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.

CHAP. III.

Concerning Honour, the third dutie to be performed and giuen by a loyall subiect to the higher powers.

THe third dutie due vnto Caesar, as is to be gathered & learned both by the fift commaundement (as generally all that haue written thereon, both olde and later wri∣ters haue noted) and also by the doctrine of the two before named Apostles Peter and Paul, is Honour the King. This honour due vnto Kings, Prince, Gouernouts, &c. is by their subiects ouer whom God hath placed them many wayes to be giuen and performed. The word honour, by a figure, * 1.1 signifieth all that dutie, whereby the digni••ie, credit, and estimation of all, but especially of superiours is or can by any meanes be preser∣ued and kept vntoucht or vndefaced. * 1.2 The actions whereof are many, and consist in many points: as first, that subiects of what rank, sort or degree soeuer should humbly submit, giue ouer themselues, yeeld vp & resigne all their actions, wills, * 1.3 & affections vnto their superiours, to be willingly without resistance ruled & guided by their commaundements, by their laws, acts, statutes, ordinances, & decrees: so they be not wicked, impious, and repugnant to Gods expresse will and commaundements, and of this maner of honor is at large spoken before in this treatise in the describing of the first duty in the first chapter.

The second action whereby this honour is to be shewed, * 1.4 and wherein it consisteth, is in talke or speach, either of them or with them; in talke or speach of them, that is, that the subiects communication and talke of and concerning ma∣gistrates, rulers, and gouernours, be alwayes honorably and with reuerence towards them, that they take heed and be∣ware that they do not diminish nor empaire their excellen∣cy or dignitie, by vnseemely, vnreuerent, and contemptuous words, and herein also is included the abstaining & forbea∣ring of all manner of euill speaking, mocking, scorning, scof∣fing, deriding, reuiling, cursing, or banning of superiours, as things most vnhonorable, yea worthy of death, Exo. 21.17. Exo. 22.18. Prou. 20.17. * 1.5 And as honour is to be giuen and exhibited to higher powers and states in talking of them, so is it also in talking to and with them, as in giuing them their honorable right and iust titles, thereby in speach to declare a due and worthy reuerence and estimation of them when any talke is had with or before them 1. Pet. 3.6. Mark. 10.17 1. Sam. 14.15. In letting them speak before vs. Iob. 32.6.7.17 in keeping a reuerent silence in courts and iudgment places in their presence, vntill we be bidden speake, and then not to be sawsie or malapert in words before them. * 1.6 Act. 24.10.

The third thing, way, or meanes by which superiours are to be honored, may appeare in the subiects behauiour and gesture in their presence, as in bowing the knees to them, Mark. 10.17. Gen. 18.2. In standing by them when they sit downe. Gen. 18.8. Exo. 18.13. In giuing them the chiefe feats 1. King. 2.19. Luk. 14.7.8.9. In reuerent rising vp before them as they passe by. Leu. 19.32. In meeting them, as they come towards vs. * 1.7 Gen. 18.2. 1. King. 2.19. Fourthly they are to be honored inwardly in the very secret mind and affection, that is, their subiects are to thinke honorably, louingly, and re∣uerently of them from their very hearts, acknowledging them to be the deputies and ministers of God, prouided and sent of God for their weale, and the rather to moue subiects more willingly and readily to yeeld them their due honour, they must learne, know, and consider, that whosoeuer ho∣noureth

the deputie, is counted thereby to honour him that appointed the deputy, and whosoeuer despiseth him whom God hath sent, despiseth therin God the sender, and whoso∣euer perswadeth himselfe that externall honouring of his Prince is sufficient, * 1.8 though inwardly in his heart he foster & harbour a contemptuous, malicious, and rebellious thought, that man is altogether deceiued in such his conceite, for that subiects conscience that is guilty of dishonorable and quar∣relsome thoughts against his supreme head and gouernour (though he keepe it neuer so secret) is wreacked, and such a one is giuen ouer vnto other vncōscionable faults: * 1.9 as S. Iude witnesseth, That they are filthy persons that despise gouernment. And therfore as subiects do feare to be deliuered vp into a reprobate mind, * 1.10 and tender the works of godlines in them∣selues, let them tenderly keepe the houourable reuerence of their Prince in their minds, inward affections, and in the reines of their consciences: for the neglect and smal regarde and care hereof, hath bin the very fountaine and well-spring of all conspiracies, treasons, and open rebellions, to the ruine and vtter confusion of thousands. And thus farre concer∣ning the third thing due vnto Caesar.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Honour what it sig∣nifieth.
• * 1.2

  The acti∣ons of ho∣nour are diuers.
• * 1.3

  Of the first kind of ho∣nour due vnto magi∣strates.
• * 1.4

  Of the se∣cond kinde of honour due to Ma∣gistrates.
• * 1.5

  How ho∣nour is to be giuen to magistrates in talking with them.
• * 1.6

  The third kind of ho∣nour due vnto supe∣riours.
• * 1.7

  The fourth kind of ho∣nour due vnto su∣periours.
• * 1.8

  Eccl. 10.20
• * 1.9

  Epist. Iud. 8
• * 1.10

  The be∣ginning of all conspi∣racies, trea∣sons, &c. arise from the heart that first faileth in honouring the highest povvers.