Thou art the man MARFORIVS, I looked for, though I little thought to meete thee so suddainly vpon the Exchange.

Euer since you tooke shipping at Graues∣ende, I haue had the disease of a Mar∣chants wife, so loue sicke in your absence, that myne eye was neuer pulde from the Wethercocke, and longing like a Woman for your returne, I neuer sawe gale of wind blow merrilie out of the East, nor heard any Ship shoote off her Ordnaunce in the Thems, but I ranne presently to the water side to discouer your comming in; I wonder how I mis∣sed you?

Neuer maruaile at that, I haue learned to maske it; while some of Martins good freendes stood watching for me at Lambith bridge, I came to an Anker in Sandwich Hauen. But of fellowship tell me, howe hath my Countercuffe beene intreated?

It requireth a Summers day and a Winters night to tell you all. It was verie welcome to the Court, thankfullie receiued in both Vniuersi∣ties, the Citties of the Land doe giue you good speeches, as for the Countrey, after the plainest manner, with hart and good will they are ready to greete you with a Cake and a cup of Ale in euery Parrish. This onely is the thing that greeueth them, they know not what Pasquill is. They desire in all places of the Page  [unnumbered] Realme to be acquainted with you, because they would bring you intelligence thicke and threefolde, to further your volume of the liues of the Saints.

I thinke I shall prooue a state man, my packets come in so fast alreadie, that I beginne to swell in Bookes as bigge as Surius. If any desire to knowe what I am, tell them that I was once a Barbour in Rome (as some re∣port) and euerie chayre in my shop, was a tongue ful of newes. Whatsoeuer was done in England, Fraunce, Germanie, Spaine, Italie, and other Countries, was brought to me. The high and secrete matters of Lordes, Ladies, Kings, Emperours, Princes, Popes, & Monarchs of the world, did ring euerie day as shrill as a Bason about my doores. In memory whereof, as Mercurie turnd Battus to a stone for bewraying his theft, it is thought that one Pope or other, mistrusting the slipprines of my toūg, blest me into a stone to stoppe my mouth. Others affirme, that the Cittie of Rome, to requite mee with honour when I dyed, erected me a little monument of stone, with a bodie, heade, and hands thicke and short, answerable to my stature, and set it vp in the open streete, where I assure you I haue stoode manie yeeres in the rayne, my face is so tand with the Sunne, and my hyde so hardened with the wether, that I neither blush when I byte any man, nor feele it when any man byteth me.

I wonder how you were able to continue there?

To heare euery mans talke that passed by, was better then meate and drinke to me. In steede of apparrell, in Summer I wore nothing but paper lyueries, which manie great men bestowed vpon me to their great cost, in Winter, I care for no colde, because I am a stone.

I beseeche you Sir tell me, how came you into England?

Beeing once somwhat busie with Signor Iacomo, about a pretie wench kept at Frescata for the Pope his Fathers tooth. Gregorie the thirteenth, terque quaterque, shooke his white head at me with such a terrible looke, that I was a feard hee would haue smytte my head into Tyber with a Thunderbolt. Neuerthelesse, the olde man beeing of a mylde disposition, and very mercifull, I receiued a pardon for that fault. At the last, hearing the Schol∣lers Page  [unnumbered] of the English Seminarie merrie, as they returned from thier Vineyarde, and full of fine tauntings when they talked of the Sectes and opinions spronge vp in England, I stole out of Rome by night, to make tryall my selfe of the trueth of theyr reports. When I came to England, for the good will I carried to my olde occupation, I entred at London into Sprignols shop, where the first newes I heard among two or three Gentlemen, as they were a trimming, was, of a Martinist a Broker, the next doore by, which with a face of Religion, hauing gotten other mens goods into his hands, was but newe run away, and left his wife to the charitie of the Parrish. With this ridings, I grew verie inquisitiue to know what Martin was? A knaue quoth one; a theefe quoth another; he teacheth the Courte a Religion to robbe the Church. And some of the Cittie that fauour him, apt Schollers to take such an easie lesson, begin to practise theyr cunning vpon their neighbors. Hauing gotten this thred by the end, I neuer left winding til I came to the pa∣per that made the bottom. I frequented the Churches of the Pruritane Preachers, that leape into the Pulpit with a Pitch∣fork, to teach men, before they haue either learning, iudgment, or wit inough to teach boyes.

I pray you Sir, why doe you call them Pruri∣tanes?

A pruritu. They haue an itch in their eares▪ that would be clawed with new points of doctrine neuer drea∣med of and an itch in their fingers, that woulde be noynted with the golden Aenulatum of the Church. I knowe they are commonly called Puritans,* and not amisse, that title is one of the marks they beare about them. They haue a marke in the head,* they are selfe conceited, They take themselues to be pure, when they are filthie in Gods sight; They haue a marke in the eye, theyr lookes are haughtie; They haue a marke in the mouth, a yerie blacke tooth, they are A generation that cursse their father.

How now Caualiero▪ are you com to Scripture?

Doost thou thinke, Marforius, that Pas∣quill hauing stoode so manie yeeres in the streets of Rome, heard so many famous Clarks; especially father Sware the Spa∣niarde, Page  [unnumbered] and the sifted Greeke witte of Father Augustine, and hauing spent so much time in priuate reading the best Bookes that night stirre vppe my deuotion, I would skippe ouer the Booke of all Bookes, the holie Bible? No, no, I haue that vo∣lume in my hands, when many a Martinist hugges a drabbe in his armes, as you shal perceiue by the liues of the Saints. I tar∣rie but for one packet of information frō Essex side, and that worke shall come out of the Presse like a bryde frō her cham∣ber, spangled & trapt, with a full caparizon of the ornaments of this present age.

The Owles Almanack is ex∣pected at your hands as well as that.

That is a peece of seruice not to be neglected in his time. I haue there sette down all the vpstart Religions in this Land. The Anabaptists, the Family of Loue; the seuen capital haeresies for which som haue beene executed of late yeeres in Suffolke; the diuersities of Puritans and Martinists, with a number more which you shall heare of when that Booke is Printed. A lamentable spec∣tacle it will be, to see so many faces in one hoode. But GOD knoweth, (before whom I stand) I desire not to cast it out as a block in the waies of men, for any to stumble at, or to stand at defiance with all Religion; but as a Sea-marke to discouer the quicksands of newe Religions.

I haue heard that Bernardin Ochin, a man of great learning, whom I knewe in Rome to be the first founder of the order of the Capuchines, being once tucht with the finger of Gods spi∣rite, began to detest the superstitions of the Church of Rome, and fled to Geneua. The same man had a desire also to visite England, and during the time of his remaining heere, he found so many blind Sects and Religions within the land, that he tur∣ned backe like a dogge to his owne vomit, and in some sorte he fell into the biace of the Church of Rome againe. Vnhap∣pie man, that beeing once lightned, looked backe to that Sci∣cilian Aetna, that spues vp sinoake and sulpher into the world, to put out the eyes of men; Vnhappie England, that by the di∣uersities of opinions in Religion, sette so many handes to his shoulders to thrust him downe, that was so ready with a turne, Page  [unnumbered] to ouerturne. Howe these newe pampred factions at this day, haue shaken the harts of many of her Maiesties louing peo∣ple, and made them Chamaelion like, capable of any faith saue the right, I leaue it to them that looke into it.

