[Page 1]THer hath bene here tofore diuers godly and weldys­posyd persons, that for the preseruacyon and welth off ther own contres: haue taken great paines to wryte and put fourth diuers godly, and notable books for the re­dressyng oft many abuses vsyd in ther comon welthes. A­mong other serteine Englyshmen, perceiuyng the state and comon welth oft England to decaye, being mouyd in con­sciens off a good zeale and trwe hart, that they beare, to this ther naturall contre, haue takē paynes, to sett forth in prynt, dyuers notable books, which haue geuen warning to avoyd the great dangers lyke to folowe in the comon welth off this realme, yf spedy remedy were not prouidyd for.

Fyrst I wyl begyne wyth Iohan fyshe, who perceyuyg the great a busys oft the clergy and sprytualtye,Iohan [...]ys [...]. about xxx yeres past, made a lytle treatyse, and namyd it, the supplica­cyon [...] beggers which God bepraysyd toke some effect: whe [...] thorow the great nomber off monks, [...]upplication [...]. Chanons, Nunnes, false flateryng fryers, and obstinatlyers, wyth ther de­uelysh disemblyng, and ypo [...]ryticall falshode were made manyfest▪ and openly dysclosid, that all men yong and old, dyd perceyue as clere as the day, ther abhominacions, dysemblyng falshod and wyckydnes: ffor the which accordyng to ther desertes, were by king henry the viij vtterly dysclo­syd confusyd and came to nawght, as it is manyfest.

Affter that one other booke was made and put forth, vnder the name off Rodoryck Mors, and namyd a complaynt to the perliament house, [...] de tyke [...]. declaryng the great nomber off Innormytis and abuses that were vsid in the comon welth off this realm the which the more it is to be lamentid, toke litle effect. Besyds many and dyuers other good books made as well in the tyme off K. H. 8. as in the tyme off K. E. 6. which in lyke case toke no effecte.

More over now off late days, one more then a yere past off a good zeale that he hath to this his contre off England, made and sett forth a boke namyng it a supplycacyon to the quenes Mai. [...]ppli [...]ac [...] ­ [...] [...] que wherin he hath manyfestly declaryd, the wyc­kyd deuyses off the shameles by shoppes and clergye off England: how they for the vpholdyng off ther deuelyshe king­dom, haue bene allweyse seruers off the tyme, As was that wyckyd Steven gardener B. off wynchester, [...] who manyfest­ly as the [...] apperyth, declaryd the same by hys booke de (ve­ [...]a obedientia) which boke being then made accordyng to [Page 2] gods worde as he prouyth playnlye, that began to take rote in hym. And afterward being geuen vp off god, he re [...]usyd the same and resystyd gods worde, which booke is wholy agaynst the supremacy off the B. of Rome, the reasons grun­ [...]lyd apon gods worde, wherin he also manyfestly declaryth the ma [...]yag betwene K. H. 8. and quene ca [...]yue to bea [...] together vnlawfull and vngodly, and therby p [...]ou [...]th the quene to be a bastard, as playnlye apperyth·Bonner B▪ off londo [...]. And bonner bysshop off london confirmy [...]h the same by his prologe made before the same booke de vera obedientia, which is notable to be merkyd and notyd of [...] that most wyckyd and dyssemblyng tyrant, who is past all shame and honesty. Also off Tunstall b. o [...]f du [...]ram,Tunstall B. on du [...]ram. off his sermon that he preachyd before K.H. 8. on palm sonday 1539. and is openly in print, proving by ma­ny good and probable reasons, Cardinal pole to be an arrāt traytore to his co [...]re, and worse then an infydell, and doc­tor smyth that wethercoke,Cardinal Pole. that [...]urni [...]h with euery wynd off doctrine, as apperith by his so often recantyng. In the same supplicacion is made an exhortortacion to the lords and gen­tyllmen off England wa [...]nyng them to beware off the c [...]af [...]e and falshode off our dyssemblyng bysshoppes,Doctor Sinyth. and clergy who lyke most arrant traytors, go about to betraye this no­ble realm of England, in to the hands off the prince of spain only for the establyshment off ther wylkyd kingdom,Bysshopps and clergy traytors. w­hich if it come to passe, this noble and [...]e cō [...]re shalbe brought in to most [...]yle bondage, and slauery, the which I besech all­mychty god to defende yff it be his holy wyll and pleasure amen.

Sens that tyme, a trew hartyd Englyshman, percey­uyng the myserable thraldome, seruytude and bondage, that the goodly contres off Naples, Miland &c be brought in to [...]a [...]lye,Naple [...] Myland. to say sens the K. off spaine hath come to the croune ther off, hath made a treatyse calling it a warnyng for England, wherin he hath declaryd playnly and at large, what taxes, tolls, and tributes the K. of spayne and hys spanyerds,The warnīg for England. hath brought those goodly contres vnto both of corne, wyne, fle­she, fyshe, salt, and frutes &c. and what subsydes euery mā off occupacion must pay dayly, as by the same boke at large more playnly apperyth.

And although many occasyons haue bene mynystred and dayly more and more inseuyth, wherby it is to be supposyd, the distruction off our contre to be nere at hand (except Gods great mercye) yett is ther [...]o [...], that hath made the la­mentacyon [Page 3] therof. wherfore perceyuyng such things com to passe, as be allredy done, and dyuers other practyses, wrough and a workyng▪ only to bryng this noble realm in to most vyle bondage and slauery off the spanyerds. I. haue often be waylyd and lamentyd the state theroff: And because it is my dwtye for the loue that I. bere ther vnto I thought it good to sett it forth, that other good and vertues men perceyuyng the dystructyon theroff to be so nere at hand, that they also la­mentyng the state theroff myght be the more mouyd to make ther ernest prayers to allme [...]hty god, that he for his dere sone Iesus Chrystes sak,Ernest prayers. wold spare and be fauorable to ur pour contre off England now over rune wyth horyble ydolatry. And that he wold perdon and forgeue vs om synnes. for the which cause, he hath sent such wyckyd rulers to raygne o­ver vs,Iaco. 5. for as S. Iames sayth the prayer off the Iust man avaylyth mych. And I doubt not, but god is mercyfull pacient and long suffring, and wyll haue mercy apon vs, and apon his pour congregacyon ther▪ orells wher stat [...]ryd abrode, at such tyme as he knouyth best to his honour, and wyll also take ffrom vs our cruell rulers, that haue so sore persecutyd and made hauocke of his sayd congregacyon, the which I besech him to do for the blude of his dere sone our lord Ie [...]us Chryst, that we maye ther once agayne openly confesse his holy na­me, to the vtter confucyon off the kingdom off Antychryste amen.

But forasmych as non off the same godly books and warnings ether com not to the quenes hands, or ells wyll no­thyng molyfye here harte, but that ther is fought malyciusly and off a sett purpose the dystructyon off the noble men gen­tyllmen and comons off Englande wherby may the more easyer be brought to passe, ther most wyckyd deuyses and purposes, that is, to geue away and betray this noble realme off England, in to the hands off the king off spayne and his spaynyerds. wherfore I haue thought it good to declare vnto my natyue contre, serteyne off thes manyfest treasons, and practyses, but fyrst I wyll declare the prophecye off that blessyd marter off god mayster hugh latymer, preaching before the most vertues prynce K.E. 6. in his palays at westmynster 1549. that thes plages shold com apon vs for our vnthank­fullnes, and that god wold send such tyrants to rayne ouer vs, for our vnrepentant hartes, which now is come to passe in dede, and was thought at that tyme a thyng impossyble, but that gods worde must be trewe which was spoken by the holy [Page 4] goost thorow that blessyd martyr M. latymer, and hys fe­low marters and other preachers, as it is come to passe at this day.

