UNTO THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTY Prince, his Sovereign Lord King JAMES. A poor Subject sendeth, A Soldiers Resolution; humbly to wait upon his Majesty. IN THIS LITTLE Book the godly Virtues of our Mighty King are specified, with disscription of our late Queen, (and still renowned) ELIZA'S Government: The Pope and Papists are in their colours set forth, their purposes laid open, and their hopes dissolved, the happy peace of England is well described, and the long continuance thereof humbly prayed for. LONDON Printed by john Windet, for Walter Burr, dwelling in Paul's Churchyard at the Sign of the Crane. 1603. TO THE MOST High and Mighty Prince JAMES by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, defender of the Faith, etc. MAY it please your Majesty, when I consider my own unworthiness, I check myself for my presumption, in that I have adventured to write unto a Prince of so great power and wisdom, as is your kingly self: but when I do remember that your Highness desireth to be approved a good poor man's King: then in the hope of your gracious acceptance, I not repent the little labour that I have bestowed: in which the clearness of my conscience bears me up, and makes me hope, that in my upright course, I shall not in the least sort displease the mightiness of your great majesty. I have like a Soldier hent myself against your public enemies, and the foes of Christ, in the justice of which course my resolution hath resolved in life and death to do your highness faithful and obedient service: your poorest subject, my renowned Sovereign, humbly entreateth that you would be pleased graciously for to accept this his trifling gift, and with your mercy's eye to view the lines unto your princely self directed, and if they shall procure your content, your servant then receives the fullness of his joy, and gains unto himself his most desired recompense, with all submission he referreth himself, and this his work to be censured by your Majesty, unto whom he wisheth Salomon's wisdom, David's heart, and joshua's courage, with all the best commended virtues which did attend on them: that England's king may be a mirror to the world, and that the nations of the earth may wonder at the long continuance of your most happy and princely government. Your majesties poorest Subject ROBERT PRICKET A SOLDIERS Resolution. MOst mighty Prince: the Angelical graces wherewith your kingly spirit is endued the divine excellency of whose virtues worthiness, your royal hand hath in heavenly lines unto the world commended, as an apparent testimony of your sound belief, arightly grounded upon the corner stone Christ jesus: by the grace of whose assistance your sacred Majesty is made to be the world's chief Christian king: so that in all the kingdoms of the earth, that doth homage to the name of Christ, there is not any Prince of so absolute a power, being arightly incorporated in the proper strength of his own inheritance, that can compare with the greatness of your Magnificence, nor is their any king under the heavens great Canopy, that standeth like your royal self, so clearly sequestered from the Roman Antichristian leprosy: the demonstration of which apparent truth doth undoubtedly prognosticate that God hath raised your highness up unto the throne of royal dignity, that by the happiness of your godly government, you may increase & beautify the glorious kingdom of his blessed Son. And that your Majesty like a most valiant, victorious, and triumphant captain under the banner of the world's Redeemer Christ, should with majestic power confront, and underneath your princely foot tread down all oppositions, that by secret plots of devilish treachery, or public force of hostile arms, dares but presume by their tyrannical aspiring menaces to threaten the ruin of the house of God. And as the Church in England hath for these last precedent four and forty years, been ruled by a godly religious maiden Queen, renowned Elizabeth of famous memory, unto the glory of whose virtuous government, Revel. cap. 12. may with a Christian consideration be ascribed the long-ago prophetical wonder seen in heaven: Of a woman clothed with the Sun, in whom the Church was figured, compassed about with the illustrate and shining beams of the Gospel of jesus Christ. And underneath her feet the wavering and unconstant Moon was put. For by her means from forth the Church was cast the vain inconstant mutabilities of Rome's invented strange traditions. And upon her head a crown of twelve stars stood, which did foreshow, as was by her made manifest, that from the doctrine of the twelve Apostles should derived be, the form and order of her government, the brightness of whose illuminating light should with an uncontrolled power: from forth her kingdom drive, the loathsome darkness of that souls poisoning contagious smoke which flies from forth that hellborn pit, the gulf of Antichrist. And in despite of that great red Dragon, having seven heads, and ten horns, & seven crowns upon his heads. By which is mentioned the devil, the Pope, Spain, Monks, Friars, Jesuits and Seminaries, with the rabblement of that Antichristian power, burning with fury against the Spouse of Christ, having made themselves red with the effusion of those streams of blood, which their cruelties caused to gush forth from the innocent bodies of thousand martyred Saints: yet maugre the force of all their hellish tyrannising rage, divine Eliza during all the time of her most happy, blessed, peaceful, and victorious reign, traveled in the desire of her religious care to be a gracious mother, and a tender nurse unto the children of the Church of God, and in the continuance of her now out dated, and yet dateless time: her subjects being fed with the Nectar and Ambrosia of a heavenly diet, by the ministry of that ever-enduring truth contained in the canonical Scriptures of the old and new testament: many thousands were begotten unto Christ and taught arightly how to ground their faith, upon the all and only sufficient sure foundation of their redeemers love. That plain and simple people in her land could with divine and godly wisdom maintain the argument of their faiths belief, against the cunning cozening sophistry of a pernicious Popish Priest. But now that our late maiden Queen, whose sanctified soul unto her God, brought forth so many Saints, hath left this earth to be a Saint in heaven, whither should my eyes return themselves with joy, unless to look upon your Majesty. And in this thought my soul is ravished with a private meditation, my Country England hath stood as a glorious City built upon a mountains top, whose beauty, wealth, strength, and government, hath lifted up itself with admiration to the world; the temple of the house of God was from mount Zion brought and placed in the midst of England's territories. Were the government of Rome now as then it was when England was converted there should be no Pope as now the●e is, nor Mass, nor Purgatcrie, nor approbation, to any of their erroneous constitutions, Ethelderius brought with him none of their new blasphemous doctrine joseph of Aramatheus before him was a stranger thereunto. And since this Island first converted was from Pagan Atheism, it never stood so dignified by the true profession of a sound religion as now it did, by the instrumental means of heavens Elizabeth: And when this glorious England seemed to fear if self being mourner-like wrapped up in sable blackness, and timorous minds speaking to themselves that their best days were passed, and dangerous times were near at hand, the silly Lambs that feared the tyranny of the Roman Wolf, wept in their thoughts, and did this question ask: Where shall we sing our songs of Sionnow: The wolves they met in flocks together, hoping that their long ed for time was come, when they again should glut themselves with blood, the rich did fear to lose their wealth, the poor did fear to lose their lives, the vilder sort did hope to live up on their country's spoil. And when this cloud of danger had brought itself even unto the strength of his supposed combustion, then as a vapour into air dissolved were all the meteors that did seem prodegious for the living mistress of our happiness, Our late Qu● did in the time of her sickness bequeath her crown unto our now king, affirming it (as in in deed it is) his proper right. did in her life time bequeath her crown to him whose right it was, and when her soul was unto heaven ascended, forth with heavens God, into the mouth of England's nobles put, the name of him who by their Queen was named to be their sovereign, and they together with united love, did unto England's commons strait praclaim that great King james was made their lawful king, Then England did unto herself retain, the vigour of her former strength, and the beauty of her glory was presently sequestered from all occasions that might diminish, extinguish or in the least sort eclipse the Sunshine of her precedent dignity, never was a land to God more bound than England is for this abundant mercy, who hath unto us raised a King, not only heir unto Eliza's Crown, but also an inheritor of all those gracious virtues wherewith her righteous soul is crowned. And now my sovereign Lord from saint Elisa to your godly self descended is her kingdom's government, and all the Saints on earth, within the limits of your large and spacious confines, do humbly wait upon the assurance of your blessed hope. And for your royal hand hath manifested that your princely heart obeyeth the precepts of heavens written word: what should I say, but certainly resolve your royal self, descending from a race of Kings, and from that mighty King, whose everconquering arm, at first did break the head of Rome's usurpde authority, that now the mighty God of heaven, whose wrath hath always threatened the destruction of that Babylonian Whore, hath raised up your regal Majesty to break the neck and back of that soul devouring beast: Revel. cap, 12. ver. 8. 