Rome for good news, or, Good news from Rome in a dialogue between seminary priest, and a supposed Protestant, at large. An exhortation to bishops. Whereunto is also annexed a discourse between a poor man, and his wife.

An Exhortation to Bishops.

Come down ye Bishops, fear a fall, Your Kingdom 'gins to shake, The hand is writing on the wall, Which makes your knees to quake; Your Buildings like a tottering wall, The ground-works laid in sand, Come down it will take Babels fall, Sure long it cannot stand; Your Language is confounded sure, Ye wote not what to say, And yet to build up Babels Tower, You still bring Clods of Clay; But all this while you patch and piece With paltry stuff indeed, So that in th'end the mark you'le miss, When you hope best to speed; It is not Jeroboams Calves Can save you I am sure, Nor yet your cruel Canon Lawes, Can make your Kingdom dure; You have deprived many a man, For breaking mens Decrees, But for the Lawes of God not one, That doth his living leese; How can this stand with equity? Resolve me this I pray,

To maintain Guides that cannot see, And thrust the good away, For let him be the vilest wretch, That lives under the Sun, If he will wear a Surplice, And Cross the Child with Thumbe, He is countenanced still by you, Much better than the best, If this prove not to be too true, Then let me have no rest. You sell most foul adulteries, For Silver and for Gold, The poor must crouch upon his knees, By you to be absolv'd; And sometimes you bless Jack for Gill, If Silver do appear, If not, then sometime say you will, Poor knave what dost thou here; You think to have your Heaven here, And after Heaven too, But I can tell you in your ear, That will be much adoe; For you be grown so monstrous great, Even now a dayes of late, That it will go hard for you to get In at the Narrow Gate; Wherefore me thinks 'twere best, If you could so agree, To let your hearts have now no rest, Till you unladen be Of all this Pomp and glorious train, Which caused God to frown, Which sin of yours he doth so hate, That sure you must come down; For sure the Word of God is True, and do it not forget, He will pluck up, I say to you, Those plants he never set,

But prethee Husband, seeing the seminary Priest tels the * 1.1 Protestant, that we had these things from them, how may it appear?

Wife, History reports it, Pius Primus brought the conjured font into the Roman Church, Anno 547. in a most fearful man∣ner, as I read in the old Church Rubrick.

Pope Higanus brought in Godfathers and Godmothers in the year 143.

Pope Adrian brought in the white linnen Surplice in the year 769.

Pope Zacharias brought in Priests Garments, Copes, and Vest∣ments, horned Caps, and that none but hallowed Garments should be used.

Pope Telesphorus ordained Lent to be kept seven weeks be∣fore Easter.

Pope Higinus hallowed Churches or Temples.

Pope Calistus Church-yards.

Pope Honorius in the year 1214. brought in kneeling at the Sacrament.

Pope Nicholas forbid Marriage in Lent, and other set times.

Pope Calistus the Imbring daies for Fasts four times in the year.

Pope Silvester the first added Wednesdaies, Fridaies, and Saturdaies weekly.

Pope Innocent put unto the former the Apostles Eves; The Saints and Angels were beholding to those Reverend Fathers, for hallowing their daies.

For generally all the Saints and Angels found such favour with Pope Boniface, that they had not only a Catholick holy day called Alhallows, but a famous Temple in Rome, once dedica∣ted to all the Devils called Pantheon, was turned by this Holy Father into the name of Maria Rotunda, and consecrated to the B. Virgine, and all Martyrs. Boniface the eighth shewed like honour to the four Evangelists. Pope Sabinian ordained bells to call the people together to Divine Service: vertue attributed to bells: first, to preserve the Fruits of the Earth; secondly, to drive away the evil will of our enemies; thirdly, to expel storms, Tempests, Thundrings, Lightnings; fourthly, to drive away

Spirits and Devils; and therefore it is that the Custom is conti∣nued in many places, as yet to ring as they call it the passing bell, when a man or woman is dying. Pope Felix the third made holy the day of the Arch-angel Michael. Pope Damasus as Writers say, added to the Psalms, Glory be to the Father, &c. and to be sung in turn, as the Church of England yet useth. Pope Witalianus brought in the Organs to make up the Musick, in the year 653. Pope Gelasius brought in prick-song. Pope Gregory plain song. Pope Vitalianus descant.

