Comicall and conceited Caualeire

_Monsieur du Kempe, Iestmonger and_

Vice-gerent generall to the Ghost of Dicke Tarlton.

_His louing brother Cutbert Curry-knaue sendeth Greeting._

Brother Kempe, as many alhailes to thy person as there be haicocks

in Iuly at Pancredge: So it is, that what for old acquaintance, and

some other respectes of my pleasure, I haue thought good to offer here

certaine spare stuffe to your protection, which if your sublimitie

accept in good part, or vouchsafe to shadow with the curtaine of your

countenance, I am yours till fatall destiny two yeares after doomes day.

Many write bookes to knights and men of great place, and haue thankes,

with promise of a further reward for their paines: others come of with a

long Epistle to some rufling Courtier, that sweares swoundes and bloud

as soone as euer their backe is turnd, a man can not goe in the streetes

for these impudent beggers. To auoide therefore as well the worthlesse

attendance on the one, as the vsuall scorne of the other, I haue made

choise of thy amorous selfe to be the pleasant patron of my papers.

If thou wilt not accept of it in regard of the enuy of some Citizens,

that can not away with argument, Ile preferre it to the soule of Dick

Tarlton, who I know will entertaine it with thankes, imitating herein

that merry man Rablays, who dedicated most of his workes to the soule

of the old Queene of Nauarre many yeares after her death, for that she

was a maintainer of mirth in her life. Marry God send vs more of her

making, and then some of vs should not liue so discontēted as we do: for

now a dayes, a man can not haue a bout with a Balletter, or write _Midas

habet aures asininas_ in great Romaine letters, but hee shall bee in

daunger of a further displeasure. Well, come on it what will, Martin and

I will allow of no such doinges, wee can cracke halfe a score blades in

a backe-lane though a Constable come not to part vs. Neither must you

thinke his worship is to pure to be such a swasher, for as Scipio was

called Africanus, not for relieuing and restoring, but for subuerting and

destroying of Africa: so he and his companions are called Puritans, not

for aduancing or supporting of puritie, by their vnspotted integritie,

but of their vndermining and supplanting it by their manifold heresies.

And in deed therein he doth but apply himselfe to that hope which his

holinesse the Pope and other confederate forriners, haue conceiued of

his towardnesse. For comming from Venice the last Summer, and taking

Bergamo in my waye homeward to England, it was my happe soiourning

there some foure or fiue dayes, to light in felowship with that famous

Francattip’ Harlicken, who perceiuing me to bee an English man by my

habit and speech, asked me many particulars, of the order and maner of

our playes, which he termed by the name of representations: amongst other

talke he enquired of me if I knew any such Parabolano here in London,

as Signior Chiarlatano Kempino. Very well (quoth I,) and haue beene oft

in his company. He hearing me say so, began to embrace me a new, and

offered me all the courtesie he colde for his sake, saying, although he

knew him not, yet for the report he had hard of his pleasance, hee colde

not but bee in loue with his perfections being absent. As we were thus

discoursing, I hard such ringing of belles, such singing, such shouting,

as though Rhodes had beene recouered, or the Turke quite driuen out of

Christendome, therewithal I might behold an hundreth bonefiers together,

tables spred in the open streetes, and banquets brought in of all handes.

Demaunding the reason of him that was next me, he told the newes was

there (thankes be to God,) that there was a famous Schismatike one Martin

newe sprung vp in England, who by his bookes, libels, and writings,

had brought that to passe, which neither the Pope by his Seminaries,

Philip by his power, nor all the holy League by their vnderhand

practises and policies could at any time effect: for wheras they liued

at vnitie before, and might by no meanes be drawne vnto discord, hee

hath inuented such quiddities to set them together by the eares, that

now the temporaltie is readie to plucke out the throtes of the Cleargie,

and subiects to withdraw their allegeance from their Souerayne: so

that in short time, it is hoped they will bee vp in armes one against

another, whiles we aduantaged by this domesticall enuy, may inuade them

vnawares, when they shall not be able to resist. I, sory to heare of

these triumphes, coulde not rest till I had related these tidinges to my

countrimen. If thou hast them at the second hand, (fellow Kempe) impute

it to the intercepting of my papers, that haue stayed for a good winde,

euer since the beginning of winter. Now they are arriued, make much of

them, and with the credit of thy clownery, protect thy Cutbert from

Carpers.

_Thine in the way of brotherhood,

Cutbert Curry-knaue._

An Almond for a Parrat.

Welcome Mayster _Martin_ from the dead, and much good ioy may you haue of

your stage-like resurrection. It was told me by the vndanted purseuants

of your sonnes, and credibly beleeued in regard of your sinnes, that your

grout-headed holinesse had turnd vppe your heeles like a tired iade in a

medow, and snorted out your scornefull soule, like a mesled hogge on a

mucke-hill, which had it not beene false as the deuill woulde haue it,

that long tongd doctresse Dame _Law._ muste haue beene faint (in spite

of insperation) to haue giuen ouer speaking in the congregation, and

employ her Parrats tong in stead of a winde-clapper to scarre the crowes

from thy carrion. But profound _Cliffe_ the ecclesiasticall cobler,

interrupted from his morning exercise with this false alarum, broke vp

his brotherly loue-meeting abruptly, when the spirite had but newly moued

him, and betooke him to his solitary shoppe, abutting on the backe side

of a bulke. Nor was his souterly sorrow so hippocritically ingratefull,

but he determined in the aboundance of his teares, that made a ful tide

in his blacking tubbe, to haue stitcht vp your traytourshippe a tumbe

of vntand leather, wherein _tanquam culeolo insutus_, hee mought haue

sought his fortune in the seas. But I know not how this parracides

exequies were prorogd, in so much as a brother in Christ of his at

Northampton, fetcht a more thriftier president of funeralls piping hot

from the primitiue church, which including but a few words and those

passing well expounded, kept his wainscot from waste, and his linnen

from wearing, sufficeth he tombled his wife naked into the earth at high

noone, without sheete or shroude to couer her shame, breathing ouer her

in an audible voice: Naked came I out of my mothers wombe, and naked

shall I returne againe. Tut, tut, a thousand of these pranks make no

discord in my young maisters discipline, whose reformed fraternity, quoat

Scripture so confidently, as if they had lately purchast a commission

of _cum priuilegio ad interpretandum solum_, from Christ and his twelue

Apostls. And in deede who knowes whether Maister _Martin_ being inspired,

as earst one of his faction, who hearing the waites play vnder his

window very early, insulted most impudently, that in the midst of his

morning praiers, he was presented with the melody of Angels, so hee in

like manner shoulde vaunt of some reuelation, wherein the full sinode

of _Lucifers_ ministers angells assembled, did parlament all their enuy

to the subuersion of our established ministry, and then comes forth

some more subtile spirite of hipocrisie, which offers himself to be

a false prophet in the mouths of our _Martinists_, to whom the whole

sedition house of hel condiscending, break vp their sessions, and send

this seducer into the world, where finding no such mutinous seate, as

the heart of our seconde _Pilate Marprelate_, he chose it in steade of

a worser, to bee vnto England as _Zidkiah_ son of _Chenaanah_ was vnto

_Ahab_. Beare with me good Maister Pistle-monger, if in comparing thy

knauery, my full points seeme as tedious to thy puritane perusers, as

the Northren mans mile, and a waybitte to the weary passenger, for I

tell thee troth, till I see what market commission thou hast to assiste

any mans sentences, I will neuer subscribe to thy periode prescisme. And

hearest thou old _Martin_, did all thy libells iointly shroude so much

substance of diuinity in their outlandish letters, as that one periode of

vniformity in T. C. directing to obedience, I would thinke God had bin

mercifull to thee in inspiring thy soule with some one separate motion,

from reprobation, but when whole reames of paper are blotted with thy

huperbolical blasphemies and religious matters of controversy more then

massacred by thy prophane scurrility, I cā but suppose thy hart yᵗ house

swept and garnished, into the which the foule spirit returned with other

7. spirits worse then himself. Malicious hipocryt, didst thou so much

malign the successeful thriuings of the Gospell, that thou shouldst filch

thy selfe, as a new disease into our gouernement? wert thou the last

instrument of Sathans enuy, that as the abhortiue childe of a _Chaos_

of heresies, thou sholdst adorne thy false dealing with the induments

of discipline? Me thinks I see thee smile from vnder thy double-fact

hood, to thinke howe craftily thou hast crept into mens cōsciences: but

wouldst thou obserue, how if thy alarums haue prosperd in our peaceable

ears, that make no more breach into our state, then the iron hornes of

those hony tōgd prophets into the arraies of the _Aramites_, Chro. 2.

and tenth Chap. thou wouldest with _Achitophell_ return to thy house (at

least if thou hast any) and hang thy selfe in a melancholie, for that thy

counsaile was turned to follye. When I first saw thy books, I ascribed

thy impudence to the _Calabrian_ wonders of 88. but when 89. beheld thee

in a new sute, I imagined the excesse of our sins, sent thee forth to

geue railing sentence against vs, as _Simei_ against _Dauid_ in the 2.

of Kings. Yet seely sophister wouldest thou return the sobrietie of thy

morning wittes to this ouerworne Simile, that the rodde which was made

to correct _post destinatum finem_, is cast into the fire, thy despaire

would deeme euery darke hole, the entraunce into hell, thy soule being

the cittie, whereof the deuill is made free by endenture. And be it

true which pittying report hath auouched, _Herostratus_ desire to be

famous, made thee to seale him a conueiance of it many yeares since,

so that now thy notorious pamphlets hauing passed the Presse, it is to

be feared he will come ouer thee for couenantes ere many yeares to an

end. It may bee thou hast redde _Foxes_ Monuments more idlely, where

lighting on the example of Luther, that by his praiers importunitie,

made the deuil to deliuer vp the obligation of his dānation, that sold

the ioies of Heauē, for the inheritance of earth, thou hopest in like

manner in the age of thine iniquities to bee restored to eternity, by

the vncessant inuocation of the Church which thou termest Antichristian.

