IN the sundry namelesse libels , Two purposes intended by the libels presently . of late put forth in print , euery man of meane capacitie may see two things principally laboured and intended . The one , The one open & malicious . soeth and easie for euery man to perceiue , that he that wil not see it , shal yet feele and find it , whether he wil or no . That is to saie , how they labour to defame and discredit that vertuous Ladie the Queenes Maiestie of Scotland , being Heire apparent to the Croune of England : to slaunder and deface that Noble Prince , the Duke of Northfolke , the chief Peere of that Realme : to blemmish and abase the reast of the Nobilitie , presently apprehended : to confirme & encrease the Princes di●fauour towards them al : to bring them al in hatred and obloquie of the p●ople : to make their frindes a●eard to fauour them : to kendle the coles of their enemies malice against them : to frame the indifferent sorte , to becomme their fo●s : and so finally to bring the chiefest ( with as many of them as they may ) to conf●sion : the rest in trouble to disgrace and bring low , with al others bysides , that either for honour , duetie , or conscience sake , do acknowledge those Princes to be , as they are , or that do lament their distresse , that do fauour the iustice of their cause , that do ought speake in defense of their Right , or that do appeare , to haue any compassion of their calamitie .

The other s●crete , craftie and ambitious . The other , though it be not altogether so plaine to euery weake sight , yet shal it , I trust , be as easily see●e anon by euery wise and indifferent man , that shal vouchsafe to consider this Treatise to the end . That is to wit , how craftily and cunningly some do labour , to bleare and blind the eyes of the ignorant , like Craftes-maisters , I warrant you , seeking with many wrong pretenses , and with numbers of false shewes , to hide and couer those truthes , that do breake ●ut sooner , then the Capitaine Iugglers would haue them . By obi●cting , I meane , to your eyes and first sight , so great a shewe of Seditio●s and Treasons , supposed to haue bene conspired and attempted by those two Noble Princes ( whiche by them , nor any other , were neuer thought on ) to withdrawe thereby the eyes , and to diuert the mindes of the multitude , from beholding and falling into the reckening of those greater Treasons , that are in deede mo in number , more odious in qualitie , and neerer at hand , yea already a working , and contriued by them chiefly that send these Libels emongest you .

Which kind of Coosoning , or rather coniuration , is passing necessary to be discouered , and more then high time , that it had ben done ere this : as wel for the peril of the practise finally meant , as for the mischieuous meanes vsed to bring it to passe . The final practise , A third finally intended is , to wrest the succession of the Croune from his du● course . I cal , the alteration of the succession of the Croune of that Realme , by vntimely extincting both those Lines , in which it presently resteth , & shuld first fal vnto , by al lawes of Nature , Nations , and your owne Countrey : and withal to confirme and establish vnto certaine base persons ( vnder the Title of a third Family , vnto which them selues are lately vnited ) the perpetuall Regiment of the same , the possession whereof they haue already obteined . Whose ambitious mindes are so limed with the pleasant gaine of present gouernance , that th●y count both your Prince & Realme , and all the rest well aduentured , if them selues thereby may wynne that , which they aspire vnto .

This , do I call , the finall purpose of the practise in hand . And therein shal I for this time rest , how so euer both wisedome , reason and experience would , that no man should looke for an ende thereof , when it were come to that : nor expec● any lesse , but that when these two first Families shal be weeded out for that third , that also shal be weeded out for an other , and so that fourth , for a fyfth , tyll none be leaft of the blood Royal , but the Realme come to be gouerned , eyther by a Foreiner , or by a Popular State .

And of the many mischieuous meanes vsed to bring this purpose to passe , The meanes to altre the succession are these . who can be ignorant , no man almoste being found of that Nation , that hath not tasted bitterly of them , by him selfe or his frind in more or in lesse ? For who remembreth not , that to set vp a lawlesse Faction of Machiauellian Libertines , that should not ( by conscience or feare of synne ) be restrayned from any maner mischiefe , a new Religion was pretended , Heresie . that with helpe of Authority , shouldred out the olde : of purpose chiefely , to leaue none at all in the hartes of the people , to the ende , Atheisme . that a Rable of vnbridled persons might alwayes be readily found , whiche by no Religion , nor zeale of soule , should feare , with force and face impudent , to execute , what so euer should be committed vnto them , by those that haue created and set vp the Faction .