And because the prophecye which he then prophecied in his sermon before the king, is now all to gether fullfyllyd as playnlye apperyth,The cawse off the ma­king off this lamentacion. And that sermō & prophecye mouyd me mych to lament the state off our contre, hath also partly caw­syd me to make this lamentacyon apon this realm off Eng­land. And becawse it shall not be thought, that I wyll add or deminysh any parte off the sayd prophecy, I▪ wyll here recy­te ꝑte of hit, worde for worde as it is printid in the boke off his sermō, he taking accasion to prech before the king, of the dwty of kings rulers, and Maiestrates, as here after folowith.

It makyth no matter by what name the rulers be namid yf so be they shall walke ordinatly with god and direct ther steppes with god, for both patriarks, Iudges,The very wordes off M. Latimers sermon. and kings, had and haue ther auctorite off god, and therfore godly, but this ought to be considred, which god said. Non praeficere tibi potes hominem alienum, that is thou must not sett a strenger ouer the. It hath pleasid god to graunt vs a naturall liege king, and lord off our own nacion, an Eng­lishman, one off our own religion god hath geuen him vnto vs, and is a most precius treasure,A stranger to be king. and yet many off vs do de­sire a stranger to be king ouer vs. Lett vs desire no more to be bankers, but lett vs in deuoure our selues to walke ordinatly and plainly after the word off god, lett vs folow daniell, le [...]t ys not seke the death of our most noble and rightfull king, our own brother both by natiuite and godly religion, lett ys pray for his godly estate that he may liue long among vs.

wel the kings grace hath sisters, my lady Mary and my lady E [...]sabeth, which by succession and course ar inheritors to the crown, who yff they should mary with strangers, what shuld in [...]ewe god knowith, but god graunt they neuer come to coursing nor succeding, therfore to avoid this plage,A strange King. lett vs amend our liues, and put away all pride, which doth droune men in thes dais, all co [...]etisues wherin the Magistrates and rich men off this realm ar ouer whelmid, all lechery and all other excessiue vices, prouoking gods wrath, were he not mercifull, even to take frō vs, our natural king and lege lord and to plag vs uith a strange king for our vnrepentant hart, wherfor yff you say ye loue the king, amend your liues and thē ye shalbe a meane, that god shall lend him vs, long to raygn over ys, for vndoutidly s [...]n [...]s prouoke [...]ich gods wrath scripture [Page 5] saith, Dabo tibi regem in furore meo. that is I will geue the a king in my wrath, Now we haue a lawfull king, & a godly king, neuerthelesses yet many euels do raign, and a litle after now I here say all things ar endid after a godly maner, or els shortly shalbe, make hast make hast, and lett vs lern to convert to repente and amend our lyues, yf we do not I fere I fear least for our sinnes, & vnthākfullnes an hipocrite shall raign o­ver vs, Long time we haue bene seruan [...]s and in bondage, seruing the pope in Egipt, god hath geuen vs a deliueret, a na­turall king,A naturall King. lett vs not seke no stranger of another nacion, no hipocrite which shall bring in a gain all papistry, ypocrisie, & ydolatry, no diabolicall minister, which shall maintaine all deuelishe workes & euell excersises,M. Latimers w [...]rdes full­fillid. but lett vs pray that god maintaine, and contin [...] our most excelent king here present trwe inheritour of this our realm both by natiuite and also ly the speciall gift and ordinance of god &c.

[...] this prophecie of that blessid marter of god M. Lati­mer be not now com to passe and fullfillid let all men Iudge▪ which before was not regardid, ye it was thought a thing im­possible such alteracion and tiranny, so sone to haue folowid▪ as now plainly apperith, and yet this is but the beginning off sorows & plages that shall folow, onles god of his great mercy (at the crie and lamentacion of the pour oppressid, which lyue in misery and bondage of conscience) feare thes plages now begone, and manifestly appere before our eies, for our in gratitude and great vnthankfullnes.

Oh what a plage is it to see strangers rule in this noble realme violently, wher befor time trwe hartid Englishmen haue gouernid quietly? what a lamentable thing is it? that although quene Mary being born in England, and had to here father a noble and trwe hartid prince and English man?The [...] spa­nish mother. yet she fo­lowith nothing his steppes in trew zeal to this realm, becawse she toke the most part off here blude and stomake off her spa­nish mother, and therfore from time to time euer regardid her spanish kinred, and permotid them, by geuing them l [...]cen­sis,The span­ierds cary a­way our [...]. wherby they do cary and convay away, out of this realm fre [...]y without paieng any custome therfore, our goudly & best comodites, as woll Tin̄ leade lether &c. to the great decay and ympouerishment, off the pour comons off this realm, by [...]a [...]son wheroff the said comodites, be now at doble pryces, that they were before, & also pour men cannot be set a worke as they haue bene.

Ye who seith not but that she sekith the destruction of those [Page 6] nobles & gentillmen, that here noble father tenderly lo­uid? the thing is manifest and cannot be denied, who wold e­uer haue thought such vnnaturalnes, as to cawse that worthy and vertuose Lady, Lady Iane, being inocent and giltles,Lady Iane▪ put to death. as the quene here self did thinke, being compellid to take the stat apon here of xvij. yeres of age, and so nere off here kindrid, to be so cruelly murtherid?

Also to cawse that worthy and vertues man,Thomas Cramner▪ Archbishop off canterbu­ry. and mar­ter of god Thomas Cramner Archbishop of canterbury, to be so cruelly murtherid who sauid here liff, what time as K.H. 8. here father wold haue dispachid here, for her cōtempt & diso­bedience, when nether the old duke of Nortfolke, nor oth [...] off the temporall lords of the counsell could intreat here said fa­ther, but that she shoud die, then went this meke archbisshop to be king, and so prudently pewrsadid him, that he spa [...]de here and sauid her lyff, which when he had obtainid the duke off Northfolk & the other lordes off the [...] counsel gaue hym, such thāks for that dais worke, saieng to him that yf euer they liued and lay in ther pouer thei wold requite it, so that it is to be supppsid that yff the sayd duke off Northfolke & had liuid, he shuld not haue bene so cruelly murtherid. But here is to be notid great ingratitude, and vnthanfullnes, to requite him with death that sauid here liff.

K.H. 8. here noble father perceiuing the wisdom, sobre­nes honestie, meknes, and good lerning off the said Tho­mas Cramner, promotid him not only to be archbishope off Canterbury, but also metropolitan, and primate of all Eng­land, and becawse he so prudently and soberly behauid him selff therin he made him cheff off this preuy counsell, and for the fidelite that he found in him, at the time off his death, he made him one of the cheff of his executors off his testament and last will: when he put out Gerdenar. B. of winchest, & comittid vnto him as one off his executors the gouernance off his sone, that worthy prince king Edward the vj,K. Edward. vnder which noble prince, this realme off England was quietly gouernid and rulid, with out any such cruelty and tirany as to vsid now adais.

