kindred of their father. Wonder it is that the aduocates and patrones of
the right of our ladies did not consider and ponder this lawe[133] before
that they counseled the blinde princes and vnworthie nobles of their
countries, to betray the liberties therof in to the handes of strangiers.
England for satisfying of the inordinat appetites of that cruell monstre
Marie (vnworthie by reason of her bloodie tyrannie, of the name of a
woman) betrayed (alas) to the proude spaniarde: and Scotlande by the rashe
madnes of foolish gouerners, and by the practises of a craftie dame
resigned likewise, vnder title of mariage in to the power of France. Doth
such translation of realmes and nations please the iustice of God, or is
the possession by such means obteined, lauful in his sight? Assured I am
that it is not[134]. No other wise, I say, then is that possession,
wherunto theues, murtherers, tyrannes and oppressors do attein by theft,
murther, tyrannie, violence, deceit, and oppression, whiche God of his
secrete (but yet most iust) iudgement doth often permit for punishment, as
wel of the sufferers, as of the violent oppressors, but doth neuer approue
the same as laufull and godlie. For if he wold not permit that the
inheritance of the children of Israel shuld passe frome one tribe to an
other by the mariage of any doughter, not withstanding[135] that they were
all one people, all spake one tonge, all were descended of one father, and
all did professe one God, and one religion: If yet, I say, God wold not
suffer that the commoditie and vsuall frute, which might be gathered of
the portion of grounde limited and assigned to one tribe shulde passe to
an other: Will he suffer that the liberties, lawes, commodities and frutes
of hole realmes and nations, be geuen in to the power and distribution of
others, by the reason of mariage, and in the powers of suche, as besides,
that they be of a strange tonge, of strange maners and lawes, they are
also ignorant of God, ennemies to his truth, deniers of Christ Iesus,
persecutors of his true membres, and haters of all vertue? As the odious
nation of spaniardes doth manifestlie declare: who for very despit, which