Part 4

Holla, holla brother _Martin_, you are to hasty, what, Winter is no time to make warres in, you were best stay til summer, and then both our brains wilbe in a better temperature, but I think ere that time your witte wilbe welny worn thredbare, and your banquerout inuention, cleane out at the elbowes, then are we well holpen vp with a witnesse, if the aged champion of Warwicke, doe not lay to his shoulders, and support discipline ready to lie in the dust, with some or other demonstration. I can tell you _Phil. Stu._ is a tall man also for that purpose. What his Anatomy of Abuses for all that, will serue very fitly for an Antipast, before one of _Egertons_ Sermons, I would see the best of your _Trauerses_ write such a treatise as he hath done, against short heeld pantoffles. But one thing it is great pitty of him, that being such a good fellow as hee is, hee shoulde speake against dice, so as he doth: neuerthelesse ther is some hope of him, for as I heard not lōg since, a brother of his, meting him by chance (as theeues meete at the gallowes) after many christian questions of the well fare of his persecuted brethren, and sistern, askt him when they should haue a game at tables together, by the grace of God the next Sabaoth, quoth _Phil._ and then if it shal so seeme good to his prouidence, haue at you for ames ase and the dise. I forgette to tel you what a stirre he keepes against dumbe ministers, and neuer writes nor talkes of them, but hee calleth them minstrels, when his mastershippe in his minority, plaide the Reader in Chesshire, for fiue marke a yeare and a canuas dublet, couenanted besides, that in consideration of that stipend, he make cleane the patrones bootes euerye time hee came to towne. What need more words to proue him a protestāt, did not he behaue himselfe like a true Christian, when hee went a wooing for his friend _Clarke_, I warrant you hee saide not God saue you, or God speed you, with good euen or good morrow, as our prophane woers are wont, but stept close to her, with peace bee with you, very demurely, and then told her a long tale, that in so much as widowhoode, was an vncleane lyfe, and subiect to many temptations, shee might doe well to reconcile her selfe to the Church of God, in the holy ordinance of matrimony. Manye wordes past to this purpose, but I wotte well the conclusion was this, that since she had hitherto conuerst with none but vnregenerate persons, and was vtterly carelesse of the communion of Saints, she would let him that was a man of God, put a new spirite into her, by carnall population, and so engraft her into the fellowshippe of the faithfull, to which that shee might more willingly agree, hee offered her a spicke and spanne new Geneua Bible, that his attendant Italian had brought with him to make vp the bargaine. But for all the Scripture he could alledge, it should not bee, _Phil. Stu._ was no meate for her tooth, God wote he could not get a penyworth of leachery on such a pawne as his Bible was, the man behinde the painted cloth mard all, and so O griefe, a good Sabaoths day work was lost. Stand to it _Mar-martin Iunior_ and thou art good inough for ten thousand of them, tickle me my _Phil._ a litle more in the flanke, and make him winche like a resty iade, whereto a dreaming deuine of Cambridge, in a certain priuate Sermon of his, compared the wicked. Saist thou me so good heart, then haue at you Maister Compositor, with the constructiō of _Sunt oculos clari qui cernis sydera tanquam_. If you be remembred you were once put to your trumpes about it in _Wolfes_ Printing-house, when as you would needes haue _clari_ the infinitiue moode of a verbe passiue, which determined you went forwards after this order. _Sunt_ there are, _oculos_ eies, _qui_ the which, _cernis_ thou doest see, _clari_ to be cleare, _tanquam sydera_ as the Stars. Excellent well done of an old Maister of Arte, yet why may not hee by authority challenge to himselfe for this one peece of worke the degrees hee neuer tooke. Learning is a iewel my maisters, make much of it, and _Phil. Stu._ a Gendeman euery haire of his head, whom although you doe not regard according as he deserues, yet I warrant you _Martin_ makes more account of him then so, who hath substituted him long since (if the truth were well boulted out) amongst the number of those priuy _Martinists_, which he threatens to place in euery parish. I am more then halfe weary of tracing too and fro in this cursed common wealth, where sinfull simplicitye pufte vppe with the pride of singularity, seekes to peruerte the name and methode of magistracy. But as the most of their arguments, are drawn from our graue fathers infirmities, so al their outrageous endeuors haue their ofspring from affected vainglory. Agreeing with the saying of _Hug._ “Innobedientiæ morbus ex superbiæ tumore procedit, sicut sanies ex vlcere.”