Take heede what you say, it is a common report that the faction of Martinisme hath mightie freendes.

Thats a bragge Marforius, yet if there be anie such, I shall find them in the end, and against the next Parlia∣ment, I will picke out a time to pepper them. Though they were as high as the maste, as sure as the tackling, as profitable as the fraught, and as necessarie as the sayles, when the shippe is in danger, ouerboorde withall. What meaning soeuer some men haue in it, I am assured, that it can neither stand with po∣licie nor with Religion, to nourish anie faction in ciuill mat∣ters, much lesse in matters belonging to the Church. Quid prodest si vos contineat vna domus,*et separet diuersa voluntas? What auaileth it, (saith one) for men to be shrowded vnder one rooffe, if they be not of one hart? One secret faction in a Realme dooth more hurte, then any generall plague or open warre. The pestilence and the sword are two heauie scourges in Gods hand, that deuoure many thousands of men in a little time, yet they reach no further then the bodie, but a faction de∣uours more, and sweepes away both bodie and soule together. Though the Iewes at the siege of Ierusalem, were pressed by their enemies without the walles,* and punished with such a mortalitie within, that the carkases of the dead did dunge the ground, yet they neuer went to the wall, till they grewe to be factious, & fell to taking one another by the throate. Giue me leaue a little Marforius, to shift my sayles, and come towardes Italie. They that were wise prophecied long before of the state of Rome, that it should neuer decay but by diuision Which came to passe. For when the factions of Sylla and Marius, Cae∣far and Pompey, Anthonie and Lepidus brake foorth, the flori∣shing Cittie beganne to cast her lease. The great Empire of great Alexander, like a flame of fire in a heape of flaxe, when it was at the highest, did shed it selfe suddainlie in the ayre, and Page  [unnumbered] came to nothing by the dissentiōs of those that succeeded him. The proude neck of the Graecians, for all their wisedom, was after the like manner brought vnder the Persians and Mace∣donians. If we rolle our eyes at one side into the bosome of our neighbour Fraunce, wee shall perceiue, that although it were many times inuaded in the skyrts of the Countrey, by the Ro∣mans, yet it remained inuincible, till Caesar toke holde of the discords within the Realme. My head is full of water, and my cheekes be wette, when I thinke vpon Constantinople, whose particular iarres, layde her gates open to the Turke, vnder whose captiuitie she groneth to this day.

A faction in a Kingdome may wel be compared to a spark of fire,* it catcheth hold at the first in some obscure corner, in a Shoppe, in a Stable, or in a ricke of Strawe, where it lyeth co∣uert a little time, but by little and little it gathers strength, till it reare it selfe vp to great houses, Pallaces, & Princes Courts, and at last it rageth and ouerruns whole Citties & Countries, without quenching, before they be vtterly ouerthrowne. In the time of Iustinian the Emperor, about the credite and aduance∣ment of two colours, Blewe and Greene, there grew in Con∣stantinople two mightie factions, which made such a head the one against the other, that in one day it cost many thousandes of men their liues, and the Emperor himselfe was brought in great hazard, both of his Empire and his owne person. Vpon as light an occasion in the Dukedome of Florence, for the two colours of Blacke and White, verie pestilent quarrels be∣gan there, and the factions of the Bianchi and the Neri, brea∣king forth like a lightning out of the Clowdes, scourde & wa∣sted the Country where they went. These were but litle sparks in the rushes,* that euery man treadeth on, and very trifles at the first, yet you see how foule a Cockatrice may be hatcht of so small an egge. If I shoulde rip vp the stomacks of some in England, when wee consider the brawles, the Garboyles, the tragicall exclamations for Church apparrell, may wee not say that England is falne into that fantasticall faction of Florence for Black & White? Wher had this brable his first beginning, Page  [unnumbered] but in some obscure corner, in the tippe of the tongue of some blind Parlor-preacher in the land, in shoppes, in stalles, in the Tynkers budget, the Taylors sheares, and the Sheepheardes Tarboxe? I doubt not Marforius, but it will wither where it sprang, and ende at where it began, in shame, and ignoraunce. Thou knowest that the surest proppe of all Princes, is to pro∣mote true Religion, and to keepe it inuiolable when it is esta∣blished, for this is the well tempered Morter that buildeth vp all estates. He that honors me, (saith God) I will honor him. But this chopping & changing of the Religion of the land (which was acquited of accusations in the time of the famous K. Ed∣warde the fixt, and now aduaunced by the happy raigne of the Queenes most excellent Maiesty, & approued by the wisedom both spiritual & temporal, of the whole Realme, & confirmed by a generall consent in the high Court of Parliament) is no∣thing els, but to picke out the Morter by little and little, that at the next pushe, Martin and his companions, might ouer∣throw the state, and make the Emperiall crowne of her Maie∣stie kisse the ground.

