THer hath bene here tofore diuers godly and weldysposyd persons , that for the preseruacyon and welth off ther own contres : haue taken great paines to wryte and put fourth diuers godly , and notable books for the redressyng oft many abuses vsyd in ther comon welthes . Among other serteine Englyshmen , perceiuyng the state and comon welth oft England to decaye , being mouyd in consciens off a good zeale and trwe hart , that they beare , to this ther naturall contre , haue taken paynes , to sett forth in prynt , dyuers notable books , which haue geuen warning to avoyd the great dangers lyke to folowe in the comon welth off this realme , yf spedy remedy were not prouidyd for .

Fyrst I wyl begyne wyth Iohan fyshe , who perceyuyg the great abusys oft the clergy and sprytualtye , Iohan ●ys● . about xxx yeres past , made a lytle treatyse , and namyd it , the supplicacyon 〈◊〉 beggers which God bepraysyd toke some effect : whe● thorow the great nomber off monks , ●upplication 〈◊〉 . Chanons , Nunnes , false flateryng fryers , and obstinatlyers , wyth ther deuelysh disemblyng , and ypo●ryticall falshode were made manyfest ▪ and openly dysclosid , that all men yong and old , dyd perceyue as clere as the day , ther abhominacions , dysemblyng falshod and wyckydnes : ffor the which accordyng to ther desertes , were by king henry the viij vtterly dysclosyd confusyd and came to nawght , as it is manyfest .

Affter that one other booke was made and put forth , vnder the name off Rodoryck Mors , and namyd a complaynt to the perliament house , 〈◊〉 de tyke 〈◊〉 . declaryng the great nomber off Innormytis and abuses that were vsid in the comon welth off this realm the which the more it is to be lamentid , toke litle effect . Besyds many and dyuers other good books made as well in the tyme off K. H. 8. as in the tyme off K. E. 6. which in lyke case toke no effecte .

More over now off late days , one more then a yere past off a good zeale that he hath to this his contre off England , made and sett forth a boke namyng it a supplycacyon to the quenes Mai. ●●ppli●ac●●● 〈…〉 que wherin he hath manyfestly declaryd , the wyckyd deuyses off the shameles by shoppes and clergye off England : how they for the vpholdyng off ther deuelyshe kingdom , haue bene allweyse seruers off the tyme , As was that wyckyd Steven gardener B. off wynchester , who manyfestly as the● apperyth , declaryd the same by hys booke de ( ve●a obedientia ) which boke being then made accordyng to gods worde as he prouyth playnlye , that began to take rote in hym . And afterward being geuen vp off god , he re●usyd the same and resystyd gods worde , which booke is wholy agaynst the supremacy off the B. of Rome , the reasons grun●lyd apon gods worde , wherin he also manyfestly declaryth the ma●yag betwene K. H. 8. and quene ca●●●yue to bea● together vnlawfull and vngodly , and therby p●ou●th the quene to be a bastard , as playnlye apperyth· Bonner B ▪ off londo● . And bonner bysshop off london confirmy●h the same by his prologe made before the same booke de vera obedientia , which is notable to be merkyd and notyd of● that most wyckyd and dyssemblyng tyrant , who is past all shame and honesty . Also off Tunstall b. o●f du●ram , Tunstall B. on du●ram . off his sermon that he preachyd before K.H. 8. on palm sonday 1539. and is openly in print , proving by many good and probable reasons , Cardinal pole to be an arrant traytore to his co●●re , and worse then an infydell , and doctor smyth that wethercoke , Cardinal Pole . that ●urni●h with euery wynd off doctrine , as apperith by his so often recantyng . In the same supplicacion is made an exhortortacion to the lords and gentyllmen off England wa●nyng them to beware off the c●af●e and falshode off our dyssemblyng bysshoppes , Doctor Sinyth . and clergy who lyke most arrant traytors , go about to betraye this noble realm of England , in to the hands off the prince of spain only for the establyshment off ther wylkyd kingdom , Bysshopps and clergy traytors . which if it come to passe , this noble and ●●e cō●re shal be brought in to most ●yle bondage , and slauery , the which I besech allmychty god to defende yff it be his holy wyll and pleasure amen .

