Protestation

THE PROTESTACION OF Martin the great

Thou canst not lightly be ignorant good reader of that wich hath latly fallen unto some things of mine, wich were to be printed, or in printing: the press, leteres, workmen and all, apprehended and carried, as male factors before the magistrate, whose authority I reverence, and whose sword I would fear were I as wicked as our Bb are. These events I confess do strike me, and give me just cause to enter more narrowly into myself, to see whethere I be at peace with god or no: but utterly to discouredg me from mine enterpize, a greater matterre then that coms to, I hope shall never be able. The state of the poor men that are taken, I do bewail, not because thye can hurt me, for I assure thee they know not who I am, but in asmuhc as I fear the tirauny of our wicked priests, will do that against them wich neithere the word of god do the warrant, not law of the land doth Permitt

For as there hatrede unto the caus is without ground, so there cruelti to thos that profess the same is withe out measure. Therefore good readere, if thou here of any mean or compassionable punishment inflicte de upon them (who to say the truth have deserved non at all, I mean the print ers) I would never have thee stand to expostulate with our Bb: for this vntimly leniti of theirs, for whom I dare take mine other (for I know them soe well) that if there fall out any good to those poor men thrughe the providence of god, and the gracious elemency of the majesty, they for their parts are no more guilty, or accessory unto it thē the Spanish unquisitors them selves. For in deed in this one point they are of my mind viz. That reformatiō can nor well cum to out church withe out blood. And that no blood can hansomely be spilled in that cause, vnlese they them selves be the buchers, and horse leaches to draw it out. Thou seest evidently they claim that as a piece and portion of their in heritaunce But tell them from me: that we fear not men who can but kille, the body: because we fear that god who cā cast both body and soul into unquenchable fire. And tell them also this. This the more blood the church loseth the mor lif and blood it gets When the fearful sentence pronounced against the persecutors of the truth is executed upon them, I would then gladly know, whether they who go abont thus to sheade our blood: or we whose blood crieth for vengeance against them, shall have the worst ende of the staff. We are sure to posses our souls in everlasting peace, whensoever we leave this earthly tabernacle: & in the mean time we know: that an hair of our head cannot fall to the ground without the will of out heaven lie father: who of his great mercy loveth us in, and for our Savior Christ Jesus, and that with a love as far passing the love of a natural father toward his children, as he who so loveth vsexcelleth all carthly parents. This perswation being steadfastly enrgafted in their harts, who either now or hear-after shall be trodled for this cause will be a comfort to them in the midst of all their distresses.

And good reader whosoever thou art I would not have thee discouraged at this that is latlie fallen out. Resone not from the success of things vntoe the goodness of the causse. For that savourethe too much of the fleashe. if in be holding the state of the low coutreys, & of France thou wouldest have so resoned with thyself thou mightest easylie have given the holy religion of god the slipp 20 yers ago. Thou must think that in thease successes though they be many times lamentable to the children of god, yet the Lord him self hath a specy all hand to try it may be who theye are, that with a double face, and who with a siuule heart do affecte the cause. As to the present action howsoever there may escape me some corruption in the handling. Let them be well assured it vas not undertaken to be intermitted at everye blast of evil success. Nay let them know that by the grace of god the last year of martinisme, that is, of the discrying and displaying of L Bb shall not be, till full 2 yeas after the last year of Lambethisme: that is, so joining most godless proceadings unto to the maintenance of an Antichristian and unlawful callings in gods church against the knwn truth: for that in deed is righlycaled Lambethisme or Cooperism choose you whether.

And be it known unto them that Martinisme stands upon another manner of fundat on, then there prelacy doth or can stand. Therofe if they will needs overthrow me, let them go in hand with the exdloyte, rather by proving the lawfullnes of their places: then by exercising the force of there unlawful tyranny. For one again I fear not there tyranny. And one sound syllogism (wich I tell you is dainty ware in a bishops breast) brought in for the poofe of their unlawful callings, shall more dismay & sooner induce me to give over my course then a thousand warāts a thousad pursevants, a thousand threts and a thousand racks wich course because they take not, therefore all their other drifts, & devises are to non othere end, then to show the great care and skilie they have to carry away all the blows but what get they by thertirannye: seeing it is truth and not violence that most vphoulde their places? Do they not know that the more violence they use, the more breath they spend. And what wisdom were this trow ye for a man that had coursed him self windlesse, to atempt the recoverye of his breath by running up, and down to find air? So you know he might soon have as much life in his members, as L Bb have relligion and conscience in their proceedings.

