A threefold Discourse between three Neighbours, Algate, Bishopsgate, and John Heyden the late Cobbler of Hounsditch, a professed Brownist.  
Whereunto is added a true Relation (by way of Ditty) of a lamentable fire which happened at Oxford two nights before Christ-tide last, in a religious brother's shop, known by the name of john of All-trades.  
LONDON, Printed for F. Cowles, T. Bates, and I. Wright. MDCXLII.   

A threefold Discourse between three Neighbours, Algate, Bishopsgate, and John Heyden the late Cobbler of Hounds-ditch, a professed Brownist.  Algate. 
SIster of Bishopsgate, what disastrous times are we fallen into, did you ever know the like?  Bishopsgate. 
Sister be content, you are not yet fallen, you were but lately built by the City, Senatus Populusque Londinensis, in the Mayoraltie of Sir Humphrey Weld; but I and my friends are like to come to ruin.  Cobbler. 
Truly Land-Lady, the matteriss not great, yet I confess I have kept a Cobbler's shop under your nose these two and twenty years, yet I never saw any great hurt in you, but that you bear the profane and idolatrous name of a Bishop.  Bish. 
Truly Neighbour, it hath not been accounted so in times past, nor (I hope) neither is or will be in these our times.  Cob 
Well, battle-headed Mistress, I heard a Sermon within these few days in moorfield's, the best of your Bishops in the Land might throw his cap at it.  Alg. 
I john, that is the way never to see it again, among such fellows as you: but are moorfield's your walks, where you and your fellows prate to no purpose.  Cob. 
Yes: and verily my new white painted Mistress, and we have better teaching there, than you have at your dull botolph's, or his brother by you, Mistress Bishopsgate.  Bish. 
Nay, that of my knowledge is false; ours is an honourable and a great Parish, neither is there such a famine of pious and learned Divines amongst us, like the famine of Samaria, where we (as you and your Brownists) must value an Ass' head at fourscore pieces of silver (that is ten pounds English) for every piece which was a Shekel, is half a Crown of our money. How many of your Sermons have been burned, their Authors hanged, what ridiculous divisions have you of your Texts? what blasphemous and detorted expositions, absurd applications? and amongst you the Text is no sooner read; but presently you fly from it, as wild beasts from fire, and fall a railing against rails, tell the people Surplices are smocks of the Whore (and I believe john you are acquainted with some of them) and how our Bishops are like Andirons of State, standing in a Chimney but for a show; but if an heavy block, or sad billets are brought to the fire, there are poor little iron Creepers or Cobirons underneath, that must bear all the weight, and those you resemble to the inferior Clergy that take all the pains: and thus in your Tubs, like Augustus in his Throne, you taxall the world. Truly now you were speaking of moorfield's, I am persuaded never cost was better bestowed, I never saw them, but I have heard as much. Why sister Aldgate (or Eldgate, if you please) they are the most necessary, pleasant, and the sweetest walks, that can lie by the side of any city in Europe; they say those are goodly walks, with four or five distinct rows of trees, which are upon the walls of Antwerp.  Alg. 
There is a Dutch Candle-maker dwelling in Whitechapel hath oftentimes told me as much, and that those walls were five and thirty strides or paces broad.  Bish. 
He spoke the truth, they are so indeed.  Cob. 
Talk no more: Moor fields of itself is a most profane place, they never get my good word, and except upon the Lord's day to a teaching or exercise I never mean to come thither again.  Bish. 
It may be john, you are in debt at some of the Alehouses, and dare not show your head but upon a Lord's day, when their doors are shut, and all are gone to Church.  Cob. 
I confess my leather hath been well liquored at Burwels' Babble, where Mr. Geffreson sells the excellent Ale and Cakes: but since my conversion I say, Go, I know you not.  Alg. 
And why I pray you neighbour, are moorfield's become so odious in your sight?  Cob. 
For the great offence they give to us the godly and sober-minded; first, they are receptacles of unclean beasts.  Bish. 
That's true indeed, for horses graze there.  Cob. 
They carry the mark of the Beast.  Alg. 
As how john?  Cob. 
Do you not see how the walks are laid out, and made in the form of a cross, which is execrable, abominable, and intolerable?  Bish. 
Why john, are not you yourself made in the form of a cross? spread but your arms abroad and see.  Cob. 
Verily I am, and it is more than ever I knew before, one I see may live and learn, but I shall like myself the worse for it as long as I live.  Cob. 
No I profess, their four quarters are railed about in abominable manner, like a Communion Table; if some Parishes and Churchwardens I know had the fingering of them, I know what would quickly become of them.  Alg. 
You have now done, have you any more to say?  Cob. 
Yes verily, the Pope's head is there nailed up for a sign and makes 〈◊〉 fair a show as Pope- joane did with her great b●lly in Redstreet.  Bish. 
Rederosse-street you mean, but what of that?  Cob. 
It is a burning shame it should be tolerated, when all Papists in England are denied tolerated.  Alg. 
It is suffered it may be for some especial end which you know not, as perhaps many Papists and Popish Priests belonging to outlandish Ambassadors which lie thereabout walking to take the air, for the signs sake will rather go thither to drink a Pint or a quart of wine, then to another place, and so perhaps will you and your brethren do sometime.  Cob. 
You are deceived Mrs. we never go for the signs sake, but for the wine's sake.  Bish. 
I believe you john, but what say you to the great Turk's head hanging out a little beyond?  Cob. 
I say, from Turk and Pope defend us Lord.  Bish. 
That was a Psalm, added to the singing Psalms, long since, by one Robert Wisdom.  Cob. 
I believe it, it was long since Robert Wisdom was seen amongst us, he lived in the time of Q. Eliz. And since I have not heard of any or very few of that name, it was a Psalm in my opinion that put down all the rest, beside it had binan excellent tune, my father when he lived in Goos-toft, would often whistle it at plough.  Alg. 
