I ought to seeke the same without entreating any mans furtheraÌ„ce and if it be not in euery perticuler iust and conuenient that I should enioy the same yt shall goe and I wil venture an vtter vndoeing rather then make vse of any mans friendship to detain it For God who hath hitherro prouided for me in such a manner as best befitted both my temporall and spirituall Condition will I knowe continue his prouident care of me while I can haue grace to be thankfull and retayne the resolution to doe my lawfull endeauour Howsoeuer let the worlde conceit of mee as it pleaseth I scorne to enioy my lyfe much more any priueledge to the common preiudice and am able to demonstrate as shall hereafter appeare that my booke and the Kinges Graunt haue beene malitiously traduced without cause Yet the Stationers haue not only scandalized the sayde graunt vniustly and layde the imputation of impertinencie to the Booke of Hymnes without cause but feareing as it seems lest their publication would discoÌ„uer their false dealing and gayne me and my labour some good approbation in spight of their mallice They haue as I sayd before practised also or rather conspired as much as in them lyes to hinder the lawful sale of my Booke For they prouide them not in their shoppes as they are commaunded by Authority nor furnish themselues with those as with other books notwithstanding they may take them vpon trust and make profitt of them before payment is required at their hands being content somewhat to hinder themselues that they may disaduantage me And to excuse this iniury they giue out contrary to their owne knowledges that if they take my bookes from me none will fetch them out of their handes which they falsly pretend meerely to dispariage that which I hope they shall neuer be able to bring out of credit tyl they haue lost their owne For they are daily so much enquired after that had the Booke-sellers preferred them to sale as they would haue done if the coppie had been their owne twenty thousand might haue been dispersed long ere this tyme. Yea if they had either any loyal respect to the Kings pyous commaund or loue to the practise of Deuotion or but that humanity which is to be found among Infidells they might haue deulged a hundred in place of euery tenâ—… which are yet dispersed For though fewe knowe where to get the sayd Hymnes because they are seldome to be had amonge the Booke-sellers yet thousandes of them haue beene bought vp by gentlemen and others whoe hauing enquired out with much difficulty where to finde them report to mee howe much I am abused amonge the Stationers and how hardly they cann forbeare from vsing them vnciuilly that come to aske for my Booke with diuers other particular Discourtesies But because those vsages doe demonstrate their owne euill disposition rather then disparage the said Booke I wil omitt to perticularize those many discourtesies which I am that way offered and proceed to answere such other obiections as they and their abetters haue framed to bring both my Hymnes and me into contempt And first they obiect forsooth that they are not worthy to be annexed with their Psalmes in meeter in respect of that insufficiency which they haue discouered in my expressions For so harsh and improper do my lynes appeare to these iuditious censurers and their chaplins that some compare them to DOD the fillkemans late ridiculous translation of the Psalmes which was by authority worthily condemned to the fire Some tearme them in scorne WITHERS SONNETS and some among them the better to expresse what opinion they haue of their pious vse are pleased to promise that they wil procure the â—…aring Ballett singer with one legg to sing and self them about the Citie which base speeches proceeding from those skoffing Isâ—…alites I could well enough brooke in respect of mine owne person oâ—… meâ—…t For there is soe much euill euen in the best of my actions that contempt is the fayrest reward which they can iustly challenge Yet when I call to minde with what Christian intentions I was emploieâ—… 〈◊〉 those Hymnes and howe many howers at â—…ight I spent about them whilst it may be my Traducers were either sleeping out their tyâ—… oâ—… 〈◊〉 employed when I consider also howâ—… many 〈◊〉 religious men haue approoued theÌ„ how much their pious vse might further the reuerence and practise of Deuotion to the prayse of God it greeues me that there should bee in this nation any so wicked as to oppose so Christian a worke to so friuelous an end But when I remember by whome and by what Authority that booke was allowed and commaunded to be made publik and withall what mistery of iniquity it is that hath conspired against the saÌ„e me thinkes it is an Iniurie not to be tollerated Is it reason they who liue by bookes should bee permitted to abuse the Authors of their liuelyhood Or is it seemely that those whoe as I sayd before are but the pedlers of books should become their censurers and by consequent both the censurers and deprauers of that Authority which allowed them If this be tollerated the fayrest draughts of Apelles shal be daily subiect to the foolish critiscismes of those arrogant coblers and the State shall not be able â—…re long to publish any thing but what they haue a fancie to approoue For to this passe it is already come that whatsoeuer the State dislykes shal be imprinted and devulged by them though both absurd and scaÌ„dalous with twice more seriousnes then any booke lawfully commaunded but let it tend to schisme and they will disperse more vnder-hand in one weeke then the Royall Authority shal be able to divulge in a yeare toward the setling of vnity in the Church I know not what it is which should make my booke of Hymnes appeare soe ridiculus vnto theâ—… or so vnworthy to be annexed to the English psalm-Psalm-book as they pretend In respect of the matter it cannot iustly be excepted against for a great part therof is canonicall Scripture and the rest also is both agreeable therunto in euery perticuler and consonant to the most approoued Discipline of the Church of England Soe that how squeâ—…ishly soeuer some of their stomackes brooke it they being allowed by Authority are as fitt I trust to keepe company with Dauids Psalmes as Robert Wisdomes TVRKâ—… and POPE and those other apocryphall Songs and praiers which the stationers add to the Psalmebooke for their more aduantage Sure I am that if their additions shal be allowed of by the most voices yet mine shal be approoued of before those by the best Iudgments Now as for the manner of expression which I haue vsed I hope it is such as no iust exception cann be taken therunto seeing I haue aswel in that which is of my owne Inuention as in the Translations vsed that simplicity of speech which best becommeth yâ— subiect without affectatioÌ„ to those poetical phrases
pleasure Wherevpon least God should turne his blessing to a curse and my reputation to my shame if I sought not what way to ymploy it vnto his prayse and obseruing withall that we make vse of the most excelent expressions of the holy ghost in rude and barbarous Numbers whilst our own wanton fancies were paynted trymed out in the most moouing languag Me thought it fared with vs as with those agaynst whom the Prophet Hosea complayned that dwelt in sieled houses themselues whilst the Temple of God lay wast And therefore seeing no other to vndertake the same I spent about three yeeres to prepare my self for such a I aske and then proceeded with the translation of the Psalmes according to that ability God had giuen me But before I had halfe ended them I heard that one of much better sufficiency had made a long and happy progresse into that worke and therevpon in expectation of his more able performance delayed to proceed with what I had begunne vntill such tyme as I was informed that the other was by the multiplicity of weighty Affayres compelled to giue ouer his laborious Attempt And then I thought my selfe engaged agayne to proceede Now dureing the tyme of intermission as aforesaid that I might not want an imployment answereable to my first intention I was by some of the Clergy who I hope were moqued there unto by the Spirit of God inuiâ—…ed to collect and translate into Lyricke-verse the Hymnes dispersed throughout the Canonicall Scriptures Which I imbraced with much readynes persoiâ—…d willingly adding vnto theÌ„ such other parâ—…ds of Holy-writt Creeds and Songs as I conceiued proper and necessary to be sunge And because some can well enough allowe an endlesseâ—… variety of foolish Songs and ballads â—…eÌ„ding to the 〈◊〉 of the flesh and the deuill yet