The schismatic stigmatised. Wherein all Make-bates are branded; whether they are Eves-dropping-newes-carriers, Murmurers, Complainers, Railers, Reproachers, Revilers, Repining Reformers, Fault-finders, Quarrell-pickers, and Corner-creepers; with all the rabble of brainsicks, who are enemies to Old England's Peace. Neminem dum possis offendas, Et Gemmam pacis offends. Offend no man; be meek in mind, And thou the Gem of peace shalt find. Bono probari malo, quam multis malis. By RICHARD CARTER. LONDON, Printed by J. Okes, for Francis Coles, and are to b● sold at his shop in the Old Baily. 1641. To the Reader, Peace, Health, and happiness. PEace in all ages: She hath still had enemies, and slanderers (amongst those who know her not:) But none so bad as schismatics; For one thief in the house, is worse than many without doors: Our Blessed Lord Jesus saith, A man's enemies shall be those of his own house. God himself first laid the foundation of his Church in peace; our blessed Saviour he is the chief corner stone, and Prince of peace from age to age, to this present: God hath, and still doth maintain and uphold the same by the ministry of Christian Kings, Queens, Princes, and Prelates, who do succeed our Lord and his holy Apostles. The devil seeing this, stirreth up all the rebel of schismatics, like Samson's Foxes, not only tied tail to tail, but also tongue to tongue, with balls of wildfire, or rather hellfire to disturb our peace, and set fire on all at once. But I shall still desire of God, that those Foxes may be prevented and taken, and this wildfire quenched: I know it belongeth to Master-builders to build a house: but being on fire blame me not, bringing my Bucket to help quench the flame. We did all promise this when we were baptised, to fight against the devil, the World, and the Flesh, under the Banner of Christ (which is his cross) and to continue Christ's faithful soldiers and servants to our lives end. If any shall find their knowledge increased hereby, or their memories rubbed and refreshed in things already known, then give me thy best wishes, as thou hast mine. Thy friend (could I befriend thee,) R. C. Conscius ipse sibi, de se putat omnia dici. Behold the guilty man doth dream, All what I write puts him to shame. The Contents of this great Volume. FIrst, schismatics are stigmatised (according to my reading) with brands in number 20. Secondly, I have conceited a fantasy Dialogue-wayes between Tom-ass Pragmaticus, the great Petifogger, and Nickall-ass nonsense, his close companion. Thirdly, and last; to wind up the bottom, because schismatics cannot brook church-music calling the same the Devills-Bag-pipes; and our singing of psalms, they profanely term Geneva-gigs: in spite of their teeth, their hearts and tongues must sing with me this my home-spun-plain-song. Reader, in reading my ensuing Lines, (I pray thee) be not currish but courteous: in the 17. Stigma I name divers tradesmen: I blame no good Trade, but presumptuous tradesmen who dare to climb up into Pulpits, and make themselves bold Ambassadors of the great King of Kings, to declare the will of Almighty God to his people. This is horrible wickedness, and devilish damnableness. Hereby they do horribly dishonour both God and our King and abuse the people who do give credit to them. But praised be God for ever, who doth continue our King's sacred Majesty in his former royal resolution, (to continue the gospel of Peace, and the peace of the gospel) that he may still uphold the Doctrine, and Discipline of Old England's Church. Pray we all for the Lords anointed, that God would knit his sacred heart with both his Parliaments in England, and Scotland. for the rooting out of all traitors, rebels, heretics, and schismatics, and compose those great differences in Great Britain: and I know all true hearted Subjects to this will say, Amen. The schismatic stigmatised. Stigma 1. schismatics in all ages, have been, and still are pragmatical, peremptory, presumptuous Pettifoggers: they will not go to the devil alone; but they are ever stirring up others to Rebellion, schism, and Faction: this all ages, and all Nations must witness. Stigma 2. They are horrible cross to the proceedings of Kings, Princes, and Parliaments, abusing them with Crosses, and cross Bills and Petitions. Stigma 3. They