For as ther hatrede unto the caus is without ground , so ther cruelti to thos that profess the same is withe out measure . Therfore good readere , if thou heere of any mean or compassionable punishmente inflicte de vpon them ( who to say the truth haue deserved non at all , I mean the print ers ) I would never haue thee stande to expostulate with our Bb : for this vntimly leniti of theirs , for whom I dare take myne other ( for I knowe them soe well ) that if there fall out any good to those poore men thrughe the providence of god , and the gracious elemency of the majestie , they for their parts are no more guilty , or accessary vnto it thē the Spanish unquisitors them selues . For in deed in this one point they are of my mynd vz . That reformation can nor well cum to out church withe out bloud . And that noe bloud can hansomely be spilt in that cause , vnlese they them selues be the buchers , and horse leaches to drawe it out . Thou seest evidently they claim that as a piece and portion of their in heritaunce But tell them from me : that we feare not men who can but kille , the bodye : because we feare that god who can cast both body and soule into vnquenchable fire . And tell them alsoe this . This the more bloode the churche loseth the mor lif and blood it gets When the fearfull sentence pronounced against the persecuters of the truth is executed vpon them , I would then gladly know , whether they who go abont thus to sheade our bloode : or we whose blood cryeth for vengeance against them , shall haue the worst ende of the staffe . We are sure to posses our soules in everlasting peace , when soever we leav this earthly tabernacle : & in the mean tyme we know : that an haire of our heade can not falle to the grounde without the wil of out heaven lye father : who of his greate mercye loueth vs in , and for our Saviour Crist Iesus , and that with a loue as farr passing the loue of a naturall father towarde his children , as he who so loueth vsexcelleth all carthly parents . This perswation being steadfastly enrgafted in theire harts , who either now or hear-after shal be trodled for this cause will be a comfort to them in the midest of all their distresses .

And good reader whosoever thou art I would not haue thee discouraged at this that is latlie fallen out . Resone not frome the successe of thinges vntoe the goodnesse of the causse . For that savourethe too much of the fleashe . yf in be houlding the state of the lowe coutreys , & of Fraunce thou wouldest haue so resoned with thy self thou mightest easylie haue giuen the holye religion of god the slipp 20 yers agoe . Thou must think that in thease successes though they be manye tymes lamentable to the children of god , yet the Lord him selfe hath a specy all hand to trye it maye be who theye are , that with a double face , and who with a siuule hart doe affecte the cause . As to the presente action howsoever ther may escape me some coruption in the handling . Let them be well assured it vas not vndertaken to be intermitted at everye blast of euill successe . Naye let them knowe that by the grace of god the last yeare of martinisme , that is , of the discrying and displaying of L Bb shall not be , till full 2 yeas after the last year of Lambethisme : that is , so ioyning most godles proceadings vnto to the maintenaunce of an Antichristian and vnlawfull callings in gods churche aginst the knwn truth : for that in deed is righlycaled Lambethisme or Cooperism chuse you whether .

And be it knowne vnto them that Martinisme stands vpon an other maner of fundat on , then ther prelacy doth or can stand . Therofe yf they will needs ouerthrowe me , let them goe in hand with the exdloyte , rather by prooving the lawfullnes of their places : then by exercising the force of ther vnlawefull tyranny . For one again I feare not ther tyranny . And one sound syllogism ( wich I tell you is dainty ware in a bishopes breast ) brought in for the poofe of their vnlawfull callings , shall more dismay & sooner enduce me to giue over my course then a thousand warants a thousad pursevants , a thousand threts and a thousand racks wich course because they take not , therefore all theire other drifts , & devises are to non othere end , then to shewe the greate care and skilie they haue to carye awaye all the blowes but what get they by thertirannye : seeing it is truth and not violence that most vphoulde their places ? Doe they not knowe that the more violence they vse , the more breath they spende . And what wisdome were this trowe ye for a man that had coursed him selfe windlesse , to atempt the recoverye of his breath by running vp , and downe to find ayre ? So you know he might soon haue as much life in his members , as L Bb haue relligion and conscience in their proceedings .