Deceiue not thy selfe thou man of security, for the enemy of _Adam_ is

no poeticall _Argus_, that his eies should be put out by thy arguments.

I tell thee troth, he wil be-pistle thee so peuishly, with allegations

of vnuenidall sinnes, as though hee were borne within two houses of

Battle bridge. It is not thy despairing protestations, can make thy

peace with God, whose church thou hast sought to deuide, as did _Herods_

souldiers his garmentes: wele geue thee leaue to tell vs a smooth tale of

the intercepting of thy treasons, and curry fauour like a crafty foxe,

with the ciuill magistrate in politique termes of feare and reuerence,

but thy heart is no more disguised in this hypocriticall apparel, then

a trenchour _Aristippus_ in the coate of a Parasite. Why discourse I

so soberly, with the mortal enemy of modesty, when as the filth of the

stewes, distild into ribauldry termes, cannot confectionate a more

intemperate stile then his Pamphlets. Thou calst our Bishops wicked

by comparison, whereas (wert thou strooken as thou protests with the

vntoward euents of thy villanies) thou shouldst find the defilings of the

7. deadly sins, to haue broght thee by a pleasant pollution, within the

possitiue degree of damnation. What talk I to him, of hel or damnation,

whom _Lucifer_ hath furnisht to infection, with the painted poison of

snout-holy deuotion, and all the powers of darknesse, haue adorned as an

intelligencer to their kingdome, of the infirmities in our flourishing

Church of England. To this purpose haue they inspired him with a most

scurrile spirite of lying, that when his eagle-sighted enuy can truely

atract no argument of infamy, his _poetica licentia_, may haue a fresh

supply of possibilities, that encrease by cōtinuance to a compleat libell

of leasings. All you that be schollers, read but his last challenge,

wherein he laies about him so lamely, as though of his limping brother

_Pag._ hee had lately learned to play at cudgels. But how euer his

crazed cause goes on crutches, that was earst so brauely encountered

by _Pasquin_ and _Marphoreus_, and not many moneths since most wittily

scofte at by the extemporall endeuour of the pleasant author of Pap with

a hatchet: yet is not the good olde creeple vtterly discouraged, or

driuen cleane from his dounghill, but he meanes to make the persecuted

Coblers once more merrie. Yet by your leaue his other dayes daunger is

not so fully disgested, that he shuld forget the sanctified martyrs

his brethren, those runagate Printers, to whose reuenge he bequeatheth

a large Pistle of rayling Epithites, and mistearmeth our Bishoppes

authoritie, with a whole _Textor_ of tyrannie. A few of whose milder

tearms are of this making, wicked Priests, presumptuous Priests, proude

Prelates, arrogant Bishops, horseleeches, butchers, persecutors of the

truth, Lamhethical whelps, Spanish Inquisitours. Thinke you this myrie

mouthed mate, a partaker of heauenly inspiration, that thus aboundes in

his vncharitable railings: yet are these nothing in comparison of his

auncient burlibond adiunctes, that so pester his former edition with

their vnweldie phrase, as no true syllogisme can haue elbowe roome where

they are. In which Alphabet these that followe may bee placed: bounsing

Priests, terrible Priests, venerable Maisters, proud and pontificall

Patripolitians. Gentle reader, I giue you but a tast of them by the waie,

that you may knowe them the next time you meete them in your dish, and

learne to discerne a poysonous scorpion from wholesome fish. _Martin_

you must thinke, was moude, when his gun-pouder papers were fired aboute

his eares, and the spendthriftes his Printers, haled to the prison their

patrimonies. Wherefore I cannot blame him though he sends abroade his

Letters of supplication, in behalfe of his seruants that did but his

bidding. The Church, the Church is persecuted amongst you my maisters,

and _Martin_ gettes nere a superintendentship by the shift, but let not

_Meg Law._ crie once more to the Churchwardens for her foode, least shee

bring with her a campe royall of scoldes, to scratch out your eyes. Oh

she will declaime brauely ouer a Cuckstoole, and plaie the gyant in a

narrowe lane with her distaffe. Maister _Cooper_ shall haue his stipend

still at Paules chaine, or else shee will sweat for it. I lyke such a

wench that will stande to her tackling, why Bishoppes are but men, and

she will carrie a _Martin_ in her plackarde in despite of the proudest of

them all. Learne of her you London Matrones, to make hodie-peeles of your

husbandes, and leade them like good soules up and downe the streetes by

the hornes, let it be seene by your courages in scolding, that women haue

soules, which a balde eloquent brother of yours, denide not long since

in his Sermon at Lichfielde. I, I, my maisters, you may mocke, on as

you see cause, but I warrant you the good olde true-pennie _Marprelate_

is not so merrie, hee sits ruminating under an oake, or in the bottome

of a haystacke, whose bloud shall be first spilte in the reformation of

the Church. And not without cause, for hee that hath so lately felte

the paine of worming and launcing, cannot but stande in awe of _Buls_

slicing tooles one two moneths after. O it is a hairebrande whooresonne,

and well seene in Phlebotomie, if a but once take knife in hande, cha

will as soone let out the seditious humours forth a Martinistes bodie,

as the best he in England, that hath bin twentie yeeres practioners

in Surgerie. Good munckie face Machiuell, shew but thy head once, and

trie him at my request, and if he doe it not more handsomely, then

those whom thou callest Butchers and Horseleeches, then neuer trust an

olde ladde whilest thou liuest. How euer it happens, thou bearest thy

resolution in thy mouth at highe midnight, and hast Scripture enough

to carrie thee to heauen, though thou wert hangde to morrowe. We feare

not men that can kill the bodie, quoth _Martin_, because we feare God,

who can cast both bodie and soule into vnquenchable fire. Doest thou

feare God in deede, I praie thee good hedge-creeper how shall we knowe

that? What, by the smoothing of thy face, the simpering of thy mouth,

or staring of thy eies? Why if that be to feare God, Ile haue a spare

fellowe shall make mee a whole quest of faces for three farthinges. But

thou wilt peraduenture saie, by thy obedience vnto him. Then will I

catechise thee more kindly with a fewe more Christian questions: the

first whereof shall be this, wherein thou placest obedience, which if

thou aunswerest, by doing that which God hath commaunded in his worde:

then would I knowe of thee, whether that of Paul be Canonicall or

Apocripha, He that resisteth the magistrate, resisteth the ordinaunce of

God. And here I am sure to be had by the eares with a Geneua note of the

distinction of magistrates, but all that shall not serue your turnes,

for Ile driue you from your _Dic Ecclesiæ_ ere I have done, ware the

vnmasking of _Martin_, when it comes tis lyke to bee a shrewde Pistle,

I can tell you. Prepare your argumentes as you will, for _Mar-Martin

Iunior_, meanes to make such hauocke of you in that his next peece of

seruice, as all your borrowed weapons of simple T. C. shall not bee

able to withstande. For your olde soaking Demonstrationer, that hath

scrapte vp such a deale of Scripture to so lyttle purpose, Ile leaue his

confusion to the vacaunt leasure of our grauer Diuines, who I knowe,

did they but once sette penne to paper, woulde grinde his discipline

to powder. Thou art the man, olde _Martin_ of Englande, that I am to

deale withall, that striues to outstrip all our writers in witte, and

iustle our gouernement forth of doores with a iest. What, wee must not

let you passe with such fauourable tearmes, as our graue Fathers haue

done, your Bookes must bee lookt ouer, and you beaten lyke a dogge for

your lying. I thinke, I thinke I shall haue occasion to close with you

sweetlie in your Hay anie worke for a Cooper, and cutte off the traynes

of your tedious syllogismes, that nowe haue no lesse then seauen or

eight Termini waiting on them. Fortifie your ruinous buildinges betimes,

and saie hee was your friende that badde you: for I can tell you thus

much, a whole hoast of _Pasquils_ are comming vppon you, who will so

beleaguer your paper walles, as that not one idle worde shall escape the

edge of their wit. I giue thee but a brauado now, to let thee knowe I am

thine enemie, but the next time you see _Mar-Martine_ in armes, bidde

your sonnes and your familie prouide them to God-warde, for I am eagerly

bent to revenge, and not one of them shall escape, no not T. C. himselfe

as full as he is of his myracles. But to pursue maister Protestationer

in his common place of persecution. I remember we talkt euen now of a

dudgen destinction from which my Bedlam brother _Wig._ and poltfoote

_Pag._ with the rest of those patches, striue to deriue theyr discipline

disobedience. Our Ecclesiasticall gouernment and gouernours say they, are

wicked and vnlawfull. Why? because Sir _Peter_ nor Sir _Paul_ were neuer

Archbishoppes of Canterbury, London, or Yorke. They were Fisher-men, and

were not able. When _Cæsars_ Officers demaunded their tribute to make

fiue groates amongst them, then what reason is it our Bishoppes should

inioy their five hundreds, nay, that which is more, their thousand

and two thousands? They were none of these Cartercaps, Graduates nor

Doctors, therfore why should we tie our Ministrie to the prophane studies

of the Vniuersitie. What is Logicke but the highe waie to wrangling,

contayning in it a world of bibble babble. Neede we anie of your Greeke,

Latine, Hebrue, or anie such gibbrige, when wee haue the word of God in

English? Go to, go to, you are a great company of vaine men, that stand

vpon your degrees and tongues, with tittle tattle, I cannot tell what,

when as (if you looke into the matter as you ought) the Apostles knew

neare a Letter of the booke. I wis it were not two pins hurt, if your

Colledges wer fired ouer your heades, and you turnde a begging forth

your fellowshippes, like Fryers and Monkes vp and downe the Countrie. I

marie sir, this is somewhat like, now _Martin_ speakes like himselfe,

I dare saie for him good man, he could be contented there were nere a

maister of Art, Bachelour of Diuinitie, Doctor or Bishop in England,

on that condition he prest Fishermen, scullers, Coopers, Stitchers,

Weauers and Coblers into theyr places. You talke of a Harmonie of the

Churches, but heere would be a consort of knauerie worth the publishing

to all posteritie. Would you not laugh to see _Cli._ the Cobler, and

_New._ the souter, ierking out theyr elbowes in euerie Pulpit. Why, I

am sure Ladie _Law._ would fast mans flesh a whole moneth together, but

shee woulde giue either of them a gowne cloth on that condition. My

self doe knowe a zealous Preacher in Ipswich, that beeing but a while a

goe a stage player, will now take vpon him to brandish a Text agaynst

Bishoppes, as well as the best Martinist in all Suffolke. Why, I praie

you goe no farther then Batter, haue wee not there a reuerent Pastour of

_Martines_ owne making, that vnderstands not a bit of Latine, nor neuer

dyd so much as looke towards the Vniuersitie in his life, yet you see

for a neede he can helpe discipline out of the durt, and come ouer our

Cleargie verie handsomely with an heere is to bee noted. Oh he is olde

dogge at expounding, and deade sure at a Catechisme, alwayes prouided,

that it bee but halfe a sheete long, and he be two yeeres about it. And

well too my maisters, for such a one that vauntes himselfe to bee as hee

is, as good a Gentleman euerie inch of him, as anie is in all Stafford

sheere. Bee what he will, one thing I wote, hee is seldome without a good

Cheese in his studie, besides apples and nuttes, although his wife can

neuer come at them. I hearde not long since of a stoute conference hee

had with a yong scholer, who taking my Deske-man somewhat tardie in his

disputations, told him hee was inspired with too much Logique. Where vnto

hee replyed with this solempne protestatiō, I thank God, al the world

cannot accuse me of that arte. I hope anon maister _Martin_, I shall bee

meetelie euen with you for your knauerie, if I goe but two mile further

in your Ministrie. It is not the Primitiue Church shall beare out the

Vicar of little _Down._ in Norfolke, in groaping his owne hennes, like a

Cotqueane, I am to come ouer him when I have more leasure, for his tenne

shillings Sermons at Thetforde: wherein if he raue as hee was wont to

doe, Ile make him wishe that hee had been still Vsher of Westminister.

Well, to the purpose. You saie Bishoppes are no Magistrates, because

they are no lawfull Magistrates. Is it euen so brother _Timothie_,

will it neuer be better, must I euer leade you vp and downe antiquitie

by the nose lyke an Asse. May neither Scriptures nor Fathers goe for

paiment with you, but still you will bee reducing vs to the president

of the persecuted Church, and so confounde the discipline of warre and

peace? If you will needes make vs the apes of all their extremities,

why doe not you vrge the vse of that communitie wherein _Ananias_ and

_Saphira_ were vnfaythfull. Perswade Noble men and Gentlemen to sell

theyr landes, and laie the money at your feete, take awaie the title of

mine and thine from amongst vs, and let the worlde knowe you heereafter

by the name of Anabaptistes. Admit that the authoritie of Bishoppes were

as vnlawfull as you woulde make it, yet since it is imposed vnto them

by the Princes owne mouth, and ratified by the approbation of so many

Kings and Emperours, as well in their particular Parliamentes as generall

counsayles, you are bounde in conscience to reuerence it, and in all

humilitie to regarde it, insomuch as Christ denide not tribute to _Cæsar_

an vsurper, nor appealde from _Pilate_ a Pagan, who occupied that place

by the intrusion of tyrannie. Were the Israelites in captiuitie, anie

whit exempted from the obedience of subiectes, in that they liued vnder

the scepter of _Nabuchodonesor_ an Idolater, who had blasphemed their

God, defaced their Temple, and defiled their holie vesselles. Nay, are

they not expresslie commaunded by the Lordes owne mouth, to honour him as

their King: Howe can they then escape the dampnation of contempte, that

beeing priuate subiectes to such a vertuous Soueraigne, as is zealous of

Gods glorie will controll her, disposing of honours, and oppose vnto

publique derision, those the especiall pillers and ornamentes of her

state, whome shee hath graced from their infancie, with so many sundrie

ascentes of dignities. But were this all, then shoulde not treason

bee such a braunche of your religion as it is. Haue not you and your

followers vndermined her Graces Throane, as much as traytours might: call

to minde the badde practise of your brother the Booke-binder and his

accomplishes at Burie, who beeing as hotte spirited as your worshippes,

in the schismaticall subiect of reformation, and seeing it woulde not

come of halfe kindlie to theyr contentment, made no more a doe, but added

this newe Posie to her Maiesties armes. Those that bee neither hotte nor

colde, Ile spue them out of my mouth, sayth the Lorde. Denie this, and

Ile bring a whole Assizes, as _Obsignatos testes_ of your trecherie. To

come neerer to thee Brother _Martin_. Hast not thou in thy firste booke

agaynst Doctour _Bridges_, as also in Hay anie worke for Cooper, excluded

her Highnesse from all Ecclesiasticall gouernement, saying she hath

neyther skill nor commission, as shee is a Magistrate, to substitute anie

member or minister in the Church. And in an other place, that there is

neither vse nor place in the Church for members, ministers or officers

of the magistrates making. If this wyll not come in compasse of treason,

then farewell the title of Supremacie, and welcome agayne vnto Poperie.

By this time I thinke, good-man Puritan, that thou art perswaded, that I

knowe as well as thy owne conscience thee, namely _Martin Makebate_ of

Englande, to bee a moste scuruie and beggerlie benefactor to obedience,

and _per consequens_, to feare neyther men, nor that God who can cast

both bodie and soule into vnquenchable fire. In which respect I neyther

account you of the Churche, nor esteeme of your bloude, otherwise then

the bloude of Infidelles. Talke as long as you will of the ioyes of

heauen, or paines of hell, and turne from your selues the terrour of

that iudgement howe you will, which shall bereaue blushing iniquitie

of the figge leaues of hypocrisie, yet will the eie of immortalitie

discerne of your painted pollutions, as the euer-liuing foode of

perdition. The humours of my eies are the habitations of fountaines, and

the circumference of my heart the enclosure of fearefull contrition,

when I thinke howe many soules at that moment, shall carrie the name

of _Martine_ on their foreheads to the vale of confusion, in whose

innocent bloude thou swimming to hell, shalt haue the tormentes of tenne

thousande thousande sinners at once, inflicted vppon thee. There will

enuie, mallice and dissimulation bee euer calling for vengeance agaynst

thee, and incite whole legions of deuilles to thy deathlesse lamentation.

Mercie will saie vnto thee, I knowe thee not, and Repentaunce, what

have I to doe with thee. All hopes shall shake the head at thee, and

saie, there goes the poyson of puritie, the perfection of impietie, the

serpentine seducer of simplicitie. Zeale her selfe will crie out vppon

thee, and curse the time that euer shee was maskte by thy mallice,

who lyke a blinde leader of the blinde, sufferedst her to stumble at

euerie steppe in Religion, and madest her seeke in the dimnesse of her

sight, to murther her mother the Churche, from whose pappes thou lyke an

enuious dogge but yesterdaie pluckest her. Howe euer proude scorner, thy

whoorishe impudencie, may happen heereafter to insiste in the derision of

these fearfull denuntiations, and sporte thy iesters penne at the speach

of my soule, yet take heede least despayre bee predominant in the daie of

thy death, and thou in steade of calling for mercie to thy Iesus, repeate

more oftner to thy selfe, _Sic morior damnatus vt Iudas_! And thus much

_Martin_, in the way of compassion, haue I spoke for thy edification,

moued therto by a brotherly commiseration, which if thou bee not too

desperate in thy deuilish attempts, may reform thy heart to remorse, and

thy pamphletes to some more profitable theame of repentance. But now haue

at thee for the goodnesse of the cause, of which thou saist: We must not

reason from the successe.