rail against our Church-government, and governors, Slandering, and loading them with a world of contumelies, defamations, and opprobrious detractations; not once to be named among Christians; I may fitly compare them to the Schismaticall-Rebells, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who murmured against Moses and Aaron. Numb. 16. Stigma 4. They are like the Anabaptiss, as Sleidan reporteth: The devil stirred up giddy-headed, brainsick Preachers, who did not only prate against the Bishop of Rome, but they railed against Luther also. Those schismatics here are as like the Anabaptiss, as one egg is like another of the same kind: for they rail not only against Rome, but Old England also. But I know the Pope is in one extreme, and schismatics in another: for they cry down all our orthodox Divines, and set up mechanics. When a sound Divine hath lived in a parish 30. or 40. years: schismatics in his charge have preferred a Bill against him; to bring in a blind guide. And a wife hath put up a Bill in a public Congregation against her husband, and herself to be prayed for, because she loved another man better than her own husband. I suppose her husband gave her, (Poculum Charitatis, in the stead of Copula Cannositatis.) But they do with our sound and old Divines as the husbandman doth with his old ox: when the poor harmless creature hath ploughed the ground, and dragged the Harrow, and drawed his corn into the barn, then for his reward, he hath an Axe to beat out his brains, and a knife to cut his throat. Stigma 5. They hang together in private Conventicles, as Mr. Calvin compareth them to the old heretics (the Donatists) who in their Conventicles gave mutual oaths each to other: so that they grew to such multitudes in Germany, they could not be vanquished until there were a hundred thousand of them slain by the Princes of Germany. See Sleidan. lib. 7. Stigma 6. And in their Conventicles they pretend nothing but Reformation, humiliation, fasting, and prayer, persuading poor ignorants, that they are all for Reformation, Reformation, and nothing but Reformation, (forsooth) hereby they disturb the peace of our Church wonderfully: as Bullenger saith Lib. 6. cap. 10. Advers. Anabapt. and Gualiher in 1. Cor. Epist. Dedicat. doth most lively set them forth. Stigma 7. They would have a parity, and equality of ecclesiastical persons, like the Anabaptiss, as Bullenger saith Gastius, and Hemingius reporteth the same, De Erroribus Catabaptist, those owls, grows, and Mag-pyes, would have our Church like Polyphemus, without eyes, and without order, like the confused Chaos: so bring the Minister of the gospel into contempt, forgetting that Solomon was a Preacher as well as a King, and Nicodemus was a Ruler of Jews, and a Preacher also. But prate they of parity, and brawl their brains out of their brainsick brows, there is no wise man will give credit to them. September 1. 1641. The orders from the house of Commons concerning Images was good; but now the disorderly Rout do pretend this order, but intend nothing but disorder, for they pull down, and tear up all ancient Monuments of all Benefactors, without any respect to that good order at all. They fling and throw, pull, tear, and hale, deface and demolish what they please, raging and raving like a she-bear robbed of her whelps, playing the devil for God's sake. But we hope those damnable differences will be composed, and these fearful sparkles quenched before long time, or else they will break forth into a devouring flame. They rail against us, because we will not rail against those things which are enacted by former Parliaments, and also sealed with the hearts-blood of many Martyrs: and the Papists they call us heretics. Good Lord now help us. Stigma 8. They preach, (prate I should say) that all Christian-liberty is lost, if we obey any thing that is imposed on us by man. But Mr. Perkins in his Treatise of Conscience saith well (Wholesome Laws of men concerning things indifferent do bind the conscience, by virtue of God's Law, which doth commend, and command the Authority of the Magistrate so he that transgresseth the laws of the King, doth transgress the Law of Almighty God also,) Rom. 13. Stigma 9 They are peevishly perverse, against the laudable, and Christian orders of our Church. When we stand up