And vpon this foundation , who is so blind , as hath not seene , what seditions Sedition . haue bene sowen betweene Prince and Prince , what rebellions Rebellion . haue bene raysed by Subiectes against their Superiors , what murders Murder . haue bene committed vpon whome so euer was thought to lye in their way : what Sacrilege , Sacrilege . what incest , Incest . what rapes of Nonnes & violences don● to other women , Rape . what vnnatural torments & sodain slaughters of men , how many forcible inuasions into other Princes territories , Inuasion . what open robberies , Publike robbery . what publike Piracies , what breache of faith betweene frinds , Unfaithfulnes . what violation of al leagues and lawes both of Nature & Nations , Breache of leagues . Uiolation of law● . what corruptions with money & fauour of Authority to suborne false accusations , Corruption . Subornation . False accusation . what depriuations and imprisonments of Princes , D●priuation o● Princes . what depositio●s of Prelats , Uniust imprisonments . what impudenci● of lying without limite or measure both in writing & woorde , Impudent l●ing . what forging & saining of frindship by fairest woords , Forging and ●aining . when woorst was meant , & finally what wastes of Princes Treasures , waste of treasure . what pillage of the people , Pillage of t●e poore . & what comsumption of the A●ncient Nobilitie , D●struc●●on 〈◇〉 Nobil●ti● . and of principal Personags euery where ?

Of this practise therefore & final p●rpose , that hath bene compassed by suche mischieuous meanes , and without the● could not thus long haue bene vpholden , nor mainteined , can any man be found so grac●lesse , and so voide of honestie , as to thinke it not necessary , & more than high time , both to detect the one , & detest the other ? And if thou thinke● that I inforce this matter ouer vehemently , I remit the iudgement thereof to euery mans experience , that ( not resting vpon swete & deceaueable woords ) shal vouchesafe but to examine his owne memory , Not w●ords but deeds do trie truth . of the facts & dooings put in vre , by the setters vp of that Faction , within these twelue or fourtene yeres last past , for the confirmation & e●tablishing of the same party erected of new , chiefely to serue the turnes of somme priuate men now in authority . And thereafter let him deeme , what maner of gouernance your present State susteineth , & whether any Religion at al appeare to rule in the harts of your Rulers , or be m●ant to be leaft in the harts of your people . And that is it , that I cal a Machiauellian State & Regiment : A Machiauellian denned . where R●ligion is put behind in the second & la●t place : wher the ciuil Policie , I meane , is preferred before it , & not limited by any rules of Religion , but the Religion framed to ser●e the time & policy : wher both by word & example of the Rulers , the ruled are t●ught with euery change of Prince to change also the face of their faith and Religion : where , in apparence and shew only , a Religion is pretended , now one , now an other , they force not greatly which , so that at hart there be none at al : where neither by hope nor feare of ought after this life , men are restrained from any maner vice , nor moued to any vertue what so euer : but where it is free to slaunder , to belie , to forswear , to accuse , to corrupt , to oppresse , to robbe , to inuade , to depose , to imprison , to murther , and to commit euery other outrage , neuer so barbarous ( that promiseth to aduaunce the present Policie in hand ) without scruple , feare , or conscience of hel or heauen , of God , or Diuel : and where no restraint , nor allurement is l●ft in the hart of man , to bridle him from euil , nor to inuite him to good : but for vaine fame only & feare of lay lawes , that reache no further then to this body and lif● : that cal I properly a Machiauellian State and Gouernance .

The order of this ●reatise Now for the order of this Treatise , before I come to lay open the foule and final fraude of this practise , I haue , as reason required , first answered the accusations● and cleared the crimes of the accused , eche after other , in such order , as that Libel laieth them foorth , that seemeth to conteine more weight and pith , then al the rest : namely that , which is dated the 13th . of October 1571. and subscribed , with the letters of ● . and G. vnto which I haue made choice chiefly to addresse mine Answ●re , as w●l for that I finde no material point in any of the others , omitted out of this , and in this some effectual pointes a litle opened , that in the others are but obscurely glaunced at : as also , for that the chiefe substance of al the oth●rs consisteth in scoffes , taunts , and Railers Rhetorike , more liuely representing the sprite , from whence they proceede , then likely to seduce any wise or honest man .

