YOu are well ouertaken sir, doe you trauell far this way I pray you?

Towards London sir.

I shall willingly beare you companie if it please you?

With all my hearr, I shall be very glad of yours.

From whence came you this way?

I come out of France.

Out of what part of France came you I pray you? I came from Rochell my selfe, which is a part of France.

It is so, but I came not neere that place.

Out of what parte of Fraunce came you then?

I came from Orleans.

I pray you what newes from thence, is there any likelyhoode of peace there?

Yes surely, there is some hope of peace, for where the Kings powers come, they doe commonly yeelde presently.

It is a good hearing.

What is he that comes after vs so fast?

He seemes to be some preacher or dumb minister, it may be he goes our way, if he doe I hope we shall haue his company whereby wee may passe a­way [Page]way the time in some good conference, & also heare what newes there is at home here in England.

I am content Sir, for I shal be glad to heare some good newes, me thinks I haue bin very long ab­sent from hence.

Very wel, we will goe the softlier that he may overtake vs: but by the way, I pray you, if you came from Orleans, there they haue the masse, for they are of the league: & then I suppose you haue bin par­taker of their Idolatrie?

Noe I assure you, I detest al Idolatrie, euen from my hart.

If you doe so, I am very glad of it, but I pray you let me heare if you can giue me some profe out of the word of God, for the confirmation of this your protestation against Idolatrie?

I am wel content to giue you a taste there­of, whereby it shal appeare that I am far from it: For so deerly as I render the saluation of mine own soule, so careful am I to shun and fly from all Idolatrie. For it is written Deut. 6.13. Thou shalt worship the Lorde thy God, and him onely shalt thou serue: And the A­postle Paule to the Corinth. 1. Epist. cap. 10. verse 14. commaundeth vs to Flye from Idolatrie, for Idolatrie is sinne, and the wages of sinne is death, &c.

It is wel applied, & somwhat to the pur­pose, I am very glad if it be done in singlenesse of hart: For me thinks you could not possibly be in that place but you must be forced to be present at their Idola­trous Masse.

I was neuer present at it in my life, I thanke God: but the Papists sticke not to say that our service booke in english is (a greate parte of it) but a meere translation out of the masse booke.

Indeede it is true, that some parte of our [Page]booke of common prayer (as they say) is a meere tran­slation out of the masse booke, but yet there is no such blasphemie and Idolatrie tollerated in it, as is dyalie in the masse: although it greatly derogate from the worde, and is full of greate and greuous corruptions: But I pray you howe long were you in Orleans Sir?

I was there about a fortnight.

Noe longer?

Noe Sir.

Here comes the minister nowe, wee will heare what newes he can tel vs, he semes to be but an Idole shepheard: we shal haue some good conference with him I hope, to passe away the time?

You are well overraken gentlemen, which way trauel you, I pray you?

Towards London, and if it please God.

I shall be gladd of your company and if it please you?

We also shall be glad of yours Sir.

I pray you M. Vicker or parson, (for so you seeme to be) what good newes is there here at home, in England, for we haue bin both of vs in Fraunce, & we would gladly here some good newes?

Indede I am a poore Vicker: truly we haue no greate good newes here Sir: for our Church is so sore pestered with sects & scismes, that the reuerende fathers, (and especially my Lords grace of Cant.) are so sore troubled with them, that they haue no leasure to recreate them selues for those fellowes, they are so bolde and mallepert, that they preferre petitions to her maiestie, the Lords of the counsell, yea & in print to the high court of parliament.

Why sir, what be they that do this, what doe you cal them, are they papists?

No they are worse then papists, for they [Page]are fantasticall puritans and Brownists, and I can not tel what.

What be the points they holde, that are so scismatical, and erronious?

Forsooth they woulde haue no Lorde Bb. but every minister to be of equal authoritie one with an other, and so make a confusion in the whole state, for they haue set downe a newe platforme of (Disci­pline sorsoth, as they cal it) they cannot tel what them selues.

I will tel you my opinion, of Lord Bb. it is but an humaine constitution, and not warrantable by the worde, but vtterly forbidden:

O I perceue you are one of these fantasti­cal puritanes or Brownists: I pray you out of what place of Fraunce cam you?

I came from Rochel.

I thought from Rochel, Geneua or Scotland, you seeme to be a birde of one of those nests.

Sir whatsoeuer I am, I doe not dout but to be able to prooue by the word what I haue saide, & namely, the vnlawfulnesse of Lord Bb.

Sir that point hath bin handeled by your betters, and manifestly confuted by my Lords grace, in his writings against Cartwright.

In deed he that will be blinde, cannot see it, but he that looks in both their works, with a single eie cannot but confesse M. Cartwright to haue confu­ted him by vnanswerable evidences: or els why would he not haue answered M. Cartwrights workes, nowe a dozen yeares extant and more.

As you of the fantasticall crue thinke, but he hath done it, and that so sufficiently alreadie, that there needs noe more answeres, and againe his grace is nowe otherwise troubled with matters of state, that [Page]he cannot intend it, or if he coulde, yet it is not for him so to abase himselfe, in regarde of his high calling which he is nowe placed in.

As though the cause of God were to be neglected in respect of his high place, if he were law­fully called thereunto, as he doth very vnlawefully v­surpe the same: contrarie to the lawe of God: for is it possible he can be the true minister of God, & a tem­poral magistrate that is, to serue God and Mammon to. As th'Apostle saith, Let him that hath an office at­tend vppon his office, and not offices.