reverently, they unmannerly sit on their Bums. When we kneel, they either sit or loll on their elbows. When we are bareheaded, they have their Bonnets, and Hats on their zealous Noddles. When we fast they will feast. And again, when we feast they will fast. They will nibble on a red Herring on Christmas day, but feast liberally on good-Friday, like Zoilus, and Momus, carping at every thing but pleased with nothing, but with schism Faction, and Rebellion. These have ever resisted our blessed and happy beginnings, and proceedings in Old-England ever since the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign. Now all the learning, prudence, piety and policy of this kingdom, both King and Subjects are joined in one high and honourable Assembly. I may safely say, there is not only the whole Body of great Britain, but the soul also. Yet behold, the long-winded Prickecare doth dare, not only to divert, but also correct, both soul and body, pricking and prating this shall be, and this or that shall not be done. They compare Old England to Egypt, and themselves to the only true Israelites; and they (forsooth) are holden in bondage under cruel taskmasters. But our eyes are up to the hills, from whence our help cometh, (Oh Lord) help us, and send us prosperity: and pray we all for the Lords anointed, and with one heart say (Help oh King, help oh King.) Stigma 10. And when they are most justly punished for their villainy, oh how they glory brag and boast, saying that they do sufter for righteousness-sake; when indeed it is for railing against Dignites: We all know, it is not the suffering, but the cause that maketh a Martyr: for he that giveth the cause wherefore he is punished, he doth punish himself. Stigma 11. They rail and rave against all our Vniversity-Degrees saying, all those are nothing in the world, but the swelling Titles of Antichrist, and Romish relics. At Rome there is Anti-christ, and in England here is Anti-jesus, and both are enemies to God, and our King. Stigma 12. They cram and stuff their schismatical Pamphlets with a world of quotations, to great purpose (I warrant you) see these two allegations for all the rest. When they would prove it unlawful, to use Interrogations in baptism, (Than they quote Galat. 6. 7. And when they would prove that Ministers must not wear gowns, Caps, surplices, Hoods, and such like, than they allege Matth 26. 48. By these two we may guess at all the rest. One of them reproved me once, and his Text was Luke the 29. to whom I replied, God made 24. Chapters in the holy gospel of St. Luke, but the devil and schismatics have added five Chapters more of their own. Stigma 13. They allow not any set forms of Prayer, because set forms do limit and bind the Spirit (forsooth) but these magpies with their chattering and vain babbling, do horribly limit the devotion of all understanding men, who have that ill hap to hear their vain babbling, as ah Lard, and eh Lard, a hundred times over and over in one prating: for prayer I dare not term the same. Stigma 14. They approve not of godfathers, and godmothers for infants in baptism; but the whole Congregation must witness for the Child. Stigma 15. They do not only bafely reproach out Reverend clergy in these days, but they vilely esteem all the classical and principal Bishops, Doctors, ancient Fathers, counsels and Synods of the Primitive Church; who did succeed our blessed Saviour, and his holy Apostles; who were indeed the very eyes of the Church, and the hammers to all schismatics, heretics, rebels, and traitors. Stigma 16. They cannot brook an orthodox Divine, because he useth to speak sometimes in his Sermon, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin; because these three were accursed on the cross: and Latin (forsooth) is the language of the whore of Rome: they are like the Fox who despised the Grapes which indeed he could in no wise come at: and like the old Fox, having lost his tail persuadeth all his fellow Foxes to cut off theirs also, thereby to hide the foul deformity, and to bury his own ignorance in the common confused heap. Stigma 17. And in stead of orthodox Divines, they set up all kind of mechanics, as shoemakers, cobblers, tailors, and butchers: glover's, who preach of nothing but magpies, and Crows, boxe-makers', and button-makers', coachmen, and