The humble petition of the communaltie to their most renowned and gracious Soueraigne the Ladie Elizabeth, by the grace of God, Queene of England, France, & Ireland: Defender of the Faith., &c.

MOST gracious Soueraigne wee your
faithfull, and obedient
subiectes, doe
confesse with al hu~blenes
of minde,
that wee haue heretofore
offred manie
petitions vnto your Highnes, and haue
found your gracious fauour to be such,
that in all our honest causes, we haue departed
away with cheerfull countenances:
yet did wee neuer present to your
Highnes, so weightie a petition as wee
haue nowe in hande, so reasonable, and
meete for your Highnes to graunt, and
so necessarie for vs, your faithefull subiectes
to be obteined: We are exceeding
manie petitioners, in a cause that co~cerneth
the glorie of God, in the higheit degree,
and the saluation of the soules, of

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your louing subiectes. Wee are as importunate
as the Widowe in the Gospell,
not before an vnrighteous Iudge, but
before a most gracious and religious
Princesse: and therefore the more wee
are rebuked to holde our peace, the
more we crie for helpe, as did the two
blinde men of Iericho. For the Lorde hath
made vs to vnderstande our miserie, and
we conceyue great hope to be relieued.
Our petition is most gracious Princesse
that as the glorious Gospell of
Christe, hath bin preached in diuers
partes of this your Kingdome, to the
great comfort of the co~sciences of your
people, that haue heard the same, and
that by your gracious commandement
for we vnto whom the Gospell hath
not yet shined, but hath bin couered vnder
a cloude, by wrongfull intrusion of
blinde guydes, and Non-residentes, that
haue sore pestered and clogged vs, these
many yeares, by whose ignorance and
lewdnes, manie thousande of our soules
are lost, and perished in that lake, that
burneth with fire and brimstone, who
can not be redeemed againe with anie
raunsome may nowe at the length enioye
the same comfort of the preaching
of the Gospell, that our brethren haue
done. It hath pleased God of his ritch
mercie, to giue you the blessing of Abraham,
so that your people are as the starres of
heauen in multitude, and as the dust of
the earth, that can not be numbred, and
the Lord your God increase them more
an hundred foulde, and that your grace
may see it with your eies, to your comfort.
Yet so it is, most dread Soueraigne
that the greatest part of the people of the
Lande, are altogither blinde, and ignorant
of true religion: yea more ignorant
then is credible to anie, that hath made
no triall of vs, as though wee had neuer
dwelt within the listes of Christendome.
For what a pitifull thinge is it, to come
into congregations of one or two thousande
soules, & not to finde aboue foure
or fiue that are able to giue an accounte
of their faith in any tollerable manner,
whereby it may be said probablie: This is
a Christian man, or, He is a childe of the Church.
Who, if they were put to the fierie triall,
which wee sawe in Queene Marie her
dayes, we feare would proue our complaint
to be too true.
For wee may not conceale from your
Maiestie, our daungerous disease, and
profond ignorance, more perillous then
the pestilence. Yea it is our griefe, that
wee haue deferred the time so longe,

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to shewe your Maiestie, that we are very
babes, and children, not knowing our
right hande fro~ our left, in matters that
concerne the kingdome of heauen, vnto
whom agreeth very well the saying of
the Psalmist, Man that is in honor and without vnderstanding,
is like vnto the beast that doeth perishe.
Yea, would to God our condition were
not worse, then the brute beastes, that
doe feede at our stalles, and that our last
ende were like vnto theirs, if wee die in
this miserable estate, wherein we nowe
stande. For if your Maiestie sawe that
waste wildernes, wherein the most parte
of vs doe abide and dwell in, voyd of all
growth of heauenly graces, because the
doctrine of the Gospell doth not droppe
vpon vs, as the raine, nor the speache of
the Teacher doeth fall vpon vs as doeth
the dewe, we thinke your grace coulde
not forbeare, but that with the Prophet,
Your eies would gushe out riuers of water, because we
keepe not the lawe of our God, for want of teaching
and instruction. But nowe it is
hidde from your eyes, for your place being
so high, will not suffer you to behold
vs that lye so lowe, in a deepe dungeon
of miserable ignorance, but only by way
of co~plaint, and information, which we
pray all men suffer vs to make, without
anie kinde of discontentment. For what
greater miserie can befall vnto any man
liuing, then not to knowe his owne miserie,
and Christ crucified, without the
which knowledg, man is made an aliant
from the common wealth of Israell, a
straunger from the couenantes of promise,
without hope, and without god in
the worlde, which is a miserie of all miseries.
O pitifull thing to consider, the
plentie of sufficient men in this lande, of
all trades, & occupations, necessarie for
the vse of this present life, and such scarcitie
of skilfull men, that should guyde
vs the way to eternall life, of whom wee
stande most in neede of all others, and so
many workemen intruded vppon vs of
so long time, and so vnskilfull, to forme
and frame vs, after the image of Christ,
that if men of other trades had no more
knowledge, to doe their busines, then
they, vndoubtedly no man woulde vse
them, or scantly giue them a morsell of
bread in their hand, for their labor. But
if any goe about with false & flattering
wordes, to giue vnto these insufficient
Ministers, a better grace, then they deserue,
or to make our co~dicion to seeme
more tollerable, then it is, or and as wee
haue truely, yet sparingly reported the
same, though it be to auoyde deserued
blame, whereby your willing minde to