The whol issu of ther forc & bloodthurstie attemptes doth nothing els but witnes againste them that they are the children of those fathers , who neuer as yet durst abide to haue their proceedings examined by the word , and me thinks they should be ashamede to haue it recordede vnto ages to come , that they haue evere shuned to meintaine theyre cause , eithere by open disputation , or or by any other sounde conference or writing . Let me be ouerthrown by any of these wayes , and I doe here by these my writings publikly protest , that I wil neuer molest L. bishopp againe while I liue , but wil with very great vehemencie , to the vttermost of my endeuour , maintain them and their cause , as euer I did oppugne the same ; otherwise I do with the like constancie and resolution protest , that by the aide and assistance of God , I wil neuer leaue the displaying of them and their proceedings vntil they bee made as odious in our Churche and common wealth , as that they be thought of al sorts , vnworthie to be hardoured therein .

And this offer of mine so reasonable and in euery respect so easie to be yeelded vnto , if they refuse ; who seeth not therein a secrete implying , and a close graunting of the desperatnesse and miserie of their cause ? which shaketh and quiuereth , and shrinketh as it were , in ●he sinowes , to thinke that there shold ●… e any buckling towardes ; and there●ore doth wisely shift of all honest and lawfull meanes of triall , as hauing nothing to vpholde it , but tyrannie and blood .

Nowe because they woulde gladly know Martin , I wil here set them down a waye , whereby they maye not onely know him , but ( that which is more delightfull vnto them ; they may quench their thirst with his blood if they wil : ) prouided that they bee able to make their cause good against him by the worde of God .

I doe therefore by this my protestation , make it knowne to the whole church of England , especially vnto our magistrats , more especially vnto our gracious soveraign , and vnto al posterities to com , that I who do now go vnder the name of Martin Marprelate , do offer personally to apear , and there to make my self knowen in open disputation , vpon the danger , not onlie of my libertie but also of my life , to maintaine against all our bishops or any els whosoever , that shal dare in any Scholastical manner , to take their parts : the cause of the church government , which is now in controversie betwixt me and our prelats : so that I may have this condicion following inviolablie kept & obserued , vz . That for appearing , or for anye thinge that I haue eyther published or caused to be published in this cause , I be not delt with , or molested , except thei overthrow me by the worde of God , which if they doe , confusion be vpon me if I doe not yeelde . But if in this encounter I overthrowe them ( as I make no question of it , if they dare abide the pushe ) then they to trusse vp and be packing to ROME , & to trouble our church no longer . Provided also , that if any of the Puritanes wil ioyn with me , & venture their liues in the cause , it maye be lawfull for them to come in freely against these dragons in disputation .

I call thee here againe ( good reader ) to witness the indifferencie of my challenge and offer , and to iudge what accounte thou oughtest to make of our present Church-gouernement by lord archbishops and bishops , vpon the refusall of the former condition by thē ; and whether thervpon , I may not iustly and lawfully proclaime the victorie ouer them in manner following .

Be it knowne vnto all states , Churches , and Vniversities vnder heauen ; and vnto all men , eyther present or to come , of what estate or condition soeuer : that in asmuch as M. Fenners , & M. Penties syslogismes , whereby Doctor Bridges his booke is confuted , and the cause of reformation vnanswerably prooued . M. Trauers , M. Cartwrights , & M. Gilbyes , the Demonstration of discipline , the Abstract , the Counterpoyson , M. Tindall , M. Frith , M. Barnes , M. Hooper , M. Pilkington , M. Foxe , and M. Martin Marprelates writinges , together with other learned discourses mo ; whereby the corruption , and the vnlawfulnes of the places , and proceedings of L. bishops , are shamefully laide open vnto the worlde , are as yet vnanswered ; and likely to be no otherwise confuted , then with slanders , ribaldry scurrillity , reuiling , imprisonment , and torture : and inasmuche , as they dare not maintaine their cause against mee by open and publike disputation ; that therefore they doe manifestly confesse their cause and procedings to be clean foild , ouerthrown , and made euen with the grounde , in suche sorte , as beside whorish impudencie , halter , axe , bonds scourging and racking , with suche other weapons , as were bequeathed vnto them by their forefathers , the auncient enemies and persecutors of the Churche , they haue not left any instrument to defend themselues .