Sens that tyme , a trew hartyd Englyshman , perceyuyng the myserable thraldome , seruytude and bondage , that the goodly contres off Naples , Miland &c be brought in to ●a●lye , Naple● Myland . to say sens the K. off spaine hath come to the croune ther off , hath made a treatyse calling it a warnyng for England , wherin he hath declaryd playnly and at large , what taxes , tolls , and tributes the K. of spayne and hys spanyerds , The warning for England . hath brought those goodly contres vnto both of corne , wyne , fleshe , fyshe , salt , and frutes &c. and what subsydes euery man off occupacion must pay dayly , as by the same boke at large more playnly apperyth .

And although many occasyons haue bene mynystred and dayly more and more inseuyth , wherby it is to be supposyd , the distruction off our contre to be nere at hand ( except Gods great mercye ) yett is ther ●o● , that hath made the lamentacyon therof . wherfore perceyuyng such things com to passe , as be allredy done , and dyuers other practyses , wrough and a workyng ▪ only to bryng this noble realm in to most vyle bondage and slauery off the spanyerds . I. haue often bewaylyd and lamentyd the state theroff : And because it is my dwtye for the loue that I. bere ther vnto I thought it good to sett it forth , that other good and vertues men perceyuyng the dystructyon theroff to be so nere at hand , that they also lamentyng the state theroff myght be the more mouyd to make ther ernest prayers to allme●hty god , that he for his dere sone Iesus Chrystes sak , Ernest prayers . wold spare and be fauorable to ur pour contre off England now over rune wyth horyble ydolatry . And that he wold perdon and forgeue vs om synnes . for the which cause , he hath sent such wyckyd rulers to raygne over vs , Iaco. 5. for as S. Iames sayth the prayer off the Iust man avaylyth mych . And I doubt not , but god is mercyfull pacient and long suffring , and wyll haue mercy apon vs , and apon his pour congregacyon ther ▪ orells wher stat●ryd abrode , at such tyme as he knouyth best to his honour , and wyll also take ffrom vs our cruell rulers , that haue so sore persecutyd and made hauocke of his sayd congregacyon , the which I besech him to do for the blude of his dere sone our lord Ie●us Chryst , that we maye ther once agayne openly confesse his holy name , to the vtter confucyon off the kingdom off Antychryste amen .

But forasmych as non off the same godly books and warnings ether com not to the quenes hands , or ells wyll nothyng molyfye here harte , but that ther is fought malyciusly and off a sett purpose the dystructyon off the noble men gentyllmen and comons off Englande wherby may the more easyer be brought to passe , ther most wyckyd deuyses and purposes , that is , to geue away and betray this noble realme off England , in to the hands off the king off spayne and his spaynyerds . wherfore I haue thought it good to declare vnto my natyue contre , serteyne off thes manyfest treasons , and practyses , but fyrst I wyll declare the prophecye off that blessyd marter off god mayster hugh latymer , preaching before the most vertues prynce K.E. 6. in his palays at westmynster 1549. that thes plages shold com apon vs for our vnthankfullnes , and that god wold send such tyrants to rayne ouer vs , for our vnrepentant hartes , which now is come to passe in dede , and was thought at that tyme a thyng impossyble , but that gods worde must be trewe which was spoken by the holy goost thorow that blessyd martyr M. latymer , and hys felow marters and other preachers , as it is come to passe at this day .

And because the prophecye which he then prophecied in his sermon before the king , is now all to gether fullfyllyd as playnlye apperyth , The cawse off the making off this lamentacion . And that sermon & prophecye mouyd me mych to lament the state off our contre , hath also partly cawsyd me to make this lamentacyon apon this realm off England . And becawse it shall not be thought , that I wyll add or deminysh any parte off the sayd prophecy , I ▪ wyll here recyte parte of hit , worde for worde as it is printid in the boke off his sermon , he taking accasion to prech before the king , of the dwty of kings rulers , and Maiestrates , as here after folowith .

