to satisfie your expectation, and myne owne dewe respecte, (wherein I woolde be loathe to be any wayes defectyve) I praye you to vnderstande that our Allminake makers blasted some 2 yeeres synce with Jupiters Thunderbolte for beinge to curious in there predictions, have ever synce sylently lefte all presages to the event of euery season: yett have many noted sondry strange alterations this laste yeere now paste. The Springe was very hotte and drye burninge vp the grasse, the harveste very wette and dropping and so the weather followinge very variable, which bredde a sore plague bothe at london and in sondrye other places, by reason whereof mydsommer tearme was in parte cutte of and so was Mihel tearme for the moste parte cutte of. This Sommer the King wente in progresse as I thinke into Shropshiere, where the King was exceedinge angry for his badde entertaynemente. the Sheerefe had but 10 men and never a gentleman with hym, but euery gentleman was from his howse, and in all places where the King shoolde lodge the goodman gone, none at home but the wyfe, with abondance of all sortes of victualls and servants. Heere formerly was Benevolences and Shipmony denyed, which some construed was the cawse of euery mans generall absence. Duringe this progresse there was one Bumpsted sometymes a tayler of Mellforde then followenge the Lorde Savadge, and synce followenge a knighte who maried the lords dawghter, was observed to followe the courte, and there apprehended for dyvers evill woords 356and purposes to the King. he was comitted to the Tower, where he yett resteth.

This Summer the Bishop of Norwiche2 by his deputyes made as stricte a visitation in that Diocesse, as euer was seene before: all the weekely lectures putte downe, with Sermons in the afternone on the Lords daye, many mynisters sylenced suspended and putt from there places for not comformytie, and readinge the Kings boocke3 for liberty and recreation on the lords daye. Our littargie now devyded into 2 partes the one to be readde in the readinge deske in the other called the seconde service, to be reade in the chancell at the Communion table placed now at the Easte ende of the chancell nexte the wall Northe and Sowthe, euery preacher to say all the service fully, with the seconde service at hie altar, before he goeth into the pulpytt, and there to vse no prayer but to end all at the hie alter. Yf there be a communion euery communicante is to kneele at the rayle now sett vp in euery chancell before the hie alter after the comunion euery one offereth his devotion or oblation with all humble inclyninge reverence to the Mynister at the hye altar: Every wooman in her vayle goeth to the rayle there to be churched. Euery mariadge is there with all solemnitie fynished. no man is to passe by this alter withoute crowchinge and humble obeysance. And to what ende is all this service and devotion so many wayes performed heere at this altar but only to drawe veneration and addoration of that invisible power vnto which it is referred? From the communion tables thay are in many places come to erecte curious altars which they adorne with Sylke and embrodered carpetts, in some places with lightes, in other places with crucifixes etc. Whiles these thinges were a setlinge and Religion in euery place wente downe the Bishop came to Ipswiche to lye there at a howse of his wyves, but the mariners and inferior vulgar, impatiente to haue there Mynisters and religeon dysplaced gave sondry rude affrontes to the Bishop and his followers, which cawsed hym all on a sooddayne as afrayde on his owne condition to leave Ipswiche, and to take a howse almoste halfe way betweene Ipswiche and Bury, at Tostocke, whither he had dayly intelligence of all thinges befallen, but this place beinge farre from the courte, he removed agayne and wente to Wyndsore, and those partes to bee neere the courte. Soone after sondry petytions and complayntes of suspended and depryved mynisters to aucthoritie, but withowte all redresse that I coolde euer heere, And at the Courte of Comperts or Corrections, all severitie and extremitie vsed. one accidente which I credibly hard I can not 357omytte. while the Bishop his chancelor Dr. Corbett was vpon his seate of Justice at Bury, newes was browghte hym that Mr. Rogers of Dedham dyed the laste nighte.4 