THe grace & merci of our heauenlye father , with the true knowledge of his sonne Iesus Christ . which the diuel and his members now labour with toth and naile ▪ to blemish and subuert thorow Antichrist the Pope and his generation , be dayly multiplied & confyrmed in the ▪ most Christen Reader . This folowyng treatyse , as it was first wrytten of as worthye Prophet as hath bene since the Apostles time , for a warning vnto his deare countrye men : Euen so the state of m● natural countrye of England , ouer which God threatneth now his terrible plages , standing in the like daunger , I thought that my naturall duty towards my countrey required so muche seruice of me as to translate the same into the Englishe tong , if paraduenture God wyll woorke in the harts of the Readers therof by folowing the councell ministred therein , to preuent that subuersion & extreme inconuenience which at this present hangeth ouer their heades . And thoughe the Papistes shal paraduenture frown and fume therat ; I care not much therfore , for seing the diuel hath so bewitched them , that they care not what destruction they worke towardes theyr countrey , so that theyr kingdome may florish againe , I am wel assured that nothing proceding of the spirit of God , can content or please them . And to say the truth , for as much as they defyle them selues with idolatry , supersticion , false religion , and with persecuting of the true professors of the Gospel , they are not worthy that am good thing shuld delite or content them , o● that any godlye aduertisement should synke into their heads . But such as haue the true fear of God in their hartes , let them take it as a profitable admonition vnto them , with thankes geuing vnto almighty God , that he hath styrred vp such instrumentes indued with suche a grace & spirit , wherby they may be warned & aduertised how to auoide suche imminent dangers as their sinnes & vnthankfulnes haue not only worthely deserued , but also in maner , broughte vpon theyr neckes . If such warnings as haue proceded of the like spirite as this present aduertisment was written ▪ had bene regarded in time , paraduenture God would haue spared vs our late Iosias , noble king Edward of famous memori , a litle longer . O England , England , that thy sins , vnthankfulnes & security wer such that they prouoked God to take from thee such a prince thorow whom thou mightest so quietly and religiously haue bene gouerned , & to send ●he such now as go about to bring the in thraldom & subiection vnto Alienes , & to conquer the with tyranny , & seduce the with false religion . O England , Englande , thy Nobles were preached vnto , and told plainly inough by Gods prophetes , that Gods wrath was at hand , if thei wold not redres their enormities , but they coulde not be hard , yea those to whom they preached made a mocke an● a iest at theyr earnest crieng & calling vpon them , asking them who made them so much of Gods councel . It wold neuer sink into their heades that God would so dea●e with them , as the Preachers ou● of the spirit of God threatened them . They thought paraduenture that it was inough for th● to pretend Gods true religion , howe litle soeuer they framed theyr lyues thereafter . But god hath now mete ●●wel taught some of them the price of pretensed religion , euen as he taught the Iewes in the old Testament , how litle he regarded theyr pretense of relygion , crieng : The Temple of the Lord , The temple of the Lord , & shewing in theyr lyues nothing but dissolutenes , securiti , and 〈◊〉 . God graunt that the penaunce which they that be latelye taken away , haue felte for theyr contempt & dissembling with God , may be an occasion to those that are yet left behinde to consider with themselues , & to cal to remembraunce how good God is yet vnto them , to cal them still to the crediting of the godlye Preachers doctryne ( I meane not of the Papists , Antichristes messengers which now fil al Pulpits ful , with most shameful lies & most detestable blasphemies ) seing God hath shewed in some of them the ensamples of such punishmentes as they told them before of . Which is a most infallyble token that they were Gods true prophetes , & that it was his true religion whiche they preached . And therefore hath God taken some of them away , that the punishment of them , myght be a warning vnto the rest , to repent theyr negligence and contempt of his word , when they had it truly & faythfullye preached vnto them , & to endeuour them selues to beware hereafter how they contemne Gods worde at the mouth of his Preachers and prophets againe : least if they neglect this further warning , more then theyr felowes had , God may gyue them also a further and a sharper penaunce . This should my Lordes and the Nobles do wherby the true feare of God myght appeare to be in theyr hartes , and not to fal from contempt of Gods holy word to the vtter renouncing and denieng of it , and to seme to feare mor● a weake creature ( as Peter dyd the Girle ) then the mighty God , whych hath the hartes of al creatures in hys handes . Truly , trulye , thys is not the way to pacify Gods wrath , for to denie his true religion , & to consent to abhominable idolatri , but rather to kindle it more feruentlye agaynst vs . Ye haue paraduenture policies , fetches & diuises in your heades , but take hede least they deceyue you . Thynke not the god is bound to your policies & drifts . I neuer sawe , nor heard yet that euer any policie or fetche against the wil of God , came to any good ende & effect at length . As I could rehearse manye examples euen in our time .

