THE TRAGICOCOMEdie of Serpents.  
By Lodowik Lloid Esquire.  
Videte Canes.  Phil. 3. 
Domus impiorum delebitur.  Prou. 14. 
LONDON Printed by Thomas Purfoot, and are to be sold by Arthur johnson, at his shop near the great North door of Paul's, at the sign of the White Horse. 1607.   

  

TO THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTY King, james by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, etc.  
ARchimedes a famous Mathematician (most mighty Prince) said, If he had but a place to stand free from the earth, he could invent means to move the whole earth: some such there be though not like Archimedes, to move the whole earth; yet they move Countries and Kingdoms on the earth. And as Dinocrates that skilful Architector thought to bring mount Atho, to the low form and stature of a man, so some would bring high Mountains, and great hills, as low as mouldhilles.  
Of such we may now so say in Britain, as Polemo spoke sometime of counterfeit Tragedians in Smyrna, who with their false Solaechismes, lifting up their dissembling eyes to heaven, saying, O coelum, when their treacherous hearts and bloody hands be on earth, saying, O terra. These be they that have with the Traitor Saba, what portion have we in the Son of Isa, or in the house of judah?  
Against such, joshua made a law in Israel, that no counterfeit Gibeonite should bear Office in judah, but hew wood, and carry water for Israel.  
jepthe made likewise a law, that no forsworn Giliadite that could not pronounce Schibboleth, should pass over Iorden.  
Your Majesty made also a law, that no treacherous ambitious Papist that had Jacob's voice, and Esau's hands should stay within great Britain, they should either obey the Roman law, lex julia, or the Athenians law Ostrachismos; & therefore was the rod of Aaron, and the law Book commanded to be kept together in the Ark, Vt quiescant querele judaeorum, which King josias had, both the Sword, & the Law book carried before him, Tanquam insign●● Principis.  
So julius Caesar, as it appeareth, his Image that had a Sword in one hand, and a Book in the other written upon his breast, Ex utroque Caesar. But while any of Saul's seed lived in Israel, Israel could not be quiet, nor David take rest. Shall we wish as the Apostles did, fire to burn these Samaritans? or with Elias, fire to destroy these Soldiers of Achab?  
Themistocles wished a bridge of gold for Xerxes' army to pass out of Greece unto Persia. Scipio wished a brazen wall, to convey Hannibal out of Italy into Africa: truly the Persians were not more greedy of Greece, nor the Carthagenians of Italy, as these jesuits and Seminaries are of great Britain, who have sworn and promised, as Zedech●as did with his iron horns to Achab, His ventilabis Syriam.  
These be the Frogs that went out of the Dragon's mouth, spiritus Daemoniorum, croaking in every corner of great Britain, to move seditions and treasons in Kingdoms and Countries.  
These contend, not as Ajax did with Ulysses for Achilles' armour, nor like Edom, though they be Edomites for the blessing of Isaak, but as Torquine did with Brutus, who should rule Rome, a King, or a Consul; who should govern great Britain, a King, or a Pope. Where many if they might hear the Bishop of Rome, proclaimed a Pope in England, would as willingly die for joy in great Britain, as Diagoras the Philosopher died at Rhodes, for joy to hear his three Sons to be crowned in the games of Olympia.  
Your majesties most humble and dutiful Servant, LODOWIK LLOID.   

IN ADVENTUM POtentissimi Principis jacobi Dei gratia magnae Britaniae, Franciae, & Hiberniae Regis; Ludovici Lloid Eboracensis gratulatio.  
MVlti foelices fuere dies (Augustissime Princeps) dies solis supra Gabaon, dies Lunae super Aialon, dies Martis non solum super Scotos in Scotia, sed super Anglos in Anglia, in quibus uti Ioshua de regibus sua fixit in coelo trophaea, ita noster jacobus de Tyrannis suos habuit in terra triumphos; O dies quem fecit Dominus, dies soli at coelo gratissimus, nobis foelicissimus, dies Israel è Mesopotamia in Chanan, uti Chanan judah diceretur, dies jacobi è Scotia in Angliam, ut Anglia magna iterum appellaretur Britania; an potuit ulla foelicior Britanis evenire dies, quam in quo rex noster laureatus non armatus venit, instar Alexandri, ad solium Cyri cum sanguine, aut instar Caesaris ad Romam suam patriam in armis, quorum ius fine iure in armis fuerat.  
Non venit galeatus, sed coronatus nuntius cum nuntio foelicissimo, quid enim foelicius, quam in tria florentissima regna cum foelicissimo populi applausu regem inaugurari: quid foecundius, quam de tribus in faecundis regnis, regna tria faecundissima fieri, ita venit & invenit Angliam, uti Alexander reliquit Asiam, sine rege & regijs liberis, at quam foecundam ex infoecunda fecit Angliam regia proles, invenit Cambriam uti Augustus invenit Romam, lateritiam ac ruinosam. O quam marmor eanfecit rex noster jacobus, in quo tanquam in secundo Bruto, in secundo rege, & quasi in secundo seculo, secula post multa, quae aruerunt virescunt, & quae senuerunt in te hodierno die repubescunt.  
O quanta hinc nostra foelicitas, si à tanta felicitate non vincamur, (parce pijssime princeps) potuit Lucullus atrum diem, diem candidum efficere Romanis: potuit Themistocles nephastum diem, in diem festum convertere Graecis. O quanto facilius poteris princeps, non diem, non annum, sed dies & annos plurimos Britannis efficere foelicissimos, si de fictis Gabonitis, ita tua mundetur Sparta ne contamnetur Israel, si de perfidis Efframitis, ita nostra purgetur Britania, ne inquinaretur domus jacob; Amphippi milites, quos omnis color cum Aristippo decuit, Mercurij proles, qui pluris cum Vlisse de sua Ithaca, quam de patria, quam de principe, vere or quam de aeternitate pensitarunt, quibus unus semper Catilina pluris praecij fuit, quam tercentum fabij quibus non quae lex, sed quae nex digna querer eiur, qui magis saeviunt in Britaniam, quam Caligulae proles in Romam.  
Atiquorsum est haec, cum anima nostra in tuo, 〈◊〉 passer ereptae est de laqueo venantium. Plaudite itaque Britani, clangite ●ubam Angli, nam uti Troes cum Tyrijs uno nomine fuere Latini, ita Anglicum Scotis, qui sub uno rege gubernantur, & una lingua loquuntur, ita vna●lege utantur, & una voce vocentur Britanni.  
Sic Cotys rex Thraciae, Thraciam aeqnavit Athenis, sic Vespasianus ius Latij Hispanis tribuit, sic Claudius ius civitatis Gallis & Graecis concessit, ut cum externis uniti Romani, Roma semper victrix, cum nec numero Hispanis, necrobore Gallis, nec calliditate poenis, nec artibus Graecis par fuit Roma, ita Graecia cum civibus unita, quae gens par potuit esse Graecis, at divisa quanto facilius non à Persis, nec à Macedonibus, sed Graecia à Graecis victa. Quamta virtus & victoria judaeorum, dum una uniti lege & religione. Quanta utriusque regni clades divisa dici non potest. Quid multa, nihil aliud maius fuisse fertur exitio Graecis, quam iura civitatis externis interdicere, leges quas Solon Athenis, & quas Lycurgus Spartae sanxerunt, nam uti omnis virtus unita praestantior, ita omnis vis unita fortior, ut Anglia sine Scotia minus vigeret, ita Scotia sine Anglia magis langueret, ita regnum omne, ita orbis totus langueret divisus.  
Quid opus est itaque cunctari de unitate Britaniae, de perpetua utriusque regni pace, de fortitudine imperij, de magnitudine regis, saepe tamen non nocet cum fabio cunctari, qui cunctando vicit Hanibalem, ita saepe non nocet cum popilio imperare, qui imperando vicit Antiochum. At penes te est (invictissime Princeps) & cunctari, & imperare, quiad sacram Henrici 7. tui Attani sedem cum lauro & oliva venis, cum regina foecundissima, cum Principe prudentissimo, & cum caeteris regijs liberis, quasi fidissimis Britaniae Scipionibus, de quibus ac de sacris regnorum anchoris omnis plaudit Anglia, gestunt parietes Scotiae, Hibernia cuncta laetatur, & Cambria tota triumphant.   

The tragicomedy of Serpents.  
I Have promised to add something to my last little Treatise, The practice of policy, I thought I should write but of the policy of men, yet I have cause to speak of divers kinds of Serpents, of devils Serpents, of Idols Serpents, of Image Serpents, of beasts serpents, and of men serpents, which are the most perilous serpents of all, according to the old saying, Homo homini Lupus, not only a Wolf, but a Lion, a Tiger, a Devil to a man.  
Hannibal, 
Hannibal a sworn enemy to the Romans.  a sworn enemy to the Romans, not only himself, but soliciting the great Antiochus with Camels, and Pyrrhus before him with his Elephants, and he himself with serpents and vipers to throw in the faces of the Roman army, to amaze their soldiers, and to put them in fright in their fight; Stratagems allowed in war, but not among peaceable christians.  
But these stratagems were of Africa and Asia against the Romans, who had but Camels & Elephants for their chief policy, with the which the Romans became well acquainted, and exceeded them in their own stratagems, and overthrew their Hannibal.  
But now in Rome their is another kind of Hannibal, whose stratagems are furnished with Wolves, Bears, Dragons, and Tigers, and those in the habit of men, that far pass Tarquin the proud with his furious priests, with Snakes in one hand, and firebrands in the other, 
Zozom, lib. 5. cap. 8.  and their African Hannibal with his Serpents in one vessel, and vipers in the other; but these would have Lions in one hand, and Unicorns in the other.  
But we fear not the Camels of Asia, nor the Elephants of India, nor the Serpents of Africa, neither do we fear the Basilisks of Rome, and the Romish brood in great Britain, which would fain ride on Lions and Unicorns.  
For it was a long custom among the Romans, to fight with Lions on the Theaters, 
The custom of Rome.  and with wild cruel beasts, that the Romans became more cruel than Serpents, and such Serpents that Rome and Asia are full of them.  

Serpents borne in men's arms in Asia.  In Asia, they carry Serpents in their arms to cleanse their air, to purify their temples, and to drive devils away from their Towns and Cities.  
In Rome they sent for Serpents in any plague time to Epidaurus, to the image of Esculap: whom they worshipped in the form of a Serpent, to heal them.  
We overcame the old Dragon, the great Serpent in Paradise, by the seed of the woman. The children of Israel overcame the serpents of Cadis-barne by looking upon the brazen Serpent in that wilderness, and Moses with his Hebrew army escaped the serpents in the deserts of Ethiopia, by their continual enemies, the birds Ibises of Egypt.  
But we have armed serpents, 
The armed Serpents of Medea.  engendered of the serpent's teeth, which Medea not of Colchos but of Babylon, where they carry such serpents in their arms, I mean their golden and silver Gods, to be worshipped of men in the streets, these be the dangerous serpents.  
After such serpents ran Laban after jacob of more complaining for his jdols and images the Gods of Mesopotamia, 
The Gods, Mesopotamia. Gen. 31.  than for his two daughters Jacob's wives, saying, cur fu●atus es Deos meos, why hast thou stolen my Gods away from me.  
Micah ran for such serpents after the Tribe of Dan: 
Mychaes Idol. judg. 18.  exclaiming more for his idols, then for all the wealth and goods that they took from him, saying, Cur Deos quos mihi feci, tulistis? why have you taken my Gods which I made to myself, from me?  
Many ran from great Britain after such Gods, 
Many ran after their Gods from great Britain.  and such images, to Rome, to Spain; and many yet lurks like Hydra in Laerna, in their secret labyrinths more greedy for the spoil like moabites, than true catholics for religion; these be the Roman wolves in sheep's clothing, like Chameleons in all kind of colours, scattered over all England, these be the domestical serpents, tanquam lemures nocturni & lares domestici: in Cities, in towns, yea, in our houses unknown, and not unseen enemies. I mean those rebels and Trators, 
the target of treason.  which under colour of religion, attempted sundry times our late queen, and now our soveragine Lord and King.  
That neither Hannibal with his fiery oxen, was so furious against Fab. Max: 
Front. lib. 1. cap. 5.  and his Roman army.  
Neither was Dariuses, with his barking dogs, and braying Asses left in his tents to deceive the Scythians, so crafty.  
Neither desperate Tarquin so cruel, to unbridle all the horses of his army, and so to rush unto the midst of the Sabins his enemies, as these late fiery oxen, these barking Dogs and braying Asses, left too long to bark and bray in great Britain; these desperate horses, too long suffered to be unbridled in England. 
Front. lib. 1. cap. 8.   
The subject of this book is to write of Serpents, because we are troubled with serpents.  

Lib. 16. cap: 3.  Plinis writes of some kind of Serpents, that dare not approach the wild ash-tree, nor the shadow of this tree, 
The wild Ashtree.  that if they be walled round about with great fire they will rather run through the fire, then abide nigh the Ash tree or his shadow.  
I wish there were more such trees in great Britain, for trees are aptly compared to men; so are Kings, Princes and Potentates of the earth, compared to the high & great Cedar trees in Libanon; 
Men aptly compared to trees.  the palm trees to the constant martyrs▪ the Olive trees to the just and godly men; and Christ himself to the vine tree; too many like the Plantain tree with fair and flourishing show without substance, called in Pliny arbour luxuriosa; in Rome, arbour religiosa; and too few, like the wild ash-tree, to drive away serpents out of great Britain.  
Melancthon was requested to show the cause why serpents bred in the rains and bowels of dead men; 
In evang. in Die. pasc.  answered, that man being infected with the poison of the first Serpent in Paradise, since which he ceaseth not, 
Aug. ad fratres in Eremo serm. 8.  viventibus insidiari, nec mortuos laniare, you shall find in dead men's skulls Toads engendered of the brain, and serpents engendered in the rains, invenietis generatos in cerebro bufones, & in renibus serpents, saith Augustine.  
These be serpents by nature, serpents by education, and serpents by succession, which shed much blood, and cause great slaughter in England, Germany, and France.  
It was not the great army of Xerxes at Marathon, 
30. Tyrants in Athens.  nor the great force of Philip at Chaeronea, that so frighted the Athenians, as the bloody streets in Athens, where the children were forced to dance in the blood of their parents, in the time of the 30. Tyrants, and yet Thrasibulus banished these tyrants from Athens.  
Neither was it the tyranny of Antiochus, 
4. Reg. 21. Sesostris in Herodot.  King of Cyria, nor King Susacus of Egypt, that so feared the jews, as the bloody streets in jerusalem, where one neighbour might wash his hands in the blood of another in the time of Manasses. Yet josias delivered jerusalem.  
But these serpents, these Harpeis, these Crocodiles determined to leave neither parents, children, or neighbours alive, but themselves to dance in our blood. Such a dance delighted Nabuchodonozer in Babylon of Misael, Sidraach, and Abednago. Such a dance of Herodias delighted Herod, for john Baptists head.  
And such a dance would have pleased the Antichrist of Rome, if their Roman Tragedy begun, had not ended like a Britain comedy; and if their Egyptian dance begun by Pharo, had not ended like the triumphant dance by jacob.  

Sylla. Caligula. Nero.  Not Sylla which made the river Tiber overflow with the blood of the Roman citizens; not Caligula with his poisoned cups, that sought to destroy the consuls, the Senators, and the Magistrates of Rome; not Nero, which rejoiced & sang when he saw Rome on fire; nor all turkish tyranny, all Pharaoh's cruelties, were but jests and plays in respect of these furious Traitors, and raging Wolves which thought in one day, yea, in one hour to overthrow three flourishing Kingdoms.  

Elias sacrifice.  But such fire as fallen upon Elias sacrifice, shall fall upon these priests of Bell, such gaping gulfs of the earth that swallowed up alive Chore, Dathan, and Abiran, shall swallow up these rebellious Seminaries.  
Some think that it would be as great a triumph to that Roman Achab, the having of King james in Rome, as was to Tamburlaine, the having of Bajazet the great Turk in Scythia, 
Oros. lib. 7. cap. 22.  or the having of the Roman Valerianus prisoner to King Sapor in Persia.  
But these Serpents forgot that Pharo could not harm Moses, neither Saul destroy David, they forgot though all Egypt was punished with terrible & horrible plagues, yet the land of Gosen where Israel dwelled, was not troubled with their frogs, locusts, flies, lice, neither with darkness, blood or slaughter, they forgot what God said to his people, erit sanguis vobis signum salutis: 
Exod. 12.  when the first borne of Egypt were killed throughout all Egypt, they forgot the mark which God set upon his people in Jerusalem, 
Ezech 9  super quem videritis Tau, ne occidatis.  
But these desperate Traitors, these malicious Serpents, contemn Laws, despise Magistrates, way neither for the sword nor the word of God committed to the Prince, 
Saul's seed. 2 Reg. 21.  but as long as any of Saul's seed lived in Israel, the Gibonites could not be in quiet, neither would they suffer David to take any rest.  
But how shall we help this and purify great Britain of these monstrous brood, 
The brood of Enachim's.  the brood of Enachim's? they will not come to hear of God in his church, as the Ethiopian Eunuch went to Philip; they will not with Naman the Syrian be cleansed of their leprosy, 
4 Reg: cap. 5.  in the flood Iorden: they have water in Damascus, Abanah, and Pharpar; they have water in Rome, aquam mercurij, & aquam benedictam.  
They had rather drink of the puddles of Bethaven with jeroboam, 
The puddles of jeroboam.  than of the well of bethel with jacob, they had rather trust to the mountains of Samaria, than to be rich in Zion.  
How shall this be redressed and clear our country of them?  
If, 
divers kinds of purifications among the Gentiles.  as among the Romans who bound such in bags and threw them in Tiber, too many should be drowned. If, as Xerxes among the Persians by decimation, too many should be slain. If, as Ulysses among the Grecians, with fire and brimstone, too many should be burned.  
Better rather as Theseus did, to seek out their labyrinths, & to find these late brood of Minotaurus, that seek to feed upon the blood of their countrymen, like Gorgon's. 
judge 11. The false Ephramites could not pronounce Schiboleth.   
And to use them as jeptha did the false Ephramites, if they could not pronounce Schiboleth like true Israelites, they should not pass over Iorden to gather a head again against Israel.  
So they shall not seek a Roman Catiline for their Captain, nor a Spanish Viriatus for their leader.  
If we may not revenge our wrongs, as David did against the Ammonites, 
2 Reg. 11. judge 8.  and Aramites his enemies; If we may not as Gedeon did upon Phanuel, and Succoth; Yet they should have no such liberty that dreamt upon a monday at night, that they should sup at London with a Roman regiment upon Tuesday at night.  

hamilcar's dream.  As sometime Hamilcar General for the Carthagenians, laying siege to Siracusa, an image appeared in his dream, and told Hamilcar he should sup the next night in Siracusa: so he did as a prisoner and captive by the Siracusans, and not as a Captain with his Carthaginians; that self-same Image, that Serpent appeared to this treacherous crew, which openly pronounce with Seba the Traitor, what have we to do with the house of judah, 
2 Reg. 20.  or what portion in the son of Isai?  