Why howe dare you presume to say soe? Were not L. Bb. established by her Maiestie & con­sent of the whole parliament?

I graunt they were, but the Lorde hath saide contray, in the commaundement he gaue to his ministers Luk. 22. saying, The kings of the gentiles raign over them, and they that beare rule over them are called gratious Ll. but yee shall not be so, but let the greatest a­monge you be as the least, and the cheefest as him that ser­ueth, and 1. Pet. 5. Feede the flocke of God which depen­deth vpon you, caring for it, not by constrainte, but wil­lingly, not for filthie luker, but of a readie minde: Not as though ye were Lords over Gods heritage, but that yee may be ensamples to the flocke. And in the first session of parliament, holden in the first yeare of her Maie­sties raigne, there was neuer a Lorde B. in the lande.

If you wil haue noe L. Bb. howe shoulde the Church be gouerned then?

Accordinge as our Sauiour Christ hath commaunded, & as the holy Ghost hath set it downe, vz. by pastors Doctors, Elders, and deacons, Rom. 12. Ephes. 4. 1. Cor. 12.

You are very full of scripture, as though we haue not the same offices in effect, though not in [Page]the same titles: as for example, haue not wee Parsons for Doctors, Vickers for Pastors, Churchwardens for Elders, and Sidemen for Deacons to distribute to the poore.

And what for Archbishops, and Lorde Bishops?

I will tell you for him, Archbishopps for Popes, and Lord Bishops for Cardinals. Ha, ha, M. Vicker, I see you are a good Churchman, doe not you vse the pulpit sometimes?

Noe indeede sir, but I reade the Homiles somtimes, and the Queenes Injunctions, and doe my dutie as other ministers doe.

Me thought so, by that fitte comparison that you haue made.

And haue you no more but one benefice nei­ther, and yet do all that?

Yes in deede, I say seruice at two more, but I haue little profit by them, marie the best is, they are somwhat neere, for they are all three within foure miles together.

And how can you serue them al vpon the Sabboth day?

Some of them are but small, and I can make quicke dispatche with them betimes, & take my Mare and r de to the other: and can make an ende of all by ten of the clocke, and spende an houre with good fel­lowes at home before dinner to.

And Mast. Vicker, do you thinke herein, that you discharge your duerie to God, and those con­gre gations, ouer whom you haue taken this charge?

Why sir, I discharge my duetie better then those that take vpon them foure or fiue.

Why? is there any that takes vpon them the charge of so many?

Yea a hundred in England.

Well I will cell you, the fearefull judge­ments of God hangs ouer our heades, and cannot be long deserred, but fall vpon the whole land (where to such dumbe idolls as you are, is committed the charge of soules) and to your selues eternall destruction of bodie and soule: wherefore M. Vicker, as you tender your owne saluation, leaue this your vnlawfull calling of the ministery, and betake you to some occupation, or husbandrie.

I care not what any of you spightfull Puri­tans say, so long as I can haue the fauor of my Lorde Bishop.

I pray you M. Vicker let me spurre a questi­on vnto you, if I may be so bolde? where do you serue?

I serue in Middlesex Sir.

Who made you minister?

My good Lord of London.

Like enough, he hath made a greate ma­ny of blinde guides in his time besides you, for hee made the Porter of his gate, minister of Paddington, being blinde.

O monstrous, is this true, did he so indeede?

It is most true, for the Bishop of Win­chester hath recorded it in a booke of his set forth in print.

Why what will our Bishops growe to in time if they be suffered? for me thinks this is a feareful thing, to make such ministers, as can neirher see nor speake, for it is like if he were his porter, (no doubt of it) he had not the gift of teaching?

Very true, but because he could doe him noe longer seruice, he was so good to him, to prouide for the poore blinde man that he might liue.

Sure I thinke when they come once to be [Page]Lords, they cleane forget God and al godlinesse, for I haue heard that there was some good thinges in him before he was Bishop of London, for he wrote a book called the Harborowe of faithful subiects, against Bish­ops: wherein he saith, Come downe yee Bishops with your thousands, and betake you to your hundreds, let your fare be Priestlike and not Princelike, &c.

Indeede he wrote such a booke, and the same words that you repeate, I haue read in the same: but alasse, when he was at the best, he was but a cor­rupt man, and the best things in it, sauor but of earth: for there is many things handled in it very immodest­ly, and vnchristianly: but one thing especially he setts downe there, which himselfe practiseth cleane contra­ry: where he speaks of the habilitie that shoulde be in every minister of the worde, that he shoulde knowe his quarter strooks, to be able to conuince the aduersary, &c.

Why? will you haue none Ministers but such as can preach? I can tell you, that the twentieth minister in the lande cannot preach?

The more the worse, for you and the rest howe many soeuer there be stand without repentance in a most damnable state, for you are most notorious murtherers of soules, in taking vppon you so high a calling, & being so farre vnfitte for it: so many as pe­rish for want of teaching, in your charge, their bloude the Lord wil require at your hands:

The Bishop knewe my abilitie before he made me minister.

Wel, he stands in the state of damnation as you doe, and thus much I say vnto you, and to all I­dole Ministers, and to him, and all vsurping Archbi­shops and Lord Bishops, leaue your vnlawful callings into which you haue intruded your selues, and with speed repent, and humble your selues before the Ma­jestie [Page]of God, confessing your horrible and grecuous sinnes with Peters teares, in that you are the cause, yea and also the verye murderers of so manye soules, as perish in your charges: knowing that the Lord will in that greate and terrible day, require their bloode at your hands.