But what say you john to the trees, so evenly planted and thriving, which with their eye-pleasing green and cool shadow in the hot Summer give so great delight and content to the whole City.  Cob. 
They look (me thinks) like so many of your Bishops Standing about the Communion rails to defend them.  Alg. 
Against such as you are it may be.  Cob. 
Nay they look like Bishops for all the world for there are Some poor underling trees besides them which cannot thrive and Prosper, because those greater over-drop them, keep the sun from them, or suck from earth the juice which should nourish them, to themselves.  Bish. 
But what is the reason they are called moorfield's, can you tell me john withal the wit you have?  Cobbler. 
Because it may be there are more fields in England beside these.  Alg. 
That is without doubt.  Cob. 
Or rather because more learned and godly teaching by us and our brethren is here exercised then in the City or the whole land beside, or it may be they are so called from a Blackamoor set over an Alley gate in these fields.  Bish. 
Nay john now you have overshot yourself.  Cob. 
I talk of moorefield's and not of Finsbury: there indeed is shooting and not preaching.  Bish. 
But neighbour john Cobbler let me tell you in good earnest, when I was built new in the time of K. Richard the second, (whose statue in stone holding his unfortunate and broken Sceptre in his hand, I bear upon my Frontispiece, on the other side Wenceslaus his wife's father the Emperor, yet many say it was K. Edward the 3.) certain calves tied about the necks withwiths being brought for a present to Wat Tyler and his Rebels then in Smithfield, whom, (let me tell you by the way) K. Richard could plainly discern from Long Acre, so rare were houses and buildings in the Suburbs in those days) were all stifled and drowned in those fields, which were nothing else but a Moor or Quagmire whence they took their name, nay it was such within these 40. or 50. years. Sister Algate had they brought by your way, (the common road of calves) they had been out of danger.  Cob. 
Verily Mrs. Algate I have known of late years many calves to have been brought out of Essex and other plaaes unto your Gate, where when they should have entered, their simple country drivers would not suffer them, but drove them home again.  Alg. 
They were simple indeed, but what was their meaning so to do?  Cob. 
Why, I will tell you, you carry upon your top two huge Giants in Armour, holding up and ready as it were to throw down mighty bullets, who affright both the calves and the country mon, that I have heard some protest that for their lives they could not persuade the driver to venture them through this was at their first setting up, and I well remember in that year Veale was so scarce at Leaden Hall, that hardly any could be got for money.  Bish. 
john they were placed there to show the ancient defence of Ports, which when the enemy offered to assail or break open, Armed men stood aloft and threw down huge stones, pieces of timber and such like, to kill or knock them down, but I hear john Cobbler you are a pretender to Divinity, and are ready to turn Preacher.  Cob. 
Why not I as well as Walker the Ironmonger.  Alg. 
I think you never come to any of our Churches in the City.  Cob. 
Very seldom; yes, I was half a year since at Annes within Aldersgate, and once a fortnight ago at Marget's in West minster.  Bish. 
St. Marget's you should say.  Cob. 
The matter is not great, they were built by the Papists and smell of superstition to this day, for name any Church about the City that was built in time of the Gospel, Cree-church excepted, and that by Tuttle-street in Westminster not yet execrated, as they call it.  Alg. 
Consecrated thou wouldst say, that indeed is new, but Cree-Church was new built upon an old foundation, if we should be all of your opinion: we should come to no Church at all, but hear Sermons in woods as you do.  Cob. 
Did not john Baptist preach in the desert or wilderness? And multitudes of people followed to hear him.  Bish. 
john you are much deceived, that was no obscure place like St. john's wood whither you and your fellows go, but a woody Country wherein were many Towns and Cities, like the forest of Sherwood in Nottinghamshire inhabited with many people.  Cob. 
I will never believe that, for all I am a Translator myself.  Alg. 
But john I pray thee tell me how camest thou to be a Brownist at the first.  Bish. 
I have heard that the first beginner of your Sect was a miserable Doctor in the University who sold his commons & seized away his part of white-bread and lived all the week with a sixpenny brown loaf, which occasion gave you all your names.  Cob. 
No our first father was Mr. Brown parson of A church in Northamptonshire where he died after his many persecutions among the wicked.  Alg. 
So he that would have no Church was afterward parson of a Church.  Bish. 
But I assure you john he recanted his opinions and died an Orthodox Protestant and an honest man, it is true he was persecuted in all places, he fled into Scotl●nd, and had been hanged, had he not been near a kin unto the L. Treasurer Cicill, (for he was a Gentleman borne, and of an ancient family of the Brownes of Tolthorpe) beside he was endued with many good and gentile qualiti●●, among the rest he was a singular good Lutenist, and he made his Son T●mothy usually on Sundays bring his Viol to Church and play the Base to the Psalms that w●re sung, so far was he (like you and your fellows) from being an enemy to Church Music.  Cob. 
I would have given all the Shoes in my shop I had known so much before. But Landlady Bishopsgate, and Mrs. Algate, time calls me away, I have three pair of boots to mend for the Norwich foot-post, and a pair of shoes for honest Mr. Sacchar of Buttolph's, and I hope ere long we shall meet, and then i'faith I will have a fling at you and your namesake the Bishops.  Bish. 
Well john I shall defend those Bishops well enough, and will Petition that those Reverend men may have their liberty to go abroad in the days, and repair to their Brother in the Tower again at night, Farewell.   

