bookes as hurtful to youth as Machauile to age a plaugh dangerous and as common as dangerous The lazie Monkes fat-headed Friers in whom was nought but sloath idlenes bred this contagion for lining in pleasure ease and not interrupted with cares they had time inough to vomit out their doltish rediculous fables this was the subtiltie of Satā thē Vaine bookes the spoile of many young wits to occupie Christian wits in Heathens foolery but now this age is more finer mens wits are clarified the dulnesse of that time is thrust out an other method is brought in fine phrases Inkehorn-termes swelling words bumbasted out with the flocks of sundry languages with much pollished and new-made eloquence with these daintie cates they furnish and set out their filthy and vicious bookes now what do they but tye youth in the fetters of lust keepe them in the thoughts of loue for do they not with glosing words tickle and stirre vp the affections to be conceited of some fond passion to be more vngraciously subtill and doo they not labour in vaine cunning to infect and poison delicate youth are not there idle Poems of carnall loue lust and vnchaste arguments the very nurses of abuse by which the minde is drawne to many pestilent wishes For when as young folkes haue licked in the sweete iuice of these stinking bookes their conuersation and manners are so tainted and spotted with Vice that they can neuer be so cleane washed but some filthy dregges will remaine behinde I may liken them to fawning curres that neuer barke till they bite or a gaye painted coffer full of toades and venemous beasts So in like manner many of these bookes haue glorious outsides and goodly titles as if when a man tooke them in hand he were about to read some angelicall discourse but within full of strong venome tempered with sweete honey now while the minde is occupied in reading such toyes the common enemie of man is not idle but doth secretly insnare the soule in securitie And some of good partes and beautified with no common gifts both of art and nature Good wits vaine writers not being ledde by the sun-shine of Vertue infect the puritie of wit with prophane inuention in some loose subiect as patrons of Vice and nurses of impietie and spend the blessednesse of time in vnnecessary babling Other base and seruile wits runne rashly into any sinfull argument and crowde to the prease with might and maine not so much regarding the generall hurt as some sixe-penny allowance na◠euery triuiall mate and cashired Clarke will bewray his folly in print and with a tumultuous confusion of words lay out a deale of amorous prattle though he be as tedious to his reader as a muddie way to a wearie traueller Now what is to be found in these bookes but filthinesse and grosse ignorance as for learning there is none to be found in them which neuer came neare the shadow of learning themselues and as little wit but a fewe fine words of lust which are chiefly ment to bend the minde to wantonnesse yet are they led with this vaine suppositiō that if they haue bin luld a sleepe but one night on the Muses lap are able to publish any thing with well deserued commendations and I must needs say that I my selfe haue read in them and taken great delight in their foolish lyes but surely I could neuer find either goodnes or wit vnles Vice be Vertue or to tel a bawdie tale be wit Neuertheles I would not haue any man think that I inueigh against or discommend Poetrie for in al ages it hath bin thought necessarie but only against those abusers of Poesie who vnder the name title of Poets foist in their wanton lasciuious verses Modest Poetrie cōmendable The true vse of Poetrie standeth in two parts the one in teaching the way to Vertue the other to moue with delight therevnto for honest delight stirreth vp men to take that goodnesse in hand which otherwise would bee loathsome vnpleasant so that when it is bent to a good end and euery thing laide out in his due annalligie with some ioy the affections are thereby inuoked to a serious consideration to imitate that goodnesse wherevnto it is moued Those bookes that both delight and perswade with learned discretion out of which some wholsome document may be extracted though it be simple yet is it praiseable Disdaine not saith the wise Heathen the simple labour of an other though thou beest neuer so great especially if he speake good words Againe considering the diuersitie of mens minds and how diuersly they are disposed all honest delight is not to be disproued because euery man may finde both pleasure profit for as I say by a pleasant discourse the minde is more chearefully carried both to read meditate to muse and studie the memory more willing to holde that it hath conceiued So that Poetrie is no other thing but a liuely presentatiō of things ingeniously disposed wherby Vertue is painted out with such fresh colours that the mind is inflamed with her excellent properties Now whosoeuer shall discent from this true vse is no Poet but a vaine babler for what are all these scurrillous tales bawdie verses do these moue to Vertue with honest delight nay doo they not rather stirre vp bawdrie and beastlinesse for are they not full of Paganisme and ribald speeches to stirre vp the mind to shady idlenesse is this Poetrie verily they are as vnworthy the name of Poets as Chirrillus who had nothing to grace his verses by but onely the name of Allex. But if a man