Pseudo-Martyr, Title page – Dedication
PSEVDOMARTYR. Wherein OVT OF CERTAINE Propositions and Gradations, This Conclusion is euicted.
THAT THOSE WHICH ARE of the Romane Religion in this Kingdome, may and ought to take the Oath of Allegeance.
DEVT. 32.15.
But he that should hauehave beene vpright, when he waxed fatte, spurned with his heele: Thou art fat, thou art grosse, thou art laden with fatnesse.
IOB. 11.5.
But oh that God would speake and open his lips against thee, that he might shew thee the secrets of wisedome, how thou hast deserued double according to right.
2. CHRO. 28.22.
In the time of his tribulation, did he yet trespasse more against the Lord, for he sacrificed vntounto the …ods of Damascus, which plagued him.
LONDON Printed by W. Stansby for Walter Burre. 1610.
TO THE HIGH AND Mightie Prince IAMES, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britaine, France and Ireland, defender of the FAITH.
Most mightie and sacred Soueraigne.
AS Temporall armies consist of Press'd men, and voluntaries, so doe they also in this warfare, in which your Maiestie hath appear'd by your Bookes. And not only your strong and full Garisons, which are your Cleargie, and your Vniuersities, but also ob…cure Villages can minister Souldiours. For, the equall interest, which all your Subiects hauehave in the cause (all being equally endanger'd in your dangers) giues eueryevery one of vsus a Title to the Dignitie of this warfare; And so makes tho…e, whom the Ciuill Lawes made opposite, all one, Paganos, Milites. Besides, since in this Battaile, your Maiestie, by your Bookes, is gone in Person out of the Kingdome, who can bee exempt from waiting vponupon you in such an expedition? For this Oath must worke vponupon vsus all; and as it must draw from the Papists a profession, so it must from vsus, a Confirmation of our Obedience; They must testifie an Alleageance by the Oath, we, an Alleageance to it. For, since in prouiding for your Maiesties securitie, the Oath defends vsus, it is reason, that wee defend it. The strongest Castle that is, cannot defend the Inhabitants, if they sleepe, or neglect the defence of that, which defends them; No more can this Oath, though framed withall aduantagious Christianly wisedome, secure your Maiestie, and vsus in you, if by our negligence wee should open it, either to the aduersaries Batteries, or to his vnderminings.
The influence of those your Maiesties Bookes, as the Sunne, which penetrates all corners, hath wrought vppon me, and drawen vp, and exhaled from my poore Meditations, these discourses: Which, with all reuerence and deuotion, I present to your Maiestie, who in this also hauehave the power and office of the Sunne, that those things which you exhale, you may at your pleasure dissipate, and annull; or suffer them to fall downe againe, as a wholesome and fruitfull dew, vponupon your Church & Commonwealth. Of my boldnesse in this addresse, I most humbly beseech your Maiestie, to admit this excuse, that hauing obserued, how much your Maiestie had vouchsafed to descend to a conuersation with your Subiects, by way of your Bookes, I also conceiu'd an ambition, of ascending to your presence, by the same way, and of participating, by this meanes, their happinesse, of whome, that saying of the Queene of Sheba, may bee vsu…p'd: Happie are thy men, and happie are those thy Seruants, which stand before thee alwayes, and heare thy wisedome… For, in this, I make account, that I hauehave performed a duetie, by expressing in an exterior, and (by your Maiesties permission) a publicke Act, the same desire, which God heares in my daily prayers, That your Maiestie may very long gouerne vsus in your Person, and euer, in your Race and Progenie.
Your Maiesties most humble and loyall Subiect: IOHN DONNE.