9 so as the Dragon, and his Angels shall no longer rule in Christendom, nor shall the nations of the earth continue to be deceived with the infectious Locusts of their lies and heresies, but his kingdom shall be razed to the earth, and the world shall wonder at his destructions, overthrow (sure I am) this truth must come to pass before the second coming of the king Christ jesus, since whose being upon the earth, until this present time, there never was a true believing king (removed from the Pope's authority, and yielding to the government of Christ) that was of so absolute a power, to bring to pass, the prophecies against the City of Rome, as is your majesty undoubtedly, my sovereign Lord, this relying age is leaning to the latter end of time, and all the signs forerunniug the day of judgement, have put themselves into a perfect view, the revolution of the heavens, being so shaken as that the planets are removed from their wont stations, one having stepped into an others place, and this massy globe of earth, hath oft with fearful earthquakes trembled, the seventh and last Angel in the Revelation specified, hath (as it well was calculated by a reverend and learned minister in your Scotland's kingdom) been sounding the last general summons for this already fifty five years past: Reue, 11. ver. 9 and time itself hath almost brought his course unto a whole united period, whereby is threatened more than ordinary change. And at this present your kingly self, having as it were by miracle been until this time preserved, and now being created Gods great Lieutenant upon earth, and the only warrior and chief Champion for his jesus Christ, why should not every Christian soldier then resolve that your magnanimous spirit, and glorious race from you proceeding, shall be the guard unto the Church of God, & bring confusion upon all her enemies. For as from the root of righteous jesse did proceed the lineal race whence Christ himself descended: so unto me it seemeth that heavens eternal King in his secret wisdom, knowing the world is measured with a little length, hath raised you up (most mighty Prince) that from your righteous self might spring a glorious rank of godly and religious Kings, and Queens, that might unto the Nations of the earth, maintain the glory of his heavenly name, until himself shall in the Clouds appear, and summon all the world unto a general judgement. World's peerless Prince, and my renowned Sovereign, the consideration of these things before described, have compassed me within a heaven of joy. And though I am the unwoorthiest of many thousands that in your England lives, and far unfit to undertake this weighty business, having been always trained up in the exercise of Arms, yet for I know there is nothing dignifieth a soldiers sword so much, as well to understand the justice of the cause for which he fights, I have in the hope of your majesties acceptance, adventured to make this little work, the armour of a Christian Soldiers Resolution, and do resolve for God, and for his truth, in life and death, to vow myself a faithful servant to you my sovereign Lord: the earth's most godly and chief Christian king. And so much the more have I tasked my weak and shallow understanding muse, to this performance, because I must confess unto your Majesty; that in a zealous loves affection to your highness, I have before this time adventured to let a little Pamphlet, A book entitled, A Soldiers wish unto his Sovereign Lord King james. pass unto a public view, which hath drawn unto itself, a partial judgement from some opinions, as I think, not worthy any great respect, for by the idleness of their invective words, they seem to prove, that I deserved blame, because I dealt so roundly with the sea of Rome, which vain imagination found some show of cause to ground itself upon, the present times incertainty, seeming as if they desired to make a doubt, The Papists desire to make a doubt of the certain continuance of our religion in the form which now it doth. whether Religion should stand in that same form, which now it doth or whither it should be brought unto a more near affinity with Gehenna, the Antichristian church of Rome. When this I heard, I could not choose, my sovereign Lord, but second that my foregoing work, with this my named Resolution: For when I with myself considered how Rome was figured by your own description, and saw with what fervency of spirit your divine and sanctified heart did oppose itself against that worlds disceiving, irreligious, pernicious, blasphemous monstrous Pope; I could not but in my soul resolve with a soldiers Resolution, to follow your kingly Majesty in your virtues steps, and not to suffer a little Monkish Mole hill heap of tongues, that rides upon the skirt of Peevish Popery, to derogate from your kingly name, the glory due unto the honour of your faiths profession, nor suffer that the godly people in your land (whose hearts prepareth, as befitteth loyal, faithful and obedient Subjects, to bid your highness welcome to your kingdoms Crown) that the joy which they conceive in the excellency of your great Majesty should be eclipsed by the instigation of any secret Papistical objected doubt, The doctrine of Rome and Spain poisoneth both body and souls, but helpeth neither. what should let my resolution to speak plainly to my King, whole Highness knoweth what drudges are sent from Rome, and therefore will not take Physic for his soul from their empoisoned projected potions. Boniface 3. by the leave of Phocas the foolish Emperor, did first write himself papa, and then presently begun the ruin of the Church, the full effect whereof was concluded by Adrian. since whose time as saith planlina in the life of pope's, there was never any Emperor of might, nor pope of any virtue. The Chronicles with innumerable Tragic scenes, have made description of the Roman regiment, showing to the world, that not any king nor Queen, nor Prince in Christendom, that ever did displease that proud usurping Bishop, since he ruled alone, and gained unto himself, the name of Papa; but they were all of them either poisoned, murdered, or otherwise betrayed, or their lands invaded, or their Subjects moved to rebellion, or many times nearly brought in danger of those evils, either by Monks, Friars, Jesuits, Seminaries, or some other villainous minded slaves, sent from the Pope's devilishness (but misnamed Holiness, to put in execution those three damned purposes, Bohemia, Lombardy, Germany, France, & bleeding Belgia have bought their to true experience, with a dear and bloody prize. And though that Spain be Rome's chief Champion, yet king Philip's eldest son, even in his Father's sight, must bleed to death, when he displeased the Pope: England hath had a hard experience of his Tyranny, and in the days of Queen Elizabeth, the multiplisity of traitorous plots laid against her life, all wrought by Rome's confederates, were to long to specify: and for your scotland's Kingdom, (Mighty Sovereign) neither your royal person, nor your public state, have stood exempt from their most wild attempts: and assuredly (my Sovereign Lord, no other than such like stratagems are to be expected from their hands who by their oaths have sworn and vowed allegiance to the Sea of Rome; yet among them, but not of them, Some seem as if they were papists, but indeed are not. is there some, that gives themselves unto the use of ceremonial customs, first brought in by Rome and yet no doubt they see the hellish evils that springs from thence: but what they do, is done for fashion, & for custom sake, and peradventure with some religious observation, yet in their hearts I verily believe they hate the proudness of the Pope's supremacy, and grieves to see the Villainies wrought by his Workmanship, and such as these I think are nothing dangerous, for I have observed in them a due obedience to your England's laws: but for the former sort, your Majesty knoweth, the danger of their evil effects, for be they but once reconciled to the Pope, so as they dare not like loving and obedient Subjects, What manner of Subjects, papists were unto the