superficially slitely glideth ouer these pye-bald Pamphlets they are like a pleasing dream that mockes the mind with silken thoughts but if seene into with a sober iudgement hee shall finde in that faire beaten path many Adders Snakes lye in waite to byte him by the heele For if a view be had of these editions the Court of Venus A Legend of lyes the Pallace of Pleasure Guy of Warwicke Libbius and Arthur Beuis of Hampton the wise men of Goatam Scoggins Ieasts Fortunatus and those new delights that haue succeeded these and are now extant too tedious to recken vp what may we thinke but that the floud-gates of all impietie are drawne vp to bring a vniuersall deluge ouer all holy and godly conuersation for there can be no greater meanes to affright the mind from honestie then these pedling bookes which haue filled such great volumes and blotted so much paper theyr sweete songs and wanton tales do rauish and set on fire the young vntempered affections to practise that whereof they doo intreate who by reason of theyr infancie and imbicillitie of wit are soone seduced and with wine-puft eloquence doo so artificially lim out the life of vanitie as they easily take the impression of that which is portrayed out vnto them and on this rocke stands the ensigne of
their glory if smoothly and pithily they can trick vp a tale of some beastly prapus of lawlesse lust and rip vp the genealogie of the Heathen gods to carrie the minde into wonderment ô how they will diue into the bottome of their braine for fluant termes and imbossed words to varnish theyr lyes and fables to make them glib and as we vse to say to goe downe without chewing which as poyson doth by litle and litle disperse it selfe into euery part of the body From hence riseth so much foolish idle prattle the Seruing-man the Image of sloath the bagge-pipe of vanitie like a windie Instrument soundeth nothing but prophanenesse and some are so charmed as they spend their whole life in vaine reading because they see in theÌ„ as in a glasse their owne conditions now such vaine fragments as fit their humors they sucke in and squeese out againe in euery assembly It is too true that one such wanton to ye dooth more breed Vice then twentie godly treatises can induce to Vertue nor twentie Sermons preached by the best Diuine in EnglaÌ„d doth not so much good to moue to true doctrine as one of these bookes do harme to intice to ill liuing they corrupt good learning subuert all sanctimony and by a tedious pratling ouer-sway the memory from that good purpose whervnto it ought to be imployed not informing the iudgement in matters worthy to be learned From whence then creepeth in this pestilence but out of these vaine bookes for euery mischiefe by litle litle crawleth vpon the good manners of men which vnder some shewe of goodnes is suddenly receiued which by a voluntary admittance at the first becoÌ„meth habituall especially when the spirituall faculties are defiled with much conuersatioÌ„ in so much that many that hold places in sacred assemblies become affected to their phrases Metaphors Allegories and such figuratiue and suparlatiue termes and so much vaine eloquence as they yeeld no fruite at all to their auditors but driue them into amazement with a multitude of Inkehorne-termes scummed from the Latin and defused phrases as they flye aboue the commoÌ„ reach when the most profitable and best affected speech is that that is most congruable and fitly applied to the intendment vnderstanding of the hearers by familiar and ordinarie termes not sophisticall darke and obscure nor too base and barbarous but such as are animated by their present abilitie to speake more then other men and be addicted to affectation haue commonly a dearth of iudgement sildome edifie but gallop ouer prophane writers to shewe theyr vaine reading Demosthenes beeing called to declaime against the rude multitude that had assembled themselues in the Forum of Athens answered he was not yet readie if he that had Facaecia ingenij the very soule of wit durst not speak in a serious matter without preparing himselfe before how caÌ„ such that come far short of him in promptnes of naturall wisdome presume to handle holy things so rashly with humane learning for it is an impudent boldnesse for a man to take vpon him to teach others that which he before hath not bene taught but I may speake as Tully spake of the Orators of Rome Sed tamen videmus quibus extinctus Oratoribus quam in paucis spes quanto in paucioribus facultas quam in multis sit audacia We see saith he what noble Orators are put out of the way and how in fewe a hope remaineth in fewer a skill but in many a boldnesse that dare set vpon any thing To returne doo not these idle pernicious bookes poyson the well disposed manners of youth and macerate and kill the seedes of Vertue that begin to bloome for doo they not vse more vaine eloquence then confidence in matters of wisedome So that all that which they do is but to make a mutinie Men need not sowe for weedes for they growe fast inough so we are polluted inough by kinde though we be not more defiled by custome thus do they proceed like cankers to eate off the tender buddes Neither do they want some Mecenas to Patronize their witlesse workes and to haue some applause bend the scope of theyr argument to fit their dispositions Vaine workes wel rewarded yea and many times thrust their dedications vpon men of graue