inconueniences a wise Emperour of Rome forbad by an expresse decree any Citizen in Rome to build a house aboue fortie or fiftie foot high And thou deare Christian which readest this humble booke I admonish thee to build low to carry a low saile to lay aside thy Peacocks plumes to behold thy feete I meane the earth from whence thou camest and lastly I warne thee to prostrate thy thoughts before thy heauenly Father the worlds great Thunderer following the Poets counsell Viâ—e tibi quantumque potes praelustria vita Saeuum praelustri fulmen ab arce venit Liue to thy selfe and shunne the stateliest roome For thunder doth from highest Castle come LINEAMENT VIII 1 How God sendes thunder and lightening eyther for his glory for mens triall 〈◊〉 for their punishment 2 Examples aswâ—ll moderne as auncient of forcible thunders and lightening IN all ages it pleased God to manifest his â—aiesticall power of thunder and lightenings among mortall men eyther for his glory or for monition sake or for their punishment At Mount Sinaâ— to shew the Israeâ—â—â—â— is glorious strength and Maiestie he appeared with exceeding loud Trumpets with terrible thunders and lightnings which the Prophet Dauid thus expressed The Lord thundred out of heauen and the most High gaue out his voyce hailestones and coales of fiâ—e Another time to trie Iobs faith and to make the Diuell a lyar in impeaching his innocence and integritie God caused his heauenly fire to descend and to consume his seruants and flockes of sheepe Likewise for the conuersion of the Israelites at the prayers of Elias he sent fire from heauen to consume the sacrifice The like did he againe at the praier of the said Elias send downe to destroy Ahazâ—as men And this very weapon of lightning and sulphureous fire vsed he against Sodome and Gomorrhe Alladius an ancient King of the Latines who reigned before Romulus had his Palace set on fire with lightning from heauen and perished himselfe therein A king of Clide was strickeÌ„ with a thunderbolt froÌ„ heaueÌ„ A maide of Rome trauelling to Apulis was killed with lightning no harme outwardly appearing in her bodie and at the same instant her garments were also shaken off without any rent her horse also killed his bridle and girthes shaken off without any breach It is reported of King Mithridates when he was a very infant lying in his cradle that the lightning caught the swadling cloathes and set them on fire but neuer touched or hurt his body saue only there remained a litle marke of the fire vpon his forehead againe when he was growne it chanced that the lightning pierced into the bedchamber where he was asleepe and for his owne person it was not so much as singed therewith but it blasted a quiuer of arrowes that hung at his bed side went through it and burnt the arrowes within There was at Rome a souldier who keeping the Centinell vpon one of the temples of the Citie chanced to haue a flash of lightning to fall very neere vnto him which did him no hurt at all in his bodie but only burnt the â—atchet of his shoes and about the same time whereas there were certaine small boxes and cruets of siluer within wooden cases the siluer within was found all melted vnto a masse in the bottome and the wood not iniured at all but continued entire and found Many haue died by reason of thunder or lightning without any marke or stroke wound scorch or burning seene vpon them whose life soule for very feare hath flowed out of their bodies like a bird out of a cage Olimpius an Arrian Bishop had his bodie sodainly burnt with lightning at Carthage which iudgement of God fel vpon him as many thought for blaspheming the blessed Trinitie One Prester the sonne of Hyppomenes for blaspheming God was striken with a thunder and perished Anastasius the Emperour in the yeare of Christ 499. being addicted to Magicke and the Manichean heresie did perse cute such Christians as reproued his finnes and wickednesse But at the last lightning came fearefully about his house called Tholotum he crept from chamber to chamber to seeke where he might be safest but nothing would preuaile The flashes in the end ouertooke him and he perished miserably Hatto the Bishop of Mentz when in the yeare of Christ 918 by the instigation of Conrade the Emperour he endeuoured to murder Henry Duke of Saxony was sodainly slaine with a stroke of lightning In the yere of our Lord 653. at Frisazium a towne of Saxony a great nuÌ„ber both of houses and people were destroyed by lightnings It is writteÌ„ that the mother of Hierom Fracastorius who afterwards became one of the most learned and famous Phisitians of Christendome hauing the said Hierome in her armes then an infant was her selfe killed with lightning But her child was not hurt at all In the yeare of our Lord 15â—4 the Citie of Claraualla in France being stricken with lightning about noone daies did so fiercely burne that in three houres space their towne castles Churches were vtterly consumed In the yeare of our Lord 1551. an honest Citizen of Crentzburge standing by his table and a dog lying by his feete were both of them sodainly slaine by a lightning yet a young child which stood hard by his Father was preserued safe It is not long since Paules proudsteeple ouercrowing all the spires in England felt the blowes of diuine iustice with her sister Babell the one by lightning the other by confusion One Wyman a Citizen of Glocester as many there yet liuing can testifie about fortie yeares past hauing a son called Arthur Wyman at the Vniuersitie in Oxford very earnestly required another sonne of his one William Wyman to carry some prouision of victuals vpoÌ„ a Whitsonday to his said sonne in Oxford This younger sonne after many excuses was at the last forced vpon that high day nolens volens to go forwards on his iourny to Oxford But by the way in a thicket of wood he was found strickeÌ„ dead with lightning yet his body in outward appearance was without any marke The mare whereon he rode was also smitted dead and sauored very strong of brimstone And the meat which he caried as Kid Lamb c. were so corrupted with blackish sent and stunke so ill fauouredly that no man could abide the smell thereof Mistresse Lowbell a Gentlewoman of Colchester yet liuing about two and twentie yeares ago or there abouts was sodainly stricken downe with lightning and so scorched and singed in her bodie with the sulphureous slame that she could hardly be cured within a quarter of a yeare after About the said time at a place called Croes-Askurne in the Countie of Carmarthen vpon the day of a Gentlemans marriage as they were making merry there a very strange accident hapned There came a thunderbolt and pierced quite through the said house and also a certaine