A4

relieue our miserie might be withdrawn
or hindred, we trust we may say without
offence to your Maiestie, or any good
man, would to God they were cut of that doe trouble
you, in this so honourable and mercifull
a worke. It is a true and fearfull saying
of our Sauiour Christ, that, He that beleeueth
not in him, is alreadie condemned. And
Saint Paule saieth, Howe shall they beleeue in
him of whom they haue not hearde, and howe shall
they heare without a Preacher?
Preachers therefore wee craue moste
gracious Soueraigne least that for want
of faith by preaching, we be condemned
with the Diuell and his Angells into hellfier,
where there is nothing, but weeping
and gnashing of teeth for euer. And it is
a fearfull thing to fall into the handes of
the liuing God, and to die in his displeasure,
who wil shewe him selfe from heauen
in flaming fire, to render vengeance
to them that knowe him not, & whiche
obey not the Gospell of our Lorde Iesus
Christ, whiche shal be punished with euerlasting
perdition from the Lord, and
from the glorie of his power. Seeing
then that the comming of the Lord will
be so terrible, & fearfull to the ignorant,
so that they shall desire the mountaynes
to fall vppon them, that they may flie
from the fierce wrath of the Lorde, and
not beholde his fearfull countenaunce,
howe can we chuse, but feare and tremble?
And yet God knoweth, we co~ceyue
not the hundreth part of those horrible
tormentes, which the ignorant and wicked
persons doe endure for euer. For as
the hart of man can not comprehende
the good whiche God hath prepared for
those that loue him: so the euilles that
shall befall vpon the heades of the wicked,
are not to be reached vnto by mans
vnderstanding, but they are only knowen
to those, that feele them, who if they
might, and could declare them, as they
grieue them, we suppose an hoast of me~
were neuer able to abide, to heare them.
For touching this life, wee are so fearfull
to die, much more to die in hell fire for
euer. Which thing we can not auoyd, except
God from heauen doe visite vs, by
your gracious helping hand, for the establishing
of a learned ministerie.
And it seemeth vnto vs, that this worthie
worke is reserued for your Highnes,
by the prouidence of God. For it is
an Heroicall worke, fitte for such a noble
Princesse: It is an enterprise full of
true honor and glorie, the same whereof
will passe through heauen and earth,
& as Iotham the sonne of Ierubbaal said,
of the vine [illegible] it wil cheare both God and ma~,
it is fitt for such a religious Gouernour,
as enioyeth the peace of Salomon. And wee
praye your Highnes, most humbly vpon
our knees, that this honour of establishing
an holy Ministerie, may not be left
vnto any of your successours, the Kings
or Queenes of Englande, that the posteritie
should say, that this holy request
could not bee obtained of that Noble
Queene Elizabeth, though it were sought
with teares, of her faithfull and louing
subiectes. For though we haue obteyned
great quietnes, by your gracious
gouernement, and that manie worthie
things are done to this Nation, through
your prouidence, & namely and aboue
all the rest, the libertie of preaching the
Gospell of Christ, which we acknowledge
in all places most noble Queene
with all thankesgiuing vnto your Maiestie:
yet seeing so many millions of
your people, through the great famine
of the word, in most places of this land,
sitte in darkenes and in the shadowe of
death, our desire is, that it might please
God to moue your Highnes, to goe beyonde
your selfe, and to surmount not
onely manie godly Princes of Iuda, and
of this lande, but also to be equall with
Dauid, Ezechiah, and Iosia, of whom it
is written, That they reformed Religion in euerie
point, walked in all the wayes of the Lorde, and turned
not therefrom, neither to the right hande, nor to
the left: whose chiefe care was, to make
prouision for the Priestes and Leuites,
and to sett them in their places, to minister
vnto the Lorde. So in like maner
wee beseeche the Lorde of his endles
mercie in Christ Iesus, to vouchsafe this
blessing vppon vs, to rayse vpp your noble
spirit, to aduaunce the honour of
God, and true Religion, so highly, that
your grace may be a paterne for your
successours, of whom it may be sayde,
that some walked in the wayes of that noble Queene
Elizabeth, and some declined.
And truely, if we should goe away in
this so holy a petition ashamed, and our
countenance cast downe, from so mercifull
a Princesse, assisted with so many
godlie and religious Counsellours, in
what dayes might wee hope to haue a
Prince, comparable in godlines, pitie &
compassion: of whom we might hope,
to haue our desire fullie satisfied? And
sith the Gospell of Christe hath bin so
deare vnto your Maiestie, that it hath
slept in your bosome, both in aduersitie
and prosperitie, by meanes wherof you
haue seene our Sauior Christ, with Zachens,
and embraced him in your armes
with Simeon, to your great comfort, &
consolation: holde not your selfe contented
therewith, most Noble Queene,
vntill you haue made all your louinge
subiectes partakers of your ioyes. Yea,
the riche and exceeding great blessings
giuen of God vnto your Highnes the
same whereof is spread abroade, farre &
nigh, wherein you approche to the excellencie
of Salomon, and in some parte
surmount him doe pleade our cause, &
craue at your handes, that in like degree
of loue, you should honour him againe,
in causing his glorious name to be knowen
& exalted among all the people of
your Dominion, by the plentifull preaching
of the Gospell for no other gifte
or sacrifice is comparable vnto that that
they dayes foretold to be in the kingdom
of Christe, might bee seene in this your
land: They shall all knowe me from the least of them
to the greatest of them, saith the Lorde. For your
Maiestie knoweth very well, to whom
much is giuen, of him much is required.
Moreouer, seeing Gods holy Name is of
long time blasphemed by these ministers
of vncircumcised lippes & hartes,
the basest of the people, so that the faces
of his seruants are couered with shame,
and we the people are exposed as a pray
vnto the enimie for howe many thousands
of vs are betrayed vnto Sathan in