Cyrus and Caesar's dreams.  These be Volitantes Serpents, flying Serpents dreaming like Cambyses, that he was lifted up above the clouds, and suddenly thought that he fell from the clouds to the earth. Like julius Caesar, who the night before he was slain in the Senate, 
Cyrus and Caesar's dreams.  dreamt that he sat hard by jupiters' seat; but suddenly he fell flat on his face to the earth: with the like dreams are these Serpents fed.  
Not as Ezechiel which was carried in a Vision from Babylon to Jerusalem, Inter caelum & terram. And God showed the Prophet the abominations of the jews, 
Ezech. ca 8.  their jdols, their jdolatries, their manifold wickedness.  
Paul also was carried either in body, or without the body he knew not unto the third Heavens, and saw many things which was not lawful for Paul to speak of.  
But Ezechiel and Paul had better supporters to carry them, 
Ezech. cap. 40.  than either Cyrus or Caesar, they dreamt that they fell not when the one was carried from the earth, to the third heaven; and the other carried from Babylon to judah, and lest on a Mountain in Israel.  
But these dream of Images, and Idols, like De: Brutus, which dreamt of such an Image, that never left him till Brutus fell upon his own sword at Philippos. 
Plut. in Bruto.   
And such an Image appeared to Hannibal, that never gave him over until Hannibal had poisoned himself in Bythinia. 
Plut. in Hanib.   
It was then a world of Images among Heathens and Pagans, and among Christians at this time too many, though they know, Confundantur qui sculptilia adorant.  
I must needs borrow some terms of the Heralds, and as they describe the natures of Lions being regal beasts. So must I describe the nature of Serpents, being Devils themselves, and beasts for the Devils some dormient Serpents; 
Descriptions of some Serpents.  some couching, some walking Serpents, and some flying Serpents that soar so high, that at their fall, they are dashed in pieces.  
Had Saul feared God, and not consulted with these Serpents, 
1. Sam. 28.  he should have done as David, Asa, josaphat, consult with Samuel, while Samuel lived, and not after he died: 
Saul consulted with Conjurers & Witches.  Saul should ask counsel of the Prophets, and not of Witches and Images, not with Phaetanissa a Witch at Endor, but of Huldah a Prophetess at Jerusalem, as josias did.  

Dan. 3.  Daniel choked that great Colossus the Image of Baal in Babylon.  
jacob buried his wives Idols the Gods of Laban at Sichem.  
King Asa burned to ashes, and threw into Cedron his mother's Idol Priapus.  
Young josias left not an Altar, an Image, an Idol, a grove within judah, destroyed the green Groves in Mount Olives called the Mount of corruption.  
These were such Kings as should be imitated, who cleansed Angeus hall in Israel, 
For such Kings the Prophet Elizeus wept  and extinguished the fiery furnace of Egypt in judah: and not such as Triphon, that killed his master King Antiochus; nor such as Hazae● that strangled his Master Benhadad.  

Exod. 12.  Great was the lamentation and cry in Egypt, when the first-born were slain throughout the land of Egypt, even from Pharos throne, to her that grindeth at the mill.  

4 Kin. 19  Likewise great was the fear and terror in Jerusalem, when Senacherib came and determined with his huge Army to destroy Jerusalem, 
Senacherib.  saying, They should eat their own dung and drink their own urine, if they refused to yield to the great King Nebuchadnezar.  
England of late was not a little frighted, 
England late frighted.  when the Hispaniards with their great Armadas laden with weapons and armour, came fully persuaded to make an end of England.  
But he that destroyed the first-born of Egypt, from the highest to the lowest, destroyed also Senacheribs' Army, being a hundred four-score and five thousand Assyrians. And the same Angel daunted the brags of the Spaniards, with the like revenge upon themselves, which they thought to do unto others.  
The Sun, 
jud. 5.  the Moon, the Stars, and the Heavens fought for Deborah, and gave her victory over the Chananites: So the winds, weathers, storms, tempests, rocks, and stones of the earth sung, and gave the victory to Queen Elizabeth against the Spaniards.  
Truly these were three great Victories without blood or sword drawn: 
1. Sam. 7.  of which we may say as Samuel said for the like Victory he had against the Philistines, Hitherto hath the Lord holpen us: and pitched there a stone in remembrance of Victory, and named the place Lapis adiutorij.  
So joshua pitched a stone under an Oak at Sichem, 
Gen. 31. The manner of Covenants among the old Hebrews.  as a covenant between him and the people. So jacob gathered a heap of stones, as a witness between Laban and himself.  
We must likewise pitch a stone, Even that stone which the Builders rejected, which to the jews was a stumbling-block, and to the Gentiles folly, even that stone must be our Angularis lapis.  

Rhodig lib. 8. cap. 26.  We must not be like Philip of Macedon, after his great Victory at Chaeronea over the Grecians, who waxed so proud and insolent, that he was sharply reprehended of that noble Prince Archidamus, 
King Philip taunted of Archidamus.  Agisilaus' son, saying, that his shadow was no longer after the victory, than it was before his victory.  
Neither must we answer as Epaminondas, being asked what was the greatest joy he ever had in the world; 
The answer of Epaminondas.  he said, Leutrica victoria, the Victory of Leutricke.  

All victories come from God.  In truth of our victories we ought to rejoice, and to give thanks unto God. And we must put away all other stones, as our Idols, and Images, the Gods of the Gentiles, being Lapidij Dij; and build all buildings upon that stone which is, lapis Angularis.  
This was the cause why Moses was sent an Embassabor to Pharo, to deliver Israel from double bondage, where Israel served Pharo in slavery, and the Devil in Idolatry.  
This aught and should cause us to serve God in true and sincere Religion, and not in Images, and Idols, as do the Heathens in the engendered Serpents of Medea.  

Dan. 7.  But that Monster and great terrible beast with iron teeth, which devoured and stamped all others under his feet, never feared him that cometh in red garments from Bozra, 
Esay 63.  that plagued the Idumeans, the Moabites, the Amonites, and the jews after them, even that God that saith, Vengeance is in my heart, and I will tread them in mine anger, and stamp them under foot in my wrath.  
If you compare Bozra with Rome, 
Idumeans and Romans compared.  and the Idumeans with the Romans, you shall find the one to claim their chief Religion from Abraham by heritage; and the other from Peter in like sort by succession; and yet both worship Idols.  
Who durst say, 
Zedechia one of Baal's false Prophets.  that Micah was a true Prophet to Ahab. If Micah so say, Zedechia will strike him before Achab.  
If jeremy prophecy to the King of judah, the noblemen of judah will set jeremy by the heels.  
But they will hearken what Zedechia, 
3. Kin. 22.  Baal's Prophet will say with his iron horns, who told Achab his Master, His ventilabis Syrtam donec deleas eam, with these horns thou shalt overcome the Aramites until thou hast utterly consumed them.  
There be (I doubt) many that so say of England, Scotland, and Ireland.  
The Roman Achab will not be satisfied as the Ammonites were with the Ambassadors of Israel, 
2. Kin. 10. The Ambassadors of Israel abused by the Amonites.  by cutting one side of their beards away, and one half of their garments, and so in contempt of David sent back again to Jerusalem.  
But they will have all David's beard, all his long garments: yea his crown and all his Kingdoms, or they will hang with Achitophel. They will betray their friends, their country, their King and Sovereign Lord, or they will burst out their guts with judas.  
They would have all England, either to Rome, or to Spain; 
Hispaine in Rome, and Rome England.  or bring Rome or Spain into England, At illa nobilitas cum plebe pereat, qui patriam ita perire velit.  

Num. 22.  When Balac King of Moab perceived that he could not subdue the children of Israel, neither by strength nor by any policy, he practised with Balaam to destroy them be cursing, but Balaams' curse was turned into blessing to Israel.  
This practice hath been long used in Rome, for when gifts and rewards failed, then cursing and excommunicating was used.  

Gen. 27.  Isaac in giving his blessing to jacob, said Cursed be those that cursed jacob. The Pope hath used too long this in Rome, to curse the house of jacob.  
So joshua cursed those that would rebuild jericho. And Moses cursed those that transgressed the commandments of God. 
Some curses perilous.  These kind of curses are most perilous.  

Gen. 9  The curse of Noah fell upon his son Cham, so that all his posterity (which was the third part of the world) became accursed and Heathens.  

2. Reg. 6.  Elizeus the Prophet, being scoffed at by ungracious children at Bethel, that called him Bald pate, he cursed them in the name of the Lord, and 2 Bears came out of the wood, and destroyed 42 of those children: but these Serpents fear no cursing, these traitors dread no punishment, but Tryphon.  

1. Mac. 13. 4. Reg. 21.  These are like Tryphon that killed his master young King Antiochus; like Hazael that strangled his master King Benhadad; and such like Tyrants which stories are full of. 
Triphon. Hazael.  These slaughters and murtherings were ever common among the Turks, Romans, and Syrians.  
I wrote a Book of the stratagems of Jerusalem, and therein collected all kind of Roman stratagems, as also of the Grecians, which far exceeded the Romans. But of this late practice and stratagem, never man read or heard the like.  
Hannibal a captain full of fraud and subtlety, 
Cic. de diui. lib. 1.  devising every way to win Italy to his hand, he saw in his dream in Italy a great monstrous Image appearing before him, and being at the sight thereof astonished, asked what he was. The Image answered, Vastitas Italiae: This Image deceived Hannibal, for he was forced to fly from Italy to Carthage, when he thought to be Lord of Italy.  
The like dream did Chaeremon a fabulous Writer in Egypt, 
joseph. lib. 2 con. Appion.  that the Goddess Isis warned King Amenophis in his sleep to purge Egypt of that leprous and scabby Nation the Hebrews, for so Appion terms them: and it seemed that these Traitors were often troubled with Hanibals Image, Vastitatem patriae; And with Chaeremons' dream to purge Great Britain of Heretics, and heresy (as they term it.) This is (as it seemeth) the law of their Religion, and the full resolution of their dreams.  
God send these Serpents no better success hereafter, 

The Spaniards.  
The Romans.   than the Egyptians had against the Hebrews in the time of Moses; or the Spaniards had against England in the time of Queen Elizabeth; or this Romish crew now of late in King james time in Britain. But the Lord be praised, we escaped better than the Massacres in Paris, at the murdering of the chief Peers of France; 
Dreamers.  or the Murder at Blois.  
Such Serpents and Dreamers are fed with vain ambitious hopes, that seek to overthrow Kings and Kingdoms; but such as destroyed these Tyrants, the greeks did yield to them divine honour. For to kill a Tyrant (saith Seneca) is Spolia opima iovi, a rich spoil unto God.  
Cato wondered to see so many heads of Roman Magistrates and Officers set up by Sylla and Marius, 
Plut. in Catone.  in the market place, on the Capitol, and upon every gate in Rome, and that no Roman for Rome's sake had not killed Sylla and Marius, which had been the next and the best way of reformation in Rome, to end the fury and rage of the two fire brands of Italy, namely Sylla and Marius, and their adherents.  

Goliahs' head.  When Goliahs' head was cut off and carried by David to Saul, the Philistian army fled for all their brag of Monamachis'. When Hannibal saw his brother Hadrubals head sent in token by the Romans; 
Hadrubals head.  Hannibal made haste to depart out of Italy for all his great Image which appeared unto him.  
Truly Images appear in dreams to such as worship and honour Images; 
3. Reg 4.  but we leave them to such as walk in the way of jeroboam, and seek to watch with the house of Achab (I mean in marriage or otherwise) of whom more regard with looking unto must be had, lest that the wrath of God should fall on Britanes, as it fell on Israel.  
We must remember Lot's wife, that looked back toward Sodom. 
Lot's wife.   
We must not put our hand to the plough to till God's ground, and become worldlings in Simony and Usury. 
Simony and Usury.   
Moses the mild servant of God, for a little incredulity at the water of strife, might not go into Chaman, but see it only, and die at Mount Nebo.  
David a man found of God, secundum cor suum, yet for Urias' wife he was plagued with the ravishing of his own wives, the loss of his children, and well nigh the loss of himself, and of his kingdom.  
jeremy a Prophet blessed in his mother's belly; 
jere. 35.  though he escaped the malice of the Noblemen of judah, yet for that he went with the rest into Egypt, he was in Egypt by the Egyptians stoned to death at Taphnes. 
Taphnes.   
Therefore we must walk in the light, whiles we have light.  
Samson slept upon Dalidah's lap until the Philistines came and took him. 
judg. 16.   
Zedechias fed himself with the flattery of his Courtiers, 
Eras. in Moria.  until the Assyrians took him and his kingdom: so we see, that Security and Flattery are the only chief enemies in Court and Country.  
So the Persians flattered Alexander, saying, That he was the Son of jupiter, 
The flattery of the Persians.  so that he wrote and made means to all the Cities of Greece, that the greeks by a decree, should make Alexander a God in Greece. Some were contented, as the Lacedæmonians, saying, If Alexander will be a God, let him be a God. The Athenians and others answered, they might not allow new and strange Gods in Greece. So the Romans might not endure any strange Gods in Rome; so they denied our Saviour Christ.  
And therefore the Prophet checketh the jews, that they will not make so much of one God, 
Heidfiel. de Dijs. 30000. Gods.  as the Gentiles made of many. So that Varro a Roman Register of their Gods, being asked how many Gods were in all? I have registered (said he) 30 Thousand Ex antiquis monumentis. But since they are grown infinite among the jews and the Assyrians, having as many Gods as there be Cities in Assiria: so many Gods in Egypt, 
jerem. 35.  as there be beasts in Egypt; so many Gods in Persia, as there be stars in the sky; so many in Greece, as the Poets can fain, or Painters can make them.  

The Idolatry of the Heathens.  And in Rome, Tota nomina Deorum, quot hominum. For their Images, and their Idols are so many, that they seemed to be Populus lapideus, like people made of stones, and yet none of these nations will suffer any strange Gods to be worshipped in their Country, besides their Gods.  
And why then should Christians (being sharply chidden by the Prophet) accept of their strange Gods, 
Ignatius.  being crucified with Christ, as Ignatius saith?  
Many also like the jews here in England, specially Grammarians, and Schoolmasters have sought means to be instructed in the Rabbins cabala of the jews, 
Cabala.  which made great matters de apiculis literarum, and that secret Science was secretly read to many Scholars by Schoolmasters in their Father's houses, and by Tutors in the Universities, that they would feign, as the later superstitious jews would seek out of Bereschith, the first word of the Hebrew Bible, to draw the full time of the Messias, 
Bereschith.  from the very promise of the seed of the woman, unto the very birth of the Messias.  
So also did the jews draw Ex epinicio Mosis, Quis sicut tu in dijs jehovah. 
Exod. 15.  Of these words they picked such letters as they invented for the name of the Maccabees. For joshua used these words as Moses did. And after joshua, judas their third judge used it as his poesy, 
judas his Poesy.  the which was good and godly. But how they used their vain Cabbales out of the other godly words, I know not, unless it were to know where, when, and how long this Religion should endure; we know well how long it hath endured.  
In like manner Maximilian the Emperor used the five Vowels for his poesy, 
Maximilians poesy.  which noted the Majesty and justice of the Empire, a word for every vowel, which was Aquila, Electa, just, Omnia, Vincit.  
Ulysses had rather see the smoke of Greece, than the sun shining in Phrygia. 
Ulysses.  And some had rather see the smoke of Idolatry in Rome, than their fire in England.  
Ulysses confessed that he would willingly lose the solace and joy of immortality, 
Ithaca Ulysses country.  before he would forget the sweet air and delight of his Country Ithaca. And others cannot abide the sight or smell of their Country Britain. They cannot endure to drink of the sweet Rivers of Bethel, but they can swallow up the puddles in Bethaven.  
Genutius a Roman Praetor riding out of Rome, 
Plinij lib. 11. cap. 37.  suddenly there sprang as it seemed horns on his head. This wonder was by the Soothsayers interpreted, that if Genutius would return again to Rome, he should be a King of the Romans.  
He to avoid the name of a King (being an odious name in his Country) willingly banished himself from Rome, 
The history of a Roman Praetor.  lest he should be a King in Rome, to offend the Romans.  
The Romans therefore set up his Image upon that gate he went out of Rome, in memory of his great love towards Rome.  
So did they upon the gate the 300 Fabiuses went out of Rome, to end the quarrel between the Romans and the Viants: Then in Rome they rewarded good Captains for their service; and now in Rome they reward Murderers and Tyrants that can invent mischief.  
When Kings and Kingdoms revolted, their policies were practised; 
The three Roman Ambassadors.  then three Roman Ambassadors were sent from Rome to Bythinia; the one of them had a wound in his head: The second had a stitch in his heart: The third had the gout, or a sore leg. Of these three Ambassadors was Cato wont to jest, 
Plut. in Catone.  saying, Behold the Roman Ambassadors without a head, without a heart, and without a leg.  
Such Ambassadors have been often sent into England; some with such wounds in their heads, that their heads will not be healed without alteration of States, and translation of Kingdoms; some with such a stitch in their hearts, that can take no rest before they have gotten Spoliam opimam Patriae, the overthrow of their Country; and some with sore legs, that cannot travail beyond the Seas, but stay at home as standards and hospitals for such guests that come I know not whence.  
I much doubt, that there be too many with such sore legs in Great Britain, 
Many Labyrinths in England.  that lurk in Labyrinths made for such Ambassadors; some as Tutors in the Universities; some as School masters in gentlemen's houses; some as Magistrates and Officers in commission of peace; some matched in Marriage with great Houses, and too many backed and countenanced, lie hidden in such secret Labyrinths, that the Sun cannot see them, but the Son of God seeth them, though they be kept as secret as the Books of the Sibiles in Rome, or verses of the Dryads among the old gaul's.  
Possidonius the Philosopher, 
Plut. in Marcello.  called Marcellus the Sword of Rome, and Fabius the Target of Rome, the one to cut off the heads of Roman enemies with his sword, the other to guard and defend Rome with his Target Cunctando.  
I pray God there be not such a Marcellus or Fabius, to defend these Roman Rebels in Britain, who might live and enjoy the liberty of their country, if they were not like the Cappadocians, refusing their liberty offered them by the Romans, 
Strab. li. 12  saying, Se non posse ferre libertatem; or like the Yonians, as Critobolus said, Frugi servi, liberi mali; good Roman servants to the Pope, but bad subjects in England.  
These cannot abide the breath of Britain, 

Diod. lib. 4. cap. 2.  
The Isles of satires and Serpents.   they would fain alter the name of the Isle of Britain, either unto the Isle of Serpents, which is in Arabia, or to the Isles of satires, which is in Africa, Isles of their own names.  