O Lorde, my heart quaketh to heare of so greate and greeuous sinns as are in our Bishops, and in the whole ministerie: but our Bishops are the cause of all.

I will tel you Sir, I am perswaded in my very conscience, that the Lorde hath giuen many of our Bishops ouer into a reprobate sence, for they doe wilfully oppose them selues against the Lord his kno­en truth, yea and persecute it, (and I suppose them to be in the state of the sinne against the holy Ghost) for they haue manifested in their published writings, yea & pressed forth by authoritie, suche horrible blas­phemous, hereticall, yea damnable doctrines, whiche my very heart trembleth to repeate, in sorte as they haue set them down: which if those (whome they fals­ly call puritanes) shoulde set downe or holde the like errors and dangerous points, I warrant you the should soone be cut of from the face of the earth, and right well they were worthy.

Nowe Sir I pray you let me heare some of the pointes they holde, and that are so dangerous as you say, that I may be able to justifie it to our dumbe doggs teeth, at Austins gate in London when I come home.

First you shal vnderstand, the Bishop of London hath published in print, & that in an Epistle or preface before Barnardeus de loques booke of the Church, published in english, that the puritanes may as well deny the sonne of God to be consubstantiall [Page]with God the father, as they may deny the superiori­tie of Archbishops and Lord Bishops, flat contrary to the saying of our Sauiour Christ, Luke 22.

O monstrous and blasphemous wretch, that to maintaine his fleshly pleasure, will make such an o­dious comparison.

Nay, what say you to a Bishop that hath two wiues and both nowe liuing? Doe you not thinke it is a thing tollerable in a christian common wealth, where the Gospel is professed?

No indeed doe I not, I hope our magistrats wil not suffer such a Bishop to liue, it were monstrous among common Infidels, much more intollerable, that a Bishop in such a land as ours is, where the Gospell is truely taught: But I pray you is there any such now liuing?

Yes in deed is there, and the Bishop of Saint Dauids in Wales is the man, he is nowe liuing and both his wiues, and yet stil remaines a Bishop.

Is it possible that a Bishop shoulde commit such an horrible act as this, howe far are our Bishopps from obeing the commaundement of th'Apostle Pe­ter: who saith, Feede the flocke, and be ensamples to the flocke: what ensample is this? And doeth not the same God which saith, Thon shalt doe noe murther, which is death by our lawes, doth he not also say, Thou shalte not commit adulterie: And yet a Bishop to haue twoe wiues at once, & liue in a Church professing the sin­ceritie of the Gospell: What say you to this Master Vicker, is not our Church wel gouerned thinke you?

If it be true, it is (I must needs confesse) a horrible thing and worthy of death, but I do not be­leeue it.

It is very true, for the cause was brought before the high commissioners at Lambehith, and [Page]howe it is smothered vp among the Bishops, and the rest of the commissioners, I know not yet, but I could tel you the whole couclusion if I were at London but halfe an houre.

Why the suffering of this, & other like vil­lanies, to be committed in our nation, are causes to stir vp the Lord to wrath, against the whole land, wherby he may spedily bring his judgments vpon vs, yea euen to our vtter destruction.

It is so if it be true? but I wil not beleeue it.

Wel for the truth of the matter, I referre you to the high commissioners, where it is recorded, with his wiues names, vz. Elizabeth Gigge and Ales Prime.

Indeede I haue heard of the like before, that you puritans haue put forth a booke in print vn­der the name of Martine Marprelate, wherein many such things are mencioned:

There is nothing set downe in it, but there is good proofe of the same, & the Bishop of Winche­ster, who took vpon him to confute it, hath confirmed it for the most part, & that he denies is most true.

What did he vndertake to confute it? Alas he is altogether vnlearned, (for I haue heard of him in Oxford, and the papists say, they can make him be­leeue the moone is made of greene cheese) marry to get him a name (forsooth) being a correcter with a Printer in fleetstreete in London, who printed a Dic­tionarie called Sir Thomas Eliotts dictionarye, Cooper translated a peece of Robert Stephanus his Thesaurus and joined it to the same with a fewe phrases, and so bereaued the famous Knight of his labor, and calls it by the name of Coopers Dictionary: howe say you Ma­ster Vicker, was not this a knauish tricke tel me?

I say you deale very vnreuerently with my [Page]Lord: for I cann say nothing to the matter else, for I knowe it not to be true?

What say you to this then master Vicker did you neuer heare of your Lord Bishop of London, whoe made the Dyars, in Thames street whoe were robbed, by theeues that stoale their cloothe, and brought it within his liberties, which when the poore diars hearing where their clooth was, and comming to the Bishop to demaunde their own goods, he said: if they woulde hang the theeues, he woulde then tell them more, which the dyars did, and at their deathes, confessed that to be the dyars cloth which the Bishop had, but the pore men were neuer the neere for their cloth, nor cannot get it or any parte of it to this day: and this is confessed to be true, by the bishop of Win­chester in his answere to Martine Marprelate, publi­shed in print by authoritie: wherein he saith, it is the Bishop of Londons own, by the lawes of the land, be­cause it was taken within his liberties, mary he speaks nothing of the lawe of God, according to conscience, in keping of thiefe stollen goods from their right ow­ners, for conscience is fled from them (it seemes) so soone as they are gotten to be Lord Bishops once.

