❧ A loyfull continuance of the Commemoration of the most prosperous and peaceable Reign of our gracious and dear Sovereign Lady Elizabeth, by the grace of God of England, France and Ireland, Queen. etc. Now newly enlarged with an Exhortation applied to this present tyme. Set forth this xvii. day of November being the first day of the xxi year of her majesties said reign. By Edw. Hake. Gent. Hereunto is added a Thanksgiving of the godly, for her majesties prosperity hitherto: with an earnest desire of the long continusance of the same to God's glory and our comfort. ¶ Imprinted at London by Richard Ihones, and are to be sold at his shop without Newgate. ¶ An Exhortation to all the Queen's majesties faithful and obedient Subjects, considerately to be perused of the same. MAny are the circumstances, and those most notable (gentle Reader) which in the review of this my small Pamphlet, have often soonès again offered themselves to my consideration, in the dutiful remembrance of the queens Majesties most prosperous reign. And I would to God I were able to expresso some part of that which of so many convenient writers hath (hitherto in a manner altogether) been omitted, and yet in my simple judgement, a matter very requisité to be taken in hand by some godly learned, for the provoking and procuring of ours, and her majesties due thankfulness unto that merciful and marvelous God, of and from whose bountiful graces, the same hath only and wholly proceeded. It was in my mind to have continued a yearly remembrance of the premises, at such time as I first set forth this said Pamphlet, being then the xviif. year of her majesties reign: or at the lest, to have continued the same until some good writer had been known to have dipped his pen in this kind of Argument: But (much to my trouble, and little to my comfort) I have been held back by other businesses occasioned necessarily, though not profitablic, in the vocation wherein I live. And the time being now instant, wherein these things aught rather to be put forth, then enterprised and begun. I am constrained with grief of mind, to leave undone that which I have been hitherto as desirous to accomplish, as I am and have been willing to enjoy the benefits of so excellent a government in common with my brethren .. It is not a slight and vulgar thing (my dear brethren and countrymen) that a royal parsonage should be first afflicted, & then advanced: first humbled, and then cralted: first brought down to the gates of death, and then again set up in the ways of life, and in the throne of principality and rule. This is the order of the lords school, this is the course of the almighty, and these are the only ways of the highest. By whom soever he pleaseth to work his work, in those he expresseth the good tokens of his election. And hath he not dealt so with our Elizabeth? Hath not his hand humbled her as a joseph? Hath she not as an Hester been proscribed, and as a David dangerously afflicted, before she could sit her down in the seat of her sovereignty? Hath not tanquam Ouis touched her heart, before the Sceptre of David could come to her hands? Or hath the Lord of Hosts led her up to the glory of jacob, before she was thrown down amongst the Habitations of Edom? This (brethren) this is not man's work: nay, this to the wisdom of flesh and blood is utterly unknown, & therefore utterly unregarded. A Domino factum est istud, et est mirabile in oculis Psal. 118. nostris. This (I say) is the lords work, and it is marvelous in our eyes. But what? did the Lord for all this, forget to be faithful to the true seed of Abraham? or left he the soul of poor joseph in the prison? Gave he not to good Hester a Mardocheus? and to his dear David, a jonathas? And (to speak it plainly) did the Lord leave our Elizabeth in the paws of the Lion? or gave be her over a pray unto Psal. 116. her enemies? Hath he not rather delivered her soul from death, her eyes from tears, and her feet from falling? Hath he not broken asunder the jaws of the Lion, rescued her Majesty from the rage of her adversaries, & exalted her far above her enemies? Obserua (ergo) innocentem, et attend justum, Psal. 37. 37 quoniam ad extremum erit huic viro pax. And now, that all the world may know this deed to have been the Lords deed, lo now, her Majesty after all these manifold afflictions, sitting, and having many years peaceably sitten in the seat of her Kingdom: hath she now been unmindful of the Lords work? or hath she all this while forgotten beautifully to begin, and gloriously to enlarge the frame and furniture of the Lords house? God grant that the mercies of the highest may herein be vouchsafed unto her abundantly, that consulting with the sincere & best builders throughout all Israel and juda, she may proceed to the full finishing thereof according to the true platform and rule prescribed in the word. Truly my brethren and Countrymen, if God have at any time required that his mercies should universally be known & celebrated of his people, (as no doubt with such sacrifices he is well pleased): He hath in the Regiment of this our Sovereign, called for, and exacted a thankful memorial of his so memorable and yet unspeakable benefits, not of Prince only, but of all and every her highness Subjects. Look upon your pieces Hath there been like peace with any the nations about you, so firm, so sound, and of such continuance? Have either domestical attempts, or foreign practices as yet prevailed to the overthrow of the same? Hath either ambitious desire of Conquest drawn you forth to wars abroad? or unsatiable desire of greedy minds broken asunder or untwined your safety at home? what should I say? Who getteth and enjoyeth not? Who increaseth and possesseth not? In whose hands (my brethren) hath the abundance of riches as yet been said to be the danger of his life, or the overthrow of his welfare? Now then, if these benefits, be benefits which you delight in: if the continuance of them be comfortable: and the only instrument hereof, be our dear Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth: what else doth wisdom then require, but that we should wisely foresee to do the things towards God and her Majesty that may establish an happy continuance thereof? And what else doth thankfulness look for at our hands, but that there be in us a readiness to accomplish the will of the highest, to