Queen, & now what hope there is of them. take their oath to your supremacy; it cannot be but their intentions must be dangerous, they cannot in their hearts endure to be your subjects, but as they lately were her Majesties, in continual hope of change, nor do I wonder at their minds in this, for their subjection hath vowed itself an other way, and upon the pain of deadly sin, their consciences are tied unto the laws of Antichrist, & they are taught by the doctrine of Rome, & Roman dispensations, to suppose, that unto you belongeth no obedience; then unto them I am sure there belongs no trust: The Schools of Rome and Spain, are the nurseries of treason. And for the scholars, that the schools of Rome & Spain brings up, your kingly self and all your kingdoms, have by an often taught experience learned the true understanding of their traitorous documents: Jesuits, Seminaries, and Popish Priests, I do resolve, will never be thought to love your Majesty, nor can they at any time deceive your Highness, when they are at no time trusted, & surely no trust to them belongeth, that are the empoisoned branches, sprung from the venomous head of earths corruption. And because I would not have the Papists think, I speak by guess, but want authority whereon to ground myself, I have to that end set down some of the dangerous decrees made by the laws of their misbelieving church, for the Pope to establish his devilish authority hath thus decreed. First, Dist 40, etsi papa, 9 q. 6. ea cuncta. that no man may judge the Pope, nor give sentence about his judgement, for he is to judge all men upon earth. 2 That the seat of Rome, 30 q. 1 Cap. giveth strength & might unto all laws, but it is subject to none. 3 That he hath authority to break all oaths, In 6. lib. 2. de sen. bonds, and obligations made betwixt any man of high or low degree. 4 That he hath power to interpret, 26. q. cap. Quovenc. declare and lay forth the holy scriptures, according to his own will, and to suffer no man to expound it contrary to his own pleasure. 5 That he is a God upon earth, In. 6. lib. de sent. Apostelatus in verb continetur. over all heavenly, earthly, ghostly and worldly, and no man may say unto him, what dost thou. 6 That he hath authority to dissolve subjects from their obedience to their Lords and Princes, In 6. lib. 2. de sen. and that he hath power to depose kings. King Herold exiled Robert Archbishop of Canter. Ro. got him to William D of Norm. Pope Alexander to he revenged of King Herold, sent unto duke W. a banner to go and conquer England, and clean remission of sins both a pena & a culpa, to all that would follow the banncr, & by this means was England the last time conquered. 7 That he may give clean remission unto whom he will, both a pena, & a culpa, & he whom he forgiveth must needs be the child of salvation: for he hath absolute power to bind & to lose upon earth, and saith he, the holy Church hath so determined and the force thereof (as faith his lying blasphemy) is greater than the canonical scriptures. From the authority of these laws doth this effect proceed, that so soon as any Prince displeafeth Rome, he is presently by the pope cursed, excommunicated & proclaimed no right inheritor, & that it is not lawful for to hold of him, his subjects are absolved from their true allegiance & blessings, with clean remission of sins sent to all those that will invade, spoil, or conquer the land of any kingdom or Prince, with whom the Pope shall be displeased, And the better to effect these his often performed deeds of charity, he sendeth his leaden Bulls, unto whom he listeth, thereby giving authority unto subjects, to resist their kings; and lustily to take up arms against them, when by the Pope they shall be commanded. Their oaths for their allegiance are dispensed with, so as although a subject betray, murder, or by any means kill his lawful Prince, Perpetual malses appointed to be sung in Swim fted Abbey for the Monk which poisoned king john. So is it now in Rome for him which slew the Prince of Orringe, & for the Friar which killed the French King. and Gods anointed king, yet shall not their accounted very honest executioner, be adjudged a traitor, but rather a holy man, for that he hath done, it on the Pope's behalf, and in that respect, his act shall be registered for a heaven purchasing meritorious deed, and after the death of such a one, there shall be divers misnamed holy, but unhallowed Masses, sung by a company of black, white, grey, and piebald asses, for the redeeming of his soul, out of their fools invented purgatory. And although this monstrous evil be against all laws of God, and godly men, yet doth the brazen, impudent, & shameless pope, with all the multitude of his massemonging shavelings, strive to maintain the lawfulness thereof, against the written word of the eternal law of God: affirming that on earth, all power is given unto him, & that his seat is established by general counsels (which as he saith cannot err: Declectio et Significatio, Panormitanus saith that counsels may err, as they have done inter raptorem et raptam Hierom, 39 q. 2. tria: doth affirm as much and August. de bap. lib. 2. ch 3. contra Donatistas'. ) And therefore what the Pope decreeth, must stand of force against all authorities, for saith his law, * Dist. 19 51. Ro. er enim vero et nulli facit cap. 5. omnes. What the Sea of Rome doth decrce, must needs be allowed: And what she reproveth, must be of no strength: For so must the decrees of the Sea of Rome be accepted, as if they were spoken by the godly mouth of Peter himself. And the more to approve his presumptuious blasphemy, the Pope hath provided that himself may be avillaine, both to God and men; and yet himself not to be found fault with. For, saith his law, Distinction the 40. Who doubteth but the Pope is holy, the which is exalted unto so great a dignity, in whom though good works of his own merits be wanting, yet were those good works sufficient, which were done by his predecessors. And therefore hath his law, in the place before recited, thus decreed, that though the Pope sin never so grievously, and draw with him to hell, by his example, thousands innumerable: yet let no man be so hardy to rebuke him: For he is head over all, and none over him. And by this usurped authority, is that 7. headed beast, approved the very open and revealed Antichrist, of our time, who by the treacherous and devilish authority of his Antichristian law, hath given unto himself a power, to set up and at his pleasure to cast down kings, Pope. Celestinus. 4 crowned the Emperor Henricus 6. with his sect. and with his fowl ungodly hell-path treading feet, to set the Crown upon an Emperor's head, and upon an emperors neck to tread, when he displeaseth him: And unto such a base subjection hath he brought the mighty Princes of the earth as that they think it no small honour, to kiss the stinking feet of that inhuman monster. A true descrip- of Rome, as is declared in the Revela, ch. 17. This is the rich and wealthy whore, bedecked with jewels and ornaments of gola: Whose Scarlet robes, are died in Christians blood: Whose variable garments, betokens divers liveries of religious orders: Holding in her hand, a cup full of abominations: the Pope's decrees, Bulls, dispensations, suspensations, and cursings: And the beast she sitteth upon, is the papal sea of Rome: And with this whore the nations of the earth have committed filthiness. But now sith that the the light from darkness is distinguished by the glorious ministry of salvations Gospel, and that Rome's Idolatrous whore doom, is made known unto the world. Oh that any Prince should desire to contaminate his soul with her uncleanness, or endure to rest himself in the serpentike bosom of such dangerous wickedness. But Rome thy patched up Iron legs are broken, and like a halting cripple, thou standest reeling in thy weakened strength: Thy nakedness is made a public scorn, and but a very few (to what had wont to be) are left to stand on thy pernicious part: Thou mayst perceive how God doth by degrees r●●e down the kingdom of thy Satan's Synagogue. I will not labour to advertise thee, Fury, wrath, and indignation is thy portion, thou art thrown out unto a fierce & strong destruction. And in thy day till which it is not long, thou shalt not find any means for to prevent the fearful stroke of thy all confounding judgement, unto which I leave thee: be thou an heir unto thy prepared inheritance. This truth described, I know my Lord and king, is rightly known unto your Majesty, yourself have drawn the portraiture, of Rome's Antichristian beast, and laid him open in his full description. And in your Scotland's kingdom, all the time of your most blessed government, having once grown past the years of your minority: your highness, did religiously maintain a reverent, learned, wise, and godly ministry, whose labour was to cast Rome's Kingdom down, and in true form, for to erect and govern the house of God, and Church of jesus Christ. And should I be so wild to think, The Author's Resolution doth