The whole issu of there forc & bloodthurstie attempts doth nothing else but witness against them that they are the children of those fathers, who never as yet durst abide to have their proceedings examined by the word, and me thinks they should be ashamede to have it recordede unto ages to come, that they have evere shuned to meintaine theyre cause, eithere by open disputation, or or by any other sound conference or writing. Let me be overthrown by any of these ways, and I do here by these my writings publicly protest, that I will never molest L. biship again while I live, but will with very great vehemency, to the uttermost of my endeavor, maintain them and their cause, as ever I did oppugn the same; otherwise I do with the like constancy and resolution protest, that by the aide and assistance of God, I will never leave the displaying of them and their proceedings until they be made as odious in our Church and common wealth, as that they be thought of all sorts, unworthy to be hardoured therein.

And this offer of mine so reasonable and in every respect so easy to be yielded unto, if they refuse; who seeth not therein a secrete implying, and a close granting of the desperatnesse and misery of their cause? which shaketh and quiuereth, and shrinketh as it were, in • he sinowes, to think that there should •… e any buckling towards; and there • ore doth wisely shift of all honest and lawful means of trial, as having nothing to uphold it, but tyranny and blood.

Now because they would gladly know Martin, I will here set them down a way, whereby they may not only know him, but (that which is more delightful unto them; they may quench their thirst with his blood if they will:) provided that they be able to make their cause good against him by the word of God.

I do therefore by this my protestation, make it known to the whole church of England, especially unto our magistrates, more especially unto our gracious sovereign, and unto all posterities to come, that I who do now go under the name of Martin Marprelate, do offer personally to apear, and there to make myself known in open disputation, upon the danger, not only of my liberty but also of my life, to maintain against all our bishops or any else whosoever, that shall dare in any Scholastical manner, to take their parts: the cause of the church government, which is now in controversy betwixt me and our prelates: so that I may have this condition following inviolablie kept & observed, viz. That for appearing, or for any thing that I have either published or caused to be published in this cause, I be not dealt with, or molested, except thei overthrow me by the word of God, which if they do, confusion be upon me if I do not yield. But if in this encounter I overthrow them (as I make no question of it, if they dare abide the pushe) then they to truss up and be packing to ROME, & to trouble our church no longer. Provided also, that if any of the Puritans will join with me, & venture their lives in the cause, it may be lawful for them to come in freely against these dragons in disputation.

I call thee here again (good reader) to witness the indifferency of my challenge and offer, and to judge what account thou oughtest to make of our present Church-government by lord archbishops and bishops, upon the refusal of the former condition by thē; and whether thereupon, I may not justly and lawfully proclaim the victory over them in manner following.

Be it known unto all states, Churches, and Universities under heaven; and unto all men, either present or to come, of what estate or condition soever: that in as much as M. Fenners, & M. Penties syslogismes, whereby Doctor Bridges his book is confuted, and the cause of reformation vnanswerably proved. M. Trauers, M. Cartwrights, & M. Gilbyes, the Demonstration of discipline, the Abstract, the Counterpoyson, M. Tyndale, M. Frith, M. Barns, M. Hooper, M. Pilkington, M. Fox, and M. Martin Marprelates writings, together with other learned discourses mo; whereby the corruption, and the unlawfulness of the places, and proceedings of L. bishops, are shamefully laid open unto the world, are as yet unanswered; and likely to be no otherwise confuted, then with slanders, ribaldry scurrillity, reviling, imprisonment, and torture: and inasmuche, as they dare not maintain their cause against me by open and public disputation; that therefore they do manifestly confess their cause and proceedings to be clean foild, overthrown, and made even with the ground, in such sort, as beside whorish impudency, halter, axe, bonds scourging and racking, with such other weapons, as were bequeathed unto them by their forefathers, the ancient enemies and persecutors of the Church, they have not left any instrument to defend themselves.

