A View of the Romish Hydra, Sermon 3

A View of the Romish Hydra · Sermon 3

p. 531. SAM. 26.

And Dauid ſaid to Abiſhai, Deſtroy him not. &c.

THE THIRD SERMON againſt trayterous practiſes.

ATHENAEVS alledgeth out of Beroſus an auncient author,L. Deipnoſ… 14. …th. 17. that about the ſixteenth of the Calends of September, there was a feaſt called Sacea, ſolemniſed in Babylon for the ſpace of fiue daies, in the which, this cuſtome was, that ſeruants ſhould hauehave rule ouer their maſters, & that one of thē ſhuld be brought out of the houſe in Robes like a King, whom they termed Zoganes: If (dearely beloued) ſuch a feaſt ſhould endure, not for the ſpace of fiue daies, but for mo daies, & mo years, would you not think this to be a right Babylon? A diſorder and a confuſion in a common weal? There is in our time already, in the ſight of al men of any iudgement, a new Babylon, Rome, where a Seruant, nay, a Seruant of Seruauntes by name, is indeede a Maſter of Maſters, a Lord p. 54of Lords,Zoganes of Rome. a Zoganes, not in ſport, but in earneſt, not for a fewe daies, or yeares, but ſuch an one as without good warrant claimeth a Perpetuity, not only ruling himſelfe, but ſetting vp other ſeruauntes againſt and aboue their Lordes, Princes and Monarches, vſurping authority ouer the anuointed of god. O double pride, that celebrateth ſuch a double feaſt all the daies of his life, not onelyonly chalenging a dominion. for himſelf, but alſo placing ſeruants, and ſubiects, diſplacing the right inheritours and poſſeſſors of the Crown, with the vtter deſolation of common weales. This Babylonicall Prieſt reuiueth & raiſeth out of the earth again,The Pope a Babylonical prieſt. thoſe old Giants, Terrae filios, priuate men to bee foreign, to ſtriue and fight againſt the gods of the earth, and againſt God himſelfe. He hath bred a new brood of vipers, that cannot be content to come into the world,A ſerpentine offſpring bred & ſpred frō Rome in England. and liue, but by the death of the mother. He is, and hath beene the cauſe of a Serpentine generation, not grateful, but graceles, requiting euil for good, gaping for the deſtruction of thoſe, who hauehave by al means' endeuoured to preſerue, relieue, and promote thē. Now you knowe the fable of AEſope of the ſnake found in the ſnow & cold, by the hus bādman brought to the fire, and warmed, and refreſhed, but afterward, recouering heat, and health, hiſſed p. 55againſt his benefactour, and poyſoned the houſe:

Ore ſerit virus coluber, ſic toxicat aedem.

And afterwards, Amplectenſ que virum, ſibila dira mouet.

O beaſtly broode and viperous children, when, as Epiphanius deſcribeth them,Epipl… To 2. Her. 2. latus matris ſauciant, & ſic gignuntur, vt pater, & mater ipſorumpereant: They goare, & wound the ſide of the Morther: they are ſo begotten and ſo borne, that by them, Father, and Mother periſh. The moral and meaning is this:

Reddere gaudet homo nequam pro melle venenū,

Pro fructu paenam, pro pietate dolum.

To apply this to our purpoſe, theſe oulde Giants, vipers and Serpents are newly born againe, in theſe daies, vnthankfull men ſet vp by this romiſh Zoganes, vnnaturally, vngodly, mōſtrouſly attempting whatſoeuer means vnlawful againſt the Mother and Parent of the countrey, vnderunder whoſe protection, by the prouidence of God,After the winter of Q. Mary ae ſummer of Q. Elizabeth. they hauehave enioyed after the winter and tempeſt of Queene Maries perſecution, the warmth and heat of the fier, and many bleſſinges of God, both ſpirituall, and temporal.

