man subscribe contrary to the statute? Forsooth, men must believe such honest creatures as you are upon your words? Must they? As though you would not lie. Yes, yes, bishops will lie like dogs. They were never yet well beaten for their lying.1.

"Is it any marvel that we have so many swine, dumb dogs, non-residents, with their journeymen the hedge priests, so many lewd livers, as thieves, murderers, adulterers, drunkards, cormorants, rascals, so many ignorant and atheistical dolts, so many covetous popish bishops in our ministry, and so many monstrous corruptions in our Church, seeing our impudent, shameless, and wainscot-faced bishops, like beasts, contrary to the knowledge of all men and against their own consciences, dare in the ears of her Majesty affirm all to be well, where there is nothing but sores and blisters, yea, where the grief is even deadly at the heart?.....

"You see, my worshipful priests of this crew to

1 The reader will perceive in this paragraph a distinct and contemporary confirmation of my state ments (Vol. II. 351, 352, 382), that Elizabeth was too careful of her popularity to sanction the subscription required under Whitgift's administration; and that the bishops, by insisting upon it, were exposed to the penalties of a præmunire.

I will not echo the words of Martin about the lying habits of the bishops of his day. I do not believe them. But, to show that he might have had some occasion for the libel, I quote the following. "This was the constant custom of Whitgift: If any lord or lady sued tc him to show favor, for their sakes,

to nonconformists, . . . . he would profess how glad he was to serve them, and gratify them in compliance with their desire; assuring them, for his part all possible kindness should be indulged unto them. But, in fine, he would remit nothing of his rigor against them. Thus he never denied any great man's desire, and never granted it; pleasing them for the present with general promises, and.... still kept constant to his own resolution. Hereupon, afterwards the nobility surceased making more suits unto him, as ineffectual, and even left all things to his own disposal." (Fuller, Book IX. p. 218.)

....

whom I write, what a perilous fellow Martin Marprelate is. He understands of all your knavery, and it may be he keeps a register of them. Unless you amend, they shall all come into the light one day, . . . . . unless you observe these conditions of peace which I draw between you and me. For I assure you, I make not your doings known for any malice that I bear unto you, but the hurt that you do unto God's Church. Leave your wickedness, and I'll leave the revealing of your knaveries... 1. The said lord bishops must promise to observe without fraud or collusion, and that as much as in them lieth, they labor to promote the preaching of the Word in every part of this land. 2. That hereafter they admit none into the ministry but such as shall be known, both for their godliness and learning, to be fit for the ministry.. ..... 3. That neither they nor their servants. . . . . urge any to subscribe contrary to the Statute 13 Elizabeth; and that they suspend or silence none but such as either for their false doctrine or evil life shall show themselves to be unworthy the places of ministers. . . . . . 4. That none be molested..... for this my book, for not kneeling at the communion, or for resorting on the Sabbath (if they have not preachers of their own) to hear the Word preached and to receive the sacraments. 5. That never hereafter they profane excommunication as they have done, by excommunicating alone in their chambers, and that for trifles. That they never forbid public fasts, or molest those present at such assemblies. Briefly, that they never slander the cause of reformation, or the furtherers thereof, in terming the cause by the name of Anabaptistry,

schism, &c., and the men Puritans and enemies to the State.....

"I offer you peace upon the former conditions, if you will keep them. But if you violate them, either in whole or in part, then your learned brother Martin doth proclaim open war against you, and intendeth to work your woe in two manner of ways. First, I will watch you at every half-turn, and whatsoever you do amiss I will presently publish it.... To this purpose, I will place a young Martin in every diocese which may take notice of your practices. . . . . . And rather than be disappointed of my purpose, I will place a Martin in every parish. . . . I hope in time they shall be as worthy Martins as their father is; every one of them able to mar a prelate. .... Secondly, All the books that I have in store already of your doings shall be published upon the breach of the former covenants, or any of them.

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...

Now, master prelates, I will give you some more counsel. Follow it. Repent, clergymen, and especially bishops. Preach faith, bishops, and swear no more by it. Give over your lordly callings. Rail no more in the pulpit against good men.. Abuse not the High Commission, as you do, against the best subjects. The Commission itself was ordained for very good purposes, but it is most horribly abused by you, and turned clean contrary to the end wherefore it was ordained. Help the poor people to the means of their salvation, that perish in ignorance. Make restitution unto your tenants, and such as from whom you have wrongfully extorted anything. Usurp no longer the authority of making

of ministers and excommunication. Let poor men be no more molested in your ungodly courts. Study more than you do, and preach oftener. Labor to cleanse the ministry of the swarms of ignorant guides wherewith it hath been defiled. Make conscience of breaking the Sabbath by bowling and tabling.. ... And I would advise you, let me hear no more of your evil dealing.

"By your learned and worthy brother, Martin Mar-prelate."

We have had repeated occasion to notice the Presbyterian Platform, framed by the Puritans, entitled "The Holy Discipline of the Church described in the Word of God," which was printed at Cambridge in 1584, seized and suppressed, but again printed in 1586.2 This book, and others which had been printed by the Puritans, were assailed, in 1587, by Dr. John Bridges, Dean of Sarum, in a formidable pamphlet of fifteen hundred quarto pages, entitled "A Defence of the Government of the Church of England." In 1588, about the month of Octo

1 Ante, Vol. II. pp. 270-276; adds, "This error may be traced Vol. III. p. 152.

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to a passage in Neal, who says (though he knew better), Dr. Bridges answered Martin in a ludicrous style.'" (Maskell, 8, and 9, note.) Mr. Maskell is pleased to give Mr. Neal the lie direct; less courteous than an American critic, who only speaks of Neal's "fibs." (Ante, Vol. II. p. 109, note 2.) Whether Dr. Bridges did write against Martin may be a question; but I cannot pass such a charge against Mr. Neal without notice. Certainly, Mr. Neal had some authority for his assertion. "The Epitome was

ber,1 appeared the first tract of Martin Mar-prelate, levelled particularly at the "Defence" of Dr. Bridges. It was entitled "An Epistle to the Terrible Priests of the Convocation House," and purported to have been "Printed over sea, in Europe, within two furlongs of a bouncing priest." From this we have given extracts above. It was soon followed by "An Epitome of the first book of that right worshipful volume written against the Puritans in defence of the noble clergy, by John Bridges, Presbyter, Priest, or Elder, Doctor of Divility, and Dean of Sarum. Compiled for the behoof and overthrow of the unpreaching Parsons, Vicars, and Curates that have learned their catechisms and are past grace. By the reverend and worthy Martin Mar-prelate, gentleman, and dedicated by a second epistle to the Terrible Priests." From this second epistle we give some extracts.2

"Why, my clergy masters, is it even so with your terribleness? May not a poor gentleman signify his good-will unto you by a letter, but presently you must put yourselves to the pains and charges of