Dialogue Between the Libertine or Rebel Anabaptist and the Christian, Title page – Prologue
¶ A moſt neceſſary & frutefull Dialogue, betwene ye ſeditious Libertin or rebel Anabaptiſt, & the true obedient chriſtiā, wherin, as in a mirrour or glaſſe ye ſhal ſe ye excellence and worthyneſſe of a chriſtiā magiſtrate: & again what obedience is due vntounto publique rulers of al thē yt profeſſe Chriſt yea, though ye rulers, in externe & outward thinges, to their vtter dampnatyon, do otherwyſe then well: tranſlated out of Latyn into Engliſſhe, by Ihō Veron Senonoys.
Romaines .xiii. chapter:
Whoſoeuer reſiſteth ye power, reſyſteth ye ordinaunce of God, but they yt reſyſt ſhal receiue to them ſelues dampnation
❧ The contentes of thys boke.
i That a chriſtian, contrarye to the pernitious opynion of thanabaptiſtes or ſeditious Libertins, may lawfully execute the office of a Magiſtrate.
ii That ye offyce of a Magiſtrate, is not onelyonly profitable, but alſo moſt neceſary to a Chriſtian commune weale.
iii That we are all bounde to obeye magiſtrates and rulers, in externe & outward thinges, but if they commaund any thing againſt god, and his worde better it is to obey god then men: Yet not to reſiſte violently.
iiii Whether it be lawfull to reſiſt ye magiſtrate, where we do wryte againſte them that do rebell againſt magiſtrates and rulers.
¶ To ye right worſhipfull Syr Ihon Gates, Knight, Ihon Veron wiſſheth peace, grace, & health, both of ſoule and body, with increaſe of diuine knowledge and vnderſtandynge, from god the father, throughe oure Lorde and Sauyour Ieſus Chriſte.
CAllyng to remembraūce right worſhipfull Syr, ye great inconuenyences & harmes, that lately dyd chaunce to this moſt illuſtre & floriſhing Realme by the diſobedient rebellyon, of certayne vngodly and wycked perſons, which caſting god and his word behind theyr backes, did ſeke nought els, but an vtter confuſyon of all thynges: I can not but lament and mourn, that yet ſo great blindnes & ignoraunce doth,When prophecie, yt is to ſay, true miniſtring of goddes word ſhal ceaſſe, thē ſhal the people be ſcattered ſaith the ſcripture. for lacke of trew preachers and miniſters of goddes word (without the which beyng purely & ſyncerely preached, no trewe obedience, nor duety can be learned, whatſoeuer the enemies of the truth do babell and prate) reygne emong the commons and inhabiters of this countrey, that they beinge wrapped in all kyndes of errour, do not knowe, nor yet vnderſtande, that to ryſe for any maner of cauſe, againſt the Magiſtrates,Thre thinges ye rebelles do incurre by their rebellion rulers & high powers, is moſte dampnable too theyr ſoules, moſt paryllouſe to theyr naturall countreye, and to theyr bodyes (for whoſe ſake, they, lyke brute beaſtes, ſtyrre vp all this hurly burly) moſt hurtful and daungerous. Whiche three thynges, I wyll here proue by the word of god, and examples of ye ſcriptures, puttyng before theyr eyen, howe ſore god doth abhorre and deteſt al rebellious inſurrections and tumultes: to the intent, yt they being taughte and inſtructed oute of goddes worde, waye leaue of and ceaſſe from theyr raſſhe and vngodly enterpryſes.Rom. xiii. cha
Rebelles doo purchaſe vntounto theym ſelues euerlaſtinge dampnatyon.Fyrſt and formeſt let them loke vponupon the .xiii. Chapter to ye Romaines. Where Paule ſpeaketh after this maner: Whoſoeuer reſiſteth the power, reſiſteth ye ordynaūce of god: but they that reſiſt, ſhal receiue to them ſelues euerlaſting dampnation. Here in theſe few wordes of the bleſſed apoſtle and choſen veſſell of god we do learne, that we ought in no wyſe to reſiſt the high power. And why? Becauſe he is the ordynaunce of god. Who can, I pray you, O brayneles Libertins reſyſt the ordynaunce of god, and eſcape vnpuniſſhed? Noo man truelye. For the holy ghoſte ſayth, that they that reſyſte, ſhall receyue to them ſelues dampnatyō Thys were ynough to proue that to riſe agaynſt the hygh powers, is moſt dampnable to the ſoules, excepte ſome were emonge theym, moſte craftye and ſubtile whyche by and by, wyll make an obiectyon, and ſaye. Obiection. Is the power of tyrannouſe and vngodlye Prynces of God? Noo man (ſaye they) wyll ryſe agaynſt a godlye Prynce, whych without doubt is of god. But we do ryſe agaynſt moſt wicked & vngodly rulers, whiche dailye do ſo ſore oppreſſe vsus, that we can ſuffer noo longer, excepte we and oure chyldrē wyll go hereafter a beggyng. Aunſwere or ſolutyon. To whom we doo aunſweare wyth Saynct Paule There is noo power but of God. All the powers that bee, are ordeyned of God. Syth then that there is no power but of God, it foloweth by good conſequence that the tyrannycal power is of god, and that whoſoeuer doth reſiſt it,The tirannycall power is of god, as peſtylence, hayle vnſeaſonable wethers, & other lyke plagues. doth reſyſt ye ordinaunce of god, therby purchaſing vntounto him ſelfe euerlaſting dampnatyon. But I will tell the