Tom NASH his Ghost. To the three scurvy fellows of the upstart Family of the Snufflers, Rufflers and Shufflers; the thrice Treble-troublesome Scufflers in the Church and State, the only Lay Ecclesi-Ass, I call GENERALLISSIMO'S. Being like Jobs 3. Comforters, or the Churches 3. Anti-Disciples, the Clergies 3. Persecutors, the States 3. Horsleeches, the devils 3. Chaplains; namely, the Anabaptist, the Libertine, and the Brownist. Written by Thomas Nash his Ghost, with Pap with a Hatchet, a little revived since the 30. Year of the late Qu. Elizabeth's reign, when Martin Mar-Prelate was as mad as any of his Tub-men are now.  
Printed first at York, and since reprinted at London. 1642.   

Tom NASH his Ghost.  

I Am a Ghost, and Ghosts do fear no laws;  
I Nor do they care for popular Applause:  
I lived a Poet poor, long time ago;  
And (living a poor Poet) I died so.  
The thirtieth year of blessed Eliza's reign  
I had a jerking, sirking, jerking vein;  
In those days, we had desperate madmen here,  
Who did the Queen, State, Church and kingdom jeer▪  
And now a Crew are up as wise as those  
Who do all Rule and government oppose.  
In those days I did bring those men in frame;  
And now my Ghost is come to do the same.  
Their Leaders were called martin's; but I call  
These fellow's swallows, they would swallow all.  
I then did gall their Galls, and spite their spite,  
I made the Nests of Martin's take their flight;  
But first they had dispersed their fond opinions,  
In sundry places of the Queen's Dominions,  
Which (like Impostumes) not well cured at first,  
Corrupted ever since, doth now out-burst.  
Wherefore my airy Ghost shall undertake  
Once more to try a perfect Cure to make;  
For (being now iuvisible, a Spirit)  
I cut through th' air, and in the Earth can ferret,  
And in an augur hole myself can hide,  
And hear their knaveries and spy unspide.  
My Lines are sharp, but charity's my ground,  
My aim is to conform not to confound,  
But if my labour prove to be in vain,  
My Ghost shall (whence it came) return again.    