is he so, sayd the chancelor, lett him goe in reste, for he hathe troobled all the contry these 30 yeeres, and dyd poyson all those partes for x myle rownde abowte that place—the manner of whose death is thus reported; whiles the Bishop was at Ipswiche, one daye havinge occasion to ryde forthe, comanded his servantes to hyer poste horses who browght hym worde that all the horses were taken vp by suche as wente to the Sermon at Dedham: Is the wynde at that doore sayde the Bishop. I wyll soone ease that, and so not longe after, as the Commissary synce confessed, he had commande from Canterbury vpon the complaynte of Norwich to stay the lecture at Dedham: wherevpon the commissary wrotte a friendely lettre to Mr. Rogers shewenge hym he had commandimente from Canterbury to require hym to stay his lecture now for a whiles the plague continewed, which by suche concourses was daylie encreased. Mr. Rogers, beleevinge, as was pretended, stayed his lecture, and after harvest ended, the Doctor and Comissary was moved for renewene of the lecture, the Comissary gave fayer woordes promysynge very shortely thay shoolde haue liberty, which after sondry promyses, withowte all in all intention, Mr. Rogers seinge there was a secrett determination wholly to suppresse that lecture, this strooke hym to the harte, hastened all his naturall malladies to his vttermoste periode. It may bee you may thinke I am some what teadious, yett bycawse you may deeme I owe you many lettres, and wrytinge but once in a yeere, albeit you have farre better relations from others, yett you are contente to beare with mee; and therevpon I muste further shewe you what further occurred this yeere, as sondry libells secretly scattered this yeere, but grownded vpon the presente state of thinges, whereof I wyll geve you only the tytles and Frontespices, by which you maye iudge what they conteyne. As Certayne Questions propownded to Archbishops, Bishops, Archedeacons and comyssaryes, Chawncellers Officialls and other awdacious vsurpers vpon his majesties Royall prerogatyve lawes and his loyall subiectes lawfull liberties, woorthie thare awnswere and all mens knowledge. Item Certayne Queres propownded to the Bowers to the names of Jesus, and to the patrons thereof, wherein the aucthorities and reasons alledged by Bishop Andrewes and his followers in defense of this ceremony are breefely examined and refuted; the mistranslation of Phil: 2. 10. 11. cleered, and that texte with others acquited bothe from commandinge or awthorizinge this novell Ceremony, heere geven to be vnlawfull in sondry 358respectes, the 4 edition corrected 1636. The Vnbishopinge of Tymothie and Tytus, or a briefe elaborate Discourse provinge Tymothie to be no Bishop (muche lesse any sole or dyocesan Byshop) of Ephesus, nor Tytus of Creete and that the power of Ordination, or imposition of hands belonges jure diuino to Presbiters as well as to Bishopps and not to Bishopps only. Wherein all obiections and pretenses to the contrary are fully awnswered and the pretended Superioritie of Bishopps over mynisters and presbiters Fure diuino (now moche contended for) vtterly subverted, in a moste perspicuous manner, by a well-wysher to Gods truthe and people. In the yeere 1636. A breefe awnswere to a late treatise of the Sabbath daye digested dialogue wyse betweene 2 Dyvines A and B. A divine tragedy lately acted, or a collection of sondry memorable examples of Gods Iudgements vpon Sabbathe-breakers, and other lyke lybertynes in there vnlawefull sportes happeninge within the Reallme of Englande in the compasse only of 2 yeeres laste paste, synce the boocke was published, woorthie to be knowne, and considered of all men especially suche who are guyltie of the Synne, or arche patrons thereof anno 1636.5 In the ende of which collection is inserted the history of Mr. Prynne pursewed by Mr. Noy a greate favourer of Sabbathe recreations and pollutions, in this manner. Mr. William Noye the greate Gamaliell of the lawe the Kings attornye generall as he had a greate hande in compilinge and republishinge the late declaration for pastimes on the lords daye (thruste owte by hys, and a greate prelates practice, to thwarte Judge Richardsons good order for suppressinge of wakes and revells in Somersetshiere, and the Justices of that Shires petition to