For a remedy of theſe euils, & for redreſſe of this be aſtlie ingratitude, diſobedience, and rebellious behauiour againſt the royal perſon p. 56of the Prince, I hauehave as you hauehave heard, diſcourſed of the hiſtory of Dauid the laſt day, replieng againſt Abiſhai: which hiſtory Chryſoſtome ſo liked,Hom. de Dauid & Saul. Chryſoſtoms Amplification of this hiſtorie. Exod. 21.Exod 21 that he made Homilies of it, and amplifieth the excellent integritie, and faithfulnes of Dauid towarde Saul the annointed: in that Dauid did this in the oulde Teſtament, where ſome reuenge was in a ſort permitted: in that Dauid beſtowed benefites vponupon Saul, ſparing him, when hee might hauehave killed him,1. Sam. 24.1 Sam 24 aduenturing his life againſt Golias, 1. Sam. 16.1 Sam 16defending both Saul the King, and the whole hoſt of Iſrael that day, and with his harp charming and chaſing away the furious ſpirite, that poſſeſſed Saul: and yet, this notwithſtanding, Sauls ſpeare was euer ready to pearce Dauid. And whereas hee ſhould hauehave had for the victory ouer Golias, a dowry with his Daughter,1. Sam. 18.1 Sam 18 the King ſet downe this cruell condition againſt him, that he muſt winne in battel and hūdred foreſkins of the vncircumciſed Philiſtines, which he valiantly performed with an aduantage, bringing two hundred foreſkins with him. And laſtly, when he had cut off the lap of Sauls cloke, he was ſtriken in hart, & lamented for it: & yet for the defenſe of this fact Gods name was auouched, Gods his authority was alledged by Dauids ſeruantes & ſouldiors: Deus tradidit illum in manus &c. p. 57God hath deliuered thine enemy into thine hands. Allegant illi diuinam authoritatem, as the ſaid Chryſoſtom teſtifieth in that Homily, They alleage the authority of God.

Wherefore once againe I am to requeſt you, patiently to heare the reſt. I beganne to prooue the opinion of Dauid againſt Abiſhai (although many did hold with Abiſhai) that it was not lawfull to kil Saul, nor any the annointed of the Lord, being contrary to the law of nature and al lawes.

Before I enter into the particular probation hereof,A generall Rule of Reuenge. I doe ſet downe this ground generally receiued by common Law, Lex talionis: The Law of retaliation: That like will hauehave like: Woe be to thee that doeſt ſpoile: Eſa. 33.Isa 33when thou ſhalt ceaſe to ſpoile, thou ſhalt be ſpoiled: when thou ſhalt make an end of doing wickedlie, they ſhall doe wickedlie againſt thee. Hee that diggeth à pitte, Pſal. 7. Prou. 26.Ps 7Prov 26ſhall fall into it himſelfe: and he that caſteth vp à ſtone on high, it may returne vponupon his own pate. It is the plaine caſe of Shimei, pronounced by the mouth of this Salomon, vponupon this general rule: Thou knoweſt all the wickednes whereunto thine hart is priuy, 1. Reg. 1.1 Kgs 1that thou didſt to Dauid my father: The Lord therefore ſhal bring thy wickedneſſe vponupon thine owne head. Let al Shimeians beware of this p. 58ſtrait and ſharpe verdict: for

Sape ſagittantem didicet referire ſagitta,

In que virum plaga conuerſa recurrere plaga.

The arrow oftentimes hitteth the ſhooter himſelfe, and the ſtroke reboundeth back, to the ſtriker.Plin. l. 34. cap. 8. Perillus that deuiſed the braſen Bul to encreaſe the cruell humour of the Tyraunt Phalaris, in the which men ſhoulde bee burned quicke, with intolerable paine and roaring, was by Phalaris appointed, firſt to feele the ſmart of his owne inuention:

—Ne que e…ns lex iuſtior olla

Quàm necis artifices arte perire ſua.

It is not amiſſe but a moſt iuſt law, that the truel workman, ſhould periſh in his owne workmanſhip: It is a true prouerb among the Hebrues, Middáh Keneged middáh, A meaſure for a meaſure: And our ſauior vſeth the ſame: What meaſure ye mete, Matth. 7.Matt 7it ſhal be meaſured to you again. It is the law, Quod fecit, ſemper expectet: Col. l. 3. Nemo.& our lawe in Moſes, Huic fiet, quēadmodum ipſe fecit. Wherfore as it was ſaid once in Exod. Exo. c. 21. Leuit. 24. Deut. 19.Exod 21Lev 24Deut 19A breach for à breach, or à fracture for a fracture, an ey for an ey, à tooth for à tooth: ſo is it alſo the iudgement of God, a limine for a limme, bloud for bloud, and this is a lawe vniuerſal.