and sober carriage who will not sticke to recompence their idle labours Now if the principall scope of all our actions and counsels ought to be to some good ende and that it must needs passe as a Maxime that nothing can be good but that whâ—ch moueth to Vertue theÌ„ it must coÌ„sequeÌ„tly follow that all prophane and lasciuious Poems are as an infectious aire that brings a generall plague because they striue against honestie And if Plato sawe so great cause to shut them out of his common-wealth as noysome to the peace and tranquillitie thereof what ought our Platonists to do sith they more abound heere then euer they did there or if we had but the zealous affections of the Ephesians we would loathe the price of so great iniquitie and sacrifice them at a stake though they were of neuer so great value But happily it will be demaunded how Ladies Gentlewomen c. should spend the time and busie their heads as though idlenesse were not a vice badde inough of it self without fire to be added and as though there were not a Bible and many good bookes wherein they might be vertuously exercised Of good wits well imployed what good would ensue by setting out the praises of the immortall maiestie that giueth hands to write and wittes to inuent what matter might they not finde both honest and necessary in which they might first want words to vtter then matter worthie to be vttered especially those that are not only by their outward felicitie freed from troubles and perturbation of minde imbracing content in the bosome of peace the nurse of Sciences but are also inabled and sufficiently gifted to publish any thing of worth ô how willing is Vertue to crowne them with honour But this contagion ought seriously to be considered by men of riper iudgement and by such as haue authoritie to suppresse the abuses for is it not lamentable that a Pamphlet discoursing nought but Paganisme should be so vendible and vertuous bookes want sale the one bought vp thicke and three fold the other lye dead for there commeth forth no sooner a foolish toye a leaud and bawdy ballad but if sung in the market by the diuels quirristers they flocke to it as crowes to a dead carkasse buying them vp as Iewels of price be they neuer so ribauld filthie or dorbellicall but bookes of Christianitie of modest argument that tend to rectifie the iudgment lieth stil in the Stationers hand as waste paper not so much as looked after so that by this we may plainly see what a froward generation we are fallen into where in such bookes as are most hurtfull and daungerous are most deuoutly coueted But if they would obserue
the Philosophers rule Pythagoras rule to abstain from speaking fiue yeare I doubt not but in that time they would be fitted and fully established to write with sober iudgement as men of vnderstanding reason or if the Apostles rule were followed Be swift to heare and slowe to speake they would be more considerate and not runne out the course of their liues in such vnprofitable studie But touching the defence some make to approue this vaine writing it is too ridiculous and not worth an answere that they doo by this meanes polish refine our English tongue and drawe it from barbarisme into a more finer Cadence of words but those bookes that polish the toong depraue the life are dangerous and in the sentence of wise men in no case to be allowed for it were better for a man to be dumbe then by speaking to approue a wrong and accuse the innocent and better it were indeed that they had not only no learning at all but also that they had no eyes to see nor eares to heare for as it is in the Gospell it were much better for a man to goe blinde into heauen then with two eyes to be cast into hell Neither can I see but that they drawe our language from the auncient tenor by mixing it with so many straunge countries that it seemeth rather more artificiall then naturall and more baser then the common lawe which is compounded of French English and Latin c. The harsh tooting of Pans pipe was more pleasing to Mydas eare then the sweet harmony of Apolloes harp but this fault was in the Iudge Vaine men iudge vainly whose simplicitie could not distinguish them aright in like manner many are better content with vicious bookes bawdie songs foolish and wanton ditties then in the well seasoned writings of holy men and this is for want of iudgement being as blinde as he was foolish It may be said of such as Pythagoras said to a leaude fellow that soothed himselfe in conuersing with badde company I had rather quoth he be acquainted with bawdes then wise Phylosophers L. Max. No maruell quoth he very sadly swine delight more in dirt then in pure and cleane water Of such bookes as moue to good life and bring a benefit to posteritie we haue but too fewe and can neuer haue too many but of such as followe their owne fancies in spewing out their wandering imaginations we haue but too many and it were to be wished we had none at all Good men are not only otherwise imployed but also greatly discouraged for if they set forth any notable booke of diuinitie humanitie or such like they are in no request but to stop musterd-pots what is the reasō but this euery Stationers shop stal almost euery post giues knowledge of a new toy Good bookes lye dead which many times intercepts the vertuous dispositiō of a willing buyer so that hauing time and incouragement labor what they can to deface good mens