ALL BE IT I acknowlege my self neyther so able as I am wyllynge , neither soo meete as I am redye to write in such a matter , as I nowe haue taken vppon me , yet trustynge where my wylle is to doo welle , that thoughe I faylle of thanke , I shall nat mysse of pardon , I can nat but admonyshe al my countray men in so plentifull an occasion , that as the benefites of god be great , straunge , and almoste euery day caste vpon vs , or ere we can loke for theym , euen so we woll with thankfull hart shew our selfes to see and fele his godly goodnes , And where as suche his fatherly loue is moche aboue our desertes , that yet we agnise it , and as moche as in vs lieth , endeuour our selfes aboundantly to thanke hym for it . God is neuer wery of doynge good to man , but when eyther he woll not se it , orels seing it , refuseth to thanke hym accordyngly . Can he aske lesse for soo many his benefittes then a fewe bareyn thankes , which do plesure onely to hym for this cause , that he therby is made redy and moch prouoked to laade vs with some newe kyndenesse , with some newe benefyttes , with somme newe his gyftes . He ofte layeth sore to his chosen and elect people forgetfulnes of his benefitis toward them , commandynge in sondrye places , Moses , Iosue , Esaies , Hieremias , Ezechiell , with the reste of the prophetes , to reherse his goodnes shewed to them , and their vnkindnes vttered vnto him , thynkynge as I take it , that nothyng coulde sooner brynge them to loue hym , than thofte remembraunce of his benefytes , nothynge more allure them to repentance and chaunge of lyfe , than the iuste reproche of their vnthankefull harte in suche a throng of his giftes . I purpose nat to stande longe in olde places of scripture , and yet I canne nat without some hurte of my matter lette all examples alone . wherfore I wyl vse a few in place of many . Moses callyd all Israell to hym , Deut. 29. and sayde in this wise to them : ye haue seene what god dydde vnto Pharao for youre sake : what he dyd to Pharao his host , and al the reste of his seruauntes , ye haue sene many myracles , many strange wonders , and yet god hath not giuen you hartes to feele his goodnes , eyes to see his tender loue ouer you , ne eares to here of any of bothe . I haue led you forty yeres in the wyldernesse , and yet youre clothes are not worne : ye hadde neither breade ne drynke , and yet to th intent ye shoulde remember god to be your lorde , in lackynge bothe , you were peyned neyther with hunger ne thyrste . Sehon kynge of Hesbon , and Og kynge of Basan came with myghty power agaynst you . They are slayn , and you the lordes of their landes and possessions . &c.

God also doth expostulate with the people of Israell by his messanger Hieremias , Hierem. 2. saying : What vnfaithfulnesse founde your forefathers in me , that they departing from my lawes and loue , folowe lightnes & vanite : They haue not ones sithens their deꝑture thought in their hartes , where haue we left the lorde ? the lorde that brought vs out of the lande of Aegypt , the lorde that ledde vs throughe the wyldernes , through the deserte , a rough , drye , and deedly lande , a lande that no man had passed before , and where no manne hadde dwelte . I brought you into a land passynge full of pleasure , adourned with gay and gorgious buildinges , you enioyinge the fruites and commodities thereof , went and defiled my land , and brought myne heritage to abhomination . The pristes them selfes ( they were euen thenne as many of ours be nowe ) sayd not ones , where is the lord . The sheperdes offend against me , the prophetes do seruice vnto Baall , and folowe suche thynges as can do them no seruice . Esaias in many places doth also commemorate god his benefites toward the chyldern of Israell . God doth shewe hym selfe verye gladde and wonderfull desyrous to employe his benefitis vpon them that seke to giue him thankes for so doing : and can scarse be brought to leue such as he hath ones taken to his fauour . For though their synnes be great , and their offences many yet as long as he may beare with them , he sticketh not to forgyue , so they be not dangerous and coy of theyr thankes . Dauyd lacked no sinnes , as al men know that traueil in scripture , he lacked none : & yet he had euer one that forgaue him al. And not only forgaue him al , but stil laded him with new benefitis . Dauyd forgottethe not this synguler goodnesse of god towarde him , he suffereth not goddis loue to make any ende with hym , he styll encreaseth his fauour not so moche by any merites , as by praisynge the vndeserued loue of god . Loue not solde vnto hym for workes , but gyuen hym , that he therby might worke . His psalmes wel testifie , that he doth acknowledge what god dyd for him . He syngeth oft thankful dities vnto god , as among many other , thus in the second of the kynges , Cap. 22. The Lorde is my rocke , my castel , my deliuerer . God is