and after.  such as benumb and dead the diseased, until they become past feeling. They have a second distinction of sins going before baptism; and of sins committed after, as also between the guilt and the pain satisfactory: 
Popish distinction betwixt guilt & plain satisfactory.  and all to this end to derogate from Christ's work of our redemption, and to make that which proceedeth from us, of some worthiness and merit, 
How sins going before Baptism are pardoned according to the school of Rome, and how after.  which they call a work of condignity.  
As for sins going before Baptism, they grant that they are pardoned thoroughly in regard of the guilt, and the pain, and that by some means of the virtue of the sacred water with the action itself of Baptism. But as for the sins committed after baptism, the guilt and trespass is pardoned; the pain satisfactory remains to be paid partly in this life, partly after death; but in a coin which hath the Pope's image and superscription: In this life by pater nosters, 
Note well.  aves, pilgrimages, fastings, foundations, and other pains imposed in ear confession: after death he must pay the remainder in purgatory. Yea but he that is there (they say) can merit no longer, what shall become of the poor soul then? Why he must be fetched out of the fire by prayers, and good works of the living: And what good works are those, Masses, Requiems, Dirges, holy water, and such great devotions. But how many shall fetch them out? They cannot tell that, & yet they have taxed several mortal sins at a certain number of days and years. But what if he be come out already? Tush that is not the loss of a requiem or mass; It shall be set upon the tale of another score to be allowed other. But who hath the bestowing of them? For, soothe the merchant royal of pardons the Pope holy father. 
Cold comfort for poor papists.  But what shall become of the poor that is able to give nothing to have these great devotions after his death? Mary he were best to merit well in his life; for no penny, no Pater noster: unless it please the Merchant to bestow an alms of his overplusse. Then if all this be sound, whereto serveth the satisfaction of Christ? O sir, wots you not why? to make all these afore named pretty trinkets available, and to send you for a season into purgatory, where as you should have gone into hell for ever. O treason!  
Besides, the spirit of lying hath so controlled, and countermanded the obligation once made for all by jesus Christ, that he hath borne men in hand that the same must every day be really and actually reiterated. And whereas the supper of the Lord was ordained, 
True use of the Lords Supper.  first, that we should be made partakers of that mystical union of jesus Christ together with all his merits unto eternal life; and secondly, to celebrate with solemn thanksgiving his only and holy sacrifice once for all made: they instead of this have thrust in their Mass, wherein they say their priests make a full satisfaction both for the quick and dead, 
Popish priests do more by their Mass then Christ by his merits, if you list to believe them.  which Mass of theirs is of greater efficacy than the first oblation which the sacrificer himself offered upon the cross, seeing in his (as they say) the pain satisfactory is reserved still to be paid: but theirs maketh an entire satisfaction. O intolerable treason! Alas O Lord, how long wilt thou bear it?  
The second point of our redemption is sanctification. 
The protestāns doctrine concerning sanctification.  It is also called regeneration or new birth, because by it we become new men, as touching the qualities of the soul. For as man made not himself at the first, but the power of God the creator; no more is man able to make himself a new creature, but this is by the power of him, who is made unto us sanctification. 1. Cor. 1.30. For the bringing of this to pass, we teach that the corruption of nature in the first Adam, is abolished in the flesh of the high priest, the second Adam; in whom we being united by faith, fulfil the law by merely free imputation. 
1. Cor. 1.30  Secondly, the Lord jesus Christ drawing us unto him by his holy spirit, formeth in us both to will and to do, 
Ephe. 1.18 Psal. 51.12. 2. Cor. 5.17 Act. 26.18 Ephes. 5.8  enlightening the eyes of our understanding, framing a clean heart within us, making us from the head to the foot new creatures, bringing us out of darkness into light, and from death unto life.  
Altogether the Catholic sophists contradict this truth, 
Ephes. 2 1.5 The sophists absurdities touching new birth.  teaching that our nature is not wholly slaved unto sin, but only feebled by the fall of the first man. And so they make our nature but like a lame man, and the grace of God as a pair of crutches to establish their own merits.  
Again, they say that original sin is really abolished by the water of outward baptism with the words, and the Chrism, etc. as much say they of actual sins going before baptism, 
Note well and loath them.  in those that are of ripe discretion before they be baptized: provided alway that they be not in mortal sin. Thus first they see not our original malady. Secondly, they sophisticate the remedy both in making a miserable mingle-mangle of man's pure naturals & Gods supernatural grace. Thirdly, in giving power to a sound of words, sprinkling of water. And lastly, in substituting their own toys in the place of the Lord jesus. Fie on them presumptuous traitors.  

Protestant's doctrine touching Christ his intercession.  There is yet his intercession, which is so called, because the virtue and power of his sacrifice is always before God. Secondly, because all the prayers of the faithful are presented in his name, in whom alone they are sanctified. This is our doctrine. The Catholics on the other side will have their referendaries, 
Christ degraded of this honour by the Catholics.  masters of requests: It is presumption (say they) to rush so boldly before the king of kings, and therefore we must begin with the ushers of his presence, or with the grooms of his chamber, and who be these? the greatest place they give unto the virgin Marie, and what authority, I pray you? Roga patrem, jube natum. Beseech the father, command the son. And jure matris impera. Command by thy motherly authority. Then they muster all the saints, and have assigned to each his sundry charge, one must be a Baal or patron over this country, & another over the next; one over this town, & another over that; one placed over this science, & another over that; one for the head ach, another for the tooth ach, etc. Michael patronizeth the French, Andrew the Burgonians, james the Spaniards, George the English, Saint Ambrose, with his staff and his whip watched over milan, the three Kings over Cullin, Dionis over Paris, Goele keeps scout watch at Brussels, etc. Ale knights and drunkards have Martin and Vrban for their good Lord, and many a solemn peal, and drunken pull is upon their evens for their sakes, the shoemakers have Euispin for their Baal, and the miller's Arnold for theirs, and Tailors, which love good fellowship must have Goodman for theirs, Anthony must keep the hogs, Loy horses and kine, and Hugh must keep the dogs. What should I blot more paper with these dotages, you may see by this, beloved countrymen, what the jesus Christ of the Church of Rome is, from which the mercy of God hath withdrawn us, to serve the true saviour of the elect. In a word, the papists do as they in pilate's house did, who called jesus Christ by the name of King and Prophet, but it was when they bufetted and scourged him. john 19.1.2.   

The fourth reason.  