[1] The disease of disobedience proceeds from the swelling of pride, as madnesse from some vntollerable vlcer. The cause whereof _Gregory_ thus expresseth.[2] “Dum plus exquirunt” saith he, “contemplando quam capiunt, vsque ad peruersa dogmata erumpunt, et dum veritatis discipuli esse negligunt, humiliter magistri erroris fiunt.” Whiles by study they search out more then they vnderstand, they breake forth into peruerse opinions, and whiles they neglect to be the schollers of truth, they most basely become the schoolemaisters of error. For such is the boldnesse of our boyish deuines, that they will leape into the pulpet, before they haue learned _Stans puer ad mensam_, and talke very desperately of dicipline, before they can construe, _Qui mihi discipulus_. “Qui venit institui” saith _Cassiodorus_, “antequam instituatur, alios instituere cupit,” &c. The nouice that comes to be informed, desireth to enforme others, before he bee enformed himselfe, and to teach before hee bee taught, to prescribe lawes before he hath redde _Litleton_, and play the subtile Philosopher, before he knowes the order of his sillables: he wil needes haue subiects, before he can subiugate his affections, and couets the office of a commander, before he hath learned to stoupe to the admonitions of his elders, and beginneth to instruct and perswade, before he bee instructed and perswaded in any kind of art, which their folly once fuelled with yᵉ frowardnesse of blind zeal, makes thē cōfound cōtempt with gods true worship, and open their mouths against his ordinance, as did the Prophets against _Ieroboams_ hil altars. T. C. in Cambridge first inuented this violent innouation, when as his mounting ambition, went through euery kinde of _Ambitus_, to compasse the office of the Vicechauncelour-ship. But after he saw himselfe disfauourd in his first insolence, and that the suffrages of the vniuersity, would not discend to his dissentious indignityes, his seditious discontent deuised the meanes to discredite that gouernement, which he through his il behauiour might not aspire to. Thē began his inueterat malice, to vndermine the foundations of our societies, and reduce our Colledges to the schooles of the Prophets, to discard all degrees of art as antichristian, to condemne all decency in the ministery as diabolicall, and exclude all ecclesiasticall superiority forth the Church as _Apocripha_. No sooner had these new fangled positions entred the tables of young students, but Singularity the eldest childe of heresy, consulted with male-conted melācholy, how to bring this misbegottē scisme to a monarchy. To which purpose hipocriticall zeale, was addrest as a pursuiuant into all places of Suff. Norff. Essex and Midlesex, with expresse commandement from the sinod of Saints, to proclaime T. C. supreme head of the Church. This past on thus, whiles the sworde of iustice, slept in his scaberd, whose vnprouident eie neglecting the beginning of such burnings, hath added a more confirmed fury to the flame, which hath now taken hold on yᵉ buildings of our bishopricks. How it hath raged in those quarters before mentioned to yᵉ vtter impouerishing of the allegeance of the communalty, and lamentable vndoing of the estimation of diuers other knights and gentlemen, the whole course of the high commission may testify. Nether was this plague of apostacy vndeserued of their inconstancy, who forsook yᵉ true service of God, to worship the idoll of Warwicke. Put case his reading be gret and his malice more, that he hath plodded through ten cart loade of paper, and bin the death of ten thousand pound of candels, yet as _Gregory_ saith, “perit omne quod agitur, si non humilitate custodiatur.”