TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCE, JAMES, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, OF Great Brittaine, France, and Ireland, King; Defender of the Faith; and in all causes, and ouer all persons, as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill, within his Maiesties Realmes and Dominions, next and immediatly vnder God, and according to the Word of God, Supreame Gouernour.

MOst Noble King, Most Gracious
Soueraigne, as Daniel said to Darius,
so say I to your high Maiestie, O King
liue for euer. And this wishing, I
say the truth in Christ, I lye not: My
hearts desire, and prayer to God for
your Maiestie being not onely that you may be
euerlastingly saued in the World to come, but that
also in this World, and in these your Earthly Kingdomes,
with the assurance of the Kingdome of
Glorie, you may be preuented with the blessings of
goodnesse belonging to this Life, and that the
Crowne of pure Gold, that God hath set vpon your
Royall Head, may there remaine accompanied with
all Peace, Prosperitie, and Honour, meet for a Prince
of so great Maiestie, maugre the Head of all your
Enemies, Papists, and other whatsoeuer. And now
O Sacred King, as Paul craued King Agrippa his
patience, for hearing of him, because he knew
him to be expert in all the customes of the Iewes,
so doe I most humbly craue your Princely grace,
and pacience, for me to write a few Words vnto

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your Highnesse, because we doe all know you to be
much more expert, in all customes and matters of
the Christians, then euer was Agrippa in the customs
of the Iewes.
2 Whereas therefore by that priuiledge that all
your Subiects doe preferre their Suits, to your High
Court of Parliament for this your Kingdom of England,
I haue presumed to direct certain Supplicatorie
Aduertisements thereunto, in them humbly crauing
their Honourable and Christian mediation to your
Sacred Maiestie for diuers things concerning Gods
Glorie, the Peace and Honour of your Maiestie,
and of your Princely posteritie, and also the good of
this your whole Kingdome. I doe most humbly beseech
your Maiestie to take no offence at my said so
doing: For as the two Tribes of Reuben and Gad, and
the halfe tribe of Manasses, to purge themselues from
all suspition of rebellion conceiued against them by
the rest of the Israelites, for their making an Altar
beyond Iordan, vsed a most graue and religious
protestation, saying, The Lord God of Gods he knoweth
& c. and may it also please your Maiestie to
know, that I haue not written any thing to your
said High Court, of any contempt or neglect of
your Maiestie, but rather with the more awfull regard
thereof. For being my selfe much too base and
altogither vnworthy to craue so great things of
your Maiestie as follow in these Aduertisements, I
therefore thought good to craue their help for mediation
in them, who can much better plead such
matters with a Prince of such Maiestie, and whom I
cannot but assure my selfe, your Maiestie will much
more respect.
3 Againe, I may truly say, and my labours following
will testifie with me, that the Lord hath not
giuen me the tongue of the Learned as he had to
Isaiah to speake a word in season: and that as Moses
spake of himselfe, as the Lords first calling of
him I am not Eloquent, neither heretofore haue
beene, but as slow to speake, so rude also to write,
especially not being now acquainted with the
Court language of our time. In which respect I cannot
but acknowledge my selfe as vnfit, as vnworthy
to deale in so great matters, as afterwards I
haue dealt in with them, that are much better able
to handle the same, then such a one as I am. Though
also I had beene better able to manage such a matter
according to the waight of it, yet two being better
then one, in other affaires, and a three-fold Corde,
not being quickly broken, I was the bolder to craue
their ayd to your Maiestie herein: and that so much
the more in respect of their qualitie, as well as of
their number to whom I haue petitioned. For as
your Maiestie is the Head of this your Kingdome, so
your Nobles of the vpper House of Parliament, are
as it were the Shoulders and Armes, and the Gentrie
of the nether House as it were likewise the Thighs
and Legges thereof, and both the whole Body: As
the Body cannot be without the Head for gouernement
thereof, so the Head cannot be without the
Body to support it: As one Member cannot say to
another, I haue no need of thee; so, and much lesse
can the Head and the Body so say to each other. In
respect therefore that the Head hath need of the
Body, as well as the Body of the Head, I thought
that the Petition of the whole Body would be

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more regarded by the Head, then the Petition of
one Member alone, though the said Petition concerned
the good both of the Head, and also of the
Body.
4 Finally, I feared the more to direct my said Aduertisements
immediatly to your Maiestie, because I
haue learned how dangerous it is to speake or write
euen to Religious Kings any thing that either may
be distastfull vnto them, or that hath any Aduersaries
about them, by the hard successe of Hanani the
Prophet with Asa, for deliuering nothing but that
which he had receiued immediatly from the Lord
himselfe. Notwithstanding, most gratious Liege, I
haue taken heart to write these few Lines, as it were
Dedicatorie to the Aduertisements themselues, by
them in all humilitie to craue your Maiesties vouchsafing
to reade the said Aduertisements, for the better
preparing you, the more gratiously to accept the
mediation of your Parliament for the matter of
them: Least if you should onely heare of the said
Aduertisements by Information of some Aduersaries
vnto such matters, and should not reade them
your selfe, your Maiesties indignation should be the
greater against them, and the Authour of them. I
haue also the more presumed vpon your Maiesties
grace by the reading of them, because of your grace
towards some I meane Papists and Papists Friends
for the better reclaiming of them, that being Aduersaries
to God, and to his Gospel, cannot therefore
but be Aduersaries to your selfe, a Friend of God
and of his Gospel. I haue likewise the more beene
emboldened thus to doe, because I may say to your
Maiestie as the Woman of Tekoah said vnto Dauid,
My Lord is wise, according to the wisedome of an Angel of
God, to vnderstand all things that are done in the Earth, or
in the Land.
5 For my better encouragement also, me thinkes
I heare your Maiestie in some sort to speake to me,
and to any other petitioning in like matters, as somtime
Ahashuerosh holding forth his Golden Scepter
in his Hand, spake to Queene Ester, euen then when
in opposition to his greatest Fauourite Haman, she
came to begge the life of her selfe, and of her People:
What is thy request, and what is thy petition,
that it may be granted vnto thee? And hereof I
haue yet the more hope, because the matters wherein,
in the Supplicatorie Treatise following, I haue
craued the mediation of the Parliament to your
Highnesse, doe not concerne any Strangers in your
Kingdome such as the Iewes were in the Kingdomes
and Prouinces of Ahashuerosh but your owne
naturall Subiects, euen them of whom you may say
as Dauid said, That they are your Brethren, your
Bones, and your Flesh: and not onely their present
Liues & States, but also their euerlasting Saluation:
neither them only, but also your Maiestie, and your
Royall Posteritie.
6 In consideration therefore of these things, I
doe most humbly beseech your Maiestie, the more
seriously to consider all the particulars following,
and the seuerall reasons of them: Your Maiestie is
styled to be the Defender of the Faith, and so haue
long shewed your selfe to be, both in your Kingdom
of Scotland, and also since your aduancement to the
Crowne and Diadems of these your Kingdomes:
and that as by your Gouernement, so also by your