An horrible sin to acquit the offender.  IF he that quitteth the offender when he seethe him guilty, be as much to blame before God; as he that oppresseth the innocent: then christian rulers may not acquire idolatrous worshippers, which are the worst kind of malefactors, as was proved in the former argument.  
But he that lets the offender go with impunity, doth trespass as he that ties the halter about the innocents neck.  
Therefore christian rulers must sharply punish papists, who are idolatrous worshippers.  

1. Sam. 15.  King Saul was reproved as well for sparing Agag King of the Amalechites, as for killing the prophets; Achab branded with the black mark of infamy, as well for sparing Benhadad, as killing of Naboth.   

The fift reason.  
IT stands not with divinity, 
Magistrates fervent love to religion, is made apparent by execution of justice against Church enemies.  that christian rulers show less fervency, and zeal for the service of God, then papists and pagans for the worship of the devil.  
But where catholics (as they desire the term) have liberty, and are not severely punished, there christian magistrates show not so much zeal for the promoting of the kingdom of Christ, as antichrist and heathens do for the kingdom of the devil.  
Therefore, etc.  
What they have done and day lie do for the maintenance of idolatry, either in their blind zeal, or their malicious hearts, Christendom knoweth too well. Rome's Pantheon, out of which was excluded the God of the Hebrews, because he would admit no companions collateral, should teach Christ his Church a good lesson, which worshippeth the God of Israel: that is, to be zealous for his honour, and to punish sacrilegious worshippers.   

The sixth reason.  

Ruler's should more regard God's honour then their own.  IT stands not with divinity, that christian rulers be more careful of their own honours, then of the Lords glory.  
But they carefully regard (and good reason also) that their places and persons be respected as duty requireth.  
Therefore by like reason, should they advance the honour of God, and much more.  
These reasons are naturally drawn from divinity, the which none may or dare deny, who is persuaded that there is any divinity at all; the consequent prove the same by christian policy.  

The first argument proving it to be good christian policy to take two-legged Foxes.  

Impunity discourageth the true subjects but animateth the false.  THat which discourageth the friends of the Church and gives life to the adversaries, cannot be warranted nor maintained by christian policy.  
But not to punish Church enemies, or remove secret traitors, discourageth the true subjects and animateth the false hearted.  
Therefore forbearance of household foes can be no good policy.   

The second argument.  
TO leave prince, nobles, 
Dangerous nourishing a serpent in the bosom.  and best affected subjects in danger, by nourishing a serpent in the bosom, can be no good policy.  
But by vain devise to blunt the edge of the sword of justice, or by cloaking, qualifying, or concealing, to cause that it is not drawn against these intestine serpents, is to endanger prince, nobles, and true hearted people.  
Therefore no good policy.   

The third argument.  
THat mildness and mercy, 
Excessive clemency causeth contempt of authority.  whereby the adversary may seem to suspect her majesties magnanimity, and consequently to contemn her authority, can carry show of no good policy.  
But the effect that excessive clemency worketh in our catholics, is either to suspect her courage, or to misconstrue her kindness, or to despise her sovereignty.  
Therefore such forbearance can be no good policy.   

The fourth argument.  

Forbearance of Foxes, a means to make them forecast and fortify themselves.  TO give the enemies of a kingdom leave to forecast, and leisure to fortify themselves; and so consequently to leave the true subjects by this means in perpetual and needful fear of some new attempts, can be no good policy.  
But forbearance of these household enemies, gives them but leave to practise, and time to renew their force; in so much as when one tempest by God's gracious providence is over past, there is fear of another.  
Therefore such forbearance can be no good policy.  
It is not safe trusting a traitor, but rather extreme folly to believe that such as plot for a kingdoms conquest, can be revoked with mercy, or leave the hold of their hope, before they be at the last gasp.   

The fift argument.  
TO be confederate with the people of strange worship, 
Profane policy to be confederate with people of a strange worship.  for the strenghthening and upholding of a kingdom in peace and prosperity, is no christian policy.  
But to forbear papists in hope of their assistance against foreign enemies (if such need should press us, which God forbidden) is to be confederate with people of a strange worship. Read the 30. and 31. chapter of the prophet Esay, there see how the Israelites entered league with the Egyptians, and what was the end of it. Then confer the same with our times, and consider what kingdoms, what princes, what cities, what people have been overthrown, because they have so confederated to their own destruction. The reason is, because God hath been out of the league.   

The sixth argument.  

No perfect peace by kindling of God's wrath and swaging of man's.  TO continue a realm in prosperity by kindling of God's wrath and assuaging of man's anger, cannot stand with christian policy.  
But by slackness of punishment against Church enemies, God's wrath is kindled, howsoever man's may seem to be assuaged.  
Therefore, etc.  
If wicked tyrants (as one saith) be only rods in the hand of the Lord, according to that of the prophet, O Assur the rod of my fury, and the staff of my wrath; then should the hand rather be pacified then the rod: but if it were possible that the rod could be pleased against the will of the hand, than were it to be feared that the hand should cast the rod away, and take a beetle or a maul or an hammer or an hatchet and beat us to powder.  
Many more reasons might be used to this purpose; but these I thought at this time to allege: always for mildness and mercy reserving a prerogative to my gracious sovereign and her honourable council, a worthy virtue to a faithful subject, but dangerous to a traitor. For sedition groweth by suffering, and clemency is a spur to rebellion.  
I do not disallow the sweet temperature of severity with mercy: 
Severity tempered with mercy.  But yet it must not be forgotten that the lives of princes, are the lives of their common wealths, whereby they must learn that being prodigal of their own estates, largiuntur ex alieno, as a learned man hath said: they give that which is none of their own to give. And therefore I dare avouch it, that it is divinity and true christian policy, to punish Gods, and her highness enemies; and that her Majesty and all christian princes in punishing of them shall retain nevertheless (by God's word) the names of mild and merciful governors: for if the children will needs be so unnatural as to make their mother smart; the mother shall show herself natural in ministering due correction.  
It is not good trusting them any longer, who have given her highness, and her realm so many earnests of their traitorous affections, and forewarnings of their covert confederacies: no, no, it is wisdom rather to follow the examples of miners, which pursue the signs every way, 
It is wisdom to provide a medicine before the sore.  as they spread in the ground, till they be guided to the trunk or body of the metal: even so to follow the appearances of suspicions and likelihoods, until it be manifest, what light made the shadow, or what fire made the smoke. A candles end not warily snuffed, a few embers carelessly couched, a few sticks not thoroughly quenched, have brought many an household to extreme woe and misery; wisdom will not stay till the flame being fed, overpeere the highest part of the roof, but will quench it before the strongest pillars be consumed: then look where the inconvenience lieth, and let Foxes rather be tied short, then hazard the devouring of the flock; rather slip off the branch suddenly, then hazard the perishing of the whole body; so shall you take a good course; then treason and treacherous practices will not be so rife, and such queasy stomachs as cannot brook good counsel, and wholesome exhortation; but following every disordered humour will be glad to keep themselves within the compass of christian duty.     

