What mischief hath of late years been attempted against this Realm, and how great a flame hath been kindled against the walls of the Church, through the great Treasons that have been practised to confound the whole state, by reason of the Popes most pestilent Bull: your Lordship right well knoweth: yea and it is even yet still so apparent (or rather present) in all mens eyes, as there is no wise man but he trembleth at the dreadful remembrance, nor simple & godly minded man, but he wondereth at the marvellous disappointing of the dangers, which were sundry times ready to have overwhelmed us, even in one moment, had not God reached out his merciful hand from heaven in the open face of the world to defend us. For it can not be denied, but that thereby, open defiance hath been made to faithfulness and allegiance: honesty and virtue were shamefully defaced: Religion and Justice were openly assaulted: neighbourhood and charity were treacherously despised: God and godliness were wickedly impugned: our most virtuous and renowned Princes Majesty was traitorously impeached; ⟨image 3⟩her rightful preeminence diversly assailed, her unblameable doings causeless defamed, her gracious clemency scornfully abused, her noble person privily pricked at, the welfare of the whole Realm dangerously hazarded, and the state thereof either entitled to inward Competitors, or proffered as a pray to foreign enemies. Is it not a strange case, that a Romish Bull (or to speak more rightly, a childish babble) should be able to work such inconveniences, even where the Gospel shineth most lightsomely? And yet we see, that not only some of the rude and witless sort, but also many of the greater sort, which thought: them selves no small fools, nor were in deed no young babes, were contented to become such Calves, as to run out of Gods blessing, into the warm Sun, and to turn their weapons into their own bowels, at the bellowing of an outlandish Bull, which notwithstanding was but a Leaden Bull, a paper Bull, a painted Bull, and had neither breath, moving, nor voice of it own, till the Calves them selves had breathed into it. But righteous art thou O Lord God, and rightful are thy judgements. They digged a pit for others, & are fallen into it them selves. They laid a snare for thine elected, and their own feet be snarled in it.
WHat mischiefe hath of late yeares bene attempted against this Realme, and how great a flame hath bene kindled against the walles of the Church, through the great Treasons that haue bene practised to confound the whole state, by reason of the Popes most pestilent Bull: your Lordship right well knoweth: yea and it is euen yet still so apparant (or rather present) in all mens eyes, as there is no wise man but he trembleth at the dreadfull remembraunce, nor simple & godly minded man, but he wondreth at the marueilous disappointing of the daungers, which were sundry times ready to haue ouerwhelmed vs, euen in one moment, had not God reached out his mercifull hand from heauen in the open face of the world to defend vs. For it can not be denied, but that therby, open defiance hath bene made to faythfulnesse and allegeance: honestie and vertue were shamefully defaced: Religion and Iustice were openly assaulted: neiborod and charitie were trecherously despised: God and godlinesse were wickedly impugned: our most vertuous and renoumed Princes Maiestie was traiterously impeached; ⟨image 3⟩her rightfull preheminence diuersly assailed, her vnblameable doinges causelesse diffamed, her gracious clemencie scornfully abused, her noble person priuily pricked at, the welfare of the whole Realme daungerously hazarded, and the state thereof either intitled to inward Competitors, or profered as a pray to forreine enemies. Is it not a straunge case, that a Romishe Bull (or to speake more rightly, a childishe bable) should be able to worke such inconueniences, euen where the Gospell shineth most lightsomely? And yet we see, that not onely some of the rude and witlesse sort, but also many of the greater sort, which thought: them selues no small fooles, ne were in deede no young babes, were contented to become such Calues, as to runne out of Gods blissing, into the warme Sunne, and to turne their weapons into their owne bowells, at the bellowing of an outlandishe Bull, which notwithstanding was but a Leaden Bull, a paper Bull, a painted Bull, and had neither breath, mouing, nor voyce of it own, till the Calues them selues had breathed into it. But righteous art thou O Lord God, and rightfull are thy iudgemētes. They digged a pit for others, & are fallen into it them selues. They layd a snare for thine elected, and their own feete be snarled in it.