howe the tyrannicall power is of god, euen as peſtilence, haile vnſeaſonable weathers, and other lyke plagues, which are by the righteous iudgement of god, ſente vponupon vsus, for our ſinnes. Whiche thinge we maye well ſe of Pharao in Hieremy,Eſai. iij. chap and of Sennacherib, kyng of the Aſſirians, in Eſaie ye prophete, yea, the lord ſaith him ſelfe: I will geue chyldiſſhe men to be your Princes and gouernours, ſcornefull or womanly or effeminate perſons ſhall beare rule ouer you.Mark ye this oh rebelles, & acknowledge ye wicked rulers, are a rod ſent of god, to puniſh youre ſynnes. The lord doth make the wicked to reygne for ye ſinnes of the people. Ye ſhal alſo be pilled and polled and one ſhall euer be doing violence and wronge to an other. The boye ſhall preſume againſt the elder, and the vyle perſon agaynſt the honorable. And whye? Becauſe that both your wordes & your counſailes are againſte the lorde, to prouoke the preſence of his maieſtye, vntoo anger. By theſe wordes of the holy prophete, it is eaſy to vnderſtande, that oure ſynnes are the chief cauſes why ye Lorde god aboue, doth ſende vngodly and wycked rulers. But thys, we will not ſe nor heare, our eyen are ſo fixed vponupon the faultes of the high powers, and gouernours that we do vtterlye forget our owne, we can eſpie a mote in theyr eye,Mat. vij. cha It is the propertye of folyſhneſſe too forget hys owne, and to ſe other mennes ſynnes. but ye beam that is in oure owne, that wyll we not ſe We blame them for couetouſnes, & wee our ſelues, are an hundreth tymes more couetouſe in our heartes, then they are, we blame them for theyr pryde, and no man is ſo proud, ſo high mynded, ſo ſtubburne & hawte of corage, as we are oure ſelues, we blame them for theyr gay apparell, and coſtly fare, and we our ſelues if we were as able as they, woulde go a thouſand tymes more gay, & fare a thouſand tymes more coſtly then they doo. I do appele to your own conſciences, whether it be not ſo as I ſay. Truly though ye diſſemble neuer ſo muche,Pſalme. vij. and clooke that poiſon that lieth hidden in your hertes, neuer ſo craftely, yet almighty God which is the ſearcher of the heartes, and of the loynes, knoweth what beaſte ye nouryſſhe and beare aboute with you in your heartes. Which thyng ſhall be manifeſt and open,How we mai deliuer our ſelues from miſery and calamitye. whē the lord ſhal reuyſe the ſecretes of eueryevery mans hearte. Wyll ye then be rydde from the myſerye that ye are wrapped in? Will ye be deliuered from extorcion, tyrannie and oppreſſyō? Remoue and put awaye the cauſes. Let vsus put awaye theſe enorme ſynnes, that we are drowned in, I meane, vnfaythfulnes, murmurynge agaynſte GOD, ingratytude and vnthankefulneſſe. Let vsus banyſſhe from emonge vsus vncleanelynes, fornycatyon, adulterye, dronkennes, backbytynge periurye, vntrue dealyng, vnlawfull othes, and blaſphemous ſwearynges. Thys done, let vsus boldelye flye vntoo the Lorde, and wyth earneſte prayers, procedynge from a trewe and an vnfayned faythe, call vponupon hym for ayde and ſuccoure, and wythout doubte he wyll heare vsus. For the truthe it ſelfe dyd ſaye:Pſalme. l. Call vponupon me in the day of thy trouble, and I wyll bothe heare and delyuer the, that thou mayeſt gloryfye my name. Marke thys well, he dothe notte ſaye: In thy trouble, that is to ſay, when thou art afflycted and oppreſſed, runne into the fyelde, and there mutter, & make vnlawfull aſſembles agaynſte the magiſtrates, but he ſayth. Call vponupon mee, addyng a moſt comfortable promyſe, that he wyll bothe heare and delyuer thee.
Seeke then the meanes that the Lorde hath appoynted the, and folowe not thy carnall and fleſſhelye affectyons, for they are blynde,Carnal… … … ly affec… are blynde. and wyll brynge the intoo all kyndes of calamytye and myſerye, whereas yf thou doeſt obeye goddes worde, and ſuffer pacyentelye the wronge, if any were done vntounto yt, by the hyghe powers and rulers, thou mayeſt be ſure that he wyll deliuer the at length thoughe it be not ſo ſoone, as thou woldeſt hauehave it. For it is wrytten.Pſalme. ix. The poor ſhall not be forgotten alwayes, the pacyente abydynge of the meke, ſhall not peryſſhe for euer. Oh, that thys doctryne were prynted in all mennes heartes, thē ſhoulde we hauehave leſſe tumulte and ſedytyon,Tumult & ſedition dothe come of plain ignoraunce of gods worde. whych truely doth ryſe of nothing elles: but of playne ignoraunce of gods worde, and heauenlye truthe. Were not the chyldren of Iſrael, the choſen and elected people of God, a longe ſeaſon in Egipt, beyng by the ſpace of foure ſcore yeres and more, ſo ſore afflycted and oppreſſed by that cruell tyraunte Pharao,Exo. i.ii. cha. that beſydes all other myſeryes, wherewyth they were there ouerwhelmed, they were fayne to ſe all theyr men chyldren as ſoone as they were borne, too be kylled afore theym, or elles before theyr …yen, to be drowned in ye riuer of Nilus?