CHAPTER. 11.  
Two principal gardiens of the spiritual vineyard, by whom the Foxes must be taken, ministers and magistrates: wherein first of the duties of the ministers, with an indictment found against many patrons of benefices.  
THere be two principal hunters, which the Lord of the vineyard useth for the taking of these Foxes, Ministers and Magistrates; the one by the word, the other by the sword: By the word in reproving their false doctrine, by the true; and in seeking to transform them into sheep: by the sword, in cutting off the putrefied members, lest by their means the whole body be hazarded.  
The first hunter is the Minister, whose mouth and ministery the Lord hath always used to declare his will, 
Minister's hunters of the spiritual Foxes.  and therefore they are called his mouth; which for this cause in the holy scripture are diversly named, men of God, seers, prophets, planters of the Lords vineyard, builders of his house, watchmans over his City, husbandmen, Pastors, Doctors, Ambassadors, friends of the bridegroom dealers in the marriage between jesus Christ and his Church, dispensers of the mysteries of God: whose charge is understood generally by the words of watching, and feeding; sometime more distinctly, by attending unto the word and prayer; 
Act. 6.4. 2. Tim. 3.16.  sometimes by the words of teaching, improving, correcting, and instructing; sometimes by these words of watering and planting. Therefore the Apostle calleth not this charge a dignity, 
1. Cor. 3.6 1. Tim. 3.1  but a work or business. And here orderly to proceed, let me beseech you that are the chief fathers in our Church, preferred to your places for your wisdom, learning and gravities, overseers of the flock bought with the precious blood of jesus Christ; 
Act. 20.  whose security in this business hazardeth the health of the Church: but circumspection shall daunt the pride of these wicked ones that seek to bring us into Babylon. The wicked walk on every side. The papists speak proudly and never more proudly; young ymps that never beheld papistry in her bravest ruff, but have sucked poison from their mother's breasts, are not afraid to vomit blasphemies against the almighty: let such Foxes be hunted, help to reform this, for God's glory; and seek the recovery of him that hath troad his foot awry: let not careful preaching be choked through desire of ambitious aspiring, nor common care of the Church made sleepy through hungering after private profit: why should they sleep and take their ease, who ought to watch both for themselves, and for others?  
Again, I will speak to you, learned brethren, that having taken charge of christian souls, properly are called hunters of the spiritual Wolves in sheeps clothing, and deceitful Foxes; see that you oppose yourselves against all thieves and robbers that seek the spoil of the Lords flock; against all tyrants that oppress them; all hypocrites in show godly but indeed profane persons, that give offence by their deformities: So shall you shun those shameful reproaches, which by God's just judgement are fallen upon many in these days; yea so shall you shun the great curses denounced against them which do the work of the Lord negligently; and when the prince of pastors shall appear, you shall receive an incorruptible crown of glory.  
And that you may the better perform this, beware of the love of this world: it is like Aqua fortis, if once it catch the heart root; it will eat out all goodness, all care, all love, all zeal, and indignation against sin. Hence groweth nonresidency, swallowing down of steeples as easy as the hungry doth his crumbs. 
Love of the world chokes care of painful preaching.  Hence instead of hunting the Fox, there is hunting for promotion and preferment, hunting for the profits and pleasures of this present life, hunting for honour and for hundreds, scratching of consciences in beating of the bushes for many benefices, wheeling about the thickets to spy the couch of a prebendary or a deanery, etc. and therefore hath it come to pass that some which have had salt in them, that is understanding, knowledge, and zeal, have lost it through the persuasion of him that said; All this will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me; there being now no more relish in them then there is taste in the white of an egg: And what shall we say then of them, that never had any salt at all in them, never any love, any knowledge, any zeal? surely they be unprofitable servants, worthy to be cast out of the temple of God as filth and dung.  
For what breeds greater contempt against God, or discredit to his Gospel; what more revives a catholics hope to return unto Babylon; or encourageth the traitors to the accomplishment of their practices, than the blindness, ignorance and impiety of the ministery? how cometh it to pass that foolish people retain their old liking to their father's old faith, & young imps have the like opinion powered into them; and consequently, as it may seem, easy to be drawn from their dutiful loyalty to the love of a stranger; but because they have wanted such as should rightly inform them? can the inestimable treasury of a mighty prince be seen in the beggarlines of a base Ambassador? can the adversary of the Gospel be drawn from falsehood, and error by him that knows not (I had almost said believes not) the truth? can a papist be reduced from his worshipping of idols by him, that is no better than an idol himself? can the carnal gospeler, the wanton libertine, the profane heart, the beastly Epicure be brought to continency, modesty and sobriety, by such which rather bind them in the cords of iniquity? Lastly, if to know God, and according to that knowledge to serve him, be the groundwork of all true obedience; how is it then possible, that they whose consciences were never seasoned with any religion, should yield either to God or their prince any dutiful subjection? Saint Paul saith that he had begotten the Church of the Galathians; 
Gal. 4.9 1. Cor. 4.15.  and called himself the father of the Corinthians in regard of the ministery, because he had begotten them by the preaching of the Gospel. Such father's such children, such as are the seedmen, such seed they do sow. Where old wily Foxes, such as whose love to religion may be justly suspected, are admitted into this great calling, there popery is sown in stead of the Gospel; and Foxes grow up in stead of sound christians: where blind guides are made ministers, such as have no more knowledge than idols of wood and stone, preachers as they call them, of idiots; there must needs be poor knowledge of God, and suspected dutifulness to the prince. The great hurt and dishonour that these bring to the Church of God, no man can with effectual words display it; nor plenty of tears lament it, all sermons, exhortations, reprehensions, do rather aggravate their condemnations, then work any reformation.  