be apt to say wee 〈◊〉 Psalmes and Songes enough in this kind already And so 〈◊〉 also as I haué heard others whoâ—… presume much on their own foâ—…ndnes in 〈◊〉 in noraÌ„t by demauÌ„d what the SoÌ„gs of Moâ—…s Debâ—…rah 〈◊〉 sâ—…ch like are pertiâ—…eÌ„t vnto vs. To let those 〈◊〉 vnlerned ignorant men know that the Holy Ghost 〈◊〉 none of the Canonicall Scriptures tyll these tymes of 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 haue in a short Proeme â—…ding to the opinion of the true Church declared that those Scriptures are euery whitt as vsefull and necessary for vs as for them in whose tymes and for whose particuler occasioÌ„s they were first written And before each Hymne I haue presixed also a briefe preface to shew in what sence the congregation or men may priuately and ought to repeat them Moreouer hauing with griefe obserued how the Church of England lyke Iesus Christ crucified betwen two theeues is traduced and abused between Papists and Schismatiks the one falsly charging her with want of order and christian discipline the other as vniustly vpbrayding her with popish and superstitious obseruations And hauing experience that there are great multitudes of wel affected people easie to be led aside for company into the later ouersight through want of some to informe them better who would with smal ado be conformable if they had meanes of instruction concerning their particuler mistakings Yea many of these being wel inclyned towards me and I not knowing which way to vse that affection better then to make it a meanes of increasing christian vnity and devotion I resolued to publish some what to stirre vp in them that obedience and reuerence which they ought to expresse towardes the pious ordinances of the Church and if I lost any mans esteem for so conscionable an attempt I assured my self I lost nothing but what was neuer worth the sauing To that end therefore hauing receiued incouragment and taken aduice from some of the most deuout and learned of our Deuines I composed certayne Hymnes and Songes appropriated to the ordynary publike occasions of our Congregations and to those tymes obseruable by commaund of the Churche and by the authority of the State that soe God might bee gloryfied in euery Solempnity and those tymes not so much prophaned and contemned as heretofore And because I had heard some Teachers in Israel professe themselues ignorant concerning the vse of the Holy-days obserued in our Church I tooke the more paines though not presuming to teach them to expresse before the proper Song of euery obseruable Time or other occasion their religious vse briefly in such a manner as I hope euery reasonable capacity may thereby vnderstand our Churches discipline in that poynt to be farr from a needles popish or superstious Tradition Moreouer that I might not trouble any mans charity or deuotion in the vse of these Hymnes I was as watchful as possible I could be to make all my expressions free from bitternesse or touches of those controuersies which might giue offence to the weake members of our Church And God so prosper me as I was and am cleare from meaning to grieue offend or discontent the soules or consciences of any Thus with a good purpose I began and finished those Hymns and Songes which make vp the Booke called the HYMNES and SONGS OF THE CHVRCH So named not for that I would haue them accounted part of our Lyturgie as I haue deliuered to his Maiestie in my Epistle but because they do for the most part treate of such particulers as concerne the whole Church of God And this is that booke for which his Maiestie vouchsafed mee the priuiledge before mentioned and which he pyously gratiously commaunded to bee annexed to the singing Psalmes that it might be the more generally the more conuenieÌ„tly divulgâ—…d amoÌ„g his subiects for their instruction And indeed by that means those poore people whose Pastors suffer them or cause them to be misinformed concerning that poynt shall carry about with them in their most vsesual book what may at one tyme or other open their vnderstandinges to perceiue their errour This is that Booke for which I was euer worst vsed for my best intentions suffer more then for all my former in discretioÌ„s for which I haue receiued those afroÌ„ts that may wel be raÌ„ked amoÌ„g my greatest iniuries notwithstanding it had besides the ordinary allowance of Authority the particular approbation and coÌ„mendation both of the King himselfe and of many the members of this most reuerend Conuocation Yea this is that Booke for which the Common wealth of Stationers â—… Tyrrany vnheard of in former ages desire to make me as odious as if I had ympolyed my whole study to the oppression of this weale publike or to the subuertioÌ„ of religion and for which they haue persued me with such violence and clamor as hath seldome or neuer been exampled in any cause Heare therefore I humbly beseech you their particuler obiections and for his sake who hath honoured you with high places and holy callings be you Iudges betweene mee and them For though in regard of my selfe I should take no more notice
that I went about so to giue testimony also how farr I am from being wilfull in my owne opinions I doe in all humility submit my selfe to be rectified by your RRces in whatsoeuer I haue done or spoken which though offence had beene giuen will I hope make me somwhat more excusable then my aduersaryes pretend Howsoeuer I cannot dispayre For yf those ouersightes which I haue vnwillingly committed in that performance doe bring on me those outward troubles which shall frustrate some of my temporall hopes yet I am confident that those christian affections which Gods mercy hath made acceptable in me shall produce those inward comfortes which will vphould my faith tyll my contentments are made perfect and therfore his will be done I come now to speake of that imputatiō by which the stationers and their Abetters haue don my book and me the greatest iniury and that is in pretending my Hymnes for the Obseruable tymes to be furtherances to Popery and superstition When they cannot bring men to dislyke me and that labor of myne by disparaging the vsefullnesse thereof they obiect against the manner or method when that wil not serue turne they except against my calling when that wil not preuaile they impudently accuse it of obscenity when that effects not their purpose they gyue out that it is inclyning to Popery when none of these courses will aduantage them they rayle and send him that enquires for the booke to goe and seeke yt where he cann But the best of their stratagems hath beene by accusing yt of fauouring superstition For it hath not onely made many hundreds whoe knowe not yet what the Booke treates of to forbeare the buyeng and perusing of it but hath giuen them occasion also to passe their censures on me in so vnchristian a manner as if I were an Apostate that had fallen from my Religyon or sought the subuertion of yt for my outward profitt Wheresoeuer I come one gyddy brayne or another offers to fall into disputation with me about my Hymnes Yea Brockers and Costermongers and Tapsters and Pedlers and Sempsters and Fydlers and Feltmakers and all the Brotherhoods of Amsterdam haue scoffingly passed sentence vpon me in their conuenticles at taphouses and Tauernes So that insteed of diuvlging my booke that according to the Kings intēt yt might further y◠reverence práctise of deuotion and confirme in his Maiestyes subiectes obedience to the pyous discipline of our Church some of the stationers haue by traducing it giuen ignorant people occasion to speake the more in contempt of those Ordinances which they ought reuerently to obey If these presumptions shall be suffered without rebuke neither the Authority of the Church or State will shortly take place but that onely vvhich makes for the profitt or humor of the Stationers For some of them dare already tell me to my face that if the King had not peremptorely commāded the addition of my Hymns to the metricall Psalmbooke they would haue the sooner anexed thē but by compulsion they will not And for that cause one of them as hee himselfe affirmed hath sold of those bookes 500 lesse then hee might haue done in one quarter of a yeare What is this but to professe wilfull disobedience in contempt of his Majestie his pious Iniunctio as if he had not powre to command the publication of a few leaues to the glory of God without crauing their fauors For though it might be objected that I petitioned the sayd Hymnes might be added to the metricall Psalmes out of a priuate respect as doubting or foreseeing that the