Yes Sir I knowe there is such a booke na­med Martin Marprelate, a most vile and ssaunderous libel, but I doe not thinke my Lorde of Winchester doth approoue any thing that is set do wne there in any of those books, for they haue put forth three or foure books vnder that title.

Why Master Vicker, howe doe they to get their books printed?

Tush they doe wel enough for that, there is a sedstious fellowe one Walde-graue, who comon­ly prints all such bookes, (I knowe him wel enough) hee did keepe a shoppe at the signe of the Crane in [Page]Paules Churchyarde: at which time he had his presse and letters taken away from him, and destroyed for the same cause, by my Lords grace of Canterbury, & nowe he workes in corners vp and downe the Coun­try like a vagabond.

With a seared conscience, did the Bish­ops that violence to him, in regarde both of the cause, and also for the greate charge he hath of wife and six smale children, and nowe to bereaue his Poore family of him, whose labors was their only comfort & main­tenance.

Master Vicker how long was it since Walde­graues gooods were destroyed, I haue heard of him before nowe, but I knowe him not?

Tushe you knowe him well enough I am sure, it is since his goodes were destroied about Ester was a twelue moneth.

And hath he bene all this time absent from his family?

I Sir, and if he had bin there, he would ea­sily haue bin had, for he hath bin watcht wel enough for that?

I will tell you Sir howe they deale with him, when they haue any suspition that he is at home, although he durst neuer come home, they sticke not in the deade time of the nighte, to breake downe the maine wales of his house, and enter in with constables and pursiuants, and this is a common thing with them.

I am perswaded, the Bishops had bin better to haue giuen him freely 2. hundred pounds towards the setting vp of a newe printinge house for himselfe, then to haue destroied his as they haue done:

I thinke so, for it may be he woulde haue followed his calling some other way, then to be im­ploied in those things?

Yonder comes a man plodding a pace after vs whatsoeuer he be?

It may be our companie wil increase, and so we shall goe the more cheerefull, for it begins to to be late, and it is dangerous going here abouts, late I can tel you?

It may be he is one of your coate Master Vicker?

I cannot tel, but if he be, he shall be wel­come to me.

Surely he comes a pace, whatsoeuer he be?

It may be he woulde be glad of company?

Well let vs goe on and continue our talke?

Master Vicker I thinke be weary of our communication, if you be let vs knowe?

Noe by my faith Sir not I, say what you wil a Gods name?

Fye, Master Vicker, will you sweare? I thinke you learned that of your Lord Bishop of Lon­don, for he vseth it often, when he is at boules.

What wil Bishops sweare?

Sweare Sir, I that they wil, and defende it to, when they haue done? For in the first booke of Martin, there is mention made of the Bishop of Lon­dons swearing, when he is at bowles: And the Bishop of Winchester in answering the same, saith thus, in page. 62. of his booke, That our Sauiour Christ vsual­ly sware by his faith in his sermons, For he saide Amen, Amen, which is as much to say (saith he) as by my faith, by my faith?

Why is that a Bishoppe of God, that will sweare thus?

Fo, I haue hearde my Lords grace of Can­terbury sweare by his faith an hundred times, yea and by God to sometimes, and what he doth, I take it as a [Page]good president for such as I am to followe?

Ile tel you Master Vicker, I am of doctor Bridges his minde of our Bishops: for (saith he) page 339.340. That all our Lord Bishops in England, are the Bishops of the Diuel: And I am sure of it by these two marks, vz. by their tyranical dealing against Gods chil­dren, and by their wicked and vnconscionable liues, that they are not of God?

I pray you hath Doctor Bridges written a­ny booke that is published to this effect?

Yes indeed, and the Bishop of Canter­bury hath confirmed it by his authorising of the same, and also by his continual practise against. Gods chil­dren?

But I pray you Sir, howe wickedly hath he wrested the Scripture, in saying our Sauiour Christ continually sware in his sermons, when he saide A­men, Amen?

Why the Bishop of Winchester, is most impudent in al his actions, for very blasphemously in his sermon, preached at Mary Overies at London, said that a man might as wel finde fault with the holy Scrip­ture, as with our corrupt Common booke of prayer?

Our vpon him blasphemous wretch, he is certainly the Bishop of the Diuel, as Doctor Bridges saith.

Will you heare some more of his Diui­nitie?

O Yes I pray you Sir? And yet my harte trembleth to heare of such odious blasphemies as these:

He saith it the 49. page of his booke a­gainst Martine Marprelate: That the Creed of the A­postles, Athanasius, & the Nicene, &c. containe in them many palpable lies: Nowe tel me your opinion of this, [Page]is it not sound and substantial doctrine I pray you tell me?

Doctrine yea indede, this may truly be saide to be the doctrine of Diuels? Why whither will our Bishops runne in time trowe you, if the Magistrate suffer them?

I wil tel you, euen to their father the Di­uel: For they haue at no time taken in hand to write in defence of their hierarchie, but it hath made their eies so to dazle, that they run into most dangerous & damnable errors, (as in this booke of the Bishopps will be prooued neere. 500. errours) yea in correc­ting and controling the mightie word of God, and al­so haue interlaced their writings with such contrari­etie of matter, as one parte of their owne books may serue to confute the other, with infinite absurdities: yea and by your leaue to, even flat treason?

Many good men did neuer judge the bishop of Winchester, to be but an hipocrite?