Wherfore o England / England / La­ment, lament, how great and greuouse are thin offencis, and sinnes, that god is so sore displeasid with the, to suffer such ru­lers to bridle the and so sore to plage and scourg the,A very Rod [...] off god. ye ve­rely a very rood of god apointid, and therfore wounderfully and meruelusly reseruid and kept, to plage England, for ther [Page 7] vnthankfullnes, and for not knowing the time off ther visi­tacion▪ wherfore now England repent repent, and bewaile thy miserable sta [...]e, for iff thou do it not tyght sone, thow art no [...] like shortly to be ouer thrown with strāgers and tyrāts▪ who will rule and bridle the, as they haue alredy thretenid the, thy goodly womē and faier doughters will thei defile, thy pleasant houses and goodly places off pleasure shalbe geuen vnto thē, and they shall in ioie thy labours, which thou & thy forefathers, with great pain trauell, and troble haue gathe­rid to gether for the, the thing is now a working, and the fire ackindling, so that yff god only off his great mercye help the not, thou art like to be distroid very shortly, for they that guide the my people,Esay. 3. saith the prophet Esay, are extorcioners and [...]o men haue rule ouer you. O my people thy leaders de­same the, and distroy the way off this foot steppes. It is ye that haue burnt vp my vine yard, and the spoyle of the pour is in your houses, wher fore do ye oppresse my people, and smite the [...]on the [...]a [...]is saith the lord off hostes.

It is [...] in the 34. chap. off the booke off the holy mā Iob.Iob. 34. that for the sinnes off the people god suffrith a tyrant to raign ouer them▪ yf England now haue not tirans and womē to rule an̄ raigne ouer them, let all men Iudge? doth not all ther d [...]ngan̄ procedings declare manifestly that if hath bene laborid and gone about by all the wais & meanes that can be deuisid or ymaginid to geue away (I will not saie to betray) this noble realme off England, in to the hands off the spanierds.

The quene [...] off Spain. Fyrste dyd not the quene in mediatly as sone as she came to the gouernance &. dignite off this realm desire to mary with the prince off spaine, and assone as the matter was espied, [...]ere not, 20 off the perliament house sent to here, to declare what: normites wold folow to the realm if she maried with any stranger, and therfore desirid here to ma­ry within the realm, wherby it is esye to be perceiuid what she hath had alwaise in here minde.

After that was it not pretentyd, assone as she was maried that she was with child, and without all shame cawsid the sa­me to be published an̄ sett abrode in print and subscribid with the hand off 1 [...]. off the preuy counsell that the hole body off the realme, [...]he pretēdid [...] be with child might thinke the same to be trwe, and imme­diatly apon the same callid a perliament, becawse the nobles and comons should be the more willing & redy to condis­send and to geue the crone off this noble realme, to the prince off spaine, to thentent that he with his proud spainierd might [Page 8] bridle this brithanishe nacion, according as it is sett out in print about the fisnamy or pictur of the quenes in thes words.

And when it was perceiuid that ther practise wold take no place, but that it was espyed in the pliament howse, and that he could not haue the crone to him, were they not then markid and notid, who were against it and to some off them were sent parents of 100. lib. a yere some of 200. lib. a yere,Patentes ge­uen, and grauntid. some more some lesse according as time and accacion seruid, to stope ther mouthes withall, & loke who shewid not them selues redy on inclining to take a bribe to betray this ther naturall conne, was not one quarell or another pikide to him or them, wherby they were brought quorum nobis, and then to lay ether treason or heresie (as they call it) to ther charges, wherby many were brought in to preson as it is manifest, by reason wheroff who dare speake ther minds frelie in the said perliament houss, according to the auncient priuileges off this noble realme? and is not this also a plage which is come apon vs for our vn [...]hankfullnes according as our true prechers and prophets declarid to vs as is afore said. And for the more furtherance off this ther wickid purpose, did they not with out all shame, sett out in print, a genelogy or petigre in the english tonge, to proue by the same genelogy that the prince off spain came off the bloud off king Edward the third. Be all thes practises think you, for any other purpose, but for to cause the comon people, to haue such a good opinion off the prince of spa [...]ne, that they might be the more redy an̄ willing, to haue him cro [...]nid king, off this realm. And therby to disinheret,This genelo­gy had bene treason in the time of K.H. 8. all the next rightfull heires off the same, and so to bring this noble realm in to the bondage off strangers, contrary to the auncient la [...]s, statu [...]s, and customs off this noble realme off England.

And no [...] of late who is ignorant of so many noble men and gentilmen fech [...]d out off all shires, and cauillacions & quarels pikid to them, and so cast in to prison (as they say) v­pon suspection of conspiracie against the quene, which thing is but vaine and ymagined as apperid lately by M. Iohn frogmarton, who at the time off his execution,Iohan frog­marten. confessid openly to the people that he neuer offendid in any treason against the quene, and therapon toke his death, and yet he was most cruelly hangid drawen and quartrid: how be it I know some men will answere and say, that he was cōdempnid by the law [Page 9] and the quest passid against him and found him gilty &c but I wold know off the again? I pray the what quest dare quite a­ny man, were he as ygnorant and clere as Susanna, yff the Iud­ges condēpne him, as the wickid Iudges condempnid here, be­cawse she wold not condissent to ther shamfull lust and desire.

Do ye not know how 12. honest and substancial merchāt men off london were handlid not long sens, because they cle­rid & found sir Nicolas throgmarten not gilty, according to ther othe and conscience, but what was ther reward, were they not all most shamfully put in preson, wher they lay mise­rably some halff a yere,The quest that quit sir Nicolas frogmarten inprisonid therfore. some more some lesse, and afterward were fain to pay some off them 200. lib· some 500. merks, so­me more some lesse to the quene, according to ther abillite and substance, or ells they should haue remaynyd styll in preson, with out any right, iustice, or lawe.

Here by ye may perceiue, what tyranny is vsid, and by this practise they haue so fearid honest men that should go apō any quest for the quene, that they will say and do as the quene will haue them, rather then to be so cruelly and shamfully in­treatid and handlid as those 12. honest merchant men were before, who hath herd of the like tiran̄y vsid in England before this time, I do remēber in the time of K. H. 8. that the lord da­cres of the north was indightid of treasō,The lord dacres. and a quest of honest mē did quite him according to equite and iustice, and yet I ne­uer herd that any off the same quest were ether in prisonid or trublid therfore.