Where there is a diuision fostred, there can be no continu∣aunce of the present state,* GOD himselfe hath taught it vs. Martins cheefe practise, in the Prouinces of Englande where I haue wandred, is, to perswade the simple, that her Maiestie layeth such a logge vppon their consciences, as they ought not beare, whereuppon they presume to make a shrewde scruple of their obedience, and begin to bounde like a Colt that would cast his ryder. Hath God powred so many blessings, vpon the Church of Englande, by the very often, and very miraculous preseruations of her sacred Maiesties royall person, and ther∣by giuen testimonies out of Heauen to the Religion of the Lande, and dares Martin attempt to make a doubt bothe of it, and her? Credit me Marforius, this bursting the sinew of peo∣ples obedience to their naturall Prince, cannot be doone, but for a mischiuous intent, what visor soeuer they sette vppon it. I would faine knowe what should be the reason, that so manie hundreds of thousands in this Realme, haue hetherto humbled Page  [unnumbered] themselues at the feete of one person? can it be because shee is mightier then all they, she beeing but one, & they many mil∣lions; she a woman and they men? Is it any terror, thinke you, of the big bodied Holberders that guarde her Maiestie? No Marforius, if there were not some wonderful matter that with∣helde them also, euen they might be giuen ouer to a reprobate sence, to bende euery man the point of his Holberd at her. If we search it till the worlds ende, we shall find no other cause of this sweet harmonie of peoples harts, that remaine faithful and flexible to the shaking of her princelie finger, but onely this, the Religion of the Lande. When Martin shall be suffered to displace GOD, that now dwelles in the bosome of her Maie∣sties louing people, and buz slaunders of Religion into theyr eares, whereby they may conceiue, that her highnesse by the maintenaunce of the Gospell, hath shutte vp their saluation in close prison, and that it mooues God in his wrath to drawe the Sworde against her and the Realme, (as Martin himselfe a∣uoucheth) what other consequent may we looke for, but that euery Pruritane transported with the heate and the ignorance of his zeale, wyll be as readie as a Papist, to lift vp his hande a∣gainst her, which mischiefe I beseech God to returne into their bowels. How odious and how dangerous innouations of Reli∣gion are, Secretarie Machiauell, a politick not much affected to any Religion, discloseth by the example of Fryer Sauanaroll. He was a man like Martin, sprong vp in such a time as Mar∣tin, when Spayne, Fraunce, Rome, Arragon, and the Empe∣rour, entred a league to make warre altogether vppon the Ve∣netians. Sauanarola boasted of Reuelations, and secret conferen∣ces, held betweene the holy Ghost and him; Martin brags hee is a speciall man, raysed vp on a suddaine by the spirit of God for the good of England, as if GOD had beene a stranger to vs all this while. Sauanarola made a bragging proffer, which he neuer performed, that he would passe through the fire, for the confirmation of his doctrine; Martin hath vaunted he wil seale his opinions with his hart blood, but you may see by the starting holes hee seeketh, that hee neuer meant to keepe hys Page  [unnumbered] promise. Sauanarola brought himselfe & his followers to con∣fusion at last; and so will Martin. I muse howe any state man can abide to heare of innouasions in Religion where the truth is preached? There is but one God, which cannot be deuided, if he could, hee were not GOD. All his graces tende to a ga∣thering together of Gods people in a vnitie of Faith,* not to a scattering into diuers Faythes, wherein the principall grace of a Martinist consisteth. Looke vnto the Heathen, the accusers of Socrates, made choise of this accusation aboue all others, as a matter very worthy of death in him: that he was a fellow that sought to sette a newe stampe of his own vpon theyr Religion. One of the first Lawes that Romulus layd, as a ribbe of yron in∣to his gouernment, was, Deos peregrinos ne colunfo.

Take a patterne if you wyll, from priuate Families. What a pittifull thing is it to see, two Religions in one house? where the Father and the Sonne, the Husband & the Wife, the Mai∣ster and Seruaunt, are of diuers faythes, the ioynts of that house begin to gape, and the fall of that house is to be feared. The diuersitie of opinions in so high a degree as is Religion, cannot choose but diminish the loue and respect, that the one of them should carrie vnto the other. The Sonne will be care∣lesse of his dutie to his Father, whom hee takes to be a repro∣bate; the Father will make but slender reckoning of the Son, that beleeues not as hee beleeues. The Wife will giue little reuerence to that Husbande, whom she imagineth to be dam∣ned; The Husband wil be rough and rigorous to such a Wife as obeyes not him; The Seruaunt wyll neuer giue due honour to his Maister, when hee iudgeth him to be the bondslaue of the deuill; The Maister will as hardlie protect that Seruaunt, whose hart he perceiues not to bee with him.

As then the gouernment of Common-weales, was first drawne from the gouernment of priuate houses, so that which is the ruine of priuate houses, growes in time to be the ruine of Common-weales. I haue taken a little paine to visite diuers of the Courtes, Benches, Sessions, that are helde in this Lande in her Maiesties name, by vertue of her authoritie, but Page  [unnumbered] I neuer saw so bolde, so-open, so-barbarous contempt of magi∣stracie, in any other part of the whole worlde, as I haue seene heere. Such canuaces made, such stales set, such traynes layde, such platformes drawne by the factious, to bring theyr Superi∣ours into contempt, and yet they prooue so ridiculous in eue∣rie steppe they tread, that I am ready to stand on my nose whē I trace them out.

I was once in Antwerpe, when great sute was made to the Masters of the English house, (by a Gentleman then emploied in the Queenes affaires) for the entertaining a Preacher amōg them, both to teach & to minister the Sacraments there vnto thē. The request was soone graunted, & Trauars, a fellow that delighteth in obliquitie, was the man that was brought thither, when he came, he had neither taken the Orders of the Ministe∣rie, nor any lycence to preach, according to the gouernment of the Church of Englande, but ran into a corner among the French to receiue it there. At last, one of the Ministers of those Churches, came with him to the companie, and made a sollemne protestation before thē all, that he founde Mast Tra∣uars a fitte man for the deuiding of the word, and deliuerie of the Sacraments. Hac oratione finita. Sweete Maister Trauars, quem oneris causa nomino, for I beare him on my backe till my tale be ended, at the first iumpe read a Statute made in Scot∣land (for Church gouernment) to the naturall Subiects of the Queene of Englande, and tolde them he woulde followe that. I would gladly be resolued in this place, whether Trauars dyd not begin very pretilie to play the Pope, in taking vppon him to discharge her Maiesties Subiects of the allegiance they owe to theyr naturall Prince, and in stealing away from the crowne of England, as many english harts as would harken to him, to translate them at his pleasure to a forraine power? As he layde his foundation in dissention when hee began to be a builder in Gods house, so hath his worke vnto this day prospered, the whole frame I perceiue is fallen vppon him. They that were discreete, ventured couragiously to sette a leauer at him, & ne∣uer gaue ouer till he was remooued.

Page  [unnumbered]The Chronicles of Englande, and the daylie enclosures of Commons in the Land, teach vs sufficiently, howe inclinable the simpler sort of the people are to rowtes, ryots, commoti∣ons, insurrections, and plaine rebellions when they grow brain∣sicke, or any new toy taketh them in the head: they neede no Trauars nor Martin to encrease their giddines. It should seeme that the graund Prior of Fraunce, (a man now dead) had gotten some taste of theyr disposition, when in a Sonet that hee made for his own pleasure, to paint out the natures of all Nations, he toucht the pryde, the wantonnes, the mutabilitie, and the mu∣tinies of the Spaniard, the Italian, the French, and the Scotch∣man, and to the shame of this Nation, hee giues the Englishe a dash ouer the face with a blacke coale, and sayth: Traistre An∣gloi the English man is a Traytor. This is the grounde, the Popes and the King of Spayne, these many yeeres haue cho∣sen to themselues to worke vpon, and vsed the English in no∣thing more, then in matters of high treason. Therefore I would wysh the whole Realme to iudge vprightly, who deserues best to be bolstred and vpheld in these dangerous times, either they that haue religiously & constantly preached obedience to her Maiesties louing people, or they that with a maske of Religi∣on discharge them of theyr obedience?

Speake softly Caualiero, I perceiue two or three lay theyr heades at one side, like a shyp vnder sayle, and begin to cast about you, I doubt they haue ouer-heard you. This Ex∣change is vauted and hollow, and hath such an Eccho, as multi∣plies euery worde that is spoken by Arithmaticke, it makes a thousand of one, & ympes so many feathers into euery tale, that it flyes with all speede into euery corner of the Realme.