him ward in the obedient of his word: and to her Majesty ward, in the obedience of her Laws? I know there are of the faithful watchmen and good shepherds of this land, that exceedingly fear the continuance of these so glorious benefits: They fear I say, that the unrecoverable wickedness of the people of this time and Nation is so opposed against the great mercifulness of our God, that these heaped tranquilities are nothing else but judgements forerunning the approaching days of desolation. I would God therefore, the ways of English people were once called to account, O I would to God we could once set before us, on the one side, a single view of these mighty & marvelous things, which the Lord, the jehovah, hath wrought and brought to pass for our Prince and us: and on the other side, what we have done, or rather what (like wretches) we have left undone of that which mere duty in common thankfulness hath required at our hands. Touching the one, besides the miraculous preservation of our Prince, even in those days wherein Antichrists tyranny swylled up the blood of Saintes, sparing neither sex, age, condition nor degree: It is also set far beyond the reach and reason of man, that her Majesty being ever since placed, as it were in a Goshen, environed about with Egyptians, malicious, aspiring & bloody: her royal person, her Religion and Peace should nevertheless still be preserved from the impeachments of those adversaries, & that in such degree, as the enemies themselves have been rather tired in their practices, than the one or other of these benefits weakened by their attempts. The Rebellion of Absalon and his complices hath been suppressed at home. The traitorous counsels of Achitophel have been confounded both abroad and at home. David hath had an Husay: yea, the anointed our Elizabeth hath had and always shall have a Sobi, a Machir and a Berselai, which will say both goods and lives at her feet. As for the thundering rage and terrors of Antichrist and his Champions, what better or greater issue hath there been of them, then of the crackling of thorns flaming under a pot? And touching the Enchantments of Egypt, (some cursed practisers whereof have been lately surprised) the true miracles of Moses and Aaron have from time to time still devoured them. Briefly, the enemies have wearied themselves in the ways of treachery & treason, and have not yet prevailed: They have grasped at unhappy conquests, and have been always yet confounded: their glory hath been no better yet then the glory of grass upon the house top, whereof the wicked reapers never hitherto filled their hands, much less have laid up fruits thereof in their impious barns. O that men would therefore praise the Lord Psal. 107. for his goodness, & declare the wonders that he hath done for the children of men: That they would exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and love him in the Seat of the Elders. Now, touching the other part, what hath proceeded from us towards our God: as the Argument thereof more fitly appertaineth to be handled by men of greater gifts: so, the time being now short and the matter large (the Printer also enfourming me that every Page hath his proportion) I must for this time give over all further discourse thereof: These things are only added to my former small tranayles that I might thereby the better procure a due and true Commemoration of the matter which we now celebrated. The God of glory & peace, who hath created, redeemed and continually kept us under the shadow of his merciful protection, bring to pass that those his mercies may work the speedy amendment of our lives, to the establishing of our peace, and to the everlasting honour of his name. Amen. ❧ The Printer to the Reader. BY following of the old copy (gentle Reader) of Anno. 18. of her M. reign, there is a fault escaped in the account of this present 21. year: which with thy pen, I pray thee amend. u3. in the fift L case for 17. read 20. and for 18. (in the margin of that leaf) read 21. ¶ To the worshipful, his very loving cousin M. Edward Eliotte Esquire, the Queen's majesties Surveyor of all her Honour's Manors, Lands and possessions within her highness County of Essex. Being entered (worshipful and my beloved cousin) into the meditation of the rare government of our renowned Queen Elizabeth, so high and so abundant matter of admiration offered itself to the view of mine understanding, that I felt my thoughts in such sort surprised with the consideration thereof, that (for the solace of my mind) I yielded myself a joyful man to set down in writing some sup●rfitiall discourse upon the same: such, as (at the lest within mine own soul) might stir up and procure the praises of God, and draw forwards a dew thankfulness unto his majesty for the wonderful benefits that largely (thereby) have accrued to the whole body and to every particular member of this our English Nation. And lo, no sooner had I accomplished this motion of my mind (in such sort as you may see it here set down in print) but another Cogitation began with importunity to assail me a fresh: for beholding (with the fervency of my heart) the truth of that matter which I had already compiled, and seeing yet (farther) so glorious and so plentiful a treasury remaining to be discovered, and that, In perpetuam rei memoriam: I could not choose but so far mystic with the slenderness of that which I had already done, as I wished (and not slightly) that it would please almighty God (to the eternal praises of his holy name) to stir up the zeal of some learned and well approved member to give abroad for an universal view, to all countries and Nations of Christendom, in the heretical garnishment of learning and truth, an exact history and declaration of the same. And in this cogitation, repairing unto your house for the comfort of your friendly conference, it was the good will of God that I should disclose mine affections (that way) unto you, as also that I should offer unto you the hearing of this matter, as it was at that time, thus unlearnedly penned: where finding by the like good favour of god, your learned & friendly neighbour, it was recokned for God's divine providence, that I should require him also to be a hearer of the same. Which learned man (as you know) upon the hearing thereof, so largely dispensed with all those wants that by learning might (peradventure) have been supplied in this book, as that by favouring & chief regarding the undoubted truth of the matter, he persuaded that it would grow no blemish at all unto my credit, neither in respect of the brevity of the work, nor yet for the plainness and rudeness of the style, if I should agreed to the publishing of the same in print: whereunto on the one part, the admirable works of God so exceedingly, above human reason, shining forth unto the world in the royal person & regiment of our most loving & gracious Queen, and on the other part, the silence of the learned sort (silence I may term it in respect of that vehemency which the worthiness of the cause requireth) & the more than stoical & cold consideration of all our english people, who are for the greatest part so far from thanking, that they have no thinking of the same: these motions I say, together with the favourable censure & encouragements of your said learned neighbour at one instant concurring, I was zealously bold to cast abroad into the view of the world, this my small treatise, as it were to provoke the pen of some renowned Homer, & to prepare the hearts of all her highness subjects to a further & deeper consideration of Gods exceeding & superaboundaunt mercies, that in the thankfulness and sincerity of their hearts, they might (not for one day superstitiously, but for ever) keep holy unto the Lord, the commemoration of the most prosperous & peaceable reign of the same our gracious & dear sovereign lady queen Elizabeth. And now (my worshipful cowsen) because the forces of these my private motions have in this sort effected, that needs they must break forth (I trust to the honour of the highest) and the same not meanly by occasion of the encouragements which I received in your house: I cannot resist, but (coactedly as it were by love) I must confer that dedication thereof (digested into this little book as you see) upon you, before & above the rest of my beloved friends: assuring you that (in the great joy of my heart) I have found you so equal unto mine affections in the favouring of this cause, and in the comfort that you take by beholding the blissful days of our sanctified DEBORAH, as also so jealous for the Regestring of her highness praises (or rather the praises of our God) unto posterity, that if I knew by what other mean, more acceptably, then thus by the first view of these my travails (employed to the glory of god) I might manifest unto you the sincerity of mine affection, undoubtedly you should find me so for ward to accomplish the same, that the deed itself, to the utmost limit of my poor degree, should be enough to make known what unfeigned love I do bear you. And whereas the dedication of all other books (for the most part) do seem to crave countenance and defence at the hands of the patron, this my small book (assure yourself) for the dignity of the parsonage of whom it treateth, as also for the truth of the matter that it containeth, shallbe able enough (besides the defence of itself) to give both countenance and commendation to your person, being indeed, the very man (amongst men of your place and calling) whose loyal heart and religious mind (besides the consideration of private duties of love) may challenge from me such affection as best of all becometh a christian lover to his friend so well approved. And though the book be but little, yet the parsonage of whom it treateth is great: and so great, as that the Book may sooner be countenanced with the royalty of her highness name, than be able (by the thousand part) to show forth the number of her princely virtues, much less, of the large benefits that infinitely arise unto our common wealth of England and to every member of the same, by the goodness of her rarest government: Some particular parts whereof are (as before is declared) in these Quires, though briefly, yet truly discoursed. But now, that you may some way answer the name of a Patron of this my Book: although the matter of the same hath defence sufficient in itself, & in the truth thereof, is able enough to stand against the faces of all the enemies of truth: Yet because there is a sort of people, which I fear me, more of envy, then of any true zeal or care of my well doing (as having an awstere regard unto my vocation, which in deed, resteth in the Study, or rather in a mean place of practice of the common laws of this Realm) will reckon it a matter more than ordinary that I should after this sort so transcend the limits of my said vocation, as spending my time, or at the lest, some part of the same, in things by semblance, so far discrepaunte from my profession: let my defence be so made, I beseech you, that it may in equal sort be considered, or at the lest wise by you enforced, not only how much and how largely love and zeal are able to work and bring to pass in men otherwiles conversant in the consideration of things high and precious, but also how seemly a thing it is and how well agreeable with every vocation to advance and set forth the high praises of virtue and virtuous personages, as also to batter & beat down the enforcements of vice and vicious monsters. And for myself, I have boldly to affirm unto all such discontented minds (especially unto those that have the common laws for their profession) that the matter of this my little book is not so void of excuse, but that by view of the substance & full scope thereof, it may yield forth a strong and rightful defence against these nice and over curious reprovers: for, as it concerneth the special praise of God in the Commemoration of the Queen's Majesties most prosperous and peaceable government: So, it is not unknown that touching the Regiment of Princes, the nature of Laws, the office of counsellors, and the authority of judges, the volumes of our Laws are not so barren, but that they may and do minister matter abundantly to the professors and students of the same, whereby to discern and to deem indifferently of them all: for whether we would consider the good and godly government of a Prince by often pardoning of offences in mercy, or by sharply punishing of offenders in justice, by planting of good & wholesome laws, or by repealing of evil and unnecessary Statutes: Not only Bracton, but also the worthy and worshipful Knight master Forescue in sundry places of his little Commentary, very copiously give forth