We read that the Emperor Commodus was so cunning in darting, that having gotten stones for the exercise of his hand, many citizens did assemble to see him throw, whose dexterity was such that he never cast at wild beasts, and miss his mark, nor gave any wound that was not deadly: It is to be wished that every one that rebuketh sin should level so strait as did this Emperor, that never threw but he hit, never hit but he wounded; so should the reader with the Romans neither see one monster twice galled, neither any sin recover the first wound. If darters at deformities could wound as deadly as they aim directly, this monstrous monster had been vanquished long ere this day: but alas it liveth, o yet it liveth, & liveth to nourish papism, atheism, and epicurism.  
If any marvel at this, how such are advanced to hold the helm as are scarce worthy to sit in the sink; hoist into Moses chair, that are more meet to sit at Gamaliels' feet; called to feed with the dug of the Gospel, before they themselves be well weaned; and sent to fight the Lords battles before they have one stone to sling against Goliath (that is one scripture to resist the tempter withal:) let him understand that this is either, because the hearts of patrons are limed with the love of this world, which makes them not care whom they present; or many Bishops have such motes in their eyes, that they cannot well see whom they bless.  
I am loath to rake in this dounghill of buying & selling of benefices, the which is a sufficient testimony (if there were no more) that men have as much true love to religion, as ever had Machiavelli. 
Five sorts of patrons of benefices.  There are divers sorts that give spiritual promotions in this land, some are our great Catholics, whose care to send good ministers into the Church, I durst swear for them, is as great as the Fox ever had to feed the lambs. And how can it stand with their blind religion to send good ministers into the true Christian Church? but rather to dishonour and deface it by sending in the basest, such as have neither urim, nor Thummim, neither brightness of knowledge, nor uprightness of life. It is said that jeroboam made Israel to sin, that is, to contemn religion: and why? because he made priests of the basest of the people. Therefore the devil knows well, that if he can get priests to be made of the refuse, he shall bring people to condemn preachers, and prophesying priests, and religion. Here let our Bishops be circumspect to sift narrowly when the patron gives the Fox for his cognisance.  
There is a second sort of patrons open adorers of their god Mammon. 
Mammonistes patrons described.  These are as good to God's Church as the former. Indeed I must confess, that when they give their spiritual promotions, all their care is to get a man of gifts: O gifts, gifts, & nothing at all respected with these Merchants but gifts. My meaning as no mystery, Si nihil attuleris ibis Homere foras. If you have no gifts, the passage is plain & you must pack. Can we find, saith Pharaoh, such a man as this? (meaning joseph, for his excellency) in whom is the spirit of God, 
Gen. 41.38.  thou shalt be over my house. And can we find such a man as this, saith a sacrilegious patron? meaning a Sir john lack Latin, lack learning, lack conscience, whose friends can pay well, or purse is well lined, or will so friendly part the stake. Pharaoh, cruel Pharaoh, heathenish Pharaoh in the government of his Kingdom preferred joseph for inward grace: but these christians (for so they unworthily are called) in giving spiritual promotions for the benefit of Christ his Church, regard nothing else but outward gain. For when the match is made, this patron must have the tithe corn, Glebe land; and the house peradventure, if it be fit for a gentleman; with tith wool and lamb, if it be from the pastures: And what shall the poor parson have (as they call him?) forsooth a little odd money, tith calves, tith geese and a few eggs at Easter. And how then? graundmercie must the seely sheep say to the butcher, that hath cut his throat. I will say to these as Simon Peter said to Simon Magus, 
Acts 8.  thou and thy gifts perish, which thou receivedst to give so unworthily, to the great dishonour of the Church: and he and his gifts perish, which he gave to make a way for himself to that place in the Church, whereunto by the judgement of his own heart there was never any ability or aptness.  
To show that honour only aught ever to accompany virtue, the heathens built a temple to honour, and adjoined thereunto another built unto virtue, that so, whosoever would go up into the temple of honour, should pass through the temple of virtue: monstrous it is that christians in profession should be worse than heathens in practice, they would enter into the temple of honour by virtue, we by bribes. If you think this to be no sin, hear the Lord complaining by the prophet Malachi in plain terms, 
Mal. 3.8.  that the taking away the tithes and offerings from that end they were appointed unto, was a robbing and spoiling of him, yea even such a spoiling, as he would visit with a great and grievous curse. It is no less now, so long as authority ratifieth the same to the maintenance of the ministery, and therefore undoubtedly will have a sharp revenge.  
Balthasar escaped not the revenging hand of God when he fell to feasting and carrusing with his prince's wives, 
Daniel. 5.  and concubines, in the vessels of gold taken from the temple, but even then espies the fingers of an hand writing upon the wall before his face, that his kingdom God had numbered and finished, and weighed him in the balance and found him too light; and therefore divided and given his kingdom away to the Medes and Persians. 
Read your sentence rob Churches.  And do you which eat the corn of the barn and drink the blood of christian souls, that solace yourselves with the spoil of the Church, think to escape the sentence of the almighty? It is a sure thing (if you could spy it) that the Lord hath divided, blown upon it, and scattered that which by such sinister means you have gathered together; neither shall it prosper; but as it hath been gotten over the devils back, so shall it be spent under his dams belly: and as it came in upon a post rolling and tumbling on every side; so the Lord shall open the cage and it shall away again, having caught wings like an eagle. But if perhaps you escape the sentence writing a division here, you shall be sure without repentance of the sentence of confusion else where.  
David standing in great distress for water would not drink of the water of Bethleem, because it was gotten with the danger of some few men's temporal lives: 
