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CHAP. VIII.

From the SPANISH INVASION to the Death of Queen ELIZABETH.

WHILE there was any hopes of compromising matters between the church and puritans, the controversy was carried on with some decency; but when all hopes of accommodation were at an end, the contending parties loaded each other with the heaviest reproaches. The public printing presses being shut against the puritans, some of them purchased a private one, and carried it from one country to another to prevent discovery: It was first set up at Mouldsey in Surrey, near Kingston on Thames; from thence it was conveyed to Fawsley in Northamptonshire; from theuce to Norton, from thence to Coventry, from Coventry to Woolston in Warwickshire, and from thence to Manchester in Lancashire, where it was discovered. Sundry satirical pamphlets were printed by this press, and dispersed all over the kingdom; as,

Martin Mar-Prelate; written, as is supposed, by a club of separatists, for the authors were never discovered: It is a violent satire against the hierarchy and all its supporters; it calls the lord bishops petty antichrists, petty popes, proud prelates, enemies to the gospel, and most covetous wretched priests.-It says, "That the Lord has given many of our bishops over to a reprobate sense, because they wilfully oppose and persecute the truth; and supposes them to 'have committed the unpardonable sin, because they have 'manifested in their public writings, &c. most blasphemous and damnable doctrines." The author then addresses himself to the clergy who had subscribed, and who were for pressing subscription upon others in such punning language as this," Right puissant and terrible priests, my clergy masters of the confocation or conspiration house, whe'ther fickers [vicars] paltripolitans, or others of the holy

'league of subscription. Right poisoned, persecuting and terrible priests; my horned masters, your government is antichristian, your cause is desperate, your grounds are "ridiculous-Martin understands all your knavery; you are intolerable withstanders of reformation, enemies of the 'gospel, and most covetous, wretched, and popish priests, &c." There are a great many sad truths in the book, but delivered in rude and unbecoming language, and with a bitter angry spirit.

The titles of the rest were,

Theses Martiniano; i. e. certain demonstrative conclusions set down and collected by Martin Mar-Prelate the great, serving as a manifest and sufficient confutation of all that ever the college of Cater Caps, with their whole band of clergy priests, have or can bring for the defence of their ambitious and antichristian prelacy. Published by Martin junior, 1589, in octavo, and dedicated to John Kankerbury [i. e. Canterbury.] The author of this tells the bishops, that he would plant young martins in every diocese and parish, who should watch the behavior of the clergy, that when any thing was done amiss it might be made public.

Protestation of Martin Mar-Prelate; wherein, notwithstanding the surprising of the printer, he maketh it known to the world, that he feareth neither proud priest, antichristian pope, tyrannous prelate, nor godless cater cap, &c. Printed 1589. Octavo.

His appellation to the high court of parliament from the bad and injurious dealing of the archbishop of Canterbury, and other his colleagues of the high commission, &c.†— Printed 1589. Octavo.

Dialogue, wherein is plainly laid open the tyrannical dealings of the lords bishops against God's children. Printed 1589. Quarto.

A treatise, wherein is manifestly proved, that reformation, and those that sincerely favor the same, are unjustly charged to be enemies to her majesty, and the state. Printed 1590. Quarto.

Ha' ye any work for the Cooper? This was written † Ath. Oxon. vol. i. p. 259.

Life of Whitgift, p. 290.

against Dr. Thomas Cooper bishop of Winchester; and is said to be printed in Europe, not far from some of the bouncing priests, 1590.

Epitome of the first book of Dr. John Bridges, against the Puritans; with this expression in the title-page, Oh! read over Dr. John Bridges, for it is a worthy work. Printed over sea in Europe, within two furlongs of a bouncing priest, at the cost and charges of Martin MarPrelate, gent. in quarto.

The Cobler's book,† which denies the church of England to be a true church, and charges her with maintaining idolatry under the name of decency, in the habits, fonts, baptism by women, gang-days, saints eves, bishoping of children, organs, wafer-cakes, &c.

Ha' ye any more work for the Cooper? In printing of which the press was discovered and seized, with several pamphlets unfinished; as,

Episto [Episco] Mastix,

Paradoxes,

Dialogues,

Miscellanea,

Varia Lectiones,

Martin's Dream,

The Lives and Doings of
English Popes,

Itinerarium, or Visitations,
Lambethisms.

The two last of these were imperfect; but to complete the itinerarium, the author threatens to survey all the clergy of England, and note their intolerable pranks: And for his lambethisms he would have a Martin at Lambeth. Other books were published of the same nature; as, A Demonstration of Discipline; the Counter-Poison, &c.

