A FTER my departure oute of Brabante,Brabante (myne owne naturall Countrey)Countrey), into youre MaiestiesMajesties Realme of Englande (moste gracious Lady) as well for that I would not beholde the abhominations of the Romyshe Antechrist, as to escape the handes of the bloudthirsty: In the meane space for the auoydingavoyding of idlenesse (the very mother and nourice of all vices) I hauehave among other my trauaylestravayles bene occupied aboute thys little Treatyse, wherin is sette forth the vilenesse and basenesse of worldely things, whiche commonly withdrawe vsus from heauenlyheavenly and spirituall matters, tomatters. To the ende that vnderstandingunderstanding the vanitie and basenesse of the same, and therewithall consideryng the miserable calamities that ensue therupon, we might be mouedmoved the rather to forsake them, and gyuegyve oure seluesselves to the knowledge of HeauenlyHeavenly and eternall things, whence all true happinesse and felicitie doth procede. And for as much as the matter of it selfe is very good (deseruyngdeservyng in dede to be handeled by men of farre better skil thãthan I) I could not deuisedevise how any things whatsoeuerwhatsoever, of lykenesse and conueniencieconveniencie mighte more properly bee resembled one to the other, than this boke for the aptnesse &and conueniencieconveniencie of the argument might be dedicated to your MaiestieMajestie, a most blessed and happie prince. Happy I say, not so much for that youre grace is lineally descended by the most high, puissaunt, mightie &and victorious prince Henry the eight of famous memorie, from so many myghtie and puissant princes of this Realme, your MaiestiesMajesties moste noble progenitours: which hauehave long agone, most valiantly &and victoriously cõqueredconquered al France, and by dint of sword daunted their enimies, so that youre highnesse beareth in Armes as right inheritour thereunto, the royall scepter and Croune imperiall, most triũphantlytriumphantly, and the titles of Englande, Fraunce, and Irelande joyntely in youre maiestiesmajesties stile; neither[ſt]ile. Neither for, that your highnesse as a rare Phœnix of your time, are singular and peerelesse in honoure and renoune, in princely maiestiemajestie, wisedome, skil, beautie, fauourfavour, mildenesse, curtesie and gentlenesse: to be short, excellent in all kind of vertue; norvertue. Nor in respecte of youre learning, knowledge, counsell, judgement, and eloquence, as well in the Greeke, Latine, Italian, Frenche, Dutch, as in your owne natural English, and other languages, wherin your grace may be resembled not onely to Tullie, and Demosthenes, but to Mercurie, the God of eloquence, as is apparant by youre MaiestiesMajesties most apte and wise aunswers giuengiven in your own person to al Embassadours, and to eueryevery of them in their owne naturall language with a singular dexteritie and princely maiestiemajestie, &and with maruellousmarvellous swetenesse of tong; nortong. Nor bicause your grace is expert in song, &and in the arte of Musike, skilful in al kindes of musical instrumẽtsinstruments, and according to the exact proportiõsproportions of geometrie exquisite in the measures of the daunce: and besides al these, embraced of Apollo, and his nine sisters, by whome your grace is so instructed in the diuinedivine Arte of Poetrie, that you may woorthily be called the seconde Sappho; neitherSappho. Neither for your great skil &and judgement in painting and imagerie, bothe for the cunnyng of the workmanshyp and the deuisedevise and storie. In summe, perfecte in all good exercises of the wit, namely the artes and liberall sciences. Finally, not alonly for that nature of hir boũtiebountie and goodnesse hath shewed suche grace and speciall fauourfavour toward you, by enduing youre grace moste plentyfully with infinite graces and vertues more abundantly than any other Prince or Princesse in the worlde, so that it might serueserve me for a sufficient argument to fill large volumes, only to stande in commendation of your maiestiemajestie, not annexing therto any deuisedevise of myne owne, of fained Emblemes or Poetical fables, and that without vsingusing flatterie or glosing, as they do most comonly, that ambitiously seeking after prefermentes and honoure, disguise rather than describe noble and honorable personages, whome they sette oute many tymes beyonde al truth, yea sometime aboueabove measure, and with as great inconueniencieinconveniencie as yf they should paynt an Asse tuning of a harp. For I do not accompt your grace happy for these alonely (thoughe many and singular) giftes and graces, which your grace enioyethenjoyeth in great plentie and abundance, consideryng they bee transitorie, and can not make any man or woman happie (albeit they seme diuinedivine and supernaturall,)supernaturall), excepte they be accompanied wyth the louelove and feare of God, according to the saying of King Lamuell, in the thirde of the ProuerbesProverbes: FauourFavour is deceiuabledeceivable, and Beautie a mere vanitie, but the woman that feareth the Lorde, is to be belouedbeloved. But chiefly and principally when I consider that God intendyng to bestowe an excellent benefit peculiarly vponupon your MaiestieMajestie more than vponupon any other Prince or Princesse in the worlde, hath