¶ The first spirituall sonnet , containing an exhortation to true subiects , for due obedience to their lawfull Magistrates , vpon diuers waightie reasons . The Preface . TO euery lawefull Magistrate , and Ruler in preheminence , and to their lawefull officers , all people yeeld obedience : Loue , honour , tribute thankefulnes and euery kinde of loyaltie , for conscience sake , and not for feare , nor by constraint , but willingly . The Sonnet . 1 WHo beare Gods Image and his name , and represent his Maiestie , And occupie his roome on earth ( though subiect to mortalitie . ) Like sunne that shines full bright in skie , and dazells mortall eye , To shew blind folkes the Lord of life much more to magnifie . 2 Who are Gods cunning worke-maisters , directed by his hand , With power and skill , rude thinges to cause in order faire to stand : Like sope and water , scowring white , and washing very cleane , So as no spot in countenance , nor wrincle may be seene . 3 Who weelde Gods Scepter and his Sword to purpose , with effect Hard things to soften , wrong to right , and hidden to detect : Like fire and flame , with parching heate , which by a secret influence , In hardning clay , and softning waxe , declares a wondrous difference . 4 Who execute Gods holywill , and are a liuing lawe , With paine and price , from ill to good , a number to withdrawe : Like Adamant stone , vplifting yron , or Frankensence to smell , The sence to please , the a●●e to purge , ill sauours to expell . 5 Who by Gods plentie peace procure , and common-wealth maintaine , With stately porte , in carefull sorte , more then for hope of game : Like fertile soile , bespred with flowers in comfortable spring , For mans reliefe , without rewarde , great store of fruite to bring . 6 Who Nurses are of Christ his Church , religion to defend , Lost soules to saue , and safe conduct , and bountie to extend : Like goodly Armies , furnished with shields of beaten golde , The walles of brasse , the gates of pearle , in sure defenced holde . Conclusion , Beholde the happy progenie of Peeres that neuer die , Each after other ministring , by course successiuely , Who sway that ciuill gouernment , which God alone doth beare , Prowd spirits to daunt in lewd attempts , meeke spirits in good to reare . A short instruction or auouchment with some notice giuen to the greatest gainsaiers thereof . THus euery seemely propertie imports in full effect , That euery lawfull magistrate is one of Gods elect : To rule his subiects orderly , in honest conuersation , And so to further common wealth with godly reformation . Which pointe , no wise man dare denie , nor beastes ( if they could speake ) Who in their kinde are very loth , Gods ordinance to breake : Sith nature teacheth , lawe requireth , the King of kings doth say , Superiors ought to rule aright , inferiors must obay . Howbeit the romish Anabaptists , for the popish Monarchie , Haue labourd long all gouernements to bring into an anarchie : That they , and theirs , may rule the roast , who haue to doe the least , Vnlesse it be to heale the wounds of that seuen headed beast .

The second spirituall sonet containing an encouragement of all lawfull Magistrates to suppresse the Pope of Rome , and his romish Complices , for sundry good considerations . The Preface . All Christian Princes of the earth , pull downe the Popes estate , who made you hornes to wrecke his wrath , and furie , ( till of late , ) And drunken with the poysny cuppe of spirituall fornication , to bring you , and your subiects all , to vtter desolation . The Sonnet . 1 WHose ordination is but pompe and pride , full of confusion , Like errand theeues , that breake the fence , and enter by intrusion : Not rightly callde , ( as Aron was , annoint with sacred oyle , ) But startvps stout , with reuell rout , to liue vpon the spoile . 2 Whose insolent supremacie to raigne aboue the rest , As though he had all holines and wisdome in his breast , No lesse then Christ , the sonne of God , and th'oly Ghost his deputie , Is like Goliahs blasphemie , against the blessed Trinitie . 3 Whose Iurisdiction is too large , for mortall man to teach . Like Babells Tower , which Bablers thought beyond the cloudes to reach : Or Nimrod hunting lustily for praye in euery ground , Or scornefull Ismaell quarrelling with euery one he found . 4 Whose Canons serue to starue the Saintes , and bellie-gods to feed , Pretensedly to build the Church , and helpe the poore at need : Like Iudas , who to spare his purse , enquir'd , what waste is this ? And did for thirtie pence betraye his Maister with a kisse . 5 Whose Officialls are hirelings all , which on his seige depend , The cursed courts of wrangling wights to bolster and attend : Like Pilates , Pyrats , Iewes , and Turkes , who naughtie shiftes do vse , Or , bawdes and harlotes impudent , who liue vppon the stewes . 6 Whose marchandize is not the marke of any Pastor pure , But fleshly , worldly , diuelish prancks to forge and put in vre , Like hammer , nailes , speare , spunge , and whip , of Annas Caiphas brood , Who cried , away with Christ to th crosse , and shed his pretious bloud . Conclusion . BEholde the Chaire of pestilence , and throne of grosse iniquitie , Ordaining mischiefe , for a lawe , and exercising crueltie : Heere wisdome is , and patience , this mystery to spell , How Lucifer climde vp in heauen , and was throwne downe to hell . A briefe recapitulation , or rehearsall , with a certaine challenge to the gainsaiers thereof . THus euery vitious qualitie , the substance doth disgrace , Of popish Pseudo-hierarchie , and put it out of place , And proue it no such Bishopricke , as scripture setteth downe . Much lesse to be so catholike , and weare a triple crowne . No Writer euer could declare by any demonstration , With all his labour and his wit , such Lordly domination , To come from Christ by Peters kayes , or other argument , Directly , or , by consequence , in either testament . Howeuer Ecchius , Pigghius , and the rest of that fraternitie , By hooke or crooke , with bell and booke , support the Popes authoritie : And Verstegan-Bochi-skenkely , bragge Champions on a rowe , With scutchions blaze the Popish armes , and cast the King too lowe .