To return now to our particulars, I hauehave declared the law of nature, how this common p. 59law is verified by creatures voide of reaſon, and by men void of religion: which law of nature is eſtabliſhed by the wiſedome of God himſelfe, who hath created and directed all things in wiſedome.Themgument of Nature forcible. Ambroſe hath a ſentence pertaining to this, & an example, prouing this: The ſentence is, Omnia penetrat diuina ſapientia, implet omnia, id que locupletius ex irrationabilium ſenſibus, quàm ex rationabilium disputatione colligitur: validius enim eſt naturae teſtimonium, quàm doctrinae argumentum, noting the force and validity of nature, and of vnreaſonable creatures, for the plaine demonſiration of this argument. The example is of a dogge,A Dogge faithfull so man. whereof I ſpake the laſt day out of Plinie, and out of Ambroſe, who in general woords confirme the fidelity of dogs. They knowe to flie vponupon theeues for their maſter, Hexaemer. 6. cap. 4.and in the night to forbid ſtrangers to come neer, and they are ready to die for their maſters, and oftentimes, they giuegive euidence, to conuince men guilty of muther: ſo that their dum teſtimony hath bin credited for the moſt part. I reported before out of the ſame Ambroſe, that in the ſuburbs of Antiochia, in the dark, a man was ſlain, that had a dog accompaniing him. And the worker & miniſter of the ſlaughter was a ſouldiour, diſcouered by the dog, who purſued as hee might the reuenge p. 60of the enemy, becauſe he could not woork the defenſe of his maſter as he wold. I omit the kinde nature of Bucephalus, Plin. l. 8. cap. 42.Alexander his horſe, who when he was decked with the trappings and furniture of the King, would ſuffer no man to ride him but the King, otherwiſe he was content with any man. O that men would bee as wiſe as Bucephalus, to know a King from a common man, and yet, In horſe and mule there is no vnderſtanding.Pſal. 32.Ps 32

But to come from beaſts to men, from the horſe to the maſter, Alexander himſelfe a natural man was taught by his Maſter Ariſtotle, this ſupernatural leſſon, in a certaine book written to him: Quantum potes: As much as you can, take heede, that you ſhedde not the blood of any man. Euripides alſo condemneth it as a wicked thing to kil a King. Holcot recyting certaine lawes of India, Jn moral. 5.ſetteth downe againſt traytours,Lawes of Jndia. that they ſhould bee baniſhed. The reaſon of the law is, that the King might be without fear, & the kingdome in peace: and if a traytour were taken, all the ſiue counſailers ſhould giuegive ſentence againſt him, and that iudgement once pronounced ſhould not be reuoked. O that England had the Law of India, or rather that happy effect of the law: that Prince and people freed from p. 61them, might liue in quietnes and ſecurity.Hierons, in Mac. c. 10. We al naturally defend our head as the Serpent doth his, and naturally, the head is either reuerenced, or feared moſt, as the Panthera, Plin. lib. 8. cap. 16.though for the variety of her coloures, of other beaſts ſhe is moſt gazed vponupon, and for her ſauor is marueilouſly comfortable, yet with her head ſhe is moſt terrible: And though ſhee bee wild, and cruell towardes others, yet feeling a remedy euen by the excrementes of man, againſt poyſon, dooth ſo louelove man, and couet them, that if they be hanged vp in a baſket, or a veſſel by ſheepheards, higher than ſhe can touch them, yet by reaching and leaping after them, ſhe faileth, and fainteth, and at laſt dieth.Cap. 27. Princes are the heads of our common-weals, they ought therefore to bee had in reuerence, and to be defended, feared, and loued, except we wil be worſe than heathniſh miſcreantes, than beaſts, as dogges, ſerpentes, horſes, and ſauage Panthers.