All the better for me, when I lacke matter to talke of, I may resorte hether to take vppe a little newes at interest.

I maruaile Caualiero, that you presse not the Martinists with much Scripture, they are great quoters of cō∣mon places if you marke them.

Therin they are like to a stale Curtizan, that finding herselfe to be worne out of cre∣dite, borroweth the gesture of a sober Matron, which makes Page  [unnumbered] her to euery one that knowes her, the more abhominable; for the common sorte whistle at her for her pride, and the grauer sort spyt at her for her impudencie. Howe whorishlie Scrip∣tures are alleaged by them, I will discouer (by Gods helpe) in another new worke which I haue in hand, and intituled it, The May-game of Martinisme. Verie defflie set out, with Pompes, Pagents, Motions, Maskes, Scutchions, Emblems, Impreases, strange trickes, and deuises, betweene the Ape and the Owle, the like was neuer yet seene in Paris-garden. Penry the welch∣man is the foregallant of the Morrice, with the treble belles, shot through the wit with a Woodcocks bill, I woulde not for the fayrest horne-beast in all his Countrey, that the Church of England were a cup of Metheglin, and came in his way when he is ouēr-heated, euery Bishopricke woulde prooue but a draught, when the Mazer is at his nose. Martin himselfe is the Mayd-marian, trimlie drest vppe in a cast Gowne, and a Kercher of Dame Lawsons, his face handsomlie muffled with a Diaper-napkin to couer his beard, and a great Nosegay in his hande, of the principalest flowers I could gather out of all hys works. Wiggenton daunces round about him in a Cotten-coate, to court him with a Leatherne pudding, and a woodden Ladle. Paget marshalleth the way, with a couple of great clubbes, one in his foote, another in his head, & he cryes to the people with a loude voice, Beware of the Man whom God hath markt. I can not yet find any so fitte to come lagging behind, with a budget on his necke to gather the deuotion of the lookers on, as the stocke-keeper of the Bridewel-house of Canterburie; he must carrie the purse, to defray their charges, and then hee may be sure to serue himselfe.

Peace, Caualiero, your tongue will be slitte if you take not heede, I haue heard some say, you should wringe for this geare if the Queene were dead.

Tushe, thou art but a crauin Marforius, if thou-feare that; hadst thou but one droppe of that water in thine eye, which the Seruaunt of Elisha the Prophet had, when he discouered so many Chariors of fire about his Maister, thou shouldest see the Prayers of the Page  [unnumbered] Church of Englande, flie vppe into heauen for her Maiestie, and returne againe with Oliue-branches in their mouthes (like the Dooue that was sent out of the Arke) to bring tydinges of peace and long life vnto her highnesse. These wonderful pre∣seruations of her royall person, which the eyes of this Land e∣uery day behold, are euident tokens, that GOD hath a worke for her to doe; there is a nayle to be knockt into Siseraes head, before she be called from the earth. But whē extremitie of age shall ende her dales, I am of the minde of many thousandes in this Land.

What is that?

He shal doe me a pleasure that cuts my throate.

I perceiue your abode in England, hath made you participate with the nature of an Englishman, where you sette downe your reste, you are verie resolute, and it appeareth by your conceit, you were able to range a fayre battaile of Scriptures to charge your enemies, if you were driuen to lead your forces out.

It greeues me Marforius, to behold, that by reason of this newe faction, crept into the harts of the most vnlearned of all the Ministerie, the Preachers of England begin to strike and agree like the Clocks of England, that neuer meete iumpe on a point together. Whereby either the hearers of these con∣tentions, should say, as the Auditors of the Philosophers did in times past, that the truth is buried in a pitte where it cannot be founde; or els be perswaded at the last, that GOD hath mockt them, and left the way of saluation vnto men, as vncer∣taine, as the way of Hanniball in the Alpes. It is very strange, that the Gospell hauing beene planted in this Lande by those reuerend By shops that are gone to GOD, men that watered their labours with their owne blood, Christ seeing this perni∣cious impugning of all that, which by his Saints and holy Mar∣tirs he hath left vnto vs, hee should be now compelled to come ouer our shinnes with the same rebuke that hee gaue to Phil∣lip and the rest of his Disciples,*Haue I beene so long with you, and haue you not knowne me? Hath Christ been so long so free∣lie, so learnedlie, so zealously preached in this Land; and must wee nowe on a suddaine, (as if God had shewed vs a iuggling Page  [unnumbered] cast) grope for him againe in a Puritans budget, stuft full of rayling & reuiling Pamphlets? I am sure the Apostle teacheth me,* that the wisedom which is of God, is Pure and Peaceable: if it be pure, it cannot cōmunicate with that taste of the deuils tongue, which is a slaunderer by his occupation. If it be peace∣able, it is without faction, & neuer runs into the dāgerous gain∣saying of Core, whose sinne could not choose but be very great, because the punishment thereof was very great. But I feele by the pulse of a Puritane when I touch him, that his disease is the very Apoplexie of the Donatistes, Quod volumus sanctum est. What soeuer they like, is Apostolicall, be it neuer so bad: and and what they mislike is Diabolicall, be it neuer so good.

I shall neuer forget that man of God, Maister Iohn Foxe, who though he neither sought Benifice nor Bishoprick in the Land, yet whē some of the faction came vnto him with a Scot∣tish Minister, and brought him certaine Articles of Religion, (coyned in a Mint among themselues) desiring him to set his hand vnto them, the teares rolling downe plentifully vpon his face, he reiected them all with a sharpe reproofe. An other time, when Paget fawned vppon him, full of play, like a wanton whelpe, whose worme was not taken out of his tongue, the good Father, enccuntered him in London in an open streete with this geeting, God send thee a right minde to thy crooked gate. A good Prayer beleeue mee for this dogged generation, that is euer barking against the Moone, and as men that are troubled with sore eyes, they think any light or Religion better & whol∣somer then that they haue, because they want learning to dis∣cerne and iudge of that they haue. Yet they think I warrant you, to carrie all away with censoricall lookes, with gogling the eye, with lifting vppe the hand, with vehement speeches, when the Wine which they broach vnto the people, is the very poyson of Dragons, and the gall of Aspes, prest from a bitter Grape that neuer came out of Gods Vintage.