He is a most bitter man to all those that feare God, and haue to deale with him, for he may well be compared to a horse with a galde backe that hath bin so rubd, that he winces, frets, and chafes, so, that he is ready to throwe himselfe to vtter destructi­on, with purpose to hurt him that rubd him: Even so, this Bishop takes to himselfe so much libertie in abu­sing and profaning the holy worde of God, (against those that write in the Lords cause, against their vn­laweful callings) and that I feare me, to the endange­ring both of body and soule.

I haue heard that when he was at Lincolne he dealt not so hardly with the ministers as nowe he doth, and that often in his Sermons at Northampton he woulde confesse, that the Discipline was vsed and practised in the Primitiue Churche, a long time after [Page]the Apostles.

It is very true, & yet he saith in his book against Martin, that the holy Discipline is a platform deuised he knowes not by whome: And in an other place of the same booke he confesses that it was prac­tised by the Apostles, and long time after in the Pri­mitiue Church, and vppon the words where he saith it is not denied, there is pasted, at the commandement of the Bishop of Canterbury, It is not yet prooued, so that there is some Iar, betweene themselues, although these two are most conuersant together, and joine in one to persecute sinceere and faithfull preachers of the word, and others of the Lords children.

I had thought they woulde not haue dissen­ted one from a nother of them?

Why sir in the 49. page of the same book the Bishop of winchester saith, the Bishop of Canter­bury is a giddy head, and to be brideled, because he au­thorised Doctor Whitaker his readinges against Bel­larmina, wherein the Apocripha is defaced: And M. Doctor Some one of their affinite no we, and a noure­resident, he calls the Archbishop of Canterbury An absurde Heretike, because he holds baptisme admini­stred by weomen, to be the seale of Gods couenante: page 3. of his booke against Master Penri, & many like things I could cite to you, of their diffenting on from another.

Howe like you of these things Master Vic­ker, be not these good fathers of the Church, thinke you?

I like neuer a whit the worse of them for your words, for I knowe they are but slaunders?

Master Vicker, you I knowe like well of them, although the proofes that their aduersaries doe bring be neuer so manifest and plaine aganst them, be­cause [Page]you are in the same state, or worse (and may be) in that you doe vnlawfully vsurpe your place, and ha­uing noe fit gifts to discharge your dutie in any mea­sure: Remember what th'Apostle saith, 1. Corinth. 6.19. Woe is to me if J preach not the Gospel, this is right­ly pronounced vpon you, & all such Idoles as you are?

If I reade sermons and homiles, is it not as much as if I preached: for Master Doctor Bridges saith, that reading is preaching?

The Lord hath promised noe such bles­sing vnto reading as preaching, for the word preached is the onely ordinary meanes to saluation: But I pray you for your comfort, heare what the prophet Ieremy saith to you, in the 48. Chap. Cursed be that man, that doth the worke of the Lord negligently, & Mallac. 2.7. saith, the priests lips shoulde preserue knowledge, & they shoulde seeke the lawe at his mouth, but howe can you shunne this curse Master Vicker? I pray God humble your hart that you may acknowledge your sinne, and craue pardon at his hands, and leaue the ministery, lest the Lord with a strong hand throwe you out to your everlasting woe.

Master Vicker he giues you good counsell, it were good for you to followe it, if you doe not, it wil be the worse for you?

Wel Sir it is noe matter, there be as wise as he wil giue me other councell?

Why I see Master Vicker is obstinate, hee will not be perswaded by you?

Even as he will, I speake my conscience to him, he may chuse if he wil followe it or noe?

I maruel what good hospitallitie the Bishop of London keepes, I haue heard that he is very coue­tous?

Indeed he doth keepe a good house?

What doth not the doggs run away out of his house with whole shoulders. I thinke a man may as soone breake his neck, as break his fast at his house?

Surely I can say thus much by reporte of one that was his Chaplaine, whose name is Haiwarde Vicker of Saint Martins, by Charing crosse, that often times when he hath dined at his Pallace in London, he hath made his seruantes, to take the fragments & carry them to Fulham, but if there be any dainty mor­cel left, he wil wrap it vp in his handkerchefe, and ca­ry it in his bosome for feare lest his men should begile him.

O Master Vicker, you haue a most bounti­full Lorde: he is so liberall, that he will not suffer the scraps to be bestowed vppon the poore, but to be kept for his seruants supper?

It is faulse, for I haue often seene almes giuen at his gates, when he hath lien at London:

Ile tell you what I haue hearde him say at Pauls crosse my selfe vppon a time, following his text very wel: (you must thinke) he burst me out with a greate exclamation of him selfe, in that he was poor and had noe money, protesting what charges he had bin at, and that Paules Churche can beare me witnesse: (saith he) that I haue noe money: And shortely after some of his owne seruants being there present, and heard him, (belike thought to make their good Lord a liar) very shortly after, robd him, of certain hundred of pounds, for which offence, he was so good vnto his men, as to hange them vp three or foure in number, (although he had the most parte of his money again) and some of the parties executed, protested to their knoweledge, he had much more mony at vsury, and that his seruants liued only vpon bribes.

A Bishop a lyar and a vserer, nay surely M. [Page]Vicker, if your Lord haue those two faults, it cannot be but he hath more, so that for mine owne parte, I thinke him verely to be the Bishop of the Diuell.

