A DIALOGUE. WHEREIN IS PLAINLY LAID OPEN, the tyrannical dealing of L. bishops against God's children: with certain points of doctrine, wherein they approve themselves (according to D. Bridges his judgement) to be truly the Bishops of the Devil. MA●●CH. 2.7, 8, 9 The Priest's lips should preserve knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But ye are gone out of the way: ye have caused many to fall by the law, ye have broken the covenant of Levi. Therefore have I also made you to be despised, and vile before all the people, because ye keep not my ways, but have been partial in the law. A Dialogue wherein is plainly laid open the tyrannical dealing of Lord Bb. against God's children. The speakers are these, Puritan. Papist. Jack of both sides. Idol minister. Puritan. YOu are well overtaken sir, do you travel far this way I pray you? Jack Towards London sir. Puritan I shall willingly bear you company if it please you? Jack With all my hearr, I shall be very glad of yours. Puritan From whence came you this way? Jack I come out of France. Puritan Out of what part of France came you I pray you? I came from Rochel myself, which is a part of France. Jack It is so, but I came not near that place. Puritan Out of what part of France came you then? Jack I came from Orleans. Puritan I pray you what news from thence, is there any likelihood of peace there? Jack Yes surely, there is some hope of peace, for where the King's powers come, they do commonly yield presently. Puritan It is a good hearing. Jack What is he that comes after us so fast? Puritan He seems to be some preacher or dumb minister, it may be he goes our way, if he do I hope we shall have his company whereby we may pass away way the time in some good conference, & also hear what news there is at home here in England. Jack I am content Sir, for I shall be glad to hear some good news, me thinks I have been very long absent from hence. Puritan Very well, we will go the softlier that he may overtake us: but by the way, I pray you, if you came from Orleans, there they have the mass, for they are of the league: & then I suppose you have been partaker of their Idolatry? Jack Noah I assure you, I detest all Idolatry, even from my heart. Puritan If you do so, I am very glad of it, but I pray you let me hear if you can give me some proof out of the word of God, for the confirmation of this your protestation against Idolatry? Jack I am well content to give you a taste thereof, whereby it shall appear that I am far from it: For so dearly as I render the salvation of mine own soul, so careful am I to shun and fly from all Idolatry. For it is written Deut. 6.13. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve: And the Apostle Paul to the Corinth. 1. Epist. cap. 10. verse 14. commandeth us to Fly from Idolatry, for Idolatry is sin, and the wages of sin is death, etc. Puritan It is well applied, & somewhat to the purpose, I am very glad if it be done in singleness of heart: For me thinks you could not possibly be in that place but you must be forced to be present at their Idolatrous Mass. Jack I was never present at it in my life, I thank God: but the Papists stick not to say that our service book in english is (a great part of it) but a mere translation out of the mass book. Puritan Indeed it is true, that some part of our book of common prayer (as they say) is a mere translation out of the mass book, but yet there is no such blasphemy and Idolatry tolerated in it, as is dyalie in the mass: although it greatly derogate from the word, and is full of great and grievous corruptions: But I pray you how long were you in Orleans Sir? Jack I was there about a fortnight. Puritan Noah longer? Jack Noah Sir. Puritan Here comes the minister now, we will hear what news he can tell us, he seems to be but an Idol shepherd: we shall have some good conference with him I hope, to pass away the time? Minist. You are well overraken gentlemen, which way travel you, I pray you? Puritan Towards London, and if it please God. Minist. I shall be glad of your company and if it please you? Puritan We also shall be glad of yours Sir. Jack I pray you M. Vicker or parson, (for so you seem to be) what good news is there here at home, in England, for we have been both of us in France, & we would gladly here some good news? Minist. indeed I am a poor Vicker: truly we have no great good news here Sir: for our Church is so sore pestered with sects & schisms, that the reverend fathers, (and especially my Lord's grace of Cant.) are so sore troubled with them, that they have no leisure to recreate themselves for those fellows, they are so bold and mallepert, that they prefer petitions to her majesty, the Lords of the counsel, yea & in print to the high court of parliament. Puritan Why sir, what be they that do this, what do you call them, are they papists? Minist. No they are worse than papists, for they are fantastical puritans and Brownists, and I can not tell what. Puritan What be the points they hold, that are so schismatical, and erroneous? Minist. Forsooth they would have no Lord Bb. but every minister to be of equal authority one with an other, and so make a confusion in the whole state, for they have set down a new platform of (Discipline sorsoth, as they call it) they cannot tell what themselves. Puritan I will tell you my opinion, of Lord Bb. it is but an humane constitution, and not warrantable by the word, but utterly forbidden: Minist. O I perceive you are one of these fantastical puritanes or Brownists: I pray you out of what place of France came you? Puritan I came from Rochel. Minist. I thought from Rochel, Geneva or Scotland, you seem to be a bird of one of those nests. Puritan Sir whatsoever I am, I do not doubt but to be able to prove by the word what I have said, & namely, the unlawfulness of Lord Bb. Minist. Sir that point hath been handled by your betters, and manifestly confuted by my Lord's grace, in his writings against Cartwright. Puritan In deed he that will be blind, cannot see it, but he that looks in both their works, with a single eye cannot but confess M. Cartwright to have confuted him by unanswerable evidences: or else why would he not have answered M. Cartwrights works, now a dozen years extant and more. Minist. As you of the fantastical crew think, but he hath done it, and that so sufficiently already, that there needs no more answers, and again his grace is now otherwise troubled with matters of state, that he cannot intend it, or if he could, yet it is not for him so to abase himself, in regard of his high calling which he is now placed in. Puritan. 