THE INTERPRETER Wherein three principal terms of State much mistaken by the vulgar are clearly unfolded.  Qui vult decipi, decipiatur. 
Anno 1622.   

To such as understand not the English tongue perfectly.  
THat the unwise may learn to understand,  
how certain words are used in our land,  
And that they may write sense whilst they remain  
in foreign parts, or shall return again  
(for idioms, fashions, Manners, after here,  
as friendship and religion every where)  
I have some elegancies for our tongue  
observed, as they are used now, among  
our ablest linguists, who mint for the Court  
words, fit to be proclaimed; and do resort  
where Lords and Lady's couple and converse  
and trade lip learning both in prose, and verse.  
and by these few the docible may see,  
how rich our language is, religious we.  
Time was a Puritan was counted such  
as held some ceremonies were too much  
retained and urged: and would no Bishops grant  
others to rule, who government did want.  
Time was a PROTESTANT was only taken  
for such as had the Church of Rome forsaken  
for her known falsehoods in the highest point  
But would not for each toy, true peace disjoint.  
Time was, a PAPIST was a man who thought  
Rome could not err, but all her canons ought  
to be Canonical, and blindly led  
he from the truth, for fear of error fled.  
But now these words, with diverse others more  
have other senses than they had before.  
which plainly I do labour to relate,  
As they are now accepted in our state.   

A Puritan: (So nicknamed: but indeed the sound Protestant.)  
A Puritan is such an other thing  
As says with all his heart, God save the King  
And all his issue: and to make this good,  
will freely spend his money and his blood.  
And in his factious and fond mood, dare say  
'tis madness for the Palsgrave thus to stay  
And wait the loving leisure of kind Spain  
who gets at first, only to give again  
in courtesy; that faithless Heretics  
may taste the faith and love of Catholics  
And Hope too. for a Puritan is he  
That doth not hope these Holidays to see  
And would a wasted Country on condition  
Scorn to receive, although the High Commission  
of England, Spain, and Rome would have it so:  
false favours h●e'd not take from a true foe.  
A Puritan is he that rather had  
Spend all to help the States, he is so mad  
Then spend one hundred thousand pound a year  
to guard the Spanish coasts from Pirates fear,  
The whilst the Catholic King might force combine  
Both Holland, Beam, & Pal●z to undermine,  
And by his crosse-curse-christian counterworke  
To make Rome both for Antichrist and Turk  
right Catholic. So Th'empire firrst divided  
By holy mother's pious plots, (who sided  
the East, and West, that she might get between,  
and si● aloft and govern like a Queen)  
The Turk did great Constantinople gain  
and may win Rome too, by the help of Spain.  
A Puritan is he that would not live  
upon the sins of other men: nor give  
money for office in the Church or State,  
Though 'twere a Bishopric, he so doth hate  
all Ceremonies of the Court and Church,  
which do the coffer and the conscience lurch  
of both the treasures. So that (covetous) he  
would not have such as want both, better be.  
A Puritan is he that thinks, and says  
he must account give of his works and ways,  
And that whatsoever calling he assumes  
it is for others good. So he presumes  
rashly to censure such as wisely can  
by taking timely bribes of every man  
in rich themselves, knowing to that sole end,  
God and the King did them their honours send.  
And that Simplicity hath only mounted  
by virtue; but such fools they'll not be counted.  
A Puritan is he that twice a day  
doth at the least to God devoutly pray:  
And twice a Sabbath goes to Church to hear,  
to pray, confess his sins, and praise God there  
in open sight of all men; not content,  
God knows his heart, except his knee be bend  
That men and Angels likewise may discern,  
he came to practise there, as well as learn,  
And honour God with every outward part,  
with knee, hand, tongue, aswell as with the heart.  
A Puritan is he which grieves to think  
Religion should in France, shipwreck and sink,  
whilst we give aim: And that those men should sway  
the kingdom there, who made the King away  
The whilst all such as helped to crown the father  
should by the Son be now proscribed the rather.  
A Puritan in unadvised zeal  
Could wish that Huntsmen ruled the Common weal,  
And that the King's hounds were the only spies  
for they would tell truth, as the other lies,  
He wisheth beasts were men, as men resemble  
beasts: for surely they would not dissemble,  
But would tell where the fault lies, and hunt home  
the subtle fox either to Spain or Rome.  
