The Fountain and Wellspring of all Variance, Sedition, and deadly Hate. Wherein is declared at large, the opinion of the famous Divine Hiperius, and the consent of the Doctors from S. Peter the Apostle his time, and the Primitive Church in order to this age: expressly set down, that Rome in Italy is signified and noted by the name of Babylon, mentioned in the 14. 17. and 18. Chapters of the Revelation of S. john.  Chap. 17. verse 
5 And in her forehe●d was a name written, a mystery, great Babylon the mother of whoredom and abomination of the earth.  
6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of jesus.  
LONDON. ❧ Printed by Roger Ward, dwelling upon Lambard hill, near unto old Fish-street. 1589.   

¶ TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, AND noble Earls, the Earls of Huntingdon and Warwick, Grace, Peace, & felicity in the Lord jesus.  
RIght Honourable, the wars, rumours of wars, breach of brotherly love, manifold troubles and dissension growing every where through Europe, which is the part of the world professing Christ, argue the dissolution of all things premonished by our Lord not to be far hence distant. It behoveth therefore all good Christians considering the time, to be circumspect to watch and pray accordingly as we are commanded by our Saviour in these words. Vigilate & Orate: again, Estote prudentes, sicut Serpents. Be ye wise as Serpents, And we are deeply to consider, from whence this venom and poison floweth, which drunk and sucked in, by the space of many years passed, hath transformed, and as it were charmed the brains and senses of many men, that according to the words of the Prophet, seeing they see not, hearing they hear not, and understanding they understand not in matter concerning principally the salvation of their souls. The remedy of which mortal malady consisteth in this, to know and search out the cause, and that known, to remove the same, and then to apply medicine for curing of it. In all which points, (Right Honourable) I show briefly in this small treatise, following the doctrine of S. Peter the Apostle, and the best learned and most approved Authors opinions consenting & delivered from age to age, which open the sinful man, and mystery of iniquity, the only cause of troubles, and not yet well perceived, neither understanded of the greater sort. Committing these my labours to your honours tuition and protection, whose zeal to true and sincere Religion, attentive ear given always to the Preaching of God's word, and laudable life concurring as sure testimony, well known to the world, makes me bold to dedicate unto your LL. this Pamphlet, hoping that the book being your own (as it is) and therefore the more to be desired to be read, and to come into many men's hands, whom all in general, for your singular virtues, do reverence, honour and love, may profit, do good, and perchance, convert not a few from their obstinate opinion in cleaving to the woorishe Babylonical Church, wherein rather of selfe-wil, than of any grounded reason they dwell and persist. And on the contrary side, confirm and establish the others, whose hearts already conducted by the holy spirit, see the light of God's truth, and ensue it▪ And herein, withal humbleness, I make manifest my conscience, according to the small talon which unto me is lent, & hope that my duty, obedience, and good will to her Majesty, Lords of her Counsel, and my Country, may in the sequel sufficiently appear, Praying God to send both your Lordship's long life with increase of honour.  
Your Lordship's most humble, Christoph. O.   

The Fountain and Wellspring of all Variance, Sedition, and deadly hate, throughout Christiandome.  
MEdicines be applied to the body, sick and diseased, but exhortations are used to give courage and more stomach to the forward stout, and industrious, that the spark of virtue already ingenerated in them, may grow to a bigger flame and substance with increase, or else to stir up, raise, and pluck forward the mind of man when it languisheth.  
I therefore of the lowest sort of all among the learned, purposing to utter my conscience, and knowledge by way of exhortation (my most bounden duty first towards the queens Majesty, and ne●t to the people of my native soil and Country of England deeply considered, and moving me thereto) do earnestly pray and instantly require all true English men of every degree as they tender the safety of their souls and bodies, to give attentive ear, and well to mark the whole discourse of this my purposed treatise the rather because it is of weight & of most great importance, touching the weal public in this little Isle of England, and preservation of our most royal and gracious Queen Elizabeth, and next of us all English in general, our country, wherein we are bred and borne, our wives, children, kinsfoolkes, and posterity, whereof we should have a most chief and especial care, & regard, especially and above all of religion, which concerneth our souls to live here, and ever in the world to come.  
In all which by God his grace I intent to use perspicuity, to be as brief as the urgent occasion of so necessary a cause shall suffer me: yet pretermitting many things, which otherwise should have been touched, to avoid tediousness and prolixity in matter now apparent already, and many years already past made manifest unto the whole world. Consider O noble Eugland that thou hast enemies that hate thee deadly, that go about as much as in them is to work thy destruction, Consider how the professors of the word of God else where in Europe, far hence, and those that dwell next almost unto us be menaced, vexed, and persecuted, & with all rigour and cruelty from time to time afflicted, even to death: the malice whereof proceedeth of causes of long time afore grown, hereafter specified, and forewarned in holy Scriptures. Ponder deeply and call to mind with yourselves, Nos incidimus in tempora periculosa. We are fallen into the perilous time. 
The latter days of the world.  Nos sumus in quos fines Seculorum devenerunt. We be those upon whom the ends of the world be come. The tokens thereof be plain and manifest, told afore by our Saviour and Lord jesus Christ, which be these, Nation shall rise against nation, and Realm against Realm, then shall they put you to trouble, and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of all Nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another. etc. So the time is certain that the day of judgement is at hand. But of the day and hour (saith Christ) knoweth no man, no not the Angels of heaven, but my father only. The Apostle S. Paul in his 2 Chap. of his Epistle of the Thessalomans, 
●●hessalo.  teaching when the day of Christ shall be at hand, thus saith. Let no man deceive you by any means. For the Lord shall not come, except their come a departing first, and that the sinful man be opened, the son of perdition, which is an adversary and is exalted above all that is called God, or that is worshipped so that he doth sit in the Temple of God, 
●●●ichrist.  boasting himself to be God. Remember ye not that when I was yet with you I told you these things. And now you know what withholdeth, even that he might be uttered & revealed at his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth alreahy work. etc. Again in the 10 Chap. of S. Matthew, these be Christ his words. The brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the son, and the children shall arise against theic fathers and mothers, and shall put them to death, And ye shall be hated of all for my name's sake. But he that endureth to the end shall be saved.  
Now considering that these be the latter days, & that the end of the world is hard at hand, by these tokens manifest and daily to be seen every where in Christendom before our eyes, let us diligently search of whence this variance and deadly discord sown and sprung up through all Europe is derived, 
Variance and deadly discord throughout Christ●ndome.  out as it were of a wellspring or fountain. For every malady proceedeth of his cause: take away the cause and immediately ensueth the curing of the sore or disdase. What hath been and is the original cause that the knot and band of brotherly love is broken in the parts of the world professing Christ, that the rage cruel, and beastly fierceness taketh place, bearing sway, that the Peace which was in one house, is put to flight: that envy, hatred and ma●●ce creepeth in, that War and the sword threateneth destruction every where, 
The Pope the cause of variance  even to the Innocentes: That Satan is let lose abroad to increase the malice of men, and to kindle the fire brand of all wickedness. verily the originaull causes of all these troubles at this present broiling, and afore this time many years past, hath been, and is the holy Father (as they call him) the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, whom Saint Paul as ye have heard now before, covertly describeth to be Antichrist, the Son of perdition, which is exalted above all that is called God. I beseech you gentle Readers be ye indifferent judges, even as the truth of God his word shall lead you, & as the interpretation upon holy Scripture, made and set down by the ancient & approved Doctors of the Church, even from the Apostles time, till 1000 years past shall direct you: when the Pope rideth from his castle to S Peter's Church in Rome, and is carried (sitting in a Chair) aloft by men, 
The Pope exalteth himself above all that is called God.  upholding the same upon their shoulders. And the Sacramental bread is set in a Pyx on a Nag or white horse back, led by a Priest in a white Surplice, going afore him, his guard environing the holy Father, and crying with aloud voice to the people gazing on to see the sight, in this Italian word, Abasso, Abasso, which is to say Bow and bend down yourselves, or kneel down, not so much to the Pix as to the Pope. Is not here the Bishop of Rome exalted above all that is called God, and above the God in the box? For the Pope's doctrine teacheth men to call the Sacramental bread God, when they term it their Maker, & when the make it a Sacrifice propitiatory for the quick and the dead, in their Masses, when they reiterate day by day on the Altar that oblatation once offered upon the cross once for all, for filthy lucre and gain, as in trentals of Masses, etc. Doth not the Pope boast himself above all that is called God, 
The pride of the Pope.  when he sitteth in S. Peter's Church enthronished three or four yards higher than the Altar or Sacramental bread reserved in the Pix, blessing and crossing them that lie prostrate before him: when he under his Bulls written or printed in sheep's skins, & sent to those that dwell 1000 or 1500 miles from him, being at Rome, forgiveth (upon money taken) horrible murders, 
Pardons for murder.  incest parricide, and such like crimes, the hearts of the parties not considered, whether they be truly and unfeignedly penitent or no. When the Pope most arrogantly perverteth the words spoken in the Psalm 90. only of Christ. Super Aspidem & Basiliscum ambulabis, & conculcabis Leonem & Draconem. Thou shalt go upon the venomous beast and Adder, the young Lion and Dragon shalt tread under thy feet: and apply them with a Satanical pride unto himself, and to those that from time to time ●it in his Chair, which is horrible basphemie. But here I will use a little digression from the man to the certain place of his habitation, 
The Pope known to be An●echrist by his habitation and place.  that the Beast may the better be known by his den and accustomed haunt, where he fatteth and franketh himself. For more and better proof of the sequel of this matter, and so to settle their consciences in the truth, which hitherto have but blinded: Hear (I desire you in the Lord jesus) certain authorities from the Primitive Church to this age, consenting and agreeing together, that Babylon specified in the Revelation of S. john, doth ●●te and signify unto us the City of Rome in Italy.  
