The Plea of the Innocent, Chapter 8
CHAP. 8.
The Miniſters which deſire reformation in ſome things of our Church matters. can neuer feare but euer louelove her M. and all the godly wiſe Magiſtrates vnderunder her: but the Papiſtes cleane contrarie.
PRinces (ſaieth the Apoſtle) are not to bee feared for good works but for euill. Rom. 13.3.And the euill life of the wicked mē is the cauſe that Princes make many good lawes. Becauſe he is the Miniſter of God to take vengeāce on him that doth euill. Therefore euill men are a fraid of the higher power: & an euill conſcience maketh them deſire there were none ſuch to bridle their wickednes: Euen as it is ſaide by the wiſedome of God; Euerie man that doth euill, hateth the light: Iohn. 3.20.neither commeth to the light, leaſt his deedes be reprooued. No meruaile then though it bee a principle among traiterous Papiſtes: That euerie man of any faction, A traiterous Popiſh principle.deſireth the remoouing of the Prince, whoſe lawes are contrarie to his faction. For their conſcience being euill and defiled with moſt filthie ſuperſtition & abhominable idolatrie; they can not louelove any godly Prince (ſuch as is our moſt deare & gratious Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth) becauſe a wiſe King ſcattereth the wicked & cauſeth the wheel to goe ouer them. And verilie there are two things which doe manifeſt their inward affection.prou. 20.26. Firſt their doctrine: not only, becauſe it is in moſte of the ſubſtantiall points, oppoſite to that, which her Maieſtie, (as the true defender of the faith) maintaineth: and that which her lawes and gouernement commandeth: but alſo becauſe they place another Soueraigne authoritie aboue hers:The Papiſts hauehave giuen their harts to the Queenes deadlie enemies. to whome, as vntounto an higher Lord and Ruler, they preferre their chiefe obedience. And looking & hoping for ghoſtly comforte and remisſion of ſinnes at the hands of that man of ſinne: they can not louelove the righteous & godly Prince who hath baniſhed his power and abhominable forgeries. Neither in truth is it posſible. For how can they louelove her, who hauehave giuen their harte to a ſtranger, euen her moſt deadly enemie. And not onlie that: but all men know, that as light & darknes, Chriſt and Beliall, the Temple of God and idols,They are as contrarie to her as darknes to light. can not agree: So her Maieſtie, being a louer of righteouſnes, and they of vnrighteouſnes: She a beleeuer & they infidells: She a worſhipper of the true and liuing God, and they of images and diuers ſortes of creatures: She of the faith of Chriſt, and they of Antechriſt: (ſeeing God hath put enimitie betweene the ſeede of the woman and the ſeed of the ſerpent) it is not posſible that they can louelove her. And they hauehave cauſe for their wicked liues, treaſon, ſuperſtition and idolatrie, to feare her righteous lawes, and vpright iudgements. And ſhe hath great cauſe to reioyce and glorifie God in this behalf:She may reioyce Gods enemies are hers. that the enemies of God be her enemies, and the mightie God of hoaſtes is her protector, who with his fauour compaſſeth her as with a ſhield. Secondly, their deedes declare no leſſe. For if a true man bee knowne by his fruite: and as our Sauiour Chriſt ſaieth:Math 7.18. A good tree can not bring forth euill fruite: The fruites of Papiſts ſhew their hatred to her Majeſtie.neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruite. Then if lying, disſimulation, treacherie, treaſon: if falſe doctrine, & drawing away the heartes of ſubiectes from the Prince: if procuring of open rebellion, and forren inuaſion: if many cruell and ſecret conſpiracies and murtherous attempts, may be iuſtlie called euill fruites, and certaine true markes of diſloyall ſubiects, hateing the Prince and deſiring her diſtruction: then may we boldlie pronounce, that the affection of the Papiſtes can not be good, nor their louelove vpright toward her Maieſtie. What calling or ſtate hauehave they not cauſed and made to worke in hoſtile maner againſt her? Firſt for Popes, you hauehave Pope Pius the fifth, and Gregorie the 13. and their ſucceſſours: then for Monarches & Princes; The King of Spaine, and the Queene of Scottes: after, for Dukes and Noble men: The Duke of Northfolke, the Duke of Guiſe, the Duke of Alba, the Duke of Medina, The Earle of Northumberland, and I can not tell how manie Earles, and Lordes in Ireland, from time to time hauehave taken armes againſt her. Moreouer for Gentilmen, there hath bene M. Arden and Someruill, Throckmortō, Sir William Stanlie, Anthonie Babington, and his complices, Doctor Parrie, a ciuilian, Doctor Lopez a Phyſicion: for Prieſtes and Ieſuites, no man can tell how many, and of raſkall, ruffian, murdering verletts, not one or two. Therefore how is it poſsible to ſhewe more plaine euidence of moſt can kered hatred,They pro… her milde nature to doe them iuſtice. & inueterate malice? And yet her Maieſtie is a moſt milde Chriſtian Prince, giuen to peace, merciemercy and long ſuffering, neuer vſed anie the leaſt hard dealing towarde any of them: ſaue onlie as conſcience and dutie to god did bind her, by publike law ſhe put downe all idolatrie, ſuperſtition, and Antichriſtian primacie: otherwiſe they had all libertie, peace, & quiet freedome, as any ſubiect coulde deſire vnderunder anie Prince whatſoeuer: vntill that by their vnnatural & vngodly conſpiracies, and moſt wicked deſighements, ſhe was forced to ſtand vponupon her garde: & to prouide ſuch remedie, …s was fitte for ſuch as vniuſtly prouoked their lawfull and gracious Soueaigne. But they hauehave ſo beſtirred them ſelues, and prepared ſo many miſchiefs …o often and ſo manifolde and continu…ll: that there are few yeares, wherein …e hath not bene driuen, to ſeeke one …ay or another for her neceſſarie de…ence. How manie times hath ſhe bene …rced to make lawes and ſtatutes, to curbe & bridle them? How many times hath ſhe bene forced to ſende ſoldiers and money to preuent them? How manie times hath her Nauie and ſhippes bene drawne out into the ſeas to meet them? How continuallie almoſt hath ſhee bene vexed with Iriſh inſurrections and rebellions? How many times hath ſhe bene conſtrained (againſt her owne moſt gentle and mercifull diſpoſition) for treaſon and rebellion to cut of rotten members with the iuſt reuenging ſwearde? Yea how often hauehave wee bene driuen to watch and ward, either to reſiſte domeſticall rebels or to waite for forren inuaders? So that to declare a moſt viperous ſpitefull and vngratious generation, and an hereticall and apoſtaticall malice, there can bee nothing added. And heere both ſhe and all her louing and Chriſtian ſubiectes hauehave verie great matter of reioycing and prayſing God. For if euer God from heauen,God ſheweth his Ioue from heauen in the defēce of our Queene. teſtified his louelove to a… Prince, or cauſed his Angells to watch & gard them: if euer there were Princ… made glorious for deliuerance, hono… rable for conſtancie in truth, & famo… for continuall proſperous ſucceſſe: … the great admiration of all men, and wonderfull happie quietnes and ioy of Gods people: if euer God ſought againſt wicked rebels, miſchieuous traitors, bloodie vſurpers and vniuſt inuaders, to defend the innocent, iuſt and vpright in his cauſe: then ſurelie may wee boldly and ioyfullie both ſay and ſing, that God hath openlie and in the ſight of all the worlde done all theſe thinges for his annointed hand-maide Elizabeth our Queene. So that ſhe may with the Pſalmiſt confes vntounto the Lord They hauehave often times afflicted me from my youth, but they could not preuaile againſt me: Pſal. 129.… 124.prayſed be the Lord which hath not giuen vsus as a praye vntounto their teeth. Our helpe is in the name of the Lord who hath made both heauen & earth. So let all thine enemies periſh O Lord: but vponupon thy ſeruant Elizabeth and vponupon her throne be peace for euer more: and let her and all that louelove thy name, bee as the Sunne when he riſeth in his might, and ſay all way, The Lorde be praiſed. But as for the Miniſters and people deſiring reformation in ſome thinges: they alwaies carefully following the word of God, and delighting in the reading, preaching, and meditation of holy Scripture; hauehave all their ioy & comfort in that faith & religion, which her moſt Chriſtian Maieſtie profeſſeth, ſetteth forth & defendeth. And hauing libertie of conſcience, freedom to worſhipe