¶ An Answer to the Proclamation of the Rebels in the North. 1569.  
¶ Imprinted at London by William Seres.  
Cum Privilegio.   

An Answer to the Proclamation of the Rebels.  
O Lord stretch out thy mighty hand  
against this raging rout, 
To God.   
And save our Prince, our state, & land  
which they do go about  
For to subvert, and overthrow,  
and make this Realm a pray,  
For other Nations here to grow:  
what so, like fools they say.  
¶ You do imagine (I suppose)  
yourselves Princes to be, 
To the Rebels   
Or else your style should not be so, 
First article.   
to send it out with WE.  
The Prince's phrase ye take in hand,  
O well disposed men:  
A Traitor first, that word to spoke  
and he that ruled the Pen.  
¶ Her faithful subjects ye protest  
yourselves in words to be, 
ij. Article.   
But mark I pray you how your deeds  
do with your words agree.  
Can you her love, and eke obey,  
as subjects in their guise,  
When you against her will and mind,  
with force of arms do rise?  
¶ To all the old and Catholic, 
iij. Article.   
that be of such religion  
As you be, that be frantic mad,  
and foolish of opinion,  
You writ: that they your mind may know  
and you their mind again,  
Whether they mean to take your part  
and so in field be slain,  
No faithful man you may be sure  
will like your crooked style:  
Also your train if they be wise  
will like it but a while,  
Chorath, Dathan, and Abiram  
or else Achitophel,  
With Absalon, Adoniah,  
of their old faith ye smell.  
In deed your old religion  
is waxed stolen for age,  
Ye mean to make it new again  
with mighty Rebel's rage,  
You shall have much ado be sure  
though you think nothing so:  
You have to long a time sit still  
and suffered truth to grow.  
When God and Prince is joined in one  
for to defend the truth,  
And you against them stand in field,  
mark then, what it ensueth.  
The ruin of the contrary  
must needs with speed be seen  
For troubling still the flock of Christ  
and such a quiet Queen.  
¶ What Nobles are they that ye have  
with you to take your parts? 
iiij. Article.   
They may be Noble well by name,  
but far from Noble hearts.  
Belike ye would make men in doubt  
that some do bear the face  
To love their Prince, and yet at need  
to turn into your case.  
O hateful men unto the bloods  
that have always been true,  
If you have such, then name them out  
from judas line, the jew,  
That they with speed may hang themselves,  
for treason to their Prince.  
O doubtful den that so blowth out  
a poisoned musing stench.  
Such as you be, her noble grace  
hath trusted over long,  
For now you think that in the field  
for her ye are to strong.  
It may be so, the Nobles more  
both fathers and their sons  
Be puissant men to bear a Cross  
out of the noble Nortonnes.  
¶ You say your faiths is promised  
in this your enterprise, 
V Article.   
Each unto each, to further forth  
your meaning good and wise.  
What faith is that, what do you mean?  
when faith to Prince is broke?  
You mean to pull your necks from tie,  
of gentle Prince's yoke:  
And set yourselves at liberty  
and eke your rout so rude,  
So that to royal dignity  
each shall himself intrude.  
For this ye may right well believe,  
not worst in all your rank  
but thinks himself as good as ye,  
and looks for as much thank.  
¶ You say her Grace is led by such  
as wicked are and evil. 
vj. Article.   
By whom I pray you are ye led?  
I may say by the Devil.  
Whom would ye point to lead her Grace  
if ye might have your choice?  
The Pope I think, your Father chief,  
should have your holy voice.  
And then she should be led in deed,  
as Lamb for to be slain.  
woe worth such heads, as so would see  
her Grace, for all her pain.  
But this I would ye should me tell:  
when she came to her throne,  
What was she then, of age or wit?  
give answer every one.  
Was not her age so competent,  
and eke her head so wise,  
As none that heard, or did her know,  
could more in her devise?  
Yea, you yourselves (I dare well say)  
at that same present hour,  
Of all the Princes far or near  
took her to be the flower.  
And had she not then will and power  
her counsellors to choose,  
To take in whom that she thought good,  
and whom she would refuse?  
If ye should point her counsellors  
the case were very strange.  
No marvel though in deeds ye rove  
when so in words ye range.  
And yet good Sirs, this is well known  
that nothing hath been meant  
And done, in matters of the Church,  
but by the Parliament.  
