The Just Censure and Reproof of Martin Junior

The reproof of Martin Junior, by his elder brother.

WHo then! And boys will now be a Pistle-making, either without their fathers leave, or their elder brothers advise, we shall have our fathers Art brought to a pretty pass within a while, I could a told tis long ago, that my father would get him so many sons, as John Canturbury would have no cause to sit quiet at dinner or supper, for looking to his young nephews. I thought boys would be a doing. But, foolish stripling, canst thou tell what thou hast done? I ween not, if my father should be hurt, either at the Groine, or at the suburbs of Lisbone, is this the way either to cure him, or to comfort him, to publish his scrabled and weather-beaten papers in this forte? What if he had in purpose to write no more, seeing the danger and trouble that comes of it? Will this be any means to work the old man's quietness, for a foolish and a heady springal, to go set abroad his papers? Thou sawest well enough, that Martins doings were now almost forgot & huisht. And the men of sin themselves, I mean the Canturburie Caiaphas, with the rest of his Antichristian beasts, who bear his abominable mark, were content in a manner to turn his purposes from a serious matter, to a point of jesting, wherewith they would have only rimers and stage-players (that is, plain rogues, as thou hast well noted) to deal. So that had not thy untimely folly bewrayed it self, it may be, that the syllogisms whereby our father hath cracked the crown of Canturbury, should have had no other answer, or he himself none other punishment but this. I faith let him go, Martin is a mad knave. Whereas now upon this scrabbling and paltring of thine, mark whether John Canturburie will not send for all the knave pursuvants that belongs unto his popedom, and set them a work with the confutation of Martin, using some such speech as this is, in the direction of them, for the choice of their Arguments against him.

Now sirs, is not her Majesty's high commission, and myself also being the chief thereof, and one of her Majesty's privy counsel well set up, with a company of messengers, as long as we have you to go of our business? What think you? Have you been careful of us and our places, to find us out the press and letters, wherewith these seditious Martins are printed? Or, have you diligently sought me out Walde-grave the Printer, Newman the Cobbler, Sharpe the book binder of Northampton, and that seditious Welch man Penry, who you shall see will prove the Author of all these libelles? I thank you Master Monday, you are a good Gentleman of your word. Ah thou Iudar, thou that hast already betrayed the Papists, I think meanest to betray us also, Diddest thou not assure me, without all doubt, that thou wouldest bring me in, Penry, Newman, Walde-grave, press, letters, and all, before Saint Andrew's day last. And now thou seest we are as far to seek for them, as ever we were. Nay, unless we have them now, they are like to trouble our Church more then ever they did. For here is a young Martin hatched out of some poisoned egg of that seditious libeller, Old Martin. Why truly it grieves me, at the heart, that I, by her Majesty's favor, having more authority in mine hand to repress these Puritans, then any bishop else hath had in England these thirty years, yet should be more troubled and molested by them these six years, then all my predecessors have been these six and twenty years. And all this cometh by reason of your unfaithfulness and negligence, whom we send for them. Well, I give you warning, look better unto your offices, or else let me be damned body and soul, if I turn you not all out of your places. Therefore look to it: for now everyone of you shall have warrants, both for himself, and as many as you will substitute under you besides. Bring us whomsoever you suspect, your warrants shall serve you to do it. And if you can find us either young or old Martin, Penry, or Walde-grave, so that you bring the press and letters, he shall have forty pounds for his labor, who so ever will bring them, his charges and all bonie clear. But if you bring us neither Martin, the press, nor those aforenamed, never look us in the face more. And me thinks for your own good, you should be careful to get in these seditious men: for if we that are Lord's of the Clergy go down once, then shall you be sure to fall: for, poor men, you have nothing but what you get in our service that are your Lord's and Masters. And me thinks, if these wayward men had any conscience in them, they would not seek our overthrow with tooth and nail, as they do, seoing so many honest poor men, yea, and many a good Gentleman too by my troth, live only by us and our places.

Well, if ever you mean to do any good in this matter, take me this course, which we here in commission have thought meetest; let a six or seven of you, or your substitutes that stay here in London, watch me Paul's Churchyard, especially have an eye to Boils shop at the Rose. And let someone or two of you that are unknown go in thither, and if there be any strangers in the shop, fall in talk with them of Martin, commend him, and especially his sons last libel, (and here, he that will take that course, take me this, that if need be you may show it) showing, that by great friendship you gote one of them, saying also, that you understood a man might there help his friend to some, if he were acquainted with Master Boyle, and offer largely for it. Now sir, if any shall either enter with you unto any speeches against the state, and in defense of these libelles: or else, if any can procure you to the sight of the books, be sure to bring them before us. Though you learn not their names, yet your warrants shall serve your turns, in as much as you do suspect them. And thus I would have some of you bestowed.