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learned Writings, euen to Foraine Princes, for the
exciting and prouoking of them the better to oppugne
the Pope, the Antichrist, and Man of Sinne,
and to maintaine the Gospel within their owne
Territories. As therefore you haue hitherto thus
worthily defended the Faith, so also I beseech you
to shew your selfe the Defendor of the meanes of
Faith, the Gospel, and Preaching thereof, and of the
Faithfull, and of them that most sincerely Preach
and professe the same: such as for whose enlargement
and encouragement in the Aduertisements to
the Parliament, I haue craued their mediation to your
Maiestie. As vnder the Old Testament, the Arke of
God was the Glorie of Israel: so now vnder the
New Testament, the Gospel is the Glorie of euerie
Kingdome, where it is established. As then the Prophets
were the Charets of Israel, and the Horse-men
thereof: so now be the Preachers of the Gospel,
wheresoeuer the Gospel is Preached, and hath free
passage.
7 On the contrarie, I humbly beseech your Maiestie
likewise to oppose your selfe to the Opposites
both of the Gospel, & also of the sincere Preachers,
and Professors thereof: according to the Kingly president
of the Kingly Prophet Dauid, who not onely
propounded to himselfe the singing of Mercie and
Iudgement, and the behauing himselfe touching his
own Person wisely in the perfect way, &c. but also
did set his Eyes vpon the Faithfull in the Land, &c.
and likewise did vow to bend himselfe against the
Haughtie, Proud, Froward, Wicked, Deceitfull, and
Lyars, vntill he had destroyed and cut off all the
wicked Doers from the Citie of the Lord. For the
said Kingly Prophet did not write the same so much
for a commendation of himselfe, as for a President
and direction to all other Princes to doe the like.
As all vngodlinesse, and vngodly men are opposite
to the Gospel, and sincere Preachers and Professors
thereof, so especially and most of all are Poperie and
all Papists, both Iesuites, and other Romish Priests,
either openly or secretly spreading, and teaching Poperie,
and also all other Masse-mungers, Masse-haunters,
and Masse-louers. And this dread Soueraigne
is the chiefe subiect matter of the First part of the
Supplicatorie Treatise following, to your Maiesties
High Court of Parliament, euen for their humble
mediation to your Highnesse, to defend, maintaine,
and enlarge the Gospel, and Preachers, and Professors
thereof: as likewise to oppugne and represse all
Poperie, with all the Fauourites, and Furtherers
thereof, of what kinde, sorte, and state soeuer: who
hauing an Inche giuen them, will take an Elle: and
being a little yeelded vnto, will encroche further.
And these things your Maiestie much better then
my selfe knoweth to belong to all Princes, as whom
God hauing honoured with his owne Name, and
called Gods, he would also haue to be like vnto
him, and altogeather for him, as sitting not vpon
their owne Thrones, but vpon his Throne: not to
doe what themselues list, but to execute Iudgement
and Iustice, whereof God his only Word is the only
Rule: so much the more because the People ouer
whom the Lord hath set them, are not their owne,
but the Lords: and whom therefore they are so to
gouerne, that they may leade a quiet and peaceable
life: First, in all godlinesse: Secondly, in all honestie

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because without godlinesse, and obseruation of all
duties of the First Table, and without honestie consisting
in the duties of the Second Table, there is
no good peace, no good quiet.
8 Your Maiestie knoweth how lately both Poperie
and Papists haue encreased, and lifted vp their
Hornes: and that not only since, but also by the restraint
of Preaching the Gospel. In deed your Maiestie
hath most wisely and Christianly of late discerned
the want of Catechizing the People, to be
one meanes thereof: yet the former is the chiefest,
as the sequent Aduertisements doe more largely
declare. Who also were so carefull to catechize and
instruct your People in the Principles of Religion,
according to your late and most Royall and Christian
command in that behalfe, as those Ministers that
were silenced and depriued?
9 That Poperie and Papists are both aduerse, and
also contrarie to the Truth of God, and all godlinesse,
and therefore Enemies also to the Peace and
tranquilitie of all Kings and Kingdomes, May it
please your Maiestie, according to your admirable
Learning, to examine the same by the Doctrine
both of the Law, and also of the Gospel.

Touching the Law, None are so ignorant of the
true God, as the Papists are generally by the subtletie
of their Teachers, that to hold the People in Ignorance
and blindnesse, make them beleeue and teach
them for a Principle, that Ignorance is the Mother of
Deuotion. None haue more gods in the presence
of God, and whom they doe feare, loue, beleeue,
and call vpon before or more then God.
None make so many Grauen and painted Images
to fall downe before them, and to worship them.
Neither doe any for Doctrines of men, so teach
their owne Commandements, and impose vpon
men so many Superstitions, and so many abominable
Rites, and Ceremonies of their owne inuention
as the Papists.
None doe so take in vaine the Name of God by
common swearing, and swearing by them that are
no gods, as the Papists. Neither be any such Couenant
breakers, making no conscience of their Oaths,
and teaching that no Faith is to be kept with those
whom they doe account for Heretickes, as the Papists.
Neither finally doe any so pray without any
vnderstanding in an vnknowne Tongue, and vse so
many repetitions in their Prayers, as thinking with
the Heathen, they shall be heard for their much
speaking, and pray by numbers, and according to the
number of their Beades, as the Papists.
None doe so profane the Lords day, by their abominable
Idolatry, and Superstitions on that day, by
their libertie giuen to all men for all lewde, licentious,
and lasciuious exercises, by their multiplicitie of
other Holy dayes, in disgrace of the Lords day, and
finally by their more Solemne obseruations of their
such Holy dayes, then of the Lords day, as the Papists.
None doe so transgresse, and teach men to transgresse
the Fifth Commandement, especially touching
the loyaltie of Subiects vnto their Princes,
teaching the murthering of Princes to be meritorious
of Heauen, and Canonizing notorious Rebels
and Traytours for Saints, as the Papists. There