workes with the multitude of their sinfull fopperies Hee that can but bombast out a blancke verse and make both the endes iumpe together in a ryme is forthwith a poet laureat challēging the garland of baies and in one slauering discourse or other Many Poets shallow wits hang out the badge of his follie O how weake and shallow much of theyr poetrie is for hauing no sooner laide the subiect and ground of their matter and in the Exordium moued attention but ouer a verse or two runne vpon rockes and shelues carrying their readers into a maze now vp thē downe one verse shorter then an other by a foote like an vnskilfull Pilot neuer comes nigh the intended harbour in so much that oftentimes they sticke so fast in mudde they loose their wittes ere they can get out either like Chirrillus writing verse not worth the reading or Battillus arrogating to themselues the well deseruing labours of other ingenious spirits Farre from the decorum of Chauser Gowers Lidgate c. or our honourable moderne Poets who are no whit to be touched with this but reuerently esteemed and liberally rewarded Then seeing this naughtie kinde of writing dooth plucke vp the seeds of Vertue by the rootes and quench that little fire assoone as it beginneth to kindle they ought to be shunned as Serpents Snakes and youth chiefly to be kept from reading them The Libeller is punished according to the qualitie of his Libell A fit comparison either by pillorie whipping losse of eares fine imprisonment and such like the thiefe hanged the traitor drawne and euery one punished in that kind he doth offend in are not these filthy bookes libells do they not defame discredit and reproach Vertue and honestie by expounding Vice with large comments do they not steale away all holy deuotion poyson good wits and corrupt young people shall hee be pardoned by course of lawe that offends in the highest degree and shall hee be counted a maister of wisedome that teacheth nought but foolishnesse to the people wherefore then should this so great mischiefe goe vnreproued To conclude he that can read shall finde bookes worthy to be read wherein is both wisedome and learning pleasant wittie sober and chast that both profit the life The profit of reading good bookes and ioy the mind but before all other to read those diuine bookes that both lift the heart to God and direct vnto Christian duties for such is Fomentum fidei nourishing faith Lexio alit ingenium so the bookes bee wise vertuous chaste and honest touching the former they are but stinking infectious writings which as mudde and dyrt defile the body so do they pollute the soule By reading good bookes the minde is stored with wisedome the life bettered and setled in quietnesse so that still all reading be referred to the Bible frō whence all Vertue is deriued For this cause S. Paul admonisheth Timothie to giue attendance to reading for albeit hee was trained vp in the scriptures from a childe and had all Ephesus vnder his charge yet hee stirreth him to reading for by reading more knowledge is not onely gotten but also the decayes and breaches of the memorie is againe renued and vnlesse there be both a powring in of more and a continuall restoring of that which is lost all will drop away and leaue a man emptie for the memorie is like a ruinous house readie to fall downe which if not eftsoones repaired will soone become inhabitable Touching Enterludes and Playes The grounded opinion of wise and godly men against Playes must be authentick I will omit to speak how the best iudgements conceiue of them their reasons being strong and manifolde to thrust them out as things indifferent and make them simply vnlawfull For although they are not simply forbidden in expresse words yet if it once appeare the true vse be lost and cleaue to a bad report it is the part of euerie man to shun and auoyd the same
it is so flintie that no good thing will penetrate the diuell sitting at the elbowe and eyther rockes him a sleeepe or amazeth the minde with wandring thoughts so that filling a place as a Cipher in augrime heareth a buzzing sound in his eares but is neuer truly toucht in his heart Beside the affections are not alike for at a Play the whole facultie of the minde is altogether bent on delight the eye earnestly fixed vpon the obiect euery sence busied for the time the eare narrowly waiteth to catch that that is vttered sending it to wit wit to reason reason to memorie which locketh it vp in a clozet least it slip out againe the diuell in the meane time like a quiet fellow doth not trouble the affections with strange delusions and why so because they are occupied in his worke Furthermore a man is not wearied be it neuer so tedious because they doo not onely as I say feed the eare with sweete words equally ballanced the eye with variable delight but also with great allacritie doth swiftly runne ouer in two houres space the dooings of many yeares galloping from one countrey to an other whereby the minde is drawne into expectation of the sequell and carried from one thing to an other with changeable motions that although hee were vnacquainted with the matter before yet the cunning Art hee seeth in the conueyance maketh him patiently attend the Catastrophae when as at a Lecture and holy exercise all the sences are mortified and possest with drowsinesse so that by this then we may see our corrupt nature and the sore that runneth ouer the whole