Phil. I believe verily, that what soever the subjects have, are the goods of such a righteous and ⟨image 82⟩godly Prince,1 as we have now reining among us. Yea if the high powers were very Tyrants, and altogether unmerciful, yet might we deny them no thing at all of our goods if they required them of us,2 but deliver them up into their ham des freely, to be used as it shall please them, being persuaded that it is for our since, that God suffereth such Tyrants to reign over us & therefore ought they to be obeyed in all things,3 that fight not with the word of God, nor obscure the divine glory, though they seem to be never so full of tyranny & unmercifulness. But seeing we have such a prince as loveth his faithful subjects no less, than a gentle father doth his natural son, cherisheth them no less, than a nurse doth her child, preserveth them without danger no less than a trusty shepherd seeketh to keep his sheep from the ravening ⟨image 82⟩teth of the wolf, & utterly giveth him self altogether unto us & unto our commodity & profit, what should be the cause, that we might deny any thing to this our Emperor so merciful, so gentle, so bounteous, so prudent, so wise, and so circumspect in all things, that pertain unto our commodity & wealth. To much beastlike are they, that consider not the bounty of so excellent a Prince. Blessed is that land, saith the wise man,4 whose king is a man of nobility, & whose Princes eat in due season for strength & not for lust. But woe be unto that Realm, whose King is but a child and whose Princes are early at their Banquets.
Thus neighbours have I declared unto you according to my promise your duty toward our most excellent king, & such as he appointeth to be governors under him. ⟨image 83⟩Look therefore that ye be obedient unto them, fear them, honour them, & pay what so ever is required of you. For unto all these things ye are bound by the holy Scripture, which if ye do, the blessing of God is upon you: If ye do not, the curse & vengeance of God will fall on you, so that your end shall be miserable both before God & man.
Phil. I beleue verely, that what soeuer the subiectes haue, are the goodes of such a righteous and ⟨image 82⟩godly Prynce,1 as we haue now reynynge amonge vs. Yea if the highe powers were very Tyrauntes, and altogyther vnmercifull, yet myght we deny them no thyng at al of our goodes if they required them of vs,2 but delyuer them vp into theyr hā des frely, to be vsed as it shal please them, beynge perswaded that it is for our synnes, that God suffereth such Tyrauntes to reygne ouer vs & therfore oughte they to be obeyed in all thynges,3 that fyght not with the worde of God, nor obscure the diuine glorye, thoughe they seme to be neuer so full of tyranny & vnmercifulnes. But seing we haue such a prīce as loueth his faythful subiectes nolesse, than a gētle father doth his natural sonne, cherisheth thē no lesse, than a nourse doth her chylde, preserueth them without daunger no lesse than a trusty shepparde seakethe to kepe his shepe from the rauenynge ⟨image 82⟩teth of the wolfe, & vtterly gyueth hym selfe altogyther vnto vs & vnto our commodite & profyt, what shoulde be the cause, that we myght deny any thynge to this our Emperour so mercyful, so gentle, so boūteous, so prudent, so wise, and so circumspecte in all thynges, that pertayne vnto our commodite & wealthe. To muche beastlyke are they, yt consider not the bounte of so excellent a Prynce. Blyssed is that londe, sayth the wyse manne,4 whose kynge is a man of nobilite, & whose Princes eat in due seasō for strēgth & not for lust. But wo be vnto that Realme, whose Kyng is but a chyld and whose Prynces are earelye at theyr Banckettes.
Thus neyghbours haue I declared vnto you accordynge to my promyse your duty toward our moost excellent king, & such as he appoynteth to be gouernours vnder hym. ⟨image 83⟩Loke therfore that ye be obediente vnto them, feare them, honour thē, & paye what so euer is required of you. For vnto all these thynges ye are bound by the holy Scripture, which yf ye do, the blessyng of God is vpon you: If ye do not, the curse & vēgeaūce of God wil fal on you, so that your ende shall be miserable bothe before God & man.
- 1Note.
- 2Job. xxxiiii. Pro. xxviii.Iob. xxxiiii. Pro. xxviii.
- 3Esa. iii. Act. iiii.v.
- 4Eccle. •.
