[William Kethe his seeing glasse] [sent to the nobles and gentlemen of England, whereunto is added the praier of Daniell in meeter.]

Unto the ryghte honorable the nobilitie and ientlemen of Englande : Willyam Rethe wissheth peace , with constancye of mynde .

THe man / that is borne of a woman ( as sayeth holye Iob ▪ Iob. 14. ) hathe but a very shorte tyme to lyue , his dayes beinge re●lete mith manye miseries , whiche thinge certayn Heathen men ( belyke ) well considered , as Seneca , who very pretelye compareth this worlde to a waye , Seneca . ful furnished with hid thistles , wherethorow a man hadde nede to be well ware how he wandre , least he pricke him self : & also that deathe is the fynisher of all heuines and sorowe . And in lyke maner Pithagoras . ●●tha . Death ( sayeth he ) is rather to be desired then despised , for it chaungeth vs frome this worlde of vnclennes & shame to the worlde of worshippe : from this transitorie lyfe , too the lyfe euerlastinge : from the worlde of follye and vanities , to the worlde of wisedom , reason and trueth : & from this world of payn , trauell , and miserie , to the world of rest & consolacion &c. But if aswell holye write , as all prophane histories , had with silence passed ouer this knowen and assured trueth● I thinke that these dreadful days and miserable conflictes , whiche we fele presently , mighte be allowed for a sufficient testimonye . And yet to beholde the course of thinges , both past and presentlye a workinge , it moueth me oft tymes to muse , when I se the strange diuersitie of estates , howe that in sundry respectes , the one maye be accompted very pleasante & easye in comparison of the other .

As , if we consider the vnquiet , restles , & slydinge estate of those in high auctoritie ( who yet semeth to haue most felicitie ) and then the happy , quiete , & peaceable estate of them , who ( for the basse estimacion they bee in ) semeth of all men to be moste vnfortunate . And euen thys is thesame , whiche soo oft tymes maketh me to thyncke , ( sadly sittinge some tyme alone ) Howe well at ease they be , which haue drawen too them selfes the luckye lot of contentation of mynd in the myddest of their porest pouertie , and how vnhappely the residue runne , who , beinge in lowe degree , will trauell to be in hygh auctoritie , in seking wherof they rather procure their ill hap , by obtayning their desire , then wanting their welthes , by remayninge as they were .

But now at the laste when I saw no ende of climming vp , and in suche number also , that they daily fall doune by ruthfull heapes , taking vnrecouerable fals to their vtter vndowing : And besides all this to the farther increase of my admiracion , that other by seinge their present harme can not auoid their slippery steppes to prolong their owne prosperitie , but wilfully ( as it were ) to tumble doun the tree after theym : And yet I speake nothing of that , how by secret shuldring , ech pussheth other , I wot not howe , from his place , but so daungerously , as I mai sai in secrete , it passeth playinge in pastyme : but now to make rehersed me , and not that I thoughte the dowinge therof to be so exquisite , but because suche profit thereby vnto me insuede , that me semeth I must nedes confesse it .

But now , callinge to remembraunce what trauell and studye some of your honoures and worshippes haue taken in the wayghtie affayers of the realme of Englande , when you were thoughte mete too beare rule , howe so euer thinges happened now and then to succede : I thinke thesame of euery faythfull subiecte thus yet to be considered , as lamentynge the yll with hope of redresse , so for those good thinges , by youre trauels then enioyed , our humble thankes still to remayne , though , thorow the tyrannye of tyrantes , the benefit be withdrawen .

For as frendship , beinge commendable in men of equalitie , is yet more laudable in the honorable or worshipful , that can be contented to extende thesame too the simple poore man : Euen so he ( vpon whome suche frendship is bestowed ) not to expresse by such ways as he is able , his faithful & thankefull harte , thesame man , if my iudgemente fayle not , dealeth not onely vnnaturally , but deserueth , as he is well worthy , too be sharpely reprehended .