in other in-mates worse spirits then himselfe specially the spirit of Detraction first gets in his head like a cunning Foxe and then by little and little enters in with his whole body to the vtter ouer throw of mans little world So that Christians fall out to be Antichristians Apostles Apostates and manly souldiers scoldes and scoffers To come neerer vnto you what is the reason that this renowned people who claime themselues from Brutus are become so brutish as to be addicted to gossip-ales Bride-ales and to bacchanales and consequently to Detractions and descanning of other mens destinies yea and otherwhiles to discourse of Gods secret iudgments Omne vitium habet patrocinium No vice without a clâ—ake no sinne without some apish Apologie These iolly fellowes being driuen to this exigent doe confesse that corrupted custome brought them to such vitious habites O cruell custome O hatefull habites which worke the fatall and finall ruine of soules and bodies Neuerthelesse as there is no custome but may be altered so for mine owne part I cannot beleeue that custome alone causeth man a creature enriched with Diuine reason and enfâ—offed with free-will and election in many things specially in naturall and humane things to carouse and then to reade stammering Lectures both on the sacred power of God and on their simple neighbours soules For some carouse of custome some of wantonnesse and company Some againe delight therein being sophistically perswaded that the excessiue vse thereof auailes much for their healths sake as a purger of superfluous rheumes Others fauour Tobacconisme because they would not seeme ouer-nice melancholicke or men by themselues in the singular number and also because Tobacco might serue them in stead of salt or drie leaders to drinking and consequently vnto Detracting but for the most part our Caualâ—ers and Gentles of the first head sucke in the smoakie vapour of Tobacco because they might counterfeit themselues gidâ—y or drunken for it is no shame to be drunke with Tobacco when they want copie of matter or store of discourse Then they fame themselues so long rauished as it were in an eâ—tasiâ— vntil after a thorough per ambulation of their barren wits and after long houghing halking and hacking they haue coined some strange accident worthy the rehersall among their boone companions Then as though they started out of an heauenly traunce and as the Satyrist writes Mobile colluerint liquido cùm plasmate guttur Hauing their throats wel washt with dreggish drugs They recount tales of Robin-hood of Rhodomonting rouers of Donzel del Phoebo of a new Anti-christ borne in Babylon of lying wonders blazing out most blasphemous newes how that the Diuell appeared at such a time with lightning and thundring Maiestie much about that horrible manner as the Glorious God appeared on mount Horeb raised tempests both on Sea and land not inferiour to those stormy Heteroclites of the West Indies called the Furicanoes shooke the foundation of the earth battered such Gentlemens houses and if they had not suddenly blessed themselues better he had carried away with him men women houses and all right into hell These or such like feeble fables doe they scatter abroad among their foolish Auditors while in the meane time the Diuell the Schoole-master of all lewdnesse appeares no where more forcibly then in the very midst of these vncharitable Readers yea and perhaps his spirituall pâ—yson or poysonous spirit is exhaled and exhausted with their Tobacco and draughts of drinke into their mustie mindes O Tongue how is thy perfection peruerted thy sense depraued thy sound degenerated How comes it to passe that the soules Embassadour is become a turne-coate Herald Expectaui legatum inueni Heraldum I expected an honourable Embassadour but haue found a huffe-cap Herald as our late Queene Elizabeth of famous memory sometime nickt a presumptuous Embassadour of Polonia I expected to heare nothing but truth out of the mouth of Gods similitude specially to his neighbour in Christ to Christ in his members But alas I finde nothing but lies and libels Omnis homo mendax I expected for reformation but haue met with ruinous relapses O Tongue tongue how miserable are the effects of thy motions Being made for a watchfull clapper to the Bell of Gods Temple to pray for Grace to comfort the sicke to confirme the penitent to confute the absurd to confound the Detractour why ringest thou out such paltry peales Why ragest thou against thy Masters will against thy selfe without iust cause or neede In thy youthfull time thou crakest and vauntest of thy vaine worth bursting thy lungs welnigh with windy bragges In thy more mellow or maturer age thou standest elated in thine owne conceit as though thy hoarie colour hath added vncontrouled trust and truth vnto thy stale assertions In all the progresse of thy wagging in all thy proceedings thou abusest thy proper function for which the Lord will not hold thee guiltlesse at that vniuersall Synod when the heauens shall be folded together like a booke when our consciences the true table-bookes of our soules shall lie open without lies against vs and we shall yeelde account for euery idle word These things expended and examined by me in the ballance of vnderstanding and fearing least I might participate with them in their derogatory crimes or encurre the penalty of trayterous Misprision towards our righteous Lord for my cowardly conccalements if according to that measure of spirit which he hath bestowed vpon me I reproued them not therefore haue I published this humble Treatise that therein as in a glasse or map they may behold the reflexion of their filthy faults extinguished and extirped What do I know whether the great God hath deliuered me from diuers dangers for these or such like purposes To this end was I bâ—râ—e that I should doe my best to glorifie God and edific my countrey To this end I wish with all the veynes of my heart that what ability of wel-saying and wel-doing is defectiue in mine owne person the same by the Diuine bounty may be liberally supplied to all others in this present booke And that the Readers hereof may learne in sparing speech to follow the examples of the holy Prophets and Apostles who for their honest admonitions and humble exhortations were ouercast with a cloude of scorne among the reprobates of this world or at least wise that they imitate some of the heathenish Philosophers namely Pythagoras who imposed Decennale silentium ten yeares silence on his schollers or Socrates who for many howers together would sit silently musing on the wonderfull workemanship of God or Arcesilas Solon and other enemies of Detraction To this end I heartily wish that all they which finde themselues subiect to this spirit of Detraction may be terrified from that idle vse with such magicall motiues of Michaels mysteries as I haue herein inserted like as if the Vtopian Syphograunts the Athenian Ostracisme the Romane Censors the Spanish Inquisition or as if the statute de scandalis
holy Spirit and the Sonne a holy Spirit yet notwithstanding because Holinesse or Sanctification towards mankinde proceedes from loue which loue is sent or produced from their mutuall will from the Father by election in loue and from the Sonne by his word and redemption in loue this Holinesse as a Tertian or third influence proceeding out of two Diuine respects towards the saluation of mankind is rightly attributed to the third person in Trinity as to the Ambassadour of both their willes so that the whole Trinity partakes of the same Holines of the same Loue of the same Will of the same Spirit of the same Godhead of the same Vnity as S. Paul very manifestly expresseth in these wordes Endeuourye to keepe the vnity of the Spirit in the bond of peace one body and one Spirit euen as ye are called all in one hope of your calling one Lord one Faith one Baptisme one God and Father of all which is aboue all and through all and in you all So that whatsoeuer name or power is ascribed to anyone peculiar person of the Trinity the same is meant of the whole Trinity The Father is called the Spirit of God the Sonne the Spirit of God and the Holy Ghost the Spirit of God yea the Father is the Spirit of him of whom S. Paul speakes that raised vp Iesus from the dead the Sonne is that Spirit that raised himselfe and the Holy Ghost the same Spirit The Sonne is the Father and the Holy Ghost is in the Father the Sonne is the euerlasting Father This the Prophet witnesseth when as hee names Christ the mighty God and euerlasting Father But when they are seuerally named or distinguished into persons that sense