Trust me therein thou hast spoke wiser then thou art aware of, for if

a man should imagine of fruite by the rottennesse, of garmentes by the

moath frets, of wine by the sowrnesse, I warrant him for euer being

good costerd-monger, broker, or vintner whiles he liues. Therefore we

must not measure of _Martin_ as he is allied to _Elderton_, or tongd

like _Will Tong_, as he was attired like an Ape on yᵉ stage, or sits

writing of Pāphlets, in some spare out-house, but as is _Mar-Prelat_ of

England as he surpasseth King and collier, in crying, So ho ho, brother

_Bridges_. Wo ho ho, _Iohn_ a London. Ha ha he, Doctor _Copecotes_. Doe

this and I warrant you, for sauoring of the fleshe, though you take the

oportunity of the spirite, with euery sister in Christ. Beholde the state

of the low Countryes, since your Plaintife Pistler, will needs make the

comparison, suppose _Martin_ to be the map of _Belgia dilacerata_, whose

chiefe prouinces as they are wholye possessed with Spaniards, so thinke

his hart and soule enhabited with spiet, they Romists in the matter

of Religion, and he a Papist in supremacies contradiction, her inward

partes possessed with Anabaptists, and Lutherans, and his more priuate

opinions polluted with the dregs of them both, her farthest borders of

Holland and Zeland, peopled God wot with a small number of vnperfite

Protestants, and the furthest and fewest of his thoughts, taken vppe with

some odde true points of Religion. How now Father _Martin_, haue not I

hit your meaning patte in this comparison. Say, wil you haue any more

such interpretations, if you say _Amen_ to it. Ile also reconcile your

allegoricall induction of France, to the present constitutiō of your

frowardnes: but that shal not neede, since the misery of the one is the

mirrour of the other, and the Reader must suppose that _Martin_ would

neare haue compared himselfe to Flaunders nor France, but as they reflect

by allusion the distraction of his factions faith. Howe euer you take

him at the worst, yet is his welchnes perswaded, that the Lord hath some

speciell purpose, by preuentinge of his presse, to try who they be that

are hipocrites, and what they be yᵗ are innocent: And not vnlike too, for

hauing interrupted the trafique of honestye, so long as thou hast with

thy coūterfet knauery, tis more the hie time thy vnder-hād treachery,

were broght to the touchstone of authority. You think we know not how

pretily your Printers were shrouded vnder the name of salt-peter-men, so

that who but _Hodgkins_, _Tomlins_ and _Sims_, at the vndermining of a

house, and vndoing of poore men, by diggyng vp their floars, and breaking

down their wals. No, no, we neuer heard how orderly they pretended the

printing of Accidences, when my L. of _Darbies_ men came to see what they

were a doing, what though they damned themselues about the deniall of

the deede, is periury such a matter amongst puritans. Tush they account

it no sin as long as it is in the way of protestation, being in the mind

of a good old fellow in Cambridge, who sitting in S. _Iohns_ as Senior

at the fellowes election, was reprehended by some of his betters, for

that hee gaue his voice with a dunce like himself, contrary to oath,

statue and conscience: why quoth hee, I neither respect oath, statue,

nor conscience, but only the glory of God. Men are by men and may erre,

yea goodman _Spe._ himselfe in Paules church-yard, although he saith

he hath no sinne, what maruaile is it then, though some corruption

cleaue vnto our aged Gentleman by his owne confession. Learne of me to

iudge charitably, and thinke that nature tooke a scouring purgation,

when she voided all her imperfections in the birth of one _Martin_:

which if it be so, hee is not to be blamed, since as _Arist._ sayes,

_vitia naturæ nō sunt reprehendenda_. Gibe on, gibe on, and see if your

father _Mar-martin_ will beare you out in it or no, you thinke the good

sweet-faced prelate, _Masse Martin_, hath neuer broke sword in ruffians

hal, yes that he hath more then one or two, if the truth were known, and

fought for his wench as brauely as the best of them all, therefore take

heede how you come in his way, least hee belabour you with his crabtree

stile for your lustines, and teache you howe to looke into a _Martins_

neaste againe while you live. Alas you are but young, and neuer knewe

what his Bumfeging ment, for if you did, you woulde thinke fiue hundreth

fistes about your eares, were more then Phisicke in a frosty morning.

Write or fight which you will, our champion is for you at all weapones,

whether you choose the worde or the sworde, neither comes amisse to him,

he neuer took his domesticall dissention in hand to leaue it soone. All

England must bee vp together by the eares, before his penne rest in

peace, nor shall his rebellious mutinies, which he shrouds vnder the

age of _Martinisme_, haue any _intermedium_, till religions prosperity

and our Christian libertye, mis-termed of him by the last yeare of

Lambethisme, doe perishe from amongst vs, and depart to our enemies: then

shall you see, what seditious buildinges will arise on the vnfortunate

foundations of his folly, and what contentious increase will come from

the schoole of contempt.

_If they will needes ouerthrowe mee let them goe in hand with the

exploite &c._

Holla, holla brother _Martin_, you are to hasty, what, Winter is no time

to make warres in, you were best stay til summer, and then both our

brains wilbe in a better temperature, but I think ere that time your

witte wilbe welny worn thredbare, and your banquerout inuention, cleane

out at the elbowes, then are we well holpen vp with a witnesse, if the

aged champion of Warwicke, doe not lay to his shoulders, and support

discipline ready to lie in the dust, with some or other demonstration.

I can tell you _Phil. Stu._ is a tall man also for that purpose. What

his Anatomy of Abuses for all that, will serue very fitly for an

Antipast, before one of _Egertons_ Sermons, I would see the best of

your _Trauerses_ write such a treatise as he hath done, against short

heeld pantoffles. But one thing it is great pitty of him, that being

such a good fellow as hee is, hee shoulde speake against dice, so as

he doth: neuerthelesse ther is some hope of him, for as I heard not

lōg since, a brother of his, meting him by chance (as theeues meete

at the gallowes) after many christian questions of the well fare of

his persecuted brethren, and sistern, askt him when they should haue a

game at tables together, by the grace of God the next Sabaoth, quoth

_Phil._ and then if it shal so seeme good to his prouidence, haue at

you for ames ase and the dise. I forgette to tel you what a stirre he

keepes against dumbe ministers, and neuer writes nor talkes of them,

but hee calleth them minstrels, when his mastershippe in his minority,

plaide the Reader in Chesshire, for fiue marke a yeare and a canuas

dublet, couenanted besides, that in consideration of that stipend, he

make cleane the patrones bootes euerye time hee came to towne. What

need more words to proue him a protestāt, did not he behaue himselfe

like a true Christian, when hee went a wooing for his friend _Clarke_,

I warrant you hee saide not God saue you, or God speed you, with good

euen or good morrow, as our prophane woers are wont, but stept close to

her, with peace bee with you, very demurely, and then told her a long

tale, that in so much as widowhoode, was an vncleane lyfe, and subiect

to many temptations, shee might doe well to reconcile her selfe to the

Church of God, in the holy ordinance of matrimony. Manye wordes past

to this purpose, but I wotte well the conclusion was this, that since

she had hitherto conuerst with none but vnregenerate persons, and was

vtterly carelesse of the communion of Saints, she would let him that was

a man of God, put a new spirite into her, by carnall population, and so

engraft her into the fellowshippe of the faithfull, to which that shee

might more willingly agree, hee offered her a spicke and spanne new

Geneua Bible, that his attendant Italian had brought with him to make

vp the bargaine. But for all the Scripture he could alledge, it should

not bee, _Phil. Stu._ was no meate for her tooth, God wote he could not

get a penyworth of leachery on such a pawne as his Bible was, the man

behinde the painted cloth mard all, and so O griefe, a good Sabaoths

day work was lost. Stand to it _Mar-martin Iunior_ and thou art good

inough for ten thousand of them, tickle me my _Phil._ a litle more in the

flanke, and make him winche like a resty iade, whereto a dreaming deuine

of Cambridge, in a certain priuate Sermon of his, compared the wicked.

Saist thou me so good heart, then haue at you Maister Compositor, with

the constructiō of _Sunt oculos clari qui cernis sydera tanquam_. If

you be remembred you were once put to your trumpes about it in _Wolfes_

Printing-house, when as you would needes haue _clari_ the infinitiue

moode of a verbe passiue, which determined you went forwards after this

order. _Sunt_ there are, _oculos_ eies, _qui_ the which, _cernis_ thou

doest see, _clari_ to be cleare, _tanquam sydera_ as the Stars. Excellent

well done of an old Maister of Arte, yet why may not hee by authority

challenge to himselfe for this one peece of worke the degrees hee neuer

tooke. Learning is a iewel my maisters, make much of it, and _Phil.

Stu._ a Gendeman euery haire of his head, whom although you doe not

regard according as he deserues, yet I warrant you _Martin_ makes more

account of him then so, who hath substituted him long since (if the truth

were well boulted out) amongst the number of those priuy _Martinists_,

which he threatens to place in euery parish. I am more then halfe weary

of tracing too and fro in this cursed common wealth, where sinfull

simplicitye pufte vppe with the pride of singularity, seekes to peruerte

the name and methode of magistracy. But as the most of their arguments,

are drawn from our graue fathers infirmities, so al their outrageous

endeuors haue their ofspring from affected vainglory. Agreeing with the

saying of _Hug._ “Innobedientiæ morbus ex superbiæ tumore procedit,

sicut sanies ex vlcere.”[1] The disease of disobedience proceeds from

the swelling of pride, as madnesse from some vntollerable vlcer. The

cause whereof _Gregory_ thus expresseth.[2] “Dum plus exquirunt” saith

he, “contemplando quam capiunt, vsque ad peruersa dogmata erumpunt,

et dum veritatis discipuli esse negligunt, humiliter magistri erroris

fiunt.” Whiles by study they search out more then they vnderstand, they

breake forth into peruerse opinions, and whiles they neglect to be the

schollers of truth, they most basely become the schoolemaisters of

error. For such is the boldnesse of our boyish deuines, that they will

leape into the pulpet, before they haue learned _Stans puer ad mensam_,

and talke very desperately of dicipline, before they can construe, _Qui

mihi discipulus_. “Qui venit institui” saith _Cassiodorus_, “antequam

instituatur, alios instituere cupit,” &c. The nouice that comes to be

informed, desireth to enforme others, before he bee enformed himselfe,

and to teach before hee bee taught, to prescribe lawes before he hath

redde _Litleton_, and play the subtile Philosopher, before he knowes

the order of his sillables: he wil needes haue subiects, before he can

subiugate his affections, and couets the office of a commander, before he

hath learned to stoupe to the admonitions of his elders, and beginneth

to instruct and perswade, before he bee instructed and perswaded in

any kind of art, which their folly once fuelled with yᵉ frowardnesse

of blind zeal, makes thē cōfound cōtempt with gods true worship, and

open their mouths against his ordinance, as did the Prophets against

_Ieroboams_ hil altars. T. C. in Cambridge first inuented this violent

innouation, when as his mounting ambition, went through euery kinde

of _Ambitus_, to compasse the office of the Vicechauncelour-ship.