Thus much be spoken to the Nobles for theyr aduertisment : whose insolency & supine dissolutenes without dout hath bene a greate cause of this plage that is now come vpon vs . Notwithstanding I meane not therby to clear and excuse the inferior or meane sorte ▪ as though theyr part wer not therin also . How vnthankful haue they ben● also in receiuing , & how slacke in folowing the earnest aduertismentes that were daily geuen them . I meane not onelye of the blinde Papistes whych waited and gaped daily for the restoring of their wicked Masse , and other damnable idolatry ( wherwith the diuell hath nowe fylled theyr mouthes ful ) thinking that al shoulde be wel , if they myght once haue that agayne . Now they may se what it hath brou●ght , & what it is like to bryng , name●ly the subuersion of the whole state of the realme , the ouerronnyng thereof with a straunge nacion and such a nacion as is the most vyle and godless● nacion vpon earthe , the vtter destru●tion of them selues and of theyr posterity for euer . Let them now make much of papistry that list , they se what fru●tes it hath brought with it , and wha● it is lyke to bryng more , if they wyll nedes haue it . I meane not ( I sai ) on●ly of them , but euen also of those which haue knowen and professed Gods religion . That the same may wel be said onto vs al , & to the whole Realme generally , which Christ spake vnto Ie●usalem in the .xix. of Luke , that all these plages are come vpon vs because we did not acknowledge the time of oure visitacion . Let vs al therfore repent our former negligence . Let vs all amende ●ur former fautes , and also let vs al be true folowers of the Gospel in dede , as we haue long bene professors therof in word , and than doutles God shal ceasse and withdraw his plage wherwith he had minded to scourge ●s , he shal driue the Papists and the alienes ( which they go about to bryng in , to maintaine theyr kingdom , & to make them selues strong against God ) out of our country , that wher thei sought but one way to come in , they shal seke ●en to flye out of it againe . Let vs not contemne such warnings and admonicions as this conceiued in the treatise folowynge . And speaciallye let no man misconstrue it , but read it wyth iudgement as an instruction not to styrre any man to vnlawful rebellion ( as I dout not but the Papistes gods sworne aduersaries wil be readye to say , wher as they and no other are the authors of al mischiefe , as may most manifestlye appeare to any that hath but halfe his right wit ) but only as an aduertisment that no man minister ani aide or obedience to such Tirannes as bend them selues against God and hys word , and to the subuersion of their natural countrey . In which case it is not only vnlawful to obey them or in any wise to consent vnto them , but also most lawful to stand in the defence of gods religion , and of the lawdable & auncient state of theyr country , against such vncircumcised Tyrannes ( they shal neuer be called Magistrates of me , Nay , vntyll they haue a more lauful commission . tyll they shew them selues worthy of that name ) as go about such diuelish enterprises . The God of heauen wyth hys mighty hand confound them .

