A loyal subiects looking-glasse, or A good subiects direction necessary and requisite for euery good Christian, liuing within any ciuill regiment or politique state, to view, behold, and examine himselfe in, that he may the better frame the course of his life, according to the true grounds of the duties of an honest and obedient subiect to his king, and to arme himselfe against all future syren songs, and alluring intisements of subtill, disloyall, dissembling, and vnnaturall conspirators, traitors, and rebels. Collected for the most part out of both olde and later writers, whose names are in the next page set downe. Wherevnto are brieflie added sixe speciall causes of vndutifull subiects disloyaltie. By William Willymat.

The Preface.

A Most Christian King, a most sincere professor, * 1.1 and defender of Gods eter∣nall truth, yet at this day liuing, (and maugre the heads of the most subtill suggesting serpent, and all his wicked, traiterous, and rebellious imps, long may he liue) hath written, that next the knowledge of God, the right knowledge of subiects alleageance ac∣cording to the forme of gouernment established among them, is a thing most necessarie to be knowne. The ignorance hereof, * 1.2 or (that which is worsse) the retchlesse and wilfull contempt hereof hath bread the heauie calamities, the endlesse trou∣bles, and the most miserable wreacke and ouerthrow of sun∣drie flourishing common-wealths, and also the worthily de∣serued fall and confusion of the state, lands, goods, lifes and bloud of many disloyall, infatuated, maliciously giuen, male∣contented, ambitious, traiterous conspiratours, and rebels, in many heretofore flourishing common-wealths, kingdomes, and monarchies. Examples hereof, and that diuers within the kingdomes of England and Scotland, are yet greener, fresher, and more common, both in the hearts and mouthes of thou∣sands yet huing, who haue beene both eyed and eared wit∣nesses of the same, then that they can casilie be forgotten. Least therefore any other subiects now liuing, * 1.3 or their poste∣ritie, or any other generation yet vnborne, should be here∣after trapped in the like snares, and so become subiect to the like confusions, (the naturall zeale that I beare to my natiue countrie, and the great griefe I haue to heare and see my poore country-men, either so ignorant, or so carelesse of true loyall subiects duties, me there vnto speciall moouing) I haue heere done mine endeuoure to set downe in this present treatise, the true grounds of the most speciall duties, which

naturall subiectes are found to performe to higher powers, whether they be supreame Maiestrates, * 1.4 as Emperors, Kings, and Princes, Gods owne lieutenaunts, vicegerents, and de∣puties, or whether they be their subordinate magistrates and inferior officers, which also in their degrees and places are the ordinance of God, for the good gouernment of men, that vnder them they might lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie.

The grounds of this present treatise, or Loyall subiects loo∣king-glasse (for so not incongruently I haue entituled it in the beginning) I purpose through Gods assistance to draw out of the words of Christ Iesus his owne mouth, * 1.5 which I haue thought not impertinent here to insert. Giue vnto Cae∣sar the things which are Caesars. By the which word Caesar, (for so were the Romane Emperours called, like as the Kings of Egypt were alwayes called Pharaos) is not onely to be vn∣derstood the person of the Emperour Tiberius Caesar then raigning and ruling, * 1.6 but also euery other Emperour, King, Prince, and ciuill Magistrate, temporall ruler, worldly gouer∣nour, or officer whatsoeuer. Moreouer by these words of our Sauiour Christ, it is further to be vnderstanded and learned, that he misliked not, nor condemned, but approoued, allow∣ed and confirmed all ciuill regiment, politique state, and or∣der with all things that to it appertaine.

Now for the things which are Caesars, that is for all duties which subiects doe owe and ought to performe to all their superiour gouernours and magistrates, that is the matter which I haue here specially to deale with, that is the marke which I haue chieflie to shoote at, and those things by dili∣gent reading, searching, and obseruing of learned authors, both diuine and prophane, I finde to be espedially fixe, to wit:

• 1. * 1.7 Obedience.
• 2. Feare.
• 3. Honor.
• 4. Prayer.
• 5. Tribute, taxes, subsidies, &c.

• 6. Not rashlie to take in hand (or intermeddle) with any part of Magistrates office without a lawfull calling.

Which said sixe duties of subiects due vnto their Caesar, I haue comprehended in these verses following.

• Sixe things by right are vnto Caesar due,
• 1. Obedience first vnto his iust decrees,
• 2. Next feare insixt in hearts of subiects true,
• 3. The third is honour due from all degrees,
• 4. The fourth for happie state of Prince to pray, That God with peace may still his life prolong:
• 5. And fifthy tribute willingly to paye, Whereby his wealth may daily growe more strong,
• 6. The sixe that none presume for glories sake, Vuc••lde the parts of Magistrates to take.

Notes

• * 1.1

  J Rex. in his treatise of the true law of free Monar∣chies.
• * 1.2

  The effects of the ig∣norance or contempt of the right knowledge of subiects alledge∣ance.
• * 1.3

  The speci∣all causes that moo∣ued the au∣thor to write this present treatise.
• * 1.4

  Magistrats and gouer∣nours are of tvvo sorts.
• * 1.5

  From vvhence the groūds of this pre∣sent trea∣tise are drawne.
• * 1.6

  What is to be vnder∣standed by the vvord Caesar. The Ana∣baptists then neuer learned of Christ to disalovve Magistracy.
• * 1.7

  Sixe things especially due vnto Caesar.