See your sin soul murderers.  but you drink and eat that which is gotten with apparent hazard of life eternal of hundreds and thousands.  
Can you for conscience reply? nay the power of hell is not able to deny it. The foul carrion raven is your cognisance which flew out of Noahes Ark, and returned not again; but was detained with the filthy stench of drowned carcases: even so do you which thus seek the spoil of the Church, Dulcis odor lucri ex re qualibet, the savour of gain is sweet, if you can suck it out of the vilest things, every baggage or garbage is good enough for you.  
There is a third sort which having no sense nor feeling of this sin, 
Benumbed and senseless patrons.  bestow Church-livings not as caring for the Church, or respecting the edifying of the flock of Christ, but as they are moved by kindred, by favour, by affection, by suits: 
Your practice proves you Atheists.  so they do bestow sufficient livings upon unsufficient persons. I say, not caring whether the people sink or swim, stand or fall, live or die, be saved or damned. The Lord jesus sets it down as a note of the ministers love, that he feeds the flock: In like sort is it the patrons love to cause the flock to be fed. Contrariwise it is want of love in the minister, if he do not feed: and what is it in the patron, if by his carelessness this come to pass? It is a fault to give the calling to him that is unworthy, & no fault to give the living unto him? In the sixth of S. Marks gospel it is said of Christ, that going out & seeing a great multitude of people gathered together, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd: It is a necessary consequence, that if Christ's bowels earn to see his sheep deprived of a shepherd, that he will make your hearts ache that are the cause of this horrible sin. I am ashamed to rehearse how the Church of god is abused by you, who in bestowing your Church-livings giving them not to ministers, as ministers; but as to your sons, or your servants or your kinsmen, or to some other that by some by-desert hath gained your favours: and yet behold you would feign seem friends to religion and pretend many good motions. But to be plain with you, your motions are like unto the grasshoppers, that no sooner gives an hop upward, but down he comes again; your words may seem heavenly, but your practice is earthly.  
There is a fourth sort of patrons which profess religion, 
These would have you think they love the Church, and so they do.  & yet many of them smutched with this blot. These go beyond the rest, in this that they would be glad the people should be fed with knowledge and understanding: but as the mammonist before named, cares not whom he presents, so he may reap the profit; if he cannot compass it to make it plainly temporal: so this patronizer makes a pause (you must think) to find one sufficient to take the charge: 
These spin hypocrisy finely.  but indeed that either an harvest may quite his cost he hath been at, by many suitors; or else to get a good one as cheap as he can. It was once said, religio peperit divitias, sed filia devoravit matrem: that is, religion brought forth riches, but the daughter devoured the mother. The times are altered, & religion mourns, because her best servants want their wages. For they never gave so fast as now they take away, 
Sublatis studiorum praemijs ipsa studiae pereunt, saith Cornelius Tacitus.  and substraction is become a great part of patron's study. The conclusion like to follow such polling premises, is the decay of learning, piety & religion, & the bringing in of all Atheism, error & Barbarism. For they which would study divinity above all, when they see that the Church hath scarce the favour of an ordinary ward, yea when they behold the contempt, the beggerlines, vexation and miserable want of the ministry, are glad to fall to physic, or law, or some other trade. 
Gen. 48 7  What shall I say of you? You are worse than Pharaoh, for he had a care of his priests howsoever the world went with the rest. You are not so kind to ministers of the gospel as jesabel that painted harlot, 
1. King. 18.19. These shall rise in judgement against you. jud. 17.  was to the prophets of the groves, for she fed four hundred at her table: you are not half so religious, as Micha was superstitious, for he maintained his priests. You show that you have less love to religion than they papists have to superstition. The kite is your cognisance, who being greedy and ravenous, yet mounteth aloft as though he would touch the gliding clouds; but yet when he flieth a matchless pitch, he hath his eyes fixed below on the earth, spying and prying for a carrion carcase: even so you soar aloft in your contemplation, and in a certain counterfeit sanctimony seem to be raised and carried above the clouds; yet so long as you can find in your hearts to play the part-stake patrons to spoil the Church, & to seek to enrich yourselves by such robberies (they are no better) it is an infallible sign that you are worldlings and earthly minded, seeking your own gain and private profit. For God's love let this be reform, that we may know you by another cognisance. The last and best sort of patrons are such as account them worthy of double honour which rule well, 
The best sort of patrons. 1. Tim. 5.17.  that hold the labourer worthy of his hire; that no man goeth to warfare on his own charges; 
1. Cor, 1, from the 5, verse to the 15  that husbandmen should eat of the fruit of such vineyards as they themselves planted; that sheppeheards should eat of the milk of their own flocks; that sowers of spiritual things, which are the greater, are well worthy to reap carnal things which are the lesser; that they which serve at the altar are worthy to live by the altar. These for their cognisance may fitly give some rare bird; I had almost said the black Swan: but it shall be the Eagle, for she mounteth on high and falleth not on the ground, but to seek her necessary food, and being satisfied straightway soareth aloft: even so the minds of these are occupied in heaven, all superfluous cares being cast apart, they indeed wish the prosperity of jerusalem, & the happy flourishing state of the Church. O Lord almighty increase the number of these; and in thy mercy convert, or in justice confound such Church-robbers as savour nothing but their own gain, as daily endeavour to take away the reward of knowledge & are the death of thousand thousands of souls: stir up O Lord thy faithful servant our dread sovereign, that with Nehemiah she may thrust out all such Eliashibs as abuse the Church in this manner, 
Nehem. 13.14.  and every Tobiah linked in affinity with them, that thy servants may have their own portions, and that thou mayst not be mocked; so we thy workmanship and sheep of thy pasture, for so great a mercy, shall praise thee far ever. Amen.   

