¶ An answer at large, to a most heretical, traitorous, and Papistical Bill, in English verse, which was cast abroad in the streets of Northampton, and brought before the judges at the last Assizes there. 1570.  
Imprinted at London by john Awdelye.   

¶ An answer at large to a most heretical, traitorous, and papistical Bill, written in English verse.  

¶ The papistical verse.  

1  
How now my Masters married Priests, how like you of these news?  
You must forsake your wicked synes, your wives must to the stews.    

The Christian answer.  
Such thoughts, such words, such men, such deeds such faith, such fruits appear:  
Such mind, such mood, such hearts, such feats as Papists show you hear.  
The filthy image of their minds, their poisoned tongues bewray:  
As Gospel getteth good success, and Popery doth decay.  
Still spewing out the spirit of spite, whose love Gods laws defies:  
Which hate the thing that God doth love, and what God doth despise,  
That they maintain against his word, by Canons of the Pope:  
For whose behoof some have of late, been sensed in a rope.  
Because God's word hath cast a down, their Priests of Romish Ball:  
With whom the vice of whoredom is esteemed no vice at all.  
But Marriage (which God hath made for man to live well in:  
Which also he hath sanctified) they do condemn as sin.  
They spit out spiteful rage at this, as all men now may see:  
For that that Christ doth make his Church, from popish bondage free.  
His Ministers and Preachers true, have liberty no less:  
Then other men to take them wives, as Paul doth well express.  
But they of Ministers make scorn, resembling Aaron's breed:  
Though Christ became the final Priest by shedding of his blood.  
And brought that office to an end, appointing others just:  
To serve him in his ministry, such as his Church might trust.  
Not Balams brood of judas sect, not Romish shavelings sure:  
Which unto vile Sodomitry, do all men so allure.  
Whose Gothish church is common Stews, of Fornication vile:  
In which who seeks God's laws to keep, can tarry but a while.  
But Ministers of Mysteries, no Sacrifice to give:  
But such as seek by God's true hests most holy to live.  
Not like to Priests, but like to men, so mortified by grace:  
That Romish boarish lechery, in them can take no place.  
Which have each one his married wife, with bed most undefiled:  
As Paul doth teach, to every man, which whoredom hath exiled.  
And therefore Popish sycophant, that news dost spread a pace:  
That Christian men must virtue leave and honesty deface.  
All men do see your beastly lives, which you were best forsake:  
Lest that your portion be full sore, amidst the fiery lake.  
You that like double Traitors gasp for time of your return:  
And gape for breath, & hope for change that you the truth might spurn.  
How like you this, your knavery is in every cost espied:  
You romish Priests which have no wives, all Christians you deride.  
And these be news for you, take heed, leave of, repent, amend:  
God hath disclosed your villainy, and hastened hath your end.  
Now must you leave the Romish stews, and eke your God the Pope:  
Or else prepare yourselves to win, a gibbet with a rope  
Now take you wives, leave romish stews, and learn to live well.  
For why adulterous whoremongers, for ay shall hung in hell.   

The papistical verse.  

2  
What need our women now take care, what life they go or lead:  
sith every preaching knave must have a whore in house to tread?    