First it is usual in holy Scripture to set down some word by some Trope to signify a thing turned away from that which it properly betokeneth. And it is used in writing, when an argument cometh in handling, out of which may grow either vehement suspicion or fear of an imminent danger. In this sort S. Paul. 2. Tim. 4. sayeth himself to have been delivered out of the mouth of a Lion: meaning by naming the Lion, the cruel Prince Nero. That in this place the sense is, Nero to be taken for the Lion: The ancient Doctors of the Church, as Jerome upon the life of Paul, Chrisostomus, Theophilactus, Aquinas● Lyranus, Interpreters upon holy Scriptures, do agree & consent. By like Trope our Lord Christ in the 13 of Luke, calleth the King Herode, by the name of a For. Ignatius an holy writer in the Primititive Church, using this manner of speech, saith that he he himself was compassed about with ten Leopards, which Ignatius afterward interpreteth to be ten cruel soldiers to bring him captive to Rome. Thus as S. Paul covertly by the name of a Lion would have to be understanded Nero. Our Lord jesus by the name of For meaneth Herod. And Ignatius by the Leopards termeth Soldiers. So the author of the Revelation would have Rome to be known by the vocable of Babylon.  
With this also agreeth S. Peter, 
1 Pet. 5.  who in the end of the fifth chap. of his former epistle writing from Rome, saith thus. The Congregation which is at Babylon saluteth you. Here note that upon this place of Peter, as well the old and ancient Interpreters, as the new do agree that the word Babylon is set down for Rome, as testifieth P●pias Hierapolites in Eusebius, upon the Ecclesiastical History. 2 book 15. Chapter, Jerome upon the life of Mark the Evangelist, 
Papias. Eus. bi●.  Nicolaius Lyra, an approved writer, by the romish Church, and many other, which here to rehearse, it were to long. And so much the more this hath a resemblance of truth, that the Apostles had revealed unto them many and sundry things concerning the latter times: of the falling of the Roman Empire: of the revealing of the acurssed son Antichrist: of the abomination, standing in the holy place. All which, the Apostles set out as it were shadowed somewhat darkly, as it is left unto us in writing, and may be seen in the 24. of Matthew, 2. Thessalonians. In which two places, there is spoken of these matters, as it were by points, and pricks, rather than by any oopen speech.  
Again, the same Papias taught afterward in Alexandria, and had been the scholar of S. john the Apostle, whereupon we should be persuaded that he must needs hear the same interpretation of his master, concerning Rome to be named by Babylon, and that the same interpretation was as well in the Churches of Asia, where S. john preached as in Europa, where S. Peter taught.  
And lest peradventure any might doubt, that no good and just testimony may be brought out of the ancient and approved writers of the Primitive Church, succeeding next to the Apostles age, you shall hear the opinion of those which were next to the Apostles.  
Tertullian 
Tertullian.  did write in the year 170. after Christ. He in his work against the jews hath this written. Babylon in the writing of john, beareth the figure of the city of Rome, in that it is great, proud in force, and a cannoneer down of the saints. Who will now doubt, but that the said Tertullian heard this at the Apostles mouths.  
Also Origines 
Origines.  lived in the year 200. And he wrote in Alexandria many books, and the 12 Homily upon ezechiel the Prophet, he thus expoundeth that there is Babylon: where is confusion of manners, by vices & mischievous doing, continually growing. And therefore it is no marvel if the holy writers, pondering what was the state of the Romans Empire, which was the head of the world, especially the city of Rome have defined Rome to be Babylon in their books.  
Now hear an evident manifestation of this: where Jerome wrote about the year of our Lord 380. 
Hi●ronimus.  teaching the Churches, both in Asia and Europa, in his commentary upon Esay 47 chap. he witnesseth, that many beside him in his time and age, did interpret the daughter of Babylon, which should be made humble, not to be Babylon in Caldea, but to be the city of Rome in Italy, which is called specially by the name of Babylon in the Revelation of S. john, and in the Epistle of S. Peter, & all threatenings which be spoken by the Prophet against Babylon to be referred to the destruction of the city of Rome. Likewise the said Hierom, in a certain Epistle to Assella, complaining of the corrupt manners of the city of Rome, calleth Rome by the name of Babylon. Again, the said Hierom, in the end of his 2▪ book against jovinian▪ turning his oration to the city of Rome, I speak unto thee (saith he) which hath blotted out the blasphemy written in thy forehead, by the confessing of Christ. O mighty city, lady of the world, interpret thy name, Rome is by the Greeks a name of strength, by the hebrews a name of highness, keep that that thou art called. Let virtue make thee high, let not voluptuousness make thee low. Thou mayst eschew by repentance the curse which our saviour hath threatened in the Revelation. Thou hast the example of the Ninivites. Beware the name of jovinian, which is derived of an Idol.  
S. Augustine living in the time of S. Hierom, but yet a little younger, 
S. Augustine.  accounted the chief among the latin divines, and having respect to all that was spoken of Rome, by those that had written afore in the Church, declareth many things to be like in Rome and Babylon: for in his book De civitate Dei, the fifth Book, and second Chapter, he calleth Babylon the first Rome. In his 18 book, and 22. chap. he compareth Rome with the city of the wicked whi●●h Cain builded. The one saith he was builded of c●in which ●●ue his brother abel. The other was builded by Romulus which killed his brother Rhemus.  
Again Orosius a Spanish writer living in the time of S. Augustine, showeth that Rome and Babylon were alone, and especiciallie beside all other wickedness in oppressing the Saints of God. Lib. 2. cap. 3. and again. lib. 7. cap. 2.  
But perchance some to this afore may make objection, alleging, that at that time when these ancient writers did write, Rome was governed by most cruel Emperors, which persecuted horriblely all good Christians, inflicting upon them all torments and most sharp death. But now Rome is no more governed by Emperors that be wicked, and thirst the blood of the godly, but Rome is under the jurisdiction of the holy Pope, and for that cause to be reverenced and honoured of all. Therefore if any man should now say in these our days that Babylon mentioned in the apocalypse might betoken Rome, no sufficient cause or ground of matter were to confirm or corroborate his assertion to be found. But the answer to confute this is ready of great force and validity, and not to be convinced.  
Albeit wicked Emperors even from the Apostles time and long after, 
Nero and others persecuted the Christians: The Popes do the same.  by some hundred years held Rome for the chief seat imperial, and put many to sundry kinds of torment and death for confessing Christ: yet S. Hierom, who lived about 380 after Christ, and after S. Augustin and Orosius whose ages were during the reigns of jovinian, Valentinian, Gratian, and Theodosius Emperors, who not only favoured, but greatly advanced Christian religion, did in their books tax & sharply reprehend Rome, by the name of Babylon, then governed rather by Popes and Bishops, as it is known, than by temporal princes.  
And here is further to be noted, that these Christian Emrours aforesaid ruled and made their abode in Constantinople, and the Popes administered all at Rome, by little and little mal engine, deceit, sinister practice with hypocrisy, counterfeit humbleness now and then by force enterminled, encroached not to be only equal, but challenged to have superiority, not upon the Clergy only, but over Emperors and kings, to make laws at their lust & pleasure, to wage war, make battle, yea, to tread down under their feet the whole world, if they might bring it to pass.  
All hitherto said and written doth the testimony of the Church of Leodia in the low countries confirm, set down. about the year of our Lord 1100 against Pascalis the second of that name, than Pope. 
The testimony of the Church of Leodia against Rome.  That is as followeth hitherto (saith he) I have but interpreted that S. Peter would by the name of Babylon note Rome, because at that time Rome was spotted with all kind of Idolatry, sin, and filthiness. And now my sorrow doth interpret unto me that S. Peter terming with a spirit of prophesy, the congregation gathered together in Babylon, did foresee the confusion of dissension, by the which the Church is at this day tornin sunder: for although the Church be in Babylon of the world, yet it ought to be gathered by brotherly unanimity. And a little after Esay saith, Babylon my well-beloved is turned to me into a miracle: but I say Rome my beloved is turned to me into a miracle, yea what is so marvelous, yea what is so miserable. David saw the Angel of the Lord standing with a drawn sword over jerusalem: we, the daughters of the Romish Church behold, we see the Bishop there, which is or should be the Angel of God, ready with a drawn sword over the Church. David prayed that the people might not be killed: our Angel reching to the Earl of Flanders the sword, prayeth that we may be slain: where many more things touching the cruelty of Babylon be adiected in their place, whosoever listest to search and read the history at large.  
