THere being a rumour that the Apprentises of Norwich would pull downe the Rayles of the great Church, ( Christs-Church they call it) but there is but a little of Christ taught, and lesse practised. But as I said, there was a talke that the Ap­prentises of Norwich would pull downe the Rayles, and the Organs; therefore there was forthwith a Convocati­on called, wherein was debated by the Unneces­sary mem­bers, so say the Parlia­ment. Deane and Chap­ters, whether or no the Rayles should be pulled downe; and the Convocation of Deane and Prebends thought fit that the Rayles should bee pull'd downe, for feare least when the Apprentises came, Organs and all should goe to wracke; therefore it was thus ordered.

That the Rayles should be pull'd downe, and so they were, but the Organs stood still: The Apprentises of Norwich not being content with that, they threatned to have a bout with the Organs, upon Shrove-tuesday that was suddenly after to follow, but had no such intent, on­ly to skarre the fooles.

The Cathedrall Blades upon this did forthwith pro­vide great store of Parsons and Priests, There was about 500. to be in a readi­nesse against that day, to resist the rebellious Puritans, as they term'd them; the matter was no sooner propounded, but it was presently put in agitation, and the gates of the great Cathedrall were shut for two dayes. Shrove tuesday being come, they began to put themselves into a posture of defence, at the command of the Convocation of the Deane and Prebends of the Cathedrall Church, as fol­loweth.

[Page 4] First, 1 there was the Prebenders in order set, and to give their grave advise, they were present to helpe at a pinch, when there was no need of them, nor their counsell: I think it had been better for their commendations to have beene at their studies, to prepare themselves to preach this Lent, but I beleeve their Sermons were not then to get extempore, for they cannot preach a Sermon unlesse their bookes be before them, which is Doctor-like for­sooth, and therefore a short warning might serve their turnes; for some of them cannot, and the rest will not preach extempore, but must be mute like asses; or else do as a Priest that I heard of did, when hee had forgot his booke, he told them he would reade a chapter of Iob, that should bee worth two of his Sermons, and I thinke it would be worth twenty of our Priests Sermons: thus they stood then.

In the second place there were in order set the Cano­niers, 2 I meane the singing-men, and they were ready to helpe at a pinch if need be, they must blow the Rebels a­way, as they termed them, with their profound sounding roaring voyces: They stood centinell in their Canoni­call coats, a body would thinke they should have beene at their English masse, to call to the Pope for a Bull, to roare against the Apprentises, and to have conjured the Rebels away, as they doe in the Letany: me-thinks this, if any thing might have done good, but alas, they were so afraid that they could not pray that day, and if they did, it was but faintly, for they had done their English sing­ing-masse that day, before they use to begin at other times: thus all day they stood centinell to keep the Pipes, when there was no body had any intent to pull them downe.

There was thirdly the Quiristers, 3 who are much like to the other, but of a lower degree, who gave their atten­dance: [Page 5] one of which said, that he had beene to doe his du­ty: that is, he had been at singing Service, that they there use, and now sayes he, I am come to doe my duty to keep the Organs; and there he, with the rest, stood like a com­pany of fooles, to keepe them from danger, which none that I doe know, had any minde to hurt.

And sayes His name is Atkins. another, what rogues are these that dare offer to pull downe the Organs; for sayes he, if I doe but goe into Church and say my prayers, and heare the Or­gans goe, they make the water runne downe my cheeks, they are so good and so sweet a musick. Thus good Rea­der, thou maist see how these men are rock'd and lull'd a­sleep by this musicke, which have indeed lull'd many one asleep in ignorance. There is one Trew that is a constant hearer of this musicall Masse; and he saith, that he fin­deth great comfort by it, how will he doe when it be put downe? as I hope it will ere long: Thus are many lull'd asleep in Romish ignorance, (as the Papists say) the mo­ther of devotion, which is I thinke all the devotion that many (if not all of them) use; and these are the effects that the Pipes produce.

