And their conventions prov'd high places; Disparag'd their tythe-pigs as Pagan, And set at nought their cheese and bacon; 1160 Rail'd at their Covenant, and jeer'd Their rev'rend parsons to my beard: For all which scandals, to be quit At once, this juncture falls out fit, I'll make him henceforth to beware, 1165 And tempt my fury, if he dare. He must at least hold up his hand, By twelve freeholders to be scann'd; Who, by their skill in palmistry, Will quickly read his destiny; 1170 And make him glad to read his lesson, Or take a turn for it at the session; Unless his Light and Gifts prove truer Then ever yet they did, I'm sure; For if he scape with whipping now, 1175 'Tis more than he can hope to do; And that will disengage my conscience Of th' obligation in his own sense, I'll make him now by force abide What he by gentle means deny'd, 1180 To give my honour satisfaction, And right the Brethren in the action. This being resolv'd, with equal speed And conduct he approach'd his steed, And with activity unwont, 1185 Assay'd the lofty beast to mount; Which once atchiev'd, he spurr'd his palfrey, To get from th' enemy, and RALPH, free Left dangers, fears, and foes behind, And beat, at least three lengths, the wind. 1190 NOTES TO PART II. CANTO III. 140 A <w> Ledger, &c.] The Witch-finder in Suffolk, who, in the Presbyterian times, had a commission to discover witches, of whom (right or wrong) he caused 60 to be hanged within the compass of year; and, among the rest, the old minister, who been a painful preacher for many years. 159 Did he not help the <x> Dutch, &c.] In the beginning of the Civil Wars of Flanders, the common people of Antwerp in a tumult broke open the cathedral church, to demolish images and shrines, and did so much mischief in a small time, that Strada writes, there were several Devils seen very busy among them, otherwise it had been impossible. 161 <y> Sing catches, &c.] This Devil at Mascon delivered all his oracles, like his forefathers, in verse, which he sung to tunes. He made several lampoons upon the Hugonots, and foretold them many things which afterwards came to pass; as may be seen his Memoirs, written in French. 163 <z> Appear'd in divers, &c.] The History of Dee and the Devil, published by Mer. Casaubon, Isaac Fil. Prebendary of Canterbury, has a large account of all those passages, in which the stile of the true and false angels appears to be penned by one and the same person. The Nun of Loudon, in France, and all her tricks, have been seen by many persons of quality of this nation yet living, who have made very good observations upon the French book written on that occasion.