Thus hast thou most gentle reder , both the scope of this admonition , and also partlye the occasion that moued me to translate it . Put now thy endeuour ( if thou be a true Christian , and hast any true natural loue to thy countrey , to thi self or to thi posteriti ) that it be neither of the fyrst author written , nor of me translated in vaine . And herewith let my yonker Papistes which nowe are in theyr ruffe , triumphe aboue the Moone , crieng : Crucifige vpon the gospel , and the poore professours therof ▪ take their aduertisment also , that when God hath vsed them as his scourge & rod to that that hys diuine councell hath determined , than can he find them out wel inough , and giue them theyr penaunce , from the which their masse idol ( make they neuer so muche of it ) shal as litle saue and deliuer them , as Baal saued the wicked false Priestes and other that worshypped hym and tooke hym for theyr God .

God be merciful to hys Church and flocke of England , & deliuer the same from the violence of vnmerciful Tyrauntes , & vngracous papistes .

Some of them pretend , and say : tha● thei minde nothing lesse , than to establish the Supremacy of Antichrist the B. of Rome , but if it were wel sought it would appeare , that moost of theyr practises and fetches come from Rome . And that a great part of these proceadinges haue not bene wroughte , nor practised without his aduise . What if vertuous and godlye princes , whiche haue set them selues against his kingdom , haue bene betraied and destroied , by the subtile practises of such impes of his , as haue borne swynge by their dissimulation about such vertuous princes . O howe many subtilties hath Sathan , to assaulte Christes kingdome with ? I warrant you it hath cost the b. of Rome mani a nightes watch , yea , many a pound , before these practises were brought to this passe , which are nowe abrewyng . Yet hath god left some holes open , wherby such as haue any vnderstandyng , maye spye theyr driftes . For why do they holde godly , vertuous , learned & most worthy councelours in prison , but onely because thei feare , least thei wold hinder , and withstande some of theyr enterprises and procedings ? Let al those therfore that beare true heartes towardes theyr countrey , suffre them selues to be admonished in time .

For if the Spanyardes do once enter into our country , What the comming in of Spanyardes wyl grow to . and maye be suffred to nestle theim selues there , they wil not only at length crepe into the chiefe Dukedomes , Erledomes and lordships , and deale the same among them selues , but also wil establishe the Idol of Rome , and the whole cursed Papaci again : which al our countrey shal repent and rewe for euer . Priestes care not what become of the Realme , so that theyr hooryshe kingdome floryshe . And yet that is the chiefe thyng , that the spiritual prelates ( in geuyng theyr ayde and councel therunto ) doo seke . They care not what becom of this whole noble nacion , nor what villany bee use● therin ( as the Spaneyardes are most vyle and beastly people geuen to vice and brutishnes ) so that they maye vphold and mayntaine theyr kingdome of Idolatry and supersticion , and may raigne again . The Lord of heauen disapoynt and subuert theyr enterprises ▪ For whatsoeuer thei can alledge , or pretend , to charge those with , whiche haue imbraced , and set furth the true religion , as many as haue any indifferent knowledge and vnderstandyng ( if they wyll not speake against theyr own conscience ) must nedes acknowledge and confesse , that diuers hyghe pointes , and necessary articles of christen religion , haue bene sincerely and purely taught , and declared by them . And diuers notable errours haue by them bene disclosed , which before wer taught , and preached openlye in Pulpets , wherby the people were pitefully seduced . And now such as haue truly and faithfully laboured , The rewarde of true preachers . and traueled , to set furth the truth to abandon such Idolatry , and supersticion , as the people hath bene extremelye blynded with , to plant true , necessary and holesome doctrine , & to roote out al falshod & hipocrisie , thei are rewarded for their labour with imprisonment , depriuation of theyr liuynges and goodes , & with such like rewards . Other causes may wel be pretended of the persecutors , and common cutthrotes , as we may heare , but these are the very causes in dede . How long God ( which is iust in al his workes ) will suffre & vse them as his scourges ( as Dauid saith the wicked manne is a scourge of the Lord ) that let them loke vnto . For wher thei pretend , that much disorder , dissension , negligence , securitie , and offence did raigne among the professors of the true religion , without redresse or reformation , &c. It cannot be denied , nor they them selues wil not deny but that al this is true in dede . And more ouer that they are laden with diuers infyrmities and sinnes , as wel priuate and secret , as open and manifest also , and that there haue bene many weedes among them ( as euermore haue bene in the true church of God ) which haue alwayes waxen , and sprong vp amonge good corne . As with Dauid ▪ Nathan & other true members of gods church in those dayes , sprang vp Absalon , Achitophel , and other vnprofitable wedes . But what than ? Sholde the people of God , by reason of suche offences , or bycause of theyr owne or of other mens infyrmities , vtterli haue denied , and reiected the true doctrine and religion , and yelde to Idolatry & supersticion : as our ( yea rather Christes ) aduersaries would haue vs now to do ? Why do not the higher powers , the Ioly prelates , and the faut spiers labour to redresse , and refourme suche offences , as they se in any of them , that haue professed the sincere Religion ? Or why at the least did they not labor to restore the true discipline of the gospel , that therby such offence giuers , might haue ben redressed , & brought to an open Christen penaunce , for the welth of theyr own soules , & a good example vnto mani other ▪ Why did thei not this I say ? ●hy ? Mary because some of them feared , least they them selues might paraduenture , be the fyrst , vpon whom the true discipline ought to be exercised . Let them fyrste examyne theyr owne consciences , and then tell me , whether I haue saide any thyng ▪ ●ut the truthe or no ? No , no , the true discipline ( if it myght haue bene frely restored ) wolde not haue suffred suche offenses to haue raigned , neyther in high nor in lowe , neither in the spiritual nor yet in the lay sorte , as the aduersaries haue found faute with , and pretended for the onely causes , which haue kept them from the same profession . The godly preachers haue testified sufficiently in their open exhortations , that such disorder , dissolutenes of lyfe , slaunderous examples , mispending of the time , with vngodli & vnprofitable pastymes , as haue bene vsed of the gentlemen disars , and the lady carde-plaiers ( as wel in the Court as in the countrey ) wer not agreable to the profession of Christes gospel . What could thei do more , but openly rebuke such enormities , seing thei wold neuer suffer theim , to exercice the true ordre of discipline , vpon any transgressors ? If this discipline ( which hath long bene earnestly called for ) mighte haue bene optained , a nombre of vnpreachyng prelates , of idle belly byshops , should not haue bene suffred , to loiter as thei did , and to spend the patrimony of the Church vnprofitably . But nowe we may se , that thei plaied the dissembling lurkers , gapyng , workyng and practisyng for a Day , wherin thei myght shew them selues , as thei wer , and as thei now appeare , wher as the ryght order of discipline wold haue brought them to the true profession of sincere Religion , and also to the practise therof , in theyr vocation . And so would it haue done also my Lordes , and gentlemen , scrap●alls , which vsed the Gospel for a cloke of theyr couetuousnes . In summa , we lacked nothing but discipline , to haue refourmed al the enormities with , whatsoeuer they haue bene that our aduersaries haue found fau● with , in the profession of our true Religion . But let them lay al the faults , infirmities , and offenses , which they haue marked , & espied in the professors of the gospel vpon one heape , they al together ( if ther wer a thousand mo of them ) are farre inferior , and incomparabli lesse , then the manifold errours , impietie , and Idolatry of the Masse , of the latine seruice , of the inuocation of saintes , of the filthy and abhominable pretensed chastitie , that is of the Sodomitical single life of priestes , and of such other hipocrisie and supersticion ▪ as our aduersaries go about with fire and fagot , with tooth & naile , to maintaine , & to set vp for the seruice of god .

For notwithstanding that among the membres of the true church , and among the professors of the true religion , ther raigne mani and diuers infyrmities and enormities , which they espie daily in them selues , yet the true godly sort do conceiue true and harty repentaunce , for theyr weakenes , and thei remain nor continue not therin , as the spiritual professors of single life do , in theyr hordome and filthy abhomination . And what soeuer infyrmities thei haue otherwise . Yet this horrible vyce haue they not , ( thankes be to God ) to maintaine Idolatry , wyttingli to persecute the truth , nor to murther the godly professours of the gospel . These detestable vices , murther , blasphemy and Idolatry , whiche are the most true and infallible tokens of the papistes and aduersaries of Christ are not to be found among them . For these workes are the speciall workes of the deuyl , whiche he practiseth and worketh in his membres , wherby he declareth and speweth out his poyson malice , and hatred agaynst God , Ihon. viii as it is written , Ye are of the deuil , whiche is a lyar and a murtherer .