Sectio. 2.  

The saying of Lu. Crassus of Domitia. Aenobarbus.  IN the time of Lu. Crassus the Orator, there dwelled in Rome a cruel dissembling Hypocrite, one Dom: surnamed Aenobarbus: Of him Lu. the Orator was wont to say, That it was no wonder for Aenobarbus to have a brazen beard, since he had an iron face, and a leaden heart.  
There be many now in Rome and out of Rome, that are like Aenobarbus with brazen beards, 
Suet. in Nerone.  iron faces, and leaden hearts: which if their bodies were opened, as the Athenians did Aristomenes, or as the Messenians did Hermogenes, their hearts should be found pilosa & hijpida, hairy, and full of thorns.  

Philost. in vita Antioch.  And of late we found many such brazen beards, such iron faces, and such leaden hearts in Britain, as fear not the briers and brambles of Succoth, nor the servitude and bondage of joshua to the Gibeonites, nor the lamps or the pitcher pots of Gedeon to the Medianites. 
jud. 8.  But it must be gladius Domini & Gedeonis nostri, the sword of God, and our Gedeon, that must tame these Tygrish Brutes, 
josh. 9  and not Britanes, whose hearts are in Rome, though their bodies be in England, and though they be not in Rome, 
Many are absent from Rome, as the jews were from Egypt.  yet Rome is in their hearts, for they are absent from Rome, as the jews were from Egypt, Corpore, non animo. But when the sun shineth most clear, than the Crab catcheth the Oyster, they are met and are found.  
Polycrates bragged so long of his fortunate estate, and good success, that he threw his Ring into the sea to try further his fortune; yet after his Ring was had again, he was hanged in Mount Mycalus in Persia, by Oron●es Darius' officer.  
But Amasis a King in Egypt, 
Val: max. lib. 6. cap. 9  doubting much of his happiness and great fortune, wished that he might taste of some calamity, and say, Per varias fortunae vices, and not always to flourish in prosperity.  
Croesus' judged himself the happiest man upon earth, 
Croesus forgot what Solon said.  until he was taken with his Kingdom by Cyrus, than he thought what Solon said of such slippery happiness in this world, Quam vitrea est Fortuna.  
Saint Ambrose with some of his friends came unto a lodging, 
Ad Marullum lib. 5. cap. 3.  where the Host said of his good fortune, and many bragged of their good fortune; some said they knew not what calamity was; others knew not what adversity was; and others knew not what sickness meant. Saint Ambrose made haste, and took his friends with him out of the house, and looking back, saw the house swallowed up and all them, into the earth. Therefore I made hast to come out (saith Saint Ambrose) from such company: and from all such bragger's, let all good men beware.  
Milo Crotoniates thought his hand as strong as an iron wedge, 
Gel. lib. 15. cap. 16.  which Milo took out of a mighty cloven Oak, and put his hand in▪ where his hand was so clasped, 
Milo Crotoniates brag.  that he could not take it out, until he was of wild beasts devoured.  
Many put out their hands so boldly, that they lose their heads for their hands, and many put their hands as jeroboam did, 
3. Reg. 13.  who could not draw back again his hand.  

Nebuchadnezar his brag.  Proud Nabuchadnezar that said, Is not this great Babylon which I have built with these hands? He supped as a beast among beasts that night in the fields, and not as the great Nabuchadnezar King of Babylon.  
Many such beasts there be, that rather will with the prodigal Son feed upon husks with swine (as all feeding is which is not fed with the word of God) than to seek with the woman of Canaan, to be fed with the crumbs that fell from Christ's table.  

Ruth. 2. Moab.  These had rather stay among the Moabites for their Watchword, Moab ad praedam, than come with Ruth from Moab to judah, to gather gleaning of corn in the field of Booz in judah.  
These had rather serve Moloch with his priests Chaemarims, and to drink of their puddles, 
jere. 2. Chaemarims Moloch his priests.  than of the clear water at Bethel.  
These are they that fled for succour to Egypt, to whom are reserved at last, the sword, famine, and pestilence, and these will not be kept from Rome, no more than the jews from Egypt.  

jerem. 42. jeremy could not persuade Israel from Egypt.  For all the persuasion of jeremy, he could not persuade the children of Israel from Egypt, they would serve the Queen of Heaven in Egypt, and not the God of Israel in judah, and though they had one foot in judah, they had the other in Egypt.  
Like Rochardus King of Frishland, being by Wolfranius persuaded to be baptised, having one foot in the Font, the other out, asked Wolfranius where went the most part of his predecessors that were not baptised? To Hell, 
Fulg. lib. 3.  said Wolfranius. Then Rochardus drew his foot out of the Font, and said, rectiùs est plures, quam pauciores sequi. This is the very answer of some papists, and the anchor of their Religion. This was our Forefathers Religion, I was brought up in it, and I will not forsake it.  
The Athenians sent to Delphos, to know of Apollo what Religion was best, 
Heidfiel. ca 2. de Dijs.  and it was answered by an Oracle, That the most ancient Religion was best. Again being moved what was the most ancient? it was answered, 
The Athenians sent Ambassadors to Delphos.  the best. The Athenians could have no other answer by the Oracle, but the best religion was most ancient, and the most ancient, best; a most true saying, truly conceived.  
So Ignatius saith, Mihi antiquitas Christus, cui nolle obedire, 
Ignatius.  exitium est. Yet will they prefer Boniface the third, before Christ; and the Oracle of Apollo before the word of God.  
So Paul found when he came to Athens, 
Acts.  reprehending their Idolatry, their Images, their Idols, and their Altars dedicated ignoto Deo, he was called of the Philosophers Spermolegos, a new inventor of strange Gods; and yet Paul was suffered to speak and to dispute in Athens; but in Rome he was hanged for his speeches against the Idols, and Images; for in Rhodes were three Thousand, seven Hundred; in Athens as many; in Delphos no fewer; but in Rome were so many, that they seemed Tanquam lapidij populi.  
But of these Images and Idols, how they were tended, served, and worshipped, and with such slight taught by the priests to sweat, to weep, to reach their hands, to shake their heads, and give Oracles by priests placed in the hollowness of these Images. Of this josephus saith. lib. 18. cap. 7. in Plut. in Coroliano.  
There is an Epigram of Beza of some contention between a Painter and a Baker; the Painter bragged that his hand could set in lively colours, the Heavens, the Earth, Angels, Gods, and Men. The Baker said, He could make loaves of bread; assoon as the Priest touch them, they are become Gods, whom heavens, earth, men, and Angels must worship. Thou makest God, for the bellies, said the Painter. And thou makest Gods for the eyes, said the Baker; A Priest was called for a judge, and the Priest was angry both with the Painter & the Baker, to publish so sacred a secret, and said, pictor pingat, pistor pinsat, pastor jussit esse deos. Let the Painter paint, and the Baker bake; the Priest maketh Gods: For as Rome then was full of Idols and Images made of stones, wood, marble, and ivory: so Rome now is full of Gods, if it be true that themselves say, Qui creavit me, dedit mihi creare se.  
Again with the like blasphemy in another place, Qui creavit me sine me, 
Gabr. biel. super Cant. lect. 4. satire: 15.  creature mediant me.  
The Egyptians, Quibus in hortis suis nascebantur numina, which brag that they have Gods borne and brought forth in their gardens and Orchards, as Juvenal saith, were not so mad, nor so blasphemous  

Eras. in Moria.  The Devil meeting with Saint Bernard, told him that he could show him 7 verses in the Psalms, Quos qui recitaverit, he could not but be saved. Bernard would know of the Devil what were the verses. The Devil denied that. Thou art a liar, said Bernard. I read over the Psalms daily, 
The devils speech with ●. Bernard.  and if thy verses be there, I read them also. The Devil (after two denials said) that they were the 7 Psalms.  
So say the papists; 
Superstitious Papists.  if you say daily five Pater nosters, and fifty ave Maria, with the repeating of the Creed three times, which they call Psalterium Mariae, you may do what you list all that day after; but it must be in Latin to the Virgin Marie, roga patrem, iube natum, iure matris impera  
For as the Grecians call all Nations barbarous, but such as could speak Greek.  
So did the Romans call also barbarous all but those that could speak Latin, for at their first sailing to the African wars, they called the Spaniards, the Carthagenians, and the Africans barbarous, for that they knew not the Latin tongue.  
And so in the time of Cicero they called the Gauls (their next neighbours) barbarous, 
Cic. ad Q. fratrem.  because they could not speak Latin.  
The like reason have the Papists, that all Religion is barbarous that is not said in the Latin tongue.  
The Hebrews thought both greeks and Latins to be barbarous, and that they ought not to speak nor to write illam sanctam, & sacram linguam, That holy and sacred tongue; For, they said, That God himself, the patriarchs, the Prophets, and the Apostles, only spoke this tongue.  
The greeks brags also, that jupiter spoke first the Greek tongue at Athens.  
The Latins brag, 
The brag of the Romans.  that the Muses gave such sweet grace to their tongue, that all the world seek to learn the Latin tongue.  
With such superstitious people, the Devil is most busy, 
In vitis patrum.  and meeting with a devout Eremite, asked him three questions; The first was, what should be the strangest thing that God made in a little frame? the Eremite answered, A man's Face.  
The second question, Where was the Earth higher than all the Heavens? He and answered, Where Christ's body borne of the Virgin Marie, 
Three questions of the Devil.  was adored of Angels and Archangels.  
The third question, What space was between Heaven and Earth? Thou knowest that best, (said the Hermit) which waist from Heaven, thrown down to the earth. Their Books are full of these Riddles.  

Chrysippus' Oracles.  Chrysippus that wrote a whole volume of Oracles, some false, some obscure, and some very doubtful, Vt interpretes egeat interpret, saith Cicero; yet in respect of the Pope's Legends, 
Lib. 2. de Divinat.  and Roman Calendar concerning Images, Saints, and Devils.  
Dicaearchus an ancient Philosopher, that gathered all the calamities, 
Li●s. de const. lib. 2. cap. 22.  the slaughter, of plagues of wars, of shipwreck, of famine, and especially of the cruelties of the Spaniards, who slew in India 20 hundred myriades of people, yet not equal to the Pope's cruelty, if you account their burning and killing, and the second death to go to purgatory.  

The answer of an Hermit to a Philosopher.  Antonius an Hermit in Egypt, was asked of a Philosopher, How he prayed without Books? The heavens above (said the Hermit) the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars are opened Books unto me, there I see, and there I read the wonderful works of God, Opera manuum ●ius annunciant firmamentum.  
So Clemens Alexandrinus said, that the universal world is a Book of three leaves, the Heavens, the Earth, and the Seas. In these three leaves are so many letters as there be creatures. Of these you shall read Psal. 19 Quam admirabilis dominus in operibus suis.  
For Saint Bernard was wont to say to his familiar friends that whatsoever he read in the Scripture; 
Bernard his study.  he found the fruits thereof, Meditando & orando in agris & in siluis. Bernard used no other School, no conference with any man, nisi quercos & fagos.  
But such Rebels esteem not caelestia numina, but terrestria nomina, they way not for prayers.  
These Fellows trust not to prayers, 
Arist ca 5 de animal.  but to their prey, much resembling the nature of Vultures; of which Aristole saith, That their nests cannot be found, yet are they seen flying together, following the army two or three days, watching for their prey before any army fight, or any slaughter made.  
So these Rebels accompany together like as these Vultures do, praesagire caedem, and watch for their prey. They cannot tell how to please the Pope better, than to do their best by fire, by sword, to burn, to kill, and yet like Pharaoh's lean Kine, after they had eaten the other 7 fat Kine, they were never the fatter, still hungry for more.   

Sectio. 3.  
Demetrius', King Antigonus Son, knew not how to certify King Mythridates of his father's fury towards him, 
Plut. in Demetr.  but wrote with the point of his spear in letters upon sands, where the King should come, fuge Mythridates.  
These also write unto their friends, like Demetrius on sands; like Pythagoras on glasses: like Damaratus in wood, and all kind of Ethiop writings, which the greeks call Topoecon, but all with bloody pens like Draco, as Demades said.  

Plat. in prafat. ad Dionisium.  Plato would not instruct Dionysius the Tyrant to write such letters, ut possint legi, sed non intelligi. As their Schoolmasters can furnish their Scholars, they can write, read, and understand all kind of hieroglyphical letters, all kind of writings, though they be as short as Scitalae laconicae.  

Balthazer.  But Balthazer with all his Chaldean philosophers could not read the hand writing on the wall, nor understand what was written, 
Daniel 5.  until Daniel told him.  

john 8. Gel. lib. 27. cap 9  Neither would the jews stay, nor could stay to know what Christ wrote with his finger upon the ground, for all the secret Cabala.  
Caesar writing to his under Captains C. Opium, and B. Cornelium, per notas, by marks and notes, lest his letters should be understood by the Soldiers.  
Torquin the proud was sent unto by his son Sextus, to know what he should do to the Gabians. Torquin brought the messenger to a garden, and with his staff, altissima papaverum capita decussit, beat and struck the highest tops of pepper trees.  

Dumb stratagems.  By this Dumb Stratagem the son knew what the father meant, he beheaded the greatest and chiefest men among the Gabians.  
The like Stratagem taught Thrasibulus from Athens to Periander in Corinth, in spicarum detruncatione by cutting of the ears of corn before Periander servant in a corn field, 
Herodot. lib. 7.  he was instructed by this dumb show to cut off the heads of divers noble men in Corinth.  
These dumb shows are much used, and these obscure writings much practised, which among them are called muta eloquentia, and thus they muse on malice, and glory of mischief in their hearts.  
Like the brethren of Policrita being advertised by their sister, that the Emperor Diognitus her husband did much abuse her, watched the Emperor at a great feast, and came with some company of armed men: slew the Emperor and many of his men, and brought their sister with them, and died for joy of their victory at home, that they had killed the Emperor, and brought their sister to Naxus again.  
This is the very triumphs of the Papists, 
The Triumphs of the wicked.  to kill Emperors, Kings, Princes and Magistrates, to please the Pope, and to be Canonised Saints for the same: and to be crowned with caligula's crowns, which he appointed for his soldiers, but fitter for the Pope, being the successor of Caligula and Heliogabulus, and not of Peter, as they say▪ for they ware solares, syderales, & 〈◊〉 coronas, crowns made like the Sun, like the Moon, and like the stars: fit crowns for such seditious soldiers and treacherous Priests, that are constellated in heaven for their treachery.  
They used in Rome in the time of julian and Valens, 

Monks, Friars, and Priests made at Rome soldiers.  
Diacon lib. 12. Hist.   both Emperors, to make laws and decrees, that Monks, Priests, Friars, and Religious persons, should be ascripti milites soldiers ellected, which called the holy band, sacram cohortem as the Persians called their Mellophori, and the Egyptians their Calisiries, sacred soldiers.  
Now these Monks and Friars are called in these days jesuits and Seminaries, tygrish and cruel soldiers, and no marvel, having such terrible beasts carried before them; 
The Roman engsignes.  as in their ensigns, Dragons, Wolves, Bears, Mynotaurs, and such as were the ancient banners of the Romans.  
They were called draconarij milites, at what time Valens road in great pomp to Rome, 
Vigit. lib. 2. cap. 13.  having in every Roman Legion ten Dragons carried before them in their ensigns.  
Others soldiers were called minotauri milites, which was half a man, and half a beast; the soldiers of this monster, were called semi virique boves, semi bovesque viri: it squares well with the names of jesuits and Seminaries, half Priests, half Lai men.  

Diodor. lib. 2.  For as Egyptians had their bull called Apis, their Crocodiles, their Serpents carried before them in their battle, which they worshipped as their gods.  

Macab. lib. 2. cap. 12.  So the Iacobits, and the jamnites had their gods in their bosoms, when they went to any battle, & so found in their bosoms when they were dead and slain in the field: and the jews imagined they were slain therefore.  
It is to be doubted, that the Papists have their Crucifix, their Crosses, their agnus Dei in any foul fact, or in any treacherous actions they take in hand, imitating Infidels and Pagans, as Silla who had the picture of Apollo, as Scipio had the picture of jupiter to animate their soldiers to any hard enterprise.  
These therefore are not well to be trusted, lest they deceive us, 
japyges' stratagem.  as the people called japyges in the borders of Italy, who under colour of yielding certain Towns and Villages, and some number of soldiers in pledges of their submission to Publs: Licinius the Roman Proconsul: these soldiers were placed in the rearward of the army, having agreed, that when these people came to submit themselves on both sides the army; and also they of the rearward fell suddenly upon the Romans, that many were slain, and the General hardly escaped.  
These Ismalites are backed with Rome on the one side, 
Ismaelites.  with Spain on the other side: I trust they be not backed in Britain, for we wish them as the Grecians wished to the Persians, to be out of Greece; or as the Romans wished to the Africans, to be out of Italy: and so we wish them to be in Rome, or in Spain, if they cannot be quiet in Great Britain.  
King Philip of Macedon the last, doubting that his soldiers durst not abide the great hosts of the Scythians, appointed certain horsemen to back the timorous Macedonians, and commanded them not to let one live that would flee from their company.  
But the Britanes being better backed than King Philip's army were, 
Britanes better backed than the Macedonians.  and stronger walled than the Macedonians, as josephus saith, yea, then either Carthage or Africa, & murus maior quo septi Britanni, yet we may not trust neither Friars, nor Monks which are now called jesuits and Seminaries, the only cause of all sedition and quarrels.  
And therefore was Heraclitus requested by some of his friends to make some speech in the pulpit, 
Heraclitus sermon.  to persuade love, friendship, concord and amity among the people, being at variance by some seditious persons that love discord.  
Heraclitus knowing the cause of this discord and variance, went up to the pulpit, and called for a cup of cold water, 
Plut. de garul.  and a handful of flower or meal, and mingled it together, and drank it, and came down without further speech.  
Some of his friends said that his sermon was very short, & said it was a dumb sermon, yea said Heraclitus, short speeches and dumb shows persuade most, if men understand it; omes seditiones ex luxu nasci, understand that the water & the mingled meal, that I drank in the pulpit, are as much as the words I spoke, that all seditions grow of too much wealth and of abundance.  
There was an old man in Greece, called Cleanthes, which always brauled and chid with himself; his neighbour Theodectes asked Cleanthes with whom he so brauld & chid aways? with an old friend of mine said Cleanthes, which hath a white beard and a grey head.  
These grey heads & white beards, which we have in great Britain, might find their own faults, as well as Cleanthes did; if they were as careful of their heads, as Philetas was of his feet, or Cinesias was of his back.  