or morall is to be vnderstood parable-wise as including the mysteries of our saluation which our humane capacities cannot otherwise rightly apprehend For euen as a Prince in his prudence loue an I wisedome and for the more honorable establishment of his Monarchy or Kingdome authorizeth his sonne and some other as his Chancelour to impart his lawes vnto his subiects and to gouerne them in order whereby their power becommeth equall so let vs conceiue that the glorious Trinity is but one Diuine and essentiall power all alike all equall and of one authority onely for the glory of the Godhead and for the mysterie of our Redemption the Trinity is really distinguished to the view of the inward man whose wil is stirred vp to meditate vpon the personall relation of their functions and offices which they deriue one to another But how shall we discerne who is possessed with the Holy Ghost To be possessed with the Holy Ghost is as much to sâ—y as to be possessed with the giftes of the Holy Ghost namely with saith humility and other Diuine gifts Of these his gifts some are visible some inâ—isible some abundant some restrained With the former the Apostles and Prophets were miraculously inspired with the latter all we who according to our Christian profession doe protest to fight in this life against the world the flesh and the Deuill doe hope to be possessed through grace according to the measure of Christs gift The branch that drawes not iuyce and life out of this spirituall Vine is adiudged dead for what amity can there be betwixt light and darkenesse betwixt life and death The chiefest gift of the Holy Ghost is saith which is a spirituall light enlightning our liues with the Gospell with the beames of good workes causing vs to loue all men after his owne example who communicates his Sunne to the iust and vniust And if we may lawfully boast of any gifts of the Holy Ghost ingraffed by his powerfull Maiesty in our hearts then surely may wee glory of our Illummation wherwith we are enlightned vndeseruedly in these daies Neither is it possible for vs in these dayes to obtaine a more visible measure of spirituall gifts by reason that our mindes are captiuated vnto coueteousnesse enuie and other vncleane thoughts by reason that our bodies are pampered with gluttony drunkennesse eating and drinking without appetite or necessity and by reason that we dare not in respect of these pollutions and of our vnworthinesse communicate one with another the Lords holy Supper but very seldome whereby the gifts of the Holy Ghost might be multiplied and increased in vs. As long as we are carnal and worldly minded our soules are farre from these gifts of the Spirit which the Apostle likewise calles the fruits of the Spirit as loue ioy peace long suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meekenesse and temperance They that are Christs doe endeuour to follow his Fathers will And what is the will of the Father Euen our sanctification and vnion in the Spirit For euen as the carnall coniunction of man and wife makes of them one flesh so the spirituall coniunction of Christ and the sanctified soule makes of them one spirit so they that are vnited in the Spirit are vnited in their willes and they that are vnited in their willes are vnited in their actions They that follow Christs actions doe labour in all humility to attaine vnto these gifts of the Holy Ghost But first they must tame their bodies with fasting And here I giue you one note worthy the consideration that whereas S. Paul in all his Epistles makes often mention and sendeth often salutations in the name of the Father and of the Sonne not ioyning the Holy Ghost in plaine litterall wordes with them he doth it because it was the Holy Ghost himselfe that spake through the mouth of Paul in those Epistles And whatsoeuer he wrote he wrote by commandement and inspiration of the Holy Ghost whose office and function was to signifie vnto the Church the will of the other two persons in Trinity So that the naming of the Holy Ghost was needlesse while the Elect vnderstand that it was He which spake and that Paul was no other then as Moyses to God or as Baruch to Ieremy that is the Notary or Scribe of the Spirit and as it is else-where specified a chosen vessell This himselfe protested in these words If any man thinke himselfe a Prophet or spirituall let him know that the things which I write vnto you are the commandements of the Lord. There is no sinne more detestable nor more difficult to be forgiuen then the sinne against this Spirit of God Dost thou wantonly detract from God the Father and denie thine owne and the worlds creation by his omnipotent word Search the Scriptures repeale thy detractions and vpon thy recantation thou shalt receiue remission Dost thou blaspheme the Sonne of the euer-liuing God and belie his Incarnation his Passion his Resurrection Reade ouer the new Testament remember to compare the same in an euen ballance with the Prophesies of Esay and the rest of the Lords holy Legates and it may be thine eyes will be opened and thou wilt renounce thine errours by the bright light of the holy Spirit But
against the Authour of nature These sinfull spirits like baites of sweet poison or sugred gals possesse olde Adams progeny according to the variable and voluble dispositions of the patient These not vnlike to Mice Lice lawlesse Lawiers or noysome vermine by Sathans spirituall suggestion doe endeuour to infest molest and sift vs as wheate They had their beginning at the fall of the Diuell and his Angels who are throughly possessed with all the said qualities working diuersly by the meanes of the same spirit The spirit of Detraction the spirit of Enuy the spirit of Pride and such like vitious spirits proceed from one roote from one Serpent that olde Impostor I am setled in this opinion by the Apostle who proued the identity of the Holy Spirit by the like reason The body is one and hath many members And againe There are diuersities of gifts but the same spirit To one is giuen by the spirit the word of wisedome to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit To another the operations of great workes to another prophesie to another the discerning of spirits to another the diuersities of tongues All these things worketh the same spirit distributing to euery man as it pleaseth him From one Tree came many branches of euill by the inticement of one Serpent came all these spirits of â—rrours which like venemous stings incite vs to vngodly actes And yet for all this I denie not but there are malicious spirits as well as ministring spirits Diuels as well as Angels the one attending on Lucifer the Prince of Diuels the other on Michael the Lords chiefe Angell both inuisibly attempting to work vpon the Will of man vehemently or by leisure as God commands them either for the knowledg of Goodnesse or for the knowledge of Euill Neyther will I here omit to interpose another opinion of mine concerning the Diuels force which is that God the reuenger of iniquity commands the Diuell as his executioner to pursue the reprobate sometimes by immediate causes and somtimes by mediate and second causes by immediate when the faculties of the soule are by his spirituall spurres extraordinarily possessed with frenzie sury and such like by mediate causes when the instruments of the body are by his spiritual enticements tempted to receiue into them more then suffice nature so that the veines ouerflow with blood the gall with choler adust and the liuer with lust But in my iudgement with the former extraordinary or miraculous causes the Diuell cannot harme a Christian mans body really howsoeuer I thinke of the soules immediate