Nay Sir I can giue you proofe for the same more, that he is surely the Bishop of the Diuel, for Martin Marprelate hath set downe a pretty thing in his Epistle to the terrible priests, that the Bishope of London when he throwes his bowle, (as he vseth it commonly vppon the sabboth day) he runnes after it, and if it be toe harde, he cries, rub, rub rub, and saith the Diuel goe with thee, when he goeth himselfe with it: So that by those words, he nameth him selfe the Bishop of the Diuell: but by his practise of tiranicall dealing against the Lords faithful ministers, not only calleth, but prooueth himselfe to be the Bishoppe of the Di­uell.

Ha, ha Master Vicker, you see your Lorde Bishop is a Diuel by his owne confession: so indeede, you are not the Lords Minister, but the Minister of the Diuel, as your Lorde Bishop is the Bishop of the Diuell.

You vse your speeches at pleasure of my Lord, it may be you wil not so easily answere them when you are called therevnto?

Yes Master Vicker I warraant you? Send a pursiuant when you will for vs, and we wil answere it, if wee can not make our parts good enough, we will send the weomen of Hampsteed to him?

What meane you by that?

If you will needs haue me, I will tell you, you shall vnderstand Master Vicker, that your good Lorde, at his first comming to be the Diuels Lorde at London, began to play Rexe, (as he hath lately done at Fulham, in cutting downe the trees, there, to the greate impouerishing of the towne) to cut downe the [Page]woods at Hampsteed, and needs he woulde doe it, and began pretily well with it, the townes men became su­ters to him that he woulde not, they coulde not per­swade him, for he was Lord of it, he saide: Wel seeing the men coulde doe noe good with him, the women tooke the matter in hande, and as the Diuells men came, (that is your Lords) to cut downe their woods, the weomen fel a swadling of them, so that they durst come noe more to cutte downe any trees there. Thus you see the women overcame the Diuel, and so feared him, that thereby they preserued their woods. For by very nature, these Diuels Bishops ar giuen to destroy both Church and common welth? But if wee be not good enough for them, we will intreate the weomen of Hampsteed to take the matter in hand.

Well I doubt not but you will for all this lustines, kisse the Clinke or gatehouse for this geare, for my Lords grace shal knowe of it, if my Lorde doe not?

Why Vicker of the Diuell, let the whole conuocation house of Diuels know of it and you wil, for they dare not, noe not Beelzebub of Canterburye the cheefe of the Diuels, come to disputation, therby to approoue their Callings to be lawefull, and other points in controuersie against the discipline of God, as they haue bin oftē challenged, & offerd by the pu­ritans, even to aduenture their liues against their Bi­shopricks, and yet they durst not. And I pray you tell me; if they were not the Bishops of the Diuel indeed, woulde they refuse this offer?

Why the puritans haue bene often dispu­ted with?

Where? In the Bishops closet? For they are ashamed to haue it tried before any Magistrate, Let them if they dare procure a free disputation, wher [Page]by every man may freely speake, and be indifferently heard, and if the Bishops and al their partakers be not ouerthrowne, I will loose my life for it?

Haue they not bin already by publike wri­ting, and otherwise, but especially by my Lords grace, his works against Cartwright, sufficiently confuted I pray you?

Noe indede, but I wil tel you what a no­ble man professing the Gospel saide, he de maunded of the olde Lorde Henry Howard (the Earle of Arun­dels vncle nowe liuing, being a professed papist) what he thought of Whitgifts answere to Cartwright, who answered, there was no comparison to be made betweene them, for Whitgift (saith he) is not worthy to cary Cart­wrights books after him for learning: Marke heere the opinion of a papist, you knowe a deadly aduersarie to Master Cartwright: and yet the ambitious wretch will not sticke nowe he is an Archbishoppe, to call those that are able to teach him (& which were in the Gos­pel before him) boyes, and reuile them farre beyonde all christian modestie: and againe, if a man apply any newe writer his opinion of the reformed Churches, in defence of the Lordes trueth, as Master Caluine, Beza or others, he will not also sticke to bragge and tel him, that he is able to teach Caluine and Beza, or a­ny of them all: but the wretch nor his associates, dares not dispute with Master Cartwright, Caluin, or Bezaes inferiors.

Tush, foe, he sites nowe vppon his cogging stoole, which may truly be called the chaier of pesti­lence, little may he doe if he cannot bragge, Crake & face it out: for the trueth is, he wrote against the Dis­cipline, for noe other end, but to get a Bishoppricke, for he neuer wrote since he hath caught one I war­rant you: And the pide faced foole Doctor Bridges i­mitating [Page]him, hoping to leape like as he hath done, but it wil not be?

O you are greatly deceyued, D. Brid­ges hath vtterlye renounced the Bishopps as I haue heard, for that the Archbishop hath broken his faith with him?

How comes that to passe I pray you?

I will tel you, at the beginning of the last parliament, there were Bishops to be stalled, and his grace had promised him verye confidently, that hee would not onely speake for him, also assure him of a Bishoppricke? Vppon whiche the aspiring wretche did onely relie, otherwise it may be he woulde haue bribed some courtier to haue dealt for him, as he did for his Deanry: But her Maiestie lying at Richmond, and master Doctor repairing thither, vpon the green afore Richmond house, met with Master Thornbie the Master of the Sauoy, whoe tolde him that he harde he was a suter for the Bishoppricke of such a place: Ma­ster Doctor Bridges answered and saide, it was true, he had the grant of it at his grace his hands: saith master Thornby, I had a promise of it to: but it is certain that his grace hath got it for an other man, and he hath finished it, and al is past, I can assure you of it: With that the Doctor was in his madde moode, and saide, hath he serued me so, whie then I wil say, and may speake it truely, there is noe faith in a Bishop. Haue I wrote in their defence, and haue gotten the ignomie, shame, and reproache of it by publike writinge, and nowe to be thus vildely dealte with: J will tel you master. Thornby, J do protest, and alwaies will affirme it: That it is better to haue one inche of pollicie, then all the Diuinitie in the worlde. If master Thornebie will denie this to be true, there be both godly and worshipfull will justifie it to his face.

