We haue ob­serued, that the Church and the State are so neerely vnited and knit together, that though they may seeme two Bodies, yet indeed in some relation they may bee accounted but as one, in as much as they both are made vp of the same men, which are differen­ced onely in relations to Spirituall or [Page]Ciuill ends. This neerenesse makes the Church call in the helpe of the State, to succour and support her, whensoe­uer shee is pressed beyond her strength. And the same neerenesse makes the State call in for the seruice of the Church, both to teach that duety which her members know not, and to exhort them to, and encourage them, in that duety which they knowe. It is not long since Wee ordered the State to serue the Church, and by a timely Pro­clamation setled the peace of it. And now the State lookes for the like assi­stance from the Church, that She, and all her Ministers, may serue God and Vs, by preaching peace and vnity at home, that it may bee the better able to resist forraine force vniting and multiplying against it. And to the end that they, to whom Wee haue committed the go­uernement of the Church vnder Vs, may be the better able to dispose of the present occasions, Wee haue, with the aduice of Our Counsell, thought fit to send vnto you these instructions fol­lowing, [Page]to be sent by you to the Bishops of your Prouince, & such other, Whom it may concerne, and by them and their Officers directed to all the Ministers throughout the seuerall Diocesses, that according to these punctually they may instruct and exhort the people to serue God and Vs, and labour by their prayers to diuert the dangers which hang ouer Vs. The danger in which We are at this time is great. It is increased by the late blow giuen Our good Vn­kle, the King of Denmarke, who is the chiefe person in those parts, that oppo­sed the spreading forces of Spaine. If hee cannot subsist, there is little or nothing left to hinder the House of Austria from being Lord and Master of Germany: And that is a large and mighty Terito­rie, and such, as should it bee gotten, would make an open way for Spaine, to doe what they pleased in all the West part of Christendome. For besides the great strength which Germany once possessed would bring to them, which are too strong already, you are to consi­der, [Page]first, how it will enable them by Land, in that it will ioyne all, or the most part of the Spaniards now di­stracted Territories, and bee a meanes for him safely and speedily to drawe downe forces against any other King­dome that shall stand in his way. Nor can it bee thought the Low Countreys can hold out longer against him, if hee once become Lord of the vpper parts. And secondly, you are to weigh, how it will aduantage him by Sea, and make him strong against Vs in Our particu­lar, which is of easie apprehension to all men. And besides, if hee once get Germany, hee will bee able, though hee had no gold from India, to supply the necessitie of those warres, and to hinder all Trade and Traffique, of the greatest Staple Commodities of this Kingdome, Cloth and Wooll, and so make them of little or no value. You are to knowe therefore, that to preuent this, is the present care of the King and State, and there is no probable way left, but by sending forces and other supplies, to the [Page]said King of Denmarke, Our deare Vn­kle, to enable him to keepe the Field, that Our enemies bee not Masters of all on the suddaine. You are further to take notice, how both We, and this whole State, stand bound in honour and con­science, to supply the present necessity of the King of Denmarke. For this quar­rell is more neerely Ours, the recouery of the ancient inheritance of Our deare Sister, and her Children. The King of Denmarke stands not so neere in blood vnto her as We doe. Yet for her and Our sakes, that braue and valiant King hath aduentured into the field, and in that engagement hath not onely hazarded his Person; but, as things goe now, it may turne to some danger to his owne Kingdome and Posteritie, should hee not receiue ayde and succour from Vs without delay: Which, should it happen (as God forbid) will bee one of the greatest dishonours that euer this kingdome was stained withall. Nor is danger and dishonour all the mischiefe that is like to follow this disaster: For [Page]if hee bee not presently releeued, the cause of Religion is not onely likely to suffer by it in some one part, (as it hath already in a fearefull manner in the Pa­latinate) but in all places, where it hath gotten any footing: So that if we sup­ply not presently Our Allyes and Con­federates in this case, it is like to prooue the extirpation of true Religion, and the replanting of Romish Supersti­tion in all the neighbouring parts of Christendome. And the coldnesse of this State shall suffer in all places, as the betrayer of that Religion elsewhere, which it professeth and honoureth at home, which will be an imputation ne­uer to bee washed off. And God for­bid this State should suffer vnder it. Neither may you forget rightly to in­forme the people committed to your charge, that this Warre, which now growes full of danger, was not entred