But after he saw himselfe disfauourd in his first insolence, and that

the suffrages of the vniuersity, would not discend to his dissentious

indignityes, his seditious discontent deuised the meanes to discredite

that gouernement, which he through his il behauiour might not aspire

to. Thē began his inueterat malice, to vndermine the foundations of our

societies, and reduce our Colledges to the schooles of the Prophets, to

discard all degrees of art as antichristian, to condemne all decency

in the ministery as diabolicall, and exclude all ecclesiasticall

superiority forth the Church as _Apocripha_. No sooner had these new

fangled positions entred the tables of young students, but Singularity

the eldest childe of heresy, consulted with male-conted melācholy,

how to bring this misbegottē scisme to a monarchy. To which purpose

hipocriticall zeale, was addrest as a pursuiuant into all places of

Suff. Norff. Essex and Midlesex, with expresse commandement from the

sinod of Saints, to proclaime T. C. supreme head of the Church. This

past on thus, whiles the sworde of iustice, slept in his scaberd, whose

vnprouident eie neglecting the beginning of such burnings, hath added

a more confirmed fury to the flame, which hath now taken hold on yᵉ

buildings of our bishopricks. How it hath raged in those quarters before

mentioned to yᵉ vtter impouerishing of the allegeance of the communalty,

and lamentable vndoing of the estimation of diuers other knights and

gentlemen, the whole course of the high commission may testify. Nether

was this plague of apostacy vndeserued of their inconstancy, who forsook

yᵉ true service of God, to worship the idoll of Warwicke. Put case his

reading be gret and his malice more, that he hath plodded through ten

cart loade of paper, and bin the death of ten thousand pound of candels,

yet as _Gregory_ saith, “perit omne quod agitur, si non humilitate

custodiatur.”[3] Whatsoeuer is done doth vanish to infamy, if it be not

vpholden by humility: What childe doth not see into the pride of his

heart, that first entertained the impudency of controlling antiquity, and

preferd the poison of his owne peruerse opinions, before the experience

of so many Churches, counsails and fathers. “Quæ maior superioria,” saith

_Bernarde_, “quam vt vnus homo toti congregationi iudicium suum preferat

tanquā ipse solus habeat spiritū Dei.”[4] What greater pride then that

one man should aduance his iudgement, aboue the sentence of a whole

congregation, as if he alone had the spirit of God. Pride ouerthrew the

towr of _Babell_, prostrated _Golias_, hūg vp _Haman_, kild _Nichanor_,

consumed _Herod_, destroied _Antiochus_, drowned _Pharao_, subuerted

_Senacherib_, and I hope will also confound arrogant T.C. and all his

accomplishes in the Lords good time. And now that I haue vnburdened my

shoulders of the weight of his learning, Ile ribroste my brother _Martin_

a litle, for obiecting to my Lord Archbishop, the not answering of his

bookes. Therefore first would I know of sweete M. sauce malapert whether

he would haue the care of the common-wealth, and forseing consultation

of domestical and forreine affaires, resigned to the retorting of T. C.

his vnreuerent railings. Next what such equall proportion his mastership

finds in their places, that the grauity and mildnes of the one, should

stoupe his attention so low, as the iangling leuity of the other. Were

there no other thing to refrayn his grace, from combating with a common

barretour then this, that in _discordia nemo benedicit Dominum_, it were

sufficient to pleade his absence from this inferiour fight. But when he

considers that saiyng of _Augustine_, “Nullus est modus inimicitiis, nisi

ob tempus obtēperemus iratis,” ther is no meane of mallice, vnles for a

time we giue place to the furious, and that which another sais, “Sicut

nihil est deformius quam respondere furiosis ita, nihil vtilius quam

tacere prouocatis.” As there is nothing more vnseemely then to aunswere

the froward, so there is nothing more profitable then scilence to such as

are prouokt. Let him vse the libertye of his speache as hee please, and

detracte from his learninge in what tearmes hee see cause, yet will all

Christendome admire his perfection, when T. C. his singularitie shall go

a begging vp and downe the low Countries. I will not gainsaie but your

reuerend Pastor may haue as knauish a vaine in writing as your selfe, and

fasten a slander on the Saintes of heauen, as soone as anie of your sect,

for “nil tam facile est,” as Ierom sayth, “quam ociosum et dormientem

de aliorum labore et vigiliis disputare.”[5] There is nothing so easie

for a man that is sluggish and idle, as to call in question others mens

watchings and labours. “Mens praua,” sayth _Gregorie_[6] “semper in

laboribus est, quia aut molitur mala quæ inferat, vel metuit ne sibi ab

aliis infeānt, et quicquid contra proximos cogitat, hoc contra se, a

proximus cogitari formidat.” A wicked mind liues in continuall toile,

because it eyther meditates the iniuries which he is about to inferre,

or feares some reproch to be inferred by others, and whatsoeuer hee

pretendes agaynst his neighbor, the same he mistrusts to be pretended

against himselfe. If T. C. hath made thee his atturney, to vrge the not

answering of his bookes, then I praie thee bee my Mercurie this once, and

tell him thus much from _Mar-Martine_, that he hath vndone more Printers

with his py-bald pamphlets, then his dish-clout dicipline will sette vp

agayne this seauen yeeres. Much inkehorne stuffe hath hee vttered in a

iarring stile, and intruded a greate deale of trashe to our eares by a

daintie figure of _idem peridem_, but for anie new peece of arte he hath

shewed in those idle editions, other then that his famous aduersary hath

before time confuted, he may wel enough bequeth it to Dunce or Dorbel,

whēce his blundering capacity is lineally descended. What maister T.C.

you think that no man dare touch you, because you haue plaid the scuruie

scolde anie time these twentie yeeres, but Ile so hamper your holynes for

all the offences of your youth, as all geering puritans shall haue small

cause to insult and reioyce at my silence. Then see whether I dare stand

to the defence of your defame or no. Take heede good-man Howlyglasse,

that I make not such a hole in your coate the nexte Tearme, as _Martine_

and his sonnes shall not sowe vp in hast, I tel you I am a shreud fellow

at the vncasing of a fox, and haue cats eyes to looke into euerie corner

of a Puritans house. I warrant you my brother _Pag._ will saie so, by

that time I haue talkte with him a little, who although hee bee none of

the straightest men that euer God made, yet hath he as good skill in

milche bullocks, as anie huswife within fortie miles of his head. Let him

alone, and if he doe not know by a cowes water, how many pintes of milke

she will give in a yeere, then wyll he neuer help his wife to make cheese

agayn whiles hee liues: and without offence to his Pastorshippe bee it

spoken, hee will saie pretyly well to a henne, if shee bee not too olde,

alwayes prouided, shee haue a neaste of cleane strawe in his studie, and

hee groape her with his owne handes euening and morning. Then see if hee

doe not make three pounds a yeere of her ouer and aboue all costes and

charges. I marie sir, is not this a husbande in deede, that besides the

multiplying of the Church of God, in his householde ministerie, will

keepe his wife and familie by crosse bargaines a whole twelue moneth.

What woulde he doe my maisters, if he had two good legges, that wil thus

bestirre him in his vocation with one and a stump. The world may saie

he is lame, and so forth, but hee that had seene him runne from Houns

the other daie, for getting his maide with childe, woulde neuer thinke

so. I meruaile with what face our Bishoppes could depriue such a man of

God, that beeing knowen to bee a most heauenly whooremaister, a passing

zealous worldling, and a most mortified schismatique, was fitter iwis to

teache men then boyes. Bee ruled by _Martine_, and send him home into

Deuonsheere, or else hee will wrappe all your Cleargie once agayne in

Lazarus winding sheete. Which fauour if hee obtayne contrarie to desert,

I woulde wishe him as a friend, neare more to vrge Fathers to sweare at

the Funt, that the children that are brought thether to be christned,

are of none but their owne begetting, lest olde _Ragdale_ plie him as

he did in times past, about the shoulders with his plowe staffe. Haue

with you _Giles Wig._ to Sidborough, and let us haue you make another

Sermon of _Sedgwickes_ pack-prickes: or such another Prayer as you did

of three hours long, when as a friend of yours (that best knew your

armes) cast in the Rammes homes at your windowe. If you be remembred,

it was the same time, when you cride, Come wife, come seruants, let vs

fall on our knees, and praie to the Lorde God to deliuer vs from all

euill temptation, for the deuill is euen new gone by, and looke where he

hath throwne in his hornes at the windowe. _Giles_, _Giles_, I haue to

talke with you for your saucinesse with the right Honorable the Earle of

Huntington, in whose presence you (though of all other vnworthie) then

beeing, when conuersant with other Gentlemen, hee calde for a boule of

Beere, which brought, and set downe by him, and he yet busie in talke,

you tooke verie orderlie from before him, and trilled it off without

anie more bones, bidding his man if he would, goe fill him another.

And what of all this I praie you, was that such a wonderous matter,

doth _Giles_ care for anie of your Lordes, Earles, Barons or Bishops.