Let three or four more of you or your substitutes be every day at the Black Friers, Lincolns inne, White-chapel, Paul's chain, as often as Charke, Gardener, Egerton, or Cooper do preach. And truly, my Lord of London, I marvel you suffer these men all this while, to trouble the state by their preachings: by the mass I had not thoght they should have stood half this time) and there see if you can draw by speech anything from any Martinist, and let us talk with them. Especially mark if you see any before the sermon begins, setting their heads together, and whispering under their cloaks, if you do, be sure they are reading Martin, and have them forthwith to the prison until we send for them, or cause them to put in sufficient sureties, to appear the next court day.

You that stay here in London, must also be sure, if possibly you can, to have a watch at all common inns, to see what carriage of paper, and other stuff, either goes from, or comes to London. Thereby you may happily learn something. And mark if any Puritan receiveth anything, open his pack, that you may be sure he hath no Martins sent him. We will direct our warrants so, that you may search all packes at your discretion. We will take order also, that the Court may be watched who disperse, or read these libelles there. And in faith I think they do my Lord of Essex great wrong, that say, he favors Martin: I do not think he will be so unwise, as to favor these, who are enemies unto the state. For if he do, her Majesty, I can tell him, will withdraw her gracious favor from him; but take you no care for the court. Watch you London, and learn me where New-man and Walde-graves haunt is, and there be sure to watch early and late. Have an eye also unto all the Puritans houses in London, especially my L. Mayors, Alderman Martins, and the Preachers houses. Let none that you suspect be vncited.

As for you that go into the country, I would have ye especially go into Northampton and Warwick shires, and command the Major, and Constables of Northampton to keep watch and ward for Sharpe and Penry, and if they can take them, let them bring them up, and we will be sure to content them well for their pains. Others must go into Essex, Suffolk, and Norffolke. And if you can bring us no Martinists from thence (at the least, that by that means your charges may be borne, I would ye might starve for me.) There is Moore, there is Aline, there is Knewstub, there is Wright, with many others, all very seditious men, that is pity by my troth, that so many worshipful and good nurtured knights and gentlemen, are carried away with them, and their way wardnes, as in those partes are seduced. But I hope her Majesty will have an uniformity. To be brief, I have said enough unto you already, but my meaning is, that you should 〈…〉 her Majesty hath, or find out Martin. Go me to Devonshire, and to the North partes, where my Lord's grace of York also will direct his warrants by you, to seek this traitor Martin. For I will have him, or else I will no longer be archbishop of Canturbutie. He die at the Groine, as they say? Naie, heel be hanged ere heel die there. He is in some corner of England, lurking and doing mischief. I tell you true, I do think him and his brood to be worse then the Jesuits. These Martinists are all of them traitors and enemies unto her Majesty, they will overthrow the state, they are most rebellious and disobedient unto all good proceedings. No warning will serve them, they grow worse and worse. I persuaded myself, that none ever durst attempt to write besides this desperate wretch Martin himself, if he still enjoy his liberty, his brood will become as desperate as himself, his impunity will make them presume to speak against the state. And therefore, either get him, or we shall never stay their course. And I think I shall grow stark ^a mad with you, unless you bring him. Therefore, my masters, as you have any care for the pacifieng of the state, and your own preferrement, some way or other compass me to find the first Martin himself wheresoever he be. Spare no charges. Get him, and see what weele do for you. For if we were not in hope to come by him through your means, we would cast about another way, to suppress his libelling. For we would make friends to have him proclaimed traitor, and have it fellonie, if we could, for any man to read his writings. And here an ende with you.

Loe, sir boy, have you not spun a fair thread, for our fathers ease and quietness, and for the quietness of your brethren? If our uncle Canturburie should take this course, where shall the old man stay then? You see England will be made too hore for him, if he be living. Whie thou simple and inexperienced ladde, thou, my father, my father, I tell thee had been better, it may be, that thou haddest never, I tell thee truth, learned a word of Irish in thy life, then to have in this heat of the year published his vnperfite questions. Doest thou not see, thy uncle Canturburie abroad in his visitation? Doest thou not see with how many men Esau rides, that if he meet with his poor brother Jacob, he may be sure to suck his blood. Is seven score horse nothing, thinkest thou, to be in the train of an English Priest? whereof also there are thirty Golde chains? Doest thou think, that the kingdom of Christ which thy father seeketh to build shall be able to stand, seeing John Canturburie, with so many men rideth about the country, to proclaim nothing else but fire and sword, unto as many as profess themselves to be the true subjects thereof? Whie thou seest he goes a visiting purposlie for no other end, but to make it known, what an enmity and hatred he beareth to the Gospel and kingdom of Christ Jesus, and to show howe careful he is, that that heresy of preaching may not prevail. Doest thou then persuade thyself, seelie stripling, that there is any good to be done, in sending a Pistle unto him, seeing he hath so man e men in his train who will swear for him, that he loves none of these hot preachers. Mee thinks my father himself should be afraid of him, being so well horsed as he is. And therefore folly for one of his young sons, to think his strength sufficient to bear the encounter.