besides al the other forenamed his manifolde giftes and graces, lightened your vnderstandingunderstanding with his holy spirit, and hath vouchesafed (by enclinyng youre graces heart, spirite and minde to humilitie, peace, mildenesse, and all kinde of louablenesselovablenesse) to chose your maiestiemajestie, especially to be his champion to defend his belouedbeloved church. And in this respect,respect (like as all faithfull and true ChristiãChristian princes throughout all Europe do esteme and repute you)you), do I also, and that of good right call your grace a moste happie and blessed Prince. Consider I beseche you, how God hath blessed your maiestiemajestie in thys worlde more than he hath done any of your progenitours. For neuernever was it seene in any age or time heretofore, that this your realme of England hath flourished as it dothe at this present vnderunder your MaiestiesMajesties moste happie gouernementgovernement. Firste in all kinde of liberall Artes and sciences. Secondarily in the abundance of treasure, as well golde and siluersilver, as all sortes of riche and precious iewelsjewels and ornamentes. Thirdely, in the free passage and trafike of all kinde of marchandise: Besides this, in good and politike lawes and ordinances, namely in the due execution of iusticejustice, according to law and equitie. The worde of God is purely preached here in six or seuenseven languages. The Sacraments of Baptisme, and the holy Supper, sincerely ministred according to Christes institution. Christian discipline in due force in many places. Finally eueryevery countrey and nation that will liuelive here according to his holy worde, is receiuedreceived, and findeth good entertainement. O how happy and blessed is that King or kingdome, where these things are in force.force Contrarywise most vnhappieunhappie are those princes, that banishyng and reiectingrejecting Christ, receiuereceive that Antechrist, the sonne of the DiuellDivell, and forsakyng the truth, embrace errour: To be short, that do al things ouerthwartlyoverthwartly &and clean against the hair.hair For it is moste certaine and sure, that sodaine ruine and destruction shall fall vponupon all wicked and vngodlyungodly persons, as well nowe as in tyme paste, as experience hath well prouedproved heretofore: Namely vponupon Pharao, and hys kingdome of Egypt, vponupon IeroboamJeroboam, Achab, IezabellJezabell and infinite other mo. Wher on the other part, the good kings &and princes which feare the Lord, shal hauehave peace and comfort bothe in this worlde, and in the worlde to come: Like as had IosuaJosua, IudaJuda, Gedeon, DauidDavid and diuersdivers other in those days, and is also to be seene at this day most euidentlyevidently in the realmes and countreyes vnderunder youre MaiestiesMajesties dominion, whiche God hath blessed in suche sort, that it may truly be sayd, that the kingdome of Saturne, and the Golden worlde is come againe, and the Virgin Astrea is desscended from heauenheaven to builde hir a seate in this your moste happie countrey of EnglãdEngland. For here is peace and quietnesse, where aswhereas the moste parte of foraine countreyes are full of great tumultes, and that (more is the pitie) with the sheding of much christian bloude. And where as many myghtie kings and potentates of the earthe hauehave banded and conspired together, &and fight eueryevery where against God his anointed, and his holy churche, bendyng their force vtterlyutterly to deface hys name, his glorie, and his Churche: Almightie God of his diuinedivine prouidenceprovidence hath nowe also in these days (like as he hath in all ages heretofore) raised vpup diuersdivers good and godly princes and states, and prouidedprovided certaine places, wherto the elect and faithfull hauehave resorted &and bene preseruedpreserved, during the time of persecution,persetion, to the ende that his holy name myght there be glorified, his worde purely and sincerely preached, and his Churche dispersed, in a manner restored. As it is also come to passe in these our most miserable days, in the whiche suche as syncerely louelove and esteeme more derely the honoure and glorie of God than they doe their owne commodities, ease, and welfare,welfare (after the counsel of Christ, saying in this wyse: yfifYfIf they persecute you in one citie, flie ye vntounto an other)other), hauehave bene cõtentcontent to depart their owne naturall countrey, wholly to forsake their landes, inheritances, possessions, and dwellyng places, yea and some also, to surrẽdersurrender their offices, dignities, &and worldly preferments. An other sort with their wiueswives children and parentes are departed into Germanie, namely into the territorie and dominion of Frederike prince Elector and coũtiecountie Palatine, the floure of all Christian Princes in these dayes (that I knowe) in the feruentfervent zeale and true feare of God, a man worthy to be compared with DauidDavid, or IosiasJosias. Others are fled into other places elsewhere, some to one cuntrey, some to an other, eueryevery one according to his abilitie, estate, condition, and facultie. But we a numbre of vsus are arriuedarrived in saftie in this your maiestiesmajesties realme of Englande, as into a moste safe and sure harborough, where we liuelive (God be thanked) vnderunder your