It makyth no matter by what name the rulers be namid yf so be they shall walke ordinatly with god and direct ther steppes with god , for both patriarks , Iudges , The very wordes off M. Latimers sermon . and kings , had and haue ther auctorite off god , and therfore godly , but this ought to be considred , which god said . Non praeficere tibi potes hominem alienum , that is thou must not sett a strenger ouer the. It hath pleasid god to graunt vs a naturall liege king , and lord off our own nacion , an Englishman , one off our own religion god hath geuen him vnto vs , and is a most precius treasure , A stranger to be king . and yet many off vs do desire a stranger to be king ouer vs . Lett vs desire no more to be bankers , but lett vs in deuoure our selues to walke ordinatly and plainly after the word off god , lett vs folow daniell , le●t ys not seke the death of our most noble and rightfull king , our own brother both by natiuite and godly religion , lett ys pray for his godly estate that he may liue long among vs .

wel the kings grace hath sisters , my lady Mary and my lady E●sabeth , which by succession and course ar inheritors to the crown , who yff they should mary with strangers , what shuld in ●ewe god knowith , but god graunt they neuer come to coursing nor succeding , therfore to avoid this plage , A strange King . lett vs amend our liues , and put away all pride , which doth droune men in thes dais , all co●etisues wherin the Magistrates and rich men off this realm ar ouer whelmid , all lechery and all other excessiue vices , prouoking gods wrath , were he not mercifull , even to take from vs , our natural king and lege lord and to plag vs uith a strange king for our vnrepentant hart , wherfor yff you say ye loue the king , amend your liues and then ye shal be a meane , that god shall lend him vs , long to raygn over ys , for vndoutidly s●n●s prouoke ●●ich gods wrath scripture saith , Dabo tibi regem in furore meo . that is I will geue the a king in my wrath , Now we haue a lawfull king , & a godly king , neuerthelesses yet many euels do raign , and a litle after now I here say all things ar endid after a godly maner , or els shortly shal be , make hast make hast , and lett vs lern to convert to repente and amend our lyues , yf we do not I fere I fear least for our sinnes , & vnthankfullnes an hipocrite shall raign over vs , Long time we haue bene seruants and in bondage , seruing the pope in Egipt , god hath geuen vs a deliueret , a naturall king , A naturall King . lett vs not seke no stranger of another nacion , no hipocrite which shall bring in a gain all papistry , ypocrisie , & ydolatry , no diabolicall minister , which shall maintaine all deuelishe workes & euell excersises , M. Latimers w●rdes fullfillid . but lett vs pray that god maintaine , and contin●● our most excelent king here present trwe inheritour of this our realm both by natiuite and also ly the speciall gift and ordinance of god &c.

〈◊〉 this prophecie of that blessid marter of god M. Latimer be not now com to passe and fullfillid let all men Iudge ▪ which before was not regardid , ye it was thought a thing impossible such alteracion and tiranny , so sone to haue folowid ▪ as now plainly apperith , and yet this is but the beginning off sorows & plages that shall folow , onles god of his great mercy ( at the crie and lamentacion of the pour oppressid , which lyue in misery and bondage of conscience ) feare thes plages now begone , and manifestly appere before our eies , for our in gratitude and great vnthankfullnes .

Oh what a plage is it to see strangers rule in this noble realme violently , wher befor time trwe hartid Englishmen haue gouernid quietly ? what a lamentable thing is it ? that although quene Mary being born in England , and had to here father a noble and trwe hartid prince and English man ? The 〈…〉 spanish mother . yet she folowith nothing his steppes in trew zeal to this realm , becawse she toke the most part off here blude and stomake off her spanish mother , and therfore from time to time euer regardid her spanish kinred , and permotid them , by geuing them l●censis , The spanierds cary away our 〈…〉 . wherby they do cary and convay away , out of this realm fre●y without paieng any custome therfore , our goudly & best comodites , as woll Tin̄ leade lether &c. to the great decay and ympouerishment , off the pour comons off this realm , by ●●a●son wheroff the said comodites , be now at doble pryces , that they were before , & also pour men cannot be set a worke as they haue bene .

Ye who seith not but that she sekith the destruction of those nobles & gentillmen , that here noble father tenderly louid ? the thing is manifest and cannot be denied , who wold euer haue thought such vnnaturalnes , as to cawse that worthy and vertuose Lady , Lady Iane , being inocent and giltles , Lady Iane ▪ put to death . as the quene here self did thinke , being compellid to take the stat apon here of xvij . yeres of age , and so nere off here kindrid , to be so cruelly murtherid ?