It may be thou wilt say, that thy father is every day in the week able to make as many men of his own charges; I would he were else: if he be, it is more then I know, I promise thee, and I think more then thou canst prove. But howsoever it goes, thou seest what a credit it is for an English Priest▪ to have so many men following of him, as in the day of judgment there may be enough, of those that ware his livery, to witness against him, that in this life he was a monstrous Antichristian pope, and a most bloody oppressor of God's Saints.

Be it, my father were dead, as you seem to give out, and for mine own parte, I will not gainsay you, because I for my parte may truly say, that his eldest child never knew him, and therefore is ignorant whether he be living or dead: yet brother Martin, I do see in the publishing of these things by you, two great slips committed; the one of inconsideracie, the other of vnduetifulnes. Your rashness, and want of wisdom other men, I see are like to feel, your vnduetifulnes is only towards myself, which I cannot well put up, and because of thy rashness.

Mark whether those poor men beforenamed, to wit, Penry, Sharpe, Walde grave, Newman, &c. with many other good men, who I dare sware for them, did never medle nor make at any time, with the metropoliticall writings of our renowned father, shall not be now as hotlie pursued after, as ever they were. And all this comes of thy foolish and paltrie meddling in matters too high for thy capacity. And thus other men are like to smart by thy folly.

As for myself, to omit the honorable mention that my father (my father, I say, Quem honoris causa nomino, quoties nomino, nomino autem saepissime ) made of me in his writings, whereas he did not once vouchsafe to speak a word of such a dilling as thou art, I should have thought, that the very name of an elder brother should have taught thee, that there had been one in the world, to whom by right of inheritance, the Pistling of bishops had belonged, after the decease of reverend Martin himself. Whie who should set out my fathers writings but I, Martin Senior, his son? At the least, who should publish them without my leave? So that herein thy vndutifulnes is no less thē thy heady and rash inconsideracie.

To return again unto our reverend father. Of all other things I would wish thee not to come within his reach, if he be living, for an thou doest, I can tell thee heel give thee such a lesson for thy saweinesse, as I think thou shalt never be Lord bishop while thou livest. For it may be, that the expectation which men have conceived of the proof of such points, as thou hast laid down, will force him to alter his purpose in, More work for the Cooper, and fall a proving of these things, least men should hold themselves deluded by thee. And will this be no pain think you, sir boy? Will it be no labor for a man, having finished a book, to alter his course, and make it wholly new? And this thou knowest he must do, unless his wisdom hath before hand prevented the inconvenience. I deny not in deed, but it is easier for him to alter his course, then for any one writer that I know of, because he hath chosen him such a method as no man else besides hath done. Nay, his syllogisms, exiomes, method, and all are of his own making, he will borrow none of these common school rules, no not so much as the common grāmar, as it appeareth by that excellent point of poetrie, written in Latin by him against Doctor Wingken de Werd. There thou shalt see such grammar, such Art, such wit and conveyance of matter, as for the variety of the learning, and the pleasauntnesse of the style, the like is not else-where to be found.