And that done , I gi●e thee in a second parte by it selfe but a taste ( as it were ) of the Treasons in deede intended , yea rather in hand , in hammering , and wel set forward already . Not so largely yet , as with Gods helpe I purpose in an other tu●g to publish them , if cause hereafter shal so require , but yet so sensibly and plainly ( I trust ) as shal suffice for them of your Nation that are of iudgement , reading or experience : which sort being satisfied , & comming to the cleare sight of this mischieuous mystery , my purpose is performed , and there shal be ( I hope ) no further nede of enlarging the odious practises of men in Authoritie , vnto the vulgar multitude .

The A●thors meaning is not ●o impugne ●uthoritie . And in the detection of this pestiferous practise , considering that I am to impugne that proceeding , that carieth a countena●ce of Authority to mainteine it : it behooueth ( least I be mistaken & surmised to meane otherwise then I do ) that I admonish the Reader , & declare , how I am to be vnderstanden , when I come to encounter with any thing , that Authoritie setteth foorth , or do vse any termes of improo●ing ought , that Authority commendeth .

The Author , a Stranger . Understand thou me therefore , good Reader , as a Stranger , that hath liued in thy Countrey for the most part abou● thirty yeres , & thereby to haue conceiued that re●erent opinion & affection to your Nation , that the good nature of the people generally , & the fertilitie of the soile do wel deserue , and is iustly commended for : & to haue obserued ( as my smal capacity would reach ) the se●●ral shap●s of your Go●ernement v●der King Henry ( for a f●w yeres before his death ) king Edward , Q. Marie & Q. Elizabeth . And as my yeres haue growen riper , & my iudgement by experience hath bene enlarged , with the helpe of some reading of your histories , I haue principally noted , & most aduisedly entred into the consideration of the present state & ●orme of Regiment vsed vnder your Q. that now is . At whose entry into her Croune , I was present , & a witnes of her quiet beginning & conti●uance of raigne for twel●e yeres time , & beheld the first attempt of mutation : Mutation . to wit , whome she cast out , that had place & credit , & whome of new she called in , that had neither of both , as the Authors and inst●●ments of the innouation ensuing . I enioied my parte of the common & qui●t s●steinyng of al , aboue expectation .

Among the instruments of innouation newly called in , I specially c●●d & noted those , to whom aboue others your Q. committed ●●ē from the beginning , the chief cure & charge of her affaires : Two per●ons only are charg●d in this Treatise . & whose managing of the same vnto this day , I account a rare testimony of your Q. constancie , The Constan●y of Q. Elizab . respecting the variable affections , that other Princes her Predeces●sors haue ben noted of in the change of thē , by whome they would rule . And vnto these two persons specially ) concurring with the iudgement of most men ) I attribuce and impute , what so ●uer of importance commeth foorth vnder he● , or hath bene sene in her time . And towards them chiefly ( yea only in effect ) is my processe and speache therfore meant and directed . Only two persons rule and do al. Not al only as the chiefe instruments of al her mutations at home● & Garboiles abrode , but also as the special Sprites and Familiars , that ●ollow her , in tempting , enticing , alluring , and procuring her , by al arts and de●ises , to suffer her selfe , her Realme , her Authoritie , her Treasure & forces to be missapplied and abused , both to the one , and to the other .

Of these two persons therefore , as of the efficient and effectual causes of al the perilous practises and dangerous Treasons , that I labour to lay open : of the present change , from the quiet securitie your Q. was long in , to the vnsurety and danger she is in ( if these Libels say true ) & of the trouble & tormoile the whole Realme is like to taste , if those attempts go on against your Nobilitie and the Blood Roial : of these two men , I say , and of no●● other , am I to be vnderstanden in this Treatise , when I vse any terme , that may seeme to touche Authoritie : bycause I meane none other Authority , then of them two only : who ( by craft and circumuention ) haue obt●ined that Authoritie , that what so euer impugneth their pestilent pri●ate purpose ( the end wherof I verily bele●e your Q. seeth not ) must be taken and published for traiterous , To impug●● their purpos● is termed treason . seditious , sclaunderous , rebellious , & what so euer els can be thought more odious : be it neuer so wel meant , and tende it neuer so euidently to the securitie of your Q. to the benefite of your Realme , and to the honour of ●ur Nobilitie .