Now we muſt paſſe from the law of nature vntounto the law of God,The lawe of God to the Jewes. although indeed the law of Nature is the law of God, but I mean the written law of the Iewes: in the which wee find,Eccl. c. 10.Eccl 10 That the birdes of the aire ſhal carry the voice of him, that ſpeaketh euil, or curſeth the King euen in his thought, or in his bed-chamber, and the foul of the heauen ſhal declare the p. 62matter abroadt.Examples of Gods plagues againſt diſobedience. Numb. 16. Numb. 12. Exod. 14.Num 16Num 12Exod 14 And that Mary the ſiſter of Moſes himſelfe murmuring againſt her brother a Magiſtrate, was ſtriken with a leaper: that the Iſraelites for mumling, and making mutiny againſt him their Captain were puniſhed: that Corah, Dathā, & Abiram, rebelling againſt him, the one with fier, the other with earthquake periſhed, with their wiues, childrē and goods: And that the common people, for ſaying to Moſes, and Aaron, That they had murdered the people of the Lord, were plagued with death by God himſelf to the nūber of fourteene thouſand, and ſeuen hundred, beſides them that died in the conſpiracy of Corah. If for thinking, or ſpeaking, and murmuring againſt the Magiſtrats ſuch puniſhment was inflicted, how much more for conſpiring the death of a Prince? Let thē alſo take heed, who iuſtifie traytours,Againſt acceſſaries and Iuſtifiers of Trainours. aad aſke with theſe Iſraelites, Why hauehave you put to death theſe good men Corah, Dathan, & Abiram? Why hauehave you ſhed the bloud of Campian, and other Catholickes? Such reaſon as ſerued againſt Corahits in the iudgement of God, may ſerue in the opinion of al good men, againſt Campianiſtes, and ſuch ſpirituall, nay, ſuch ſpitefull Catholickes. The end you ſee grieuous, by the iudgement of the law, & by the diſpleaſure of God. What murder is, by the priuate man p. 63committed againſt a priuate man,The terrible example of Cain the firſt nu… derer. let curſed Cain teach al men. Hee is firſt curſed, and the earth alſo made barraine and fruitleſſe who opened her mouth to receiue the blood of Abel. Hee is pronounced a vagrant man, baniſhed from the face of God, hee falleth to deſperation, crying out that his ſin is greater, than that it can be pardoned.Gen. 4.Gen 4 He hath a marke of trembling, & quaking, fearing eueryevery ſhadow of man, and the ſhaking of the leaues of the trees. This ſeuerity was exerciſed in the law of Nature, I meane before the ſentence of the Lawe Moſaical, and before any example of puniſhment ſhewed againſt any murtherer, beyng himſelfe the firſt that euer ſuffered that way for that offenſe. Afterward we find too many examples and puniſhmentes: a few may ſuffice. The Daughter of Amry Athaliah roſe vp and deſtroied al the Kings ſeede,2. King. 11.2 Kgs 11 onelyonly Ioas excepted, and ſhe cried: Treaſon, treaſon, but ſhe her ſelfe as a traytor was ſlaine with a ſworde, whereat the people of the lande reioyced, and the city was in quiet. I pray God we may hauehave the like ſequel, for the like iuſtice extended vponupon our trayterous perſons in theſe daies. When King Aſſuerus found out by Heſter his Queene vponupon the information of Mardocheus, Lib. Heſt. cap. 1.2.that there was treaſon in his priuy chamber againſt him by Bighthan and p. 64Tereſh, either by poiſon as ſome write, either by the ſword as Caietanus the Cardinal gathereth by the phraſe and maner of ſpeaking, to ridde him out of his life: the conſpiratours were hanged, the diſcloſer Mardocheus honored, and the Act for memory ſake regiſtred. The life and raigne of Dauid may bee once againe a myrror to behold al this Tragedy,The example of Dauid in himſelfe. in y^e which we hauehave partly ſeen before, & now alſo may ſee his vprighteous dealing, & obedient behauior towards Saul, who would not ſuffer Abiſhai to touch him, nether he himſelf would at any time hauing iuſt opportunity to aduenture it, whoſe diſcreet moderation is by Chryſoſtom wondred at, & alſo noted in the Popes decrees out of Ambroſe. Hom. de Dauid. & Saul. De paenit. diſtinct. 2.1. Sam. 31. Dauids ſeueritie againſt other murderers.1 Sam 31Saul in battle purſued to death by the Philiſtines, requeſted his armorbearer to draw out his ſword, & thruſt him thorow: but he would not, being affraid to offend, & of better nature thā to ſhew any kind of vnthākfulnes to his King: ſo that the deſperat wretched King was driuen to that extreme Exigent, to dy vponupon his owne ſword. But the Amalekite that brought tydinges to Dauid of the death of Saul, & confeſſed that he made an end of him, was for his paines rewarded with the like death by Dauid. 2. Sam. 1.2 Sam 1Thy bloud be vponupon thine own head, for thine own mouth hath teſtified againſt thee. In this gouernement p. 65of Dauid Abſalom the Kinges Sonne did ſlay his Brother for his Siſters ſake,2. Sam. 3.2 Sam 3 but knowing and fearing his fathers iuſtice, fled awaie for the ſpace of three yeares, and after that vponupon great intreaty was made a priſoner in his owne houſe, and did not ſee the Kings face. Afterward when the ſame Abſalom was a rebel againſt his owne father,Cap. 14. though Dauid perhappes in a fatherly pitty would hauehave ſpared him, yet God himſelfe did execute his iudgement vponupon him,2. Sam. 18.2 Sam 18 and was without the hand of man, hanged vponupon a great oke by the long locks of his head. A ſtraunge execution of a Rebell: as was that alſo of Achitophel that had his hand in this pye, for he was his owne hangman.Cap. 17. But mark in this hiſtory another proofe. When Ioab aſked the meſſenger that brought woord to him of Abſalomes hanging vponupon the oake, why he did not ſmite him to the ground, that hee might hauehave had a recompence for it,Cap. 18. he auſwered as becommeth a faithful priuate man, Though I ſhoulde receiue a thouſand Sicles of ſiluer in my hand, yet would I not lay mine hand vponupon the Kings Son. He wold not touch the Kings ſon, and yet the ſon did riſe againſt the father: & how then dare ſubiects hazard & enterpriſe the like againſt the lords anointed? Dauid wēt further in this point of iuſtice, that hee did not p. 66ſuffer any murther to eſcape vnpuniſhed againſt priuate men, neither did God ſuffer thoſe to goe ſcot-free:1. Reg. c. 2.1 Kgs 2 Abner killed Aſael brother to this Abiſhai, and Ioab killed him againe, and Dauid curſed Ioab for it, and by the fathers appointment Salomon the Sonne put him to death: no refuge, no ſanctuary, no Altar could ſaue him. She bah raiſeth a power againſt Dauid, 2. Sam. 20.2 Sam 20but by the procurement and wiſedome of a woman, his head was cut off, and caſt downe to Ioab. This hiſtory of Dauid alone diligently conſidered is enough to enſtruct vsus in our duty towards the Prince, and ſufficient to proue our propoſition, that blood requireth blood.