his majestye for the contynewance of it, and to make waye for a Starre-chamber cawse against Mr. Prinne) he so eagerly persecuted this Mr. Prinne, of his owne profession and Societye (to whom he was formerly a friende in apparance, but an inveterate enemye in trewthe) for his Histrio Mastix6 compiled only owte of the woordes and Sentences of other approoved awthors of all sortes, againste the vse and exercyse of Stage playes, Maypoles, wakes, lascivious mixed dawncinge, and other Ethenicke pastimes, condemned in all ages, withowte any thowght or Suspicion of gevinge the leaste offence, eyther to the Kings moste excellente majesty the Queene or State as he averred 359in his awnswere vpon his oathe. And althowghe this boocke was written 4 yeeres, licensed allmoste three, printed fully off a quarter of a yeere, and published 6 weekes before the Queenes Majesties pastorall, against which it was falsely voyced to have byn principally wrytten; dilligently pervsed and lycensed by Mr. Thomas Buckner, the then Archbishop of Canterbury his chaplyn, bothe before and after it came from the presse, entered into the Stationers Hall, vnder the wardens hande, printed, published in 3 aucthorised printing howses, withowte the leaste controwle; and published by the sayd licensers direction, who woolde haue nothinge newe printed in it, as appered vpon oathe at the hearinge; And althowgh Mr. Noye hymselfe (to whom he presented one of the boocks) vpon the firste readinge of it, commended it, thanked him for it, ofte affirmed, that he sawe no hurte in it; and at the hearinge confessed, that the worste and moste dangerous phrase and passage in it, mighte haue a good and fayer construction, and Schollars woolde all take it in a good sence; yett he handled the matter so (by suppressinge the gentlemans exhibitts and defense, wrestinge his woordes and meaninge, refucinge to discover the particulars of his boocke, on which he woolde insyste, thowghe ordered so to doe by the courte, it beinge also impossible to instructe Cownsell how to make a Replye, and by tamperinge vnder hande with some of his cownsell, by no meanes to make any Justification or defence to cleere his innocencye, thowghe the partie earnestly entreated, and gave them Instructions to the contrarye) that the poore gentleman receved censure at laste to be expelled owte of the vniversytie of Oxforde, and lyncollns Inne, thruste from his profession, in which he never offended, Fyned 5000li to stande in 2 severall pylleryes, and there to loose bothe hys eares, his boockes to be there burned before hym, and to suffer Imprisonmente duringe hys lyfe besydes, which sentence thowghte by moste that harde the cawse to be meante only in terrorem, withowte any intention at all of execution, beinge respited for above 3 monethes space and in a manner remitted by the Queene moste gracious mediation, was yet by this Attornyes and a greate prelates Importunitie beyonde all expectation sooddenly and severelye executed, withowte any the leaste mittigation, fewe of the lords so moche as knowenge of it. The gentleman heerevpon is sett vpon the pyllory at Westminster, and thare he lost an eare: Mr. Noye lyke a ioyfull spectator lawghes at his sufferinge, and this his greate exploite he had browghte to passe, which diverse there presente observed and condemned in hym: the gentleman lyke a harmeles lambe, takes all with suche patience, that he not so moche as once opened his mowthe to lett falle any woorde of discontente. Yett the Juste God and Sovereigne lorde of heaven and earthe, who beholdeth mischeefe and spighte, to requite it with 360his hande, and avengeth the innocente bloodde of his Servants, tooke this his myrthe and mallyce so heynously that the same daye (as some abowte hym and of his owne societye reported) he who thus shedd his brothers and companions bloodde, by the Juste hande of God, fell a voydinge and pyssinge owte his owne: which so amazed hym that he vsed all the meanes he coolde, to smother it from the woorlde, charginge his lawndresse and those abowte hym not to speake of it, refucinge to acquaynte his phisitians with it: heerevpon he growes very pallide, and ill, the Phisitians wonder at it; he complaynes to them of the gravell and Stone in his kydneyes, tyll at laste he grewe so yll with this dyvine stroke, that