Great Britaines Monarchy might in a short time arriue to as great riches as the Spanish After these applauses his Maiestie beckned to Orpheus Iunior that hee should proceed in his discourse But suddenly the Lady Pallas interrupted him saying that it were requisite all his Nobles and Gouernours of Prouinces should be present at the discouery of the Golden Fleece whereby some timely order might bee taken for the guarding of the Coast which produced this pretious increase of Trade Apollo liked very wel of this wise admonition against that day seuennight required his Pegasean Postmasters to summon his Prouinciall Gouernours all other businesses set aside that they should appeare before him in the great Hall of the Court of Audience at Parnassus CHAP. 2. Orpheus Iunior particularizeth the manifold benefits of the Golden Fleece which might serue to repaire the decay of Trade lately complained of in Great Britaine and to restore that Monarchy to all earthly happinesse IVst on the prefixed day the afore-mentioned Gouernors appeared before his Maiestie at the place appointed where Apollo the Lady Pallas the Muses the Graces the Nymphs of Great Britaine and Ireland and all the wise Councellors of State with the choise spirits of his Empire attending on his Maiestie hee commanded Orpheus Iunior particularly to certifie vnto them the necessity and commodity of the Golden Fleece which might supply the defects of Great Britaine and restore it to the most flourishing estate wherein it euer stood in former times Orpheus Iunior after some few excuses of his disability proceeded to epitomize the singular properties of the Golden Fleece so much expected in this wise Most redoubted Emperor and next to our great Creator the prime Author of our worldly happinesse I am glad after the manifold crosses which I haue sustained by sundry accidents that God hath reserued me an Instrument this day to discouer that gaine which helpes our Commerce personall betwixt party and party and the Prouinciall betwixt our Kingdomes and the foraigne and both in the scale and ballance of Trade But before I declare the Commodities of this Trade I wil first shew the Necessity wherein we stand if it be not suddenly aduanced forwards To begin with my Natiue Countrey Wales Although many strange sicknesses haue diuers times of late yeares afflicted vs yet notwithstanding the multitudes of people are here so great that thousands yearly doe perish for want of reliefe Yea I haue known in these last deare yeares that 100. persons haue yearly died in a parish where the Tithes amounted not to fourscore pounds a yeare the most part for lacke of food fire and raiment the which the poorer sort of that Country stand in greater need of then the Inhabitants of the Champion Countreyes by reason of their Mountaines and hills which cause the winter there to be most bitter with stormy winds raine or snow and that for the space of eight moneths As also experience teacheth that Mountainous people require more store of nourishment for their bodies then they which dwell in the plaines or vallies which was the reason that in the North parts of England Seruants vsed to couenant heretofore with their Masters to feed them with bread made with Beanes and not of Barly from Allhalontide vntill May. Another point of Necessity to procure vs to set forwards this most hopeful Plantation and consequeÌ„tly the Fishing proceeds of the want of woods For the Ironmongers vpon what warrant I cannot learne haue lately consumed our woods and those fit for timber within lesse theÌ„â— miles to the Sea so that we must shortly repaire to other Countryes for woods to be employed towards shipping building husbandry c. which poore men are not able to do The decay of these woods also wil cause our breed of Cattle to decrease which heretofore stood as a shelter vnto them against tempestuous blastes Thirdly this maine businesse is to be promoted in regard of the Generall Populousnesse of Great Britaine which is the cheife cause that Charity waxeth cold Euery man hath enough to doe to shift for his owne maintenance so that the greatest part are driuen to extremities and many to get their liuing by other mens losses witnes our Extortioners Periurers Petâ—ifoggers at Law Conycatchers Theeues Cottagers Inmates vnnecessary Alesellers Beggers burners of hedges to the hindrance of Husbandry and such like which might perhaps proue profitable members in the Newfoundland But aboue all the state of younger Brothers is to the pitied who by the rigour of our Norman Lawes being left vnprouided of maintenance are oftentimes constrained to turne Pyrats Papists fugitiues or to take some other violent course to the preiudice of the Common-wealth For these important reasons arising out of meere necessity Pantations ought suddenly to be erected And where with lesser charge then in the Newfoundland Where can they liue to helpe themselues and benefit their Country better then in ioyning to encrease the reuenewes of the Crowne of Great Britaine by the rich trade of Fishing The Commodities whereof I will here cursorily repeat First this Trade of Fishing multiplyeth shipping and Mariners the principall props of this Kingdome It yearely maintaineth 8000 persons for 6. moneths in the Newfoundland which were they at home would consume in Tobacco and the Ale-house twice as much as they spend abroad It releeues after their returne home with the labour of their hands yearely their wiues and children and many thousand families within this Kingdome besides which aduentured with them or were employed in preparing of nets caskes victualls c. or in repayring of ships for that voyage Secondly It is neer vnto Great Britane the next Land beyond Ireland in a temperate Aire the south part thereof being of equall Climate with Little Britaine in France where the Sunne shines almost halfe an houre longer in the shortest day in the yeare then it doth in England Thirdly it will be a meanes for vs to reape the rest of the commodities of that Countrey which now we cannot enioy for want of people to looke after them and also for want of leasure our men there being busied in the Summer about the fishing or in preparing of their stages and boats and afterward returning home against winter The commodities of the Land are Furres of Beuer Sables Blacke Foxes Marternes Musk-rats Otters and such like skinnes as also of greater beasts as Deere and other wild creatures To this I adioyne the benefit which may be made by woods being pine birch spruce Furre c. fit for boords Masts barke for tanning and dying Charcoales for making of Iron Out of these woods we may haue pitch Tarre Rosen Turpentine Frankinscence and honey out of the hollow trees as in Muscouy and heretofore in our owne woods before they were conuerted to the Iron Mills There is great store of Mettals if they be lookt after The Plantations well and orderly there once erected will helpe vs to settle our Fishing Trade farre
30. CHAP. III. How Doctor Wicliffe of Oxford espying in a Church at Athens a Franciscan Frier a kissing of a Maidof Honour belonging to the Princesse Thalia brought S. Frances to surprize them who of meere idiotisme applaudes the Fall pag. 38. CHAP. IV. Doctor Wicliffe connents Saint Frances and the kissing Frier before Apollo Saint Frances defendeth the cause and discouereth seuen sorts of kisses Apollo refuteth his defence condemnes the Frier and abolisheth all Monasticall Orders pag. 39. CHAP. V. Apollo censureth Thalia and her Gentlewoman for their lasciuious prankes and reformeth the Comicall Court pag. 50. CHAP. VI. The Author of the Nuns discouery at Lisbon exhibits a complaint to Apollo against Father Foster the Frier Confessor to the English Nunnery at Lisbon for committing carnall copulation with sundry of them Apollo makes a discourse of Auticular Confession adiudgeth Foster to Ixions Wheele and suppresseth all Nunneries pag. 59. CHAP. VII Thomas Becket of Canterbury accuseth before Apollo Walter de Mapes Archdeacon of Oxford in King Henry the Seconds time for defending the Marriage of Priests against the Pope of Romes Decree pag. 65. CHAP. VIII Walter de Mapes is commanded by Apollo to defend his Positions against the Pope and Becket who accordingly obeyeth and prooues the lawfulnesse of Clergie-mens Marriage both by the Testimony of the Scripture and of the Ancient Fathers pag. 68. Apollo reuerseth the Popes Canon made against the Marriage of the Clergie and to that purpose sends out a Proclamation pag. 73. CHAP. IX Apollo vpon Information giuen him by the Greek Church of Images erected by the Pope in the Westerne Churches and of Inuocations on Saints confuteth these Idolatrous Traditions both by the Testimonie of the Scripture and by the Positions of the Primitiue Church pag. 74. CHAP. X. Martine Luther arriuing at Parnassus shewes to Apollo how the Popes vnder colour of redeeming mens Soules out of Purgatorie vsed to conicatch Christians by the sale of Pardons Apollo condemnes both the Fable of Purgatorie and the vse of Popish Pardons pag. 81. CHAP. XI Gratian the Canonist conuents the Waldenses and Albigienses before Apollo for celebrating diuine service in their Country Language and not according to the Rites of the Romish Church Zuinglius defends their cause by the Authoritie of the Scriptures and of the Primitie Church Apollo pronounceth a definitiue Sentence against the Pope on the behalfe of the Waldenses and Albigienses pag. 85. CHAP. XII Berengarius reneweth his opinion of the Lords Supper and proues both by the Scriptures and by the Authoritie of the most ancient Fathers of the Primitiue Church that the same is to be taken after a spirituall manner and in commemoration of the Lords death pag. 91. CHAP. XIII The Romish Church accuseth the Church of Aethiopia for denying to acknowledge her to be the Mother and Catholike Church The Patriarch of Alexandria challengeth the Prâ—macie ouer that Church and proues the Pope of Rome to be an Intruder and to haue no Right at all ouer the Church of Aeâ—hiopia Apollo determineth the difference by discouering the wayes how the Pope got the Supremacy ouer the Westerne Churches and how both he and the generall Councels erre in matters of Faith pag. 96. CHAP. XIV Scotus the Master of subtill Questions conuents Sir Geffrey Chaucer for calling the Pope Antichrist and comparing the Romish Church to the griping Griffon and the true Church to the tender Pellican pag. 110. CHAP. XV. Sir Geffrey Chaucer being prouoked by Scotus to defend his Cause proues the Pope to bee the great and uniuersall Antichrist prophesied in the Scriptures pag. 121. CHAP. XVI Apolloes iudgement of Chaucers Apologie concluding that the Pope is the great Antichrist pag. 131 CHAP. XVII Apolloes sentence promulgated for the Impurity of the Church Militant Doctor Whitgift Archbishop of Canterbury complaines against Cartwright Browne and other Puritane Separists for inuaighing against their Superiours Apollo condemnes this Sect exhorting them to vnitie and to return to the bosome of their Mother Church pag. 133 CHAP. XVIII The memorable Synod of Dott accuseth Arminius before Apollo for broaching out of new Opinions in the Church to trouble the braines of the weaker Apollo confutes Arminius and sheweth what a sober minded Christian ought to conceiue of deepe Mysteries Arminius is commanded to recant pag. 137 The conclusion of the first Part. pag. 146. The Contents of the Chapters of the Second part of the Golden Fleece CHAP. I. MAlines and Misselden two Merchants of Great Brittaine doe seuerally declare their Opinions touching the Decay of Trade and the Causes of the vnder-ballance of their Natiue Commodities with the Forraigne which were brought into that Kingdome Apollo bewaileth their miserie and commands a further enquirie to be made of the Causes pag. 1. CHAP. II. Apollo causeth a Iury to bee impanelled out of the Vniuersities of Oxford Cambridge S. Andrewes Aberdine and the Colledge at Dublin to finde out these persons which sold Ecclesiasticall Linings The Presentours discouering some bring them before Apollo His Maiesties censure with his discourse of the Right of Tithes pag. 6. CHAP. III. Vpon a Bill of Complaint exhibited by Aeschines and Papinian against Rewards vnequally conferred on persons of meane desert and descent Apollo pronounceth a peremptorie Doome pag. 15. CHAP. IIII. Hugh Broughton vpon some discontentment taken in seeing his inferiours promoted to eminent places before himselfe complaineth vnto Apollo that Florio Deane of Thaliaes Chappell prophaned the sacred name of the Letany by singing the same intermixt with triuiall toyes Apollo causeth Florio to repeat his Letany pa. 18. CHAP. V. Apollo after some shew of distate against Florio for his new morall Letany at the last giues him leaue to defend it Florio in a briefe Oration declares the reasons why bee innented such a strange forme of Letany Apollo pronounceth his Censure pag. 26 CHAP. VI. Apollo asketh the Author of the Golden Fleece wherefore his Countreymen of Wales hauing the commodionsnesse of the Sea with a large scope of land are notwithstanding very much impouerished of late The Author imputes the cause vnto the multitude of Law Suites pag. 29. CHAP. VII Orpheus Iunior exhibits a Petition vnto Apollo to diminish the number of Lawyers and to punish their offences Apolloes Answer shewing how they may bee restrained and punished pag. 36. CHAP. VIII Bartolus and Plowden by the instigation of the Iesuiticall Faction doe appeach Orpheus Iunior before Apollo for certaine Offences supposed to bee committed by him pag. 40. CHAP. IX Apollo commanding Orpheus Iunior to answer the Accusation of Bartolus and Plowden who obeying extoilesh Charitie taxeth Conicatching and Hatred and commends the Lawes Apollo smiled to see the impudencie of these Lawyers yet not to seeme partiall in his Seruants cause he commanded Orpheus to defend himselfe who thus began pag. 44. CHAP. X. The learned Vniuersities of Great Brittaine do find themselues agrieued that Popish Physicians are permitted to practice Physick in this Kingdome Apollo remedies