The writers on the church-side came not behind their adversaries in buffoonery and ridicule, as appears by the following pamphlets printed at this time.

Pappe with an Hatchet, alias, A Fig for my Godson: or, Crack me this nut, that is, a sound box of the ear for the ideot Martin to hold his peace. Written by one that dares call a dog a dog. Imprinted by John Anoke, and are to be sold at the sign of the Crab-tree Cudgel, in Thwack-Coat-Lane.‡

+ Life of Whitgift, p. 296. § Ibid. p. 288. Ath. Oxon. vi. 280. VOL. I.

62

Pasquil's Apology. In the first part whereof he renders a reason of his long silence, and gallops the field with the treatise of reformation. Printed where I was, and where I shall be ready, by the help of GoD and my muse, to send you a may-game of Martinism. Anno 1593. Quarto.

An Almond for a Parrot: or, An Alms for Martin Mar Prelate, &c. By Cuthbert Curry-Knave. Quarto.

The return of the renowned Cavaliero Pasquil to England, and his meeting with Marforius at London, upon the Royal Exchange, London, 1589, against Martin and

Martinism.

A Counter Cuff given to Martin junior, by the Pasquil of England, Cavaliero. 1589. Octavo.

It is sad, when a controversy about serious matters runs these dregs Ridicule and personal reflection may expose an adversary and make him ashamed, but will never convince or reconcile; it carries with it a contempt which sticks in the heart and is hardly ever to be removed; nor do I remember any cause that has been served by such methods. Dr. Bridges answered Martin in a ludicrous stile; but Cooper bishop of Winchester did more service by his grave and sober reply, with the assistance of the archbishop of Canterbury, who being miserably aspersed, furnished the bishop with replies to the particular charges brought against him. The book is entitled, an Advertisement to the people of England; wherein the slanders of Martin Mar-Prelate the libeller are distinctly answered. But af ter all, it was impossible for the bishops to wipe off from themselves the charge of persecution and violation of the laws.

To put a stop to these pamphlets the Queen sent a letter to the archbishop, commanding him to make diligent enquiry after the printing press, and issued out her royal proclamation, dated Feb. 13th, 1589, "For the bringing in all seditious and schismatical books, whether printed or written, to the ordinary, or to one of the privy council, as tending to bring in a monstrous and dangerous innovation of all manner of ecclesiastical government now in use, and with a rash and malicious purpose to dissolve the state of the prelacy, being one of the three ancient estates of this

'realm under her highness, whereof her majesty mindeth to have a reverend regard; she therefore prohibits any of her subjects from keeping any books in their custody against the order of the church, or the rites and ceremonies of it, her majesty being minded to have the laws severely executed against the authors and abettors of them, as 'soon as they shall be apprehended."*

As soon as the printing press was discovered, his grace wrote to the treasurer to prosecute the persons with whom it was found; but, like an able politician, wishes it might be done by the lords of the council, rather than by the ecclesiastical commissioners, because they had already suffered for supporting the government, which was wounded through their sides. Accordingly Sir Richard Knightly, Sir

Wigston, who had entertained the press, together with the printer, and Humphry Newman the disperser, were deeply fined in the star-chamber; and others were put to death.

The archbishop being now in his visitation had framed twenty-two articles of enquiry, upon which the church-wardens of every parish were to be examined upon oath. By these articles they were to swear, that their minister was exactly conformable to the orders of the church, or else to impeach him; and to declare further, whether they knew of any of their neighbors or fellow-parishioners, that were common swearers, drunkards, usurers, witches, conjurers, 'heretics; any man that had two wives; or women that had "two husbands: whether they knew any that went to con* Life of Whitgift, in Rec. b. iii. No. 41.

+ Life of Whitgift, p. 314.

Fuller, b. ix. p. 194.

Fuller adds, archbishop Whitgift improved his interest with the Queen, till, though she was at first angry with his solicitations, they were delivered out of prison and eased of their fines. Bishop Maddox censures Mr. Neal for passing this over in silence; but he himself omits the construction put on this, apparently, kind conduct of the prelate ; which, while some highly commended, so others," says Fuller, "im'puted it to the declining of envy, gaining of applause and remorse of 'conscience for over rigorous proceedings: it being no charity to cure the wound he had caused, and solicit the remitting those fines which he had procured to be imposed."-Our author proceeds; "Thus impossible is it to please forward spirits, and to make them like the best deed, who dislike the doer." En.

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