this your countrey, since your gracious
gouernement beganne? who nowe doe
weepe & gnash their teeth in the flames
of eternall fire remedilesse we pray you
most gracious Soueraigne binde vppe
this wounde, stoppe this breache, couer
the nakednes of the church, and wipe away
the teares fro~ the faces of your louing
subiectes: so shall the kingdome of
sinne & iniquitie that ouerfloweth this
lande and in maner, vaunteth it selfe euery
where, be brought lowe, and gods
heauie iudgements, prepared for sinne,
shal be stayed. For though the seueritie
of lawes well executed, maye restrayne
sinne in the outward man: yet nothing
but the two edged sword of the ministerie,
drawen forth, and well handled,
is able to wound sinne at the very hart.
And to co~ceale nothing from your Maiestie,
we are greatly moued at the hearing
of the Sermons of the godly Preachers.
For they plainly saye, that if the
Lorde his matters be not regarded, but
still caste aside, and temporall securitie
sought for, only by the wisdome of ma~,
that then there is a heauie iudgement,
prouided by the Lord, & a black cloude
hanginge in the ayre, for that he will
not bee continually reiected. Vppon
occasion whereof, if it so fall out, they
admonishe vs to prepare our selues to
endure the whot storme and tempeste,
according to the wise counsell of Solomon,
saying: A prudent man seeth the plague, and
hideth him selfe, but the foolish goe on still, and are punished.
For they saye, and we knowe it
to be true that this Realme of England
is full of swarmes of gallant Atheistes,
voluptuous Epicures, ignorant people,
hereticall papistes, and blinde guides, &
in a manner, that all fleshe haue corrupted
their wayes before the Lord, whiche
make the lande to stinke in his nostrels,
so that his pacience with safetie of his
iustice, can not long endure them, but
that as the Prophet sayeth He will ease
him of his aduersaries, & auendge him
of his enemies: Yea he wil burne out this
drosse of the lande, till it be pure, & remoue
this sower leauen out of his fight,
that the people may be a sweete lumpe
vnto his name. For they ground their
perswasion vpon the hatred of God, against
sinne and impietie, euer accompanied
with iustice, as also vppon the
Lord his ordinarie gouuernement in his
Church, which he vsed in the dayes of
the Iudges, and of the Kings of Iuda.
For at that time, when his people enioying
peace, vsed it not to aduance the honor
of God, and true Religion, but by
little and little turned away to their own
wicked wayes, and declined from the
Lorde, then he stirred vp some mightie
aduersaries against the~, or sent some other
grieuous calamitie vpon them, vntill
he had humbled them, and brought
them lowe, yet nothwithsta~ding in their
trouble and aduersitie, when they turned
vnto him with all their hartes, and
sought him earely, he pitied them according
to the multitude of his mercies, &
deliuered them. Now when we heare
the heauie iudgement of the Lord standing
vpon such sufficient grounds, pronounced
by his seruauntes against this
lande, wee protest before your Maiestie,
that we are not careles, but do feare
and tremble, still wayting from time to
time, when the Lorde will iustifie the
wordes of his seruauntes, except he receyue
a sacrifice from your highnes, as
we trust he shall to stay his wrath and
displeasure, as in the dayes of Dauid.
For when Dauid & his people had sinned
against the Lorde, and the Lord had
sent his Angell to punishe the land with
pestilence, whereof 70.thousande men
died, then Dauid seeing the Angel stretching
forth his hande also against Ierusalem,
to destroy it, spake vnto the Lord
and sayde, Beholde I haue sinned, yea I haue done
wickedlie, but this sheepe what haue they done, let thy
hande I pray thee be against me, and against my Fathers
house. After which prayer, the Lord
commaunded him by his seruaunt Gad,
to builde him an Altar in the threshingfloore
of Arannah the Iebusite, whereon
he offered burnt offerings, and peace
offringes, and the Lorde was appeased
towardes the lande, and the plague ceased
from Israel. So in like manner, if
your Highnes with Dauid, shall make
an entier and simple confession of your
owne sinnes, & the sinnes of your people,
before the Lorde, and iustifie him,
in that at this time he hath sent a grieuous
dearth and famine ouer all the
Lande, and hath stirred vpp the outrage
of the papistes, as the like wee haue not
seene in this our Countrey, in so much
that Ishibenob which was of the sonnes
of that Giant the head of whose speare
weighed three hu~dred sickles of brasse
euen he being girded with a new sword,
thought to haue slaine Dauid, but by
the grace of God, Abishai the sonne of
Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the
Philistine and killed him: and also besides
that, if your grace with Dauid,
shall offer vnto the Lorde, in his Temple,
the sacrifice of an holy learned ministerie,
that he may smell a fauour of
rest, then vndoubtedlie he will bee appeased
towardes this lande, chaunging
this penurie into plentie, and striking a
mightie feare into the enimies of Religion,
so that Dauid shall not neede to
stande in feare of Ishibenob, or other of
the Philistines anie more. Therefore,
seeing the Lorde hath made him selfe
wonderfull towardes your Maiestie, in
the preseruation of your life, from the
euill man, from time to time, so that it
appeareth euidentlie vnto all men, that
hee tendreth it as the apple of his eye,
whereby you may truelie saye with the
Prophet by experience: He onely is my strengths
and my saluation, and my defence, therefore I shal
not be moued: and moreouer, he is yet readie,
to enlarge him selfe towardes you.
O bee not streight in your bowelles towardes
him, but requite him againe,
cause his Name to be honorable among
all his people within your Dominion, &
his well beloued Sonne to be lift vpp on
high, as Moses lift vpp the serpent in the
wildernes, that whosoeuer beleeueth on
him, may not perish, but haue life euerlasting.
And nowe are the eies of all the people
in the lande, sett vppon your Maiestie,
and waite for this gracious worke,
euen the establishing of a learned Ministerie,
whereby wee may all knowe the