But least I should utterly discourage thee poor knave, I will before I touch the rest of thine over sights, attribute unto thee thy deserved commondations. I confess then, that thou canst do prentily well; thou canst enter reasonablie into the synows of thine uncle Canturburies popedom, and make a tolerable Anatomy thereof. I must needs also say for thee, Jack, that thou fearest none of these popes. And I promise thee, I think thou hast a pretty mother wit of thine own; but, poor boy, thou wantest wisdom, withal to govern thy wit. Thou wantest that which thine vncka Bridges hath not, that is, wisdom to direct thee in the carriage of those pretty crochets that thou hast in thy head. And the poor old Drone o Sarum lacks that altogether, wherewith thou art prettily furnished, viz. a natural wit. Neither do I deny, boy, but that thou art Tom tell-troth, even like thy father, and that thou canst not abide, to speak unto thine uncle Cantur. by circumloquutions and paraphrases, but simply and plainly thou breakest thy mind unto him, and tellest him unto his face, without all these frivolous circumstances of, What is your name? and, Who gave you that name? of, Ant please your worship, &c. Thou tellest him plainly to his face, I say, that he is a very Antichristian beast, and an intolerable oppressor of God's Church. And me thought, when I read that point in thy Epilogue: then thought I, it will prove a vengeable boy in time. For me thinks that already, patrizat sat been certe. And trust me Jack, I commend thee for thy plainness. And do so still, boy, for truth never shames the Master I warrant thee, and take it o my word. For indeed thine uncle Cantur. is no less thē a most vile and cursed tyrant in the Church. And a plain Antichrist he is even by the doctrine of the Church of England, and so by the doctrine of our Church are the rest of our cursed bishops, in the proof of which point by and by I will a little insist. And because many take snuff, that my father should account them, yea, and prove them petrie Antichrists, I will manifestly prove them to be so, even by the doctrine of the Church of England, maintained by statute and her Majesty's royal privilege. For my father now hath taught us such a way to reason against these Caiphases, in the Theses set down by thee, as will anger all the vains in John Canturburies heart. And that is, to show, that they are enemies unto the doctrine of our church. Unto the point I will come anon. But, first, brother Martin, I will school you in a pointe or two for your learning, in these things wherein I find your Epilogue to be vnperfite. First then, I trow, I would have had some other manner of accusations against our Puritans for their slackenes, then wherewith you have charged them, as presently I will declare. Secondly, I would have propounded some things of mine own against our bishops, or else it should have cost me a fall. And that should have been after this, or the like sort:

I Martin Senior Gentleman, son and heir to the reverend and worthy Metropolitan Martin Mar-prelate the Great, do protest, affirm, say, propound, and object against John Canturburie and his brethren, in manner and form following;

First I protest and affirm, that the foresaid John Whitgift, alias Canturburie, which nameth himself archbishop of Canturburie, is no Minister at all in the church of God, but hath, and doeth wrongfully usurp, and invade the name and seat of the ministry, unto the great detriment of the Church of God, the utter spoil of the souls of men, & the likely ruin of this common-wealth, together with the great dishonor of her Majesty and the state. And in this case do I affirm all the Lord bishops in England to be.

2 Item I do protest, that the entering in of this cursed man John Whitgift, and of all others our bishops in England, is not an entering into the church of God by the door Christ Jesus. Wherefore I affirm all of them to be thieves, robbers, wolves, and worriers of the flock, and therefore no true shepeheards.

3 Item I do proclaim the said John Canturburie, with the rest of our Prelates, to be common simoniarkes, such as make merchandize of church livings and benefices, by faculties, dispensations, &c. and make as common a gain of Church censures, by absolutions & commutations of penance, &c. as any men in the lande do of their lawful trades and occupations.

4 Item I do propound and affirm, that the said John Canturburie and his brethren, do hinder and let with all their might, the true knowledge of God amongst her Majesty's loving subjectes, the inhabitants of this kingdom, and thereby, besides their own fore-provided damnation, are guilty of the blood of infinite thousands.

5 Item I do proclaim, that the said John Whitgift with the rest of his brethren, doth spend and waste the patrimony of the Church (which ought to be employed, in the maintenance of true faithful Ministers, and other church uses) in the persecuting the true members of Christ, her Majesty's most trusty and loving subjects, and also upon their own pomp and ambitious pride, in maintening a rude ungodly train of vile men, & a company of lewd and graceless children.

6 Item I do propound, that the said John. Whitgift and his brethren, do, as much as in them lieth, sow sedition and discontentednes, between her Majesty, and her true loyal subjectes, by pretending that their pracrises in avoiding subscription, and in depriving men contrary to law, as for the surplise, denying to subscribe, &c. is at her Majesty's commandment. As though her Highness would command that which were contrary unto the true doctrine of our church, and contrary unto her lawful statutes and privileges: Or, as though she would so delude her loving subjects, as publikelie to maintain that true doctrine, and these godly statutes, which privately she would have violate and trodden under feet.

7 Item I the said Martin Senior, do protest and affirm the said John Whitgift, with the rest of his brethren, to have incurred the statute of premunire facies, for depriving of Ministers, for not subscribing, not wearing the surplise, and for other their manifold proceedings against law and equity.

8 Item I do propound all our bishops for their said practices to be, ipso facto depriueable, and that her Majesty, if she will do them but right, may by law deprive them all to night before tomorrow.

