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. VI.

Concerning the misliking of due & deserued punishment of malefactors, the sixt cause of the vndutifulnesse of subiects

THere remaineth now to be spoken of the sixt and last cause of the decay of reuerent affectiō & dutifulnes towards princes, gouernours and other lawfull magistrates, for which I haue chosen out among many other this one, wher∣of many ill disposed subiects are wor∣thie

both to be admonished, and reproued for it, to wit, the misliking of due and deserued punishment of malefactors, whiles that inconsiderate and euill disposed persons cry out against Iudges, magistrates, and zelous iusticers, whose pro∣ceeding and purposes are bent by due seuerity, where cle∣mencie will take no place, to amend the obstinate wicked, thinking it better vpon well aduised consideration, to cut of one putrified and rotten member in time, then to suffer the whole body to be lost by long languishing and careles, neg∣ligent loosnes of their duties. Against such, do these incorri∣gible felowes, these beliers, and virulent exclamers on such as are in authority, open their foule mouths, and that in such sort that they can do nothing by them though neuer so well aduisedly and christianly, but these busie bawling barkers wil seeke either to depraue their sufficiency, or to hinder their proceedings, or to carpe at their actions, or to murmur and mutinie at their doings, or to maligne their prosperity, or to enuy their stats. But ô ye wrangling crew that are so lauish in this behalfe, know you that it is the duty of Gods depu∣ties which are the magistrates into whose hands God hath committed the sword, to punish extraordinary wickednes with extraordinary seuerity, for they are taught by Sa∣lomon, that Blewnes of the wound serueth to purge the euill: and the stripes within the bowells of the belly: For as Saint Augustine saith, sicuti est aliquando miserecordia puniens, ita & est crudelitas parcens: As there is a punishing mer∣cy or mercy in punishing, so there is a sparing cruelty or cruelty in sparing, too much pity destroyeth the whole city. Euill is to be taken out of Israel. Seeing it is euen thus, yee slanderous and iudging spirits, then cease you at the length your exclamations on magistrats chastising offences, leaue of your prying into magistrates matters, maligne not their dea∣lings, slaunder not (especially before you throughly vnder∣stand it) politique conueance, occupy not your tonge so per∣uersly in matters of state impertinēt vnto you, seeke not your owne reuenge on them that beare the sworde, by dispersing lewd lies and contumelious reproches and reports on them.

And let not driue, behind their backes (in the broyling heat of your poysonfull stomakes) at those honorable personages to whom in their presence you would bow your knees. Be not so forward being but priuate persons to iudge others, * 1.1 lest (as Christ Iesus said) you your selues be iudged. Be not so curious, or malitious, to trie out, yea oft before triall to con∣demne the faults of others, for it is the maner of wicked mē and hipocrits, to hide their owne faults, and not to amend them, but rather to be curious to condemne and reprooue other mens, to see moates in their brethrens eies, and not to perceaue beames in their owne; be not so iniquisitiue after great matters that be hid from you, for Dauid a man far wi∣ser and better disposed then you, for he had the holy ghost, he would not do so as him plainly protested. * 1.2 Psal. 131.

Be not so medling with that you haue nothing to do with, for then if you still on proceed the wisdome of God by Sa∣lomon will pronounce you for no better but fooles. Be not euill doers, * 1.3 nor busie bodies in other mens matters, for doth not God himselfe forbid you by S. Peter. 1. Pet. 4.15. Yea and finally God himselfe by the Apostle giueth you this sound & fatherlie counsaile, * 1.4 Refraine your tongues from euill, and your lippes that they speake no guile, eschew euill and do good, seeke peace, and follow after it. In deede there is one on∣ly cause for which priuate subiects may be tollerated to learne and seeke after intelligence of state matters, if they may certeinly attaine vnto the knowledge of them, and that is only with a mind and an intent to direct their prayers the more certenly to God for them, but otherwise let not a pri∣uate man make an occupation of intell••gencing and seeking after newes to occupy his tounge therein, for they haue other callings which concerneth them more nearly to talke of and looke vnto then that.

1. Tim. 1.17.

Vnto the King euerlasting, immortall, inuisible, vnto God only wife be honor and glory for euer and euer, Amen.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat. 7.1.3.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 131.
• * 1.3

  Pro. 20.3 1. Pet. 4.15.
• * 1.4

  1. Pet. 3.10.11. Psal. 34.12.13.