The Christian answer.  
Such heart still see, such study bend, such study, such devise:  
Such thought, such motion of the mind such question doth arise.  
All Papists shame at this demand, which have the spark of grace:  
To hear such heinous words blown out, from such a shameless face.  
When ever was there less regard of chaste life, than was then:  
When Dispensations made the Priests live more like beasts, than men?  
When every Priest had not his wife▪ but many Priests ten whores:  
When priestly lechery did defile their honest neighbour's doors.  
When neither maid nor married wife in honest life could stand:  
If shorn shaveling might devise, to have them under hand.  
When one Priest had two dozen of whores, to use them at his will:  
And scotfree scaped in Boner's days, and kept his living still.  
Then where was care? o where was grace? surely they were exiled:  
And that made many a virgin then, by Priests to be defiled.  
Remember well this old proverb, of Shavelings great abuses:  
That Priests & Doves where ever they come make very filthy houses.  
But beastly man what words be these? what monstrous heart or mind:  
To cast out such inhuman speech, so far beyond all kind.  
Are Preachers now with you but knaves? fie Papists, blush at this:  
The Preacher is the Trump of God, this sure is spoke amiss.  
A lying knave, a brawling knave, a romish knave more fit:  
But sure this Epithet thou add'st without reason or wit.  
For Epithets we add to show the nature, force, and kind:  
Of men, of things, and words as we in Rhetoric rules do find.  
But contraries for Epithets, wise men do never place:  
Epithetons of like must be, to show of words the grace.  
Preaching a word of Majesty, and Knave, do disagree:  
Although a Knave hath joined them thus, from wit and learning free.  
A slanderous knave, a foolish knave, a foul malicious knave:  
These Epithets may sound more fit, for him that thus doth rave.  
Which doth envy Gods preached word a blind erroneous elf:  
Which hath with that vile hoore of Rome, no doubt bewitch himself.  
Which flattering whore that Serpentine, full often hath been trod:  
Whose fruits & brood throughout the world, are now dispersed abroad.  
Mark these news then, ye popish brood, fear God, repent I say:  
Dread Christ, and leave your trade in time▪ lest halter be your pay.   

The papistical verse.  

3  
Here is not now a strumpet whore, in all the land to have:  
They are so suddenly snatched up, with some Geneva Knave.    

The Christian answer.  
The lying tongue doth slay the soul, saith Solomon the wise:  
Shall Papists then escape trow you, which all delight in lies?  
There is not now a strumpet whore, (saith he) in all the land:  
Which f●lse reproach from whence it comes, all men may understand.  
Of proposition false, proceeds conclusion must vile:  
Which Papists slanders would maintain, but Papist stay a while.  
To many whores are yet to find, if God's will were not so:  
Although when Popery reigned, there were ten times as many more.  
It is no shame that whores decrease, but shame it is to see:  
All Papists have such whorish hearts, as now appears in thee.  
When Pope bore rule, whores were mayntaynd then whores did much augment:  
But now I trust that Christ bears rule, all whores will soon be spent.  
Though Papists more delight in whores, like knaves mere bestial:  
Then in the married Matrons life, which virtue passeth all.  
And though the Pope, and Romish filths, in Rome have open Stews:  
If in Geneva Pope should devil, he should hear other news.  
His goatish heart would right soon ache, there whoredom for to use:  
Their heads there from their shoulders leap which so themselves abuse.  
But Pope receives the golden rent, of whoredoms filthy sin:  
To deck his crown, for whores do bring him much treasure in.  
Genevian men that there have seen, true discipline take place:  
Hold Rome sink of Sodomitry, and Papists past all grace.  
They seek no whore, though romans do, it is their common trade,  
As may appear by such a Knave, as this complaint hath made.  
For sure a merry day it was, when whores in every street:  
The Papists might obtain to have, an act adjudged meet.  
But since Geneva gave us light, whores Priests & whores are fled  
And so will Papists soon I hope, when gallows hath them sped.   

The papistical verse.  

4  
Master Wyborne, alias tiburne tike, here dwelleth in this town:  
Which sought by all the means he could, the Easter to pluck down.   

5  
But I of him dare well pronounce, and time the truth shall try:  
That he shall trust unto his heels, or else in Smithfield fry.   

6  
Not he, but thousands of his sect, must to Geneva seek:  
The wrestling of the Gospel wrong, prevails them not a lecke.    