9 I do also propound and avouch the said John Whitgift, and the rest of his wicked fraternity, though by outward profession they are in the church, yet to be none of the church, but to have, until they repent and desire to be received into the church, cut themselves (by the persecuting of the truth, and other their hamous sins) from the church, and so without their repentance from the interest and inheritance of the kingdom of heaven.

Item I do protest & affirm that the true church of God ought to have no more to do with Io. Canturburie his brother, and their synagogue, namely, with their Antichristian Courts of faculties, &c. with their officers of commissaries, archedeacons, chancellors, officialles, dumb ministers, &c. then with the synagogue of Satan. And that he their head and pope, together with his foresaid rabble, are not to be accounted for that church, whose censures we are to reverence and obey, and in the unity whereof we are to remain.

Item particularly, concerning John Canturburie himself, I do affirm, but yet no further then quatenus probable, that is, by great likelihoodes, that he is so finally hardened in his heinous sins against God and his church, that as he cannot be reclaimed, for his mouth is full of cursing against God and his Saints, his feet are swift to shed the blood of the holy ones, he teareth in pieces the churches which he ought to foster, willfully pulling the shepherds from their sheep, and so scattering them in a most lamentable sort, making much of wicked men that maintain his popedom, and smiting the righteous for gainsaying his ways, bringing in daily into the church, either by himself or his hang Ions new errors not heard of before. Blaspheming the way of truth. And being rooted in malice against that truth of Christ Jesus (who is blessed forever) which he may see, if he did not hood-wink himself, he with all his power contrarieth and striveth against the going forward of the Gospel, least by the light thereof his sins should be reproved. Finally, he hath in him too too many likely testimonies of an heir of the kingdom of darkness, where, without his true turning unto the Lord, he shall live in hell forever.

And wicked man! if thou meanest to be elsewhere received, that is, into Christ's kingdom, turn thee from thy wickedness, and let men and Angels be witnesses of thy conversion. Thy high place cā not save thee from his wrath whose truth thou suppressest, and whose members thou doest persecute and imprison. And I would not wish thee to defer thy repentance, least thou callest with the foolish virgins when there is no opening. Thou seest even here upon earth manifest tokens of God's anger towards thee. For thou seekest for honor; but alas, I know none more contemptible then thyself, the poorest faithful minister in the Lord, hath more true reverence in one day, then thou hast had since the first time of thy popedom. There are almost none of God's children, but had as lieue see a serpent, as meet thee, not because they fear thy face, but in as much as it grieveth them, that their eyes are forced to look upon so wicked an enemy of God and his church. Thine own creatures them selves honor thee, but as tyrants are commonly honored of their parasites and sycophants. Thy brother the pope hath the like honor unto thine, that is, an honor whose end will be shame and confusion of face forever. The fearful and contemptible ende, that have been brought upon many of them, ought to terrify thee. Nay, the message of death which the Lord sent lately even into thine own house, ought to move thee, and force thee to confess, that thy years also, yea, and days are numbered. Doctor Perne, thou knowest was thy joy, and thou his darling. He was the dragon from whose serpentine breasts, thou diddest first draw this poison, wherewith now thou infectest the church of God, and feedest thyself unto damnation. He lived a persecutor, an atheist, an hypocrite, and a dissembler, whom the world pointed at, and he died, thou knowest, the death due unto such a life as he led; thou knowest he died suddenly even at thine own palace of Lambehith, when, in thine own judgment he was likely, in regard of bodily strength, though not of age to out-live thee. And take thou his death for a forewarning of thy destruction, except thou repent.

And these, brother Martin, with such like points, or some of those positions, wherewith I could have thwacked my uncles about the shoulders I ween, an I had been in thy place. There is one question more which I would have propounded for mine vncka Bridges his sake; O I love him, thou knowest. And therefore thus would I have set down my proper-sition on his behalf:

I Martin Senior, Gentleman, do here protest, affirm, propound, and defend, that if John Canturburie will needs have a fool in his house, wearing a wooden dagger, and a cockes-comb, that none is so fit for that place as his brother John a Bridges Dean of Sarum. And that he viz. John Bridges is by right to displace the other, with whō Lambeth now plays the asse, and is him self to be after a solemn manner, according to the book of ordaining bishops and priests invested unto that room. Having for his officers and daily attendants these gentlemen following. First and foremost D. Robert Some for his confessor, who also, when his master John Sarum hath no use of his service, may be at my Lord's graces commandment, to read the starve-us book in his Chapel at Lambeth. Secondly, if he were not something touched with the coinquinatiō of the flesh, I would appoint none but D. Underhill to be his Almoner. Thirdly, Bancroft, and drunken Grauate should be the yeomen of his Cellar. Anderson parson of Stepney, should make room before him with his two hand staff, as he did once before the morrice dance, at a market town in the edge of Buckingham or Bedford shires, where he bare the Potters part. His two supporters always to lead him by the arms, must be sir Lenard Wright, and sir Tom Blan o Bedford, the one whereof also must carry his bable, and the other a looking glass for their Master, to see whether his catercappe doth euety way reach over his ears, and so stand according to his calling. As for Mar-Martin, and John Fregneuile, they alterius vicibus, shall be the groomes of his stool. The rest of his officers I refer to the discretion of my father, unto whose censure also I do humbly submit this conceit of mine. And it may be, I am bold, to appoint these men their offices, who happily are at my fathers direction, to give their attendance, where he hath appointed thē their places. But this I will bide by, though my father should say nay, that John Bridges deserves to have his place that wears the wooden dagger, the cockescombe, and the copper chain at Lawbehith. Ise abide by it, come what will of the matter.