In consideracion wherof it mai please your honors and worships to vnderstand , that I haue thought it a parte of my duetye , too offre vnto you this simple seyng glasse folowinge , in the which ( I wene ) maye be discerned , both the estate of the mightie and meane man , what a hudge heappe of endles troubles alwayes accompanieth the one : and the great quietnes that is lost by leauing the other . Of the whiche , albeit youre honoures & worshippes can not be ignorant , ☜ that haue ben dayely trauelers as well in other mens matters as in youre owne : yet in my minde , the effectes therof be not , neither can be so apparante alwayes too memorie , but that in as dymme and course a glasse , as here is exhibited , ther may be somwhat espied ▪ whiche otherwyse mighte haue bene buryed in the depe doungeon pit of extreame obliuion .

But as touching the premisses , it woulde here bee noted , that I haue not spoken it to the derogacion of common auctoritie , neyther would I thereby discourage ( if my wordes were of power to perswade ) anye man , that were ordinarely called to beare rule , seynge I must nedes confesse thesame too bee of suche force by thee infallyble prouydence of God , as the publike weale mai in no wise wante , onely then my meaninge is of suche as seeke more their owne glorie , profit and commoditie , then too be faithfull ministers and godly gouernours in that hygh dignitie , whereunto they aspire .

●ōpeius a ●ble Ro●ayne . It is written , that Pompeius was wonte to saye of hym selfe , that he neuer came to office bearing in Rome , but that he obtayned it sooner then for hys own parte he loked for , and that he euer gaue vp thesame agayne before other men wisshed it . A report without all doubte , worthye great prayse . Oh that oure rulers and officers of England coulde iustly boast so muche of them self● : it is to be feared , a very fewe are they , whiche dare attempte that enterprice , as well for that their gredie coueteousnes , and vaine glorious ambicion , as also the multitudes murmuring for their cruell oppression woulde testefie agaynst them .

But many thinges were here to be spoken more mete to aunswer the requeste of so lamentable a tyme , then thys whiche doeth but aggrauate our sorow : to wete that as God plaged the people of the olde tyme , with pestilence , famin , sworde , captiuitie and bondage , takinge awaye their godly kinges and magistrates , & placinge wicked , vngodly tyrantes and straungers in their romes , as oft as they either resisted hys truethe , or hauinge it liued not accordinglye : Euen so , how as soone as they repented vnfaynedly , confessed their synnes earnestly , prayed purely , and amended their lyues effectually , God vnladed them and deliuered them of suche greuous punishmentes , as they deseruinglye susteyned , and to this might haue ben added , how hotely the Lorde in like maner hath begonne to kendell his wrath , ●he bowe ●ring is 〈◊〉 , y● dar●● fle a ●●se , they ●●ill paye ●●me short 〈◊〉 . and bent his bow ( nay , let me mende it ) hath already shote doune his persinge , sharpe poynted dartes vpon oure country of England , and moste iustly for that we haue both so horribly abused his truthe , and obstinately resisted thesame , despised his prophetes the preachers therof , who for the space of these .6 . or .7 . yeares haue in their true preachings prophesied of these monstruous plagues too be at hande , Reade the ● . & . 6. chap 〈◊〉 Esay . as a rewarde due for synne , whiche beginneth to nyppe in dede , I praye God it be not to our endles confusion . But who then beleued theyr preachinges ? did we not thinke their wordes madnesse ? for who regarded them ? yea , did wee not think them to be out of their wittes ? or at last could abide them ? did not all laugh them to skorne ? how did you noble men rage & fūe againste them , layinge sedicion to their charges , when thei cried out against your sensualitie & oppression : but could the meaner sorte of men speak wel of them , when thei rebuked their rebellion ? as for your cruell cleargie , their tyranny in all ages , in tormenting the men of god , might suffice to testifie how hotli they loued them , if their presente wodenesse were absente too declare it .

But here the extremitie of time so enforsinge me , ☜ I must suddenly stryke sayle & come too an ancker ( while a worde or two be spoken ) trusting , ( for as much as I entend not to say any thing , but by the way of exhortacion ) my shippe shal not be driuen against the rocks , though she ride in rough water .