A Puritan is he that speaks his mind  
in Parliament: not looking once behind  
to others danger, nor yet sidewaies leaning  
to promised honour, his direct true meaning.  
But for the laws and truth doth firmly stand  
By which he knows Kings only do command,  
And Tyrants otherwise. He crosseth not  
this man because a Courtier, or a Scot,  
Or that because a favourite, or so:  
But if the State's friend, none can be his foe.  
But if the State's foe, be he what he will  
Illustrious, wisegrear, learned, he counts him ill.  
he neither sides with that man nor with this  
but gives his voice just as the reason is  
And yet if Policy would work a fraction  
to cross religion by a forr●igne faction  
pretending public good, he'll join with those  
who dare speak truth, not only under the Rose  
But though the white Rose and the Red do hear  
and though the pricking Thistle too be there.  
yea though the stars, the moon & son look on  
and cast through clouds oblique aspects upon  
his clear and free intentions, he's as bold  
and confident as the bright Marigould  
That flatterer, that favourite of the sun  
who doth the self same course observe & run  
not caring though all flowers else wax sear,  
so he the golden livery may wear.  
But our free generous and noble spirit  
Doth from his ancient English stock inherit  
such native worth and liberty of mind,  
as will omit no slavery of his kind,  
yet he is ready to obey wheresoever  
he may not prejudice the truth by fear,  
nor faintly seem to shrink, withdraw, give way  
whilst other mushrooms do the state betray.  
Hee'●e not a Traitor be unto the King  
not to the Laws (for that's an other thing  
men dream not off: who think they no way can  
be Traitors unto many for one man)  
But his chief error is to think that none  
●●n be a Traitor till law calls him one.  
And that the Law is what the state decrees  
in Parliament: by which whilst that he sees  
his Actions and intentions justified  
He counts himself a Martyr glorified  
If in this cause he suffers; and contemns  
All dangers in his way. Nay he condemns  
All such as Traitors be to Church and state,  
who for the love of one all others hate,  
And for particular ends, and private aims  
forsake their Country & their conscience maims.  
His Character abridged if you would have.  
he's one that would a subject, be, no slave.   

A Protestant: (so will the Formalist be called.)  
A Protestant is such an other thing  
As makes within his heart God of the King  
And as if he did with his crown inherit  
A never-erring, and infallible spirit,  
Labours to blow him up by praise of wit  
And by false flatteries cousin him of it.  
A Protestant is one that shakes the head  
And pities much the Palsgrave was misled  
to meddle with Bohemia, and incense  
The Spanish wrath, 'gainst which there is no fence  
That his Revenues in the Paltz again  
were well restor'de he wishes, so that Spain  
would take the honours of that house, and give  
Mentz his demands, letting the Paltzgrave live▪  
for such a favour as his lands and life,  
not one except the father of ●is wife,  
That King of peace and love dares boldly crave.  
But what is it he may d●spaire to have  
By means of th'English and the Scottish Saint  
who at their pupils suit doth still acquaint  
The Spanish Patron, how the first of May  
Philip and Jacob make one holy day  
what therefore's given to one, the other must  
Be sharer in: for james is surnamed Just.  
And ●o● this year by holy churches count  
The Calendar reformed hath singled out  
These two most sacred saints to wait upon  
Our Saviour's feast of Resurrection,  
which by the English Heathen computation  
meets with May day amongst the catholic nation,  
And may be such a day as that for goodness,  
which some called 〈◊〉 May day from people's woodness.  
A day of feasting, and a day of pleasure,  
A day of marriage and withal of Treasure  
A day of Catholic unity and love,  
which may a kind of Resurrection move  
in our State union, almost now forgot  
being buried bo●h by th'English and the Scot  
Soain● strikes betwixt, and like a Lord commands,  
They join their Laws together as their Lands.  
And join they will, but in despite of Spain  
making his holy day of hope but vain.  
A Protestant is he that fa●ne would take  
occasion from the East or West to shake  
our League with the United Provinces  
to which end he hath many fair pretences.  
Our honour first for in the Greenland they  
And the East Indies beat our ships away.  