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 unlawfully usurp the same: contrary to the law of God: for is it possible he can be the true minister of God, & a temporal magistrate that is, to serve God and Mammon to. As th'Apostle saith, Let him that hath an office attend upon his office, and not offices. Minist. Why how dare you presume to say so? Were not L. Bb. established by her Majesty & consent of the whole parliament? Puritan I grant they were, but the Lord hath said contrary, in the commandment he gave to his ministers Luk. 22. saying, The kings of the gentiles reign over them, and they that bear rule over them are called gracious Ll. but ye shall not be so, but let the greatest among you be as the least, and the chiefest as him that serveth, and 1. Pet. 5. Feed the flock of God which dependeth upon you, caring for it, not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind: Not as though ye were Lords over God's heritage, but that ye may be ensamples to the flock. And in the first session of parliament, holden in the first year of her majesties reign, there was never a Lord B. in the land. Minist. If you will have no L. Bb. how should the Church be governed then? Puritan according as our Saviour Christ hath commanded, & as the holy Ghost hath set it down, uz. by pastors Doctors, Elders, and deacons, Rom. 12. Ephes. 4. 1. Cor. 12. Minist. You are very full of scripture, as though we have not the same offices in effect, though not in the same titles: as for example, have not we Parsons for Doctors, Vickers for Pastors, Churchwardens for Elders, and Sidemen for Deacons to distribute to the poor. Puritan And what for Archbishops, and Lord Bishops? Jack 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, do not you use the pulpit sometimes? Minist. Noah indeed sir, but I read the Homiles sometimes, and the Queen's Injunctions, and do my duty as other ministers do. Puritan Me thought so, by that fit comparison that you have made. Jack And have you no more but one benefice neither, and yet do all that? Minister Yes in deed, I say service at two more, but I have little profit by them, marry the best is, they are somewhat near, for they are all three within four miles together. Puritan And how can you serve them all upon the Sabbath day? jacke Some of them are but small, and I can make quick dispatch with them betimes, & take my Mare and r de to the other: and can make an end of all by ten of the clock, and spend an hour with good fellows at home before dinner to. Puritan And Mast. Vicker, do you think herein, that you discharge your duerie to God, and those congres gations, over whom you have taken this charge? Minister Why sir, I discharge my duty better than those that take upon them four or five. Puritan Why? is there any that takes upon them the charge of so many? Minister Yea a hundred in England. Puritan Well I will cell you, the fearful judgements of God hangs over our heads, and cannot be long deferred, but fall upon the whole land (where to such dumb idols as you are, is committed the charge of souls) and to yourselves eternal destruction of body and soul: wherefore M. Vicker, as you tender your own salvation, leave this your unlawful calling of the ministry, and betake you to some occupation, or husbandry. Minist. I care not what any of you spiteful Puritans say, so long as I can have the favour of my Lord Bishop. Jack I pray you M. Vicker let me spur a question unto you, if I may be so bold? where do you serve? Minist. I serve in Middlesex Sir. Jack Who made you minister? Minist. My good Lord of London. Puritan Like enough, he hath made a great many of blind guides in his time besides you, for he made the Porter of his gate, minister of Paddington, being blind. Jack O monstrous, is this true, did he so indeed? Puritan It is most true, for the Bishop of Winchester hath recorded it in a book of his set forth in print. Jack Why what will our Bishops grow to in time if they be suffered? for me thinks this is a fearful thing, to make such ministers, as can neither see nor speak, for it is like if he were his porter, (no doubt of it) he had not the gift of teaching? Puritan Very true, but because he could do him no longer service, he was so good to him, to provide for the poor blind man that he might live. Jack Sure I think when they come once to be Lords, they clean forget God and all godliness, for I have heard that there was some good things in him before he was Bishop of London, for he wrote a book called the Harborowe of faithful subjects, against Bishops: wherein he saith, Come down ye Bishops with your thousands, and betake you to your hundreds, let your fare be Priestlike and not Princelike, etc. Puritan Indeed he wrote such a book, and the same words that you repeat, I have read in the same: but alas, when he was at the best, he was but a corrupt man, and the best things in it, savour but of earth: for there is many things handled in it very immodestly, and unchristianly: but one thing especially he sets down there, which himself practiseth clean contrary: where he speaks of the ability that should be in every minister of the word, that he should know his quarter strooks, to be able to convince the adversary, etc. Minist. Why? will you have none Ministers but such as can preach? I can tell you, that the twentieth minister in the land cannot