The Christian answer.  
These be the fruits of Papists blind, lo here the hearts of those:  
Whose traitorous slandering tongues do show they are professed Gods foes.  
Of Satan's seed, which loveth lies and slanders to blaze out:  
Against the truth, and Church of God, I put you out of doubt.  
Whose eyes do were, and teeth do gnash at sincere Preachers true:  
Because they see what good success, doth after them ensue.  
This Master Wyborne well is known, thou Papist to thy shame:  
(And all the rabble of thy rout,) that seekest him to defame,  
To ●e a man of learning grave, of judgement sound and right:  
A married Minister he is, of living most upright.  
A worthy Pastor of God's flock, a zealous teacher known:  
Which hath in deed by studious pain much popery overthrown.  
A modest man and courteous, of gentle spirits, and milds:  
Who seeks the hurt I dare well vouch of neither man nor child.  
No slanderer is he no doubt, but one that meaneth good:  
Yea if it were to such as he might know to seek his blood.  
A reverend man for knowledge sake, thou dost thy wit abuse:  
With such a name him to reproach, and so him to misuse.  
But what is slander thine, thou fool, thou traitorous tiburne tike?  
The gallows groans for thee no doubt, the rope will break thy neck.  
For where thou sayest he sought to pull the Easter down to ground:  
His doctrine tended your abuse of Easter to confounded.  
Which feast no doubt you much poluts, but he sought to erect,  
The simple sincere truth of Christ, which you do all reject.  
Like Romish Rebels, hoping still, the darkening of this day:  
But first I trust all popish knaves shall be the gallows pray.  
And where thou sayest thou darest pronounce, that time the truth shall try:  
That Wyborne must trust to his heels, or else in Smithfielde fry.  
This happy time hath tried in deed, out truth to your decay:  
And to the ruin of your rout, which hope but for a day.  
Your sack of lies is ransacked now, your ware appeareth dross:  
You lean upon a broken staff, God's truth brings you to loss.  
And time hath lent by God's good grace, such comfort for the nonce:  
That all Gods Preachers shall not need, abroad to lay their bones.  
Their safeguard sure in England is, they need not fear the fire:  
Although the Papists do begin to hung a little higher.  
God hath revealed your counsels, fools, God hath laid open now  
Your traitorous hearts, which unto God and Queen will never bow.  
darest thou pronounce thou traitor hold that Wyborne hence must flee?  
Is neither godly fear at all, nor Subjects love in thee?  
What should him move to step one foot? your hope is surely spoiled:  
God hath himself your poisonous pride in open battle foiled▪  
Shall Smithfield be your shambles yet God's Saints to kill and slay?  
Stay Papist, pack up Holborn hill, for you the fit way.  
Shall Wyborne trust unto his heels? Not, Wyborne trust in God:  
And Carts shall truss up these in time to Tyburn load by load.  
Shall thousands pack for fear of you, thou Traitor, darest thou say:  
When thou & thine haste well obtained old Saturn's second day?  
There is no cause, God have the praise but thousands of his sect:  
Of other lands that worship Christ may here themselves protect.  
And boldness more increaseth still, through God's almighty grace:  
When traitorous Papists dare not once to show their double face.  
For every one that thou dost meet, thou think'st will thee betray:  
Thy wits be breech, thy brains all dulled: thy heart hath never stay.  
If worst should fall, that God for sin, and for our negligence:  
Should plague us so to give you power, and us to drive from hence:  
God hath that happy City made, Geneva of great fame,  
For his poor people's safe defence, to shroud them in the same.  
But when your Pope shall down be cast and hence now you must flee:  
Like vagabonds or Foxes whelps you know not where to be.  
Your stay is gone, a Papist, fie, all men do you detest:  
He stays not here, saith every man, so you shall have no rest.  
And this is true, the time is come, I'll tell you truer news:  
All Papists which have traitorous hearts and do their Prince refuse,  
Must now relent, and turn forthwith, and true become God knows:  
Or else prepare to give their flesh, at once to feed the Crows.  
Or else if that their hearts will not, be true to Princely state:  
Get hence to Alba, there lie safe as Story did of late.  
And if you get in his sure court, God cannot find you there:  
Dalba shall keep Story in store, his Queen he needs not fear.  
Your wresting long of God's true wor● can nothing you prevail:  
Have done I say, dispatch therefore, pluck down your Peacocks tail.  
Down on your knees you Asses stout, pray God and Queen for grace:  
You can no longer now prevail, your practice takes no place.  
It boots you not to Pius now for mercy for to seek:  
For you be traitors proud at home, his Bull is not worth a leek.  
Therefore as thousands traitors are, by thousands all agreed:  
To turn to God, or else make haste, to scale the gallow tree.   