God aright, & protection in well doing with health, wealth, peace, and pleaſure of bodie and ſoule: they feele the pleaſant, ſweete and comfortable milke, with a moſt ioyfull refreſhing of a tender nourſemother, vnderunder the ſhadow of her moſt faithfull and conſtant proceedinges in the Ghoſpell. If euer there were louelove betweene Prince and people, it is betweene vsus. For what Chriſtian ſubiect can not louelove a Chriſtian Ruler? What godly childe cannot louelove a godly mother? What afflicted ſoule can not louelove a ſweet and faithfull comforter? And what man being in miſerie loueth not him, that hath deliuered him? Shee is our moſt Chriſtian Prince; ſhe is our godlie mother; ſhe is our ſweete and faithfull comforter, our deliuerer; and vnderunder God our aſſured defence againſt all our enemies. Her ioye is our life; her lawe our ſafetie; her ſafetye, our caſtell; her ſwearde our ſhielde; her peace, our wealth: her death (which God forbid) our miſerie. Therefore we hauehave counted our ſelues happie to doe any ſeruice to her Mai. either in our goods, or in our perſons, or in ſpending our liues. Wee hauehave willinglye gone in her ſeruice into Fraunce, into the Low Countries and Irelande, and into the furtheſt Seas. We hauehave written, diſputed & aduentured our liues in diuers places to teſtifie our vnfained louelove, & faithful obediēce vntounto her. And what is there, that we could not goe vnderunder? if occaſion be offered to doe her any ſeruice, vvhichwhich godly Chriſtians ought to doe, to their dread Soueraigne. If at anye time the traiterous papiſts aduance themſelues, & dare preſume to attempt their moſt wicked & vngodly deſire & wiſhing: it ſhal (by Gods grace) very wel appeare, that her M. hath many thouſand Proteſtants, ſufficiently able thorow Gods helpe, to beate them downe & to tame them:Our miniſtri… hath brought foorth many good ſubiects Witnes▪ Anno. 88. whome it hath pleaſed God by our miniſterie to bring vntounto the knowledge of the trueth. And this I am the bolder to affirme, becauſe I ſaw in our countrie in Anno 88. ſuch bands of honeſt men, ſo many, ſo well furniſhed ſo chearfull to fight for her M. and their Countrie, ſo reſolute & valiant, ſo forwarde and vnfearfull: that it reioyced mine heart to thinke how fruitfull our miniſterie had bene, in theſe her goldē dayes: & how happie & honourable her M. is, who hath by her godlie & Chriſtian gouernement breade & brought forth, nouriſhed & broght vp, ſo many, ſo worthye, ſo godly Gentill-men and Yeomen; that of meere conſcience and louelove, ſo willinglie and reſolutely could and woulde fight for her ſafetie & preſeruation. So that if the Papiſtes would regarde no more but naturall reaſon (though they did forget the mightie hand of God, which hath continuallie fought for vsus) they would quiet themſelues: & be thankful for her Maieſties great clemencie and patience toward them, & not once dare to broach ſuch treacherous deuiſes: ſeing they are not able to ſtand before the mightie forces & reſolute bands of her Maieſties moſt louing & faithfull ſubiects, true & vndoubted Chriſtians: which reioyce in her preſent gouernemēt, & deſire that it may more and more be perfected after Gods worde, and proſper to Gods glory. Alace then how ſhould we feare, in whoſe heartes is fixed and grounded ſuch perfect louelove,We can not feare her, whome we louelove perfect lie. that caſteth out all feare? We appeale vntounto the god of heuen, who ſeeth all ſecretes, and commend our doings, ſayings & writtings to the conſcience of all good honeſt & wiſe harted chriſtians: that if there be a falſe heart in any of vsus, and not a faithfull louelove and reuerence to her Maieſte, from the verie bottome of our ſoule: that eueryevery ſuch man or woman, ſhould be made an enſample and a reproach, & a byeword, for the terror of all wicked hipocrits & vnthankful miſcreāts. But wee are not able to giuegive ſufficient thanks to our good God: who hath hetherto, ſo mercifullie watched ouer vsus, that hee hath not ſuffered anie ſuch wretchedneſſe to ſeaſe vponupon vsus, or to preuaile ouer vsus, to the diſhonoure of his Ghoſpell, or iuſt diſcredit of our miniſtrie and godly cauſe. His name bee glorified for euer, Amen.