[3] Whatsoeuer is done doth vanish to infamy, if it be not vpholden by humility: What childe doth not see into the pride of his heart, that first entertained the impudency of controlling antiquity, and preferd the poison of his owne peruerse opinions, before the experience of so many Churches, counsails and fathers. “Quæ maior superioria,” saith _Bernarde_, “quam vt vnus homo toti congregationi iudicium suum preferat tanquā ipse solus habeat spiritū Dei.”[4] What greater pride then that one man should aduance his iudgement, aboue the sentence of a whole congregation, as if he alone had the spirit of God. Pride ouerthrew the towr of _Babell_, prostrated _Golias_, hūg vp _Haman_, kild _Nichanor_, consumed _Herod_, destroied _Antiochus_, drowned _Pharao_, subuerted _Senacherib_, and I hope will also confound arrogant T.C. and all his accomplishes in the Lords good time. And now that I haue vnburdened my shoulders of the weight of his learning, Ile ribroste my brother _Martin_ a litle, for obiecting to my Lord Archbishop, the not answering of his bookes. Therefore first would I know of sweete M. sauce malapert whether he would haue the care of the common-wealth, and forseing consultation of domestical and forreine affaires, resigned to the retorting of T. C. his vnreuerent railings. Next what such equall proportion his mastership finds in their places, that the grauity and mildnes of the one, should stoupe his attention so low, as the iangling leuity of the other. Were there no other thing to refrayn his grace, from combating with a common barretour then this, that in _discordia nemo benedicit Dominum_, it were sufficient to pleade his absence from this inferiour fight. But when he considers that saiyng of _Augustine_, “Nullus est modus inimicitiis, nisi ob tempus obtēperemus iratis,” ther is no meane of mallice, vnles for a time we giue place to the furious, and that which another sais, “Sicut nihil est deformius quam respondere furiosis ita, nihil vtilius quam tacere prouocatis.” As there is nothing more vnseemely then to aunswere the froward, so there is nothing more profitable then scilence to such as are prouokt. Let him vse the libertye of his speache as hee please, and detracte from his learninge in what tearmes hee see cause, yet will all Christendome admire his perfection, when T. C. his singularitie shall go a begging vp and downe the low Countries. I will not gainsaie but your reuerend Pastor may haue as knauish a vaine in writing as your selfe, and fasten a slander on the Saintes of heauen, as soone as anie of your sect, for “nil tam facile est,” as Ierom sayth, “quam ociosum et dormientem de aliorum labore et vigiliis disputare.”[5] There is nothing so easie for a man that is sluggish and idle, as to call in question others mens watchings and labours. “Mens praua,” sayth _Gregorie_[6] “semper in laboribus est, quia aut molitur mala quæ inferat, vel metuit ne sibi ab aliis infeānt, et quicquid contra proximos cogitat, hoc contra se, a proximus cogitari formidat.” A wicked mind liues in continuall toile, because it eyther meditates the iniuries which he is about to inferre, or feares some reproch to be inferred by others, and whatsoeuer hee pretendes agaynst his neighbor, the same he mistrusts to be pretended against himselfe. If T. C. hath made thee his atturney, to vrge the not answering of his bookes, then I praie thee bee my Mercurie this once, and tell him thus much from _Mar-Martine_, that he hath vndone more Printers with his py-bald pamphlets, then his dish-clout dicipline will sette vp agayne this seauen yeeres. Much inkehorne stuffe hath hee vttered in a iarring stile, and intruded a greate deale of trashe to our eares by a daintie figure of _idem peridem_, but for anie new peece of arte he hath shewed in those idle editions, other then that his famous aduersary hath before time confuted, he may wel enough bequeth it to Dunce or Dorbel, whēce his blundering capacity is lineally descended. What maister T.C. you think that no man dare touch you, because you haue plaid the scuruie scolde anie time these twentie yeeres, but Ile so hamper your holynes for all the offences of your youth, as all geering puritans shall haue small cause to insult and reioyce at my silence. Then see whether