About the year of our Lord 1200, S. Barnard the Monk lived in great estimation with Kings and Princes, 
S. Barnard.  even with the Kings of this Land: For he was a man of great fame, both for his godly life and learning.  
This S. Barnard in his books written to Pope Eugenius, doth rehearse and carp so many and such crimes, both of the Bishops, and Citizens of Rome, how many and such as none of the old prophets is read to have objected to the babylonians, which to 〈◊〉 tediousness here I omit to rehearse, who so is 〈◊〉 to seée his words, the books be extant at this time though written 400 year past & more.  
Likewise Petrus johannes Pyranensis about 1330 did openly in school teach, that as the Pope was Antichrist: So no other Church but the Romish to be understood by the name of the whore of Babylon.  
Also Wickliefe of England, and john Hus, and Jerome of Bohemia, taught & affirmed the same doctrine of the Pope, and of Rome: the first of these three, his bones burned 18 years after he had been dead: the other two brent alive, yet consenting in opinion to all the godly Fathers and Doctors in these points that be above rehearsed. Now it hath been sufficiently spoken with the approved testimo-of every age even from the Apostles time, and the opinion and sentence of the best learned cited thereto touching the place, that Rome is signified by Babylon. Now let us return again to the ruler of this Babylon and his tragical actions who putteth on him the vizard of piety and is altogether under his Mask impiety itself.  
This impudent and shameless man of Rome, yea rather beast he may be called, which doth the injuries afore rehearsed to our Lord Christ: what presumeth not he to adventure upon, daily among his inferiors for equals he will have none, and both Emperor and King professing Christ, within Europe, he hath made subject unto him, and ready at ●all to do his will and command●ment. He maketh War himself: he provoketh one prince with fire & sword to assault another: he sheddeth innocent blood, in persecuting those that dare or will open their mouth against him. He maintaineth Subjects so rebel against their Sovereign Lords & kings: he is the firebrand to set an outrage of burning in all parts of Christendom: he is a deadly poison which hath infected the church of God with notorious dregs  
Did not the Pope stir & provoke Sigismond the Emperor and the noble Princes of Germany with force of arms to invade the realm of Bohemia? Upon what ground or occasion? Truly because john Hus and Jerome of prague, had by preaching of the word of God, began to reveal the son of perdition in the same country of Bohemia. The Pope therefore feeling himself touched to the quick, endeavoured as much as in him did lie to destroy, and extirpate all the Bohemians, First Hus & jerom were cruelly burned, and yet the desire of the people to the knowledge of true religion thereby not quenched, but inflamed and kindled the more. What ensued of this, with huge power and most puissant 〈◊〉 the Bohemians were invaded two years together. And both the times with wonderful courage & prows of the Bohemians, the assault makers were repulsed, and put back to shameful flight by the miraculous power & mighty hand of God, who fought for them, & did set them at rest & peace, in despite of the Bishop of Rome, his Cardinals & clergy.  
I omit here for brevities cause, to infer many examples, how the Popes from age to age moving war, have procured by their Legates and messengers, one Prince to wage battle on his next brother and Prince adjoining, and when the Armies were ready to encounter and meet, then would he colourably as though no fault were in him, Friars and other messengers were despatched between, persuading peace and reconcilement. The Chronicles in every Realm can sufficiently testify the same. And therefore I remit those that be desirous to know further herein to the said Chronicles.  
This I say and affirm boldly, that it was the Pope that did animate and set on Robert Earl of Flanders against Henry the fourth Empero●r.  
It was he the Pope that maintained the wars with ten thousand Italians and gave money to pay them wages on the behalf of the Emperor Charles the fift against the Duke of Saxony and the noble Pée●es of Germany, because the said Pope would have had the light of the Gospel darkened, which at that time had sprung up from the first preaching of Luther, seeking to bring ignorance in place again, though it were with the shedding of Christian blood, and utter undoing and spoil of many both men, women, and children.  
It is he the Pope, that to his great ignominy and shame for ever, cherished a rank Traitor named Stukley a man of evil life and conversation, 
Stukley traitor maintained by the Pope.  and maintained him against his Sovereign Lady and Queen, with money, men, Ships, and munition to enter Ireland, God confoundeth the devices and purposes of the wicked, and maketh them frustrate, contrary to their expectation. What followed? Stukley when he had sailed from Italy to the Bay of Portugal, and there hearing that the King Sebastian was going over into Barbary with all royal preparation of war, offered his service to the said King not for any zeal or good will but upon a subtle pretence, that Wars there ended, he would borrow a sum of money of the King, the better afterwards to go through with his enterprises in Ireland. In the battle in Barbary, the King of Portugal, the black King with others, and this Stukley also was slain. This you may see that God sent a cursed Cow short horns, and Ireland was delivered and England also from a most cruel enemy and Traitor, though he died a fairer death than he should have done, or had deserved, yet such was the malice of the Pope, this enterprise began by Stukley, was afterward prosecuted by the said Antichrist of Rome, who first sent Bulls full all impiety, as it were with a bait to allure the wild Irish to rebellion, and armed ships and Soldiers to infringe the public peace there, 
The pope's men vanquished by the L. Grace in Ireand.  who not long after their arrival, had their welcome, so that of faure or five hundred, not past twenty escaped alive. The English under the conduct of the Lord Grace, Lord Deputy of Ireland, achieving the victory upon the Pope, his Italians and Spaniards, the fourth day after they came to the place where these Strangers had entrenched themselves in good order of war.  
He remark well gentle Reader, the great goodness and mercy of God towards our most gracious Queen Elizabeth, and her realm of England and Ireland. Note the wisdom, forwardness, and diligence, of the Noble man, chief● Captain, and General of her highness Army. How he spared not to catch hold of opportunity, in the cold and deep of the winter: according to the saying: Principijs obsta, & arripienda est occatio. For if they, with the badge of the cross Keys of their breasts, might have been suffered to harbour the winter time there, this small spark would have grown to a bigger flame, and not so easily have been quenched. But the Lords of England, be so hot with their soldiers under them, that let the enemies make trial when they will, let them trust to it, they shallbe fought withal, if they attempt to come on land, before the swimming grown of the Sea-sicknes be quite out of their heads.  
The Pope can and will, 
Church plate taken out of the Vestries by the Pope to make war.  raise war to spill Christian blood, take out of the Uestries Church plate, (for not any must control him) exact tasks upon his Clergy, to cause his Cardinals and Bishops to give contribution to bestow the same where it pleaseth him to murder innocents, to force wives and widows, to deflower virgins. For these be the fruits of war, the benefits that be reaped upon insolent victories.  
Now take in few words, 
The wicked lives of the Popes.  of what godly conversation and life, Popes have been of late time, that either the Catholics may be ashamed of such spiritual and holy Fathers, or else, in time to forsake them, and to begin to abhor and detest them, and their most wicked and abominable actions, and to learn to be of better understanding than they have been, For the successor is commonly worse and more had than his predecessor.  
Seek and see the writer raphael Volaterranus, 
Raphael Volaterranus. Xistus the 4.  whether I make true report of them or no. Search in other faithful Historiographers, what Xistus the 4. was in his See of Rome. A man not caring (so he might have his will) whether it were right or wrong, raising war for every trifling matter, selling benefices and offices for money, rolling himself middle among harlots.  
What was Innocentius the eight, 
Innocentius the eight.  a man both covetous, and factious given, to set out the Sword and pike, boasting above measure of his advoultries, and bastard Children, and occupied continually in advancing and promoting them to high dignities.  
What was Alexander? 
Alexander the sixth.  the sixth, a man of lust and carnal desire, that it is to be wondered at, and for shame almost not to be named, which thing very cunningly did he paint out, which wrote these two verses of his Daughter.  

Hoc tumulo Dormit Lucretia nominee, sed re  
Thais, Alexandrifilia, Sponsa, nurus,   

In this grave sleeps Lucretia, so men her called by name,  
Yet Thais she by manners might, and eke be clipped for fame.  
Daughter she was to Alexander the Pope, and sometime wife,  
And married was to bastard his, mark here the father's life.   
This Alexander created of his bastard sons, not without great ignominy to true Nobility, Earls, Dukes, and marquesses and did bear the charge of the Army, of the which, is son was general.  
Of this sort and faculty was julius the second, and likewise also like to these, 
I●lius the second.  was Leo the tenth.  
And to these is annexed, 
Clement the seventh.  Clement the 7. a subverter and destroyer both of Rome, and of his native soil, the city of Florentia.  
And after these, succeedeth Paulus tertius, 
Paulus tertius  for his avarice, wicked living, incest, tyranny, and other horrible crimes so odious, that men endued with any spark of honesty and godliness abhor to remember them, the Heavens, the Earth, and the Seas will fly away from the hearing of them.  
