INTERPRETER

Saint Clement says, written unto saint James, That he is a right interpreter of holy writ: Which stands not upon words, Countries, and names, But such one as expoundeth the meaning of the spirit. And Interpretor thereof, I am called by name: For of the tongues I am able to make translation, My practice hath be long time in the same. And of Mysteries I am able to make declaration: It grieveth me at the heart, God I take to record, To see the variety, and chiefly in religion, That it may be soon amended, I beseech Christ our Lord, Or else let us look shortly for a grievous destruction. My coming hither truly at this season, Is chiefly to hear the talk of a Pedlar: I will be glad by learning with him to reason, For I hear say, that in high matters he is a meddler. Truth, indeed none that be of your condition, To withstand Gods word you have set your face: So drowned you are in rusty superstition, That Gods word in your heart, can tke no place. You are called in the Commonwealth to be a Justice, Therefore all your words and acts ought to be right: You have taken and oath justly to do your office, And to defend the truth with all your might But truly the verity you do not defend, But you persecute it with all your power: The upright and fatherless you do reprehend, The malefactors you let pass, both day and hour. Truth, for so says God by the Prophet Isaiah, All mischief shall happen upon thee in one day. For the multitude of thy Enchanters verily And for the hardness of hearts that will not obey. He that is ignorant of all honest science, Unto knowledge and virtue, is and utter enemy. Oh most unhappy Hamlet, country shire, Where such unjust Justice have the governance: Neither for sin nor discord you do inquire, But unto God and his word, you are and hindrance. And Interpreter I am called indeed, But of Gods word and the tongues ancient, Pedlars dreams are good, old Papists to seed, And such as despise the word of God omnipotent. I trust brother that you are instructed so, That to a prating Pedlars words you will give no credit, The worshipful Justice, will take none advantage Of any thing rehearsed of another men saying: And as for me, I intend to bring you into no bondage, For a lewd foolish fellows prattling bewraying. I will answer you particularly to your reason, First, whereas you say his words be tolerable, I will prove them fables, and clean out of season, And against Gods words, blasphemy most damnable. First both Christ's Preachers, and his erudition, Which erudition is the blessed word of verity, Thy falling, Pedlar, hath brought into suspicion, Prophesying of a doctrine of more sincerity. Secondly, whereas you say that all is amiss, You mean because we have removed Idolatry, Superstition, and hypocrisy, wherein your trust is: And hath placed there Gods word, only necessary. Thirdly, whereas you say it does your hearts grieve, That Tinkers and Cobblers should use ministration, If Christ should come from heaven and preach, I believe That you would despise both him and his predication, Were not the Apostles Fishers for the most partly all? And into the whole world passed their found, Not one Justice to that office he did call, Hard it is among you one faithful to be found. But I beseech God once to open your eyes, For of Gods word you let the true passage: God hath given you over, to believe lies, Rather then the Gospel, the heavenly father's message. Think you that these words are meet abroad to be blown, It appears that he rails thus on every state: I would it might please you and other Magistrates, Earnestly to look upon such makers of disturbance: As long as they be blameless in conversation, And in doctrine sincere and found approved: They needs not pass of the peoples estimation, For both of God and the world, they cannot be loved. In no wise I would have you to take it as vain clatter, For a great mystery is meant in that place: The very Text makes the meaning plain, Which I will read and expound if you will: Though certain of his words be true indeed, Yet there is a mean in time to speak, By my conjecture, thus means the Pedlar, He says men given to licentious life: And that each one, of another's state is a meddler, Which will be and occasion of much strife. He says so much untruth and mutual hate, And no man contented with his vocation He says men degenerate from humane state, Therefore from kind, he feigneth and alteration. I confess many things to be out of frame, Yet that to redress, we refer to authority: The enterprise of base meddlers, we do greatly blame Wishing them to be rebuked with all severity. Of necessity we must depart all, And therefore it is meet that we go together: But first upon our heavenly father let us all call, That mercifully he will all states consider. Oh heavenly father, send workmen into thy harvest, And preserve them that are already sent: Suffer no wolves them to molest, Let them accomplish that whereto they are bent. As it is now and ever shall be, world without end. It is your pleasure all things well to interpret, But they are not the best Judges, that were golden collers, I herd of such a fellow indeed as you have done, And hither am I come with him to dispute: And if he were here you should perceive soon, That by good learning I would his folly confute. You are as welcome hither, right honourable Judge, God forbid among wise men, there should be discord: For whereas there is division and grudge, There follows desolation, as says Christ our Lord. And it please you sir, I am none of those that love to be a meddler, But I speak a few words and only for this cause: It was my chance of late to talk with a Pedlar, Whose words me thought, agreed not with Gods laws. He takes upon him fondly to prophecy, And says that a dead man shall kill many alive, And the one unborn as yet in his mother's belly, They that be dead, to life again shall revive: I wot not what he meant by this gear, But he telleth many such things: Such a fellow I suppose you did never hear, He telleth wonders of Emperors and Kings.