my strength , & and in him wol I trust : God is my shelde , my fortresse , my refuge . O my keper , kepe thou me from wrong , I wyl praise the , & call vpon the o lord , & so shal I be kept from myn enmies . Who so listeth to reade all that foloweth , may when he wyl , I haue shewed hym the chapiter . I muste nowe folow present occasion , and talke a whyle with my countraye . ¶ Englande , haste thou no cause to folow Dauid , to make himnes and dities of thankes vnto god ? when wolt thou perceyue goddis loue towarde the , if thou yet perceyue it not ? Whan wolte thou gyue hym , or to vse a more apter terme , whan wylte thou paye him thankes , if thou nowe denye thy selfe endetted to hym ? Thou must confesse dette , thou canste nat denie it , without thy greatte shame . There be to manye wytnesses for thy nay , to take any place : All nations wonder at thy felicitie . All men knowe what ieoperdies thou hast escaped , howe nighe sorowes brinke thou hast ben brought , and straight howe sone thou haste ben made gladde . I wylle not calle to remembraunce thynges past many yeres syns , marke but the procedinges of god with the and thin these foure or fyue yeres . Waye well the accidentes , the chaunces , the progresse , and th ende of thinges , that haue fortuned , and than Englande see , whether thou haue not mo causes to thynke that god tendereth the helthe , welthe , and honoure of thy gouernour , and oure dere and dredde soueraygne lorde : than euer Israell hadde to thynke so by kinge Dauid , or any other . He must be well sene in feates of armes , that shall fynde a place open , to wound hym , whom god is buckeler vnto . God wolle not suffre his purposes , to be altered . Man maye seke to destroy , that god wolle haue saued , but he shall doo as moche , as they that seke to make stronge rockes fall , with a knocke of theyr hedes . For as these labour folyshely , and doo but breake theyr owne braynes , so do they that thynke to pull downe a prynce , whome god hath chosen to reigne ouer his people , bothe declare their folye , and alsoo the goodnesse of god in preseruynge whome he loueth . There is none that trewely serueth god , that can say , he hathe bene in distresse , and nat founde succour at his hande , and yet compare theym all with our moste fortunate prynce , they haue all founde him no more propence and redy to helpe them : then he hath ben to helpe his highnes . 3. Reg. 19. God lefte not his seruaunt Elias fleinge the wrothe and displeasure of Iezabell , no he being withoute hope of lyfe , and moche desyrynge to dye , he sent hym an angell to comforte him , and foode to refreshe hym self withall , not content with that , but spake to hym , hym selfe , as ye may rede , if ye desyre to knowe what god sayde to hym . Daniel . 6. Danyell was caste into a denne of lyons , god sente his angelle to stoppe the lyons mouthe , and so Daniell was hurte in noo parte of his bodye . Iudic. 6. God sent his aungell to good Gedeon , whanne the Madianites had almost ouer throwen the chyldren of Israell . He talketh longe with Gedeon , abydinge his sacrifice with many his tentations . Rede the place , ye shall perceyue howe god louethe , where he lyketh . Iosue . 5. Iosue also sawe a man standyng anenst hym , with a swerd redy drawen in his hand , vnto whom he went and sayd , Art thou our frende , or dost thou take the parte of our aduersaries ? Answere was made : I am the chiefe of the lordes bande . Iudith ▪ 13. Iudith also had an aungell to her companion and guyde , whan she went to slee Holofernes . I coulde brynge in many mo examples , if my pourpose were to enlarge my mattier that waye . As howe god sent his aungell to conducte the hooste of the Israelites , whan they passed the sees , and also how he sent his angell into the fornace , where the thre chyldren laye in fyer , and felt no heate . I coulde shewe in what battailes god hath made his angels souldiours , but that is nat myne intent . I muste make comparysons , and yet I truste they shal nat be odious . Rede all scripture , and ye shall fynde no person that god preseruid more tenderly , than he dyd his chosen and electe kynge Dauid . For he beinge as yet noo kynge , but rather a poore subiecte of a myghtye kynge , was in many places persecuted of him and his host , and yet the goodnes of god was suche towarde hym , that he escaped all the snares that longe set malice had layd for him . A puyssant prince desyred a poore mannes deathe , it wolde not be . Mighty Saule miste of his purpose ageynst sely Dauid , & coulde not hurte his lytell fynger . Some percase woll thynke , here to take holde of me , and say , if god could preserue a subiect against a prince it is no meruayle , if he preserue a prynce ayenst a fewe his vnnaturall subiectes , a realme ayenste a fewe traytours . I muste saye as they do , it is no great meruayle , that god soo dothe , and yet I saye as I sayde firste , our