And yet we doo not reade, nor heare, though they were ſix hundreth thouſand men, beſides women and chyldren, that there was euer anye mutteryng, any inſurrectiō or vnlawfull aſſembles emong them;Exo. xiiij. cha. but dyd abyde ſtyll pacientlye the helpynge hande of the Lorde, whiche at lengthe, when they did call earneſtly vp on hym, dyd deliuer them ſo mightely, yt without any ſweard drawing they were reuenged of their enemyes, whyche oppreſſed them. Let vsus doo the ſame, let vsus abyde paciently the helpyng hande of ye Lord, let vsus put away vice, and embrace vertue,Praiers are ye armure & weapons of ye chriſtians in affliction. Pſalme. ix. callyng night and day vponupon oure heauenly father. (For praiers are the armour and weapons of ye chriſtians, whē they are in affliction and trouble) & wee maye be ſure that he wyll not forget vsus, the holy Prophete Dauid, ſaying: God forgetteth not the complaynt of ye poore But yf we go about, by vnlawfull meanes and wayes, to delyuer our ſelues, beſydes that we ſhall runne (as the late experience taughte vsus) intoo farther thraldome and bondage, we ſhall without all doubt, purchaſe vntounto oure ſelues, euerlaſtyng dampnatyon. For why? We doo reſyſt the ordynaunce of god. Which to do is moſt dampnable, as the holy Apoſtle doth teſtifye.Rebelles goo aboute too bring their naturall coūtrey to vtter deſolatyon. Mat. xij. chap
Nowe let vsus ſe intoo what parell and ieopardye, theſe brayneles and vngodly folkes, do moſt vnnaturally bryng theyr own natural countrey. Do not they, as much as in them lyeth, by theyr ſedityous tumulte, go about to bryng it to vtter deſolatyon? Chriſt our ſauyoure, the euerlaſtyng wiſedome of the father, and eternall truth, ſayth: EueryEvery kyngdome deuided agaynſt it ſelfe, ſhall be brought to naughte. And euerye Citie deuided agaynſt it ſelfe, ſhall not ſtande. Wherby it may be gathered, that they that ſeke or make anye diuiſion within a Realme or countrey, do intend nothing els (though they falſly pretende an other thyng) but to brynge the ſame Realme or countrey to naught. It is vnpoſſyble that ye wordes of our ſauyour, whych is the truthe it ſelfe, ſhuld be falſe. Whych to be moſt true and infallible,What Realmes & cōmun weales didde fall to decaye by dyuyſyon daily experience doth ſuffycyently teache vsus. For, what thing I pray, did bryng the floryſſhynge commune weale of the Aſſirians to naught? Diuiſion. What thing did make ye Medes, Perſians, and almoſte all Aſia, ſoo weake, that they could not withſtande a handfull that came out of Macedonia? Diuiſion. What thinge did ſubuert and turne vpſide downe, that goodlye and well ordered common weale, of the Lacedemonians, whych in vertue and manlynes dyd farre excede all other men? Dyuiſion. What thyng did bring the Athenienſes, which were rulers of al Grecia and lordes of the ſeas, to ſo greate thraldome, ſeruitude and bondage, that they could neuer get them ſelues into libertie agayne? Diuiſion. What hath broughte the Romaynes, whyche by theyr proweſſe, had conquered al the wholl world into ſoo baſe a ſtate, that the leſſe kyngdome of Europa, is able too compare wt them, whyche afore made all the wholl world to tremble and quake at ye dynt of their ſword? Diuiſiō. To be ſhort, what thyng did in tymes paſſe, encourage the Danes and Normans, too inuade thys countrey, almoſt to the vtter vndoynge and confuſyon of thys noble and floryſſhing Realme? Diuiſion. That I ſhould in the meane ſeaſon let paſſe, and ſpeake nothynge of the common weale of the Iewes and Iſraelites, whiche after that they were ones deuyded agaynſte them ſelues, were neuer able to reſyſt theyr enemyes. In ſo muche, that at lengthe, they were brought into perpetuall captiuitye and thraldome. Read the holy Bible, reade Ioſephus, Herodotus, Iuſtinus, Titus Liuius, Sabellicus, and for the hiſtoryes of Englande, Polydorus, Virgilius. Ye may ſe nowe that by ſtirryng vp of diuiſion, ye did brynge your owne naturall countrey, into as great a paryll as myghte be.God was the defender of this realme in the tyme of inſurrction. For onleſſe God had beene a ſtronge Bulwarke, vntoo thys moſte victorious Realme of Englande, and a moſte fauourable father, protectoure, and defendoure vntoo oure Virgyn kynge, (for whoſe ſake onelye thoughe all thinges, yea and your owne liues had bene taken from you, ye ought to hauehave ſuffered, and too hauehave refrayned from ſuche deueliſſhe enterpriſes) it had beene vnpoſſyble but the forenne natyons hadde come vponupon vsus. Prayſe and lande bee gyuen vntoo the for euer, O mercyfull father, that thou dyddeſte of thy mere mercye, wythoute anye deſeruynges or demerites of ours, preſerue our illuſtre and noble kyng, with all hys dominions and Realms, in this moſt parillous tyme of inſurrectyon and tumult which theſe children of Belial, dyd ſo vngodly ſtyrre vp. For what wyll ye hauehave vsus to call you? Good felowes? Maynteners and defenders of ye common weal?Why I was loth at ye firſt that theſe tumult & inſurrectyon makers, ſhuld be called rebels and traitours By lykelyhode ye woulde be ſoo called Nay, nay, I was full loth at the fyrſt (I hauehave many to bear me record of ye ſame) that ye ſhould be called rebelles or traytours, becauſe I thoughte thoſe names to be to heynouſe for you. Agayn, I had a good hope that ye would be wonne, & reclamed by ſome fayre and gentle meanes. (For who would hauehave thoughte ſo muche ſtubburneſſe in you?) Farthermore, I was afrayd that your rageouſe madnes ſhoulde rather be ſet on fyre by