without extorting from others To conclude if notwithstanding all my allegations these Bâ—sie-bodies will play the clamorous Stentors and refuse to allow either the forme matter or Decrees set out in this Treatise let them lay them by as vnripe fruit or Orders fitter for me to diuulge in the Newfoundland and there to see them executed among my owne Tenants The end of the First Part. THE SECOND PART OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE CHAP. 1. Malines and Misselden two Marchants of Great Brittaine do seuerally declare their Opinions touching the Decay of Trade and the Causes of the vnder-ballance of their Natiue Commodities with the Forraigne which were brought into that Kingdome Apollo bewrayeth their misery and commands a further enquiry to be made of the Causes APon a grieuous Complaint made before his sacred Maiesty as he deliberated with some grand Statesmen of England for the restoring of decayed Trade certaine Marchants experimented in the Art of Commerce offered their seruice to discouer those secrets which they vnderstood of in that kind Apollo commended them for their respectiue care and duty in tendring themselues so voluntarily like honest Patriâ—ts to succour their diseased Countrey And bade them seuerally to deliuer their knowledge Gerrard de Malines first related his Opinion That the wealth of a Kingdome could not decrease but by three manner of waâ—es viz. 1. by the transportation of ready money or bullich out of the same 2. by selling their owne Commodities too good cheap 3. or by buying forraigne Commodities at too deare a rate and that in the inequality of one of these consisted the one ouerballaÌ„cing of Trade like the fortune of an House-holder whose ruine and downfall may beforâ—seene and foretold if he continually buyeth at the dearest rate and neuer sels As contrariwise he is obserued to thriue if hee sels and seldome buyes Then he shewed that Money which ought to bee the square or measure of a Kingdome to set a price vnto euery thing and therefore in permutation and Exchange among Marchants it was termed Par yet lately this Regina Pecunia this Queene of the Republick was vnnaturally sold to be deflowrd by some of her neerest kinsfolkes who not looking into her beauty nor regarding the finenesse waight of her metall as politicke Exchangers ought to doe but altogether carelesse of their Countries good they bargained by bils of Exchange to pay or receiue 〈◊〉 for Commodities as the Money is valued in other parts transmarine If the price of Exchange bee there high where generally our Marchants are the deliuerers of money then they must giue much to haue their Moneyes made ouer whereby the gaine of their Commodities being formerly sold is clipped And yet most commonly they giue no more then the value of our money is for the money which they deliuer there is according to the toleration by them receiued at high rates fatre aboue the value and in the same manner payed out But when the Exchange goes high our Marchants buy Forraigne Commodities or barter theirs for the same Wherein they lose in taking these at their forraigners owne Prices and their natiue Countrey suffers for it at their returne together with the Marchants the one in selling deare the other in buying deare So that our home Commodities are abated foure manner of waies by the abuse of this Exchange 1. by searcity of Money which maketh things good cheape occasioned by the Exchange Secondly by the gaine sought vpon Money which otherwise would be sought vpon the commodities Thirdly by a high Exchange with vs which causeth men to deliuer that money by Exchange in nature of Trade which otherwise might be employed by some vpon the Commodities as likewise by a low Exchange which causeth exportation of our Money Fourthly by the rash sale of our Commodities by young Marchants or Factors that â—â—driuen to pay Mony taken vp by Exchange 〈◊〉 in England thereby spoyling the Market of others In like manner to make this probably seem true Malines manifested that Forraigne Commodities were raised and enhansed foure manner of waies First by plenty of moneyes out of our own store transported into other Countries Secondly by a high Exchange beyond the Seas Thirdly by the toleration of moneyes beyond the Seaes to goe currant farre aboue their value For by the alteration of moneyes the price of Commodities doth alter also Fourthly for that the principall Commodities Veluets Silkes Fustians c. are ingrossed by the Bankers that sell them at their pleasure our immoderate vse giuing them the greater cause By this meanes hapens an ouerballancing of outlandish Commodities with those of our owne Countrey which also carries away out of this Kingdome fiue hundred thousand pounds a yeere at the least when wee are thus enforced to giue both money and our home Commodities for Forraigne wares at a most excessiue rate Edward Misselden a learned Marchant vtterly misliked Malines Par in Exchange saying that there were two manner of Exchanges the one Personall the other Prouinciall that it was not possible that the Personall which respected only the Contracts made betwixt priuate men or party party should so much preiudice the Common-wealth vnlesse there were an inequality in the Prouincial Exchange betweene our Kingdome and other Neighbouring Kingdomes or States The losses whereof as also of the Personall could not be known vntil the returnes thereof be made that is vntill the Forraigne Commodities were brought in for the natiue Commodities carried out and then both cast into the ballance of Trade to be waighed and tried the one against the other For if the home Commodities carried out of the Kingdome doe downe-waigh and exceed in value the Forraigne CoÌ„modities imported brought into the Kingdome it is a signe that the Kingdome growes rich and prospers because the ouerplus must needs come in in treasure But if the coÌ„trary chance that the Forraigne Commodities brought in doe exceed the Natiue in value it is most certaine that the Stocke of the Kingdome wasteth and that Treasure goes out of the Land To discerne this there is no surer way then by the Customes where in the goods of this Land exported imported being multiplied by twenty will appeare for of euery pound there is twelue pence for Custome As for example wee find to our great griefe that there were brought into this Land of Forraigne goods by the Customes for the same payd and thus multiplied by 20. for one whole yeere from Christmas Anno. 1621. to Christmas 1622. The totall Summe of 2619315l. 00 00. The totall Summe of goods carried out of the Kingdome froÌ„ the said Christmas 1621. vntill Christmas 1622. amounted to 2320436l. 12s. 10d. which lamentable president sheweth that there was more that yeere brought in of Forraigne goods then carried out of the home Commodities by the Sum of 298878l. 7s. 2d. By this positiue forme of a Ballance truely made and taken out of the Custome-houses our State may see how we are falne into a great
counselled them to erect a speciall society of men of war to ioyne together in the Nauall expedition and to lend vpon reasonable considerations some of those shippes which they tooke to waft our Fishermen and to defend the Plantations Sir Thomas Smith protested that there must be strait Lawes enacted against superfluous commodities imported into the land out of other Countreyes before the Golden Fleece could possibly become the Catholike Restoratiue Among many superfluities hee insisted principally on three 1. vpon the extraordinary vse of Tobacco 2. vpon forraigne stuffes and silks which wrought the Decay of English cloth and consequently of many poore Housholds which liued by spinning weauing fulling and dressing of cloth 3. He enueighed against the multitudes of wine tauernes and Alehouses saying that a great part of our Treasure were yearly wasted in these fiery houses That halfe of them might well bee spared and that in Cities and Townes next to the contagion of the Aire formerly mentioned they were the chiefe causes of the inflamation of mens blood and so of Feuers and most of our late sicknesses And in conclusion he pronounced these verses In anciant times they vsed much to Fast And what was spar'd they turn'd to Almes at last But we the Sabbaths make Saturnall Feash On Holy dayes Drinke makes some worse then beasts If men did Custome pay for Ale and Beere Great Charles then Spaines King Philip richer were Our bloods inflam'd Diseases grow by Wine Our Barnes waxe lesse The Poore doe grone and pine Tempore Maiorum leiunis multa colebant Inque Eleâ—mosynas Copia versa suit Sabbata nunc mutant in Satur nalia Bacchi Patrum Festa di s ebri tate scatet Si pro Ceruisid persoluerâ—t Anglia Censum Ditior Hispano Carole magne fores Corporis hinc nimy facta ebullâ—tio morbos Accersâ—â— minuunt Hordea languet Egenis Lastly William Lord Burleigh brought forth his opinion and said that all the meanes restoratiues and good orders which hee had heard deliuered would proue of no validity nor euer come to perfection except his Maiesty of Great Britaine might find some zealous ministers to execute the Lawes and statutes concerning the hindrance of Trade And further he signified that one maine point for reformation and repaire of Trading consisted in rewarding those vigilant spirits which like Sentinells awaked when others slept or proiected for the coÌ„mon benefit while others spent their time like belly-gods in bibbing of sugred sack in pampring their guts with gluttonous fare In these two positiuely he laid the foundation of Great Britaines well fare In the execution of these new Decrees and in rewarding of the industrious whereby the obstinate might be punished and the vertuous heartned And in conclusion this prudent Atlas on whose vnwearied shoulders sometimes relied the waight of Englands cares made this discourse In one thing more I note the prouident Remedy which the diuine wisedome lately manifested in this Kingdome by remouing from hence many people with famine war plagues feuers and other sicknesses A remedy surely applyed for two beneficiall respects In his loue to these by translating them to a happier place In his mercy to the rest which suruiue that they take heed by such terrible sudden accidents how they wast those means whereof they are but his Stewards in lauish feasts in Tobacco Apparell in suites at Law or in drinking more then sufficeth nature And to bestow the estimate of what they shall saue hereafter by their thrist on nobler monuments in offring of sweet smelling sacrifices to his sacred nostrills by helping to build places of succour for their distressed brethren seeing that the noney-bees doe ouerswarme at home for certainely if all these whom He lately tooke to his mercy had been yet liuing their natiue Countrey could not containe them but that a greater Decay of trading would necessarily haue ensued nor could all the wits of our wisest Politicians haue deuised remedies to restore it which now may in all humane probability serue to make the Golden Fleece an absolute Catholike Medicine God grant that the same may worke effectually and conuert the steely heart into a relenting tender and into that which is truly Christian Let all good Christians say Amen Fiat voluntas Domini CHAP. 12. The Order which Apollo tooke for the setling of the Golden Fleece before his late Progresse into the Tropick of Cancer recommending the same to the care of the Fraternity of the Rosie Crosse the foure Patrons of Great Britaine The Consultation of the foure Patrons for the good of Great Britaine The copy of Saint Dauids sonnet which he pronounced in the Amphitheater at Parnassus in honour of the King of Great Britaines mariage and Coronation THe day before the summers Solftice in Iune last 1626. Apollo sent for the famous fraternity of the Rosie Crosse St. George St. Andrew St. David and St. Patrick those carefull Patrons of Great Britaine and in the presence of the Lady Pallas the Muses the Graces and other vertuous persons his Fauorites he deliuered this short speech The time now drawes on that we must take our Progresse into the Tropicke of Cancer where we must exhilarate with our influence those rude subiects of ours which inhabit neere the Northerne Pole to gratifie their natures which otherwise would proue more fullen with some perpetuall Dayes without Nights for their patience in tolerating so many long nights without dayes at the winters Solstice during which timeof our Progresse I require you my Gratious friends to assist the planters of the Newfoundlle which we haue lately styled Britanniol and to treat on their behalfe with that magnanimous King Charles of Great Britaine that hee confirme the commission and orders which his Father of blessed memory granted about three yeares past for the establishing of Wafting ships for the defence of that hopefull Plantation and of the fishing fleetes against the oppressions of Pyrats assuring him from vs that there lies the principall part of the Golden Fleece which Orpheus Iunior hath sounded out in his Cambrensium Caroleia which he published at the celebration of his Mariage with the Paragon of France which likewise he lately renewed here before vs at Parnassus And not onely hee but others haue intimated the benefit of this Proiect namely the Noble Sir William Alexander in his New Scotland and Master Misselden in his Circle of Commerce who in most liuely termes paints out the substance of this Fleece A braue Dessigne it is as Royall as Reall as Honourable as Profitable It promises renowne to the King reuenew to the Crowne Treasure to the Kingdome a purchase for the Land a prize for the Sea Ships for nauigation Nauigation for ships Mariners for both Entertainment for the rich employment for the poore aduantage for the Aduenturers and encrease of Trade to all the subiects A myne of Gold it is The Myne is deepe the veines are great the Oare is rare the gold is pure the extent vnlimited the wealth