Also to cawse that worthy and vertues man , Thomas Cramner ▪ Archbishop off canterbury . and marter of god Thomas Cramner Archbishop of canterbury , to be so cruelly murtherid who sauid here liff , what time as K.H. 8. here father wold haue dispachid here , for her contempt & disobedience , when nether the old duke of Nortfolke , nor oth● off the temporall lords of the counsell could intreat here said father , but that she shoud die , then went this meke archbisshop to be king , and so prudently pewrsadid him , that he spa●●de here and sauid her lyff , which when he had obtainid the duke off Northfolk & the other lordes off the● counsel gaue hym , such thanks for that dais worke , saieng to him that yf euer they liued and lay in ther pouer thei wold requite it , so that it is to be supppsid that yff the sayd duke off Northfolke & had liuid , he shuld not haue bene so cruelly murtherid . But here is to be notid great ingratitude , and vnthanfullnes , to requite him with death that sauid here liff .

K.H. 8. here noble father perceiuing the wisdom , sobrenes honestie , meknes , and good lerning off the said Thomas Cramner , promotid him not only to be archbishope off Canterbury , but also metropolitan , and primate of all England , and becawse he so prudently and soberly behauid him selff therin he made him cheff off this preuy counsell , and for the fidelite that he found in him , at the time off his death , he made him one of the cheff of his executors off his testament and last will : when he put out Gerdenar . B. of winchest , & comittid vnto him as one off his executors the gouernance off his sone , that worthy prince king Edward the vj , K. Edward . vnder which noble prince , this realme off England was quietly gouernid and rulid , with out any such cruelty and tirany as to vsid now adais .

Wherfore o England / England / Lament , lament , how great and greuouse are thin offencis , and sinnes , that god is so sore displeasid with the , to suffer such rulers to bridle the and so sore to plage and scourg the , A very Rod● off god . ye verely a very rood of god apointid , and therfore wounderfully and meruelusly reseruid and kept , to plage England , for ther vnthankfullnes , and for not knowing the time off ther visitacion ▪ wherfore now England repent repent , and bewaile thy miserable sta●e , for iff thou do it not tyght sone , thow art no● like shortly to be ouer thrown with strangers and tyrants ▪ who will rule and bridle the , as they haue alredy thretenid the , thy goodly women and faier doughters will thei defile , thy pleasant houses and goodly places off pleasure shal be geuen vnto them , and they shall in ioie thy labours , which thou & thy forefathers , with great pain trauell , and troble haue gatherid to gether for the , the thing is now a working , and the fire ackindling , so that yff god only off his great mercye help the not , thou art like to be distroid very shortly , for they that guide the my people , Esay . 3. saith the prophet Esay , are extorcioners and ●o men haue rule ouer you . O my people thy leaders desame the , and distroy the way off this foot steppes . It is ye that haue burnt vp my vine yard , and the spoyle of the pour is in your houses , wherfore do ye oppresse my people , and smite the●●on the ●a●is saith the lord off hostes .

It is 〈◊〉 in the 34. chap. off the booke off the holy man Iob. Iob. 34. that for the sinnes off the people god suffrith a tyrant to raign ouer them ▪ yf England now haue not tirans and women to rule ann raigne ouer them , let all men Iudge ? doth not all ther d●●ngan̄ procedings declare manifestly that if hath bene laborid and gone about by all the wais & meanes that can be deuisid or ymaginid to geue away ( I will not saie to betray ) this noble realme off England , in to the hands off the spanierds .

The quene 〈…〉 off Spain . Fyrste dyd not the quene in mediatly as sone as she came to the gouernance & . dignite off this realm desire to mary with the prince off spaine , and assone as the matter was espied , ●ere not , 20 off the perliament house sent to here , to declare what : normites wold folow to the realm if she maried with any stranger , and therfore desirid here to mary within the realm , wherby it is esye to be perceiuid what she hath had alwaise in here minde .

After that was it not pretentyd , assone as she was maried that she was with child , and without all shame cawsid the same to be published ann sett abrode in print and subscribid with the hand off 1● . off the preuy counsell that the hole body off the realme , ●he pretendid 〈◊〉 be with child might thinke the same to be trwe , and immediatly apon the same callid a perliament , becawse the nobles and comons should be the more willing & redy to condissend and to geue the crone off this noble realme , to the prince off spaine , to th entent that he with his proud spainierd might bridle this brithanishe nacion , according as it is sett out in print about the fisnamy or pictur of the quenes in thes words .