matter for the furthering of studious wits in the consideration thereof. And no less may be gathered touthing a difference and sound censure of honourable Counsayllers: but especially of judges & of laws. Whereupon I trust I may infer, that to praise and extol the admirable government of our renowned Sovereign, or to commend the soundness of her laws, or to advance and set forth the wonderful virtues of her highness counsayllers, or to acknowledge the rare learning & holiness of her reverend judges: so farforth as they be matters (though but superfitially) to be discerned and descyphred by the Books of our Laws, so far, they are not to be thought discrepant or impertinent for a student of the laws to treat or to writ of. But wherefore should I thus carefully seek to defend that which I suppose, needeth no reprehension? why should I not rather challenge that liberty that is granted to every vocation of learning, yea to the lawyer himself? namely, to intermingle with painful travails of the mind, the pleasures of some exercise more plausible and mild, especially, where the same may be practised to the glory of god & to the profit of our brethren, as I trust, this is, or at the lest wise was intended. Well, if all this notwithstanding, these curious carpers will never be satisfied, let them at their pleasures blow abroad what they list, and hold on in their mislikings, until in the vanity of their purposes, and the rage of their envy, they shall at the length be glutted with the fullness of rancour and uncivil reproaches. You (finally) I doubt not, will take this gift as I mean it, and deem of it as a thing not unnecessarily sent abroad at this instant. God grant unto it such effect in the hearts of all those unto whom it specially appertaineth, that they, or rather every English soul may say in the fervency of a sound faith: Domine, quid ego re●●ibuam tibi pro omnibus quae tribuisti mihi? What reward Psal. 116. shall I give unto thee (O Lord) for all the benefits that thou hast done unto me? In which prayer I think it convenient here to make an end. At Barnard's Inn this joyful Eve of our 17. day of November. 1575. with his hand whose heart loveth this instant day and you. Edward Hake. The Authors mind upon the matter of this his little Book. A Publicque peace our high jehove hath wrought: A private war, with hate tween man and man Doth Satan breed. Good state, but life right naught: Alas alas, what wretches are we than? A Vineyard fenced, well fenced from decay, A State preserved, but people froward aye. Ah most unkind that never will obey. Prou. 8. b. Deut. 17. 2 ¶ Thorough me do Kings reign: thorough me, counsellors make just laws: thorough me do Princes bear rule, and all the judges of the earth execute judgement. Prou. 28. a. Leuit. 26. c. ¶ Because of sin the land doth often change her Prince. But through men of understanding and wisdom a Realm endureth long. Prou. 28. c. ¶ Where the Prince is without understanding, there is great oppression and wrong. But if he be such a one as hateth covetousness, he shall long reign. A Commemoration of the most prosperous and peaceable Reign of our gracious and dear sovereign Lady Elizabeth, by the grace of God, of England, France and Ireland Queen etc. Iehova, with our joined hands, and hearts replete with joy, We praise thee for our noble Queen, the shield of our annoy. Not we, not we (o great jehove) not we, but thy right hand Hath wrought this calm and quiet state, in this our English land. Great Bulls of Basan roar abroad, great curse from Balac comes, Each foreign ear is filled with fight and sound of fearful droommes. Woe, woe, waymenting woes and fear through foreign Soil doth range: Not Coast so clear where face of war ne makes the cruel change. Blood, blood is shed in monstrous wise: each foreign State doth jar, And open Murders wanting Law, in foreign countries are. Fowl fraud & faithless fawning words in foreign Coasts do devil: High Seats of sway in foreign Soils of fraud and falsehood smell. Men, Beasts, & fields, laws, love & truth there fall from former states: Each thing, each Sex uncertain stands and honest order hates. No course kept right, no seasons known, naught there, in safety lies. Each good growth ill, each ill growth worse each worse to worst doth rise. There, Soils lie sacked, there, Mountains quake there lofty Hills down sway: There, pleasant plots yield filthy weed, where Fragrant odours lay. The ploughed Fields, are there laid waste there, fertile grounds lie bared Each Meadow there, lieth clean defaced, no plot of pleasure spaard: Not lofty Palace stands upright, no place where virtue dwelled, standeth there so sound which of the dint of Battle hath not felt. No Seat in safety, nothing helps: no dew Regard prevails: Not right of cause there frees from force: no Sex of sorrow fails. Each noble face lieth there forlorn, each mighty head brought low: Each valiant visage sprent with blood there, through the Streets they throw. No law relieves: no justice helps, no truth from danger frees: None there, that lives in godly fear, true hope of safety sees. The aged man there drowpth in woe, the young and lusty Rout Are there sent forth to lead their life in pillage round about. The armed Knights with treasons trapped, the Sages of the land, In suspense lodge to live or die: thus each one's case doth stand. There, wronged wights with silence smart and there, th'oppressed want aid There, Laws whereby the just should live, do make the just afraid. There dwells no sound of sacred songs that sweetly send forth health: But there, both dowl and double plaints waymenting sorrows telleth. No Fountain there stands free from filth: no crystal Spring runs clear: In steed of streaming Floods of life, deep damps of Death are there. And whilst these woes do wander thus, as foreign coasts have tried, Thy english People, Lord, devil safe: with them doth peace abide. With them doth live a loving Queen who like a Mother reigns, And like a chosen sacred Imp immortal glory gains. Her hands she holds not forth to war, her heart doth rest in peace: She joys to see her people's wealth and wails their harms increase. Thy gospels sound she sends abroad: she stops no wholesome Spring: But popish Puddles dams she up which noisome humours bring. A Prince of price, most worthy praise for thee and in thy name Of all that ever Sceptre