Our profit likewise, for in both those places  
we do great loss▪ sustain, beside disgraces:  
And in the narrow Seas where we are master's,  
They w●ll presume to be our herring tasters.  
But we should ha●● w●ite he●●ings wondrous plenty,  
If they would give us two or every twenty:  
O● stay our idle leisure, till that none  
remained, for them or us but all w●re gone.  
And if ●h●y will no● thus our humours serve,  
That we (saith he) should leave them they deserve.  
A herring co● we see will make him quarrel,  
w●at wou●d the man do think you for a barrel?  
Well could I wish these things w●re all amended  
But greater business now is to be tended.  
Our lives, religions, liberties and lands,  
upon this nice and tickle quarrel stands,  
And we must for a fitter tim● attend,  
else Spain will soon this controversy end.  
A Protestant is he that by degrees  
climbs every office, knows the proper fees,  
they give and take, at entrance of the place,  
and at what rate again they vent that grace,  
knows in how many years a man may gather  
enough to make himself a reverend father:  
Or from the lowest civil step arise  
To sit with honour in the starry skies:  
for he hath gone that progress, step by step,  
as snails creep up, where safely none can leap,  
for snales do leave behind their silver slime  
and gild the way for falling as they climb  
A Protestant is he that with the stream  
Still swims and wisely shuns every extreme  
loves not in point of faith to be precise  
but to believe as Kings do, counts it wise  
If Constantine the great will Christened be,  
this will the white Robe wear aswell as he,  
And in the hallowed fountain plunge a main  
his naked body, as if every stain  
were now washed off, and his inflamed zeal  
Thirsted these waters which souls sin doth heal.  
Again if julian will renounce his faith  
this man will say just, as his Sovereign saith,  
If he intent Religion to betray,  
and yet will walk a close and covert way  
Corrupting men by office, honour, bounty,  
you shall find this man will deserve a County,  
By double dealing and by broking so  
That none shall think him ere they find him to  
Apostated; for no way so doth work  
to make a man an Atheist, Jew, or Turk  
as do Corrupted manners which lets in  
a deluge of impiety and sin.  
These backed by favour and preferment may  
have power to make all error open way  
and every man will censure opposition  
when gilden flattery kills without suspicion  
This poisoned vial than was poured in,  
when first the Church got means to maintain sin,  
and now the means withdrawn or misemployed  
makes all Religion and a●l conscience void,  
for man that hunts for honour, wealth, or fame,  
will be as those be who dispose the same.  
So that no readier way there can be found  
to conquer us, then to corrupt the sound  
by Bribes; the worst assault that can befall  
to bodies politic confounding all.  
Gifts blind the wise. And though the Chequer be  
open and empty, as erst full and free,  
yet other bribes can work the same effect  
that Mammon would: the favour and respect  
of favourits, a nod or wink from Kings,  
employment, office, grace, are able things.  
Besides the honoured style of Viscount, Lord.  
Earl, marquis, Duke, can work at every word  
strange alterations more than Circe's Cup  
In such as can no otherways get up.  
Will he speak truth directly? make him then  
a Dean, or Bishop, they are no such men,  
The wolf hath seen them fi●st, their throat is furred  
you shall not hear from them a factious word.  
Stands he for Law, & custom of the Land?  
make him an officer, give him Command.  
Command where he may gain, this will bewitch  
Demosthenes, who labours to be rich.  
What is he bold and forward? send him out  
on some embassage; or employ the stout  
At sea or land some desperate voyage, where  
they may be lost: then leave them helpless there,  
undo them thus. Before they had too much  
But being poor, they'll nothing dare to touch.  
This ostracism will sure abate their pride,  
And they shall give great thanks for it beside.  
If he be poor, oppress him, shut him out  
in forlorn banishment, where round about  
the faithless world, he may his living seek,  
Then no man after him will do the like  
If he be faint, check him, or do but c●●de,  
he'll hold his tongue▪ and his tail closely hide.  
Is he free-tongued? though serious and discreet,  
Proclaim him silent: whip him through the street:  
Thus whatsoever is done, no bird shall dare  
To warn the rest, till all be in the snare.  
Is he a Rich man? then the Fleet and fine  
will make him seem (although he be not) thine.  