And albeit , there are choice ynough to be found of your owne Nation , A Stranger writeth , bycause the Inglish may not . that for their wisedome and intelligence , do farre ●urmount me in habilitie , to ha●e treated this matter , to the better satisfaction of the Readers , and that haue no lesse good wil thervnto then my selfe : yet considering the thral , ●●ate & serui●ude , A lamentabl● seruitude . that presently they susteyne , hauing ( by seuere searches , by suborn●d accusations , by sodaine arrests , by sharpe impriso●ments , by fraudulent examinations , and pe●alties ) their handes bound from writing , sending , or receiuing : their eies closed from reading or b●holding : their eares stopped , from hearing : their mouthes and tunges tyed vp , from speaking : yea their very harts and minds restrained from thinking ( if it breake out once ) of any least sentence or syllable sounding toward the Detection of this detestable enterprise , or of any other truth , that the Capitains of this Coniuration would haue couered and concealed : whiles your owne , I say , remaine in that thraldome , wher no man almost speaketh with other , without rendring an account wh●●of they ●alke : yea , whiles yo●r Queene , whom cheifely it importeth to knowe it , is by arte and ab●sion depriued of al meanes , that might bring her to vnderstande it : whiles al bookes are forbidden , that would tell it : al letters kept from her , that would shew it : and al accesse of those that would intimate it vnto her , is by one crafte or other restrayned , and prohibited from her : it shal not , I trust , be taken for presumption in me , that I● vpon these considerations , haue yelded and relented to the requests of such , as for their honour and credit might haue commanded me .

Who ( for mine owne priuate knowledge of the vanitie & vntruth of sundry principall points in these Libells obiected ) haue moued and persuaded me , Not by hea● say , but by knowledge the Autho● speaks mo●●● by putting foorth of somewhat , to breake the yse , as it were , and to leade the way to others of your owne , that in time con●e●ient will more at large set doune the truth of this storie , wherof I do here but succinctly speake . And my selfe hauing bene not altogeather a stranger to the first treatie of the mariage , betweene the Q. Maiestie of Scotland , and the Duke of Norf . nor to some of the principal personages , now imp●ached for the same , and thereby knowing , how falsely in these Libells they are belyed , in euery materiall point layed to their charge : and beholding them selues withall , to be so restrained , that either they can not come to say and shew the truth , or that they are not beleued , when they say truth : or that the truth is murthered and falsified , though they be heard and beleeued : in this case now , if I should not by saying somewhat , giue the aduenture , to tye this bel about the Cattes necke , I see ●ot how to excuse my selfe of some part●c●pation with the accusers of these in●ocent●s , and of communicating ( in a sort ) with the Contriuers of their confusion .

The weight 〈◇〉 necessity o● this work And i● any man shal thinke , that vppon so lewd a Libel of so light credit , as comming out without approbation of Authoritie , without name of Author or writer , and without probable matter , lesse labour might haue serued , for the discrediting and disprouing of that , which no wise nor honest men beleeued : let it be remembred , good Reader , that in a matter of this weight , as wherein go●th indaungered the Li●es of Princes and pearelesse Personages , the transposing of Cro●nes , the mutations of common Weales , and the hazard of turning one of the most principal and Auncient Monarchi●s of Christendome , from a most Christian Gouernem●nt , vnto a Machiauellian State , it shal not be wisedome , to measure the credit of the multitude , by the conscience and discretion of those few that be wise and good . The number are light , the wise and good , ●low in beleeuing .