And when it was perceiuid that ther practise wold take no place , but that it was espyed in the pliament howse , and that he could not haue the crone to him , were they not then markid and notid , who were against it and to some off them were sent parents of 100. lib. a yere some of 200. lib. a yere , Patentes geuen , and grauntid . some more some lesse according as time and accacion seruid , to stope ther mouthes withall , & loke who shewid not them selues redy on inclining to take a bribe to betray this ther naturall conne , was not one quarell or another pikide to him or them , wherby they were brought quorum nobis , and then to lay ether treason or heresie ( as they call it ) to ther charges , wherby many were brought in to preson as it is manifest , by reason wheroff who dare speake ther minds frelie in the said perliament houss , according to the auncient priuileges off this noble realme ? and is not this also a plage which is come apon vs for our vn●hankfullnes according as our true prechers and prophets declarid to vs as is afore said . And for the more furtherance off this ther wickid purpose , did they not with out all shame , sett out in print , a genelogy or petigre in the english tonge , to proue by the same genelogy that the prince off spain came off the bloud off king Edward the third . Be all thes practises think you , for any other purpose , but for to cause the comon people , to haue such a good opinion off the prince of spa●ne , that they might be the more redy and willing , to haue him cro●nid king , off this realm . And therby to disinheret , This genelogy had bene treason in the time of K.H. 8. all the next rightfull heires off the same , and so to bring this noble realm in to the bondage off strangers , contrary to the auncient la●●s , statu●●s , and customs off this noble realme off England .

And no● of late who is ignorant of so many noble men and gentilmen fech●d out off all shires , and cauillacions & quarels pikid to them , and so cast in to prison ( as they say ) vpon suspection of conspiracie against the quene , which thing is but vaine and ymagined as apperid lately by M. Iohn frogmarton , who at the time off his execution , Iohan frogmarten . confessid openly to the people that he neuer offendid in any treason against the quene , and therapon toke his death , and yet he was most cruelly hangid drawen and quartrid : how be it I know some men will answere and say , that he was condempnid by the law and the quest passid against him and found him gilty &c but I wold know off the again ? I pray the what quest dare quite any man , were he as ygnorant and clere as Susanna , yff the Iudges condempne him , as the wickid Iudges condempnid here , becawse she wold not condissent to ther shamfull lust and desire .

Do ye not know how 12. honest and substancial merchant men off london were handlid not long sens , because they clerid & found sir Nicolas throgmarten not gilty , according to ther othe and conscience , but what was ther reward , were they not all most shamfully put in preson , wher they lay miserably some halff a yere , The quest that quit sir Nicolas frogmarten inprisonid therfore . some more some lesse , and afterward were fain to pay some off them 200. lib· some 500. merks , some more some lesse to the quene , according to ther abillite and substance , or ells they should haue remaynyd styll in preson , with out any right , iustice , or lawe .

Here by ye may perceiue , what tyranny is vsid , and by this practise they haue so fearid honest men that should go apon any quest for the quene , that they will say and do as the quene will haue them , rather then to be so cruelly and shamfully intreatid and handlid as those 12. honest merchant men were before , who hath herd of the like tiran̄y vsid in England before this time , I do remember in the time of K. H. 8. that the lord dacres of the north was indightid of treason , The lord dacres . and a quest of honest men did quite him according to equite and iustice , and yet I neuer herd that any off the same quest were ether inprisonid or trublid therfore .

Is it not also manifest how shamfully , those thwo knights , Sir peter Carow and Sir Iohan Cheke wer betraied , taken and caried away , ryding betven bru●sells and Andwerp , in the county of brabant . And had not Sir peter Carow his pardon sent him ouer the see , so liberally , both for lifflands and goods that a larger perdon hath neuer bene grauntid . And likwise Sir Iohan Cheke had he not the quenes licens , to depart the realm , and being both as it was supposid in ther princes fauour● or at the least no man perceiuid the contrary , for they both had bene with the quenes embassadors at brussells , Andwerp and barro , mich frendly comunicacion and great chere was had betwen them , after that they riding to gether to brussells , to them bassadors , which were ther present both to gether , wher they were frendly , and louingly interteinid , and great chere was made to them thre dais to gether , and no maner thing laid to ther charges , and also louingly and frendly toke ther leue of the sayd emblassadors , and returnid towerd Andwerp again , were most shamfully , by the kings marshall of that contre taken , and like theues caried away , and so conuaied to the tower of london . Is not this also a lamentable case , to here thes two gentilmen , to be betraied so shamfully , Princis promyss not pe●●formed who wil trust such rulers with any maner promisses , when they thus seke to betray , the noble and gentillmen , of this realme . Is this the truth and credens that should be geuen to princes wordes , when they thus shamfully pluke bake that they haue grauntid , and perform not that they haue promisid .