he was forced to disclose his greefe to them, yett so as thay muste faythefully promyse to disclose it to no man, for feare the people shoolde saye it were a Juste Judgment of God on hym for sheddinge Mr. Prinnes bloodde. But God woolde not have this secrett longe concealed; his lawndresse, men, and some gentlemen of his societye discover and talke of it: he mooche vexed in mynde insteade of repentinge what he had doone, and seekinge to righte the partie wronged for his irreparable damage, lyke a harte or Beaste once mortally wownded, proceeds on in his former furye; seekes to bringe the poore distressed gentleman into freshe trooble and a further censure, bringes hym ore tenus into the Starre chamber, Reviles hym with all manner of vncivill woords, mooves to have hym close prysoner amonge the Rogues in Newgate, sells his chamber as forfeited to the howse by his expulsion, Seiseth his boocks, and when the courte woolde not grawnte his vnreasonable malicious motion, above 5 weekes after in the longe vacation, when most of the lords were gone and his Majestye in his progresse, drawes vp an order of his owne makinge in the Starre chamber, for the gentlemans close imprisonmente (the laste order he ever made) cawsed the Register to enter it, and sends it to the Tower to be executed the same daye, he wente to Tunbridge waters, with owte the lords or Courts pryvitie. The daye followenge drinkinge of those waters, he was in myserable torture in so moche that moste dispayred of his lyfe, and some reported he was deade: and hearinge there that his disease of voydinge bloodde was then publickly knowne and talked of in London, he was so vexed at it, that he felle owte with hys phisitians and Servants, raylinge on them lyke a Franticke man, as if they had betrayed hym, and disclosed his secretts; yea it so fretted and gnawed his harte and conscience, that it made his very harte and entrayles to perishe, and abowght a fortnighte after browghte hym to his ende. Beinge opened after his deathe, there was not a droppe of Bloodde fownde in his bodye for he had voyded owte all before, his falice malicious hard harte with inwarde frettinge and vexinge was so consumed and shrinked vp, that it was lyke an 361olde rotten leather purse or meere scurffe. The phisitians never seinge the lyke before, his fleshe and kydnes were as blacke as a hatte, his entrayles (excepte his lunges only) all putrid, and his carkase as a miserable spectacle, but no stone that coolde trooble hym was fownde abowte hym. His Funerall accordinge to his desyre was so pryvate, that there were hardlye gentlemen enowghe to carry hym to hys grave, but that some came in by accidente. Hys clyents the players for whom he had doone knightes service, to requite his kyndnes the nexte tearme followenge make hym the Subiecte of a merry Comedye styled a Proiector lately deade, wherein they bringe hym in his lawiers Robes vpon the stage and openlye dissectinge hym, fynde a 100 proclamations in his heade, a bundle of olde moathe eaten Records in his mawe, and halfe a barrell of newe white Sope in his belly which made hym to skoore so muche, and yett say thay he is styll very blacke and fowle within. And as if this voydinge of all his owne bloodde, and publicke disgrace on the Stage were not sufficiente to expiate the wronged gentlemans bloodde and infamye: hym selfe in his laste wyll, layes a Brande on his owne soonne and heire: be-queathinge all his goods and lands not therein given to others to Edwarde his eldeste Soonne, to be scattered and spent: nec de eo melius speraui: enowghe to make dutyfull childe turne vnthrifte; and a signe of a dispairinge man: which soonne of his vpon his owne challenge and rashenes hath byn synce slayne in a duell in France by Captayn Byron, who escaped scott free and had his pardon. Thus hathe God ponished Bloodd with Bloodde, thus hath he dealt with one of the cheefe occasioners of this declaration, and burner of that boocke, which learnedly manifested the vnlawfullnes of the severall sportes and pastimes cowntenanced in it, especially on the lords owne sacred daye, owte of olde and new wryters of all sortes, and specifyed dyvers Judgements of God vpon the awthers, acters and Spectators of them not vnwoorthy consideration in these sable tymes of plagues and Judgements.