Hear, (the place moving me thereto) let such as be addicted to the Church of Rome, beware in season, that they be no longer seduced, and take heed and learn to know the bad from the good, by that token which our Lord Christ himself gave, saying: Ex fructibus eorurn cognoscetis eos. Ye shall know them by their fruits. These Popes afore rehearsed, 
These Popes, not men, but monsters of men.  were not men, but monsters of men, and to read their lives truly penned and set down, and deeply to consider of it, were sufficient to draw away any man from that self-will, love, and confidence, they have put in that whorish and Babylonical Church of Rome. Homines sunt, ergo errare & labi possunt saith he. But these be men & monsters of men, as I have already said, and their errors be so gross and palpable, that children and boys see them, and are able to confute them, their manners & actions so wicked and vicious, that every good Christian must condemn them.  
I am bear further to use a few words to the Papists, 
Catholiqu●s.  who call and term themselves Catholics, by a word as it should seem, that many of them do not well understand or if they do, they have no great reason to use it. For Catholic a Greek word, signifieth universal in English, and Ecclesia Catholica in our Cr●●de or Articles of our belief, hath Sanctam set afore that is the Catholic Church of God dispersed wheresoever it be upon the fa●e of the Earth, not tied to any one certain or terminate place, but universal, where the Congregation, small or big is dispersed throughout the world, professing truly Christ and his holy Gospel. We believe one holy universal Church to be.  
How holy the Romish Church is, let indifferent men judge, where such good livers as the Pope● above mentioned be the chief a●●ors in the play. So the word Catholic maketh quite against the papists, who would have the true church at Rome, & depending upon the same Romish church, as tied to one certain place, where many of the Bishops of the same church have been, & at this day be as wicked and cruel as were in times past. Phalaris Dionysius, Nero, or Diocletian. Nam vitiato capite viti●ntur & membra corporis. The head being corrupt, 
Exhortation to the Papists, to recurne to the true Church.  needs must the members of the body be infected with corruption. I therefore pray you which be not yet come out of the misty clouds of Papisme, in the blood and bowels of our Lord jesus Christ, deceive not yourselves. Look well about you in time. Pin not your faith upon another man's sleeve. No man can make atonement for his brother's soul. It is the blood of jesus Christ the son of God, that cleanseth us from all sin, as witnesseth S john, in the first Chapter of his Epistle: Again, he the same Apostle saith in the same Chapter. If we acknowledge our sins, he (that is Christ) is faithful aend Just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And our Lord himself giveth us this lesson: Venite ad me omnes qui laboratis, & onerati estis, & ego reficiam vos. Come unto me all ye that Labour and are heavy laden and I will refresh you. It is he our Lord Christ that hath borne our sins, and paid the ransom for them upon the Crosse. Now brethren, will you trust in the Pope's Pardons, who hath no more authority, than any brother Bishop or Minister hath to forgive sins, and to pronounce absolution to them that be heartily penitent, by authority given to the Apostles generally, 
Equal authority given to all the Apostles to forgive sins  and so to their successors, and all Ministers that come not in by the window, but by the door. For as for the words spoken by Christ to Peter alone of binding and loos●●ng, it is answered. If all the Apostles had the same authority by Christ's his word, as it may appear in Matthew 18. and john 10. Than Peter being but one, had it not alone. But if if it were spoken to him alone, in Matthew, yet it doth not restrain the general grant, made to others in the places cited before.  
Quorum remiseritis peccata etc. Whose sins ye shall forgive, they shallbe forgiven, & quorum retinueritis, retenta sunt: For those words are spoken in the plural number, whereby all Priests claim true interest in absolving. For will you hear what the Priests utter after auricular confession hard at any man's hand, and judge yourself. Dominus jesus qui est summus Pontifex, absoluat te ab omnibus peccatis tuis etc. & ego auctoritare mhi commissa, absoluo te in nomine patris, & filii, & Spiritus sancti Amen: (which is to say) Our Lord jesus, which is the highest Bishop absolve thee from all thy sins, and I by the authority committed unto me absolve thee in the name of the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, Amen. Where is sins reserved in the Canons to the Pope only to forgive? Why practiseth he to send abroad his pardons in parchment, with leaden seals for money? where is his warrant in holy Scripture? whereupon our saviour Christ saith in the fifteenth of S. Matthew. In vanum colunt me homines docentes doctrinas & mandata hominum. In vain do they serve me, teaching the doctrines & precepts of men. Here I must put you in remembrance of a fond fellow, who hath set out a book: entitled, Hierarchia, 
Hierarchia,  a Greek word, a glorious title, a show or promise by the word, of a great matter, where in the end and effect, it proveth nothing.  
It is a rehearsal by name of the pope's, from Peter, which was the first Bishop of Rome, (if it so be true) and how one succeeded an other, from time to time, and this was by Election in divers sorts, one whi●e by the voice or suffragies of the people, as though Democratia were in ure, sometime by the consent of the better sort in degree, as when the Dean and Chapter elected, and that doth adumbrate Aristocratia. And lastly and principally, when the chief governor maketh his choice of any person, where is the rule of Monarchia.  
But succession by election is one thing, and the right of inheritance another. We daily see, that a good father hath sometime an ungracious son, that godly parents have a child descended from them afterward to be evil disposed. I have found a man according to my hartliking saith God of David the king. And yet his son Solomon succeeding him, fell to women and Idolatry, insomuch that God being angry, rend his kingdom after his days into two parts, viz. Rehoboam reigned over 2 tribes, & jeroboam over 10. If this be where state of inheritance claimeth his right, that for sin God putteth down one, and setteth up another, and oftentimes changeth the inheritance from one line of kindred in to another, 
Succession by i●heritanc, & Succession by Election.  of what force is succession that cometh by Election which is grounded upon humane policy. The Electors naming and appointing to office whom they will, moved thereto sometime by meed and corruption of money, sometimes by favour and friendship, procured, sometimes, by hatred and envy, the better ma●r●iected, and the worse chosen. It is not denied, but that many learned, virtuous, & of laudable life, have been Bishops and Pastors professing Christ in Rome. But t●ey with their whole flock, as they might be caught for the most part, suffered martyrdom, under the persecuting Emperors of the same city, as Nero, Diocletian, & others. A body of the best complexion, which is sanguine by continuance of time, and disorder of diet in meats, drinks, and other feeding draweth unto it gross humours, and so falleth into diseases, that the alteration will be such, that ye shall not know it to be the same. So the See of Rome, both during the time of the Primitive Church, and long after retained a beauty of knowledge and holiness, but by little and little, it fell away and was defaced, as rust creepeth upon iron and other metals by continuance, especially, when they be not rubbed, scraped, and dried, S. Paul spoke these words in this time, Etiam mysterium iniquitatis operatur, and now the mystery of ●iquitie doth work. And again, as is aforesaid by the said Paul, what withholdeth even that the son of perdition might be revealed at his time. Most true it is where Christ saith, Ego sum vobiscum usque and consumationem Seculi, I am with you even to the end of the world, that the holy ghost hath been, is and will be with his Church to to the end, and will never leave it destitute. As when the Heresy of the Arrians oue●●●owed the world, the holy Spirit of God stirred up Athanasius, to defend his truth, which Athanasius albeit, 
〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 is, there is the Church.  he was forced to fly & hide himself oftimes in dens & ca●es, for the space of divers years, yet the Church of God was with him in his dens and caves. For where the truth is, there is the church Idolatry, worshipping of Images, masses, dirriges, and Heaven to be sold for money, murdering of saints, stews in whole streets of Courtesans, blessings for meed, cursings for envy, are to be found in Rome, yea, and Antichrist himself who exalteth himself above all that is called God, therefore there is not the true Church. What monsters have been admitted to the Papacy after one thousand and odd years after Christ, it hath been somewhat afore touched, & may seem to such as have not read Histories almost incredible? What execrable practice was this to enter and possess the Pope's chair by Magic and Art forbidden both by God's law and man's, to give himself to the devil: to get worldly dignity and promotion, to infame himself for ever, to purchase a momentary and transitory pelf: to win wealth & glory on the earth, to lose eternal joy and heaven. Upon this monster last rehearsed, & pope's afore mentioned, judge of this said Hierarchia, of this holy principality or government of the Church, which the author of the book would only apply to the see of Rome, as to the chief of the same, where good & bad pope's are associated together in the rehearsal, as though God's church, were not from the beginning guided & conducted in all truth by the holy ghost, before the Papacy took place, or as if god's spirit could not blow where it listed, not in one circuit of ground only, but in the church wheresoever dispersed even where gods word is truly preached, & the sacraments rightly administered, whether it be in the east of the world, the west, south, or north part of the same. This fellow doth not only sanctify the impurest monsters of the world, but also restraineth and tieth the grace of God & his spirit to the Pope's girdle. Succession in the See of Rome, is of no more force to prove principally in the Church, then that the Bishopric●es of Cullen in Germany, of Toledo in Spain, may prove the line by descent by Register Books many hundredth years. O mad and fantastical heads of such as of self will believe him, to wit, the Pope and Rome his See to have of right the superiority of the Church.  
Jerusalem and mount Zion had these words spoken of her that follow. 