feltmakers, and Bottle-Ale-sellers, these predicant mechanics, and lawless lads do affect an odd kind of gesture in their Poopits, vapouring and throwing heads, hands, and shoulders this way, and that way, puffing and blowing, grinning, and gerning, showing their teeth, and snuffling thorough their noses: hereby they astonish and amaze the poor ignorant multitude, persuading them that he is a fellow that looketh into deeper matters, than the common sort: when indeed he hath lately rubbed over some old moth-eaten schismatical Pamphlet: then he stampeth with his feet, and belaboureth the poor Cushion, and maketh the dust thereof fly about both his ears, beating the Pulpit with both his fists, in a passion of blind zeal, able to drive his unlucky Auditors out of their little wits, or seven senses. Stigma 18. They do imperiously take upon them to teach and direct all men; harping on no string, but Reformation, Reformation; they will reform all abuses with a wet finger, and in a trice. They will not leave the matter to the King, and to the Lords spiritual and temporal, with the House of Commons assembled in the High and Honourable Houses of Parliament. They pretend an extraordinary inspiration, like the goldsmith, that blind Prophet in Germany, who proclaimed John of Leidon suitor ne ultra ●repidam the cobbler, that he should be Emperor of all the world: and that he should destroy all Princes, Potentates, and Prelates, but should spare all the common rout, who are the only lovers of sincerity, This was in the year 1533. Here was the like brainsick schismatic in England, Hacket by name; he was proclaimed King by other schismatical rebels, in the 33. of Elizabeth, read Conspira. pag. 66. and the annals of England, collected by John Stow, pag. 1288. Also in the same 33. year of Queen Elizabeth. I read of another brainsick rebel, who with traitorous words reviled her Majesty, and defaced her arms, and pierced in that part of her picture which did represent her breast and heart: for the which treason, he was justly put to death, July 26. in the year above named: Read the forenamed John Stow his Annals, p. 1289. Almighty God, who hast delivered Queen Elizabeth, and K. James from all their enemies, preserve also King Charles his sacred Majesty, from all his, and our mortal fanatic, and brainsick schismatical foes. Amen. Stigma 19 They revile God's Divine Service, profanely terming the same porridge, and the Pope's mass-book: yea, their blind zeal will not permit the reading of the Sacred Scriptures in public, no nor to use our blessed Lord's Prayer, neither first nor last, all our Service is no better than mass (if you will believe schismatics.) And being grossly scandalous with whoring cozenage, and drunkenness, and slandering: they put it oft, saying it is the flesh, for they are altogether spiritual (forsooth.) Stigma 20. Last of all, they are miserable close-fisted when our King's Majesty demandeth his due, for his royal supportation and for the safety and defence of his kingdoms. I have read, that on a time Constantinople was besieged a long time together: and at last the enemy was minded to give over the siege, and be gone, but news came to the enemy, that the soldiers within the City were grown very weak, and discontented for want of their pay; the enemy then returned, and in short space took the City; there they found infinite store of gold, and all manner of treasure; the hundred part thereof would have paid the soldiers, and so have kept out the enemy, and preserved all. The enemy himself seeing the treasure hid basely, he lamented their folly: and this is a Proverb to this day among the Turks when one becometh very rich: You have been at the siege of Constantinople. I leave this Bone for all hidebound, close-fisted schismatics to gnaw upon. I will add what King James of ever blessed memory saith in his learned {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, verbatim his words are these in the 42. page of the said book: These are very Pests in Church and commonweal, whom neither oaths, nor promises can bind, breathing out nothing but sedition and calumnies, aspiring without measure, and railing without reason: making their own imaginations (without any warrant of God's Word) the square of their consciences. I protest before the