Is it not also manifest how shamfully, those thwo knights, Sir peter Carow and Sir Iohan Cheke wer betraied, taken and caried away, ryding betven bru [...]sells and Andwerp, in the county of brabant. And had not Sir peter Carow his pardon sent him ouer the see, so liberally, both for lifflands and goods that a larger perdon hath neuer bene grauntid. And likwise Sir Iohan Cheke had he not the quenes licens, to depart the realm, and being both as it was supposid in ther princes fauour [...] or at the least no mā perceiuid the contrary, for they both had bene with the quenes embassadors at brussells, Andwerp and barro, mich frendly comunicaciō and great chere was had betwen thē, after that they riding to gether to brussells, to them bassadors, which were ther presēt both to gether, wher they were frendly, and louingly interteinid, and great chere was made to thē thre dais to gether, and no maner thing laid to ther char­ges, and also louingly and frendly toke ther leue of the sayd emblassadors, and returnid towerd Andwerp again, were most shamfully, by the kings marshall of that cōtre taken, and [Page 10] like theues caried away, and so conuaied to the tower of lon­don. Is not this also a lamentable case, to here thes two gentil­mē, to be betraied so shamfully,Princis pro­myss not pe [...]formed who wil trust such rulers with any maner promisses, whē they thus seke to betray, the noble and gentillmen, of this realme. Is this the truth and credēs that should begeuen to princes wordes, when they thus shamfully pluke bake that they haue grauntid, and perform not that they haue promisid.

More ouer who seith not playnly now that the prince of spain hath optainid to haue the name of the king of Englād and also is ꝑmittid in our english coine to ioin out english armes with the armes of spain▪ an̄ his [...]namy with the quenes, the croune of Englād being made ouer both ther heds in the midest, and yet apō nether of thē both, and the sup­scripciō about the same coines was with the name of philipe and Mary as apperith▪ sens that time, is it not manifest,The king vsyth the ar­mes off eng­land in his coin with ou [...] the quenes name o [...] [...]s [...] ­my. that he in his own priuate coine hath vsurpid ferther, and ioinid his armes with the armes of Englād, and made his pictur alone, with themperiall crone of Englād apon his head, leauing out both the quenes picture, and also here name▪ and so vsith both the name and armes of England with out the quenes▪ hauing this sup [...]cripcion about his coine Philip [...]. [...]nglie, francie, n [...] ­apolis princep. hispaine, by this ye may perceiue what he doth intend and purpose, and that [...]e sought not in mariage the quenes person, but the welthy and rich land off England.

Besides this, what practises be inuentid daily, to set Englād at va [...]iance with fraunce, it is not vnknown, not only by ge­uing out that englishmē should go aboute to betray callis to the frenchmen, wherby our new king might haue accasiō to send in soldiers of his, an̄ so take the town and sortes for him selff, but also to cawse some of our Ioly [...]ckers, which be soldiers about guines, or hāmes, to pike quarrels with the frenchmen to set vs & thē to gether by the eares, that by that meanes the quene might haue accasiō,Practice [...] set vs at v [...] ance with france. & that it might be thought she should be cōpellid, to send out both shippes & soldiers, & so not on­ly cōsume the greatist [...] of the substāce an̄ treasure of the re­alm, with the artillary and navy of the same, but also wilbe accasion off distruction off a great nomber off the noble men gentyllmen & comons off this realm.

It is not long sens that we had warres with fraunce, which was for thēprours pleasur, but what folowid ther of, it is not vnknown dyd it not all most begger the hole realm,The frutes off warres. besids the losse, & distructiō of a great nōber of worthy gentilmē and comōs▪ Therfore I wold desire the states of the realm, that they [Page 11] wilbe circūspect an̄ well aduisid; how they attempt, to breake wyth fraunce, for the pleasure of any other princes, least they be the occasiō of the distruction and beggery of the hole realm.

More ouer it is to be considred when king henri the 8. begā warres with fraunce, how that before he had bene at rest and quiet 30. yeres with out any warres,what we ha­ue susteynid by the last warres nith france. in the which time, he had gatherid diuers waies, great great substance and treasure wherby it was supposid he to haue had sufficient, to haue maintainid his said warres with all: but for all that, was he not sam to gather off his nobilite, clergy, and comons, diuers great subsides, beniuolencis, lones or lending off mony, besides also our fine coines off gold and siluer, was turnid in to copper and brasse as it is manifest at this day▪ which was a great dacay to our comō welth, as it cannot be denied. wherfore yf the que­ne should now begin warres with france, for her husbōds pleasure,The quene hath no pro­vision a forehand. and haue not the like prouicion aforehand in compari­son off her said noble father (as it is to be supposid that she hath not) by raison she hath geuen away so mich to the b. off Rome and his adherents, and beggerid her nobles and comōs to set vp her spitfull spritualty (so that the old prouerb is now fulfyllyd, S. Nicolas is on horse bake and S. George is on fote) wher apon it is to be thought that she hath nothing the like prouision, that her said noble father had, when he began to haue warres with fraunce. And therfore I will leue it to the counsell and states off the realm, to consider what will folowe,The mass is the occasion off the great dearth in England. [...] we should at this present, haue warres nith frāce for as I do vnderstond, by other, England is in as great misery and penuri at this day, as hit hath bene in many yeres before, the dearth of come, and all maner of vitall be so exce­ding dere, although at the first coming in off the quene to he­re raygne, it was reportid, that that shamfully doll, (the bles­sid masse as they call it) had brought with it, all things plenty, which being contrary▪ now plainly apperith, to be the occasi­on off the great vengeance off god apon this realm, for so shamfully receiuing again, that wickid and abhominable pop stome, with all ther wickid ceremonies, express [...]y against god and the death of his sone Christ.

This haue I writton, considring it to be my dwty in waring my natiue contre, to auoid the great plages and dangers, that be now coming apō them, and knowing it also to be the dwty of euery christean & trwe hartid englishman, and that man that perceiuith this his natiue contre like to come in to ruyn and distruction, and doth not indeuore hym selff by all theme [...] he can deuise, for the deliuerance ther of, the same is not [Page 12] worthy to be countid a trwe hartid englishman,Miles ho­gerd & his fel [...]ws. but a traitou­re to his contre, what shall then euery trwe hartid englishmā, Iudge of Miles hogerd and his felow helpers, who more like swinherds haue made, a shamfull, railing, folishe, and blasphe­mus boke, against god and his pour persecutid members, and afflictid, congregacion now dispersid abrode in diuers con­ties for his names sake, who by ther flathering bocks,Themisto­cles saieng. extol­lith the King aboue the mone, aledging in ther books the saieng off Themistoc [...]es, to the Athenians by thes words why mak eye thes tumultes and rumors, against rhem, off w­hom by manifold wais, ye haue receiuid so many comodites what shall all men Iudge off this shamelese flaterers. I pray you what commodites hath England receiuid, of the king: Except it be, that they bestowid an hundrid thousand ponds, for his charges, to bring him, and his nauy off spainierds in to england, which mony, thenglishe merchants latly haue paid at Andwerp as it is manifest and cannot be denied. Besids that what discomodites and [...] England is like to receiue by hym, I pray god thy may bewarnid to take hede in time. And as touching the kings persone, I know non to find any faute with it, exceapt the quene her selff do,The spani­erds report of the quene. for lake off his compa­ny so long, the which as it is reportid he litle regardith, for as his spanierds haue blasid abrode in other contres saieng what shall the king do with such an old bich, also affirming that she may be his mother, a yonger is more meter for him, with mo­dispitfull words spoken off them, the which yff an englishmā should report, should be taken for to odius. And as for Eng­land with a great nomber off the states of other contres: could haue bene very well content,The dowgh­ter off portingal. that he had ꝓcedid with his former mariage, with the dowghter off portyngall, which had bene more feter and quieter for him, both by the Iudgment of his own spanyerds, & also of many other. And as for the nobles and comons off England, they could haue bene very well pleasiid, that the quene had also maried withī the realm as with the lord Courteney earl off deuenshir borne of a noble house,Lord court­ney poisonid or with some other noble man. And so had the said lord Courtney not bene compellid for the saue gard off his liff, to haue trauelid beiond the sees in to strange cōtres, wheras it is supposid he was poisonid, for fear of [...] putting the prince off spaine besid his protensid enterprise.The lady fransis doughter off to the french quene

