and other antiquities hee could finde there Leofricke was sonne to the Earle of Kent and after being chosen to be Archbishop of Canterburie he refused it this Abbot in a time of dearth solde all the Iewels of his Church to buy bread for the poore After him succeeded Alfricke Leostan Frâ—theric Paul In this Abbot were giuen to the Monastery of Saint Albanes the Celles of Wallingford of Tinnemuth of Bealvare of Hertford and Binham Richard who liued in the time of William Rusus when the Cell of Saint Marie de Wymonaham or Windham in Norfolke was giuen vnto this Abbey beeing sounded by William de Albeney father to William de Albeney first Earle of Arundell Gaufridus who founded the Nunnery of Sopwell therby on the other side of the riuer founded and so called vpon this occasion two poore women hauing built themselues a small cabben liued in that place a very austere life praying and seruing God with great deuotion and for that they liued for the most part with no other sustenance saue bread and the water of a Well there wherein they vsed to soppe or dippe their bread it had saith mine Author a Monke sometime of that Abbey the name of Sopwell Then Radulphus Robert Simon Garmus Iohn William c. Off a gaue to this his Abby of Saint Albans these towns following viz. Thei l Edelâ—â—â—â—â— Wiclesfield Cagesâ—o cum suis Berechund Rikeâ—aresworth Bacheworth Crokâ—leie Michelfield Britchwell Watford Bilsey Merdell Haldenham Sprâ—t Enefeild Stâ—â—â—â—â—â— Hâ—â—â—â—â—ted Winelesham Biscopscoâ— Câ—dâ—â—â—dune and Mildâ—â—dune Egelsride his sonne and successour gaue Sandruge and Penefield Alfrickâ— Abbot of this Church after Archbishop Leofrick his brother gaue Kingesbury Câ—ealdwich Westwic Flamsted Nortâ—â—â— Râ—â—â—â—hang Wâ—â—â—â—field Birstan and Vpton AEthelwold Bish. of Dorchester gaue Girshuna Cuicumba Tyme Aegelwin Redburne ThuangnaÌ„ Lingley Grenburga One Tholfe gaue Estune and Oxaw One Sexi gaue Hâ—chamsted One Haâ—dh gaue Newhaâ— and Beandise Therefeld a religious woman gaue Sceanlâ—a Bridel Aegelwina another gaue Batesden Offal and Standune One Aegelbert gaue Craniford Aâ—â—an Cutesham Winsimus gaue Esenden Osulsus and his wife gaue Stâ—dham and Wilsinâ—â— others Walden Cudicote Scephal Bethell with sundry other Celles Churches and goodly possessions of me vnnamed If I should set you downe the inestimable wealth consisting in Plate Iewells Bookes costly Hangings Altar-cloathes and the like which by our English Kings Nobilitie and others haue from the foundation vnto the dissolution with the sundry priuiledges this Abby had I should weary my selfe with writing and you with reading but I omit them hauing onely proposed a mirrour to the eyes not of the Church pillars of ancient but the Church pillers of our times The Auncestors of this Noble family were Frenchmen borne taking their Surname of a Towne in Normandy called Sackuill whereof they were Lords and came into England to the aide of Duke William the Conquerour as appeareth by an auncient Manuscript or Chronicle of Brittaine now in the Custody of Mr. Edward Gwinn where he is called a Chiefetaine and is the seauenth man ranked in a Catalogue of names there for as it may be obserued out of Mr. Camdens Remaines that the better sort about the time of the Conquest began to take vp Surnames so againe they were not setled amongst the common people vntill the Raigne of King Edward the second He moreouer affirmeth that the most ancient and of best account were deriued from places whereof this name of Sackuill is one and to adde yet more vnto it Ordericus Vitalis the Monke in his Normane story saith that Herbrann de Sackuill was liuing in the time of William the Conquerour being father of three Noble Knights Iordan William and Robert de Sackuill and of a vertuous and beautifull Ladie named Auice who was married to Walter Lord of Alfage Hugleuill by whom shee had issue Iordan L. of Alfage Hugleuill that married Iulian the daughter of one Godsâ—all who came into England with Q. Adelize of Loâ—â—ine the Wife to King Henry the first After whose death the said Queene married to William de Albency Earle of Arundell from whom the now Right Honorable Thomas Earle of Arundell and Surry and Earle Marshall of England is descended