Nay it is like ynough that the B. of Cant. hath serued him so, it is not the first like prancke he hath played, for it is his manner, he wil promise much and performe nothing: but persecute Gods ministers, and glory in him selfe: For if any godly minister, or any other that feare God, come before him, he will offer them the oathe, either to accuse themselues, or their christian brethren, or both, yea though no body bee able to charge them with anye offence: and if they wil not sweare, then to the Clinke, Gatehouse or white Lyon they goe roundly, and when sute is made vnto him for their libertie: Then except they will en­ter into bonds to performe this, or doe that: why he will say they shall lye til they rotte, with other bitter wordes. And he was wont to vse these wordes often, and had a greate pride in speaking them (I can not tel whether he hath left them nowe or noe,) As long as the Queene and I liue, it shall be this or that. Iudge you of this man, whether he hath an humble spirite, or an aspiring minde, to joine him selfe with his dreade so­ueraigne the Queenes maiestie. He were best to re­member his predicessor Cardinall Wolsey, betimes, lest he haue the same end Cardinall Wolsey had.

I hope for these your taunting speeches to see you trunst, if I meet you handsomlye in place where?

Why Vicker of the Diuell, (I thinke you to be one of the Vickers of Hell, that Martine speaks of) it is noe maruel, though you take the Bishops of the Diuels parte. For Winchester when he went his visi­tations last, tolde your companions the dumb doggs, that if his grace of Canterbury, and him selfe had not kneeled before her Maiestie for you, you had bene all of you thrust out of the ministery?

Oh wicked act, it had bene better that [Page]neither of them had had a joint to bow, then to worke such a villanny to Gods Church.

Herein they vsed greate pollicie (you must thinke) for if we had a learned Ministery once, they knowe their kingdome would sone fal to the ground. Therefore they take order for that. For they will sus­pend and thrust all those out of the Ministery, that haue gifts fit for that high calling: and keepe none in, except nonresidence, suche as gape after Bishopp­ricks, or dumbe Idole ministers?

you are well overtaken my masters? Which way trauel you I pray?

Towards London Sir.

What good newes is there abroad doe you heare any?

I knowe none good, for the land is sore troubled with these trecherous Papists, and filthy A­theists: and our church pestered with the Bishopps of the Diuel, nonresidents, Popish priests, and dumbe doggs, that there is noe place, nor being for a faithful minister of the word: for if there be any in any charge, the Bishops haue their Iohn Avales, to fetch them vp before them, and then if they wil not subscribe, out of the ministery he goes roundly?

It was neuer merry worlde since there was so many puritans, & such running to Sermons as there is nowe.

Why? Doe not you loue to heare Sermons?

Noe, I care for none of these precise fel­lowes, I wil not come at any of their Sermons.

I smell you already, I perceue you are a Pa­pist.

Whatsoeuer I be, you may be sure I am noe puritane, for a Papist, is alwaies better then a puritan, and more friends he shall finde, both at home and a­broade. [Page]And I haue heard my Lords grace of Canter­bury, and the Bishoppe of Winchester, speake it with mine owne eares.

I can say thus much my selfe, my Lordes grace is not so much troubled with papists as with puritanes?

And I can say thus much to, the papists haue more fauor of his grace a greate deale, then the Puri­tanes?

My lords grace you knowe, had a good ma­ster, and one that kept him farr enough from this pre­cisenes, I warrant you?

Who was his master I pray you?

Mary Master Doctor Pearne Sir.

What Doctor Pearne? why he is the nota­blest turnecoate in al this land, there is none compa­rable to him? Why every boy hath him in his mouth, for it is made a prouerbe, both of olde & young, that if one haue a coate or cloake that is turned, they saye it is Pearnd.

And doe you thinke the Bishop of Can­terbury wil be as good a turner, as his Master Doctor Pearne is?

Nay, he will exceede his Master, I am per­swaded?

Me thinkes there shoulde be others as expert, and likely to make as good workemen in that art, as his grace or his master Doctor Pearne himselfe is?

Whoe shoulde they be?

What say you to Iohn of Glocester, Doc­tor Kennolde, Doctor Bancroft, Doctor Goodman, the Abot that nowe is of Westminster, Doctor Sprent of Bristowe, and Master Doctor Bridges Deane of Sa­rum.

Yea and I may say to you, all the Bishops of the Diuel and nonresidence, are likely to say pretly well to the matter to?

I had forgotten one that I shoulde haue [...]ominated to, that is Doctor Culpepper of Oxforde, whoe hath the name to be a notable hunter?

