An exposition upon the song of the blessed virgin Mary, called Magnificat Where unto…An exposicion vpon the songe of the blessed virgine Mary, called Magnificat Where vnto…

Now do I return unto you most bounteous prince, desiring your highness to take my boldness in worth. Though I know that your goodnesses youth hath many instructors and daily admonitions, yet could I not repress the care of my subjection and due faithfulness, and besides this the charge of my conscience, and the exhortation of your highness. Seeing we all do hope, that in times to come, the rule of the commune wealth (the which our merciful god give to prosper) shall come to your highness hands: the which is a great thing, if it do well befall: and again a perilous and miserable thing, if it do befall otherwise. But unto us it becometh to look and pray for the best, nevertheless carefully to fear is the worst of all.

Now do I returne vnto you moost boū teous prince, desyrynge youre hyghnesse to take my boldenesse in worth. Though I know that your goodnesses youth hath many instructers and dayly admonicions, yet coulde I not represse the care of my subiection and due faythfulnesse, and besydes this the charge of my conscience, and the exhortacion of your hyghnesse. Seynge we all do hope, that in tymes to come, the rule of the commune welth (the which oure mercyfull god geue to prosper) shall come to your hyghnesse handes: the which is a greate thyng, yf it do well befal: and agayne a peryllous and myserable thynge, yf it do befall otherwyse. But vnto vs it becōmeth to loke and praye for the beste, neuerthelesse carefully to feare is the worst of all.

Let your highness call this to mind, namely: That God never suffered one Gentile king or prince in all the scripture to be commended, no not sense the world was created, but caused them alway to be rebuked: the which is a dreadful ensample unto all superiorities. Neither did he find moreover ⟨image 69⟩any laudable and blameless king among his peculiar people of Israel. Besides all this among the Jews, which were the chief and head of all mankind, lifted up and beloved above all creatures, were but a few, neither above six kings praised. Finally that dear part and precious prince David, which left none neither behind nor by him that was like him in worldly policy: the which though he being full of the fear & wisdom of God, did rule and judge all things by the only commandment of God, and not by his reason, yet nevertheless stone bled sometime. So the scripture also, because she could not blame his governance, and yet must recite the hurt of the people, where by David was cloyed, did not impute it unto David, but unto the people, saying: That God was wroth with the people, and suffered David the holy man to be steered of Satan, which gave him in his mind to number the people, for the which deed .lxx. thousand men did dye of the pestilence.