what shall men Iudge also off the quene, that now suf­frith the aspergement off her blude, and suffrith the hieres ap­parant off the crone to many so basely and vilre, to bring ther­by the succession, out off estima [...]ion, that people may the les­se [Page 31] care yf the croune, go to a stranger, which is contrary to the lawes and statu [...]s of this realm, which wold not haue be­ne suffrid in the time of King Henry the 8. nor in any other [...]ing or princes time, that had set by the honour of the realme▪ who [...]erth not the practisys that is vsid daily, and all for pour England. The conclusions [...] peace with the french king, so [...] redounding to ther dishonours becawse they might the more quietly, worke, and make ther practis for Englād, with▪ [...] sett or interupcion off any other forain princes.

And becawse they haue failid off ther purpose at two perl [...]aments and cannot haue ther desire,The [...] by the comen assent who [...] not ther practise and in [...]ent, to enter apon the re­alm with pour and force, and so to ca [...]e the prins off spayn to m [...]ke a conqueste off thys noble Realme (yff he cann) and therby to desinheret all the n [...]ble blude and comons off England, and to plant in ther places the vyle spanyerds▪ c [...]ntrary to the rightfull laws and customs off this realm.The quene [...]. And dyd not the quene when she was crownid, take a [...] to mayntain and defend the old and ancyent [...] customs on this realm, and how she kepith them [...] iudge.

Moreouer what a greuounse plag is it, perceyuing the great dearth and scante off corn [...] [...]ail &c to be in all eng­land at this present which hath not bene seen many yeres before, [...] wherby the comon People be in grea [...] pouerty and misery: that ther is gatheryd such great subsidies off them, besids, iones or sending off mony, as is now, only to kepe them low, and in misery, that the prince off [...]payne may the [...]one [...] prain to come to his [...]aid pretensid enterpryse.

At the quenes first coming to here rayng, she forgaue the subsidye, that was grauntid to King Edward the 6. w­herby it is to be supposid she had no great nede off mony, or ells it was to make the people more willing to consent, that she should mary with the prince off spayne.

Is it not also manifest, that sens she came to her state and dignite, that she hath had no warres, wherby here treasure should be consumyd, but contrary wyse hath gotten great possessyons and substaunce off those noble men and gentyllmen, that haue suffrid most cruell death, besids great [...] that she toke an̄ doth take of many noble men and other [Page 14] s [...]ns she came to her raygne as it is manyfest.what the quen mea­nith by ga­thering off mony. But all her gathering is to help the King her husbond, and to enrich him and to make him strong, that he may the more easely com in and conquere this noble realm.

Also is it not manyfest how many thousand pounds is dayly payd, by Thenglish merchants and staplers at And­werp, by the quenes comaundement, and daily more and more is paid by them, and therfore Thenglish merchants, ar comaundid, to make ouer but two shyppyngs a yere, to the vtter vndoing off a great sort off yong merchant men who ar not able to abide ther merkets so long,wha the en­glish mer­chants must pay at and­werp for the quene. and wher­fore do they cawse this ordinance to be made▪ but only that at such tymes, many clothes and wolles may be shyp­pyd ouer the sees to gether: off the which clothes and wol­les the sayd merchants must lend to the quene, a serteygne some off mony off euery cloth, &. serpler off wole, that they so shyppe, that it may amount to .xxx. or xl. thou­sand pounds at a tyme to thentent that it may serue the king▪ to maynteyne hym and his mynyons out off the realm, becawse he hath no great h [...]st Home to the quene, being now more then xv monythes from Here, wherby it is ma­nyfest and playnly apperyth as clere as the sone, that in ma­riage he sought not the quenes persone but only the rich and welthy realm of England.

And by cawse I know my name shalbe abusyd, for wryting thus playnly my mynd, for the dwtye and good wyll that I bear to my natyue contre, I do desyre the ther­fore gentyll reader, what so euer thou be,The auctors request. that thou wyle consyder, how many worthy men off the Romayns, dyd not passe to venter ther liues, and gaue them selues to the de­ath, for the delyuerance off ther contre,Mucius Seuola. Marcus Curcius. as Caius Mucius Seuola, Marcus Curctus, and many other (as plainly ap­perith in Titus Liuius, the Romayns story) for the deliue­uerance of ther Cyte, cōtres and comon welth from the hands of strangers ther henemyes, like as I do at this tyme, and ther fore I do desyre them to Iudge the best off me consydryng I do but my dwtye,Miles ho­gerd and his felous at blind snailes and hyssing serpents. which likewise is the parte and dwry off euery trwe hartid Englishe man.

And as for hogerd and his felows who may be comparid to blind snailes, and hissing serpents, creping out of ther holes to fight against dead men▪ and also with such whose answers [Page 15] cannot be suffrid to be rede and indifferētly to be iudgid, and therfore thes snailes may be bold to crepe apon ther own dūghills, to lie, slander, and condempne, Christes pour members at ther own pleasure, for yf our answers might be suffrid open lie to be red and indifferently to be iudgid (such answers should be made to ther follshe and slanderus books wul [...]aledgid auctors out off the grauesend barge, which be mete couers for such cuppes) they suould be so paintid out in ther colers,Hogerds au­ctor aledgyd out off the grauesend barge. that they should be ashamid here af [...]r, to Raile and lie as they haue done, onles they be past all shame, like as that inocent prelate doctor standish, who long agone wrote a treatise a­gainst doctor barnes aste▪ he was burnid, which offentmies affterward he lamentid, and recantid the same: who now be­ginnith again to wax bold like a snaile creping out of his shel seing no man dare openlie resist him, beginnith again to wri­te, and affirmith that he will now abide (by his folishe fantasies) to the death,D. standish is a cokes come. alake pour cokesscom, that turnith with e­uery wind off doctrine, as a great nomber off his felows haue done, who being more wily, and crafty then he is, although they make books ar ashamid to setto ther names, for fear off after clappes, for they dought how long this hothe wether off persecucjon, and borning wil continew, and therfore ar contentid, that such swinherds as Miles hogerd and his felous be, shall beare the name,Miles ho­gerd. who for vain glory, and hope to come to promocion, ar contentid like blind busserds, to take it a­pon them.

Thomas Archbi [...]. off canterbury b. off londō. b. off worcetr̄ b. off glocetr̄ b. S. Dauiths doctor tailor M. rogers, M. bradford M. sanders, M. filpot &cwho euer hard off so many worthy bisshops, and lernid men, to be so cruelly martrid, as hath bene now off late dais, as namly Thomas Cramner archbissop off Canterbury, M. Ridley bisshope off london M. Latimer sometime bisshop worceter, M. hoper bisshop off gloceter M. pfarer bisshop off S. Dauiths, doctor tailer off hadle M. Rogers, M. brad­ford M. filpot, M. sanders, with many other vertues & ler­nid men, befid M. grene, & M. Cawsten gent [...]llmen, and many other gentillmē in diuers shires & places off England, be­sids also many vertues men and women, whose nomder I can­not sertenly reherse, but amsure and serteine, that ther names ar writton in the boke off liff, and becawse our Rulers wold haue ther tiran̄ie made the more manifest to the word, did they not lately burne 13. men & women in one fire, at stratford the bow besids london.