preach? Puritan The more the worse, for you and the rest how many soever there be stand without repentance in a most damnable state, for you are most notorious murderers of souls, in taking upon you so high a calling, & being so far unfit for it: so many as perish for want of teaching, in your charge, their blood the Lord will require at your hands: Minist. The Bishop knew my ability before he made me minister. Puritan Well, he stands in the state of damnation as you do, and thus much I say unto you, and to all Idol Ministers, and to him, and all usurping Archbishops and Lord Bishops, leave your unlawful callings into which you have intruded yourselves, and with speed repent, and humble yourselves before the Majesty of God, confessing your horrible and grievous sins with Peter's tears, in that you are the cause, yea and also the very murderers of so many souls, as perish in your charges: knowing that the Lord will in that great and terrible day, require their blood at your hands. Jack O Lord, my heart quaketh to hear of so great and grievous sins as are in our Bishops, and in the whole ministery: but our Bishops are the cause of all. Puritan I will tell you Sir, I am persuaded in my very conscience, that the Lord hath given many of our Bishops over into a reprobate sense, for they do wilfully oppose themselves against the Lord his knoen truth, yea and persecute it, (and I suppose them to be in the state of the sin against the holy Ghost) for they have manifested in their published writings, yea & pressed forth by authority, such horrible blasphemous, heretical, yea damnable doctrines, which my very heart trembleth to repeat, in sort as they have set them down: which if those (whom they falsely call puritanes) should set down or hold the like errors and dangerous points, I warrant you the should soon be cut of from the face of the earth, and right well they were worthy. Jack Now Sir I pray you let me hear some of the points they hold, and that are so dangerous as you say, that I may be able to justify it to our dumb dogs teeth, at Augustine's gate in London when I come home. Puritan First you shall understand, the Bishop of London hath published in print, & that in an Epistle or preface before Barnardeus de loques book of the Church, published in english, that the puritanes may as well deny the son of God to be consubstantial with God the father, as they may deny the superiority of Archbishops and Lord Bishops, flat contrary to the saying of our Saviour Christ, Luke 22. jacke. O monstrous and blasphemous wretch, that to maintain his fleshly pleasure, will make such an odious comparison. Puritan Nay, what say you to a Bishop that hath two wives and both now living? Do you not think it is a thing tolerable in a christian common wealth, where the Gospel is professed? Jack No indeed do I not, I hope our magistrates will not suffer such a Bishop to live, it were monstrous among common Infidels, much more intolerable, that a Bishop in such a land as ours is, where the Gospel is truly taught: But I pray you is there any such now living? Puritan Yes in deed is there, and the Bishop of Saint David's in Wales is the man, he is now living and both his wives, and yet still remains a Bishop. Jack Is it possible that a Bishop should commit such an horrible act as this, how far are our bishops from obeying the commandment of th'Apostle Peter: who saith, Feed the flock, and be ensamples to the flock: what ensample is this? And doth not the same God which saith, Thou shalt do no murder, which is death by our laws, doth he not also say, Thou shalt not commit adultery: And yet a Bishop to have two wives at once, & live in a Church professing the sincerity of the Gospel: What say you to this Master Vicker, is not our Church well governed think you? Minist. If it be true, it is (I must needs confess) a horrible thing and worthy of death, but I do not believe it. Puritan It is very true, for the cause was brought before the high commissioners at Lambehith, and how it is smothered up among the Bishops, and the rest of the commissioners, I know not yet, but I could tell you the whole couclusion if I were at London but half an hour. Jack Why the suffering of this, & other like villainies, to be committed in our nation, are causes to stir up the Lord to wrath, against the whole land, whereby he may speedily bring his judgements upon us, yea even to our utter destruction. Minist. It is so if it be true? but I will not believe it. Puritan Well for the truth of the matter, I refer you to the high commissioners, where it is recorded, with his wives names, uz. Elizabeth Gigge and Alice Prime. Minist. Indeed I have heard of the like before, that you puritans have put forth a book in print under the name of Martin Marprelate, wherein many such things are mentioned: Puritan There is nothing set down in it, but there is good proof of the same, & the Bishop of Winchester, who took upon him to confute it, hath confirmed it for the most part, & that he denies is most true. Jack What did he undertake to confute it? Alas he is altogether unlearned, (for I have heard of him in Oxford, and the papists say, they can make him believe the moon is made of green cheese) marry to get him a name (forsooth) being a correcter with a Printer in fleetstreet in London, who printed a Dictionary called Sir Thomas Eliotts dictionary, Cooper translated a piece of Robert Stephanus his Thesaurus and joined it to the same with a few phrases, and so bereaved the famous Knight of his labour, and calls it by the name of Cooper's Dictionary: how say you Master Vicker, was not this a knavish trick tell me? Minist. I say you deal very unreverently with my Lord: for I can say nothing to the matter else, for I know it not to be true? Puritan What say you to this then master Vicker did you never hear of your Lord Bishop of London, who made the Dyars, in Thames street who were rob, by thieves that stole their cloothe, and brought it within his liberties, which when