Briefly, whatsoever he be, except alone  
directly honest, (of which few or none  
remain alive) A Statist ways can find  
By policy to work him to his mind.  
And thus the common wealth may conquered be,  
The Church deflowered, besl●u'd our liberty  
without all bloodshed, under the pretence  
of peace, religion, love, and innocence.  
A Protestant is an indifferent man,  
that with all faiths, or none, hold quarter can:  
So modetate and temperate his passion,  
as he to all times can his conscience fashion.  
He at the Chapel can a Bishop hear,  
And then in Holborn a Religious Frear:  
A Mass ne'er troubles him, more than a play,  
All's one, he comes all one from both away.  
A Protestant no other fault can spy  
In all Rome's bead-roll of iniquity.  
But that of late they do profess King killing  
which Catholic point to credit he's unwilling:  
only because he gains by Kings far more,  
than he can hope for by the Romish whore.  
He saith this only doth the Pope proclaim  
for Antichrist, because that Greekish name  
doth signify Against the Lords anointed,  
As if it only 'gainst this doctrine pointed.  
And therefore leaving this out of their Creed,  
He in the rest with them is soon agreed.  
And so the King's part may be safe from fear,  
Let God himself for his own part take care.  
A Protestant is he that guards the ear  
of sovereign justice, so that truth to hear  
he's not permitted; nor to know the danger  
he stands in, 'twixt the subject and the stranger:  
The plots which strangers have, grief of his own,  
which may too late be prevented, known.  
For though his foes be wily wolves and foxes,  
his subjects shackled asses, yoked ox's,  
yet time will show them not to be such daws,  
As will look on whilst others change the Laws,  
and Rob the State, Religion do deflower  
having their Prince imprisoned in their power.  
As Princes have been prisoners to their own  
And so may ours to if the truth were known.  
The liberty of will by strong affection  
may be restrained, which is the worst subjection.  
For then the understanding will not see  
But rusheth on whatsoe'er the danger be.  
A Protestant is he whose good intention  
Deserves an English and a Spanish pension  
both for one service, and obtains it too  
By winning Spain more than their arms could do  
with long delays, and losing us & ours  
what lost to get again we want both powers  
And perhaps will.  
Others by treaties and disputes may gain  
But we by blows, else old said saws be vain.  
A Protestant is he that hath no eye  
Beyond his private profit, but doth lie  
In wait to be the first that may propound  
what he foresees power plots. The solid ground  
He ne'er examines, be it right or wrong  
All's one, since it doth to his part belong.  
For to his part belongs to sooth and flatter  
The greatest Man though in the foulest matter  
And him he holds a Rebel that dare say  
No man against the Laws, we must obey.  
His Character abridg'de if you will have  
he's one that's no true subject, but a Slave.   

A Papist.  
A Romanist is such an other thing  
As would with all his heart murder the King,  
That saith the house of Austria is appointed  
To rule all Christians and for this anointed  
by Christ's own vicar. And they Rebels are  
who dare against this house make any war  
Invasive or defensive jesuits wit  
And Indian gold, do both attend on it,  
And all Rome's hierarchy do plot, pray, curse,  
And spend the strength of body, soul, and purse  
to this sole end, that every state beside  
may be the vassals to the Austrian pride,  
And so Rome may of both the Emperies  
keep still the Civil and Religious keys.  
A Romanist is he that sow's debate  
'twixt Prince and People, and 'twixt every state  
where he remains: that he by the division  
may work himself some profit in decision.  
Or bring in Rome and Spain to make all friends  
Who having footing once have half their ends.  
For as the Devil since first he got within  
man's heart, keeps still thereby original sin  
So those wheresoever once they interest gain  
keep all; or such a party let remain  
behind, assured to them as may procure  
A relapse, when men think themselves secure.  
Thus each disease, though cured, remains in part  
And thus the frail flesh oft betrays the heart.  
Now for the rest, no Romish false opinion  
Can make a Papist in the King's dominion.  
Nor absence from the Church, for at this season  
He is no Papist that commits not Treason  
Let him to Church resort, or be recusant  
All's one, he's counted a good Protestant.  
Nay 'tis a question if Guy Faulkes were one  
But 'tis resolved that Papist he was none.  
His Character abridged if you will have  
He is Spain's subject and a Romish Slave.