Stationers and others vvould feeke the suppressing of them if they vvere not compoūded withall to their owne liking Yet the Kings Maiesty had no such ende but inioyned the same meerely to this christian purpose that those Hymnes might be the more conueniently dispersed throughout his Dominions for the edifying and instructing of his Loyall subiectes perswading himselfe that those who haue enioyed so many greate Priuiledges by his gratious fauour would neuer haue opposed that authority by which they fub sist and by vertue wherof they receiue benefit of such Grants as are both of the same of a higher nature especially seeing it is probable that none of his louing subjectes worthy the name of a Christiâ would haue grudged to enlarge his booke the quantity of a fewe leaues at the ordinary rate to so pyous an ende as those Hymnes tend vnto considering how many poundes are yearly consumed in triuiall Pamphlets and other vayne expences But why should I onely complayne against the Stationers the inciuillity of those whom they haue stirred vp to clamor against the Hymnes for the solemne Dayes as if I alone suffred in this vproare Do not your RRces perceaue that the kings Iudgement Authority suffers by it Nay perceaue you not that while they seeme to aime at me they strike at you and seeke to ouerthrow or disparage the allowed Discipline of our Church Verily that is the white which they seeme to shoote at And there is not one of them but if he dare stand to his Objections before this reuerend Assembly I dare vndertake to prooue him to be little better then a Schismatick in his opinions an enimie to the govermēt established in the Church of England If vpō the review of my Hymnes there may be found either in them or in their Prefaces any thing repugnant to the Catholike Verity or the allowed Discipline I will recant it make publike acknowledgment of my error and vndergoe what punishment shal be thought deserued For I had rather be irrecouerably vndon both in my credit estate then to be an occasion of preiudice or scandall to the Church of God Nay let all my labors be made frustrate and my person be deliuered ouer to be subject to the tyrany of the Stationers if my Hymnes doe not euidently appeare vpon serious viewe to be instrumēts of Gods glory helpfull to deuotion tending to Christian Conformity and likely to be a meanes of deliuering our Solemnities from being so much traduced and misvnderstood for reliques of Popery as heretofore I am thus confident thereof by reason of that blessing which God hath already giuen For notwithstanding that great opposition of the Stationers hitherto made and those vilde imputations which they haue layd on my Booke Many haue confessed vnto me that my Hymnes for the Obseruable Tymes and their Prefaces haue made them more reverently affected towards that Discipline then formerly they were And haue professed that yt shall for euer hereafter teach them to be more conscionable in condemning and sleighting the obseruatiō of that which is established in our Church Yea some Divines haue modestly acknowledged that they did not so well consider the piety and vsefulnes of those observations as they haue since done If I were so greedy of temporall aduantages as the Stationers iudge me or yf I had meereley proiected my own profit in the course of my studies
THE SCHOLLERS PVRGATORY Discouered In the Stationers Common-wealth And Discribed in a Discourse Apologeticall asvvell for the publike aduantage of the Church the State vvhole Common-vvealth of England as for the remedy of priuate iniuryes By GEO VVITHER Pro 18. 13. He that answeares his matter before he heare him it is shame and folly vnto him Suffer him then that he may speake and when he hath spoken mock on Iob. 21. 2. IMPRINTED For the Honest Stationers The occasion and contents of this Apology THe Author of this ensuing Apology haueing the Kings Grant concerning his booke called the Hymnes Songes of the Church vniustly malitiously opposed by the Stationers who vnchristianly vilify scandalize alsoe the said Booke to the contempt of his Maiesties powre the hinderance of deuotion the preiudice of the Authors estate the disparagment of his best endeauors He doth here Apologize both for his Booke Priueledge shewing the true grounds of their spightfull opposition discouering the Progresse of it answearing such friuelous obiections as they haue dispersed discouering how iniurious alsoe they are euen to the whole Common-wealth in many other particulers It hath bene offred to the Presse because it was otherwise impossible to divulge the same so vniuersally as they haue spread their scandalls And it was directed alsoe to the most reuerend Conuocatiō that the said Booke might be corrected or approoued of as the wisdome of that graue Assembly shall finde cause that the representatiue body of the Church of England beholding a glimpse of the Stationers harbarous dispositions in misvsing this Author might from thence take occasion to be informed What other insolencyes abuses they are guilty of both to the disturbance of Christian vnity to the Common preiudice If the Printers hast shall occasion any slipps he desires that if his worke be legible he may be ex cused Soe doth our Author likewise if in the methode or language any ouer sight be committed For haueing many other employments and being constrayned to write it in hast that it might bee imprinted before this present Session of Parliament were expired there may be somewhat ouerseene perhapps which needeth pardon But as it is he humbly offers to consideration the said Apology whose perticulers are these that follow 1. First an Induction after which the Author haueing breefly touched vpon those troubles Imprisonments expences which compelled him to make some benifite of his owne books sheweth why he gott his Hymnes confirmed vnto him by his Maiesties Letters Patents what honest Course he tooke in procuring his Grant Pag. 1 c. 2. He sheweth how vniustly ingratfully the Stationers therevpon opposed him how vncivelly they abused him how vnchristianly they vilified his Hymnes rather as Censurers then sellers of Bookes And a little toucheth vpon the particuler vsur pations In sinuations Insolencyes Auarice abuses of Bookesellers Pag. 6 c. 3. He declareth why he exercised his Muse in Diuinity What reason he had to translate the Canonicall Hymnes into Lyrick verse that some of the Cleargy mooned him therevnto He sheweth alsoe to what end he composed the Spirituall Songs for the obseruable tymes Of what nature that Booke is which the Stationers oppose And what they doe in particuler rayle obiect against the said Booke Pag. 11 c. 4. He proueth by diuerse Arguments that the said Hymnes are necessary not impertinent as the Stationers obiect Then toucheth againe vpon the abuses grosse partiality of the Stationers acquiteth himselfe of seeking his owne profitt to the publike preiudice as his Aduersaries vntruly affyrme and demonstrateth his Patent to be neither Monopoly as the Stationers alleage as some of their Patēts are but rather a benifite Pag. 24 c. 5. He setteth downe the Stationers peremptery claime to all Authors labors refuting a Lawyers foolish judgment passed on their behalfes Instanceth in what particulers they vsurpe larger Prerogatiues then they will allow the King And then haueing iust occasion pointeth at their fraudulent vnsufferable abusing of the people in their Mystery of Booke selling Pag. 29 c. 6. He particularizeth în what vnciuell termes the Stationers vilifie his Hymnes How vniustly they disparage his expressions And how impudently they vsually preferr divulge those pernitious impertinent things whereby they themselues may receaue profitt Pag. 33 c. 7. He iustifies his expressions Protesteth with what mind what preparation and with what Caueats he proceeded in that worke And there withall mētioneth some of those difficulties which are in such a taske speaketh somwhat cōcerning the metricall version of Dauids Psalmes now in vse Pag. 35 c. 8. He maintaines the lawfulnesse of vndertaking a worke of that nature notwithstanding he is no profest Diuine against those who obiect he hath intruded vpon the Diuine calling glanceth at the ignorance and envy of those Obiectors P 39 9. He discouereth how presumptuously they haue countenanced their detraction and opposition by pretending that the Lo Archb of Cant andothers are all affected to the said Hymnes Grant And it is made euident that they haue impudently abused the Lo Archb therein Pag. 45 c. 10. He giueth reason for his translating and publishing the sōg of Salomō in Lyrick verse