Mar-Martin.
I Knowe not why a frutelesse lye in Print;
May not aswell with modestie be touched
As truthlesse Prose, since neither hath his stint,
And others dooings cannot be anouched:
Then if both Rime and Prose impugne the troth,
How lyke you him, lykes neyther of them both.
Our Prelats (Martin sayth) want skill and reason,
Our Martinists Mar-martine tearmeth asses,
The one an other doth accuse of treason,
He passeth best that by the gallowes passes.
Traytor, no Traytor, heeres such Traytrous striuing,
That Romish Traytors now are set a thriuing.
Whilest England falles a makening and marring,
Reli [...]ion feares an vtter ouerthrowe,
Whilst we at home amongst our selues are iarring,
Those seedes takes roote, which forrayne seedmen sowe:
If this be true, as true it is for certayne,
Wo woorth Martin Mar-Prelat, and Mar-Martin.
MAR-MARTIN.
ON Whitson euen last at night,
I dreaming saw a prettie sight,
Three Mensters in a halter tyde,
And one before who seemd their guide▪
This formost lookt and lookt agayne,
As if he had not all his trayne.
With that I askt this gaping man
His name: my name (quoth he) is Lucyan,
This is a Iesuite (quoth he)
This Martin and Mar-Martin be,
I seeke but now for Macheuell,
And roundly then we goe to Hell.
Two Bookes vpon a Table lay,
For which two yonkers went to play,
They tripe a Dye and thus did make,
Who threwe the most should both Bookes take.
He that had Martin slang the first,
An asse it was, which was the woorst.
Mar-Martins maister in the haste,
Hopt then to hit a better cast,
And yet as cunning as he was,
He could not flyng aboue an asse.
To geather by the eares they goe,
Which of the asses got the throwe,
The first vpon his asse would stand,
He wan it by the elder hand.
Tush quoth the second that no matter,
[Page] Mine was an asse though twere the latter,
And turning back, he spake to me,
Who all this while this sport did see,
Ist not a wonder, say of loue,
That none of vs should flyng aboue:
No quoth I it were a wonder
If eyther of you two had throwne vnder.
What sons: what fathers: sons and fathers fighting:
Alas our welfare, and alas our health,
What motes, what beames, & both displayd in writing:
Alas the Church, alas the common wealth.
What at this time: what vnder such a Queene:
Alas that still our frute should be so greene.
What wanton Calues: what lost out former loue:
Alas our pride, alas our mutabilitie,
What Christ at oddes: what serpents ner adoue:
Alas our rage, alas our inhumilitie.
What bitter ta [...]s, what lyes in stead of preaching,
Alas our health, alas our neede of teaching.
Beare gratious Soueraigne, Europs matchles mirror,
Beare noble Lords renowined counsell geuers,
Beare Cleargie men, for yours is all the error,
Beare common people, common light beleeuers.
Beare ioyntly one anothers weakenesse so,
That though we wither, yet the Church may growe.
If all be true that Lawyers say,
The second blowe doth make the fray,
Mar-Mrtins fault can be no lesse
Then Martins was that brake the peace.
Martin, Mar-Martine, Barrowe and Browne,
All helpe to pull Religion downe.
FINIS.