As theſe examples among the Iewes doe warne,Other laws of God againſt murder. Cap. 21. ſo the lawes among them warrant the ſame. It is written in Exodus: Hee that ſmiteth à man & he dy, he ſhal dy the death: which is repeated in Leuiticus, and againe in Exodus: If a man come preſumptuouſly vponupon his neighbor to ſlay him with guile, thou ſhalt take him from mine Altar, Cap. 24.that he may dy. A plaine precept we hauehave againſt ſedition and rebellion in Salomon: My ſonne, fear the Lorde, Prou. 24.Prov 24and the King, and meddle not with them that are ſeditious: for their deſtructio… ſhal riſe ſodainly, and who knoweth the r… ine of them both? And in another place, Giu… p. 67not thy waies to deſtroy Kings. Cap. 31.The penalty of this offenſe felt ambitious Adomas by Salomon executed, and the trayterous Prieſt Abiathar depoſed, and railing Shimei at length put to death: whereof came a good ende, Et confirmatum eſt Regnum in manu Salomonis. 1. Reg 2.1 Kgs 2By this iuſtice the Kingdome of Salomon was eſtabliſhed. The Lord graunt of the like cauſe the like effect among vsus.

Another Law of God is in the new Teſtament,Lawes and example in the newe Teſtament. Iohn 8John 8 which plainely auoucheth that this murdering commeth from the Diuel, and teacheth vsus a cleane contrary doctrine to the Romiſh rebellious religion, namely, to obey, to pray for Princes, and to pay duties to them, to giuegive to Ceſar, that which is Caeſars. Matth. 22. Cap. 13.Matt 22Paul to the ould Romanes gaue this leſſon, to render honour to whom honour is due, and fear to whom fear belongeth: Cap. 3.and in the Epiſtle to Tite: Admoniſh thoſe to be ſubiect to Princes and powers. So dooth Peter: 1. Pet. 2.1 Pet 2Honour the King. And in his ſecond Epiſtle he ſaith, that God doth preſerue the vniuſt vntounto the day of iudgement to be puniſhed, Cap. 2.& chiefly thoſe that walk after the fleſh in the luſt of vncleannes, and deſpiſe the gouernment, which are preſumpteous, and ſtand in their owne conceite, and fear not to ſpeak euill of them that are in dignity. The like is read p. 68in Iudas. Iuda.Paul acknowledgeth this out of the ould law in the Acts of the Apoſtles: Thou ſhalt not curſe the Prince of the people. Cap. 23.Wherupon Chryſoſtom inferreth this expoſition, I take it that he did not know at al that he was the Prince of the Prieſtes, otherwiſe he would hauehave honoured him. Shal I trouble you with the recitall of a fewe examples? Theudas made a conſpiracy, but he was ſlaint ſo did Iudas of Galile, Act. 5.Acts 5but he alſo periſhed, & they that obeyed him were ſcattered abroad. I conclude this with the terrible example and ruful end of Iudas the traytour of Ieſus Chriſt his Maſter, forſaken of God and of man: of God, for that hauing no grace, he hanged himſelfe: of man, for when Iudas bewailed his caſe to the Prieſtes,Of Iudas the traytour two notes. and confeſſed to them that hee had ſinned, betraying the innocent bloode, What is that to vsus, (quoth they?) ſee thou to it. Mat. 26.27 C. 11. q. 3.Matt 26:27Two notes we may gather out of Beda and R. Holcot, both our countrymen, the firſt th… cauſe, the ſecond the time: the cauſe, was mony… in Iudas that moued him to betray his maſter… which fault of Iudas, Mat. 27.Matt 27ſaith Beda, many thi… day abhor as cruel & wicked, but they tak… not heede of it: the other is the time, wh… he betraied him, euen when hee had taken h… Supper, he went out and betraied him. B… ware al traytours of Iudas ende, beware a… p. 69auoide the cauſe, that is hope of ſiluer, and of a better change, his chaunge was no Royall Exchāge, but inſteed of his Apoſtleſhip, a rope. Let vsus dearly beloued ſeek no alteration of the ſtate, nor of the Prince: let vsus conſider our bleſſed time, better thā this vnkind Iudas did. For we at this time are no leſſe thē Iudas was both corporally fed with the plentiful prouiſion at Gods hande, and alſo ſpiritually refreſhed at the table of the lord, and with the right vſe of the ſacraments.

