An Almond for a Parrot: Being a reply to Martin Mar-Prelate.
Religion
An Almond for a Parrot: Being a reply to Martin Mar-Prelate.
Marprelate controversy
places, no apothegmatical _Lycosthenes_ euer conceited. Bishops were the
smallest bugs, that were aimed at in this extraordinary beneuolence,
God shield, the court haue escapt their collectiōs. Some thing it would
proue in the end if it wer published, that is pouldred with the brains
of so many Puritan springols, and polluted with the pains of such an
infinite number of Asses. Much good do it you M. _Martin_, how like
you my stile, am not I old _Ille ego qui quondam_ at yᵉ besleeuing of
a sichophant. Alas poore idiot, thou thinkest no man can write but thy
selfe, or frame his pen to delight, except he straine curtesie with one
of thy Northren figures, but if authority do not moderate, the fiery
feruence of my enflamed zeale, ile assaile thee from terme to terme
with _Archilochus_, in such a compleat armour of Iambicks, as the very
reflexcye of my fury, shall make thee driue thy father before thee to the
gallows, for begetting thee in such a bloody houre. O God that we two
might bee permitted but one quarter, to try it out by the teeth for the
best benefice in England, then would I distill my wit into incke, and my
soule into argumentes, but I would driue this _Danus_ from his dunghill,
and make him faune like a dog for fauour at the magistrates feete. But it
is our English policy to aduantage our enemies by delaies, and resist a
multitude with a fewe, which makes sediton seede before the haruesters of
our souls suppose it in the blade: it is not the spirite of mildenesse
yᵗ must moderat the hart of folly, dogs must be beaten with staues, and
stuborn slaues cōtrolled with stripes. Authority best knows how to diet
these bedlamites, although _Segnior Penry_ in his last waste paper hath
subscribed our magistrats infants. Repent, repent thou runnagate lozill,
and play not the Seminary any longer in corners, least thy chiefest
benefactors forsake thee, and recouer the pouerty of their fines, by
bringing the pursiuants to thy forme. I heare some vnderhande whisperers,
and greeneheaded nouices exclaime against our Bishops, for not granting
thee disputation. Alas alas brother _Martin_ it may not be: for thou art
known to be such a stale hackster, with thy welch hooke, that no honest
man wil debase himselfe in buckling with such a braggar. But suppose we
should send some Crepundio forth our schools to beat thee about the eares
with _ergo_. Where should this _sillogistica concertatio_ be solemnized:
what in our Vniuersity schooles at Oxford, or in _puluere Philosophico_
at Cambridge. No they were erected in time of Popery, and must be new
built againe before they can giue any accesse to his arguments. Truly I
am afraide yᵗ this Generall counsaile, must be holden at Geneua, when al
is done, for I know no place in En[g]land holy inough for their turne,
except it be some barne or out-house about Bury, or some odde blind
cottage in the hart of Warwicke shire, and thither peraduenture, these
good honest opponents would repaire without grudging. Prouided alwaies
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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