I dare stand to the defence of your defame or no. Take heede good-man Howlyglasse, that I make not such a hole in your coate the nexte Tearme, as _Martine_ and his sonnes shall not sowe vp in hast, I tel you I am a shreud fellow at the vncasing of a fox, and haue cats eyes to looke into euerie corner of a Puritans house. I warrant you my brother _Pag._ will saie so, by that time I haue talkte with him a little, who although hee bee none of the straightest men that euer God made, yet hath he as good skill in milche bullocks, as anie huswife within fortie miles of his head. Let him alone, and if he doe not know by a cowes water, how many pintes of milke she will give in a yeere, then wyll he neuer help his wife to make cheese agayn whiles hee liues: and without offence to his Pastorshippe bee it spoken, hee will saie pretyly well to a henne, if shee bee not too olde, alwayes prouided, shee haue a neaste of cleane strawe in his studie, and hee groape her with his owne handes euening and morning. Then see if hee doe not make three pounds a yeere of her ouer and aboue all costes and charges. I marie sir, is not this a husbande in deede, that besides the multiplying of the Church of God, in his householde ministerie, will keepe his wife and familie by crosse bargaines a whole twelue moneth. What woulde he doe my maisters, if he had two good legges, that wil thus bestirre him in his vocation with one and a stump. The world may saie he is lame, and so forth, but hee that had seene him runne from Houns the other daie, for getting his maide with childe, woulde neuer thinke so. I meruaile with what face our Bishoppes could depriue such a man of God, that beeing knowen to bee a most heauenly whooremaister, a passing zealous worldling, and a most mortified schismatique, was fitter iwis to teache men then boyes. Bee ruled by _Martine_, and send him home into Deuonsheere, or else hee will wrappe all your Cleargie once agayne in Lazarus winding sheete. Which fauour if hee obtayne contrarie to desert, I woulde wishe him as a friend, neare more to vrge Fathers to sweare at the Funt, that the children that are brought thether to be christned, are of none but their owne begetting, lest olde _Ragdale_ plie him as he did in times past, about the shoulders with his plowe staffe. Haue with you _Giles Wig._ to Sidborough, and let us haue you make another Sermon of _Sedgwickes_ pack-prickes: or such another Prayer as you did of three hours long, when as a friend of yours (that best knew your armes) cast in the Rammes homes at your windowe. If you be remembred, it was the same time, when you cride, Come wife, come seruants, let vs fall on our knees, and praie to the Lorde God to deliuer vs from all euill temptation, for the deuill is euen new gone by, and looke where he hath throwne in his hornes at the windowe. _Giles_, _Giles_, I haue to talke with you for your saucinesse with the right Honorable the Earle of Huntington, in whose presence you (though of all other vnworthie) then beeing, when conuersant with other Gentlemen, hee calde for a boule of Beere, which brought, and set downe by him, and he yet busie in talke, you tooke verie orderlie from before him, and trilled it off without anie more bones, bidding his man if he would, goe fill him another. And what of all this I praie you, was that such a wonderous matter, doth _Giles_ care for anie of your Lordes, Earles, Barons or Bishops. No, no, no barrell better herring with him: we are all made of one and the selfe same molde, and _Adam_ signifieth but red earth. I could tell you a tale worth the hearing, that would counteruaile _Glib._ of Haustead, were it not that it woulde make M. _Wig._ as cholerike, as when he burst in the Church maugre excōmunication, and knockt the keies about yᵉ Sextens head, for not opening vnto him. Come on it what wil, in spite of midsūmer moone, you shal haue it as it is, therefore attend good people to the vnfortunate sequele. G. W. of Wig. house, in the land of little Wittam, chosen to the place and function of a pastor, by those reuerend elders of the Church, Hicke, Hob and John, Cutbert C. the Cobler, and New. the broomseller _cum multis aliis que nunc prescribere longum est_, at length seased (after many yeeres stragling) on the superintendentship