great God, and since it is no time for me to lie, being now upon my Testament; (that ye shall never find with any hy-land, or border-theeves, greater ingratitude, and more lies, and vile perjuries than with these fanatic spirits. Read the rest of this Page, and the 43. of this most excellent book. I will add what I read in the Book of Homilies, Tom 1. p. 36. The world from the beginning till now, was ever prompt and ready to fall from God, and his holy commandments, in seeking other devices of their own brains; and a devotion found out by the devil and themselves: the which idle dreams and devices, they ever set up above God's commandments: What man of learning and sound judgement doth not see, how hypocrisy, schism, and faction, and heresy do not daily more and more creep into our Church. The four leavens thereof, doth almost four the unleavened lump. I will conclude with that reverend Bishop Juell, indeed the Juell of our Church: whose works are famous in our several Churches: He saith, O immortal God, have all our Orthodox Divines been out of the way: and now are a sort of schismatics only in the truth? God forbid, God forbid: It hath been an old complaint, even from the first time of the Patriarchs and Prophets, confirmed by the writings and testimonies of every age: (veritatem in terris peregrinam agere, & interagnotos, facile inimicos, & calumniatores invenire. Apologia Eccles. Ang. And God affect all our hearts with a serious and frequent cogitation of sickness, death, and the last judgement: that we may all fear God, and honour our King, and live in peace, as good subjects should do, according to God's holy Word, and blessed Ordinance: that in whatsoever we do think, or speak, we may ever mind that terrible voice, (Surgite mortui, & venite ad judicium.) St. Hieron. de Reg. & Monarch. Chap. 30. Saint Hierom oft did well record, The second coming of our Lord: When this huge Globe shall with fire flame, And all the creatures in the same: Therefore all mind that dreadful doom, Arise you dead, to judgement come. Here followeth my fantasy, or Conceit, between Tomasse Pragmaticus, and nick-all-ass nonsense. THomas thus began to vapour: Oh brother Nickallas, come, come, give me thy hand, give me thy hand: well met, well met: what news about religion? the time is come we looked for: there are rods in (these popish times) in piss, for all those papistical Protestants, and for this episcopal dependent Government, and governors: what sayst thou Nickallas? Nick. Ha, ha, he: well emet, well emet, brother Tom, ge me thy han, ge me thy vest (I say:) I con but laugh, ha, ha, lie. Oh my zide, oh my belly (I zay:) what did you hire of the Protestation protested, wherein thuck zweet Teacher (you know who) do say, that this government is popish, as indeed 'tis my Creed. Tom. But what sayst thou to this R. C. who hath written two Poems besides this? and in all three he doth extol this Antichristian government to the skies? Nick. I can him thirty or forty years better than thuck that maden: and no man knoweth what's in 'em: but ay c'm zure, he hath a little Pope in's belly: vor he is ever pouring in books, and mooping by himself: and this is the unjust cause he giveth thanks vor Zaints departed, and zets up Zaints in the Church; ha, ha, he, I have hit the nail on the head, c'm zure of that, ha, ha, he, oh my belly, and my side (I say.) Tom. I hit that in his teeth, and he said that he did put up one picture of St. James, in St. James his Church: and because he stood bareheaded at the time of Divine Service; therefore we have pulled it down: But the next time he shall be set up with his hat on his head, sitting on his Bum. I asked him why he gave thanks for Benefactors: and he replied. The practice of Oxford-Schollers was Christian; for they rehearse in the Pulpit a large Catalogue of Benefactors, by name; and giving God thanks for them all, because they loved our nation, and have built us Synagogues: I heard him say also that authority have removed the rails from the Communion-table, but Brairsick schismatics have brought all their railings into Pulpits: where they prate of Mag-pyes, coxcombs, Rooks, and woodcocks, Jack Dawes, crows, Ravens, their x German: and of Crossing, and lies, Psal. 59 12. Nick. Zay him what he wool, who hem do call praters are zweer