AS nothing is more comfortable to any man in whatsoeuer af­fayres hee bestowe his trauaile, then to haue the testimonie of a good conscience in the things that he taketh in hand: for this will be vnto him, as witnesseth Salomon, Prou. 15.15. Prou. 28.1. as good as a continuall feast, and make him bold and confident in all his ex­ploits: so there cannot be a greater griefe and torment to the minde, then in conscience to condemne that which by our attempts & deedes we make profession to allow: For if our heart condemne vs,Rom. 14.22. 1. Ioh. 3.20. God is aboue the heart. Therefore for the solace and comfort of those valiant Souldiers, which doe often incurre so many dangers on the blustering seas, whose attempts I am bound euer to fauour and honour, as being eft­soones an eye-witnesse of their noble and couragious prowesse, I haue thought good here to set downe out of the heauenly word of God, the fountaine of all true solace, in this briefe discourse and Apologie, the cau­ses wherefore, the limits how farre, and the manner in [Page] what sort their endeuours are to be allowed, and also what affections they ought to carie, and what com­fort and confidence they may haue in the lawfull pra­ctise of Militarie profession. First therefore generally of the lawfulnes of warre and force of armes agaynst the professed enemies of Gods truth, and then more particularly of the voyages now commonly vsed on the seas, agaynst that grand vassall of the Pope the King of Spayne, together with the answere to those obiections, which either the fanaticall Anabaptists, or the seditious Papists, English men by name, but Spa­nyards in heart, doe vsually make against those valiant and noble enterprises, so behouefull and so beneficiall for the sauegard and maintenance of this our Church and Christian common wealth.Lawfulnesse of Militarie pro­fession. The lawfulnesse of Militarie profession is both in the old and new testa­ment sundrie waies confirmed vnto vs. Abraham the father of the faithfull,Ioh. 8.39. a man trulie mortified, & whose workes our Sauiour Christ doth propound as an ex­ample to be imitated of all the children of God, to res­kew his kinsman Lot, gaue the onset vpon his ene­mies with three hundred & eighteene valiant youths, and recouered Lot with all his substance. And when he had gotten many rich prises and spoyles of his ad­uersaries,Gen. 14.18. Melchizedeck the most liuely type and fi­gure of Christ, not onely allowed his exployt, giuing to him and his men bread and wine to comfort him, but also he receiued tythes of the sayd spoyles, as the Priest of the most high God, which is both a comfort to all those Ministers that serue in time of warre, that the first tythes that euer were spoken of in the Scrip­ture, [Page] were payd of prizes taken in warre: and also it is to all other souldiers a very manifest approbation of their profession, for that God accepteth the tenths of the spoyles obtained by them.Deut. 23.18. For that most iust God which vtterly abhorreth those that offer the price of an harlot,Matth. 27.6. & doth expressely forbid the price of blood to bee cast into Corban, that Lord would in no wise haue receiued the tenths of souldiers spoyles, vnles he had also allowed their profession to be sacred and ho­ly. The warres which are lawfully taken in hand a­gainst the open enemies of the Church of God, are in­deed, as they are called, not the warres of men, but the warres of the Lord himselfe. When the Israelites fought against the mightie hoast of Sisara, there was a citie Meroz which would not take part with the people of God: but Deborah inspired with the spirit of God, doth curse them for that (as the Prophetesse sayd) they did not take the Lords part.Iudg. 5.23. Iehosaphat was encouraged not to feare the multitude of his aduersa­ries, for that the warres were not his, but the warres of God himselfe: for so sayd the Prophet, Feare not,2 Chro. 20.15. it is not your warres but the warres of God. What heart and conscience Dauid caried in his warres, doth eui­dently appeare by that his humble thanksgiuing,Psal. 144.1. Bles­sed be the Lord my strength which teacheth my hands to warre, and my fingers to fight. At the reedifying of Hierusalem, when Sanballat and the Arabians with others, had made a cursed league agaynst it,Nehem. 4.14. & vers. 20. Nehemiah exhorted the Iewes to fight for themselues, and for their brethren, for their wiues, and for their children, and then sayd he, our God will fight for vs. The Lord [Page] by his own mouth doth very apparantly allow warre, when he maketh lawes and statutes for the right vse thereof.Deut. 20.2. As that when the people goe to warre, they should take the Priest with them to vse exhortations for the strengthening of their faith, that they may be fully perswaded that the Lord goeth with them to fight for them against their enemies.Deut. 20.10. And further, he commandeth that before they set vpon their enemies with sword and fire, they should first offer peace: For although warre be a lawfull remedie against the pro­fessed enemies of the Church of God, yet is it the last remedie,Warre the last remedie. and then onely to be vsed when no other meanes can preuaile. It may well be compared to the fawing off and fearing of the festered and rotten lims of a mans bodie, which remedies are then onely to be put in vre, when the case is so vtterly desperate that there is no hope of doing good by any other meanes. And for this cause sayth the Lord, let them first offer peace, and yet therewithall allowing agaynst the re­bellious and obstinate, to destroy them with the edge of the sword. When the souldiers came to Iohn the Baptist, demaunding what they should doe, he shewed them how they should liue iustly and louingly among themselues, but in no case did he bid them to forsake their profession: nay rather in flat words he allowed their vocation,Luc. 3.14. when he bad them bee content with their wages. Shall the forerunner of Christ allow to the souldier his ordinarie pay, as the Apostle Paul see­meth also to graunt, when he maketh the demannd, Who goeth to warfare at any time at his owne cost?1. Cor. 9.7. And doe they not also therewithall permit him in the [Page] bodie of the Common wealth, to put in vre that fun­ction and office whereby he is lawfully maintained? A Christiā Common wealth doth very wel resemble the bodie of man: The head in gouernment next vn­der Christ is the Prince and soueraigne Magistrate, the armes are the Knighthood and Chieualrie, the soule is the professing and true embracing of the Gos­pell of Christ, the legges are the Commons and hus­bandrie, whereby the whole bodie is sustained and vp­holden: and euery of these haue their seuerall lawfull duties, according as the necessitie of the bodie shall require. The Centurion in Capernaum, Luc. 7.9. Act. 10.2. and 48. and Cornelius in Caesarea were souldiers and Captaines of seuerall bands, yet the one of them is commended to haue such faith as was not to be found in Israel: the other is re­nowmed for his prayer and almes & zeale to the truth of God, both of them are receiued into the bosome of the Church of Christ, neither of them is any way ex­horted to renounce their former vocation, neither did the outward warfare hinder, but that inwardly they both continued the faithfull souldiers of Iesus Christ against sinne and wickednesse.

Yea say some,Obiection a­gainst pietie in Souldiers. if that holines were now in our men of warre, they were the better to be liked & allowed: but where are such deuout men now to be found? what are they now but swearers and ruffians? what are they but theeues and robbers? so vngodly and so greedie of pray, that they spare neither friend nor foe, all is fish that commeth to the net, and whatsoeuer is gotten by them is not employed as it was by the Cen­turion and Cornelius, in building a Synagogue for the [Page] maintenance of Gods seruice, & in relieuing the poore distressed members of the mysticall body of Christ, but in vpholding and frequenting most filthy brothell houses and benches for Bacchus in euery corner.