The papistical verse.  

7  
The Devil when he would Christ tempt in Scripture seemed wise:  
And for him they do Scripture take, to maintain all their lies.   

8  
Therefore be packing prattling knaves▪ your railing is to plain:  
Commy● your Baltacoes to the bag, and high you hence again.    

The Christian answer.  
Goliath brought a sword to field, which cut his throat in fine:  
And wherewith all mayst thou be beat, but with this rod of thine?  
The Devil when he tempted Christ, in Scripture seemed wise:  
And therefore thou and Papists all, do Scripture clean despise.  
An argument right strong no doubt, Christ was adjudged to die:  
No judgement therefore must be used, fie, fie, blind Papists, fie.  
Because the Devil falsified the Scripture at his will:  
The Papists w●●l no Scripture have, it doth their market spill.  
But now in earnest we or you, the ●●uth is tried or this:  
Who have the Scriptures most abused and taken them amiss.  
You like to Satan prove I may, c●●se out what serves your turn:  
And all the rest that you confounds, you ●o condemn and burn.  
We for tr●t●es sake true scripture use you wrist with staring eyes:  
All our to ●u●●●e for JESUS CHRIST, but yours for popish lies.  
Therefore to you I say pack hence, your glozing will not stand:  
Go practise now your popery out of our Christian land.  
Your whispering, your privy prates, like Knaves where as you lie:  
Prevails no more in Christian ears, it is not worth a Fly.  
Your feigned fables false are found, your tales of little john:  
Your pageants played of Robin Hood, are known to every one.  
And where thou bidst them to commit, their Bastards to the bag:  
All men do see how on your part, the world now doth wag▪  
God be the judge twixt time and time, when Bastards high did sit:  
Your Popes own Bastards, for whom sure the gallows was more fit.  
Bastards of Bishops, ye Cardinals brood, Priests Bastards every where:  
The Votaries compiled by Bale, can tell you then and there.  
Commit remembrance to your hearts, you Papists yet in time:  
And high you from your Romish ways, yet do forsake your crime.  
Bid Basans' Bulls, and Bastards theirs high hence and get the bag:  
Their pomp decays, & on their parts the world will not wag.  
Bid Pope come down that sits so high above all Prince's thrones:  
And set his hands to hold the plough, these news are for the nonce.  
And if his traitorous idle bones, will not so fadge to work:  
Let him go get into the field, and sue to serve the Turk.  
If that him not will satisfy, now that he is down cast:  
Let him go learn to clout old shoes, and that in all the haste.  
For his revenues will be spent, to begging he must trudge:  
Or else go learn to be hanged, full like the devils drudge.   

The papistical verse.  

9  
And where I told you of your wives, take you for them no care:  
Shifted for yourselves, and trudge with speed jest halter be your share.    