S. Iordan de Sackuill Knight the eldest sonne was Sewer of England by the gift of the said Conquerour but liued and died in Normandy S. Robert de Sackuill Knight the yonger sonne liued in England and gaue together with his body the Mannor of Wickham in Suffolkeâ— to the Abbey of Sâ— Iohn Baptist in Colchester leauing issue a son named Sâ— Iordan de Sackuill a very eminent man in the time of King Richard the first as appeareth by a Charter of the said King made to the Monkes of Bordesâ—ey in Buckinghamshiere Sâ— Iordan de Sackuill that obtained of King Iohn a Friday Market weekely and a Faire once a yeare in his Towne of Sackuill in Normandy as saith the Kings Publike Records in the Tower of Lâ—â—don Holiinshed fol. 186. doth there ranke Iordan de Sackuill as a Baron calling him one of the assistants to the 25. Peeres of this Realme to see the Liberties of Magna Charta confirmed And for further proofe that they were men of no meane â—anke it is apparent in the Red booke of the Excheaquer in the 12. and 13. yeeres of the said Kings Raigne in these words Hubertus de Anestie tenes 2. food in Anestie parua Hornmcad dimid 〈◊〉 in Anestie de Honore Richardâ— de Sackâ—yle Agaiâ—e Sâ— Iordan de Sackuill Knight grandâ— childe to the said Iordan de Sackuill was taken prisoner at the battaile of Eâ—esham for siding with the Barons against King Henry the third in the 49. yeare of His Raigne whose sonne and heire named Andrew Sackuill being vnder age at the time of his fathers death and the Kings Waâ—d was like wise imprisoned in the Castle of Deuer Ann. 3. Eâ—n 1. and afterward by the speciall command of the said King did marry Ermynâ—â—de an Honourable Ladie of the houshold to Queene 〈◊〉 or whereby he not onely gained the Kings fauour but the greatest part of his Inheritance againe From whom the aforesaid Richard Earle of Dorset with Sâ— Edward Sackuill Knight of the Bathe his brother and others are descended one of whose Auncestors by marrying a daughter and co-heire of Rase de Denn sonne of Rodbert Pincerna that held the Lordship of Buckhurst with diuers other Mannors and Lands in Sussex about the time of the Normain Conquest In right of which marriage they haue euer since continued Lords of the said Mannor of Buckhurst with diners other Manors and Lâ—nds in Sussex c. Which William Earle of Devonshâ— was sonne of Sâ— William Cavendish of Chattesworth in the said Countie of Derby knight Treasurer of the Chamber to King Henry the eight Edward the sixt and Queene Marie by his wife Elizabeth daughter of lohn Hardwick of Hardwick Esquire The Auncestors of this Noble Familie called themselues Gâ—râ—ms whose issue
lately repaired by some good Benefactor lie vnder his head which are Vox clamantie Speculum Meditantis and Confessio Amantis He was a Knight as also was Chaucer After him succeeded Lydgate a Monke of Burie who wrote that bitter Satyre of Peirs Plow-man He spent most part of his time in translating the workes of others hauing no great inuention of his owne He wrote for those times a tollerable and smooth verse Then followed Harding and after him Skelton a Poet Laureate for what desert I could neuer heare if you desire to see his veine and learning an Epitaph vpon King Henry the seauenth at West-minster will discouer it In the latter end of King Henrie the 8. for their excellent facultie in Poesie were famous the right noble Henrie Earle of Surrey whose Songs and Sonnets yet extant are of sweete conceipt and the learned but vnfortunate Sir Thomas Wyat. In the time of Edward the sixth liued Sternhold whom King Henry his father a little before had made groome of his Chamber for turning certaine of Dauids Psalmes into verse and merrie Iohn Heywood who wrote his Epigrammes as also Sir Thomas More his Vtopia in the parish wherein I was borne where either of them dwelt and had faire possessions About Queene Maries time flourished Doctor Phaer who in part translated Virgils Aeneids after finished by Arthur Golding In the time of our late Queene Elizabeth which was truly a golden Age for such a world of refined wits and excellent spirits it produced whose like are hardly to be hoped for in any succeeding Age aboue others who honoured Poesie with their pennes and practise