What Doctor Culpepper, Ile tel you there is many good things in him that way, but I will tel you one or two notes of his single giftes. For he is an Archdeacon, and going in his visitation, not far from Oxford: It is an ordinarye thing with them, to haue a Sermon before the keep court, & alwaies the court is kept in the Ghurch? The preacher somewhat troub­ling him, (in telling the spiritual fathers their duties) did sometimes nod at the preacher so as he did per­ceiue him, to the end he shoulde make an end of his Sermon. The preacher notwithstanding went forward with his text, which troubled Master Doctor sore. Then he fel a beckoning to the preacher, the precher would not see his signes, althogh the audience great­ly marueled at him, then Master Doctor (being soare galled you must thinke,) spake to him and bad him come down: the precher thought it not long (though Master Doctor were weary to heare his dutie tolde him in so plaine a manner) and seeing he could vse no means to get him out of the pulpit, caled the cryar to him, and bad him cry, Ho yes, and so he did. Then went he very reuerently about his busines, & left the prea­cher in the pulpit: Nowe tel me I pray you, whether he had more minde to heare the worde preached, or to be with his kenell of hounds.

Is this Doctor Culpepper of Oxforde I pray you?

I mary is it Sir, it is the same man, and very well knowne to loue a hound a hauke and, &c.

I pray you can you tel me, I haue hearde that D. Bond is made master of Magdalins in Oxford, contrary to the statutes of the Vniuersitie: Whereas one Master Smith was first elected, according to the orders of the house before him, he being one that stands for reformation in our corrupt Church gouer­ment. Therefore as I haue hearde, the Bishoppes of Canterburie and Winchester, to preuent him, labored to her Maiestie, that shee woulde giue commaunde­ment, that the house should accept of Doctor Bonde in his steed, which by the Bishops greate labor, it was accomplished.

It is very true Sir, I can assure you of that, and he may wel be called the Bonde of iniquitie for a­ny goodnes is in him, he looks I can tel you to be a Lorde Bishop of the Diuell shortely, besides he is a good daunser: I haue heard howe he ere nowe, hath come to a house in Oxforde, (it shall be namelesse,) where certaine weomen of the towne, were ready to goe daunce, (it may be a match made of him before hande) comes me in the same house very plesauntly to them: saying, you are wel mette, and makes him re­dy for them: First put of his Cappe, saying lye thou there Cap, then his tipper, lye thou there tippet, then his gowne, lye thou there gowne: And last of all his booke (saith he) lye thou there Diuinity & all: Then about the house he goes with the weomen: nowe tell me I pray you, if he doe not drawe in the bonde of ini­quitie or noe?

Surely I see that noe good men are left almost in any place, where they may be a helpe to in­crease or comfort those that feare God. For the Bi­shops haue laide so many plotts, that they haue pre­uented all meanes whatsoeuer. Is not this a Diuelish pollicie of the Bishop of Canterbury, to place such [Page]heads in the vniuersitie: That none shal proceed, or be preferred but such as wil subscribe. Well though the admonition which the Archbishoppe of Yorke gaue him in a letter before his death, doe not worke that effect in him, which the Bishop wisht: Yet our hope is, that the Lorde will soone bring him to the same end, at the which, he may with the same Bishop con­fesse his sinne, in vsurping that vnlaweful calling he is nowe in: that is a Pope or Pastor of pastors, with al other his injurious and tirannical dealing with Gods ministers & other his children. For of all the Bishops that ever were in that place, I meane in the See of Canterbury, did neuer so much hurt vnto the church of God, as he hath done since his comming. No Bi­shoppe that ever had suche an aspiring and ambitious a minde as he, no not Cardinal Wolsey: none so proud as he, no not Steuen Gardiner of Winchester: none so tirannical as he, noe not Bonner.

Howe say you Master Vicker, were it not a good thing if al Bishops, and such Idole shepherds as you are were a dying, then you woulde be in better mindes then all the dayes of your life before?

You say your pleasure, but I care not what you say, thats the best of it.

Master Vicker the gentlemen are disposed to mooue your patience, therefore you must beare with them.

Master Parson thinks I am in good earnest, but he is deceyued, for I assure you I doe nothing but to see what this puritane will saye: and the puritane thinks I am one of his fraternitie.

But are you not so indeed?

Noe truly, I came from Orleans, where I heard Masse euery day: see see howe harde the, Vicker and he are in talke, let them alone we wil goe on.

I can hardly beleeue that you heard Masse at Orleans?

if I had not bin present at the Masse, I should haue bene taken for a Hugonot, and so I shoulde hard­ly escaped with my life.

I am the gladder of your company.

And I of yours, for I perceue you are a Ca­tholike.

Yea indeed, and I will not deny it: looke, I thinke the puritane and the Vicker will goe by the eares?

He shall doe the Vicker no wrong for al my speeches to him: and he will be ruled by me, wee will haue him before my Lords grace, for we wil giue him the slip, when we come in the Citie, and one of vs wil fetch a pursiuant and the other twoe shal dog him.

Content sir, if you please, let it be so?

Howe now my masters can you not agree?

I will deale well enoughe with him, if he durst stande to his words.

I will justifie any thing that I haue spo­ken, if not let me loose my life, but to conclude, it is late, and because we must departe, I will tel you one thing, and I woulde wish you to make vse of it and heare what the Prophet Esay saith cap. 59. 10 verse. Their watchmen are all blinde, they haue noe knowledg, they are all dumbe doggs they cannot barke, they lie and fleepe, and delight in sleeping. And these greedy dogges can neuer haue enough, all these shepheardes cannot vn­derstand, and Zach arie 11.17. O Jdole shepherde that leaueth the flock, the sword shall be vppon his arme, and vppon his right eye: his arme shall be cleane dryed vp, & his right eye shall be vtterly darkened. And so fare yee well.