And let thē be sure , seeing they dare come to no lawfull way of try all with me , that there shall not be ap post in any great streete or place of concourse , almost in the lande , but I will make an affixe ; and set vp this my foresaide declaration of the victorie hadde ouer them , to their shame : and I will also make forraine nations ring of their villanies and vngodlines , if the publishing of their doings in latine can doe it .

And as for my self , my life , and whatsoeuer els I possesse , I haue long agone set vp my rest , making that account of it , as in standing against the enemies of God , and for the libertie of his church it is of no value in my sight . My life in this cause shal be a gayne to the church , and no losse to my selfe , I knowe right well : and this is al the reckning which by the assistance of the lord I wil make as long as I liue , of al the torments they haue deuised for me . I am blamed of many in this mine attempt , not onely for throwing my selfe into great daunger ; but also for the vtter vndoing of my wife and children . I do thanke thē with all my hearte , for their care ouer those poore soules , and commend thē for their secresie and wisdome , that in knowing my wife and my children , they haue not by shewin their vnmeasurable loue towards them , discouered me You see what it is when wise men haue the handlinge of a matter . I perceine if these men were not verye prouident and warie , that Martin could not bee long vnknowne . For I tel you , if a mans wife and children be once knowne , it is not possible that he can be secret any long time ; and yet me thinkes , that all their wisdome , and al their care ouer my wife and children when the matter is wel wayed , is scant woorth three strawes . For what if Martin had neyther wife nor childe in all his life , are they not then something too much ouer wayned in their owne conceit , who giue out , that he hath both . Wil you beleeue me then if I tel you the truth ? to put you therefore out of all doubt , I may safely protest vnto you with a good conscience , that howsoeuer the speech may seeme strange vnto many , yet the very truth is , that hitherto I neuer had wife nor childe in all my life : not that I neuer meane to haue anye ; for it may be , notwithstanding all the rage and barkinge of the Lambetheticall whelpes , I may be married , & that ere it belong .

For me thinks this should be inough that two onely of the Metropolitanes of the lande , shoulde continue mayden ( though I feare scarce virgine ) priestes . But whensoeuer I am maried , it would do me good at the heart , to see a dozen of good and honest L. bishops daunce at my wedding , sauing that as M. Tindall hath verye well noted , Practize of Prelates , page 374. It is not possible naturally , there should be any good and honest L. bishopp . Well , howsoeuer it goes with me , you see howe little cause as yet , my wife and children haue to feare that antichrist of Lambeth & his instruments .

To omitte these matters , will they know indeede why I feare them not , & wherefore they ought not to terrifie thee ( good reader , if the Lord hath bestowed vpon thee the same minde that he hath vouchsafed mee ? ) Why surely it is , because they against whom I deal , haue so prouoked the anger of God , and the prayers of his Churche against thē , as stand long they cannot ; if eyther lord be true of his promise , or the praiers of the Churche made in sayth ; can be hearde . Of both which I make no question . Hereunto you may ad , that I feare them not , inasmuche as the ende wherefore I haue taken this worke in hand , was onely the glory of God , by deliuering of his Churche , from the great tyrannie and bondage , wherewith these tyranntes doe oppresse the same . I delt not herin , as the Lord knoweth , because I woulde please my selfe or my reader , in a pleasant vain of writing . If that bee the thing I sought or seek after ; then let my writings be buried in the graue of all proud prelates ; that is , neuer mentioned in the church of God without detestation . Euen so was it as farr from mee that by sharpening my penne against them , I shoulde thereby ( as some foolishely giue out ) make away for my selfe , or other great men vnto their liuinges and promotion . For if the possession and enioying of a good conscience but for one day alone , be not more deare to me then all their vngodly pompe , and ambicious preheminence ; then let mine aduersaries prey vpon me , and let my reward be nothing else , but the very bitternesse of their malicious heartes . I haue I thanke God of mine own , wherwith I am better content , then they are , with all their spoile and robberie . And if I wanted , I coulde tell howe to liue in an honest calline , with better credit in the Churche of God , then all the L. byshopps of England doe : and I may safely saye , it is so far from me , to bringe the Churche liuinges into the hands of any but the ministers , and officers thereof ; that I can no more abide Church-robberie in a temporall man , then I can brooke sacriledge in a presumptuous priest : as I hate thee on , so I abhorre the other .