to omit her Maiestie who had a singular gift herein were Edward Earle of Oxford the Lord Buckhurst Henry Lord Paget our Phoenix the noble Sir Philip Sidney M. Edward Dyer M. Edmund Spencer M. Samuel Daniel with sundry others whom together with those admirable wits yet liuing and so well knowne not out of Enuie but to auoide tediousnesse I ouerpasse Thus much of Poetrie CHAP. XI Of Musicke MVsicke a sister to Poetrie next craueth your acquaintance if your Genius be so disposed I know there are many who are adeo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of such disproportioned spirits that they auoide her companie as a great Cardinall in Rome did Roses at their first comming in that to auoide their sent he built him an house in the champaigne farre from any towne or as with a Rose not long since a great Ladies cheeke in England their eares are readie to blister at the tendrest touch thereof I dare not passe so rash a censure of these as Pindar doth or the Italian hauing fitted a prouerbe to the same effect Whom God loues not that man loues not Musicke but I am verily perswaded they are by nature very ill disposed and of such a brutish stupiditie that scarce any thing else that is good and sauoureth of vertue is to be found in them Neuer wise man I thinke questioned the lawfull vse hereof since it is an immediate gift of heauen bestowed on man whereby to praise and magnifie his Creator to solace him in the midst of so many sorrowes and cares wherewith life is hourely beset and that by song as by letters the memorie of Doctrine and the benefits of God might be for euer preserued as we are taught by the Song of Moses and those diuine Psalmes of the sweete singer of Israel who with his Psalterie so lowdly resounded the Mysteries and innumerable benefits of the Almightie Creator and the seruice of God aduanced as we may finde in 2. Samuel 6. vers 5. Psalme 33. 21. 43. and 4. 108. 3. and in sundrie other places of Scripture which for breuitie I omit But say our Sectaries the seruice of God is nothing aduanced by singing and instruments as we vse it in our Cathedrall Churches that is by Antiphonie Restes Repetitions Varietis of Moodes and Proportions with the like For the first that it is not contrary but consonant to the word of God so in singing to answer either the practise of Mâ—riam the Propheteâ—se and Sister of Moses when she answered the men in her song will approue For repetition nothing was more vsuall in the singing of the Leuites and among the Psalmes of Dauid the 136. is wholly compounded of those two most gracefull and 〈◊〉 figures of repetition Symploce and Anaphora For Resting and Proportions the nature of the Hebrew verse as the meanest Hebrician knoweth consisting many times of vneuen feete going sometime in this number sometimes in that one while as S. Hierome saith in the numbers of Sappho another while of Alcaus doth of neoessitie require it and wherein doth our practise of singing and playing with Instruments in his Maiesties Chappell and our Cathedrall Churches differ from the practise of Dauid the Priests and Leuites Doe we not make one sound in praising and thanking God with voyces and instruments of all sorts Dâ—â—â—e as S. Hierome saith reboet laquear â—empli the roofe of the Church ecchoeth againe and which lest they should cauill at as a Iewish Ceremonie we know to haue beene practised in the ancient puritie of the Church but we returne where we left The Physitians will tell you that the exercise of Musicke is a great lengthner of the life by stirring and reuiuing of the Spiriâ—s holding a secret sympathy with them Besides the exercise of singing openeth the breast and pipes it is an enemy to melancholy and deiection of the mind which S. Chrysostome truly calleth The Deuils Bath Yea a curer of some diseases in Apugliâ— in Italy and therea bouts it is most certaine that those who are stung with the Taramula are cured onely by Musicke Beside the aforesaid benefit of singing it is a most ready helpe for a bad pronunciation and distinct speaking which I haue heard confirmed by many great Diuines yea I my selfe haue knowne many Children to haue bin holpen of their stammering in speech onely by it Plato calleth it A diuine and