obsession or harme the least part of his body Surely I belecue that God reserues that palpable reall power as a prerogatiue to himselfe to his owne Angels and to his second causes in this world to himselfe as when Pharaoh and his Aegyptians were miraculously plagued with Lice and other annoyances by the singer of God or when he caused his Angel for Dauids fault to smite the Israelites with pâ—stilence But thou wilt aske me how can a Christian bee frantick by the Diuels meanes and yet not really hurt by him By him by the Diuels immediate reall force Nay principally by themselues and by their owne filthy bodies which suffered themselues at first to be gluttonously carried by their owne appetites and by the Diuels spirituall suggestion If they had eaten lesse and drunke lesse such corruption of humours could neuer taint them neither could consequently frenzie possesse them And also if they had in time sought for grace by daily prayers fasting being a coadiutour vnto them God would haue hearkened vnto them and healed their indispositions But on the contrary it pleased his Maiesty to harden some to lead them into temptation because they might acknowledge his iustice and omnipotency and also serue for monuments to terrifie the wauering minded To returne vnto my former matter as all wicked spirits and vitious purtâ—rbations sprung in mortall men by meanes of the said Arch-spirit of sinne so likewise by him they worke many and sundry operations Moyses made mention of the spirit of Iealousie Esay of the spirit of Errour The Lord permitted alying spirit to goe out and be in the mouth of all Ahabs Prophets to enâ—ice him into the battell against the Sirians Another Prophet relateth of the spirit of fornication And as S. Paul records God gaue them the spirit of slumber The spirit of God departed from Saeul and an euill spirit was sent from God to vexe him Therefore his seruants aduised him to seeke a cunning player vpon the Harpe whereby he might be refreshed and eased What sense more naturall to our capacities can we gather by this euill spirit and the easie cure thereof then that it was eyther a kinde of Lunacy vsuall in that hote countrey a fit of melancholy or a falling sickenesse For the cure whereof his seruants by whom I vnderstand his Phisittans hauing experimented belike that none other medicine then musicke could auaile him or perhaps not hauing such insight in Phisicke as we haue wished him onely to comfort his heart with ioyes and as we vulgarly speake to keepe Doctor Merriman company To this opinion of mine I adioyne another reason whereof we must not descant ouer-curiously that God predestinated purposely this extraordinary accident vpon Saul for the aduancement of Dauid who vpon this occasion happily composed many of his Psalmes and confirmed the vertues of his spirit and also by this accesse into the Kings Palace he gained vnto him the mindes of his chiefe Captaines and Officers besides he got by this familiar frequency in the Court his education and experience in matters of ciuill policy which otherwise he could hardly in humane probability obtaine by reason that hee was brought vp but simply among Sheepheards This I write not of any blasphemous purpose to restraine the Lords miraculous power but that we may obserue his prouidence in vouchsafing to worke by ordinary and naturall meanes But admit that the literall sense be admitted what absurdity can ensue thereof For the Diuell in his fall hauing wholy lost the musicall consent and melodious concord which was ensused in his soule at his creation could hardly digest Dauids Hymmes and Harpe the same being quite disagreeable to his discording and disproportioned nature I say such Diuine musicke reduced the extrauagant thoughts of Saules soule to such an excellent harmony and quiet tune that the Diuell durst not abide that sweete tempered sound Ouer all the abouesaid wicked spirits the spirit of Detraction awaiteth Doth the Lord send his terrible thunder his glorious lightnings as warlike alarums to rouze vs vp from our sleepy sinnes Behold the spirit of Detraction at hand and attributes those strange signes to the Prince of this world his Lord and Master the Diuell God quoth he is the Author of goodnesse quiet and neuer intâ—rmedles with thunder-claps stormes or tempests Non illi imperium pelagi scâ—ptrumque tridentis Sed mihi sort datum
Deity For this cause did Christ descend into the flesh with lowlinesse of spirit and not with lofty glory So that his Kingdome as himselfe answered Pilate was not of this world For this cause the Israelites could not away with the Lords lightning thunders and glorious voyce on Mount Sinai but requested Moyses to stand betwixt them Let not God talke with vs said they least we die For this cause S. Paul wrote to the Corinthians I gaue you milke to drinke and not meate for you were not yet able to beare it neyther yet now are ye able ye are yet carnall Nay such is our sottishnesse that we endeuour not to attaine vnto a glimpse of the Lords glory we presume vppon delayes we procrastinate the time and neuer care for mortifications of the flesh being the ladder to heauen and chiefe meanes to obtaine faith loue and charity at the hands of God A Preacher is but a bookish fellow Sanctification is but curiosity to doe well or ill is allone Thus doe the sinfull sonnes of Adam trust too much vnto predestination as though they were made priuy of Gods inuestigable will But to winde vp the trueth in a word the preaching of Christs crosse is foolishnes vnto them that perish but vnto them which are saued it is the power of God and wisedome As there is no foole to the olde foole that is to the worldly selfe-wise so contrariwise there is no wisedome comparable to Christian simplicity which through faith thinkes it enough that God calles him to his Court though not to his Councell LINEAMENT VI. 1 A meditation upon Sathans stinges occasioned by an unsoined dreame of the Authours 2 Whether the Dragon which S. Iohn saw fighting with the Arâ—bangell was reall or spirituall 3 Whether the Serpent which deceiued Hue was reall or spirituall or both wherein the manner of her deceiuing is laid downe THus are the very best like beastes subiect vnto these spirituall flings some more some lesse according to the quality of their fleshly vessels To this purpose it will not be immateriall if I insert a meditatiue conceit of mine wherewith I was vnfainedly possessed of late Vpon Sunday night being the fourteenth day of Ianuary last 1609. I fell into a deepe study concerning our knowledge of good and euill procured by the Infernall Snake I lamented mine owne weakenesse of nature that multitudes of sinnes should treade and trample downe my Christian vertue I sorrowed in spirit that I could not free my soule from worldly concupiscence At the last after much striuing and strugling the Lords comfortable speech to St. Paul came into my minde My grace is sufficient for thee Whereupon considering my repenting heart I resolued that God suffered me to be thus buffeted and beaten with Sardonicall sinnes because I might acknowledge mine owne imbecillity and submit the same to the perfection of Christ the propitiation for sinnes who alone is Righteous and Holy For the confirmation of this meditation I was strongly assisted by this vnfained dreame On that very night I dreamed that I lay vpon the floore without stockins or shoes and suddenly me thought one warned me that I should looke vnto my selfe for a Snake lurked very neere me with which words being affrighted I bestirred my selfe and beheld the said Snake about a yard or more in length almost crept vnder me whereupon I vehemently cried