No, no, no barrell better herring with him: we are all made of one

and the selfe same molde, and _Adam_ signifieth but red earth. I could

tell you a tale worth the hearing, that would counteruaile _Glib._ of

Haustead, were it not that it woulde make M. _Wig._ as cholerike, as

when he burst in the Church maugre excōmunication, and knockt the keies

about yᵉ Sextens head, for not opening vnto him. Come on it what wil,

in spite of midsūmer moone, you shal haue it as it is, therefore attend

good people to the vnfortunate sequele. G. W. of Wig. house, in the

land of little Wittam, chosen to the place and function of a pastor, by

those reuerend elders of the Church, Hicke, Hob and John, Cutbert C. the

Cobler, and New. the broomseller _cum multis aliis que nunc prescribere

longum est_, at length seased (after many yeeres stragling) on the

superintendentship of Sidborough, wher hauing worn out three or four

pulpits with the vnreasonable bounsing of his fistes, it was his chance

on a time to haue one quarrell more to another of them: so that no sooner

mounted on her backe, but he began to spurre her with his heeles, to

boxe her about the eares with his elbowes, and so pittiously misuse her

in euerie part, as would haue greeued anie heathen Ioyner to the heart,

to beholde. Nor coulde his Text containe him in this choler, or pleade

anie pardon or pittie for this poore pulpit, but he wold needes ride her

to death from one Diocesse to another, from Yorke to London, from London

to Canterbury, from Canterburie to Winchester, and all without a baite,

insomuch, that tyred in his waie homeward to his Text, he had stucke in

the myre for anie more matter hee had, had not Iohn a Borhead come into

the church as he did. Whom he espying in good time, crost the midwaie

of a sentence to let flie at him in this manner. As for the discipline

which those wretches doe hinder, looke, looke good people where that vile

whooremaster Iohn a Borhead comes in piping hot from Clayphams wife.

Whose verie sight put him so cleane besides himselfe, that he could

neyther goe forward nor backward, but stil repeated, Iohn a Borhead,

Iohn a Borhead, that vild whooremaister Iohn a Borhead: to whom with the

Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost, be al honor and praise both now

and for euer. Ah hah maister _Martine_, what get you nowe by your red

cap? Whether was Clayphams wife or Iohn a Borhead more in fault, for

marring this good sermon. If I. a Borhead, then is it not best for him

to come in my brother _Wig._ waie, least he stabbe him, as hee did the

Drumme once for playing after seruice. How euer it was, may it please you

Lordes of the spiritualtie, in consideration of these laudible premises,

to sende him home to his charge, that hee may once more preache in the

yewe tree. My brother _Vd._ of Kingston thinkes Ile spare him for his

wiues sake, that is reported to be as good a wench as euer playde her

prises at Pancredge, although she is not altogether such a gyantesse,

as my brother _Wig._ female, but _forma fragulis_, and Ale is not worth

a button, if it be too stale. Wherefore prepare you good neighbour _V._

to vnder-goe the crosse of persecution. _Martine_ hath vaunted you to

be a venterous knight, and I doe meane to breake a launce with you, ere

you and I part. Wherfore what saie you nowe to the matter, is Christ

descended of bastardisme or no, as you gaue out in the pulpyt? Would you

not haue your tongue cut out for your blasphemie if you wer wel serued?

Are you a notable preacher of the word of God, and a vehement reprouer of

sin, that thus seeke to discredit the fleshly descent of our Sauiour, I

thought you such another, when I first sawe you emblazoned in _Martins_

bookes. Tis you that are so holy, that you wil not forsooth be seene

to handle anie monie, nor take golde though it shoulde filch it selfe

into your purse, but if God moued the heartes of anie of your brethren

or sistren in the Lord, to bring in pots, beds or houshold stuffe into

your house, you would go out of doores of purpose whiles it was brought

in, and then if anie man aske you, how you come so well storde, your

answere is that you know not how, but only by the prouidence of God. I

must belabour you when all is done, for your backbiting and slandering

of your honest neighbours, and open inueighing against the established

gouernment in your sermons. Helpe him _Martin_, or else his vpbraided

absurdities will make thee repent that euer thou belyedst or disgracedst

_Hone_, _Cottington_ or _Chatfield_ in his cause. May it please you

therefore that are in authoritie, considering how reuerently hee hath

abused Christs birthright, to restore him to preach that the blockes and

stones of Kingstone, do not crie out against you. I followe the riuers

of folly, whiles the fountaines of infection do propagate their poison.

_Martin_ all this while thinkes himself in league with obscuritie,

whiles Phebus the discouerer of Mars and Venus adultery, hath streamed

his bright day light into the net where he daunceth. Blush squint-eied

caitife, since thy couert no more wil contain thee. _Cælum te contegit

non habes vrnam_. Therfore let al posteritie that shall heare of his

knauerie, attend the discouery which now I will make of his villanie.

_Pen. I. Pen._ welch _Pen. Pen._ the Protestationer, Demonstrationer,

Supplicationer, Appellationer, _Pen._ the father, _Pen._ the sonne, _Pen.

Martin Iunior_, _Martin Martinus_, _Pen._ the scholler of Oxford to his

friend in Cambridge, _Pen. totum in toto, et totum in qualibet parte_,

was somtimes (if I be not deceiued) a scholler of that house in Cambridge

whereof D. _Per._ was maister. Where, what his estimation was, the scorn

wherin he liued can best relate. For the constitution of his bodie, it

was so cleane contrarie to all phisiognomie of fame, that a man wold haue

iudged by his face, God and nature deuising our disgrace, had enclosde

a close stoole in skinne, and set a serpentine soule, like a counterfet

diamond, more deepe in dong. Neither was this monster of Cracouia vnmarkt

from his bastardisme to mischiefe: but as he was begotten in adultery

and conceiued in the heate of lust, so was he brought into the world

on a tempestuous daie, and borne in that houre when all planets wer

opposite. Predestination yᵗ foresaw how crooked he should proue in his

waies, enioyned incest to spawne him splay-footed. Eternitie, that knew

how aukward he shoulde looke to all honesty, consulted with Conception

to make him squint-eied, and the deuill that discouered by the heauens

disposition on his birth-day, how great a lim of his kingdom was comming

into the world, prouided a rustie superficies wherinto wrapt him, as

soone as euer he was separated from his mothers wombe: in euerie part

whereof these words of blessing were most artificially engrauen, _Crine

ruber, niger ore, breuis pede, lumine lustus_. To leaue his natiuitie

to the Church porch, where the parish found him, and come to his riper

yeres, that now had learnd _Puerilis_, of the poore mans boy, and nere

as pretily entred in Aue Marie English, as any parish clarke in those

parts. I am to tel you how laudibly he behaued himselfe in Peterhouse,

during the time of his subsistership. First therfore he began with his

religion at his first comming thether, _Hoc scitote viri_, that he was

as arrant a papist as euer came out of Wales. I tell you _I. a P._ in

those daies, would haue run a false gallop ouer his beades with anie

man in England, and helpt the Priest for a shift to saie Masse at high

midnight, which if need were, I doubt not but he would do at this houre.

It was not for nothing my masters, that he so be-baited his betters,

for shewing the people the relique of our Ladies smock in his sermon,

and open detecting of all their other blind superstition. Say what you

will, he is a close lad, and can carrie a ring in his mouth, though all

the world see it not: what though hee now dissemble with the time, and

disguise his Spanish heart in a Precisians habit. May not he hereafter

proue a necessarie mēber in conspiracies common wealth, and aduantage the

holy league as much in this meanes of sedition, as all _Philips_ power

by inuasion. Simple English men, that cannot see into pollicie before

it supprise your peace, nor interrupt the ambition of trechery, before

it hath besieged your prosperitie. Doe you beholde whiles innouations

bud, and do not you feare lest your children and family be poisoned

with the fruit. The Scythians are barbarous, yet more fore-seeing then

you, who so detested al forren innouations, tēding to the derogation of

theyr ancient customes, that they kild Anacharsis for no other cause,

but for yᵗ he performed the rights of Sibil after the manner of the

Grecians. What should I vpbraide your simplicitie with the Epidaurians

prouident subtiltie, who fearing least their Countrie men shoulde attract

innouations from other nations, and especially from their riotous

neighbors the Illirians, interdicted theyr merchants from al trafick with

them, or trauaile vnto them, but least they should be vtterly destitute

of their commodities, they chose a graue man amongst them, knowen to be

of good gouernment and reputation, who dealt continually for the whole

Countrie in the waie of exchange, and meruailously augmented their wealth

by the reuerence of his wisedome. But you fond men, as in garments so in

gouernment continually affecting new fashions, thinke no man can be saued

yᵗ hath not bin at Geneua. Your beleefe forsooth must be of that Scottish

kinde, and your Bibles of the primitiue print, else your consciences God

wot, are not of the cannonical cut, nor your opinions of the Apostles

stamp. _Pen._ with Pan, hath contended with Appollo, and you lyke

Midasses, haue ouerprised his musick. Good God, yᵗ a Welch harpe should

inchant so many English harts to their confusiō, especially hauing nere a

string belonging to it, but a treble. Had a syren sung, and I drownd in

attending her descante. I would haue bequeathed my bane to her beautie,

but when Cerberus shall barke and I turne back to listen, thē let me

perish without pittie, in the delight of my liuing destruction. Deceit

hath tooke vp his seat in a dunce, and you thinke him a saint, because he

comes not in the shape of a deuil. We know M. _Pen._ _intus et in cute_,

first for a papist, then for a Brownist, next for an Anabaptist, and last

for yᵉ blasphemous _Martin_, whose spirite is the concrete compound of

all these vnpardonable heresies. But had not the frantike practise of his

youth throughly founded his confirmed age in this furie, I woulde haue

imagined his vpstart spite, a wōder aboue usual speech, whereas now the

coniectures drawen from his cradles, detract frō his mallice all maruels.