The next thing that we are to consider, brother Martin, is, a more just reprehension of the Puritans, then that wherewith thou blamest them. For thou findest fault with the Preachers only, and that justly, I confess, because they are no more forward in casting off these our popes. But I say, that with more equity thou mightest have blamed both the gentlemen and people together, with the Ministers, then the Ministers alone. For the Ministers, although they be faulty, yet notwithstanding thou canst not deny, but the Gentlemen and people are as deep in fault as they are. And I would wish them both the one & the other, to take this, or some such course, as I here set down, which also for a great parte of it, though not all, I saw in a Puritans hand, and so came by a copy of it, thinking if I could have heard of my father, to let him have the use of my copy: but now you see I publish it myself. I would then have all the Puritans in the land, both lords, knights, gentlemen, ministers, and people, to become joint suitors in one supplicatiō unto her Majesty, and the Lord's of her honorable privy counsel in these petitions;

1 First, that there may be a redress of the great ignorance wherewith our whole land is ouergrowen by placing, able, and faithful teachers over every congregation as near as may be.

2 Secondly, that all unlawful and sinful callings may be removed out of our ministry & church.

3 Thirdly, that the church within her Majesty's dominions may be governed by these offices and officers only, which the Lord Christ Jesus hath set down in his word.

4 Fourthly, that for the quiet and orderlie taking up of these controversies which are risen in our church, concerning the government and ceremonies thereof, between our Prelates, and those learned men, which are contrary minded unto them, there might be had a quiet meeting of both the parties, and the controversies determined on their side, who shall be found to deal for (and not against) the truth: Or, if this fourth petition cannot take place, I would have this in the stead thereof, viz.

That it may please her Majesty, and the Lord's of her Majesty's honorable privy counsel, to see that the true subjects of this crown, may not be troubled, as now they are, for defending such points, as being according unto the word of God, are also according to the privileged doctrine of the church of England, which is maintened by the statutes of this land, and that in case the Prelates do molest any man, as now they do, for maintaining the doctrine of our church, or otherwise contrary unto the laws of our land, it may be lawful for him or them thus injuried, to have his remedy at the Kings bench, against the said Prelates.

Now Jack, what sayest thou? I am sure thou canst not deny, but these petitions, in thy judgment would be an easy suit. I trow so too, and I think, that now thou findest greater fault, or at the least as great, with the Puritan noblemen, gentlemen, and people, as with the ministers, because this or the like course goeth not on forward. And I can tell thee there would be gotten an hundredth thousand hands to this supplication, of known men in the land, all her Majesty's most loyal and trusty loving subjects. Thou mayest then well think what a stroke so many would strike together, especially in so reasonable and just a suite. And hereby our bishops should be proved to be Lord bishops in deed, that is, ungodly and slanderous liars. When her Majesty saw, that the Puritans seek not any intolerable course, (for if the foresaid petitions be not to be borne, I know not what is sufferable) as the bishops would pretend. And further it should appear, that they are not a few, and of small reputation, but in a manner the strength of our land, and the synowe of her Majesty's royal government, which our bishops do falsely note with the names of Puritans. The consideration whereof, I tell thee, even in policy, would make, that this their suite should not be hastily rejected, especially in such a time, as wherein we now live in danger of our enemies abroad, and therefore had need of no causes of discouragement at home. Whie man, this were also such a course as it would descry our bishops English, to be plain slander and treachery against the truth, and the mainteiners thereof, as indeed it is.