Setts downe the Stationers impious and scurrilous manner of traducing it Expresseth somewhat of that Songs comfortable vse with what may be said in answeare to them who think it ought to be restrained for feare of being misapplyed And haueing spoken somewhat concerning his owne proceedings submitteth all to censure Pag 49 c. 11. He displaies the Stationers demeanor toward those who come to aske for his Booke Setts forth the quality of those whom they haue drawne to passe their censures against it Shewes how wilfully the Kings iniunction his pious intent therein hath bene reiected And what inconueniences are likly to follow their insolencyes if order be not taken Pag 63 c. 12. He vpholds his Hymnes for the obseruable tymes against the Stationers those whom they haue stirred vp to oppose them Offers them to strictest examination Shewes his Christian simplicity in cōposing thē that they tend to the glory of God and the furtherance of vniformity That they were lawfully Authorized That they are consanant to the word of God the Doctrine of the Catholike Church and to all the lawes and ecclesiasticall Ordinances of this Realme Pag. 66 c. 13. He intimates that it is probable his Hymnes are scandalized by none but such as are ill affected to the gouernment of our Church Shewes that his prefaces hath vindicated all our Solemnities from those imputations of popery Schismaticks hath cast vpon them Toucheth vpon the pious vsefulnesse of the Churches Discipline Illustrateth their impiety who seeke to disparage or abolish it And specifieth in what places in what ridiculous manner the Stationers passe their virdicts vpon his booke Pag. 69 c 14. He setteth downe
how barbarously the Stationers seeke to disparage all his Hymnes by reason of that for S. Georges day How vnchristianly they misinterpreted his pious warrantable intētion in composing that Hymne therevpon taketh occasiō to speake somewhat of the pious vse of that solemnity of the most noble most Christian order of S. George the Patron thereof to the honor of that institutiō in reproofe of the vulger ignorant misconceits of his Reproouers Pa. 76. 15. He humbly intreats that neither his youth his calling nor the vniust scandalls of his Aduersaries may preiudice what he hath well done She wes why his writings Actions are exposed to more scandalls then vaniest inventions bring on their Authors protesteth what it is that made him thus endeauor to maintain his reputation professeth some what of his hopes Resolutiōs p 84. 16. He displaies the true condition of his aduersaries by shewing how nere they paralell Dauids enimies that they haue giuen him iust occasiō to take vp in a litteral sēce almost euery bitter cōplaine wherby the Psalmist hath expressed the cruelty of a malitious multitude P. 87 17. He expostulatheth concerning that vnequall dealing the world hath hitherto vsed towards him And taking it a little vnkindly that any of those who ought to cherish men in good employements should do him iniury by a rash censure Toucheth vpon some others who together with the Stationers haue iniuriously causelesly detracted from his labors Pag. 89. 18. He nominateth many of those perticuler iniuries offred him by the Stationers He describeth alsoe the powre policy true condition of his opposers with many of those dāgers disadvātages incōueniences which their malice portend And then shewes both how much he contemneth all they can bring to passe how he hopeth to conuert all their hate mischeefes slanders to his future profitt commendation in their despight Pag. 94. 19. He giues the reason of his hopes of preuailing cōcicture◅ Gods good purpose in suffring him to be afflicted by these Adversaries his other troubles apologizeth for that ouermuch sharpnesse which he hath seemed to vse makes it probable that he hath no vncharitable intentiō in any thing which he hath expressed in this booke p. 103. 20. He renounceth to haue any purpose to Disparage or defame either the whole Corporation of Stationers or any particuler member thereof that no other may abuse this Discourse to that end he shewes alsoe how all the reprehensions therein expressed may be applyed to those only who are guilty how euery man that is innocent or sorry for his ouersight may if he himselfe please be freed from all personall blame or scandall Pag. 108. 21. To prevent their malice likwise who would perhapps apply this Discourse to the generall disparagment of the Stationers Mystery he hath added the definition of an honest Stationer the true Character of his contrary whom he calleth a meere Stationer against whom only this booke is intended Pag. 116. 22. He reconeth vp some of those many inconueniences which the Vniuersities the State the whole Common-wealth the Church of God suffers by the Disorders among those whom hee calleth meere Stationers but reserueth their amplification to another Discourse which he intendeth to publish if there be cause Page 127. 23. And lastly to shew he ha◅h not aymed at the shame or ruine of any but at their reformatiō only he offers to discouer a profitable remedy for what he hath foūd to be amis◅e to the glory of God the content of the King the quiet of the State the honor of learning to the credit profit of the Stationers themselues And these amōg some other accidentall passages are the cōtents of this Apology p. 130. To the most Reuerend Father in God the Lo Archb o Canterbury c. and to the Reuerend LLs. Bishops others in the Conuocation house assembled MOst Reuerent Fathers Notwithstanding I acknowledge my selfe vnworthie that this Reuerend Assembly should from their more w◅ighty affaires turne their eyes or inclyne their eares to my priuate Fortunes Yet if those testimonies which I haue already giuen of my true affection to the peace prosperity of that Church and Common-wealth of which you are members or my promise of future indea◅ours or your owne pious inclinations may deserue so much for me I humbly beseech your Reuerences to receiue this following declaration into your serious and christian considerations and to ◅ouchsafe respect thereunto according to the piety becomming this Reuerent Assembly and that rule of charity which commaundeth al men without exception to be so inclyned towards others as they desire others should bee affected towards them in the like necessities For most Reuerend Fathers I am not ashamed to confesse that an extraordinary necessitie hath inuited me to interrupt you in this vnusuall manner And yet mistake me not I am not so necessitated as be in doubt of falling into base want◅ or to feare I can bee ouertaken with any inconuenience from which I could not be deliuered without your commiseration but perhaps rather God hath layd his hand on me by some affliction that I might be constrayned to offer that vnto your considerations for my priuate ease which I should neuer haue found opportunity to present for the publike good if oppressions had not prepared me thereunto Cammomile thriues not vnles it be trodden on the plate must to the hammer before it wil be in fashion and such is our naturall corruption and selfe loue that till the sparkes touch our own houses we can sleepe though the citie be on a flame Nay euen those who are grapes of the mysticall vine Iesus Christ must bee crushed in the winepresse or brused on the tongue at the least before they yeald any profitable nourishment If it be so with me though my particular smart hath giuen the occasion of this narration somewhat may ere the conclusion bee deliuered not impertinent to more generall consideration And once againe therfore I beseech your patience About the time of the last Conuocation I composed a little Poeme well knowen throughout this kingdome wherin haueing to conscionable purposes expressed such resolutions as euery reasonable man should endeauour to entertayne And hauing as opportunity was offered glaunced also in generall tearmes at the reproofe of a few thinges of such nature as I feared might disparage or preiudice the Common-wealth some particulars not then in season to bee medled withall were at vnawares so neerely toucht vpon that I vnhappily fell into the displeasure of the State and all my apparant good intentions were so mistaken by the aggrauations of some yll affected towards my indeauours that I was shutt vp from the society of mankind And as one vnworthy the cōpassion vouchsafed to theeues and murderers was neither permitted the vse of my penne the accesse or sight of acquaintance the allowance vsually afforded other close prisoners nor meanes to send for
