JUSTICE

Where is this Pedlar? where is this runagate? What sirrah is he one of your scholars? Dispute, nay I would not stand to dispute I trow, But I wot, through the liberty of your preaching, Much mischief among men begins to grow, I tell you, many men Like not your teaching. Talk your pleasure, here are but we two, Boast not too much of your innocence, What, we know well enough what you do, All the world speaks of your insolency: You may preach, teach, cry out and yell, The hearing thereof, many men do give, But whither you speak of heaven or hell, Not one among a thousand do you believe. I will lay twenty pound, I will do more with one word Then you shall do with twenty Sermons truly: For the people think you speak but in board, Because you led your lives so unruly. And if you can tell us where any such be, Whither it be Nigromansor or sorcerer, We shall do unto them, as it appertaineth you shall see, And they shall be handled Like a thief or a murderer. You are and Interpreter of dark sentences, What say you to the Pedlars high prophecy: Talk your pleasure, you are not Like to talk long, Your time of prattling is almost at a point: I trust shortly to hear you sing a new song, Or else you are Like to loose your bestioynt. Whither it be prating I cannot say or no, But he hath given a most seemly verdite. Tarry Priest, tarry, I pray thee heartily, To take them for thy words, no man is so unwise, For speaking of them I promise thee verily, No man shall hurt thee, as I am true Justice. If the Pedlar hath no worse talk then this, His words in my judgement are tolerable: For all in the Church methinks is amiss, Nothing can I see much commendable. Think you it does not grieve us at the hearts? To have a Tinker or a Cobbler to minister to us: Yea, and the lewdest fellows in all our parts, Takes upon him matters of gravity to discus. I pray thee tell me what he said? A prating knaves words, can no honest man offend. I pray thee tell me as much as thou art able, We will apprehend him well enough, no doubt. What manner of man is he, and of what nature? I judge him to be lunatic or stark mad. I would it might please you to remove these runna gates, And to ease our minds of such encumbrance. For as long as such be in place, You shall never be had in reputation: Yet I will not say but diverse men have grace, But they be out of the peoples estimation. Truly, your honour is welcome hither, This reverent father and I, were commoning hard: Of the prophecy of a runagate Pedlar, Whose saying in my judgement, no man will regard. Does the prophecy speak of any such matter? Such things to be read, methinks are base: He meddleth with Princes causes me think, These words are not tolerable in a subject, We had not needs at such matters to wink, It is more then time him to correct. For his truth telling he shall have his meed, We will provide and haulter his neck to break. For all things amiss, there would soon be redress If every state would justly execute their office: And if all men would their faults confess, We should be the more meet to do God service. Also her honourable Council God prosper & save, And that honourable TO. N. &c. of N. chiefly: Whom as our good Lord and master, found we have, Good Lord we beseech thee, to be his guide daily. Thy Name be praised evermore from age to age