the poor dyer's hearing where their clooth was, and coming to the Bishop to demand their own goods, he said: if they would hang the thieves, he would then tell them more, which the dyars did, and at their deaths, confessed that to be the dyars cloth which the Bishop had, but the poor men were never the near for their cloth, nor cannot get it or any part of it to this day: and this is confessed to be true, by the bishop of Winchester in his answer to Martin Marprelate, published in print by authority: wherein he saith, it is the Bishop of London's own, by the laws of the land, because it was taken within his liberties, marry he speaks nothing of the law of God, according to conscience, in keeping of thief stolen goods from their right owners, for conscience is fled from them (it seems) so soon as they are gotten to be Lord Bishops once. Minist. Yes Sir I know there is such a book named Martin Marprelate, a most vile and ssaunderous libel, but I do not think my Lord of Winchester doth approve any thing that is set downe there in any of those books, for they have put forth three or four books under that title. jacke Why Master Vicker, how do they to get their books printed? Minist. Tush they do well enough for that, there is a sedstious fellow one Walde-graue, who commonly prints all such books, (I know him well enough) he did keep a shop at the sign of the Crane in Paul's Churchyard: at which time he had his press and letters taken away from him, and destroyed for the same cause, by my Lord's grace of Canterbury, & now he works in corners up and down the Country like a vagabond. Puritan With a seared conscience, did the Bishops that violence to him, in regard both of the cause, and also for the great charge he hath of wife and six small children, and now to bereave his Poor family of him, whose labours was their only comfort & maintenance. Jack Master Vicker how long was it since Walde-graves goods were destroyed, I have heard of him before now, but I know him not? Minist. Tush you know him well enough I am sure, it is since his goods were destroyed about Ester was a twelve month. Jack And hath he been all this time absent from his family? Minist. I Sir, and if he had been there, he would easily have been had, for he hath been watched well enough for that? Puritan I will tell you Sir how they deal with him, when they have any suspicion that he is at home, although he durst never come home, they stick not in the dead time of the night, to break down the main wales of his house, and enter in with constables and pursuivants, and this is a common thing with them. Jack I am persuaded, the Bishops had been better to have given him freely 2. hundred pounds towards the setting up of a new printing house for himself, then to have destroyed his as they have done: Minist. I think so, for it may be he would have followed his calling some other way, then to be employed in those things? Jack Yonder comes a man plodding a pace after us whatsoever he be? Minist. It may be our company will increase, and so we shall go the more cheerful, for it gins to to be late, and it is dangerous going here abouts, late I can tell you? Puritan It may be he is one of your coat Master Vicker? Minist. I cannot tell, but if he be, he shall be welcome to me. Jack Surely he comes a pace, whatsoever he be? Minist. It may be he would be glad of company? Jack Well let us go on and continue our talk? Puritan Master Vicker I think be weary of our communication, if you be let us know? Minist. Noah by my faith Sir not I, say what you will a God's name? Puritan Fie, Master Vicker, will you swear? I think you learned that of your Lord Bishop of London, for he useth it often, when he is at bowls. Jack What will Bishops swear? Puritan Swear Sir, I that they will, and defend it to, when they have done? For in the first book of Martin, there is mention made of the Bishop of London's swearing, when he is at bowls: And the Bishop of Winchester in answering the same, saith thus, in page. 62. of his book, That our Saviour Christ usually swore by his faith in his sermons, For he said Amen, Amen, which is as much to say (saith he) as by my faith, by my faith? Jack Why is that a Bishop of God, that will swear thus? Minist. Foyes, I have heard my Lord's grace of Canterbury swear by his faith an hundred times, yea and by God to sometimes, and what he doth, I take it as a good precedent for such as I am to follow? Puritan I'll tell you Master Vicker, I am of doctor Bridges his mind of our Bishops: for (saith he) page 339.340. That all our Lord Bishops in England, are the Bishops of the Devil: And I am sure of it by these two marks, uz. by their tyrannical dealing against God's children, and by their wicked and unconscionable lives, that they are not of God? Jack I pray you hath Doctor Bridges written any book that is published to this effect? Puritan Yes indeed, and the Bishop of Canterbury hath confirmed it by his authorizing of the same, and also by his continual practice against. God's children? Jack But I pray you Sir, how wickedly hath he wrested the Scripture, in saying our Saviour Christ continually swore in his sermons, when he said Amen, Amen? Puritan Why the Bishop of Winchester, is most impudent in all his actions, for very blasphemously in his sermon, preached at Mary Oueris at London, said that a man might as well find fault with the holy Scripture, as with our corrupt Common book of prayer? jacke Our upon him blasphemous wretch, he is certainly the Bishop of the Devil, as Doctor Bridges saith. Puritan Will you hear some more of his Divinity? Jack O Yes I pray you Sir? And yet my heart trembleth to hear of such odious blasphemies as these: Puritan He saith it the 49. page of his book against Martin Marprelate: That the Creed of the Apostles, Athanasius, & the Nicene, etc. contain in them many palpable lies: Now tell me your opinion of this, is it not sound and substantial doctrine I pray you tell me? jacke Doctrine yea indeed, this may truly