In the fourth place there were the Musquetiers, 4 ready charged with bullets; and His name was Nicho­las Trew. one of them had in his Mus­ket a bullet split in parts for to shoot the Apprentises when they come (say they:) Thus they stood all the day long shooting, and threatning the Rebels that dare come to pull downe their Organs, when as the Apprentises had no intent to come, but were at home about their masters occasions; and did not intend to foule their fingers about such a company of rake-shames: and thus they stood like so many Abraham Ninnies, doing nothing but tell how many Crowes flew over the pinacle.

And in the fift place there was the Holbardiers, 5 they kept centinell, expecting to runne their Holbards in any [Page 6] bodies belly that dare offer to come and commit any in­jury against the Pipes: they did examine every body that came to Church, and not so much as a little boy should passe, but that they would know whether he were any of those that did intend to pull downe the Organs: Inso­much that one being taken, was carried before their Re­verend Deame, and be examining him, the man told the Deane, that the Rayles, and Pipes, and other Innovati­ous, was against the Protestation; and he had sworne a­gainst all Innovations, and he would pull them downe where-ever he saw them, for so he was bound to doe by the Protestation that he had taken. The Deane hearing these and many other words come brom him, he bade him goe his way, he was a Puritan, he would not meddle with him; and I pray what was the reason, because he had no power: I beleeve his will was good, had he had power as well as desire, he would have put him to punishment enough. And another foolish fellow they tooke, (take notice that be was an Idiot) and sent to the Justices, and so hee was sent to Bridewell, but they were glad to take him out a­gaine; had he had wit enough, he might have made his accusers smart for it. It seemes he had a minde to goe into Church, (as a many fooles had besides he) and they would not let him goe; and said bee would come 400 strong and pull downe their Pipes, and upon this they sent him to Bridewell: thus the Holbard-men stood in a posture of defence to carry this fellow to Bridewell, and so one foole carried another.

And in the sixth and last place there was about the number of 500 persons, 6 armed with swords and pistolls, and other weapons, to bee upon the bratts of any that should come against their Pipes; they watcht and warded with a pot and a pipe under their noses, while some of them were as fort as beggars; insomuch as one Trew by [Page 7] name, (though not by nature) said, if 500 come we will kill 2000 of them; and to that end he said, come fellow Souldiers we will slay them all, and so he pull'd out his pistoll, and said hee would kill one if hee could: I have such a good opinion of him, that I thinke the foole had more wit than to thinke that 200 of 500 could be slaine; but he was drunke, and this 2000 was the reason of his so foolish a speech; he and others were so intoxicated with strong Ale that was to be sould at the great Cathedrall, that they could not tell what they said or did. Thus good Reader, thou maist see the folly of these Pipe-mongers, that should prepare such a multitude of people, to bee there a whole day for nothing.

If the Deane and Prebends had been studying, the Ca­noniers a singing, the Quiristers a chanting, the Musque­tiers about their callings, the Holbardiers about their businesse, and their pistoll-blades about their occasions, it had been a little better for their praise; for now I hope by this small paper their foolishnesse shall be divulged to the uttermost parts of this Kingdome, that all the peo­ple may laugh at the sillynesse of the Cathedrall Blades, and the Episcopall Abettors. Oh how loath they are to part with their Diana's, their Altars, Images, Cruci­fixes, Coapes, Surplices, and Romish Vestments; no, (as some of them said) they would rather lose their lives then their Organs, so fast they are glewed to their Pipes and Popish trinkets.

It is a saying as true as ancient, that there is nothing so bad, but some good may be gotten from it; no flower so bad, but that the Bee will get some honey from it: so not so much but from this foolish practise, and simple tractate, there may be some good got.

First we may hereby see the presumption of these Ca­thedrall men, 1 that they dare put themselves in a posture [Page 6] [...] [Page 7] [...] [Page 8] of defence, whereas there was no feare; and when they had no power but from the Deane, whose office is not wartan­table Iure Divino.

Wee may see the fearefulnesse of these men who are afraid of their friends when none are neare them, 2 (their foes I would have said) for they doe draw foes upon them by the late tyranny that they used in the Ecclesiasticall Courts, which now (thanks be to God) are quite aboli­shed, and in Gods good time I hope the Parliament will take away all the Bishops, Deanes and Chapters, the which they have voted to be unnecessary members, both to Church and State, to God and the King; whose heart I pray God to encline to his faithfull Parliament.