CHAPTER. 12.  
The duty of Christian Magistrates, as well Sovereign as others, in hunting and taking the two-legged Foxes.  
THere be two sorts of men, which say that the charge of Religion belongeth not to the office of the magistrate. First, they which under pretence of their anointed clergy, and privileged priesthood cannot abide to have their abuses reform. Secondly, they which either are infected with some heresy, or else are willing to dally with heretics. The first sort do only require of the magistrate to maintain and defend their degrees. The second sort holdeth, that the magistrate ought only to meddle with the maintenance of public peace, and not to regard what others believe or not believe. But the true Church teacheth that the charge of public religion doth not in part, 
Charge of religion belongeth to the Magistrate.  but principally, and most of all belong unto the magistrate, which thing the holy scripture approveth. Moses the first general magistrate of the Israelites, 
God gave the order of religion to Moses not to Aaron.  who did not represent the person of a priest, which was put unto Aaron, but of the superior power like unto the authority of a king, did give the order of all religion unto the people, & appointed unto Aaron & the order of the priests what they should do, & what they should not do. Whereby it appeareth that the care of the order of religion doth rather belong unto the superior magistrate, then unto the degree of priesthood.  
I know they will say, that Moses did dispose all these things at God's commandment. It is true: but I will be answered again, why God gave not the commandment for order of religion unto Aaron, whom he had consecrated to be a priest, rather than unto Moses? So then this rather showeth that the charge of the institution and governance belongs unto the magistrate; but the institution, charge and ministration, belongs unto the priests. Again, after the death of Moses, the charge of religion belonged not to Eleasar the Priest, but to jehosua the magistrate, who was of the tribe of Ephraim, 
josua. 5  and not of Levi, by whose commandment the children of Israel were the second time circumcised, the Ark of God carried by the priests, the altars builded, the people sanctified, and the rest of the laws fulfilled, which Moses prescribed. Again, jehosua charged them to fear the Lord, 
josua. 8  and to serve him with an upright and faithful heart. jehosua charged them to rid out of the way all strange gods, jehosua renewed the covenant between God and his people, and compiled the words of the covenant into the book of God's law.  
True it is that the office of magistracy and priesthood both were joined together in the person of Samuel, 
1. Sam. 1.  but yet he being at that time the chief man in Israel, judged and determined as a magistrate, taught and sacrificed as a priest.  
David a pattern for good magistrates, 
The ordering of religion by David.  and unto whom Christian rulers ought to have an eye for godliness, 
2. Sam. 6  had the authority of disposing & setting forth true religion, 
1. Chro. 16 1. Cho. 22.23.24.25  he recovered the Ark of God from contempt received in the time of judges, & of Saul, & placed it more comely: he appointed Priests, Levites, singers, and doorkeepers, to minister in the tabernacle of the lord. He advised kings to look unto their duties: 
Psal. 2  And now ye kings understand, be learned which judge the land, serve the Lord in fear, etc.  
Solomon did bear the highest charge in religion, 
Solomon, Asa and jehosaphat took charge of religion.  not only in building the Lords Temple, but also in consecrating & hallowing of the same. What should I speak of Asa, who having the charge of religion did rid away the Idols out of all the land of juda & Benjamin, 
2. Chro. 6 2. Chro. 15 2. Chro. 29.30.81  etc. And of jehosophat, who took away the hil-altars and groves out of juda: Of Ezechias, who following the footsteps of his father David in the beginning of his reign the first year and first month, opened and refurnished the gates of God's house, commanded the priests to hear him, & to become holy, to cleanse the Lords house, and to rid all filthiness out of his sanctuary, appointed levites with cymbals Psalters & harps, according to the ordinance of the king his father. The like is written of josias, who used the same power & authority in the like case. Now then since it is so clear, 
john. 12.18 Rom. 13.1  that kings & princes are the servants of God established in authority, & girded by him with a bawdrier to the end, that not only honesty of life should be maintained, opposed to violence & dissolution; but that the true service of God should be advanced contrary to idolatry & superstition: Therefore they ought with all the power which God hath given them, to uphold the holy ministry & worship of God, as well in uprightness of discipline, as purity of doctrine; that both may be conformable to the word of the Lord testified by Christ & his Apostles, without adding or clipping or altering: & consequently bridle as much as they can, & punish according to the exigence of the case, the perturbers of the peace of the Church. For religion belongs not to the left, but to the right hand of a prince; neither is there any crown so curiously wrought or cunningly set with precious pearls, that can half so beautify a prince's person, as to seek to promote the glory of the lord, and to take these Foxes which seek to undermine his vineyard. The servants of Benhadad king of Syria, 
1. King. 20 Traitors make mercy the groundwork of mischief.  what wrong soever they had offered to Israel, yet fallen into the lapse, would revive and recomfort themselves with these words: Behold we have heard say that the kings of Israel are merciful kings, let us therefore put sackcloth about our loins, and ropes about our necks, and go to the king of Israel, it may be that he will save our lives. Thus standing upon what may be, and not what ought to be, what peradventure he would, and not what they deserved, they make mercy the ground plot of mischief. But the king is reproved, and it is told him, thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people: No less are those runagate ruffians to be regarded with them which welcome and entertain them. For as the practice of the one is to steal away the hearts of subjects, so the mark that the other aim at, is to lend them their hands against their country, if time should serve their turn. The Almighty God preserve her Majesty, and evermore increase all zeal in her for the punishment of his, & her enemies; that as Asa commanded all such to be slain as would not serve the God of Israel; as Darius delivered Daniel, 
1. King. 15 Daniel 6 Daniel. 4 2. King, 19 2. King, 23  and cast his enemies into the den of the Lions; as Nabuchadnezzar served him, who by proclamation forbade any in his Dominion to blaspheme the true and very God; as Ezechias and josias served him by overthrowing the groves, and the places that were set up contrary to God's commandment: So she with David, hating Gods enemies with a perfect hatred, may seek to root them out more and more: and as already she hath broken down the lofts, that were builded to idolatry, overthrown, polluted, and defiled the altars, defaced the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the host of heaven; so she may cut up the very roots of iniquity, and expel the Canaanites, that the Commonwealth of Israel be not troubled. O let not the glozing speech of any ambitious parasite dazzle her highness eyes, nor bolster up popery by a false persuasion to further clemency; but let him be dishonoured in a day that is not truly zealous for the honour of his God: and let him die the death that wisheth not her majesties throne to stand steady as the seat of Solomon; and you that fear the Lord, and love his truth, say Amen. Furthermore as the foresight of her highness most honourable counsel hath appeared in shielding us from foreign foes: so ought their chief circumspection to be seen in shielding us from domestical fear. Then shall we being free in our bowels from sedition at home, be stronger to withstand foreign power abroad.  