body for the minde is nothing so tentible at a good instruction nor the eare so audible as at a vaine and sportiue foolerie ô how dull is the affections to the one and how prompt to the other how the tongue will itterate and repeate the one with great ioye and smoulder vp the other in drowsie melancholye Many well gouerned Common-wealths did not onely note them to bee infamous persons that acted them excluding them from offices and giuing testimonie in causes crimminall but also supplanted and beate downe Theaters and common Play-houses least any things should be imprinted in the peoples harts against honestie Licurgus banished all Players Pypers Sophisters c. Ouid for his wanton Ars amandi was exiled by Augustus Iuuinall as an instrument of obscenitie and bawdery was driuen out of his countrey because by their wanton Elegies they made the mindes obsequies to loose liuing A good old father being demanded what he thought of Playes and idle Poetrie answered they were very good to infect young wits with vanitie and needlesse fopperie The grossenesse of the Heathen was such Foule idollatrie in the Heathen that they dedicated Playes games mummeries maskes c. to their Idols to pacifie their supposed displeasure And although there is none but abhorreth such foule Idollatrie yet the diuell hath such a Heccatombe of sacrifices out of obscene and filthy Playes To bee short men ought to recreate themselues comely and decently and vse exercises of better report and lesse hurt for what saieth Saint Chrisostome to the faithfull of his time In no case saieth hee frequent Theaters least you bee branded with infamie It is no small offence saieth Ciprian for a man to disguise himselfe in the garments of a woman vnlesse in cases of great necessitie to saue the life c. And therefore it were to bee wished that all loue-bookes Sonnets and vile pamphles were burned and no more suffered to be printed nor filthy Playes rehearsed which are the bellowes to blowe the coales of lust soften the minde and make it flexible to euil inclinations vnlesse first seene and allowed by some of approued and discreet iudgement To conclude it were further to be wished that those admired wittes of this age Tragaedians and Comaedians that garnish Theaters with their inuentions would spend their wittes in more profitable studies and leaue off to maintaine those Anticks and Puppets that speake out of their mouthes for it is pittie such noble giftes should be so basely imployed as to prostitute their ingenious labours to inrich such buckorome gentlemen And much better it were indeed they had nor wit nor learning at all then to spend it in such vanitie to the dishonour of God and corrupting the Common-wealth but he that dependeth on such weake staies shall be sure of shame and beggerie in the ende for it hath sildome bene seene that any of that profession haue prospered or come to an assured estate Hast thou wit learning and a vaine to write wickednesse adde wisedome to thy wit and couet to write goodnesse so shalt thou in stead of cursing be blessed and immortally praised of the good and honest The floud of wittie foolishnes hath a long time ouerflowne the bankes of modestie the world is full of idle bookes and friuolous toyes neuer in any age was the like turne thy pen write not with a goose quill any longer clense thy wit of grosse folly and publish things profitable and necessary new and good to the building vp of Vertue and godlinesse Againe is the minde and body wearied with vnreasonable care and labour rest ease and inoffensiue pastimes are then most fittest and in season for we are not created to follow sports and pleasures and sent into the world to play but for graue and waightie studies and to vse honest mirth when the body is tyred and no longer able to endure trauaile vnlesse it be againe refreshed with some actiuitie and not otherwise so that such as spend the time in vaine trifles gadding after Playes and idlely runne vp and downe breake that straight iniunction made by God to Adam In the sweat of thy browes shalt thou eate thy bread What whoredomes drunkennesse swearing and abhominable Sodomie is daily practised doth it not inuite and call vpon Magistrates to draw the sword of reformation do they not crie for vengeance to heauen surely there was neuer more filthinesse committed then now the word contemned Preachers despised and a direct opposition against all honestie that were it not for some fewe that stand in the gap fire and brimstone would fall from heauen consume the wicked like Sodome and Gomorrah For doubtlesse the sins of Sodome are as rife here as euer they were there pride gluttony cutthroat-enuy self-loue vnmercifulnesse to the poore and such like and those not priuate but vnuersall in all places and amongst most men The next enemy to Vertue is Idlenesse Idenesse the roote of all euill a burthen of impediment a vice so deeply rooted in some that it casteth them headlong into infernall bondage the toade out of which issueth nought but drunkennesse whoredomes pride ignorance errour blindnesse beggerie and a thousand moe miseries Time is like so many lighted lampes that with care diligence ought to be kept with oyle which with dampish idlenesse are soone put out and by negligence let fall for mans life
