If ye do commaunde
vs to do thinges which ar more weightie and greuous then death /
we wyll rather dye then do them: Thus ought these vnder Rulars
answer theyr higher Lordes / when they do commaunde them to do
thinges which are to the defacing of Godds glorie and truth / and
to the wounding and vnquieting of the consciences of the
subiectes / whiche thinges are more weyghtie and greuous then
death indeede. In Cyuile thinges they may gyue place to the
vniust commaundementes and decrees of theyr hygher Lordes / but
that ought they not to do in the cause of Godd / and pure
Religion. The Machabees at such tyme as the Iues were vnder the
rule of the Macedonians (Antiochus / Demetrius / and Alexander /
I meane) which princes did leade the people awaye from the true
worship of God / and from the seruice taught in hys worde /
wolde not obeye them. But that house and tribe of the prestes
called _Asmonei_, whiche in dignitie were nexte vnto the house
and stocke of the Kinges / and bare the chief Rule nexte vnto
it / les that the true worshippe of Godd commaunded and taught
in the lawe / and which hadd bene retayned and vsed in theyr
countrye / shulde be thus leafte and forsaken / they did Rebell
against thos kinges as the hostorie doth witnes. But if this
historie for the insufficiencie of the auctoritie of the bocke
(which yet is a true historie / as Iosephus also doth witnes)
will not suffice to proue this matier: Then let vs consider what
Ioiada the bishopp did in the dayes of Athalia:

[[4. Reg. 11.]]

She hadd by violence obtayned the kingdomme / and so was she the
supreame ordinarie poure: But yet he sturred vpp a commotion
agaynst her / And he brought the Sonne of Asa / Kinge Ioas /
I meane (who was saued by hym from her bluddy sworde) into the
kingdome: For he knew that by Goddes worde the kingdome was
gyuen to the house of Iuda / He perceyued also that she went
about to haue all good Religion / and true godlynes / vtterly
ouerthrowen. Therfor as she had vniustly shedd innocent bludd /
euen so he most iustlye commaunded that she shuld be slayne.

[[4. Reg. 18.]]

Kinge Ezechias also / was in subiection to the King of the
Assyrians / for Achaz his father hadd submitted hym selfe vnto
hym / and did not only paye hym tribute / but also for his
pleasure did chaunge Godds Religion: for when he wente to Damasco
to meete this Kinge / he commaunded that an altar shuld be made
at Hierusalem / after the patrone and fash