Againe , considering how far this matter is proceeded onward towards the said ende and fine , that this Libel shooteth at ( which , by the present state , Close imprisonment of a Prince thre●net● death . that the Q. of Scotl . and the rest do stand in , is ●asy to perceiue ) and regarding , that this matter standeth not now in equal termes betweene mine Aduersary and me , but that hee shadowing him selfe vnder some in Authority , speaketh nothing but that , that is plausible to the present Rulers : yea when the writer is rather but the Cane and Trunke , Rulers speake by Canes and Trunks . thorough whiche , some in Authority do speake , with whome the creditte of the multitude commonly runneth : The multitu●e runneth with Authoritie . respecting also , that mine Aduersarie hath begonne , hath tolde his tale first , al wholy and at length , hath bene quietly heard without interruption , what soeuer he listed to say : remembring , how much those aduantages , for the most part , do preuail ( for few are they in number , that are so wise and good , Foles beleue the first tale , wisemen tary the answear . as to reserue their credit in suspense , til the Answer and second tale come foorth ) waying further , that his whole processe consisteth in briefe and bare affirmations , without reason or proofe : in which maner of writing much matter goeth conteyned in small roome ( for a lie of a line , is not easely answered in a leafe or two some times ) and lastly considering , A lie is soner tolde , then answered . that what so euer I am to say ( comming to impugne a Processe , that hath before hand obteyned credit with many , as vpholden by some of the Rulers ) is already so preiudiced , that before it come foorth , it may be foresene to be termed slanderous , seditio●s , traiterous , tending to Rebellion , & to moue troubles in the Realme : vpon these considerations , if thou vouchesafe , good Reader , to way them depely , albeit I haue in no substantial matter leaft the ●ndifferent man vnsatisfied , yet shalt thou , I suppose , finde me rather more compendious in many points , then thou wouldest haue wisshed me , for one , wherin thou shalt thinke me tedious , or more abundant then needed .

The Authors metaphor of the destruction of Tro● And although in this Treatise , I refuse not altogether mine Aduersaries Metaphors , of their Brood-hen & Tree of treasons , but doe now and then as truely applie them , to display their deuises , as they doe fals●ly abuse them , to giue shewe to surmises : yet , for as muche as the fained Goddesse , the famous Citie , and Noble king of olde Troy neuer tasted more detestable Treason by the huge Horse , which the Grecians forged , and the crafty Greeke Sinon by art conneied into that Citie ( as a sole●ne Sacrifice to Pallas the Goddesse there ) th●n your Qu●ene , Countrey , & Citie of 〈◇〉 Troy , with her nexte Posteritie of t●e blood Royal of England , are l●ke to taste by the deepe and suttle practises of an English Greke or two now among you , vnder the plausible shadow of your Q. securitie : and finding no Storie , that doth more aptly resemble the false sleights , that are now in the forge among you , and the mischieuo●s markes prefixed for their end , then doth that old deepe deuise and cruel conclusion : & finding likewise , no man more liuely , nor more neerely expressing ( by name , nature , qualities , An English Si●on . and forme of proceeding ) a suttle Sym now among you ( of whom I haue occasion often to speake , as the Capitaine contriner of your calamitie ) then doth that old Sinon the crafty Gre●ke : I haue for these causes somtimes vsed , as by a Metaphor , to resemble this Tragedie present , to that Storie past : and haue now and then alluded this craftie practise , to that suttle shift , and baptized your slie Sym , that now is , with that old Sinons name .

Which , that I do not al vnaptly , and that the Reader may the better vnderstand those places , as they shal in this Treatise present themselues before him : & to the end , that by comparing that old and this new practise together , he may t●ke the moralitie of the first ( if it were but a Fable ) and make benefite thereof in cases present , as wisemen haue bene wont to do : or , if it were a true Storie , that then , by the experience of that Tragedi● past , he may ta●e warning and admo●ition for this Treason now in hand : I haue for these resp●ctes , thought it necessarie in this place , briefly to remember the effect of that old Storie , for their helpe , that perhaps neuer read it : and by comparing of a few partes thereof , with some partes of this , to induce the common Reader , to the better discerning , how aptly , how properly , and in how many sundry partes , the suttle proceedings to these Treasons present , do answere the crafty practise of that old Tragedie past .