Pope Clement the first brought in Confirmation of Children by Bishops, Anno 310. Melciades succeeding him, said, it was a more worthy Sacrament than the Sacrament of Baptism. Pope Anasiasius brought in (as VVriters say) standing at the Gospel, i•• the year 404. Pope Damasus enjoyned Hierome to make an Order of Service for Churches, and how many Psalmes and prayers should be said on every day, &c. which being done, the Pope commanded all Churches should use that Order, and no other. And a much like exploit was performed by the Arch∣bishop of Canterbury, and his brethren, as Master Fox reports in King Edwards daies: and coninues still by the Convocation-house. I shall omit some things, one Pope put the Pater noster into the Masse, and commanded it to be sung. Pope Marcus would have the Nicene to be sung after the Gospell. Pope Ana∣cletus would have the priest and the people to salute one ano∣ther in Service time; and therefore appointed the one to say, The Lord be with you, and the other to say, And with thy Spi∣rit. Pope Sergius put in at the Sacrament, O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the World, have mercy upon us. Pope Sy∣machus added the Hymne, Glory be to God on high. The other Popes brought in their parts and patched together the Lethany or Lithurgy, out of which the Service-b••ok is taken. Pope Leo as some affirm brought in Infant-baptism about 300. years after Christ.

Pope Pase halus decreed Tythes in the year 827. Pope Ʋrba∣nus ordained Canterbury to be the chief patriarchal Seat. Many things of this nature I shall omit at present, as also the names of the several Authors who writ of them; but I hope Wife you will believe me.

Husband, if these things came from Rome, tell me what the Reverend Dean and Doctor W. meant, when he said, We bless thee Lord for the solemnities of the Church.

Truly Wife, as far as I conceive the Formalities and Cere∣monies of the Church now in use: but I can tell you what an old Non conformist would express in his prayer, Lord purge thy Church of all the Remnants & Reliques of Popery, Idolatry & Su∣perstition, which do but adulterate thy worship, & cause the sacri∣fice and oblation to be abominable in thy sight, and take away those things which do but contaminate the Consciences of thy people, & are but as botches and blains in the face of thy Spouse: This man was a sufferer, necessitated sometimes to leave the Nation, ne∣ver changing his Judgement. But this Doctor being sometimes a Clark in the Convocation-house, made a handsome well∣pen'd Speech against some formalities, and was accounted a young Puritan, and was called to the Bar, and to his knees too, but had a Friend. But now his narrow silken throat is grown wider, he can sup Ceremonies, yea and swallow a fat Parsonage, a Prebendship, and a Deanry, and never keck at it. I have seen him in his formalities, that if he had worn bells on his Legs, you would rather have taken him for a Maide-marrian in a Mor∣rice dance than a Minister, and with us much contempt cast up∣on him, as ever I saw upon a man in a Pulpit. indeed, he saith, he doth it to come as near Rome as he can, under pretence of drawing them to his religion, for that end he hath now put him∣self into the Suburbs, and it is supposed by many that he wil be as easily perswaded to come to live in the City, as he shal per∣swade * 1.2 the Romanists to come to live in the Suburbs. One thing I took from the mouth of an honest Countrey man of his, which was the Doctors Speech thus, That it was a lesser sin for a man to kil his father, than for a man in regard of the ceremonies, to refrain coming to Divine service established in the Church of England; the one was the killing of a particular person, the other made a breach in the mystical body of Christ. but this I shall only say, O Doctor, Doctor, quae te dementia cepit, what madness hath possest thee, remember from whence thou art fallen.

Husband, I would be satisfied in one thing concerning this Divine service, how it came to be imposed, how came it up at first.

