and so contrary to al equitie and iustice, hastening to furnish him with
corne & prouision for the warres? whither should the long and sacred
quiet of the Romane Empire haue gone to hide it selfe? where should all
other Nations that professe the trueth of Christianitie, thinke that
they might haue shrowded them selues to be free from his tyrannie, and
safe from his murderers and cruel executioners? If they saw not that
their owne destruction was ioyned with the ruine of the Queene of
England, either it must be saide that they woulde denie Christ, or that
they were blinded to their owne miserie by the vengeance of God, for
their secret sinnes. For where the cause of hostilitie is all one, the
like effect and issue is to be looked for at the hands of a cruell and
raging enemie of the trueth: for in a maner, all the inhabitants of the
Hanse Townes are very good fauourers of the reformed Religion, and
mortall enemies to the Romish errors. And would any man then beleeue,
that men so well instructed, coulde more respect their priuate gaine, I
will not say their filthie lucre, then their owne securitie, the
preseruation of their Countrey, and the propagation of true Religion?

[Sidenote: The Citie of Hamboroughs letters to the Queenes Maiestie.]

But what? will the inhabitants of the Hanse Townes pretend that they
knewe not the Queene of Englands pleasure? The Citie of Hamborough by
their letters written vnto the Queenes Maiestie, the 21. of September,
in the yeere 1585 hauing besought her, that their ships might passe
quietly vnto Spaine and Portugal, without stop or hindrance either in
their passage or repassage, by her Maiesties Captaines at Sea, receiued
not they answere to this effect?

[Sidenote: The Queenes Maiesties letters to the Hamburgers.]