heauenly practise profitable for the seeking out of that which is good and honest Homer saith Musitians are worthy of Honor and regard of the whole world and we know albâ—it Lyâ—urguâ— imposed most streight and sharpe Lawes vpon the Lacedaemâ—niâ—ns yet he euer allowed them the exercise of Musicke Aristotle auerreth Musicke to be the onely disposer of the mind to Vertue and Goodnesse wherefore he reckoneth it among those foure principall exercises wherein he would haue children instructed Tulliâ— saith there consisteth in the practise of singing and playing vpon Instruments great knowledge and the most excellent instruction of the mind and for the effect it worketh in the mind he termeth it Staâ—ilem Thesaurum qui moros instituit componiâ—que ac moâ—tit â—rarum ardores c. A lasting Treasure which rectifieth and ordereth our manners and allayeth the heate and furie of our anger c. I might runne into an
life Beleeue you with Chrysostome that the ignorance of the Scriptures is the beginning and fountaine of all euill That the word of God is as our Sauiour calleth it the key of knowledge which giuen by inspiration of God is profitable to teach to conuince to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse And rather let the pious and good King Alphonsiâ—s be a president vnto you and to all Nobilitie who read ouer the Bible nor once nor twice but foureteene times with the Postils of Lyra and Burgensis containing thrice or foure times as much in quantitie and would cause it to be caried ordinarily with his Scepter before him whereon was engrauen Pro lege Grege And that worthy Emp. great Champion of Christendome Charlemaigne who spent his daies of rest after so mnay glorious victories obtained of the Saracens in Spain the Hunnes Saxens Gothes and Vandals in Lumbardie and Italy with many other barbarous Nations whereof milions fell vnder his Sword in reading the holy Scriptures and the workes of the Fathers especially S. Augustine and his bookes De Ciuitate Dei in which hee tooke much delight Whom besides it is recorded to haue beene so studious that euen in bed he would haue his Pen and Inke with Parchment at his Pillow readie that nothing in his meditation nothing might ouer-slip his memorie and if any thing came into his mind the light being taken away a place vpon the wall next him was thinly ouer-laid withâ—Waxe whereon with a brasen pin he would write in the darke And we reade as oft as a new King was created in Israel he had with the ornaments of his kingly dignitie the Booke of the Law deliuered vnto him signifying his Regall authoritie was lame and defectiue except swaied by Piety and Wisedome contained in that booke Whereunto alludeth that deuice of Paradine an Image vpon a Globe with a sword in one hand and a booke in the other with Ex vtroque Caesar and to the same purpose another of our owne in my Minerua Britannâ— which is a Serpent wreathed about a Sword placed vpright vpon a Bible with the word Initium Sapiemia CHAP. 6. Of stile in speaking and writing and of Historie SInce speech is the Character of a man and the Interpreter of his mind and writing the Image of that that so often as we speak or write so oft we vndergoe censure and iudgement of our selues labour first by all meanes to get the habit of a good stile in speaking and writing as well English as Latine I call with Tully that a good and eloquent stile of speaking Where there is a iudicious fitting of choise words apt and graue Sentences vnto matter well disposed the same being vttered with a comely moderation of the voyce countenance and gesture Not that same ampullous and Scenical pompe with emptie furniture of phrase wherewith the Stage and our pettie Poeticke Pamphlets sound so big which like a net in the water though it feeleth weightie yet it yeeldeth nothing since our speech ought to resemble wherin neither the curiousnesse of the Picture or faire proportion of Letters but the weight is to be regarded and as Pluâ—arch saith when our thirst is quenched with the drinke then we looke vpon the ennameling and workmanship of the boule so first your hearer coueteth to haue his desire satisfied with matter ere hee looketh vpon the forme or vinetrie of words which many times fall