their grienances and decreeth that the Popish presume not to minister Physicke to any Protestant but to them of their owne Sect. p. 54. CHAP. XI The Nobilitie of Parnassus do complaine that their Inferiours with their Wines do weare richer Apparell then themselues shewing likewise that they haue encroached on other Priuiledges of theirs to bee hurried in Coaches by which presumptions many other corruptions are lately crept into Apolloes Court. p. 57. CHAP. XII Apollo commands certaine of his Attendants to prescribe remedies how Husbands should liue with their Wines chastly and without iealousie to be Cuckolded as also how men should contemne the baites of beautifull Women pag. 62. CHAP. XIII A Corollary or an epitomized Censure of Apollo pronounced after the aforesaid Opinions deliuered touching the Election of Wiues and their vsage p. 72 CHAP. XIV Cato the Censour of good manners hauing arrested certaine Persons a drinking more then the Lawes prescribed them brings them before Apollo His Maiestie reproues them for their Drunkennesse and banisheth them for euer out of the precincts of Parnassus pag. 73. CHAP. XV. The Authour of this Treatise called the Golden Fleece exhibits a Bill of Complaint against the Tobacconists of Great Britaine Apollo condemnes the immoderate vse of Tobacco and recommends the care of the extermination thereof to the Clergie and to the Temporall Magistrate pag. 78. CHAP. XVI Traiano Boccalini the Authour of the Booke called the New-found Politicke complayneth to Apollo that the Seuen Wisemen of Greece who were put in trust to reforme the World did deceiue his Maiesties expectation and that the World was worse then euer it was Apollo retires himselfe in discontent but at length by the Fraternitie of the Rosie Crosse he is comforted and walks along with them in Procession pag. 83. CHAP. XVII The foure Patrones or Patriarches of Great Britaine doe sing in Procession the ensuing Rithmes Apollo pronounceth a conclusiue Oracle to remedie all Abuses preparing the way to the Golden Fleece pag. 87. CHAP. XVIII Orpheus Iunior sheweth that one of the chiefest causes of the Decay of Trading in Great Britaine proceeded by the rash Aduentures of the Westerne Merchants in passing the Straits of Gibrakar and iâ— fishing on the Coast of New foundland without wasting ships to defend them from Pirats pag. 102. The Contents of the Chapters of the third Part of the Golden Fleece CHAP. I. Orpheus Iunior is required by Apollo to discouer where the Golden Fleece lyes Orpheus performes his Maiesties commandement shewes that there bee sundry kindes of the Golden Fleece all which after an allusion to the English natures he reduceth into one mayne Trade to the Plantation and Fishing in the New foundland The generall cause which moued Orpheus to regard this Golden Fleece Page 1. CHAP. II. Orpheus Iunior particularizeth the manifold benefits of the Golden Fleece which might serue to repaire the decay of Trade lately complained of in Great Britaine and to restore that Monarchie to all Earthly happinesse pag. 11. CHAP. III. Apollo calls an Assembly of the Companie for the Plantation of Newfoundland where Master Slany Master Guy and others meeting by his Maiesties commandement Captaine Iohn Mason is willed to disclose whether the Golden Fleece bee there where Orpheus Iunior alledged it to be Captaine Mason aâ—erreth it to bee in the same Iland more abundantly then in any other place pag. 19. CHAP. IV. Apollo commands Iohn Guy Alderman of Bristow to shâ—w how the Plantations in the Newfoundland might bee established and secured from the cold vapours and foggie mists which in the Spring are supposed to molest that Country pag. 26. CHAP. V. Sir Ferdinando Gorge is accused by the Westerne Fishermen of England for hindering them of their stages to dry their Fish in New England and from trading with the Sauages for Furres and other commodities Ferdinando Gorge his answere Apollo reconcileth their differences pag. 30. CHAP. VI. Apollo mooued to pitie vpon a Petition preferred vnto him by certaine Saylers Widowes whose Husbands perished in the Voyages vnder the East Indies Company causeth foure famous Knights of Great Britaine Sir Francis Drake Sir Martin Frobisher Sir Henry Middleton and Sir Thomas Button to signifie their opinions where about the best passage to the East Indies did lie pag. 39. CHAP. VII Apolloes censure of Sir Thomas Buttons Voyage to the Northwest Passage His directions for the preseruation of health in frostie seasons and for the preuenting of the Scuruy An Elegie in their commendations which aduentured their persons for the discouerie of the aforesaid Passage pag. 46. CHAP. VIII The Merchants of Lisbone doe complaine on the English and Hollanders for trading into the East Indies for Spices Drugges and other Commodities Apollo reiecteth their complaints and aduiseth how they may saile thither with lesser inconueniences then heretofore pag. 51. CHAP. IX Apollo sends for some of the Merchants Aduenturers of euery seuerall Company out of Great Britaine graceth them with his countenance and promiseth them the continuance of his Fauours pag. 58. CHAP. X. Apollo to make the Golden Fleece a complete Catholike Restoratine to the State of Great Britaine commands the seuen Wisemen of Greece to declare out of their experience some more meanes for the inriching of that State which they seuerally performe pag. 59. CHAP. XI Apollo not throughly contented with the proiects of the seuen wisemen of Greece commands others viz. Cornelius Tacitus Comminaeus the Lord Cromwell Sir Thomas Chaloner Secretary Walsingham Sir Thomas Smith and William Lord Burleigh who were knowne to be farre more Politick Statesmen to deliuer their opinions how Great Britaine might be inriched pag. 71. CHAP. XII The Order which Apollo Tooke for the setling of the Golden Fleece before his late Progresse into the Tropicke of Cancer recommending the same to the care of the Fraternitie of the Rosie Crosse the foure Patrons of Great Britaine The consultation of the foure Patrons for the good of Great Britaine The copy of Saint Dauids Sonnet which he pronounced in the Amphitheater â—t Parnassus in honour of the King of Great Britaines Mariage and Coronation pag. 81. CHAP. XIII Vpon an Information preferred before the Ladie Pallas against Scoggin and Skelton for interrupting of Saint Dauid in his Sonnet Shee vtters some Obseruations on the behalfe of the Learned and thereby takes an Occasion to banish all Scoffing Companions from Parnassus and from becomming at any time after partakers of the Golden Fleece discouered in this Treatise pag. 93. The Conclusion of Orpheus Iunior to his Souereigne the King of Great Britaine pag. 95. OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE THE FIRST PART The occasion of this Treatise called the Golden Fleece And the Reasons which moued the Author to intermingle merrie and light conceites among matters of Consequence IN the Moneth when the Celestiall Ram famous for the Grecians Golden Fleece had renewed the last Spring 1626. with an equall Proportion of Dayes and Nights the one presiguring Ioy for the Second Yeeres Raigne of
V. Apollo censureth Thalia and her Gentlewoman for their lasciuious prankes and reformeth the Comicall Court IN the afternoone of the said Friday Apollo fate againe with a full intent to reforme the World specially the Christian World of such venerëous stolne pleasures which by the Prohibition of Marriage to the Clergie were continually foâ—â—ered in in hugger mugger And for this cause his Maiestie had willed the Comicke Princesse Thalia with her Maide of Honour whom Doctor Wicliffe had surprized with the Franciscan in their kissing sport to be present Where the Parties being come Apollo demanded of the Maide whether she was not ashamed of her late kissing Whereto she answered that none but the faulty ought to bee ashamed Shee affirmed it was a sinne in the Frier by reason of his vow to kisse and to entice her to such game-somenesse who might very well haue beene without it or receiued the like pleasure from another as good as hee But for her part as long as she attended on the Comedian Lady she hoped that she might enioy the like contentment which her Fellowes partaked off That she was tutoured by the famous Anacrâ—on and Catullus two of the principall Fauourites in her Ladies Court and euer since she attayned to a doozen yeeres of age shee had learned this conceited Lesson of her said Tutours To looke amiably to speake merrily to write wantonly and to kisse kindly That to doe these parts was no dishonour to the vertuous Corporation as long as she kept her selfe from a great belly That shee was skilled in Poetrie which could not bee exquisite without some loose straines as her Master Catullus had proclaimed in these Verses Nam castum esse decet piâ—m Poetam Ipsos versiculâ—s nihil necesse est Tunc verum retinent salem leporem Si sint molliculi ac parum pudici A Poet by Vertues education Must chaste be in life and conuersation But if his Verses light and wanton proue They rellish best of Salt and gracefull loue Apollo much incensed at this shamelesse Apologie found great fault with the Princesse Thalia for not teaching more Ciuilitie to her Maid Thalia toucht to the quicke fearing least this frowning of the Emperour might eclipse the honour of her Palace and cause contempt to her Followers whereby Beare-bayting hawking and hunting might perhaps grow in more request then Stage-playes and lazinesse which shee patronized and not out of hope yet to salue her reputation she begged leaue of Apollo to speake for her selfe which being granted vnto her shee thus began It is no maruell Renowmed Soueraigne if women whose sexe is accounted the weaker vessell not enabled with the Noble courage of a man hath obtayned the prerogatiue and toleration at the Husbands hand to speake what they list yea and otherwhiles for matters of profit to scold and play the Shrewes so that they fooled them not afterwards by Satyres Garlands by Antique Dances or by graffing Actaeons badge on their manly foreheads For indeed all our power lies in our Tongues Giue mee leaue then Noble Prince while others fawne and wag their tailes to wag this little member of mine in my Maides Defence Haue I flourished and liued vncontrouled for many hundred yeeres euen before Plaâ—tus Terence Roscius and Martiall published their workes inspiring Poeticall wits to vent most rare conceits and am I now questioned after so many ages for my Gentlewomens gamesome behauiour Wherefore haue not I beene traduced in former times for the like petulance If it bee a fault to kisse it is a greater fault to doe worse If your Maiestie had an Opticke Glasse to see into all the Ladies and Gentlewomens hearts attending on this vertuous Court the very palest of them would quickly change their hew into a Scarlet die Let her which is innocent of these raging flames fling the first stone at my Gentlewoman who erred If it bee an errour not of beastly lust but of harmelesse ignorance following the custome of my Court who euer allowed clipping and kissing the more the sweeter My Maid did but that which her Mistris hath done a thousand times before her Such a destinie was read at my Birth Comica lasciuo gaâ—det sermone Thalia The Comick Muse in wanton speech delights Heere Thalia ended His Maiestie perceiuing that most of the wanton abuses incident to the wilfull vnmaried Romish Clergy to Comedies and Courtly Dames yea and to many Citizens wiues and their daughters proceeded from the mistaking of Thaliaes Desteny he out of hand sent for the Princesse Minerua and the Ladie Mnemosyne Thaliaes Mother to know the certaintie Presently the Noble Ladies appeared as it were in the twinkling of an eye whom Apollo caused to sit in two stately Thrones richer then the King of Chinaes golden chaire the great Queene Minerua on his right hand and the Lady Mnemosyne the Princesse of Memorie on his left hand to whom he related the whole passage of the businesse how a certaine Sect pretending themselues to be Christians but far remote from their Masters Doctrine had troubled the Societie of Mankind by a counterfeit abstinence from the Nuptiall bed because they would seeme more holy then God made them and all this because they might cloke their sequestration from marriage and their foolish vowes vnder the Lady Thaliaes licentious birth-right that the Fates had ordained her and all her Attendants to delight in wanton dalliance and Confession in corners by which meanes the men sounded not onely into the Secrets of his Court but also into the Ladies inward dispositions so that after amorous conference they fell roundly to kissing a thing prodigious and intolerable in his vertuous Court. Therefore hee now desired them to declare there openly whether the Destenies had prescribed such a baudie sentence at the birth of Thalia that she should ioy in lasciuious Discourses the fore-runners of beastly acts To this the Lady Mnemosyne answered that at the birth of Thalia shee had gotten a sodaine cold which produced a thicknesse in her hearing whereby shee did not perfectly vnderstand whether shee was alloted to wantonnesse or to a harmelesse pleasing solace for the Lady Venus contended that the Fates had predestinated her for wantonnesse but the rest of the Gossip-Goddesses contested otherwise Whereupon Apollo askt the Princesse Minerua what she knew of that matter The very troth is said this prudent Goddesse that this no other sentence did I heare and I thinke that my hearing was as perfect as anothers Comica festiuo gaudet sermone Thalia The Comicke Muse in pleasant speech delights That the Generation of mankind euer addicted to the worse had peruerted the sense and inserted lasciuo for festiuo wanton for pleasant or gracefull Apollo thus informed of the truth conuerted his speech to the Comicke Princesse Madame said he such hath beene the disorders of your Court that the stinking smell of them is ascended vp vnto the Heauens the infamy heere on earth so exorbitant that your selfe for not