for helpe to him that warned me therof who presently as it were in a moment with a weapon which he had in his hand hewed the Snake in three or foure pieces For all that I was not deliuered from seare I doubted his stinging part but he which smote him willed me in any case not to feare by reason that his sting was of no sense now that he had chopt him in pieces With that I might see a smoake or breath arising out of the Snakes diuided body At which straunge sight I prepared to hasten me away lest this smoake being infectious should like a pesulence empoyson my body But notwithstanding all this my preparation before I could get together my stockins and shoes which were the impediments of my remoue the smoake ceased on a sudden Whereupon I bewayled somewhat with my selfe that I went no sooner away from that poysonous smoake or smoakie exhalation and because I preferred such trisling impediments before the security of my life which I imagined to be in some hazard by reason of that my small stay Charitable Reader pardon me if in rehearsall of this dreame I disquiet thy delicate minde notwithstanding that our whole life is little better then a dreame No man liuing can attribute lesse credite then I doe vnto dreames yet neuerthelesse forasmuch as now and then it pleased God to reueale secrets and things to come vnto his seruants by dreames as sometime he did vnto Ioseph and Nabuchadonozor we must not altogether neglect to make reasonable vse of them As for example The man which admonished me I compare to our Sauiour Christ who of his vnspeakeable mercy towards mankinde defendeth vs while we prostrate our selues in all humility as in my dreame I lay vpon the floore from the Hellish Snake who watcheth daily to vndermine our wils And yet though his Godhead hath trodden vpon Sathans head he permits him for his glory for our triall and also for some satisfaction of his iustice to enuenom our humane willes by reason of our tarditie and remistnesse in his seruice but certainly afterwards he embraceth his Elect again And like as I plaied loth to depart w th my stockins and shoes for al that I saw the imminent danger of the poysonous Snake so doth mankind attend to the toyish bables and triuiall fables of this world while Sathan bruizeth our worldly heeles and casteth out of his mouth whole floods of spirituall venome to surround and surprise our spirituall part with passions of enuy malice fury and other infections whereof the smoakie exhalation of my dreamed Snake might well be the representing Image and Idaea And the rather I am inrooted in this opinion because I know my reasonable will to be oftentimes tainted with the said spirituall smoakie venome as I supposed in my dreame that I suckt the feeling palpable and sensible smoaky poyson of the mangled Snake into my corporall breath But herein consists my comfort that euen as I suckt this last full sore against my will so nolâ—ns volens whether I will or no I am constrained to sucke into my humane soule the other smoky poyson of the passionate Snake which I pray the victorious Treader downe of his malicious head by vertue of his Crowne of victory to conuert into the best so that my spotted spirit may be accepted in his presence for a contrite spirite AMEN As concerning that place of Genesis where the Diuell is said to appeare in the similitude of a Serpent vnto Eue and where in the Reuelation of Saint Iohn the Dragon fought with Michael in heauen
na bre 171. 21. H. 6. 2. Iurors tooke money after they had giuen their verdict without any couenant before hand whereof they were conuicted and euery one of them fined And this case is out of the statute of Decies Tantum 39. L. Assis. 19. It seemes that Embrasers shall be punished for taking money and for labouring a Iury to passe one way or other although they doe not giue their verdict as they should LINEAMENT XII The Spirit of Detraction conuicted by the statute De scandalis magnatum and also by the Soueraigne authority of the Court of Starre Chamber HEere I doubt me some nice stomackes ouerlarded with sacietie and surfeite whose mildest censure after an Italian nodde is but so and so will condemne me for enterlacing these moderne models among sacred Relickes But these Criticks I will crosse with their own lessons that variety delights change of pastures makes fat cattell And there is a time to pricke Flies with Domitian The Duke of Buckingham brought an action vpon the Statute De scandalis magnatum against Lucas for that hee said that the Duke had no more conscience then a Dogge and so that he might haue goods hee cared not how he came by them And recouered tenne pounds Michael 4. H. 8. Rot. 659. Hee might well haue sued him in the Starre chamber vpon the same words Crompton reports that he saw the copie of the Record The Lord of Abergue-venny brought an action vpon the said statute against Cartwright for that the defendant vttered nouellement counterfeit falsa noua del plaintiffe to weete that the Plaintiffe would wind the defendants guts about his necke The defendant pleaded non culp and in euidence the Plantiffes shewed a matter written to one B. wherein the defendant said that he vnderstood by report that the Lord spoke the aboue named words Which was held for good euidence and so it was found for the Plaintiffe Whereby we may note that to speake and to write is all one for it is publike Vide libr. intra 13. that the fixing of a slanderous libell in an open place giues an action Crompton report If a man speakes slaunderous words of the Prince and is not punished within the time limited by the statute 23 Eliz. cap. 2. he shall be punished by the statute of West 1. viz. he shall be imprisoned vntill he findes the first Author that spake them according to W. 1. cap. 33. not according to the aduise of the Councell for that is when the slaunder toucheth Noblemen and great officers expressed in the statutes made 2. R. 2. cap. 5. 12. R. 2. cap. 11. and not the King for he is a person exempt and not implied within those words Great men or Nobles One who had reported in the Countrey that certainly warres were towards so that wooll might not be transported ouer Sea that yeare by which rumour the price of wooll fell and was sold at a lesse rate was summoned to appeare before the Kings Councell and was fined and ransomed to the King 43. libr. Ass. 38. If any makes a suggestion to the King himselfe which is false and some are thereby indemnified or hindred they that make such false suggestions shall be sent with the suggestion before the Lord Chancellor the Lord Tresurer and his chiefe Councell and shall finde surety to prosecute the said suggestion And if he cannot proue this intent against the defendant by proces of law he shall be imprisoned and there remaine vntill he satisfie the partie grieued his damages and for the slaunder which he hath incurred through such occasion and then he shall be fined to the King Report ex 37. Edwardi 3. cap. 18. One O. who had spoken slaunderous and horrible wordes of Queene Mary was of them indicted mentioning in the indictment that he had spoken them contra formam diuersorum statutorum without touching any in specie and without saying vnde scandalum in Regno inter Reg. magnates vel populum suum oriri poterit and was conuicted of them vpon his arraignement and had iudgement of imprisonment and to bee fined at the Queenes will vntill he had found his Authour according to West 1. cap. 34. One Smith of the County of Somerset Esquire was fined in the Star-chamber for slaunderous wordes which he had spoken of one Sir Iohn Young Knight which touched his life and which the said Smith could not proue he was committed to the Fleete