of their malicious wronges then the Nightingale in a Sommers night doth of the barking of dogges whooping of Owles but sing on without distemper to the contentment of myne owne soule Yet since their clamorous noise hinders others from heareing the voice of the Charmer and through my sides wounds the credit of Authority and may parhapps hereafter incourage them presumptuously for the bringing in of greater inconueniences I desire their dealing with me may be taken notice of by this most Reuerend Assembly To which end I haue here sett downe what they cry out to the disparagement of me and my booke instead of dispersing it abroad according to his Maiesties royall commaund Some giue out that my booke containes nothing but a few needles Songs which I composed and gott priuiledged by Patent meerely for my priuate benifit to the oppression of the Common-wealth Some discourage those that come to buy the booke other whiles denying that it is to be had other while peremptorily protesting against the selling of it or disgracefully telling such as enquire after the same that the worke is Ridiculous and that it better be◅itted me to medle with my poetry then to be ◅ampering with diuinity with such like other wordes of contempt Other some there be who dare auerr that my Lords Grace of Canterbury with many of the Bishopps and best Deuines doe much dislike and oppose the saide Hymnes Others againe buze in the peoples eares that the Hymnes for the Obseruable tymes are popish and tending to the maintenance of superstition And some there be among them who in such terms of ribaldry as no Stewes can goe beyond them blasphemingly affirme that the CANTICLES are obscene and not fitt to be divulged in Song or Verse Yea many other obiections they make and cast out diuers aspersions aswell vpon the Author as on his booke to bring both into contempt The maliciousnes and superfluity of wickednes appearing in these their euill speakeinges your Reuerences can easily perceiue Neuerthelesse forasmuch as there lye Padds in the straw which the best iudgements cannot discerne at the first sight And seeing I haue been openly traduced as vnbeseemingly intruding vpō the deuine calling and stand now accused as one that hath hatched and brought forth such thinges for my temporall aduantage which are offensiue and scandalous to the Church and consciences of good mē which I would not willingly be guilty of for all the world by your patience I do hereby giue an account of my action now in question hopeing that it shal be to the satisfying of this reuerend Assemblie the contentment of such as haue vpon misreport been offended to the shame of myne opposers And I trust also it shall discouer that although there may be founde indiscretions or ouersights in my vndertaking yet I haue deserued fairer vsage my aduersaries lesse credit and my studies better entertainement then heretofore they haue found To keepe my selfe the closer to that which shal bee pertinent to this Apology I wil make these particuler obiections my Theames which I haue repeated nor will I bring any other authorities to make good my defence then the true relations of what hath ben don and such plaine arguments as mine owne reason shal be able to frame For if this discourse come to the veiw of your Reuerēces only you wel enough know what the Recordes of Antiquity can afford to these purposes And if it happen among those only of meane capacity such playne expressions as I purpose to vse will acquire most credite among them And first whereas they giue out that my Hymnes are needles they doe not only thereby contemne and slight my paynes but lay an imputation of vanity vpon the wisedome of the Holy Ghost also For a greate part of them are parcells of the Canonicall Scriptures originally Songe And to say any fragment thereof were needeles is in effect to deminish from Gods words vpon which followes a heauie curse God deserues euery day to be praysed of vs for deliuering his Church by the ouerthrow of Pharoah in the redd Sea as much as he did in the very moment of their deliuerance And the song of Moses then vsed doth in each particuler as properly concerne euery christiā Congregation as it did the Iewes themselues vpon that occasion For Gods mercy shewed to v◅ in our baptisme and the spirituall ouerthrowe of the deuill pursuing vs with an host of sinnes and temptations is in myne opinion more effectually exprest to a spirituall vnderstanding by apprehending the actions and circumstances of that temporall deliuerance thē it could be by the power of any words or by any other ordinary means except by contēplating of that most excellēt material obiect the Sacrament of Baptisme it selfe of which the other was but a type In like manner all the other Canonicall Hymnes do admyrablie help towards Gods euerlasting mercies and for illustrating those particuler Misteries of our christian fayth which they did typically and prophetically foreshew Yea they are part of the propheticall witnes as the Hymnes of the newe Testament are patt of the Euangelicall witnes of our interest in Christ Iesus And verily the late neglect of their application in our christian mysteries hath not onely much iniured one of the two great witnesses of our saluation but giuen occasion also that many vnsound professors haue corrupted them euen to the bringing in of diuers Iewish and Talmudicall fancies to the fearefull distraction of weake people But were not those Hymnes necessary in respect of the variety of their arguments yet the variety of expression were somwhat needful although the matter were the same For as the seuerall dressings of one sort of meate maks it diuersly agreeable to the pallats and stomackes of men so the various manner of things de◅uered in holy Scripturs makes them applicable to our vnderstandings and what in one kind of deliuery seems harsh or obscure in another kind is acceptable and more easily apprehended That which is easie to you is hard parhapps to me and what may be thought an impropriety to some great iudgments doth many times most properly insinuate the speakers meaning vnto them of weaker capacityes In obseruing the seeming differences amonge Interpreters in their trāslatiōs of these words NASSECHV BAR part of the last verse of the secōd psalme I conceiued thereby that the profitable vse of variety was very apparant For the translation most agreeable to the original Hebrew renders the words OSCVLEMINI FILIVM the Septuagint APPREHENDITE DISCIPLINAM and Saint-Hierome ADORATE PVRE which beeing all orthodoxe Interpretations and agreeable both to the scope of the Psalme and that which the wordes originally beare and all standing well together also with the Analogie of fayth this variety made me conceiue in my meditations therevpon that the holy ghost had deliuered his meaning in these triple Equivokes that they might the more properly bee accomodated to the seuerall States and ages of his Church For pardon me if I
proposing the same to his Maiestie briefly and plainely without pretēce of any by-respect I obtayned a free and gratious graunt to make such benifit thereof as vsually heretofore in like cases his Maiestie hath vouchsafed vnto others yea such as the Stationers would haue made of it without a priueledge if so be I had left it in their power Nor can any disaduantage come to the Common-wealth thereby seeing the price is lymited to be such as themselues sell bookes for like chargeable of the same kind Besides no mans trade or ymployment is therby vsurped vpon hindred or taken away but many are rather sett on worke in seuerall professions more then before Insomuch that there can be no publike grieuance truely named or probably pretended which that priuiledge is cause of except it bee a griefe to some fewe Idle drones to behould the laborious lyving vpon the sweate of their owne browes Indeed The Booke-sellers do peremptorily challeng an interest in euery mans labour of this kind and a worshipfull Lawyer was lately pleased on their behalfe to say that the benifite arisinge from the sale of bookes was their ancient and lawfull birthright But if his Masterships Iudgement be noe better in other cases I hope to blesse my selfe from his opinions For vnlesse he can proue the Author hath sould them his birth-right as often he doth for lesse then a messe of pottage he being the elder brother the right first by his owne lawe that he professes falleth vnto him And there are other heires but of a collaterall lyne the Printer and Booke-binder that clayme iust title beefore the booke-seller at least-wise may in Gauilekind be coheires with him yea indeed the meanest of them doubly deserues the