Zeal overheated: A Relation of a lamentable fire which happened at Oxford two nights before Christ-tide, in a religious Brother's shop, who though he laboured in all men's trades, yet his trades were fewer than his tricks, to fetch over the wicked, that he might afford the godly a better Pennyworth.  
To the Tune of Chivey Chace.  


ATtend you brethren, every one,  
And listen with a pair  
Of swaggering ears, which have out grown  
By many an inch the hair:  
Of Popish flames I will relate  
to you a doleful st●rie,  
Which turned a zealous shop of late  
into a Purgatory.   

There dwells ●n Oxon near the place  
where ho●y C … rnish teacheth,  
One that i● all trades h●th such grace,  
the wicked he ●●-●eaches.  
This brother first a Stoic was  
Peripatetical;  
For 'bout the world as he did pass,  
his wealth he carried all.   

But when his sins had made his pack  
Too heavy for his shoulder,  
J'th ' foresaid place he eased his back,  
and turned a stayed householder.  
In all occasions by and by  
he grew so great a Meddler,  
That if th'Exchange his shop stood nigh,  
you'd take him for no Pedlar,   

By slight of tongue be could fetch over  
all Sparks that came unto him,  
Except those which two nights before  
Christ-tide had like to undo him.  
When he to sleep himself had set,  
and dreamed of no more fire,  
Than those his zeal and little Pet  
kindled in his desire.   

He heard some cry, Fire, fire, amain,  
and said that were he slack,  
Great john of All trades would again  
be brought to his first pack:  
Then hasting dowry to see what burned,  
the smoke did almost stop  
His breath: the new Exchange was turned  
to a Tobacco shop.   

His wise came down at that report,  
her clothes hung in such pickle,  
As she were new come from the sport  
after a Converticle:  
And first in these flames she espied  
a pure Geneva Bible,  
With gilded leaves, and strings beside,  
that were not contemptible.    

The second Part,  
to the same Tune.  

But with less grlefe he could have seen't,  
as he then said to some one,  
Had but the Apocrypha been in't,  
and Prayers that we call Common:  
The Practice there of Piety,  
and good St. Katherine Stubs  
Were martyred, which oft quoted he  
had heard in several Tubs.   

Then being of his Dods bereft,  
and Cleavers all and some,  
You may presume that there was left  
of Comforts never a Crum.  
A chest of Cambrics and Holland  
was turned to a box of tinder,  
His virgin's tapers out were brand,  
th'Extinguishers could not hinder.   

They that his Taffities did see,  
and various Ribbons strait  
Concluded that in burnt silks he  
was richly worth his weight:  
His Hobby horses erst so tame,  
some babes of grace might run  
A race upon them, now became  
hot as the Steeds o'th' Sun.   

Of Canes there smoking lay great store,  
his eyes ●ad s●one espied them,  
They never were fi●e canes before,  
though he had oft belied them:  
Mirrors and Prespectives than might  
be burning glasses called;  
The fever grew so hot that night,  
the periwigs grew bald.   

The Mousetraps, Fly-flaps, and whole shelves  
of whips, with other some  
Such dreadful instruments themselves  
suffered a martyrdom:  
But to conclude, the flame being done,  
some that were there did swear,  
Though Christ-tide were not yet begun,  
yet was Ash-wednesday there.   

Dear brethren, be not then too hot,  
for if unto your harm  
Your zeal like this take fire, I wots,  
you'll wish 'twere but lukewarm.  
God bless the King, the Queen and Issue,  
Nobles and Parliament,  
And may all such affrightments miss you  
of the furious element.   

And keep all from disasters,  
And such as now good servants are,  
May never prove bad masters.    
FINIS.