Lib. 6. ca 33.  Rhodiginus writes that one Philetas of Coos, was so light and so little of body, that they put lead under the soles of his shoes, lest any great wind should have blown him from the earth.  

Heidfield de monst. hominibus.  And of another that was so long and so slender named Cinesias, that he was bound with strong barks of Oaks about his back to keep his body straight, lest he should bend and break his back.  
I wish that our Countrymen had either Philetas lead under their shoes to stay in England, or Cinesias cork under their backs, to hold upright their backs in England, for all men see that they go not about to find out their faults, or to chide with themselves: with Cleanthes for their fault. Neither will they hear the speech of Augustus, audite me senem, iwenes.  
But they are ever laughing for their own wits & wisdom, 
Plin. lib. 2. cap. 10.  with Democritus in finding out their own destruction, and ever weeping with Heraclitus for their folly when they bring these to destruction.  
Archimedes after long study, if he had found in any hard or difficult conclusion to satisfy his mind, he would for very joy, cry out in Greek, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, I found, I found.  
Many do study how to find means, 
Archimedes much feared of the Romans. Dinocrates.  not as Archimedes to invent Engines to fear the Romans from Syracuse▪ the city where he dwelled, but like Dinocrates, who mused how he might bring mount Atho to the form and figure of a man, to please their great Alexander.  
Some such there be that study how to bring great mountains and high hills, as low as mould hills, but they so work under ground, that the ground falls upon them.  
It is written, that Tho: Aquinas was at dinner at Paris with Philip the Frence king, musing long with silence, suddenly he so struck the Table with his hand, and said, ego vici, ego vici: the king asked him what he meant, Aquinas answered and said, 
Aquinas.  an argument to overthrow the Manichees.  
I would they should be so occupied to overthrow heresies & heretics, but their heads are fraughted with greater things to overthrow Kings and kingdoms.  

Hiedfield ●e Gryphis Gram. cap. 26.  This Aquinas being a young boy in school, was called of his school fellows, bos mutus, ye said his schoolmaster when this dumb ox begins to low totum 〈◊〉 suo boatu replebit.  
Such devilish schoolmasters have been, and (I doubt) are in great Britan, that brought up many such dumb oxen as Aquinas was, to bring up their children not for their country.  

Appion. Phaliscus.  Such a schoolmasters was Apion in Alexandria, that moved sedition among the greeks, and the jews And in Phaliscu another schoolmaster that brought all the noble men's children being his scholars, to Camillus the Roman Consul, that then besieged Phalisius.  
And such schoolmasters had we (I pray God we have not) that bring up their scholars for Rome, for Spain, and not for great Britain: in caves and coniholes, as conicatchers, not only under ground, but on the ground.  


Diodor lib. 17. bibliotheca.  
Olaus mag hist Sepientria.   It was an exercise in Rome among the sword players, called exercitium laqueatorum, and after much used in war in Finelan, and in many places of the North: these soldiers were called laquearij milites, because they used stratagems with ropes & halters, in throwing them up to the walls and forts of the enemies.  
Such soldiers were the Spaniards, with their halters and ropes, marching towards England, to hang us in England our own native country: such were the Massacres of Paris, that slew and killed the chief men of France, and such soldiers do daily come from Rome to Great Britain, to practise this exercise. And these be the soldiers of Pope Leo the 10, which had ever this wicked verse in his mouth, Flectere sinequeo superos Acheronta movebo.  
There be other Soldiers, 
Three kinds of Captains over the Jesuits, and Seminaries.  called Retiarij milites, exercising and practising feats of Arms, with nets named fitter for priests and preachers, than for Traitors and Rebels, which will not lay their nets for small fishing, but for Kings and Kingdoms.  
Yet there is the third of Soldiers, called Cunicularij milites, these Soldiers are most dangerous, which keeps their Dens and Caves under ground, where they have as many Labyrinths, windings, and turnings, with so many subtle and crooked walks, as the River Maeander hath, 
Maeandri.  which both for the crooked ways, and for their winding and turning about Britain, they may be well called Maeandri.  
These three kinds of Captains have their meeting places, 
Places for meeting of Traitors.  though they be dispersed and scattered; others found, taken, and executed; yet they have their places provided for them that escape, to consult again of further treason.  
It was a policy of the Roman Sertorius in Spain, when he saw his Army compassed round about by the enemies, 
Front. lib. 2. cap. 13.  he counseled his soldiers to fly, and their flight to scatter and disperse; and from the other, to avoid the sword of Q. Metellus, and his Army, appointing to them a place where to meet again, where Sertorius the Roman Captain appointed.  
So these Rebels disperse themselves over all England, having their meeting places and Synod of consultation to take breath, 
Synod and consultation of Traitors.  and to deliberate of their treason, and they that scape are sent for more jesuits and Seminaries, to supply the rooms of those that were executed.  
These Jesuits use often times three kinds of stratagems, 
Three stratagems of Jesuits.  an Egyptian stratagem to pitch their combat nigh some marish ground, which they do cover over with sea reeds, and in the midst of their fight they fly, to draw their enemies to these bogs and marish ground, 
Egyptian,  and there to fall upon them.  
They also use a Spanish stratagem, which viriatus the Spaniard used against the Romans, much like to the same of the Egyptians, 
Spanish,  to feign to fly to quabbie places, bogs, and quicksands, they knowing how to escape upon hard ground between those bogs.  

Romish.  These jesuits, these Seminaries use too many Romish, Spanish, and Egyptian stratagems in their own Country and native soil, against their own country men.  
I think neither the Macedonians, nor the Greeks were so glad to see King Xerxes' Palace on fire in Persepolis, as these Traitors would have rejoiced to have seen such a bone-fier in Westminster Palace.  
These be right Cuniculares milites, that are instructed with all kind of stratagems by Spaniards, by Romans, yea, and by Egyptians; these be they that throw the keys of Peter into Tiber with Pope julian the 2, these be soldiers of Hyldebrandus, which made himself Pope, and made Rodolph an Emperor.  
Gaza a great strong City, 
Curtius. ●. ●.  which Alexander the Great long time besieged, in the midst of his great toil, 
The saying of the great Alexander.  a Conie started out of a hole, which assoon as the great Alexander saw, Haec ultima pestis Gazae, these Conie holes shall overthrow the strong City of Gaza, and so it came to pass.  
The like ruin fell to the Vients and Fidenates, 
Livi. lib. 4.  whose Cities were overthrown by such Caves and Dens wrought underground by Coneys.  
But we have such Coneys that works, not only underground, 
josh. 10.  but also upon the ground: May not we stop their holes as joshua did the five Kings of the Amorites, which fled from Israel, and hid them in Spelunca urbis Maceda.  
We must either so do with joshua, 
Apion de bello Mythridat.  or as Lucullus the Roman Consul did at the besieging of Tem●shira, get Bears and wild beasts, and hives of Bees, and put them unto their Dens to fright them, and to skirmish with them under the ground in the dark.  
As the Lacedæmonians did teach their young Soldiers to fight in the dark, 
To fight in the dark.  which was the practice of jugurth with the Romans, and the policy of Pompey with King Mythridates to fight in the night time.  
Security is dangerous, 
Security is dangerous.  and negligence among Captains very perilous. Thrasybulus forgetting to look to his watch, 
Amilius probus de vita Thrasibuli.  was taken in his Tent and slain; he that recovered Athens, and slew the 30 Tyrants a noble Captain was slain in careless security.  
Lu. Martius for the Romans in Spain, and the 2 valiant Scipios, after much god service for their Country, for the same fault were betrayed, 
Livi. lib. 34.  taken, and slain, as Thrasybulus was.  
We are not so secure, but they are as resolute; we are not so slack, but they are as forward, and yet they seem to be couching and dormiants, sed non omnibus dormiunt: and therefore King Osiris had the likeness of a man's eye in his Sceptre, to look and to watch regia pericula.  

Front. lib. 2. cap. 8.  Camillus perceiving his Army slack, and not willing to go forward, snatched an ensign into his hand, and said, You soldiers that mean to follow Camillus, follow me, and withal he spurred his horse into the midst of the Volscans, and the Latines his enemies; his soldiers for very shame followed, and fought desperately, and so got the Victory  

M. Crassus the Consul.  Our treacherous soldiers want no Camillus to lead them, to recover their old religious flags and banners, lost here in Queen Mary's time; the Romans were not more greedy to recover their chief Ensign the Eagle, lost in Parthia by M. Crassus' the Consul, than these are to win their banners in great Britain.  

Lu. Silla his sayings to his soldiers.  Lu. Silla finding his soldiers timorous, and fearful to sight with Archelaus King mythridate's General, drew out his sword, and said as Camillus said, You soldiers that mean to fly to Rome, tell them at Rome, that you left Silla your General fight in the midst of the battle with the enemies in Boetia.  
I doubt some treacherous papist, some Rebel will so say in Rome, 
Treacherous papists.  as Lu. Silla said in Boetia, that they left many such Silla's, and many like Camillus to revenge the quarrel in Britain.  
These be Sagittae volantes in die, These be devilish arrows, and in the devils hands: these be Daemons meridiani, 
Acheldama  the very line over Rome, and the very Daemon Maeridianus; which with their devilish devise thought to make Acheldama of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and that with one shot.  
It seemed that every Traitor, 
Many Legions of Devils.  every Rebel was led by a Legion of Devils, and truly they had more Devils to practise their last stratagem, than the Romans had Soldiers to overcome Asia, Europe, and Africa; and yet it was five hundred and fifty years before they could do it.  
But their Arrows were broken, 
The ashes of juniper.  though they were the devils Arrows; their fire was quenched, though it was covered over with juniper's ashes, and their devilish stratagem found out, though it was invented by Devils, that we may say, and pray with the Prophet, In Chamo & froeno maxillas eorum constringit Deus.  
Pau: Aemilius a Roman Consul found the snares of the Boians, 
Aemil. prevented the snares of the Boians.  by flying of multitude of birds in the Etruscan war, for those fowls fled in such fright from a thick wood, that the Consul sent scowt-watch, and found 10 Thousand Boyans in watch for Aemilius and his Roman Army.  
We should find greater birds in great Britain, if we should send scowt-watch abroad, and yet I stand in doubt, 
Num. 13.  that as joshua sent some of every Tribe to search the Land of Chanan; at their return, they would not open the fertility of the Land for fear of great men of higher stature, than the Israelites were, lest they should fight with those mighty men, the brood of Enachim's, saying, Nuncij cor nostrum terruerunt, those Israelites feared men more than God, they had rather return to Egypt, than otherwise.  

Cleonimus Dart.  They came from Rome to great Britain, as Cleonimus the Athenian with his soldiers, went to Tracaena with a dart in his hand, which he threw over the walls, which had written upon his dart, that Cleonimus came to deliver the Trocenians from Craterus their enemy; 
Front lib 4 cap. 7.  by this policy Cleonimus won Trocaena by sedition of the soldiers.  

Hanibals policy.  The like did Hannibal after he had gotten the great Victory at Thrasymenum, wrote divers Letters to sundry Cities and Towns in Italy, saying that Hannibal came from Carthage to Italy, to deliver Italy from the Romans.  
Many use Hanibals speech and letters, that come in one hand with pardons, indulgences, not only promising on earth absolution for their treachery, and murder, but also to be canonised Saints in heaven, and in the other hand Cleonimus dart, 
The Laws of divers Kingdoms in punishing Offenders.  yea▪ Saul's dart, to throw to King David's face: such darts would these cursed Crew throw to Kings and Princes faces.  
Not what laws should be sought for these Rebels, but what punishment might be invented for these Traitors? Antiochus' invented torments to torture the jews that would not eat Swine's flesh. Phala●is had by perilous invention, a brazen Bull to torment Offenders.  
Among the greeks it was lawful for any man, to bring such Offenders to Delphos, and there to offer them quick in sacrifice to Apollo.  
Among the Romans to bring such to the Theaters, and there to be hewed and cut in pieces, Per Gladiatores, the Sword-players.  
Among the Persians such should be quick buried, the Massilians had a naked Sword, and a great Vessel full of poison hanged up in public sight, to terrify such Traitors.   

Sectio. 4.  
THemistocles before compared himself to a Plantain tree, for that the Athenians used it for to shadow them, and to defend them in times of wars with the Persians; so in like sort said Themistocles, That Athenians use him at their pleasure, sometime for their drinking Cup; and sometime for their Chamber pot, and so often used him off, and on, 
Elian. li. 13 the var. hist.  to cast him of at their pleasure, and to call him again at their will, that Themistocles would sometime speak to the Athenians, Illos non laudo homines qui eodem vase pro chalice, & matula utuntur; I like not those kind of people that useth one vessel, for to drink out wine of it in the morning, and to make water in it at night.  
So ungrateful people were the Athenians, that they weighed for nothing, but for three Monsters of Athens, Noctua populus & draco, so full of flattery and dissimulation was Athens, that every one stood in doubt whom to trust.  
Many use such dissembling speeches and countenances in great Britain, 
Fab. lib. 1.  like counterfeit Tragedians at Smyrna with their false Solaescismes, holding up to heaven their bloody hands, and looking down to the earth with wicked malicious eyes, longing to see their tree at Rome bring forth such fruits, as the wild Olive tree did at Megara, a City of Achaia in Greece.  

The wild Olive tree in Megara.  There was a City in the Marketplace a wild Olive tree, on which the Captains and the soldiers used to hang their armours a long season, that in continuance of time this tree, by hanging on of these armours, bred of itself Armours, which was prophesied, that when this tree should breed of itself Armours for soldiers, this City should be destroyed; for this tree was Arbour fatalis.  

Dan. 4.  There was a great Tree likewise in Babylon, which shadowed all beasts of the field, and on whose boughs all the fowls of the air made their nests, and all the Kings of the earth hanged their Swords, their Targets, their Helmets, and all their Military Armours.  

The rotten Tree of Rome.  But there was a rotten Tree a long time in Rome, Religiosa arbour, on which the Dominick Franciscans, & benedict's Friars hanged their Caputium, their weeds, and religious garments so long, that this Tree bred more Armours and armed men in Rome, and out of Rome, than the wild Olive did at Megara, or the mighty high Tree at Babylon.  
But as the fatal Tree of Megara had an end: so the great Tree of Babylon was cut down, and so the rotten Tree of Rome is as ready to fall down, for under this Tree were more Traitors bred, more schisms, and heresies brought up, than were Soldiers at Megara: either beasts or fowls in Babylon. For these hold it a principle or a maxim of their laws, that it was as lawful to burn a Protestant in England, as to kill a Tyrant in Greece, and the reward was a like, Spolia opima iovi, a rich spoil to their jupiter.  
It was counted great tyranny in Tamberlane King of Scythia, 
Tamberlane King of Scythia.  to use Baizates the great Turk (though as great a Tyrant as himself) being taken captive, to carry him in his triumph from Country to Country in a Cage, and to feed him like a dog under his table in that Cage. And it is greater tyranny to feed Turks, and Tamberlane to cut our throats in England.  
Sapor King of Persia, 
Oros. lib. 7. cap. 22.  after his great Victory over the Romans, and had taken the Roman Emperor Valerianus, he kept him as his Prisoner, & used him as a block on his knee for the King of Persia to mount on horseback, to the great disgrace of the Romans. These were triumphs of Tyrants, and not of Kings. The King of great Britain may use his enemies, as Tamberlane used the great Turk, or as Sapor used the Romans.  
I remember the tyranny of Sesostris, 
Melan. li. 2. Chron.  whom the Ethiopians call the Hercules of Egypt, which was carried in a Coach (as Melancthon saith, In curru ex auro lapidibusque praeciosis constructo) by ●ower Kings in a Chariot wrought with gold and precious stones.  
But one of these 4 Kings ever looked back upon the wheel of the chariot; 
Sesostris King of Egypt.  & Sesostris asked him, why he so often looked back; he said, I look upon the wheel, how by course, the staves of the wheel, are sometimes above, & sometimes below Histories report, that he dismissed those Kings, and freed them from such bondage upon these words.  

Plut. in Pomp.  Such was the fortune of Tygranes the great King of Armenia, though he had 4 Kings waited on him at his Table, and ran sometime as footmen at his stirrup, 
Tygranes king of Armenia.  yet was he forced to throw his Diadem at Pompey's feet. Thus Fortuna ambiguo vagatur axe.  
But the Bishop of Rome which had more Kings and Kingdoms under his obeisance, 
jud. 1.  useth much more tyranny, than Tamberlane of Scythia, or Sapor of Persia; 
Adonibesek.  Yea greater tyranny than Adonibezek, who had 70 Kings feeding like dogs under his table, without either toes to their feet, or fingers to their hands; but he had legem Talionis.  

jud. 2.  This man of Rome commandeth his Ambassadors, as Nabuchadnezar commanded Holofernes, Ne parrot oculus tuus ulli regno, 
Ashuerus.  to make Acheldama of England and great Britain.  

Est. 3.  This is that Ashuerus, that willed proud Haman, De populo age quod placet, Do what thou wilt with the jews.  
The like condition is between the Pope, and his people, who sends his Heralds abroad, tanquam cursores, with his Bulls, and Agnus Dei, pardoning and absolving all murderers that will destroy all Kings and Kingdoms, that are not of his Catholic Religion.  