Yff for our sinnes and vnthankfullnes, god hath not sent vs strangers and tirants to Raine ouer vs, according to the prophecy off M. Latimer, then was ther neuer any. Yet ha| [Page 16] haue we one notable example of a wickid tirant, in the third booke off the kings. in the xvij.xviij. and xix. capters we read off that cursid woman quene Iesabell,Reg. 17 18 19. chap. who off a wickid zeal that she had to the seruing off here false ydols cawsid all gods holy prophets to be persecutid and staine, in so mich that the holy Prophet Elias was fain to fly in to the wildernes,Quene Iesabell. to saue his lyff, wher god sent arauen to fede hym, wher he cried and cōplainid to god, sayeng lord they haue distroied all thy holy prophets, and I am only escapid, and yet they seke after my liff, but god answerid Elias and sayd I haue yet reseruid vnto me vij. thousand, that haue not bowid ther Knees vnto [...]all not worshippid his ymage &c. Euen so I trust, and doubt not, for all the greuouse persecucions,Elyas. and tyrany that is day­ly vsid against gods saints god hath reseruid many that haue not bowed ther knees to ther ydols, but that do continew in ther prayers still to god, for his pour afflictid church off Eng­land, now dispersid and staterid abrode, at whose [...]rye and la­mentable complaint, god will aduenge him selff off his and our aduersaries, our wickid rulers, and will bring some off them to as shamfull an end, as he did that cursid, and wickid woman quene Iezeqell.

wherfore dear brethern, sease not to lament, and bewaile our sinnes, and the state and misery off our countre, that is come apon vs for our vnthankfulnes and for not knowlegyng the time of our visytacyon and doubt the not, but god is good mercifull, pacient and long suffring, and will at his appointid time so confoūd them with all ther false spitful spritualty▪ that all the world shall know, that he only is the lord in all the earth. wherfore I say once again deare brethern, lament, lamēt, the state of our natiue, cōtre, & sease not to crye with me vn­to god & to besech him for his deare sone our saue your Iesus Christes sake, that he will haue mercy apō his po [...]n church off England, and that he will not geue vs ouer in to the hands of strangers and tyrants, his and our henemies, for our sinnes and vnthankfullnes.Psalm. 107. for as the Prophet Dauith saith in the 107. psalm it is he that for the sinnes off the people, makith a frut­full land to be barine &c. a godly & compfortable psalm for all such as be oppressyd with tyranny, wherin the afflictid, & troblid consciens, shalbe well satisfied. Ther vnto accordyth the saieng off the holy man Iob,Iob. [...]4. that for the sinnes off the peo­ple, god sendith tirantes to raigne ouer them. seing then that for our sin̄es et vnthāk fullnes we haue prouokid gods wrath who hath sent vs thes tirāes to rule ouer vs, we haue now non other wais nor meanes then only to subsmitt our selues vn­der [Page 17] the migkty hand off god &, [...]ges 10 to folow the example off the childern off Israell, who were gods electe and chosen people what time as they had offendid god by worshipping ydols, he ponisshid them by sending strangers & tirants to Rule & rain ouer them who oppressid them (as our rulers do now vs) wherfore they turnid to god, humhlid them selues with praier and fasting, & confessyd ther sinnes and vnthankfullnes: and the lord said to them, did not the hethen before oppresse you, and ye cryed vnto me, anb I deliuerid you out off ther hands, & for all that, ye forsoke me againe, and worshippid ther gods, wherfore I will help you no more, go & complain vnto those gods which ye haue seruid, & looke yff they will help you out off your misery. And they confessyd & said to the lord, we haue sinnid, do thou with vs, what so euer pleasith the, deliuer vs only at this time, and they put away ther ydols and seruid the lord, and the lord had pite apon ther misery, and deliuerid them out off ther henemies hands &c. Oh lett this godly example moue vs to crye vnto the lord, with out sea­sing, and confesse like wise our sinnes and vnthankfullnes, & say to the lord with the Prophet Esay,A praier for he chiurch of England. Esay 37. oh lord of hostes, thou art god alone off all the kingdoms off the arth, thou only hast creatid heauen and earth, encline thin cares and consider, opē thyn eyes, and see our miserys, and delyuer vs from the hands off our aduersaries, that all the kingdoms off the arth may know that thou only art the lord. Ieremy. 5. oh lord call to remembrance what we haue suffrid, [...]eremy. 5. consider and see our cō ­fucion, our in heritaunce is turnid to strangers, & our hou­ses to foreners. Esay. 55. (oh lett vs seke the lord while he is to be found, & lett vs call apon hym whyle he is nigh, so wyll he be marcifull to vs) Thy holy Prophet Dauith sayth.Esay. 55. that lyke as a father pitieth his own childern, so thou lord hast mercy and pite apon them that fear the. wherfor oh lord be mercifull to vs, and remember not our offencis, nor the offencis off our fore fathers,Psalm. 103. nether take thou vengeance of our sinnis, spare vs good lord, spare thy pour afflictid churh off England whom thou hast redemid with thy most precius blude, and be not angry with vs for euer, but deliuer vs this one tim from our cruell enemies, which most cruelly oppres and persecute vs with most cruell death, becawse we will not worship the works of ther own handes, which worship doth perteine to the only our lord god, therfore ar we spoilyd off our goods, & persecutid from contre to contre. oh lord our god hear our prayers, which thou dost geue vs grace to make for thy pour afflictid church off England, oh do not prolong [Page 18] becawse thou [...]eist, how thy most holy & blessyd name is dayly blasphemid, thorow false and wickid doctrin, wher before thy holy worde was truly preachyd & taught, & thy church ther did bear the professyon off thy name, oh call to remem­braunce how mercifull thou hast bene to thy people off old ti­me, when they were disobedient, & did for sake the, and worshippid the works of ther own hāds (like as in England they now do) thou didest not vtterly reiect them,Iudges. 3. Iueges. 6. Iudges. 14. 3. Reg. 9.10. Macha. 2.3. Ieremy. 14. but when they repentid, and confessyd ther sinnes and turnid to the with all ther harts, thou mercifully forgauest ther sinnes, and sentyst them deliuerers, as Aliud, ge drō Samson, [...]ehw Machabeas & other, who deliuerid them from strangers ther henemies Iere­my. 14. we knowledg oh lord all our misdeds, and the sin­nes off our fore fathers, for we haue offendid the, be not still displeasid with vs (oh lord) for thy names sake, forget not thy louing kindnes, and remenber the throu off thy glory, oh be mercifull to vs, be mercifull to vs. psalm. 83. hold not thy tonge oh lord, kepe no lenger silens, refrain not thy selff oh god, for lo thin henemyes make a hurle burle, they ymagin crafft against thy people, and conspire against them, com say they lett vs rote them out, from among the people. Oh my god make them lyke a whole, and as the stuble before the wynd, per­secute them with thy tempest, make ther facis ashamid,Psalm. 83. oh lord that they may seke thy name. lett thē be confoundid & vexid euer more and more, lett them be put to shame and perish, that they may know, that thou art god alone, and that thy name is the lord, and that thou only art the most hyest over all the earth. psalm. 35. Striue thou with them that striue agaynst the and fyght thou with them that fyght against the let them be as the dust before the wind and thy angell oh lord scateryng them, lett sodayn distruction com apon them vnwares,Psalm. 35. And the ne [...] that they haue laid preuely cach themselfs in, that they may fall in ther own mishefe, so will we geue the thanks in the great congregacyon and prayse the among all people, oh lord here vs, oh lord be mercifull to vs,Esay. 40. oh lord do not prolong the tyme, becawse thy pour church off England haue borne the professyon off thy name. Thou knowist oh lord, that all flesh is as grass and all the glory off man as the flour off the feld, the grase witherith and the flour [...]adith away, but thy worde indurith for euer. wherfore oh lord call to remembraunce thy great mercies and thy louing kindnes, according to thy pro­misses, and do not consider, nor haue respect vnto the nom­ber off our daily sinnes, and wickidnes, but according to thy great mercies we do besech the to forgeue vs. in thy dear sone [Page 19] our saueiour Christes blude, and say vnto vs, thou art our helth, which woldest not the death off a sinner, but rather that he convert and turn from hys sinnes and wickidnes. Convert thou vs vnto the, so shall we be convertid, ad turn thou vs vnto the, which ar in extrem misery so shall we be confortid, for as thy holy prophet Dauith sayth, yff thou shouldist loke na­rowly apon our sinnes and wickednes, lord who might abyd before t [...]e,Psalm. 130. but he saith ther is mercy with the, and therfore art thou worshippid. Again he saith lord enter not into Iudgmēt with thy seruants, for no man liuing shalbe found ryght wise before the. Seing oh lord thou knowist all things, and no­thing [...]s hid from the,Psalm. [...]43. thou knowist also that all fleshe is grass, & no good thing can com from vs, as of our selues, being but flesh and blud, and all to gether vnproffytable seruants, stre [...] now forth thy mighty hand & confound the deuisis of thin & our henemies abate ther pride aswage ther mallis which styll continew, and persecu [...]e thy pour afflictid church off Eng­land, that all the word may know, that thou art the liuing god & lord that rulist ouer the whole world, then shall we mang­nify and praise thy holy name, which liuist and raygnist one god in the holy Trynite, to whom be geuen all honour glory and prayse, for euer and euer world with out end: Amen Amen, 30. December. 1556.