and Ale-houses being now traded vp in it as in an occupation If we see a man often frequent the Phisitions house we by and by suspect his health and suppose he is not well his body out of temper and some infirmitie breeding so when wee behold one often to repaire to such places of ill note we may censure him and safely conclude his wits are distracted and daungerously infected with Opprobrium medicorum Neuerthelesse leaud company is the ouerthrow of many good wits which otherwise be ingenious and of a liuely promptitude to Vertue getting such vices in an houre as tarrieth with thē many dayes for bad company is as a stench about a man that annoyeth the sence And as cleare christall water is corrupted if it fall into a a stinking puddle so a vertuous minde is stained with the leaud vices of loose liuers and therfore no man can be freed of the effect till he shun the cause for conuersing with naughtie people the good disposition is sooner infected with their euill maners then the bad reformed with their good conditions For as by a contagious ayre the soundest bodies are soonest infected so the tender and greene capacitie is soone violently carried away into all voluptuousnesse For as it is impossible to holde the hand in the fire and not be burnt so can hee not hold fellowship with bad companie but hee must needs be the worse Euery creature keepeth a due course and order the Sunne like a ramping Lyon runneth about the world with a swift reuolution Sunt septem stellae in humero tauro the Moone knoweth her sitting downe and rising vp the Pleiades keepe their stations the Starres goe their circuit the earth the sea and euerie creature keepe theyr time onely man is out of frame and temper too and euerie part disioynted the naturall impediment is the verie bane and putrifaction of the soule O how hard is it then to pull out those weedes within which like rebels hold a continuall warre against all good motions a greater victorie is it therefore to ouercome a mans owne selfe then to conquere a citie for he that vanquisheth an enemie mastereth but flesh and bloud but hee that can humble his pride and rule his passions ouercommeth the diuell the one is but the sonne of man the the other the sonne of God Dauid could cut off the head of Goliah yet was not able to tame his owne affections Sampson could slaie the Philistines with a iaw-bone and yet was made a slaue to Dalilath In like manner the Poets ascribe to Hercules many incredulous labors as in killing the snake of Learna maistering the wilde bull of Aramanthus clensing Domedes stables killing the Centaures and such toilsome works that his taske-mistresse Iuno was faine to crie out Ouid Metam Defessa sum iubendo and yet for all this was conquered by lust and made spinne on a rocke by Omphila with womens garments So that by this we may see that it is more difficill to quench the raging lust of concupiscence and chase away the corruption of nature then to do these wonderfull labours Which thing Cicero in his Oration Pro Marcello dooth well remember speaking to the Emperour O Caesar saith hee thou hast subdued kingdomes subiected nations tamed the Barbarians and brought them vnder the Romaine yoake and by thy matchlesse and heroicall spirit hast made the Capitoll ring of thy glorious triumphes yet notwithstanding to beate downe ambition to bridle furie to temper iustice with mercie to be humble in maiestie and conquer the vnruly passion of the minde hee that can do this Non ego eum cum summis viris comparo sed simillimum deo iudico I do not onely compare him with the best men but I thinke him rather a God By this it is manifest that this Annarchie this rebellion that is in nature cannot so easily bee bridled and kept from rushing into disorder but by execution of lawes and to this ende is the Magistrate set vp and the sword of Iustice held out to tame the vnrulinesse of nature Now therefore the whole felicitie of man standeth in temperance and in quelling those boyling lusts that set themselues against the noblenesse of Vertue Epictetus giueth two rules to beare and forbeare by the first patiently to beare aduersitie and the bitternesse of Fortune by the second to flye concupiscence and abstaine from the will of the flesh and these are the two pathes leading to Vertue To conclude there is no true ioy without Vertue this is perfect honour true nobilitie she offereth her self freely to euery man she denieth none but is open and ready to all that will seeke her and doth neither require house land or worldly wealth but is content with a poore naked man and therefore seeing that all is vaine without her it is a shame to desire glory by riches or birth and not rather deserue it by his owne vertue For he that is therewith possest is famous in earth glorious in the graue and immortall in heauen according to the Poet Omnia roscidulae quaecunque sub orbe Dianae Vivunt sunt fatis interitura suis Virtus sola mori diuorum munere nescit Cumque suis musae vatibus vsque manent All things that vnder Dians sphere doth liue or draweth breath To fatall chaunge are subiect sure and vnto greisly death But Vertue onely with the gods remaines immortall aye Where her religious followers do liue in happie staye By Vertue the famous Camilli Fabij Scipiones are mounted vp aboue all earthly weaknesse a memorie of their noble vertues cōmēded to posteritie For there is nothing in this world of so great price and which causeth more to augment then the trade of good manners For by this meanes not onely fathers of families haue taken