When the Grecians by ten yeares besieging the Citie of Troie , The Storie ●f Troie . perceiu●d themselues vnable by force to atchieue to the end of their desires , which was , to sacke that Citie , and to bring the Troianes vnder their yoke and Dominion : they shifted to su●tlety , and famed ( by sounding a false retraite ) that as persons discomfited , they would retire their Armie into Greece againe . And pretending a religious deuotion to Pallas the Goddesse who had a Temple in Troie , they forged a Horse of suche hugenes , as the like in no age hath ben s●ene since nor before . Wh●ch at their dissembled departure and fained imbarking thei left about the place of their Campe , as a consecrated Sacrifice ●owed to that Goddes●e .

Bu● now see th● Woolf , that was hidden vnder this Lambes skinne . Into the belly and bulke of this huge beast the Grecians had cunningly conueied a great number of their most valiant armed soldiers , who being once entred into that Citie , vnder that Horses hide , should ( by Sinon ) be let out of the beasts belie , and at an houre in the night agreed vppon before , should make themselues maisters of the Towne Gates , and let in the reast of the Grecian Armie , that would by that constituted time , be returned thither again● .

Now had the crafty Greek●s a bird among them of their owne brood named Sinon , whom they made priuie , and a principal worker of al the Treason , as one , that had a deepe witte , a smooth tongue , an aspiring mind , a shamelesse face , no honour , litle honestie , and lesse conscience , and was a slie and suttle shifter to compasse whatsoeuer he would : and him they suborned , to take vppon him , not only to persuade King Priamus and the Troianes , to take in this Sacrifice , but to aduenture himself also to get into the Citie , to open the Engin of that beast , and to let out those Soldiars , when the time should be .

To be short : he accorded . And being of base birth , and vile courage , thought it no paine , to suffer shame & danger for a time , to leade the reast of his life out of the low condition ( in which he was borne ) in perpetual honour and wealth afterward , which were promised him for his enterprise . And to winne creditte with King Priamus , he feined to haue bene cruelly handled , and threatned with tormentes and present death by his owne Nation : and that at their imbarking he should haue bene soorthwith offered in Sacrifice .

And in this maner , putting himself wher he might be taken by the Troians , and pretending great deuotion to the Goddesse Pallas , he tempered his tale in ●uch wise , & couered his hypocrisie with so liuely colours , as denied euery goo● nature to suspect him of fraud , & so obteined such credit with King Priamus & the Troians , that against the opinion & dissuasions of sundry of their grauest & Nobles● Councellours ( who feared and suspected the treason that insued ) they brake ●oune the walles of their owne Citi● , to let in the Monster that was their destruction .

For , after the Horse was once in the Citie , Sinon , and his Mates so perfourmed their partes , and perfited their practise , that in the night , they let in the whole troupe of the Grecian Armie : who with great slaughter and crueltie , slew Priamus the King , murdered his Children , extincted his seede and Posteritie for euer , defaced and burned the Temple of the Goddesse , to whome they pretended the honour of that Sacrifice , ●nriched the base Greekes with the spoile of the Noble Troians , rased old Troi● to the hard ground , and brought the whole Countrey to final confusion .

Resemblances betweene that Storie and the present gouernment . This being in brief the effect of that Fable , as the Poets do fame it , or of that true Historie , as some others do thinke : behold , I beseche you , in reading this Treatise , by these few examples folowing , how aptly & fully the same doth resemble the Tragedie , that we are now to treat of .

And first consider how iustly the naughty nature , the false , cruel and crafty conditions of that insolent and licencious Brotherhood , that , vnder pretense of a new Religion , do cal themselues a Partie Protestant , dispersed euery where , doth answere and may be compared to the suttletie , falsehood , and lewed propertie of the Greekish Nation , testified by a Prouerbe , vsual in your Language , that reprehendeth mens insolencie and outrage , with these termes : Ab Sir , you are a Greeke in deede .

The modestie and conscience of the Catholike partie , that for feare of God , & for hate of sinne , do absteine from offer of iniuries , and defend onely their auncient possession in the Catholique Faith , and that with lesse care , zeale , and suspicion , then is necessary : may in euery part very aptly be resembled to the Nobl● nature and royal dealings of the olde Troians , that , with lesse suspect of their Aduersaries malice , then was necessary , without offer of iniurie to their enemies , defended onely their auncient possession in their Kingdome .