TOM NASH HIS GHOST. APPEARING To the Anabaptist, the Libertin●, and the BROWNIST.  
IT were a troublesome and tedious business for a general counsel (with the help of all the universities) to give these whom I write to, corresponden●Epithetes, Names, Titles, and Tittle-tattles that may be suitable to their Educations and continual practice; for as when Monopolies and Projects did oppress and molest this kingdom like swarms of caterpillars; in which unjust designs too many crafty companions did abuse the King's name, in playing the Knaves, to the mighty and intolerable general injury of his majesty, and all his subjects: so these Locusts are crawled out of the bottomless Pit, an● under the blessed name of God they do play the devil's incarnate.  
It is to be wondered at, what wondrous pains they take to do wickedly; how their unholy and crooked imaginations have pumped into their impious fancies the false conceptions of some virtuous matter; then are they in extreme pain and travel till they are delivered from the abortive Issue of their addle Brains: for which (although they have no acceptance from God, nor thanks from good men (but rather hatred from all) yet out their stinking stuff must, or the musty Verse must break or crack all the hoops, or the devil perhaps may want his due if authority be not reviled against, and a long schismatical Oration hyppocratically stretched out to the Rabble of their disobedient and unlicked Auditors, who out of their deep ignorance, do extol the vapourous matter, with a wine-drawne speech and lowting courtesy, bless them for that day's exercise, in inveighing so vehemently and bitterly against all Rule and Government, in Church and State; when indeed his admired mouth better deserved the help of Doctor Executioner, that he might wipe it with a hempen wisp.  
Their Tongues have been the Wedges their Heads the Beetles, and their Pens the Axes that have split, rent and cloven all our blessed peace, content and happiness which we lately enjoyed: their Books have been shot (like Bolts) whereby this kingdom's disgrace is not only overspread over itself; but also our dishonour is scattered over the face of all Christendom; and though they be so ignorant that they cannot dispute with a Sexton; yet they will take upon them to displace Bishops and learned Divines, and place in their rooms Weavers and Wyer-drawers.  
But the wisdoms of these Martinists, will answer, that Bishops have been erroneous, negligent proud, contentious, covetous, uncharitable, ambitious, &c. all which is granted, but it is not granted that all Bishops have been so (nor at least) so bad as these fellows would make them) as men are men, so men are subject to error and failings: if some great men in high and eminent places have done amiss, doth it stand with your witless reasons quite to overthrow and cast down their high Callings, Functions and necessary Offices: some judges perhaps have done corruptly; ergo, we will have no more judges: you may better argue, that many Separatists are malicious or ignorant Knaves, and therefore we would have no more Separatists. This were to be as wise, as he that pulled down his house, because there was one old rotten post in it, or that all your Tribe should have no easier cure for the toothache, but by knocking out your brains: No, no, my friends (a far off) there is no doubt but if the State were settled, (which by your Sectaries have too much disturbed) there are (under God) parliamental chirurgeons and physicians that with his royal majesties most humble, hearty, loyal and all desired assistance and protection, would soon recover this almost gangreaned Church and commonweal to its former health, and most renowned reputation and dignity.  
I would wish these shuttle-heads that desire to rake in the embers of Rebellion, to give over blowing the coals too much, lest the sparks flee in their faces, or the ashes choke them: some of them have made such hot work already with tutoring their Tutors; that their own lips are burnt: It is well known that their magnified Teachers have three several times in the presence of God taken their Oaths, wherein they have vowed all canonical obedience, and they ought to observe the said oaths, till such time as the wisdom of that power and authority which ordained these oaths do alter or ●brogate the same as occasions may requi●e. But though they seemed constantly to swear obedience to those venerable Edicts of the Church; yet it is found that their humble submission was but dissembling intrusion; and now they are possessed of their Pulpits, they take great care that no learned conformable Preacher shall come there at any time, for fear that if truth come once to light, than their Cake will be dough, and they being once discovered to their Auditors (especially their good Dames) may happen to want their pudding, Bacon, with other good cheer, besides some other courtesies at Conveticles,  
Thus, when these extraordinary qualified Theologues are mounted in their Thrones, a Popish Priest can hardly outdo him in strange postures, as in lifting up the pureness of the whitest whiteness of his eyes; then mark how he displays his arms as if he were swimming; also the terrible assault and battery that the poor cushion endures, the haukings, hemmings, humings, coughings, spittings (with other Parenthesis while there is more matter a pumping) besides the terble thundering voice against our church-liturgy, although they do know that they lie, and that that book was approved of by the learned Calvin and all the reverend Fathers of the blessed Reformation in King Edward's reign. That five martyred Bishops, (namely, Archbishop Cranmer, Bishop Ridley, Bishop Latimer, Bishop Hooper, Bishop Farrar, with many more godly men and glorious Martyrs, (whom the Papists most cruelly burnt and persecuted; yet they all at their very deaths did acknowledge our church-liturgy, or commonprayer book, and sealed their faiths with their bloods, by the Papist Tyranny; and is it possible that any should be so shameless as to say that book is Popish now  
The said book was suppressed in Q. Mary's reign because it was not Popish: The said book was not Popish in all the happy reign of Q. Elizabeth, nor was it esteemed either Popish or Romish in all the reign of King James: in both the times of these three mighty Princes (of ever-blessed memory) and till within these three or four years, there hath scarce●y been heard of any learned or Religious minded Protestant that did ever hold that book to be stuffed with Romish rags of Popery, although some things in it may be amended, and somethings quite omitted.  
But you have such nice stomachs that nothing will down with you except it be sauced with disobedience and contention; you being such odd fellows whom Learning, wit, sense or Reason can by no means satisfy. Whips are for slaves and not swords, and it is fit that such as wisdom cannot satisfy, should have their mouths bunged up with jeers, will nothing agree with your appetites, or relish well in your palates, but the bald-rib of a Bishop, or the jowl of a judge? truly I hold it better that some of you were taken away with Gregory's voider; the Reason is, there are Caps with four corners, and those you distaste; there are creatures to be met in one corner, hold there; and there is a Tree near Paddington with three corners; but no more of that (I pray) though it is necessary that some of you should escape no worse.  
I am so clear-sighted that I can see through the very veins and sinews of your Consciences; for your Religions you may (many of you) cast cross and Pile, and for your just dealing you may play at my Sow has pigged. Therefore it is wholesome for the times that such Cocks as you should be let blood in the comb.  
It is a marvel that most of your perverse Sects have not wry mouths, for very few of you do speak right at any time; but out of the concupiscence of your Consciences, and the Learning you are endued withal in Crooked-Lane Latin, hath got you with child with Rebellion; and being with child you long to swallow Churches, and devour Authority, but you will be told one time or other that there is some odds betwixt Learning and Libelling.  
I know some that will do their ill-good will to outlaw my soul for writing this, and they will serve an execution of damnation upon me, but if I be aware of their coming I will meet them with such a powder that shall make their bones to rattle in their Skins like 3. blue beans in a blue bladder rattle bladder rattle.  
And for a conclusion, It is as lawful, for honest men by either speaking or writing to make the malicious Facts and Acts of Knaves known, as it is for Knaves to slander and abuse honest men; and most certain it is that the Leaders of these Factions do know they are out of the way, and would be glad to return again (were it not for some worldly respect) for which causes they must impudently go on, according to the old Proverb, over-shoes, over Boötes.  
FINIS.