More ouer who seith not playnly now that the prince of spain hath optainid to haue the name of the king of England and also is ꝑmittid in our english coine to ioin out english armes with the armes of spain ▪ ann his ●●●namy with the quenes , the croune of England being made ouer both ther heds in the midest , and yet apon nether of them both , and the supscripciō about the same coines was with the name of philipe and Mary as apperith ▪ sens that time , is it not manifest , The king vsyth the armes off england in his coin with ou● the quenes name o●●●s●my . that he in his own priuate coine hath vsurpid ferther , and ioinid his armes with the armes of England , and made his pictur alone , with th emperiall crone of England apon his head , leauing out both the quenes picture , and also here name ▪ and so vsith both the name and armes of England with out the quenes ▪ hauing this sup●cripcion about his coine Philip ● . ●nglie , francie , n●apolis princep . hispaine , by this ye may perceiue what he doth intend and purpose , and that ●e sought not in mariage the quenes person , but the welthy and rich land off England .

Besides this , what practises be inuentid daily , to set England at va●iance with fraunce , it is not vnknown , not only by geuing out that englishmen should go aboute to betray callis to the frenchmen , wherby our new king might haue accasion to send in soldiers of his , and so take the town and sortes for him selff , but also to cawse some of our Ioly ●●ckers , which be soldiers about guines , or hammes , to pike quarrels with the frenchmen to set vs & then to gether by the eares , that by that meanes the quene might haue accasion , Practice● set vs at v●●ance with france . & that it might be thought she should be compellid , to send out both shippes & soldiers , & so not only consume the greatist 〈◊〉 of the substance and treasure of the realm , with the artillary and navy of the same , but also wil be accasion off distruction off a great nomber off the noble men gentyllmen & comons off this realm .

It is not long sens that we had warres with fraunce , which was for th emprours pleasur , but what folowid ther of , it is not vnknown dyd it not all most begger the hole realm , The frutes off warres . besids the losse , & distruction of a great nomber of worthy gentilmen and comons ▪ Therfore I wold desire the states of the realm , that they wil be circumspect ann well aduisid ; how they attempt , to breake wyth fraunce , for the pleasure of any other princes , least they be the occasion of the distruction and beggery of the hole realm .

More ouer it is to be considred when king henri the 8. began warres with fraunce , how that before he had bene at rest and quiet 30. yeres with out any warres , what we haue susteynid by the last warres nith france . in the which time , he had gatherid diuers waies , great great substance and treasure wherby it was supposid he to haue had sufficient , to haue maintainid his said warres with all : but for all that , was he not sam to gather off his nobilite , clergy , and comons , diuers great subsides , beniuolencis , lones or lending off mony , besides also our fine coines off gold and siluer , was turnid in to copper and brasse as it is manifest at this day ▪ which was a great dacay to our comon welth , as it cannot be denied . wherfore yf the quene should now begin warres with france , for her husbonds pleasure , The quene hath no provision a forehand . and haue not the like prouicion aforehand in comparison off her said noble father ( as it is to be supposid that she hath not ) by raison she hath geuen away so mich to the b. off Rome and his adherents , and beggerid her nobles and comons to set vp her spitfull spritualty ( so that the old prouerb is now fulfyllyd , S. Nicolas is on horse bake and S. George is on fote ) wher apon it is to be thought that she hath nothing the like prouision , that her said noble father had , when he began to haue warres with fraunce . And therfore I will leue it to the counsell and states off the realm , to consider what will folowe , The mass is the occasion off the great dearth in England . 〈◊〉 we should at this present , haue warres nith france for as I do vnderstond , by other , England is in as great misery and penuri at this day , as hit hath bene in many yeres before , the dearth of come , and all maner of vitall be so exceding dere , although at the first coming in off the quene to here raygne , it was reportid , that that shamfully doll , ( the blessid masse as they call it ) had brought with it , all things plenty , which being contrary ▪ now plainly apperith , to be the occasion off the great vengeance off god apon this realm , for so shamfully receiuing again , that wickid and abhominable pop stome , with all ther wickid ceremonies , express●y against god and the death of his sone Christ .