a domesticke forme of regiment in theyr houses by good order keeping but also Kingdomes Common-wealthes and publique affaires doo hereby flourish and are happily maintained And for this cause I haue willingly aduentured to moue and stirre the mind therevnto and that with a zealous affection And although I haue taken vpon mee a thing very vnfit for my rude and small vnderstanding yet I doubt not but the honest and vertuous will gratifie and approue this my simple endeuour especially because they more esteeme the preciousnesse of Vertue then the pompious glorie of Vice wherein they obserue the counsell of the wise Heathen who wisheth that no man should despise the simple labor of an other man especially if he speake good words and giue no offence to the weake And this was Platoes diuine institution amongst many other soueraigne decrees that it is needfull in euery Common-wealth to prescribe and giue order that it be not permitted to any man to publish any thing hee hath composed except it be first perused and allowed by indifferent Iudges therevnto assigned If this iniunction were duly obserued so many leaud bookes vaine pamphlets and scurrillous ditties would not so easily passe neither would idle wits bend themselues to write For now through the abundance of naughtie bookes wee are greatly endamaged for by learning the sound doctrine of good men the basest and blindest manner of writers is most-what approued From this spring or fountaine is risen this mortall and monstrous infection before noted Neither is this all for there is a naturall rebellion which like a sore runneth ouer the whole body so that if the ground of the heart be not fallowed and ploughed vp and good seede sowne therein the happinesse and felicitie of man is choked hith weedes and poysoned with Hemplocke iniquitie hath gotton the vpper hand so farre that if we looke into the monstrousnesse of sinne in this age we may see euery abhomination sport it selfe as though there were no God Drunkennesse is good fellowship Whoredome and adulterie youthfull prankes Swearing the fire of manhood Hypocrisie deceit and cousonage a common practise In a word there be too many whores too many knaues too many brothel-houses too little labour too much idlenesse too many Ale-houses too litle loue too much hate too little deuotion and too much hard-hearted Christianitie But I speake not this to derogate ought from the diligence of any Neuerthelesse it were to be wished that more care were had to execute Iustice on such grieuous malefactors If I haue done well to note what is amisse thou shalt doo much better to mend the abuse Or if it be ill and of little worth If thou canst do better I pray set it forth Finally the consideration of these abuses before named ought to stirre vp both superiour magistrates and inferiour officers to aduance Vertue and reforme Vice because as the one begetteth most heauenly things in this earthly world so is the other the ouerthrowe of all happinesse both here and in the life to come The Minister of the word therefore is not exempt from this labour for as he is the Phisition of the soule so is hee to watch ouer the sicke patient not so much to attendere famae corpori as to negligere salutem ecclesie to be olde in yeares and young in knowledge to couet to be rich in purse and poore in charitie to purchase pleasures build great houses and shewe no fruites by the sequell and euent that they worthily enioy their dignities as many do in this age that stand in a spiritual place are notwithstanding meere temporall men and so rooted in the flesh as they yeeld no fruites at all of the spirit but they ought for care conscience and in a godly zeale holding sacred places to labour earnestly and officiously to suppresse those horrible euils that are so vsuall and commonly practised that by this sinne and wickednesse may be abolished the true seruice of God maintained to his owne glory the good of his Church and the happy and peaceable gouernment of this honorable Citie FINIS The faults escaped in the printing I pray thee friendly Reader correct with thy pen for by reason of some earnest businesse I haue not so narrowly looked to them as I would haue done
in saying till it come to doing but then they winch like a gald horse ô they cannot away with charge If my abilitie saith one would answere my willingnesse I would do this and that or if I had so much wealth I would relieue the poore better they should not goe emptie handed or if I had so much wit and such means I would countenance good causes with the beautie of honor and so do they vaunt of that they would do and yet do not that they should do I demaund what good doest thou with that little thou hast thou art wise and politique or at least thou thinkest so how doest thou vse it if thou art vnfaithfull in a litle no doubt thou wouldest be so in a great deale for as he is inconfident to whom mony is deliuered vpō trust to paie to an other doth either keep it back all or deliuer but halfe so hee that hath much or litle doth not dispose it as he oght is not worthy to be trusted with more Perhaps thou wilt say such a mā is of great wealth and he doth litle good or none at all why then should I that am of lesser value do any thing this is no excuse for thee nor cause of suspence for thou art to looke to thy owne dutie and not weaken thy owne charitie by the negligence of other men Another wil boast of