But as concerninge the laying open of their bishopprickes to the spoyle of such cormorants as gape for their down fals , thereby only to enrich themselues I greatly muze , that our prelates wil be so ouersene as to charge me therwith . For it is well knowne , that none of thē all , no not the proudest prieste in the lande , doth so cumber himselfe , in caring how he should liue that comes after him : but that now al of them begin pretily , either of their wonted loue to themselues , or of ther natural spight to their successors ; to take such charitable order , as that if they maye haue their wils , I hope ther shal not be much left in a while , to allure anye couetous Courtier to the spoile . Wherein , no disprayse to any , I must needs commende for their forecast in this pointe , a couple of as arrant bishops ( for it were pitie to bereaue the deuil of his due commendation ) as anye the land yeeldeth . The men , or rather beasts that I mean , are Iohn London , and Thomas Winchester : whereof the one at Fulham , the other by Whitney in Oxfordshire ; haue so contended in throwing down Elmes , as if the wager had bene , whether of them shoulde most haue impouerished their bishoppricks . And yet I blame not Mar-Elme , so much as Cooper for this facte : because it is no lesse giuen him by his name to spoil elmes , then it is allotted him by the secrete iudgement of God to mar the church . Whereas a man of M. Coopers age , & occupation , so wel seene n that trade , might easily knowe , that tubs made of greene timber , must needs leake out of al cry . And yet now I consider with my selfe ; I do not so greatly maruell at the matter : For he that makes no conscience to be a deceiuer , and a false prophet in the buildinge of the Churche ; will not sticke for his gaine , to be a deceifull workeman in making of tubbs .

Well , concerning the care that our prelates haue , in leauing of this behoouefull for their successours . I may truely saye , that were it not more for feare of law than for any conscience of the maintenance of the ministerie ; the whol bishoppricke , euen to day before to morowe , woulde not yeelde a L. byshop so much , as might purchase him an handsome halter to hang himselfe with , as the Poet sayth . Therefore let them neuer taulke more for shame ( as their T . C doth ) of the care they haue that the churches maintenance should not decay . And as herein their spoile & robbery is apparant ; on the other side ; So their tyrannie and blood thirstie proceedinges against good men , is vnexcusable .

And as herein their spoile and robberie is apparent , so on the other side their tyrannie and blood thirstie proceedings is vnexcusable : and yet is the maner of their proceedings more intolerable and dangerous to the state , then their very practises themselues .

Firste you see they maye examine of what they will . For who can let them ; when they be both sole iudges , & sole witnesse themselues , & none other by , but the poore examinate . To which effecte , what is the seate of iustice they commonly vse in these cases , but onely some close chamber at Lambeth , or some obscure gallerie in London pallace ? where according to the true nature of an euill conscience , that flyeth and feareth the light ; they may iuggle & foyst in what they list without controlment ; and so attempt ( if they wil ) to enduce the partie examined , to be of a conspiracie with them , to pull the crowne off her Maiesties head . And I put case they shoulde doe so ( as here you see is a way laid open for them , to broach any conspiracie in the worlde ) what remedie shoulde the partie that stands there alone haue , by apeaching or complayning ? any other trowe you then this : he lyes like a puritan knaue ; i' le haue his eares ; i' le haue the scandalum magnatum against him : For he hath slaundered the hight commission , and the president of her Maiesties councel ; Namely , my L. of Canterburies worship ? and here behold the poore mans reward .

Secondly , you must lay you hand on the booke , and not knowe whereunto you must be sworn : yea , they be so honest , that they will compell you to accuse your selfe , or els you shall lye by it ; which vngodly practise of theirs , sauoreth so ranckly of the Spanishe inquisition , that it is flatt contrarye to all humanitie , the expresse lawes of the land , and the doctrine of our Churche . For the law is so far from compelling anye to appeache himselfe in a cause wherein in eyther life , goods , or good name is called in question , that it altogether condemneth those for oppressours of the common libertie of her Maiesties subiectes ; and for vnreasonable violators and wresters of all good order of iustice ; that will vrge or require anye such thing at their hands , as may more at large appeare in a plaine Statute of the 25 , of Hen . 8. in the tytle of heresie . And therefore men maye see what accounte they ought to make of those shamelesse speeches of that woorthye gray head , Mistresse Coopers husband : who as he hath bene long since , to old to blushe ; so did he not let , openly to avouche ; That before God , there was noe other waye of tryall , nor no state could stand and continue without it .