of Sidborough, wher hauing worn out three or four pulpits with the vnreasonable bounsing of his fistes, it was his chance on a time to haue one quarrell more to another of them: so that no sooner mounted on her backe, but he began to spurre her with his heeles, to boxe her about the eares with his elbowes, and so pittiously misuse her in euerie part, as would haue greeued anie heathen Ioyner to the heart, to beholde. Nor coulde his Text containe him in this choler, or pleade anie pardon or pittie for this poore pulpit, but he wold needes ride her to death from one Diocesse to another, from Yorke to London, from London to Canterbury, from Canterburie to Winchester, and all without a baite, insomuch, that tyred in his waie homeward to his Text, he had stucke in the myre for anie more matter hee had, had not Iohn a Borhead come into the church as he did. Whom he espying in good time, crost the midwaie of a sentence to let flie at him in this manner. As for the discipline which those wretches doe hinder, looke, looke good people where that vile whooremaster Iohn a Borhead comes in piping hot from Clayphams wife. Whose verie sight put him so cleane besides himselfe, that he could neyther goe forward nor backward, but stil repeated, Iohn a Borhead, Iohn a Borhead, that vild whooremaister Iohn a Borhead: to whom with the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost, be al honor and praise both now and for euer. Ah hah maister _Martine_, what get you nowe by your red cap? Whether was Clayphams wife or Iohn a Borhead more in fault, for marring this good sermon. If I. a Borhead, then is it not best for him to come in my brother _Wig._ waie, least he stabbe him, as hee did the Drumme once for playing after seruice. How euer it was, may it please you Lordes of the spiritualtie, in consideration of these laudible premises, to sende him home to his charge, that hee may once more preache in the yewe tree. My brother _Vd._ of Kingston thinkes Ile spare him for his wiues sake, that is reported to be as good a wench as euer playde her prises at Pancredge, although she is not altogether such a gyantesse, as my brother _Wig._ female, but _forma fragulis_, and Ale is not worth a button, if it be too stale. Wherefore prepare you good neighbour _V._ to vnder-goe the crosse of persecution. _Martine_ hath vaunted you to be a venterous knight, and I doe meane to breake a launce with you, ere you and I part. Wherfore what saie you nowe to the matter, is Christ descended of bastardisme or no, as you gaue out in the pulpyt? Would you not haue your tongue cut out for your blasphemie if you wer wel serued? Are you a notable preacher of the word of God, and a vehement reprouer of sin, that thus seeke to discredit the fleshly descent of our Sauiour, I thought you such another, when I first sawe you emblazoned in _Martins_ bookes. Tis you that are so holy, that you wil not forsooth be seene to handle anie monie, nor take golde though it shoulde filch it selfe into your purse, but if God moued the heartes of anie of your brethren or sistren in the Lord, to bring in pots, beds or houshold stuffe into your house, you would go out of doores of purpose whiles it was brought in, and then if anie man aske you, how you come so well storde, your answere is that you know not how, but only by the prouidence of God. I must belabour you when all is done, for your backbiting and slandering of your honest neighbours, and open inueighing against the established gouernment in your sermons. Helpe him _Martin_, or else his vpbraided absurdities will make thee repent that euer thou belyedst or disgracedst _Hone_, _Cottington_ or _Chatfield_ in his cause. May it please you therefore that are in authoritie, considering how reuerently hee hath abused Christs birthright, to restore him to preach that the blockes and stones of Kingstone, do not crie out against you. I followe the riuers of folly, whiles the fountaines of infection do propagate their poison. _Martin_ all this while thinkes himself in league with obscuritie, whiles Phebus the discouerer of Mars and Venus adultery, hath streamed his bright day light into the net where he daunceth. Blush squint-eied caitife, since thy couert no more wil contain thee. _Cælum te contegit non habes