diddest offre thy selfe moste mercifullie to them both, offering the
meanes by the whiche they might haue bene ioyned to gether for euer in
godly Concorde: then was the one proude and cruel, and the other
vnconstant, and fikle of promise. But yet (alas) did miserable England
further rebell against the. For albeit thou diddest not cease to heape
benefit vpon benefit, during the reigne of an innocent and tendre king,
yet no man did acknowledge thy potent hand and meruelouse working. The
stoute courage of capitaines, the witte and policie of counselors, the
learning of bishoppes[81], did robbe the of thy glorie and honor. For what
then was heard, as concerning religion, but the kinges procedinges, the
kinges procedinges must be obeyed? It is enacted by parliament: therefore
it is treason to speake in the contrarie. But this was not the end of this
miserable tragedie. For thou diddest yet precede to offre thy fauors,
sending thy prophetes and messagers, to call for reformation of life in
all estates[82]: For euen frome the highest to the lowest, all were
declined frome the (yea euen those that shuld haue bene the lanterns to
others) some I am assured did qwake and tremble, and frome the botome of
their hartes thirsted amendment, and for the same purpose did earnestly
call for discipline. But then brust forth the venome which before lurked;
then might they not conteine their despiteful voices, but with open
mouthes did crie: we will not haue suche a one to reigne ouer vs. Then, I
say, was euerie man so stoute, that he wolde not be broght in bondage[83]:
no not to the, O Lord, but with disdein did the multitude cast frome them
the amiable yoke of Christ Iesus. No man wolde suffre his sinne to be
rebuked, no man wolde haue his life called to triall. And thus did they
refuse the, O Lorde, and thy sonne Christ Iesus to be their pastor,
protector and prince. And therfore hast thou geuen them ouer in to a
reprobat minde. Thou hast taken from them the spirit of boldnes, of
wisdome and of rightuous iudgement. They see their owne destruction, and
yet they haue no grace to auoide it. Yea they are becomen so blinde, that