MaiestiesMajesties protection and safegarde in greate libertie to serueserve God in eyther language, the French or the Dutche, without al feare of tyrantes, or daunger of the gapyng throates of greedie raueningravening wolueswolves. After the same maner hath God in time past preseruedpreserved &and deliuereddelivered his elect out of the hãdshands of their enimies &and persecuters by the ministerie of dyuersdyvers vertuous women. As is to be sene in the .4. chapt. of the boke of IudgesJudges. How God deliuereddelivered his people of Israel out of the hãdshands of IabinJabin king of Chanaan, by Debora the prophetesse, by selling Sizara chiefe captain of his armie into the hãdhand of a womãwoman called IahelJahel. As he also preseruedpreserved DauidDavid frõfrom the furie of Saul, by Michol Sauls own daughter. As he deliuereddelivered the citizẽscitizens of Bethulia, frõfrom the tiranny of Holofernes, by the hand of that most vertuous Ladie IudithJudith. And as the childrẽ children of Israel, were sauedsaved by the counsel of Mardocheus, at the instãceinstance &and request of the most gratious &and humble Hester, where they were lately before in peril of death &and presẽtpresent destructiõdestruction by the conspiracie of wicked Haman. The like hath ben brought to passe by diuersdivers other renoumed Ladies, whose fame shal endure for euerever. And surely the graces &and mercies that God hath shewed to his afflicted church in these later days by your maiestiesmajesties means, ar no lesse thãthan those he hath shewed tofore by the late rehersed ladies: so that your grace deseruethdeserveth equal praise and cõmẽdatiõcommendation with them, cõsideringconsidering with what gẽtlenessegentlenesse &and with how louingloving &and charitable affection you hauehave receiuedreceived the poore scattered flock of Christ. Is not your MaiestieMajestie then to be estemed infinitely more happy &and blessed that are so specially elect of god to serueserve him for such an instrumẽtinstrument, &and in such a quarel, &and that maugre the beards of the enimies, being enraged through the malice and obstinacy of their hearts do persecute the church of God? Yes assuredly, most happy, christiãchristian, and vertuous princesse, eueneven in the highest degree. Howe shall I be able then to expresse with tong, or to endite with pen your praises sufficiently? verilyVerily I am confounded and put to silence, and do confesse my self to be altogether insufficient. Wherfore (moste gracious Ladie) I rest with my heartie and continuall prayer vntounto God for your maiestiemajestie, that he turne not his face from you, but that it wold please him to continue and daily to encrease his grace and fauorfavor towards you, and his holy spirite within you, as also in and towardes those that be of your MaiestiesMajesties counsel, and all other Magistrates and officers whatsoeuerwhatsoever hauinghaving authoritie vnderunder your highnesse within your maiestiesmajesties realms and dominions, dominiõs.dominions. that walking in the fear &and louelove of him they may do al their endeuourendevour through the preaching of his holy word to aduaunceadvaunce his holy name, and aboueabove al things especially to seke the safetie and weal of his church. And therfore for the great benefit &and good that God hath don vntounto his church by means of your maiestymajesty (most gracious prince) al tru faithful whatsoeuerwhatsoever they be, as wel strangers as your natural subiectssubjects seke to do vntounto your maiestiemajestie most faithful and honorable seruiceservice, according to their power. Besides, in al their assẽbliesassemblies &and in eueryevery congregation they make their hartie &and feruẽtferuentfervẽtfervent prayers vntounto almightie God for the helth of your soule, the safegard of your most royal person, &and the prosperous estate of your realm long to cõtinuecontinue. And I especially for mine own part, bicause I wold not be vnthãkfulvnthankfulunthãkfulunthankful for the great benefits I enioyenjoy by your grace, abiding vnderunder your maiestiesmajesties protectiõprotection (forasmuch as ingratitude is a mostis a a most horrible andaud detestable vice) in consideration thereof (moste gracious Lady) I present your highnesse with this smal Treatise of mine, as the best IewelJewel that I hauehave in store at this presente, in signification of my good wil, and for declaration of my duetie in this behalfe, beseeching youre highnesse moste humbly to accept it in good parte as (considering your maiestiesmajesties natural bountie and your accustomed goodnesse) my trust is you will vouchsafe to doe. For I am persuaded (albeit the stile be rude) that the matter shall be fitte for your MaiestieMajestie to reade, and that the same shall not be vnpleasantunpleasant vntounto you, but minister vntounto your grace great occasion of much ioyjoy, peace, and contentation of minde and conscience. And these be the causes and respects for the which I presume to present the same to your maiestiemajestie, in most humble maner beseching your highnesse to accepte the same, and praying to almightie God to graunt vntounto your MaiestieMajestie a moste happie reign in this world: and after this life to reigne with him for euerever, for his only son our Lorde IesusJesus Christes sake.