Policie of the Church to force obedience vnto the Clergie and to worke regeneration in the milde spirited But because it was not soundly grounded on the Word of God it growes contemptible and worthy to bee suppressed for the monstrous abuses which we find in these times to flow by the indirect vse thereof In the Apostles time it was no other then an humble acknowledging of one Neighbours Infirmitie to the other and an asking of forgiuenesse reciprocally at their hands whom they had offended in remembrance of that clause in the Lords Prayer as wee forgiue them which trespasse against vs that thereby they might the more confidently receiue the Communion This the Apostle aduiseth in these words Confesse your sinnes one to another and pray yee one for another Which Confession they vsed publikely and priuately Publikely before all the Congregation if the Sinne were great as that of the Incestuous person in Saint Paul that Shame might worke the fruits of repentance in the Offendors heart Priuately as Saint Iames aduised by way of Charitie to succor one anothers conscience Afterwards Confession became farre more priuat and their mindes being puft vp with Pride or ashamed to let many know their dissimulations they repayred to some one of the Elders of the Church as Patients to a Physician to bee cured or to receiue Counsell for their Soules health At last the Clergie noting the simplicitie of the vnlettered people in those dayes they got them in lieu of Penance to disburse pence pounds sometimes to the Poore sometimes to build Churches Chappels Monasteries and to offer presents to the honour of their Parish Saints as the Heathen in those dayes did to their Idols All this while there was no great fault sauing that they began to make it somewhat meritorious But when the Popes had forbidden Marriages in time had barred the Clergie of their Concubines which was for a long time dispensed with then this laudable Order of Confession began to be grossely abused and womens Chastities suffered shipwâ—ackâ— For themselues being to continue for euer vnmarried they burned in lust and left no trick vnattempted to beguile wiues and maides But among all their sleights they preuayled aboue all when they drew men to build Nuâ—â—eries that they might allure prettie wenches thither with whom they might ioyne the more freely to coole their raging lusts Insomuch that the wariest of them seeing some of their sweet hearts too fruitfull they studied Physicke and gaue them drenches to destroy their Fruit or if that wrought not the effect for the credit of their Vâ—taries they held it no great sinne to murther it assoone as euer it came to light which Diuelish Acts of theirs since the preaching of the Gospell are daily discouered in Ponds and other hidden places where the skuls of many Infants haue beene lately found What mad men are they which will commit their daughters to a Confessors charge as lambes to wolues knowing that flaxe will flame if it bee too neere the fire Lust by degrees corrupts The wisest man liues not without some touch of folly Shall wee then thinke that Flesh and Bloud can waxe cold finding sweet opportunitie and solitarinesse to warme sensible nature At first they look babies in their eyes they wring or kisse their lillyed hands and induce them to read their Loue-sonnets Madrigalls and other Poems of Cupids baites Then they fall to a neerer forme the preambles and fore-runners of beastly pleasure they obtaine the gracelesse grace to play with their iuory breasts and to endure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 writes that vnmannerly Grobiâ—â—â— Tange etiâ—â— partes quâ—â— gâ—â—â—â—t Fâ—mina tâ—â—gi Arriued to this happinesse they must needs sanctifiâ— their lips with Nectarean kisses vowing that they would not for all the King of Spaines Iâ—dies proceed to a further Act. So meane perhaps but Time brings alteration And a faire woman is a shrewd Temptation As George Withers notes Hauing thus seduced these weaker vessels to condiscend to the elements of Loue they teach them the baudie A. B. C. instead of Aue Maria. Were I disdainfull or vnkind Or coy to learne or dull of mind But no such thing remaines in me To let mee learne my A. B. C. At last they winne the precious Fort which once they doubted to bee inexpâ—gnable The whole building is razed and these poore Soules pend in this pound of boâ—dage forsaken of their friends find no other ease for this disease but to sang this dolefull Diâ—tie to the tâ—â—e of too late Repeatance Which shall I doe or weepe or sing Neither of them will helpe mourning The Treasure 's stolne the Thiefe is fled And I lye bleeding in my bed If it were not for these 〈◊〉 Confussion in the Eare would much benefit a diseased Conscience and the whole Common-wealth of the Christian Corporation And we could wish it still in vse yet with this limitation that no Papist presume to confesse any woman vnder 50. yeares of age except he be first soundly gelded And for your part Frier Foster who claime the prerogatiue to haue a seare top with a green root to mingle a dead coarse with a liuing body after the example of Maxentius the Tyrant without regard had to your old age and decayed nature wee Order you to bee tortured on Ixions wheele because you haue profaned the vestall house Ixion henceforth to bee set at libertie for his petulant attempt against Iuno and all Nunneries to bee dissolued which after the imitation of the Gentiles you procured to be built more for your lecherous interest then for the honour of your Sauiour Whereby I let you all good Catholickes to vnderstand that we suppresse them for the same reason as Hezechias supplanted the Brazen Serpent good of it selfe and of the first erecting being a figure of Christs sauing Office and healing vertue but since a cause of Idolatrie as the Crosse also which the Reformed Churches by reason of the fottish misvsage haue lately put downe to take away the occasions of Idolatrie CHAP. VII Thomas Becket of Canterburie accuseth before Apollo Walter de Mapes Arch-deacon of Oxford in King Henry the Seconds time for defending the Marriage of Priests against the Pope of Romes Decree THomas Becket of Canterburie that opposed himselfe so obstinatly against his anointed King heere in England about some liuings which he pretended to belong to the Sea of his Archbishoprick appealing to the Pope from his Countryes Censure exhibited an Information before Apollo against his antient Friend Walter de Mapes Arch-deacon of Oxford for withstanding the Popes Legat that came to London with a strict Decree to command all the Clergie men in England to put away their wiues Walter de Mapes was sent for at whose comming Th. Becket hauing license to make good his Information spake as followeth Most Puissant Emperour Our Holy Father the Pope the visible Head of the Roman Church Saint Peters famous Successor whether by Reuelation from Heauen or by the Spirit of
Saint Peter points not to bee questioned by Earthly men or else by the motion of his owne Transcendent and neuer erring Braine wee know not nor matters it much to speake off for Ipse dixit his Godhead will haue it in his reuerend regard vnto these remote Flocks of his sent ouer his Holy Legat to me and my Brother of Yorke to prohibit all Religious Persons of what qualitie soeuer from thenceforth to defile their sacred bodies with those imperfect animals called Women aswell because they might follow their bookes the better not caring for the vanities of this transitorie world as also lest like New Fues they might tempt vs to taste what God had forbidden that is Iealousie Anger Deceit Simony and Pride to compasse meanes for their haughtie minds After much difficultie we executed his Holinesse good will and pleasure Neuerthelesse this Seditious Sectarie not onely openly with opprobrious words but with an infamous Libell hee presumed to taxe our Holy Father of Errour or Heresie if hee durst for this Diuine Ordinance The Contents of his Libell are these That it was a grieuous torment for a Priest to put away his wife because shee was his darling affirming that the Bishop of Rome made an il Decree and wisht him to beware hee dyed not in so great a Sinne. That his Holinesse forbad that pleasure now in his old age which he loued in his youth That Mapes defended his Errour by the authoritie of the Old and New Testament citing Zacharie the Priest to be the Father of Saint Iohn Baptist and that S. Paul allowed a Clergie man to be the Husband of one Wife That it became a Priest better to marrie then to borrow or deflowre his Neighbours daughter Niece or Wife And in Conclusion hee was so impudent as to require all Priests to bestow together with their Sweet Hearts a Pater noster a piece for this his goodly Apish Apologie His Maiestie smiled to heare the Conceit And thereupon caused the Pronotarie to reade the Libell as Walter de Mapes had framed it who with an audible voice did recite as followeth O quam dâ—lâ—r anxius quam tormentum graâ—e Nobis dimittere quoniam suaue O Romane Pontifex statâ—isti praâ—e Ne in taâ—tâ— crimine moriaris caue Non est innocentius imo nocens verè Qui quid facto dâ—cuit studet abolere Et quod olim luuenis voluit habere Modo vetus Pontifex studet prohibere Giguere nos praecipit vetus Testamentum Vbi Nouum prohibet nusquam est inuentum Praesul qui contrarium donat Documentum Nullum necessarium his dat Argumentum Dedit enim Dominus maledictionem Viro qui non fecerit generationem Ergo tibi consulo per hanc rationem Gignere vt habeaâ— Benedictionem Nonne de Militibus Milites procedunt Et Reges à Regibus qui sibi succedunt Per Locum à Simili Omnes Iura laedunt Clericos qui gignere crimen esse credunt Zacharias habuit prolem vxorem Per virum quem genuit adeptus honorem Baptizauit enim nostrum Saluatorem Pereat qui teâ—eat nouum hunc Errorem Paulus Coelos rapitur ad superiores Vbi multas didicit res secretiores Ad nos tandem rediens iâ—struensque mores Suas inquit habeat quilibet vxores Propter haec alia Dogmata Doctorum Reor esse meliuâ— magis decorum Quisque suam habeat non proximorum Ne incurrat odium iram eorum Proximorum Foeminas Filias Neptes Violare nefas est Quare nil disceptes Verè tuam habeas in hac delectes Diem vt sic vltimum tutius expectes Ecce iam pro Clericis multum allegani Nec non pro Presbyteris plura comprobaui Pater Noster nunc pro me quoniam peccaui Dicat quisque Presbiter cum sua Suaui CHAP. VIII Walter de Mapes is commanded by Apollo to defend his Positions against the Pope and Becket who accordingly obeyeth and prooues the lawfulnesse of Clergie-mens Marriage both by the Testimonie of the Scripture and of the Ancient Fathers AFter the Pronotarie had ended Apollo commanded Walter de Mapes to defend his cause who thus began I am glad Most Noble Emperour that my Aduersarie hath cited mee to defend my Cause in this judicious Court where Bribes blindnesse of Affection and Passion cannot wrest the infallible reasons of Truth as oftentimes wee see fall out in worldly Iudgements Heere I need not feare the Popes Thunderbolt of Excommunication And therefore with a resolued countenance and a minde vndaunted I will proue out of the Holy Scriptures and by the authoritie of the Primitiue Church that wee Clergie-men may and ought to marrie as well as others By the Old Testament it is euident that the Leuits as Aaron Phinehes Eleazar Zadock Samuel and Zachary were married men Saint Peter himselfe as we reade in the New Testament was likewise married for our Sauiour Christ cured his Wiues Mother of an Ague Saint Paul aduiseth a Bishop to be the Husband of one onely wife and in another place auoucheth that it is better to marrie then to burne Yea and Christ himselfe auoucheth it to be a very hard matter for any man whatsoeuer to continue chast except it were giuen him from heauen as a special gift as rare a Miracle as a blacke Swan or a white Crow And shall we expect such miraculous and rare sightes in these tempestuous times when the Church it selfe hath much adoe to steale out of Babylon When the purest of vs all doe feele tumultuous Hurliburlies in our members striuing and strugling to ouer-master the faculties of our Soules As we are men we know our vnresistable frailties We must acknowledge our naturall Infirmities or else we are Liers and the Truth dwels not in vs. How much better then were it for vs to ioyne in lawfull Marriage then to stay as stale Batchelers and hypocritically to take vpon vs that taske which our weake Tabernacles cannot support Sometimes wee saue those Soules by Marriage which perhaps might proue lost were they not our wiues By these wee beget children whom we traine vp and graffe into Christ. We enioy this happinesse oftentimes in our wiues and children that by our examples and societie they shine as Starres heere on Earth giuing light to them that sit in darknesse we encrease the Kingdome of Heauen and heere in this World wee leaue no scandall behind vs as the vnmarried Romists doe by their Stewes and stolne pleasures Haue not we power to lead about a Sister aswell as the rest of the Apostles This Tertullian one of the first Latine Fathers auerreth in these words It was lawfull for the Apostles to marrie and to lead their Wiues about with them in their iournies What plainer instance can there be then Saint Pauls aduise to Bishops and Deacons to content themselues with one Wife apiece hauing children in subiection For if a man knowes not how to rule his owne house how shall