The Addicyon: Here before in this treatyse christen reader / which I fynishede and sent in to my natyue contre more then a yere past, I haue declaryd what dystomodytes folowid the last warres, that we had with france, to say, not only the losse of a great nomber of noble and worthymen of our countre, but also thorow the same, our good coynes of gold and syll­uer, were turnyd into copper and brasse, as it is manyfest: wherfore I desyryde the states of the realme, to haue good consyderacyons, and respectes before they brake with france for any forayn prynces pleasure &c. the which request I doubt not but mani trew englysch harts do now wyshe that they had folowid. Sens the which tyme, the quene and counsell as is aforesayd (being a stourge and rood to plage Englād for our vnthankfulnes) haue of ther own fantasticall ymagynacyons, for the prince of spaynes pleasure, not only with out the con­sent of any parliament broken and begone warres with fran­ce: but also cōtrary, to thact off parliamēt made in the first yere of her rayne, [...]ead thact off [...] when the conclusyons were made with them­proure, for her cursyd mariage (may England say) with the [Page] prince of spayne▪ as in the sayd statude plainly apperith: wher­by asmych as in them is, they seke the dysquyetnes of the hole realme, and to bryng the comons of the same in to great mysery, which only is the frutes off warres.

For sens the begynning of thes last vnfortunate warres, now begone whath hath England wone therby? ye rather what haue we not lost, although ther were sent out with the prince off spayne a great nomber of worthy gentyllmē and comons, to ther great costes and charges, to the wynnyng off S. Quintynes, hawn, schatelet, and other peces ther about, the which the prince kepith for hym selff, to his own vse,S. Quintin [...] yet the most part of our mē, lest ther bones ther and the rest of thē that estapyd the dāger of the warres, returnyd home agayn in great myssery penury and begery. More ouer wha [...] lossys haue our englyshe merchāts susteynid by takyng of the thre rich shyp­pes,3. Ryche shyppes ta­ken. which the frenchmen toke comyng out of Flanders on barty [...]mew dai last past, being worth 30. thousand poūds, be­sydes many other shyppes taken by the frenchmen sence that tyme, as they that haue susteynid the losses therby can reporte.

And now wyll I come to speake off the losse of the honowr of England which is the notable towne of Callys,Callis hames and gwines lost thorow euell gouer­ment. with the strong castells of hames and gwynes &c. which hath be [...]ne in the custodye of England more then. 200. yeres past, to be so shamfully betrayed and lost, thorow the euell gouerment off the quene and here counsell: whose dylygent study and care should haue bene. to prouyd and forsee, specyally, in thes dangerus tymes of warres, that not only Callys with hāmes and gwynes, and the peces beyond the seas, to haue bene furnysshed with men and vytall accordyngly, for to haue with­stand the mallys of the french men our henemyes but also to provyde that the strong townes, castells, fortresses and blok houses &c. lyeng about the realm, for the saff custody and de­fence of the same, to be well furnysshed with men munycyon and vytalls, and also that the ryall Nauy of Englād had bene mayntaynyd that the subiectes off this realme, myght lyue in sanyte and quyetnes, with out danger of any forayn prince or potentate.

This is the charge and dwty of all good and polytyk ruters and gouernors yff the quene had ment this to do,The dwty of rulers wherfore hath she cawsyd to be rasyd, and defacyd those bulwarks at graue send and tylbery, &c. and wherfore doth she lett fall in decay, those blokhouses and bulwarks about deal besyde douer, which her noble father, with his great trauayle,Bulwarks blokhouses costes and charges, byldyd and fortefyed, for the defence off the sub­iectes off the realme. But I pray you what can men otherwyse [Page] Iudge off the quene, here in, but that she hath done it becawse the prynce off spayne may the more easyly, come in with his army and nauy off shyppes, and so to make a conquest off this noble realme off Englād as is aforesaid. But what y [...]f the que­ne and her coūsell haue practysyd, how to brīg Callis in to the hāds of the prince of spayne, and that being perceuyd, and the french king theroff admonysshed, cawsyd hym to take his en­terprise as he dyd.