Jerusalem forsaken, much more Rome.  Psalm 132. For the Lord hath chosen Zion too be an habitation to himself. This shallbe my rest for ever. Here will I dwell, for I have delight therein. Yet Jerusalem 40. years after that Christ hath suffered, was sacked (to pretermit in silence, what was done afore to it by the Assyrians & their king) The Temple with the city walls and houses was taken, razed, wasted, and consumed, that one stone was not left upon another by Titus and Vespacian.  
For what shall we now think of Rome? whe● was there any promise made to it, which Rome by trope is painted out, and spoken in the 14. and 17. Chap. of the Revelation of S. john, to be Babylon that great whore, 
Harlots or courtesans in Rome.  where whole streets of Courtesans live without check, saving that at the beginning of Lent, they come to auricular confession, & take ashes, receive the Sacrament, and pay their taxes to the Pope and his officers. After Easter, they return to their old life again, and so continue all the year. See what filthy lucre may cause. For these women pay sweetly: what heads of the Church are these? who would trust or have any confidence in them. I pray and desire all men, as they love their souls and salvation, to look into the holy Scriptures, to study and read them diligently, and to confer the Bishop of Rome his doings and doctrine with gods Book, and they shall quickly espy and confess, that the Pope is the self same son of perdition spoken of by S. 
To read scripture, bringeth knowledge, understanding.  Paul to the Thessalonians as is aforesaid, and so spéedly forsake him. What is the let, what is the stop and bar that these Catholics (as they call themselves) draw back and come not forward.  
Their Master the Pope would not have them once open or look into the holy Bible, translated into the vulgar tongue, And they will not read it, nor any other book that may bring knowledge of the truth, they love to dwell in ignorance. God grant of his infinite mercy, that they may amend and wax wise in time Amen.  
It may seem to some that I have been somewhat too long in this discourse of Rome, and of the Pope, & I pray them of patience, seeing the matter is so far forth not impertinent, that it touched and concerneth not a few but all: not one region or country, but all the parts of Christiandome: not the safety of man's body only, but the health of the soul: not temporal, but eternal life. And no invective can be sufficient on him, till his name and tyrannical seat be raised up from the bottom, and his memorial quite extinct, his pride thrust down together with Lucifers in Hell. His doctrine abolished, as these few Latin verses following do partly declare.  
Papa sibi metuens frontem fore cornibus orbam  
Lurida bacchatur trux aconita vomens.  
Et cupit extinctos diro molimine Reges,  
Mergit at hunc Stygijs CERBERUS after aquis.  
Non prius, in latis spatiosi finibus orbis  
Di●sidij & coedis languida praxis erit,  
Cum socijs, quàm Papa suis plorare iubetur,  
Eius & extinctum nomen ab orb perit,  
Totius Europae magni consurgite Reges,  
Arma (inquam) celerivos capitote manu,  
Totius Europae communem pellite pestem,  
Icta armis vestris Bestia tetra cadat:  
Sic gens Christicolum tranquilla pace fruetur,  
feruescet verae religionis amor.  
Which verses may be thus englished, not following word for word, but the sense truly taken out.  
The Pope fearing lest his strong force  
might him alone forsake,  
Doth fret and cast his poison rank,  
new shifts of help to make.  
And first doth seek with treachery,  
Th' anointed of God to kill.  
Without their let or any stop,  
His purpose to fulfil:  
Both brawl, and strife shall never cease,  
Nor edge of sword wax dull,  
Till Pope and all his partakers  
Be rapped on the skull.  
Ye mighty Kings of Europe all  
Use force, expel away  
The common plague of Christendom:  
Use force, use force I say.  
If beast once fall that fenced was▪  
Time past that horns had ten:  
Debate shall slake and peace ensue,  
God grant it so, Amen.  
For it is the Pope that is the ●eade and C●le●taine of the Confederates in Europe at this day, 
The Pope the head of the holy league that practiseth to trouble & molest England.  who the last year, viz. 1588., endeavoured to buxe and spoil this noble realm of England, to molest & trouble our most gracious sovereign Lady & Queen▪ but in vain (thanked be God, they were frustrate of their purpose) & if they might have had any good success, they determined afterward to ●lea and root out all the professors of true religion in Christendom.  
This was the resolute determination, purpose and inintent of this Antichrist, Chieftain, and his confederates the Spaniards with their society. 
The Spaniard his preparation for war against England many years.  To prosecute the same with effect, divers years past preparation hath been made, of money, armour, weapon, ships, ordinance, victuals and all other necessary furniture for mortal war to invade England: But God, even the God of Abraham, Isaac and jacob: God, the God of Elizabeth Queen of England, whom she daily and hourly honoureth and serveth, hath confounded their devices, broken their crossbows of steel, shortened their arms, weakened their bodies which they bragged to be so strong, made faint their hearts and courages in julie, last passed, 1588.: and in August following and September, that the Deb●ra of England may say; God hath been on our side. God fought for her, God overthrew her enemies.  
Thus it is apparent, our deadly enemies is the Pope, that adversary (as S. Paul termeth him) that is exalted above all that is called God, maintaining the war made upon England this la●● year, 
The Pope's pr●mise to save the souls of them that perish.  with 〈◊〉, and men▪ abetting and encouraging all the rest with promises, to give them the bless of heaven, if they perished in the war, and died in the fight.  
O Satan, transfigured into an Angel of light. O false juggler! O crafty Apostle, yea rather Aposta●a. O bloody murderer, that under pre●ence of holiness, would seem to sit at home in thy chair, and y●t ar● the greatest slaughter man in the front of the battle. O fierce brother of Cain that killest the innocent Abel's. Surcease to animate & maintain the Spaniards thy partakers in war: Learn by the event of their late enterprise, to sit still to study on god's book and to leave the ●an●ling of war to temporal princes. But religion is the chief occasion and ground of the debate & breath of peace, beside other quarrels. The deciding of true religion & false, and judgement thereof consisteth only as they say in the Pope, and therefore pronounceth us English, heretics. And where he cannot consume us with faggot and fire, because he hath not our Lady and Queen at commandment to be his executioner, as he hath Princes in other regions 〈◊〉 thrall to his tyranny.  
This blessed man of Rome maketh us a prey to the Spaniards or any other that will assail us. Where, note that the Pope gave the crown and kingdom of England to the king of Hispaine.  
O impudent monster of men. O thou that hidest the commandements of God in the Latin, from the lay, 
The Pope a murderer.  simple and unlearned people, and wittingly and wilfully breakest them thyself, which knowest them, and understandest them.  
It is written in the 10 and last commandment. Thou shalt not cou●t thy neighbour's house, nor any thing that is his. These be the words among others in the commandment: If to covet be sin and breach of the precept: what horrible offence to God is it, impudently to take and give away that which is another's, as though the whole earth were the Popes to bestow and distribute at his pleasure. 
Not found in scripture that the Apostles di● assign Princes, c●ownes. But the Pope's do it.  Where is it read, that Christ or his Apostles or any other Bishop of the Primitue Church or prelate of any other place since, but this of Rome, did give or assign Princes crowns, or kingdoms: the same Bishop of Rome, at the first being a beggar, and lived but of alms and devotion of the well disposed, who at the first went on foot as others do. And after that Constantine's donations had enriched the See of Rome, began to ride on horseback, 
Constantine's donations puffed up th● Se● of Rome with pride.  and now through pride is so puffed up that he is carried upon men's shoulders in a chair. A kind of most arrogant insolency: for pomp, that no Prince in any age for glory hath used the like, but the Pope.  
Religion (as I said before) is laid to the charge of us English. Touching Religion, we answer, that we are in the true, and the Pope and his adherents in the false. The judgement whereof appertaineth not to him being an adversary of Christ, a persecutor of poor innocentes and professors of true Religion, a Tyrant, a bloodsucker. But the touchstone must be the holy Sceiptures, as our Saviour Christ hath 〈◊〉 and taught in these words. Scrutamini scripturas. Search the Scriptures. And again thus, Erra●is, nescientes scripturas, Ye err out of the way not knowing the Scriptures, which show and declare who go right, and who go wrong. And we answer with the word● of S. Paul in the 24 Chapt. of the Acts of the Apostles. But this we boldly confess with S. Paul the Apostle unto the whole world, that after the way which the Pope and his Clergy call heresy, so worship we the God of Abraham, believing all things which are written in the Law and Prophets. etc. This is the Pope of whom the Prophet Daniel speaketh of in the 7 Chap. of his prophesy that shall destroy the Saints of the most highest: and in the 8 Chapter, He shall slay the strong and holy people. In laying heresy to thy charge (O England) which is no heresy, but the true worshipping of God, than it is God cause that thou art blamed for, that thou art menaced, ●ated, envied, and sufferest. Keioice therefore and be glad, that thou may be counted worthy to suffer these reproaches for Christ's sake. The Spaniards, the Popes own chief darlings, 
The Spaniard took in hand the execution of the Pope's malice, 1588.  afore all other people in Europe, did take in hand this last year viz. 1588. the execution of the Pope's malice and War, adding thereto quarrels of their own: But as the Spaniard liketh his last adventure made upon England, so let him and his partakers come again, We English put in God alone our trust, they shall go wéeping away, if any go away or escape. 