These are synnes , whiche all men oughte specially to ●lee , and dayly to pray earnestly vnto God , that he wil preserue them , that thei fal not into any of these abhominations .

And he that loketh vpon the life of the professors of the Gospel , and also of the papistes , And by reason of the infirmities , which he seith in both theyr liues , standeth in dout to which of them he may ioyne himselfe , he ought to remembre and to consider this , that he ought in no wyse to take parte wyth them which are Idolators , maintayners of blasphemies , persecutors , and murtherers of the true membres of Christ . And though they should venter their liues therupon , and goo the same way that Abell went . Yet haue they this notable comfort , that God heareth their praiers , and wil be merciful vnto them . For all other synnes shal be forgeuen : but the manifest blaspheming of God by idolatry , that is to saye , he that either mainteineth , or helpeth to maintaine idolatry or false religion , & is a persecutor and a murtherer of the true professors , or a fautor of such murtherers , shall neuer be forgeuen . And God knoweth manye of the contrary part , which do refrain from persecuting of the true doctrine , for non other cause , but to th intent to auoide these .ii. pointes ( blaspheming of God and murther ) for Gods honor , & for theyr own saluations sake . And it is manyfest inough , that dyuers of them ( thankes be to god ) haue sought neither pleasure nor mony , nor dignitie , nor yet any other thyng , that the world estemeth , but rather haue suffered much sorow , misery & opprobrye . Now if such should spend theyr lyues as Abel did , and suffer death thervpon , such a death should be more acceptable vnto them , then al the lyfe & pleasure of Cain , then all the pompe and riches of the Cardinals and bishops . For al men are detters vnto death not withstanding . But this must euerye one of vs alwaies consider , howe we may stand ( after this lyfe ) before the iudgement of God , and of his whole churche , at the latter day euerlastinglye . And as we haue before our eyes the ensamples of Abel , Ieremy , Iohn the Baptist , Christ him selfe , Paule & other of the Apostles , how thei al wer murthered of tyrannes , euen so let them be sufficient wytnesses vnto vs , that after thys lyfe , another euerlastyng iudgement shal be holden and kepte . And therfore let al men take it for an high honor , and for a singular grace to put theyr liues in ieopardy , for the confession of the true faith & religion of God : as Christ saith : Fear not them which can do nothing but slea the body , as for the soule thei cannot slea . &c. And for asmuch as it mai wel appear that this is the scope & end of al practises of the Lords & Bishops by theyr procedings , to bring in the bishop of Rome again , & to establish his idolatry & errors , wherbi they mai raigne , and abuse the people agayne , as they haue done in times past , and to bring our countrey to a perpetuall destruction . Note wel . it is most certaine , that al honest and true hartes , may laufullye refuse to obey them , and ought in any wise refuse to helpe or to ayde them . And where as they wyl obiect , & saye that subiectes ought to obey al commaundementes , & procedynges of theyr magistrates , although it may be briefely answered vnto them , Byshops ar not magistrates . that the Bishops & Prelates , which are the chiefe workers of this miserye , are not the Magistrates , whom the inferiour people are bound to obey , yet let thys answer stay al mens consciences , that the regiment of the common welthe , The Magistrate maye not passe hys boundes . is suche an ordinance of God , wherin the magistrate hath his apointed boundes , as wel as the subiect . And for asmuch as God is the hyghest Lorde , if the worldly magistrate attempteth , any thing against him , the inferiour sorte may laufully refuse to obeye him , Inferiors maye in thys case laufullye disobey . Abdias . iii. re. xviii alledging for them selues , that thei cannot , nor may not disobey God , to obey & to serue them . As for an example : Abdias did very wel in keping the prophetes priuely in dennes , & secret places , contrary to the commaundement of his king which commaunded them all to be slayne . And in like maner the Armenians dyd wel , & nothing but rightfully , in detēding theyre church & theyr countrey against their Emperour Maximiane . Victorinus was a great prince , which in the tyme of Gallienus , had the Emperors autority , in the gouernment at Coley , & did gouerne ther very laudabli , yet was he laufulli slain of his owne secretarie , which found him abusing his wife . Marius also a noble prince , did pardon a yong souldier , & set a crowne vpon his head , because he s●ew his captain ( which captain , notwithstanding was Marius high frende ) because he did it in his own defense . Such factes in Christen men ar right & lauful , & do please God wel . Yea they are speciall testimonies of the iudgement of God , against vnlawfull violence , and intolerable pride , and presumpcion of Tyrannes .