that litle he doth and be the trumpe of his owne praise saying I giue thus much weekly to the poore and do this and that good but he is to examine himselfe if it be according to his wealth and place or no for otherwise an other man doth as much that is farre behind in substance and with whom hee would bragge without measure in comparatiue termes but some thinke if they do a little good though it be nothing in liew of their state or if they doo not a great deale of hurt by pilling powling strife factions and such like troubles they haue done so much good that God is bound to paie them somewhat back again But according to the Poet Est quodam prodire tenus si non datur vltra Hor. Here could I enter in a field of matter more then much But ghesse that all is out of frame and long it hath bene such Although it were better to be occupied in practising those bookes alreadie written then to write more this last age being so full that it doth exceed all other yet the necessitie of times by reason of controuersies do prouoke the learned to spende their labours that way and not only so but in explaining the scriptures and discoursing of Sciences No ende of making many bookes which worke is not only necessary but commendable whereby a generall good is brought in this godly vse of writing cannot be disliked of any vertuous man But forasmuch as some are diuersly affected they obserue not this decorum before noted but fall into vaine iangling and so conceited of their owne wits and haue so many crotchets in their heads that they publish great volumes of nice and curious questions ambiguities doubts as many of the Asse-stronomers that are very inquisitiue to knowe if the world were created in the Spring or Autumne the night before the day Curious starre gazers and how Moses could write credibly of the worlds creation liuing so many yeares after as though God could not as well tell him what was passed as he did the Prophets what was to come and such deep secrets as thogh God had called them to counsel In like maner some are busied in Natiuities Destinies Dreames Palmestrie and Phisiognamie in a word who is able to expresse the foolish curiositie of some men that are neuer satisfied in these vaine idle studies but spend whole yeares in searching after doubts and fallacies and in the mean time ouerpasse those things which he hath vouchsafed to reueale vnto vs sufficient for vs to know Noli altum sapere it is no time well spent to soare so high in things shut vp from common vnderstanding and reason and chiefly seeing they are no ground of faith nor meanes to edification But by this the Romaine marchant hath fetched in his greatest gaine I meane by false reuelations The Pope looseth nothing by this and fond opinions as Purgatorie the Econimicall gouernment of the heauenly powers the mansions and chambers in heauen the degrees of Angels and Archangels Cherubins and Seraphins and a thousand other fond imaginations foysted in among them by their schoole dunces which they falsely deriue from Dionisius Ariopagita one of the seuentie Disciples so that by these intricate fallacies and subtill silogismes wherewith they are maintained many poore soules are insnared and cast headlong into a laborinth of blinde superstition This curiositie therefore is a daungerous disease and a sore that must be healed least it fester and run ouer the whole body Others there bee that haue such a leaprosie of wit that they to disquiet and trouble the estate seeke for innouation and displant all good order established not onely thereby amazing the weake Christians but also alinating the hearts of many from their due obedience Touching these that carpe at the present discipline I will say little onely this much by the way that although many things may bee misliked in a pollitique state not seeme so precisely good to them that looke a farre off with slight imagination yet may be wel permitted and tollerated in pollicie to keepe peace and quietnesse so be it the fundamentall properties stand fast which otherwise could not but bring much confusion and disorder and therefore it is no sure opinion as the learned suppose to goe about to change lawes and breake downe discipline which is alreadie established least all comelinesse and good order be therewith ouerthrowne Some do nought else but scrape the puddle of contentions to finde matter to wrangle though they haue no cause to carpe Epist 18. li. 1. Alter rixatur de lana saepe caprina propugnat nugis armatus And these are so ambitious of their sophisticall vaine of wrangling that they put their brabbles in print to the view of the world and out of the rancour and malice of their hearts spew and belch out scandals slaunders Busie controwlers rumors and false reports by that meanes kindle flambes of contentions in a peaceable state and distemper the quietnesse of mens affections and this is chiefly bent against good men for the qualitie of grudging enuie is to be sicke with sorrow and virulent hate at the prosperitie of other for hee that is exhorted by the desert of Vertue is subiect to scandalls and the back-biting of the uious But the hauen I intend to harbour in is to speake somewhat of those vaine idle wanton Pamphlets and lasciuious loue-bookes which as fire-brands inflame the concupiscence of youth for in my opinion nothing doth more corrupt and wither greene and tender wits then such vnsauoury and vituperable