and in the neerest places adioyning vnto Rome that no Ecclesiasticall Policie could stand on foote nor erect publicke Churches and consequently no Mitred Bishops to solemnize or order the affaires of that spiritual Common-wealth in any complete forme no more then at this day we see in France a few places onely by their Ciuill Warres tolerated Specially in Paris the chiefe Citie they of the Reformed Religion cannot haue any but by permission about two leagues from the Citie they are allowed their Diuine Seruice The like though not so openly those ancient Christians were tolerated to enioy priuately in their Houses as in hugger-mugger at Rome the Capitall Seate of that Empire In processe of time Constantine the Great attained to the Empire who for some causes and principally because he would bee a neerer Neighbour to the Northerne Nations and also to the Persians who infested his State with sundry inrodes and hostile inuasions he was constrained to remoue the Imperiall Seate to Constantinople leauing the Bishop of Rome some power at old Rome whereby in his absence hee might as a Reuerend Prelate with his graue and Christianly exhortations retaine the Citizens in their Alleageance In this sort these good Bishops continued loyall to their Prince and subiect to their Command and to their Successours in the Empire vntill the yeere of our Lord 606. about which time after a great contention for the Primacie betwixt them and the Patriarch of Constantinople which then was called New Rome Phocas by the murther of his Lord and Master Maurice the Emperour hauing gotten the Soueraigntie made Boniface the Third Supreme Bishop aboue all other Bishops and to that end sent forth a Decree that all the Churches in his Empire should obey him as their Soueraigne Bishop which Iurisdiction he held onely in Spiritull matters After this the Emperour Iustine Iustinians Sonne raigned who sent Longinus as his Deputy into Italy to settle the confused state thereof after the expulsion of the Gothes who altered the forme of Gouernment in Rome and abrogated the Senate and Consulary Dignities which till that time continued and carried with it a glimpse of the ancient Maiestie of the Romane State and in steed of them appointed one Principall Gouernour whom he called an Exarch or Viceroy This innouation ministred an occasion to the Lumbards to enter into Italie And then the Citie of Rome felt new troubles But at last Theodoricus King of the Goths by the Popes Counsell remoued from Rome and erected Rauenna to be the Head Citie of his Kingdome and there keeping his Royall Court gaue room to the Popes to flourish in Rome Sometimes they tooke part with the Emperour some other times with the Lumbards accommodating their fortunes warily to the strongest parties liking Thus they continued vntill the Emperour Heraclius his time who being oppressed by the Persians Saracens and Arabians vnder Mahomet was so farre from looking into the affaires of Italy and into the Popes aspiring designes that he found much adoe to defend his neerer territories from those bloudy Enemies and Infidels The Popes watchfull to take aduantage partly by their Religious carriage among the common people and partly by Rewards got themselues to be equall in Power with the Kings of the Lumbards And then Pope Gregorie finding himselfe reasonable strong assaulted Raâ—enna the chiefe Citie of Italie and tooke it But being presently expulsed out of it by Astulfus King of the Lumbards hee was reseized thereof againe by succours sent vnto him from Pipin King of France After Astulfus death the Pope falling at ods with Desiderius the sonne of Astulfus hee sent for aide to Charles the Great King Pipins Sonne who in proper person came into Italie tooke Desiderius Prisoner augmented the Popes Dominion and at his motion crowned himselfe Emperour of the West at Rome At which time he againe to requite his good will enacted that from thenceforth the Bishop of Rome as Christs Vicar should neuer more bee subiect to any Earthly Potentate And whereas before that time they were themselues confirmed Bishops by the Emperour at Constantinople now by this new Emperour of the West they began to be of themselues and by their wits got the Emperours to be inuested at their hands This Pope was Leo the third And this notable Accident and alteration fell out about 801. yeares after Christ. After Leo his decease Pope Paschale after the example of his Predecessour Leo who had wrested the nomination of the Pope from the people of Rome and also the confirmation from the Emperour at Constantinople caused those Priests of the Citie who had elected him as the next neighbours to be enobled with a glorious Title and to be called Cardinalls Thus in lesse then two hundred yeares after their Supremacie obtayned from Phocas in spirituall matters the Popes aspired to a Supremacie in temporall affaires not so much for their hypocriticall holinesse as indeed for the Dignitie and repute of the Place and Seat their Citie of Rome hauing beene the Lady of the world and the eyes of all men being fixt on that Place brought at length most Princes of Christendome as Factions grew betwixt them to make profitable vse of their friendship either to appease their Aduerfaries or vnder colour of their Excommunications and Saint Peters keyes to oppresse one another Yea and that which was most strange as Machiauell obserues in his Florentine Historie King Iohn of England vpon the dissention betweene him and his Subiects yeelded himselfe at the Popes dispose when hee durâ—â— not shew his face in Rome by reason of the Factions of the Orsini and Columneses and of the Guâ—â—ses and the Gibellines but was faine to translate the Papacie to Aâ—inion in France Whereby our Politicians may gather this remarkable Rule that things which seeme to bee and are not such in very deâ—d are more feared or regarded afarre off then at home by reason of the vncertaine knowledge which strangers haue of other mens states Thus may all good Christians note by what meanes the Church of Rome arriued to her Greatnesse and how like a Foxe by little and little the Pope crept vp to the double Supremacie which Saint Peter and the blessed Apostles neuer once dreamed nor would our Sauiour Christ by any meanes accept of the Temporall Sword For hee vtterly defied the Deuill when hee motioned vnto him of an Earthly Kingdome And when some purposed afterwards to make him King he forsooke that Coast. To conclude this point of the Popes Supremacie Pope Hildebrand whom some call Gregory the seuenth after much contestation with the Emperour and his Gibellines was the first which triumphed ouer him about one thousand yeeres after Christ. Of whom an ancient Historiographer thus testifieth To this man only doth the Latin Church ascribe that she is free and pluckt out of the Emperours hands By his meanes she stands enriched with so much wealth and Temporall Power By his meanes shee stands inriched with so much wealth and
temporall Power By his meanes shee got the Soueraigntie ouer all Emperours Kings and Christian Princes whereas before shee was kept vnder like a base maid seruant not only by the Emperour but by any Prince assisted by the Emperour To returne now to the other cause which augmented the Popes Greatnesse that he cannot erre in matters of Faith and therefore men are perswaded to beleeue in his Church as the onely Catholick in the world or indeed as if shee were equall vnto Christ in Puritie and therefore partaker of our Creede But the Truth auoucheth otherwise that all men are Lyers and full of Sinne euen from the beginning The most Righteous man sinnes euery day in the weeke The Apostles in Christs time contended for Dignitie After his death Peter and Paul varied in opinion Paul and Barnabas could not agree Liberius Bishop of Rome subscribed to the Arrian Heresie Honorius Bishop of Rome was a Monothelite and condemned for the same Heresie by the Generall Councell held at Constantinople Saint Augustine mentions of the Errour maintayned by Innocent Bishop of Rome that Innocents could not be saued except they receiued the Communion And as Popes erred thus in matters of Faith so did Generall Councels themselues most grossely erre The Councell of Arimine established the Arriaâ— Heresie The Councell of Nice decreed the Soules of Angels and men had bodily shapes The Councell of Ephesâ—s enacted Canons on the behalfe of the Nestorian Heresie The consideration of which Errors whereto all mortall Creatures are subiect while they soiourne in their earthly tabernacles moued holy Augustine to reiect the authoritie of a Generall Councell which Maximinus alledged against him Neither ought I said he to be tyed to try my cause by the Councell of Nice or the Councell of Arimine to better or preiudice one anothers cause but to decide the Question to the Holy Scriptures Testimonie which are indifferent to both of vs and not partially bound to either of vs. And indeed there may bee yeelded a reason of Policie for not standing to any Humane Positions In a Generall meeting all men are not of the same mind nor of the same opinion but euery particular man as hee hath his voice so hee hath his seuerall will Velle suum cuique est nec voto vinitur vno Commonly where many meet some are selfe opinionated some factious others ouer-swayed by the most voices so that the Godliest being the fewest are abandoned and then the Canons doe passe according to mens affections and very oftentimes in fauour of the Pope and his Cardinals in hope of worldly preferments dispensations or for feare of angring their Superiors in Authoritie which the Holy Ghost obseruing he withdrawes his powerfull presence from their Consciences and leaues them puris naturalibus to their owne naturall endowments and consequently to bee seduced by the world Which of the ancient Fathers liued free from Errours Iustine Martyr Irenaeus and Tertullian held the Millenarian Heresie Saint Cyprian erred in his iudgement of Rebaptization Why then doth the Church of Rome arrogate to her selfe such Holinesse as to condemne all other Churches because they conforme not themselues with her Doctrine and Traditions It is one thing to belieue that there is a Catholicke Church and another thing though blasphemous to beleeue in the Catholick Church And now for the concluding of this present difference betwixt the Church of Rome and the Aethiopian whereof the Patriarch of Alexandria challengeth the Primacie wee doe order that euery Nation be allowed their seuerall Iurisdictions As in like manner hath heeretofore beene enacted by the Councell of Nice in the yeere 325. Let the ancient custome bee still in vse that the Bishop of Alexandria haue the Iurisdiction ouer Aegypt Lybia and Pentapolis euen as the Bishop of Rome enioyeth the like libertie in his Parts And so let the Churches of Antioch and of other Prouinces haue their preheminences maintained as informer times CHAP. XIIII Scotus the Master of Subtile Questions connents Sir Geffrey Chaucer for calling the Pope Antichrist and comparing the Romish Church to the griping Griffon and the true Church to the tender Pellican SCotus that famous Schooleman for subtile quiâ—ks and quiddities hauing watched for these two hundred and sixtie yeeres opportunitie to insinuate himselfe into his Maiesties fauour by some notable exploit and â—ow seeing that the Church of Rome began to totter he repayred to the Delphick Hall vpon the sixteenth of Iune last 1626. Where after an eloquent Oration against the Lutherans hee complayned of Sir Geffrey Chaucer the English Poet that he about the latter end of King Edward the thirds Raigne had published in his Ploâ—-mans Tale most abhominable Doctrine which infected not only diuers rare wits of that Age but likewise wrought so much alteration in succeeding times that Iohn Wickliffe Iohn Husse Ierome of Prague Luther and others now stiling themselues Protestants had quite abandoned their Mother Church of Rome which had flourished in stately Pompe and Pontificalibus for many hundred of yeares before And particularly hee charged Chaucer for calling the Pope Antichrist and for comparing his Followers to the Griffon and the pretended Reformed Church to the Pellican Apollo willing now vtterly to abolish those Patrons of Equiuocations lyes and deceits was glad of this occasion which so fairely presented it selfe vnto him And to that end iudicially to proceed against them he caused the chiefe points of the said Ploughmans Tale to bee openly read by the Pronotarie of the Court who with a loud voice thus repeated the same Euen as I wandred in a wro In a Wood beside a wall Two Fowles saw I sit thâ— The falser foule mought him befall That one did plead on the Popes side A Griffon of a grimme stature A Pellican withouten pride To these Lollers laid his lure Hee mused his matter in measure To counsell Christ euer gan he call The Griffon shewed as sharpe as fire But falshood foule mought him befall The Pellican began to preach Both of mercie and of meeknesse And said Christ so gan vs teach And â—eeke and mercifull gan blesse The Euangelists doe beare witnesse A Lambe he likeneth Christ ouer all In tokening that he meekest was Sith pride was out of Heauen fall And so should euery Christian be Priests Peters Successours Both humble and of low degree And â—sen none earthly honours Neither Crowne nor curious couetours Nor Pillour nor other proud Pall. Nor ought to coffren vp great treasures For falshood foule mought them befall Priests should for no cattell pleade But chasten them in charitee Nor vnto battell should men leade For enhaunsing of their owne degree Not wilne sittings in high Sea Nor Soueraigâ—tie in house nor hall All worldly worship defie and flee For who so willeth Highnesse foule shall fall Alas who may such Saints call That wilâ—eth weld earthly honour As low as Lucifer such shall fall In balefull blacknesse ybuilden their bowre That eggeth the people to Errour And maketh