And let thē be sure, seeing they dare come to no lawful way of try all with me, that there shall not be ap post in any great street or place of concourse, almost in the lande, but I will make an affix; and set up this my foresaid declaration of the victory had over them, to their shame: and I will also make foreign nations ring of their villainies and ungodliness, if the publishing of their doings in latin can do it.

And as for myself, my life, and whatsoever else I possess, I have long agone set up my rest, making that account of it, as in standing against the enemies of God, and for the liberty of his church it is of no value in my sight. My life in this cause shall be a gain to the church, and no loss to myself, I know right well: and this is all the reckoning which by the assistance of the lord I will make as long as I live, of all the torments they have devised for me. I am blamed of many in this mine attempt, not only for throwing myself into great danger; but also for the utter undoing of my wife and children. I do thank thē with all my heart, for their care over those poor souls, and commend thē for their secrecy and wisdom, that in knowing my wife and my childrē, they have not by shewin their immeasurable love towards them, discovered me You see what it is when wise men have the handlinge of a matter. I perceine if these men were not very provident and wary, that Martin could not be long unknown. For I tell you, if a man's wife and children be once known, it is not possible that he can be secret any long time; and yet me thinks, that all their wisdom, and all their care over my wife and children whē the matter is well weighed, is scant worth three staws. For what if Martin had neither wife nor child in all his life, are they not then something too much over wayned in their own conceit, who give out, that he hath both. Will you believe me then if I tell you the truth? to put you therefore out of all doubt, I may safely protest unto you with a good conscience, that howsoever the speech may seem strange unto many, yet the very truth is, that hitherto I never had wife nor child in all my life: not that I never mean to have any; for it may be, notwithstanding all the rage and barkinge of the Lambetheticall whelps, I may be married, & that ere it belong.

For me thinks this should be enough that two only of the Metropolitans of the lande, should continue maiden (though I fear scarce virgins) priests. But whensoever I am married, it would do me good at the heart, to see a dozen of good and honest L. bishops dance at my wedding, saving that as M. Tyndale hath very well noted, Practize of Prelates, page 374. It is not possible naturally, there should be any good and honest L. biship. Well, howsoever it goes with me, you see howe little cause as yet, my wife and children have to fear that antichrist of Lambeth & his instruments.

To omit these matters, will they know indeed why I fear them not, & wherefore they ought not to terrify thee (good reader, if the Lord hath bestowed upon thee the same mind that he hath vouchsafed me?) Why surely it is, because they against whom I deal, have so provoked the anger of God, and the prayers of his Church against thē, as stand long they cannot; if either lord be true of his promise, or the prayers of the Church made in saith; can be heard. Of both which I make no question. Hereunto you may ad, that I fear them not, inasmuche as the ende wherefore I have taken this work in hand, was only the glory of God, by delivering of his Church, from the great tyranny and bondage, wherewith these tyranntes do oppress the same. I dealt not herein, as the Lord knoweth, because I would please myself or my reader, in a pleasant vain of writing. If that be the thing I sought or seek after; then let my writings be buried in the grave of all proud prelates; that is, never mentioned in the church of God without detestation. Even so was it as far from me that by sharpening my pen against them, I should thereby (as some foolishely give out) make away for myself, or other great men unto their livings and promotion. For if the possession and enjoying of a good conscience but for one day alone, be not more dear to me then all their ungodly pomp, and ambitious preeminence; then let mine adversaries prey upon me, and let my reward be nothing else, but the very bitterness of their malicious hearts. I have I thank God of mine own, wherewith I am better content, then they are, with all their spoil and robbery. And if I wanted, I could tell howe to live in an honest calline, with better credit in the Church of God, then all the L. byshopps of England do: and I may safely say, it is so far from me, to bring the Church livings into the hands of any but the ministers, and officers thereof; that I can no more abide Church-robbery in a temporal man, then I can brook sacrilege in a presumptuous priest: as I hate the on, so I abhor the other.