From the lawe of Chriſt, wee come to the opinion of Chriſtian Fathers.The iudgement of Chriſtian Fathers. Ignatius the Martyr alloweth no ſuch rebellion, but auoucheth the Scripture of God, that God taketh this quarell of Princes vponupon himſelfe, as hee ſaid vntounto Samuel, he alleageth the Scripture of Moſes ſaying, This murmuring of yours is not againſt vsus, but againſt the Lorde God: and ſetteth downe this ſeuere ſentence: No mā that lifteth vp himſelf againſt his better, Epiſt. 3. ad Magneſios.wēt at any time vnpuniſhed, cōcluding thus: Wherefore wee muſt reuerence our ſuperiours, for that it is no great matter to be cal…ed à Chriſtian, but to bee one: as though hee would imploy,Ad Scapul. that thoſe that are diſloyall and …ebels, are not good Chriſtiās. The ſame rea…on Tertullian rendreth. We are defamed as …raytours againſt the Maieſty of the Emperour, p. 70and yet Chriſtians were neuer found to be Albimans, nor Nigrians, nor Caſſians, but he there diſcharging the Chriſtiās, chargeth the heathen who cōdemned the chriſtians: Chriſtianus nullius eſt hoſtis, nedum Imperatoris. A Chriſtian is foe to no man, much leſſe to the Emperour. The office of Chriſtians and priuat men is by Auguſtine thus deſcribed:Cap. 23. q. 8. Quicun que . Whoſoeuer ſtriketh euil men in that they are euil, and hath a cauſe to kil them, is the miniſter of God. But hee that killeth or ſlaieth or maimeth à ſorcerer, theef, churchrobber, à periured man, or any other malefactour, ſhal be iudged as a mankiller, and the more ſharply, becauſe he was not afraid abuſiuè or diſorderly to vſurp vntounto himſelfe a power not graunted vntounto him from God. The ſame Auſtine ratifieth this order political & the authority of Magiſtrates as neceſſary and inuiolable.Jn. l. de bono Diſcip. cap. 3. Except there were ordeined an order of liuing certainely, nature would neuer make an end of ſinning. Chryſoſtome agreeth to the ſame. If thou takeſt away the tribunal ſeats of iudgement, Hom. 6. ad pop. Antioc.tho… haſt taken away all order of our life: and thou ſhalt ſeparate from the ſhip the gouenour, thou haſt drownd the boat: if thou t… keſt away the captaine from the army, tho… deliuereſt vp the ſouldiours captiues to t… p. 71enemies: euē ſo if thou takeſt away Prince from cities, we ſhall lead a life more vnreaſonable, then vnreaſonable wild beaſts, byting and deuouring one another, the man of might him that is the poorer, the boulder him that is the ſimpler. 1. Cor. …; H…m. 3….The ſame father vponupon the Epiſtle to the Corinthians ſheweth the Maieſty of a Prince, and that by the outwarde enſignes of his office, and roiall robes: Although wee ſee cloth of golde, and ſhooes of gold, and ſuch like, yet we ſtill require and deſire another garment and veſture to know a King: but aſſoone as we behold his Purple and Crowne, now we look for no other ſign of the Maieſty of a Prince. And againe, No man will entertaine a King vnreuerently, Cap. 10.no man wil touch the Kinges robe with vncleane handes, although hee were alone in a ſolitary place: and yet the garment is nothing elſe but the threed of worms. If thou wonder at the coloring and dyeng of it, euen that is the blood of a dead fiſh. Againe he telleth vsus that this vplandiſh & barbarous ſhedding, of bloud came frō our old Ethniſh forefathers the Britanes, who did eat mans fleſh, very Giants indeede: it came from the Maſſagets & Derbices, who thought them miſerable that died of any ſicknes, & therefore whē they came to be old, killed thē & deuoured p. 72them, Father, Mother, Coſens, Kinſmen, whatſoeuer. The like and almoſt in the ſame words hath Ierom. Li. 2. aduer. Jouinian.Theſe and ſuch like may be authorities and poſitions of the Chriſtian fathers to diſanull all theſe ſaucy and inſolent attempts.