admonition Saint Paul giues vs that in the Church vnder Antichrist there should bee working of Satâ—â—n with all Power Signes and lying wonders The like doth Saint Iohn prophesie of Spirits of Deuils working wonders In the Primitiue Church when the Gospell was setled Miracles ceased Which made Saint Chrysostome to answer their curiositie which looked for such rare signes in this wise There be some saith he that aske why men now adaâ—es doe not worke Miracles as the Apostles did If thou beleeuest Christ as thou oughtest thou hast no neede of Miracles for these were giuen to vnbeleeuers and not to beleeuers Sometimes God permits men with iugling trickes and legerdemaine or by the Deuils deuises to deceiue them either to â—rie the soundnesse of their Faith or to confirme them in their Errors As heretofore he suffered the Israelites to bee deluded with Baals Priests and the Golden Calfe who assuredly produced the like Miracles as the Iesuites boast of The tenth marke of Antichrist whom Saint Iohn calls the Whâ—re of Babilon the mother of Harlots and abhominations of the Earth is that shee shall be drunken with the bloud of the Saints and the Martyrs of Christ Iesus Of whom may this bee more significantly spoken then of the Pope How many thousands haue beene murthered in France in the Low Countryes and other places of Christendome by his procurement euen those which acknowledge Christ Iesâ—â— for their onely Mediatour with the Father which confesse the euer-liuing God in Vnitie and Trinitie hath hee caused to bee burnt for Hereticks or made to row as slaues in Spaines Gallies O bloudy Tyrannie O poisonous Imposture which vnder the colour of the Catholicke Faith doth shed the bloud of Innocents like mercilesse Hâ—râ—d not sticking to wound Christ anew through his seruants sides CHAP. XVI Apolloes iudgement of Chauâ—ers Apologie concluding that the Pope is the great Aâ—tichrist AFter that Sir Geffrey Chaucer had ended his speech Apollo gaue his definitiue sentence in this wise Euen as all the lesser sicknesses in mans bodie doth grow and descend into the Plague when contagion raignes And as by reason of oppilations the shutting vp of the spirits passages and their want of transpiration through the veynes all other inferiour diseases fall into the miserable Seâ—râ—y and principally for want of the Sunnes presence in the winter So for want of the Holy Spirits illumination caused through the corruptions of mens depraued wills by little and little the Antichrist increased and grew as it were with an inundation into one great Sea the Romish Sea Euen as Mahomet composed his Alcoran of many Sects so the Romish Religion by the policie of the Pope is stuffed and stored with many Heresies which all meeting together in his ambitious spirit and transferred to his successours doe make him that great Antichrist From Elixay the Heretick hee borrowed his Doctrine of celebrating Diuine seruice in an vnknown language For such was his Heresie From Montanâ—s the Heretick he learned to prescribe his rules of Fasts For hee first limited times of Fasting From the Collyridians he was inspired to worship the Virgin Marie From the Caianes to inuocate on Angels From the Carpocratians to adore the Image of lesus and Saint Paul From the Manichees and the Aebionites he got that damnable precept to prohibit Marriage vnto the Clergie Euen as all true Christians haue a relation vnto Christ their Head being through Faith his ingraffed members like as also the Patriarkes and Prophets vntill Christ had a dependance vpon that great Prophet whom God promised to raise vp like vnto Aloses so on the other side all the lesser Heretickes depend vpon Antichrist through whose lying mouth they oppose the Truth and the Apostles Humilitie And as Machiauellian members they ioyne with one consent to aduance his Maiesticall power though many of them in their consciences are fully perswaded that such state and pomp in a Clergie man cannot but displease the Author of Humilitie who pronounced them blessed which are poore in spirit CHAP. XVII Apolloes sentence promulgated for the Impurity of the Church Militant D. Whitgift Arch bishop of Canterbury complaines against Cartwright Browne and other Puritane Separists for inuaighing against their Superiours Apollo condemnes thâ— Sect exhorting them to vnitie to return to the bosom of their Mother Church AFter Apollo had condemned the Arch-hereticks of the Christian Church he caused that saying of that Ancient Father to bee retorted against the like erroneous seducers Ecclesia non diâ— post Apostolorum tempora mansit virgo That the Church after the Apostles time continued not long a Virgin And this his Maiestie did to the end all mouthes should bee stopt which arrogate to themselues extraordinarie Holinesse as the Popes doe who as his Courtly Cardinalls affirme cannot erre or which ascribe to themselues a degree of greater puritie in calling and conuersation then others of their Brethren in Christ forgetting his neuer fayling prophesie All men are liers Another cause why his Maiestie aduised his Religious Christians to remember that saying was to the end that they should not become amazed nor troubled when any hot-spurs and busie braind people doe maintaine new opinions differing from the old but rather to call into their memories that many false Christs many fraudulent Sects must from time to time spring vp in the Church like taxes among the good seede to shewe likewise that no Creatures can bee long pure without some spots or taint and that God alone who created them is only pure No sooner had Apollo ended these reasons for the Churches Impuritie but the graue and learned Whitgift Archbishop of Canterburie informed his Maiestie that one Cartwright Browne and others stiling themselues Puritans Precisians and holy ly Separists inueighed against him and his fellow Bishops with Libels and defamations worse then Oâ—id against Ibis or any woman scold put in a Cuckinstoole because hee gaue order in his visitations to present refractaries and stubborne minded persons disobedient to Authoritie and kicking against things indifferent triuiall and indeed very bables in respect of Faith Humilitie Charitie and Diuine Gifts which they had now more cause to pray for then to spend their precious times in railing and withstanding those outward things tending only to distinguish the Leuits from the Temporall Tribes to the view of the outward man whose fancie must bee stirred by outward obiects aswell as inward Apollo at the report of these selfe-opinions like to breake into a schismatick combustion became mightily perplext Yet like himselfe recollecting his spirituall tempers and resuming his wonted Maiestie hee said to Cartwright Browne and the rest of the Pâ—ritâ—â—icall Sect How long will you persist by your peenish positions to minister scandall vnto your Christian Corporation I haue long since heard of your rash and turbulent oppositions against your Churches Canons But I hoped that the calme dew which awaites on the â—iluer and staid age of Maturitie had by this time cooled
but the Bishops â—iming vp to the highest place by the golden Ladder About the yâ—re 605. he obtained the spirituall suprâ—â—â—â—y at the hands of the Tyrant Phocâ—â— and in the yeere 801 he got his Temporall power ouer all things that may be called God And the most part of these popes which sithence haue beene elated to that eminent seat came in by indirect wayes and for Money as Platina and other Papists haue obserued so that if the succession of the keyes were bequeathed to Rome Simony hath made that place vacant aboue 800. yeeres agoe We doe therefore order and decree that if any Clergy-man doe buy a Bishoprick hee shall lose it and be vtterly banished out of our Iurisdiction If any Patron receiue the least gratuity of a Minister hee shall for euer forfeit that Presentation to the Bishop And now for these poore widdoweâ— wee adiudge that the Patrons shall restore such moneyes as their Husbands gaue for their Benehces twice so much of currant English money CHAP. 3. Vpon a Bill of Complaint exhibited by Aeschines andâ—apinian â—apinian aâ—aiust Rewards vâ—equally câ—â—ferre oâ— persons of meane desert and escent Apollo proâ—ounceth a pereâ—ptory Dooâ—ne AT the great Assembly held at Parnassus on the fourth of â—une last 1626. theâ—e was exhibited a Bill of Complaint by Aechine Deane of the Lycea Colledge at Aâ—hens by Paâ—inâ—an the famous Lawyer Aduocate to the Lady Thermis on the behalfe of the Students of the Empire of Greece That wheras Rewards ought to be confeâ—red on the vertuous which wore out many nights in cares and thoughts how they might increase Trade lately decaied how they might cut off superfluous suits of Lâ—w whereby Charity might heat mens hearts as in the Golden Age and Iustice flourish without the least pollution now to their great grief they fouÌ„d many Offices bestowed on one man which might serue sundry more sufficient persons and which worke some of those of the meanest ranke to sit in the supremest places whilest that many generous Spirits of Noble descent and of brauer flames adorned with multiplicities of knowledge whom as Scaliger wrote of Picus Mirandula the Muses themselues would pronounce to be of that immortall race adiudged from Heauen to passe for great and wonderfull Spâ—sits whiles these lay contemned without any preferment at all For which cause they humbly begged at his Maiesties hands that some course might be taken whereby Rewards should bee thenceforth conferred more equally on men of good desert and of Noble descent Apollo at these ominous tidings as it were with Commotion of mind estranged some what from that sweet composition of gracious manners which he was wont to deliuer with a voice more fearefull then ordinary sounded out these Verses following which argue that his Maiesty tooke great indigâ—â—tion at the contents of the Bill exhibited Why keepes one man three Offices alone Another yet deseruing more hath none Eyther the Starres shoot out some crooked rayes On this low world or Fortune on it playes Or else the Ayry Prince this busines guides For surely God more equally diuides More Offices then one 't is great pitty That any in Countrey hold or Citty One Charge and yet I am no puritan Will serue one man and that a carefull man Graces and Muses twelue in number are Which for their Troupes looke equally to share A Prince had need to marke and well to know On whom he doth great Offices bestow In Horses race men looke into the Siâ—es Like Crow like Egge The gracious Grace inspires Heere Apollo stopt and about halfe a quarter of an houre after renewed his speech in this manner Sith with the Parents seed their manners slow And in the Sonnes deriu'd by Birth doe grow Why doe some Lawyers prey on Labours hires This Lesson they haue conu'd from Clownish Sires Those Clowns their Sires which hating HeaueÌ„lâ— right Them from their Birth defil'd with Earths delight Whereby their Sonnes so trained vp at first By natures kinde commit that act accurst T is seldome seene that one of Noble Race Peruerts Tribunall Seates by trickes so base T is seldome seene that one of Noble bloud B trayes his King or sels his Countries good If one among a thousand such you finde Some Treacher him seâ—uced of Clownish kind If any Lawyers play the Tyrants part Thundring out fines to make the vertuous smart Or proue notorious for deceit and bribes They are descended of base Clownish Tribes Nothing more base then is the Ruling Clowne Not Antichrist for fraud can put him downe No change of manners though he change his weed He what his father wore doth neuer heed Whiles that such Moles in nought but Earth delight They snort in ease and snatch at others right Nobles like Planets moâ—e with noble thought A Royall Virgin forth our Sauiour brought The Commons should be ruled the Nobles rule Lawes rule them both as Bits the Horse and â—â—ule Peeres plac't in Office by their peerelesse King Are iust least blots they to their Honour bring The vulgar Sort fit for Mechanick Trade May helpe their country with the Plough and Spade CHAP. 4. Hugh Broughton vpon some discontentment taken in seeing his inferiours promoted to eâ— ineâ—t places before himselfe complaineth vnto Apollo that Florio Deane of Thaliaes Chappell prophaned the sacred name of the Letany by singing the same intermixt with triuiall toyes Apollo causeth Florio to repeat his Letany HVgh Broughton a very learned Diuine and an admirable Linguist specially in the Hebrew and Chaldaick tongues hauing for a long time awaited in Apolloes Court for some place of preferment and seeing many persons whom he thought to be farre beneath him in knowledge or at least that his penny was as good siluer as theirs exalted to promotion grew about this time of the Moone maruellously discontent and chiefly for that Signior Florio a new commer into Parnassus had beene lately promoted to be Deane of the Lady Thaliaes Chappell a place of honour more fit for a Cabalisticall Rabbine as himselfe was then for a Nouelist Italian hee fumed he fietted to see the world thus runne on wheeles verifying those words of Seneca that there was neuer as yet any great wit without som touch of madnes oâ— folly Hugh Broughton thus peâ—plext less his swohâ—e conceits like the embotteled ane for want of vent might burst their bodily instruments repayred oâ— the â—f teenth of May last 1626. vnto Apollo complayning that Fiorio Deane of Thalâ—aes Chappell had 〈◊〉 is Princes Birth day sung a strange morall Letany more agreeable to a Sceltonical Dogrell Rimer which shootes verses at â—andome then to the reuerend Prelate of the Comicall Court Which fault of 〈◊〉 he aggrauated by fetching the Genealogy of the word Letan not onely from the Greeke sâ—uâ—râ—d Dialects of the Attiâ—kes the Dorickes the Ionâ—â—kes the Aeolickes and other exotick pronunciations but also from the misticall Thalmuds of the Iewes wherein he surpasled most of the Phoebean Academy Apollo woÌ„dred much aâ— this