There is yett one libell more, which vntyll better advyce shall sende it you, that you may the better Judge what it dyd speake of, I send you heere also the tytle, or prefixed frontispice of that treatice, entytled Newes from Ipswich discoveringe certayne late detestable practises of some domineeringe Lordly Prelats, to vndermyne the established doctrine and discipline of our Church, extirpate all Orthodoxall sincere preachers and preachinge of Gods woorde, vsher in Popery, Superstition and Idollatrye, with there late notorious purgations of the new Faste boock, contrary to his majesties proclamation, and there intolerable affronte therein offered to the moste Illustruous Lady Elizabeth, the Kyngs only Syster, and hir children, (even whiles they are nowe Royally entertayned at Courte) in blottinge them owte of the Collectes: 362and to his Majestye hym selfe, his Queene and there Royall progenye, in dashenge them owte of the nomber of Gods electe. Edition 3: Printed at Ipswich An: 1636.7

Vpon the 27 of December laste came the Erie of Arondell and Surrey home from his Ambassage to the Emperor Ferdinande the 2 and to the princes of Germany, he tooke his Journy abowte the beginnynge of Aprill and was sente from our King as Ambassador extraordinary vnto the Emperor, abowte the restitution of the Pallatinate, as it was sayd, but in vayne. he had a longe and difficulte Journy, yett entertayned in euery place very respectyvely, especially at Prague in Bohemia, where an Iryshe man recter of the colledge of Jesuites there our Ambassador was intertayned with a Comedye in this sorte. Mercuries servante as the prologue employed abowte makinge redy of the Theatre for the assembly of all the Gods and Goddesses (there to be presente, for the receyvinge of the Ambassador) falls vpon lytle children, who woolde fayne see the Ambassador of the King of England he tells them they cannot see hym in the Theatre, vnlesse they wyll congratulate his comynge, whom by reason of there yonge yeeres thay can not salute in latyne, but they may performe it in there owne naturall language which was agreed vpon. And so the Gods and Goddesses enteringe Mercury receyves them and places euery one accordingely. Then comes in Astrea complaynes to Jupiter and the rest of the Gods of the wickednes of the woorlde. Jupiter havinge harde all delyvers the woorlde to be ponished by Mars and Vulcane. Here Peace all forlorne seekes vp and downe whare to have a place to be secured from the fury of Mars. Neptune carries Peace over into Englande in a Sea shell. Then Mars devides the Globe of the earthe into dyvers partes and distributes them to the fury of Bellona and other Agents. Heare Ceres Apollo and Bacchus complayne before Jupiter of the infinite calamytie which thay endure from Mars: Jupiter sends them to Neptune. Neptune tells them, that he hathe comytted the Imperiall Govermente of the Sea to Charles Kinge of Greate Brittayne, and that thay muste make sewte to hym to restore peace to the woorlde. Mercury byds Ceres and Apollo to be of good cheere, and wylls them not to dowbte but that King Charles wyll shortly by his Ambassador Howarde Earl of Arondell, reduce peace. Peace affirmeth that shee shalbe restored to hir former habitations, thay doe all gratulate one another, and geve there acclamation to Howard, to whom thay do wyshe and presage all happines etc.

Sir, this supplimente I have added, but for a lytle refreshenge, vpon the which many do dyversly opyne. Heerevpon Charles Lodovike Cownte Pallatyne of the Rhene publisheth his protestation againste all the vnlawfull and violente proceedinges against hym and his brotheren. Particularlye againste the secrett and invalide dispocetions and decrees of the Emperor in the translation of the Electorall dignitie and dominions vpon the Duke of Bavaria. The vnlawfull and vayne election of a Kynge of the Romaynes, where his highnes and the Ellector of Tryers were excluded, and lastly againste the vyolente and vniuste vsurpation and possession of the Electorall dignitie, Tytle voyce and Session by the Duke of Bavaria. What this in tyme wyll effecte tys only tyme wyll relate. And so sceasinge further at this tyme remembringe my selfe moste respectyvely vnto you I leave you with all yours to the safe protection of the Allmightie, and do reste Yours allwayes in all true and synceare affection.