ſuche wordes, then aſſwaged. It was, I ſay, ſore agaynſt my wyll, that ſo horryble and odyouſe names, ſhould be giuen vntounto you at the fyrſt: but ſyth now that ye dyd perſyſt, and ſome of you doo yet furyouſly perſyſt in geuyng the occaſyons of ſuche moſt deuilyſh interpryſe, being perſwaded by noo maner of reaſon: What may we ryghtly call you, but rebelles and traytours, and moſt extreame enemyes of the commune weale? For, all that ye go about, is to vndo this noble and floryſſhyng Realme, and moſte vnnaturally to betray your owne naturall countrey, vntounto forenne nations and Princes. I ſay vntounto you, that all youre mortall enemyes yt compaſſe you round about (ſet them all together, Frenchmē Scottes, Danes, Turkes) culd not hauehave founde or ymagined a more ready waye to deſtroy Englande, then ye Englyſhe men dyd. For as a Realme, be it neuer ſo ſmall, is inuincible, yf the ſubiectes of it, beyng knitted in louelove, do holde together: ſo, if they be once deuided agaynſte them ſelues, it is vnpoſſyble, but that the ſame lande & countrey,Scilurus king of ye Scitians. muſt be brought to vtter deſolation. Whych thyng Scilurus, a Kynge of the Scitians, did moſte liuely ſet furth, by a goodlye exaumple & Apophthegme, which I woulde it were bothe written and paynted vponupon euerye wall, that men myghte learne thereby how ſtrong a thing concord and vnytye is. This kinge,Maruail not yt thys kynge had ſo many ſonnes, for it was lawfull vntounto them, to get childrē vponupon many women. as the hiſtories do teſtify had .lxxx. ſonnes, whom a litle afore hys deathe, he dyd call altogether, biddynge them, to bryng eueryevery one of them an arowe. Whych thing beyng done, he cō maunded that all the arowes ſhoulde be faſt bounde together, and ſo delyuered ye bondell of arowes, beyng thus faſt boūd to eueryevery one of his ſonnes, bydding thē to breake the arowes, as they were faſte bounde together in one bondell. Which thynge, becauſe it was vnpoſſyble, they refuſed to doo. Then the kyng cōmaunded the arowes to be vnbounde, and did geue to eueryevery one of them an arowe too breake, whyche they did lightely. Then the kyng exhorting his ſonnes to vnitye and concord, did ſaye to them after thys maner:By concorde ſmall thynges do growe, but by diſcorde great thinges are broughte to naughte. If ye agre wythin youre ſelues, and holde together, ye ſhal be inuincible no man ſhall be able too ouercome you, but if ye diſagre and fal out emong your ſelues, ye ſhall be both weake and eaſye to be ouercomen. Shall not this heathē & ethnike kinge, riſe in the day of iudgement, & condempne you, yt ſo vngodly do breake ye vnitye, peace and concorde of your owne naturall countrey? Oh how many of ye heathen, which neither knew god, nor his word, did offer them ſelues manfully to die for the welfare & preſeruatyon of their owne naturall contrey, & theſe vnreaſonable beaſtes (to call them chriſtians, I am aſhamed) do go aboute and ſtudy all that they can to deſtroye it, to betraye it, and moſte trayterouſlye to bryng it to naught. Oh what may I ſay now vntounto you?
Repente for goddes ſake, and come to your ryght mynd againe, for yf ye go on thus by vnlawfull meanes to ſhake of & put away the plague and ſcorge, that god hath ſente to you, for your deteſtable ſinnes, beſides euerlaſting dampnation, and vtter vndoing of your own naturall contrey,Rebelles doe alwaies come to a ſhamefull ende, & death of their bodyes. ye ſhal incurre a moſt ſhameful deth of your bodies. Reade all ye hiſtories both prophane and holy, that euer were writē ſince the begynnyng of the world, and ye ſhal your ſelfes fynd, that alwaies rebels hauehave had a ſhamefull ende. And no merueile, for they do reſiſte the ordinaunce of god. I myghte here repete and reherce ye hyſtory of Corah,Num. xvi. cha Dathan and Abyram which with their wiues and children and xiiii. M, and .dcc, that held with them, did horrybly peryſhe for theyr rebellyon,Iudi. xii. chap I myght allege how Ephraim made inſurrection againſt Iephtha, whom god had raiſed to be iudge ouer Iſrael, of ye which Ephraites .xlii. M. were miſerably ſlain? What nede I to bringe here the horrible tragedie of Abſalon,ii Reg. xviii. chapiter. and of Siba, ye ſonne of Bocheri. Loke ye your ſelues vponupon the bookes of the kinges, and of Paralippomenon,ii. Reg. xx. cha or Chronycles, and ye ſhall there fynde, that the one beinge hanged vp by the lockes of hys heares in an oke, was thriſted thorough with .iii. ſpares, wt whome .xx. M. of the people were ſlaine and loſte, and yt the other beyng purſued by Ioab, and beſyeged wythin Abel and Bethmaaka, was by the councell of a wiſe woman beheaded & his heade throwen ouer the wal to Ioab. Dyd ye people therfore, that rebelled wt hym, eſcape vnpuniſhed?ii. Reg. xxiiii. chapiter. Obiection. No, no, The lord god hater of all rebellion & tumult, did afterwardes ſo ſore plague Iſrael wt peſtilence, yt in three daies, ther dyed .lxx. M. But yu wilt ſay: This was becauſe that Dauid had numbred ye people of Iſraell and Iuda, Solution. & had not obſerued ye lawe. Let the ſcripture anſwere for me, which ſaith. And again the lord was wroth againſt Iſrael, & moued Dauid againſt thē. Al eccleſiaſtical writers do agre, yt this was for the ſynne of rebelion yt is to ſaye, becauſe yt they wt Siba, rebelled againſt Dauid ye annointed of ye lord. Oh ye the ſame noble Hiſtoriograph Ioſephus, were traunſlated in to Englyſhe, for your ſakes. There, there, ſhould ye reade & ſe, how many. M. of ye Iewes were