The first that ever I read of was Pope Damasus, who enjoined Hierom to mak an Order or service for Churches, and appoint * 1.3 what prayers should be said on every day, &c. and how many Psalmes, &c. which being done, the Pope commanded all Churches should use that service, and none other; and the like was performed by the Archbishop and his brethren in King Edwards dayes, as Mr. Fox reports, and stil continued by the Convocation-house as at this day.

Object. But did not the Lord give forms of blessings, prayers, and Psalms, &c. therefore, why may not the prelates do the like?

I tel thee what I shal say, Dost think Ieroboham had so slender a reason for his golden Calves? God gave a Law by Moses; therefore there may a Law be given by the Bishops: the Apo∣stles wrote a New Testament, or Gospel; therefore the Convo∣cation-house may write a Testament or Gospel, if the prophets practise will bear them out in the one, I see no reason why it should not bear them out in the other, and let them if they can shew where any of the Apostles made any forms of prayer, and imposed on other Churches; neither did I ever hear any man stand for Common-prayer, that had the spirit of prayer.

'Twere other passages I heard you speak of the Doctors.

I did so, the one was, we thank the Lord for, the reforma∣tion, he might rather have called it a regradation; for as the Sun went back ten degrees in the dayes of Ezekiah by the Sun-dial of Ahaz, so we in England according to an outward appearance * 1.4 are gone back ten degrees by the Sun-shine of the Gospel of Christ. And whereas you told as that on Fryday next you shal have the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, which day is to be kept holy by the appointment of the Church of God; I suppose he means Rome to be the Church of God, because pope Felix the third ordained and appointed that holy day.

What meant our Reverend Diocessan, when after one year of his being our Diocessan, and had not preacht two Sermons, he told us they were our spiritual fathers; Paul saith, that al∣though

you have many Instructors, I have begotten you; in∣deed, if the Patriarch had told us how many thousands of pounds he and the rest of his brethren of the Cloyster had got∣ten he had said something; but let him or any of his brethren say and speak truth, that since I came to this place or City, the Lord hath blest my labours; for such a poor Soul came to me, and told me, that the Lord had by my Ministry made him to see how that he was most vile wretched sinner, and under the wrath of God; which if they can, as I am confident they can∣not, Ile submit and do penance in a White Surplice, which is as base as in a White Sheet.

In the next place, now Wife we wil talk a word of our own Re∣verend Dean; he saith that we must worship in the Temple, at the Temple, and going from the Temple; and speaking of the several Gates to Heaven, he told us that Baptism was Infants Gate; you need not question the truth of it, seeing it appears to be plainly exprest in the Church Catechism. To his Temple worship I shall say nothing, because he is supposed to be a Mon∣grel Papist; but I cannot but admire that Baptism should be In∣fants Gate into Heaven, and so much the more for that, when they are there they do not stay there scarce one in an hundred, but out they come tumbling, and by the fruit they bring with them speak evil of that good land: but this I can say of him, that he is a great admirer and lover of fish on Fasting-dayes, and eats no other flesh, and there is some reason for it, Durandus renders it; why fish is more holy than flesh, because God curst the earth, but never curs'd the water.

Husband, another of our Doctors cryes out against Sacriledge, what's that?

He tell thee Wife, as they account it, a robbing of the Church, and so by consequence as they would maintain it, a robbing of God; but they never tell how the Church first rob'd the poor Countrey, by telling them that it was a meritorious-work, pro∣mising them to fetch souls out of Purgatory. Henry the third was pressed by his Clergy, and hookt in to grant liberally unto them, and by his Magna Charta saith thus; Henry by the grace of God King of England, &c. To all Archbishops, Bishops, &c. Know ye that to the honour of God, and the salvation of my Soul,

and the Souls of my Progenit••rs and Successors, do give and grant, &c. An easie piece of matter to cheat both King and Nobles, as my Author saith, when neither of them could write or read. And Richard Wetherhead alias Wethershead Archbishop of Can∣terbury by a Provincial Constitution, it was forbidden to all Physitians to administer any Physick to a ••ick person upon pain of excommunication, until the Priest had first shrived him for his sins; (although his condition was ever so desperate.) The pretence was to physick his Soul first, but the intent was to get a ••ollop out of his estate: Surely, he that would not have the hire of an Harlot to be brought into his house, will never accept of such lands and go••ds thus cheated to be imployed in his ser∣vice; but most sure it is, that God doth not accept of any thing that he doth; neither requite nor command: But we know these fellowes came but to fill their bellies, and if the means were gone, they'le be like Bagg-pipes when the wind is out they tattle no longer.