and payed great damages vnto the Knight and yet notwithstanding hee might haue had an action vpon the case at the Common law Report Crompton One L. of Kent Gentleman was punished in this Court for falsly and malitiously going about to proue one that was his Cousin to be a Traytor wherfore he was ordred to ride about Westminster hall with his face at the Horse taile Circa 27. Elizab. A Knight of the Countie of North. was fined at a great summe in the Starre-chamber because he permitted a seditious booke called Martin Marreprelate to be imprinted in his house 32. Eliz. If one speake scandalous wordes of an Arch-bishop or Bishop he may sue him in this Court to haue him punished or else he may haue an action vpon the Statute de Scandalis Magnatum as happened in Sandes his case Arch-bishop of Yorke betwixt him and one Sir Robert Stapleton Knight in the Star-chamber One parleyed of Dyer Lord chiefe Iustice of the Kings Bench that he was a corrupt Iudge for which he was conuicted in this Court of Star-chamber and adiudged to stand vpon the Pillory One had cast abroad slaunderous libels of the Bishop of C. circa 20. Eliz. and was punished in the Star-chamber The said Crompt on makes a Quaere whether a man hauing spoken slaunderous wordes of a Noblewoman may be sued vpon the Statute de Scandalis Magnatum but doubts not of his punishment in the Star-chamber And I haue heard it of credible persons that in the last Queens time of famous memory a Master of Arte sometimes fellow of Martin Colledge in Oxford lost both his eares by order of the said Court of Star-chamber sor his percmptory speeches that he had vsed his Mistres a great Lady carnally and was secretly contracted vnto her For proofe whereof hee offered to disclose certaine priuie markes on her body It was resolued by the whole Court of the Kings Bench that for any matter contained in any Bill which was examinable in the Star-chamber no action lay although the matter was meerely false because it was done in the course of iustice But if one exhibites a Bill in the said Court for matters not determinable there as for murther or pyracie which cannot be by English Bill but by way of indictment in Latine then he may be sued for the Detraction and pay damages Report Cooke 34. Eliz. inter Sir Richard Buckley pl. Owen Wood def en Banke le Roy. LINEAMENT XIII 1 Of the Iurisdiction of the Ecclesiasticall Court touching wordes of Detraction and defamation 2 Where
crosses NOtwithstanding the premisses the spirit of Detraction is readie to read a cruell lecture to pratling Momes and tatling Niobes that doubtlesse the punished partie vvas eyther very vicious himselfe or else his vvife or parents had offended God in the highest degree O my Friends be not so curious in your censures In that yee iudge others yee condemne your selues for yee that iudge doe the same things Iudge not least yee be iudged And as for the scornefull doth not the Lord laugh them to sâ—â—rne Why then doe yee scorne and scoffe at your neighbours harmes whereof God is the Author who is hee that blesseth that curseth that rewardeth that punisheth Is it not he the Lord vvhy then detract yee from his vnsearchable secrets Why endeauour yee to vsurpe his peculiar prerogatiue We are persecuted but not forsaken we are cast downe but we perish not Our mortall bodies for a time returne to dust but our soules rest in Abrahams bosome It pleased the Lord to smite his righteous seruant with infirmitie to forsake him and to be angrie with him for a little season but at last he pardoned him as the Prophet forespake of Christ. For all this my defence the spitefull spirit of Detraction relents not at all By reason of anothers extraordinarie iudgement he chargeth me strictly with impietie Is not quoth hee thy wickednesse great and thine iniquities innumerable Therefore snares are round about thee feare sodainely troubles thee Doth not God reuenge the Fathers sinnes vpon the children to the third and fourth discent O menstruous or rather monstrous absurditie Though my talke be this day in bitternesse and my plagues greater then my groaning yet will I vndertake to controule thine errour and confute thine heresie All soules are mine saith the Lord both the soule of the Father and the soule of the Sonne The same soule that sinneth shall dye The Sonne shall not beare the iniquities of the Father neither shall the Father beare the iniquitie of the Sonne For mine owne part I confesse my selfe to be chiefe among sinners but yet much wronged to become subiect vnto your detracting iudgements Yee are none of my Iudges I appeale to Caesars iudgement seate I appeale to the King of Kings the King of Mercie who will reuerse by a vvrit of errour your false vsurped iudgements If thou Lord wilt be extreame to marke what is done amisse O Lord who may abide it Woe be vnto vs woe Wâ—e be to the most laudable life that we leade if thou O Lord setting thy mercie aside shouldst examine it Who can say I haue made my heart cleane I am pure from manie sinnes Doth the blinde accuse the blinde Doth an olde senex fornicatour accuse another fornicatour Num Luscus accusat Luscum Clodâ—us Mâ—â—chum And doth the spirit of Detraction the most sinfull spirit of all spirits detect me for sinning Well my confession is not auricular but openly reiterated If I wash my selfe in snow water and purge my hands most cleane yet shalt thou plaegue me in the pit and mine owne cloathes will make mee silihie Mine owne fleshly vveedes being tainted vvith longing thoughts must sing a sorrowfull peccaui to the tune of stoope gallant And vnfainedly to vse Saint Pauls words I allow not that which I doe for what I would that I doe not but what I hate that doe I. Albeit that oftentimes I haue a will to doe well yet the nature of my flesh not any wise able to be expelled with the forke of mine owne naked reason confounds this readie will of mine and causeth me to commit moe sinnes in number then the sands of the sea All which with a contrite minde I submit to the mercy of God crauing most humbly on the knees of my heart in the lowest degree of reuerence my Redeemers merits as the vaile of grace to stand betwixt his diuine Iustice and their gore-bloud guiltinesse But certainly in my poore iudgement God took away mine innocent vvife after the aboue-said manner for though I say it all her acquaintance wil say as much as I that she liued as godly as honestly as any whatsoeuer in all her Countrie not so much for my sins though the same might be grieuous as for that all others might prepare themselues against their nuptials with Christ Iesus remembring that prophesie concerning Babilon who said in her heart I shall be a Lady for euer I am and none else I shall not sit as a widdow neither shall I know the losse of Children But thus said the Lord These two things shall come vnto thee sodainely in one day the losse of children and widdowhood O Lord of infinite iudgement widdowhood is sodainely come vnto mee thou hast iustly visited me and bercaued me of my chiefest comfort Thou knewest shee vvas too good for mee Thy vvill be done O mightie Lord. Let the infusion of thy grace into mine vntoward soule recompence my griefe and losse Thy grace is sufficient for mee thy power is made perfect through weakenesse When wee are most perplexed with worldly crosses then is thy spirit strongest in vs. And euen as the soules vertue is strengthened with infirmitie so certainely it is necessarie for our licentious natures now and then to be curbed vvith infirmities It is necessarie for vs that sinne the messenger of Sathan doe other whiles buffet vs and bruise our earthly heeles It is necessarie that malice bridle or rather