soueraigne lorde kyng Henry the eight , hath moche more cause to gyue God thankes , than euer had king Dauid , or Dauid not yet a kyng . For as he knewe that kynge Saule sought his destruction , and therby might do what laye in hym , to escape his hande , and also by ofte intercession , obteyn helpe and succour of god , so the kynges highnes of late stode in case farre vnlyke , and in moche more presente daunger then he dyd . His highnes was in great peryll , and neither sawe it , ne coulde mystruste any suche thyng . For if nature , if bloude , if moste ample benefites , coulde haue wrought in some , as they do in all naturall and honest hartes , whome might his grace haue taken for his more trusty seruauntes , for his trewer subiectes , then Henry Corteney , late marques of Exetter , then Henry Pole late lorde Montacute , than Edwarde Neuell , late of his graces priuie chaumber ? I wylle talke with the reste , whan I shall come to the place , whyche I reserue for them . What subiectes were more bounde to their soueraygne lorde , I say moch more , what men were more endetted to man , than were all these thre to his highnes ? Who in more daunger than his grace , whiche neyther coulde mystruste them , ne yet without his great peryll truste them . God promisynge ayde to them that call vpon hym ▪ seldome suffereth innocentes , as Iob sayth , to peryshe . Wherefore Dauid hauynge cause to call for helpe , and God by his promyse bound to succour hym , coulde not but fynde god good to hym . But our moste fortunate kynge , was in moste daunger , and in no feare ne suspition of leste . Howe coulde his grace suspecte them , whom of all men he knewe hadde greattest causes to loue hym , to desyre his hyghnesse prosperytie and longe reygne ? His grace dydde not vse them as men , whome he mystrusted , no he vsed more familiarnesse with fewe of his subiectes , than he dydde with the Marques , and syr Edwarde Neuyll . Wherfore as his grace coulde not are helpe ayenste them , whom he toke to be the rediest of all menne to spende theyr bloud , if nede shuld require , them so to do : Euen so god seinge what was in hande , thoughte it hyghe tyme suche ranke and rype traytours to be reped vp . He saw , the lesse his highnesse mystrusted the more peryll his graces person stode in , the farder they were from suspition , the nigher they were to worke mischef . Our lord be thanked , they haue in one houre rydde this realme of many daungers , taking their leaue of life , with suche shame , as it becommeth al trayters to do , & as for the moste parte god be thanked , they are all wont to do . If lawes were gone , or of no strength at all , wolde not men onely moued by the heynousnesse of treason , thynke all deathes to fewe for these abhomynable traitours , all tourmentes , all peyne , all vilany to lytle for them ? I am ashamed , that euer it shulde come into writyng , that there haue ben among men , some , that receiuing so hyghe fauour , and so great benefytes , soughte to make hym away , of whom they receiued them , more ashamed , that suche exaumples shoulde be founde amonge christian men , moste of all , that it happeneth so oft here in our countreye . The ciuile lawe , is moche to be commended , that the master maye calle hym ayene to bondage & seruitude , whome he hath made free , if at any tyme after his fredome , he shew hym selfe vnkynd . The Macedons and Athenians also , had an action , a comune plee in the lawe , ayenste suche as were but in trifles blotted with vnkindnes , as ayenste men , that in dede are enmies to al them , which haue nede of other mennes helpe . One vnkynde persone , is oftentymes the cause , that men haue no wylle to do good , where they may feare the lyke . And if it be trewe , that Gratitude , which is a perpetuall memorie of benefittes receyued , and alsoo a desyre to recompense them , be as a mother of many vertues , Forasmoche as there commeth from her , loue and feare of god , loue and feare of our prince , loue towarde our countreye , loue towarde our parentes , frendshyp betwene man and man , veneration of those that bringe vs vp , and do eyther norysshe our bodyes or instructe our myndes , we muste nedes gather it to be true , that Cicero wryteth to his frende Atticus , Ingratis vitia inesse omnia , that is , all vices to be in them , that are vnkynde . This vice is moch better named in our tounge , then it is , as me thynketh in any other . Unkyndnesse , is a fytte name for so vnnaturall a vice : they that fal into it , go from the kynde of men , they lose that state and name , that nature put them in , and are tourned into cruell & vnnaturall beastes . Nowe if vnkyndnes be such a vice , in what hatred of all men , ought traytours to be , and traytours to theyr prynce , and suche theyr prince of whom they had receyued so innumerable benefites , and whiche , so many wayes had declared his synguler fauour and loue towarde them ?