The cruel●●● of the Sp●●●ards.  For I trust it neither is, neither will be forgotten, the menacing of the Spaniards this last Summer, their whips, their scourges, their Irons that they brought in their ships to mark the youths of each Sex of the conquered nation to make their bondslaves: for so they vaunted, and according to the Proverb, Antè victoriam canebant triumphum, that is, They assured themselves of victory before thoy did strike astrcke for it. And if ever they come again, they shall be recompensed seven fold in their bosom and shall be used as Perillus was, according to the Proverb, Be whipped with their own whips, and marked with their own Irons. For they be a people disdainful, cruel and proud in heart above measure, even from the lowest degree of men in their common weal. Will you hear for a proof thereof, what I have seen.  
A poor Spaniard Fisherman, which only gaineth his living by going to Sea to catch Sardines, a kind of Pilchard, silly wretch in his old rags, scant worth taking up if they were found upon the dunghill, after he hath caught some fish, and returneth with his small skiff, or boat home, his poor wife waiteth at the shore side for him. The man leapeth out upon the shore, leaving his fish to b● sold by his wife, and his boat also to be made clean by her, and going home to his house, putteth off his sea apparel, claddeth himself with his best doublet and hose, and covered with his Spanish cape or cloak, with his Rapier and Dagger by his side, walketh and jetteth in the place of the town whereto merchants, and the wealthiest of the Town resort to buy and sell. As the Spaniard is proud, so is he cruel exceedingly: and where he can or may overcome, his tyranny is intolerable: what infinite slaughters have the Spaniards made in the West Indians in America, as well of women and children, as of men, silly souls of that Country.  
It is beside my purpose, here to rehearse: whosoever is desirous t● know the truth thereof, let them read whole books written of the same matter both in French Latin, and other tongues. And to know the same by reading it, will make any Christians heart to bleed. Over and beside, the cruelty of their Clergy in matters of Religion repugnant to Papistry, Superstition, and idolatry. Woe, woe, yea three times woe to them that shall fall into their hands. It is comparable with all the inventions of punishment and forture of all Tyrants read of in all histories before this time, if it 〈◊〉 not pass or surmount them. Consider what the Strappado 
The Strappado.  is: a Diabolical invention, which is to let down into the threat a fine piece of linen, wrapped round and ●ast together, ●i●d to a small string, and to pull it up and down, that a man would choose ra●her seven times to die, if it were so possible, then to suffer this pain once. Again the martyrdom of Gardiner, an Englishman borne in Bristol, and suffering at Lisbona in Portugal, was it not equal with Phalaris Bul? First his right hand was chopped off, and after his left hand. After this he was hanged upon an high gibbit, and fire so made under him, that it could burn but his feet & shanks, then that done a space of time between his knees and thighs: after that his belly, and entrails were consumed with fire, so that all this while his breast, heart, and head, wherein the pincipal seat of life is, were untouched: last, by God's mercy the rope wherewithal he was tied under the arm pits suddenly, brake, and so the whole man fell into the fire sooner than they expected or wished. To hear this torture will it not make christian ears to glow and any heart to quake. I will lead the Reader with no more examples, for they be so many of this sort, that will and may make up whole books. Now let us come to the Religion of the Spaniard. Pilgrimage is used & frequented even at this day freshly to S. james in Galitia, & through all Spain accounted an holy & meritorious thing to salvation. If any man die of any wealth there in that country, the Friars of the four orders so flock about and the priests that it is esteemed but a small funeral, the charges whereof doth not amount to 200 Marks, which is divided among Friars and Priests for the most part, for saying of Masses, Diriges, and funeral Obsequies, making the people believe, that they with their oblations and prayers can save their souls. Of whence cometh this, the Clergy so persuade the people there, they will deliver any man's soul from hell, and send it up to heaven, applying their merits thereto, and with their Sacrifices of Mass available both for the quick and the dead. I have seéene a young Priest in Spain (for there be many Priests there belonging to one Church, which live only by these means following) coming to the Church in the morring, and having mumbled to himself Mattyns (as they call it) hath (standing at the Altar) put on his Albe, looking round about him, and expecting who would lay down and offer their devotion upon the Altar: I● there were so many that the sum offered or given did amount to ten or eleven Royals of plate, he would put on his pall or Cope, say Mass that morning, otherwise he would put off his linen Albe and will the people to come again the next day.  
Behold be not Masses well sold? be not Priests well maintained? What doth the Priest all the day afterwards? He jetteth up and down not after the manner that sad and sage Priests use, but like a Courtier in a cloak without a cape down to the ground. O noble England, O England thou mayst by this treatise behold as it were in a glass, 
England beware.  thy adversaries, the Pope, his Cardinals, Clergy, and the Spaniards, the former sort to reign over the souls of Christians, with great tyranny to maintain their pomp, wealth and glory, the other and latter ready to prosecute the Pope's commandents, & to raise up a new monarchy & Empire to overtop all other in estate his equals. To the which better to be accomplished, they have practised as the old Proverb is, That where a Fox skin cannot reach they have sowed to a Lion's skin. And as they have done already the year past, so they will perchance again use force & violence although they have had a fair warning already, to leave & surcease by their harms sustained: Howsoever it may fall out, 
England▪ call unto the Lord & trust in him.  arm yourselves (O valiant Britain's & English men) first above all with Spiritual defences, as the kingly Prophet teacheth Ad Dominum cum tribularer clamavi & exaudivit me, when I was in trouble I called upon the Lord, and he heard me even to the granting of my petition. Again God himself scholeth us in this sort, Inuoca me in di● tribulationis & ego exaudiam vos. Cal upon me in the day of trouble and I will hear you. 
England be sorry & lament for thy sins past.  Let us be sorry for our offences past: let us be sorry and most sorry for the sins we have committed, from the bottom of our hearts with full purpose of amendment of life hereafter to be led by God's grace & assistance of his holy spirit. Let us sing in heart & say with tongue, The Lord is my light and salvation, whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom then shall I be afraid: Though an host of men were laid against me, yet shall not my heart faint. If war rise up against me, yet will I put my trust in the Lord. Again the Prophet thus saith. 
England cease not to pray continually.  The Lord is on my side, I will not fear what man may do unto me. The Lord taketh my part with them that help me, therefore shall I see my desire upon mine enemies.  
Be ye therefore full of courage: 
Our enemy's hate us fo●●eligion.  O ye English hearts. Our enemies hate us for religion. Their principal quarrel is religion, our religion is constant, and agreeable with the word of God: there religion is repugnant to it. Yea let the holy Bible be an upright judge between us. They brag to assail us: we are to defend ourselves boldly, manfully, courageously: What dasterlie heart beareth that man that will not strike, rather than be stricken: who will not kill, rather than be killed: 
The heathen man's l●●●on, ●o fight for our countri●  the Heathen man's lesson is Pugna pro patria, pro Principe, pro aris & pro focis, Fight for thy Country, for thy Prince, for religion, for thy house, wife, and children: God's law commandeth us so to do. For as they which sail in a ship by all means and force, they can possibly endeavour to save and preserve the ship. If the ship perish and sink, or be cast away, the passengers and mariners all be lost and die. So every man endued but only with the gift of reason, besides that, he is by duty bound thereto, and so commanded by God, 
Bound by god's law to defend our Prince and Country.  will and must with all his might of body, spending of his substance, study, and industry of wit and soul, protect, defend, and save his native soil, land, & place where he hath his original of birth, fostering, feeding and bringing up, abode, and dwelling link, of kindred, society of friends and countrymen, even to the loss of life and lives, if one man might have an hundredth lives.  
If the land wherein thou dwellest fall into captivity, than thou that escapest alive shalt be in worse case than he that is dead. A continual torment, pinching, tearing of a man living, is worse than any sharp death. The senses by death are taken: the anguish on the other living in torment in the day time is evil, and in the night worse. It fretteth and suffereth still and continually as is the fable of Prometheus his liver, which as it wasteth by feeding the gréediss vultures maws. So it is renewed, and increasing again, ministereth matter every day of n●w and fresh torment and punishment.  
This one chief and principal comfort (but there be many more beside) may make glad all true Subjects to call to remembrance, how our queens most excellent Majesty, 
Comfort of the Q●eenes 〈◊〉, and her most wi●e caunsall.  Queen Elizabeth together with her Grace's prudent Counsellors, have provided such plenty from the beginning of her Reign of principal Armour, Artillery, Munition, a●d all other necessary furniture of war, as never was in England at any time before, and thanked be god therefore, 
England furnished with Armour and Artillery, as it was never in any prince's days 〈◊〉 this time.  the English throughout the Realm so appointed and fenced with Corselets, and weaponed in all sorts, with such readiness at one hours call, so forward in their musters, that the children and younglings leap and spring for joy at the sight of the same, & imitate men in their order of warlike array. A greater comfort is, that our gracious Lady and Queen, having reigned over us now thirty one years, 
The commen●ation of the Queen Elibeth.  with all clemency & administration of justice, hath conserved this noble Island of England in long 〈◊〉 with increase of great wealth in every sort, and her highness government is such, that it far exceedeth the rule of any whatsoever Princess, either in Africa, Asia, or Europa, from the beginning of the world to this day, except Deborah that beloved of God among the judges of Israel.  