Respons.I must needes confesse, that as in all other callings iniquitie doth more now abound then euer it did, be­cause the diuel doth now rage most,Reuel. 12.12. knowing that he hath but a short time to raygne: so also of Souldi­ers many horrible abuses are committed. And yet I doubt not, but that the Lord hath still amongst them many Cornelies and Centurians his trew and faythfull seruants.Abuses of war ought not to abrogate the lawful vse thereof. But howsoeuer among the most part iniqui­tie doth now preuayle, yet the abuses of war ought in no wise to abrogate the holy and lawfull vse thereof. What blessing can possibly be more abused then is now the peace of the Church and common wealth? Peace hath increased plēty, plēty hath wrought pride, pride hath hatcht disdayne, and disdaine hath brought forth such strifes and debates, such suites of law, such quarrellings and contentions as neuer were heard of in any age before vs. Shall we therefore conclude that peace is not to bee allowed, or that peace is not the good blessing of God? God forbid: Let vs seeke ra­ther to lament and amend our owne most wicked a­buse of this bountifull gift of God, and pray continu­ally for grace, that we may hereafter vse it more right­ly to Gods glory and our comfort. So is it in Military discipline, what power and strength we haue therein, is the holy handy worke of God, though of many it be shamefully abused, yet no abuse ought to make vs to condemne the good and lawfull ordinance of God. [Page] Saint Paul when hee had shewed the Romanes that higher powers are ordayned of God,Rom. 13.2. Verse. 4. he declareth that one end of their ordinance is to take vengeance on thē that doe ill, and not to beare the sworde in vaine. The Anabaptists which vtterly deny al magistracy, affirme that the apostle speaking higher powers doth signi­fie such heathē tyrants as were thē the Romane Empe­rours; for them to beare the sword to torment and pu­nish others they confesse is a thing well sitting and be­seeming for them: But Christians must be all one, for them to haue or be Magistrates (they say) it is in no wise tollerable. If these phantasticall spirites would consider more deeply the doctrine of the Apostle, they should see that hee alloweth Magistracie especially a­mongst Christians; for he requireth such rulers as vn­der whome we may leade a godly and peaceable life.1. Tim. 2.2 Vnder heathen tyrants the Christians may indeed liue godlily: but howe is it possible that they should liue peaceably? The Apostle doth will vs to pray for such Magistrates as vnder whome we may leade a quiet & a peaceable life, in all godlines and honestie: When the Apostle Peter sayd to our Sauiour Christ, beholde here are two swordes, our Lord Iesus answered that they were enough, allowing the hauing of them,Matth. 26. but he reprooued such striking with them, as whereby Authority might seeme to be impugned. That mon­strous Pope Iulius the second, who made as it were a pastime of the blood of man, by whose cruell practises there perished with the dint of sworde more then two hundred thousand persons,An. Dom. 1512 he made a iest and moc­kerie at the Apostles carying of swordes: for match­ing [Page] once out of Rome with his Armie, and his sword by his side like a valiant Champion, in a furious rage he cast Saint Peters key into the riuer of Tyber, crying out, as a Spaniard doth report the historie: Pues que la llaue de pedro ya no vale, valga la espada de pablo. Seeing that Saint Peters key will doe no good, let the sword of Paul take place. But the holy Father, Saint Augu­stine, doth reuerently and in the feare of God make bet­ter vse of the Apostles hauing a sword, to wit, that it is lawfull for Christians to beare the sword; but that then onely we are to vse it when we are eyther com­manded or permitted by the superior power so to doe: for these two limits doth hee make of the right and wrongful vse of the sword: He vnlawfully taketh the sword,August. lib. 22. contr Faustum Manichaeum. cap. 70. Qui nulla superiore & legitima potestate vel iuben­te vel concedente in sanguinem alicuius armatur, which no superiour and lawfull power eyther commanding or permitting is armed against another mans blood. Many there are in our time which goe not so farre as the Aanabaptists to denie and vtterly take away the sword and Magistracie from Christians: they will allow them to be vsed against malefactors at home, or agaynst the heathen,Warre against the Spaniard how to be al­lowed. Turkes and Infidels abroad, but in no case against the Spaniard, professing as they say, the same GOD with vs, holding the same articles of Christian fayth, members of the same Church, parta­kers of the same baptisme, and liuing in the same hope of life euerlasting. We see in the holy Scripture that when Israel was once separated from Iuda, and reuol­ted to Idolatry, Iuda was inioyned no otherwise to ac­compt of them and no otherwise to deale with them, [Page] then with the professed enemies of Gods truth.2. Chron. 19.2. Ieho­saphat was reprooued of the Prophet, for that he gaue any ayde to Achas king of Israel against Ramoth Gile­ad: and hee was likewise condemned afterward for that he ioyned friendship with Ochosias king of Israel to make ships to goe vnto Tharsis. 2. Chron. 20. v. vlt. Amaziah hired succour of Israel against the Idumeans, 2. Chron. 25.6. but hee was willed rather to lose the mony then to haue any thing to doe with them.2. Chron. 22.5. Ochosius was condemned for help­ing Ioram the sonne of Achab against Hazael king of Syria. What was the cause that the people of Israel might not so much as bee holpen against the heathen? men, and therefore indeed accompted worse then hea­then? Were they not the posteritie of Abraham after the flesh? Did not they retaine, as well as Iuda, the name of the Church of God? Had not they the same law amongst them as Iuda had, and receiued the same seale of Circumcision with them?2. Chron. 21.13 No doubt they pretended all these things: but in the meane time they committed Idolatrie, and therefore they were vtterly cut off from the Church of God. Boast they might of vaine titles, but they were in no wise to bee counted the people of God: nay rather so long as they continu­ed Idolaters, they were to be reputed & taken as open and manifest traitors against the high Maiestie of the eternall God. The Lord condemneth for Idolatrie not onely the worshipping of any heathen God, or the resemblance therof, but also all such visible formes and pictures as are made, either in them or by them to worship the true God. When the people of Israel did worship the golden Calfe,Exod. 32. they were not so sottish & [Page] sencelesse as to thinke that the Calfe which they had made was truly God. That which they thought was this,Exod. 32.4. that the honor which was done to the Calfe was done to GOD. The feast which they kept was cal­led a feast to Iehoua, and they cryed out, these are thy Gods O Israel which brought thee out of the land of Egypt.Psal. 106.16. So Dauid sayth, that they turned the glory of God into the similitude of a Calfe that eateth hay. This was the Idolatrie of Ieroboam and the Children of Israel, to make visible representments to worship in remembrance of the true God. And this is the best that the popish rabble can make of their Idols and pic­tures, that they worship not them, but God in them Al is one and commeth to one and the selfe same poynt, and eyther of them is condemned for Idolatry, that is, high treason against the Maiestie of God, to seeke to thrust him out of his throne, and to place in his stead the works of their own hands. Besides their other most horrible Idolatry in the Masse, where they erect and worship their wheaten God Maizim, ascribing that to the creature which is due to the creator onely, whose name be blessed for euer and euer. Howsoeuer the Spaniards beare the name of Christians, they are nothing lesse then what they pretend, they may be in the Church, but they are not of the Church, and they are so much worse then the heathen Infidels, as a re­bell and traytor within the walles is more pernicious then a forraine or outward enemie: whatsoeuer pu­nishment then may be inflicted on our professed foes, the same or much greater may iustly be layd on them: although indeede there is no more professed foe to the [Page] kingdome of our Sauiour Christ, then they which by all meanes vpholde that man of sinne,2. Thes. 2.4. that sonne of perdition, which doth fit in the Temple of GOD as God, boasting himselfe that hee is God:Apoc. 17 9. that Babylo­nian strumpet,Apoc. 14.8. which sitting on the City that hath seuen hilles doe giue all nations to drinke of the cup of the wrath of her fornication, which therefore beareth the name of Antichrist, as the most bitter and profes­sed enemy of the kingdome of Christ, chalenging to himselfe all those offices which of right and duety do onely appertaine to our Sauiour Christ: for howe is Christ our only King, if the Romish Bishops haue po­wer to giue the holy Ghost, and to forgiue sinnes,Iohn 15.21. and so consequently to create fayth and repentance, and to renew the inward man, without which graces there is no remission of sinnes?Heb. 10 14. How is Christ our onely Priest, if they haue power to offer vp the body and blood of Christ as a sacrifice for our sinnes? No mor­tall man, no worme of the earth, no sinfull creature, no nor yet any Angel in heauen was fit to offer vp the sa­crifice of the body of Christ, but one higher then the heauen of heauens, euen Iesus Christ himselfe, he was the Priest, he was the sacrifice,Heb. 7. v. vlt. he offered himself once for all. How is Christ our only mediator, if they may erect so many new intercessours and aduocates,1. Tim. 2.5. ioyn­ing them in commission with Christ,Heb. 1.1. for whome Christ shed his blood?Rom. 1.16. How is Christ our onely pro­phet, if they may establish decrees and traditions to supplie the want of the Gospel of Christ, as though they had an office appointed to make vp that perfect & absolute, which our heauenly Prophet Iesus Christ [Page] should leaue raw and vnperfect? How may they bee said to holde the same faith with vs, which are as far from vs in euery chiefe article, as light is from dark­nesse, or Christ from Belial. We hold & acknowledge that our Lord Iesus to satisfie the iustice of God, took truelie flesh of the Virgin Marie, like vnto vs in all things,Heb. 2.16. sinne onely excepted, as the Apostle witnes­seth to the Hebrewes: Christ tooke not the nature of Angels, but he tooke the seede of Abraham: As if hee should haue said, it had bin no iustice that God should haue punished the sinnes of man in an heauenlie or an­gelicall nature; but as truely as mans flesh did sinne, so truelie it was requisite that the flesh of man should paie the punishment. And therefore Christ to answere that iustice of GOD,Heb. 4.15. tooke not an angelicall, but a true naturall bodie, like vnto vs in all things, sinne on­lie excepted. And we beleeue further, that our Saui­our Christ,1. Cor. 15.20. Col. 1.18. as the first fruits of them that slept, and the pledge of our inheritance, rose againe in the same hu­mane nature and ascended into heauen there to take possession for vs, and thereby to assure vs, that as hee being our head is gone before, so we the bodie shall in due time follow after. What affinitie hath this our true faith in Iesus Christ, with that mōstrous doctrine of the Antichristian Catholikes, which attribute vn­to Christ a phantasticall bodie, and manie bodies, and an infinite bodie, and therefore indeede no true naturall bodie; which dooth expreslie contra­dict two of the chiefest articles of our Christian fayth, and as much as in them lyeth, vndermine and cast downe the principall bulwark of mans saluation. [Page] Moreouer we are assured by the holy word of GOD, that the Lord doth giue vnto vs in and through his Sonne Christ, full remission and pardon of all our of­fences, both from the guilt of sinne, and also from the punishment thereof: for the Lord in respect of his infi­nite iustice will not forgiue a trespasse, and afterward exact the danger of it, and in respect of his vnspeake­able mercy he must needes giue a sound and a perfect benefite. Thus doth the worde of God teach vs, that there is no accusation at all or any laying of any thing to the charge of Gods elect,Rom. 8.33. that there is no condem­nation to them that are in Christ Iesus,Rom. 8.1. Psal. 32.2. that the Lord will no way impute their sinnes vnto them, that the Lord will remember their sinnes no more,Psal. 103.12. but cast them from him as farre as the East is from the Weast,Mich. 7.19. or, as the prophet speaketh, binde them in a bundle & cast thē into the bottom of the Sea. They teach that the guilt of sin is forgiuē by Christ, but that the punish­mēt therof must eyther be paid by straight penance & afflicting our bodies here, or els after this life by the paines of Purgatorie, and therefore flatly against the word; that there is an accusation, there is a condēnati­on, there is an imputation, & there is a remembrance of sinne after the remission thereof, then which do­ctrine nothing can bee more derogatorie & blasphe­mous against the price of the blood of Christ, which as Saint Iohn saith, doth purge and clense vs from all our sinnes. Furthermore,1. Iohn. 1.7. we professe and are perswa­ded, that as in all the whole life of a Christian there should be truth and fidelitie, so especially in truces and leagues of kingdomes and common wealths: as the [Page] scripture teacheth vs, that loyaltie and leagues are to be kept euen with heathen men. There was a league made betwixt the Israelites and the heathenish Gi­beonits,Iosua. 9.15. aboue foure hundred and foure score yeare after the league was broken, the Lord was so offen­ded at it,2. Sam. 21.4. that he sent three yeares famine, and seuen sonnes of Saule were hanged vp as a token of Gods iudgement against truce breaking euen with heathen men.2. Reg. 25.7. Iere. 39.1. Zedechias promised loyaltie to the heathen king the king of the Caldees, he brake his league, the wrath of God was so kindled against him, that being van­quished he was compelled to flye, in the flight he was taken, his owne sonnes were slaine before his face, his eyes were after thrust out, & he was bound in chaines and led prisoner into Babylon. In truce-breaking the Lord punisheth euen the children and ofspring, to te­stifie his wrath and seuere iudgement; as the French men haue in verse, God graunt they may haue it euer in minde.