vrnam_. Therfore let al posteritie that shall heare of his knauerie, attend the discouery which now I will make of his villanie. _Pen. I. Pen._ welch _Pen. Pen._ the Protestationer, Demonstrationer, Supplicationer, Appellationer, _Pen._ the father, _Pen._ the sonne, _Pen. Martin Iunior_, _Martin Martinus_, _Pen._ the scholler of Oxford to his friend in Cambridge, _Pen. totum in toto, et totum in qualibet parte_, was somtimes (if I be not deceiued) a scholler of that house in Cambridge whereof D. _Per._ was maister. Where, what his estimation was, the scorn wherin he liued can best relate. For the constitution of his bodie, it was so cleane contrarie to all phisiognomie of fame, that a man wold haue iudged by his face, God and nature deuising our disgrace, had enclosde a close stoole in skinne, and set a serpentine soule, like a counterfet diamond, more deepe in dong. Neither was this monster of Cracouia vnmarkt from his bastardisme to mischiefe: but as he was begotten in adultery and conceiued in the heate of lust, so was he brought into the world on a tempestuous daie, and borne in that houre when all planets wer opposite. Predestination yᵗ foresaw how crooked he should proue in his waies, enioyned incest to spawne him splay-footed. Eternitie, that knew how aukward he shoulde looke to all honesty, consulted with Conception to make him squint-eied, and the deuill that discouered by the heauens disposition on his birth-day, how great a lim of his kingdom was comming into the world, prouided a rustie superficies wherinto wrapt him, as soone as euer he was separated from his mothers wombe: in euerie part whereof these words of blessing were most artificially engrauen, _Crine ruber, niger ore, breuis pede, lumine lustus_. To leaue his natiuitie to the Church porch, where the parish found him, and come to his riper yeres, that now had learnd _Puerilis_, of the poore mans boy, and nere as pretily entred in Aue Marie English, as any parish clarke in those parts. I am to tel you how laudibly he behaued himselfe in Peterhouse, during the time of his subsistership. First therfore he began with his religion at his first comming thether, _Hoc scitote viri_, that he was as arrant a papist as euer came out of Wales. I tell you _I. a P._ in those daies, would haue run a false gallop ouer his beades with anie man in England, and helpt the Priest for a shift to saie Masse at high midnight, which if need were, I doubt not but he would do at this houre. It was not for nothing my masters, that he so be-baited his betters, for shewing the people the relique of our Ladies smock in his sermon, and open detecting of all their other blind superstition. Say what you will, he is a close lad, and can carrie a ring in his mouth, though all the world see it not: what though hee now dissemble with the time, and disguise his Spanish heart in a Precisians habit. May not he hereafter proue a necessarie mēber in conspiracies common wealth, and aduantage the holy league as much in this meanes of sedition, as all _Philips_ power by inuasion. Simple English men, that cannot see into pollicie before it supprise your peace, nor interrupt the ambition of trechery, before it hath besieged your prosperitie. Doe you beholde whiles innouations bud, and do not you feare lest your children and family be poisoned with the fruit. The Scythians are barbarous, yet more fore-seeing then you, who so detested al forren innouations, tēding to the derogation of theyr ancient customes, that they kild Anacharsis for no other cause, but for yᵗ he performed the rights of Sibil after the manner of the Grecians. What should I vpbraide your simplicitie with the Epidaurians prouident subtiltie, who fearing least their Countrie men shoulde attract innouations from other nations, and especially from their riotous neighbors the Illirians, interdicted theyr merchants from al trafick with them, or trauaile vnto them, but least they should be vtterly destitute of their commodities, they chose a graue man amongst them, knowen to be of good gouernment and reputation, who dealt continually for the whole Countrie in the waie of exchange, and meruailously augmented their wealth by the reuerence of his wisedome. But you fond men, as in garments so in gouernment continually affecting