bore, of all that ever came From English loins to royal Seat: I say, none worthy more Among the race of English kings that ever Sceptre bore. I would contain my servant Muse, Ah gem, thy name denies. My praise nor all the Poetes pens thy merit can suffice. And highest king that Welkin wéeldst if hence thy glory come, That of a virgin Queen whom thou hast set in sacred Room, Thy people's peace should be sustained, thy Gospel should be spread, Why should my burning Muse lie still? why should my pen lie dead? Is hand of flesh her firmest force? is frowning face her sway? Doth subtle drifts draw forth her peace, or vaunting glory? Nay: Of Flesh, the feeblest▪ Sex by kind: of face not juno's fear: But mild Susanna in her looks and Hester in her cheer. The work is thine, 'tis thine jehove: no jot begun by man: Thou fram'dst her only for thy praise: by thee her days began: All only thou jehova, thou hast wrought her for thy praise: All only thou hast made her deeds a wonder to our days. From thee therefore, what so she hath, from thee her virtues came, And her we praise as gift of thine and glory to thy name. So planted is her sovereign Seat, so fixed is her Throne, That thick and threefoldly wronged wights there lay abroad their moan. Truth, mercy, peace, and love possess her Chair of royal State: Not Subject Soul complaining grief, goes helpless from her gate. And what she Rules, by love she Rules. No Force, where love may win. First friendly warnings fiends she forth Ear smarting Laws begin. Her Subjects blood she seeks to save as Apple of her eye: They live and shall, save such as law and justice bids to die. They live and joy, her Foes and all, full many kept from Death: Not ease to her, but grief of mind, is loss of subjects breath. Her subjects goods she never seeks: none lives whom she hath spoiled Her very Foes are free from force: no Foe with force is foiled. Yea foes and all, they sow and reap: they plant and eat the fruit, They build and buy, no loss they take unless by lawful suit. Each wight within her royal Realm possesseth as his own, Such substance as by lot he hath and unto him is grown. With quiet course in equal sort, each man in his degree, Draw'th forth his days and spend'th his time full orderly to see. Wrong resteth no man's right by might where Prince's aid is craved: The poor with rich contend a like: by Law their Rights be saved. No Law locked up, no justice stopped, no one through her takes wrong. O noble Prince, and hast thou lived a virtuous Queen so long? And hath thy name Elyzabeth, so many years sustained The cause of Truth, and run that race that virtue hath ordeinde? Now, blessed be those days of thine: Thrice blessed be our God, By whom our Queen Elyzabeth those virtuous steps hath trod. Not force of Flesh hath held her up, not sharp devise of man, Not craft, not skill, not worldly shift her blessed state began. Before her reign, bereft of peace, bereft of outward joy: Pursued to death by romish beasts still seeking her annoy: Whose foamy frothy murderous jaws, with stomachs stuffed with guile Each day devised her grace's death and sacred state to foil. Whom high jehove preserved hath in spite of Satan's rage, To live a Queen in blessed peace: to live an happy age. O, grant her God, an heart to praise and magnify thy name: And as thou hast preseru'de her life, so still preserve the same. Let dew remembrance never slip from forth her royal breast, But let her always bear in mind 17. novemb. an▪ 18. Elizabeth R. how thou hast wrought her rest. Full seventeen years this day her grace hath raign'de with us a Queen: No Treason's force hath yet prevailed, that ever could be seen. No drift, devise, no devils deed, no falsehood fetched from hell Hath yet ta'en place: in safety yet her noble grace doth devil. Thine hand Jehove hath found them out, thine own right hand hath brought Each dark devise to open view and treasons guile to naught. Thy hand hath held her kingdom fast: thine own right hand hath stayed The running rage of rancour bend, and made her foes afraid. Of wisdom hast thou lent her store to guide thy folk aright: What gifts of grace have Princes more obtained in thy sight? Grave counsel guiding all by Truth thou Lord, with her haste placed Whose careful works for common wealth can never be defaced. Whose minds to rigour they ne bend: no hearts they have to harm: No woe they work to any wight: to none they cry All arm. No law they wrist to work their wills no sleights they do impose, No burden on her subjects backs obtruded is by those. They envy not her people's good: no traps they lay to train Nor subtle baits by pinching laws at any time ordain. Their Prince's wrath they whet not on: no wait they lay for blood. O noble wights, and have you lived to work your countries good? Have all your Foes found endless bale that sought your honours spoil? And stand you yet in countries sight, to seek fowl Treason's foil? With tears we hold our hands to heaven, and from our hearts we cry Live, live you noble Counsayllers, live, live and never die. Let Princes love remain on you, and love you her again. So shall no treasons drift disjointe our english peace in twain. So shall you gain a guerdon just for your so noble deeds, And so shall we poor Subject sorts still stick to you at needs. Lord, blessed be thy name always, thrice blessed by thy name, That guyd'st to good their grave attempts directing still the same. These gifts for thine we do proclaim even all these gifts for thine, A gracious Queen with Counsel grave that to thy will incline: A noble race of royal wits a Senate surely knit, A prudent sort of polishte heads who never (hapless) yet Attempted aught that might redound to wealth of English soil Who never yet emprised aught wherein they took the foil. By thee we still enjoy her grace: by thee this Counsel so: By thee the same do plant good laws all vice to overthrow. And for those laws such judges set as justice well maintain, Such judges, some, as doubtless yet no former times could gain: Not moody sort of wandering heads not hearts corrupt with guile, Not wrangling wits, not bribing hands our judgements Seats defile. But seemly sorts of sacred heads but Sages sound and grave, But goodly view of learned wits our judgement places have. Where, look what Law and justice will, that judges do pronounce: Where, look what law and justice