Massacres.  This hath been practised in France upon their chief Peers by the Massacres in Paris, and by a Friar in auricular confession of a King. 
The practice of Papists.   
In England upon the best learned men of England, and upon our late gracious and renowned Queen, if their often practices (by many pretended) had not failed them.  
And now of late upon our Sovereign Lord and King, upon our Queen, upon our Prince, and upon their children, the sacred and stayed anchor of three Kingdoms, and upon these three Kingdoms itself, At illos Deus è Coelo subsannavit.  
Is this the Catholic fruit of their Catholic Religion? Is Treason and Murder the profession of Papists? We thank God with Paul, that hath delivered us from the snares of Satan, and from the practice of his fiery Soldiers, and from these Dreamers.  
Caligula that Monster, 
Caligula his wish.  wished but one neck unto Rome, one City that he might cut it off with one stroke. That proud Haman sought of king Ashuerus, but to destroy the remnant of one nation, & that upon one day within a hundred and seven and twenty Provinces in Persia. 
Hamans' request.   
But these Serpents in one hour with one flame of fire, fully decreed to destroy England, Scotland, and Ireland, three flourishing Kingdoms. Quis non meminisse horret? Who laments not to think, much more to have seen the terror of that day? The inventor thereof could not be but a Devil, and not one Devil, unless it be that Devil which Christ commanded exi hominem, whose names was Legio, a legion of Devils. Such a Devil might draw many Devils after him. 
Catelin.  Such a treacherous Catelin had more with him to destroy Rome, rather than 300 faithful Fabians to defend it.  
Who seeth not the monstrous intentions of these Traitors, after long lurking in many secret Labyrinths of Britain, where so long they were hidden, until they had decreed to bring their last Pageant of ostentation, 
The Roman Colossus.  not only with their great Colossus from Rome to England, and there to rest; but also with their huge Pyramids from Egypt, to be buried in England, and to make a Chaos of Great Britain, sometime called Insula fortium, and to christian it again after their own name Insula Serpentum, 
Insula Ophiadum.  the Isle of Serpents, which is an Isle in Arabia, where such Serpent's breed, that are of 120 cubits long? And yet now in Britain (my heart bleedeth to speak of them) we find longer Serpents, 
Diod. lib. 4.  that their bodies be in Britain, and their heads at Rome, I will not say their heart and hands at Spain.  
These are worse than the Athenians, that had certain Priests named Nantes, which carried Firebrands in their hands, 
Priests of Athens.  and went before the Magistrates of Athens, and threw about their Firebrands in sign of battle between the cities of Greece. These are worse than the Priests of Rome called Faeciales, 
Alex. ab Alex. li. 5 ca 7.  that went before the Consuls with bloody darts in their hands, which they threw towards the Confines of their neighbours, to pronounce war.  

The Priests of Rome.  And these our late jesuits and Seminaries as Ambassadors came from Rome with Firebrands, and bloody darts, not in their hands, but in their hearts, to destroy their Country and Countrymen, and glad when they find means by any policy to practise mischief.  
But these hellish Harpeis, these cruel Crocodiles worse than Pharaoh, that said, Quis est Dominus? and worse than the Atheists, that say in their hearts, there is no God. Such double faced janus children, such two-fronted Cecrops brood, say with the fool, Non est Deus: who can only deliver us from these that are double-hearted, double tongues, double faced?  
Such, the law of God punished, so that fire from heaven devoured them, 
The laws of God.  & the earth gaped and swallowed them up alive.  
Such, 
Laws for Traitors.  the laws of men among all Nations have punished; as in Athens by Solon; in Sparta by Lycurgus; and in Rome by so many laws that tortures, and torments were invented to punish these tanquam sacrilegos in patrios lares, 
Diod. lib. 2.  focos, & deos penates.  
The Egyptians with long sharp needles, 

The laws in Egypt. The laws of Greece and of the Macedonians.  
The Laws of the Romans.  
Gibeonites.   per singula patricidae membra, torment such Offenders; the Grecians threw such headlong down from high rocks; the Macedonians stoned them to death.  
The Romans drew them in pieces, either between four horses, or 4 boughs of a tree: and yet said Cicero, Quae nex tanta, tanto sceleri inveniri potuit.  
And should not these false and forsworn Gibeonites be punished with servitude, and bondage, and be rejected from the house of judah, as joshua used them? 
jud. 11.  And should not these dissembling Giliadites, which could not pronounce Scibboleth, be used as jeptha used the Ephramites at the river jordan. 
Efframites.   
The Tyrant Antiochus gave them time by tormenting the seven brethren, either to eat Swines-flesh, or to die. 
2. Mach. 7. Punishment invented by Tyrants.   
The tyrant Phaleris in like manner torturing them with his frying-pan, and with Perillus his brazen Bull, were not in such a rage, insuch a fury, and that against the rule of reason, so long.  
I never remember of the like, that in a whole year and a half, they could not call upon God, and repent of this their determined tyranny, worse than Esau, 
Esau.  who would have repent, and sought it with tears, but yet could not; worse than Pharaoh, for he desired Moses to pray to his God for him. 
Exod. 9 Pharaoh.  But these refuse all men's prayers, but such as be Catholics like themselves.  
Cain felt his conscience so to afflict him, that he thought that every man that met him, 
Gen. 4.  would have killed him, and fain would die, but could not. But these without feeling of any conscience, are worse than Cain, neither fearing God nor man, worse than Esau, for they seek not to repent with tears; and worse than Pharaoh (as I said before) who sought Moses to pray for him.  

The Sun stood over Gibeon.  These (I say) stood to their first long pretended tyranny to the very day, most unhappy for them, and most happy for us. Dies quem fecit Dominus. Dies solus supra Gabaon, the day of joshua when the Sun stood over Gabaon. 
josh. 10. days to be remembered in England, and Scotland.  And Dies Lunae, when the Moon stood over Atalon. And Dies Martis, not only in Scotland, but also in England; which day we should celebrate and solemnize with eternal memory.  
So did Moses set down the days which God commanded to be solemnized in memory of the victories and triumphs which he had against Pharaoh, 
2. Chro. 29.  called Paras●eua for the which both Ezechias and josias proclaimed this feast throughout all Israel from Dan to Berseba, with others, two feasts which were yearly kept and solemnized at Jerusalem in memory of victories.  
So joshua remembered his victories over 31 Kings with thanksgiving to the lord 
2 Chro. 35  So Machabeus in memory of his victories of that blasphemous Nicanor Antiochus General, 
2. Mach. 15. Feasts ought to be kept.  and made that day to be solemnized.  
So Mardocheus kept the feast called Phurim, in memory of the victory, 
Hest. 9  which the jews had against the Persians, in all the Cities of Persia.  
These are the feasts of thanksgiving unto God, and not like such drunken feasts as the Athenians did make in the month of November to honour Bacchus; 
A Feast to Bacchus in Athens.  neither such feasts as the Thracians had, worse than the Athenians, to honour Dionysius; neither such Feasts as the Egyptians (worse than the Thracians) made to the Image of Priapus. 
A Feast to Priapus.   
In such a drunken Feast to Baal, 
Dan. 5. What fell to such drunken Feasts, to Baal, and to Dagon.  Balthasar King of Babylon lost his Kingdom. In such a Feast to Dagon, the house fell upon the 5 Princes of the Philistines; and in such was Benhadad a drunken King of Syria slain with 32 Kings in his drunken Pavilion.  
Of such drunken Feasts the Prophet saith, That both Priests and Prophets were drunken with wine, and that they failed in Prophecy, and stumbled in judgement. Therefore we must season and temperate our feasts (as Elizeus did the water of jericho, by casting salt into it.  
In Rome and in Italy (as Varro saith) they far exceeded the Athenians, the Thracians and Egyptians in such filthy Feasts, until by the Senators these kinds of Feasts were banished from Rome and Italy, Per Senatus consulium.   

Sectio. 5.  
THE Lampsenians understanding that Alexander the great, 
Val. max. lib. 2. cap. 3.  had fully determined to destroy the City of Lampsacus, they sent Anaximenes the Philosopher Schoolmaster sometime to Alexander to entreat for peace. No said Alexander, I have vowed, 
Anaximenes' the Philosopher to Alexander.  that whatsoever thou seekest at my hand, I will deny it thee. Destroy then Lampsachus, said Anaximenes, His request being denied, Lampsachus was saved.  
This Embassage was better performed to Alexander by Anaximenes, than the Embassage of Aeschines to King Philip.  
This Orator being sent from Athens to King Philip of Macedon, 
Plut. in Demosthene.  at his return to Athens, he much commended Philip for his beauty, for his eloquence, and for much bearing of drink.  
Demosthenes took up Aeschines, and said, That he made a woman of King Philip for his beauty, a babbling Sophister for his eloquence, and a Sponge for his drinking: you should have done as Demades did, being then as his prisoner, with divers other citizens of Athens, 
King Philip reprehended of Demades for his drunkenness.  seeing Philip crowned with garlands in his robes, and too much rejoicing in his drink of his victories over his Captains and prisoners of Greece; Demades boldly said,  
Art not thou King Philip ashamed whom Greece made their General, like Agamennon thou to make thyself like bibbing Thersites? with such taunts as Demades made Philip to cast off his crowns, his garlands, and his robes, and for very shame to dismiss the poor Greekes his prisoners, with Demades to go free to Athens, and other Cities of Greece.  
The like is read of Polemon a gallant Gentleman of Athens, 
Polemon reduced from his drunkenness by Anaxagoras.  but being drunk, rushed in his drunkenness into Anaxagoras school at lector time: he perceiving that Polemon was beastly & shameless drunken, Anaxagoras altered his days Lector to speak of drunkenness, in such sort, that Anaxagoras made Polemon as shamefast of his drunkenness, as Demades did king Philip, both made to cast off their Crowns, their Garlands, and their Robes, and to be ashamed of themselves.  
Yet M. Antonius made a Book to defend drunkenness, 
Plin. lib. 14  being reprehended thereof by Cicero, which was the only cause of Cicero's banishment, 
M. Anton. hatred to Cicero.  and afterward of his death: another Glutton named Apicius wrote a whole volume De gulae irritamentis.  
And for the like speech Cicero used, was Hermodorus banished from the Sybarites; with whom the law was, 
Cic. Tusc. lib 5.  that nemo apud nos frugi sit; they banished all kind of Artificers, because they should not trouble them with knocking, hammering, carting, or any noise to disquiet their drinking; 
The law of the Sybarites.  and withal the Sybarites made a law, that no Cock should be in their City to wake them from their sleep. These were the Epicures, of whom the Prophet saith, Eadmus, bibamus, cras moriamur.  
Of this company was Philoxenus and Melancthus, the one wished a Crane's neck; the other a swans neck, 
Gel. lib. cap. 2.  and either of these two wished to have tricubitale guttur, a throat of 3 cubits long, to have more pleasure in their long swallowing of their meat and drink, and yet see and observe the difference.  
The great Alexander, when Ada Queen of Caria had sent him a dainty dish of meat, thought she should be commended for her cookery, 
Plut. in Caesare.  and pleasant sauce; one said to her, Every soldier that Alexander hath, is a better Cook, and maketh sweeter sauce, than the Queen of Caria can make.  

Cic. lib. 5. Tusc.  The like Darius said, the great King of Persia, that he never drank better wine in Persia, than that water which was brought to him by a soldier in his Helmet.  
So Ptolomey the first King of that name in Egypt, confessed that he did never eat better bread in Egypt, 
Ptolomey.  than that which a shepherd gave the King out of his scrip.  

Cic. Tusc.  See the difference between three base Epicures, and three of the most mighty Kings upon the earth.  
I know not which to prefer, Philip of Macedon for his ambition, or Xerxes for his lust and pleasure: King Xerxes appointed pensions, and great rewards for them that were named novae voluptatis repertores, that could invent and find out new kind of delights and pleasures.  
King Philip gave much money to any man that would betray great Cities and Towns, and would after give those Towns and Cities to those that would betray Countries and Kingdoms.  
Caesar suspecting the faith and promise of the Egyptians to be flattery, gave himself to feasting and banqueting in Alexandria. Thus Caesar fed the Egyptians until he won all Egypt.  

Diod. lib. 4.  So great King Cyrus' stratagem was to make his foes become his friends in lief off punishment and slaughter, banquets, and plays; so he pleased the people of Sardenses, and so he rewarded the rude and barbarous people Arymaspy, and commanded they should be called Euargetes.  
Leontinus Gorgius, being asked what he thought of a great mighty King? I know not said Gorgius, whether he be Philip, or Alexander, a Merchant, or a Soldier; for Philip won all Greece, tanquam Mercator, as a Merchant; and Alexander wan all Asia, tanquam Victor, as a Conqueror; Alexander inquired for good Soldiers; Philip sought good silver.  
Like Dionysius the Tyrant, that asked his familiar and dear friend Antiphones, where, & how he might get some money? At Athens said Antiphones, where the Statues and Images of Harmodius and Aristogiton are made of pure silver; for that they kill Pysistratus the Tyrant: that bold speech cost Antiphones his life.  
Plutarch recites a History of Dionysius barber, who hearing in his shop many attending their washing and trimming, 
Three great Tyrants.  that Dionysius, Anton: Comodus, and Alexander Pheraeus, and especially Dionysius, and his son, was the most cruel Tyrant. Say you so said his barber? Sub cuius iugulo hanc teneo novaculum: he was hanged for his speech In manibus linguae mors & vita. But Dionysius the Father was slain by the people, and Dionysius the Son expelled out of Scicilia by Dion a Noble man in Sicilia, by the Council of Plato.  
That was the cause why Philippides the Poet refused to be of King Lysimachus Council, being in such grace and favour with Lysimachus, that the King spoke with Philippides, Quid vis ut impartiar tibi? nothing said the poor poet, but only this, ne sime consilijs tuis.  
Orontes the Persian being cast out of favour with king Artaxerxes his father in law, 
The saying of Orontes.  would compare the favour of Princes to Arithmeticians fingers laying down and taking up, to make what sum they list: so might that great Philosopher Aratus speak of king Philip when he vomited up blood, saying, haec sunt regia proemia.  

Melanth. in vita Valentin.  Valentinianus the Emperor, after he had caused his familiar friend Aetius to be slain, asked another friend of his, whether Aetius deserved death? that I know not said he to the Emperor, but this I know, that you cut off your right hand with your left hand; and it was true, for Valentinianus was slain by Aetius soldiers.  

Lamp. in vita Alex. Sever.  And yet better is an evil Prince having good and faithful subjects, than wicked and false subjects with a good Prince.  
Had Saul but ten such as Samuel, as he had ten Thousand Doegs' about him, no doubt he had obeyed God, and served him better, and governed Israel wiser.  

4. Reg. 12.  Had joas but few such councillors as jehoida was, he had not been seduced to forsake his God, to neglect his commandment, and to forget what johoida had done for him.  
Had Dionysius the Tyrant entertained but Ten such like Plato to tell him true, as he had ten Hundred like Aristippus to flatter him, he had not need to be guarded with armed men, and to say to his son, Haec adamantina regum vincula, God would have but ten good and godly in Sodom, and Sodom should be saved.  
Agamemnon wished but ten such as Naestor to vanquish all his enemies in Phrygia, and set the greeks at liberty to return to Greece again.  
And yet Saul a wicked King, did many good things by the persuasion of Samuel.  
And King joas while johoida lived, forsook not God nor his laws.  
And Dionysius the Tyrant abstained from much tyranny, 
Plut. in Dione.  by the council of Plato.  
But Saul had not so many Chusai, as he had Achitophel's. Dionysius had not so many Plato's to tell him truth, as he had of Aristippus to flatter him.  
Plato asked Dionysius, why he went so guarded? Dionysius answered Plato, 
Herodot. 7.  I told my Son a dumb stratagem that Torquinius Superbius told his Son Tarqvinius Sextus, & what Thrasibulus willed Periander to do, In spicarum de truncatione: but all these damned stratagems were to effect tyranny, as you read before.  
But King Antigonus reprehended his Son, that handled his Subjects roughly, saying, Dost not thou know Son, that Regnum nostrum est splendida servitus, that neither arms, strength, nor treasures are so certain and sure to regal Sceptres, as faithful friends.  
So Maximilian the Emperor said in a public meeting with all the Princes of Germany at Wormatia, 
Heidfiel. de honore & infamia. cap. 24.  where the Duke of Saxon, first preferring his Metals and rich veins of the earth; the Duke of Bavaria much commending his strong and brave Cities and Towns; the Duke Palatine his Wines and fertility of his Land; and the Duke of Whitenberg said, I can lay my head, and sleep upon the lap of any Subjects I have, idque subdio, abroad in the field every where, and when I will. Then said Maximilian, Huic facile concedite palimam.  
I would England might have so said in Queen Elizabeth's time; or now great Britain in King james time; is hard to have it among such as think it as sweet a Sacrifice to their Roman Mars, to burn a Protestant in England, as in Greece to kill a Tyrant, to please their God jupiter.  

Oxford.  And as great a triumph was it in Oxford, to burn three famous learned Bishops, as it was to Diagoras the Philosopher, to see his three Sons crowned at the games of Olympia.  

Cranmer.  This was proved in Queen Mary's time, when Archbishops, 
Ridley.  Bishops, learned men, and all kind of men were burned in all places of England, and yet in all the time of Queen Elizabeth, not a hair of their heads were touched. But of such jesuits and Seminaries, which under colour of Religion, became Traitors and Rebels.  
These forget Hector's verse out of Homer, chiding his friend Polydamus that feared to fight for his Country, doubting soothsaying, Augurium optimum (said Hector) patriam fortiter defendere.  

Iliad. 12.  But these Jesuits hold with Pope julian the 2, that threw Saint Peter's keys over Rome's bridge into Tiber; and with Pope Hildebrand which threw the Sacrament into the fire, have that verse in their mouth, which Pope Leo, 
Aenead. 7.  and divers other Popes used to say, Flectere si nequeo superos acheronta movebo.  
Of such Menedemus the Philosopher said, That many went to Athens, that thought themselves wise before they went to Athens, and after a while being at Athens, they thought themselves eloquent Orators: and straight after they thought themselves to be grave philosophers, but at last proved very Idiots.  
Many likewise go to Rome to see the Pope, 
Traitors and Rebels are canonised Saints Rome.  the Senators, and people of Rome, and as some proved to be Idiots by going to Athens, so some be proved to be Serpents by going to Rome, and such Serpents that are Rebels and Traitors in England, are canonised Saints at Rome.  
Beda our Countryman being at Rome, was requested by some Schoolmaster in a scoff, to know what meant these four letters, S. P. Q. R. Beda dissembled out the matter, said, Stultus populus quaerit Romam, Foolish people seek to see Rome, yea, too many seek out Rome in England, and too many would willingly build Rome in England.  
Such a Schoolmaster was Appion in Alexandria that rejoiced to make discord, 
Appion.  and move sedition in the City, to set the Egyptians against the jews, and the jews against the greeks, to expel, to banish both greeks and jews out of Alexandria, to have Egyptians only in Egypt, saying, o beatae civitas quae me talem maeruit habere civem.  
This seditious Schoolmaster Appion was more esteemed in Rome of both the Emperors Claudius and Nero, 
joseph lib. 2 in Appion.  in his Embassage for the Egyptians, than Philo that learned jew, was on the behalf of the people of God the jews.  
Of such Emperors Claudius jester was wont to to say often to his Master, that all the good Emperors of Rome, might be written upon a signet of a Ring, and so of good Popes might be said, as was of Pius Quintus, when he died Inter tot pontifices tantum quinque fuisse pios.  