But as concerning the laying open of their bishopprickes to the spoil of such cormorāts as gape for their down falls, thereby only to enrich themselves I greatly muze, that our prelates will be so ouersene as to charge me therewith. For it is well known, that none of thē all, no not the proudest priest in the lande, doth so cumber himself, in caring how he should live that comes after him: but that now all of them begin pretily, either of their wonted love to themselves, or of there natural spite to their successors; to take such charitable order, as that if they may have their wills, I hope there shall not be much left in a while, to allure any covetous Courtier to the spoil. Wherein, no disprayse to any, I must needs commend for their forecast in this pointe, a couple of as arrant bishops (for it were pity to bereave the devil of his due commendation) as any the land yieldeth. The men, or rather beasts that I mean, are John London, and Thomas Winchester: whereof the one at Fulham, the other by Whitney in Oxfordshire; have so contended in throwing down Elmes, as if the wager had been, whether of them should most have impoverished their bishoppricks. And yet I blame not Mar-Elm, so much as Cooper for this fact: because it is no less given him by his name to spoil elmes, then it is allotted him by the secrete judgment of God to mar the church. Whereas a man of M. Coopers age, & occupation, so well seen n that trade, might easily know, that tubs made of green timber, must needs leak out of all cry. And yet now I consider with myself; I do not so greatly marvel at the matter: For he that makes no conscience to be a deceiver, and a false prophet in the buildinge of the Church; will not stick for his gain, to be a deceifull workman in making of tubbs.

Well, concerning the care that our prelates have, in leaving of this behooveful for their successors. I may truly say, that were it not more for fear of law than for any conscience of the maintenance of the ministry; the whole bishoppricke, even today before tomorrow, would not yield a L. bishop so much, as might purchase him an handsome halter to hang himself with, as the Poet saith. Therefore let them never taulke more for shame (as their T.C doth) of the care they have that the churches maintenance should not decay. And as herein their spoil & robbery is apparent; on the other side; So their tyranny and blood thirsty proceedings against good men, is inexcusable.

And as herein their spoil and robbery is apparent, so on the other side their tyranny and blood thirsty proceedings is inexcusable: and yet is the manner of their proceedings more intolerable and dangerous to the state, then their very practices themselves.

Firste you see they may examine of what they will. For who can let them; when they be both sole judges, & sole witness themselves, & none other by, but the poor examinate. To which effect, what is the seat of justice they commonly use in these cases, but only some close chamber at Lambeth, or some obscure gallerie in London palace? where according to the true nature of an evil conscience, that flieth and feareth the light; they may iuggle & foist in what they list without controlment; and so attempt (if they will) to induce the party examined, to be of a conspiracy with them, to pull the crown off her Majesty's head. And I put case they should do so (as here you see is a way laid open for them, to broach any conspiracy in the world) what remedy should the party that stands there alone have, by apeaching or complaing? any other trow you then this: he lies like a puritan knave; ile have his ears; ile have the scandalum magnatum against him: For he hath slandered the hight commission, and the president of her Majesty's council; Namely, my L. of Canterburies worship? and here behold the poor man's reward.

Secondly, you must lay you hand on the book, and not know whereunto you must be sworn: yea, they be so honest, that they will compel you to accuse yourself, or else you shall lie by it; which ungodly practice of theirs, sauoreth so ranckly of the Spanish inquisition, that it is flatt contrary to all humanity, the express laws of the land, and the doctrine of our Church. For the law is so far from compelling any to appeache himself in a cause wherein in either life, goods, or good name is called in question, that it altogether condemneth those for oppressors of the common liberty of her Majesty's subjects; and for unreasonable violators and wresters of all good order of justice; that will urge or require any such thing at their hands, as may more at large appear in a plain Statute of the 25, of Hen. 8. in the title of heresy. And therefore men may see what account they ought to make of those shameless speeches of that worthy gray head, Mistress Coopers husband: who as he hath been long since, to old to blush; so did he not let, openly to avouche; That before God, there was no other way of trial, nor no state could stand and continue without it.