The bishops English wilt thou say? Now I pray you, reverend brother, what is that? Whie Jack doest thou not understand what our bishops English meaneth? I do not greatly marvel, because I myself came but latelie unto the knowledge of it aright. But now that I have bestowed a little study that way, I do think there are but a few in England, that see into it as far as I do, Semper excipio Platonem you know, I always gine place to my father, for he made the first grammar and lexicon in our time for the understanding hereof. Thy small experience then considered, I wonder not of thine ignorance in this point. But to satisfy thy demand, the bishops English is to wrest our language in such sort, as they will draw a meaning out of our English words, which the nature of the tougue can by no means bear. As for example, Receive the Holy-Ghost, in good bishops English is as much as, J pray God thou mayest receive the Holy-ghost. And again, My desire is, that J may be baptized in this faith, to their understanding, and in their dialect is after this sort; My desire is, not that J myself, but that this child whereunto J am a witness, may be baptized in this saith. Further to entreat her Majesty, and the Parliament, that the miseries of the church may be redressed, in the Prelates language is, to seek the overthrow of the state, and the disquietness of her subjects. And if a man should go and ask thine uncle Canturburie: (but stay boy, I mean not that thou shouldest go and demand the question of him) what it were in the tongue, which he and his brethren do commonly use, to put up such a dutiful supplication as before I have set down, why his answer would be presently, that to deal in such a suire, were to rebel against her Majesty, to pull the crown off of her head, to make a faction to wrest the scepter out of her hand, and to shake off all authority. A wonderful thing in thy conceit I know it will be, to think, that humbly and duetifullie to entreat, should in the English tongue signify by unbridled force vnduetifullie to compel, and that to seek the removing of unlawful callings out of the church should be to threaten, that the lawful magistrate should be thrust out of the commonwealth: but, simple boy, such English must thou study to understand, or else thou shalt never be able to Pistle thine uncle Canturburie so learned lie as my father and I can do. And therefore I would wish, that of the first money, which thou meanest to bestow in books, thou wouldest buy thee thy fathers Grammar and his lexicon, with a brief thing called his capita concerdantiarum, and study these well but one month, and out o doubt, thou shalt, with the pretty skill which thou hast already, be able to overturn any catercap of them all. I would thou knewest what great light to the understanding of all the bishops treacheries a little time bestowed in these volumes have afforded unto me.

Well, by this time I think thou perceivest what a brave way this supplication which I speak of, were, to prove our bishops to be treacherous and vile slanderers. For hereby her Majesty should perceive, that the rumors which the bishops raise falsely, concerning the great danger that would ensue unto her crown, by the reformation which the Puritans seek and labor for, are nothing else, but in a cunning and mystical kind of unnatural English to translate, The Puritans by the establishing of the kingdom of Christ, seek the sure upholding of the crown and dignity of their dread sovereign lady Elizabeth, into this handsome bishoplike miter: The Puritans by their platform of reformation seek the utter ruin and subversion of Lady Elizabeth, her Crown and d • gnitie. I am sure her Majesty would welfauouredlie laugh at such a translation as this is, and yet behold, such she must be content with, if she will vouchsafe to yield her ears unto a bishops persuasion. Yet thus much must I say of them, namely, that although they be not the best expounders of words that ever I read, yet do they never translate anything everbo ad verbum, which by learned men is commended as an especial virtue in a translator. But O that I, as simple as I am might read a lecture or two concerning this bishoplike translation, if not before her Majesty, yet at the least before some of her nobles, I would not doubt but to unfold such a deal of strange English (and yet the very vernacula viz. the natural mother tongue of our unnatural Prelates) as was never heard of in this land since the Saxons time.

Here I know, that thou art ready to inquire two points of me for thine instruction; the one, how our Prelates can be proved Antichrists by the church of England, the other, howe thou mayest come by those books of my father before quoted. Well, thus I will briefly answer thee in both.

For the first, Master Tyndale in the Preface of his book called, The Obedience of a Christian man pag. 102. proveth them to be Antichrists, in as much as in their doctrine, and their doings, concerning nonresidencie, they are directly against Christ and his word. I charge thee read the place, because at this time I am not at leisure to set it down; I can tell thee the reading of it will be double worth thy pains.

My fathers books afore spoken of, are not in print, I confess, I would they were. Yet it may be I could direct thee where to go, to have mine. But because I mean yet further to punish thee for thy slips in thy Pistle, I will not do thee that plea sure. For now in deed it cometh into my mind, that thou hast dealt foolishly in two points, beside all other thy fore-reckoned oversights.

First thou hast hereby exasperated against thy father and other poor men his well willers, not only thy uncle Caiaphas, but hast set on the most of thine neames, to give their advise howe to entrap him and his favorers. For ten to one, but that Beelzebub of London will discharge the pursuvants, to go to their business with this or the like madmonition.