Callis.Or whether the quene and counsell, dyd wyttyngly or wyllyngly, suffer callys to come in to the frenchmens handys (by neglecting to send ayde thether in tyme, the same being [...]o oft and many tymes desyrd by the lord deputy) becawse that afferward it myght come in to the hands off the prince off spayne, ether by exchangyng for other townes or ells in some conclusyons the [...]ouer to make peace, that he hauing it, I mean Callys &c. mygth the souer bryng his pretēsyd enterpryse to pase with England.

wherfore o ye nobles and comens off England helpe that your bulwerks and fornesses be made vp agayn, with all spe­de and trusty men appoyntyd,Ordinance Armore Treasure. toward and kepe them, kepe the ordinance, Armore and treasure &c. wyth in the realm, to defend the same when nede shall requyre, that with gods help ye maybe, able [...]o defēd your cōtre, from forayn princes who seke your distructiō, and to bring the realm in to bōdage, with bride lig you, as before in this treatise is declarid at large

The burnyng of the great Harri, at the fyrst comyng off the quene to here raygne, betokenyd some desolacyō, and yet the quene wold besto [...] no cost, to byld that goodly shype agayn but letti [...] it with the rial Nauy off England, fall in to wast and decay▪ which her noble father, as a prudēt and poly [...]yke price mayntaynyd for the defence off the realm.

when was it euer hard off before this myserable tyme, whē we had warres with france, but that iij, or iiij, thousand men were sent ouer to kepe Callys, with the castells and frunteres therabout, that they myght not only with stond the mallys and enemyte of the frenchmē, but also to haue made an inrod into france at tymes, as by our cronycles plainly apperith wa [...] done in our tyme, by the noble prince K. H. 8.

But it is a he [...] case and mych to be lamētyd, that the quene studyeth lest about such matters, which shoulde turne to the welth, comodyte and sauegard off this realme. But contrary wyse it is manifest, that all her care and study was and is, how she may bring to pase, that the prince off spayn, may haue thē periall crown o [...]f thi [...] noble realm of England to hym and to [...] heyres, [...] by cra [...]ty meanes or perfo [...]ce, and so to [Page] bryng this noble and fre countre off England in to most my­serable seruytude and bondage,Holland, Zeland, Brabant, Flanders▪ Neape [...]s▪ Myland. lyke as be his other contres off Holland, Seland, B [...]abāt Flanders, Namure and lytzen­burg, &c. with his other goodly contres of Napels and My­land, &c. the which I pray god England may take warnyng ther off by tyme.

Here para venture some wyll rayle apon me and reuile me, because I am so bold to charge the quene, and here counsell, as before in this treatyse I haue done, and now do, and also for layeng to ther charges, that thorow ther default and neglygen­ce, Callys with hames and gwynes, &c. become in to the frenchmens hands, To the which I wyll answere and proue it to be trwe. Fyrst yff the quene had as is afore sayd sent ouer, iij. or iiij. thousand mē to haue lyen apon the borders or frunteres of Callys, and therto had spent but only, v. hundrid marks by the yere, (I speake with the most) to honest men be­ing strangers dwelling in other contres (as here noble and polytyke father dyd) who myght haue sertefyed and geuē knowledge to th [...] quene and counsell from tyme to tyme what the french king and other prīces practysyd, and went about. Cal­lys had not bene in the frenchmens hands as it now is.

Fo [...] I am sure, that the french king hath not seasyd contynwally to parctyse how he myght gett callys, and those parties, ād that within thes sew [...] yeres, as the lord paget, and other off the counsell do very well knowe,Lord page [...]. who were of king Edwards counsell, when the french king went about his practyse in those days. And being known, ther was a gentyllman and a doctor sent into Englād to geue the king and counsell warnyng theroff, after whose comyng inmedyatly, ther was proclama­cyons made that all captaynes and soldyers, should repayre in medyatly, to ther townes Castells, fortresses, and holdes, ād therapon preparacion was made inmedyatly, that Callis,Callys delyuerid from the frenchme [...]. with the castells and [...]or [...]es were prouydyd, and finnysshed, wher­by the french king was dyssapoyntyd, and therfore forsoke his pretensyd enterpryse, and so Callys was sauyd at that tyme from the frenchmen. And they that brought the sayd message and gaue warnyng to the counsell, had geuen them for ther rewarde, but one hundryd marks, which mony was de­lyuerid to a frend off myne, by the sayd lord paget, as he told me at that tyme, and yet I neuer hard, that that gentyllman, that sent the sayd warnyng had any recōpence at all for his labour. But yff ther had bene geuē hym at that tīme for hys reward (accordyng to his desertes) a stipent off an C. marks or an [...]00. pounds by the yere during hys lyff, Callis had not bene in the french mens hands at this day. For I do know that the same [Page] mā had knowledge off this late p [...]se for Callis, lōg before it was known abrode, and so myght haue geuē knowledge long before the coming thether off the frechmē, ād so Callis with [...]es ād gines, might haue bēe sa [...]d frō thē.

But it is also mych to be lamentyd that the quene hath such a hate agaīst ho­nest men, that professe the gospell off our [...]aueyour Iesus christ, and be not off her wickid relygyon, that she had rather, that the hole realme, should go to wrake, then that any honest men should be maintainid by here, for she wyll not onli geue thē any thyng that myght tourne to the comodite and sauegard off the realme. But contrary wyse most shāfully and wrongfully with hol­dith such pencyōs, as here noble father and brother gaue to them by patent, during ther lyues, for recōpence of ther good and faithfull seruice and paines they toke to serue them in ther daies. Iff the quene had folowid here noble fathers [...]d, and bene rulyd by his wise prudent and sage coūselers, who had the knowledge and experiēce how the affayres of the realme stoode this realm, had not come to such mysery and begery as it is at this day▪ but those wyse and worthy men, whom her father tenderly louid hath she cawsyd to be cru [...]y murtherid, as is aforsaid. And hath sett vp counselors of her own, which [...] no knowledge in the affayres off the realme, but those who will say [...]s she saith, and affirme her wickid will and deuises to be good and to be a [...]. Like to be cōparid, to Robohā the sone off king Salomon, whē the chil [...]n off Israell came to him saieg, thy fathers yoke was greuouse vnto vs▪ [...] thou it lighter (he doīg as the quene now doth) folowid such counsele [...] had bene brougt vp with hym. And wold not folow the counsell of the [...] and wyse men, that were off his father kīg Salamōs coūnsell, wher fore, x. of the xij. trybes off the chylderne off Israell fell from him, as the story declarith at large, in the third booke off the kings the xij. chapter. But the text sa [...] it was the lords doing.

Oh what substāce and treasure hath the quene spēt apō the prince of spaine, sence the begyn̄ing off her mariage, ād what vnreasōable great subsydes and lones hath she gatheryd, wherby she hath in pouerished the subiectes of this realme, for to aid him, wher off the xxii. parte wold haue kept Callis with ham̄es and gwines, &c. that they shold not haue bene in the french men [...] hands at this day, but what carith she, so that she haue here own cursyd will, although the hole realme go to d [...]struccyon, and beggery. what think you wold her noble father. K. H. 8. haue done to his sayd dowghter yff he had know, that she wold so wyckidly haue rulyd and abusid her state as she hath done, fyrst by marieng with a stranger, (and bringing in the vsurpyd autorite off the B of Rome) cōtrary to her sayd fathers mind, for her sayd noble father by his testament and last will gaue her themperiall crown of this realme, but only apon cōdyciō as plaīli app [...]rith by thacte, off ꝑliamēt, made for the suc­sessyon off the croūe ano, 35. H. [...]. so that she wold be rulid by the coūsel, as well in mariage, as in other affayres, as in the same her fathers last wyll esta­blysshyd by act of ꝑliamēt plainly apperith. And whether she haue obied and folowyd, her sayd fathers last wyll, lett all men Iudge.

Soli Deo honor & gloria.

1558.