B

Lords good will and pleasure. And what
other gifte can your Highnes giue vnto
the Lorde, for all the benefites that hee
hath bestowed vpo~ you, that is so deare
and precious vnto him, or so comfortable
vnto your louing subiectes? For it is
more precious then pearles, and all that
we can desire, is not to be compared vnto
it. And as a sacred Ministerie would
be a most ioyful thing to all your louing
subiectes, so woulde the onely hearinge
thereof, be a terrour to all the enimies of
the Gospell, and cause a sodaine feare &
trembling to fall vppon them: so that
their hartes would be astonished & die
in their bodies, and within ten dayes the
Lord would strike them to death with
foolish Nabal. For the subtill Papistes
knowe right well, that, if ignorance, the
maine pillor of poperie, were pulled
downe, as it were by the might of Sampson,
and the wholesome doctrine of the
Gospel, that leadeth to all duetifull obedience,
vnto God, & the Prince, & therefore
is at deadly fende with all treason,
and rebellion, were set vp and planted in
the hartes of vs the people of the lande,
by a sacred ministerie, then their complotes
& deuises, though neuer so cunninglie
contriued, would not be worth a
rush, to reedifie their kingdom again in
this land: then no doubt the English seminaries
at Rome, Rheins and Doway woulde
quaile, & fall down flat to the earth. For
their holy father the Pope would be loth
still to laye out so liberall pencion to so
small a purpose, when he should vnderstand,
that the walles of our Cities were
built vp, & all the breaches stopped, that
he could not enter. Then might both Prince &
people say, I will lay me downe in peace, and also sleep,
seeing thou Lord only hast placed me in safetie. Therfore
setting a part the co~mandement of
the Lord, & his gracious blessing vppon
his owne ordinance, which aboue all is
to be regarded, an holy learned Ministerie
in resepct of pollicie, is the only sure
and safe way to be found in the worlde,
for the co~mon peace and securitie both
of Prince & people, so that no other safe
waye can be inuented by the pollicie of
man: we dare boldly speake through the
confidence that we haue in Christ Iesus,
by his Gospell. For as long as there is so
much wildernes, & wast ground in our
countrey vntilled, fitt for the seminarie
men to inhabit as those places be where
there are no Preachers seing they beare
about them nothing but treason, wherof
they are full, euen to the brimme,
and therefore no paciecne or lenitie is
able to ouercome them, they will still be