K of Spayne.But this Foedifragus the Hannibal of Spayne, as he is taught and doth professe, Fidem non esse seruan­dam cum haereticis, that whomsoeuer the Church of Rome doth condemne for heretikes, there ought no [Page] saith to bee kept with them: so he hath shewed it in sufficient proofe, both in practising secret conspira­cies against out whole realme, as was found out by the dealings betwixt Mendozza and Throgmorton, and also in his sending of troupes of armed men to inuade Ireland, to bereaue her Maiestie of a part of her imperiall Crowne and dignitie. And finally in ca­sting about to surprise and intrap the whole Fleete of the English Marchants, her Maiesties dutifull subiects, when they meant him no harme: but vnder the hope of the performance of his league, did traffique with­out feare: For I speake not now of any thing that he hath done fithence he hath shewed himselfe our pro­fessed enemie. But (thinke they) the Bishop of Rome may dispence with all disloyaltie, hee may dispose Kingdomes at his pleasure, he hath taught vs that no faith is to be kept with heretikes, this is our anchour, this is our hold.Luc. 4.6. The Euangelist S. Luke setteth downe the words of the diuell to our Sauiour Christ, when he shewed him all the kingdomes of the earth and the glorie of them: All these (sayd he) are mine, and I can giue them to whomsoeuer pleaseth me, He lyed most blasphemously, as he could not but lye, being the father of lyes and a lyer from the beginning:Ioh. 8.48. saith the eternall wisedome of God, By me Kings raigne,Prou. 8.15. and Princes decree Iustice.Matth. 8.28. The diuell hath not so much as power of swine, without the permission of Iesus Christ: And as the diuell did most vntruly chalenge to himselfe the power and authoritie due to God on­ly, to giue and dispose all the kingdomes of the earth: so his eldest sonne Antichrist doth inherite the same [Page] vntruth, he may bestow al kingdomes as seemeth best to him, hee may giue England to the Rebels in the North, Ireland to Stukely and others, France to the Leaguers, the Indies to the Spaniards, to be made two fould worse the children of hell then they were be­fore, and all the kingdomes of the earth how and to whomsoeuer he pleaseth.K. of Spayne. So also his grandchild the King of Spayne doth imitate very well the steppes of his forefathers, he may deale how he will in all king­domes, against league, against right, and against truth, how and in what sort soeuer pleaseth him.