in of themselues to matter well contriued according to Horace Rembeâ—â— dispositam vel verba invita feqâ—untur To matter well dispos'd words of themselues do fall Let your stile therefore bee furnished with solid matter and compact of the best choise and most familiar words taking heed of speaking or writing such words as men shall rather admire then vnderstand Herein were Tiberiuâ— M. Anteâ—ie and Mâ—cenas much blamed and iested at by Augustus himselfe vsing euer a plaine and most familiar stile and as it is said of him Verbum insolens tanquam scopulum effugiens Then sententious yea better furnished with sentences then words and as Tully willeth without affectation for as a King said Dum tersiari studemus eloquendi formula subterfugit nos clanculùm apertus ille familiaris dicendi modus Flowing at one and the selfe same height neither taken in and knit vp too short that like rich hangings of Arras or Tapistry thereby lose their grace and beautie as Themistocles was wont to say not suffered to spred so farre like soft Musicke in an open field whose delicious sweetnesse vanisheth and is lost in the ayre not being contained within the walles of a roome In speaking rather lay downe your words one by one then powre them forth together this hath made many men naturally slow of speech to seem wisely iudicious and be iudiciously wise for beside the grace it giueth to the Speaker it much helpeth the memorie of the hearer and is a good remedie against impediment of speech Sir Nicholas Bacon sometime Lord Chancellor of England and father to my Lord of S. Albâ—nâ—s a most eloquent man and of as sound learning and wisedome as England bred in many Ages with the old Lord William Burgbley Lord Treasurer of England haue aboue others herein beene admired and commended in their publique speeches in the Parliament house and Starre-Chamber for nothing drawes our attention more then good matter eloquently digested and vttered with a gracefull cleere and distinct pronuntiation But to be sure your stile may passe for currant as of the richest alloy imitate the best Authors as well in Oratorie as Historie beside the exercise of your owne Inuention with much conference with those who can speak well nor bee so foolish precise as a number are who make it Religion to speake otherwise then this or that Author As Longolius was laughed at by the learned for his so apish and superstitious imitation of Tully in so much as hee would haue thought a whole Volume quite matred if the word Possibile had passed his pen because it is not to be found in all Tullie or euery Sentence had not sunke with esse posse videatur like a peale ending with a chime or an Amen vpon the Organes in Paules For as the young Virgin to make her fairest Garlands gathereth not altogether one kind of Flower and the cunning Painter to make a delicate beautie is forced to mixe his Complexion and compound it of many Colours the Arras-worker to please the eyes of Princes to be acquainted with many Histories so are you to gather this Hony of Eloquence A gift of heauen out of many fields making it your owne by diligence in collection care in expression and skill in digestion But let me leade you forth into these all-flowrie and verdant fields where so much sweete varietie will amaze and make you doubtfull where to gather first First Tullie in whose bosome the Treasure of Eloquence seemeth to haue beene locked
Shield within a Bordure Componeè Or and Gules before the Armes of Ferrara in recognisance of the league and fidelitie wherein hee promised to stand bound to serue the King at his own charges And for the like respect Lewis the eleuenth in May 1465. allowed Pietro de Medici to beare three Flower-de-luces in his shield which I haue seene borne in cheife vpon one of his sixe Lozenges Of Difference by the Labell A second difference is by the Labell borne chieefely as the difference of the elder Brother As Edward the blacke Prince and all our Princes of Wales eldest sonnes to the King beare their Fathers Soueraigne Coate with a Labell of three points Siluer Iohn of Gauns had his Labell Ermin Edmond of Langley Duke of Yorke on his Labell Siluer nine Torteauxes Edmond Plantagenes sonne and heire of Richard Duke of Yorke Earle of