An exhortacion to als [sic] English subiects, to ioine for the defence of Queene Elziabeth [sic], and their natiue country

AN EXHORTATION to al English Subiects . AWake each English wight , both high and low awake : Feare not the froward boasting braggs , that forraine foes doe make , Conspiring you to spoile , for sticking to the troth : And for reforming vile abuse , of such as liu'd in sloth . But way the rightfull ground , and state wherein you stand : And marke th' accursed cruell case , that they doe take in hand . You doe your sacred faith , and countries soile defend T'abollish faith , and conquer you , they surely doe intend : Each cause of yours may cause your hart , great comfort take , Each cause of theirs may iustly cause , their coward hart to quake They hope perhaps to haue , some helpe within this I le , But sure I trust their firmest frinds , will iustly them beguile . For though they thinke that some doe so digresse from kinde , That subtil peeuish practises , can change their English minde : I trust if triall hap , they shall haue their desarts , Not traitors aide , but sharpe reuenge by trustie English harts . Thinke they we force so light the English soile , Our natiue countrie so long kept , will we now lose with foile : Our kindred and alies ▪ our wiues and children deare , Shall we not seeke to shield from death : shall we so vile appeare . I hope what euer cause may cause debates to bee The douht to lose life , lands and goods , will cause vs to agree : To ioine our willing mindes , our goods and greatest force , T'annoie our foes , to shield our selfe from bloudie stained corse , What should vs daunt one iot : or make vs be dismaid , Let neuer threats of foreine foes , make English men afraid : Looke backe to ancient writ of valiant enterprize : And see with how great foiles their foes your elders did agrize , The French haue often found the force of English harts , The Spaniards ( if they call to minde ) haue felt thereof their parts The Scot can make no boast of many ouerthrowes , The stories tell in most attempts , these bare a way the blowes . We that haue then so oft , beene vsde to victories , Shall we now doubt for to subdue , such deadly enemies : Nay rather thinke we sure , that such their plagues forepast , To deale with vs within this ile , will make them sore agast . I trust , as of one realme , euen so they shall vs see , Of one allegeance , of one heart and firme fidelitie : Behold the wofull state , our neighbours stand still in , By cloaked craft , and show of sooth , their sortowes did begin . What traines by tyrants tride , what store of guiltlesse blood , Euen from the harts of innocents , was shed with cruel mood No faith , no truth , no law , nor naturall loue tooke place , O cursed Caines , O cruell facts , O deadly wofull case . Those that did nothing doubt , defended for to bee , Doe now with bitter teares lament , their heauie haps you see : Their land and riches great , confiscate to the spoile , That they & theirs in manie yeares , haue woon with painful toile And shall we thinke to find , more courtesie then those , If we permit and notwithstand , the force of forreine foes : Nay rather this deceit may driue vs for to dread , And of such like most subtill slight , to take most carefull heede , Our foes like friends , will faine to come for our soules health , But God doth know their foule prentense : they shoot but at our wealth , With losse of life to all , let each him selfe assure , The protestant and papist both , like torment shall indure . In histories we read ( each wight take heede therefore , The traitor to his country soile , is neuer trusted more : No , not by such as wan the gole by his deceit , Who rather cuts him off before , he worke a second sleit . Though some by feare be fled , for that they neede not dreede , And some againe for want of wit , or want of better reede When they shall wiselie wey , what realmes haue run to wracke , Where such as they with forraine foes , their owne haue sought to sacke : Though now they be abusde , yet God I hope will than , So rule their hearts for countries cause , to change thē euery man , To helpe the hope they haue , for that we not agree , ( As they suppose for sacred writ ) most iustly forceth mee : To call to minde th'aduise of Scorios hoast alone , The Romans in dissention then , that he would set vpon . Not so , then Scorio said , I not allow your reede , For that were euen the neerest way , to make them soone agreede For argument whereof , two Mastiues foorth he brought , And deadly foes he did them make , by cause right aptly sought : A woolfe put forth in place , no sooner in their sight , But they as friends their common foe , did set vpon with spight . Let then our foes forecast , in seeking vs to sacke , That naturall loue in English harts , shall not be seene to lacke . And lacke we men to fight ' nay were there euer moe . More actiue , or more firmely bent , to kill their common foe : Munition wanteth not , nor ordinance for war , Each store-house stuft , each priuate house , hath furniture from fat Our Queene hath courage stout , hir subiects to defend , Her people haue as willing mindes , their goods and life to spend . The cause is chiefly Gods , whom euer his elect , Haue found most ready from their foes , to shield them & protect , Examples manifold for proofe heereof most strong , I might alledge , but some perhaps , would think the work too long Let thys therefore suffice , and let vs firmely trust , God neuer did , nor neuer will , forget them that be iust . Let each repent in hart , and mend that is amisse , Then God no doubt our cheife defence , will take vs to be his ▪ Who grant vs all t'agree , our countrie to defend , And to vouchsafe into our harts , his holy spirit to send . That we may grace obtaine , by his most gratious will , Let euery well disposed wight , crie out vnto him still : Looke Lord on Englands state , we humbly pray thee then , And grant that each true English hart , consent to say , Amen .