Thus ye see then how the Popes children & sworn souldiers in Spayne, first partly by their Idolatrie, and partly by their damnable heresies, doe vtterly deface the true worship of God: secondly, they wickedly v­surpe the offices and dignities of our Messias, our a­noynted King, Priest and Prophet: thirdly, they fight against the truth of the humane nature of Christ, and the veritie of his ascension; the most noble fortresses of our saluation: fourthly, they seeke to obscure and ouerwhelme the fruites, effects, and merites of the pas­sion of our Sauiour Christ. And last of al, they are such as in no wise may be trusted, being not onely workers and permitters, but euen professed patrones of all tre­cherie, falshood and disloyaltie. And therefore greater seueritie is to be shewed vpon the confederates of this so dangerous a conspiracie within the walles of the Church of God, then is to be vsed to any forraine foes of the heathen whatsoeuer. To beate downe this di­uelish pride and falshood of the Antichristian band, all true Christians which are armed with the authoritie [Page] of the Magistrate,Reuel. 19.15. ought to goe on couragiously and cheerefully to tread the Winepresse of the Lords wrath, as S. Iohn speaketh,Reu. 18.6. & 9 to reward the whore as she hath rewarded others, and to let the smoake of her burning ascend for euermore. But here, me thinkes, I heare some say vnto me, That Antichrist and his con­federates are to be beaten downe and destroyed,Of warre to be proclaimed. we make no doubt nor question: but this should be done in warre openly proclaimed, and not in such priuie in­trapping and laying in waite, and rather should their whole realme be set on, then the Merchants surprised, which labour trulie and painfully for the reliefe of themselues and their families. To the answere of which obiection we are first to be aduertised, that whatsoeuer the enemies of the grace of God doe pos­sesse, howsoeuer they haue toyled for it and obtained it with the sweat of their browes, yet is their posses­sion no better thē the possession of brute beasts, which as we see by the oxe, horse, and mule, doe trauaile in their seueral kinds for that wherewith they are sustai­ned. There is no lawfull possession indeed but where the faith of Christ is embraced and receiued.1. Cor. 3. vers. vlt. S. Paul sayth, That all is ours as we are Christs, and Christ Gods. The world was made for the faithful. Howsoe­uer the enemies of Christian faith doe painfully tra­uaile in their seuerall trades of life, yet are their goods not so their owne, but that if they fall into the hands of the armie of the Lord vnder the authoritie of a lawfull Magistrate, it may bee sayd of them as it was sayd by the Psalmist,Psal. 105. vers. 44. The Lord hath brought foorth his chosen with gladnesse, and giuen them the lands [Page] of the heathen, and they tooke the labours of the peo­ple into their possession. The people of Canaan might labour painfully, but the gaine and profite of their la­bours was the strength and maintenance of their prin­ces and rulers, as also now the wealth of the Spanish Merchant is the might and power of the King: for as the Merchant groweth more and more in wealth, so doth he build and fortifie his ship stronger and stron­ger, and at the last the King commandeth both his ship and him. And therfore as the people of Israel did then vnder Iosua, so may we doe vnder our Christian Ma­gistrate now, euen so farre as God shall leade forth his chosen with gladnesse, weaken the powers of the gouernours,Psal. 105.44. by taking the labours of the people into our possession. Moreouer, there are manie things which are in no wise lawfull in priuate men, that are allowed and tolerated in those which are armed with the authoritie of the publike Magistrate, against the professed enemies of the Church of God: It is sayd to the one,Rom. 12.19. Matth. 5.39. Auenge not your selues: if they strike thee on the one cheeke, turne to them the other also: It is sayd of the other, that they are the ministers of GOD euen for this purpose,Rom. 13.4. to take vengeance of euil doers, and not to beare the sword in vayne. It is commaun­ded the one to forget iniuries,Matth. 18. vers. vlt. and as fully to forgiue as they hope to be forgiuen: It is enioyned the other by expresse words to remember the iniuries of Ama­lec. Deut. 25.17. Remember (sayth God) what Amalec did vnto thee by the way when ye were come out of Aegypt. And remember we may how the bloodie Spanyard hath fought at sundrie times by most dangerous con­spiracies, to rent our nation asunder. Remember A­malec: [Page] Remember how many godlie English Mer­chants their Inquisitors haue most cruelly tormented and spoyled. Remember how hardly they haue delt in euill intreating such Ambassadours as haue been sent from our most gracious Soueraigne. Remember how iniuriously they sent to inuade her Maiesties Realme of Ireland. Remember how they attempted with their inuincible Nauie at once to swallow vs vp. Remem­ber Amalec. Deut. 23.20. Whereas the lawe in Deuteronomie forbiddeth the Iewes to commit any vsurie amongst themselues, and yet alloweth it them to bee vsed to­wards strangers, S. Hierom doth by strangers vnder­stand the publike and professed enemies of the people of God. His reason is, for that their goods are not their owne: they vsurpe so long as they are destitute of the truth of God. The like may be sayd of guilefull poli­cie: It is not to be allowed in Christians amongst them selues, who are to vse that simplicitie of Doues,Matth. 10.16. which wanteth all manner of guile and harme: And be as S. Peter sayth, Like new borne babes:1. Pet. 2.2. or rather as the Greeke word signifieth, like now borne babes voyd of all fraud and deceit. Yet dare I not condemne that policie of Iosua, who besieging Ai, Iosua. 8.4. placed thirtie thousand strong men behind at the West side in a pri­uie ambush, making a shewe himselfe as though hee would flye before the townesmen of Ai, onely to in­tice them out, that his men who were priuilie placed behind might sodainly oppresse and make hauocke of them. Neither dare I disallow the policie of Iehu, 2. Reg. 10. which by making a pretence that he would doe sacri­fice to Baal, did thereby assemble the Priests of Baal, [Page] that he might the better at once dispatch them: For as Hierom witnesseth,Hieron. vt ci­tatur decret. causa 22. quaest. 2. cap. vtilem. he had no so good a way with so little blood to take speedie vengeance of Gods ene­mies. The Apostle biddeth no man to oppresse or defraud his brother: for the Lord is an auenger of all such things.Luc. 3.14. And S. Iohn the Baptist willeth those de­uout souldiers which came to be instructed of him, not to offer violence one to another: yet may we not condemne Dauid, who made a spoyle of the Amale­chits,1. Sam. 30.26. and sent part of the prises which he had gotten, to the Elders of Iuda, Ramoth and Bethel, with this notable salutation and greeting, Ecce vobis spolia de inimicis Domini: Behold ye the spoyles of the Lords enemies.Psal. 24.1. The earth (sayth Dauid) is the Lords, and all in the same contained. God is the chiefe Lord of all: we haue nothing lawfully but what we hold of him in capite. The professed enemies of the Lords Church doe hold no tenure of GOD in capite, being cut off from the head Iesus Christ: whatsoeuer then they en­ioy they possesse it as theeues and robbers: and there­fore the bereauing them of it is not theft, but as Dauid doth terme it, a spoyle of the Lords enemie. Or if it be theft, as it pleaseth our secret Papists to terme it, yet is it such a robberie as by the mouth of the Spanyards themselues is allowed: for they haue a verse and com­mon prouerbe in Spayne,