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working accordinge to their kinde and
profession, and continuallie from time
to time, seke all possible meanes in those
desolate places, to vndermine and subuert
both Prince and people, whereof
the Cananites made tributaries to the
Israelites, contrari to the commaundement
of the Lord, is a notable docume~t
for all posterities. Oh then most gracious
Souueraigne, shall Antichrist the
sworne enimie of our soules, rayse vppe
three or foure Colledges, as it were
mounts, vppon great charges, to batter
and beate downe the walles of Sion,
whereby much euill is done to the Citie
of our God, which causeth manie teares
to fall fro~ the eyes of his deare seruants,
and will your Maiestie spare cost, to sette
Rampiers and Bulleworkes of defence,
to oppose against his furie, but lett him
goe on forwarde, with victorie vppon
victorie, still triumphing, and multiplying
his armies amongest your people?
God forbid it should so continue.
Vowe therefore most Noble Queene
and holy Ministerie vnto the Lorde, and
preforme with Dauid, euen now before
all his people, in the courtes of the lords
house, euen in the middest of thee, O Ierusalem.
Nowe is the Lorde Iesus become
an earnest peticioner, in the person
of his poore people, vnto your highnes:
cause not his countenaunce to fall
downe, neither sende him emptie away,
seeing he hath neuer sent you emptie, in
al the petitions that you haue made vnto
him, neither did hee make any difficultie
at anie time, to helpe you in all
your troubles, but hath euer bin, as the
Roe, and the yong hare vpon the mountaines, readie
to runne to succour you: so lett not any
difficultie or pretence of impedimentes
what soeuer, bee an hinderance to doe
him this seruice, that he most earnestlie
requireth. And if Herode the king said
vnto Herodias, and that with an othe:
What soeuer thou shalt aske of me, I will giue it thee,
euen to the halfe of my kingdome, because shee
pleased him, and his guestes, vppon his
birth day, with a tricke of vanitie, why
should not your Maiestie, fearing God,
make a more large, and liberall offer vnto
our Sauiour Christ, for the preparation
of an holy learned Ministerie, wherby
his ignorant people may be taught to
knowe him? Seeing that hee hath filled
your harte with true pleasures in these
your dayes: but especially, for that hee
hath reserued for your Highnes, in his
euerlastinge kingdome, incomparable

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ioyes and delightes, which the eye hath
not seene, the eare hath not hearde, neither
haue they entred into the heart of
man. For if flesh and bloud can not obtaine
much for vanitie, why should not
Christ obteine more, for trueth and veritie?
But seeing the Lord our Sauior is
contended with a litle, for his seruantes,
shall he not obteine that litle? We know
it most noble Queene that you wil not
denie him. Therefore wee pray you to
vouchsafe to vnderstande, howe many
hundreths of worthie men, are shut vp
and incloistered in the two Vniuersities
of Cambridge and Oxford, by most iniurious
patrones, and otherwise? Howe
manie worthie Preachers are restrained,
in Townes and Cities, for that their conscience
can not approue the reliques of
Antichrist, to be good and profitable for
the Church of God? Howe many Lawiers,
Phisitions, and Schoolemaisters also,
able men to serue in this warfare,
would concurre togither at once, if your
Maiestie would but displaye the banner.
But we pray your Highnes most humbly
vpon our knees, that for the redresse
of this our wofull case, you would not
sende vs to the Bishops of this lande, or
commit this charge of establishing of
an holie Ministerie vnto their fidelitie.
For if they shoulde solemnelie promise
your Maiestie, and that with an othe,
that they woulde haue speciall care of
this matter, yet wee could not be induced
to beleeue, that they would performe
it, either could wee conceaue anie
comforte by such wordes, because
that by the space of this nine and twentie
yeares, their vnfaithfulnes hath manifestlie
appeared, in that, they hauinge
power, haue not prouided for vs themselues,
no not so much as Lawe requireth,
neither at any time sought meanes
either in Court, or Counsell, that euer
wee could learne, to satisfie our hungrie
soules, with bread, but either said,
that we were alreadie sufficientlie prouided
for, or that it were an impossible
thing, to establishe a preachinge Ministerie,
as if they should saye, It were
not possible for vs, to bee saued, contrarie
to the mouth of the Lorde our God,
and the iudgement of the best learned
men in the Lande: yea, they are so farre
from hauinge pitie and compassion vppon
our lamentable ignorance & blindnesse,
that they haue bin most grieuouslie
offended, that wee should seeke to
your grace, and the honorable assemblie