better right But it may bee our learned Counseller was a kentish man where in some place the yongest brother inherites by custome of Borough English and so thought perhapps that the like teneur might be peculier vnto the Booke-sellers trade Therefore as I am willing his ignorance should excuse him so I hope all Authors shal be excused and and vnblame worthy if hauing their proper rightes incroched vpon they seeke repossession by the royall power To that purpose is my priueledge which the Sationers haue not onely called in question before the high Court of Parlament whose Censure I shall bee ready to abide with good contentment but by many clamors and by a multytud of papers in print also scandalized the Kinges Grauntas an oppression and cast vpon me the vniust imputation of a base Monopolist wheras I doubt not but I shal be able to proue that his Maiestie hath vouchsafed me nothing but what was IVS REGALE and in his Lawfull power to conferr and that I enioy nothing by vertue of the Priueledge he graunted me but what I am honestly capable to receiue For yf his Maiestie hath not a legall power to confirme vnto me that which is naturally myne own By what right then doe they and others enioy priueledges for those books wherein euery mā hath as good property as they Or if his Maiesty hath not Authority to commaund the addition of a fewe leaues for Gods glory and the peoples edification to such a booke as hath allowance from the Prerogatiue Royall onely Then either the Stationers are very presumptious in anexing the singing Psalmes and Robert Wisdomes Songs to the Bible and booke of Common prayer at their owne pleasures and for their owne profit Or els their Prerogatiue is more absolute then the Kings For the Stationers doe not onely reape the Benefit of diuers books by vertue of his Maiesties Graunts in such wise as the same is vouchsafed vnto me but in a farr larger manner and acording as they execut thē to the publkie iniury many waies Yea by the lawes and Orders of their Corporation they can and do setle vpon the particuler members thereof a prpetuall interest in such Bookes as are Registred by them at their Hall in their seueral Names and are secured in taking the ful benefit of those books better then any Author can be by vertue of the Kings Grant notwithstanding their first Coppies were purloyned from the true owner or imprinted without his leaue Moreouer they annexe Additions to bookes formerly imprinted and increase the pryses of them accordingly though y◠matter be altogither impertinēt And yet if the King do but conferr vpon some Author the sole printing of a tenth part of his owne labours which he might stil haue reserued in his owne power Or but please for the Reuerence and practise of deuotion to commaund the addition of a fewe leaues to some booke authorized by the State onely they immediately breake out into an vproare as if the Kinge had dealt vniustly with them As if the Author had cōmitted Sacriledge and as if the Common-wealth had beene ready to sinke vnder the weight of that burthen Good God! how many dung-botes full of fruitles Volumnes doe they yearely foyst vpon his Maiesties subiectes by lying Titles insinuations and disparaging of more profitable Books how many hundred reames of foolish prophane and sensles Ballads do they quarterly disperse abroade And howe many thousande poundes doe they yearely picke out of the purses of ignorant people who refer the Choyce of their books to the discreations and honesties of these men by that meanes ridding their warehouses from heapes of trasla and refuse which might els haue layne by the walles till the Ratts had eaten it how vnconscionably is the Subiect by these vsages robbed both of his mony and tyme how often in stead of being bettered are their manners corrupted and their affections drawne away by lewd and wanton Poemes how vnchristianly is their loyalty somtyme shakē by seditious Pamphlets Yea how dāgerously is their faith religiō peruerted by those many hereticall and schismaticall Treatises which they from tyme to time secretly or openly disperse through his Maiesties Dominyons How vnfortunate am I as some thinke that haueing performed a good worke doe neuertheles heare it exclaimed vpon as a friuelous labour and stand accused for oppressing the people because a fewe Hymnes contayning the prayses of God are commaunded to bee divulged the most conuenient way whilst such abuses as these afore mentioned and many of a higher nature may be winked at in my Accusers Yet I say rather how happy am I how much bound to praise Gods mercie who couers the multitudes of my transgressions and still bringes me into publike question for such Actions onely as shall vpon Tryall become myne honor and to the shame of my Traducers For I am confident that I shal in due time be deliuered from that and from all other scandalous imputations which the world hath layd to my charg And therefore whether it be now or hereafter I am indifferent and place such assurance in gods loue that I can stay his leasure I procured the Kinges Graunt being the possibility of a temporall blessing by moouing for it where I ought and as
not content to smother my booke as much as may be by denying to giue it vtterance according as the King hath commaunded and as by their trade they ought to doe or to disparage it by striuing to make me seeme vnfitting or insufficient for a worke of that nature but to countenance their detractions they pretend as I sayde before that the Lo Archb with other of your LLos haue disliked my Hymnes that my Lo of Canterbury would this Parlament take order to suppresse them I cannot but wonder at the bouldnesse and impudence of these fellowes that dare publish such improbable vntruthes to the disparagement of honorable personages For many of your Reuerences haue receiued those Hymnes at my hands and returned me that good respect which hath been my encouragement and I cannot thinke any possessing those reuerent places would haue so much forgotten humanity as to haue condemned my labors in such fashiâ—… as those giue out It caÌ„not be thought they censured them vpon the Stationers reports seeing that were an inexcusable leuity and if they examined it me thinks my paynes my pyous intention and the good vse which may be made of that booke would haue mooued them to counsell me how to amend that which was found amisse rather then to disparage my whole work for a few ouersights Can I suppose they who should encourage men in their pyous studies and be glad to see that we are able in any measure to exercise our facultyes towardes the setting forth of Gods prayse would be so harsh to giue me hard censures for my paynes because forsooth I haue not answered their expectations in some one tâ—…iuiall poynt Sure this were not that tendernesse which might be expected in the Fathers of the Church nor do I beleue that any of your LLâ—…s would vse that seuerity towards me for then if I had noâ—… better comfortes then such critescisme affords those who wâ—… their tyme altogether in idlenesse and abuse their facultyes to vainest purposes are in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…n I. Now that they haue abused my Lo Grace of 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 his dislike of my booke to the disparagement thereof I shal make yt very apparent For his Grace tooke notise that my booke was perused and allowed by his Maiestie himselfe and worthily approued his Royall iudgement both in Diuinity and Poetry the Stationers beeing present he was informed likewise concerning euery perticuler circumstance in the Grant and how it was his Maiesties pleasure my booke should be anexed to the metricall Psalmes and thereupon both illustrated the reasonablenesse thereof to the sayd stationers and gaue them and me incouragment to proceed to composition touching the same moreouer the Canonical Hymnes haueing beene allowed by the Lo Bp of London part of them imprinted for an assay I deliuered to my L Archbs own hands a coppy of them almost fowre yeare agoe since when about two yeares after they being imprinted altogether passed without contradiction euen to the diuvlging of a full impression and lastly haueing an addition of spirituall Songes for the obseruable tymes they came forth altogether authorised as well by the Kinges perticuler approbation as by the common allowance appoynted by the State Yea my Lo of Canterbury himselfe receiued one of those bookes from me vpon Michelmas day last and giuing me order to alter one word only hath permitted al the rest to haue free passage without controwle Is it likely