Libr. 2. de bello vandalico. Procopius witnesseth, that in Numidia in the citie of [Page] Tingit, in two Pillars of Marble, these wordes are gra­uen in the Phoenician tongue: Nos Maurusij sumus qui fugimus a facie Iosue filij Nun praedonis, we are Moores which fled once from the face of the thiefe Iosua the sonne of Nun. Thus was Iosua the true seruant of GOD accompted and termed a theefe when hee did lawfully conquer and take spoyle of the Lords ene­mies. But here some may say:Goods of Pa­pists that liue with vs. what shall we esteeme of the goods of those Papists that liue amongst vs? Haue they no lawfull possession of that they haue? Is it lawfull for vs to spoyle and bereaue them of their possessions?Aug. lib. 22. contr. Faustum Manichaeum. cap. 70. Surely there is nothing wanting but that which Augustine doth name as the ground of all warres, legittma superior authoritas aut iubens aut conce­dens, A lawful superior authority either commanding or permitting. The Magistrate onely must iudge who offend of weakenesse, and who offend of wilfull ob­stinacie, and without the Magistrate nothing may be done: no not so much as amongst the heathen men be the subiects neuer so faithful Christians, and be their Princes and gouernors neuer such heathens or Infi­dels,Rom. 13.2. it is in no case lawful for the subiect to rebell a­gainst his Soueraigne Prince. All superior powers are ordained of God.Ier. 27. v. 6, 7.8. Nabuchadnezzar so long as hee bare rule is called the seruant of God: I haue giuen all these lands, saith God, to Nabuchadnezzar my seruant, and all nations shall serue him and his sonnes vntil the time of his land bee come also. And that people that will not serue him I will visit with the sword & with famine and with pestilence: I could neuer read that God did long prosper any rebelling against their Soue­raigne, [Page] but he hath often blessed strangers when they haue sought to deliuer their neighbours from tyran­ny or Idolatry.Gen. 14.4. When fiue Princes who had sworn loyaltie to Chedorlaomer as their Soueraigne and were twelue yeare subiect to him, did afterward rebell a­gainst him, they and all their power were quickly dis­comfited. But when Abraham a stranger came but with very small might, the Lord sent vnto him a most no­ble conquest.Gen. 14.17. Both vnder, Christian Magistrates, and vnder heathen, no subiect may rise vp in armour without or against the authoritie of the Soueraigne Monarch. As for a gouernour that is elected condi­tionally, and onely with power to maintaine the aun­cient liberties and priuiledges of the Aristocratie of the countrie, as is the preheminence which Philip may perhaps lawfully chalenge in the low countries: if he then seeke against couenant to turne the Aristocratie into an absolute Monarchie: this is vndoubtedly such a tyranny, as may lawfully bee withstoode of them which neither by conquest nor lawful right were de­liuered into his hands; for as to seeke to bring in an A­ristocraty where is an absolute Monarchy established, were manifest rebellion, so also to bring in a Monar­chie where is an Aristocratie established, is manifest tyrannie. But Iosua, whose warres the inhabitants of Tingit accompted as theeueries and robberies was both an absolute gouernour of Gods people, and a stranger no way in subiection to the Princes of Ca­naan: & therfore what as a priuat mā he might not do, that might he lawfully do as a publike Magistrate. As to giue another instance, it is not lawfull for priuate [Page] men to curse, that is,1. Pet. 3.9. Math. 5.44. to pray for the destruction & sub­uersion of their enemies: blesse, sayth the scripture, & curse not. Yet how often doth Dauid, and no doubt lawfully, pray for the ouerthrow of the publike ene­mies of the common wealth of Israel?Psal. 83.14. Make them (sayth he) O Lord as a wheele, and as the stubble be­fore the winde,Psal. 52.11. let fire consume them, cast them out in the multitude of their vngodlines, for they haue rebelled against thee: Pay them O Lord according to their deserts, and according to the wickednesse of their owne inuentions,Psal. 28.3. breake the arme of the wic­ked, let them be as chaffe before the winde,Psal. 10.4. and the Angel of the Lord scattering them:Psal. 35.5. bee not mercifull to them that offend of malicious wickednes,Psal. 59.6. with ma­ny such other prayers some of Dauid as the Lords an­nointed; some of the people as vnder and indefence of their Magistrate, but all in the feare of God. And it is out of all controuersie, that whom we may lawfully take vp weapon against, for their ouerthrowe, we may lawfully pray vnto God, and we may as lawfully seek their subuersion by al such meanes as may be with the least blood-shed and spoyle of the people of God. An­tonius Pius shewed a good minde when he often vsed the saying of Scipio, se malle vnum ciuem seruare quam mille hostes perdere: that hee had rather saue one Citi­zen, then destroy a thousand enemies.Iosu. 8 4. 2. Reg. 10. If Iosua and Ie­hu had not been armed with the law full authority of the sworde, they might in no wise haue politicklie dissembled with the inhabitants of Ai, or with the Priests of Baal: but now being placed as publike per­sons for the defence of the Church of God, and going [Page] agaynst them, as to whome they are bound neither by league of confederacie, nor by duety of loyalty, they are no further to bewray or proclaime their intent then best may serue for the speedie and safe accompli­shing of the lawfull conquest of the Lordes enemies. But (say some) the hostilitie and open enmitie betwixt vs and Spaine ought first to be proclaimed before any warres ought to be taken in hand, Was not (I pray you) that huge nauie of Spaine which came euen to make an end of vs vpon earth, a sufficient herald open­ly to proclaime the hatred and hostilitie of the Spani­ard against vs? And I think his ships and treasure hou­ses doe meetly well tell him, that out fleetes and ordi­nance vpon the Spanish seas haue beene a reasonable herald to proclaime to them what they are to looke for at the English mans hands. If our most gracious Soueraigne (whom the Lord long blesse & preserue) haue vpon causes not knowen to vs, thought good as yet, no other way to proclaime the warre, we are not to busie our selues in examining the sayd causes which perhaps may priuately concerne her Maiestie her self. But as when Moses and Iethro mette together, hauing kissed each other,Exod. 18.8. rogarunt alter alterum de prosperitate, & postea ingressi sunt tentorium ipsius: they asked one another of their health, and so they went into his tent: so let it suffice vs to talke of those things which con­cerne our selues and our owne posteritie, let it suffice vs that for our owne warrant we haue learned by the word of God, both the causes of our war to be allow­ed as iust, and the manner also thereof confirmed as lawful: and let vs not doubt, but that as many as thus [Page] with a resolute heart and trust in God proceed in these affayres, the Lord will so blesse and prosper their la­bour, as shall be most for the praise of his holy name, and for the quiet and peace of our Church and Com­mon wealth.