Wherein the Nobles of the Realm,  
the Bishop, and the Lord,  
And Commons all gave their consent  
and thereto did accord.  
The book that called is by name  
the book of common Prayer,  
Was sent to you, by these afore,  
though you would it appair,  
By bruiting forth that perverse men  
seducers of the Queen  
Hath set it out. O simple men,  
what shall I of you deem?  
Doth not the act that is set out  
speak to you in this wise?  
Have you not read and seen the same,  
and now the same denies?  
Will you that be but private men  
attempt for to put down,  
The thing that was authorized  
by her that wears the Crown?  
What gap make you to breach of laws  
if this your fact be good?  
No Parliament, no Prince shall rule,  
but shedding still of blood.  
If men may rise against their Prince  
that all things doth by law,  
Then call for Captain Cobbler in  
and wait upon jack Straw.  
¶ Ye say ye fear the noble blood  
it should be made away. 
seven. Article.   
And ye yourselves will do the same  
of others that you say.  
¶ By force ye say ye will redress  
the things that are amiss. 
viii. article.   
Where had you that, out of what school?  
show me then where it is:  
For in your words, there is enclosed  
that will the Queen or no,  
You will set up, that she put down:  
that ye so mean ye show.  
If ye be subjects as you say,  
where learned ye to force?  
But this ye mean (I do suppose)  
with her to make a Corce.  
¶ The mother Church you will defend. 
ix. Article.   
What children call ye these,  
When traitorously themselves they bend  
their Mother to disease?  
But like it is, the Mother that  
ye mean to prop with power,  
The spouse of Christ that she is not,  
but Antichristes' whore.  
For sure I am, the Church of Christ  
did never know this way,  
In any place at any time  
their Prince to disobey.  
What fathers of the faith ye be  
all men may easily judge,  
Who is so blind that cannot see  
how causeless ye do grudge?  
¶ The ancient customs of the Church  
you say you will restore, 
x. Article.   
The liberties that she hath had  
she shall have as tofore.  
You speak but for to make her smoyle  
such liberty to have  
The Prince and Realm again to spoil  
of that that once they gave.  
The Monk, the Friar, and eke the Nun,  
the Armit and the Anchor,  
You do intend belike to place  
in your most holy Ranker?  
God send you all as well to speed,  
and make your way as straight,  
As such as you had in the days  
of king Henry the eight.  
O that he were alive, to see  
how you his Daughter use.  
But he that hath his soul to keep,  
shall send you shortly news  
I do not doubt, fit for your facts  
the end of Rebel's race,  
With shameful deaths to have the end  
full fit in such a case.  
¶ Good peoples help you seem to crave  
to aid you in your stir: 
xi. Article.   
Good people will their Prince's wrath  
be fearful to incur.  
Though you ne reck like bedlam men  
your life and land to lose,  
Yet shall you find the contrary,  
and that in all degrees.  
If God by you will punish us,  
in deed we must obey,  
And we the better for his stroke,  
though you be cast away:  
For longer than he thinketh good,  
you shall not sure prevail,  
And then will he in wrathful mood  
strike down both head and tail.  
This is the way to know the foes  
of God, and eke our Prince,  
Which craftily have kept themselves  
and secretly did wince.  
Now may the Queen soon find them out  
who faithful be in deed,  
And cursed Papists by this means  
full soon she may out weed.  
The hollow hearts will now appear  
and subjects true in hearts  
Will now like men, both speak and do  
and lively play their parts.  
¶ And to keep back that foreign power  
should not this land destroy, 
xii. Article.   
Ye will yourselves it waste, before  
that they shall it annoy.  
But how know ye that foreign power  
would intermeddle here?  
Belike you have them willed thereto  
you love your land so dear.  
And lest that they our strength might find  
when they approach to land,  
You will if you may work the same,  
it weaken to their hand.  
The lose of you if you be slain,  
as fit is for your sin,  
Shall leave the fewer in this land,  
to let the foe come in.  
A case it is to fond to think  
that strangers should reform  
The things amiss within this land  
and make it to return  
What? is it not a Monarchy?  
what Prince hath here to do?  
Or who so strong that may us grieve,  
if we be true thereto?  
A Proverb old, no land there is  
that can this land subdue,  
If we agree within ourselves,  
and to our Realm be true.  
Was ever land so governed  
sith conquest heretofore,  
As this hath been in all respects  
this twelve years and more?  