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best Loyaltie is no better then Diuelish Treacherie.
As touching Murther of Soules, it is the whole
scope of their Religion, to make men the Children
of Hell and Perdition. Touching Murther of Bodyes,
What Nation was euer so bloody as the generation
of Papists? The Massacre in France some fiftie
yeeres since; The cruell, bloody, and treacherous
warres there the last yeere; The innumerable murthers
euen of Millions in the West Indies, and daily
most lamentable experience teacheth this. And if
they feare not to murther Princes euen of their own
Nation and Religion, How can they feare to shed
the blood of other? They haue all the wayes that
may be of murthering, by stabbing, by shooting, by
poysoning, by witchcraft, &c.
Touching Adulterie, oh what an Adulterous generation
are they? The Popes haue beene Adulterers,
and Incestuous; Their Cardinals, their Bishops,
their Priests for all bodily filthinesse, most beastly;
sometime also Sodomiticall. Their Monasteries,
and pretended Houses of most Deuotion and Holinesse,
haue been Houses of most abhominable Adulterie,
as hath appeared by thousands of Sculles, and
other Bones of young Infants, found in Ponds belonging
vnto them. They allowed euerie Priest, for
a certaine price to haue his Whore, and if being demanded
the said price, he answered that he had not
had any Whore, reply was made, that that was no
matter, for as much as he might haue had his Whore
if he would. What else doe all their filthy Stewes
in Rome, and almost euerie where else witnesse? Is
not also the restraint of their Clergie from Mariage
a plaine breach of the Commandement against
Adulterie? The same likewise may be said of the
Popes Dispensation for Mariage within the degrees
of Kindred forbidden by the Lord himselfe.
Touching Theft, that is their chiefe maintenance.
No Theeues, no Robbers by the High-way, no Vsurers,
no Extortioners, are so notorious Theeues, as
the whole Popish Clergie, from the Pope himselfe,
to the poorest Hedge-Priest. They robbe not only
particular and priuate persons, but also Kings, and
whole Kingdomes, and that vnder pretence of doing
good. Omnia Venalia Romæ: Pardon for Sinnes,
Libertie to Sinne, and Heauen and Hell are by them
sold or pretended to be sold for Money, to such
Fooles as will beleeue them.
They are also guiltie of bearing false witnesse
against God and Men, against the liuing and the
dead; pronouncing some for Saints in Heauen, that
rather by their Life and Death without secret and
vnknowne repentance are to be iudged companions
of the Diuels in Hell: and condemning them
to be in Hell, whose Soules rest from their labours
in Heauen: deuising, and imagining, and publishing
horrible lyes of them that by their Life and Death
shewed themselues to be the Lords.
Being in so high degree Transgressors of all the
former Commandements, and by authoritie iustifying
their said Transgressions, How can they be free
from Lust forbidden in the last, and the which is the
Root of all other Sins, and the which notwithstanding
they teach to be no Sinne at all? Doe they not
also transgresse the whole Law in teaching many
Sinnes to be Veniall, and not to deserue Death, the
Lord hauing said: Cursed is euerie one that abideth not

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in all things that are written in the Booke of the Law, to
doe the same: and commanding all the People to ratifie
the said Curse by saying, Amen? And the Apostle
also saying indefinitiuely, that the wages of Sin
is Death? All which contrarieties, and repugnances
of Poperie vnto the whole Decalogue, and to euerie
one of the Tenne Commandements considered, a
man may iustly wonder that any man should be so
mad as to be of that Religion, and so to oppose
himselfe vnto God, and to contend with the Almightie.
10 Touching the Gospell, all their Religion is
most opposite thereunto, from the first Principle
thereof, to the smallest Point, and least Tittle of it.
They deny Predestination, with both the chiefest
Branches thereof; particular Election, and particular
Reprobation. As they haue many gods, so they haue
many sauiours, many redeemers, many mediatours,
many aduocates, whereof they preferre some aboue
Christ Iesus himselfe. Touching Iustification, they
directly contradict the Apostles Doctrine of Iustification
by Faith, without Workes of the Law: and
doe boldly affirme that we are iustified as well by
Workes as by Faith, not before men as Iames speaketh
but before God himselfe. They further teach
that men may merit euen Heauen not onely for
themselues, but also for other; that they may not
only doe enough, but also more then enough, euen
Workes of Supererogation, which they may spare
to lend vnto other: Whereas we are often in the
Scriptures taught the written Word to be sufficient
and to containe all things necessarie for Saluation,
and that nothing must be added thereunto, or taken
there-from, they deny all this, and boldly and
saucely affirme, That vnwritten Verities, and their
Popes Decrees, though contrarie to the written
Word, are equiualent, and of equall force, vertue, and
necessitie with the said written Word: whereas the
Apostle teacheth, that we are not sufficient of our
selues to thinke a good thought, they magnifie the
Free-will of man, and teach that a meere Naturall
man is able to thinke, speake, and doe that which
cannot be reiected by the Lord, but must be in Iustice
accepted of him. In diuers respects also they deny
the Offices of Christ, and doe destroy his verie Natures.
To speake yet more, and to adde yet one
word that I may not be too tedious to your Maiestie
for two Sacraments they make seuen, reckoning
Mariage for one, that is as well without as within
the Church of God: and the which hath no outward
Signe but of their owne making: and from
which notwithstanding as before I said they debar
their whole Holy Clergie, and so speake pro and
contra, making it holy and vnholy. How foully also
and grosly doe they corrupt the two Sacraments of
God, with additions of their owne Spittle, Creame,
Salt, Oyle, Crosses, Water, and I know not what?
With-holding also the Cup in the Supper of the
Lord, from the Common People? Neither so only,
but also destroying the verie Essence of the Sacrament
by their Transubstantiation, taking away the
outward Element thereof. Finally they hold no one
Article of the Faith, from the first to the last, Canonically,
Soundly, and Orthodoxally. All these things
and diuers other are so substantially and aboundantly
proued by our Diuines, that they are not able