in this place resolve upon sufficient reason that the King hath no affection unto papists. that now your Majesty would let a Tyrant loose, or lend an ear to hells enchanting charms, or please to love, or in weighty cause, to trust the dangerous Imps, by oath ingraft into the Roman stock, whose hearts hath vowed allegiance to the Sea of Rome, by whose wild laws, a seeming just authority is given, to execute the deeds of villainy, and under pretext whereof, so many have been made approved villains, thrusting themselves into the speedy execution of bloody treacherous strange inhuman stratagems, accounting as if in them they had performed honest & Christian like meritorious deeds: Or that your Majesty would suffer a popish toleration, to bring forth thorns, whose points will turn themselves against your life, and strive to work your kingdoms overthrow. No, no, my sovereign, my Resolution shall in life and death, resolve that your Kingly Majesty, hath not a thought, that bends itself to such little purposes: Your highness hath already joined unto your Majesty, a company of honourable, valiant, grave, prudent, wise, godly, and religious counsellors: whose foreseeing providence, in the time of our late Queen, and ever renowned Elizabeth, did at all times worthily prevent the evil effecting policies of Rome. And when of late the house of Dagon, was in itself divided: Secular Priests and Jesuits, being each to other, The Church of Rome is in itself divided, secular priests and sesuits being at a desperate variance. in apparent opposition, the Priests by printed Pamphlets, proved that the Jesuits were the Arch Traitors of the world: and that by them were complotted all the treasons, against the Majesty of our late Queen: The Priests thinking by this their accusation, to gain unto themselves a favourable opinion, and by that means, The reason why the priests did accuse the Jesuits and what their labour did unto them procure. in time to win the minds of men unto their love: then presently the wisdom of our Queen, with those your now honoured Councillors, perceiving both sorts to be no less, then dangerous Traitors to the public state: did forthwith requite their cunning, with proclaimed banishment, annexing thereunto the penalty of death to be inflicted upon all those that by their wilful staying, should exceed the time limited in the Proclamation. And should I think your Majesty would not now command the performance of the self-same course, against those, who by their continual practices, have always sought the utter ruing of the house of God, the murdering of Gods anointed, and the subversion of all your kingdoms: In this for to resolve the doubts of men too timorous, thus much assuredly, my Resolution knows, that the observation your kingly self have made of Rome's performed treacherous tyrannous and tragic massacres, will give warning to your Majesty, with prudent wisdom, to prevent their mischiefs, and were they not altogether in their vain expectations, merely reasonless: I wonder what show of hope, could give occasion to suspect that now the rain of justice, which did govern them, should be let slip, and they turned loose unto a dangerous liberty, The name of iudifferenttolleration could not be endured in the days of Qu. Elizabeth. when in the time of our late Queen, the smooth coined name of indifferent toleration, was always counted in itself to hold a threatened desolation to the public state. And from time to time the Lords and Peers of England assembled in high court of Parliament, did with one consent join with our Sovereign, to enact those laws and Statutes, which always did suppress the least raised up show of an Antichristian head: And when they were thus confronted by a Maiden Queen, and such course taken during the happy time of a woman's government, upon whose Sex a small persuasion is said to work with an accounted greatest force, and yet in all those times they could never bring to pass the effecting of the least material substance upon the gound, The papists in the time of our late Qu. were always overthrown in the least occasion of their hope. whereof their weakest hopes were flattered, and yet now a swarm of drones, which desires to live upon the spoil of the labouring bees sweet hive, flies bussing up and down, and sends a whispering noise unto the ears of men, and tells that now they hope the time of their deliverance draweth near, and that forsooth they shall be smiled upon with gracious favour, and their long (as they say) continued hard restraint shall now be pitied, The hope of the papists, & the effects thereof. and that their (supposed holy) but unhallowed patched together seamerent sacraments, shall be quietly amongst themselves administered: for either an alteration (which desires freely to feed upon the food of blasphemy, and fat itself with this lands confusion) or a toleration secretly bending itself to such like purposes, shall now, say they, assuredly be accomplished. But as the mighty God of heaven doth in derision laugh their hopes to scorn, The God of heaven & our godly king on earth, do despise the secret imaginations of the Papists. 1. Sam. chap. 15. ver. 32. 33. so doth the great King james, England's God on earth, in the privacy of his meditation smile, to see a rabblement, of traitorous minds and soul devouring murderers, expect to reap kind favours from his kingly hand, but so fare they all, as did Agag, at the hands of Samuel, who came smile forth in the expectation of his supposed liberty. So shall it be unto them all, my Sovereign Lord, for my Christian Resolution tells my soul, that your Highness is in the zeal of your faithful thoughts resolved, never in the least sort to lean unto their wild profession. And against the adversaries of God and of his Christ, The sword of justice cannot take to strike a course againgst the enemy, of God. the sword of justice, cannot take too strict a course that valiant joshua the first, & worthiest Worthy, stood always cleared from a tyrant's name, although his powerful arm did ever execute a strong austere severity upon the heads & hearts of them, that were the foes to God and to his truth, the sword of joshua in a glorious battle offered up a pleasing sacrifice unto the eye of heaven, the sight whereof so pleased the heavens Creator, that he gave power unto joshua's tongue, that by his word he did command the Sun against the nature of her fiery swiftest course to stand and give him light, till he had slain his enemies, five mighty kings he trampled under foot, & was loath to leave the smallest remnant of their seed. Your Majesty may still be merciful, as late our Queen Eliza was, Parsons and Sanders, on the behalf of the Papists have in their printed books affirmed that ourlate Queen was a cruel tyrant, & they affirm that Q Mary was more merciful to the protestants, then E. unto their named Catholics. and for your labour reap her recompense from those your enemies, unto whom your mercy chiefly doth extend itself: Her Majesty was by the Papists in printed books accounted far more tyrannous, then was Dioclesian, or that murdering Nero: Parsons and Sanders in their traitorous libels, did liberally affirm so much: And I know a Papist, ye alive in England, that did verify unto my face, that Queen Mary was far more merciful unto the Protestants, during her reign, than was Elizabeth unto the Catholics, what thanks your gracious lenity shall reap from such like minded men: Your Majesty can with best commended wisdom judge: how they affect the right of your succession, their Dolmans' Book doth plainly specify, in which with cunning shows, strange derived pedigrees, & uprearde mountaine-lyes, they have entitled the Infant of Spain to your inheritance, The Papists have entitled the infant of Spain unto the crown: of England. and strived with a devils invented policy to dispossess your Majesty of your lawful right; this course they took before you were their king, and since that time, as by a truth which myself revealed unto the Lords of your most Honourable Privy Council, it seemeth that your England's Papists have amongst themselves adventured to calculate the number of your days on earth, The secret intention of the Papists is merely treacherous both unto the king and public state. if your Highness shall deny to grant one of the two before described dangerous extremes, which are either alteration or toleration in religion: so as what loyalty is to be expected from their hands, more than by constraint, your Majesty may directly judge. And therefore because I know the remnant of these Roman Moabites, will be the continual sowers of seditious seed, and dangerous disturbers of your England's public weal▪ I could be content to wish for God's glory, my country's good, the safety of your royal self, and security of all your princely progeny: that the whole pack of Papists were sent unto their Holy father the Pope, that they even in his City Rome might stand together under the safe protection of the Pope's abominable blessing, mean while during their stay, if so