Aquitanicus Prosper found this to be the cause of all conten∣tion in the Schooles of Philosophers and Rhethoritians Seipsis ducibus vtebantur. Euery one that had a whirlegig in his braine, Page  [unnumbered] wold haue his own conceit to goe currant for as good paiment, as any infallible grounde of Arte; And I perceiue the priuie traine that giues fire vnto all this Gunshot, that hath beene so latelie discharged at God, and good men in the Church of Eng∣land, is an ouerweening that Martin hath of himselfe, when he would haue that to be the meaning of the holy Ghost, that his mastership imagins. It pleaseth his worship, in his Proem to his cokish conclusions, to make himselfe merry with the Bishop of Winchester for saying, I am not of opinion, that, Vna semper de∣bet esse aconomia Ecclesiae, yet presently he fetcheth his seas him∣selfe, and leapes very boldlie ouer head and eares, when hee a∣uoucheth, that Christ, his Apostles and holie Martirs, are of opi∣nion, that the gouernment of the Church, should alwaies and in all places be one &c. without setting downe any one testimonie of Christ, or Apostle, or holy Martir in that behalfe. Good By∣shop, his opinion must be refused, and Martins opinion must be receiued; euery Goose of mast Martin must goe for a Swan, and whatsoeuer he speakes, must be Canoniall.

But for all that, though Martin forgot himselfe suddainlie in that streine, beeing somwhat eager of his Game, when hee tost the learned Fathers opinion like a ball with the Rackit, and made full account to bandie the whole Bishoprick away, yet in other places he quoates Scripture.

Hee coateth Scriptures indeed, for he is light of foote, & ouer-runs them Marforius in euery place. Qui in Euangelio quod vultis cre∣ditis, vobis potius quam Euangelio creditis. They that beleeue what soeuer they lust in holy Scriptures, are a generation that giue more credit to themselues than to the Scriptures; there∣fore it were good (saith a godly father) for such people, to tell the worlde plainlie, that they make no reckoning at all of anie Scriptures. And I assure thee, if that man may be taken for a fugitiue and a Rebell, that runnes to the enemie and forsakes his Prince, those simple creatures may worthilie be denounced to be runnagates from God, and from her Maiestie, that forsake this sweete gouernment, vnder which they haue manie yeeres enioyed the true preaching of the Gospell, to be speake them a Page  [unnumbered] new fashion of Religion at Martins shoppe. Yet is there no∣thing so familiar in their mouthes, as Templum Domini, and Verbum Domini, The Temple of the Lorde, and the worde of the Lord: they take the word by the nose with a paire of Pin∣chers, & leade it whether soeuer it pleaseth them. But there wil be a day of account, when GOD, (by whose finger the worde was written) shall reuenge the forcible entries they haue made into his possessions, & punish euery forrow they haue plowed vpon his backe. They are the very Spawnes of the fish Saepia, where the streame is cleere, and the Scriptures euidentlie dys∣couer them, they vomit vp yncke to trouble the waters, and la∣bour to bring Religion to this passe, that as Appio the Grama∣rian reports of himselfe, he called forth Homer out of his graue, onely to aske him what Countriman he was, and who was his Father? So now we must either burne all the Bookes and fa∣mous Libraries in the worlde, and take Martins assertions for vndoubted Maximes, or els fetch vp the Apostles by coniura∣tion, to demaund of them whether we be right or no?

As I came through Fraunce Marforius, I was desirous to ryde from the one ende to the other of Clara Vallis, where I found the last will and Testament of S. Bernard, standing in this forme vpon his Tombe.*Tria vobis fratres, obseruanda re∣linquo, quae vt potui obseruaui. Primo. Nemini scandalum feci, si quando incidit sedaui vt potui. Secundo. Minus semper sensui meo quam alterius credidi. Tertio. Laesus de laedente nunquam vindic∣tana petii. Ecce charitatem, humilitatem, patientiam, vobis relinquo. Bretheren (saith he) there be three thinges that I bequeath vnto you to be obserued, which as well as I could I haue obserued my self. First, I neuer gaue scandale vnto any person, if I did, I pacified the matter to my power. Secondlie, I stood vpon mine owne conceite lesse then I did vpon other mens. Thirdly, when I was wronged, I neuer sought reuenge. Beholde, Charitie, Humilitie, and Patience I be∣queath vnto you. This good Father shall ryse vppe in iudgment to condemne Martin. Had he beene fearefull of giuing anie Scandale vnto the worlde, his vncharitable Pamphlets had ne∣uer seene the Sunne, Had hee giuen lesse credite to his owne Page  [unnumbered] censures and opinions, than to the censures and opinions of better men, so many good Scriptures had neuer been wrested, so many flowers in Gods Garden had neuer been defaced. Had he been ready to suffer wrong without wringing of reuenge out of Gods hand, he would neuer haue thundred & lightned at so many rare men, whose learning and vertue is a pricke in his eye, and a strong watch that intercepts euery passage vnto his Hierarchie. Let him swell while he burst, with the worde in his mouth, so long as hee breaketh the rule of Charitie, and cares not whom he strike, so the edge of his tuske may haue a lighting place, wee may easily see what is within him. Infaelix lolium & steriles dominantae auenae. Scripture is often in the typ of his tongue, but Cockle is the graine wee reape with him. It is the propertie of Martin & his followers, to measure Gods mouth, by theyr owne mouth, as you shal see in the May-game that I haue promised you: for there you shall haue a number of strange Notes vpon the Text, some of them gathered from William Dike at S. Albanes, in his clarklie Paraphrases vppon S. Luke and S. Iohn, some haue beene brought me from other places, & some I gathered my selfe, in an assemblie of the bro∣therhood at Ashford in Kent. I went thether with a Student of Cambridge to a sollemne exercise, and comming in the habite of Schollers, we pressed somewhat boldly into their companie to dine with them, assuring our selues to finde some new ser∣uice at theyr Table. When the Dinner was doone, one of them read a Chapter, euery man keeping his place still; The roome was full of Artificers, men and women, that sate rounde about vppon stooles and benches to harken to it. The Chapter was, the 1. Cor. 3. which being read. The reader began first to vtter his conceit vpon the Text, in short Notes, then it came to his next neighbours course, and so in order Glosses went a beg∣ing, and Expositions ranne a pace through the Table, till they came to me, whom they desired to open my mouth among the rest, I vtterly refused to vndertake the taske, notwithstanding, I was so wonderfully vrged, that I coulde not any way shift thē off, and somewhat I spake among them. When I came to the Page  [unnumbered] ende of my cariere, my companion was requested to pricke it for company with his freendes. I needed no Minstrill to make me merrie, my hart tickled of it selfe, when it came to his turn, because I knew him to be a Gentleman well studied in Philo∣sophie, but he had not yet medled with Diuinitie. He chose the thirteenth verse of the Chapter to discourse vpon. Where the Apostle saith, Euery mans worke shall be tryed by fire. But to see how brauely hee trotted ouer all the Meterors bredde in the highest Region of the ayre, to see how louingly hee made the sence of the Apostle, and Ouids fiction of Phaetons firing of the world to kiss before they parted, and then howe souldier∣like hee made an ende of his manage with a double rest, was sport enough for vs to beguile the way, as we trauailed backe againe from thence to Canterburie.