What peace, what rest, what quietness,  
what wealth, what health hath reignde,  
What justice hath been ministered,  
to all that have complained.  
Was ever Prince so merciful  
as this most noble Queen?  
How she hath nursed the Noble bloods  
is evidently seen.  
Whose head from shoulders hath she cut,  
though some did it deserve?  
Whom hath she burnt, or in the jail  
caused that they should starve?  
If lenity may make men rise,  
or meekness gender ire,  
If cold may cause the Coals to burn,  
or water kindle fire?  
If Adamant may thrust away  
the Iron or the Steel,  
Or shining Sun the naked man  
may cause the cold to feel?  
Then may our Queen Elizabeth  
be thought to be the cause  
Why these Rebels do go about  
the breaking of her laws.  
But sure it is, her humbleness  
that she hath ever used,  
The caitiffs now most cankerdly  
with treason have abused.  
¶ God save the Queen, ye cry aloud, 
xiii. Article.   
with weapon stiff in hand,  
To trouble her, whose prudent head  
hath saved all the land.  
Such glozing words, and painted style  
are fit for foolish heads,  
Or else for babes, whose infancy  
do like as leaders leads. 
〈◊〉 the ●●ople.   
¶ But now to you the simple sort  
leave off from taking part  
And speed apace unto your home,  
and to your Prince convert.  
Afore that God his wrath do rise  
by Prince's fury wrought  
To beat ye down in field by force  
and bring ye all to nought.  
Do you suppose, a Princes power  
your Captains may resist?  
There is of you can tell you no,  
and if so be they list.  
In her most noble father's days  
when he came with his power,  
Have ye forgot when ye were up  
how each man took his bower?  
How often in one year ye rose  
the Chronicles doth tell,  
And yet no boot, ye had no gain  
although ye did rebel.  
You never heard nor ever read  
that Rebels did prevail,  
And do you think by dent of sword  
to make your Prince to quail?  
Nay make your count, though you do think  
that many be as you  
Of Popish mind, yet shall you find  
their hearts to be full true.  
And multitudes that do believe  
this lore to be full right,  
Are ready priest to take her part  
if you will try her might.  
But better no: return in time  
if you her grace do love,  
And seek not justice as your right,  
but do her mercy prove.  
You cannot point, if field be fought  
the victory at will,  
What gain shall come unto your part  
when each doth other kill?  
O simple men why should ye thus  
despise the quiet state  
Of this the Realm so governed  
as you were in of late?  
The Realms about so troubled  
and you in quiet rest:  
Who shall the breakers of the same  
not utterly detest?  
And what if that ye should increase,  
(as God forbidden the same)  
And Princes power with Rebel's might  
should run abroad by fame.  
Would not the foes that now be still  
then buskell to come in▪  
When feebled is the land of might  
by broils that ye begin?  
Their holiness and yours is like,  
they seek but for to rain,  
And for your making of their way  
you shall of them be slain.  
Therefore take counsel yet in time  
afore ye go to far.  
Your Queen, your Realm, and happy stat●,  
above all things prefer.  
For make account▪ ye shall not bring  
the state to you to yield,  
You shall first find the english blood  
to lie in many a field.  
The son, the father, ye shall bring  
with dent of sword to strike,  
The brother shall the brother meet,  
and do also the like.  
In Prince's cause no kith nor kin  
affinity nor blood  
Shall stay the subject to set out  
to spend both life and good.  
With conscience good, and faith full sure,  
though he be slain in field  
Yet shall he as true subject die  
and so his soul up yield.  
Whereas if you in field be slain  
because ye did rebel  
By fact, your slaughter hath the way  
to Devils that are in hell.  
Who for because▪ they did arise  
against the Lord of might,  
〈◊〉 you do now against his power  
they lost eternal light.  
The fatherless that ye shall make  
and Widows in their woe  
Shall pray your fee in torments great  
to be for doing so.  
Yea, of your own that you shall leave  
shall curse you for your deeds,  
When they shall feel the plague to stretch  
to them, for your ill meeds.  
Bethink yourselves, and take advice  
and speedily repent:  
Accept the pardon of the Prince  
when it to you is sent.  
So may you save your bodies yet,  
your souls and eke your good,  
And stay the Devil, that hopes by you  
to spill much Christian blood.  
God save our Queen, and keep in peace  
this Island evermore,  
So shall we render unto him  
eternal thanks therefore.  
FINIS.  
ꝙ. (W. S.) God save the Queen