Read the Chronicles and Histories in general written in Greek, 
H●r virtues & worthy qualities.  Latin, or any other tongues and it may be seen that her Majesty is without comparison. Elizabeth of England, her gifts of the mind be so rare, so excelling▪ so surpassing, (that is) her most fine and royal piercing wit in all her Princely speeches and communications, 
H●r knowledge in the Greek Latin, and other t●ngues.  fre●●ent and mo●● apparent, her learning and knowledge in the Greek, Latin, Italian, French, and Spanish tongues well known to all Ambassadors and others, who have conference in causes with her Grace far above the capacity in the Feminine Sex, over and beside the gifts of the body, and other that they make this Queen of the West, noble through the whole world.  
Note also, how oft by the mercy and great providence of God, and careful watch of her most noble counsellors, her majesties person hath been deliungred from peril and danger of Treason, and lately from the devilish pra●●ses of Pary, 
He● 〈◊〉 wondered deliverance from treason at ●●me.  first alias Vphary called after that of Babington and his fellows, a thing miraculous in the sight of all good Subjects, in the which, the wonderful mercy, and love of our God; hath been showed to her grace and Realm of England.  
Look and read over the Chronicles of all nations, for the long reign of women Princes, 
The long reign of a man princes.  and ye shall find none to have reigned so long, but Deborah and one more, (we English trust in GOD she shall double her years of her reign with like felicitte and victory, as her Majesty hath already enjoyed) which one thing is a sure token of the favour of God towards the Realm and us the inhabiters of the land. 
Solomon.  For as it is written in the proverbs of Solomon.  
Short reigns of Kings and Princes, 
Short reigns of prince what it betokeneth.  and oft changing of the regal seat signifieth that God is displeased with that Country or land. And contrary the long reign of a prince, betokeneth Gods great blessing. God grant Queen Elizabeth long to reign, Amen.  
Over and beside this, 
The long reign of a Prince.  the care, study, and diligence by her highness Lords ●f the privy Counsel, hath been and is such, for to continue good government, and to preserve in unity, peace and love, both England and her Subjects, that it must needs breed a comfort and joy in all true English people.  
Further, 
The Queen's care and ●●udy to stop and repress the rage and ●u●ie practised in France an in the Low-countries.  how deeply hath her Grace lamented the rage and fury now many years practised and put in execution both in France, and in the Low-Countries.  
How hath her highness ende●oured with all Godly zeal first to stop and repress the great cruelties there exercised.  
Secondly, to make mediation for uniting perfect amity and peace between the one side 〈◊〉 the other herein, and in this poi●●▪ the 〈◊〉 Noble and valiant Robert Earl of Leicester, who from hence lately deceased, meriteth his commendation of eternal fame and glory, who of his own free will and zeal to true religion, leaving at home his dear Lady and wife, his lands and possessions in manner and sort neglected, his ease and pleasures altogether abandoned, hath in two several voyages, very fortunate, in the years 1586. and 1587. adventured and hasazarded his person, spent and consumed his goods, money, and plate, even to the great endebting of himself. The first time he went over, in the deep and midst of the winter, in a dark and stormy night taking shipping at Harwich, Sir Henry Palmer knight Captain, and M. Grace, Master of the ship, and landed the next day at Flushing, & so passed by Zealand into Holland. And this is to be remembered, that during his abode in Zealand and Holland, for the more force of his martial affairs, he was accompanied with the Earl of Essex, the noble and valiant 

Lord Willoughby.  
The Lord burrows.  
The Lord Wentforth.  
Lord Rich.  
The Lord North.  
Sir Thomas Sicily son & heir to the Lord Burghley, Lord high Treasurer of England  
Sir Philip Sidney.  
Sir Thomas Gorge.  
Sir Thomas Sturley, knight.  
Sir William Pellam, knight,  
Sirr Thomas Perot, knight.  
Sir William Druery, knight.  
Sir Philip Butler, knight.  
Sir William Goodier, knight.  
Sir William Read, knight.  
Sir john Connaway, knight.  
Sir john winckefield, knight.  
Sir Robert Sidney, knight.  
Sir Cholmely, knight.    
And many other worthy Knights and Gentlemen of England, furnished with great Horse, Geldings, and Armour, that it was a most worthy sight to be seen. What care, study and watch being there in the Low-Countries: as a most wise and politic Captain and General, did he use in the night? what industry, labour and pains, did he take in the day, both in the house, in consultations necessary, and abroad in the fields, present in person at skirmishes and sieges of sorts and strong towns. What occasion rei benè gerendae, as the latin phrase is did this Earl omit, either to advance the honour of his Country, either to prefer the weal public there? what good example of religion and good life, did not this valiant Gentleman, and noble Lord give, having two godly and famous learned men adorned with degrees of the School of the University, M. D. Tomson, and M. D. Holland, every day preaching God's word, and saying divine service? what Hospitality and open house as we term it? what princely Court did this Earl keep, for bread meat, wine and beer, and all other delicate cheer, so amply, so plentifully, so abundantly, that the best sort in the Country, had him in admiration, the second and meanest, prayed, wished, and desired that he might continually dwell among them. How did he tender the poor, redress wrongs, restrain and bridle the enemy from injuring those under his charge, win many strong towns, castles, and forts, and as it were wall Holland, and that part of Zealand, that the enemy might not approach but with great danger and difficulty. And at the two years end came away from thence with great honour, losing in fight very few, especially of fame and name, but that noble hardy and most worthy knight, 
Sir Philip Sidney.  sir Philip Sidney, who being hurt in a very hot and bloody skirmish, with a musket shot a far of, afterward returning to Arnam, died of his wound: whose fame & glory, no age at any time shall wear away. 
Carolus ●eobussextus king of Scots lamented his unripe death.  The noble king Carolus jacobus Sextus king of Scotland, and divers others of the Nobility of the same country, beside infinite numbers of every degree in England, moved with his virtues, valour and prows, made Latin verses most learnedly lamenting his unripe death happening in the flower of his age. Truly, yea most truly, there was nothing else sought, either by the puissant Queen Elizabeth & the Lords of her Counsel, either by the said noble earl, but to preserve true and pure religion, that it might not be trodden under the foot, and to stop effusion of blood, which otherwise would have been much. And that ought to be the care and study of every Christian king and Queen, to stop and inhibit outrage of spilling of Christians blood.  
Finally, the government of the said Noble Earl of Leycester, in his abode beyond the seas, hath been such, that the wise and well disposed every where, gravely consindering upon the same, give to it condign praise to the great benefits of the Country where he hath been, and to no small strengthening of us English at home, in such sort, that the Low-countreis' reaped thereby the benefit of quietness and rest, from the molesting of the enemy, which otherwise would have assailed them most sharply to their utter confusion and undoing.  
This also have we English to joy and to comfort ourselves with all, 
The Lord Charles Howard Lord Admiral of England.  and to deliver the same for an everlasting memorial to our posterity, that the last year it pleased God of his infinite mercy and goodness, to give victory by Sea, to the right noble and valiant Lord, the Lord Charles Howard, Lord high Admiral of England, upon and over the Spanish Armado or fleet, so huge, so strong, so great, so furnished with double Canons, and Canons, and Culverins, and all other sort of get ordinance and small, as musket shot, calyver and others so fraught with Captains, soldiers, and mariners to the number of 28000 so garnished with armour & all manner of weapons, so laden and stuffed fully with every kind of victual, to serve for long time, all which did so far pass, surmount▪ and exceed, that it was Vique ad mundi miraculum, Even to the wonder of this age, that the Spaniards upon the confidence they had in the same, their own strength, were so puffed up with pride that they had devoured all England in their hearts, whilst they were yet in Spain, and before they came any thing near our coast.  
Neither is this here to be untouched, how the said Lord Charles Howard, Lord Admiral, with the navy of England, went to the Seas in the month of December, 
His going to Sea in the deep of winter. 1587.  being the deep of winter, to expect the enemies coming, and so continued till August following.  
What watch, what labour, what pains, especially in winter. What storms and foul weather this noble man and his company did sustain and abide, and endure out, during these nine months. It cannot be unknown to all those which have experimented voyages by Seas.  
And in the Coming & approaching of the Spanish Armado, to the west part of Cornwall, which was about the 19 of Julie, 1588. How ready, desirous, & glad, the said Lord Howard was to meet and encounter with the Spaniard, it doth by this appear: 
His victory over the Spaniards.  that the said Lord Admiral, accompanied but with fifty sail, not expecting the rest of the Queen's Navy, or any further aid so come, did begin and enter fight with the Spaniards, and so continued pressing and chasing the Duke of Medina Sidonia high General of the enemy's company, and his hundredth and thirty two sail, from Sunday till Saturday following, by the space of seven days, night and day, forbearing sleep and bodily rest which nature of man doth exact and require. All which time, my Lord Thomas Howard, my Lord Shiefield, Sir Edward Hobby knight, of years but young, yet for the gifts of the mind, wit, learning, knowledge, boldness and courage equal to the best Captains, and many other Gentlem●n in this our English Navy of good and ancient houses, for the love, zeal, and duty they did bear to the queens Majesty, their Country, and my Lord Admiral, did voluntarily, not without their great charges, as it were not only offer, but intrude themselves into the service of the sea, in this war to win honour and same, and most courageously, and with lions hearts, did assault, pursue, and terrify the Armado, that where their purpose and pretence was to invade and land in England, they durst not once draw near to any shore, but kept their course still in the channel and deep stream, always flying and seeking by night if it might be, in the dark to lose the sight of our ships.  