B4

of Parliament, by way of complaint, for
reliefe and comfort. For in pityinge so
much those blinde guydes, that they
haue set ouer vs, they pitie vs nothinge
at all, because that the fathers are loth
to cast out their owne children vppon anie
condition, or tenderlie and carefullie
to heale and wou~de, which they haue
wittinglie and willinglie made, manie
dayes agoe, without remorse of conscience.
Therefore, most gracious Princesse,
if there be anie iniquitie in vs, lett
vs die at your Highnes feete, for why
should we be deliuered into their ha~ds?
as Dauid fearing Saule, saide vnto his
deare friende Ionathan, Yea, lette our
prayer be accepted before you, that you
cause vs not to returne into the house of
Iehonathan the Scribe, least wee all die
there. But we flie vnto your Maiestie, asisted
with the honourable assemblie of
Parliament for helpe and comfort.
We praye your grace therefore, to call
vnto remembrance, two worthie examples
in Scriptures, the one of Dauid, the
other of Zorobabel; Dauid, after he had
reigned certen yeres, determined to aduaunce
the seruice of GOD, and to
bring the Arke from Baale Iuda, to Iersualem.
At the which time, he assembled
thirtie thousande chosen men in Israell,
but they sett the Arke of the Lorde
vppon a carte, to carrie it to Ierusalem,
wherewith the Lord was grieuouslie offended,
and vppon occasion, smote Vzzah
to death. But when the King had
intelligence by the worde of the Lorde,
of the vnworthie handling of the couenant
of the Lorde, and that the Priestes
and Leuites ought to beare the Arke
vpon their shoulders, hee reformed the
errour, caused them to beare it, according
to the Lawe, & so brought it with
honour, sacrifices, and great ioye into
mount Sion. By the like error of our
time, the Gospell of Christe, in manie
thousande places of this lande, hath bin
carted into Churches, by men of no vnderstanding,
as it were, drawen with oxen:
wherewith the Lorde being prouoked
to wrath, hath shewed no small signes
of his indignation, but hath filled all
with dead bodies, & smitten the heades
of diuers countries. Whereof your Maiestie
being aduertised by God, and his
Worde, and that the Gospell is to bee
handled reuerentlie, by men of wisdom
and vnderstanding, we trust that with
Dauid the king, you will reforme this
dangerous and dishonourable abuse,
with all ioye and gladnes of harte, that
skilfull men, furnished with sufficient
giftes, & warranted by God & his word,
may bring the glad tydings of the Gospell,
into the hartes and consciences of
all your louing subiects, there to rest for
euer. We reade in like maner, that when
Zorobabel had bin of long time discouraged
by the enimies of Religion, from
buylding of the Temple, after their returne
from the captiuitie, yet by scarcitie
the Lords chastisements, & specially
by the preaching of the Prophets, namelie
Aggeus and Zachariah, he tooke courage
againe and beganne the work with
greater zeale: and though they were encountred
with newe enimies, yet they
went forward, and finished it according
to the commandement of the Lorde, by
his Prophetes: so mightie is our God, to
prosper them that doe his will and pleasure.
So in like maner, seeing the dearth
of the lande doeth crie vnto your grace,
and the Prophetes of our time, doe pray
and beseeche your Maiestie, in the name
of the Lord of hoastes, to raise vpp your
selfe, to the buildinge of this spirituall
Temple by a learned ministerie: we trust
that your Maiestie wil humble your self,
to regard the iudgements of the Lorde,
& to heare his holy will by his seruants,
as reuerentlie as any religious Kings &
Princes haue done hertofore, & that the
Lord him self wil stirr vp your noble spirit,
& the spirit of your noble Cou~sellors
& the rest of your faithful subiects, to go
and to do the worke in the house of the
Lord of hostes your God, as he wrought
in Zerobabel & the rest of the people of
the Iewes, after so long a disco~tinuance.
And in so doing, the Lord your god shal
be with you, & make the worke to prosper
in your hands, in despite of your enimies:
so shal you be glorious in the fight
of the lord, & in the eies of his seruants:
the~ shal be verified the saying of the psalmist:
Such as be planted in the house of
the Lord, shall florishe in the courtes of
the house of our God, they shall bringe
forth fruite in their age, they shal be fatt
and florishing. And as the Lord your
God hath co~manded you to haue warre
with the Romish Amalec, the lords professed
enimie for euer: so, seing the Lord
hath deliuered these Amalechites into
your hands, spare the~ not, but drawe out
the two edged sword more dreadful and
deadly vnto them, then any speare or
shield, & hewe them in pieces before the Lorde in
Gilgal. There is no league or couenant to
be made with the Cananites of the land,
but to roote them out, with the sword
of the spirite, till there remayne none of
them in Israel: for otherwise, they will be
whippes vppon the sides, and prickes in the eyes of the
children of God. There is no pitie to be vsed
towardes them, whom the Lorde hath
vowed to eternall destruction.
We praye you therefore most gracious
Princesse co~mit this two edged sword,
into the handes of faithefull menne,
that are zealous for the Lorde of hostes,
to encounter with the Priestes of Baal,
that it may be knowne vnto all the people
of this Lande, whether the god of
the Papistes, or the god of the Protestantes,
be the true god of Israel. Which
thing is more then time to be done: for
that, by the great diligence and watchfulnes
of the Iesuites, and Seminarie
Priestes, and the multitude of vntaught
Ministers, into whose charge they may
easilie enter, without any resistance, the
matter is growen more doubtfull then
heretofore: the aduersaries part greatlie
encreased, and newe Recusantes springing
vp euery where: whose walles are
to be battered, and blowen downe, onlie
by the lowde sounde of the trumpet