be said to be the doctrine of Devils? Why whither will our Bishops run in time trow you, if the Magistrate suffer them? Puritan I will tell you, even to their father the Devil: For they have at no time taken in hand to write in defence of their hierarchy, but it hath made their eyes so to dazzle, that they run into most dangerous & damnable errors, (as in this book of the bishops will be proved near. 500 errors) yea in correcting and controling the mighty word of God, and also have interlaced their writings with such contrariety of matter, as one part of their own books may serve to confute the other, with infinite absurdities: yea and by your leave to, even flat treason? Jack Many good men did never judge the bishop of Winchester, to be but an hypocrite? Puritan He is a most bitter man to all those that fear God, and have to deal with him, for he may well be compared to a horse with a galled back that hath been so rubbed, that he winces, frets, and chafes, so, that he is ready to throw himself to utter destruction, with purpose to hurt him that rubbed him: Even so, this Bishop takes to himself so much liberty in abusing and profaning the holy word of God, (against those that writ in the Lord's cause, against their unlawful callings) and that I fear me, to the endangering both of body and soul. jacke I have heard that when he was at Lincoln he dealt not so hardly with the ministers as now he doth, and that often in his Sermons at Northampton he would confess, that the Discipline was used and practised in the Primitive Church, a long time after the Apostles. Puritan It is very true, & yet he saith in his book against Martin, that the holy Discipline is a platform devised he knows not by whom: And in an other place of the same book he confesses that it was practised by the Apostles, and long time after in the Primitive Church, and upon the words where he saith it is not denied, there is pasted, at the commandment of the Bishop of Canterbury, It is not yet proved, so that there is some jar, between themselves, although these two are most conversant together, and join in one to persecute sincere and faithful preachers of the word, and others of the Lords children. Jack I had thought they would not have dissented one from another of them? Puritan 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 bridled, because he authorised Doctor Whitaker his readings against Bellarmina, wherein the apocrypha is defaced: And M. Doctor Some one of their affinity no we, and a noureresident, he calls the Archbishop of Canterbury An absurd Heretic, because he holds baptism administered by women, to be the seal of God's covenant: page 3. of his book against Master Penri, & many like things I could cite to you, of their diffenting on from another. Jack How like you of these things Master Vicker, be not these good fathers of the Church, think you? Minist. I like never a whit the worse of them for your words, for I know they are but slanders? Puritan Master Vicker, you I know like well of them, although the proofs that their adversaries do bring be never so manifest and plain against them, because you are in the same state, or worse (and may be) in that you do unlawfully usurp your place, and having no fit gifts to discharge your duty in any measure: Remember what th'Apostle saith, 1. Corinth. 6.19. Woe is to me if I preach not the Gospel, this is rightly pronounced upon you, & all such Idols as you are? Minist. If I read sermons and homiles, is it not as much as if I preached: for Master Doctor Bridges saith, that reading is preaching? Puritan The Lord hath promised no such blessing unto reading as preaching, for the word preached is the only ordinary means to salvation: But I pray you for your comfort, hear what the prophet jeremy saith to you, in the 48. Chap. Cursed be that man, that doth the work of the Lord negligently, & Mallac. 2.7. saith, the priests lips should preserve knowledge, & they should seek the law at his mouth, but how can you shun this curse Master Vicker? I pray God humble your heart that you may acknowledge your sin, and crave pardon at his hands, and leave the ministry, lest the Lord with a strong hand throw you out to your everlasting woe. Jack Master Vicker he gives you good counsel, it were good for you to follow it, if you do not, it will be the worse for you? Minist. Well Sir it is no matter, there be as wise as he will give me other council? Jack Why I see Master Vicker is obstinate, he will not be persuaded by you? Puritan Even as he will, I speak my conscience to him, he may choose if he will follow it or no? Jack I marvel what good hospitality the Bishop of London keeps, I have heard that he is very covetous? Minist. Indeed he doth keep a good house? Jack What doth not the dogs run away out of his house with whole shoulders. I think a man may as soon break his neck, as break his fast at his house? Puritan Surely I can say thus much by report of one that was his Chaplain, whose name is Haiwarde Vicker of Saint martin's, by Charing cross, that often times when he hath dined at his Palace in London, he hath made his servants, to take the fragments & carry them to Fulham, but if there be any dainty morcel left, he will wrap it up in his handkerchefe, and carry it in his bosom for fear lest his men should beguile him. Jack O Master Vicker, you have a most bountiful Lord: he is so liberal, that he will not suffer the scraps to be bestowed upon the poor, but to be kept for his servants supper? Minist. It is false, for I have often seen alms given at his gates, when he hath lain at London: Puritan I'll tell you what I have heard him say at Paul's cross myself upon a time, following his text very well: (you must think) he burst me out with a great exclamation of himself, in that he was poor and had no money, protesting what charges he had been at, and that Paul's Church can bear me witness: (saith he) that I have no money: And shortly after some of his own servants being there present, and