¶ For to come at the laste , to the archetraytour , and to speke some what of hym , whom god hateth , nature refuseth , all men deteste , yea , and all beastes to , wolde abhorre , if they could perceiue , how moche viler he is , then is euen the worste of them , what man wolde euer haue thought , that Reynold Pole coulde haue ben by any giftes , by any promotion , by anye meanes in this worlde , broughte from the loue , whiche for so many the kynges high benefittes , of all men , he ought his grace the moste who wol yet beleue , that knowith it not to be true , that a manne so bounde to loue , can hate , so bounde to serue , can brede traytours , stire sedition , intende his deathe , for whome he ought with all harte to haue shedde his beste bloud , rekenynge the losse of his owne lyfe well spente , so that his hyghnesse might therby be preserued , I wol not say from deth , but from perill and danger . Howe many fathers haue bene more tender ouer their sonnes , than hath his grace bene in bryngynge vp the , thou false Pole , thou shamefull and shameles traytour , from thy chyldhode , euen tyll within these two yeres ? What letters wrote his highnes in thy fauour to the Uenetians , at thy firste goinge into Italye ? what credyte , what estymation couldest thou haue ben in there , if thou haddest come alone without his gracis commendation ? what was in the , at thy firste going thither , besyde thy famylye , worthye any gret estimation ? Thou mightest haue come with thy byrth and familie , & haue founde fewe there that wolde haue estemed the for them , sauyng for his gracis sake . His gracis fauour , whom at that tyme the byshop of Rome and his adherentes , honoured aboue all princis in Chrystendome , wonne the thy frendes there , if they may be callyd thy frendes , whom thou so takest to be , not knowyng who be thy frendes , and who thy foes , beinge thy selfe of all men moste ennemye to thy selfe . Thou suffredst thy self to be callid the king of Englandes nephewe , this title beinge fals , wrought moche , and made manye in loue with the for thy nobilities sake . And yet thou gottest not so many that waye , as thou dyddest by reason it pleased the kynge of his goodnes to giue the , besyde thyne owne reuenues , yerely an hundreth pounde out of his cofers . It is a wonderfulle thinge to see the diuersitie of nature , howe grate and kynde 〈◊〉 be , and howe vnnaturall and vnkind some other be . Many thinke them selfe to owe lyfe , and all the reste , to him that doth but a mean good tourne for their frende , and canste nat thou , receiuyng so many , so great benefites , thy family , thy mother , thy brethern , so many wayes bounde to his hyghenesse , auoyde treason ? Thou hast redde manye notable hystoryes , that might haue kept thy cancred nature , at the leste from treasone , yf they coulde a wrought no farther in the. Howe many slaues do we rede of , that haue liued with their maisters in great seruitude & miserie , whyche yet soo loued theyr maisters , that they chose eyther to dye for theym , or els to dye with theym .