of the Gospell. And as the bloudie man
of Rome, hath made many childlesse in
this your Countrie: so in like maner, let
him bee without children in this your
Dominion: wipe him cleane awaye
as one is wont to wipe a dishe: he wipeth
it, and afterwards turneth it vpside
downe: yea make his house like vnto
the house of Ieroboam, that made Israell
to sinne. Feare not moste Noble
Queene to cutt off the heade of Holophernes:
strike the naile into Sicera his
temples: and then sing a sounge with
Deborah, and the Damoselles also, shall
singe with Timbrelles, saying: The progenitours
of her Maiestie haue slaine their thousandes,
but Queene Elizabeth hath slaine her ten thousande,
and euerie one of vs shall haue iust occasion
to save as wee reade, Manie women
haue done valliantlie, but your Maiestie surmounteth
them all.
And yet once agayne, we praye your
Highnes, for the exceeding great loue,
that our Sauiour Christ doeth beare vnto
you, to spare no cost, but to make
him a Throne of Iuorie, couered with
the best golde, farre more glorious then
that, which Salomon made for himselfe,
& to exalte it aboue all the thrones
of the kinges of the earth, as an euerlasting
monument of your loue, towards
him againe, that it may bee saide of the
godlie, In all kingdomes there is not the
like. So when your grace hath offred the
Lorde Christe to bee embraced in the
armes of all your louinge subiectes, by
the liuelie preaching of the Gospell, being
filled with ioye, you may saye with
Father Simeon: Lorde nowe lettest thou
thy seruaunt depart in peace. For wee
suppose, that no good action, that euer
your Highnes hath done, all the daies of
your life, can be more comfortable vnto
you, in the day of your death, when the
Lorde Christe shall translate your soule,
into his euerlasting kingdome, then the
remembrance hereof, that you haue lo~g
before, with all your might and power,
vpon his earnest request, offered vnto
him, this gratefull sacrifice of an holy
learned Ministerie, whiche, of all other
things in the worlde, is most deare and
precious vnto him. Yea, what a ioye of
harte would it be vnto your Highnes, in
the great daye of the Lordes glorious
comming to iudgement, to see your self
& so manie armies of your louing subiectes,
there to follow the Lambe, where
soeuer he goeth, and to knowe your
selfe, to be the speciall instrument, next
vnder God of their preferrment, by procuring
of a true and lawefull Ministerie
of the Gospell? Vndoubtedlie, this thing
would be your greatest ioy, your crown
& your glorie in that day. And if Christ
our king, will acknowledge him selfe,
in his kingdome, fed, clothed, and visited
of his seruants, to their honor, when
they shall haue done these things in his
Name, to his afflicted in this worlde,
much more will hee commende this
worthie worke, which passeth the other,
manie thousand degrees in the assemblie
of all his Sainctes, to your endlesse
glorie, saying, that your grace hath
taught and instructed him, exhorted, &
comforted him, and if you shall maruaile,
howe this seruice hath bin performed
vnto him, he will acknowledge
that whatsoeuer hath bin done vnto his
ignorant people, hath bin done vnto
him selfe, to the vnspeakeable ioy & co~fort
of your own soule. Nowe, before
that day come, heare the voice of Christ
your well beloued, that knocketh, saying:
Open vnto mee, my Sister, my
loue, my doue, my vndefiled, for my
heade is full of dewe, and my lockes
with the droppes of the night: vnto
whom, wee praye you, make no vnkinde
excuse, sayinge, I haue putt off
my coate, howe shall I putte it on?
I haue washed my feete, howe shall I
defile them? Least your wel beloued goe
away in displeasure, and you seeke him
sorrowing. He hath many times, and
by diuers meanes, heretofore knocked,
not onely by his gracious blessings, and
sundrie peticions, but also by his fearefull
threatninges. For vndoubtedly, as
often as the Lorde hath shaken his iron
rodde at your grace, by the sonnes of
Beliall, so many times hath hee shewed
him selfe offended and displeased, for
that as yet he hath not giuen vnto him
the honour of his Temple, and the glorie
of his Sanctuarie. And moste gracious
Soueraigne, lette him not haue the
occasion to shake his rodde anie more,
or to strike that stroke, that woulde
wounde vs all at the verie harte, & bring
vpon vs continuall mourning & lamentation.
Let him sue no lo~ger for his honor
and glorie, still wayting and attending,
with great pacience, for a seruiceable
and well appointed Ministerie.
Which thing if you graunt him, Then
will your welbeloued goe downe into
his garden, to the beddes of spices, to
feede in the gardens, and to gather Lillies,
then may you saye boldely: I am my
beloueds, and my beloued is mine, who feedeth amo~gst
the Lillies. Then shall the latter blessings
fall vppon your Highnes, as the latter
raine from Heauen, and surmount the
former graces that alreadie you haue
receyued, so that you shall bee astonished,
and wonder, that the Lord should
yet finde out wayes, to enlarge him selfe
towardes you, saying vnto him, with the
Princelie Prophete Dauid: O Lord what
is man, that thou regardest him? or the
sonne of man, that thou hast respect vnto him?
Man is like to vanitie, &c.
Let it please your grace also to remember,
that, whereas the Gospell appeared
to King Henrie the eight, your Noble
Father, and to King Edwarde the sixte,
your worthie brother, as it were in the
dawninge of the daye, or at the rising of
the Sunne, your grace is fallen into
a more blessed and happie time, wherein
the Gospell shineth clearelie in your
face, as the Sunne in his strength, according
to whiche greater measure of the
reuelacion of the will of God, and the
length of dayes, with the blessinge of
peace, besides manie other particular
bondes, your grace doeth owe vnto him
a greater deutie and seruice, by farre, for
the aduancement of his Gospell, that all
we your people may behold it in perfect