A stratagem of a Schoolmaster.  Another Schoolmaster in Phaliscus, that came to Camillus, and so bragged that he would and could bring the whole City unto Camillus' hand. How said Camillus? Behold, all the noblemen's Sons I yield to your hand, and so shall they yield the City for their Children.  
Many such bragger's are, and say as a certain Grecian did of his Country, that the Hebrews had but one wise man which was Solomon; the Romans had but two wise men Cato and Laelius; but we Grecians have in Greece seven. Yea, (said another) all the world knew Solomon to be wise; all Rome knew Cato and Laelius to be wise; but you Greeks make yourselves wise, yet all the world besides call you Children.  
So Asoches a priest of Memphis, spoke unto Solon's face, Semper pueriestis graeci.  
Aristotle thought it strange, that Socrates was judged by the Oracle to be the wisest man in Greece, 
Why was Socrates called the wisest man in Greece.  sithence he studied no natural philosophy, but moral. Plato thought that he was so judged, for that Socrates said, he knew nothing, and sought not by his study, but to profit his country Greece.  
And so it seemed by his verse taken out of Homer in every place, 
Gell. lib. 14. cap. 16.  and in every company by Socrates used, aedibus in nostris quae recta aut pravagerantur, for where families are well brought up, and Cities well governed, there the Common wealth must needs flourish.  
Socrates proved wiser by his moral philosophy, than Aristotle did by his natural philosophy, to travail and to study for such natural causes, as he could never attain unto, Quae supra nos, nihil ad nos, as in his book, De caelo & mundo, & de anima, he much erred.  
For he could never find out the cause, 
Plin. lib. 4. cap. 9  why the River Euripus should flow 7 times, and ebb 7 times in one natural day, and yet for three days in every month, neither ebbed nor flowed for that he could not satisfy his mind in finding out the cause thereof, threw himself headlong into the River Euripus, saying, Quia te non capio, tu me capies.  
The like is written of Homer, for that he could not satisfy himself about a ridiculous problem of Fishers objected to him, he also died as Aristotle died.  
But this seemeth rather a Fable, than a true History, if Gellius may believed better than Pliny.  
For Aristotle at his death, 
Theophrastus' succeeded Aristotle in Athens.  being requested by his Scholars and friends to know who should succeed him in his place in Athens? he answered, They should know straight; so within a while he called for a cup of Rhodian wine: after he had tasted it, Truly, 
Gell. lib. 13. cap. 5.  (said Aristotle) this is a very good sharp wine: and after a little time called for a cup of Lesbian wine, and said, both excellent good wines, but the Lesbian wine is more pleasant, than the Rhodian. By this gentle means, his Scholars knew that he preferred Theophrastus before M●nedemus.  
But it is neither Rhodian, nor Lesbian wine, unless it be made of Roman grapes, 
Papists to Idumeans compared.  can delight a Papists taste, for as the Idumeans claimed heritage of Religion from Abraham by succession, so the papists would fain claim succession in religion from Peter, & they will have none to prove this but themselves.  

Themistocles saying.  But as Themistocles being asked whose Oration he would hear? Even him (said Themistocles) that can best set forth my praise, and advance my fame.  
Yet Isocrates repeating an Oration of Demosthenes his Adversary at Rhodes, they of Rhodes much delighting therein, and much commending the Oration that Isocrates made, 
Isocrates words of Demosthenes.  though he was an enemy to Demosthenes, was forced against his will to speak to the people, O quid si illam belluam audissetis. What if you had heard the beast himself pronouncing his own Oration.  
There was in judea a River, that upon the Sabbath day did Intermittere cursum, 
Drus. lib. 2 cap. 32.  and was therefore called Sabbation, for that the River standeth still and moveth not.  
And there is a Lake among the Troglodytes, which in one day is three several times bitter, and three several times sweet; and so in one night thrice sweet, and thrice bitter: the philosophers being not able to find out the cause thereof, 
Plin. lib. 31. cap. 2.  they named the River Lacum insanum, after they long busied their brains in seeking the same, more than Ajax in his fury beating blocks and bushes, in seeking Ulysses.  
Aratus and Eudoxus two great Astrologers boasted and wrote that they (as Augustine saith) had the number of the Stars; 
August. li. 16. de civitat. Dei. Esay 40.  but God which made all the Stars said to Abraham, aspice caeli stellas & innumera eas, look upon the stars, and count them if you can.  
Aristotle in his time doth report, that the Mathematicians made of the whole Circuit of the earth, 
Lib. 2. de caelo & mundo.  but 40 Myriad of Furlongs, which is but 50000 Miles; but he that made the Earth said, Quis mensus est terram, who hath measured the earth.  
There is nothing so strange, nothing so absurd, but some kind of philosophers will defend it, and maintain it. So two of the greatest philosophers in their time, the one saith, That a man might be borne naturally out of the earth. So saith Auicenna, Hominem posse produci naturaliter ex terra.  
Auerrois held an opinion, that a Maid might conceive without knowledge of man in a Bath, the words are, Sine viri commixtione in balneo.  
And yet not more absurd in philosophy, as the assertion of the papists in their Divinity of the presence of Christ's natural body.  
But the papists which have as many Gods as the Egyptians had, 
Plut. de Iside & Osiride.  they must have as many Sphinxes in temples, as the Egyptians, to expound their Divinity, being obscure and dark, and full of Oracles, as the Egyptians were.  
Every priest had in Queen Mary's days in his own house, such a Corinthian Sphinx, as Cicero charged Hortensius to have, 
Plut. in vita Ciceronis.  who feigned that he understood not Cicero, pleading for his Client. That is strange, (said Cicero) that you understand not my pleading, having Corinthiacam sphingem.  
These kind of Sphinx were wont to tell pretty tales to priests in times past, I mean Hortensius Sphinx, few or none of the Cardinals, but he hath his Corinthian Sphinx.   

Sectio. 6.  

Plu. in Themist.  ARtabanus King Xerxes' General spoke to Themistocles, You Grecians above all things esteem liberty and equality: but to reverence and adore our King, as the Image of the God of Nature, we Persians judge far better.  

The Egyptians.  The Egyptians have their heads and beards, and dedicate the hairs thereof to God Serapis at Memphis, with sacrifice and supplications for their Kings and Governors.  
The Macedonians used to wear the picture of Alexander about their necks as jewels, and on their fingers as Rings.  

The Indians.  The Indians so honoured their Kings, that once in the year, the Peers and Nobles of India went to the River Ganges, to offer sacrifice to the Sun, with a number of black Bulls, and black horses, which colour among the Indians is best esteemed.  

The Grecians.  The Grecians vowed for their Princes and governors health and long life, to dedicate Statues, and Images to their Gods in their temples, with crowns and garlands.  
The Persians and Armenians did honour their Kings, as their Gods.  
And no Nation under the Sun reverenced their Kings more than England did, before Titan's children came from Rome to Britain, who were taught in Rome mortally to hate Kings, they might not hear of the name of a King.  
And it seemeth that these be right Romans, 
Alex. ab. Alex. lib. 4. cap. 3.  who never with Kings could agree, like to the Taprobanes a Nation in India, where none might be King of the King's stock, (especially if he had children) lest they should claim the Kingdom by heritage.  
The Priests of Egypt and Ethiop have a Law and a Custom to elect Kings, and so long he should reign as pleased the priests. And they had authority from their Gods to elect, and depose Kings at their will.  
This continued until their God of Heliopolis, 
Diod. lib. 2. cap. 2.  Vulcan appeared in a dream to Sabachus King of Egypt, whom he warned, either to kill all the priests of Egypt, and to march over their bodies with his whole army, or to lose his Kingdom. But this idolatrous and superstitious King yielded his Kingdom unto priests hands, and they banished the King into Ethiop.  
Some Kings in Europa have been, and are in the like homage to the priests of Rome, as the Kings of Africa have been to the priests of Egypt and Ethiop.  
This law and custom continued with the priests of Egypt and Ethiop, 
Ergamenes stratagem.  until Ergamenes time, who lived in Pto: Philadelphos time, who to avoid this custom, he feigned a great sacrifice to the Goddess Isis, and commanded by a strait decree, that all Prophets and Priests of Isis should come to this sacrifice. Ergamenes by this stratagem slew and burned all these Sacrificers, and left not one alive.  

4 Reg. 10.  The like did King jehu to Baal's prophets, and the like Elias did to the false prophets of Achab, and the like did Daniel at Babylon, 
3. Reg. 18. The stratagems of jehu.  found out the policy, and practise of Nabuchadnezar priest.  
These three great stratagems are equal (no doubt) to the jesuits and Seminaries, though not in number, yet in policy.  
And truly far better sacrifice than the blood of Rams, Goats, Heiffers, and thought to be better far than that good fire which Agesilaus commended in Greece, when he saw the usurers tables burn at Athens.  
Some thought, yea too many agreed to practise Ergamen●s stratagem in England, but I will let pass in silence the terror and horror of that day. 
The terror of the fifth day of November.  The determinations of these Serpents were such, that neither by Tamberlane the Scythian, neither by Roman Silla, nor by any Turkish tyranny could be invented or practised.  
You read in this book before, how in Asia men carried Serpents on their arms, to drive Devils and evil spirits from their houses: & in great Britain they carry Devils in their hearts, not to drive Devils out of Britain, but to bring more Devils into Britain by that Roman Belzebub, as the Devil confessed, when he knew not where to go, said; I will return whence I came, and brings with him 7 Devils worse than himself. So these Serpents go to Rome, & at their return bring seven such, and worse from Rome, to great Britain.  
While blindness and ignorance, with superstitious ceremonies were in England, no such stratagems were used, the Devil slept sound and secure; but now in time of the Gospel, the Devils bestir themselves, with their Priests, Jesuits, and Seminaries.  
And where before in Rome a Serpent barked like a Dog, 
Alex. ab Alex. lib. 3. ca 15.  and a Dog spoke like a man at the overthrow of Tarquin the proud.  
And now in Rome such creeping frogs, that creeps from Rome to England, and croaking in every corner, in every hole, and in every ditch, worse than barking Serpents or speaking Dogs. These be Spiritus Daemonum, 
Apoc. 16.  that went out of the beasts mouth in farma runarum, to move contentions and brawls between Kings and Princes of the earth.  
I mean not true papists, nor religious Catholics, but these treacherous jesuits and Seminaries, 
Apoc. 16.  which do much resemble those▪ frogs that went forth of the Dragon's mouth, croaking in every place of great Britain, the Messengers of Satan, and the brood of Serpents, to make debates and contention, not as Mimus Roscius did with Cicero, which of them both should excel in their faculties, neither as Ajax did with Ulysses, for Achilles' Armour.  
These frogs croak for Kings and Kingdoms, and they mean to have their Babylon again so to flourish, that neither Semiramis, Cyrus, nor Alexander shall prevail against it the second time.  
These Serpents the brood of the Dragon, bestir themselves to get workmen and Soldiers to build the walls of their Babylon, and to turn the great River Euphrates again, 
Front. lib. 3. cap. 7.  as their sure defence, I would they had fewer workmen out of great Britain.  
These Serpents, these devilish dogs, and croaking frogs will not be with the briars and brambles of Succoth, nor with the lamps and pitcher pots of Gedeon, but with the sword of God, & our Gedeon.  

Manasses.  Manasses would not know the Lord to be God, before he was taken Captive, and laid in bonds and fetters, by the Assyrians.  
And Samson did not fully call upon God, until his eyes were plucked out by the Philistians.  

Nabuchadnezar. Daniel. 4.  Nabuchadnezer knew not God, before he was cast off among beasts to eat with beasts.  
Samson had often revenged the malice and envy of the Philistians towards Israel, and he might have had more revenge upon them, if his wife a Philistian had not opened his problem, and betrayed him unto the Philistians.  
Again Samson might have been revenged of the Philistians before his locks had been cut off, 
We are all Nazarites in this point.  had it not been for his wife Dalilah. This Samson got by marriage of such a heifer.  

Sampsons' Heiffer.  Surely Sampsons' heifer, doth vex and trouble many good husbands.  
This jdolatrous heifer, doth molest many strong Sampsons'; and many wise Salomon's, which that good King confessed that it was for his good, that God had humbled him, and then he said, Virgatua, & bacculus tuus, etc. thy rod and thy staff hath much comforted me.  
Athalia Sampsons' heifer, a wicked woman, constrained her Son Ochosias', to walk in the jdolatrous paths of Achab.  
The marriage of Samson with Dalilah a Philistian, 
judg. 14.  brought Samson and all Israel to great vexation and trouble.  
It was a law in Israel, that the jews should not marry out of their own tribe, and being married they were straigsttly charged and commanded, to put their wives away, for the Prophet compared the jews to stoaned Horses, neighing on their neighbours wives and daughters, which horse gave the jews sundry great falls.  
This horse gave to King David, neighing on Urias' wife such a fall, 
2. Reg. 11. 3. Reg. 11.  that the prophet Nathan told him, Non recedet gladius de domo tua: to Solomon his Son, neighing on Pharaoh's daughter, to the loss of ten Tribes of Israel: to the Beniamites, such a fall for the Levites wife, 
judg. 19 Gen: 38.  to the loss of 25000 Beniamites: and to the Sichemites such a fall for Dina Jacob's daughter, to the overthrow of themselves, and of their City Sichem.  
But for profane Histories, Paris had such a fall for Helen Menelaus wife, to the loss of the greatest number of all the Kings of Asia, and of Greece.  
Marcus Antonius for Cleopatra of Egypt, had such a a fall, that he lost both the Empire of Rome, and the Kingdom of Egypt.  
I know that matching in marriage, to be not one of the least causes of good and evil religion in any Commonwealth. 
Matching in marriage.  As the marriage of Esau with foreign and strange Nations. The marriage of joram King of judah, with King Achabs' daughter an Idolater, was the cause of much wickedness in Israel.  
The Law of Moses was, that the Hebrews should match with their own Tribe. 
The law of Moses.  And therefore Esdras commanded the Children of Israel to forsake their strange women.  
Nehemias rebuked and punished the Israelites, for not putting away such strange & idolatrous Nations.  

Leuit. 24.  The blasphemer which was stoned in the wilderness, was the Son of an Egyptian, gotten by an Hebrew woman.  

Gen. 24. Abraham  Abraham was so careful of a wife for his Son Isaac, that he swore his servant to bring him one of his own Tribe.  
With the like care did Isaac send to Mesopotamia to his brother Laban, to choose him a wife.  

Old Tobias.  So did old Tobias send his young Son Tobias to Medea.  
So God appointed such godly women to these godly men, that willingly they forsook their friends, their kindred, their brethren and sisters, their Parents and country, to come with their husbands to judah.  
Ruth forsook her idolatrous Nation the Moabites, and would not, 
Ruth. 1.  though she was sought earnestly to, return unto Moab. A blessed woman in the Lord said B●o●▪ for she became the Mother of many blessed kings in Israel, and of one most blessed King, even the King of Kings.  
So Loah and Rachel the wives of jacob, became the Mothers of the 12 Tribes of Israel. 
Gen. 30.   

Godly marriage.  These were godly marriages, for they forsook parents and friends, to come out of such idolatrous countries to come into judah, to serve God with a strange Nation.  
I could wish that there were not in great Britain those that would forsake their native soil to be married in Rome, or in Spain to serve Images.  
Caleb a zealous and earnest Hebrew promised his daughter A●●san in marriage to him that overcame that wicked and perverse Town Zepheri. 
The promise of Caleb.   
Dissembling Saul promised his daughter Micholl to him that could bring him 200 Philistims skins. And two godly and zealous men performed and effected the same, namely David and Othoniel.  
So did Clysthenes for his daughter Agarista, who made search throughout all the Cities of Greece for a virtuous youth, learned and wise, fit for his daughter.  
And Themistocles was wont to say, 
Themistocles saying.  Mallem virum sine pecunia, quam pecuniam viro i●digere, that was his choice.  
Yet some philosophers were of opinion like the Papists; that men might have as many women as they would, for multiplication  
So Cato did by his wife Martia, 
Cato.  and Socrates by his wife Zantippa, change them for others, for that they were barren.  
It was not only the opinion of Chrysippus (whose writings were full of Oracles) but also of Socrates and Plato, 
Socrates.  and other which maintain Poligamia: but the papists will not allow their Priests Monogamia, but as many Concubines and as many bastards as they list.  
Phigius and Eccius, 
Andr. Frisc. lib. 4. de Eccles.  two famous Papists, left written in their books behind them, that Minus peccat Sacerdos s●ortando, quam uxorem ducendo.  
But when Pope Gregory had found in one of his Fishing-ponds 6000 heads of Infants by his servants, 
Sigeb. in Chron.  he was forced (with shame) to say with Paul, That it was better to marry, than to burn.  
And when one of the Pope's servants said, That it was not so rich a draft, as the poor Milessian Fishers found at Miletum, where they took Mensem aur●am, which was not fit for any of the Sages of Greece, but only for Apollo. Yea, (saith his fellow softly to him) this draft is as fit for the Pope, as the other draft was for Apollo.  
How many such draughts were drawn in the time of Papissa a woman of Miguntia, 
Herotimus King of Arabia had 600 Bastards.  Gilberta, and not joanna an English woman (as Heidfield saith) which bore at one birth more than the Countess of Flanders, who had 365 at one birth; and more than Herotimus King of Arabia, who had 600 bastards by concubines; but Gilberta and her Successors so exceeded, that all the world is much troubled with her bastards.  
In Rome God Anubis fell in love with Saturninus wife the only fair woman of Rome, 
The marriage of God Anubis.  her husband, her parents, her kinsmen, and friends brought her to the temple of Anubis, where the Feast Lectesternium was prepared, where after the Feast, they left Saturninus wife with God Anubis all night, where De: Mundus a young Roman Knight was Deputy by means of the priests, for 2000 Drachmeis.  