heard him, (belike thought to make their good Lord a liar) very shortly after, robbed him, of certain hundred of pounds, for which offence, he was so good unto his men, as to hang them up three or four in number, (although he had the most part of his money again) and some of the parties executed, protested to their knowledge, he had much more money at usury, and that his servants lived only upon bribes. Jack A Bishop a liar and a usurer, nay surely M. Vicker, if your Lord have those two faults, it cannot be but he hath more, so that for mine own part, I think him verily to be the Bishop of the Devil. Puritan Nay Sir I can give you proof for the same more, that he is surely the Bishop of the Devil, for Martin Marprelate hath set down a pretty thing in his Epistle to the terrible priests, that the bishop of London when he throws his bowl, (as he useth it commonly upon the sabbath day) he runs after it, and if it be toe hard, he cries, rub, rub rub, and saith the Devil go with thee, when he goeth himself with it: So that by those words, he nameth himself the Bishop of the Devil: but by his practice of tyrannical dealing against the Lords faithful ministers, not only calleth, but proveth himself to be the Bishop of the Devil. Jack Ha, ha Master Vicker, you see your Lord Bishop is a Devil by his own confession: so indeed, you are not the Lords Minister, but the Minister of the Devil, as your Lord Bishop is the Bishop of the Devil. Minister You use your speeches at pleasure of my Lord, it may be you will not so easily answer them when you are called thereunto? Jack Yes Master Vicker I warraant you? Send a pursuivant when you will for us, and we will answer it, if we can not make our parts good enough, we will send the women of Hampsteed to him? Minist. What mean you by that? Jack If you will needs have me, I will tell you, you shall understand Master Vicker, that your good Lord, at his first coming to be the devils Lord at London, began to play Rexe, (as he hath lately done at Fulham, in cutting down the trees, there, to the great impoverishing of the town) to cut down the woods at Hampsteed, and needs he would do it, and began prettily well with it, the towns men became suitors to him that he would not, they could not persuade him, for he was Lord of it, he said: Well seeing the men could do no good with him, the women took the matter in hand, and as the devils men came, (that is your Lords) to cut down their woods, the women fell a swaddling of them, so that they durst come no more to cut down any trees there. Thus you see the women overcame the Devil, and so feared him, that thereby they preserved their woods. For by very nature, these devils Bishops are given to destroy both Church and common wealth? But if we be not good enough for them, we will entreat the women of Hampsteed to take the matter in hand. Minist. Well I doubt not but you will for all this lustiness, kiss the Clinke or gatehouse for this gear, for my Lord's grace shall know of it, if my Lord do not? Jack Why Vicker of the Devil, let the whole convocation house of Devils know of it and you will, for they dare not, Noah not Beelzebub of Canterbury the chief of the Devils, come to disputation, thereby to approve their Callings to be lawful, and other points in controversy against the discipline of God, as they have been often challenged, & offered by the puritans, even to adventure their lives against their Bishoprics, and yet they durst not. And I pray you tell me; if they were not the Bishops of the Devil indeed, would they refuse this offer? Minist. Why the puritans have been often disputed with? Puritan Where? In the Bishop's closet? For they are ashamed to have it tried before any Magistrate, Let them if they dare procure a free disputation, where by every man may freely speak, and be indifferently heard, and if the Bishops and all their partakers be not overthrown, I will lose my life for it? Minist. Have they not been already by public writing, and otherwise, but especially by my Lord's grace, his works against Cartwright, sufficiently confuted I pray you? Puritan Noah indeed, but I will tell you what a noble man professing the Gospel said, he demanded of the old Lord Henry Howard (the Earl of arundel's uncle now living, being a professed papist) what he thought of whitgift's answer to Cartwright, who answered, there was no comparison to be made between them, for Whitgift (saith he) is not worthy to carry Cartwrights books after him for learning: Mark here the opinion of a papist, you know a deadly adversary to Master Cartwright: and yet the ambitious wretch will not stick now he is an Archbishop, to call those that are able to teach him (& which were in the Gospel before him) boys, and revile them far beyond all christian modesty: and again, if a man apply any new writer his opinion of the reformed Churches, in defence of the lords truth, as Master calvin, Beza or others, he will not also stick to brag and tell him, that he is able to teach calvin and Beza, or any of them all: but the wretch nor his associates, dares not dispute with Master Cartwright, Calvin, or Bezaes' inferiors. Jack Tush, foe, he sites now upon his cogging stool, which may truly be called the chair of pestilence, little may he do if he cannot brag, Crack & face it out: for the truth is, he wrote against the Discipline, for no other end, but to get a Bishopric, for he never wrote since he hath caught one I warrant you: And the pied faced fool Doctor Bridges imitating him, hoping to leap like as he hath done, but it will not be? Puritan O you are greatly deceived, D. Bridges hath utterly renounced the bishops as I have heard, for that the Archbishop hath broken his faith with him? jacke How comes that to pass I pray you? Puritan I will tell you, at the beginning of the last parliament, there were Bishops to be stalled, and his grace had promised him very confidently, that he would not only speak for him, also assure him of a Bishopric? Upon which the