diſconfited, ouer throwen and ſlayn at ſundry tymes, becauſe yt they rebelled againſt ye Romaines. But what nede we ſtraunge and forenne examples?We maye lerne at home how rebels do ſpede. we may learne at home, how they ſpede euer, that reſiſt the ordinaunce of god takyng moſt vngodly vponupon them ſelues, ye thinge whiche belongeth only to the lord & to his anoynted. Sith then ye god doth puniſh ſo greuouſly al rebels, here in this world, wt fyer from heauen, wt peſtilence & ſword & in ye other world wt euerlaſting tormentes of hell: any childe may ſe and vnderſtand how ſore god doth deteſt and abhorre all rebellyon. Therfore if ye tender the helth of your own ſoules, if ye tender ye weal of your own natural countrey, yf ye tender your bodies, & liues leaue of betimes, ceaſe from ſuch deuilliſh enterpriſes, & in thys your trouble & afflictiō, which doubtleſſe doth happē vntounto you eyther for your ſinnes or elſe for a tr…al of your faith & pacieence) call vponupon the Lorde with a contryt heart, and he wyll (be ye ſure therof For he hath ſo promyſed) eyther molyfy the hearts of thoſe tirantes, that oppreſſe you, that they ſhall be very fathers vntounto you, or elſe he wil ſhortly root thē out of ye earth, & put into ye hertes of ye powers, to ſhortē their armes,Oure godlye yonge kynge whiche maye wel be compared wyth that godlye kinge Ioſias, ſhall ſhortlye delyuer his people from extortiō and oppreſſiō. & to rule his electe people wyth iuſtyce & equytye, Beare a while thinke not longe, we hauehave a moſte godly Prince toward, which wtin a ſhort ſpace, ſhal comfort vsus, as concerning our ſorowfull trouble and afflictyon, he ſhall wede out of hys Realme and dominions with the ſwerde of equitie, al thoſe bloud ſuckers, that now, as gredy horſleches do ſucke ye bloud of his people, & louing ſubiectes, in the meane ſeaſon, quiet, and paryfye your ſelues, & let eueryevery man accordyng to his vocation, laboure to lyue truly in this world, to the mayntenaunce of the common weale. Geue no more occaſyon, for ye tender louelove of god, which ſo loued vsus, yt he gaue his only begottē ſonne for vsus, geue no more occaſion I ſaye, by your vnquiet behauiour to theſe worldelynges, to blaſpheme the goſpell & word of god.All tumultes and inſurrections, are layde vponupon goddes word, and the miniſters therof. Do ye not both heare and ſe, that al the inſurrections tumultes and ſedityons yt hauehave now chaunced in our tymes are by them adſcribed and layd to ye word of god (which by ſome of them is called new lernyng) & the miniſters therof? Verely it hadde bene better for you, to hauehave bene caſt wt milſtones aboute your necke into ye depe of ye ſea, & there to hauehave bene drowned, then by your ſedycious tumultes, to hauehave miniſtred ſuch an occaſion of offence: for ſayth the truth it ſelfe: Wo,Mat. xviii. ch yt is to ſaye, euerlaſting dampnation hangeth ouer ye manne, by whom the offence doth come. This one thyng (if we were trewe chriſtians) ſhuld be enough to fray vsus from all vprores and inſurrections.
Obiection. But me thinke I heare yet ſome emong you which do grudge and ſaye. Who in this world, were he neuer ſo pacient, could refrayne hym ſelfe, for beſydes the many folde wronges, that we ſuffer dayly and hourely by thē, they do ſo bitterly reuile vsus, at eueri ſecond word moſt deſpitfully calling vsus peyſauntes, and vilaines, yt no man can holde hys handes from theym. Whom I am compelled to anſwer after thys maner. Are ye Chryſtans, Solution. or not (I knowe yt yf any man ſhuld ſay vntounto you yt ye are no chriſtians, ye wold be angrye wt him) Yf ye are chriſtians that is to ſay the diſciples of Chriſt, do ye not thinke yt it is enough, and ſufficyent for you, to be as your maiſter?Math. x, cha- But they dyd call your maiſter and ſauioure, Belzebub, whiche is a thouſand times worſe,Theſe .ii. wordes Payſant and Villayne are trewly & accordinge to the right ſygnifycatyon of them expounded. then Payſant or Villayne, whiche wordes if they were well vnderſtanded, are nothyng at all reprochfull. Here in thys matter, plaine ignoraunce doth blynd you. For payſaunt beynge deriued of this laten worde, Paganus, dothe properly betoken in Englyſh, a man of the countrey, or that dwellethe in villages or vplande. And ye other word, Vilayn doth alſo come of this lattin, vocable, Villanus, and ſignifyeth none other thinge, in our mother and vulgaire tongue, but a fermer, or fearme holder, or elſe ye dwelleth in villages. Lo good people theſe be ye reuilyng & oprobrious wordes for the which ye do ſtyrre vp al theſe enorme, and greuous tragedies. But go to what & if they were, the moſt reprochfull wordes that euer could be ſpoken wt mouthe: or thought with heart (howe be it to tell the verye truthe, I woulde that theſe frenche tearmes hadde bene lefte to the french men, and that he that brought them fyrſt ouer into Englande, thereby to offende hys weake brethren, had bene better aduyſed) oughte yee not to hauehave borne them pacyently for hys ſake whyche for your ſaluation, and helth of your ſoules, dyd beſydes all kyndes of ygnominie, opprobriouſnes and reproche, ſuffer the moſt cruell and ſhamefulleſt death that euer in thys world coulde be ymagined or thought.Anabaptiſtes and Libertius doo alwayes boſte & crake of their perfection. Trulye ye wold be lothe to ſuffer death for hys ſake, ſythe that ye can not abyde wordes. Where is nowe that perfectyon, that ſome of you do neuer ceaſe to boaſte and crake of emonge the ſymple and ignoraunte people.