new fashions, thinke no man can be saued yᵗ hath not bin at Geneua. Your beleefe forsooth must be of that Scottish kinde, and your Bibles of the primitiue print, else your consciences God wot, are not of the cannonical cut, nor your opinions of the Apostles stamp. _Pen._ with Pan, hath contended with Appollo, and you lyke Midasses, haue ouerprised his musick. Good God, yᵗ a Welch harpe should inchant so many English harts to their confusiō, especially hauing nere a string belonging to it, but a treble. Had a syren sung, and I drownd in attending her descante. I would haue bequeathed my bane to her beautie, but when Cerberus shall barke and I turne back to listen, thē let me perish without pittie, in the delight of my liuing destruction. Deceit hath tooke vp his seat in a dunce, and you thinke him a saint, because he comes not in the shape of a deuil. We know M. _Pen._ _intus et in cute_, first for a papist, then for a Brownist, next for an Anabaptist, and last for yᵉ blasphemous _Martin_, whose spirite is the concrete compound of all these vnpardonable heresies. But had not the frantike practise of his youth throughly founded his confirmed age in this furie, I woulde haue imagined his vpstart spite, a wōder aboue usual speech, whereas now the coniectures drawen from his cradles, detract frō his mallice all maruels. For whiles hee was yet a fresh man in Peterhouse, and had scarce tasted, as we say, of _Setons modalibus_, he began to affect factions in art, and shew himselfe openly a studious disgracer of antiquitie. Who then such an vnnatural enemie to _Aristotle_, or such a new-fāgled friend vnto _Ramus_. This one thing I am sure of, hee neuer went for other then an asse, amongst his companions and equalles, yet such a mutinous block-head was he alwaies accounted, that through town and Colledge he was cōmonly called the seditious dunce. For one while he would be libelling against _Arist._ and all his followers he knew, another while hee would all to be-rime Doctour _Perne_, for his new statutes, and make a by-word of his bald pate, yea had the Dean, President, or any other officer neuer so litle angerd him, they were sure ere the weeke went about to haue hard of it, in some libell or other. This humour helde him at that time, when, by conuersing with French men neare Christes Colledge, of a Papist hee became a Brownist, how afterwards from a Brownist hee fell to bee an Anabaptist, I referre it to those that knewe his after behauiour in Oxford. But for his last discent, _a malo in peius_ from an Anabaptist to be that infamous _Martin_, impute it to the age of his heresies, that are now in there Harvest. Neither would I haue you thinke there was no more heades in it then his owne, For I can assure you to the contrary, that moste of the Puritane preachers in Northampton shire, Warwick shire, Sufolke and Northffolke, haue eyther brought stone, strawe or morter to the building of this _Martin_. Only _Pen._ found nothing but _ry_, which the last part of his name, affordeth sufficiently, you may see what it is for a nest of hornets to hiue together, oh they wil make braue combes to choake bees withal, if they be let alone but one quarter, not so much as T. C. himselfe, but will haue the helpe of his fellow Brethren, if he hath any thing to write against Bishops, were not al the elected in Cambridge, assembled about the shaping of the confutation of the Remish Testament, O so deuoutly they met euery Friday at Saint _Laurence_ his Monastery, wher the counsails and fathers, were distributed amongst seueral companies, and euery one of the reformed society sent there combined quotations weeke by weeke in a Capcase, to my brother _Thomas_, yet wandring beyond sea, such a Chaos of common places, no apothegmatical _Lycosthenes_ euer conceited. Bishops were the smallest bugs, that were aimed at in this extraordinary beneuolence, God shield, the court haue escapt their collectiōs. Some thing it would proue in the end if it wer published, that is pouldred with the brains of so many Puritan springols, and polluted with the pains of such an infinite number of Asses. Much good do it you M. _Martin_, how like you my stile, am not I old _Ille ego qui quondam_ at yᵉ besleeuing of a sichophant. Alas poore idiot, thou thinkest no