they dare but once begin to stir, I doubt not, but all the arguments wherewith they finely use to plead, will bring themselves to be divided into five several parts, which division will in England work Rome's dissolution, and in time I hope the gates of Rome will all be rampired up, so as we shall no more be troubled with his straggling runagates, but that the Pope shall be enforced to live within himself, and only take the profit that his town allows, his contributory whores can pay him 30. thousand pounds a year, and no doubt he hath many other such like honest helps. Assuredly, the times will shortly come, when all the true religious kings in Christendom will join together, and fire his sink of sin about his ears. And thus my sovereign Lord with further joyful hope, then is as yet revealed by me: unto the unstained beauty of your princely Majesty, my resolution humbly brings itself, and though perhaps the Devil will shortly roar, and send abroad his instruments to hold his kingdom up. Yet most puissant and valuorous minded Prince, I know your kingly heart being endued, as it is, with true prows, and perfect fortitude, can not endure the operation of timorous effects, but your kingly wisdom will prudently prevent all the occasions, whence those monsters are begotten▪ stand fast therefore & God from heaven will give unto your majesty a powerful & uncontrolled strength. And by the best commended ordinary means, the better to protect your safety, I make no doubt, but your highness shallbe continually attended with honourable, valiant, wise, & faithful gentlemen, whose loyal hearts will carefully defend the safety of your royal person: & sure I am, the subjects of your kingdom generally, All well affected people do rejoice in the establishing of our now renowned king. unless some few scattered companies of Roman stragglers, do in their souls rejoice that God hath raised your royal virtuous self to be their righteous king: millions of thousands in your England lives, whose spirits by the instinct of nature gives themselves to love the lawful exercise of Arms, & they with joyful willingness, will wait upon the summons of their kings command, and spend their lives, their lands, their goods in the performance of faithful and obedient service: your England hath for these many years observed the manner of your neighbour bordering kingdoms government: & with what prudent wisdom your majesty did protect the safety of your land, the continued true report of your renowned virtues fed your England's people with delightful joy, and to their hearts it did a comfort give, when as they thought upon that blessed hope, which built itself upon the well known right of your succession, & though in christian policy. A public note was taken from the vulgar view, yet all the world may witness that our late Queenerenownde Elizabeth, did with her Lords and honoured counsellors long ago decree to yield unto your Majesty, the proper right of your inheritance, and that the people of your kingdom did expect no less, was certainly approved by that joyful & general applause, whichal your England's subjects gave, when as they heard king james proclaimed to be their Sovereign. And now (most mighty Prince) sith that in despite of Rome, the God of heaven hath established your name on earth, and made you greater than ever yet was any Christian king, and hath in peace confirmed the regal seat of your imperial throne, I make no doubt but your Majesty, with a Christian constancy, and religious care, will confirm the strength thereof, by the invisible force of a prudent, wise & godly government, which doth unto two special points direct itself, The well ordering of divine things is chiefly to be respected in a kingdoms government. which is unto the well ordering of divine and human things, wherein the obedience unto God belonging, doth challenge to itself a title Capital, the celestial dignity whereof, is first before all other things in the chiefest place to be preferred. Divine regiment doth therefore take unto itself the matter of Religion only, and the ordinances to be used in the church; which in the time of the Law, were commanded by God himself unto his servant Moses, and he by the appointment of God, committed the principal charge thereof unto Aaron, and his sons, and the tribe of Levi: but now in the time of the Gospel, they were taught and commanded by jesus Christ himself, and by him left unto his Apostles: and from them the principal charge thereof is committed unto the Bishops and Pastors of the Church. And as in the time of the Law, Aaron though he were the high Priest un to God, yet was he subject unto Moses unto whom was reserved the supremacy of kingly honour: for he was unto Aaron in the stead of God. Exod. 4. ver. 6. Aaron though he were the high priest unto God, and had chief authority in divine things, yet was not he the king, Prince, or supreme Magistrate over the people of God, but that supremacy of kingly honour, was given unto Moses, who was unto Aaron in the stead of God, and therefore next under God. Aaron and his sons were accounted subjects unto Moses. So in the time of the Gospel, though Bishops and Pastors have the chief authority to deal with the administration of divine and holy things, yet they, nor any of them are the kings, princes, or supreme Magistrates over the people of God, and Church of jesus Christ. But that supremacy of kingly honour is given unto Kings, and Princes in their sevarall kingdoms, who are unto Bishops and Pastors, in the stead of God. And therefore all Bishops and Pastors, are to be accounted subjects unto their several Kings and Princes. And as Moses in the divine ordinances concerning the law of God, Kings & princes in cause divine, should not command unto their subjects things contrary unto the word of God. did command nothing unto Aaron, and the tribe of Levi; but that he had expressly received from the mouth of God. So Kings and Princes in the divine ordinance of the Gospel of jesus Christ, are not to command unto their Bishops and Pastors, any other thing than can be expressly warranted by the doctrine of Christ himself, or his Apostles: Lastly▪ as in the time of the Law; the Kings and Princes of Israel, and their Priests, and levites, did bring on them and their posterity, Disobedience unto the word of God bringeth confusion upon prince and people. the eternal curse of God, when they fled from the obedience of the Law, written by Moses in the old testament of God. Even so in the time of Gospel, shall Kings & Princes with their Bishops & Pastors bring upon themselves & their posterity the eternal curse of God, when they shall fly from the obedience of the Gospel written by the Apostles and Evangelifts, and left unto us in the new Testament of jesus Christ, in which is contained the freedom, liberty, and justification of our best esteemed, and most blessed peace. And from the obedience thereunto, The peace of England's happinnesse hath been continued by the ministry of the Gospel. hath proceeded the long continuance of England's peaceful quietness: and by the means thereof (most mighty sovereign) your royal person, and your Scotland's kingdom (from every threatened danger) have until this time most safely been preserved. And for from hence must spring the firm continuance of your royal state, and kingdoms blessedness, your righteous soul, no doubt, will most desire that things divine be chiefly looked unto. and because there never was a church so rightly ordered, Kings & princes in their several kingdoms have authority to reform those things that are amiss in the Church of God. but that some errors were therein remaining, the reformation whereof did belong unto the kings, unto whose charge the government thereof in their several kingdoms was principally committed, it now therefore remaineth evident, that your religious understanding, wise, divine, and sanctified heart will in the beginning of your most happy reign, look first amidst your England's kingdom with godly care to beautify the Spouses of jesus Christ. My Sovereign Lord, I doubt not, but your highness will be pleased to observe the order given unto your princely son the happy comfort of your England's hope, and account it for your greatest honour, to see the Church of God well governed. I am a soldier (my most mighty king) and my duty is (when just cause requires) to fight for God and for his Church, and for you my sovereign, next under God, within the compass of your kingdoms confines, the only supreme head and governor. Be then (most mighty Prince) under your captain Christ, a glorious instrument, as to that end you were ordained, Salomon's song. ca 6. ver. 10. 