¶ Philotimus a seruaunt and a slaue , a lyttell before his mayster dyed , was made heire of all that he left . Marke his true stomake , thou muste nedes condemne thyn vnfaithfull fals and trayterous harte . Whan the deed corps was caste into the fyre , he remembring what a true seruaunte oweth to a good mayster , forgate , not onely the goodes that were bequethed hym , but also contempnynge his owne lyfe , lept into the fyre , thinkynge trewe seruyce not to ende where lyfe remayneth . Here as I doo nat lyke this Philotimus to hote loue , or to saye as I ought , his rashe deathe , so I doubte nat but there be in Englande manye seruantes , that wolde a thousand tymes hasarde their lyfe , rather than their maister shuld be in any ieoperdy of his .

¶ Marcus Antonius beinge ouercome of Augustus the emperour , delyuered vnto Eros his seruaunte a swerde , requirynge to be rydde , ere his enmyes shuld take hym . Eros toke the swerde , and quickely turnyng it thought it lesse shame , yea , lesse hurte , to kyll hym selfe then to kyl his master . I coulde tary and fyll myne oration with suche examples , but neyther to the , Pole , it nedeth , nor to the , suche a traytour , it boteth : thou hast red them as well as I , yea thou knowest , that very dogges , vnto whome theyr mayster could neuer giue more then meate and drinke , haue oft died for their master , oft slayne them that slewe hym . I wyll brynge in an example or two , not that I thynke they can do the any good , but that they maye set our thyne abhomynable vnkyndenes , to thy shame & confusion . It is notable , that authors wryte of kynge Lisymachus his dogge , whiche neuer left his lord and mayster , but was in all huntynges , in all warres , in all ieoperdies at hande with him . At the last when he saw his master deed , and cast into the fyre , as the maner of burial was then , the dogge a gret whyle mornefully yowling and lamentynge the deathe of his mayster , caste hym selfe euen into the fyre also , and there died by his mayster . Pliny writeth , that Hiero kynge of the Syracusans , had a dogge , which did euen the same . It is more notable , that wryters leaue in memory of a Romaynes dogge , whiche Romaine was put to deathe when Titus Fabinus & his famylye were slayne . This dogge wolde away from his maister , for no strypes , for no whyppynge , but laye by the deed body , and styll howled wonderfull mornyngely , many of the Romaynes standyng about & moche meruaylyng at the true faith & harte that that sorye worme bare vnto his inayster . At the laste , when they thought the dogge hungrye , one of the standers by gaue him meate , whiche he straighte caryed to his maysters mouth , and left it there . Shortly after the body being hurled into the floudde of Tyber , the dogge lept in after , and gate hold of his mayster , kepynge hym aboue water as longe as he could . If the lawes hadde prouyded no payne for treason : were not these examples ynough , to make men teare such traytors , as thou arte with theyr teethe ? If men wolde spare the , wold not dogges pursewe a beaste thus ouerwhelmed with all kynde of treason ? A beast so false to his soueraygne lorde , and suche his souerain lord ? How be it , if thou be as I surely thinke thou arte , he is moche more thye frende , that wysheth the ded then a lyue . Treason can neuer lye alone in a traytours harte , it hath suche a rablemente with it , that deathe is pleasure , if it be compared with the gripes , the woundis , the tossynge and turmoylyng , the heauyng and shouyng , that traitours fele in their stomackes . As god helpe me , I can not thynke , but god euen of very purpose reserueth the alyue , onely bycause thy lyfe hath many mo tourmentes , moche more shame in it , then any cruelle deathe can haue . God by thy lyfe declareth what rest thy trayterous soule shall haue after the eternall shame of this worlde , For he that hath to dwelle where thou arte sure to be , excepte thou amende , must be exercysed with suche panges as thou arte , & euer in his lyfe lerne what hell hath , what interteynement they haue that take vp their lodgyng there . What greatter tourmente can be wyshed vnto the , than al the world to knowe , that thou by these abhomynable treasons , haste cast away thy famylie , whiche myghte haue continued in honour , disteined thy bloud , whiche before was myngled with a kinges , and now is farre vnder a colyers ? what greater shame can comme to the , then to be the dishonour of all thy kynne , a comforte to al thyne enmies , a deathe to all thy frendes ? All men that loue trouthe , allegiaunce , and honestie , muste nedes