A97377:16
A most necessary & fruitful dialogue, between [the] seditious libertine or rebel Anabaptist, &…A most necessary & frutefull dialogue, betwene [the] seditious libertin or rebel Anabaptist, &…
A most necessary & fruitful dialogue, between [the] seditious libertine or rebel Anabaptist, & the true obedient christia[n] wherein, as in a mirror or glass ye shall see [the] excellence and worthiness of a christia[n] magistrate: & again what obedience is due unto public rulers of all th[os]e [that] profess Christ yea, though [the] rulers, in extern & outward things, to their utter damnation, do otherwise then well: translated out of Latin into English, by Iho[n] Veron Senonoys.A most necessary & frutefull dialogue, betwene [the] seditious libertin or rebel Anabaptist, & the true obedient christia[n] wherin, as in a mirrour or glasse ye shal se [the] excellencte and worthynesse of a christia[n] magistrate: & again what obedience is due vnto publique rulers of all th[os]e [that] professe Christ yea, though [the] rulers, in externe & outward thinges, to their vtter dampnatyon, do otherwyse then well: translated out of Latyn into Englishe, by Iho[n] Veron Senonoys.
Worcester : Imprinted the third day of April. Anno. Do. 1551. At Worcester in the high street, by John Oswen. They be also to sell at Shrewesbury. Cum priuligio ad imprimendum solum, 1551Worcester : Imprynted the third daye of Aprill. Anno. Do. 1551. At Worceter in ye hygh strete, by Ihon Oswen. They be also to sell at Shrewesbury. Cum priuligio ad imprimendum solum, 1551
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
I say unto you, that all your mortal enemies that compass you round about (set them all together, Frenchmen Scots, Danes, Turks) could not have found or imagined a more ready way to destroy England, then the English men did. For as a Realm, be it never so small, is invincible, if the subjects of it, being knitted in love, do hold together: so, if they be once divided against them selves, it is unpossible, but that the same land & country,1 must be brought to utter desolation. Which thing Scilurus, a King of the Scythians, did most lively set forth, by a goodly example & Apophthegm, which I would it were both written and painted upon every wall, that men might learn thereby how strong a thing concord and unity is. This king,2 as the histories do testify had .lxxx. sons, whom a little afore his death, he did call altogether, bidding ⟨image 21⟩them, to bring every one of them an arrow. Which thing being done, he commanded that all the arrows should be fast bound together, and so delivered the bundle of arrows, being thus fast bound to every one of his sons, bidding them to break the arrows, as they were fast bound together in one bundle. Which thing, because it was unpossible, they refused to do. Then the king commanded the arrows to be unbound, and did give to every one of them an arrow too break, which they did lightly. Then the king exhorting his sons to unity and concord, did say to them after this manner:3 If ye agree within your selves, and hold together, ye shall be invincible no man shall be able too overcome you, but if ye disagree and fall out among your selves, ye shall be both weak and easy to be overcome. Shall not this heathen & ethnic king, rise in the day of judgement, & condemn you, that so ungodly do break the unity, peace and concord of your own natural country? Oh how many of the heathen, which neither knew god, nor his word, did offer them selves manfully to die for the welfare & preservation ⟨image 21⟩of their own natural country, & these unreasonable beasts (to call them christians, I am ashamed) do go about and study all that they can to destroy it, to betray it, and most traitorously to bring it to naught. Oh what may I say now unto you?