aspiring wretch did only rely, otherwise it may be he would have bribed some courtier to have dealt for him, as he did for his Deanery: But her Majesty lying at Richmond, and master Doctor repairing thither, upon the green afore Richmond house, met with Master Thornbie the Master of the Savoy, who told him that he hard he was a suitor for the Bishopric of such a place: Master Doctor Bridges answered and said, 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 all is past, I can assure you of it: With that the Doctor was in his mad mood, and said, hath he served me so, why then I will say, and may speak it truly, there is no faith in a Bishop. Have I wrote in their defence, and have gotten the ignomy, shame, and reproach of it by public writing, and now to be thus vildly dealt with: I will tell you master. Thornby, I do protest, and always will affirm it: That it is better to have one inch of policy, than all the Divinity in the world. If master Thornebie will deny this to be true, there be both godly and worshipful will justify it to his face. Jack Nay it is like enough that the B. of Cant. hath served him so, it is not the first like prank he hath played, for it is his manner, he will promise much and perform nothing: but persecute Gods ministers, and glory in himself: For if any godly minister, or any other that fear God, come before him, he will offer them the oath, either to accuse themselves, or their christian brethren, or both, yea though no body be able to charge them with any offence: and if they will not swear, then to the Clinke, Gatehouse or white Lion they go roundly, and when suit is made unto him for their liberty: Then except they will enter into bonds to perform this, or do that: why he will say they shall lie till they rot, with other bitter words. And he was wont to use these words often, and had a great pride in speaking them (I can not tell whether he hath left them now or Noah,) As long as the Queen and I live, it shall be this or that. judge you of this man, whether he hath an humble spirit, or an aspiring mind, to join himself with his dread sovereign the Queen's majesty. He were best to remember his predicessor Cardinal Wolsey, betimes, lest he have the same end Cardinal Wolsey had. Minister I hope for these your taunting speeches to see you trunst, if I meet you handsomely in place where? jacke Why Vicker of the Devil, (I think you to be one of the Vickers of Hell, that Martin speaks of) it is no marvel, though you take the Bishops of the devils part. For Winchester when he went his visitations last, told your companions the dumb dogs, that if his grace of Canterbury, and himself had not kneeled before her Majesty for you, you had been all of you thrust out of the ministry? Puritan Oh wicked act, it had been better that neither of them had had a joint to bow, then to work such a villainy to God's Church. Jack Herein they used great policy (you must think) for if we had a learned Ministry once, they know their kingdom would soon fall to the ground. Therefore they take order for that. For they will suspend and thrust all those out of the Ministry, that have gifts fit for that high calling: and keep none in, except nonresidence, such as gape after Bishoprics, or dumb Idol ministers? Papist you are well overtaken my masters? Which way travel you I pray? Jack Towards London Sir. Papist What good news is there abroad do you hear any? Puritan I know none good, for the land is sore troubled with these treacherous Papists, and filthy Atheists: and our church pestered with the bishops of the Devil, non-residents, Popish priests, and dumb dogs, that there is no place, nor being for a faithful minister of the word: for if there be any in any charge, the Bishops have their john Avales, to fetch them up before them, and then if they will not subscribe, out of the ministry he goes roundly? Papist It was never merry world since there was so many puritans, & such running to Sermons as there is now. jacke Why? Do not you love to hear Sermons? Papist Noah, I care for none of these precise fellows, I will not come at any of their Sermons. Jack I smell you already, I perceive you are a Papist. Papist Whatsoever I be, you may be sure I am no puritan, for a Papist, is always better than a puritan, and more friends he shall find, both at home and abroad. And I have heard my Lord's grace of Canterbury, and the Bishop of Winchester, speak it with mine own ears. Minist. I can say thus much myself, my lords grace is not so much troubled with papists as with puritanes? Jack And I can say thus much to, the papists have more favour of his grace a great deal, than the Puritans? Papist My lords grace you know, had a good master, and one that kept him far enough from this preciseness, I warrant you? Jack Who was his master I pray you? Papist Marry Master Doctor Pearne Sir. Jack What Doctor Pearne? why he is the notablest turnecoate in all this land, there is none comparable to him? Why every boy hath him in his mouth, for it is made a proverb, both of old & young, that if one have a coat or cloak that is turned, they say it is Pearnd. Puritan And do you think the Bishop of Canterbury will be as good a turner, as his Master Doctor Pearne is? Jack Nay, he will exceed his Master, I am persuaded? Puritan Me thinks there should be others as expert, and likely to make as good workmen in that art, as his grace or his master Doctor Pearne himself is? Jack Who should they be? Puritan What say you to john of Gloucester, Doctor Kennolde, Doctor Bancroft, Doctor Goodman, the abbot that now is of Westminster, Doctor Sprent of Bristol, and Master Doctor Bridges Deane of Sarum. Jack Yea and I may say to you, all the Bishops of the Devil and nonresidence, are likely to say pretly well to the matter to? Puritan I had forgotten one that I should have ●ominated to, that is Doctor Culpepper of Oxford, who hath the name to be a notable hunter? Jack What Doctor Culpepper, I'll tell you there is many good things in