Many thinke that they haue condemned these warres sufficiently, if they can poynt out a fewe that haue been hindered or haue sustained losses thereby. But as we may not iudge ill of the sacrifices and pray­ers which Iob made daily for his children,Iob. 1.19. because those children were taken away by fearefull and so­daine death: or rather as we may not condemne the voyage which the children of Israel made to conquer the land of Canaan, Numb. 26.64. because they so dropped away in the voyage, that of sixe hundred thousand there came but two into the land of promise: no more may we condemne our practises against the Idolatrous Spa­nyard, because amongst many, some haue had but hea­uie and hard successe. Others affirme, that they could like of these warres well enough, if the aduersaries were thereby pluckt downe: but these dealings (say they) doe not to any purpose weaken the enemie. I doubt not but if the Lord doe still continue his holie hand ouer vs, they will bee found with the enemie shortly to be somewhat. Per lo primo colpo non cade la querria: (sayth the Italian) An oake is not fallen downe at the first stroake. Many littles make a mickle. It is something that we haue all their Merchandises will they nill they, as plentifully as euer we had, and more freelie from the clutches of the bloodie Inquisi­tors: and something it is that we doe a little disease [Page] the enemie, and trouble his patience in his busie pro­uiding for the new inuincible Nauie: and something also it is, that we haue hereby many able and expert Souldiers and Mariners to keep the enemie occupied at home, which otherwise with greater danger of stir­ring vp rebellions, would attempt as he hath done to make inuasions vpon vs here. Scipio had no better way to set his owne countrey Italy free from Hannibal, but to inuade the Territories of Hannibal in Affrica. He sayd vnto the Senate,Titus Liuius in 28. ab vrbe condita. Castra Romana potius Car­thaginis portis immineant, quàm nos iterum vallum hostium ex moenibus nostris videamus: Let rather our Romane Camps pitch before the gates of Carthage, then that we should see our walles besieged of our e­nemies. The very place where warre is, endureth ma­ny calamities. Affrica sit belli sedes, illic terror, fuga, populatio, &c. Let Affrick be the seate of the warre, let there be the terror, the flight, and the spoyling. And a little before he sayth, Plus est animi inferenti pericu­lum quàm propulsanti: In lawfull daungers there is more courage in him that setteth vpon the enemie, then in him that defendeth. In sua terra cogam pug­nare eum, & Carthago praemium victoriae erit: I will make Hannibal fight in his owne land, there will be somewhat to bee gotten, Carthage will be the price and reward of our victorie. The Senate graunted him a conuenient power, he inuaded Affrica, it came to passe as he expected, he remoued the forces of Hanni­bal out of Italy, & he did that by his policie in a short time, which by all the Romane power could not be brought to passe at home in many yeares. I make not [Page] this example of the heathē any ground for vs to build vpon, onely we may profitably consider how farre the light of nature did shew it selfe for the defence of na­tiue soyle, and we may learne sometimes wisedome of the children of this world, who are more wise in their generation then the children of light.Luc. 16.8. Our ground that we are to rest vpon, is first the equitie of the cause of our warre, which I hope hath been suffi­ciently declared by the word of the eternall God, and by the practises of such Magistrates as the holy scrip­ture doth propound vnto vs. Secondly, the power and mercie of God, who of the one is able, and of the other is willing to effect and bring to passe whatsoe­uer we shall take in hand in his feare. Iosua going a­gainst Idolaters had many and mightie enemies,Iosua. 11.4. Iabin the King of Hazor, the King of Madon, the King of Shimron, the King of Achsaph, the Canaanits, Amo­rits, Heth its, Pheresits, and Iebusits, who were sayd to be like the sand of the sea shore innumerable: yet whē he vsed his forces and policies in the feare of God, the Lord grāted vnto him many most noble cōquests. Ze­rah the Ethiopian came against Asa with a most huge armie, euen ten hundred thousand,2. Chron. 14.9. & three hundred chariots: Asa in comparison had but a small power, yet knowing on the one side the equitie of his cause, and on the other side the power and mercie of God, he cryed out and sayd, O Lord it is nothing to thee to helpe with many, or with no power, helpe vs O Lord our God, for we rest only vpon thee, and in thy name are we come against this multitude. O Lord thou art our God, let not man preuaile against thee. The Lord [Page] sent to Asa a most glorious victorie, and his people droue away Sheepe and Camels and exceeding great spoyles.2. Chro. 14.14. The Lord ouerthrew that mightie Captaine Sisera, by the hand of a weake woman Iael the wife of Heber. 1. Sam. 17. Dauid with a sling brayned Goliah, Samson with a iaw bone slew a thousand.Iudg. 15.15. There is no power so small but the Lord is able to strengthen it suffi­ciently against the enemies of his truth: and all helps whatsoeuer are nothing without the handie worke and blessing of the Lord almightie. Policies are of great force in warre: and therefore Dauid prayed e­specially,2. Sam. 15.31. Lord I pray thee turne to foolishnesse the counsaile of Achitophel. This Achitophel was so wise, so politike, and so prudent, that his counsailes were counted like the Oracles of God: yet when he vsed his policies against the good Prince Dauid, what became of him? he was intrapped in his owne deuises, and being miserably confounded, at the last for want of a hangman became a hangman to himselfe. There is no wisedome,Prou. 21.30. there is no policie, there is no counsaile a­gainst the Lord. So likewise horses, ships, munitions, ordinance and such like, are good helpes and stayes for the Common wealth, but there is no hope or con­fidence to be placed further in them then God shall follow them with his blessing The horse is prepared for battaile,Prou. 21.31. but the victorie commeth of God. We should make the same vse of the power and mercie of God,Psal. 61.3. as Dauid did when he sayd, Thou Lord hast bin my hope and strong tower agaynst the enemie, I will dwell in thy tabernacle for euer, and my trust shall be vnder the shadowe of thy wings. As if he should haue [Page] sayd, I haue had O Lord heretofore good experience of thy goodnesse and might, I know thy loue is im­mutable, and thy mercie endureth for euer: therefore I will repose and rest my selfe wholly vpon thee, who wilt neuer faile them that put their trust in thee. If man doe helpe his neighbour, he will sometimes vp­brayd, and sometimes waxe wearie,Iam. 1.17. Iohn 13.1. because man is in­constant and variable, but with the Lord there is no change nor shadowe of change: whom he loueth he loueth to the end. And therefore whatsoeuer deliue­rances and benefites we haue receiued at Gods hands, we must make them so many arguments and proofes to confirme and strengthen our trust in God hereafter during life.

Hath the Lord so miraculously discouered, and in a manner without any blood on our partes, and preuen­ted so many and so dangerous conspiracies and trea­sons, which so treacherously haue been often deuised against her sacred Maiestie?Psal. 7.15. Did the Lord in his mer­cie to vs ward tumble downe the wicked headlong in­to the same pit that they digged for others, when that cursed crew had fortified themselues to bereaue her Maiestie of her noble Realme of Ireland? Did the Lord confound their diuelish purpose when they had as it were set downe their staffe, and cast anker with their huge Armadoes, as it were to raigne like Kinges and Lords on our English Seas, driuing them that had so richly furnisht themselues into those bare and bar­ren coasts, where their golde and siluer could nothing benefit them? when by sorceries and witcheries they haue attempted to annoy her Maiestie hath the Lorde [Page] so happily discouered them and so mightily confoun­ded them, that as the Rebels haue had no force, so the Prince of rebels Lucifer himselfe, hath had no power against her? Hath the Lord made a speedy dispatch of all those Popes and cutte them off Pope after Pope, which by their bloody bulles and ranging reconcilers haue sought her Graces ouerthrow, and granted her still to remaine (as many good yeares may shee conti­nue) a happy and triumphant Queene? Hath the Lord made our ships of Englād such a terror to that mighty kingdome, that on their owne coastes and in the mouthes of their own harbours they will not come out tenne to one, vnlesse they may haue together their whole inuincible nauy? Let vs then assure our selues, that if we can be thankful vnto him, and put our trust wholly in his goodnes, louing his truth and liuing in his feare, he will still so succour and defend vs hereaf­ter, that we shal be safe for euer vnder the shadowe of his wings.

Another thing that did greatly comfort Dauid in his battailes against his enemies, was for that his ene­mies were also the enemies of God, and therefore that the Lord would most certainly subuert & ouerthrow them.2. Sam. 17.36. This made him say, that as hee had slaine the Lyon and the Beare, so the Philistine also should short­ly be destroyed, because he had railed vpō the hoast of the liuing God.Verse. 45. And afterward, Thou (sayth Dauid) commest against me with a sworde, and a speare, and a shielde; but I come against thee in the name of the Lord of hoasts, the GOD of Israel whome thou hast blasphemed. Surely GOD will wound the head of [Page] his enemies,Psa. 6 [...]. ver. 21 and the hayrie scalpe of euery one that continueth still in wickednesse.