This haue I writton , considring it to be my dwty in waring my natiue contre , to auoid the great plages and dangers , that be now coming apon them , and knowing it also to be the dwty of euery christean & trwe hartid englishman , and that man that perceiuith this his natiue contre like to come in to ruyn and distruction , and doth not indeuore hym selff by all theme 〈◊〉 he can deuise , for the deliuerance ther of , the same is not worthy to be countid a trwe hartid englishman , Miles hogerd & his fel●ws . but a traitoure to his contre , what shall then euery trwe hartid englishman , Iudge of Miles hogerd and his felow helpers , who more like swinherds haue made , a shamfull , railing , folishe , and blasphemus boke , against god and his pour persecutid members , and afflictid , congregacion now dispersid abrode in diuers conties for his names sake , who by ther flathering bocks , Themistocles saieng . extollith the King aboue the mone , aledging in ther books the saieng off Themistoc●es , to the Athenians by thes words why mak eye thes tumultes and rumors , against them , off whom by manifold wais , ye haue receiuid so many comodites what shall all men Iudge off this shamelese flaterers . I pray you what commodites hath England receiuid , of the king : Except it be , that they bestowid an hundrid thousand ponds , for his charges , to bring him , and his nauy off spainierds in to england , which mony , th englishe merchants latly haue paid at Andwerp as it is manifest and cannot be denied . Besids that what discomodites and 〈◊〉 England is like to receiue by hym , I pray god thy may bewarnid to take hede in time . And as touching the kings persone , I know non to find any faute with it , exceapt the quene her selff do , The spanierds report of the quene . for lake off his company so long , the which as it is reportid he litle regardith , for as his spanierds haue blasid abrode in other contres saieng what shall the king do with such an old bich , also affirming that she may be his mother , a yonger is more meter for him , with modispitfull words spoken off them , the which yff an englishman should report , should be taken for to odius . And as for England with a great nomber off the states of other contres : could haue bene very well content , The dowghter off portingal . that he had procedid with his former mariage , with the dowghter off portyngall , which had bene more feter and quieter for him , both by the Iudgment of his own spanyerds , & also of many other . And as for the nobles and comons off England , they could haue bene very well pleasiid , that the quene had also maried within the realm as with the lord Courteney earl off deuenshir borne of a noble house , Lord courtney poisonid or with some other noble man . And so had the said lord Courtney not bene compellid for the saue gard off his liff , to haue trauelid beiond the sees in to strange contres , wheras it is supposid he was poisonid , for fear of● putting the prince off spaine besid his protensid enterprise . The lady fransis doughter off to the french quene

what shall men Iudge also off the quene , that now suffrith the aspergement off her blude , and suffrith the hieres apparant off the crone to many so basely and vilre , to bring therby the succession , out off estima●ion , that people may the lesse care yf the croune , go to a stranger , which is contrary to the lawes and statu●s of this realm , which wold not haue bene suffrid in the time of King Henry the 8. nor in any other ●ing or princes time , that had set by the honour of the realme ▪ who ●erth not the practisys that is vsid daily , and all for pour England . The conclusions 〈◊〉 peace with the french king , so 〈◊〉 redounding to ther dishonours becawse they might the more quietly , worke , and make ther practis for England , with ▪ 〈◊〉 sett or interupcion off any other forain princes .

And becawse they haue failid off ther purpose at two perl●aments and cannot haue ther desire , The 〈…〉 by the comen assent who 〈◊〉 not ther practise and in ●ent , to enter apon the realm with pour and force , and so to ca●●e the prins off spayn to m●ke a conqueste off thys noble Realme ( yff he cann ) and therby to desinheret all the n●ble blude and comons off England , and to plant in ther places the vyle spanyerds ▪ c●ntrary to the rightfull laws and customs off this realm . The quene 〈…〉 . And dyd not the quene when she was crownid , take a 〈…〉 to mayntain and defend the old and ancyent 〈…〉 customs on this realm , and how she kepith them 〈…〉 iudge .

Moreouer what a greuounse plag is it , perceyuing the great dearth and scante off corn 〈◊〉 ●ail &c to be in all england at this present which hath not bene seen many yeres before , wherby the comon People be in grea● pouerty and misery : that ther is gatheryd such great subsidies off them , besids , iones or sending off mony , as is now , only to kepe them low , and in misery , that the prince off ●payne may the ●one●● prain to come to his ●aid pretensid enterpryse .