Teachers; they con stoned under the originals; but not one word of Latin: vor Latin (God bless us) is the language of the whore of Rome. And a zet up a Zinc of Richard and John Dorothing, and a zaith they were Benefactors to their Church: but though o was a Benevactor, th' a pulden down with a vengeance, because a had on a Bishop's Cap on's head; ha, ha, he. Oh my side, I say, ho, ho. Tom. Brother Nickallas he set up Verses to this purpose. Saint James, and both Derothings, we Record, And for all such we bless and praise the Lord. And again: Such, and their works we high esteem. What ever brainsick fellows deem. And again: This Church repaired the time I fix, Sixteen hundred thirty six. And this following: Behold, a blessed sight to see, When men in peace and truth agree: Concord with truth, makes strong all things, This pleaseth God, and Christian Kings. But discord hath great mischiefs wrought, And kingdoms great hath brought to nought. Therefore good Christians all accord, In peace, and truth still please the Lord: Devils do join, tempt, and conspire, Always to bring all to hellfire: But men who do concord reject, Are worse than devils (in this respect.) Nick. Oh brother Tomasse, he makes us all worse than devils: ha, ha, he: I con but lafe. Tom. I asked him who he meant by those brainsick fellows? and he said, he did well hope they had been all at rotterdam, or Amsterdam. But being my poor harmless Verses have done their Errand, and schism and Faction hath made application, therefore now down with them, down with them, even to the ground: thus we see his ignorance. I asked him where the soul of Lazarus was while his body lay in the ground? and whether he did inherit his lands again when he was restored to life? and he smiled (as indeed his common manner is) and said he would not answer a fool in his folly. I demanded of him also, what God was doing before he made the world? and he said, for aught he knew, God was preparing hellfire to torment brainsick fools, (Unless they do repent in time.) Nick. I harden zay, that which we call porridge and mass is God's Divine Service; what zaist thou? Tom. I heard him compare the same to Nectar and Ambrosia; yea sweeter than the honey and the honeycomb. Nick. Zay what he wool, we zure must have all-turd this zourvice now or never. Tom. Ay truly brother Nick, away with this dependent government, both head and tail, root and branch. Down with all Universities, colleges, and schools, they do but maintain Learning, an enemy to us. Down with Churches, hospitals, and almshouses, they do but help the widows, fatherless, blind, sick and lame, these were most of them founded by Papists. Down with all these Crosses in general, especially that Idolatrous cross in Cheapside. Away with all orthodox Divines, as Doctors, Bishops, and such like: these all the swelling Titles of Anti-christ, and have a Pope in their bellies; being Papists in grain. Up with a barn, a Cow-house, a Stable, a hogs-sty, a dogs-kennel, a private house, or Privy house; the Woods, fields, in a Ditch, under a hedge, all those places are consecrated, as well as their Popish Churches. Nick. Ha, ha, he; gramercy, gramercy brother Tomasse; goe me thy vest; I zay I see thy zeal: away too with the zhitten smock of the whore of Rome. Tom. Away with the whore, strip her stark naked, make her a very Adamite, that silly senseless sinless shameless sister of ours. Nick. Brother Tom, I hope zhortly to zee thee vapour up into a Poopit vorzooth, as they are cobblers, Boxe-makers, feltmakers, Button-makers, Coatch-men, Bottle-Ale-sellers, tailors and butchers, and zuch like; these are all zweet Teachers: and all the happiness these poopish vellowes have, (next to the blood of Christ) they are beholding to us vor the zame. And I see the Zaints on Christ's, and they zay the Zaints in heaven too are worshipped; therevore I see no reason but they must all down. Tom. Brother Nick, I would not part from thee thus, but we have a private meeting anon: I pray thee meet me there. Nick. Ha, ha, he; zaist thou so? they zay our Prevemeetings are called Tickles, I cannot tell wot. Chivoz never so jovial zince thouze ebore, ha, he, ha. Oh what zhall I zay? I can but laugh: O my sides. Tom. Call they our meetings what they please: In a word, Mr. Faction doth teach to day; and he