11. and above all things chiefly see his Church to be well ordered. O then let your Majesty vouchsafe with Solomon, To walk down into the Garden of Nuts, The Synagogues & congregations in England, and see the fruit of the valley, see if the Vine buddeth, and look if the Pomegranates flourish. Behold what profit hath proceeded from the doctrine of the Law & the Prophets, and in many Congregations see nothing that your highness can take knowledge of, but only ignorance, disobedience, and rebellion. The fearful danger of whose desperate estate is principally occasioned, by the want of Pastors, able to teach them to understand that peace in whom the law and the Prophets is fulfilled, and then from the love of those ungodly guides, which taketh up the place bequeathed to better men: let your divine and heavenly soul, as swiftly fly as did the Princes of Solomon in their Chariots, and them removing, command that in their place be set the silver-sounding voice of godly, reverend, learned, wise and preaching Ministers, who by the power of their ministery, may cause the true understanding of the peace of jesus Christ, to show itself unto the ignorant people of your land;, and that the only light procuring beams of the most glorious Gospel, may with a sweet reflection beautifully shine, and goldlike richly gild all your poor and desolate, dark, and desert towns and villages, that thereby all your English people may with joy behold the beauty of Zion, and glory of jerusalem, shining in the Church. This defect in England's ministry hath long go been seen, but not amended: and our late godly Queen was in her time a stranger unto this corruption, & that which in the Church did chiefly hold, the too long continuance of some things amiss, was the word Improprio, from whence Impropriations were derived, Improptiations are the hindrance of a learned ministry. which were they back returned unto their proper form, your Majesty should quickly see a glorious Ministry, and till in this point reformation be, that men of godly knowledge and honest life may go before the flock, unto their charge committed, and by example teach the true performance of a Christian doctrine, your England's people will neglect the duties due unto their faith's profession. For though I know good works can claim no merit: Faith doth only justify before God, but good works doth justify our faith before men. yet as faith only doth justify us before the God of heaven: so good works should serve to justify the soundness of our faith on earth, against all tongues that would desire to frame objections against the purity thereof. And undoubtedly (most mighty Sovereign) in your England there is nothing of more strength, that gives a powerful liberty unto the exercises of sin, than the wild example of ungodly Ministers. Begin therefore (most mighty Prince) at the first with them, and purge the Sanctuary, let it please your highness not to suffer profane and irreligious men in the place of Ministers, to have to deal with the administration of divine and holy things, nor once with their unclean hands to touch the seals and Sacraments of our salvation. For indeed they are no other than worm-eaten trees; jude. v. 12. 13. Isa. 56. v. 10. 11 Eze. cap. 13. 4. jer. c. 23. v. 1. 2 clouds without rain, dumb dogs, foxes, wolves, deceivers, & destroyers, which have thrust themselves into the church by some unlawful means: their own consciences can bear them witness that in them their resteth no sufficient power to teach the church the way unto the bridegrooms love: for they rather make divorcement betwixt the bridegroom & his spouse, they have no right, no understanding, no knowledge, nor wisdoms skill, to marry them together in the unity of peace, themselves are of all others merely strangers thereunto, they are in deed the ungodly number of those intrusive flocks, which proudly and unjustly have made themselves to seem, as if they were the bride's companions, but did the Church arightly know them as they are, she would not then of them inquire the way which leads unto the place where her souls beloved feedeth, nor would she endure any longer to be led, by their deceiving, dissembling, and destroying, painted ignorance, she would not assuredly be as one that turns herself aside unto the wickedness of their ungodly company. A description of ungodly▪ ministers But whither am I led with such like words as these, to speak against their gross impieties. Strange thing it is, that such should be the watchmen in the house of God, that better knoweth what an Alehouse meaneth, and more delighteth to watch whole nights at dice and cards, then to spend one hour in the study of divine and heavenly things, a pair of true running bowls, are more esteemed with them, than all those truth teaching books, which should be the weapons for men of their profession, Come honest neighbours, and my good friends (in such like words consisteth all the smoothness of their eloquence) Let us in a merry humour go drink half a dozen pots of Bear (this is the pith of their persuasion) at the sign of the Cock, or some other place directly known unto them: There is say they▪ as good heart-warming liquor as a man would desire to drink (and in this is comprehended the whole argument of their divinity. Whereupon being once at their place appointed together met, they set them down and fall to reasoning, and all their bare-barly proofs, being brought in pots, they use of them so many, that at last growing all together reasonless, they are plainly overthrown in the dust, by the force of their own argument: in as modest order as I can (most mighty sovereign) I have described the manner of their immodest brutishness, I will forbear to speak of worse uncleanness done by many of them. But it would make a Christian heart to rend itself with grief in the consideration of that injurious wrong, which is done by them unto the church of god: but now in the love your Majesty beareth unto jesus Christ, let them all be turned out that they may learn to use their several occupations, & find some means to live without feeding upon the souls of men. For my own part (mighty sovereign) I affect not Brown, The author doth profess himself to be no Brownest. Barrow, Penry, nor the schisms by them invented, I am a Protestant pro Deostans, and do in my heart accord unto your England's government, by our late godly Queen established, and do account that the reverend Bishops in your land, are worthy instruments for the glory of God, and benefit of his Church, so far forth as they will with a religious care strive in their places to beautify the Spouse of Christ, by a conscionable and religious government, to which end they are undoubtedly ordained, and there authorities approved lawful: for the Apostle Peter which commandeth that men of their calling should not rule as Lords over God's heritage, 1. Pet. ca 5. v. 3. doth not say, neither shall you accept of any such titles, nor endure to be called Lords over the flock of Christ, no though the Church of God shall in the love and reverence that they bear unto you for their master's sake, call you their Lords, their governors and teachers in divine and heavenly things. Surely out of the Apostle Peter's words, to me appeareth no such kind of doctrine. For I have reason to resolve, that the Apostle could not teach it to be a thing unlawful for himself, or any other of the apostles or minister after them, to receive living or honour at their hands, unto whom they should administer in the Lord. For the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the corinth. and 9 chapter, doth plainly approve the lawfulness thereof. And howsoever he did forbear to exercise his power for the good of the Church, then being in her infant age, yet notwithstanding it appeareth evidently, that he left that liberty of power to be used in the Church. And therefore, if the Bishops since the time of the Apostles, have by their lawful liberty of power, whereof Paul speaketh, received as given unto them by the Church, Oecumenius in. t. a. Tim. cap. 1. 2. idem in 4. unto whom they administered greater titles, riches and honour, than T. & Titus had (who were the * 5. Pri matii praefatio in 1. ad Tit. Bishops in the primitive Church, of which sort there must be a continual succession, 1. Tim. 6. 