Were I as conscious of any willfull neglect of your loue and my due remembrance of itt, and necessary Salutations or Expressions of this kinde, as I am of defect in all (though not voluntary) I should in a kinde of despayre wholly forbeare to putt you in minde of soe vnworthy a Frend. But my hart is vpright with you, though my hand hath neyther bin able to serue my affections nor your 364merritts in presenting you with requisite Circomstances of Assurance that itt is soe: For not only meanes (or att least the timely knowledg of itt) hath too often beene wanting and preventing to my purposes, But when they haue bin more free and fauorable, I haue wanted power to make vse of them. About New Yeere last I receyued a kind and louing letter from you by one Betts (as I remember) who came hether att a time when I had suffred a fortnights Extreamitie before and was att first not able to see him or to think of any buisines. Yett before hee went away, I came downe a part of the day and as Company and my infirmities would suffer mee, had a little speech with him, who (then hasting away and promising to come to mee att more Conveniency) I hoped should haue bin the meanes of my sending to you and my Coss: Jo: Spring alsoe. hee came agen indeede when I was vtterly vnable to doe or take thought for any thing that way for itt pleased God for 14 weekes I was in expectance of my passage to my last Port. since I am in a crazie vncerteine Condition neuer well though not soe weake as I was. this lost mee the hope of that Conveyance the man telling mee hee was to goe to and by London back to you: I had little meanes (by my sicknes and trobles continuing) to heare or enquire of any other Course, but att our last Assises, where with much adoe I forst my selfe one day, I mett my Coss. Gurdon who promised to send my Letter to you, which now I hope you haue: testefieng my true Loue to you, and by you entreating to haue my just Excuse for not satisfieng the still important and large requests of my kinsman, to whome I haue made bould with you to enclose this letter: Truly Sir the summe and charge I haue bin att to this man is not after the due proportion and regard I ought to beare to my owne affayres, and more neere duties, yett what I haue done hath not bin grudgingly, nor with a scant hand I assure you. I beleeue in true account (which perhaps) hee considers not duely, more then true charrety (which is to looke home first) or right wisdome would commend, and I cannot nor may not prejudice my neerer requisites too much. I haue lately married my Sonne, and abated my meanes largely I cannot nor (haue not to) doe as formerly, my owne necessary course and children require mee instantly to my vtmost, and mine owne particuler (as noe less the generall) Burthens grow heauy to my present strength, besides charrety had neuer soe many Objects (that may not bee neglected) amongst vs, honest and good men abundance and in abundant wants, dayly somewhat issueth soe from mee and others, and must doe, and other poore kinred I haue too too many that dayly call for helpe and must haue itt. I profess I neuer was streightned before. This Sir for your satisfaction that I am not vnmindefull but vnable (for the present att least) to satisfie him, and I pray you make him sensible of the Equitie and reason of itt 365if you conceyue itt soe, and if hee contentfully accept of what I haue done, as God shall enable and enlarge mee heereafter I shall not forgett him, but I desire hee spare mee yett: I could not heare by Betts or other of any shipps goeing by Ipswich whether else I had sent something to this purpose: but lately, and now too late as I am tould I heare some goe or are gone: I perceyue by the lettre that you haue for the releife of this kinsman of mine disbursed some summe but what you express not nor haue I had one word to certefie mee thereof from him: What you haue done for my sake, and hee hath not nor can satisfie agen, I will not that you loose but desire you will certefie mee what itt is and I will not fayle (if God please) to satisfie you when I know itt: Soe as hee sees I neglect not to doe for him still more, though in all hee requires and as hee would I cannot: Truly such is my condition att this present as I haue much adoe to hould out thus farr in this labor, still so weake and vnseruiseable I am to my selfe: I must craue fauor to make goode All present defects, and your goode beleife that I haue a will, though att present streightned and prevented, to giue you larger assurance and better testemony of my faythfull affections: Your charrety without asking affords mee I am confident the benefitt of your prayers, Yett I craue them alsoe, and by your meanes euen to bee remembred amongst you as I dayly in my poore way remember you all: Salute all I know particulerly I beseech you that are with you with my harty Loue and best desires of goode: And think of mee still the thoughts of a loving Frend. the less I deserue itt the greater goode itt is in you and the reward shalbee to your owne Bosome, whether I desire to convey myselfe and to liue there, as wee may to hir alsoe that ownes that place spetially my wife and I commend vs, and to all yours, and hartely commend you all to Gods goodenes and Grace: Your vnfeyned louing Freind and faythfully affected brother