man can write but thy selfe, or frame his pen to delight, except he straine curtesie with one of thy Northren figures, but if authority do not moderate, the fiery feruence of my enflamed zeale, ile assaile thee from terme to terme with _Archilochus_, in such a compleat armour of Iambicks, as the very reflexcye of my fury, shall make thee driue thy father before thee to the gallows, for begetting thee in such a bloody houre. O God that we two might bee permitted but one quarter, to try it out by the teeth for the best benefice in England, then would I distill my wit into incke, and my soule into argumentes, but I would driue this _Danus_ from his dunghill, and make him faune like a dog for fauour at the magistrates feete. But it is our English policy to aduantage our enemies by delaies, and resist a multitude with a fewe, which makes sediton seede before the haruesters of our souls suppose it in the blade: it is not the spirite of mildenesse yᵗ must moderat the hart of folly, dogs must be beaten with staues, and stuborn slaues cōtrolled with stripes. Authority best knows how to diet these bedlamites, although _Segnior Penry_ in his last waste paper hath subscribed our magistrats infants. Repent, repent thou runnagate lozill, and play not the Seminary any longer in corners, least thy chiefest benefactors forsake thee, and recouer the pouerty of their fines, by bringing the pursiuants to thy forme. I heare some vnderhande whisperers, and greeneheaded nouices exclaime against our Bishops, for not granting thee disputation. Alas alas brother _Martin_ it may not be: for thou art known to be such a stale hackster, with thy welch hooke, that no honest man wil debase himselfe in buckling with such a braggar. But suppose we should send some Crepundio forth our schools to beat thee about the eares with _ergo_. Where should this _sillogistica concertatio_ be solemnized: what in our Vniuersity schooles at Oxford, or in _puluere Philosophico_ at Cambridge. No they were erected in time of Popery, and must be new built againe before they can giue any accesse to his arguments. Truly I am afraide yᵗ this Generall counsaile, must be holden at Geneua, when al is done, for I know no place in En[g]land holy inough for their turne, except it be some barne or out-house about Bury, or some odde blind cottage in the hart of Warwicke shire, and thither peraduenture, these good honest opponents would repaire without grudging. Prouided alwaies that they haue ther horse-hire and other charges allowed them out of the poor mans box, or els it is no bargain. All this fadges wel yet, if we had once determined who shold be father of the act. Why what a question is that, when we haue so many persecuted elders abroad. The blinde, the halt, or the lame, or any serues the turn with them, so he hath not on a cloak with sleues, or a cap of the vniuersity cut. Imagin that place to be furnished, where shall we finde moderators, that may deale indifferently twixt both parts. _Machiuell_ is dead many a yeare agoe, or els he had bene a fit man for this may-game, therefore whom shal we haue now, since it must be neither yours nor ours. Some vpstart countrey Gentleman, that hath vndone all his tenants by oppression, euen such a one as _Scar._ of Warwicke shire, that being a noted _Martinist_, be frinded his poor coppi-holder _Criar_, and turnd him out of all that ere he had very orderly. How thinke you my lay brethren? is not here a trim conuocation towards. But mark the end of it, and then you may haps see odde buffeting with the buttond bookes, and battring down of bishopricks. _Giles_ of Sidborough wil off his gown at least, and make demonstrations of Logique with his fists like _Zeno_, what though he be low and cannot reach so hie as an Archbishop, may not he stād like a iackanapes on his wiues shoulders, and scold for the best game with all that come. He is sauing a reuerence a spritish dispu[t]er, and a pestilent felow at an vnperfect sillogisme. Nay mark me well, and take me at my words, he shal speake false Latine, forge a text, abuse a Bishop, or make a lie of reuelation for more then I speak off with any man in Englād. Neither do I flatter him herin for he hears me not, if I did, it were no matter, considering that _virtus laudata crescit_.