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with any modestie to barke against them. And for
the truth of all these things, I doe appeale to the
knowledge and conscience of your owne Sacred
Maiestie, and therefore doe but briefly now call
them to your Maiesties remembrance.
11 All the premises considered, I humbly beseech
your Maiestie to let your Royall countenance be to
those last before described, As the North Wind is to the
Raine, and as the roaring of the Lyon to the other Beastes
of the Wildernesse: But to the other, I meane the
sincere Preachers, and Professors of the Gospel, Let
your Grace be as the Dew vpon the Grasse, as a Cloud of
the latter Raine: And finally, Let the Light of your
Countenance be vnto them as life it selfe. As your Maiestie
seeth, and by experience hath found, what Papists
haue beene, and what they are they being no
changelings so also concerning the foresaid Preachers,
and Professours of the Word, how soeuer they
haue beene lately much molested, and as it were
smitten on the Cheeke with Michaiah by Zedekiah, and
beaten also, and wounded by the Watchmen themselues
as Salomon speaketh yet as Paul also speaketh concerning
himselfe, so you haue knowne their Doctrine,
manner of life, purpose, faith, long suffering, charitie, patience,
&c. They haue indeed by the said Watchmen,
and perhaps also by some Papists beene accused it
may be euen to your Maiestie for Rebels, Traytors,
Seditious, Schismatickes, Troublers of Israel, Disturbers
of the Peace of the Church, &c. But yet as our
late most Noble Queene of blessed memorie, said
and wrote with her Diamond in a Glasse-window,
in her troubles, vnder her vnnaturall Sister Queene
Mary oh diuelish Religion that maketh men and
women without Naturall affections as she I say
wrote in her troubles: Much suspected by me, nothing
proued can be. Euen so may the said Preachers, and
Professours of the Word say for themselues. For
who euer found any such thing in them, as whereof
they are so audatiously by their Aduersaries acoused?
Nay rather as touching their Loyaltie, as Moses wished
all the Lords People to haue beene Prophets: so
may all truly Loyall to your Maiestie, wish all your
Subiects to be as faithfull as the said Preachers, and
Professours of the Gospel are: and not almost as
Paul said to Agrippa but altogether such as they are,
their troubles, & manifold afflictions only excepted.
Oh then how happy should your selfe, O Noble
King be: How happy your Royall Posteritie? How
happy all your Kingdomes. The Aduertisements
following will shew all that such Preachers and Professours
doe, for which they are so charged with
disloyaltie, to be done not onely of Conscience to
God, but also of Loyaltie vnto, and of care and due
regard of your Maiestie. If all other Subiects were
such as they are, all other Princes should not be comparable
vnto you. The Barres of the Gates of your
Kingdome so strengthened, the Children within the same
should also be blessed. Such Peace made within your
Borders, the Lord would likewise feed your People
with the finest of the Wheate, and that it might most
truly be said, that the Lord hath not dealt so with any
Nation. O deere Soueraigne, I beseech you according
to your excellent Wisedome, vouchsafe the deeper
consideration of these things, and in respect of them,
the reading of the sequent Aduertisements, without
any indignation, without any preiudice.

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12 Feare not most Noble King, the shewing of
fauour to such Preachers, and Professors as for whom
I doe supplicate. One word of your Princely mouth
without your Bishops, would enlarge them all, and
cheere, and reuiue the Hearts of many thousands:
Neither would some of your Bishops repine any
whit at your said fauor. Nay more then that, I doubt
not but that many of them, euen of the chiefest, doe
desire it, and would be glad of it. Nothing but their
great Honours and Riches doth hinder them from
ioyning with such Preachers, and Professours in all
the chiefe matters, wherein they now differ, and hold
off one from another. Neither also feare you to execute
that Iudgement and Iustice against the foresaid
chiefe Enemies, the Enemies of God himselfe, of
Christ Iesus, of your Maiestie, of your Royall Posteritie,
and of your Kingdomes; euen against the Papists,
and all their Friends, and Fauourers. If the Lord
bade Ioshua to be strong and of good courage, euen verie
couragious, and not to be afraid, nor dismaid because he
had so commanded him, and that when he was to
destroy those wicked Nations, that had been the Inhabitants
of those Lands which the Lord for an heritage
gaue to the People of Israel, Ought not you
much more to be strong and verie couragious, without
all feare within your own Kingdome, to subdue
such Enemies as all Papists & their Friends are? You
are our Ioshua, and therfore I am bold thus to encourage
your Maiestie, as the Lord did the Israelites Ioshua.
Let no man perswade you, neither let your own
Heart say vnto you, as Dauid said of the Sonnes of
Zeruiah, that the said Papists and their Friends will be
too hard for you. For as Elisha said to his seruant greatly
fearing when he saw the citie Dotham besieged with
the Horses and Charets of the King of Syria, and as
Hezekiah in the like streights by Senacharib King of
Assyria, said to his People: Be strong and couragious, be
not afraid nor dismaid, &c. for there are more with vs,
then against vs; with him is an arme of flesh, but with vs
is the Lord our God, to helpe vs, and to fight for vs. As Elisha,
I say, said to his Seruant, and Hezekiah to his People,
so doe I boldly say to your Maiestie, in the name
of God, Be strong and couragious, be not afraid nor
dismaid, &c. for there are more with you then against
you, or then are with the said Papists, and their Pope,
though they should haue all the World with them,
and the Deuil also himselfe, and all his Angels. The
seruants of Absolom feared not villanously to murder
Amnon, because he had commanded them so to doe:
And will your Maiestie feare to doe that good that
the Lord your God hath commanded you? And
that for the good of your selfe, of your Posteritie, of
your Kingdomes, and of some of the Papists themselues,
at least of such as are but hirelings to other?
Though of men you had more Enemies then
Friends, yet fiue of your Friends, shall chase an hundred
of your enemies, and an hundred shall put to flight ten
thousand: because the Lord your God is he that shall
fight for you and if he be for you, who can be against you?
Hath God commanded you thus to doe, and will he
not beare you out in so doing?
13 O dread Soueraigne, for your better encouragement,
remember the dayes of Old, meditate on
all the Lords former workes, and muse on the workes of his
Hands, and consider how great things the Lord hath done,
euen for you: whatsoeuer things are written, are written