At the quenes first coming to here rayng , she forgaue the subsidye , that was grauntid to King Edward the 6. wherby it is to be supposid she had no great nede off mony , or ells it was to make the people more willing to consent , that she should mary with the prince off spayne .

Is it not also manifest , that sens she came to her state and dignite , that she hath had no warres , wherby here treasure should be consumyd , but contrary wyse hath gotten great possessyons and substaunce off those noble men and gentyllmen , that haue suffrid most cruell death , besids great 〈◊〉 that she toke and doth take of many noble men and other s●ns she came to her raygne as it is manyfest . what the quen meanith by gathering off mony . But all her gathering is to help the King her husbond , and to enrich him and to make him strong , that he may the more easely com in and conquere this noble realm .

Also is it not manyfest how many thousand pounds is dayly payd , by Thenglish merchants and staplers at Andwerp , by the quenes comaundement , and daily more and more is paid by them , and therfore Thenglish merchants , ar comaundid , to make ouer but two shyppyngs a yere , to the vtter vndoing off a great sort off yong merchant men who ar not able to abide ther merkets so long , wha the english merchants must pay at andwerp for the quene . and wherfore do they cawse this ordinance to be made ▪ but only that at such tymes , many clothes and wolles may be shyppyd ouer the sees to gether : off the which clothes and wolles the sayd merchants must lend to the quene , a serteygne some off mony off euery cloth , & . serpler off wole , that they so shyppe , that it may amount to .xxx. or xl . thousand pounds at a tyme to th entent that it may serue the king ▪ to maynteyne hym and his mynyons out off the realm , becawse he hath no great h●st Home to the quene , being now more then xv monythes from Here , wherby it is manyfest and playnly apperyth as clere as the sone , that in mariage he sought not the quenes persone but only the rich and welthy realm of England .

And by cawse I know my name shal be abusyd , for wryting thus playnly my mynd , for the dwtye and good wyll that I bear to my natyue contre , I do desyre the therfore gentyll reader , what so euer thou be , The auctors request . that thou wyle consyder , how many worthy men off the Romayns , dyd not passe to venter ther liues , and gaue them selues to the death , for the delyuerance off ther contre , Mucius Seuola . Marcus Curcius . as Caius Mucius Seuola , Marcus Curctus , and many other ( as plainly apperith in Titus Liuius , the Romayns story ) for the deliueuerance of ther Cyte , contres and comon welth from the hands of strangers ther henemyes , like as I do at this tyme , and ther fore I do desyre them to Iudge the best off me consydryng I do but my dwtye , Miles hogerd and his felous at blind snailes and hyssing serpents . which likewise is the parte and dwry off euery trwe hartid Englishe man .

And as for hogerd and his felows who may be comparid to blind snailes , and hissing serpents , creping out of ther holes to fight against dead men ▪ and also with such whose answers cannot be suffrid to be rede and indifferently to be iudgid , and therfore thes snailes may be bold to crepe apon ther own dunghills , to lie , slander , and condempne , Christes pour members at ther own pleasure , for yf our answers might be suffrid open lie to be red and indifferently to be iudgid ( such answers should be made to ther follshe and slanderus books wul ●aledgid auctors out off the grauesend barge , which be mete couers for such cuppes ) they suould be so paintid out in ther colers , Hogerds auctor aledgyd out off the grauesend barge . that they should be ashamid here af●r , to Raile and lie as they haue done , onles they be past all shame , like as that inocent prelate doctor standish , who long agone wrote a treatise against doctor barnes aste ▪ he was burnid , which offentmies affterward he lamentid , and recantid the same : who now beginnith again to wax bold like a snaile creping out of his shel seing no man dare openlie resist him , beginnith again to write , and affirmith that he will now abide ( by his folishe fantasies ) to the death , D. standish is a cokes come . alake pour cokesscom , that turnith with euery wind off doctrine , as a great nomber off his felows haue done , who being more wily , and crafty then he is , although they make books ar ashamid to setto ther names , for fear off after clappes , for they dought how long this hothe wether off persecucjon , and borning wil continew , and therfore ar contentid , that such swinherds as Miles hogerd and his felous be , shall beare the name , Miles hogerd . who for vain glory , and hope to come to promocion , ar contentid like blind busserds , to take it apon them .