I haue brought many a propper note out of that meeting, for euery mans spirit at the Table, had two bowts with the A∣postle before hee left him, and one whilst another spake, had a breathing time giuen him to whisper with the holy Ghost, to know what shold be put into his head to vtter, against it came about to his course againe.

Trust mee Caualiero, I take this to be the odde peece of worke of all that hetherto you haue spent your time in, I trauaile like a woman with child, till this be out. But haue you not heard Cooper at Paules chayne, and the rest of the men that are commended to your eares by Martin Senior?

I haue followed them also, and I finde them fitte to preach vp∣pon Bellowes, and Bagpipes, and blowne Bladders, they are so full of ventositie, that I cannot come at their matter for winde and words.

What say you to Dike of S. Albanes, how like you him?

He is an Asse, he is an Asse, quoth a learned Gentleman of Lyncolnes-Inne, that went thether to heare him at the last Assises, and found him so bald, so bare, and yet so bold to flie into heauen with a fewe sicke feathers, that Mouit Cornicula risum. Thys generation hath a little smacke of one of the plagues of Aegipt, they skippe very lustily into pri∣uate houses, and fill our eares full of croking like the Frogges Page  [unnumbered] of Aegipt.

What shoulde be the cause of these new Sect-maisters?

This mischiefe hath many foun∣taines, which I will reduce for thy sake into a little compasse. One cause I finde to be meere ignoraunce.* GODS Church is compared to an Armie, well ordered and sette in good aray. In an Armie you haue manie Commaunders, Corporals, Ser∣giants, Leiutenants, Captains, and Coronels, yet not all of e∣quall authoritie, but all vnder the direction of one Generall, for the better leading in and out of the whole forces: and in Gods Church, as it hath grown great, companies cōming daily in vnto it out of euery tongue, and Tribe, and Countrey, and Nation, so all Ecclesiasticall and Christian Histories, and Anti∣quities teache vs, that there hath beene a diuersitie of learned and skilfull leaders, some higher, some lower then others in theyr places, and all vnder the controlment of one Generall, Christ himselfe, for the greater terror of Haereticks & enemies of the Church, and for the grace, the beautie, and order of eue∣rie Cornette and Ensigne in the same, which is a thing glorious in Gods eye, because he is the GOD of order. But the Mar∣tinists (sillie wretches) ignorant and vnlearned men, vnfitte for any eminent charge in the Church themselues, seeke to drawe euery place in this Campe royall to an equalitie with thēselues. A preposterous humor noted in the Ecclesiasticall Histories, diuers that were sette beside the Cushion when Bishoprickes were a dealing, sought to make Bishops equall with euery Mi∣nister. In this daungerous attempt, I finde the three plagues that GOD threatneth for peoples sinnes, to be powred out at this day vpon the Church of England. First. The Sworde is vp∣pon the right eye, and the right hand: what soeuer is right in the Church of England, is wounded by the Martinists, a crooked generation, that loues to swym side-long with the Crabbe. Se∣condly. Like people, like Priest begins now to be verified: the Preachers of the faction, (like Puppets in a motion) begin to snappe and to turne, and to speake, what, and when, and how∣soeuer the people will, at whose tables they are fed like Geese in the Capitol, to gaggle at euery man that is against them. Page  [unnumbered] Thirdly. Beautie and Bandes: the two staues that God vses like a Sheepheard to guide his people, are knapt in sunder. Beautie is burst; for our order is turned into cōfusion: Bandes are burst also, for our vnitie is fallen into dissention. The maine poste whereuppon the Bucklers, the Armour, the imaginarie Tro∣phes of the faction, is hanged vppe for the simple to gaze and wonder at, is onely this, The Church of England hath committed fornication with the Church of Rome, and tript out her foote like a strumpet, to euer deuise of mans braine that hath passed by her.

Heerein I see the Churches case, is Susannaes case, this accu∣sation of incontinencie is framed against her, by such as haue sought to be incontinent with her themselues. Had Susanna prostituted her body to the Elders, her credit had neuer beene called into Question by her accusers: had the Church of Eng∣land, giuen vppe the keyes of her Coffers, to bawdes, boggers, and Banckroupts, the reuerend Elders of Martinisme, had ne∣uer put vppe any Billes of endightment against her the last Parliament. But as the storie saith, that Daniell was raysed by GOD to acquite her, and conuince euery scatterer of false re∣ports, I thinke before I end, Signor Pasquill of Englande, wyll prooue the man, that must sette a gagge in the mouth of Mar∣tin the great, and cut vp an Anatomie of all his knauerie. Me thought Vetus Comaedia beganne to pricke him at London in the right vaine, when shee brought foorth Diuinitie wyth a scratcht face, holding of her hart as if she were sicke, because Martin would haue forced her, but myssing of his purpose, he left the print of his nayles vppon her cheekes, and poysoned her with a vomit which he ministred vnto her, to make her cast vppe her dignities and promotions.

Thys indeede is the marke that Martin shootes at, whereby you may see that one cause of Martinisme, is a collop that dropt out of Mydas nose, a desire of Gold. This is the roote of all the mischife, by this many men are fast lockt in the deuils snares, many soules are thrust through with many sorrowes. Thys bee∣ing the ground master Martin hath made his choise of, when he castes his accounts, and surueighes howe little witte and howe Page  [unnumbered] little might hee hath to goe thorough with his building, like a furious beast wrapt in the cordes where hee cannot stirre, after many a vayne plunge which he giues to breake away, when he sees his labour lost, transported with a rage, he roares and he somes, and sets himselfe downe in the Scorners Chayre.

Though Babies and fooles stagger, and stande amazed to beholde their newe pranckes, yet almost the meanest in Gods Schoole knowes, it is no strange thing, that the Church sholde be vexed with such enemies. In the time of holy Dauid the King, the Church was assaulted by a kinde of people, whose mouthes were as Quiuors, and theyr tongues as Shafts, that did shoote very secretly at the best men. Vnto this kinde of people, holy men of God haue giuen sundry tytles, and thereby, as it were, clapt many Brandes vppon theyr backes, to make them knowne to be rotten Sheepe of the deuils foulde. They are termed to be Bulles of Bashan, Foxes, Serpents, Vipers, Woolues, Spyders, Theeues, Firie-ouens, False-ioyes, & a great many names more of like honor, they haue wonne in the fielde, and borne a∣way the prize in euery age.