Hathe your vnthankefulnesse ben so great towardes the almightie God ( O ye noble men of Englande ) that thesame thing , whiche is so appara●t and manifeste in the eyes of al indifferent men , should be hid from you ? I meane youre dolorous destruction . Could not the soundinge blaste , ●arke wel ●hat nota●le tale in ●ayster ●ornes epistle , & then ●aste youre ●ccomptes what certē●ie ye haue of youre heads , if proud prelacie prosper . that Horne latelye blewe in your eares , open your eyes , thei being both so nyre neyghbours ?

Can neither the notable admonitions of so many godly men , as haue bothe spoken & written vnto you , nor yet presente experience , cause you to haue understanding ? oh to what cruell vengeance hath God reserued you ? belike ye ether trust to youre stronge stedes and mightie men , or els to the curtesie of your churlishe church men : but how litle he lye ye hadde in youre horses and harnesse men , I trow ye haue not yet forgotten , when ye thought to had wonders .

And if ye think , by your dissemblinge or makinge fayre wether with proude priesthood , to spend your dayes in quietnesse , ye may chaunce also to be disceaued . No , no they know well inough , ye d● but disse●ble with them and there●fore &c. Cal to your mindes how their predecessors ( whiche mighte not bee thought able to matche with these in maliciousnesse ) handled youre noble auncetours . Reade you the dolfull storie of S. Ihon. Old castle , the worthy L. Cobham , by the vilanous handelynge of whome you may partely se their charitie . Yea , If scripti● seme bitte● vnto you that is able too saue youre souls : read● you yet the aunciente ●●ories for ●●fegarde 〈◊〉 your 〈◊〉 , which 〈◊〉 ny●er y● 〈◊〉 & block 〈◊〉 ye think 〈◊〉 , but oh the 〈◊〉 coulde 〈◊〉 it . but what saye you too their trayterous handelinge of good kyng Ihon , when as they not contented most violentlye to pull the croune from his head ( what though he were their anoynted kyng ) but also at the length , miserablye did poison him ? I doubt not , but that the monke , which poysoned hym self to bring that to passe , shal shortli haue his yearly masses , songe for his soule at Swyneshead abbay , when the landes is restored again , as that and the rest must be shortly what promises soeuer be made to the contrarie : for such promises are commonly made more to way the tyme than to be kept , as partly you in England doo knowe by present experience . & here after may feale peraduenture to your payne . But to the purpose , if these iolie champions of the church durst do thys to a kyng , The clergy ●n times past were ●ut of the ●euelles ●ourt , but ●ow they ye of hys preuy counsayle . and in those dayes when as iniquitie was not at the prime , what will these do vnto you ( being but subiectes ) in whome iniquitie doeth so abounde , that by whole running ryuers it floweth ouer .

If these and such lyke things , beinge pas● , be not sufficient too teache you , at the least by thinges present weye thinges to come . If that bedlem , bishop Bonner of London , be neither ashamed nor affrayed , without all lawe or ordre too beare him , so to torment that sely poore man , Thomas Weuer , Thom●● Weuer , dwellyn● w●thoute Bisshop● gate . because he would not consent to his deuilishe doctrine : what will that dreadfull deuouring deuell doe , the wilful Winchester with his adheren●es , nowe , when as they haue established laws , to outbeare them .

I am afrayed , In de●● they beg●● pretelye . A fable . the fable of Esopes Fox and Gote will shortly be verified . The Fox and the Gote descended both in to a depe pitie , from whence they coulde not get forthe agayne , the Fox beinge a craftie and subtil beaste , ye know ( as the mooste parte of the cleargie be ) desyreth the Gote that he might step vp vpon his backe , & so to get out of the pit , promisinge the Gote that he wil draw him out after him , ●he fox , by this craft escaping the daunger , was required by the Gote to performe his promis . But saith the Fox : Ah Gote , Gote , if thou haddest had so much witte in thy headde as thou haste heyre in thy bearde , thou wouldeste not haue gone doune , excepte thou haddest knowen howe too haue gotten vp agayne .