It is not a safe thing to lay the bridle upon the neck of such dangerous practitioners, by whom both prince, yourselves, our lives, our country, our fortunes may be hazarded in an instant: execution of discipline is a perfect mithridate against all dangerous conspiracies, insurrections, seditions, rebellions, and all popish policies. Correct saith Bensyra a wise man with a nod, and a fool with a club: there hath been mildness and lenity showed long enough; there hath been becking and nodding, and notting long enough; but the froward will not receive information: What remaineth then but an hammer, or an hatchet, or a club, execution I mean of justice, against these household enemies? Your H. shall rightly propose to yourselves the example of Moses, who for the like cause hanged up the princes of the people, teaching thereby all good rulers to make them examples in suffering, who have been the ringleaders in offending.  
Here also to you the grave sages of this land may rightly a lesson be read: I mean the judges placed over God's people to judge sound & substantially betwixt brethren and brethren; unto whom God hath after a sort lent his name and his seat, 
The duty of judges in hunting the Fox.  to teach you chief to regard and maintain his own honour. If it be your duties to punish thieves, murderers, and such like perturbers of the peace of the Commonwealth, then much more the underminers of the Lords vineyard, gross Idolaters, hollow hearted votaries, disloyal persons, whose liberties & prosperities in a Christian Church what can it elf argue, but that justice is turned into juggling? and true religion, either into heathenish profaneness or Romish superstition? You may not forget that justice is pictured with a pair of balances in one hand, and a sword in the other; to teach you that justice must return to judgement, whether in regarding the good, or punishing the evil. Improbum hominem praestat non accusasse quàm absoluisse. It is better not to have accused, then after accusation to acquit the malefactor: but to dally with Church enemies, presageth future danger, and in time may prove fatal to the state. Let Moses also be your precedent, who punished idolaters against God, as sharply as traitors against himself. O Lord! that a traitor to the kingdom of Christ jesus should find a friend in a Christian Commonwealth; but of judges, Magistrates, and governors, it were untolerable. Shall a poor thief pack to Tyburn for five shillings, and one that if it were in his hand would strangle or cut the throat of the Church, escape scotfree? Tully truly said Magistratus indicat virum, authority declareth a man what he is, whether he love equity or bribery, justice or cruelty, 
Authority trieth a man.  religion or superstition. If a Lion his paws, if a Wolf his jaws will betray him; if he love the Church and religion he will draw the sword against her foes; if he be an ambidexter, he careth but a little for her friends. Here therefore I require you, that as you serve God in fear, and love his truth in heart; that so you would promote his glory in zeal, and punish the offender according to the exigence of the case: for as it is an horrible sin with Pilate to judge Christ guiltless, and then to condemn him; with Festus to approve Paul's cause, and then to leave him in prison: in like sort it is a wicked thing in words to sentence the enemies of Christ, and indeed to turn them lose to live at their pleasures like Foxes amidst the flock, to try what havoc they can make of all.  
I may not pretermit in this place, the great care and conscience that ought to be in election of Magistrates in Cities, Burrowes, and Towns endued with such privileges. jethro points out the properties of them which should bear rule: Thou shalt choose out amongst all the people men of courage, 
Exod. 18  fearing God, and hating covetousness, and them shalt thou make governors over the people. The Israelits desired God to grant unto josua, 
josua. 1  being newly made their governor, an heart to go in and out before them. A necessary prayer; for what an ugly thing were it to choose Verres a thief to inveigh against robbery; Crassus a miser to make his plea against covetousness; Gracchus a traitor to give sentence against treason; Nero a tyrant to declaim against cruelty, that is, to pick out such to punish sin as are more worthy of punishment themselves, like unto the whore hunting judges of Samaria, mentioned by jeremy? 
jer. 5  And I would to God that such were not the election in many places where officers are chosen, 
Untolerable abuses committed in many places.  as if men would pick rottenness out of an apple, where election is made a matter of formality, where wealth not wisdom, riches not religion, sufficiency to feast them, no ability to govern them, is the level of their choice. Hence grow such swarms of Atheists, Epicures, & Papists in many quarters of this land, as it is lamentable to behold. For the reason why wicked men abound, is because wicked men bear rule.  
Lastly, 
All good subjects must be Fox-hunters.  every good Christian that desireth the free passage of the gospel of jesus Christ, in respect whereof, all pompous glory is no better than dounghill filthiness; and every good subject that desireth the prosperity of her Royal person, and peace of this Realm, must show forth the power both of religion, and loyalty in this work of setting the toil wherewith to take these Foxes. And that you may do it with alacrity and cheerfulness, do but consider how the devil, the Pope and the Turk, have given their consents to supplant and undermine, or else openly to assault and invade this vinyeard of the Lord. Let there be a sacrifice proclaimed to the Queen of Heaven, there will be no spare of cost or travail: Young men will cut wood, children will gather chips, women will fetch water, old men afford wheat, one will knead dough, another heat the Oven, and all to sacrifice (I say) to the Queen of heaven: Yea, there liveth many amongst us, whose hearts are full of bitterness, because they may not sing salve regina. These are they that use wicked consultation in holy places, profane our Temples by lewd conference, and make the house of prayer a den of thieves. 
Privy marks of Romish Foxes.  These are they that construe every accident to the advantage of their own purpose. These are they that by their whispering tales would put men in fear, when there is no cause of fear; thinking to make men afraid of scarecrows. But the name of God be praised, who is unto this land, even a wall of Brass, who as he hath given us religion from heaven as a crown; so hath it pleased him to strengthen this kingdom with loyalty as a strong defence: and yet more magnified be thy name O Lord our fortress and deliverer, who when disloyal persons have been found endeavouring to prostitute our beauty to a stranger, hast discovered the conspiracy, and brought deserved destruction upon the devisers; so Lord we beseech thee still to watch over us. Amen.   