A yeere would scarce suffer me to discouer them all at large. Yet that I may touch at euery Coast which I haue descried, they are called Bulles, because they dosse out theyr hornes a∣gainst the truth; Foxes, because theyr conspiracies, and incon∣tinencies, theyr vnchaste and disordered life, shewes them to be tied together by the tayles like Sampsons Foxes, but their heads be loose, they shake off theyr obedience to their natural Prince. Serpents, because they glide vpon theyr bellies, No sin among some of them, from the nauell downward. Vipers, to giue light and estimation vnto themselues, they teare open the bowels of theyr owne Damme, and liue by the death of her that bred them. Woolues, In outwarde appearaunce, they are like to the dogge, and make a shewe to the world they would keepe the Sheepe, but all theyr desire is to kill the Sheepe. Spyders, be∣cause they sucke out theyr mallice from very good hearbes, and spynne with great studie an vnprofitable webbe, good for no∣thing but to catch Flyes. Theeues, they breake in by night into Page  [unnumbered] Gods house, and would spoyle though it were with the bloode of the Saints. Firic-ouens, they haue a scorching breathe, and when they are drawn, they deliuer a batch for the deuils tooth. And to wind vp their vertues in a word or two, they are False-ioyes, their substance is brittle, and their Bookes be Glasse, giue thē but a filop, they run to a powder. What grounde they haue gotten by their practises among the witlesse, I neede not tell you, seeing Martin Senior is so forward to tell you himselfe, that he hath a hundred thousand in the Lande, readie to lift vppe a new Presbitery with priuate hands. Though I know that he ly∣eth loudlie, yet it were not amisse Magna componere paruis, and to looke to his fingers, that he be not as readie when hee spyes his time, to lift vp a newe Prince.

After GOD had once brought his Church out of Egipt, by the hand of Moses, there wanted neither Iebusite, nor enemy a long time to flye in her face, and to hinder her passage to the Land of promise; And since God led his Church in this Land out of the bondage of Rome, by the conduct of her excellent Maiestie, there neuer yet wanted Papist, Atheist, Brownist, Barowist, Martinist, Anabaptist, nor Familie of Loue to bid them battaile, that their course to Gods Kingdome might be stopt. But in all their attempts it fareth with them, as it dooth with the Wrastler within the Lystes, he winnes now and than, not because he is strong or impossible to be ouer-come, but be∣cause the match that he deales withall is weake; Martin hath made some head, in some parts of her Maiesties Dominions, not because his worshippe is inuincible, but because hee hath closde with the clowted shoe, and got a little credite by mens infirmites.

By your leaue, Caualiero, they say Martin hath great vpholders.

It may be so to, some few that are as readie as himselfe, to rob the church: though hee stand in they bo∣soms like the Grasse vpon the house to scape the Clergies Sic∣kles, Pasquill will haue a hooke to pull him down. In the mean season,* his state is as the Grasse vppon the house, they that are wise and religious doe passe by him, but they neuer blesse him, Page  [unnumbered] as men doe the croppe vppon the grounde. Curses I haue read and heard of many that haue followed their humors, that haue affected any pillage of the Church. When Symon the muti∣nous (vppon a particular grudge hee bare to Onias the high Priest)* had enformed Seleucus the King of Asia, of the Chur∣ches Treasure, the King sent Heliodorus his Treasurer, to seaze it to the Crowne:*Heliodorus came like a Foxe, to visit and re∣forme the disorders of C•elosyria and Phaenice. When the high Priest perceiued, that reformation was his errande, but golde he sought, the graue countenance of Onias was striken down, and the people beholding their Father heauie, ranne some to the Temple, some to the Cittie-gates, some stood in their win∣dowes looking out, some gadded vppe and downe the streetes, like Bacchus Froes, franticke for the time, and all ioyntly lifted vp their hands, their eyes, and their voice to heauen, for the de∣fence of the Church Treasure. Heliodorus was no sooner en∣tred the Treasurie to take the spoyle, but there appeared to him a terrible man in Complet Armour of Gold, mounted on a barbed Horse, which ranne fiercelie at the Kings Treasurer, and trampled him vnder foote. Therewithall appeared also, two men of excellent strength and beautie, whipping and bea∣ting him with so many stripes, that hee was carried out of the place speechlesse, and without any hope of life at all.

But because Martin will say the Bookes of the Machabees are Apocrypha, and Sprignols man told me (as he trimd me the other day) that there is a new Barbar in London, about to shaue the Bible, wherin he finds somwhat that he would haue cleane discarded, I will deale with such Scriptures, as preuent them of all euasions. How dangerous it is to gelde the Church goods, the end of Ananias and Saphira shal witnes for me,* for though their death was the punishment of their sinne in lying, yet I trust Martin will graunt me, that they were drawn to that sin by the corde of Sacriledge. And if a greedie desire of with∣holding that from the Church which thēselues had giuen, was of force to open such a windowe to the deuill, that they were presently giuen ouer as a pray to the iawes of hell, to lye and Page  [unnumbered] dissemble with the holie Ghost, howe many foule sinnes, and howe many greeuous plagues are to be feared in this Lande, which alreadie hang at the ende of the lyne of Martinisme, and would speedilie be puld vpon our heads, if we should but be∣ginne to take that from the Church, which we neuer gaue? It may be, Mast Martin will flappe mee in the mouth with his politique reason, that it is good for the Realme, to maintaine their warres by the Church reuenewes, because forraine inua∣sions are dailie looked for. But to meete with his wisedome at the halfe sword, I remember that Aegipt in the time of Ioseph the Patriarche,* felt so extreame a famine, that the fift parte of the Lande was sold to releeue the Lande, yet the Patriarche in all this care he had, both of the Countrey and the King, to suc∣cour the one, & enrich the Coffers of the other, neuer attemp∣ted any sale of the lande of the Priestes, nor once diminished the same. If the holie Patriarche in so great extreamitie, neuer venturde to alienate the possessions of Idolatrous Priestes, though it were to the releefe of a whole Kingdome, with what face dares anie politique in the world, curtoll the maintenance of the Church of God, and vntile the houses that by religious Princes haue beene consecrated to Gods seruice?

Let vs see the good that ensueth of their deuices, & let Eng∣land be warned by the praesidents of other Nations. Celce the Constable of Gertrund King of Burgonie, hauing vnder the authoritie of the king his Maister, enriched himselfe with the goods of the Church, was one day in the Church at his deuo∣tion, and as he hearde the Prophet read, that proclaimes a woe vnto them that ioyne house to house, and land to land, he gaue a shrike suddainlie in the congregation, and cried out, this is spoken to me, this curse is vpon me, and vppon my posterite and afterward died miserablie. In Fraunce, Lewes the sixt, sur∣named the great, was once a protector of the priuiledges of the Church, for perceiuing that the Conte de Clerimont, the Lord de Roussi, the Lord de Meugn, the Lorde de Beuuieu, and others, had rifled the Bishopricks and Churches within the Realme, he caried Armes in the defence of the Church against Page  [unnumbered] them, and compelled them to restore their robberies to the Church againe. The same King L•wes the great, vrged wyth extreame necessitie in his age, beganne at the last, to pull the Church himselfe. But S. Bernard, (one of the Lampes of the Church of GOD in those dayes) sollicited the King with di∣uers Letters, exhorting him fatherlie to giue ouer that course: at the last, perceiuing that neither entreatie, nor reproofe was able to withdraw him, he began to darte out the thunderbolts of the Church, and to threaten him, that hee shoulde shortlie feele the iudgment of God vpon him, which suddailie came to passe, for by the suddaine death of the young Prince his eldest Sonne, the staffe of his age was broken.

