A discouerie of Edmund Campion, and his confederates, their most horrible and traiterous practises, against her Maiesties most royall person and the realme Wherein may be seene, how thorowe the whole course of their araignement: they were notably conuicted of euery cause. VVhereto is added, the execution of Edmund Campion, Raphe Sherwin, and Alexander Brian, executed at Tiborne the 1. of December. Published by A.M. sometime the Popes scholler, allowed in the seminarie at Roome amongst them: a discourse needefull to be read of euery man, to beware how they deale with such secret seducers. Seene, and allowed.

To the Courteous and freendly Reader.

HOw precious a thing (courte∣ous Reader) faithfulnesse to our Prince and Countrey is, cannot bee so much spo∣ken of, as it dooth worthily deserue: for that as Cicero* 1.1 defineth, it is the onely foun∣dation of Iustice, and with∣out which, Prudence is but Deceitfulnesse, Temperaūce but Luxuriousnes, Forti∣tude meere Cowardise, and Iustice her selfe, plaine Cru∣elnes. The Heathen and o∣ther, fayling in this so com∣mendable

vertue, would e∣steeme themselues vnwor∣thie to vse the company of men: how much more then ought we Christians, to re∣uerence and honour such an especiall or••ament?

The Romanes would take a Hog,* 1.2 and breake it to pee∣ces in a Morter: wishing theyr owne bones might so be broken, if they did prooue false of theyr faith.

The Medians and the A∣rabians were w••nt to pri•••• their fingers,* 1.3 and eche of them should 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thereof sig∣nitying 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that theyr blood should be spilte th•••• kept not their ••aithe.

Among the Scithians,* 1.4 if any were sound to 〈◊〉〈◊〉

their ••aithe: they were by the lawe presentlye adiud∣ged to death.

Cicero writing to Tre∣batius,* 1.5 reporteth a notable custome among 〈◊〉〈◊〉 people, how they would take Iupiters Stone in theyr handes, vttering these woordes: Euen as I cast this Stone from me, so ••et Iupiter cast me out of the so∣cietie and companye of all men, if willingly I breake my faithe.

The Aegiptians* 1.6 could neuer abide suche persons, as were 〈…〉〈…〉 their faith: and therefore they that so offended, no redemption might seeme to saue their liues.

Gaudentius Merula re∣porteth,* 1.7 that in Bithinia there is a Riuer called Ale∣os, and of some Olochas: of which if any one taste, that hath broken his faithe to his Prince and Coūtrey: his entrayles are presently set on fyre within him, and so he endeth his life merue∣lous miserably.

I would such a Riuer were in all Citties in the world: for then lesse Trea∣son and impietie would be practised among men, a∣gainst their Prince and naturall Countrey.

You see of late how it hath happened by our owne Countreymen, borne and bred heere among vs, how

they neither regarding their duetie to God, or faithfull looue they ought to beare theyr Princesse and Coun∣trey: wilfully yeelded them∣selues to the enemy of the whole world, with him to practise the destruction of their lawfull Soueraigne and her dominion: which beeing manifestly prooued to theyr faces, is neuerthe∣lesse misreported by some of their secret fauourers.

Wherefore, that thou maist beware, how thou giuest credit to any of them all, whose wicked mindes kick and spurne against the trueth: read this Discourse, and thou shalt euidently see into the depthe of their se∣cret

and trayterous dea∣lings.

And if thou finde in some places, such wordes as mo∣destie can hardly suffer: be∣stowe such reuerence in the reading, as thou maiste be warned by them, to remaine euer a loyall and faith∣full subiect.

Thine to vse, A. Munday.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cicero.
• * 1.2

  A notable example of the Ro∣manes.
• * 1.3

  Medians and the Arabians.
• * 1.4

  Scithians.
• * 1.5

  Cicero▪ epist. 12. li. 7 Epist. famil.
• * 1.6

  Aegiptians.
• * 1.7

  Gaudenti∣us Merula, de Memo∣rabilibus. li. 3. Chap. 3.