Husband, you know they are accounted but Fanatiques and Schismatiques that speak against those men or their practises, you have been in some trouble already, medle not with their Cathedral service and things, which as they say are for decency.

Wife, for my fathers sake I shall not, because its next my fathers Religion, he being a Roman Catholique; and yet for the poor Jews sake I am not willing to be silent, its a bad requi∣tal for the prayers they put up for us Gentiles, Cant. 8. ver. 8. we have a little sister, and she hath no breasts; what shall we do for our sister in the day that she shall be spoken for? See what a stumbling block we cast before them; we tell the Jew that all the Cere∣monies of the Mosaical Law were abrogated by the coming of Christ; he will argue thus, Why may not we use those Types and Ceremonies instituted by Moses at Gods command, as well as you to make use of those Ceremonies instituted by several Popes, which you say were Antichrists Christs utter enemy? Ask the Ceremoniaster or the Ceremonimaster what he can say to that. But as for accounting others Fanatiques, they are the greatest Fanatiques themselves, who leaving the sacred Scrip∣ture, which are the rule of life, doctrine and discipline, and set up the traditions of men, whereas his Worship must be as his

Word is, sincere quasi sine cera, without mixture or composition of humane invention, and is forbidden by the second Com∣mand, as William Gloucester Bishop, saith; And then what can you say for your Cathedral service? Wife you know that nei∣ther praises nor prayers are accepted with him unless they be the fruit of his own spirit. Jesus Christ takes the Odours which are the prayers of the Saints, and presents them to his Father; if not acceptable, they must needs be abominable. Do you think that Jesus Christ will take the bawling squeling voices of singing men and boyes, together with the grunting squeking noise of the Bishops Pigs, I mean the Organs, and present them with reverence be it spoken: he will assoon accept of a pair of Bag-pipes, for its all but Wind-Musick. Neither do I think that the Boy who in Pauls lately got near unto the Organs with an instrument of Horn in his fist called a Cats-call, with which he tuned Mew Mow (was much to be blamed) who being ob∣served by some, would now and then duck down his head and toot again, I conceive there was no reason why they should be angry with him; for they pretended to religious worship which the boy did not, therefore less sinful. Secondly, he made some as merry as the Organs made others.

And whereas they say that some things are for decency.

I'le tell thee Wife, there are a sort of the female sex, who are Mercenary, (as I have heard) and they are called Hackney Whores, but in some Countries are called Curtizans, and they are known by their habits as they walk in the street; If I should see thee in the habit of a Curtizan, be it as decent as may be, it would make my crooked Nose warp on the other side in my old age, and for all thy profession of love to me, take thee but for a Concubine. To see that goodly Matron the Church of England professing love to the Lord Christ, and him to be her Head and Husband, and yet to put on the habit of an old Whore, an old Whore, an old Whore, I can account her but for a Concubine at the best, and she makes many of her Sons this day almost asha∣med to call her Mother. The Apostles care was to present the Church a pure Virgin; Sure I am, that those botches in her face are no beauty spots: Nay, she is now going to persecute a visible Mark of Antichrist: And the Divel is now turn'd Scul∣lian,

and is now going to skowring, to make some Souls brigh∣ter and better; for that end he hath put himself into a White Surplice and in a pair of Lawn Sleeves, but by that time he hath done his work, he will make his White Surplice and his Lawn Sleeves as black as himself; as old as I am I may live to see it.

Husband, I would ask thee but one question about the sin of wearing Hats, which they so much condemn.