You haue made Signor Caualiero, a sad discourse, yet I feare all this will not saue the Bishopricke of Elie, from shiuering it selfe into many peeces.

What remedie Marforius? Though I be but a stone, I am not so sencelesse to presume like a Martinist, to teach her excellent Maiestie how to weare a Crowne. Her highnesse beeing so richlie furnished, with so rare and high graces from aboue, and knowing which way to hold the Scepter of the defenders of the faith, better by her owne experience, than by the wisedome that is euery day powred into her bosome by the counsels of others, for Pasquil to come in nowe with any aduice for her, were to cast (God wot) one little droppe of water into the Sea. Therefore what∣soeuer I haue alreadie spoken in this behalfe, or shall vtter hereafter, when Martin or his Maister prouokes me to single Combat, I cowch it heere with all dutie and humilitie at her Maiesties sacred feete.

I know the humor of a Martinist to be such, as Dauid de∣scribed long agoe,*Our tongues are our owne, who is Lord ouer vs? An ambitious desire to sitte in the doores of euerie mouth to be seene and talked of, hath made thē surfet, and shaken them with many colde fittes of the Feuer of Eutydimus. Hee was a wrangling Logician, that had rather say any thing, then seeme to be conquered in disputation, which made him as a man mad and impudent, to maintaine by argument, that his dog was his Page  [unnumbered] father, and the father of all the world, he grew so peruerse and so slippery in his conclusions, that he proued as quick as an Eele in euery quirke, the harder he was griped, the sooner hee slipt out of euery hand. But Pasquill is made of another temper, hee acknowledgeth the least Magistrate in the Land to be Lord of his tongue, & the Lawes of this Country, to be the curbe that God & her Maiestie haue made for vnrulie mouthes, least her people should gore one another like brute beastes. Pasquill of∣fereth his back to S. Bernards discipline, far from the contenti∣ons of Martin and Eutydimus, he giueth lesse credit and autho∣ritie to his own wit, than to the least of all those that he findes to be men of more learning and iudgment then himselfe.

Martin cryes out (as if he had already poysoned the springs head, where the whole Realme shold fetch water) Let the Court alone, he saith he knowes what a wonderfull working the hope of gaine and of gold hath in that place, yet Pasquill is resolued, that her excellent Maiestie, (as hetherto she hath doone) will continue still her princelie fauour to the Priuiledges of the Church of England, and giue the blessing to it that Moses gaue to the Priest-hood of the Tribe of Leui, and pray for thē First, That the Vrim and Thummim may be among them,* wisedom and knowledge for the peoples good, and that when they offer vn∣to the Lord, The work of their hands may be accepted. Next, that God in his mercie would Blesse their substaunce, and smyte theyr enemies quite through the loynes, that they may neuer rise againe.

Inough Caualiero, the Clock strikes eleuen, and the Marchants come in to the Exchange apace, I think it were best to talke no longer here. And seeing Martins matters begin to be whust, it were good in my iudgment to suppresse your volume of The liues of the Saints.

Nay Morforius, I must haue three courses of the Launce with Th. Cartwright, before I leaue. Hath Martin made him his God, and thinketh he to escape my fingers? I will be with him to bring, from the very first rocking of his cradle, to the last penny that hee payd for purchasing. What? shall I neuer take the faction without hypocrisie? wold a man think this companion were persecuted Page  [unnumbered] by the Church of England, that in the heate of his persecution is so braue a purchaser? Goe toe bother Thomas, tell your neighbors about you, Rogers of Bifielde, Fen of Couentry and the rest, that I keepe a Register of all the Puritane purchasers in the Realme, & I meane to be Clarke of their Audit for these seauen yeres, my Paten is already sealed.

Seeing you will forwards with the works you haue taken in hand, giue me some direction for the priuie dispersing them when they come out.

I would haue thee principally, to drop some of thē down at Penrie the Welch-mans haunt.

Where is that?

Tut, I perceiue you know nothing. At the signe of the siluer forke and the tosted cheese, where the Painter to bewray both his abuse of the Scriptures, & his malice against the Church, hath drawne him his word with a Text-pen, Ze∣lus domus tuae comedit me. A speeche holy Dauid did vse, when the zeale of the Church did eate vp the Court, and a speeche now describing the spirit of Penrie, that would faine turne the Church of the Lande to a tosted cheese, that the zeale of the Court might eate vppe her.

You said in the ende of your Countercuffe, that you would sende vs a Comentarie vpon Martin Iunior, I forgot till now to aske you what is become of that?

I fell that night into a traunce, wherein mee thought I saw a very golden wit performe that matter, with so keene a tooth, and such a pleasant grace, that I gaue ouer to him, and farthered The liues of the Saints, as much as my ley∣sure would giue me leaue. And credit me, when I came to the life of the myncing Dame of Rochester with the golden locks, whose conceipt was so quick, that shee caught a childe whilst her husbande was from her, as her clappe was so suddaine, that no body knowes how it came, or how it went, for since she was deliuered, (passe & repasse) the childe was neuer heard of: so my pen was as swyfte as the post-horse of the Towne, I ran a great deale of ground in a litle time about her causes. But who commeth yonder Marforius, can you tell me?

By her gate and her Garland I knowe her well, it is Vetus Comaedia. She hath been so long in the Country, that she Page  [unnumbered] is somewhat altred, this is she that called in a counsell of Phisi∣tians about Martin, and found by the sharpnes of his humour, when they had opened the vaine that feedes his head, that hee would spit out his lunges within one yere. And I promise you she prophecied very truly of him, you may see by the Bookes that he set foth last, that his strength is spent.

I haue a tale to tell her in her eare, of the slye practise that was vsed in restraining of her. In the meane season Marforius, I take my leaue of thee, charging thee vpon all our old acquaintance, and vppon my blessing, to set vp this bill at London stone. Let it be doone sollemnly with Drom and Trumpet, and looke you ad∣uance my collours on the top of the steeple right ouer against it, that euery one of my Souldiers may keepe his quarter.

Brauamente Signor. This deuice (I perswade me) will haue his working, assure your selfe I wil put it in executi∣on. Is there any thing els you would haue me doe?

Yes, if I thought you were at leysure, you haue been very busie I perceiue about Martins death, and though he liue yet, it may be you prophecie of his end. Yester-night late, olde Martins Protestation in Octauo was brought vnto mee, I see by the Page  [unnumbered] volume, hee languisheth euery day more and more, the pride of his flesh is so much falne, that you may tell euery bone in hys bo∣dy now. I pray thee Marforius, after the Soldatescha bravura of dis∣playing my Banners vpon London-stone, send this Pistle to Mar∣tin by the next Poste.