C

beautie, and taste the pleasaunt fruites
thereof: whiche charge the Lorde in
mercie, with great honour, hath chieflie
reserued for your Maiestie. Wherefore,
keepe faith and trueth with him,
most gracious Princesse and liue for
euer. For then doubtles, kindnes and
mercie shall followe you, all the dayes
of your life, & you shall remaine in the
house of God for euer.
And seeing diuers malefactours, your
mortall enimies, worthelie condemned
to death, haue notwithstanding, found
your Maiesties fauour, and clemencie to
be suche, that your grace hath spared
often times their naturall life, and turned
their sorrowe into ioye and gladnes:
we trust your louing subiectes and
people lyinge prostrate at your Maiesties
feete, entreating for the safetie of their
soules, by an holy ministerie, shall not
finde your grace to bee vnmercifull and
inexoiable. God forbid, that the praise
of your Maiesties clemencie and mercie,
should be bounded within the compasse
of the bodie, and not extend to the
safegarde of the soule. For true pitie is
not wont to open her bowelles to the
worse parte of man, and to close them
to the better.
Therefore, touchinge this worthie
worke commaunded by the Lord, consider
what Dauid the Kinge, or rather
Christ him selfe, saieth to your Maiestie,
as vnto Salomon: Be strong and of valiant
courage, and doe it, feare not, nor
be afrayde, for the Lorde, euen my God,
is with thee, he will not leaue thee, nor
forsake thee, till thou hast finished all
the worke, for the seruice of the house
of the Lorde. Beholde the courses of
the Priestes and Leuites, for all the seruice
of the house of God, euen they shal
be with thee, for the whole worke,
with euerie free harte, that is skilfull, in
anie manner of seruice: the Princes also
and all the people will bee wholy at thy
commaundement. Also these promises
doe appertaine vnto your Highnes, taking
in hande this excellent worke of
the Lorde, There shall no man bee able
to withstande thee, all the dayes of thy
life: as I was with Moses, so will I bee
with thee, I will not leaue thee, nor forsake
thee, onely be thou strong, and of a
most valiant courage, that thou mayest
obserue and doe, according to the Law,
whiche Moses my seruaunt hath commaunded
thee, thou shalt not turne away
from it, vnto the lefte hande or vnto

C2

the right, that thou mayest prosper
whither soeuer thou goest. Againe: My
hande sall be established with him, and
mine arme shal strengthen him, the enimie
shall not oppresse him, neither shall
the wicked hurte him, but I will destroy
his foes before his face, & plague them
that hate him: And wee all will saye
with Abigal in the name of the Lorde:
Although a man hath risen vppe to persecute
you, and to seeke your life, yet
the life of our Soueraigne shal be bound
in the bu~dle of the liuing, with the Lord
your God, and the life of your enimies
shall God cast out, as out of the middest
of a sling? Let it not displease your highnes
further to be putt in remembrance,
That Christ our Sauiour was twice disswaded,
from the redemption of mankinde
by suffering at Ierusalem, euen by
Peter his Apostle, that did abounde in
loue towardes his Maister, although in
this point, it was altogither carnall: so
in the consultation, for the communication
of the redemption of mankinde,
by the preaching of the Gospell, if your
Maiestie be not made co~formable to our
Sauiour Christe, in sufferinge the like
temptacion, by one or other, that is nigh
vnto your grace, it is a wonderful thing,
euen a miracle in our eyes.
Nowe to conclude most Royall Princesse
seeing the Lord him self requireth
this seruice at your hands, & promiseth
to be with you, and to protect you in all
your wayes, that you dash not your foot
against the stone, so that, if the lord heretofore
hath appointed an hundreth Angelles
to pitch their tentes round about
your Maiesties Royall person, to guarde
you in the doing of this honourable seruice
of his, no doubt, he will make them
a thousande, if neede require, besides his
continuall presence, for your greater
peace and securitie: wee therefore praye
your Highnes, falling downe flat in the
dust, before your face, that our soules
may be precious in your fight. For wee
desire no earthlie thing apperteyning to
this life, but that we may liue with your
Maiestie in the euerlasting life: and therefore,
that this peticion whereof wee beseeche
you to take further notice, in this
complaint of the co~munaltie the greatest,
that euer wee haue made, or can
make, and the worthiest of all other, for
your Maiestie to graunt, without delay,
may finde fauour and grace in your eies
for the Lorde Iesus Christe his sake: so
shall your Highnes cheare the hartes of
all your louing subiectes, nowe borne in
this lande, & of them that shal be borne
hereafter, in many generacions, & cause
them to clappe their handes for ioye, to
your euerlasting fame, and glorie, and
also at this time shall cause vs to bringe
ioyefull newes, vnto our brethren, and
countrey-men, who are susteyned with
hope and expectation of gladd tydinges
from your Highnes: which our most
mercifull Father, of his infinite
loue towardes his Churche,
bring to passe, through
Iesus Christe our
Lord & Sauior,
Amen,
Amen, Amen.