nill, that, judges do renounce. Where, he (my Lord) amongs the rest, whose hands regard no meed, Whose heart Dies no deceit at all, with honour doth proceed (As others eke) in soundest sort to join together ay, With Mercy, Truth: with justice, Peace: in firm and perfect stay. Ah haughty Hall with honours decked, ah Roofs of royal view, Ah Seats possessed with justice self, with peace and judgements true. Sigh laud, sith thanks, sith endless praise be dew unto thy name: Sweet lord, sweet Christ, for these thy gifts we magnify the same. Lord, bless therefore these benefits, Lord, give them large increase, Lord, let thy mercies still endure, Lord, let them never cease. Lord, bless our Queen, Lord prospero her, Lord, lead her with thine hand: Lord teach her ay thy will to know and word to understand. Lord, grant that she in heart may love thy law and thy decree: That she may know how all these gifts proceed good Lord from thee. And for thy works of wonder done, let her extol thy praise: Let her in truth and holy life continue all her days. Let (Lord) her grace's eyes so pierce into thy Church's state, That she with judgement sound and pure remove from thence debate. And let her (Lord) so love to hear thy godly Preachers voice, That she reject not what they teach, but take the best in choice. Let pompous state be unto her no stop of due regard, Ne let the faults of faithless mates, at any time be spared. Let all her royal household so reformed be from sin, That they to all the world may show what virtue is therein. That she may bring a lasting praise and glory to thy name: That life and doctrine found alike, her foes may suffer shame. Lord give her judgement to discern, and that with Counsel grave She may find out what sound redress our common wealth should have. To cut of craft from wholesome laws: and (chief) to supplant From place of Rule and justice, such as sound profession want. Whose hands how hurtful they shall be in times of troublous state Our sundry sorts of troublous heads expressed have of late. Lord, grant therefore that Laws be had to bind each place to choose To office, such as love thy word, and others to refuse. That whensoever foreign drifts or home devise shall rise, Such men of trust prepared so, may treason's guile surprise. Lord, finally, with humbled minds, and souls we thee desire Unite both Prince and People's hearts with love and zeal entire. That th'one with upright course may rule. the other so obey, As Prince may be her people's joy, and people Princes stay. Lord grant that none within this Land no one that beareth breath, Refuse in heart to cry God save Our Queen Elizabeth. Amen. ¶ The Author most humbly to all the Queen's highness most honourable counsellors. THough Poets pens in these our later days In works of wait gain credit near a deal. Because that some seduced many ways, Their fond affects and fancies do reveal In rhyming frames, wherein they do conceal No want of wit, nor learning due regard, As in their Books full many have declared: Yet hope I must that truth may take no harm Where she is clothed with cloak of simple Rhyme Devoid of dark devise and Poets charm: Which learned wits full rifelye in our time Have set to view as sootest heaths in Prime, Although the blunt and bitter biting brain, Each rhymed truth doth blot with black disdain. You noble wights that win immortal fame By guiding well our english common wealth, To you I write, as one that loves the same And joys in heart to see your Honour's health: Reject him not that rhyming fancies telleth: But bear him out where he deserves no blame, And here such terms as he in truth shall name. Your godly, grave, and provident foresightes These passed times and blissful days forespent Have so preferred in peace unto your mights, That calmer days of yoare were never lent. Your God therefore that so your hearts hath bend, Extol with praise, and watch to work his will: Seek treasons foil and love your country still. Beware of foreign fraud and false pretenced love: Accept goodwill, but secret works prevent: So joy in league, that close compacts you prove: So live in peace, as you to war were bend. Yield trust, but try, for fear ye do repent. give heed to peace, but live not unpreparde. The strongest state the longest time is spared. And as you watch, each one in your degree, Testablish peace, and plant right wholesome laws, So, noble wights, (as you true noble be) Keep men oppressed from rage of ramping paws. Pluck, pluck the spoil from forth devouring jaws And let not Crewes of cruel wasting wights Thus prank in pride with spoil of poor men's rights. To tax the Trades that wickedness finds out, To touch the lives that lewdness hath begun, To blaze the pride that runs the Realm throughout To preach the Spoils that private gain hath won, To show the shifts that poor men have undone, O noble wights, and honourable all, No pen of mine hath force or ever shall. Men crave, you grant: men pray, you pardon still: Men swear, you trust: men crouch, you think them mild: Ah, out alas, herein is error still: Herein your godly meanings are beguiled. Herein the wasteful Crewes & lusty heads wax wild Herein the trades that wickedness doth breed On Common wealth with private pawnche do feed. Herein the pomp of Pride withouten end, Hath put itself in press, and vaunting spreddes With daring face, where none should dare offend: Not Caesar's look nor Prince's eye it dreddes: In frank outrage alas it trampling treddes. Herein, the routs of cutting roisters grow, And banks of peace with brawls do overflow. Herein, the bloody papists do conspire, And begging broods of bankrowts (in their kind) Do take the course to set our peace on fire, By fawning force a filthy fetch to find, A few to raise with riches ill assigned, Though thousands thence do reap their endless need Whence, hate for love in consequence doth breed. Herein, (to fine) the fewest sorts do right: Herein, the laws that godliness have fixed, Herein, the peace appearing in our sight, By private heads with wickedness are mixed, And this our peace hath dangers Drawn betwixt. Herein, therefore to find redress with speed Shall make your names true noble still indeed. In most humble wise. Edward Hake. ¶ Gentle Reader, having this prayer following imparted unto me by a learned and worshipful gentleman, very behooufull to be used in this the end of our