came lately from Amsterdam, or Rotterdam, or some other new Plantation, in Tom-Turbulents Ferry-Boat, with a huge springtide, the last great bearbaiting, and he landed at the Isle of Dogs. And Mr. Tickle he will tickle them in five places. Nick. Cha haden bevore now: there wool be no mass nor porridge: Zames, nor Glori Patria, no vurst nor zecond Lezon, no Epistle nor Gozpell, no Pater noster, vor that is a zin and popery to zay our Vather: no ten commandments; no Collects, no standing up at the Creed; nor no kneeling down, but all zitting on our Bummes, and our Hats on, shim as we zate by the vire zide: vor there's no prayer vor King or Queen nor their Children: no prayer vor vaire weather nor a nont vowle, and no prayer a nont word, vamine or zickness: But Mr. Vaction hath abundance of indiscretion, and a negligent care to prevent all good means to zee every thing our of order, and nothing as it should be. Oh brother Tomasse who would have thote to zee this zweet deformation: ha, he: I con but laugh; Oh my belly (I zay,) Tom. There will be more than a good many, well known to thee and to me: these by name, besides Master Faction and Master Tickle, there will be also Sir John Lack-latin Nebula news-carrier, Marmaduke Murmurer, Cabillus Complainer, Ralph railer, Roger Reviler, Randall Repiner, Rodrick Reprocher, Rodulphus Reformer, and Rowland Renegado Clement Corner-creeper, Edgar Etonist, Triston Trakite, Patrick Peevish, Anthony Antinomist, Quintilian quarrel-picker Pheb. Phanaticus, Sim Separatist, Frank Familist, Bat Brownist, and Hercules hateful. Not only all those subtle Buzzards, but also a rout of our sweet sisters: as Agnes Anabaptist, Kate Catabaptist, Frank Footbaptist, Penelope punk, Merald makebate, Ruth rakehell: Tabitha Tattle, Pru Prattle, and that poor silly, simple, senseless, sinless, shameless naked wretch, Alice the Adamite. As bare as one's nail: She shames not her tail. These for brevitics sake: the rest we shall see anon, and enjoy their sweet company. Then I conceited, I heard the forenamed Rout and Rabble whispering, crooking, and hissing, like Toads, Snakes, Adders, and Serpents, bussing, and hussing like whole swarms of Bees, wasps, and Hornets, thus croaking, hissing, buzzing, and hussing on both sides mine ears, which roused me up: and now I know my dream is out. For their Preaching, (or prating rather) against me is nothing but cursing, and lies, as I sald above, Psal. 59 12. But while they curse me, I will pray for them, as our blessed Saviour hath taught us all: (Father forgive them, they know not what they do) and as the Proto-Martyr, St. Stephen prayed for his mortal enemies, (Lord lay not this sin to their charge,) and as our Church in Old-England doth, teach us all to pray (that it may please thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts:) We beseech thee to hear us (good Lord.) For as much as schismatics cannot brook church-music, calling the same the devil's bagpipes: I shall now sing them a plainsong, and so wind up the bottom for this time. OLD Homer's Mastyx, Zoilus thou art, And carping. Momus, bitter, sharp and tart; You learned Poets spare my ignorance; The less I am, the more I you advance. Contraria juxta se posita, magis manifestant. All schismatics in general, Against our Church do vent their Gall, Like Cerberus, the Dog of Hell, At peace, and truth, they yelp and yell. In prayer they say, Lard, Lard, Lard, Lard, Lard, Lard, a hundred times is hard: But our Lords-prayer they despise, Because they are blind and precise. Behold, how they will brag and boast, Blaspheming still the Holy Ghost; They say the Spirit doth them lead; Because God's Word they hear and read. God's sacred word they ever wrest, And make it speak what faction list: Whereby they hide great villainy, With damned deep hypocrisy. Poor widows, and poor fatherless, They make no bones still to oppress: And for pretence, long prayers make, Because men should no notice take. The Mote within his brother's eye, The schismatic will soon espy, But his own beam doth cloud his sight, Hypocrisy doth him benight. Like painted tombs they do appear, With rottenness full fraughted are: Their hearts and tongues do not agree, To God nor King will bend their knee. Behold, when they do pray or fast, Their hands and eyes to skies they