To conclude this point. It is too manifest, that 1. by these their private whisperinge examinations in corners, 2. by the oath thus administered at random; 3 by the enforcing of men to accuse them-selves. Our byshopps with their wretched favorers, may in time (as it is not unlikely but they will) bring one of these mischienous inconveniences upon her Majesty's best subjects: viz. either perpetual imprisonment, loss of ears or some other lim: or else (as I said before) an enforcement to conspire the overthrow of her Majesty's crown and dignity. Whether these matters be not worthy the consideration of the grauest councellors in the land, I leave it to the judgment of every true Englishman that loveth his Prince and the liberty of his country. But Martin is an intoller able busy fellow, for molesting the state of the clergy in this sort.

Now I hastē to other matters, where it may be, good Reader, thou wilt ask what was in that Pistle of mine? To tell thee true, I sigh to remember the loss of it, it was so pretty, and so witty. And I know if thou hadst it, thou wouldest lay it up, among other thy honest recreations for thy delight.

Firste then, there was set down for thy learning; the true, proper, and natural definition, or rather description of Martinisme, to this effect. That to be a right Martiniste indeed, is to be neither Browniste, Cooperist, Lambethist, Schismatike, Papist, atheist, traitor nor yet L. bishop; but one that is at defyaunce with all men; whether he be French, Ducth, Spanish, Catercap, pope or popeling, so far forth as he is an enemy to God and her Majesty. Wherevpon I remember, I did then ask the reader, whether it were not good being a Martiniste: and as I did then, so do I still heartily rejoice to think that all the honestest, and best affected subjects her Majesty hath, will one day become Martinists.

Then among all the rimers and stage plaiers, which my Ll. of the clergy had suborned against me. I remember Mar-Martin, John a Cant. his hobbie-horse, was to his reproach, newly put out of the Morris, take it how he will; with a flat discharge forever shaking his shins about a May-pole again while he lived. Here-abouts I placed D. Vnderhil and D. Wood of Alsolne college, to be chaplaines unto a certain chaste Ficker of Hell, called sir James King, of Harford-shire; and some-where it was, that I so sliued Dick Bancroft over the shulders, as his chaplainship is never able to recover his credit, if that Pistle of mine be once published. Nexte to this (as I take it) followed a preamble to an Eblitaph upon the death of old Andrew Turn-coat, to be song antiphonically in his graces Chapel, on wednesdayes and Frydayes, to the lamentable tune of Orawhynemeg.

Then was there a certain vulnerall Sermon of old Lockwood of Sarum, upon the sudden and untimely death of his said brother Pearne, wherein he did undertake for him, that he was never puritane in his life, but always an orderly man, and a maintainer of the state of the clergy.

And if his grace did appoint any other to preach at his old good masters funerals, but only this quick-witted Bridges, he was certainly foully over-seen. For there would have been such a mess, and such a match, such a pair of saints, the one living, and the other dead; as I believe the Legend-aure would not yield the like: both old standardes, both proculstants, both catercaps, both priests, both deans, both hypocrites, both asses: why sans mercy said I, &c. but alas, chaue haulfe forgotten the rest.

After this, I had a fling at these puritans, concerning whom, my desire is, that wherein I am faltie, ye puritans would set me down the particulars. It is odds, I shall some way or other hear of it. For albeit there have been some jars of unkindness betwixt us, yet I would have you know, that I take the worst of you, in regard of his calling, to be an honester man, then the best L. bishop in christendom. The report goeth, that some of you have preached against me, and I believe it in part; well look to it, for I may happen be even with you in this manner: I will not rest till I have learned what it is that ye have said of me; and if I find it to be a just reproof, I will mend my fault, be as angry as ye will: if unjust, trust unto it, I will hold on my course, and there is one rappe more then ye looked for.