Nowe that the two foted Fox is escaped out of the pyt , and that you noble men of England haue ( with the Gote ) set bothe backe & shulders too his liftinge vp , it is most euident : for the filthe of his tayle and fete hath all to be stayned your clothes . There remayneth now of your part to clayme the Foxes promis , that he maye draw you out of that daungerous gulffe where into ye be fallen : but thincke you ye shall not fynde the Fox stil a Fox in his aunswer ? I went so . Ye shall then fynde that your punishing and inprisoninge of good men for the Foxes pleasure , shall litle helpe you , in the tormentyng of whome , as ye esteme them and make them youre slaues , that of late dayes ye semed with touth & nayle to defend and fauor : euen so do you therein showe your selfes vyle slaues and bonde men in dede , and that vnto such as are more viler then vilenesse it self , who w● haue th●●ghte th● haute c●●●rage of 〈◊〉 no●●●litie , 〈◊〉 so witti●● haue 〈◊〉 slaues , 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Pope of Rome . euen to a sorte of proude prelates and baudie beastes , who , to murder goddes people , haue made you theyr hangemen , and haue appoynted you , as open baudes , to cloke & defende bothe their spirituall & carnall whoredom .

O mercifull God , what tollerable thing , in those bloude thirstie Balamites , hath moued your honours thus to abase your selfs vnder them , not only to the destruction of youre persons , but also of all your posteritie . Were there in them rayning , either the constancie of Camillus , ●●millus 〈◊〉 suche 〈◊〉 to hys ●itrey , that 〈◊〉 gift threat●d cause 〈◊〉 work 〈◊〉 a●●●nst it . or the humanitie of Plato , the chastitie of Pithagoras , or the grauitie of Cato , the temperance of Socrates , or the fortitude of Scipio , there were yet som appearance , that their vertues prouoked you : but they nowe beinge clene out of gonneshot , frome the smell of the least veritie that can be named , and then in crueltie surmounting conquerours far passinge Nero , 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 noble 〈◊〉 ye 〈…〉 youre 〈…〉 shameles not a●●med 〈◊〉 in woodnesse and wrathe equall to Aiax , in dronckennes and lecherie comparable to Heliogabalus , and in pryde & presumption felowe like to Lucifer : what can be otherwise thought of youre vnnaturall doynges , but that it either proceadeth of a chyldishe feare ( whiche of all infirmities shoulde haue bene fardest of from you , that haue bene the rulers of so noble a realme ) or els ( if that were not the cause ) then the old prouerbe to be fulfilled , whiche is , that one wicked will to the deuell , too haue the others companye , frome whome God for his mercies sake ( if you be not caste awayes ) saue and defende you .

Wherefore , repente , O ye noble men of Englande , repente , imbrace agayne the truthe , but be constant in the same , and laboure nowe another whyle by youre well doinge too qualifie that rumour , whiche youre inconstancie hathe caused in forrayne Realmes to be spread , to the great dishonour , both of you and your countrye , in that you are compared ( you haue set forrayn realmes a worke to wonder at your dasterdli doing ) too smoth worne wethercockes that wayteth on the wynd , the reward wherof is not only worldli sham , but farther then that , to receyue the rewarde which is due vnto ypocrites in the lake , that burneth with brimstone and fyre , where ye shal finde darknesse in steade of light , hungring in thirste , and thirsting in payne , ●he 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 that bee 〈…〉 cold . clothed with colde , yet flaming in heate , euermore dieng , but still tastinge life , wisshinge to dye , but may not obtayne : too bee shorte , youre dwellinge place shal be where as is for euermore wringinge of handes , and gnasshinge of tethe &c.