Consider then I pray thee what enemie thou doest encounter with when thou goest against the Spani­ard: First, he is, as ye haue heard before, an Idolater, a pillar and prop of Antichrist, an open enemie to the fayth of Christ and a professed patron of truce brea­king, falshood and disloyalty. He is also a greedy tyrant of vnsatiable couetousnes, that seeketh nothing else but to swallow vp euen the whole worlde. When the Soueraigne dignity in the low countries was offe­red to our most Christian Prince franckly and freely, her Grace refused it, being contented with those king­domes which God, and blood, and nature hath hea­ped vpon her: but this monster of Spaine is neuer sa­tisfied: Nauarre, Naples, the Indies, will not serue, but he must gripe in also the Low countries, and deuoure vp all their auncient liberties. The Lowe countries will not content him, but he must plucke in also Portu­gall. Portugall is nothing to him vnles he may also ob­taine France, and then also he gapeth for England. But I hope that as the Larke being mounted to the high­est doth sodainly fall downe, and as the tyde when the water is at the furthest hath his recourse backe againe: So the Lord wil now graunt to his swelling pride such a time of downe-fall, that as swiftly he shall fal away as euer he mounted vp. He pretendeth the Catholike faith to be the ground of all his warres: but that is no­thing but as the Italians speake, Coprire con legiadro mantello iniquissimi dissegni, with a fayre cloake to co­uer most filthy pretences. Did the Earles of Eghmont [Page] and Horne finde any fauour in the Low countries for that they were Romish Catholikes? Were they not put to death bearing crosses in their hands and shriuen of the Priest? Haue the Portingales now any fauour for that they professe the same fayth with the King? No truly, they are made the miserablest slaues in al the whole world. If the poorer sorte of them bee taken captiues abroad, he wil not giue a half-penie for their ransome. He will part with great summes for a Spa­niard, but with nothing at all for a Portingale. As for the Nobler and richer sorte hee suffereth them to bee murdered and spoyled at home. Hee is content to be king of them, and to receiue the kingly reuenewes: but he will in no case haue any kingly care of them. He suffereth the Spaniards to come daylie amongst them to abuse their wiues and daughters, that their children may be doubtfull: and indeede doth seeke nothing else but to bring the same vpon them which hee hath brought vpon Naples and the Indies, and other places where he hath set in foote, that is, vtterly to dispeople them, to murder and make hauock both of Nobles and Commons, and vtterly to make an ende of them, that they shuld be no more a people vpon earth. They pretend Religion till they can preuaile: but as soone as they come to beare rule, all their doings declare what was the marke that they chiefly aymed at. I know the miscreants of the Popish crew doe terme the gouern­mēt of our most gracious Soueraigne, to be bloodie & cruel, for that sundry (as they say) Catholikes haue bin at seuerall times put to death since the continuance of her Maiesties raigne. But there is none, vnlesse he bee [Page] wilfully blind, but must needs confesse, that their absol­uing of her Maiesties subiects from all loyalty and al­leageance, their practising of secret conspiracies a­gainst the whole Realm, & their withdrawing of the obediēce of the people frō their Prince, whom God & blood, and the law hath set ouer thē, to giue it to a for­raine prelate a Priest of Rome, were such dangerous treasons as might in no wise be spared. And yet of the authors and procurers of such haynous trecheries, to some her Grace hath giuen their lands to remaine to their posteritie: to some also their liues, when they haue deserued a thousand deaths, with such mercy & clemencie as was neuer heard of in Prince before. Her lenitie in gouernement hath not only bin milde, but euen mildenesse it selfe: the Lord grant that her dayes may bee as the dayes of heauen, and the Lord giue grace to those her rebellious subiects, once duely, and to their bettering to consider the kinde and boun­tiful mercies of so louing and gracious a Soueraigne. The enemie may mutter what he will, of tyrannie & cruelty, to obscure this her mildenes in gouernement, but the beames of her glory in this vertue doe shine so bright, that no cloud of euil speeches can ouerwhelme or darken them. As the fame of Queene Elizabeth for wisedom is spred as far as with it she is worthy to go­uern, that is, ouer the whole earth & as also for know­ledge in all the languages of Christians and good lite­rature, she is, and may be a mirror to all Princes or e­uer: so likewise for mercie and clemencie, she is, and maugre the despight of all slaunderous speeches, must [Page] be renowmed so long as the worlde shall continue. But the Spanish Inquisition which is drunken with the blood of GODS Saints, doth not proceede a­gainst rebels, but against those that doe most chiefly abhorre and derest all rebellion and treason: for the obedient and dutifull Christians whom they torment, doe beleeue and professe, that euery soule ought to be subiect to the higher powers, euen euery soule, be hee Prophet,Rom. 13.1. be he Patriarke, be hee Apostle, bee hee of what condition or vocation soeuer, that they ought to be subiect to Kings and Princes: and they desire nothing more then that their King might bee deliue­red from rebels; I meane those Cardinals, and Ab­bots,The difference of the English gouernment, as it is now, from the Spanish. In the English, the rebel dieth, and the subiect li­ueth: In the Spanish the subiect dieth, and the rebel liueth. &c. which detaine the King in slauerie and bon­dage: for the popish Clergie in Spaine haue all, and do all; they are the King, they are the Merchant. The trauailes and paynes (as many of their mariners vpon their owne coast, confessed vnto me often) be indeed of the sea-faring men, but the goods and wealth, of this and that Cardinal, and this and that Bishop. They haue gotten al into their owne hand, they make what lawes seemeth good vnto themselues: in a word, they doe both with King and people what them list. These most certainly are rebels most dangerous, and if any duetiful subiect doe but open his mouth against these, they by and by prepare for him most exquisite tor­ments. Besides their tyrannicall crueltie in seeking to oppresse and dispeople all nations about them, whome our gracious Prince in al pitie and mercy doth fauou­rably relieue and succour.

[Page]It may be sayd of the Spaniard, setting all coun­tries about him on fire, as the Spanish song goeth of Nero,

By dismissing of late many English men francke and free, he would seeme now to make shew of some fauour vnto England, that he doth not beare that bloo­die minde against vs as commonly is surmized. But I hope wee shall trust him neuer the better. Hee was a blacke diuel before, and now he is as white as that di­uell that doth turne himselfe into an Angel of light.2. Cor. 11.14. With honie is often times conueied deadly poyson, and vnder the greenest hearb may lurke a hissing ser­pent. His imbruing his handes in the blood of those that professe the same fayth with him, doth sufficient­ly admonish vs what we are to looke for at his hands.The reuerend father, Master Nowel, shewed one of these kniues to diuers Noblemen of England. The butcherly kniues which they brought with thē when they came in good earnest to inuade England, with this poesie grauen vpon them; An absolution for the heretikes of England, doe tell vs plainly that the mercy which they pretend nowe, is but in iest, or ra­ther in deepe dissimulation, and that if wee come vn­der [Page] their blessing, wee must looke for no other abso­lution, but cutting of throates.

The cause why he so earnestly seeketh the conquest of our neighbours about vs, is that thereby hee may the better worke his purpose vpon vs: wee are to as­sist them in respect of themselues, or else were we ve­rie vniust: for as sayth the Orator, Iniustitiae duo sunt genera, Tul. Offic. 1. vnum eorum qui inferunt, alterum eorum qui ab ijs quibus infertur non propulsant iniuriam. Qui non obsistit sipotest iniurie, tam est in vitio quam si parētes, aut amicos, aut patriam deserat. There are two kindes of vniu­stice, the one of them which doe iniurie, the other of them which doe not defend from iniurie. He which doth not withstand iniurie, if he be able, is in as great a fault, as if he should forsake his parents, his friends, or his own countrey: their houses can hardly burne, but ours must be in danger to smoke: and therefore especially we are to labour to preuent the ende, that is, the slauery and bondage which they intend to bring vpon our owne nation, [...].Xenophon. It is a noble thing, saith Xenophon, to fight for the auoyding of bondage. And it cannot but be as no­ble to fight for the eschewing the Antichristian yoke of popish Idolatrie: for howsoeuer the Spaniard would seem to be a defendour of the Catholike faith, let his filthy Idolatry, his pestiferous heresies, his truce breaking, his greedy couetousnes, his swelling am­bition, and his bloody cruelty be sufficient testimo­nies to vs that his fayth is not true and Catholike, but diuelish and Antichristian.