The Christian answer.  
Like matter, like conclusion. a monishing he gives:  
Who warning less leads all his life, as he at random lives.  
I might no less give warning to, to you of Baalams' sort,  
Which do belie Gods little flock to make yourselves a sport.  
That you would have some more regard, both for you and your wives:  
Which live now most laciviously, and lead most wicked lives.  
And some which most unwisely leave, their Children, wives and all:  
And run like traitors from the land, to serve the Romish Ball.  
But of your wives I do not speak, your lives I touch in deed:  
Whom I do wish in JESUS CHRIST repentant faith with speed.  
Or else to shifted and leave this soil, it is no place for such:  
As do at Christ's Gospel kick, and at God's truth so grudge.  
Your time is come, I warn you now, most friendly to beware:  
Lest that you find it come to pass, when halter is your share.  
And when we see your days prevail, as here tofore it was:  
Which day shall be even shortly now, Post calendas graecas.  
That Papists rule, and popery reigns and truth is laid in dust:  
Then we'll begin still come the time, your warning for to trust.  
And leave our wives at your curtsy, and shifted ourselves to save:  
But till that day, I leave thee still, a very traitorous knave.  
¶ And God preserve our noble Queen Elizabeth each hour:  
That she by drawn sharp sword may quite cut down the Papists power.  
And GOD enlarge her noble reign like heavens days to be:  
That all the Papists hope by her, clean spoiled we may see.  
That Gods true word she may defend▪ and all her foes deface:  
Which enemies be to Christ's truth. and traitors to her Grace.  
AMEN.   

The Papist.  
  
FINIS.  
qd Non est inventus.   

The answer.  
Non est inventus made this slander so bold,  
But Est inventus took in hand it to unfold.  
Veritas non quaerit angulos, Show thy face:  
Non audeo dixit, For my deeds deserve no grace.  
Tunc desine, Thou Fool, leave of thy works, dispatch  
Aut prode mendax That strait the gallows may thee catch.  
FINIS.  
Tho. Knell. Iu.    

upon two kind of people, ●anke Popish priests, repining against the kings wholesome doctrine, or upon the common runnegates, seedmen of sedition, of the which we have plenty here, against whom. If the martial law were executed, and were currante coin in every shire, as I here say, there is a Proclamation for the same (which I have not yet seen, but by your next letters trust to receive) I think there would be as few runners abroad, as now there be many. You must give me leave to talk a little more after my wonted manner, which is to sai my mind frankly unto you without offence. Now me thinketh the end is such of your matters there, as every state of people willbe content therewith, and so the most trouble will rest with these traitors. For with you, the kings people which deserved death, be by mercy preserved, & the things evil used (as in deed disceases there be in the common wealth) shallbe now well ordered by Parliament. And if the common people shallbe eased of their griefs, the gentlemen shall also be relieved of them, for see how much the farmer crieth out of his rent, so may the gentleman well cry out of the market, the one as much grieved as the other, & one remedy I trust shall serve both. For me thinketh it is no more difference for me, to have twenty pound, spending twenty pound, then to have xx. mark, spending twenty mark, so that my estate be kept like with both, you will think I write now at my will, because if ye remember the last y●re in the park at Wynsour when the Court was there, this question made great argument betwixt you and me, whether for the amendment of things in the common wealth the farmer should first abate his price, and then the Landed man, his rent, or in contrary order, at which time, I remember you stood upon one point, which I could not deny, that the gentleman by dear buying, was driven to let dear, and I upon an other point (not all untrue) that the dear hiring made dear ●ellynge, But where the fault first began, neither of us would grant to the other, nevertheless, so weighty a matter it is, as no ways to be discussed but by Parliament. Where when the argument is at an end, it may be established by a law, whereof there was never more likelihood, because the amendment thereof, will help so many as well Lords and Gentlemen, as all other Commoners, no man having cause to repine against it, but such as gather, not to spend and improve their livings not for their charges, as many Gentlemen have done, but for their coffers. So that to conclude, improvement alone maketh no man rich, but improvement and sparing. But what meddle I with this matter and yet what dare I net to you my friend, by saint G●orge I say to you merely out of board, no one thing maketh me more angry with these rebels then one article, which toucheth me on the quick, and I believe, there be few in the realm, but it will make them smart, to forego his Abbey & chantry lands wherein I for my part am so heated, that if I should fight with those traitors, I would for every two strokes to be stricken for treason strike on to keep my land, the which I bought to surely, to deliver it at a papists appointment. Thus I have exceeded in words, & yet you shall count it little, because the matter is large, & thereby you must measure me, & not by my lines, One thing I will ye shall mark and then I end, the matter of cardinal Pole (as in this case) of great importance, like as I am sure my Lord Protector is advertised, for amongs these rebels, the chief Captain of all, saving one, was the Marquis of Excetters man, and setteth forth the matter of the Cardinal so much, as in deed, he maketh no other matter. His name is Berry, one of them which subscribed the Articles. If ye can conveniently send me▪ a Dagg when the kings majesties ordinance cometh down. You shall receive money for the same of my Brother Henry. You shall take pain to do my humble commendations to mine old Master (good Sir Anthonye Dennye knight) and especially to my Coosyn Master john Peres of the Guard, who I would were here with one or two hundredth of the guard, to knec●e these knaves with their Palo●rr●s. Thus f●re ye most her●elye well, and pr●●● you, as I do, that w● may meet merely.   