Wife, I'le tell thee, Gestures and Vestures have antiently been the work of the Convocation-house, next unto the Trade of Net-making, which holds good to this day; for now they make the Meshes of the Net so narrow, that a man cannot get through with a good Conscience, unlesse he leave that behind him, but the Divel will be ready to help him, first by telling him that it were better to yield than that the Benefit which o∣thers might have by his Ministry should be lost; secondly, that in regard of his relations, his Wife and Children that have de∣pendance on him; or thirdly, that it may be he hath gotten a little money or means, 'twill quickly be gone. True it is, Pre∣lacy may be down, but yet it may stand long enough to see him spend all he hath, and thus he will pull him by the ears, especially if it be ever a whit a good living, but he will have him through. A Boy was seen to offer a Candle to the Picture of the Divel which was drawn behind the door, one demanded wherefore he did it, he answered I do not know what need I may have of him; friends, if you have need to use him he will be very ready to serve you without a Candle, he can doe his work in the dark; for nothing but meerly for your Souls sake, and he will be as curteous to you as he hath been to Br.—he will make such a Gapp in your Conscience, that a bush of Thorns may be drawn through forward and backward, and never prick it. The worst of it is, that two bushes will hardly stop it again. Look you to that.

But good Wife, I am an old Man, and we have two little boys, if I die and you survive me, prithee put neither of them two an Apprentice to that Trade of Ne••-making, if ••ou should, before they have served half their time, their Masters will break or give over, and then they mus•• be turned over to Rome to serve the rest of their time, into which they have made such a fair

progress here; but, that's not all, I have no mind to that Trade, I had much rather you would put them Apprentices to a Sweep-Chimney, that's a Trade newly come in fashion, and its like to hold as long as they live, I do not know whether it may out-live its sisters Contribution and Excise. But that's not all yet nei∣ther, Wife, I am now very serious with you, it entrencheth and encroacheth very much upon that incomparable Magna Charta that was made by the greatest Monarch that ever sway'd Scep∣ter: Sealed with his own most pretious blood, and who accoun∣ted it great dignity to be stiled King of Saints, and is aprointed thereunto of his Father, Psal. 2. and whose Father is God o∣ver all, blessed for ever: in this Magna Charta are Recorded his Prerogatives Royal, one of them is to make Lawes for his Subjects, and those Lawes are as absolutely perfect as himself, and his Subjects for their Souls have but that one onely Law-giver, and his Laws for duration of time hold until he make a new Magna Charta never to be Repealed by any Act or Acts of men: In this Magna Charta are Recorded likewise his Sub∣jects Priviledges, their Immunities and Freedoms, being not confined to any circumscript place to Worship him in, so that they Worship him in Spirit, and in Truth, Its their Priviledge to meet as occasion may serve, to hear his Word, to Pray, to Communicate and participate of his Ordinances according to the Dictates and Commands of the said Magna Charta; he hath also his Officers Recorded in this Magna Charta, Pastors, Teachers, Elders. Here come now a sort of fellowes, whence I know not, some say from Rome, some say they are Chips of Jeroboams Block, others say they are of those Angels that stand at the four corners of the earth, to hold the winds that they blow not, some say that they are of those Locusts that come out of the bottomlesse pit, indeed they smell pitifully of the smoak of ignorance; well Wife, let them come from whence they will come, sure I am, they are a company of mad fel∣lowes of them; for the first thing they doe, they pick a quarrel with the King concerning the Government that is upon his shoulders, and his Kingdome that shall have no end; and as Whores▪ when they fall together by the ears, the first thing they do they make at the head, and off goes the Coyf or Head-geer;

so do these, the first blow they give is at the head, and off goes his Crown and Dignity, its but a trick of the old Whore, and un King him by taking away his prerogative-Royal, annihila∣ting and making of no validity his Lawes, and by their actions in effect charging him thus, That he is an imperfect King, in∣sufficient for Government, wanting wisdom to rule and that his Lawes are very imperfect, like the Nouns Heteroclites, in quae genus, some superant, others deficient, some have too much in them, some too little, and therefore they have other Lawes of humane invention, which will serve their turn better, and by them they hope to keep their Revenues, and find themselves somewhat to do; for nothing do nothing have, and so fall to persecute (which as we say in a Countrey Proverb) is as natural to them as for a Calf to suck Milk.