C2

for your encouragement. The Arme of the Lord is
not shortned, neither is his mercie and goodnesse
lesse then it was. But if you be of like courage for
the Lord, that Ioshua, Hezekiah, and such other haue
beene, the Lord will doe as great things for you, as
he hath in former times done for them and other;
The Starres from Heauen shall fight in their courses, against
all your Siseraes. The Angels of the Lord shall encampe
round about you, and slay your Enemies, rather then they
shall preuaile against you or hinder you in your execution
of Iudgement, as somtime an Angel in one
night slew an hundred foure skore [*i] fiue thousand of the
Assyrians. The Lord of Hosts also himselfe shall make
his holy Arme bare, and breake all the Armes of them, that
shall resist you, and rise vp against you. Nay more
then all this, The feare of the Lord shall so fall vpon
your Maiesties such Enemies, that they shall be one
against another, as the Children of Ammon, Moab, and
Mount Seir were deuided one against another. Remember
I beseech you that your selfe, maintaining
and defending the Gospel, and Preachers, and Professours
thereof in your Kingdome of Scotland, had
greater and longer peace, then all the former Kings
of the same Kingdome. Remember likewise the
great and admirable peace and prosperitie of most
renowmed Queene Elizabeth, by her [*e*e*e] against
all Papists, and by her gratious countenance to the
Preachers, and Professours of the Gospel: For was
there euer any King of this Land so beloued and
honoured of his Subiects, as she was of hers? Was
there euer any more feared, of Enemies abroad, or
at home? Was there euer any so renowmed and honoured
of all foreine Princes? If your Maiestie shall
once in truth frowne vpon the said Papists, especially
the chiefest of them, you shall quickly see how
they will fall before you, and be confounded. If also
you shall thus honour the Lord by executing Iudgement
and Iustice, Will not the Lord honour you?
Yes verely: For he hath promised so to doe. And he
that hath promised is faithfull. Hath he said, and shall he
not doe it? Hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
It standeth also vpon your Honour so to honour the
Lord, because he hath alreadie so honoured you with
his owne Title and place, that you should so honour
him by so doing. If by any contrarie counsell, you
shall not so honour the Lord, then the Lord keepe
you from that which followeth. They that despise me
shall be lightly esteemed. Neither in this respect only
doth it behoue you so to honour the Lord, but also
because that the lenitie hitherto vsed towards them
though thereby the better to reclaime them as also
the seueritie of some, vnder colour of your authoritie
though perhaps falsly against the former sincere
Preachers & Professors of the Gospel, by other
Nations Spaniards, French, and Flemmings your
Princely name hath beene disgrased, reproached, and
contumeliously abused by Printed Letters, & Books,
and Pictures, and otherwise; partly as if you did vtterly
neglect Religion, and the whole cause thereof:
and partly as if the said Papists had preuailed in peruerting
of you, and making you one of them, euen a
Romish Catholike, which I hope is and euer will be
[f*r*] from you. But in the meane while it behoueth
you to be in the more seuere against them, and not to
vouchsafe them your gratious countenance, as because
they haue beene the meanes of such dishonourable

C3

and scandalous dealing with your Maiestie, so also
that you may stop such foule mouthes, restraine such
audacious Pens, and lastly stay the passage & current
of them both from this your Kingdome, to the further
heartning of the Papists, and the discouragement
of your best affected Subiects: and also from
other Kingdomes to the great preiudice of your
constancie in the Gospel, with all other Christian
Princes, & their People. Finally as your selfe would
not haue your subordinate Iudges to be remisse in
the execution of Iustice against contemners and
transgressours of your owne Lawes, so likewise, O
most Noble King know, and you doe know as well
as any can tell you, that you ought not to be remisse
in execution of Iustice according to his Lawes, that
is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and to whom the
mightiest Princes in the World are Subiects, as well
as the poorest, meanest, and basest Subiects of such
Princes. Let no man deere Soueraigne suggest
vnto you, that all the former abuses of your Maiestie
are from them that are reproachfully called Puritans,
as the Powder-Treason should haue been ascribed
vnto them, That which hath beene said before
may purge them from all such imputation: And all
such suggestions are from the Deuil, who is a Lyar, and
the Father thereof: And from his Curates here in the
Earth, the Iesuites, Romish Priests, and other Papists.
14 I will not here so preiudice your most Princely
and Christian wisedome, as to aduise you not to
regard flatterers, that shall perswade you to neglect
the premisses, and by flattering speeches either prouoke
you to do any thing that you ought not to do,
or hinder you from doing any thing belonging to
your Princely Place and Dignitie: yet because such
Flatterers doe as much abound in Princes Courts, for
the Courtly preferments there to be had, as Waspes
doe swarme in the Shops of Grocers and Apothecaries,
for the sweetnesse that is in such Shops, therefore
I beseech your Maiestie, to giue me leaue to be
a little bold with you herein, that you may the better
beware of such miscreants: the rather because your
selfe haue giuen a most Christian charge to your
Princely Sonne, in that behalfe: And for the better
pressing of the said charge haue called it a filthy vice,
and the pest of Princes, and the wracke of Republikes.
And indeed it is a charge most worthy of all
regard by all Princes, because by such Flatterers
Princes oft times are both restrained from doing
good to them to whom otherwise they would doe
good: and be also ouercome to doe that euill, which
they would not doe, and which they ought not to
doe. Achish King of Gath, acknowledged Dauid to
haue been vpright, and his going out and comming
in with him, in the Host, to haue beene good in his
sight, euen as of an Angel of God, yet because his
Lords did not fauour him, and the Princes of the
Philistimes had spoken against him, therefore he
could not, he durst not doe that for him, that he
would. By the flatterie of the Median and Persian
Princes, how hardly and with what griefe of Heart
was Darius drawne to execute his wicked Decree,
made by their importune flatterie, and to cast Daniel,
whom he loued most deerely, into the Lyons Den.
To omit the wofull successe of the flatterie of the
Princes of Iuda, to Ioash the King of Iuda, whereby he
fell from great forwardnesse in the worship of God,