A dygreſſion Heare, muſt I ſomewhat digreſſe from my purpoſe, and declare what kynde of people they be that make thys buſyneſſe and ſtyrre vp contention in thys Realme and common weale.The Anabaptiſtes do ſeke & hunte after a carnall liberty in the goſpell. There be a ſorte of men whych nowe at thys preſent houre that the euaungily call doctryne, is purelye and ſyncerely preached, do ſeeke nothynge elſe in the ſcriptures and goſpell, but a carnall and fleſhly lybertye, goyng aboute with their craftye and ſubtyll reaſons and textes of the ſcriptures, halfe alleged, to perſwade the ignoraunt people yt they are not bounde to obey temporall rulers & maieſtrates. Theſe men ſyttynge vponupon there ale benches, wherſoeuer they dare vtter theyr poyſon conueniently, do inculcate and beat into mens heads,The erroneous opynyon of the anabaptiſtes, concernyng the magiſtrates. that no chriſtian can laufully exequute ye office of a maieſtrate. Which offyce of a maieſtrate, ſay they, is neyther profytable, nor yet neceſſary to a chriſtiā common weale Wherfore, away with theſe tirantes, kyl them, rote them out of the earth, ye contrarye to Chriſtes word & doctrine, do moſt preſumpteouſly take vponupon them, to be rulers, or rather tyrantes ouer the people of Chriſt, to whom he dyd, ſo derely, with ye ſhedyng of hys moſt precious bloud, purchaſe a perpetuall fredome and lyberty. Thys is done commonly in thoſe places where ye pure ſede of ye goſpell,The anabaptiſtes wyll alwayes come too thoſe places, where the goſpel is preached. Mat. xiii. cha. The anabaptiſtes & Libertins, do go aboute to perſwade men, yt the magyſtrates maye not kyll wyth the ſwearde. What they be ye ſtyrre vp commotyon, where ye Goſpell is not preched. The oratyon of ye papyſtes too the ſimple & ignoraunte, to ſtirre them vp to tumulte & commotion hath bene dyligentlye ſowen. For there the deuyll whiles men are a ſlepe, is moſte buſye to ſowe in his cockle & darnel. Which wold god, it were diligently weded out by the maieſtrates and rulers, yt theſe moſt peſtyferous Anabaptiſtes & Libertins, mighte ones both feele and know, yt they do not beare the ſword, delyuered vntounto them of of god, in vayne. In other places where they do yet for ye moſt parte, ſyt in darkeneſſe of ignoraunce and ſhadow of death ye popes darlynges are ye ſtyrers vp of al myſchief. For they, by there hypocryſye blandiloquence and flattery, are ſo farre ſunke in to mens ſtommackes, that they can eaſely perſwade them, yt both ye kyng and al his honorable counſell, are vngodly, yea & ſtarke heretikes. HaueHave they not (wyl ye ſhauelinges ſay to the poore ſymple folkes of their countrey) taken away & broken our godly ymages? HaueHave they not abolyſhed our holydayes, put doune our ceremonyes, and diſanulled the holy & bleſſed Maſſe? Loke howe vnreuerentlye they do vſe ye bleſſed ſacrament of the Aulter. Doo they not alſo goo aboute to plucke doune all our holy Aulters. Who hauing a chriſtian harte could abide ſuch impiety, & vngodlyneſſe? Come on therfore neighboures, better it were for vsus, to dye a thouſande deathes, then to ſe thys blaſphemy. Let vsus fight for ye holy church & rytes thereof. We may be ſure that we ſhall lyghtly ouercome theſe ranke herytykes. And if we chaunce to hauehave ye ouerthrowe our ſelues (whiche thinge is not lykely, ſyth that we fyghte in gods quarell) & dye in the fyeld, who wolde doubt but that we ſhall go ſtraighte way vp to heauen?Oh falſe doctrine. For Chriſt (whoſe bleſſed body and bloud, made by the holye handes of the prieſte, theſe falſe heritikes do treade vnderunder foot) hath ſaid,Math. x. cha- Yet this texte as all other is falſely aleged of them. yt whoſoeuer loſeth his life, for hys ſake and the churche, ſhal fynde it agayne in the reſurrection of the deade. With ſuche miſtes and iuggelynges of wordes, theſe cleane fyngered gē tlemen, do vtterlye ſubuerte the mindes of the ſimple and ignoraunt people, whiche elles, if they had trew paſtours, and good minyſters,Yf the people had true paſtoures they wlold embrace gladlye gods worde. woulde wyth all mekenes and due obedyence, receyue the heauenlye doctryne, mynyſtred ſo fatherlye vntoo them, by the Kynge, and hys honourable counſayle. They woulde notte mutter, nor open their lippes againſt the kynges moſte godlye procedinges, butte would gladly wyth the other ſubiects of this realme, embrace the wholſome doctrine of their ſaluation, and acknowlege that they hauehave bene hetherto ledde in erroure and blyndnes,Who they be that prycke the people forwardes to tumulte and inſrrection. by theſe falſe Antychriſtes and Pſeudoprophetes, whome they nowe accepte and embrace, as goddes. Too be ſhorte, theſe twoo ſortes of men, I mean the Libertins and papiſtes are they, that do pricke ye people forwardes (whyche elles of theymſelues, are ready inoughe to ſuche thynges, and eſpecially now,By greadye mammons. that they are ſo on euerye ſide, pilled and polled) too tumultes and inſurrections, too the vtter confuſyon of them ſelues, and vndoing of this honourable countrey, and Realme.