And now Wife, prethee tell me, are not these a parcel of pretty fellows, I believe you'le say as I say anone; but tell me VVife, whence had they dost think this their form of Govern∣ment at first?

Indeed Husband I do not know, whence say you?

I do imagine Wife where they had it, heark a word in your ear, because no body shall know what we say: [I do think the Devil brought it over Sea in his Plocket, for it smells very Romish, and hath a strong tatch o'th old Whore.] But of that not a word more good Wife.

Well Wife, now wee'le speak a word concerning those that speak in his Name, some of them they suspend, imprison, they put the Consciences of others in the Stocks, and unless they will set up their posts by Gods posts, and their Thresholds by Gods Thresholds of which the Lord complaineth by Ezekiel, ••he Or∣dinances of men by the Ordinances of God they shall not speak in his Name, unless they will first give the people a little Frith Froth, Riff Roff, Slibber Slobber, Whish Waysh; such stuff in the guts, being so windy, would quickly endanger and cause the Il••ia capatio, and make the Carkass of a poor Soul look like Prometheus sacrifice, skin and bone without flesh; against which there is an Antipathy in the Souls of those that look for the bread of Life.

Next they come to such Assembles of the Kings Subjects, where they meet to Worship him, and take away both their

priviledges and their persons, or by their means they are so dealt withal contrary to the Magna Charta of their great King, Kings-bench, Dedford, Bridewell, Gate-house, Newgate and other prisons will testifie it; but none in Bedlam. One saith, that when the Devil shewed our Saviour all the Kingdoms of the earth, he never shewed him Ireland, he kept that for himself: Surely, these fellows keep Bedlam for themselves, the fittest place for such mad fellows; Bedlamites let them be then.

But Husband, you have almost forgotten the Text, you were speaking a word about the sin of wearing Hats.

No Wife, I was something long in speaking a word of small Consolation to those that were of the house of Convocation, I remember we were speaking of the sin of wearing Hats in Ser∣mon time, a Cap of Linnen or woollen is as tollerable as the Doctours silk Cap, and if a Wollen Cap may be worn, why may not the Felt-maker make him as well as the Taylour? Being both species of the same Genus, both made of wool, the sin must be then in the breedes or brimms, which being cut off, the sin is done away. I know they draw an argument (a pari) thus, If men shew such reverence to an Ambassadour that is sent from an earthly Prince, how much more to an Ambassador that is sent from the King of Kings: First, this is not general∣ly so, for in some Countreys as in Russia and other Countreys, if you put off your Hat to salute they'le go nigh to stab, taking it for a jeer; and the French preach with their Hats on; if a man put not off his Hat, its no breach of any Law, their being no Statute for it, men do it out of civility to an ambassadour, it being a Custom; and if a man keep on his Hat in Sermon time, its no sin, because there is no prohibition if it be not the custom of the place I see no reason why the Preacher should beget a cu∣stom, seeing he hath no Warrant from the word. But to prove that they are sent, & are Ambassadours from the King of Kings, here they'l have a hard tugg on't, let them prove their Mission or Sending, I know how they are called just as Hoggs to the Troughs; the Maid comes and puts the meat in the Trough the piggs it may be are grasing in the pastures or Commons, she takes the pail, jumbles aad knock it from side to side against the Trough, and calls them upon the report of the pail, away

they come as fast as they can creep through Hedges, tumble over the little Pigs in their way, or out-run them, and to the Troughs they come, and from one Trough to another, leaving it may▪be a little in the bottom for the little Piggs that come after; Even so when they hear the report that such a Deanry, Prebendship or fat Parsonage is fallen, they take Horse and away they ride Post as fast as they can, out-run some of their lesser fellows from one living to another, until they have gotten two or three li∣vings, & then they 'le deal kindly with the Devil, they 'le serve in one place, let the Devil take t'other, or send one in his place that shall do the Devil as little hurt as himself, who shall live by the Lickings of the Trough; those in some places are called Rats, in other places Curates: And upon this riding Post, the question arose of the two Creatures which were most miserable, Horses or Asses; it was determined, Horses; because they were many times rod Post to get livings for Asses; but these fellows can swallow a great deal of Popish trash, Towers and Steeples, and yet cannot endure that a man should sit with his Hat on: Wife, prethee, are they not favoured like those Hypocrites our Saviour speaks of, That strein at a Knat, and swallow a Camel?