content in some degree or other To this end I inuented this new Letany knowing that my gracious Mistresse liked pleasant raptures better then the graue and austere rules of the Stoicks As for the proâ—aâ—ing of the name of Letany while vnder the shadow thereof I couch matters of some moment I hope it redounds not so preiudicially infamous to your vertuous Court as for a Papist to be called a Catholicke or for a smatterer in Logick to be termed a Sophister or for a peeuish Diuine to be stiled a Puritane If my Letany be throughly scanned vnder that title Mâ— Broughton shall meet with as much substance to edifie the common sort of people as with his Hebrew Genealogies to enrich the learned It is not a Cowle or hood which makes a Monke Cucullus non facit Monachum nor is it a shauen or bald Crown which makes a Priest for a man may lose his haire with the Poxe or for want of radicall moisture in that part of the head as chanced to the Poet Aeschylus on whose bald pate an high soaring Eagle did let fall a shel-fish with intent to breake it as on a stone Nor doth along beard make a man aiudicious Socrates bar batum hoc crede Magistrum Dicere sorbitio quem tollit dira Cicutae whom a forc't draught of Hemblocks iuyce did kill We see the Goat stalking with a long beard Yet who will take him for a religious beast that climbes vp to the Altar and feedes on the sacred flowers Barbatus li 〈◊〉 Caper tamen esse negamus Hunc recta et purâ Relligione pecus It is not the baâ—e outside the vsurping of a naked name which can disgrace an honest Action If vnder the name of Letany I haue alluded to any lewd passage whereby youth may be corrupted or the state of Parnassus defamed I appeale to Caesar to your Maiesties iudgement Apollo after that Florio had thus defended his cause yeelded his censure in these few words Whosoeuer goes about to depriue men of all kinde of pleasure seekes to depriue them of freedome and of a cheerefull nature which God preferres before a sullen crabbed mind as was that of Cains Beeing tempred it consorts well in an ingenuous Scholler For thereby hee shall auoid the name of a laughing Democritus with his tickling spleene and also of a weeping Heraclitus with his melancholy passion The title of Letany derogates not froÌ„ grauity while it tends not to base scurrility but rather to a vertuous morality There is a time to teach to exhort and there is a time to fling stones against the wind There is a time of earnest things to write A time to talke of matters small light A time to walk to run to ride or praunce A time to sit and laugh or lead a Daunce There is a time for men to fast and pray And so a time to sing like Birds in May. CHAP. 6. Apollo asketh the Author of the Golden Fleece wherefore his Countreymen of Wales hauing the commodiousnesse of the Sea with a large scope of land are notwithstanding very much impouerished of late The Author imputes the cause vnto the multitude of Law Suites Vpon Thursday in the Easter weeke 1626 while the rest of his Maiesties Subiects of Great Brittaine consulted how they might repaire the decay of Trade lately hapned by Prodigality Excesse of Aparrell Tobacco and other enormities in this Iland fostred and cherished besides our losses a broad by the Mâ—â—rish Pirates and now of late by the Dunkirkes it was my good fortune to be present at Apolloes Court in Parnassus Where likewise his Imperiall Maiesty sate in Councell about the same affaires because there might bee a perpetuall correspondency betwixt his diuine Court our humane actions As soone as Apollo saw Orpheus Iunior it pleased him to demaund of him the resolution of 〈◊〉 Questions which he presently proposed Whereof the former was wherefore his natiue Couâ—◠〈◊〉 Wales being a Peninsula almost an Iland compassed about with the Sea in forme of an horse-shoo like little Brittaine in France from the riuer Dee and Chester round about to Glocester hauing aboue 100. Riuers running out into the Sea beside Seuerne and d ee yet for all this large Tract commodiousnesse they had not ten Ships whereas Deuoâ—shire alone our neighbour vpon Seuerne not contayning the tenth part of land flourished with 150. ships The other Question was wherefore their enclosed lands as also their mountaines and Commons lay desolate not halfe stockt and their Corne fields in most places so bare of Corne that a stranger would thinke eyther that the earth produced such graine naturally wild or else that the Locusts of Aethiopia had wasted and harried the same Vnto these demands hee craued an houres respit to answer At the end whereof he returned his resolutions in this wise I could haue wisht that these Questions had been askt of some iudicious Gentlemen of these parts whom pâ—â—tly by familiar acquaintance and partly by fame I know to be far better experienced and consequently more sufficient to yeeld your Highnesse satisfaction in these demands of import But seeing most vertuous Emperour the Fates that is your incuitable pleasure allotted this charge vnto my weake capacity I will not spare to display the causes according to that measure and taleÌ„t which God hath giueÌ„ me In the entrance whereof a Story comes into my mind out of an old Spanish Booke printed at Salamanca aboue one hundred thirty yeeres past entituled The causes of the pouerty of Spain dedicated to Fâ—rdinandâ— and Isabella before the conquest of Granata and the discouery of the West Indies by Columbus Among other reasons the Author imputes the breeding of Asses and the vse of barren Mules in stead of Bâ—ls and Oxen to be the prime and waightiest cause of their necessities For whereas in Hercules time the goodliest Kine of the world were found with Gerion and Cacus in that Countrey since the rearing of those vnprofitable Beasts and the Golden Mines of Bebellio in the Pâ—renean Mountaines and the graines of Gold in Tagus Sands were exhaustâ—d dry Spaine became the most miserable Region of Europe Now my Countrey of Wales appeares in my iudgement to haue some resemblance with Spaine as it stood in those dayes being like vnto it for situatâ—â—n and the vneuen â—esse of ground vp hill and downe hill yet enriched with faire vallies and a boue all with the benefit of the Sea as your Maiesty hath well obserued But our grieuance is that in stead of plentifull droues of Cattell which heretofore serued vs aswell for our sustentation as to supply our necessities abroad wee haue studied that fabulous Booke of Ouids Metamorphosis so much that our stocke is decayed and now-a dayes we reare vp two-legged Asses which doe nothing but wrangle in Law the one with the other By this meanes wee consume our precious time not to bee redeemed By this vngracious brood wee become so impouerished that our
Fraternitie were attired in long white Robes with Oliue branches in their hands and that they were the foure famous Patrones of Great Brittaines Monarchie Saint George Saint Andrew Saint Dauid and Saint Patricke and that they attended at his Pallace Gate for his comming forth to Procession great was his Ioy and presently without intermission his Imperiall Maiestie came forth and after hee had reuerently embraced and graced this Noble Fraternitie hee told them the Causes of his late discontent and that he tooke himselfe to bee much fauoured that they resorted to visit him now in his griefes extremitie Saint George answered that the causes of his sadnesse conceiued for the vices and decayes of Great Brittaine proceeded of a fellow-feeling of a vertuous Conscience and to that end they came now to discouer their knowldge and to lay open the generall faults of that Monarchie in a new kinde of tickling straine not so much to content the Iudicious for they that be whole need no Physicians as to draw the carnall minds of the Common people to heare their vices blamed and consequently to make them ashamed which are not altogether past grace And now said hee if it please your Maiestie and your Learned Traine to walke along with vs in Procession round about this eminent Citie of Parnassus wee will consecrate the Churches anew which perhaps will worke some remorse and contrition and for the obstinate wee will blesse our selues and the Godly from their contagious Company Apollo bad them goe forwards and that himselfe the Lady Pallas the Muses the Graces and all his Court euen from his Bedchamber to the Kitchin should follow to see the Consecration and to heare the Vices and Errours of the Brittaines discouered The famous Patriarchs went forwards in such manner as the moderne Clergie are wont to goe in Procession and euery one of them successiuely sung as followeth against the Corruptions of the Times CHAP. XVII The foure Patrones or Patriarches of Great Britaine doe sing in Procession the ensuing Rithmes Apollo pronounceth a conclusiue Oracle to remedie all Abuses preparing the way to the Golden Fleece S. George FRom painting of the Trinitie From iesting with high Maiestie From th' Alcoran and Papistry From Brokers rotten Tapistry From deepe Mysteries too holy From mad Fits and Melancholy From Iesuits Monkes and Friers From Hypocrites Knaues and Liers From trusting Saints distrusting God From feeling of his wrath and rod. From Romes Pardons Bulls and Masses From Wine Lees and broken Glasses From Sale of Soules and Heauens Gifts From Beades and bables Whoorish shifts From wounding Christ on Gods right hand From grounding Faith vpon the sand From parting thence by any way His Bodie plac't vntill Doomesday From condemning sacred Marriage From secret shrift and lust full rage From Trust to Merits except Christs From Iuglers trickes and Antichrists Our Christs great Genius Blesse and defend vs. S. Andrew FRom blaming things indifferent From working in our Faith a rent From aselfe-will'd rash Puritane As from a Foole or Mauritane From him that railes against a Cope And yet would be his Parish Pope From ingrossing from a Brother Goods or Charge due to another From many Offices alone Or Benefices more then One. From causing Scandall to my Place Vsurping much with shamelesse face From Clergy-men non Residents From such as shew ill Presidents From sâ—it Pick-locks and Cut-purse Knines From stealing Honey from Bee-â—ines From staâ—â—ting in anothers Coat Like Aesops Daw preaching by roat From Dancing on the Sabaoth Day From shewing Youth lewd Cupids way Our Sauiours Genius Shield and protect vs. S. Dauid FRom swallowing Law with greedie throat From tearing Christ his seamelesse Coat From selling Christ for Earthly drosse From wealth gain'd by good Christians losse From Iudges sentence after Sacke From Thunder Tempests and Sea-wracke From those which Plaintiffes most approue As from Munkeyes which Spiders loue From Lawes which wrest the Sickmans staffe From Swine which â—ate moâ—e Foule then draffe From letting Lawyers haue their wils From Scammonie made into Pils From hirelings Tongues and Make-bates hisse Betraying Law with Iudas kisse From a corrupted starely Iudge Which makes good Clients moyle and drudge From Magistrates too insolent From needlesse Courts impertinent From them which speake not what they thinke Which blame small faults at greater winke From Iudges vpstars late from Clownes From Serpents stings or Tyrants frownes The Worlds bright Genius Keepe and defend vs. S. Patrick FRom hired Spies and hidden Foes More dangerous then any woes From Leaders young or too too Old From Souldiers knowne of nature Cold. From Butchers which mans bloud doe spill From sparing those whom God bids kill From a Commander meanly borne From reaping Tares insâ—eed of Corne. From hopes in Captaines not belou'd From ordring Bees when they are mou'd From meeting Straglers night or day Left vnprouided by the way From Souldiers tumulâ—s taâ—â—ts and quips If long vnpaid in Forts or Ships From Leaders without stratagems From letting Hogs haue precious Gems From a Leader too out-ragious From a Captaine not couragious From filthy moores and Irish bogs From Scottish mists and English fogs Discretions Genius Shield and preuent vs. S. George FRom Spanish Pensions and their Spies From weeping Cheese with Argus eyes From slumbring long in carelesse Peace From dreaming oft of curelesse ease From fond Maskes and idle mumming From fain'd Playes and causelesse drumming From preferring Peace with danger Before iust Warre wrongs reuenger From suffering Foes to triumph still From letting Sathan haue his will From falling from Saint Michaels armes Not taking heed by others harmes From puffing vp proud Giants growne From pulling Dauids courage downe From louing Money more then God From keeping Beanes within the cod From disbursing needfull treasure To maintayne phant astick pleasure From greasing Lawyers hands with Gold Which better serues to keepe a Hold. From fostring Suites O poysâ—ous Toad For Money which ends Warres abroad From those men which sue Protections To shrowd their lewd shrewd Defections Great Brittaines Genius Guard and restore vs. S. Andrew FRom Iesuits old conuerted As from Brownists young perâ—erted From the Simony of a Priest From Mills which spoyle the Owners griests From glorying in an outward Robe From tainting Faith The Saints Wardrobe From a Priest that couets money From a Bee-hiue without Honey From Preachers which to Pride encline Or from old plainnesse may decline From those which in silke Robes doe ruffle Which more for Goods then Good doe scuffle From such as line vpon the lâ—rch Like Dogs and Hogs within the Church From men whose wits lie in their beards From Goats and all such impious heards From the Bibles false construction As from ruine and destruction From all Aequiuocation With mentall reseruation From Romes Charmes and Babels Ballets From Lumbards bits and Spanish Sallets Our Christian Genius Saue and protect vs. S. Dauid FRom Westminster Hals Out-laries From causelesse long vagaries From meeting strong Competitours From Iudges growne