The next pretty thing to this, was to my remembrance, Chaplain Some confuted with the balde sheath of his own dagger, wherein all his short cuts, latin Apothegs, and childish Pen-an-inkehorne proverbs, were wholly inverted upon himself. I then said, & so say I still, that if it were not for those whom our bishops hate and persecute, it is known they would make a mad piece of confuting of the Brownisses and other sectaries amongst them: as may appear by that which they suffer to come out so nakedly, and patchedly against them, by this father Robert of theirs. And this is he that hath crazed his brain at Lambeth, and his conscience at Gyrton; whose balde writings without sap or edge, unworthy of a boy of 12. year old; have (I am persuaded) made and will make (if it be not looked unto) more Brownistes in our church, then all that ever they have hitherto published themselves.

This (if you know him not) is the very same Doctor, that in publishing 3. pretty treatises, hath so handled the matter, by a Geometrical dimension, that the last (if it be well scanned) is the same with the first, & the middlemost, all one with them both: the man in all likelihood, never goeth without a little saunce-bell in his pocker; and that doth nothing else but Ting, Ting, Ting; and what doth it Ting? if you give good ear, nothing else I warrant you; but My sermons, My writings, My reasons, My arguments; & all is My, My, My; as if the depth of all learning, were included in the channel of his brain. This is even he, that let him write as many books as he will (though he should never so much disguise himself, & conceal his name) yet we should be sure to know him by one of these rapping figures; Either by hittinge the white, or by missinge the Butt; or by Resting on his reason; or by 32. dozen of full points; or by some such broken wooden dishe or other.

Then was there recorded a brave agreement which martin of his courtesy is contented to make with the bishops, which agreement was taught once in the pulpit, by a certain lame Ficker of Warwick, a chaplain of their own stamp. His text was out of Matthew; agree with thine adversary quickly. We have an adversary said he, who is that? the Devil; how shall we agree with the Devil? even thus said he, and if you mark it is a good lesson: Shake him off, never come nigh him, nor have nothing to do with him. Even so, ile be bound that myself, and all the puritans shall agree with the bishops while the world stands; on this condition, that we shake thē off, never come nigh them, nor have nothing to do with them.

Twere pity to forget Martins Tolbooth in the midst whereof, were many rare conceits; as a great asshen chair, wherein John a Bridges was placed by patent during his life; and Leonarde Wright appointed to keep it clean, by scarping and rubbing the feet of it; Round about this Tolboothe, were placed a foul rank of Catercaps, conferring & disputing hotly, about the third declension, the churching of women, or such like matters of life and death. On the first fourm, sat in rank, John, John and William; on the seconde. Richard, Richard, and Thomas; on a third, John William and Marmaduke, &c.

After this followed some-thing, a large confutation of Friar Freguevil, & of wringlefaced Wrighte; within which compsse, were contained, 1 a manifest proof, that reformation importeth the overthrow of the state of the clearge, & that according unto the doctrine of our church: 2 an antithesis between our Savior Christ, & that cursed pope of Lambeth, John Whitgift: 3 a proof of many of those theses which that unhappy boy of mine published so vntimelye: but as for him and his elder brother, together with that blind asse Pasquill, I will have them talked with elsewhere: with these & such like points with an honorable mention of all noble soldiers; a complaint of the loss of my papers, and the misery of sea journeys I ended my Pistle, being the first Tome of more warke for the Cooper. And here also I end this my protestation. Desiring thee (good reader) accordinng unto thy place, to be careful of the relief and deliverance of the distresled printers. In requital whereof, if thou canst but learn the day of my marriage (for as I protested unto thee without all fraud and ambiguity, I was never as yet married in my life) thou shalt be better welcome unto me, then the best Lord Catercap of them all, and so tell them from me when thou wilt.

Page 6. line 23. read single for siuule, page 21. there is some-thing twice set down, mend that thyself if thou wilt, for I promise thee I cannot. Yet hear me a word afore thou goest, an thou be a goodfellow, commend me to George Boleyn Dean of Liechfield, by these 4, tokens: 1 The wind is south, the wind is south: 2. that he lately taught in Coventree, that men might fall from grace 3 that taking himself with a fault in the same sermon, he said, there I lied there I lied 4 being at another time in the pulpit, hearing his dog cry, he out with this text; why how now hoe, can you not let my dog alone there; come Springe come Spring.