cast, Sighing foole-lowd, groan glout, and lower, Wringing a crabbed face most sour. But when the poor do cry for bread, The hidebound slave doth hide his head: With words Demure, he feeds the poor, False-frothy-food, he gives great store. As Joseph's Mistress cunningly, Chaste Joseph's garment laid her by, To show before her husband's face, To hide her whorish lust most base. Thus schismatics to Church will flock, But use Religion for a cloak; Unto Browne's Church they show great zeal, Despising Church, and commonweal. Fault-finders they will sing no song, But babble loud, in prayer long: No show of good in them is found: But Factions Trumpet loud must sound. With vestures, gestures, and such things; White-surplice, Rotchets, Hoods, and Rings, The schismatic will prating be, Still Mint & anise Tieth will he. men's virtues fools will seldom name, But blast men's vices to their shame; foul flies, such suck foul matter still, Rooting swinelike, in each dunghill. Caesar when he demands his due, Then startleth this brainsick crew: They prate forthwith some Scripture Text, To spare his money (being vexed.) Far from Saint Paul, behold he saith; That man denied hath the faith, Worse than an infidel he is. Who doth not all provide for his. The devil had his Scriptum Est, But sacred Writ he still did wrest. He tempts the Church, and Christ our Lord, Matth. 4. As holy Scripture doth Record. By herds into Browne's Church they come, And squot them down upon their Bum, God's Service they do all despise, They are so fond, blind, and precise. They still pretend a public good, But for Faction is understood, Our King and State, may sink, or swim, Peace seemeth nothing unto him. Against disorders fools will prate, Controlling King, the Church, and State; Bishops preach wrong, but cobbler's right: (If judge may be the Brain-sick-wight.) Their trade is all to prate, and hear, Because they are all mouth and ear; Like hounds, they hark, and bark about; Our Church is cumbered with this rout, They keep no calling honestly, But loiter, laze, catch, cheat, and lie, And when honest men's goods they nim, Freeholders still they prove to him. They read no books, but sacred Writ. But yet (God knows they have no wit) A senseless sense, themselves will give: None but a dunce will them believe. As holy-water scars a spirit, So learning frights the hy-po-crite: All our forefathers they despise, Grave Bishops, Doctors, Godly-wise. These reverend Fathers, fools reject, tom-cobbler will himself direct: In pulpits, tradesmen they extol; But King, and Church they all control. They seem a Papist to abhor, For idols vain they do adore: If one be bad, neither is good; With two faces under one Hood. A Drunkard, thief, or whoremaster, Rogues, ruffians, Bawds, I far prefer Before false-faining, seeming-good, Having two faces in one Hood. Sectaries still do idolise, Vain factious fancies as their eyes, But none can blind our God of light: No devil, nor no hy-po-crite. Saint James, why shouldst thou now have blame, Because our Church doth bear thy name? Moses and Aaron blessed are: No Catharists de-rothings were. Saints and their works we high esteem, What ever brainsick wise-men deem: Benefactors we all record: And for all such still praise the Lord. Blind zealots with blind zeal are bent, (Against order of Parliament: Their ears they prick up like an ass, And quarrels pick in glass, and brass. He that shall at my Verses stick, Perhaps may prove some schismatic: Sectaries, brainsick heads are sick, All spur-galled Jades will wince and kick. Fables and Factions fools love best, Fractions, and Factions I detest: What our King Charles doth defend, In that I live (and hope to end,) The Catholic undoubted-Creed, I do believe, and hold indeed: No way to bliss I know but one: That is (by Jesus Christ alone.) Lord bless King Charles his Majesty, His Queen, and royal Progeny: Elizabeth, with her offspring, Their praises all the Muses sing. The Honourable counsel grave, Thy counsel (Lord) for them we crave; And thus we pray with one consent: (Lord) help our present Parliament. God Almighty send peace among all Christians, and bless Great Britain; But principally increase, and also confirm and continue peace more and more between Old England and Scotland. Soli Deo, honour & Gloria. Richard Carter. FINIS.