then that my Lord will soe iniure the Kinges iudgement and his owne as to disparage in priuate what they haue publikely allowed or secretly combine with the stationers to oppose the Kinges royall commaund in that which he himselfe hath approoued reasonable Is it likely his Grace would soe dishonor the reuerent Authority of his place as to make the stationers or bookebinders his instruments of suppressing my booke in such a scandalous fashion consideringe what power hee hath giuen him to take order and reforme in matters of that nature or is it likely that his Lp had soe litle compassion and respect as not to consider what faultinesse might bee in my Hymnes or what inconuenience might arise by my Graunt vntyll I had bestowed besides my paynes so much cost in printing them that he might at one blowe make frustrate my studies and quite ouerthrowe my estate both together Whilst there was hope of a composition betweene me and the stationers the Priueledg was no GreeuaÌ„ce neither was there any fault found with my Hymnes and is it likly that since our disgreement mallice and detraction should finde out those escapes which the eye of Authority could not discouer Is it likely my Lo would â—…e soe partiall as to passe ouer all my paynes and vnquestionable expressions without regard finding but one place doubtful as easie to bee amended as found fault withall that he would haue sought to cast away my whole endeuour for that ouersighte which I was able and ready with all humility to reforme Or is it likly he reputed of so litle coÌ„sequeÌ„ce what yâ— King was pleased to peruse graÌ„t a priueledg for that neither his priuate deuotion nor his publike care would moue him to consider what good or inconuenience might succeede vpon the publication thereof vntill the stationers had for their owne endes awakened him Or if it were considered can I thinke he would haue beene silent vntill it might be obiected to my publike disgrace It cannot be but that they haue abused my Lds Grace and diuers other reuerend personages in their reports For such vsage of me were not answereable to yâ— reuereÌ„ce pyety of their callings if religious endeuours should euer finde such encouragmentes there were more hope of thrift to the worldwarde by makeing Ballades for the company of stationers then coulde bee by composing of Hymns and spirituall Songes for the honor of God I hope no man in authority enuies me the honor of my emploimeÌ„t nor grudges mee that poore profite which my labors may honestly bring in For though it bee noâ—… meane content to a christian whose soule is touched with the vnderstanding of spirituall comfortes to bee an instrument of Gods glory yet that which I haue attempted makâ—… me in regard of one of you noe better then the meanest seruant attendinge on the outward ceremonies is in comparison of him that hath yâ— most holy mysteries of the Church committed to his dispensation And as for the benefit likely to arise vnto me froÌ„ that I haue done I know not what it may proue hereafter but hitherto I haue bene acquainted with nothing saue the priuation of it and haue beene so preposterously rewarded for my best labors that if all those whoe are thought to censure me had mett with such discouragments as I haue done it is tenn to one but some of them now florishing in eminent places had sate as lowe as I doe at this day But if it shall please my Lo of Canterbury to pardon them for abusing his name in the
disparagement of my Hymnes I shal also forgiue them For beeing warrantable in themselues no mans Authority shal be able to dishonor them nor cann his eminence excuse them if they be not iustifyable in their owne nature I will therefore proceede to answere those two perticulers which are principally obiected against my booke of Hymnes by the Stationers and their Abet◅ers First they impudently giue out that the Song of Solomon is not fit to be expressed in Lyricke verse and that my expression thereof is in some places obscēe Which as I perswad my selfe I shal be able to disproue shew that vpō due examinatiō y◠modesty of my Version with the conueniency of publishing that Song shall appeare so euident as will make them ashamed of their mallice and ignorance who oppose it For whatsoeuer I am in my outward appearance I neither consulted with flesh and bloode nor with myne owne fancy when I medled with that sacred Mistery and therefore seeing there bee those who doe not onely cauill against the publycation of the Canticles in Lyticke Verse but vnciuelly censure also with what minde I was employed on that subiect I could wish that before they passe further in their iudgments vpon that booke or me they would a little iudge themselues impartially examine their owne hearts whether it be not spleene or enuy which hath moued them to carp at my labours If it had not beene soe I should haue beene tymely and Christianly admonished rather then so inhumanly traduced as I haue been where I was not to make answere for my selfe yea I hauing professed so much willingnesse to harken to instruction some of them would haue thought me worthy the speaking vnto in a matter of that consequence and there would haue beene vsed such sweete mildenesse in the reproofe with such respect of my labor and expences and such care to haue preserued my credit and Christian patience in the remedy of my ouersight as would haue witnessed from what good spirit it proceeded And thus I shall expect to be dealt withall if Authority shall please to call into question my Performances But from my Traducers what good vsage can I expect seeing they haue not spared God but blasphemously termed the expressions of his holy spirit Obscene For this some of the most eminent of the stationers haue not blushed in publike to affirme in the most immodest tearmes whereupon many of the inferiors of their fraternity doe insteed of vsing my booke to that Christian vse for which it was published cary the same about them purposly to disparage it Yea at their Tauerne tiplings and in all companies whereinto they can thrust themselues they seeke occasion to posses their hearers that my book is vnworthy to be receiued among good people And the place which to their vnderstanding is so offensiue is in the ninth Canticle where I render THE KNITTING OF THE THIGHES what the Latyne translates IVNCTVRAE FEMORVM and our English Version THE IOINTS of the Thighes I beseech you what Obscenity is in that more then in the holy Ghosts owne wordes To the cleane all thinges are cleane And I protest before God at whose throne I shal be iudged for it if I lye I doe not remēber that I had one immodest thought so much as cast into me by meanes of any expression in that holy Song during the tyme I was busied thereabout But with those cleane thoughtes I contemplated the louelinesse of Gods workemanshipp in the seuerall parts of the body and there withall soe temperately meditated those passions and passages which are incident to an honest naturall affection that by contemplating those materiall obiectes I raysed my vnderstanding to more then vsuall apprehensions of that vnspeakeable loue which is between the Diuine and human nature in generall and betweene Iesus Christ and my owne soule in perticuler And as I haue been more then ordinarily apprehensiue of the contentments discontentments incident to a naturall loue lymited within the boundes of Chastity Soe that heauenly Song hitherto vndiscreetly neglected and by the mallice of the Deuill iudged dangerous to be made common taught me to be much the more affected with those kindnesses vnkindnesses which I felt betwene God and my selfe Yea so was I mooued thereby as it cann neither be exprest by me nor conceiued by those who haue irreuerent opinions of the meanes God hath prepared to beget those apprehensions in their soules Those that acquire their Diuinity meerly by reading books will perswade vs out of some few weake Authorityes perhapps that the Song of Solomon is not to be read of yong men but by those onely in whom the carnal affections are quit mortified which the scope of the holyghost being well considered is iust as if they should tell vs Fyre were to be made rather with Ashes then with wood But he that hath gayned his humble knowledge both by hearing the Church obseruing the power which Gods word hath showne vpon him in his own affections is perswaded that heauenly Poeme was composed preserued for the pyous vse of al men principally for yong louers inflamed with a naturall loue that by their carnall affections they might ascend be made capeable of that which is spiritual So other Allegoryes