For whiles hee was yet a fresh man in Peterhouse, and had scarce tasted,

as we say, of _Setons modalibus_, he began to affect factions in art,

and shew himselfe openly a studious disgracer of antiquitie. Who then

such an vnnatural enemie to _Aristotle_, or such a new-fāgled friend vnto

_Ramus_. This one thing I am sure of, hee neuer went for other then an

asse, amongst his companions and equalles, yet such a mutinous block-head

was he alwaies accounted, that through town and Colledge he was cōmonly

called the seditious dunce. For one while he would be libelling against

_Arist._ and all his followers he knew, another while hee would all to

be-rime Doctour _Perne_, for his new statutes, and make a by-word of

his bald pate, yea had the Dean, President, or any other officer neuer

so litle angerd him, they were sure ere the weeke went about to haue

hard of it, in some libell or other. This humour helde him at that time,

when, by conuersing with French men neare Christes Colledge, of a Papist

hee became a Brownist, how afterwards from a Brownist hee fell to bee

an Anabaptist, I referre it to those that knewe his after behauiour in

Oxford. But for his last discent, _a malo in peius_ from an Anabaptist

to be that infamous _Martin_, impute it to the age of his heresies,

that are now in there Harvest. Neither would I haue you thinke there

was no more heades in it then his owne, For I can assure you to the

contrary, that moste of the Puritane preachers in Northampton shire,

Warwick shire, Sufolke and Northffolke, haue eyther brought stone, strawe

or morter to the building of this _Martin_. Only _Pen._ found nothing

but _ry_, which the last part of his name, affordeth sufficiently, you

may see what it is for a nest of hornets to hiue together, oh they wil

make braue combes to choake bees withal, if they be let alone but one

quarter, not so much as T. C. himselfe, but will haue the helpe of his

fellow Brethren, if he hath any thing to write against Bishops, were

not al the elected in Cambridge, assembled about the shaping of the

confutation of the Remish Testament, O so deuoutly they met euery Friday

at Saint _Laurence_ his Monastery, wher the counsails and fathers, were

distributed amongst seueral companies, and euery one of the reformed

society sent there combined quotations weeke by weeke in a Capcase, to

my brother _Thomas_, yet wandring beyond sea, such a Chaos of common

places, no apothegmatical _Lycosthenes_ euer conceited. Bishops were the

smallest bugs, that were aimed at in this extraordinary beneuolence,

God shield, the court haue escapt their collectiōs. Some thing it would

proue in the end if it wer published, that is pouldred with the brains

of so many Puritan springols, and polluted with the pains of such an

infinite number of Asses. Much good do it you M. _Martin_, how like

you my stile, am not I old _Ille ego qui quondam_ at yᵉ besleeuing of

a sichophant. Alas poore idiot, thou thinkest no man can write but thy

selfe, or frame his pen to delight, except he straine curtesie with one

of thy Northren figures, but if authority do not moderate, the fiery

feruence of my enflamed zeale, ile assaile thee from terme to terme

with _Archilochus_, in such a compleat armour of Iambicks, as the very

reflexcye of my fury, shall make thee driue thy father before thee to the

gallows, for begetting thee in such a bloody houre. O God that we two

might bee permitted but one quarter, to try it out by the teeth for the

best benefice in England, then would I distill my wit into incke, and my

soule into argumentes, but I would driue this _Danus_ from his dunghill,

and make him faune like a dog for fauour at the magistrates feete. But it

is our English policy to aduantage our enemies by delaies, and resist a

multitude with a fewe, which makes sediton seede before the haruesters of

our souls suppose it in the blade: it is not the spirite of mildenesse

yᵗ must moderat the hart of folly, dogs must be beaten with staues, and

stuborn slaues cōtrolled with stripes. Authority best knows how to diet

these bedlamites, although _Segnior Penry_ in his last waste paper hath

subscribed our magistrats infants. Repent, repent thou runnagate lozill,

and play not the Seminary any longer in corners, least thy chiefest

benefactors forsake thee, and recouer the pouerty of their fines, by

bringing the pursiuants to thy forme. I heare some vnderhande whisperers,

and greeneheaded nouices exclaime against our Bishops, for not granting

thee disputation. Alas alas brother _Martin_ it may not be: for thou art

known to be such a stale hackster, with thy welch hooke, that no honest

man wil debase himselfe in buckling with such a braggar. But suppose we

should send some Crepundio forth our schools to beat thee about the eares

with _ergo_. Where should this _sillogistica concertatio_ be solemnized:

what in our Vniuersity schooles at Oxford, or in _puluere Philosophico_

at Cambridge. No they were erected in time of Popery, and must be new

built againe before they can giue any accesse to his arguments. Truly I

am afraide yᵗ this Generall counsaile, must be holden at Geneua, when al

is done, for I know no place in En[g]land holy inough for their turne,

except it be some barne or out-house about Bury, or some odde blind

cottage in the hart of Warwicke shire, and thither peraduenture, these

good honest opponents would repaire without grudging. Prouided alwaies

that they haue ther horse-hire and other charges allowed them out of the

poor mans box, or els it is no bargain. All this fadges wel yet, if we

had once determined who shold be father of the act. Why what a question

is that, when we haue so many persecuted elders abroad. The blinde, the

halt, or the lame, or any serues the turn with them, so he hath not

on a cloak with sleues, or a cap of the vniuersity cut. Imagin that

place to be furnished, where shall we finde moderators, that may deale

indifferently twixt both parts. _Machiuell_ is dead many a yeare agoe,

or els he had bene a fit man for this may-game, therefore whom shal we

haue now, since it must be neither yours nor ours. Some vpstart countrey

Gentleman, that hath vndone all his tenants by oppression, euen such a

one as _Scar._ of Warwicke shire, that being a noted _Martinist_, be

frinded his poor coppi-holder _Criar_, and turnd him out of all that ere

he had very orderly. How thinke you my lay brethren? is not here a trim

conuocation towards. But mark the end of it, and then you may haps see

odde buffeting with the buttond bookes, and battring down of bishopricks.

_Giles_ of Sidborough wil off his gown at least, and make demonstrations

of Logique with his fists like _Zeno_, what though he be low and cannot

reach so hie as an Archbishop, may not he stād like a iackanapes on his

wiues shoulders, and scold for the best game with all that come. He is

sauing a reuerence a spritish dispu[t]er, and a pestilent felow at an

vnperfect sillogisme. Nay mark me well, and take me at my words, he

shal speake false Latine, forge a text, abuse a Bishop, or make a lie of

reuelation for more then I speak off with any man in Englād. Neither do

I flatter him herin for he hears me not, if I did, it were no matter,

considering that _virtus laudata crescit_.

From iest to ernest, I appeale to you Gentlemen, how ridiculous in

pollicy this disputation would proue if it were granted. First for

there Bibles, the touchstone of all controuersies, they must bee of

their fouorites translation, or els they will deny there authority

as friuolous. Admit they go to the original (which but few of them

vnderstand) they wil haue euery man his sundry interpretation. Let our

deuines alledge any text, they will expound it as they list, say the

fathers or other auncient writers what they will. For such is the growth

of their arrogancy, that they are not ashamed to compare themselus with

_Ierome_ or _Austen_, and in their tedious sermons preach against them as

prophane. If this thē bee any betraying of the wretchednesse of our cause

(as they call it) not to dispute with them that deny all principles,

not to contend with thē that wilbe tride by none but themselus, I refer

it to all considerate iudgementes, that haue no more experiēce in the

actions of peace then a reasonable soule may afford. The more pacified

sort of our Puritans, would needs perswade the world, that it is nought

but a learned ministry which their chāpion _Martin_ endeuors: were it no

otherwise his pardon were easely sealed, but those that know the treasō

of his books, can report of his mallice against Bishops. One thing I am

perswaded, that he neither respects the propagation of the Gospel, nor

the prosperity of the Church, but only the benefite that may fall to him

and his boulsterers, by the distribution of Bishoprickes. Beshrewe mee

but those Church-liuings would come well to decayed courtiers. O howe

meerilye the Dice would runne, if our lustye laddes might goe to hazard

for halfe a dozen of these Dioses[es]. Not a page but woulde haue a

flinge at some or other impropriation or personage: and in conclusion,

those liuings which now maintaine so many schollers and students, would

in two or three yeares be all spent in a Tauerne amongst a consort of

queanes and fidlers, that might carouse on their wine-bench to the

confusion of religion. Well, to proceede in this text of reformation:

is not this thy meaning _Martin_, that thou wouldest haue two and

fiftie thousand Pastors, for two and fiftie thousand Parish churches

in England and Wales. If thou saiest the word, we will haue a place in

both Vniuersities, begin in Oxford first with the fresh-men, and so go

vp to the heades of the Vniuersitie, and then count how many thou canst

make. Our Beadles that know the number best, would needes perswade vs,

that of all sortes, there is not full three thousand: in Cambridge they

say there is not so many by a thousand, then call thy wits together, and

imagin with thy selfe, out of these three thousand, and two thousand of

all gatherings, how many good preachers may be mustered, some foure

hundreth as I gesse, peraduenture thou maist rebate them to some fiftie

or threescore, because there is no more open-mouthes of thy profession

in both Vniuersities: How farre this fiftie is from fiftie thousand,

a farthing worth of Arithmetike will teach you: where wilt thou haue

then a competent number to fill vp those defects of dum ministers:

inspiration I perceiue must helpe to patch vp your knauerie, and then

welfare the cobler of Norwitch, that being one morning somthing earelie

at Saint Androwes, and the Preacher not come before the Psalme was ended,

stept vp into the pulpet verie deuoutly, and made me a good thriftie

exhortation in the praise of plaine dealing. If this bee not true, aske

the Maior that committed him to prison for his labour. Such another

Doctour would he proue, that standing in election for a liuing that was

then in her Maiesties bestowing, came to be examined by men of grauitie

in the circumstance of his sufficiencie, who discending eft soones into

his vnschooled simplicitie, gaue him this litle English to be made in

Latin. There be three Creedes, the Nycen Creede, Athanatius Creede,

and the Apostles Creede, all which ought to be belieued vpon paine of

damnation. The good simple superintendant, that saw himselfe so hardly

beset, craued respite to compasse this vulgar, which graunted, after some

deliberation he began thus to go forward, “Tria sunt Creda, vnum Niceni,

alterum Athanasii, tertium Apostolorum, quæ omnes debent esse creditum,

sub pœna condemnationis.” I marrie Sir, here is apeece of scholershippe

of the new cut, which for the goodnesse of the Latin might haue borne a

part in the Pewteres paggeant. I keepe a register of ten thousand such

knacks. Why, there is not a Presician in England that hath abused arte,

or mistoken a metaphor but I haue his name in blacke and white, what say

you to that zealous sheepebyter of your owne edition in Cambridge, that

saide the wicked had a scabbe, a braune, and a crust on their conscience,

being so full of their wilie gilies, that we that are the true children

of God can not tell how to concerne them: or was not hee a sound carde,

that talking of the maiestie and authoritie of the scriptures, said they

were the sweete meates of Saintes, the houshold stuffe of heauen, and

the home spunne cloth of the Lords own loombes, being deliuered from the

stonebow of his mouth, when he appeared in glory on mount Sinay: But this

is nothing to the good sport of that is behinde. What, I must tell you

of a fellow that trolles in his rethorike like _Martin_ in his riddles.

This hors-holy father preaching on a time in Saint Maries at Oxford,

came off with this mannerly comparison: There is an vglie and monstrous

beast in our tongue called a hogge, and this vgly and monstrous beast in

boistrous and tempesteous weather lifts vp his snoute into the ayre, and

cryes wrough, wrough: euen so (deare people) the children of God in the

troublesome time of temptations, cry, Our helpe is in the name of the

Lord. Such another woodcocke was he of Yarmouth, that said openly in the

pulpet, whosoeuer weares a vayle, is an whore without exception, and on

an other time, two women comming to be churched, whereof the one wore a

vaile, the other went without. He began his thankesgiuing in this forme:

Let vs giue God thankes for the safe deliuery of one of our sisters, for

the other let vs not giue God thankes, for she is a straunger, and we

haue nothing to doe with her, I take her to be _Dinah_ the harlot, that

sat by the high way side, for she hath a vayle ouer her face. In the next

place to him, shall he be put that railing on the Papists in his Sermon,

alledged this argument to confute their religion, Nay (saith he) you may

gather what a wicked and spotted religion this papistrie is, for Campion

himselfe that was accounted their chiefest piller, was reported to haue

had the poxe. I haue another in my tables, that handling that place of

_Iosua_ where _Rahab_ entertained his spies, would needes conclude all

Inkeepers to be harlots, because _Rahab_ the harlot was an Inkeeper. I

shall run my penne out of breath, if I articulate all the examples of

their absurdeties that I could. Haue not Trinitie Hall men in Cambridge

a preaching brother in Bury yet in sute, for saying all ciuillians were

papists. To let him passe for a patch, that being maister of none of the

meanest Colledges in Cambridge, and by the oth of his admission, bound

to take no money for preferments, made answere to one that offered him

fortie markes to make his sonne fellow: God forbid I should take any

money for it is against my oth, but if you will giue me it in plate, Ile

pleasure him in what I may. This is the dreamer if you be aduised, that

is indebted aboue two thousand houres to the Vn[iu]ersitie, which he hath

borrowed by three and foure at a time vpon seuerall sundayes preaching

as it came to his course: it is a shame for him, that he doth not pay

them, professing such puritie as he doth. _Martin_, thou seest I come

not abruptly to thee like a rednosde ieaster, that in the pride of his

pottle-pots curries ouer a reuelling riffe raffe of Tapsterly tauntes,

and course hempen quippes, such as our brokerly wits doe filsh out of

Bull the Hangmans budget, but I speake plaine English, and call thee a

knaue in thine owne language. All the generation of you are Hipocrites

and belli-gods, that deuoure as much good meat in one of your brotherly

loue meetings, as would wel-nye victuall the Queenes ships a whole

moneth. It is a shame for you to exclame so against Cardes, and play

thus vnreasonably at Maw as you do. Gaffe _Martin_, doe you remember

whom you vpbraided by Primero? well let not me take you at Noddy anie

more, least I present you to the parish for a gamster, this the ninth

set that you haue lost, and yet you will not leaue off. Beware _Anthony

Munday_ be not euen with you for calling him Iudas, and lay open your

false carding to the stage of all mens scorne. I maruell _Pasquill_ comes

not away with his legends, considering that the date of his promise is

more then expired. It seemes he stayes for some Saintes that are yet to

suffer, and wants none but _Martin_ to make vp his legend of Martyres,

if it be so I woulde thou wouldest come aloft quickly, that we might

haue this good sport altogether, and not liue euer in expectation of

that which is not. O I could furnish him to the proofe with such a

packet of male and female professors, as the world might not patterne.

A good old dunstable doctor here in London, should be the formost of

them, that saide his wife was as good as our Ladie: and another time

quarrelling with one of his neighbours that was a sadler, about setting

vp of the Organs, in a good zeale he lift vp his fist, and stroke out

two of his fore teeth, like a right man of peace: where haue you lived

my brethren, that you haue not heard of that learned Presbiter, that

talking how _Adam_ fell by eating of the Apple, discourst thus: _Adam_

eate the Apple and gaue it to his wife, whereby is to be noted that the

man eate and the woman eate, the man eate, but how, a snap and away: the

woman eat, but how, she laide her thumbe on the stalke, and her finger

on the coare and bitte it ouerthwart, in which byting it ouerthwart, she

broke all the commaundements, insomuch as vnder ten greene spots the ten

cōmmandments in euery Apple are comprised: and besides that corrupted her

fiue senses. From whence wee may gather this obseruation, that a woman

alwaies eates an Apple ouerthwart. Why, this is sound diuinitie, and apt

for to edify, _Sed abeundum est mihi_, and from the Cleargie must I

leape to the Laytie. Wherefore God euen good man _Dauy_ of Canterbury,

and better lucke betide thee and thy limbes, then when thou dauncedst a

whole sunday at a wedding, and afterwardes repenting they selfe of thy

prophane agilitie, thou entredst into a more serious meditation against

what table thou hadst sinned, or what part was the principall in this

antike iniquitie. The eyes they were the formost in this enditement, but

the legs, (O those leude legs,) they brought him thither, they kept him

there, they leapt, they daunced, and I leualted to the Vials of vanitie:

wherefore, what didst thou but like a true christian chastised them

accordingly. The scripture saith, if thine eye offend thee, plucke it

out, _Dauy_ saith, my hose and shoes haue offended mee, therefore will I

plucke them off. This text thus applyed, off went the wollen stockings

with a trice, and they with the good neates leather shoes were cast both

into the bottom of a well. The sinners thus punished, and all parties

pleased, home went the pilgrim _Dauy_ barefoote and barelegge. And now

since wind and tide serues, now I care not if I cut ouer to Ipswitch:

there is a Cowdresser there that I am sure will entertaine me if she be

not dead, great _Iane_ of Ipswitch they call her, one that hath beene

a tender mother to many a Martinist in her time, and hath a very good

insight in a canne of strong wine. A good vertuous Matrone is she and a

wise, hauing no fault but this, that she will be drunke once a day, and

then she lyes her downe on her bedde, and cryes, O my God, my God, thou

knowest I am drunke, and why I should offend thee my God by spuing thus,

as I do. I haue not beene in Essex yet, but Ile set in my staffe there as

I go home, for I haue a petition for my brother that made the Sermon of

Repentance to deliuer vp for me to the Councell: but it must not be such

a one as he deliuered for him selfe to my Lord Treasurer, beginning with

O sweet Margery, could thy eyes see so fare, thy hands feele so farre,

or thy eares heare so farre &c. for then euerie seruing man will mocke

vs, but it must be of another tune, with most pitifully complaining, that

a man can not call an Asse, asse, but he shall be had _coram nobis_. In

this vaine enough, because actions of the case are chargeable, and Guilde

men vncharitable. If the dogge _Martin_ barke againe, Ile hold him tugge

for two or three courses, and then beware my blacke booke you were best,

for I haue not halfe emboweld my register. Amend, amend, and glorie no

more in your hipocrisie, least your pride and vaine glory betray our

prosperitie to our enimies, and procure the Lords vengeance to dwell in

the gates of our citie. The simple are abused, the ignorant deluded, and

Gods truth most pitifully peruerted, and thou art that most wretched

seducer, that vnder wolues raiment deuourest widowes houses. Visions are

ceast, and all extraordinarie reuelation ended, although a good fellow

in Cambridge, hearing all thinges might be obtained by prayer, prayed

two dayes and two nightes for visions: wherefore broach no more heresies

vnder colour of inspiration: if thou doest, thou art like to heare of me

by the next Carrier. And so bon nute to your Noddishippe.

Yours to command as your owne

for two or three cudgellings at all times.

_Cutbert Curriknaue the yonger._