The third spirituall sonnet , containing an admonition of all states and degrees , in their seuerall places and callings , to prouide for their owne safties and welfares , by rooting out the romish Monster , with his brutish Companions . 1 IN iust defence of Magistrates , All people hie and lowe , As on your countrie Fathers deare , both limme and life bestowe , Whom God hath railed vp to rule their subiects in his place , All Traitors false , especially proude Papists to deface . 2 Surmounting high , deep searching wits , sound politike , Noble States Preserue your roiall dignities from Antichristian mates . 3 Braue ancient stocks , right famous blouds , whom worth hath set aloft Let not Italian Hipocrites your Honours bring to nought . 4 Graue Iudges wise , and Councel learnde , to tell the truth be bolde , That Soueraintie from shauen crownes , al Princes may withholde . 5 Good neighbors neere , Confederats kind , and Bordrers round about , Suppresse sedition euery where , cast Romish rebels out . 6 True subiects all , with loyall mindes , fast feeding on the hill Of safe defence , in fruitfull ground , by watchfull Shepheards skill , Plucke vp your hearts , addresse your selues , with deadly foes to fight : Namely that monstrous Babilon , who worketh most despight .

¶ The fourth spiritual Sonnet , containing an alarme to all the creatures of God , in their kinde , and especially his faithfull seruants , in their vocation , to resist and abandon that sauage tyrant of Rome , with his bloudie Colleagures . 1 AGainst that purpled Whore of Rome , harke all Gods creatures , harke , Who murdereth all his seruants deere , that do refuse her marke , Come , and reuenge their blood on her , and feed vpon the beast , Whose houre is come , whose fall is neere , God bids you to the feast . 2 Come , all his Saintes , withdraw your selues from her abhomination , And double pay her for her hire , and worke her desolation . 3 Come , yee her false friends , flattring faire , and take againe the glory , Which she from you tooke , of your lands and liuings transitorie . 4 Come , yee her wretched wi●es and prancks , forepast from age to age , Out of records , and testifie against her on the stage . 5 Come , thou Gods word , the breath of life , that triest raines and heartes , Set forth and marre her vgly shape , and all her filthie partes . 6 Come last of all , deere Sauiour Christ , once more , and quite consume The remnant of her forgeries , with fire for aye to fume , In furnace of thy Fathers wrath , where breed those monsters fell , Who persecute thy chosen flocke , and mangle thy Gospell .

Foure principall properties of a Christian Magistrate . 1 To know the vertuous , 2 to cherish them . 3 To finde out offenders . 4 to punish them . Such as honor me , I will honor them ; saith the Lord Foure euill fauored qualities of that vsurping Antichrist . 1 To exalt himself in the temple of God . 2 to dispise gouernment . 3 To counterfaite the truth . 4 to dene the vertu of it . Such as honor &c

A fit Praier . Lord saue thy Church , our Queene , and realme , and graunt they may preuaile , Against that hideous Antichrist , his body , head and taile : And that we stil thy blessed wil may seeke sincere and pure Till we shall be all one with thee , for euer to endure .