To theſe opinions of fathers might be added ciuill Lawes, if a Ciuilian hadde this matter in handling.Ciuil lawes. They could tell you out of the Code:Cod. l. 3. Nemo. Let eueryevery poiſoner, ſorcerer, adulterer, coiner, murderer, parricide ſuffer tormentes, and hee that is guilty of treaſon, let him not hope for any pardon of his lord, againſt whome hee hath preſumed ſuch thinges: He could tel you by the law of Pompey this decree, That if a mā kil his father or mother, ff. l. 1. de parricidijs.wife, husband, patrō, or patroneſſe, and ſuch others, there mentioned, hee muſt be in daunger of that penalty which is ſette downe by the law of Cornelius. They could tel you,L. Cornel. de ficarijs Cor. 1. ſept. Hee that walketh with a weapon, with an entent and purpoſe to kil a man, is to be puniſhed, as if he had killed a man: for in great and grieuous offenſes the will is reſpected, and not the end. And their Rule is, that the will is to bee puniſhed as ſeuerely as the deed. They could alſo report out of their Law, that it is a wicked thing for a man to ly in waite againſt man, becauſe Nature hath p. 73linked vsus altogether with a certaine kinred and cognation.

And againe, That whoſoeuer raſeth, waſheth, counterfeiteth the mony of a Prince, L. Diu… C… ad. L. Corah. ſica. ff. ad L. Cor. de falſs…. l. 2. c. de fal. mon.if he bee a free man, he is to bee throwen to beaſts: if a ſeruant, he ought to be extremely puniſhed. And alſo he that coineth a new coin without the authority of the Prince, hee muſt be burned. What then may be thought of ſuch Giaunts that are not onelyonly contumelious againſt the coat of the Prince, but alſo againſt his perſon, not only iniurious againſt his coin, but againſt his body, not only intend murther, but practiſe it?