My Masters, you must not sleep in this matter. The maintenance of the peace of our church standeth now in your faithfulness and care. They are desperately set to overthrow all. And by the mass I will be a pursuvant myself, rather then abide this tumult. And if I were, I trow I would watch about Trauerse his house in Milk street, who go in and out there, and I would know what they carried under their cloaks too, even any of them all. There is Paget at Hounslo, I beshrewe my heart if I would show him any such favor as my Lord's Grace here doeth. They are naught, they are naught, all the pack of them, I will trust none of them all. There is Cartwright too at Warwick, he hath got him such a company of disciples, both of the worshipful, and other of the poorer sort, as we have no cause to thank him. Never tell me, that he is too grave to trouble himself with Martins conceits. Tush, they will do anything to overthrow us, that they might have our livings any o them all. I know what a good living is able to do with the best of us all. Cartwright seeks the peace of our Church no otherwise then his platform may stand. And you know, my Lord, that there is no biting to the old snake. And I do not see o my troth, but that Martins abettors may be worse then himself, and do more mischief. Therefore go me to all their houses, spare me none of them, knights, gentlemen, and all. For I trust the high commission may go to any knight, yea, or noble man's house in England. Therefore, my Lord's, I would wish, that some continual spy may be in all those places which are most suspected. And let him learn to be wise, to creep into acquaintance with some of the preciser sort, and look smoothlie for a time, until he can execute his commission.

Lo yongman, do not you deserve stripes, for fleshing on these blood-hounds in this fort? Let men look to keep them in as good temper as possibly they can, yet will they have a black tooth in their heads, do what we may. But yet I would have born with all this, if thou haddest taken a little pains in ryming with Mar-Martin; that the cater-caps may know, howe the meanest of my fathers sons is able to answer them, both at blunt and sharp. And for thy further instruction against another time, here is a sample for thee of that, which in such like cases thou art to perform, if I or my father should set thee a work.

The first rising, generation, and original of Mar-Martin.

Or else thou mightest have requited him in this Epitaph thus:

Loe youth; though I were loath to file my fingers with such a brothell beast as this Mar-Martin is, yet because thou diddest let him go by thee (me thought) half vnbranded, I was the willinger as thou seest, to give him a wipe or two, which I believe he will never claw off with honesty while he lives. And I would wish him, with the rest of the rimers, if they be wise, to take heed of my next Pistle. Indeed I deny not, but thou hast said pretily to him, neither would I have thee discouraged in thy good and honorable course against these prelates. Neuertheles, I muze thou diddest let him go clear away with his popery of sir Nicholas Priests. Also, where like a good Catholic he counsels us (we thank him) to say a round Pater noster for Q. Elizabeth, I muze thou saidst nothing to that, considering how much her Majesty is beholden to him in that regard. And much more had she been, if he had added an Ave Marie to it: those both together, with a piece of S. John's Gospel about ones loins, would have been a principal receipt for the collicke. But sure now I think on it, he brought it in one lie but to make up his ryme. And if you scan it well, tis a pretty one, mark it well:

How sayst thou, hast thou any skil in Music? If thou have, then I am sure thou wilt confess with me, that this bastard pentamenter verse hath a fine sweet loose at the latter ende, with a draught of Darbie ale. But what sayest thou to it? Whether likest thou better of these Nicholas Priests that can so amble away with the Pater noster, or of that little priest of Surrey, who bade his maid in her extremity of sickness say, Magnificat, say Magnificat?

Well boy, to draw to an ende, notwithstanding thy small defectes, persuade thyself, that I love thee: doubt not of that. And here before we part, take this one grave lesson of thine elder brother: Be silent and close, hear many, confer with few. And in this point do as I do; know not thy father though thou mayest. For I tell thee, if I should meet him in the street, I would never ask him blessing: walk smoothely and circumspectly. and if any ofter to talk with thee of Martin, talk thou strait of the voyage into Portugal, or of the happy death of the Duke of Guyse, or some such accident; but meddle not with thy father. Only, if thou have gathered anything in visitation for thy father, and hast a longing to acquaint him therewith, do no more but entreat him to signify in some secret printed Pistle where a will have it left, and thatle serve thy turn as good as the best. The reason why we must not know our father is, that I fear least some of us should fall into John Canturburie his hand, and then heel threaten us with the rack unless we bewray all we know. And what get we then by our knowledge? For I had rather be ignorant or Thatle do me no good, then know Thatle hurt me, ka M. Martin Senior. Farewell boy, and learn to reverence thy elder brother.

Pag. 6. line 18. for, give all the good, read, go all the ground

Pag. 14. line 12. for, avoiding, read urging