Ruâ—land who being a Child scarce twelue yeares of age was stricken to the heart with a Dagger by the Lord Clifford at the battaile of Wakefield had vpon his Labell of fiue points Argent two Lionceaux Gules with nine Torteauxes The Coate of Vlsâ—er and Mortimâ—r being â—mpaled with his owne as may be seene in the windowes of Fâ—deringhay Castle the mansion house of the Duke of Yorke where by his father Richard Duke of Yorke and Cicely Nevill his mother hee lyeth buried whose bodies remoued out of Fâ—deringhay Church-yard for the Chancell in the Quire wherein they first were laid in that fury of knocking Churches and sacred Monuments in the head was also felled to the ground lapped in Lead were buried in the Church by the commandement of Queene Elizabeth and a meane Monument of Plaister wrought with the Trowell erected ouer them very homely and farre vnfitting so Noble Princes I remember Master Creuse a Gentleman and my wâ—rthy friend who dwelt in the Colledge at the same time told me that their Coffins being opened their bodies appeared very plainly to be discerned and withall that the Dutchesse Cicely had about her necke hanging in a Silke riband a pardon from Rome which penned in a very fine Romane hand was as faire and fresh to be read as it had beene written but yesterday Of Difference by the Bend. A third difference is by the Bend Baston c. as the house of Burâ—â—â— beareth Frâ—â—â—â— with a Bâ—tune Gules though the proper and true Coate of 〈◊〉 is Of a Lyon Gules within an Orle of Escallops Azure Lewis Earle of Eureux in Normandy brother to Philip le Bâ—ll bare Seme de France with a Batune Componeè Argent and Gules Iohn Earle of Lâ—â—â—aster and Brother to Richard the first afterward King bare for his difference a Batune Azure If the mother be of the ligne Royall many times her Coate is preferred into the first quarter as Hâ—nry Earle of Dâ—â—â—nshire and Marquâ—sse of Exeter â—â—re his mother Kâ—tharines Coate who was daughter to King Edward the fourth And the like Humphrey Stafford who was the first Duke of Buckingham by Anne Platagâ—nâ—â— his mother â— the Coate of Thomas of Woodstocke whose daughter she was This Coate I remember standeth in the great Chancell window in the Church of Kimbaltâ—n In France it hath beene and it yet a custome among the Nobilitie to 〈◊〉 their owne proper Coates and take others as perhaps their Wiâ—es or the Armes of that Srigâ—â—â—â— whereof they are Lords or whence they haue their Titles as Mons. Hugues brother to King Philip marrying the daughter and heire of Herbere Earle of Verâ—â—â—dâ—â—â—s forsooke his proper Coate and bare his Wiues which was Checky Or and Azure onely three Flower-de-luces added in chiefe to shew he was of the blood And Robert Counâ— de Dreux albeit he was brother to King Lewis 〈◊〉 bare Checky Azure and Or with a Bordure Gules Robert Duke of Burgogne brother to Henry the first tooke for his bearing the ancient Armes of the Dukes of Burgogne which was bendy Or and Azure within a Bordure Gules giuen by Charlemaigne to Sanson Duke of Burgogne And whereas we in England allow the base sonne his Fathers Coate with the difference of a bend Batune sinister or bordure engrailed or the like it was in France a long time forbidden I thinke vnder the Capets to the Princes of the blood as 〈◊〉 Earle of Mâ—mfort base sonne to King Robert was forced to leaue his Fathers Coate and beare Gules a Lion à la queue fourcheè Or passeè per à lentour Argent for Le maison de France â—â—â—â—tant les bastardes no leur endurè son armeirè c. saith Tillet The last and least obseruation is of Crests the Helmet the Mantle and doubling thereof which according to the manner of diuers Countries are diuersly borne In Germany they beare their Beauers open with Barres which we allow in England to none vnder the degree of a Baron in some places they haue no Crests at all If you would farther proceed in Nobilitie or Heraldry I would wiâ—h you to reade these bookes of 〈◊〉 obâ—â—itie in generâ—â—â— Simon Simonius de Nâ—â—ilitâ—â—e 〈…〉 at Leipsig 1572. Chassanâ—â—â—â— his Catalogus Gloria munâ—â— Hippolitus à Collibus his Axumata Nobilitatis Conclusiones de Nobilitate Doctorain published by one of Meckleburg who concealeth his name printed 1621. dedicated to the Archbishop of Breme Petrus Eritzius Counâ—â—â—â—er to the Elector of Brandenburge published Conclusiones de Nobilitate in quarto Lionellus De pracedentia â—omiâ—um Of the Spanish Nobilitie these Authors haue written Ioannes ab Arce Offalora in folio Priuilegios y Franquezas y libertades des bijos dâ—algos De Senniorio de Vizcaia c. in fol. Ludovicus de Mollâ—â—a De primogâ—niorâ—m Hispanicorum iure c. in fol. Iosephus de Sesse in Decis Aragon Decis 8. 