[Page]Well he may make a shew of deuotion and of the seruice of God, and of liberall contribution to main­taine the Church of God: But all their offerings (as ye haue heard) are of goods wrongfully possessed, and therefore they doe but according to their owne pro­uerbe, Hurtan el puer as darlos pies por amor de dios, steale the swine and bestow the feete for the loue of God: and all their outward glorious profession is but to haue as their owne by word goeth of them,

It is but an outward shew to cloake and couer their couetousnes and hypocrisie: and therefore going a­gainst him, wee goe against the Lordes enemie: and we may conclude to our owne heart with the con­fidence of Dauid; Psal. 68.21. Surely GOD will wounde the head of his enemie, and the hayrie pate of him that continueth still in wickednesse.

The Frenchman that hath answered all the Maxi­maes gathered out of the workes of Machiauel, is in this poynt too short, who concludeth generally, that there ought to be no warres against Gods enemies in cases of religion, onely vpon this ground:Par. 3. max. 1. pag. 346. Puis que toute religion consiste en vne approbation de certains points qui concernent le seruice de dieu, il est certain que telle approbation pend de la persuasion qui en est donnée aux hommes. Or le moyen de persuader vne chose a vne personne ce n' est point de prendre les ar­mes pour le batreny de le menasser ains de luy remon­strer [Page] par bonnes raisons & allegations, qui le puissent induire a persuasion. Seeing that all religion doth con­sist in the allowing and yeelding to certaine poynts which concerne the worship of God, it is certaine that that allowing doth depend vpon the perswading of men. Now the meane (sayth he) to perswade any man, is not to take vp weapons to beate him, nor to menace and threaten him, but to make demonstration to him by such reasons and good proofes as may leade him to perswasion. What perswasion, I pray you, can be vsed with them which will not suffer a perswader to liue amongst them? who if a teacher come to them, doe put him straight to the fire or sword: or if the holy scriptures or any godly instruction be brought vnto them, they burne both the booke & the bringer, who are not content to liue vnder Antichrist, but doe with al tyrannie and bloodshed vphold the kingdome of Antichrist, which are not weake but wilfull, not blind but obstinate: which are not content themselues to beare the marke of the beast,Reuel. 13.17. but doe fight for the beast, and seeke to bring all nations vnder the yoke of his bondage. If the Spanyards were no otherwise e­nemies to vs thē the Indians were to them, who were most of them meeke and obedient, and willing to be taught and gouerned: if we should then haue spilt the blood of so many infinite thousands, as they haue done, then might the Papist iustly haue opened his mouth against vs, and we should haue had great occa­sion to feare that which now hangeth ouer them, euen the vengeance that the Prophet speaketh of, one stone to crye against another,Abac. 2.11.6. and one beame to crye against [Page] another, woe be to him that buildeth of blood.1. Sam. 17.3 As the blasphemie of the Philistine made Dauid more cou­ragious, so these huge iniquities of the enemie ought to make vs expect the vengeance at the last to light the more heauier vpon him.

Another comfort and solace had Dauid in all his troubles, that euen for the Churches sake the Lord would destroy his enemies: and for this cause he saith,Psal. 7.6. Arise O Lord in thy wrath, and lift vp thy self against the rage of mine enemies, so shall the congregation of the people compasse thee about: for their sakes therefore lift vp thy selfe againe, the Lord shall iudge the people, &c. We must needes confesse, that in re­spect of the most part of our selues in the Realme of England, both by our contempt of Gods holy word, and by our vnthankfulnes for his manifold blessings, we are so farre off from being worthie to haue out e­nemies subdued vnder vs, that we haue deserued much rather to be long agoe deliuered as a pray vnto their teeth. But we know the Lord hath his Church amongst vs, he hath committed vnto vs his holy word and Sacraments, he hath also his number of his elect and chosen: and we may say with the Prophet Esay, Except the Lord of hoasts had left a remnant to vs, we had been as Sodome and Gomorrah. For that little remnant, that number of the elect which God hath a­mongst vs, the Lord hath hitherto extended so many blessings vpon vs, and we hope that for their sakes he will still lift vp himselfe againe. God promiseth for ten good men to spare all Sodome.Gen. 18 32. Dauid had in his armie Ioab a most wicked manquellour, who had [Page] most trecherously and wilfully murdered Abner the sonne of Ner, 1. Reg. 2.29. 2. Sam. 3.27. Generall of the armie of Israel, and A­masa the sonne of Iether, Generall of the armie of Iu­da, men (as the scripture sayth) better then himselfe. This wicked Ioab was Dauids Lieuetenant of all his armie,2. Sam. 10.7. and the Lord sent vnto him many noble victo­ries for his good Prince Dauids sake. We haue ma­ny English Souldiers and Mariners of most wicked and dissolute life, and such as in their warres haue no respect to the glorie of God and the benefite of his Church, but onely seeke to take somewhat together for themselues, which they may afterward lauish out on prodigall riot and filthinesse of life. And it may be sayd of many of them as is in the Poet:

Though I say many of them be thus prophane and wicked, yet our hope is, that as often heretofore, so hereafter still, for the good Princes sake the Lord will blesse the labours of Ioab. Deus operatur per ma­los non in malis: God worketh by the euill, though not in the euill. When wicked Pharao exalted godly Ioseph, Gen. 41.40. 1. Reg. 18.3. when Achab maintained that good Obadiah, when Daniel was aduaunced by Nabuchadnezzar, when many Saints were in the house of Nero, Phil. 4. GOD wrought by the hands of the wicked a benefite vnto his children, he wrought by the euill, but not in the [Page] euill. Howsoeuer many Souldiers and Mariners haue not their affections sanctified, yet those that truly feare God ought not to be discouraged,1. Thess 5.11. but rather to striue by their godly exhortations and good examples to re­forme the imperfections of them, and to seeke by all meanes so to increase the number of the true repen­tant, that for their sakes also some mercie may bee shewed to Sodome.Gen. 18.32. We may lawfully enioy the spoyles of the Lords enemies, as did Dauid, Asa, 1. Sam. 30.26. 2. Chro. 14.14. and others: we may also lawfully desire to maintaine our selues by our vocation, as Paul sayth,1. Cor. 9.7. Who goeth at any time to warfare on his owne cost? But our chie­fest intent and purpose ought to be to promote the glorie of God, to doe good and acceptable seruice to our gracious Soueraigne, to procure peace vnto Sion, to break or weaken the power of Antichrist, to turne aside that course of the Indian fountaine of gold, the nurse of all those warres and troubles that are now a­mongst our neighbours and confederates in France and Flanders, to take the sworde out of the mad mans hand, and to plucke downe that lustie Nimrod, that so eagerly hunteth for the kingdomes of the whole earth; which affections if we cary, then no doubt the Lorde will so blesse our labours, that liuing, we shall be most profitable mēbers of our Christian common wealth: and if death doe take vs away, we are assured that end­ing our liues, either in, or for the faith of Iesus Christ, we shall be partakers of a farre more blessed estate in the world to come, euen of that immortall crowne of glory, which Christ Iesus hath prepared to al that loue [Page] him, and to those that for his sake haue not loued their liues vnto death.

God saue and preserue our most noble Soueraigne Lady Queene ELIZABETH, and grant vnto her many ioyfull and happy yeares. GOD gouerne all her Maiesties most honourable priuie counsaile with the grace of his holy spirit: God preserue amongst vs the ministerie of his holy worde, and continue his Gospel and truth to vs and to our posteritie for euer­more, God defend the Realmes of England & Ireland from all daungers of their enemies, as well forraine as domesticall: God blesse and prosper all her Maiesties forces and munitions, as well by sea as by land: God conuert the hearts, or confound the practises of all her aduersaries: God breake the power of Antichrist, & giue an vtter ouerthrow vnto all his sworn souldiers, and namely the Spaniard; euen GOD for his Sonne Christ Iesus sake happily and speedily confound him, that he neuer may bee able to lift vp himselfe against the Lord and against his annointed: and let all English hearts that doe feare GOD and loue his truth, euen heartily and faithfully say, Amen, Amen.