The Articles of us the Commoners of Devonshire and Cornwall in divers Camps by East and West of Excettor.  
first we will have all the general counsel & holy decrees of our for fathers observed, kept and performed, and who so ever shall again say them, we hold them as Heretics.  
¶ Iten we will have the Law●s of our sovereign Lord King Henry the viii concerning the six articles, to be in use again, as in his time they were.  
¶ Item we will have the ma●●e in Latin, as was before, & celebrated by the priest wythoure my man or woman communicating with him.  
¶ Item we will have the Sacrament hang over the hyeghe altar, and there to be worshipped as it was wont to be, and they which will not thereto consent, we will have them die like heretics against the holy catholic faith.  
¶ Item we will have the Sacrament of the altar but at Easter delivered to the lay people, and then but in one kind.  
¶ Item we will that our curates shall minister the Sacrament of Baptism at all times aswell in the week day as on the holy day.  
¶ Iten we will have holy bread and holy water made every sunday, Palms and ashes at the times accustomed, Images to be set up again in every church, and all other ancient old Ceremonies used heretofore, by our mother the holy Church.  
¶ Item we will not receive the new service because it is but like a Christmas gam, but we will have our old service of Matins, mass, Even song and procession in Latin as it was before. And so we the cornish men (whereof certain of us understand no English) utterly refuse this new English.  
¶ Item we will have every preacher in his sermon, & every priest at his mass, pray specially by name for the souls in purgatory, as our forefathers did.  
¶ Item we will have the Bible and all books of scripture in English to be called in again, for we be informed that otherwise the clergy, shall not of long time confounded the heretics.  
¶ Item we will have Doctor Moreman and Doctor Crispin which hold our opinions to be safely sent unto us and to them we require the kings majesty, to give some certain livings, to preach amongs us our catholic faith.  
¶ Item we think it very meet because the lord Cardinal Pole is of the kings blood, should not only have his pardon, but also sent for to Rome, & promoted to be of the kings counsel.  
¶ Item we will that no gentleman shall have any more servants than one to wait upon him except he may dispend one hundredth mark land and for every hundredth mark we think it reasonable he should have a man.  
¶ Item we will that the half part of the Abbey lands and chantry lands, in every man's possessions, how so ever he came by them, be given again to two places, where two of the chief Abbeys was with in every county, where such half part shallbe taken out, and there to be established a place for devout persons, which shall pray for the King and the common wealth, and to the same we will have all the alms of the Church box given for these seven years.  
¶ Iten for the particular griefs of our Country. We will have them so ordered, as Humfreye Arundel, & Henry Bray the Kings Mayor of Bodman, shall inform the Kings Majesty, if they may have safeconduct under the Kings great Seal, to pass and repass, with an Heroalde at Arms.  
¶ By us 



Chief capitains.  
Humphrey Arundel.  
Berry  
Thomas Underhyll.  
john Sloeman.  
William Segar.    


The four Governors of the Camps.  
john Tompson priest.  
Henry Bray Mayor of Bodman  
Henry Lee Mayor of Torriton  
Roger Barret Priest.