Israel was no such vsurped power, as our quenes vniustlie possesse this
day, but that it was the spirit of prophecie, which rested vpon her, what
time the multitude of the people wroght wickedlie in the eyes of the Lord:
by the whiche spirit, she did rebuke the idolatrie and iniquitie of the
people, exhort them to repentance, and in the end, did bring them this
comfort, that God shuld deliuer them from the bondage and thraldom of
their ennemies. And this she might do[120], not withstanding that an other
did occupie the place of the supreme magistral, (if any was in those dayes
in Israel) for, so I finde did Hulda the wife of Sallum in the dayes of
Iosias king of Iuda[121] 'speake prophecie and comfort the king': and yet
he resigned to her nether the sceptre; nor the sword. That this our
interpretacion, how that Debora did iudge in _Israel_ is the true meaning
of the holie ghost, the pondering and weying of the historic shall
manifestlie proue. When she sendeth for Barak, I pray you, in whose name
geueth she him his charge?[122] Doth she speake to him as kinges and
princes vse to speake to their subiectes in suche cases? No, but she
speaketh, as she that had a speciall reuelation frome God, whiche nether
was knovren to Barak nor to the people, saying: hath not the Lord God of
Israel commanded the? This is her preface, by the whiche she wold stirre
vp the dull senses of Barak, and of the people, willing to persuade vnto
them, that the time was comen, when God wold shewe him selfe their
protector and deliuerer, in which preface she vsurpeth to her selfe,
nether power nor authoritie. For she saith not, I being thy princes, thy
maistresse, thy souereine ladie and quene, commatide the vpon thine
allegeance, and vnder pain of treason to go, and gather an armie. No, she
spoileth her self of all power to commande, attributing that authoritie to
God, of whom she had her reuelation and certitude to apoint Barak
capitain, which after appeareth more plainlie. For when she had declared
to him the hole counsel of God, apointing vnto him aswell the nombre of
his souldiors, as the tribes, owt of which they shuld be gathered: and