The violent assaultes , and forcible inuasions , made by the Protestantes vppon the Catholike Faith , for many yeres together by sundry cruel & penal Lawes , enacted by King Henrie , King Edward , and Q. Elizabeth : and by sundry rebellions , and conspiracies against Q. Marie , to bring the old Catholike regiment of that Croune , to a Protestant gouernment : do aptly answere , the ten yeares warre , and forcible siege made by the Grecians , against the Citie and Kingdome of Troie , to bring the Troian Dominion to the Grecian subiection .

The slaughter of Noble Hector , and of sundry others of King Priamus children , done by force of Armes in the time of the si●ge : may not vnaptly be compared , to the violent deathes of many noble & notable Personages , which in these late yeares they haue susteined : some by colour of Lawes , some by Treason , some by sodaine murder , & some by poison , as thei haue ben found likely to repugne or resist the intended change of that regiment , from the old gouernance in Catholike wise , to a new Dominion vnder the Protestantes ,

The repression of the sundry rebellions , & confederacies , made by the Protestants against Q. Marie , & their assault now , by suttletie & arte to winne that , which their force was to weake for : is iustly resembled to the Grecians shifting vnto suttletie and craft , when they had found their forces to feeble for their purpose .

The fained retrait , & counterfeit departing of the Greekes from Troie , may be wel compared to the false shew of that counterfeit clememcie pretended by that Protestants , for sundry y●res after your Q. comming to her Croūe : whiles they fained a retire , from al forcible constraint of any Catholikes conscience , & pretended no intention of troubling any man for keping or folowing his old Faith .

The old Greekes , by hypocrisie , feined a Sacrifice to Pallas , & vnder that cloke , couered their horrible fraud , with a commendable deuotion , that was common , as wel to the Troians , as Grecians : yea by the Grecians falsly in dede , & by the Troians only , was faithfully meant : & these your new Greekes , with as false a meaning , doe faine a Sacrifice of their ielousie & care for your Q. securitie , commonly tendred , both by Catholique and Protestant : yea rather , but superficially fained by the Protestants for a time , and sincerely meant by the Catholikes alone : vnder which is couered the odious practise , that no man would endure , if he might see it at first , as it wil shew it selfe at last .

The deuise was a huge bulke of a hollow beast , that conteined no substance of that it gaue shew of , but was of a cleane contrary metal within : and these Greekes deuise is , a grosse and beastly flatterie , that hollowly promiseth al Honour , securitie , and quietnes of Raigne , al amitie abrode , and al obedient af●ection at home , with a huge Mountaine bysides of al other commodities : but bringeth in it in deede a direct contrarie and mere opposite substance of passing dishonor , of decaie of foreine f●indship , of weakening obedience at home , of feare , of peril , of vnsafetie on al sid●s , so euident , that already it beginneth to appear● to euery mans ●ye , and their owne printed Libels can not conceale it .

Your Queene and her Pos●eritie , being the ne●rest of the Blood Roial of England may for many respects be res●mbled very wel , both to Pallas & P●iamus : as wel , for the Spiritual ( now taken vpon her ) as the temporal Regiment , that she now in England , and they than in Troy did hold and maintaine .

The pretense of that olde Sacrifice was plausible to the Troianes , and deceaued them the rather , bycause they were people deuoutly affected , to the feare of their Goddes : and this pretense of your Queenes securitie , is adored by al the Catholikes , and blindeth them the rather from the sight of the Treasons couered therin , bycause that by the limits of Religion , and feare of God , they affect in deede the preseruation of theire Prince .

The Greekes charged the Troianes with want of deuotion , and would put them in feare of the wrath of their Goddesse , if they refused her fained Sacrifice : and these Gre●kes , do charge the Catholikes , with your Queenes vnsuertie , and put them in fear● of her disfauour , and death , if they conse●t not and applie not to the prouision , that is fained for her assurance .

The chi●f couered meaning of the olde false sacrifice was , to winne the Kingdom of old Troie , from King Priamus and his Posteritie : and one of the chief hidden meanings of this new practise , is , to winne the Dominion of new Troie , from your Queene , and her next lauful Succession .

In that hollow Horse of Sacrifice , were couered and conueied the mightiest armed enemies of al Troian blood : and in this hollow pretense and shew of securitie , are couered & conteined the Treasons , that tend to extirpe your present Priam , with sundrie of the neerest of her blood Roial .