Therfore,An exhortatiō to the maieſtrates againſt the libertins & Papiſtes. O ye magiſtrates and rulers whom god hath appointed ouer his choſen and elected people, with the ſwearde of equitie, to defende the widdowes and fatherles, to maintain ye good and righteous, and to puniſſhe the euil and wicked doers: it is your parte and duetye to ſeke oute ſuche runne agates, and withoute any fauoure or mercye, to punyſſhe them that all other may take example by them Put away in this caſe all foliſh pitie: for as the cōmen prouerbe is, foliſh pytye leſeth ye countrey, & beſides yt, better it is ye ii. or .iii. be thus extremely puniſhed, thē thouſands,All foolyſhe pitye is to be ut awaye. ſhould through their wycked counſails & entiſements, moſt miſerably and to the great loſſe of the countrey, periſſhe. Picke out theſe rauenynge wolues, and for goddes ſake, fauour the people as muche as may be, hauehave that noble capteyn Ioab alwaies before your eyen whych as ſone as that trayterous rebell Abſalon, was by ye righteous iudgmente of god,ii. Regū. xviii. Chapter. moſt ſhamefully ſlayne, dyd by & by blowe to the retrayte, and commaunded to ſpare the people. Do the ſame and ye ſhal hyghly pleaſe god. Call ye ye pore vntounto you, and heare their complayntes paciently, o ye gods (for, ſo the ſcripture dothe call you, becauſe that ye are in the ſtede and roume of god) here ye the complaynte of the poore (I ſaie) and redreſſe thoſe thynges that are amyſſe. Know of them ye cauſes, why they are now contrarye to their old wont and cuſtom, An apte ſimilitude.ſo bent to inſurrectyon and tumult. Yf a phiſycion wold go about to heale any diſeaſe or ſyckeneſſe, and not ſerche out the cauſes therof, wolde not all men, and ye by good ryght, call him an vnkunning phiſition. The whole body of the common weale is ſore ſicke, it canne in no wiſe be healed except the cauſe of this diſeaſe and ſyckeneſſe, be bothe ſearched out dilygentlye, and taken awaye. Suffer no longer, the louynge ſubiectes of thys moſte victoryous countrey, whych by our moſte ſouereygne Lorde the kynge, are commytted vntounto your charge, cuſtodye and protectyon (Verelye it is you whyche be heare in the earthe lyeutenauntes and vicayrs of god,The magiſtrates are Gods vycares in ye earthe. that ſhoulde reuenge the wronges and iniuries of the people) too be eaten and ſwalowed vp, by theſe gredye Cormorauntes, which neuer beynge contente till they hauehave the deuill brought to them in a ſacke, ioyne houſe, to houſe, lande to lande (but woo be to them, ſaith the prophet) although they ſhould dwel alone vponupon the earthe,Eſai. v. Chap One of them hath a thouſande mens liuinges in hys hands and yet can he ſcantelye ſuffer his poore neighbour to dwell in a poore cotage beſides hym. All that he hath is to little as longe as he ſeeth any poore man, to hauehave any thinge by him. What ſhould I ſaye A whole ſhiere is not enough to ſatiſfye his couetouſe and vnſaſiable minde. And why, I praye, is all thys? forſoth that he his wyfe, and his children, maye go gaye and fare dayntely. Yf he can hauehave that, it maketh no matter, how many thouſand do go a begginge or ſtorne for hunger by him. Ah worldlinges, worldelinges, the hande of god is ſtretched furth to plague HaueHave ye forgotten what the holy prophet ſaythe?Hiere. vii. cha Becauſe ye are from the loweſt vntounto the hieſt, geuen to couetouſneſſe and fylthy lucre: I wyll gyue your wyues, vntounto other, and your fyldes vntounto ſtraungers, to poſſeſſe. Hath the lord god geuen you riches, to confound the poore therwith, to oppreſſe them, and to treade them vnderunder fete, and not rather to helpe and ſuccour them? Ye are not the lordes but the ſtewardes and dyſpenſatours of riches. Se thē that ye be faithful in your ſtewardſhyp, or elles youre ſtewardſhyp ſhall be taken from you, and gyuen vntoo an other. The Lorde god hath giuen you, and dothe daylye gyue you warninges ynowe, but ye are ſoo blynded with worldelye couetouſneſſe and proſperitie that ye wyll not ſee,Why the worldelinges will not take ye warnynges yt God giueth them daylye. Pro. xi. chap. Soph. i. chap. ye are ſoo pufte vp wyth pryde and hauteneſſe of mynde, yt ye thynke that no maner of thing in this world, can, or is able to bring you doune Marke and note therfore, what the ſcripture of God, dothe ſaye: Theyr ryches ſhall profyte them nothynge in the daye of wrathe, and he yt truſteth in hys worldlye ſubſtaunce, ſhall hauehave a fall. Neyther theyr golde nor ſyluer ſhall, be able too delyuer theym, in the daye of the wrathe of the Lorde. Dothe not the exaumple of the ryche glutton, make you afrayde? Doo not hys cruell paynes and tormentes in hell,Luk. xvi. chap make youre heartes to quake and tremble for feare of lyke puniſhmentes?The rich glutton was damned, for vnmercifulnes. And yet he was dampned for ye ſinne of vnmercifulneſſe onelyonly. For we canne not fynde nor reade, that euer he came by hys goodes vniuſtly, or that he gatte hys ryches by hooke or crooke, as the moſte parte of you doo. Therefore loke for a thouſande times more greuous punyſſhementes, then he had. For not onelye, ye dydde not feede Chriſte, when he was an hungred, gyue hym drinke whē he was a thyrſte, clothe hym,Mat. xxv. cha when he was naked. &c. but alſo, ye did ſpoile him ye dyd pille and polle hym, ye did robbe him, and moſt tyrannouſly oppreſſe him But I know that ye will ſaye wyth the vngodly: Obiection. when dyd we any ſuche thyng vntounto Chriſte? Verelye I ſaye vntounto you, Solution. that in ſo muche, ye dyd it too the poore neady members of Chriſte, ye dyd it too hym, and therefore ye ſhall heare that dreadfull ſentence at length: Depart ye from mee, O ye curſed creatures, intoo euerlaſtynge fyre, whyche is prepared for the deuill and his aungels. A godly prayer. O mercyfull and heauenlye father, graunte I beſeche the, that all men puttyng away frō their heartes, worldly couetouſenes, and pryde of mynde, wherwyth they are holden blynde, may hauehave grace, to ſee howe they came into this world, and ſo too vſe the ryches, wherewith yu doeſt indue thē too thy glorye, and ſaluatyon of theyr ſoules.
