BEloued Reader , wée finde in the olde and auncient Histories & Monuments , and that amongst all other wise Monarchies & kings , wee reade howe the great and mightie Caugnista , king of Egypt , when he sawe that he should dye , he called vnto him his seuen sonnes , and hauing a Quiuer of Arrowes bound in a bundel , commaunded them one after another to breake them in péeces , the which when it was not possible for them to do , he caused the bundel to be vnloosed , and caused them to be scattered one from the other , commaunding eche of them to breake one of them , which then was very easie to be done : he wyllyng to teache his seuen sonnes by this example , that if so be they were deuided in the kingdome , & kept not them selues within the bondes of vnitie and concorde , that then they easily shoulde be consumed , broken in péeces , and thrust out of their Empire . In like maner we reade of the olde Granduellis , howe hée left this for a Testament in his last will , vnto that mightie Emperor Charles the fift , that if so be his Maiestie woulde prosper in the Romaine Empyre according to his wyll , that then he shoulde endeuour him selfe to the vttermost of his power , to raise all hatred and discorde to be betwéene the elected Princes , and the other Princes of the Empire , that in the meane time , while they were at strife , and warred one with the other , then the Eagle might eate and deuour them all : this subtile practise hath that Antechrist of Rome , this seuen yeres here in these lowe Countries , and about ten or twelue yeres in Fraunce , not without greate bloodshedde and vtter ruine of both these Countries practised : And except that the Almightie God with his strong arme had turned them from vs , that hellishe Dragon , with the water that procéedeth out of his mouth , woulde haue drowned and deuoured vs vp : And that this was their practise , we may perceiue , for if they had once ouercome Fraunce , and these lowe Countries , they woulde procéede further , against all the Princes and Nobles vnder the Empyre , which haue and dooe confesse the Gospell , spoyling them of all dominion and libertie , yea , and of their liues also , as it may manifestlye appeare by the blooddy execution of that tyrannish Counsell of Trent , and the Spanish Inquisition , which spareth neither Dukes , Earles , nor Lordes , of what state soeuer they be , but against all promise , fayth , and fidelitie , like most wicked periurers , haue most pitiously murdered , beheaded , and taken their liues from them .

By the which , through the illumination of God , there are mooued the chéefest Protestant Princes of the Romane Empyre , who foreséeing what might come to passe , haue thought that if they shoulde nowe holde their peace and be styll , and not assist their fellowe members of the faith , in the time of their néede , that then so soone as the tyraunt had quenched his yre in Fraunce , and in these lowe Countries , with sheadding of Christian blood , and murdering all Magistrates and subiectes , vnto the which he aspireth , that then hée woulde also procéede againste them , and not put vp his blooddy sworde into the Scabberde , tyll that he had rooted out of all landes , all those that denie the Pope , and acknowledge Christ onely to be the head of the Church .

And albeit that the godlye and Christian Magistrates knowe of a suretie , that Almightie GOD , with his mightie hande , can deliuer his Church , without the assistaunce of any man , neuerthelesse we may finde in holy writyng , that God by his appoynted Magistrates , hath alwayes defended the same , and specially , howe the father of all the faithfull , our father Abraham , when hée heard that his brother Lot , and all his goodes and householde were taken and caryed away captiue , hée arose vp with all his power and pursued the enemyes and slewe them , & deliuered those that were taken with all theyr goodes , and restored to euery man his owne , so that if all examples that could bée shewed should here bee brought in , it would bée tedious for the Christian Reader : but this must wée wel note and vnderstande , that God hath giuen the sworde into the Magistrates hand to defend the good and innocent , and to punish the wicked and vngodlye , Yea , that most vnchristian Emperour Traianus , when hée ordained any Pretor , and gaue to him the sword of iustice , would say thus vnto him , Vse thy sworde against mine enemies , in iust causes , and if I my selfe doo otherwise then iustice , vse thy power vppon mée also .

Let vs then Christian Reader , geue thanks vnto the almighty God , who hath raised vp these godlye Princes and Magistrates , to be meanes for to deliuer his poore afflicted people , the which for theyr sinnes , haue this while béene worthelye punished .

And therefore are we bound to pray to God from the bottom of our hearts , that hée wyll gouerne with his holye Spirite these Princes and Nobles , whiche are gathered nowe togeather for our ayde and comfort , that they maye in all theyr enterprises , seeke nothing elles but the glorye of God , the honour of his holye name , and the commodity of al Christendome , and that the Deuillishe , Popishe , and Antechristian Kingdome may bée rooted out and vtterly destroyed . Amen .