And what is it els but tyrannye , to go about to set vp manifest idolatry , to separate godly men from their lawful wiues , to bring in straungers , whiche shal subuert the state of the common welth and such like ? For it is easy to perceiue , that if the Spaniardes , and theyr traine , maye once beare rule in the Cities , Dukedomes , & Lordshyps of our countrey ( whiche God of hys mercy forbid that euer they shuld do ) wher as hetherto , thorow gods mercifull prouidence , the auncient lawes and good ordinaunces of our common welth , haue bene preserued , they wyll go about to abolish & to subuert them ▪ and at length brede much inconuenience and misery in our nation . Against the which inconueniences all godlye parentes , housholders with theyr wiues , children , and families , ought with most harty sighinges cal and cry vnto god , that for the furtherance of his knowledge , and for the glorye of hys owne name , he wyl preserue his true religion among them , and that he will not suffer these churches and nacions ▪ wherin his truth hath bene confessed and preached , to decay nor to be subuerted . And that such praiers may be made the more earnestly , & with out let or hindraunce , we al ought to amend our liues , in the feare of God , in true faith , and in al other vertues , remembryng the sayeng of the Lorde in the prophet : Turne vnto me , Iere. xiii . and I wyll turne vnto you . Doutles the matter is waighty , and ( end how it will ) ther is lyke to be a wonderfull alteracion in the common welth , and also in religion , We fele i● alredy . that is most sure . And I wonder much , that wise men , which know and se wel inough , what wil be the end of suche procedynges , Note wel . wyll notwythstanding seme to be workers , and furtherers of suche matters , as they do not allowe in theyr consciences . But surely it is no mans deuise nor working , but it is the diuils in hel , which rage and raue , because they wold gladly woorke an vniuersal destruction and miserye , in al Christendome . Wherfor it wer best for such as be in authority , and of any power , not to be hasty in folowing & satisfieng the lustes of princes , and the practises of wicked bishops and Prelates , Antichristes impes . For seyng the malice and spite of the Diuel ; and of the idolatrous sort , is so feruent and great , it wil minister occasion to a wonderful alteracion ; which paraduenture they them selues shall repent . But I besech al godly hartes , that they wyll earnestly pray vnto God , that he wil graciously preserue the commonwelth , and auncient lawes of our countrey , and specially hys owne churche , that hys true worde and religion may continually sound therin .

Last of al let al Christen harts bear this wel in rememberaunce , that euery one in his degree , and to the vtterof his power , is bound to apply hys vttermost indeuour , towards the preseruation of Christes true religion , & likewise towards the defence of their countrey , and the auncient priuilegies of theyr nacion . That is the special end of our lyfe in this world , and no better thing can we do in thys lyfe . And forasmuche as the state of oure tyme nowe , is muche like vnto the state of the Machabes , and euen the like practises and subtelties now pretended , & attempted , as were than : euerye one mai take good and profitable instructions out of the same bokes and story . Our Lorde Iesus , our onelye true shepherd , & head captain , defend hys Church against assaults which the diuell , Antichrist and his impes nowe deuise , & practise ther against Amen .