Nowe therfore, O chriſtyan magiſtrates, be ye ſtronge in the lorde, take righteouſnes for your ſhield, & weapon your ſelfes with vpright and vncorrupted iudgemente,God hath ordeined magiſtrates too reuenge ye wronges of ye poore and hauing the fear of the lord for youre guyde, reuenge manfullye the wronges and iniuryes of the poore (for therfore hath the lord god ordeined you) Let them both feale and knowe, that ye beare a fatherly affection towardes thē, and that ye will not ſe them to ſuffer any ſuch vilany at theſe worldlinges handes. Se an order (for this is your duetie) yt the riche maye be contente wyth the poore, and that the poore maye be ſuffered too lyue by the riche. Seke out the cauſes of this narre, that is nowe betwene the nobilytie and the commens, cutte of, wyth the ſwerde of equitie al occaſion of ſtrife and debate,The gentyllmen, and communes of this realme, beyng knitte in louelove are a wall too the countrey that the gentilmen and commons of thys Realme, being knytted in louelove agayne, maye be as afore tymes a ſtronge bulwarke and wall vntounto this moſt victoryous countrey of Englande. Ye can no better deſerue of the common weale then ſo. And yf in the meane ſeaſon ye fynd any of thoſe wicked Anabaptiſtes & Libertines, or anye of thoſe obſtynate papiſtes that go about to ſubuert, ſeduce, intoxycate, and poyſon the myndes of the people, perſuadyng them, that they may lawfully riſe againſt theyr maieſtrates, ſpare theym not, roote oute thoſe pernicyouſe wedes from amonge the people. Better it is that fewe doo peryſhe, then that all the whole countrey ſhoulde through theyr wycked perſwaſion, be brought to naught. Theſe be they that are the troublers of the common peace.Math. vii. Chapter. Therfore beware of thē, O chriſtiā brethren, for they come vntounto you in ſhepes clothing, but inwardly they are rauening wolfes. Truſt them not, ſuffer not your ſelues in anye wyſe to be perſuaded, that ye maye for any maner of cauſe, ryſe againſt the maieſtrates. All that they go about, is to bryng you to vtter confuſyon. For though the maieſtrates were come to that madneſſe impietye, & vngodlynes, that they ſhuld commaund you to do thinges, contrarye to gods lawes, and his holye worde (as ye marked monſters of Antichriſte,Reade ye Acts of ye Apoſtles, and all whole Euſebius and yu ſhalt fynd yt alwayes ye diſciples of chriſt dyd defende them ſelues wt gods worde. do go aboute to make you to beleue) yet ought ye in no wiſe to reſiſte them. None other ſwerd ye hauehave to fyght agaynſt vngodly maieſtrates, but gods word, with ye ſame wepon ought ye alwaies to defend your ſelues, againſt all kindes of vngodlynes & yet it muſt be done, wt ſuch ſobrietye & manſuetude, lenitie & gentlenes, yt alwais chriſtian lyke obedience, toward the ordinaunce of god, ſhall ſhine & apere in you. Marke now this: Yf we may not wt materiall ſwerd reſiſte ye maieſtrates, for ye defence of godlines & trew relygyon, what ſhall we ſay by them, which for the maintenaunce of falſe religion, do bringe all ye world, vponupon ye neckes of godly maieſtrates? It was not for noughte, O chriſtan rulers, yt the godly kynges of ye old Teſtament when they dyd put doune Idolatry & ſuperſtition, dyd ſley and kyl al the prieſtes and ſacrificators of ye ydols & fals gods, weding out ye falſe prophetes from emonge the people to the intente, yt they ſhould not bryng againe, the ſimple and ignoraunt into errour. What I do mean any man that hath wit, may vnderſtand. How be it, I wold not hauehave them to be put to death nor ſlaine, onleſſe they be ouer ſtubburne and obſtacle, or go aboute ſome tumult or nouation of thinges, but I wold hauehave thē to be kepte ſo ſhort tyll they depart hence in peace, yt they might do no harme in ye meane ſeaſon. As for ye other, I mean ye Libertines & Anabaptiſtes they ought in no wiſe to be ſpared, except we wyll hauehave the countrey by their tumultes & inſurrections, to be brought to vtter deſolation, Agaynſt whom, yt ye may ye better herafter be fēced & enarmed in this point, yt is to ſay, cōcerning ye trew obedience toward magiſtrats & rulers, I hauehave here traunſlated out of Laten into Englyſh .iiii. ſmall dialogues,That famous clerke Bullinger, is the autur & maker of theſe dialoges. betwene ye rebell Libertin or anabaptiſte, & the trew obedient chriſtian. Wherin ye ſhall learne fyrſte, that a chriſtian, contrarye to theyr moſt erroneous doctrine, may lawfully execute the offyce of a maieſtrate. Secondlye, that a Chriſtyan Maieſtrate is not onelyonly profytable, but alſoo neceſſarye to a chriſtian common weale. Thyrdly, yt we are bound to obey the maieſtrates in all externe and outward things. Fourthlye, that we ought in no wiſe, nor for any maner of cauſe, to reſyſte the rulers & gouernours, where we do write largelye agaynſt them, whiche rebell agaynſte the maieſtrates.
Which ſmal laboure of myne, I thought no man in this cuntrey, ſo worthy to hauehave as your righte worſhipfull maſterſhyppe Firſt becauſe of the good reporte, that is geuen you of al the countrey about, both for the feruent zeale that ye hauehave to gods word, and maintenaunce of trew religion and alſo becauſe that ye vſe your ſelfe alwaies emong them, as a moſt louing and tender father, ſekyng not your owne profyte, but onelyonly the profite and welfare of them that are vnderunder your gouernaunce & ruledome. Oh that all other gentylmen wolde imitate and folowe you, both in ye ſame thinge, and alſo in kepyng of hoſpitalitie, then ſhuld we hauehave ſhortly a mery England. The ſecond cauſe that moueth me, to dedicate, this litle worke vntounto you is that ye are by the deuine prouidence of god and the kinges maieſtie, placed in authoritie for this our countrey of Eſſex, in the which, many of theſe Libertines and Anabaptiſtes, are runnyng in hoker moker, emonge the ſymple and ignoraunte people, to impell and moue theym, to tumulte and inſurrection agaynſte the maieſtrates and rulers of thys Realme. Whom I truſt (if ye ones knowe them) ye will ſoone wede out of the countreye, to the greate good & quiet, of the kinges ſubiectes, of the ſame countye and ſhiere Nowe ryght worſhipfull Syr, though I be not knowen, nor yet acquainted wyth your maiſterſhyp, wherfore it may peraduentur ſeme to ſome to be a bold act, or interpriſe for me too offer, or nuncupate anye maner of booke vntounto you: yet notwithſtandynge the greate facilytye and gentylnes, that all men, women and children do depredycate and ſaye, is in you, dothe put me in verye good hope, that ye wil take this my rude laboure in good worth. Which thinge if ye doo, hereafter paraduenture greater and more ſeryous thynges ſhall enſue, god wyllynge, who of hys infynyte mercye and bounteous goodneſſe, vouchſafe wyth his holy ſpyryt, ſo to rule and guide your heart, wyth that godlye Ladye youre trewe louynge ſpouſe and wyfe, that what ſoo euer ye ſhall do or thynke, in all your affayres maye be to the glorye of god, the common weale of the Realme and the ſaluation of your ſoules. AMEN.