14▪ S. Ambrose in 1. ad Tim. c. 3. even until the coming of the Lord jesus, yet notwithstanding, if the Bishops now do execute no other office, and that in no other sort than Timothy and Titus did, than their titles, riches and honours being but external things lawfully given, and lawfully received do, not prejudice the worthiness of their calling. And about this the members of the church of God ought not to contend. That the members of the church should not contend about the titles of bishops For it is the zealous▪ godly, & religious care in the execution of their office, which doth only dignify the approbation of their calling. And if they fail in the performance of those godly duties to their place belonging, then in the abuse of their titles, riches, and honours, the fault consisteth. And whereas many in these our times do take offence against the names, titles, wealths, and honours, which our Bishops have on them bestowed, thinking that all such things at first proceeded from the Pope of Rome, they are therein deceived: for since the time that christian Emperors, kings, & Queens became the nursing fathers and mothers of the Church, both titles, riches, and honours, were by them bestowed upon the Bishops in the Church who were notwithstanding obedient subjects unto their Emperors, Kings and Queens, and were approved glorious ministers of the Gospel of Christ jesus, and all this was done before the Bishop of Rome did make himself the beast of Rome, which now he is, by usurping unto himself the sole authority over all the kingdoms in Christian doom: The manner how and cause why the Pope refused to be ruled by the word of God. Since which time, both the Pope himself and all the Bishops under his Antichristian sea, have fled from the approved authority of Timothy and Titus, in not being desirous to administer unto the church, but like tyrannical Lords to rule and over rule the same, and by their overruling utterly to overthrow the church, by extinguishing the purity of that light, which shined in the same, placing in stead thereof the traditions of men, by their approbation of unwritten verities. And thus being desirous to raise themselves unto a higher height, then unto them was limited, they lest to seek the glory of God, & only sought by perverting the Scriptures, to glorify themselves above all the kingdoms of the earth, and by this his pride, the Pope hath made himself to be the open & revealed Antichrist, as is before described. But now my hope is, that not any will continue to contend about the estate of Bishops as now they stand, sith by their lawful liberty of power, they may receive dignities, on them bestowed by those unto whom they administer, which example was observed by many christian Emperors, & kings, & many holy and reverent Bishops, long before the Pope was known to be that devil, which now he is. And therefore let not any so contend about these things as if they thought the abuse of the Antichristian sea could extinguish or race out the lawful liberty of power, Eusebeus lib. 7 cap 3▪ he deriveth the successions of Bishops in the 4. principal churches of the world. jerusalem, Antioch, Rome, & Alexandria, from the Apostles age, unto the counsel of Nice. A. 320 which was by the Apostles of jesus Christ, left unto the godly Bishops in the church. This may it please your Majesty, I have adventured to speak because I know some few unlearned people in your land do desire to strive to much in this contention. And though the authority of bishops be approved lawful, yet all within the compass of your highness kingdoms, are your subjects, and in their hearts no doubt they unfeignedly desire to be so, and do in their souls rejoice because they are so: and your Majesty shall find them reverent, godly, wife & learned men: yet if there be negligent defects in any, The reason why the author hopeth that the defects in the Church will be amended. they will assuredly, perceiving that your highness do look into their course, speedily by your direction amend, the things amiss, & henceforth not suffer that such unworthy guides as are before described, should by the laying on of hands, be admitted to the ministry, nor allow of any Nisi probatus vel Episcoporum examine, 1. Con Carth. 3. cap. 22. vel populi testimonia, Unless he be allowed by the examination of the Bishops, or testimony of the people. And the better to direct this course, no doubt our Bishops will observe the saying of S. Ambrose, who speaketh thus in his exposition of Paul's Epistle unto Timothy: S. Ambrose in 1. ad Tim. ca 6. Paul Chargeth Timothy before God the Father, and Christ the Son, and the elect angels: Under this charge be commandeth those things to be kept, which pertain to ordination in the Church, least easily any man should get an Ecclesiastical dignity, but inquisition be first had of his life and manners, that a meet and approved minister or Priest may be appointed: neither any to be ordained: whose faults deserve suspicion, for he sinneth, which or deigneth and trieth not. This course observed, then shall your Majesty joyfully behold your England's famous universities: send forth worthy men, A description of godly ministers. faithfully to labour in that worthiest work: then should your highness see your England furnished with the blessed number of those preaching pastors, whose heavenly minds divinely sanctified, will justify the approbation of their calling, by the inward testimony of the spirit of God: Whose mouths are touched with an hot coal, taken from the fire of the Altar: Whereby they are purged that the work of God may be done by them with a pure performance, the approbation of whose ministry shall for ever ground itself, upon the foundation of that written truth, contained in the holy Scriptures, by the authority whereof, they will like faithful ministers, truly teach the church of God, arightly to understand the worthiness of her peace in jesus Christ, upon which corner stone the truth of their doctrine being established, it will manifest unto the world, that they are sent of God, and by the power of the holy Ghost, are called to be the preaching ministers of salvation unto all believers. Such as these are those of whom the Prophet Esay with admiration speaketh. Oh how beautiful are the feet of those that declareth and publisheth peace: that declareth good tidings, and publisheth salvation, saying unto Zion, thy God liveth. These are the well commended watchmen, which do continually with careful diligence attend and wait upon the Church, & giveth warning when the enemy approacheth near unto it, or unto any member of the same, and so well they know all the public and private enemies that they can describe the power, likeness, crafts, and policies by which, and under pretext whereof, The devil with all his boars, and bears, and wolves and foxes, seeketh to deface the beauty of the Church, & utterly to destroy the same, & so wise these godly watch men are, that they can prescribe and teach the true and perfect use of every powerful means whereby the event of each dangerous opposition shall sound & securely be prevented, so that the church notwithstanding, the force of all occasions, shall at all times know how to enjoy the safety of her peace. These are the faithful shepherds, who being desirous not to lose a sheep, without having any chief respect unto the fleece, carefully and conscionably in the abundancy of humility, love & zeal, do wholly betake themselves to feed the flock in the sweet and pleasant pastures of Gods eternal grace, warily keeping and protecting them, that they might not eat nor taste of any rotten or infectious food. These are indeed the Stewards of the house of God, greatly dignified with the favour of the bridegrooms love, and these can invite the soul unto a most delicious and spiritual banquet and feed it with the bread of everlasting life, and can open unto it the rich treasury of the heavenly paradise & show unto it the celestial glories, which are prepared for all those that serve and fear the living God. And these are those that should be exercised in the ministry, and to the number of them now in England, I doubt not, but by the assistance of your Majesty, there shall be added a glorious company: that then your highness may speak as the Prophet Esay did: Esay, cap. 62 v 6. 7. I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O jerusalem, which all the day, and all the night shall not cease, ye that are mindful of the Lord: and keep not silence, and give him no rest, till he repair, and until he set up jerusalem, the praise of the world. A godly, reverent, wise, and learned ministry is the beauty of the church Then shall the beauty of the Church appear in the sanctity of her perfection, and all God's people shall rejoice to see their godly and religious king, to dignify honour, and adorn the sanctuary of jesus Christ and then no doubt, many that are now fallen off, will with joyful and obedient love, yield themselves unto your blessed government, and then your people being taught to understand the word, will prove themselves to be a chosen flock of heavenly Lambs, by yielding true obedience to the truth-teaching shepherds voice: by means whereof they shall be brought with christian fruits, to show the glory of that faith, which they have built upon that once for all, for ever sacrificed spotless Lamb Christ jesus. And thus when by your Majesty, the ministery shall be refined, and corruption taken from forth the Church of God; Your Highness then shall see, that for you first did seek the things to heaven belonging, all things else shall be administered, and the house of your royal kingdom, shall be built upon a rock immovable, and the strength thereof shall be of force impregnable, & on your throne there shall for ever sit, a godly King or Queen, lineally descending, in the glorious issue of your royal blood. And in your days (and to your posterity,) your kingdom England shall retain a long continued happy peace. Although I am a Soldier, yet peace is it I wish unto your Majesty; A well minded Soldier never wisheth war unto his country's prejudice, nor peace unto his kings dishonour. for safe and calm contented smiling peace, is