An ansvvere to a Romish rime lately printed, and entituled, A proper new ballad wherein are contayned Catholike questions to the Protestant, the which ballad was put foorth without date or day, name of authour or printer, libell-like scattered and sent abroad, to withdraw the simple from the fayth of Christ, vnto the doctrine of Antichrist the pope of Rome / written by that Protestant Catholike, I.R.

To the indifferent Readers, be they Protestants, Papists, or neyther, I. R. Catholike Protestant, Professour of Iesus Christ, wisheth all wisdome, and all constancie to hold the trueth being found.

GOod Readers whosoeuer, you shall vnderstand, that not many moneths ago, I, together with others in a search, found some good English bookes, and some two or three English Pamphlets of another stampe and nature, viz. A Popish Rosary of pray∣ers, and diuers Popish pictures in it, circled about with the forme of Beads, (as if all were the holyer, that comes within that com∣passe.) We found there amōg other things also, a Toy in Rime, entituled, A proper new Ballad, wherein are certaine Catho∣like questions (for so he termeth them) to the Protestant. These two, with an other note booke, written of like argument, I keep by me: and, onely of zeale to the trueth, and of loue to such sim∣ple soules, as might be snared with such petty bayts as this Ballad is, I haue taken a little paynes in answering the same as well as I could, being a man of small skill to meddle in greater matters. A Minister of the Citie told me of the same Ballad, before I met with this, and desired me to vndertake the answering of it, & he would helpe me to it, but could not: and therefore till now, by this good occasion, I thought no more of it; although I am per∣swaded, there are many such Pāphlets, together with other like Romish wares, that are sent abroad among the common people, both Protestants and Papists in London and in the countrey, & that, by certaine women Brokers and Pedlers (as of late in Staf∣fordshire there was) who with baskets on their armes, shal come and offer you other wares vnder a colour, and so sell you these, where they see and know any likelyhood to vtter them. God graunt, that all Magistrates may haue the spirit of Nehemias & Zorobabel, to take and finde them out, and finding them, not to let them go, but to punish them according as the quality of their offence deserueth: for vnder the habit of such, many young

Iesuites, and olde Masse-priests range abroade, and drawe disci∣ples after them. But because I feare I may exceed the bounds of an Epistle, I will draw towards an end: onely I will shewe you how I haue dealt and ordered things in the answering hereof.

First, I found it set to no certaine tune: but because it goeth most neere to the olde tune of Labandalashot, therefore I haue made, that all may be sung to that tune, if neede be.

Secondly, the Authour of this Ballad, his skill seemed to me, to be as bad in Poetry, as in Diuinity, and therefore I am here∣in driuen sometimes to adde and abbreuiate the Authours par∣ticular words, but I faile him not a iote for his owne sense and false meaning: let this bee considered of therefore of all men.

Thirdly, this Ballad-monger hath deuided his worke into 9. principall parts or heads: and I obserue them in a sort, as shall appeare by the figures set before euery part.

Fourthly, whereas the conclusion of the Ballad is long, I giue him leaue to goe it through, and then I followe him with mine answere all together, And so with my Epilogue, and a short song of Popery, made long agoe in scorne of Papists foolery, I end, re∣ferring the Readers for further satisfaction in this poynt, to M. Crowly his booke, which is an answere in prose to the like questions, prin∣ted 1588.

Yours in the Lord, I. R.