able to dispose of the present occasions, we have, with the advice of the council, thought fit to send unto you these instructions following, to be sent by you to the bishops of your province, and such others, whom it may concern, and by them and their officers directed to all 5 the ministers throughout the several dioceses, that according to these punctually they may instruct and exhort the people to serve God and us, and labour by their prayers to divert the dangers which hang over us. The danger in which we are at this time is great; it is in- 10 creased by the late blow given our good uncle the king of Denmark, who is the chief person in those parts that opposed the spreading forces of Spain; if he cannot subsist, there is little or nothing left to hinder the house of Austria from being lord and master of Germany; and that 15 is a large and mighty territory, as should it be gotten would make an open way for Spain to do what they please in all the west parts of Christendom. For besides the great strength which Germany, once possessed, would bring to them, which are too strong already, you are to 20 consider first, how it will enable them by land, in that it will join all, or the most parts of the Spaniard's now distracted territories, and be a means for him safely and speedily to draw down forces against any other kingdom, that shall stand in his way; nor can it be thought the 25 Low Countries can hold out longer against him, if he once become lord of the upper parts. And secondly, you are to weigh how it will advantage him by sea, and make him strong against us in our particular, which is of easy apprehension to all men and besides, if he once get 30 Germany, he will be able, though he had no gold from India, to supply the necessity of those wars, and to hinder all trade and traffic of the greatest staple commodities of this kingdom, cloth and wool, and so make them of little or no value. You are to know therefore, that to prevent 35 this is the present care of the king and the state, and

there is no probable way left, but by sending forces and other supplies to the said king of Denmark our dear uncle, to enable him to keep the field, that our enemies be not masters of all on the sudden. You are further to 5 take notice, how that we and this whole state stand bound in honour and conscience to supply the present necessity of the king of Denmark; for this quarrel is more nearly ours, the recovery of the ancient inheritance of our dear sister and her children. The king of Den10 mark stands not so near in blood unto her as we do, yet for her and our sakes that brave and valiant king hath adventured into the field, and in that engagement hath not only hazarded his person, but as things go now, it may turn to some danger to his own kingdom and poste15 rity, should he not receive aid and succour from us without delay; which should it happen, as God forbid, will be one of the greatest dishonours, that ever this kingdom was stained withal. Nor is danger and dishonour all the mischief that is like to follow this disaster; ad for if he be not presently relieved, the cause of religion is not only likely to suffer by it in some one part, as it hath already in a fearful manner in the Palatinate, but in all places, where it hath gotten any footing; so that if we supply not presently our allies and confederates in this 25 case, it is likely to prove the extirpation of true religion, and the replanting of Romish superstition in all the neighbouring parts of Christendom; and the colonies of this state shall suffer in all places as the betrayer of that religion elsewhere, which it professeth and honoureth at 30 home; which will be an imputation never to be washed off; and God forbid this state should suffer under it. Neither may you forget rightly to inform the people committed to your charge, that this war which now grows full of danger, was not entered upon rashly and 35 without advice, but you are to acquaint them, that all former treaties by a peaceable way were in the latter end

of our dear father of ever blessed memory dissolved as fruitless and unfit longer to be held on foot, and this by the counsel of both houses of parliament then sitting; so those two great and honourable bodies of the peers and people represented in parliament, led on this counsel and 5 course to a war with Spain; to effect this, they desired our aid and assistance, and used us to work our said dear father to entertain this course. This upon their persuasions and promises of all assistance and supply we readily undertook and effected, and cannot now be left in 10 that business, but with the sin and shame of all men. Sin, because aid and supply for the defence of the kingdom, and the like affairs of the state, especially such as are advised by parliamentary counsel, are due to the king from his people by all law both of God and men; and 15 shame, if they forsake the king, while he pursues their own counsel just and honourable, and which could not under God but have been successful, if he had been followed and supplied in time, as we desired and laboured for. One thing there is, which proves a great hin- 20 derance of this state, and not continued among the people without great offence against God, detriment both to church and state, and our great disservice in this and all other business; it is the breach of unity, which is grown too great and common among all sorts 25 of men; the danger of this goes far; for in all states it hath made way for enemies to enter. We have by all means endeavoured union, and require of you to preach it, and charity, the mother of it, frequently in the ears of the people. We know their loyal hearts, and therefore 30 wonder the more what should cause distracted affections. If you call upon them, which is your duty, we doubt not but that God will bless them with that love to himself, to his church, and their own preservation, which alone will be able to bind up the scatterings of divided affec- 35 tions into strength. To this end you are to lay before

them what miseries home-divisions have brought upon this and many other kingdoms, and to exhort all men to embrace it in time; the danger itself, besides all other Christian and prudent motives, is offence enough, where 5 it is duly considered, to make men join in all amity against a common, a great, and a growing enemy, and to do it in time, before any secret and cunning working of his may use one part in a division, to weaken the other: and in the last place, but first and last and all times to To be insisted upon, you are to call upon God yourselves, and to incite the people to join with you in humble and hearty prayers unto God, that he will be pleased now after long afflictions of his dear people and children, to look in mercy both upon them and us, and in particular 15 for the safety of the king of Denmark, and that army which is left him, that God would bless and prosper him against his and our enemies. Thus you are to strengthen the hearts and the hands of our loyal subjects and people in and upon God. And whereas the greatest confidence 20 men have in God, ariseth not only from his promises, but

from their experience likewise of his goodness; you must not fail often to recall to the memory of the people with thankfulness the late great experience we have had of his goodness towards us. For the three great and usual 25 judgments, which he darts down upon disobedient and unthankful people, are pestilence, famine, and the sword; the pestilence did never rage more in this kingdom than of late; and God was graciously pleased in mercy to hear the prayers which were made unto him, and the ceasing 30 of the judgment was little less than a miracle. The

famine threatened us this present year, and it must have followed, had God rained down his anger a little longer upon the fruits of the earth; but upon our prayers he stayed that judgment, and sent us a most blessed season 35 and a most plentiful harvest. The sword is the thing which we are now to look to, and you must call the

people to their prayers again against the enemy, that God will be pleased to send the like deliverance from this judgment also, that in the same mercy he will vouchsafe to strengthen the hands of his people, that he will sharpen their sword, but dull and turn the edge of 5 that which is in our enemies' hands; that so while some fight, others may pray for the blessing. And you are to be careful, that you fail not to direct and hearten our loving people in this and all other necessary services both of God, his church, and us, that we may have the com- 10 fort of our people's service, the state safety, the church religion, and the people the enjoying of all such blessings as follow these: and we end with doubling of this care upon you and all under you in their several places. Given at our palace at Westm. in the second year of our reign, 15 the 21st of September MDCXXVI.

The care which your lordship is to use in this behalf, is, to see them made known in the worthy preachers and ministers in your diocese, and so far as your lordship may, in your own person to put these things in execution, 20 and to call upon the clergy, which is under you, in their preaching and private conferences, to stir up all sort of people to express their zeal to God, their duty to the king, and their love unto their country, and one to another; that all good and Christian courses may be 25 taken for the preservation of the true religion both in this land and throughout all Christendom: which not doubting but your lordship with all diligence and speed will see effected, I leave you to the Almighty, and remain

Your lordship's loving brother,

Croydon, Sept. 26,

G. CANT.

30

MDCXXVI.