prick as vvith sharpe pointed Needles our detracting wanton thoughts whereby we might remember our owne weake condition and turne to God who alone is without infirmitie Let me doe what good I can let me endeauour as much as is possible for flesh and bloud to endeauour yet I shall proue but an vnprofitable seruant I am blacke like an Aethiopian nay I am more blacke my very teeth are blacke My soule is all spotted all guiltie of vncleanenesse Onely my beliefe is that thy Grace is more aboundant then tongue can speake or heart can thinke or pen can paint LINEAMENT XV. The Authours gratulatorie Prayer vnto the Lord for the aboue-said wonderous effects O Louely Light O Lord of Maiestie how ouer-late doe I beginne to know thee My welbeloued put in his hand by the hole of my doore offring to breath faith into my soule But such was my dulnes such my drowsinesse that I could not once sigh sobbe nor say Abba Father O my Father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee Yea thou wert in the superiour part of my heart and I neglected thee Thou didst call mee both within and without and I reiected thee I reiected the Well-spring of liuing vvater and resorted to noysome cisternes of puddle worte full of wormewood comforts full of tickling hopes vvhich were speedily spent for all vvordly comforts and vaine hopes doe vanish away like winde And yet it pleased thy lightsome Spirit O Lord of life after many a scorching
Bees leauing not so much as one of their stings behinde to offend that renowmed Macchabee Right Honourable and prudent Senatours to whom the Sunne of this mightie Monarchie hath imparted part of his powerfull authoritie to iudge the Tribes thereof I haue purposely framed this preface towards your patient spirits that thereby your Honours may discerne the anguish of my sicke soule which labours like a woman intrauaile to discharge her long and toilesome load Non quaero quod mihâ— vâ—ile sed quod multis I sue not onely for my selfe though perhaps my particular griefe is such that it may crie for vengeance vnto the highest heauen but on the behalfe of many thousands who moane and groane vnder the vvaight of a little Diuell the Tongue of Sinne. In what measure this Tyrant lauisheth and lordeth I am not able to expresse in words significant seeing that it passeth the power of any one modest Writer to comprehend the sway and swing of spirituall monsters Amidst the incessant complaints of so many Subiects who continually like Iobs messengers solicite your wisedomes with their frequent informations besides your owne trials your Honours may enquire from one to one and obserue from day to day how many zealous persons finde themselues agrieued out of Court and in Court euen from his Maiesties starrie Court to the least and base Court Out of Court at Ordinaries at gossipping at Tauernes at Tobacco-taking a man shall heare nothing but Detractions nothing but contumelies and lies nothing but captious and carping speaches When they are wantonly wearie with iearing with ieasting one at another with tearing their neighbours good name and fame with their taunting tongues like vnto Delphick swords and with diuersities of scandals worse then the prints of scourges then they fall to swearing to swaggering and to blaspheming of their Lord and Father in Heauen in stead of hallowing his holy name O times O iniquitie If God be their Father where is his honour If he be their Lord where is his reuerence To you iudicious Lords as the watchfull Sentinels or rather the wise Surgeons of our State it belongs betimes euen before the darkest night of errours steales vpon vs to prouide for corrosiues and cauterismes against these vgly vlcers which ranckle within the body of our Common-weale Sith it hath pleased his Royall Highnesse to communicate part of his light vnto you whereby euery one of you might moue in his place not naturally ab oriente ad occasum but supernaturally from Nature to the Authour of Nature I beseech your Lordships in the lowest degree of reuerence by vertue of this your heauenly motion your vertuall Influence and irradiation to dissolue such clouds of Detractions into dismall showers vpon the Detractours heads according to that of the Princely Prophet they haue digged a pit for others and haue falne into the mâ—ast of it themselues They sought to bemire beray their honest neighbors with their legends nay with their legions of lies intending to set them vpon the stage of scorne on the scaffold of scurrility and there to cloath them with reproach and shame not vnlike those spitefull Iewes which plaited on our Sauiours head a Crowne of thâ—rnes crowne to delude him thornie prickles to torment him By vertue of your authorities your starrie motions let such clouds and vapours be dispersed into vvhole flouds of vengeance vpon the Spirit of Detraction Let their bodies feele the smart of your sword whose wilfull Wills will not relent with the waight of your ballance If other mens examples serue not to bridle their vntoward tongues let their owne estates pay the ransome of their contempts While such monstruous sinnes beare dominion among vs neuer let your wisedomes thinke that your Officers of inferiour rankes dare execute in that proportionable expectation your monitorie directions your wholesome rules for the repressing of ryots for the restraining of vnrulinesse as otherwise they would were they assured of protection While Periurers and pettiâ—ogging Promootors range vp and downe at their pleasure neuer let your Honours looke but for vnequall proceedings and vniust presentments at our neighbours hands But some one will obiect that the Courts of Iustice lie open as well for the basest as for the noblest Subiect neither will our lawes permit a priuate person to lay violent hands on an Out-law or on him vvhich is attainted of Premunire so equall a reference beares Iustice towards subiects of all conditions By these reasons Periurie fortifies it selfe against the open face of Truth Yet notwithstanding whosoeuer ponders more pregnantly the present state of our publike weale comparing the same with that of the olde vvorld shall finde that our present policie had need of further muniments to vnderprop it least also your Atlantick shoulders become wearie or to speake more properly least your vp-streatch'd hands like those of Moses might faile at length in their important charge Though God I confesse hath ordayned the Sunne to shine vpon the vngodly as vpon the Godly and as the Preacher wrot All things come alike to all The same condition is to the iust and the wicked to the pure and impure to him that sacrificeth and to him that doth not sacrifice Though the Lord created them all alike in respect of outward endowments or accidentall meanes yet notwithstanding he hath seuered them specially in the second life entitling the Innocent as Lambs the reprobate as Goats the one as good seede the other as tares the one for Heauen the other for Hell The like distinction I could wish to be practised among those Iudges which either take or hope themselues to be partakers of that second life so that all notorious lewd members might be excluded if it were possible from molesting of quiet spirits To this purpose after a sort our late Parliament prouided a countermining order for the speedie dispatch and triall of suites commenced against Officers at the Common law But so it is Right Honourable that these Caterpillers implead a barre in this finall concordance for if your Officers come accompanied vvith honest neighbours to search or suppresse suspicious people or else to apprehend disturbers of his Maiesties peace these wicked ones apparrell themselues in the robes of subtiltie and with the helpe of mercenarie tongues laying an ambush for Iustice they surmise with Aesops Wolfe that the poore Lambe in forcible and riotous manner mudded the Well where water was vsually drawne for their Lordly mouthes This offence by their Sathanicall inuentions being exorbitant and beyond the capacitie of the Common law they frame their suggestions before your Honours in hope that their suites by reason of the manifold affaires vvhich distract your diligent mindes shall hang vnheard for two or three yeares space within which terme they will worke meanes to compromit their said friuolous suites or else by tossing and tiring their Aduersaries too and fro with tedious trauailing to end them at home for their credite and aduantage If an honest man
