But this good Sir did follow the plaine word, 390 Ne medled with their controversies vaine; All his care was his service well to saine, [Saine, say.]

[Footnote 12: The old word medle is synonymous with mingle.

Tut, in thosse Fortune did never medle: honor there Served in her person, not by substytute.

And if it be possyble o let the Bedle Not with theire money but hys owne whypp medle, And lashe theym soundlye.

The fourth stanza, which mentions Erasmus and Luther, is the following: "Thou wast nother Erasmus nor Luter; Thou dyds medle no forther than thy potte; Agaynst hye matters thou wast no disputer, Amonge the Innocentes electe was thy lotte: Glad mayst thou be thou haddyst that knotte, For many foolys by the[e] thynke them selfe none, Yet all be nott dead, though thou be gone.

Thus I live in the World, rather as a Spectator of Mankind, than as one of the Species; by which means I have made my self a Speculative Statesman, Soldier, Merchant, and Artizan, without ever medling with any Practical Part in Life.

Upon which the Gentleman immediately withdrew, hoping his Lordship would not take it ill if he medled no farther in an Affair from whence he himself was to receive no Advantage.

Because h'has made his study all his pleasure, and is retir'd into his Contemplation, not medling with the dirt and chaff of Nature, that makes the spirit of the mind mud too; therefore must he be flung from his inheritance?

I'm not come too my pace yet; Because h' has made his studie all his pleasure, And is retyr'd into his Contemplation, Not medling with the dirt and chaffe of nature, That makes the spirit of the mind mud too, Therefore must he be flung from his inheritance?