The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

But whatsoever the prince be, or his government, it is evident that for the most part those princes whom some subjects do think to be very godly, and under whose government they rejoice to live: some other subjects do take the same to be evil and ungodly, and do wish for a change. If therefore all subjects that mislike of their prince, should rebel, no Realm should ever be without rebellion. It were more meet that rebels should hear the advise of wise men, and give place unto their judgement, and follow the example of obedient subjects, as reason is that they whose understanding is blinded with so evil an affection, should give place to them that be of sound judgement, and that the worse should give place to the better: and so might Realms continue ⟨p. 554⟩in long obedience, peace, and quietness. But what if the prince be undiscrete, and evil in deed, and it also evident to all mens eyes, that he so is? I ask again, what if it be long of the wickedness of the subjects, that the prince is undiscrete and evil? Shall the subjects both by their wickedness provoke God for their deserved punishment to give them an undiscrete or evil prince, and also rebel against him, and withal against God, who for the punishment of their sins did give them such a prince? Will you hear the scriptures concerning this point? God (say the holy scriptures) maketh a ¹wicked man to reign for the sins of the people. Again, God giveth a prince in his anger ²(meaning an evil one) and taketh away a prince in his displeasure, meaning specially when he taketh away a good prince, for the sins of the people: as in our memory he toke away our good Josiah king Edward in his young and good years for our wickedness. And contrarily the scriptures do teach that ³God giveth wisdom unto princes, and maketh a wise and good king to reign over that people whom he loveth, and who loveth him. Again, if the people obey God, both they and their king shall prosper and be safe, else both shall ⁴perish, saith God by the mouth of Samuel.

But whatsoeuer the prince be, or his gouernment, it is euident that for the moste part those princes whom some subiectes do thynke to be very godlye, and vnder whose gouernment they reioyce to liue: some other subiectes do take the same to be euill and vngodly, and do wishe for a chaunge. If therefore all subiectes that mislike of their prince, should rebell, no Realme shoulde euer be without rebellion. It were more meete that rebels shoulde heare the aduise of wyse men, and geue place vnto theyr iudgement, and folowe the example of obedient subiectes, as reason is that they whose vnderstandyng is blinded with so euyll an affection, shoulde geue place to them that be of sound iudgement, and that the worse shoulde geue place to the better: and so myght Realmes continue