rejoicing, I have according to the duty of godliness, here published the same as the fittest & seemeliest conclusion to be had in this my little Book. A Meditation wherein the godly English giveth thanks to God for the Queen's majesties prosperous government hitherto, and prayeth for the continuance thereof to God's glory. Among other thy benefits great and innumerable (heavenly father our most merciful Lord and God) by thee of thy exceeding goodness bestowed upon the children of men, the servants of thy household, dispersed upon the face of the earth, it hath pleased thee the we thy people of England living in these days should in abundance beyond the measure of the graces of our brethren, and the prosperous course of our fathers, behold and perceive thine inestimable goodwill in the amiableness of thy countenance shining upon us, to whom thou hast given thy chosen handmaiden Elizabeth for sovereign Lady and governor. For what so ever is the glory of thy house (O Lord) for us, with the issue of the slime of the earth, to stand and look up to Heaven, made into vessels after thine image that were not: to be redeemed & borne a new after the second Adam that perisheth not, in the sprinkling of the blood of Christ and sanctification of the spirit, that were utterly lost, to stand fast in thy hands, sealed according to thine eternal love, and written in the Book of life, that daily run headlong to our own destruction: As the sense thereof rejoiceth the hearts of all those whom thou hast knit into this fellowship of the saints, and called into the blessed hope of the eternal kingdom, so again how ungrateful should we be to whom thou hast dealt these benefits from thy divine majesty by the person raised up for thine instrument thereof toward us, if we should not in special sort show us thankful unto thee therefore? And if not to live tearing & eating one, the other, like the Giants in the old world, and every man to do what seemeth him best in his own eyes, as when there was no judge in Israel, if, that Prince's reign & governors give judgement, it is thy gift: & then in the worst disposition of their thoughts for the sins of the people, they are redowbted, thou O Lord hast appointed them, they are sacred, thou O Lord hast anointed them, they are feared, thou changest their hearts like the streams of waters, they are honoured, thine own image and likeness in guiding Angels and all creatures is pregnant and cannot devayle in them, bearing rule in earth over the children of men: what praise is due unto thee, from those, unto whom thou leavest not an Anarchy and headless dissolution, as to the Cannibals, a monstrous and misshapen government and flaming with fire, and streaming with blood, and smoking with mist and darkness of error and ignorance, as to the Antichrists greased in the brow with the mark of the Image of the great Beast, & whore of Babylon: not a waste and barbarous perpetual heathen contrition as unto the Tartarian hoards of cursed Cham, unto the Rusty and wasted with misery th'inhabitants of Meschech, or to the Turbulent and ravenous swarms and hosts of Tubal-Gog, or such like as those: but contrariwise whom thou leadest like a flock of sheep by the hands of Moses and Aaron, and hast chosen David thy servant whom thou hast loved, to feed as the people of thine own Inheritance, giving unto them for war, peace: for incivilytie, society: for ignorance, knowledge: for superstition, religion: for error, truth: for hunger, plenty: for unproudiency, policy, for dissonancy, harmony: for misery, felicity: & making them to devil in safety as under the wings of thy defence, and shadow of thy protection. Now, such hath been thy mercy towards us, that no tongue is able to express in giving us in thy gracious pleasure & thine unrecountable largesse and liberality, thy select Servant Elizabeth Queen and supreme governess to us of the liege Nations and peoples of her obeisance and regiment: that as by a star the light and influence over things beneath from thee, the first cause and fowntaine of brightness not to be attained unto, and as by a clear river and plentiful brook the course of the waters from thee, the everlasting head spring: even so the shining beams, and flowing streams of all those thy mercies, and good gifts hath been and are sithence the days of her happy and gracious government, from thee conveyed and devolved unto us. And we that before were no people, not so much in regard of the state in which we haled, when we were savage, as wood men, cruel as Mendevourers, terrible as spirits, brutish as beasts in the old age at the first calling home of our grand Ancestors to human civility, but in these days in few years degenerate from the true knowledge of thee and thy son jesus Christ unto the consuming nakedness of idolatry and playing inordinate, before the golden Calf of our own making and our priests: now the eighteenth sun most happily environeth in the firmament, sithence by the means of a poor vessel of the weaker sex, & a silly maiden, thou performing the glorious deliverance of thy people out of the thraldom and slavery of Pharaoh & Egypt, didst anoint the King's daughter with an holy oil setting a crown of pure gold upon her head, and investing her with the purple and Sceptre and regal Diadem of this Realm. Sithence which time, O Father, we own, to thee and to her, our God and our Moses, the sight of this light, the use of this air, the ease of our hearts, the peace of our consciences, & the whole work of our welfare. By her inspired by thee, spreading her beams at her appearing, the bloody lawnces & claunching Murreans, and redoubling shields, have been shattered asunder in shivers, and bated and foiled into mattokes and spades, the flames of our furies quenched and put out, and the cool of grace flowed over the realm, the Lion reconciled with the Lamb, the wild Ass set to be pastured with the silly Kid, the abomination of desolation removed from the holy temple, and the sun of man exalted and lift up on high in his own kingdom, for all that were stung by the fiery serpent to look upon and be saved. In admirable lenity, Babylon hath put on Zion, Egypt is become our own, Rahab the harlot denizoned in jerusalem: we become of the wild olives the true garden plants: of Ishmael, Israel: of miscreant, christian: of paynim, protesting and professing: of Antichristian