On saturday night when the enemies came to an anchor afore Calis, 
The firing of the Spanish Ships.  th'english anchored hard by them that they could have no rest, expecting still when our men should board them.  
And it was devised by the Lord Charles Howard the next night following by sira●ageme well known, and therefore not needful at large to be here rehearsed, to fire all the Spanish ships, which in part was done and had taken further effect, but the enemy forsaking the road, leaving Ankers & cables behind them for haste, set up sail and fled. And the next morning being Monday, my Lord Admiral's number being augmented above the Spanish with my Lord Henry Seimers' fleet of warlike ships, a fresh fight began: the Spaniard flying afore to the north towards Scotland, and the English, following the chase with most sharp & bloody fight.  
In all which Battle of nine days together continuing, both great wisdom and manhood was used by the said Lord Charles Howard, by the Lords and Knights in his company, Mariners and soldiers, and marvelous force was bend against the enemy. For one of the ships of the Queens on Monday, the last day of the fight, shot in eight hours five hundredth and 32. great pellets out of her great ordinance hard under the sides of the Spanish Armado.  
What number may we think all the rest of the great ships did discharge that day. They of this great fleet of the enemies, beside the great slaughter of their men, made and caused by our forces, were constrained to cast overboard, their fine gennets and horses, and waxed glad when night with darkness drew on, setting indirect courses that the English might with more difficulty espy, find, or follow them in the morning ensuing.  
There were from the beginning till this time taken Prisoners, and Spanish ships soo●cke and spoiled by the English forces, and brazen pieces and Artillery taken, as the true number of them appeareth in books already printed, by the means aforesaid, the pursuit was omitted, and the spaniardes sought their way furthest about by the craggy rocks and Sea shore of Scotland, to the west of Ireland. Where God with winds and soul weather so tossed the remain of the Armado, that 17 of the greatest ships there, wracked, & were drowned with the loss of some thousands of their men, beside artillery, ordinance, and other lading that perished in the water. Thus they that came to kill us, were killed, taken, or drowned, except those that escaped by flying and running away: and God fought for England with his mighty hand and stretched out arm, when the force of the English had ceased to pursue. Let any reasonable man or others that have any experience be judge.  
This proud and haughty nation and people that came to conquer England, to kill man, woman, and child, to make the country waist, to take the land into their own possession, if they had not been sore afraid, and self also the Iron pellets and blows of our English ordinance and the forces of the Lord Charles Howard and his most famous band of Mariners and soldiers to the loss of lives of their men and great spoil of their ships, would have returned home the same way they came; but they durst not, but sought Spain the farthest way about.  
The fame of this victory, howsoever the Spaniards may or will colour it, is spread over all Europe, Asia, and part of Africa, insomuch that the heathen have our renowned Queen in admiration for her virtues, princely qualities, royal heart and courage, and principally for this victory achieved upon the spaniard. O most high, O most mighty, O most merciful God, how good and gracious didst thou show thyself to our Queen Elizabeth, to her dominions and territories, to her subjects and people: How godly, how prudently, how thankfully did her Majesty at the last coming home and return of the L. Admiral from the Seas, attribute and ascribe this victory gotten by fight upon the Sea, only to God, giving him all the praise, honour, and glory for the same, speaking in open audience of her Nobility, Ladies, and gentlemen in Court, these words, which one of late hath p●uned in a book written in latin verse of her Highness. The verses follow.  
Carole, laudo tuas virtutes, laudo viriles  
Inuictosque tuos animos, comitumque tuorum  
Quod loquor ex animo loquor, O attendite, quaeso  
Non vis ulla hominum, non tu (praeclare Dynasta)  
Non comites, socijque tui, non Anglica classis.  
Est Deus aeternus, Deus est, qui solus & unus  
Effecit, totam ut victrix celebrata per orbem  
o'er ferar populi, domi & ut secura quiescam▪  
Illi tota rei benè gestae gloria detur,  
Illi totus honour, sit ei sui gloria soli.  
And her Grace did not only in speech, but also in action apparent to the whole world shewit, when her Highness accompanied with the Bishops of the Realm, and Nobility came through the streets to the temple of S. Paul within the city of London, 
The Queen's going to Paul● Church t● 〈◊〉 thanks unto God.  & kneeling humbly within the west door of the same Church, gave with heart, mind, and lowliness of body, thanks to God for his mercies & benefits bestowed upon her and her people, and after heard a sermon at Paul's cross, tending to the same end. As this was done and said before, like a most Christian Lady and Queen, so it is worthy of remembrance, that contrary to the custom of man and woman's nature, provoked, irritated and stirred up before to wrath & displeasure, upon outrage & mali●e, practised by any enemy, her Grace with a most charitable and pitiful heart cherished and gave alms, 
The Queen's clemency & wonderful 〈◊〉, even to the enemy.  meat and drink to the Spaniards, captives and taken prisoners, forbidding that any injury or violence should be proffered unto them, according to the counsel of S. Paul. Vince bono malum. Overcome the evil with doing good. Here I admonish and exhort all true English, of every degree, to print in memory at the benefits afore rehearsed, received by the mercy of God, and daily and ha●rely to be thankful for the same, and to learn with the Prophet to say & sing Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo. My song shall be always of the loving kindness & mercies of the lord, with my mouth will I ever be showing of thy truth from one generation to another▪ Again in the 146 Psal. Praise the Lord O my soul, while I live will I praise the Lord, yea, as long as I have any being, I will sing praises unto my God▪ Let us follow the example of Mardocheus the 9 chap. 
England be continually mindful of the great benefits received at God's hand.  of Hest. who enjoined the jews the 14 day of the month of Adar, and the 15 day of the same, every year, according to the days wherein the jews rested from their enemies and the month which was turned to them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a day of mirth to keep them the days of feasting and joy, and to send presents every man to his neighbour, & gifts to the poor: wherefore was this done and enjoined them? Because Haman the jews Adversary had imagined against the jews to destroy them & had cast Pur, that is a lot to consume & destroy them.  
Let us follow jehoshophat, who, when the children of Moab, & the children of Ammon came against him to battle, did seek the Lord▪ & proclaimed a fast throughout all juda So did the Londoners (God be praised for it) & the English, fearing God throughout all the Realm, and continued in prayer from morning unto night. I wish and exhort them in the Lord to keep a memorial thereof, & oftentimes to pray, and often to fast, many times to give thanks for the manifold blessings of God poured upon us in preserving (as he hath done) the queens majesties person from treason and imminent danger and peril, in sending her Grace a long and gracious reign, that it may please him to send her victory over her enemies (as he hath done) if any here after shall arise. 
〈…〉  So shall it come to pass, that as jehoshaphat the king and the jews, without any stroke strooken on their parts, had their enemies overthrown at god's hand & they gathered the spoil 3 days, & the 4 day they assembled themselves in the valley Berracah & there blessed the lord, than every man returned with jehoshophat to go again to jerusalem with joy. And they came to jerusalem with viols & with harps, & with trumpets, even unto the lords house, & the fear of god was upon all the kingdoms of the earth, when they had heard that the lord had fought against the the enemies of Israel, and so the Kingdom of jehoshophat was quiet, and God gave him rest on every side, likewise in the 14. Chap. of Exodus in the end of the same, it is thus written. But the children of Israel walked upon the dry land through the midst of the sea. And it followeth in the 15. Chap. Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord in this manner, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumped gloriously, the horse and him that road on him with all the rest, hath be overthrown in the sea. The Lord is my strength and praise, he is become my salvation, he is my God he is my father's God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war, his name is jehovah, etc. Let us thus pray, & praise God with the Israelites for the overthrow of our enemis in the Sea: and he will continue our good and merciful God. Let us continue to go to the temple with jehosophat, and there with the harmony of our clean souls and bodies, give there the Sacrifice of thanksgiving. Let us sing th● 21 Psalm. Domine propter robur immisum gaudet Regina, & quia tu author illi fuisti victoriae, exultat seriò. O Lord the Queen rejoiceth for the strength that thou hast sent upon her, and because thou hast been the principal giver of victory to her, she rejoiceth earnestly. Let her Majesty spiritually rejoice as she doth: Let us her Subjects take bold hearts, and be full of courage, if at any time foreign enemy should make attempt. The Lord will not forsake them that put their trust in him.  
God grant her Highness a long life, a long and most prosperous reign. God of his mercy, continue his blessings upon this Realm of England. Amen.  
FINIS.