are chiefly intended to stirr vp those whoe are subiect to other Affections For litle would it preuaile with an olde man whose heart is setled vpon riches and such like to illustrat the pleasure he might receiue in his communion with God by setting before him the mutual contentments enterchanged between two affectionat Louers seeing those passages are vsually derided by the elder sort And lesse would it moue that yong man who is delighted in beauty and the perfections of his belooued to expresse vnto him the spirituall happinesse by Tytles Treasures or the profites and pleasures of a vineyarde which hee meanely regards I humbly desire your RRces that my Christian labour in prepareing that Song for a more frequent vse may not be made voyde or become despised by those who speake euill of that they vnderstand not The dispisednesse of my person and quallity may at first appearance easily drawe a rash censure vpon my actions before due consideration as it hath often done And their opinion who oppose the publication of the Canticles in Lyricke Verse carryes such a formall showe of reuerence to that holy Poeme and hath at first sight such a shaddowe of pyous respect by reason of the spareing vse which the Church hath heretofore seemed to make of those Hymnes that it may at a blush deceiue the vnderstandinges of good and learned men But if they take leasure to examine the true state of the Question they wil be able to satisfy both themselues and others against that fruitleesst opinion which being mayntayned will open passage agayn or their heresie who deny vnto the lay people the free vse of holy Scripture Those whoe please to obserue with good purpose my generall preface to
pietie but let them not measure the Church by their cubite nor judge the profitablenes of her Discipline by the abuses or misinterpretatiōs of ignorāt Detractors For if those who fancie most perfection in their priuate rule of life had at first wanted those helpes remembrances and publique meanes of instructiō which were tendred them by the Church they had eyther wandred perhaps after vncertaine pathes or neglected to proceed at all in their Spirituall Iourney Our holy Mother the Church hath many Children of diuers tempers and constitutions and as the Maister of a great Feast prouideth so that euery Guest may finde some what to agree with his appetite So Gods Church hath established such discipline for her childrē that euery one may finde that which accordes vvith their capacities and inclinations As therefore it were madnesse for a Guest to rayle at his friēds Bāquet because he saw there many moe varieries thē he listed to seed on or some wholesome meates which his stomack loathed through his owne default And as it were barbarous inhumanity in him that had learned the way through an obscure Desert by heapes of stone raised by his Predecessours to pull downe those marks because he imagins that he hath foūd a passage vvithout them So it is monstrous impiety in them who seeke either to take away or make contemptible those Chaistian helpes whereby others may be assisted by which they themselues were at first initiated because forsooth they finde a distast through their owne distemper or a possibillity of doeing well without them through their owne ouerweening cōceit And it is the greate mercy of God if their presumption carry them not into the gyddy and vncertayne pathes of perdition I wish hartily that those weake members of our Church who are ignorantly offended at her Disciplines because they knowe not the Christian vse of them would with more sincerity take those things into their consideration weigh how farr our Solemnityes are from that superstitiō wherof their blinde guides accuse them how differēt from popish Obseruations how greate an offence it is to scandalize that Authority whereunto they ought to be obediēt in euery thing not repugning the sacred word And if they be not hardned in their malice I would those Stationers also who by falsly accusing my Hymnes of blasphemy and superstition haue drawne many of that censorious generation to help them clamor against what they haue not yet perused would make more consciēce of their actions not worke vpon the credulity of their customers to the generall disparagmēt of that booke vvhich they ought rather to haue aduanced But I feare I vvish an impossibility on the Stationers behalfe For they haue so long so vnciuelly resisted those Himnes vvhich haue been published for helpes to deuotion that it may be doubted they will be now ashamed to speake well of them how profitable soeuer they be approued Nor will yt be much materiall I thinke ere long whether those who haue been my Detractors praise or discommend For I am persvvaded they will make their dispositions so well knowne after a while that no man of vnderstanding wil regard vvhat they speake As yet their true qualitey is not fully discouered therefore yf any should happen to ouer-heare them at their Goose-nest behind Saint Nicholas Shambles Or vvhen a knot of them hath gotten a Cuntrey-Chapman Citty-Customer or nevv flovvne Academick to some Drincking-schoole vvithin the compasse of their verge yt vvould deceaue a common iudgement to obserue vvhat grauitey zeale and learning some of them vvill consume in rayling vpon my Hymnes One as if he had been Register or Liberary-keeper to all the primitiue Churches vndertakes to tell his Auditory that no such thing had been published in the first 300 yeares after Christ As if that had bene to any purpose A second out of his deepe vnderstanding in such language dares pronounce some of my expressions obsceane A third by conuersing with the Titles of Bookes only for their insides he vvas neuer acquainted vvithall is become so learned that he ◅yndes himselfe impudent enough to accuse me of blasphemy A fourth iustly suspecting that his owne opinion will add no credit to his foolish invectiues belyes some Reuerend customer of his or brings the Authority of some of those Worshipfull censurers vvho vpon the Stationers bare credite vse to condemne Bookes before they reade them Yea so shamefully will some of them aver obiect whatsoeuer they can imagine vvill disparage my Labour and vvith such counterfeite shewes of pittying me and making a Religions conscience of their words that such as know neyther of vs vvould thinke them the very quintessēce of Sincerity and me some irreligious Scribler vvho cared not vvhat I published for mine ovvne aduantage But that whereby they hope to work me farthest out of good opinion is my Hymne for Saint Georges day Yea the bare obiecting of that hath made many who passe for wiser men then they prooue to condemne the same before tryall And as if that Hymne could haue beene to no purpose but to mainetaine a Popish and superstitious obseruation they rashly make yt an occasion of miscōstering all the rest and so malitiously vilify my honoring the solēnity of that day with a Hymne as yf they had been of that Dragons confederacie for whose ouerthrow yt praiseth God I knovv no cause there is giuen of such dislike For I haue ascribed no Diuine honor to any creature in that Hymne nor appropriated it to that Martyr ignorātly reputed the tutelary saint of this Kingdome and by some heretofore superstitiously inuoked in warlike incounters Nor haue I sorted the Festiuall of Saint George among the solemnities appointed by the Church but mentioned the same as an Obseruatiō set apart by the State onely as are the first dayes of Kings raignes And though my Hymne prepared for that Solemnitey is numbred among the Hymnes of the congregation because it is composed as personating many Neuerthelesse euen that all the rest were by me intēded for paterns to assist or direct priuate deuotiōs rather then to be imposed for sett formes which I thought worthy to be vsed in our publike Assemblies Were the obseruation of Saint Georges feast as popish an limpertinēt as some of my traducers ignorantly and irreuerently conceiue yet since I neither inuented it nor haue power to abolish the same why should I be blamed for shewing vvith what meditations it may be the more appleyd to Gods glory and redound to the greater honor and edification of those vvho are attendants on that solemnity Seeing that place of Saint Paul which counselleth that vve should direct all our Actions to the glory of God may be my warrant for so do◅ ing without wresting the meaning of the Text. For that Hymne together with a Preface shewing the true vse thereof whome we vnderstood by Saint George I inserted among the rest for those purposes First to giue men occasion of spirituall