But now I holde it more then tyme to return wher I was afore . Were not the poore preachers of the veritie ( for speaking the truth ) abhorred in manner of all , & beloued all moste of none ? And nowe for publishing of thesame truthe too be tormented somwhat worse then theues and murtherers ? alas ●ou miserable Ieremies , for euen so was he handled of the wicked priestes of his time , Iere. ● as the .26 . of his prophesie doeth notablye declare . I thinke verelye , the dreadfull dayes draweth on apase , that as Ieremi sat pitifully , beholding the miserable desolation that came vpon the Iewes , for their stubborne infidelitie and murthering of goddes Prophetes : Euen so you that by goddes prouidence shall eskape the cruell slaughter , nowe put in practise , shall behold England , and saye with him : alas , howe lieth that lande soo waste , whiche some time was ful of people : how is she becom like a widdow , that was some time the flour of all nations ? howe is she nowe broughte vnder tribute , whiche some tyme ruled all landes &c. But me thinks I heare one busye speaking alreadi , and saieth : Sir , from whence came you ? are ye a Prophet ? how know you that these thinges shall happen ?

Forsouthe Sir saye I , by thys I am more then halfe assuredlye perswaded . I fynde , that as God is eternall , euerlasting , almightie , and immutable , so is he a God that hath no respect of persons , who vseth his iustice vniuersallye vpon all wilfull offenders . But in the olde tyme he distroied them , that fell from his worde to 〈◊〉 Idolatrie , and we now commit●e thesame offence more horribly then euer they did : therfore he will also distroye vs ( for I wene repentaunce be paste ) so that the alteration of states , the mutabilitie of fortune , the wofull fall of nobilitie , the ruthefull rysynge of proude prelacie , and consequently the vtter subuersion of the realme of Englande is farre awaye lesse too bee marueled at then lamented . Engla●●● of 〈◊〉 must 〈◊〉 to dest●●●tion .

But of these things farder too intreate in such sort , as should satisfie your honorable expectations , as I must nedes confesse my imperfection therin , & that there wholy wanteth in me such dexterity of knowlege & lerning as should accomplish thesame : Euen so , ( praised be god ) there be workes ynough for such purposes , which for the excellency of them ( as I haue harde the godlye lerned report ) can not lightlye be amended , & amonge sundry one in especiall I commend to all troubled consciences , intitled the spiritual & precious perle , set forth by the righte Christian and godly gouernoure ( vnder our most noble and excellent prince , The 〈◊〉 whiche 〈…〉 to me 〈◊〉 bringe of 〈◊〉 me to 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 to all 〈◊〉 . then beinge ) the good duke of Somerset .

The boke , without all doubte , wil bring to the studious readers therof suche singuler comforte in their aduersitie , as farre passeth the value contayned in the title therof .

And as I wishe this to the confort of all the godly afflicted , as a soueraygne and presente remedie , which number I trust be not few in these mourning days of sorow and anguishe ( consideringe howe goddes gusshinge oute wrathe is poured forthe for synne : ) so do I hartely beseche all such , as be not yet resolued , concerninge the vsurped auctoritie of the B. of R. of supersticious ceremonies , of vnlawfull vowes ▪ of the wicked law and decrees of men , and that the scriptures of God is onely able & sufficient to teach the true church of Christ , as touchinge their saluation &c. to reade a boke , made and set forthe by Stephen Gardener , now the vnworthie Chanceloure of Englande , De 〈◊〉 obedient●● 〈◊〉 into the E●●glish 〈◊〉 intituled de Vera obedientia , in the which boke ( puttinge a parte his treason towardes the Quene , in makinge her a bastarde ) is contayned suche notable argumentes , for probation of the trueth , clene contrarye too that detestable & execrable doctrine , whiche he against his owne conscience maliciously mayntayneth , as is strong ynough ( though there come no better helpe ) too beate doune too the grounde all his sandie and wilfull buyldinges , whereby all indifferent men maye se , as in a moste clere glasse , the very liuely Image of our dissembling papistes , howe thei , A 〈◊〉 note , to know the ●●●perous ●●●neration 〈◊〉 papiste beynge cousynne Iarmanes to Paules wether cock , can turne as the wynde turneth for aduauntage .

¶ The eternall & almightie God of heauen , for his mercies sake , mollifie your harts , and open youre eyes that you mai se the perilous pathe of perdicion , in the whiche you nowe wander astraye , and geue you grace vnfaynedlye to repente , that ye receyue not the punishmente , which is due vnto youre desertes . Amen .