CHAPTER. 13  
Two Toils whereby Foxes must be taken, 

1 The word truly preached:  
2 Good laws duly executed.   The miserable end of traitors.  
THe gardiens and keepers of the spiritual vineyard (as hath been declared) ought to be in continual chase of these hurtful beasts, and not to leave them until either they be transformed into sheep, or else driven quite out, 
The word of God the first toil wherewith to take Foxes.  that the whole flock be not hazarded. Now the first means to effect this, is by pitching the hays and setting the toils of the word of God, by the light whereof their darkness may be discovered; as also by the fire thereof, the chaff of their lies and falsehood may be consumed. Hereby you may see the necessity of such a ministery as is able to handle the sword of the word with both hands; as is able to beget his people in the faith, to confirm the established, to strengthen the weak, to reclaim the backsliders, and to confute the adversary, that the enemy may no sooner peep out his head, but the sword of the spirit may be ready to cut it off.  
Ye famous Universities, eternised in Honour's book for deep learning, and fervent love to Religion; Almighty God make you still fruitful, that from you both as sisters endowed with like privileges, crowned with like honour, may proceed Foxe-hunters into every corner and quarter of this land. Your children hitherto have received all challenges of Roman Champions, and chased this noisome vermin that have laboured to poison the sincerity of our faith. Worthy whitaker's 
whitaker's.  of never dying fame, small cause hath Rome to vaunt her Bellarmine, or Lovan to admire her Stapleton, (ours had he not been enchanted) by thee both wounded.  
Profound Fulke, 
Fulke.  whose truth and great travail the Church of God hath tried, many a Fox hast thou had in chase, not able to abide thy hot pursuit. Who ever gave the dare, and thou didst not receive the challenge? Humphrey 
Humphrey.  of much reading, in thy time wast thou a chief hunter of the Romish Fox. How oft from chair of truth hast thou confuted their lying falsehoods? Reynolds, 
Reynolds.  as thou hast Rainard the old Fox and his cubs in chase; so God, according to his good will, give thee long life still to hunt and pursue them, that by the fire of God's word, the chaff of their lies may be consumed. I might take occasion in this place to urge soundness and sincerity, in setting this toil of the word. For it is not decrees of Popes, nor determinations of Counsels, not Cicero his eloquence, nor Aristotle his philosophy, 
God's word purely preached, transformeth Foxes into sheep  that can convert a sinner, or transform a Fox into a sheep: but it is the law of God truly taught and opened, that reduceth men from their errors and deformities, and bringeth them into the perfect path of health and salvation: I say the preaching of the word, accompanied with the assistance of the spirit. For it is not in man, neither in whole nor in part, to draw men unto God, to open their eyes, to boar their ears, to illumine their minds, or open their hearts: No, no, to fit the ground to receive the seed, to make it bud and blossom, and bring forth fruit, is the work of the only son of righteousness, who giveth repentance, and remission of sins unto his Israel.  
If the wicked and ungodly will needs be so wilful, 
Good laws a needful toil whereby to take Foxes.  as to refuse the ministery of the word; then the Magistrates must pitch the toils of God's laws, which are the very life and soul of the Commonwealth, as Tully saith in his Oration for Cluentius: Neither is any commonwealth more able to use her own parts without the help of good laws, than the body of a man can exercise the due operations without understanding: And therefore is it said of Aristotle that the sun is not more needful to the world, then good and wholesome laws are to the preservation of the Commonwealth. For as the sun by his heat, and influence doth nourish plants, trees, and herbs; comfort also and give strength unto them, to exercise their several properties: so good laws nourish and maintain the flourishing state of kingdoms; as on the other side without these, there can be nothing else but disorder and utter confusion. But yet it may not be forgotten, 
Execution the life of the law.  that as good laws are the lives of Commonwealths: so execution is the life of the law; for laws are better unmade then unkept: and our laws seem like to Spider's webs, wherethrough the buzzing Bees, Hornets, or horseflies do break; but the poor feeble flies hang fast. If this were not so, you should have fewer Gentlemen thieves, fewer Gentlemen adulterers, fewer Gentlemen idolaters. And who knoweth not that although a City were defended with walls of Brass; yet if there want men and munition, in time they will be beaten down: even so though laws were never so wisely made; yet if they want such as shall urge their obedience and defend them, they will soon prove nothing worth. Therefore the saying of Solon is worthy remembrance, who being asked when the Commonwealth did most flourish, answered, when the people obey the Magistrate, and the Magistrate obeyeth the law.  
Again, for the right proceeding in judgement against heretical persons, 
Two things to be reproved in an heretic:  you must consider that there be two things worthy to be reproved in an hereticke-seducer; for a difference is to be made betwixt the seducer, the grand Captain or Ringleader, and the poor seely wretch seduced. Now in the seducer there is first his heresy; and secondly, the scattering of his heresy, whereby he goeth about to infect and poison others. These seed-men of superstition and heretical scatterers, must be better looked unto, that the multitude may be saved from seduction: 
Seducing heretics.  or else great danger will grow not only to Christ his Church by poisoning and perverting the purity of religion; but to the state of the land, by daily addition of strength to the Romish faction. It is too well known how fast our Papists do increase in many parts of this land; and how daily one draweth another into the pit of perdition: surely the fault is either in the minister or magistrate, or else in both. But this is a sure thing, that as Popery getteth ground; so the Gospel looseth ground: and where superstition swimmeth, there religion sinketh. Lastly, whether they wish the life or the death of her majesties person, by whose most gracious government true religion is continued, who are so hotly devoted to superstition; let the former reasons against all perfect papists determine. 
Seduced people.  As for the seduced and poor deceived wretches, all means are to be practised for their conversions: but when as once it is proved that they are not only ignorant, but obstinately and wilfully ignorant, and that the more they be forborn, the less they are reform; like unto the vine that prospereth with no pruning, or the herb that withereth with watering: what can remain else, but that where mild and temperate medicines can take no effect, there be used violent means, as sharp corrosives: and why not cautery & incision, lest that greater inconvenience grow either by example, which giveth encouragement, or by corruption which comes by their company. Therefore the wholesome counsel of the Poet is to be harkened unto, where he saith: 

Cuncta prius tentanda, sed immedicabile vulnus 
When incision is to be used.   
Ense recidendum, ne pars sincera trahaetur.   

To salve the sore, first try each way;  
If cureless thou it see;  
Then cauterize, lest sounder parts  
Therewith attainted be.   For experience plainly teacheth, that the Cancer consumes the Rose, the Caterpillar eats the fruit, the sore eye infects the sound, that pitch defileth, that leaven soureth, that scabde sheep infect the flock. I will end this point, affirming thus much, that since all may in freedom do well without fear: it were lamentable that any should have liberty to do wickedly with favour.  
I will speak a little of the miserable end of traitors, and so conclude: 
The miserable end of traitors.  in reading either the book of God, or other histories, we shall hardly find that traitors have closed up their eyes with honour. Sellam conspired against Zacharias the King of Israel, and slew him: but within one month after, he himself was slain of Manahem. 
4. King: 15  Peka conspired against Pekaiam, but after was slain of Oseas. But what should I light a candle at noon day? We ourselves are eye-witnesses, that very seldom traitors go down to the grave in peace. Ambitious Richard the usurper, because he was notorious, 
Richard the Usurper:  shall here be remembered, who to make the way to his haughty desire of Sovereignty, spared neither age, affinity, nor degree, until he had got the regal diadem: and then thought he himself so surely grounded, that he might bid defiance to heaven and earth: but see his end; he was slain in the field, and being disarmed and stripped, was thrown overthwart an horse back, with his face downward, and daubed with dirt, brought from Bosworth to Leicester, and there in stead of a princely funeral, had for his Herald infamy, shame for his shrouding sheet, and never dying obloquy for his sepulchre.  
Sir james Tyrrel mounted aloft, 
Sir james Tyrrell. Miles Forrest jesabel sentenceth Traitors.  for murdering the young King, was himself beheaded by Henry the seventh: Miles Forrest a cursed caitiff, did rot away piece meal: jesabel although an abominable wretch, yet truly thought that a traitorous life could seldom end with an happy death. Had Zimri peace that slew his master? Which speech, although it were grounded upon a false conjecture, because that burden by God's appointment was laid upon the house of Achab, and jehu particularly deputed to that charge, whereas Zimri had no commission to go so far: yet implieth it this much, that she thought treason an odious crime, and that vengeance must needs follow it at the heels; and have we not had most manifest experience of it in this land, within these few years? How many jesuits in profession, Iscariots' in practice, have visited Tyburn? How many Foxe-priests have taken their farewell at the gallows? And although Rome hath lately beautified them with the title of Martyrs, whom either male-contentednes or malice, caused to be treacherous to their Prince: yet is it a thing evident, that rebellion not religion; treason not truth; hath brought them to the halter. The almighty God that governeth heaven & earth, still dissipate their devices, and confound their counsels, that all such as seek by treason to supplant England's state, by sedition to sell her honour, or by rebellion to scatter her peace, may still receive such just reward for their demerits, as heretofore they have done. Amen.   
FINIS.