be thyne enemyes , all men muste hate the , yea , thy mother her selfe shall thynke her self worthy deth , if she hate not the aboue all creatures . All they , whom frendeshyp and affinitie hadde in tyme paste knitte vnto the , wyshe for no traitours dethe so moche as they doo for thyne . O Pole , o hurle pole , full of poyson , that woldest haue drowned thy countrey in bloudde , thou thoughtest to haue ouerflowed thy prynce and soueraygne lorde , thou thoughteste with thy traiterous streames to haue ouer rounne all to gether . But god be thanked , thou arte nowe a P●le of lytel water , and that at a wonderfull lowe ebbe . Can I wysshe the any more hurt , than that thou mayste lyue longe in suche shame , in suche infamie , as I thynke neuer traytour was in ? I thinke as obstinate a wretche as thou art , if the falle of thy familye nothynge moue the , that yet the voyce of thy countrey , whiche sommetyme wisheth the deed in thy fyrst cloutes , sometyme hanged , sometyme in helle with thy great master , the dyuelles vycar aboute thy necke , were inough to make the chose a tree , and there to doo as Iudas the capitayn of traytours , whom thou trayterousely folowest , dyd . Hast not thou moch greater cause to say , as Iob dyd , than euer had Iob ? Who euer myght better say , than thou ? who ought sooner to crie than thou ? Cursed be that day that I was borne in , let that daye perish , & the night also , in the which it was said , there is a knaue child conceiued . let that day be turned in to darknes , let god neuer regarde it , let neuer light shine vpon it : but euen to the worldes end be it couered with eternall darkenes . Lette the dymme cloude fall vpon it , let it be lapped in with sorowe , let the darke storm ouercome that night , let not the daye that I was borne in , be rekened amonge the dayes of the yere , nor counted in the monethes . Let them that dispice that nigt , and curse the day , curse also the mornynge that folowed my birthe , let it loke for lyght and see none , bycause it shyt not vppe the wombe that bare me . Alas whye died I not euen in my birth ? why dydde not I perisshe as sone as I came out of my mothers wombe ? why set they me vpon theyr knees , that nowe do brynge them all eyther to deathe , or shame , felowe to any deathe ? Whye gaue they me sucke with theyr brestes , that now haue lefte no bloud ne life in their bodies ? Wherfore is light gyuen to hym that is in miserie , and lyfe to them that haue heuy hartis , life to them that longe for deathe , and serche for it more than euer they dyd for any treasure ? Thou maist o wycked traytour say , what thou lyste , but thou canste thynke lyttel better of thy selfe , thanne all thy countrey thinkith . This I know , thou hast causes mo than a thousande to say all this and more to . The byshop of Rome & his godly sowers of treson , thought they had spun a wonderful fine threde , and weaued a gay pece of worke , whan they gate this Raynarde to play the traytour in a Cardinals apparell , thinkynge , ye and knowynge by their longe experience , no garmente so fitte for oone that wolde take suche an enterprise vpon him . This is a wede , that seldome growethe , where any good corne is , but it hath the ouerhand and distroyeth it gayely . He was made , yea marie was he , a great legate , sent with moche authoritie , but he retourned as wyse as they that thought he coulde haue wroughte myracles . The sworde was sent to the king of Scottis before , we being than encombred with sedition and rebellyon at home , this gay legate rydeth after , to se whether ne were able to make the kynge of Scottes to pulle it oute of the sheath , and vse it according to his intente that gaue hym the gyft . was there euer beast , so maliciousely sette to vndo his countrey , for the whiche many menne haue gladly dyed ? or euer any stonye hart , that so enuironned with a kynges benefites , wold let none of theym enter into it ? so blynde , that in suche a nomber coulde see none ? so vngrate , that seinge soo many , wolde be moued by none of theym ? What can thyn ennemies , whiche are not only all englyshemen , but as many as euer knewe whatte honestie meaneth , what can they all wyshe the wors , than that thou mayste neuer dye , and euer fele that , that traytours of thy sorte are sure to fele ? But percase , as all our countrey men do deteste and abhorre this pestylent Cardinal , as the vnnaturallest beaste , that euer prince bestowed benefite on : so , fewe or none do knowe , howe moche the marquese of Exetter , and the lorde Montacute , this traytours brother , were bounde to the kynges highnes .