9. 10. c. Gonzales de Câ—rte his Nobliza del Andaluzia in fol. Of Italy Sicily Naples c. Scipie Mazzella nelle Neapoli Illustrata in quarto Paulus Merula in Cosmograph lib. 3. pt 3. in Italian Of France The Workes of Tillet Ferâ—â— Charles L'Oisâ—â—â— Choppin Theatre d'Honneur Of Germany or the Empire Fran. Contzen his Politiques in fol. The Collections of Goldastus with some others The practise of Blazonrie Willeged the first Abbot dyed the same yeare that Off a did of very griefe it was thought for the death of his king and kinsman whom he dearely loued Anno 8â—8 After him succeeded these in order Eadricke Vulsigus Wulâ—â—â—us Eadfrithus Wulsinus Who built Saint Peters Church Saint Michaels and Saint Stephens and made a faire market place in the towne Alfricke Aldredus Who digged vp and searched the ruines of Verlam-cesire which in his time were dens of theeues and whores saued all the tile and stone for the repaire of the Church and in digging vpon the North side in the vale found oaken plankes pitched Shelles peeces of oares and a rusty Anchor or two Eadmer after his death being a religious and a good man imitating his predecessour saued all the ancient coines vrnes
cassocke and affecteth the wearing of the richest iewels the French huge feathers Scarlet and gold lace the English his armes rich and a good sword the Italians pride is in his Neapolitan Courser the Germanes and low Dutch to be dawbed with gold and pearle wherein say they there is no losse except they be lost But herein I giue no prescripon I now come to your diet wherein be not onely frugall for the sauing of your purse but moderate in regard of your health which is empaired by nothing more then excesse in eating and drinking let me also adde Tobacco taking Many dishes breede many diseases dulleth the mind and vnderstanding and not onely shorten but take away life We reade of Augustus that he was neuer curious in his diâ—t but content with ordinary and common viandes And Cato the Censor sayling into Spaine dranke of no other drinke then the rowers or slaues of his owne galley And Timotheus Duke of Athens was wont to say whoÌ„ Plato invited home to him to supper they found theÌ„selues neuer distempered Contrary to our Feastmakers who suppose the glory of entertainment and giuing the best welcome to consist in needelesse superfluities and profuse waste of the good Creatures as Scylla made a banquet that lasted many dayes where there was such excessiue abundance that infinite plenty of victualls were throwne into the Riuer and excellent wine aboue forty yeares old spilt and made no account of but by surfetting and banquetting at last he gat a most miserable disease and dyed full of lice And Caâ—sar in regard of his Lybian triumph at one banquet filled two and twenty thousand roomes with ghests and gaue to euery Citizen in Rome ten bushels of wheate and as many pounds of oyle and besides three hundred pence in mony We reade of one Smyndirides who was so much giuen to feasting and his ease that hee saw not the Sunne rising nor setting in twenty yeares and the Sybarites forbad all Smiths and knocking in the streetes and what thing soeuer that made any noise to bee within the City walls that they might eate and sleepe whereupon they banished cocks out of the city and invented the vse of chamberpots and bad women a yeare before to their feasts that they might haue leisure enough to make themselues fine and braue with gold and Iewels Aboue all learne betimes to auoide excessiue drinking then which there is no one vice more common and reigning and ill beseeming a Gentleman which if growne to an habit is hardly left remembring that hereby you become not fit for any thing hauing your reason degraded your body distempered your