increaseth in a house and there-hence vvould breake into the next house and at last into the whole towne vnlesse at the first inflaming it be quencht with milke so the Spirit of Detraction being suffered to creepe into an honest mans house like Aesops vnthankfull Snake which the innocent husbandman saued from the chilling colde and there by negligence permitted to infect some of the household will at length not onely enuenome the head of the Family himselfe but also empoyson the vvhole neighbourhood except at the first his fiery force be extinguished with the milke of Taciturnitie and Patience Of this kinde of milke among other ingredients is that Oyntment made which the Apostle mentioned ye haue an oyntment of him that is holy ye know all things Though Truth hath taken off this false vizard yet vvee must apply the fruits of Truth for his further condemnation and that other wicked Spirits may likewise be kept backe from planting themselues in the little world With Taciturnitie the Spirit of Detraction is choakt with Patience the Detracted conquereth the Detractour vincit qui patitur In old time this kinde of Spirit vvas coniured vp by vnhallowed holy vvater by massemonging miracles now our Countrey-men rayse him vp by pots of good liquour and pipes of Tobacco therewith both day and night profaining their bodies which rather they ought to purifie vvith mortification as the Temples of the Holy Ghost for wanton flesh and bloud cannot inherit heauen In old time his malice was sometimes allayed by simplicitie and superstitious singlenesse of minde now hee can neuer be put downe and packt into hell without Taciturnitie and Patience both which if thou who readest this Circle dost obtaine at thy heauenly Fathers hand thou needest not doubt of thy soules saluation nor of silent sobrietie LINEAMENT III. 1 The discription of Taciturnitie 2 That the nature and qualitie of a man may be discerned by speach or writing 3 That wise men in priuate may descant of their neighbours faults so that the same tend to edification ALbeit that Taciturnitie be a kinde of milke farre more delicious then the Paracâ—lsians lac virginis or false Mahemets heauenly iunkets hard to come by knowne but of very few and those sons of Art vvhose chiefe Aphorisme is to keepe close their soueraigne receipts from vicious persons I will notwithstanding aduenture to disclose vvhat it is borrowing the discription thereof out of Monsieur du Chesue his Portraict de la sancte Taciturnity is to heare and premeditate a thing well and long to be briefe and short in his answeres that is to speake little or nothing Taciturnite est bien longuement oscouter premediter estre briese court on ses responses ascauoir dire peu ou rien This rare medicine makes the Patient which takes it to carry his mouth in his heart whereas Detraction causeth men to beare their hearts in their mouthes to deliuer dregs with drinke and to shoot their foolish boltes before that discretion wils them Which moued a certaine wise man that on a time vvas askt by his Prince at a banquet why hee alone sate still like a foole without parleying thus pithily to answeare A foole be it spoken vnder your Matesties correction can hardly hold his peace at a banquet for as Salomon saith the foole putteth forth all his spirit but a wise man deferreth it afterwards O diuine vertue O discreet Taciturnitie which resemblest the patient Deitie vvhich repellest hunger and thirst which neuer renderest griefe blame nor shame Surely the best coniecture vvhich may be made of mens inclinations is by speach or writing Loquere vt te videam speake that I may know thee quoth Socrates to a nouice of his as for example if thou hearest one discourse immoderately of faire women fine apparrell of hauking hunting and gaming or if thou hearest him vaunt ouer-gloriously of his owne vvorth or speaking in print in inck-horne termes thundring out sesquipedales and hornificabustulated metaphors verborum bullas ampullas wordes of his owne bubled or botled stampe or if thou seest him scribble disioynted phrases and lame Hyperboles then note him for a vaine-glorious fellow a phantasticall Parrot a golden Asse led too much with the imaginatiue facultie If his common talke be of law cases of lying Chronicles of old wiues fables or if he rips vp pedegrees repeating his owne or his Kinsmans genealogy to Cadwalader to Brutus to Saturne to Noah in all companies and at all times of honest mirth obserue him for an excellent memorie and vvithall for a notable foole If he waighs his vvords by the ounce if hee speakes seldome or not before a question be asked him and if he regardeth circumstances as the dignitie of the person vvith whom he talkes the place the time the nature of the hearers and the matter of speach alwayes vsing Gods name and authoritie vvith submissiue reuerence knowing that his omnipotent Maiesty heareth euery vvord hee speakes then marke him for a man of vnderstanding Hee that vvill learne to speake must first learne to be silent for as the Italian Prouerbe teacheth l'huomo parlando poco e ' annumerato fra i sauij The man vvhich speakes little is accounted among the vvise And as the French-man saith les foullies plus courtes sont les meilleures the briefest sheetes are the best Be a man neuer so vvitty yet if hee parleyes much his tongue cannot chuse but erre and trip in some principall points which as another Italiaen vvrites vvill trouble the stomacke more then ten graines of Antimoniâ— or Stibium Conturbano piu lo stomacho que farebbonâ—â—â—eci grani de Antimonio So that one vvord out of square may blemish a mans whole reputation and cause Zoylists to descant and sit vpon him perhaps vvhile hee liues Neyther can I excuse the wisest Clerkes that they likewise be not sometimes subiect vnto the spirit of Detraction as that Learned Lord demonstrates Men though otherwise graue and learned may erre eyther by mistaking principles or giuing too light eare vnto false informations which are rightly termed the spectacles of Errour for God onely searcheth the heart and raines But what censure will their owne inckpot Senate yeeld of such iesting and Iybing nicking and nipping Paedantes vvhich cannot bridle their vvide mouth'd hackneys namely that such persons be but parliamenting Parasites Pungitopian peeuish Momes ridiculous Readers Bacchanalian Parolistes super-ingenious Iayes superficiall flaunting fooles letting their tongues runne before their wits without rime or reason without matter or methode for as the Wise-man writeth In many words there cannot want iniquitie Notwithstanding all this I am not so seuere a Cynicke neque mihi cornea sibra est nor are my heart-stings so horny and hard-laced as to banish all manner of delightfull discourses to deceiue away the time vvithall for I graunt that a friend an alter ego may vvithout impeachment of Detraction or doubt of Libelling vnlocke the cabinet of