him that way, but I will tell you one or two notes of his single gifts. For he is an Archdeacon, and going in his visitation, not far from Oxford: It is an ordinary thing with them, to have a Sermon before the keep court, & always 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 perceive him, to the end he should make an end of his Sermon. The preacher notwithstanding went forward with his text, which troubled Master Doctor sore. Then he fell a beckoning to the preacher, the preacher would not see his signs, although the audience greatly marveled at him, than Master Doctor (being soar galled you must think,) spoke to him and bade him come down: the preacher thought it not long (though Master Doctor were weary to hear his duty told him in so plain a manner) and seeing he could use no means to get him out of the pulpit, called the crier to him, and bade him cry, Ho yes, and so he did. Then went he very reverently about his business, & left the preacher in the pulpit: Now tell me I pray you, whether he had more mind to hear the word preached, or to be with his kennel of hounds. Puritan Is this Doctor Culpepper of Oxford I pray you? jacke I marry is it Sir, it is the same man, and very well known to love a hound a hawk and, etc. Puritan I pray you can you tell me, I have heard that D. Bond is made master of Magdalins in Oxford, contrary to the statutes of the University: 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 government. Therefore as I have heard, the Bishops of Canterbury and Winchester, to prevent him, laboured to her Majesty, that she would give commandment, that the house should accept of Doctor bond in his steed, which by the Bishop's great labour, it was accomplished. Jack It is very true Sir, I can assure you of that, and he may well be called the Bond of iniquity for any goodness is in him, he looks I can tell you to be a Lord Bishop of the Devil shortly, beside he is a good dancer: I have heard how he ere now, hath come to a house in Oxford, (it shall be nameless,) where certain women of the town, were ready to go dance, (it may be a match made of him before hand) comes me in the same house very pleasantly to them: saying, you are well met, and makes him ready for them: First put of his Cap, saying lie thou there Cap, than his tipper, lie thou there tippet, than his gown, lie thou there gown: And last of all his book (saith he) lie thou there Divinity & all: Then about the house he goes with the women: now tell me I pray you, if he do not draw in the bond of iniquity or no? Puritan Surely I see that no good men are left almost in any place, where they may be a help to increase or comfort those that fear God. For the Bishops have laid so many plots, that they have prevented all means whatsoever. Is not this a Devilish policy of the Bishop of Canterbury, to place such heads in the university: That none shall proceed, or be preferred but such as will subscribe. Well though the admonition which the Archbishop of York gave him in a letter before his death, do not work that effect in him, which the Bishop wished: Yet our hope is, that the Lord will soon bring him to the same end, at the which, he may with the same Bishop confess his sin, in usurping that unlawful calling he is now in: that is a Pope or Pastor of pastors, with all other his injurious and tyrannical dealing with God's ministers & other his children. For of all the Bishops that ever were in that place, I mean in the See of Canterbury, did never so much hurt unto the church of God, as he hath done since his coming. No Bishop that ever had such an aspiring and ambitious a mind as he, no not Cardinal Wolsey: none so proud as he, no not Steven Gardiner of Winchester: none so tyrannical as he, Noah not Bonner. Jack How say you Master Vicker, were it not a good thing if all Bishops, and such Idol shepherds as you are were a dying, than you would be in better minds then all the days of your life before? Minist. You say your pleasure, but I care not what you say, that's the best of it. Papist Master Vicker the gentlemen are disposed to move your patience, therefore you must bear with them. Jack Master Parson thinks I am in good earnest, but he is deceived, for I assure you I do nothing but to see what this puritan will say: and the puritan thinks I am one of his fraternity. Papist But are you not so indeed? Jack Noah truly, I came from Orleans, where I heard Mass every day: see see how hard the, Vicker and he are in talk, let them alone we will go on. Papist I can hardly believe that you heard Mass at Orleans? Jack if I had not been present at the Mass, I should have been taken for a Huguenot, and so I should hardly escaped with my life. Papist I am the gladder of your company. Jack And I of yours, for I perceive you are a Catholic. Papist Yea indeed, and I will not deny it: look, I think the puritan and the Vicker will go by the ears? jacke He shall do the Vicker no wrong for all my speeches to him: and he will be ruled by me, we will have him before my Lord's grace, for we will give him the slip, when we come in the City, and one of us will fetch a pursuivant and the other two shall dog him. Papist Content sir, if you please, let it be so? Jack How now my masters can you not agree? Minist. I will deal well enough with him, if he durst stand to his words. Puritan I will justify any thing that I have spoken, if not let me lose my life, but to conclude, it is late, and because we must depart, I will tell you one thing, and I would wish you to make use of it and hear what the Prophet Esay saith cap. 59 10 verse. Their watchmen are all blind, they have no knowledge, they are all dumb dogs they cannot bark, they lie and fleepe, and delight in sleeping. And these greedy dogs can never have enough, all these shepherds cannot understand, and Zach arie 11.17. O Jdole shepherd that leaveth the flock, the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, & his right eye shall be utterly darkened. And so far ye well. FINIS.