The bulke of that beast , being stuffed with Soldiers , was greater , then any Gate of the Citie could receiue or admit , and therefore must extraordinarily be let in by the Walles : & this pretense stuffed with so many horrible Treasons , is more huge , more hateful , & more odious , then would be admitted by any ordinarie passage : and therfore must by extraordinarie arte be winded into the creditte of your Prince and people , by an vnwoonted infamie , and ouerthrow of the innocent and guiltlesse .

That false sacrifice was at first suspected , for a while doubted of , and refused by King Priamus and his Counsel , til the Greeke Sinon persuaded the admission of it , by making them beleue , that if they receiued the same and set it vp in their Citie , they should not only winne the grace and fauour of the Goddesse Pallas , but it should also saue and defend them , and make al Asia and other infinite Countreis become subiect to them and their posteritie . And this false semblance was both by your Queene , and her faithfull●st seruants , at first not allowed of , and for a time resisted , til your English Sinon obteined chief credit , and preuailed , to make it accepted , by persuading in the selfe same maner , that if this S●ct and Idol were now once againe set vp and settled in her Realme , it should not only defend & saue it from al foreine power and Potentates , but also make al Princes adioyning to followe her example , and bring many other Realmes to the same Lore . Which persuasion o● his is hitherto ●ou●d as tru● , as Sinons than was .

Their old Sinon , was a Greeke borne by nature , & so an enemy from the beginning , vnto the olde Troian blood , and posteritie of Priamus : And your new Sinon , A new Sinon , the perfect Image of the olde . beginning to be a Protestant , euen from his childehood , hath euer bene an enemie vnto the olde Catholike Regiment , and to that Posteritie of your olde blood Roial , that affected to gouerne in the auncient forme of the Catholike faith .

For basenes of parentage , for ambition of minde , for suttlety of wit , for smothnes of ●ung , for shamelesse face , for litle honestie , & no conscience : loking vpon olde Sinon , you see the right retract of the new : yea their very names doe so concurre and resemble eche other , that both beginning with o●e syllable , and eche of them hauing but two in al , conteining also like number of letters , and vowels , if in pronuntiation , the last syllable of the one , did not varie from the other , one selfe name would expresse bothe the persons , whom like inclinations and qualities haue so liuely resembl●d eche to other .

That olde Greeke ( you know ) was the persuader of Priamus to receiue his own ruine , and to make the more credit & apparence of some truth , he did not let sundry waies to shame himselfe with forging lyes &c. to bring his false purpose to perfection : and is it obscure , to find one out now among you , that liuely answereth him in these partes ? Is it not easie to see , who carieth your Quene in his hand ( as it were ) in matters specially of importance ? Who seeth not , how many waies your shifting Sim hath laid al shame aside ? Can that man be said , to haue any longer the face of a man , that hath neither car● , nor remorse , what God , or the worlde seeth or saith of him ? For doth not euery man see , that with an impudent , and brasen face , he abuseth , & outfaceth , bothe his owne Prince at home , and al the worlde ●isides almost , with lyes vpon lyes , thick and threefolde , one in an others necke , & euery one lowder & lewder then other , to f●ede & vpholde the fi●r & flame of Robberie , Rebellion , and of al other mischief , wherewith he hath infested al Co●ntries adioining ? What sparke of shame or grace can any man defend to be least in him , that with so bolde a visage , so litle abassheth at the publike discouerie of so many false accusations , so many suttle subornations , & so many wrong condemnations , of so noble & notable Personages , of suche depositions of Princes , of suche transpositions of States , such vsurpations of Kingdomes , suche hyred murders , and other infinite villanies , more vile , then may be expressed by any modest penne , as are dayly detected , to haue ben contrined by him , for satisfaction of his owne thirst to Heresie and ambition ? Yea what child can shew a more base , abiect , and contemptible courage● then he , whose insolency is intolerable , whiles Authority fawneth on him : & for euery one least thwart of his Superiour , faineth either to be sicke for sorow , or ●ame of the goute : and falleth to sighing and sobbing , crouching and kneeling , weeping and whining , like a boye and a babe , til his head be stroked , and he comforted and called a good sonne againe .