C4

into abominable Idolatry, and to bloodie persecution,
euen of the Sonnes of Iehoiadah, not remembring
the kindnesse of Iehoiadah, whereby he had beene
preserued for, and aduanced vnto the Kingdome, to
omit, I say, that their flatterie, that did vtterly ouerthrow
the said Ioash, the Lord forsaking him, giuing
him ouer to his Enemies, to fearefull diseases, and to
the bloodie Hands of his owne Seruants, as he had
forsaken the Lord, and stoned to death Zechariah the
Sonne of Iehoiadah, onely for exhorting the People
to repentance by the Spirit of the Lord. Rehoboam
the Sonne and Heire of Salomon, leauing the counsell
of the auncient Councellors of his Father Salomon,
and hearkening to the contrarie counsell of flattering
Youthes that had beene brought vp with him,
did loose the greatest part of his Kingdome, without
any recouerie thereof afterwards. Finally Dauid, a
man according to Gods owne Heart, neither only a
valiant and potent King, but also an excellent & holy
Prophet, was so notwithstanding swaied with the
smooth yet slanderous words of Ziba against faithfull
Mephibosheth, the Sonne of his faithfull Friend
Ionathan, and whom before vpon the Information of
him by Ziba, he had greatly graced, euen Dauid, I say,
himselfe was so swaied by the flatterie of Ziba, that
he gaue verie hard sentence against the said Mephibosheth.
None therefore is so godly, so learned, so wise,
but he may be abused by Sycophants, that are more
dangerous to any, especially to Princes, then open
Enemies: neither onely to Princes themselues, but
also to their Posteritie, & to their whole Kingdomes.
I feare to feare that by such meanes the most Noble
and Religious Prince and Princesse Palatine, haue
had the lesse ayd, and Spinola, and other their Enemies,
and the Enemies of Christ Iesus haue had
the more euen out of this Land, and from your Maiesties
Subiects. And this I feare, and other your
Maiesties faithfull Subiects in loyaltie may the more
feare, in respect of your own most Princely words,
in open Parliament, and published in Print to all
the world, for maintaining their right in the Countie
Palatine whatsoeuer it should cost you: nothing
for all that being euer since done in that behalfe:
but rather their said whole Countie for want of aid
being depopulated, laid waste, and possest by their
Enemies. But this matter I leaue to your Maiestie,
whose honor it is to search out the depth thereof, &
to whom by nature it selfe it especially belongeth
so to doe. Although also some of the Papists against
whom I haue before perswaded your Maiestie to
draw forth the Sword of Iustice, are so close, secret,
and cunning by their going to Church, and by
their glozing and flattering tongues that they can
hardly be discerned, yet as the Aduertisements following
doe set down some notes whereby they
may be discerned, so also your excellent wisedom
is able to diue much more deeply into them, and
therefore I leave this matter also to the honour of
your Maiestie.
15 Touching the foresaid Preachers notwithstanding
of the Gospel commended to your Maiesties
grace and favour, and to the mediation of
your High Court of Parliament with your Majestie
in their behalfe, give me leave I humbly beseech
you, to informe your Maiestie of one thing that in
loyaltie, I am perswaded you haue not yet fully vnderstood,

D

that is, That vnder pretext of your Royall
authoritie, some Prelates now dead, and some yet liuing
haue silenced & depriued more learned, godly,
and painefull Ministers within the space of foure
yeeres, then in three skore yeeres haue been so molested,
and put out of ignorant, vngodly, and idle
ones. Nay I may almost say that more hundreds, at
least more skores of the former sort haue beene cast
out as vnsauorie Salt, then persons of the latter sort
since the first yeere of most renowmed Queene Elizabeth.
If I should say also that some scandalous Ministers
no better then Seminarie Popish Priests, a little
before their preferment to Benefices, here in
England, being for some notorious offences by much
cost and labour at the last cast out of one Diocesse,
haue beene restored and prouided for in another, I
should not greatly erre. I may yet say somewhat
more, namely, That it hath beene an easier matter for
diuers such learned & godly Ministers, to be eiected
of all maintenance, and exposed with their Wiues
and Children to extreme penurie, and contempt of
all men contempt alwayes following penurie at
the complaint of some one, or two, or three lewde,
and base persons, and sometimes without the complaint
of any then for good Ministers to hold their
places, though neuer so many honest, religious, and
otherwise substanciall men haue most earnestly and
humbly supplicated for them: as also then it hath
been to remoue an vnlearned, idle, and most scandalous
Minister though neuer so many haue laboured
his remoue. Whether these things be not lamentable
and most lamentable, and whether they doe not bewray
a greater regard of the commandements of
men, for conformitie, then of Gods Commandements
for true pietie, I referre my selfe to the iudgement
of your Sacred Maiestie, this being also further
considered, that in complaints against vnable, or scandalous
Ministers all delay is vsed & all must be done
by degrees, and in course and forme of Law: but
against good Ministers euerie thing is done speedily
and with expedition, as if our Sauiour had said to
such Courts touching such Ministers, by way of
commanding as he said to Iudas as a Iudge, to hasten
his owne Iudgement, by betraying our Sauiour,
That that thou doest doe quickly. Neither is this all,
but this expedition is vsed without Law, contrarie to
Law; no man oft-times accusing such Ministers, or
shewing himselfe Plaintife against them. Hereby as
Poperie and Papists are in your Maiesties knowledge
greatly encreased, so Ignorance, Atheisme, Profanenesse,
Blaspheming, all manner of Swearing, contempt
of the Word, Whoring, Drunkennesse, and
all wickednesse and abominations, are more multiplied,
then either your Maiestie knoweth or would
almost beleeue. Verely if your Maiestie knew as
much herein, as other not altogether blind doe see, I
hope your Christian Heart would be much moued
with a Christian commiseration of the lamentable
state of your People so ignorant, and by ignorance
strangers from the Life of God, and in darkenesse
and in the power of Satan, &c. Your selfe, your Royall
Posteritie, and the whole Kingdome cannot be
without danger, so long as these things are suffered.
As therefore your Maiestie regardeth the safetie of
your own royall Person, of your royall Posteritie, &
of all your Kingdomes, so I humbly beseech you to