To conclude this point . It is too manifest , that 1. by these their priuate whisperinge examinations in corners , 2. by the othe thus administred at randome ; 3 by the enforcing of men to accuse them-selues . Our byshopps with their wretched fauourers , may in time ( as it is not vnlikely but they wil ) bring one of these mischienous inconveniences vpon her Maiesties best subiects : vz . eyther perpetuall imprisonment , losse of eares or some other lim : or els ( as I said before ) an enforcement to conspire the overthrowe of her Maiesties crowne and dignitie . Whether these matters be not worthie the consideration of the grauest councellors in the land , I leaue it to the iudgement of euery true Englishman that loueth his Prince and the libertie of his countrie . But Martin is an intoller able busie fellowe , for molesting the state of the cleargie in this sort .

Now I hasten to other matters , where it may be , good Reader , thou wilt aske what was in that Pistle of mine ? To tel thee true , I sigh to remember the losse of it , it was so prettie , and so witty . And I know if thou hadst it , thou wouldest laye it vp , among other thy honest recreations for thy delight .

Firste then , there was set downe for thy learning ; the true , proper , and naturall definition , or rather description of Martinisme , to this effect . That to be a right Martiniste indeede , is to bee neither Browniste , Cooperist , Lambethist , Schismatike , Papist , atheist , traytor nor yet L. byshop ; but one that is at defyaunce with all men ; whether he bee French , Ducth , Spanish , Catercap , pope or popeling , so far forth as he is an enimy to God and her Maiestie . Wherevpon I remember , I did then aske the reader , whether it were not good being a Martiniste : and as I did then , so do I still heartely reioyce to think that all the honestest , and best affected subiects her Maiestie hath , will one day become Martinists .

Then among al the rimers and stage plaiers , which my Ll. of the cleargy had suborned against me . I remember Mar-Martin , Iohn a Cant . his hobbie-horse , was to his reproche , newly put out of the Morris , take it how he will ; with a flat discharge for euer shaking his shins about a May-pole againe while he liued . Here-abouts I placed D. Vnderhil and D. Wood of Alsolne colledge , to be chaplaines vnto a certain chaste Ficker of Hell , called sir Iames King , of Harford-shire ; and some-where it was , that I so sliued Dick Bancroft ouer the shulders , as his chaplainship is neuer able to recouer his credite , if that Pistle of mine be once published . Nexte to this ( as I take it ) followed a preamble to an Eblitaph vpon the death of olde Andrewe Turne-coate , to be song antiphonically in his graces Chappell , on wednesdayes and Frydayes , to the lamentable tune of Orawhynemeg .

Then was there a certaine vulnerall Sermon of olde Lockwood of Sarum , vpon the sodaine and vntimely death of his saide brother Pearne , wherein he did vndertake for him , that he was neuer puritane in his life , but alwayes an orderly man , and a maintainer of the state of the cleargie .

And if his grace did appoint anye other to preach at his old good masters funeralls , but onely this quick-witted Bridges , he was certainly fowly ouer-seene . For there would haue bene such a messe , and such a match , such a payre of saints , the one liuing , and the other deade ; as I beleeue the Legend-aure woulde not yeelde the like : both olde standardes , both proculstants , both catercaps , both priests , both deans , both hypocrites , both asses : why sans mercie said I , &c. but alas , chaue haulfe forgotten the rest .

After this , I had a fling at these puritanes , concerning whome , my desire is , that wherein I am faltie , ye puritanes would set me downe the particulars . It is odds , I shall some way or other heare of it . For albeit there haue bene some iarres of vnkindnesse betwixt vs , yet I would haue you know , that I take the worst of you , in regarde of his calling , to be an honester man , then the best L. bishop in christendom . The report goeth , that some of you haue preached against me , and I beleeue it in part ; well looke to it , for I may happen be euen with you in this manner : I will not rest till I haue learned what it is that yee haue said of me ; and if I finde it to be a iust reproofe , I will mend my falt , be as angrie as ye will : if vniuste , trust vnto it , I will holde on my course , and there is one rappe more then ye looked for .