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. IIII.

Concerning the lack of subiects wisdome and know∣ledge, the fourth cause of their vndutifulnesse.

THe fourth way by which sathan seeketh to abuse subiects and to inueigle and en∣tise them to abuse and make lesse ac∣count and reckoning of higher powers and magistracie then they should, and to grow more vntowardly and contemp∣tuous in their bounden duties then be∣commeth dutifull subiects for to be, is lack of wisdome and knowledge, for through the one, that is through lack of wis∣dome, subiects become altogether vnable to iudge and dis∣cerne of princes pretenses and pollicies, & so both: ashly & foolishly take vpon them like Sus Mincruam to censure, controull and condemne the actions and proceedings of their princes, through the other, that is lack of knowledge, they be come vndutifull and disobodient to the lawes, ordi∣nances, iniunctions, acts, and statutes of the king and his ma∣gistrates and officers vnder whom they liue. Kings, Princes and gouernours do vse oftentimes for diuerse causes to dis∣guise their purposes with pretenses and colours of other matters, so that the end of their drifts and secret purposes are not right seene into nor vnderstood at the first, this to be lawfull the word of God doth not deny.

To make construction of intents, and as yet vnknowen meanings of princes in any ill part falleth not for subiects, but rather to interpret them in the best maner, and take them in the best part. Euery creature is not acquainted with the mind of his creator, nor euery subiect of his go∣uernour: so the Lord saith Iob, giueth not account of all his matters, and so in some respect it may likewise be said of princes, that they giue not accounts of their matters to all their subiects. King Salomon pretended to deuide the

quick child betweene the two harlots and did not, what if any foolish busie subiect or seruant had stept in to haue ta∣ken exception against Salomons commaundement of di∣uiding the infant, surely it had argued a foolish want of dis∣cresion and a sawsie vndutifullnesse to haue interrupted the kings attempt, wherin did lurke almost manifest reuellation of king Salomons exceeding gift of wisdome. Iehu preten∣ded that he would serue Baal, much more then euer did Ahab, but he did it not, but by this subtilty destroyed all the seruants of Baal. Constantius the Emperour pretended that as many as would offer sacrifice vnto Idols should haue ac∣cesse to his royall person, dwell in his court and haue offices and great honor in the common wealth, but they that would not should both be banished the court and depriued pre∣sently of such honors as now they did enioy. But yet he did not so, but by that policie tried the true christians from Idolaters, and so tooke to them, and cast out the Idolaters, had it not beene great lack of wisdome to haue interrupted these Christian princes pretences and commaundements tending as afterward it proued to so good an end, had it not been busie, folly and rash vndutifullnesse for any sub∣iects, to haue meddled, taken exceptions against, excla∣med vpon, and condemned these christian pretenses and pollices. Here-hence then let Christian subiects learne to beware that they fall not into vndutifullnesse through this lacke of wisdome, in not discerning the lawfullnesse, drift and end of princes affaires. And likewise let them here learne and striue to be acquainted with and to know their Princes lawes, for otherwise they must needs incurre the crime of vndutifullnesse through lacke of knowledge, for how can they obay lawes which they neuer sawe, heard, not read of, and yet can they not be excused through ignorance.

Notes

• The great in conueni∣ences of want of wisdome, and know∣ledge.
• Princes procee∣dings, pol∣licies and purposes not to be condem∣ned, nor misconste∣red.
• 1. King 3.
• 2. King. 10.
• Euseb. lib. 1 chap. 11. de vita con∣stant.