D2

consider of these things, without reformation
whereof, you cannot but alwayes feare; or if you
doe not feare, you cannot but be in greate danger,
and haue the more cause to feare.
16 In the consideration of the said things, and
for further examination of them, rely not too much
my Lord O King vpon your Prelates, by some of
whom your said People, are most of all held in ignorance.
For they not all but the most part multiplying
vnto themselues Lyuing vpon Lyuing, and
climing to be Lords ouer the Lords Heritage, contrarie
to our Sauiour and the Apostles command,
haue their Curates vnder them, as Seruants vnto
them, that dare not preach oftner, neither otherwise
then their Masters please, and enioyne them, their
said Masters in the meane time liuing idle, not labouring
but loytering, eating, drinking, playing, maintaining
their Sonnes and Seruants as great Gentlemen,
or rather as swaggerers, and their Wiues and Daughters
like Ladyes. Hereby Learning is not aduanced
as they pretend, but deiected, on the part both of
such Masters, and also of such Seruants. Of such Masters,
because most of them spend not their time in
studie, but as I said in gaming, and eating, and drinking:
and God hath promised increase of Learning
to the right vse of Learning, not to the hiding thereof
in a Napkin. On the part of such Seruants, because
they for the most part haue not wages sufficient to
buy themselues and their Wiues & Children meat,
drinke, and apparell: much lesse can they furnish
themselues with Bookes for encrease of their Learning.
By the former meanes also the Ministerie is
brought into contempt, the number of such Seruants
being greater then of such Lordly Masters, and so
beggerly that no man setteth a Rush by them. The
state likewise of the Church is thereby turned into
a Common-wealth, according to that of Marcus
Antonius though now as they say like a Dog returned
to his vomit, and like a Swine vnto his mire in
that little Booke that he brought with him of his
Reason why he left his former Archbishopricke:
euen to such a Common-wealth is the state of our
Church now brought that it nothing almost differeth
from the Monarchicall state of the Romish Synagogue.
And albeit I hope that some of the chiefe
Prelates, and some other of them be so sound in
most fundamentall Articles of the Faith, that if need
required, they would giue their liues for the Gospel,
as Cranmer, Ridly, Latimer, Hooper, and other did in
the bloodie and bitter Marian times, yet euen such
would find it the harder so to doe, the greater wealth
and honour that in the meane time they enioy. I
doe also much feare that some other, especially such
as are most eager & hot for the present conformitie,
and against their Brethren, whom reprochfully they
call Puritans, and whom they persecute as euill doers,
and more sharpely then they doe knowne Papists,
would be more forward if the times would serue
their mindes to aduance Poperie and all Idolatry,
then euer they had beene to promote the Gospel.
If their Studies and Houses were diligently searched
by faithfull Persons, I doubt not but that such Crucifixes,
and other like Monuments of Poperie would
be found as should sufficiently testifie thus much.
17 But to leaue them, the Common sort of your
Subiects are so ignorant in the verie Principles of

D3

Religion, that not one of an hundred I speake within
compasse is able to giue accompt of Faith, or tell
the meaning in any sort of any Commandement
of the Law, or any Article of Faith, of any Petition
in the Lords Prayer, or scarce how many Sacraments
there are. O deere Soueraigne, I beseech your Maiestie
consider how apt and fit such People are for
Sedition, and how easily by any Head they might be
drawne into Rebellion. On the contrarie where
there haue beene most such Preachers of any continuance,
as haue beene and are yet silenced and depriued,
there is most knowledge of God, most loyall
loue, dutie, and allegiance to your Maiestie, and best
affection to your Royall Posteritie at home and
abroad. And touching your Royall Posteritie
abroad, the most Noble Prince and Princesse Palatine
and their Princely Off-spring all Branches of your
Maiestie it is no small griefe of heart to your best
Subiects, so instructed as before I said in the knowledge
of God, not onely to see their present hard
state, and their disgracefull vsage by their Enemies in
other Countreys, but also to heare the Ignorant sort
or rather the Hellish rowt of Papists though perhaps
ex ipsis Nobilibus, or lately Nobilitatis and their adherents
at home, prouoking the Ignorant and baser sort
both to be so forward in affording helpe to the Emperour,
to Spinola, and to the rest of their Enemies,
and likewise to be so lauish in their Tongues, and
blacke Mouthed like Rabsheka, and so foule Mouthed
like Shimei, in speaking so disgracefully, basely, and
contumeliously of them: The greatest Masters and
Captaines notwithstanding of such foule speakers,
not being worthy to wipe their Shooes. Can such
be faithfull to your Maiestie Nay rather they are all
Traytours, how great soeuer they be: and the Lord
reward them as Traytours; neither onely them, but
also them that are confederates with them against
the said Princes, how eminent soeuer, and in what
grace soeuer they be for the present, euen with your
Maiestie. O that your Maiesties indignation would
breake forth like Fire, so to represse, and euen cut
them vp by the Root, that their place might be no
more seene, and that thereby the hearts of them may
be cheered, that haue been and daily are vnfaignedly
by such things grieued and deeply wounded.
18 I dare not by writing too much be too tedious
to your Maiestie, If it shall please you to vouchsafe
the reading of the Supplicatorie Aduertisements,
your Princely wisedome is such, that by a little you
shall vnderstand much necessarily to be done for
the suppressing of Poperie, & of all the Friends thereof,
and for the enlargement of the Gospel, and the
sincere Preachers and Professours thereof, and consequently
for the peace and securitie of your owne
Royall Person, of your Royall Posteritie, and of all
your Dominions for the time present and for the
time to come. The same I say for the second part of
the Aduertisements, directed also to the High Court
of Parliament for their mediation with your Maiestie,
as also of my Latine Petition to your Bishops.
All which I humbly submit to your Maiesties Christian
wisedome and consideration: only most humbly
desiring, that in them, and in all other matters of
the Churches of God committed to your feeding,
as also in all affaires of your Kingdomes, you will do
all according to the Word of God, whose Lieuetenant