Romanest heathen idolaters, faithful evangelical sincerely believing worshippers of thee in spirit and verity, according to thy holy word. Neither hath cost been spared, nor occasion fores●owd, nor time over passed, nor travel intermitted, to raise that was fallen, to win that was withholden: to call that was strayed, to heal that was wurryed: to find that was lost, to restore that was ruined, to repair that was decayed, to make good and enable that was abandoned. Preachers have been sent forth plenteously, Laws have been executed mercifully, Orders have been set down polytickly, dangers have been declined discretely, tumults have been appeased victoriously: the whole spacious dominions of both Isles and the adjacent Lands governed triumphantly. So as it is hard to find the man that more orderly hath manedged the charge of any one household: then the Daughter of thy house with her virginal hands hath wielded the weighty sceptre of sundry and mighty populous nations. Inhere time hath been seen the golden years of the reign of her Father David, and the peaceful kingdom of Solomon to have been advanced. The earth not to have denied her fruitfulness, the sea her increase, the clouds their drops, the heavens their fairness, the sun his warmth, the year her goodness. But the valleys stand thick with corn, the wilderness crowned with gladness, the furrous watered, the mountains laugh & sing, the folds full of sheep, our sons and daughters grow up like to the polished corners of the Temple, our youngmen see visions, and our old men prophecy: Jerusalem her light shining unto her, and the glory of the Lord risen unto her. The Queen bringing her honour unto the city of David, and the nations walking in the light thereof. Great is the honour the thou hast heaped upon us, and honourable in foreign regions is the work that thou hast wrought by thy chosen. Yea and so much the more hath the brightness of this beauty been powered abroad, that whiles Egypt round about hath been darkened (even the whole world in a manner besides us, whom thou hast gathered into pastures of this Gosen) and the thick mists of error hath blinded the eyes of the earth: the cloudy pillar hath not departed from us, by the day, nor the fiery flame by night. While other lands round about have warred to the destruction of one another, our Moses hath guided us in peace: whiles other nations like Egypt round about hath been plagued by the destroyer from the first borne, sitting upon the prince's throne, unto the slave grinding at the handmyll, our Moses hath not diminished of her flock: whiles the firm lands have been overwhelmed by the rage of the seas and waters: our Island having dwelled in peace, in peace hath sent her ships into Opher for gold, and prepared her navy against the danger of the enemy. While Athalia hath murdered her own blood, our joas hath learned the law of the Lord of jehoiada. While Achaz consecrateth his own son in the fire, and Samaria eateth her own children on the walls, our Eliza directeth the children of the prophets in their offices. While jezabel setteth up Baal, and embreweth Achab with the blood of the Prophets and of Naboth: our Elias gathereth the people of God to mount Carmell, to behold the wonder of the fire of God lighting from Heaven upon the sacrifices, and replenishing the hearts with joy, and tongues, with gifts of languages. This is then so worthy an instrument of thy goodness and express Image of thy Majesty, and the ample matter of this days celebrity. And now what doth thy people desire at thine hands, but that first O Lord thou give us thankful hearts, & make us all the days of our lives mindful of this thy fatherly and gracious bountifulness. Then, as presently the queens highness hath gloriously achieved the travail of full seventeen years, and now the annual celebrity of our voluntary sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving therefore, returneth: so it may by thy benefit full often return, & not once or twice, but year by year, and year heaped upon year, we and our offspring may behold this felicity, until we and she satisfied in abundance, the time draw along which thou hast appointed for the veling of her Crown at the feet of thy sun jesus: and the course of this earthly pilgrimage overrun, we and she, at our determined seasons he taken to reign in the everlasting kingdom of thy glory. Again, where much is the mischief of man, great and enormous the rage of Satan, subtle the practices of Antichrist, evil our deserts, lamentable the state of things, whiles open colouring hideth privy conspiring, poisoned lips give sugared words: the breath of Cockatrices, the embracings of Scorpions, the roaring of Bulls, the raging of Rabsake, the sword of Herod, the destruction of Abbadon hath been seen in our streets, hath been hard on our walls, hath multiplied before the gates of our cities: that thou destroy us not in the midst of thy works of thy mercy, to leave us headless and make us a scorn and proverb to the enemy: but rather to behold the number of the faithful subjects, in the dread of their souls, and just jealousy of thyr common interest, bowing the knees of their hearts, for the long safety of Queen Elizabeth's sacred Princely person: rather than in thy just fury for avenging of our sins, to suffer the devil with the wicked to prevail in the unjust zelousnesse of their preposterous vows gracelesly swearing the death of thy Saints and thine anointed. Lastly that what remaineth of the happy building of thy Church by the hands of thy dear daughter: thou plentifully power of thy principal spirit upon her, and ravish her heart with the flame of the love of thee and thy house, with Moses to lead, & with joshua to bring in to the land of promise, with Deborah to fight thy battle, & with jahel to knock Sisera of Rome in the temples of his usurped headship: to his utter destruction, with David, to bring home the Ark, & with Solomon to finish & consecrated to eternity thy Temple, amongst thy people: on the earth for the time to give largely her fostermilke to Jerusalem, in Heaven at the time in the pureness of her virginity to be presented to the Lamb, and sing the song of her wedding day with thy Angels and thy Saints, to the praise of thy glorious Majesty, the father, the son and the holy Ghost, in one eternal Deity for ever and ever. Amen. ¶ FINIS. A.j.