buying Lands Old and cruell From losing Heauen gayning Hell From Diues fare and hardned mind While Lazarus with hunger's pin'd From tumbling in a downy bed While Godlier men for cold lie dead From Misers and those greedy Elues Which loue no Creatures but themselues From wishing Neighbours lazie bones When Hiues are full to play the Drones From sneaking like a Snaile at home When Forraigne Climes yeeld elbow rome From them which hate Plantations From Sathans combinations Our Christ's bright Genius Blesse and reforme vs S. Patrick FRom a faire House which seldome smoakes While the Owner in Riot soakes From slauish prodigalitie From miserable frug alitie From a Cloake that 's full of patches From a Hen which neuer hatches From seeing Elues or strange Monsters Or those men my mind misconsters From those which causlesse doe arrest vs. When we would gladly sit and rest vs. From such sights make vs amazed From a Chamber not well glazed From rude people in a furie From a false and partiall Iurie From Almanacks false predictions From th' Exchange and Currents fictions From White Spaniards or Red headed From all Women which are bearded From Black-haird Women stubborne proud From Little Deuils scolding loud From the Faire-snouted held for Fooles From all long slow-backs idle tooles From Red-hair'd Foxes closely bad From pale and leane too peeuish sad The Worlds great Genius Blesse and defend vs. After these deuout Patriarchs and famous Fraternitie of the Rosie Crosse had made an end of their Hymnes with an applauding Alleluiah to the Diuine Maiestie for the discouery of themselues now at a pinch when Sathan thought to sist vs all as Wheate and vtterly to eclipse the glory of this Monarchie they interceded vnto Apolloes Maiestie that hee would proclaime some fauourable Edict on the behalfe of their humble and penitent Clients Whereupon the Noble Emperour rose vp from his Sunny Throne and pronounced his Oracle If Brittaines King like valiant Hercules His Stables cleanse and those Foxes footlesse Which Christian Vines destroy do firret out His Prouinces shall rise without all doubt And brauely flourish by our Golden Fleece As Rome was sau'd once by the noyse of Geese So he restraine some of these vagaries For Contraries are cur'd by Contraries CHAP. XVIII Orpheus Iunior sheweth that one of the chiefest causes of the Decay of Trading in Great Brittaine proceeded by the rash Aduentures of the Westerne Merchants in passing the Straites of Gibraltar and in fishing on the Coast of Newfoundland without wafting ships to defend them from Pirats THe next day after this memorable Procession of the famous Fraternity Apollo caused a publick Proclamation to bee set vp on the great Porch of Neptunes Royall Exchange willing and requiring all such as wished well to Great Britaine to repaire with their grieuances before him into the Hall of the said Exchange where hee had appointed a particular meeting for the affaires of that Common-wealth in the afternoone of the said day Orpheus Iunior finding by experience that one of the late causes of the Decay of Trade arose by the misgouerned and stragling courses of the Westerne Merchants which either of foole-hardinesse carelessenesse or of a griping humour to saue a little charge aduentured in their returne from Newfoundland without Fleets or Wafters to guard them or any politicke Order to passe through the Straits of Gibraltar to the Dominions of the King of Spaine to Marseilles or Italy where yeerly they met with the Moorish Pirats who by the conniuance of the Great Turk were suffered to prey vpon al Christiās which they encountred With these inconueniences Orpheus Iunior being grieued to see his Countrie suffer through these Merchants sides he exhibited a Petition to his Imperiall Maiestie Shewing these irregular courses as also how that the Golden Fleece which now became rife in all mens mouthes might bee quickly surprized and anihilated if his Prouidence did not becimes take some safe course to secure the labours of those new Argonautickes which spared no shipping to saile into those Coasts where this precious Fleece flourished on the backes of Neptunes Sheepe Apollo vpon this Information examined the proceedings of the English and comparing them with the Hollanders as also with those of other Companies established with Priuiledges and Ciuill Order found more confusion among the Fishermen of New foundland then in any other For where soeuer the Hollanders either fished or traded they went strongly guarded with wasting Ships to preuent all casualties The Spaniards likewise being taught in Queene Elizabeths time by the English sithence by the Moorish Pirats to go wel prouided with some ships of Defence Yea and all those Companies in London which the King of Great Britaine had graced with Charters and Freedomes prospered and neuer went abroad without sufficient strength Onely those petty Merchants which were led with desire of Gaine not willing to enranke themselues into an orderly Societie but as it were in despite of Gouernment singled and seuered from Fleets these became continually a spoyle to the Pirats His Maiesty viewed the East India Company and found them Rich with many braue seruiceable Ships He searched into the strength of the Turkie Merchants and saw them stored with warlike Munition and abounding in wealth yea and by their painfull Trading getting the start of the Italians which heretofore in Argosies gained and exported great treasure out of this Kingdome He pryed into the state of the Moscouie Company and found them very able subsisting of themselues and readie to supply their Countrey with many rich Commodities He entred into the Mystery of the French Societie and also into the Easterne Merchants and beheld them winning the Trade from the Balticke Sea and the Hans Towne in Germany Onely the Westerne Trading he saw out of square and all for want of setled Fleets At last it came into his Maiesties minde that the Noble King Iames of happy memory did about three yeeres past see into these discommodities and thereupon directed out a Commission at the suite of the Corporation for the Plantation of the Newfoundland to prouide a couple of good Ships on the charge of the Fishermen which yeerely frequented that Coast continually to assist them against the inuasions of Pirats who had in a few yeeres before pillaged them to the damage of fortie thousand pounds besides a hundred Peeces of Ordnance and had taken away aboue fifteene hundred Mariners to the great hinderance of Nauigation and terrour of the Planters Vpon mature consideration of this Royall Commission Apollo pronounced that it was necessary to keepe this Commission still a foot aswell in time of peace as of Warre both for the rearing of expert Commanders at Sea as for the securing of that most hopefull Country And to this purpose he commanded Orpheus Iunior to attend at his Maiesties Court of Great Britaine and to sollicit his Soueraigne to conclude that Noble Designe which his Royall Father vpon most weightie deliberation had formerly granted The
vnder-ballance of Trade with other Nations that it is high time now or neuer to looke about before wee bee driuen to a narrower pinch The causes in two words of this ouer-ballancing is Prodigality and Pouerty The one brings in by Excesse of Forraigne goods into the Kingdome an ouerballancing The other by the Defect and hauing too little from their partiall Mother keeps our Trading backe in vnder ballance Apollo sighed at the relation and all his Court which fauoured the Protestant Religion both outwardly and inwardly demonstrated great heauines for this Decay of Trade in Great Brittaine that in the dayes of peace vnder a Religious King this vnder-ballance should happen and openly protested that Peace consumed more men and goods in that Kingdom then all their Warres with Spaine and Tyrone Likewise his Maiesty said that if the Noble King Iames had not betimes raised the Iacobus piece to twenty two shillings and his other Gold to the like proportion other Nations had by this time attracted all the treasure of this land vnto themselues and that the riotous flaunting in Apparell with their prodigall Feasts did helpe to vnder-ballance their Trading which together with many other abuses crept into that State hee wished some of the Inhabitants if they had any feeling of their Countreyes smart should present without delay or partiality CHAP. 2. Apollo causeth a Iury to be impanelled out of the Vniuersities of Oxford Cambridge S â— Aâ—drews Aberdine and the Colledge at Dubin to find out those persons which sold Ecclesiasticall Liuings The Presâ—ntours discouering some bring them before Apollo His Maiesties censure with his discourse of the Right of Tithes APollo perceiuing that one of the chiefest causes of the miseries which perplexed Great Brittain proceeded from Siâ—â—ny and the enforced Periury of some Ministers who being driuen by meete necessity were faine to accommodate themselues to the iniquity of the times caused about Whitsontide last 1626. a Iury to be impanelled of the precisest Preachers in that Monarchy viz. sixe out of the Vniuersitâ— of Oxford sixe out of Cambridge sixe out of St. Andrewes sixe out of Aberdine and the like number out of the Colledge at Dublin in Ireland 30. in all integros vitae scelerisque puros men of vnattainted liues and pure from notorious vices These his Imperiall Maiesty appointed to enquire of such Patrons as presumed directly or indirectly to play the Marchants and sell those worldly meanes which God himselfe had allotted to his earthly Angels towards their maintenance and wages in labouring to reduce his astrayed flocke to their true Shepheard Ouâ—r this impanelled ranke he placed D. Raynolds a man of very austere Conuersation so temperate in his affections that hee made choise rather to bee Head â—â— Corpus Christs Colledge in Oxford then to become a Bishop which the famous Queene Elizabeth offereâ— vnto him About ten dayes after the Inquisitors returned and presented the names of 40. Patrons and so many Ministers which had truckt and bargained for Benefices Likewise they presented that 6. Widdowes whose Husbands had coped and giuen 4. yeers purchase for Benefices were ready to starue some of them hauing seuen or eight children lying on their hands And that before the first fruits were satisfied without receiuing one penny for their purchase their poore Husbands died Apollo moued to Commiseration to see the wretched estate of the Church brought to this wofull plight said that it was no maruell all things went to wrack and ruine in that Noble Iland when the Patrimony of the Church became a prey and pillage to Marchandizing Greedy-guts For how quoth he can vertue harbour in their hearts when the Rewards of vertue are rauished embezeled and turned topsy turuy This inequality compelled many braue Spirits desperately to runne into the gulfe of discontentment This made Campian Parsons Harding Stapleton Creswell Dallison Garnet and infinite others to forgo their natiue Countrey and betake themselues to the Seminary Colledges in Doway in Valladolide Ciuill Rome and other Popish places After these speeches his Maiesty ask't the delinquent Patrons what infernall fury possessed them to wrong the Ministers the selected seruants of their Heauenly Father Why they forced them to buy their owne Right and due The Patrons answered that they held a hand ouer the Aduowsons and Ecclesiasticall liuings in their gifts aswell as ouer the impropriate Tithes Both which being wrested and extorted by the Clergy-men themselues heretofore in time of Popery towards the Religious houses belonged as a lawfull spoile vnto them for ridding the Land of such Lazy Lordanes Abbey-lubbers Likewise they alleged that they could not support their magnifique Port and pompe without making sale of such Benefices as were in their donations To this Apollo replied Though yee haue beene tolerated to detaine the impropriate Tiâ—hes dare ye aduenture to take money for those Spirituall Liuings which appertaine not vnto you ◠〈◊〉 yee againe deuoure the forbidden Fruit Could not the many examples of them which felt the Stroke of Diuine vengeance for purloyning of forbidden Wares terrify your mercenary minds Achâ—n for the wedge of Gold and the Babyâ—oâ—ishâ—ayment â—ayment was stoned to death Gehezi for receiuing the two Talents and the change of garments from Naaman was strucken with Leprosie No ill gotten goods can long thriue with any man Male parta male dilabuntur which yee might obserue by the Crane in the Embleme which hauing a wrongfull prey could not digest it As in like manner it befell to an Eagle which snatching a Coale from the Altar fired her nest therewith Famous are the destructions of sacrilegious persons in all ages Of Heliodorus who was scourged by an Angell for seeking to rob the treasure of the Templeat Ierusalem of Pompey which tooke away the Golden Table out of that sanctified place of the Galles which spoyled the Delphicke Church of Câ—piâ— who robbed the Church of Toloza that gaue an occasion to the Prouerb Aurum Tolozanum which proued fatall to the takers Although these two last serue not so fit for our turne because they were Heathenish yet in as much as they portend fatal success Malâ—omeÌ„ to the rakers of Church goods let men feare to share in Sacred things or in any Commodity annexed to the Spiritualty But now-a-dayes yee are not content onely to exact of the poore Ministers such vnreasonable prizes but yee must get some by humane reasons and vnwarrantable authority to iustifie your Acts training their ouerfluent wits to proue the Word of God to become mutable in matters of Tithe for the â—onfounding of which leprous opinion I will now onuert my speech vnto you my learned Courtiers Be it knowne vnto you that Tithes are due to the Clergy Iure Diuino before the Law by the Law of Moses and vnder the Gospell Before the Law Abraham payed Tithes to Melchisedâ—ch euen the tenth part of all which he had as the Authour to the Hebrewes explayned Hee payd Tithes as a temporall Prince to a