vpon rashly, and without aduise; but you are to acquaint them, that all for­mer Treaties by a peaceable way, were in the latter end of our deere Father of [Page]euer blessed memory, dissolued as fruit­lesse, and vnfit to be longer held on foot. And this by the Counsell of both Hou­ses of Parliament then sitting; so those two great and honourable Bodies of the Peeres and People, represented in Parliament, led on this Counsell and course to a warre with Spaine. To ef­fect this, they desired our ayde and assi­stance, and vsed vs to worke our sayd deere Father to entertaine this course. This vpon their perswasions, and pro­mises of all assistance and supply, wee readily vndertooke, and effected, and cannot now be left in that businesse but with the sinne and shame of all men. Sinne, because ayde and supply for the defence of the Kingdome, and the like affaires of State, especially such as are aduised and assumed by Parliamentary Counsell, are due to the King from his People, by all Law both of God and men: And shame, if they forsake the King, while hee pursues their owne counsell, iust and honorable and which could not vnder God but haue been suc­cessefull, [Page]if it had beene followed and supplied in time, as Wee desired and la­boured for. One thing there is which proues a great hinderance of this State, and not continued amongst the people without great offence against God, de­triment both to Church and State, and our great disseruice in this and all other businesse, It is the breach of Vnitie, which is growne too great and com­mon among all sorts of men. The dan­ger of this goes farre: for in all States it hath made way for enemies to enter. We haue by all meanes endeauored Vnion, and require of you to preach it and Charitie, the mother of it, frequently in the eares of the people. We know their loyall hearts, and therefore wonder the more what should cause distracted affe­ctions. If you call vpon them (which is your duetie) wee doubt not but that God will blesse them with that loue to himselfe, to his Church, and their owne preseruation, which alone will bee able to binde vp the scatterings of diuided affections into strength. To this end, [Page]you are to lay before them, what mise­ries home-diuisions haue brought vpon this and many other Kingdomes, and to exhort all men to embrace it in time. The danger it selfe, besides all other Christian and prudent motiues, is of force enough (where it is duely consi­dered) to make men ioyne in all amitie against a common, a great, and a grow­ing Enemy. And to doe it in time, be­fore any secret and cunning working of his, may vse one part in a diuision to weaken the other. And in the last place (but first and last and all times to be insisted vpon) you are to call vpon God your selues, and to incite the peo­ple to ioyne with you in humble and hearty prayers vnto God, that hee will be pleased now, after long affliction of his deare People and Children, to looke in mercy both vpon them and vs, And in particular, for the safetie of the King of Denmarke and that Armie which is left him, that God would blesse and prosper him against his and our ene­mies. Thus you are to strengthen the [Page]hearts and the hopes of Our loyall Sub­iects and People in and vpon God. And whereas the greatest confidence men haue in God, ariseth not onely from his promises, but from their experience likewise of his goodnesse, you must not faile often to recall to the memorie of the People with thankefulnesse, the late great experience wee haue had of his goodnes toward vs; For the three great and vsuall Iudgements, which he darts downe vpon disobedient and vn­thankefull people, are Pestilence, Fa­mine, and the Sword. The Pestilence did neuer rage more in this Kingdome then of late, and God was graciously pleased in Mercie to heare the prayers which were made vnto him, and the ceasing of the Iudgement was little lesse then a Miracle. The Famine threatned vs this present yeere, and it must haue followed, had God rained downe his anger a little longer vpon the fruites of the earth. But vpon our prayers he stay­ed that Iudgement, and sent vs a blessed season, and a most plentifull haruest. [Page]The Sword is the thing which wee are now to looke to, and you must call the People to their prayers againe against the Enemy, that God will be pleased to send the like deliuerance from this Iudg­ment also, that in the same Mercie, hee will vouchsafe to strengthen the hands of his People, that he will sharpen their sword; but dull and turne the edge of that which is in our enemies hands, that so while some fight, others may pray for the blessing. And you are to be care­full that you faile not to direct and hear­ten Our louing People in this and all other necessary seruices both of God, his Church, and Vs, that We may haue the comfort of Our peoples seruice; the State, safety; the Church, Religion; and the people, the inioying of all such Bles­sings as follow these. And We end with doubling of this care vpon you, and all vnder you in their seuerall places.

Giuen at Our Palace at Westminster, in the second yeere of Our Reigne, the twentie one of September. 1626.