But cannot they, Husband, prove their Mission or Sending from the Bishop?

Yes Wife, they can, thus, according as it is in the Book of Orders, after the Priest (for so the Book of Orders stiles them) hath promised the Bishop due Reverence and Obedience; the Bishop puts his hand on his head, and saith, Receive the holy Ghost, whose sins ye remit, &c. be thou a faithful dispensour of the Word: Here he shews himself to be Christ, or rather Anti-Christ, who sits in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God, when the poor Patriarch could give no more then did hang on his fingers, when he laid them on the Priests head. What say you wife, is not this pretty stuff, that ever any man in a day after so much light breaking forth, should be brought under such Egyptian blindness▪ and as they are that make them, so are they that are made by them: But stay a little Wife be∣fore we go to Bed, for our Candle begins to grow short, we must not let this go so.

The Bishop himself, whence ere he come, God never sent

him; for God never sent a man and puts him upon impossibili∣ties; the word is no more, as is commonly known, than O∣verseer to oversee his Flock, to be diligent to know the state of the Flock, to visit the sick, to preach the Word in season and out of season: These are part of his duties belonging to his Office, these things are impossible for his Lordship to per∣form; and therefore we must send him to look another Master, that sends him on his Errand.

Wee'le talk a little of his duty for Preaching that he doth not; for he neither preacheth in season nor out of season, or very seldom, nay most of them preaching down preaching, and some of the fraternity speaking contemptuously and jearingly against those that preach twice in a day, saying, that they are like Virgils Cow that bis venit ad mulctram, came twice in a day to the Pail, indeed, they come but seldom to the Pail, and when they do come, 'tis a poor quantity of thin geer they give, let it stand, there will be no Cream on't, they were as good kick it down, for they put some bitter thing or other in it like worm∣wood, which is good in beer but not in Milk, and rub the breast with it, and wean the Children apace; some such Milk the Dean of Norwich lately gave, which made bo••h Man and Owle admire him for in his Sermon at Norwich preaching against preaching and long pra••ers, which some made, as he said, an Ell long, and which, as he said, he was assured, was of no Divine * 1.5 Institution; whereat an Owl standing or flying over his head, Hemm'd him up with a note of admiration, crying, Hoo, Hoo, Hoo. What Milk that was that the Bishop of Liechfield and Coventry gave down about the midst of May, as fruitful▪ a season as they ear affords what Milk that was I do not know, for he in the Administration of pope Clements Ordinance, pope Melciades Sacrament, delivered it to the blew coate boyes, a mong the rest to one Iohn Hurst a Limner whose Mother dwels at the Swan in Newgate-Market, who could never speak nor hear; he poured it in at their ears, with which they made their confession of Faith, for they never open'd their lips▪ and which is to be admired, how the Bishop could confirm them in Faith, that had none, or if they had it was more than he knew.

The worst on't is, if any give better Milk, those curst kine wil endeavour to kick it down, or strike down the poor Crea∣ture that gave it. I could wish those curst kine short horns.

VVife, being time to go to bed, we will talk no more to night, but leave till another ttme, and then we will begin with Magna Charta, and talk over three or four sheets more. Good Husband you take the Child and the Candle, Ile take the VVarming-pan and some Coles, and so to Bed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sabellicus Platina. Sabellicus Platina. Exorcizo te Creatu∣ra salis & aquae per Deum vi∣vum & Sanctum, &c.
• * 1.2

  What that is I know not, he puts so many simples in the conse∣ction.
• * 1.3

  Guliel Durandus.
• * 1.4

  Fascicu. temp.
• * 1.5

  Certified in a Letter to London from a v••∣ry good hand.