Heidf. de Divit. cap. 23.  
The marriage of M. Antonius, with Minerva.   Marcus Antonius coming from Rome to Athens, in all kind of habits and ceremonies with Thyrsus in his hand, like Dionysius; he was so reverenced of the Athenians, that they offered him their Goddess Minerva in marriage with 1000 talents for her dowry, which was well accepted of the Roman; so that the God Anubis must have a woman, and the Goddess Minerva must have a man.  
The brood of these great marriages were greatly multiplied in all Countries by marriages of these two great houses, 
The Plebeians married with the Patricians.  Saturninus wife with God Anubis, and Minerva with M. Antonius; for before that in Rome mean Families were matched with the Patricians in marriage, the Senators and Consuls had the whole government over the Romans; but being strengthened by marriage with the patricians, not only the election of the Tribunes themselves, but of all the Magistrates of Rome, and the whole government of the Romans, was Per plebem, & Tribunum plebis.  
It was ever seen in all common wealths, that the vulgar people by being Magistrates, or being in commission, by great countenance, by marriage, by bearing and backing them in their Religion, be that Immanis bellua, the very Monster among Nations.  
A Thistle in Libanon sent to a Cedar tree in Libanon, saying, 
Paralip. 25  Give thy daughter to my Son in marriage; and there came a wild beast from Libanon, and trod down under foot the Thistle, with a watchword given by the Prophet to Amasias King of juda, for the worshipping of the Gods of Edom, Deos albatos filiorum Seir.  
Unequal marriage specially in Religion, is like an Ox and an Ass to draw under one Yoke.  
This was the first cause of sedition at Rome, 
The first sedition of Rome.  in monte janiculo, between the Patricians and the Commons, Ob dignitatem natalium.  
Hence grew many seditions, and so many, that it was the overthrow of Rome.  
For as Philip of Macedon made sale of Greece by discord of Grecians, for such was the mutual discord of all the Cities of Greece, that King Philip, and his son after him, became Ruler of all Greece.  
So in Rome for the indignation of marriage of the Commons with the Patricians, there grew contentions.  
And therefore old Osiris King of Egypt, had the likeness of a man's eye in the upper end of his Diadem, to put the King in remembrance carefully to see to such Monsters cum oculo animi.  
This must be be set upon the Diadem of a Christian King, 
The old Sceptres in Egypt, and in Ethiop.  a far surer Sceptre, than the Sceptres of Babylon with their Lions and Eagles; than the Sceptres of Egypt with their Dragons and Serpents; than the Diadem of the Persians, the likeness of the Sun, the Image of fire upon the horse of Mars. 
Diod. 2. The ancient Sceptres of Persia.   
Yet had the old Persians their Sceptres carried before them in forma palae, like a spade.  
And the old Egyptians, and the Ethiopians had Sceptres Informa aratri, made like a plough.  
Some weigh not for spades, but for spoils; some weigh not for the plough, 
Abimelechs' plough. jud. 9  unless it be the plough of Abimelech, to sow salt for corn▪ to make barren, and to destroy the Country; or the plough of Catelin, to sow the seed of sedition, and to reap the fruit of Tribulation; to sow wind and tempest, and to reap fire and brimstone.  
Many sought Pompey's head to please Caesar: Many sought Pyrrhus' head to please Antigonus: and too many seeks the heads of Kings and Princes, to please that Antichrist of Rome.  
Cyrses and Calypso that altered the shape and form of men unto Bears, Wolves, Asses, and Apes, could make no stranger metamorphosis of men, than men make of themselves.  
And yet Pliny writes, 
Plin. lib. 18 cap. 43.  that the Ass loves so her young fool, that she neither fears water nor fire, nor any terror to save her young one in any danger, for Suos impencissime amat foetus.  
There be a number of christened Asses in the world, that esteem not so their parents, their children, nor their Country, as these asses do.  
These rather are like to Apes, who ever licks and kisses, with such toys and plays, and with such gestures, as are fit for Apes.  
julius Caesar seeing certain men of Apulia in Rome, carrying Apes upon their arms playing, asked the men, had they no women in Apulia to get children to play withal. 
Jesuits the Popes Apes. The Pope, the devils Ape.   
These jesuits & Seminaries be the Pope's Apes, kissing his foot, and licking his hands: for as these jesuits are the Pope's Apes, so the Pope is the devils Ape, and the Devil would willingly be God's Ape.   

Sectio. 7.  
THey that found Romulus' staff among the scinders of the Capitol unburned, 
Romulus' staff.  thought themselves happy; but it was the Roman Sceptre, not fit for them: but for the Consuls, which succeeded the Kings of Rome.  
They that brought to David Saul's Crown, 
Saules Crown. 2. Reg. 1. 2. Reg. 4.  thought they had reaped well. They that killed Isbosheth upon his bed, thought they had likewise reaped well, but their rewards were alike.  
The Fishermen of Miletum, thought they had treasure during life without any more fishing, 
The golden table.  when they had drawn in their net, Auream mensam, a rich golden Table; but it was told them, that it was fit for Apollo, and not for Fisher men.  
And therefore a philosopher being asked why were philosophers poor? He answered, for telling truth and suffering injuries.  
And being again asked why were fools rich? For that (said he) they can dissemble and flatter.  

Macrob. in Satur.  Cicero was taunted by Liberius Mimus, being by Caesar elected a Senator, sought a place to sit by Cicero in the Senate house, you should sit by me, but that we sit too straight (said Cicero) together. Laberius answered, You cannot sit too straight that hath two seats to sit on, the one with Caesar, the other with Pompey, taunting Cicero for his dissimulation and flattery, to both Caesar and Pompey: for Cicero loved Pompey, and feared Caesar.  
Yet Plato allowed, that dissimulation in Themistocles, to promise King Xerxes to betray Greece, 
Plut. in Themist.  to that effect to save Greece, & to have Xerxes out of Greece.  
Allowed also that dissimulation in Alcibiades to Agis the King of Sparta, to betray Athens to save Athens.  
But dissemblers in their Country against their Country, are most odious, and yet live and enjoy the benefits of their Country.  

Cic. lib. 3. de office.  Ulysses which dissemled madness in joining an Ox and an Ass under one yoke, and sowed salt for corn in his ground, lest he should go out of his Country.  
Achilles which dissembled to be a woman, and in a woman's apparel; left also he should go out of Greece: the one was the only wise man of Greece, & the other the most valiant man of Greece: yet that wise man had rather be accounted a fool, and that valiant man had rather be accounted a coward, before they should go out of Greece, their Country was so sweet unto them.  
In truth flattering and feigning, are good trades in some Courts.  
For Lewis the sixth, the Prince King, would have his son that succeeded him, to learn no more latin, but this sentence, Qui nescit dissimulare, nescit vivere.  
But it was not so in Augustus' Court, 
Sen. lib. 6. de benef. ca 30  for he much lamented the death of his friend Varus, and being very sad, was asked the cause of his sadness; because (said Augustus) I have none in my Court to tell me the truth, but I must go to poor Philosophers and Preachers, to seek and find out truth.  
And some say, 
Philosopher's Priests, and Preachers.  that Philosophers can flatter and dissemble; yea Priests and Preachers; and if Philosophers cannot dissemble, these ambitious masters will learn fowls of the air of Hanno to say, Deus est Hanno, or else in Greek with Psaphos to say, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
These dissemblers and Hypocrites will not only learn Latin and Greek, and all kind of tongues, but all gestures, manners and conditions of men: and especially in Courts of Kings and Princes, where such flattery and dissimulations are practised, that sooner may Hannibal, as Augustus Caesar often said, make a passage through the hard rocks of the Alps, to come to Italy, than truth in Court, to come to Kings and Princes ears.  

Heidfield de honore & in famia. ca 24  That good Emperor Alexander Severus would also often say, veritas minime pervia regum auribus. Diogenes, when he saw mice creeping for some crumbs to his table, would say to his friends, behold: Et suos habet parasitus Diogenes, aswell as princes have their parasites.  
These creeping flatterers like Diogenes mice, attend in every corner for some crumbs, bending and kneeling at the beck of ambitious & self love masters, I would they were not better fed than Diogenes mice were: nor better satisfied then with Heliogabalus banquet, painted on wood, on stones, on ivory, and upon wax.  
But if a man try these dissemblers, as Alcibiades did, these who always flattered him most, and prove them as Alcibiades did, who told in great secret, and feigned a great mischance, 
Polien lib. 1. stratagem.  that he had killed a man, and hid him in his house, and knew not what to do: requested their helps and council. All his flatterers forsook him, saving one Callias, a true and faithful friend of Alcibiades, of whom Alcibiades would say, Callias instar omnium.  
Notwithstanding, this Alcibiades could flatter his uncle Pericles, yet being a young youth, asked his uncle Pericles why he sighed so often, and seemed so sad? because said Pericles I must yield an account to the Athenians for much money which I received, to build up a porch to Minerva's Temple.  
Rather said Alcibiades, 
Alcibiades council to Pericles.  muse how you may not give an account, and be merry, and make much of yourself.  
Too few like Pericles, that think how much they are indebted to God, to build his Church, and to maintain his Service: and too many like Alcibiades, careless of the Church: though they live by the Church, and have honour and dignity from the Church.  
But let the Church be tossed on surging waves of seas, that cannot be removed: yet she standeth sure and certain upon a rock: 
Palinures.  though many Palinures were drowned and lay dead upon the sands, that had no great care, neither to govern, nor to be governed by the Church, and yet they will sit in Moses' chair.  
Saul could dissemble with David; 
The Church full of hypocrites.  and Absalon with the people of Israel; and the latter jews were such dissemblers and hypocrites, that Christ called the Scribes and the pharisees, hidden hypocrites, and false dissemblers▪ the Church were ever full of such hypocrites.  
A Roman Gentleman told Alexader Severus, that he was aggrieved to see his Court so pestered with dissemblers and hypocrites, and said, I will find out a place to dwell, where no hypocrites be: the Emperor said, where wilt thou go where no dissemblers be? thou must go beyond the Sauromates, and the frozen seas, and yet when thou comest thither, thou shalt find hypocrites and dissemblers.  
And though Achilles in Homer exclaimeth out against such dissemblers, and say, that he hateth them worse than hell itself, that have two tongues, the one in their mouth, 
Iliad. 9  the other in their hearts: Qui aliud sentiunt, aliud loquuntur.  
This was sometime a natural property to the Thracians to be liars and dissemblers, and so to be taught with their hypocrisy and dissimulations, that it grew to a proverb, Thrasica fides, so it was said of the Africans, punica fides, and of the Grecians most of all spoken Nunqnam ista natio, saith Cicero coluit fidem, People of no trust, of no faith, that it grew to a very scoff to the Grecians, Greca mercarifide, to taunt their lightness and dissimulations.  

Cic. ad. Attic. hist. lib. 1.  Of late we robbed Thracians, Africans, and Grecians of their properties, that now Cicero may speak of us as he spoke of them, Quos fugiamus, ignoramus; quibus credamus, nescimus; and therefore it is good to follow Epicharmus counsel, Sis prudens, memento diffidere: sith we dare not trust our friends, our kinsmen, nor our countrymen.  
This dangerous time seemeth to be that of which the Prophet saith, that the father shallbe against the son, and the son against the father: the brother against the brother; but though this prophecy was performed in other kingdoms of long time past: yet we ought to doubt & fear some justice at gods hand for our sin, and only for our hypocrisy, dissimulations and flattery: the three greatest Monsters upon the earth.  
Lewis the tenth was wont to brag of his own kingdom of France, that it was a kingdom that far exceeded all other kingdoms, wanting but one thing. And being requested to know what that was, he answered Truth.  
And therefore Osymantes had his picture painted with his eyes shut, with a tablet of gold about, hanging about his neck, with this word written thereupon: (veritas) And he willed that the Kings of Egypt his successors, to wear that Tablet in memory of him.  
So did Antigonus, 
Plut. in Apoph.  doubting much to hear truth among flattering Courtiers went with his Nobles to hunting, from whom the King secretly departed, changed his garments; and wandered like a stranger among countrymen, and lodged in a mean house: and asked as an unknown man what was spoken of the King? 
King Antigonus went out of his Court to hear Truth.  Of whom he heard, Omnia quae fecerat mala.  
The next morning the King being sought for, and found, they brought such princely garments as were fit for a King. Give said Antigonus these garments, to him of whom, Nisi hac nocte verum de me nunquam audivi.  
Torquin the proud, after he was put out of his kingdom, would say, that he never knew his friends while he was King in Rome.  
Ma. Antonius, surnamed the Philosopher, was most careful of his good name and fame, willing the truth to be known by strangers report, and not by such Courtiers which Constantine the Emperor calls Sorices Palatij, the rats of the Court; or as the Philosopher terms them, vermes opum. Many good Kings used the like means to avoid the one, and to seek out the other.  
For Courts of Kings & Princes cannot be without limping and halting. In Meroe a Kingdom of India, if the Kings were lame, or halt, or in any part of their bodies, his Courtiers by the law in Meroe should be also lame, and halt as the Kings did.  
It is histored that in Macedonia in the time of Philip, and in Neapolis, in the time of Ferdinandus, for that these two Kings held their necks a little on the left side though it was a natural defect in others, yet in Princes followed and imitated: and yet no longer than these Princes lived.  
In the next King, it is clean altered, for in the time of Alexander the great, for that he had a bush of hair standing up on his forehead, the Courtiers in Macedonia left to hold their heads awry, after Philip the father, and followed the son Alexander: every Courtier imitating the time with great care and travail to make their hairs stand up upon their foreheads like Alexander, and to be called Opisthocomae, as Alexander, Hector, and Pompey the great were noted to have been.  

Euseb. li. 1. ca 11. de vita Constant.  The Emperor Constantine practised a policy to find out sound Christians, and faithful servants in his Court, he feigned a decree, and commanded all the Christians to depart from his Court, & cingula Militaria deponere. The sound & true Christians left the Emperor and his Court, and forsook their credit and military dignity, and esteemed not his Court in respect of Christianity.  
The other Christians which the Emperor found, tantum nomine, stayed behind, he banished and revoked his decree, 
A worthy saying of Constantine.  and called back the other: and restored them to their former estate with greater credit, saying, Qui suo numini fidi non sunt nec mihi. And so banished those counterfeit Christians.  
This sentence squares well with our rebellious brutes and not Britanes, 
The wish of the wicked men.  who were never sound to God, faithful to their Prince, nor true to their country: but as Caligula wished to Rome, so they wish to England: and as Haman wished to the jews, so they wished to the Britanes.  
They wish with Midas, that whatsoever they touched, should be gold: and therefore they shall for hunger with Midas starve. They wish for blood, and they shall be satisfied with blood in Britain, as King Cyrus was in Scythia, or the Roman Consul Crassus was in Parthia.  
From such people that so wished, Elias wished to die under a juniper tree, and among such people wished to know his friends from his foes. So King Antigonus wished only to know his friends, for his foes he would carefully look unto: but the wish of a perfect Christian is set down in the Lord's Prayer, 
The wish of the godly men.  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, yet we are commanded to ask, to praise, and to wish all good and godly things.  
Simon wished to have Christ in his arms, and to embrace his Saviour before he died.  
Saint Augustine wished to have seen Paul in his face, and also wished to have seen Christ in his body.  
Beda wished to see Christ in his eternal and glorious body in heaven, these wishes are to be wished.  
Many have Christ in their most wicked and blasphemous tongue, by all kind of lies, swearing, and blaspheming of God.  
So had Anam, 
Acts. 5.  and his wife Saphira before Peter that denied the truth, Et mentiri spiritui sancto.  
So had julian Apostata, and confessed his impiety and wickedness, by throwing out of his heart blood, saying, 
Liars and blasphemers  vicis●i o Galilee: and after such ungodly sort, too many throw their heart's blood, and say, Vincisti veritas.  
And what is the end of these rebellious and treacherous wishes, is it for gold, and silver, is it for honour and dignity, is it for the whole world? O fool said Christ, to win the whole world, and to lose thy soul.  

Sen. epist. 95.  Of such fellows saith Bernard, O gens avara? What is gold, but rubea terra, red earth? What is silver, but terra allia, white earth? And yet we esteem of that vile thing which is below, and but execrements of the earth, more than any thing which is above the earth, even heaven.  
Yea, we make much of that which the Indians, Ethiopians, Pagans, and Heathens esteem as dirt For they use neither Gems, 
Tertul. de cultu mulierum.  nor precious stones, but only in soccis & cal●eis, and that in contempt of it.  
For with the Ethiopians, their manner was to bind their prisoners with chains of gold, & their thieves with fetters of silver.  
But the Romans would not be satisfied▪ before they should have all, and notwithstanding in short time lost all.  
The great Antiochus brought Hannibal to his Treasures, and showed Hannibal his Gold, his Silver, his wealth and treasures: and asked Hannibal if that would not please the Romans, yea said Hannibal it would please the Romans, but not satisfy the Romans.  
Rome was ever compared to Sodom & Gomorrha for beastly intemperancy, 
Wesellus Groaning.  as Pope Sixtus the 4, who granted to use in the three hot months, june, july, & August sodomitry. Compared to Babylon, and so called for her Idolatry and Pride: and for cruelty and greediness, compared to Turks, and to Tyrants.  
If the comparison of Rome, with Sodom and Gomorrha, with Babylon, with Turks, and Tyrants will not serve, which most aptly agree with them.  
I would also compare them to Alexander's horse, who feared not the persians phalanges, the Camels of Asia, not the Elephants of India, and yet feared his own shadow.  
So the Romans that feared not Asia, Europe, nor Africa, yet feared their own shadows at Rome.  
A very rich man borne in Lydia, and dwelling in Phrygia, he willed his wife to provide some great cheer for friends of his; so his wife did.  
She covered all places over with gold, silver, Table, Cupboards, with all kind of golden vessels, wherein for a while he delighted much, but being hungry, called for his meat: she laid upon the table a painted dinner, & a banquet, all manner of fowls, of fish made on stone▪ wood, ivory, wax, and paimed the gold and silver, and garnished it with rich stones.  
Pithius waxed angry with his wife, 
Plut. de claris mulier.  and called for his meat; His wife answered: This is your meat husband, that you feed night and day upon. I have no meat for your friends, but such as you feed on, and with another taunt, said, That he could not live long that fed on Midas table.  
The like banquets made Heliogabalus of eight persons, 8 bald-men, 8 deaf mien, 8 gouty men, 8 black Ethiopians, 8 scoffers, and 8 of the fattest and grossest.  
And Heliogabalus commanded all these eights persons to bring him 1000 weight of cobwebs, 
Lamp. in vita Heliog.  promising them to be well rewarded.  
And being demanded what to do. He answered, Ex his colligi magnitudinem urbis Romae.  
These gathered and brought Heliogabalus 10000 weights, to whom he made such a banquet for these Eights, as Pytheus' wife made for her husband.  

Heliogabalus banquet.  Heliogabalus left these eights at their golden breakfast, and took the eight that were burst with him, ad balneum, to bathe themselves: and when these eight had done bathing, the Emperor commanded them to go to breakfast with their fellows, and he came himself & sat with them, and marveled they could eat no meat; I pray you come some other time, when your stomachs serve you, I see you can eat no meat, and so let them go.  
And yet both these Feasts were far better than the Archbishop of Mounse: Hatto, 
Guil. Isengrin. in Chronol.  who in the time of great famine, feigned & dissembled some alms, & reliefs to the poor, and commanded they should be gathered together into a great barn, under colour to bestow his alms, and relieve them, and being shut in the barn, commanded them to be all burned saying, That these poor people were the Rats of the Country.  
But this Archbishop was by God's just judgement, devoured and eaten up with Rats, 
Heidf. de animal. cap. 9  & Miso▪ this Archbishop forgot the plague of Pharo by frogs, lice, and flies: & forgot the Isle of Cyclades plagued with Rats.   