Fyrst the Marquise of Exceters father , by king Henry the .vii. most noble father to our moste dradde soueraygne lorde that nowe reygneth , was for certayne treasons committed to prison , where he lay in teoperdie of losse of landes and lyfe , vntyll the deathe of the sayd kynge . And not withstandynge there were gret and weighty matters layde ayenst hym , yet our souerayne lorde that nowe is , didde not only pardon hym of his lyfe , and restore him to his landes and honoure , but toke this his sonne into his priuie chaumber , vsynge hym there moch more lyke a companyon , than a seruaunt , always encreasynge his landes and reuenues after suche sorte , that if he hadde nat bene to vnnaturall , he coulde neuer haue loued his own lyfe halfe so moch , as the kynges welth & honour . A cruell change , for most loue , to render grettest hatred . O fondnes , who might not haue ben content to serue suche a mayster , to be subiecte to suche a prince , yea , what man being th one and not thother , being a subiect & not a prince , wolde not rather desyre to do his duetie to so noble , so gentle , so hygh a prince , so louing a mayster , then for to take frome hym his maiestie , yea , though he were sure to bryng his trayterous purpose to effect ? But what thing doth not blinde ambition attempt ? his mouthe was euer full of these pratye sayinges , I truste to see a chaunge of this worlde , knaues rule about the kynge : but I trust one day to gyue them a buffet . he can be no subiecte , that shall buffet rulers aboute a kynge , no , he thought to be none , when he commaunded Kendall his manne to make as many men in a redynes as he coulde , whiche myght serue within an houres warnynge . He thoughte to haue worne the garlande , when he tolde his frendes , I truste to haue a fayre daye ouer these knaues that rule aboute the kyng : I trust to se a mery worlde one daye . But yet se howe he was . deceyued , god that hath wether at wyll , wolde not so moche as gyue hym a fayre daye to dye in , all his mirthe is ended for this worlde , al ioye is paste , he is gone , and hath lefte to his sonne and heyre nothynge but sorowe , nothynge but myserye , excepte the kynge of his mercye beare hym more loue then his father dyd . These be the fayre days that god sendeth vnto traytours , this is the myrthe that they come to : our lorde sende all traytours the lyke myrthe . Surelye they that be as these were , do but deceyue theym selfes , if they loke for any better ende then they had . God punissheth none so soone as vngrate persons , bycause he wold haue vs not vngrate vnto hym . And yet he hathe euermore greuously punisshed suche as shulde rebell and worke sedition against theyr hedes & rulers . Chore Dathan and Abiron , maye make all men that canne lerne to aduoyde theyr owne hurte by theyr neyghbours , obey , where they ought to obey , serue where they oughte to serue , and not to repine , ne to take vpon them rule , where god hath appoynted them to be ruled . You may rede howe god scurged these thre , howe the erthe brake vnder theyr fete , and swalowed them vp with theyr tabernacles & all theyr substaunce , howe they went alyue into hell , there testyfyenge what punishement god hath prepared for rebelles , for traytours , for men disobedient to theyr hedes and rulers . What loste our fyrste father Adam by his gay enterprise , whiche thought to haue a fayre daye , a merye tyme ? What loste he for ones disobeinge , for theatynge of an apple ? a small thynge , but euen all mankynd . He was in Paradise a place pleasaunt , beyonde all pleasures , almoste all howres talkynge with god almyghty , the eatynge of an apple brought him , that he durste not shewe his face . God cryeth to hym : Adam where arte thou ? oute of what pleasure haste thou put thy selfe ? and in to what myserye ? I maye saye , O Marques , where art thou ? where is the fayre day thou lokedest for ? where is thye garlande ? Some men perchaunce woll saye , they haue suffered for theyr trespasse , they shulde nowe be at rest . I answere , thynges are written not so moche for malyce to the men , as for the hatred that euery man oweth to treason . There is no writer that can set theyr name and fame in worse case then it is . All shame is in them , whom treson hath defyled . The raunsome of treason is more than losse of life and goodes . Mens tonges and pennes , whan deathe hath done what she maye , are bounde to worke ayenste traitours as moch as they may . Traitours are euen styll to be rated , no lesse then if they were a lyue and styll in fulle pourpose to brynge theyr tresons to passe .