We may ioyn vntounto theſe lawes, Exampls, experimentes and documents which we learn by ciuil and Chriſtian gouernours.Examples of ciuil and alſo chriſtian gouernours. For when did not God one way or other meet with theſe new deuiſers of treaſons & rebellions againſt the Lordes annointed? Maximus an vpſtart, ſet vp by ſouldiours, circumuented by craft, and killed by violence Gratian the Chriſtian and gratious Emperour preparing his iourney into Italy: Auguſtin. l. 5. de ciuit. Dei. cap. 15. Socra. lib. 5. cap. 11.did not Theodoſius put to death the ſame tyrant? Was not Symmachus a Senator, for writing the praiſe of that Maximus, reputed guilty of Treaſō? and fearing death, was he not forced to take Sanctuary?Hiſt. Trip. l. 9. c. 23. Did he not retract the ſame by an Apologie? p. 74Did not the ſame Theodoſius tame Eugenius, Cap. 26.who was intruded into the Emperours roome?Abbas Vrſ. f. 158. Phocas killed his Maſter Mauritius the Emperour with his wife Conſtantia and his children and was not hee afterward vanquiſhed by Heraclius, by the means of his own Son in Law Priſcus? Did not the common people after his apprehenſion put him to death and burne him? Conſtans the good protector of Athanaſius was depriued of his kingdome and his life by Magnētius: Did not Conſtantius brother of the ſaid Conſtans purſue him, ſo that at Lyons hee was brought to this extremity,Ruff. lib. 1. cap. 19. Oroſius. l. 7. to kil himſelfe with his owne hande? A certain man called Conſtantinus furiouſly ran vponupon Beliſarius with his dagger drawen: was not the traytour killed himſelfe? Were not the Goathes made lords,Blondus l. 5. decad. 1. and conquerors that day? How egregiouſly Traytours were puniſhed by the Emperour Valens, wee read in Sozomen and Socrates. Soz. l. 6. c. 8. Soc. l. 4. c. 5.Procopius an vſurper encountred againſt the Emperor Valens, but by the means of his owne captaines was taken aliue, and betraied by them. Theſe traitors, notwithſtanding the oth made, were cut in ſunder with ſawes. Procopius the vſurper was tied by the thighes to two trees, and ſtraungely torne into peeces. You may read Cuſpinian of the trayterous dealing of p. 75Manuel Emperour againſt Conradus and againſt Lewes King of Fraunce, Jn…i… Manuel.and of Caniclinus, and other three courtiers againſt the Emperour, and their puniſhment. Berhardus the nephew of Lewes the Emperour conſptreth, and by the ſētence of the french men was condemned to dy,Abbas, Vrſ. fol. 192. but by the fauor of the Emperour his eies only were put out. I told you out of Tertullian of certain traytours named onelyonly by him,Ter. lib. ad. S…apulam. as notorious in this leud ſect of Traitours: and now ſhall be more at large by Hiſtoriographers diſplaied to you. The one was Clodius Albinus, Sectaries in Treaſon, 1. Albin…as. Jn Sen…ro Jmperator.of whō Aelius Spartianus writeth, that hee rebelled againſt the Emperour Seuerus in Fraunce: how ſped he? When hee was ouercome, and his body was brought, he commanded his head being halfe dead to be cut off, and to bee carried to Rome, the reſt of the carcaſe to be quartered, & ſet vp before his owne houſe: ſome ad that he willed the ſame carcaſe to be throwen into the riuer Rhodanus with his children.2. Nigrian. Another rebell was Peſcennius Niger ſaluted as Emperor by the band of the Syrians: what was his end? He was ſtaine by Seuerus, his head was caried vponupon a ſpeare, his children, who had beene entreated of the ſaid Emperour as his owne children, were baniſhed with the Mother: and after the rebellion of Albinus hee put them al p. 76to death.3. Sectaries Caſſians. The laſt was Caſſius deſcending of y^e line of the Caſſians the great cōſpirators againſt Iulius Caeſar, as Vulcatius Gallicanus witneſſeth. He wrought treaſō againſt Verus, he rebelled vnderunder Marcus Antoninus Philoſophus, his delight was to be called Catiline, bragging that he ſhould be alſo Sergius, if hee might kil Dialogiſtam and Philoſopham aniculam, naming and meaning Antonine, becauſe he was a learned diſputer, and giuen to the ſtudy of Auncient Philoſophy. What was his rewarde? Antoninus himſelfe was mercifull: but Fauſtina the Empreſſe writeth to Antonine, that if he loued his children & wife, hee ſhould ſharply purſue theſe rebels, for that theſe mutinous & ſeditious captaines & ſouldiours had an euil cuſtom, Quiniſi opprimantur, Fauſtina a worthy and wiſe counſailor againſt traitours.oppriment, except they bee oppreſſed, they wil oppreſſe. And in another Epiſtle ſhee alledgeth a ſentence of her Mother Fauſtina vntounto his father Pius, That hee ſhoulde firſt ſhew pitty to himſelfe and to his owne, and then afterward to ſtraungers. In fine, the Senate tooke order, that he ſhould be iudged a traytour, and his goods confiſcated, Et conſenſu omnium, praeter Antiochenſes, interemptus eſt, and by the conſent of eueryevery man (excepting the Antiochians) he was executed.

Now for that I muſt end this time, apply p. 77this in our latter and leud daies, as you think good. Our learned Antonina for her owne part of her admirable clemency, hath ſhewed pitty, and mercy to many traitours: our Honourable Counſail, and our Lawes hauehave prouided againſt them, and ſome of them hauehave had their deſert by Iuſtice, as you hauehave heard it ſhould be, and might be by the law of Nature, by the Law of God among the Iews, and alſo among the Chriſtians, by the iudgement of Chriſtian Fathers, by the conſtitutions ciuil, by Emperours and Princes Chriſtian and others.

You alſo my brethren and countrimen, hauehave taken anoth of fidelity as the Athenians did, foreign &c.

The oath of the Athenians and Engliſh ſubiects.I will defend Religion, holy and prophane thinges, and fight for them either alone, or with many, I will not leaue my Countrie in woorſe ſtate, but in better. I will alwaies obey the Magiſtrate, and chiefe Ruler, I will bee ſubiect to Lawes ordained, Ex Apoph. Ariſtoxeni Pythagori.and to al other Decrees ſet downe by the Commons p. 78and Parlament. If anie will fruſtrate or make voide the Lawes, or not bee obedient to them: I will not agree, but will reuenge it either alone or with manie. I will obſerue and reuerence the Holie Ceremonies of My Countrie: whereof God be my witneſſe and iudge. Wee of this land doe ſwear and proteſt in the name of Chriſt, a fidelity to God, to the Prince, & to our country. This oath muſt be kept, you know the rule of law: Nimis indignum eſſe iudicamus quod quiſque ſua voce dilucide proteſtatus eſt, infirmare. Wee thinke it an vnworthy and ſhameful thing, that a man ſhould breake that which he hath proteſted plainly with his owne mouth. God graunt vsus al to bee mindful of it: To whom &c.