Sectio. 8.  
THere be certain jews in the west parts of India, called Essa●i, which will eat no flesh, drink no wine, nor use the company of any women.  
There be also certain women in Scythia, called amazons, which by the law of their Country, men may not govern or dwell with them.  
And yet such women did meet together in mount Quirina● at Rome in the Court of Heliogabalus the Emperor, who had Caenaculum Mulierum, and where nothing was done, but by women.  
And such did meet sometime in the Court of Solomon in Jerusalem, 
3. Reg. 11.  where was the Court of Pharaoh's daughter, the Court of the Queen of the Moabites: of the Queen of the Amonites, of Edomites, of Sydomites: and so many Courts of Queens in Jerusalem, that there was no Court of Solomon.  
These strange women did not only put Solomon king of Israel out of Israel, but also the God of Israel, and brought their idolatrous Gods unto Israel, 
7000 that bend not their kinds to Baal.  with so many Altars to Idols in Jerusalem, and Mount Olivet, that God rejoiced to have reserved yet in Israel 7000 that never bowed their knees to Ball.  
I would to God we might so say in England, that we had but 7000, that bend not their knees, and knock their breasts to images and jdols in their closerts, who worship more the Queen of Heaven in bedchamber, than the God of heaven in the church: and the star of Rempha, more than the star of jacob.  

jerem 44.  And yet these women in Britain will excuse themselves, as the women of Israel did in Egypt, that they did nothing but what they saw their husbands do. Yet they saw jeremy stoned to death at Taphnis, 
Taphnis.  for that he would not be an Idolater, and confess their beasts and serpents to be Gods.  
They also saw Esay cut in the midst with a Saw in Jerusalem, in the idolatrous time of Manasses.  

Plin. lib. 8.  Pliny writeth, that in furthest part of India breed many Monsters, and that in Africa the Mother and the Nurse of strange Serpents: of one Serpent (among others) I read of that which kept the River Bagrada, that much spoiled and destroyed the Roman Army, then under Atillus Regulus the Roman General, 
Regulus.  of which the Africans were glad  
But in time this Serpent was slain, and his skin sent to the Senators for a wonder, for it was in length 120 foot. The skin of this Serpent bred so many Serpents in Rome, that Rome filled all Europe with Serpents.  
And we have found of late too many in great Britain, whose hearts were Pilosa & Hispida (as is said before) yea double-hearted Britanes, one to Rome, the other to Spain, but none to their own Country. Vae duplici cordi, like Partridges of Paphlagonia.  
Such Monsters are more monstrous, 
Monsters.  than those of which Pliny writes in the furthest part of India.  
Of which some have heads like dogs that do always bark to move sedition and mutanies; 
Plin. lib. 6. cap. 30.  some with long ears to their feet; such can hear from Spain, and from Rome, to Britain.  
There be some other Monsters, whose feet are so broad, that when they lie upon their backs, the shadow of their feet doth not only cover themselves from the rain, heat, or tempest, but also cover them that be in their company.  
Too many such Monsters are to be found every where. And yet (saith the same Author) that there is one kind of Monster more strange in India, 
India.  which have no heads, but a great huge eye in the midst of their breasts, who can see further than Strabo Lincius that saw the ships of Carthage, from Lelibium in Cicilia. But these can see from the north to the south, and from the south, to the north.  
But we must not look for fire from heaven, as Elias had in mount Carmell upon King Achabs' captains; 
4. Reg. 1.  neither must we look for fiery Chariots, and fiery armed men, 
4. Reg. 6.  as Elizeus had at Dothan against King Benhadad; 
Elizeus. Daniel.  But we may well do as Daniel did in Babylon, to seek, and find out the print of the feet of Baal's Priests, and of their wives and children.  
So we may well trace out these Traitors, and seek to find the footing of these Jesuits and Seminaries, and being found, there is no way to help this, but by paring their feet lesser, their ears shorter, their eyes out, and their heads off, unless prayers help it.  
These be far worse than the jebusites, Hethites, and Canaanites, which were left in judah, as needles to prick them, and as Goads to sting Israel.  
These Serpents, these Monsters, the very brood of Satan, seek not only in the Land of Hus to destroy job and his children, but in the Land of great Britain to destroy King james, his Queen, his children, and their Country. Hinc rubent eorum vestes, sanguine Sanctorum, 
The brood of Satan.  as Britain, France, and Germany can testify with the blood of more than 100 thousand Christians, whom they slew and burned to feed that Monster Mino-Taurus, not of Crect, but of Rome, not with the blood of the Athenians, to please Androgeus, but with the blood of Britanes; not with their foreign enemy's blood, but with the blood of the best learned men in Europe.  

The Serpent in Paradise.  The Serpent in Paradise promised Adam, if he would eat of the Apple, immortality. And the Serpent Satan promised our Saviour Christ▪ all the world (which was given him as he said) if Christ would worship him.  

The Roman Serpent.  The Pope promiseth Kingdoms on earth, and Kingdoms in heaven; for he saith, Heaven is his, and he hath the keys of Heaven delivered to him only, and whom he bindeth or looseth on earth, the same shallbe bound or freed in heaven; and with this Serpent for money, a man may have some place in heaven, or some Kingdoms upon the earth.  
The Heaven of Heavens is the Lords, and the Earth he gave to the children of men. And continuance of Kingdoms and Periods of Empires are from God, and not by Oracles and Dreams, as Heathen Princes did observe.  
Astyages King of Assiria was much disquieted upon a dream, 
Mandanes dream.  that the Mother of Cyrus, and his daughter Mandanes saw, that she made such an urine that over flowed all Asia. And Cyrus thought to bring Scythia unto Persia upon his mother's dream: and his Grandfather Astyages thought to have both Scythia, Persia, and also Cyrus' life from Cyrus.  
Alexander the Great, for that he dreamt that Hercules reached his hand over the walls of Tire, 
Alex. lib. 3 cap. 26.  he doubted not but that he should bring India to join with Asia, 
Alexander's dream.  and yet it was 7 years before these two great Captains (though Hercules was within Tire, and Alexander without) wan Tyre.  
So many dreamers are in these our days, that dream to see some hands over Rome, some over Rheims; 
Dreamers of Rome.  that have such confidence in these hands, that these seek to bring Rome, Rheims, and Spain together by Images, or imagination to Britain.  
So superstitious people are ever light of belief, that the Greeks thought, 
Plut. in Thes.  and the Athenians affirmed to have seen Theseus many years after his death, to go before the Greeks, against the Barbarians.  
The Romans were informed by Castor, and Pollox against the Macedonians, and other Kingdoms of their Conquests and victories.  
The Maccabees saw a Horseman all in gold armed, shaking his spear against the Syrians, 
Lib. 2. ca 3  to warrant the jews of the victory.  
The jesuits and Seminaries dream, that they have many Hercules, many Alexanders, reaching over the Seas to them, laying siege to England all the Queen's time 45 years, and to great Britain 4 years.  
I wish that these Dreamers were sold to some Ismalite, or to some Egyptian that do nothing in great Britain, but dream; and by their dreams work mischief.  

Val. max: de miraculis.  The Image of juno appeared to one of Camillus' soldiers, and willed the Romans to banish the Egyptian God Serapis out of Rome, and that juno then (said she) would come to Rome.  
There be some Dreamers in England, that if they might have the God of Israel banished out of Great Britain, they would have Images and Idols in his place.  
The Image of Minerva appeared to Augustus' Physician, and told him how he should heal his Master of his sickness.  
Diogenes, of all the Gods, could not think well of Esculapius Image, for that the Physicians make gain of men's goods, and sell men's lives for money, which the Romans most esteemed.  
Some Images of Devils appear to these Firebrands of Hell, to banish heretics and heresies (as they term it) out of great Britain.  
Tho: Aquinas an Arch-papist, being sent for to come to Innocentius the third, 
The brag of Innocent the third.  beholding divers heaps of gold in the Pope's gallery, and being amazed at the sight thereof; the Pope said to Aquinas, neither the primitive Church of Rome, neither Peter could show so much gold, when he said, Aurum & argentum non est mihi.  
Then said Aquinas, beatissime pater, the Church of Rome at this time, 
Aquinas answer.  nor your Holiness can say, Surge & ambula, as Peter could.  
Aquinas then should not have wondered to see so much gold in the Pope's gallery, sithence his tribute, his pension, his revenues by merchandise, by any kind of sale, Ignis, thura, coronae, praeces, caera & coelum, venale Romae, as Mantuan saith.  
They forgot what Peter (their founder as they say) said to Simon Magus, 
Act. cap. 8.  that would have bought of Peter, 
Simon Magus.  that which the Popes of Rome sell to others, namely the gifts of the holy Ghost, Pereas cum pecunia tua.  
They forgot also what Paul said to Elimas the sorcerer, 
Act. 13.  who would have persuaded Sergius Paulus from the faith of Paul, 
Elimas' the Sorcerer.  O thou Son of the Devil, and enemy of mankind, behold the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind for a season.  
But these vents or sales of offices, of Magistrates, and of merchandise, was ever as common in Rome, as the sale of ecclesiastical promotions, Bishoprics, and of the Popedom itself, and being Popes, made sale of Crowns and Kingdoms.  
So Hildebrand that made himself a Pope, 
Hildebrand  and made Rodulphus an Emperor, to whom he sent a very rich Diadem with this sentence written about it, Petra dedit Petro, Petrus diadema Rodolpho.  
The pope looks for pensions of all Kings, and specially of Christian Kings, yea, rather a tribute due unto him, per legem post liminij in great Britain.  
The Turk would have claimed a pension or tribute due unto him of the Emperors of Germany.  
The Kings of Persia under colour of pensions, would have their forces in many places of Asia, but they were resisted.  
And Philip of Macedon first by pension, after by policy, 
Plut. in Lysand.  got Greece unto Macedonia.  
But it was by Paulus Ematius gotten from Macedonia to the Romans.  
These be stratagems of foreign states one against another: but this should not be in the Bishops of Rome, 
Palavor. in vita Alphons.  as they say of Peter's successors: they rather should do as Alphonsus' King of Arragon, being asked what he left to himself, saying, that he gave all his wealth to his learned poor friends and to such godly men? Even that which I gave (said Alphonsus) I leave to myself in store.  
Clemens the 5 a little before he died, being in a great agony, 
In speculo. Pontif.  said to his friends, Now I shall know that, of which I long doubted; whether there were another life after this.  
I would rather prefer Adrian the heathen Emperor before these two Christian Popes, 
El. Sparta.  who in the like ecstasy spoke to his soul trembling, Tremula & vagula quae nunc abibis in loca? Now poor soul whether wilt thou go? we are not to wonder at Adrian the Emperor so to say and do, when Pope Clemens so doubted, and where his soul should go.  

Scen. lib. 3. de gest. Alphons.  And Zisca Imperator Hussitarum, being moved of his soldiers how he would be buried, commanded them to flay and take his skin off him being dead, and to give his body to wild beasts, and to make of his skin a military drum, that his enemies that feared his sight alive, might fear the sound of his skin being dead.  
This emperors burial was much like to resolute Pope Silvester, 
Polyd. lib. 5 de rerum invent.  who sought by oracles of divers, how long he should live? was answered, Diu, si caver et Jerusalem (if he kept from jerusalem in judah) yet he happened to say a Mass upon an Altar called Jerusalem, confessed his fault, and commanded his body to be drawn by two horses, and where the horses stayed, there to be buried.  
Many happen to die by chance, whose cause is doubtful, 
Hugo de anim. clas.  unknown, and hidden; many die by infirmities, whose causes are apparent; & many by age, whose causes are present, so doth an old writer set down; but some die neither by chance, nor by infirmities, nor by age, but die for want of grace to live longer, that now if Theophrastus had lived, he would not have accused nature, for the short time of a man's life, for that he said, Men died when men began to be wise, 
Theophrastus.  cum incipimus sapere, morimur: but now Theophrastus would have said, Men die before they begin to live well.  
These be like Physicians, who after they kill many in many countries, yet are they free, and at their liberty to go every where without punishment. These may laugh and sing at burials for their gains, when others weep and mourn for their losses.  
I remember a history in Pliny, 
Plin. lib 28 cap. 3.  that an Ambassador came from Cypris to Rome, his name was Exagon, who among other monuments, he saw the Consuls bring certain vessels full of Serpents: 
Exagon.  Exagon thinking that the Romans thought him to be fearful, willed the Consuls to throw him among those Serpents, which so licked and wound round about this Exagon, that he came laughing from the Serpents to the Consuls.  
This was a great terror to the Romans, and yet was a stratagem, that Hannibal taught the Romans, and to all the Kings of Asia against the Romans.  
But the Romans like the Cappadocian, who after the Viper bit him, 
A Cappadocian.  they looked as they did at Paul for the like, when the Cappadocian would die, but the Cappadocian lived, and the Viper died; such haps sometime happen.  
But as I said of Roman Marcellus, and Fabius: so likewise I pray unto God, that there be not many such Exagons in great Britain, that these Serpents and Vipers may lick and wind about them, to the destruction of their Country.  
These be not like Lazarus dogs that licked their Master's sores for love; 
Lazarus dogs.  but like Actaeon's dogs that devoured their Master.  
Like joab that killed Abner embracing him in his arms.  
And like judas the Traitor, that kissed his Master, and strait betrayed him. There were never so many dumb dogs, as now be biting, & not barking.  
These be Lemures nocturni, and always conversant with us in our houses, like Lares domestici, that can and may deceive us, because we trust them, are now become Tortuosi Serpents, which came after long lurking in their secret Labyrinths, Per mill Maeandros, to plague their Country.  
But yet now they are much frighted with jeroboam, who doubting lest the Kingdom of Israel should return to the house of David, by means of the multitude of people which went to offer sacrifice at jerusalem, builded Rama●, and other strong holds, and made two golden Calves to entice Israel to Idolatry.  
These Jesuits and Seminaries have horns ready made, and they promise their Master the Pope, as Zedechia did to Achab victory, and say, Hijs ventilabis Britanniam donec deleas eam. And if that fail, Balacke shall cause Balaam for reward, to curse Britain with Books and Bels.  
So did Goliath curse David in the name of his Gods. 
1. Reg. 17.   
The Bishop of Rome did use to baptise, and name Bells, 
Heidfield. de tempore.  and anoint the same; by the sound of which Bells, they conjure Devils from their houses, terrify their enemies, purify the air, curse and excommunicate whom they list.  
Raimerus the 5 King of Arragon published, that he would make such a great Bell, that all Spain should hear the sound of it.  
Some of his noblemen jesting and scoffing at this Bell, lest it should be like the cursing Bell of Rome, despised the same speech. But they were apprehended and commanded by Raimerus to be put to the sword, saying, Nescit vulpecula cum quo laudat.  
The like punishment had many that spoke against the Bells and Bulls of Rome.  
Surely we shall never be able to end this quarrel, or make a law, as Elias did with Achabs' Prophets, and as Daniel did with nabuchadnezar's priests, and so execute the law according to their composition, which was effected by the commandment of these two great idolatrous Kings, the one at the brook Kyson, the other at Babylon.    

Illustrissimo principi Christiano regi Daciae, etc. Ludovici Lloid gratulatio.  
QVis potest tanta (illustrissime Princeps) hodierno die conticere gaudia, aut hos halcyoneos poterit silere dies, in quibus rex Daciae relicto regni scaeptro, ac regijs insignijs depositis, quasi una inter duos reges divisa fuisset anima, pluris aestimans de suo dimidio in Britania, quam de roto in Dacia. O quantus amor! qui nec in coelo vinci, nec in terra oblivisci, nec ullo unquam fortunae fulmine subverti potest, de cuius fama, fama mentiri veretur.  
Quiescat Maro suunlaudare Aeneam, sileat Homerus de suo magno Achille, erubescat Graecia de suo Vlisse, qui insaniam dissimulavit, ne ex Ithaca & de Penelope uxore dissederet in Ilium. At Christianus rex Daciae, nec mater, nec regina, nec regnum potuit à magna detinere Britania, à rege, à regina sorore, à principe, & à caeteris regijs liberis, quasi artibus & neruis huius imperij, ubi rex Daciae tanquam sydus aquilonis coronatum hoc coelum nostrum corruscans, multo magis potest laetari de regia progenia sua in Britania, quam Philippus de Heraclea stirpe in Macedonia, quae in Alexandro desinit, quam Caesar Augustus, qui multum de gente julia iactavit quae in Nerone extincta fuit, itanunc Romani dicant fuimus Tr●es, ita nunc dicant Macedones fuimus Heraclides.  
At magnae Britania ita sicut aquila renovatur aetas, nunquam enim maior, nec tam magna, magna Britania fuit, sub Bruto primo, quam hodterno die sub Bruto secundo nostro jacobo, ut in cunis adhuc vagientes de cunis clamitant iubilate Britani.  
O quanta nostri in nos numinis beneficentia, si nostri numinis non obliviscamur, aut de nostra ingratitudine in Pharan obruamur, quae si tanta potest muta Angerona silere, ligna & lapides loquentur. Cum nec Syracuse, cum suis Comeatibus ad cladem Thrasimeni Romanis, nec Tyrus cum Caedris Libani Hierosolyme paratior, quam Dacia in nostram Angliam.  
Quanto magis hodierno die, qui ut Masinissa unum ait esse in terris populum Romanum, & in illo uno populo unum esse Scipionem, cui animum & animam devouebat, ita rex Daciae unam ait esse in terris gentem Britaniam, & in illa una gente unum esse jacobum, cui nec Hira cum suis Sydonijs paratior fuit Salomoni, nec Masinissa cum suis numidicis magis benevolus suo Scipioni, quam rex Daciae cum suis Dacis regi jacobo. Sit par noster amor, si par potest esse cum Dacis, non cum argenteis gladijs Philippi, nec cum aureis Artaxerxis sagittarijs, sed cum Pythagoreis armis una anima ac animo in eadem lance trutinari, sic amor amore compensatur. O amor! quem nec ensis Alexandri dissecare, nec delphicus gladius enodare poterit.  
Quid opus est inire foedus cum vestibus sanguine imbutis ut Armenij, aut cum Lydis & Medis ex humeris & brachijs sanguinem invicem propinare, cum nostra foedera ex cruore cordium confirmata, & ex visceribus parentum sint consecrata, hoc tam validum naturae vinculum, ut citius duos soles in coelo concordes esse videris, quam duos hos reges in terra discordes inveneris, ita fatum voluit, ita natura annu it, ita virtus praesagit, ita Deus ipse esse statuit: Hinc publica nostra Scaenopegia digna coronis tegi: Hinc per petuus Britanorum triumphus, qui faecile Caesaris contemnat triumphos: Hinc Britani cum Dacis, ut Romani olim cum Sabinis sua sacra semper Consualia decantabunt.  
FINIS.