A pleasant new nosegay full of many godly and sweet flowers, lately gatheredA pleasaunt newe nosegaye full of many godly and swete floures, lately gathered

But where as are many that can give counsel, there is wealth, as Chrysostom saith, If thou takest ⟨image 65⟩away the judicial seats & the offices of the law,¹ so hast thou utterly destroyed all the order of our life. And as if thou separatest & pluckest away from the ship the master & steersman of it, thou hast drowned the ship, & as if thou leadest away the captain from the army, thou haste made the Soldiers to be overcome of their enemies. So like wise if thou takest away the rulers out of the Cities, we shall lead a life more unreasonable than the very brute bests, ever snatching on• at another, biting & devouring one another, so that the man of the greater power shall subdue the poorer, & the bolder shall overcome the meeker spirited. They therefore that go about to take away the public magistrates, may justly seem to be the most extreme pestilences of the common weal, & to destroy it, which is no less profitable for our preservation, ⟨image 65⟩safeguard and health, than the sun, fire, or water is, or what so ever can be reckoned most necessary for this our needy life.² For by them is public innocency, honest behaviour, godly learning, virtuous knowledge, sincere erudition, necessary arts, fruitful occupations, maintained. By them we live in tranquillity & peace. By them we enjoy our own possessions without any disturbance. By them we are preserved from all injuries & cruel oppressions. By them our Realms are defended from the invasion of cruel Tyrants. By them the glory of God flourisheth. By them the Gospel of Christ triumpheth, & all sects & heresies are extyrped & plucked up by the roots. To conclude, by them God worketh his most divine pleasure in his elect & faithful people, & all good things chance unto us. For their judging place ⟨image 66⟩is the throne of God.³ Their mouth & sentence is the organ and instrument of Gods trueth. They are the vicars of God. They are the lyuish Image of God. They are the ministers of God for our wealth.