the gracious Mistress of a glorious and golden government, the glory of a kingdom is to rule her state in peace, and plenty doth attend her regiment, when peace is with a conscionable and religious virtue joined, reason, understanding, and wisdom being made her counsellors, then with a heavenly Soverainety, she bears herself, and dignifies the land in which she rules, with a most celestial happiness. For where such a peace commands, A description of our England's peace. justice bears the sword, good laws are made, and duly executed, within the compass of her sway, each doth possess his own and wealth so ruled, as that the rich, relieves the poor man's want, where she protecteth, riots are suppressed, and robberies, do not go unpunished, complaints are duly heard, the poor man's cause not wants to be considered, right is done, where wrong hath injured, from such a peace, oppression is exiled, and quietly, not being hurt by war, peace moweth, soweth, and reaps her fruit in joy: this was the happy state of England in the time of our late (and now most blessed) Queen: and by your Majesty, shall increased be, the undoubted hope of England's further happiness, and what by chance had stolen without the compass of sufficient care, in the time of righteous Asa (now deceased) shall in the days of our jehosaphat be brought to light, and Church and common wealth shall be purged from corruptions blemish, that after ages shall in their worlds enduring Chronicles report, how happy England was by the government of a maiden Queen, and how much more happy by a godly king, that virtuous Queen succeeding. Oh England let all thy well disposed people with one consent together clap their hands with joy, & laud the mighty God of heaven, An admonision unto England generally. whose mercies providence, hath in jove provided for thy public weal so far beyond the compass of thy own unworthiness, God; chosen people the tribes of Israel did not receive more mercy from his hand, than thou hast done: judea did endure a stronger scourge for her iniquity, than thou as yet hast felt of, for thy worse impieties, no longer now provoke thy loving God, but turn thyself unto his statutes with obedient thoughts, redeem the time by thy repentant care, and scape the judgement of thy sins desert▪ behold thy king whose godly President, shall lead thee on in paths of godliness: join with his righteous self, and let the world behold thy righteousness, so shall Rome's mouth be damned up, that speaks invective words against the manner of thy careless living, and for thou dost profess the Son of God to be thy king, and governor, join with thy Sovereign Lord, God's great Lieutenant upon earth, and give thyself with an unfeigned heart to yield a true obedience to his government, then shall the beauty of thy state like a lofty Cedar flourish and thou shalt stand a glorious spectacle unto the world, The happy estate of Eng. if her people shall obey the laws of God. & make the nations of the earth to wonder at the fame of thy admired Worthiness: thy land shall be environed with a Wall of brass, no foe man's foot shall once invade the same, but it shall be a peaceful habitation to thee and to thy children whilst the world endureth, in all which time the glorious gospel shall adorn thy peace, and with power and triumphant victory on earth, thy happiest government shall derived be, from the lineal race, gloriously proceeding from thy now upraisde most mighty and religious King, this blessing God unto our England grant, and let the brightness of England's Majesty confirm in us the full assurance of this happiness, that king and people may together live and walk before their God in righteousness and holiness of life, then shall our Church be the spouse of Christ, and he will come and lodge and dwell with us: and all the blessings that can make a kingdom happy, shall unto us be given, unto the fullness of our joys content, and when this humane course shall have his end, the uncomprehended glory of eternal life shall be our recompense. Thus England with a rejoicing faithful arm, in all abundant love embrace thy mighty king (for next unto Christ) only by his means unto thee is brought, the full confirmation of thy happiest happiness. And because most mighty Sovereign your England's nation hath in times past, English men have been admired and feared for their deeds in war. been accounted famous in the exercise of Arms, and your people, for their magnanimous valour in warlike chivalry have, not only been admired, but feared of all the kingdoms in Christendom, and beyond those bounds, fair England's force hath marched with a conquering arrne, so as the glorious renown of honourable deeds being brought unto this present age (by the golden▪ trumpet of fames true report) doth make such deep impression in your subjects hearts, as that I cannot but suppose the flower of your England's youth desireth to be accounted soldiers, especially now that they are the subjects unto a mighty king, lineally descended from the royal blood of England's mightiest kings: yet unto them whose hearts desires the exercise of arms, my resolution thus much speaketh, War is the shield of justice, & ought not to be used, but when justice puts it on and saith, it is a thing convenient for them to consider, that war being the shield of justice, is not to be used, but when justice doth command the use thereof: and that peace with safety to the public state, is in this christian common wealth before war to be preferred, And therefore those that would arightly be, true valiant minded men: ought thus to use the exercise of martial discipline, not thereby within your majesties united kingdoms, to infringe the happiness of a long continued peace, but that by their experience in the use of war, they may become the most commended 〈…〉 is to maintain the dignity thereof, against all occasions and powers, that shall seek to disturb or over throw the same. Peace ought to be the mother, and the nurse unto the child of war▪ and so bring up wars children underh as that they might be able to defend their mother's right when just occasion calls for them. And in regard the Church of God, your majesties royal person, your princely progeny, your kingdoms, and your highness 〈◊〉 are all to be defended by the sword of war, when foreign foes, or private enemies shall with force in opposition riser: no doubt but your Majesty will command such course to be taken, as that your Subjects shall be taught the rudiments of war: so as they shall be familiarly acquainted with the things belonging thereunto: And that a soldiers hand shall by your highness gracious favour, be employedstd, Tac, liber, 6. in assisting those your majesties faithful friends and true believing Protestants, whose country, and whose people, God in his abundant mercy, hath wondrously delivered from the tyranny of Rome, & bloody Spanish Inquisition▪ and for they fight against the Beast, and those that on their foreheads bears his mark. The state of Holland from Rome and Spain delivered, God hath justified their proceedinees with continual blessings God hath with honour crowned the actions done by the 〈◊〉 and dignified their attempts in war with glorious victories the justice of their cause (notwithstanding, the coined objections made by Spain, is and hath been by the hand of God approved: as may unto the world be witnessed, and your Highness by assisting them doth (as it was thought by our late Queen, and still renowned Elizabeth, give a strong security unto the safety of your England's peace: for the maintenance whereof when your Majesty shall see your people trained up with active skill to use their weapons fit for fight, and well to understand the ordering of their Files and ranks, and several standing in a pitched Battalia, that all to be commanded may suddenly with speedy execution, know how to make a true performance, The Romans taught their children how to fight and did every 101. years, with great solemnity record the actions by their people done in haughty deeds of arms. Horace. Certus undenos decies per Annos. Orbis ut cantus referat quaeludos. according to directions given: and that not any may commanders be, but such whose wise & valiant courage, with tried experience joined, shall make them worthy of their place, and then all these throughout your kingdom's government, being by a godly ministry taught to understand the justice of their cause. More deeds of honour shall then in time to come by the conquering hand of England's king be done, than ever yet deciphered was by the Chronicle description of precedent time: for now the foes to God and to his truth, shall fear the name of English men, and your kingly Majesty with the glory of your succeeding princely race, shall be a terror to the enemies of Christ. For this a Soldier prayeth, and all this to defend (being by his king commanded) he hath his sword in readiness. And thus most mighty Prince, and my renowned Sovereign, A poor soldiers resolution humbly offereth up his lives employment at your princely foot. FINIS.