D4

you are, and vpon whose Throne as before I
said you doe sit to execute Iudgement and Iustice,
whereof Gods Word as before likewise I said is
the only rule: that so it may be said in all Generations
succeeding, as it is said of Dauid, That you haue
fed them according to the integritie of your heart,
and guided them by the skilfulnesse of your hands.
As all men must haue respect to the Word of God,
so especially must Princes, according to Gods charge
to Moses for direction of the King, alwayes, and all
the dayes of his life, to haue the Booke of the Law
to reade therein, as also according to the like charge
afterward giuen vnto Ioshua: In which respect as Dauid
made Gods Testimonies his Councellors, so by
his continuall meditation, and keeping of them, he
was made wiser then his Enemies, and vnderstood
more then all his Teachers, then all his Auncients.
What Prince would haue more wisedome, more
vnderstanding? All Policie without the Word, or
besides the Word is but foolishnesse, and no better
then meere madnesse. And therefore the Lord saith
that all the Wisemen euen the Noble Councellors
of Iuda had reiected the Law of the Lord; And
what wisedom is in them? Therefore also, as Bathsheba,
in her Golden Precepts to her Sonne Salomon
for his direction in his Kingdome saith: It is not for
Kings, oh Lemuel, It is not for Kings to drinke Wine, nor
for Princes strong drinke: so she giueth this reason, least
they drinke and forget the Law, and peruert the Iudgement
of any of the afflicted. Thereby noting both that
Iudgement cannot rightly be executed, where the
Law is forgotten, as also that in Iudgement the afflicted
such as the sincere Preachers and Professors of
the Gospel in these dayes especially [illegible]
principally to be regarded. Therefore also the Magistrate
is called Lex loquens, not that whatsoeuer he speaketh is
presently to be taken for Law this is the Prerogatiue
Royall of God alone but that he must speake nothing
but Law. What Law is so excellent, and therefore best
beseeming the Excellencie of Princes, as the Law of
God? Such as God himselfe is, such is his Law.
19 Thus O most dread Soueraigne I haue presumed
to write vnto your most excellent Maiestie, to craue
your gracious and Princely Protection of the Aduertisements
following, against all malignant Flatterers,
and other accusers whatsoeuer. Why I haue not either
hereunto, or vnto the Aduertisements themselues, or
vnto my Latine Petition to the Bishops affixed my
Name, I haue afterward expressed my Reason both in
the Aduertisements and also in the said Petition: It is
not in feare of your Maiesties indignation, neither of
the hard dealing of most of the Prelates though some
of them be hard hearted enough, and would ere this
haue broken out further, if by feare of your Maiesties
wrath they had not beene restrained but it is in feare
of the bloodie, cruell, and mercilesse broode of Papists,
who if they could not take away my life, by any
colour of Law, in any Iudiciall Court, yet might and
would do it secretly and without knowledge as some
lately meeting with other in the High-way, that haue
commended Preaching, haue said it had beene a good
deed to haue sheathed their Sword in their body and
so escape all punishment of man: Yet whether they
take away my life, or the life of any other neuer so secretly,
they shall with God who being euerie where,
seeth all things though neuer so secret be sure without

E

repentance in the meane time [illegible]
without Mercie. If notwithstanding the concealement
of my Name, I shall be by any treacherie discouered, I
shall I hope willingly submit my selfe, my life, and all
that I haue to your Maiesties pleasure: Yet let such as
shall with any malicious minde discouer me, take heed
to themselues, for God will surely finde them out
wheresoeuer they shall be, and call them to Iudgement,
because I haue done all that I haue done with an vpright
heart to God, to your Maiestie, to your Royall
Posteritie, to the Church of God. And therefore as I
do the rather humbly craue your Princely protection of
me being so discouered, so I do the more hope thereof.
20 If by my boldnesse in writing thus vnto your
Maiestie, without any speciall calling for so doing, your
indignation shall be kindled against me, I doe most
humbly craue the pacification thereof, by the consideration
of that generall bond, wherein as a Subiect I am
bound to wish all good to your Maiestie, to your Posteritie,
to your Kingdomes. And albeit I hope some
other of speciall calling, and of much better abilitie
then my selfe, haue spoken as plainly as I haue written,
yet because words doe often diffluere, and litera scripta
manet, therefore I hauing no speciall calling to speake,
haue the more presumed to write. If any other that
should speake or write haue beene silent, and with-held
their Pens, and so I be one of the Stones that our Sauiour
saith would speake, the other holding their peace.
Yet I humbly beseech your Maiestie, that what I haue
thus written, may not be the lesse, but rather the more
regarded and accepted in that behalfe. Wherein soeuer
either in this my Dedication writing to your Maiestie,
or in any thing written to the Parliament, I haue failed
either for matter [illegible]
your Maiesties [illegible]
hope whereof I [illegible]
and therefore by the [illegible]
haue comfort, whosoeuer [illegible]
whatsoeuer else do befall me. [illegible]
dantly Paul loued the Corinthians [illegible] were
beloued of them, yet for my abundant loue to your
Maiestie, to your Royall Posteritie, and to your Kingdomes
in which my abundant loue it may be in some
thing I haue ouer-shot my selfe I feare no such thing
from your Maiestie. For my plaine and homely manner
of writing I not being as I said acquainted with Court
Language, neither haue been for many yeers I nothing
feare your displeasure, because the poorest of Gods
Children do daily present their Supplications to God
himselfe, the King of Kings in as plaine and course
words and phrases as I haue now vsed to your Maiestie.
21 To conclude all, as I began so I end with my
heartie desire and prayer againe to God for your Maiestie
to be saued: euen here alwayes to be preserued
from all Enemies open and secret, especially from the
Enemies of your euerlasting Saluation: and that also
you may alwayes haue an Heart sutable to your most
eminent place for God, for Iesus Christ, for his Gospel,
and for the sincere Preachers & Professors therof, within
your own Dominions, & else-where: and lastly against
all the wicked & vngodly, of what sort & kind soeuer;
that so God may haue the more glorie by you, his
Churches the more comfort, & your Maiestie the longer
& more prosperous life in this world, & euerlasting
happinesse & glorie in the world to come, euen in the
Heauenly Kingdome of Christ, & of God, Amen, Amen.
And let all men say Amen.