soule hazarded your esteeme and reputation abased while you sit taking your vnwholesome healthes vt iam vertigine tectum Ambulet geminis exsurgat mensa lucernis Vntill the house about doth turne And on the board two candles seeme to burne By the Leuiticall law who had a glutton or a drunkard to their Sonne they were to bring him before the Elders of the City and see him stoned to death And in Spainâ— at this day they haue a law that the word of him that hath beene convicted of drunkennesse shall not bee taken in any testimony Within these fiftie or threescore yeares it was a rare thing with vs in England to see a Drunken man our Nation carrying the name of the most sober and temperate of any other in the world But since we had to doe in the quarrell of the Netherlands about the time of Sir Iohn Norrice his first being there the custome of drinking and pledging healthes was brought ouer into England wherein let the Dutch bee their owne Iudges it we equall them not yea I thinke rather excell them Tricongius and the old Romanes had lawes and statutes concerning the Art of drinking which it seemes are reuiued and by our drunkards obserued to an haire It being enacted that he who after his drinks faltered not in his speech vomited not nâ—yther reeled if he dranke off his cups cleanâ—ly seek not his wind in his draughs spit not left nothing in the pot nor spilt any vpon the ground he had the prize was accounted the brauest man If they were contented herewith it were well but they daily inueâ—t new and damnable kinds of carrowâ—ing as that in North-holland and Frizeland though among the baser sort of vpsiâ— Monikedam which is after you haue drunke out the drinke to your friend or companion you must breake the glasse full vpon his face and if you misse you must drinke againe whence proceede quarrelling reâ—iling and many times execrable murthers as Alexander was slain in his drunkennesse and Domitius Nero's father slew Liberius out right because he would not pledge him a whole carrowse and hence arise most quarrells among our gallant drunkards vnto whom if you reade a lecture of sobrietie and how in former ages their forefathers dranke water they sweare water is the frogges drinke and ordained onely for the driuing of milles and carrying of boates Neither desire I you should be so abstemious as not to remember a friend with an hearty draught since wine was created to make the heart merry for what is the life of man if it want wine Moderately taken it preserueth health comforteth and disperseth the naturall heate ouer all the whole body allayes cholericke humours expelling the same with the sweate c. tempereth Melancholly And as one saith hath in it selfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a drawing vertue to procure friendship At your meate to be liberall and freely merry is very healthy and comely and many times the stranger or guest will take more content in the chearelinesse of your countenance then in your meate Augustus the Emperour had alwayes his mirth greater then his feasts And Suctonius saith of Titus Vespasians Sonne he had euer his table furnished with mirth and good company And the old Lord Treasurer of England Lord William Burghley how emploied soeuer in State affaires at his table hee would lay all businesse by and bee heartily merry Charles the Great vsed at his meates to haue some History read whereof hee would afterwards discourse And Francis the first King of France would commonly dispute of History Cosmography Poetry His Maiesty our Soueraigne altogether in points and profound questions of Diuinity When I was in Virocht and liued at the table of that Honourable Gentleman Sir Iohn Ogle Lord Gouernour whither resorted many great Schollers and Captaines English Scottish French and Dutch it had beene enough to haue made a Scholler or Souldier to haue obserued the seuerall disputations and discourses among many strangers one while of sundry formes of battailes sometime of Fortification of fireworkes History Antiquities Heraldrie pronunciation of Languages c. that his table seemed many times a little Academic In your discourse be free and affable giuing entertainment in a sweete and liberall manner and with a cheerefull courtesie