bawdie songs foolish and wanton ditties then in the well seaâ—oned writings of holy men and this is for want of iudgement being as blinde as he was foolish It may be said of such as Pythagoras said to a leaude fellow that soothed himselfe in conuersing with badde company I had rather quoth he be acquainted with bawdes then wise Phylosophers No maruell quoth he very sadly swine delight more in dirt then in pure and cleane water Of such bookes as moue to good life and bring a benefit to posteritie we haue but too fewe and can neuer haue too many but of such as followe their owne fancies in spewing out their wandering imaginations we haue but too many and it were to be wished we had none at all Good men are not only otherwise imployed but also greatly discouraged for if they set forth any notable booke of diuinitie humanitie or such like they are in no request but to stop musterd-pots what is the reasoÌ„ but this euery Stationers shop stal almost euery post giues knowledge of a new toy which many times intercepts the vertuous dispositioÌ„ of a willing buyer so that hauing time and incouragement labor what they can to deface good mens workes with the multitude of their sinfull fopperies Hee that can but bombast out a blancke verse and make both the endes iumpe together in a ryme is forthwith a poet laureat challeÌ„ging the garland of baies and in one slauering discourse or other hang out the badge of his follie O how weake and shallow much of theyr poetrie is for hauing no sooner laide the subiect and ground of their matter and in the Exordium moued attention but ouer a verse or two runne vpon rockes and shelues carrying their readers into a maze now vp theÌ„ downe one verse shorter then an other by a foote like an vnskilfull Pilot neuer comes nigh the intended harbour in so much that oftentimes they sticke so fast in mudde they loose their wittes ere they can get out either like Chirrillus writing verse not worth the reading or Battillus arrogating to themselues the well deseruing labours of other ingenious spirits Farre from the decorum of Chauser Gowers Lidgate c. or our honourable moderne Poets who are no whit to be touched with this but reuerently esteemed and liberally rewarded Then seeing this naughtie kinde of writing dooth plucke vp the seeds of Vertue by the rootes and quench that little fire assoone as it beginneth to kindle they ought to be shunned as Serpents Snakes and youth chiefly to be kept from reading them The Libeller is punished according to the qualitie of his Libell either by pillorie whipping losse of eares fine imprisonment and such like the thiefe hanged the traitor drawne and euery one punished in that kind he doth offend in are not these filthy bookes libells do they not defame discredit and reproach Vertue and honestie by expounding Vice with large comments do they not steale away all holy deuotion poyson good wits and corrupt young people shall hee be pardoned by course oâ— lawe that offends in the highest degree and shall hee be counted a maister of wisedome that teacheth nought but foolishnesse to the people wherefore then should this so great mischiefe goe vnreproued To conclude he that can read shall finde bookes worthy to be read wherein is both wisedome and learning pleasant wittie sober and chast that both profit the life and ioy the mind but before all other to read those diuine bookes that both lift the heart to God and direct vnto Christian duties for such is Fomentum fidei nourishing faith Lexio alit ingenium so the bookes bee wise vertuous chaste and honest touching the former they are but stinking infectious writings which as mudde and dyrt defile the body so do they pollute the soule By reading good bookes the minde is stored with wisedome the life bettered and setled in quietnesse so that still all reading be referred to the Bible froÌ„ whence all Vertue is deriued For this cause S. Paul admonisheth Timothie to giue attendance to reading for albeit hee was trained vp in the scriptures from a childe and had all Ephesus vnder his charge yet hee stirreth him to reading for by reading more knowledge is not onely gotten but also the decayes and breaches of the memorie is againe renued and vnlesse there be both a powring in of more and a continuall restoring of that which is lost all will drop away and leaue a man emptie for the memorie is like a ruinous house readie to fall downe which if not eftâ—oones repaired will soone become inhabitable Touching Enterludes and Playes I will omit to speak how the best iudgements conceiue of them their reasons being strong and manifolde to thrust them out as things indifferent and make them simply vnlawfull For although they are not simply forbidden in expresse words yet if it once appeare the true vse be lost and cleaue to a bad report it is the part of euerie man to shun and auoyd the same and rather drawe other to reformation then violently suffer himselfe to be swayed with the like affection And this agreeth with that of Paul If indifferent things giue offence to the weake they ought to bee remooâ—ed for the freedome of those things giueth courage to the defect of grace to be more vngracious Nothing is lawfull but that which tendeth to the glory of God and profit of man in comelinâ—sse so that the end of all ioy and myrth must be to glorifie the Creator Those pleasures of the body mind which are of good report are indifferent if modestly vsed honest exercise doth much relieue the debilitie of nature and quicken the dull spirits which would else be depressed and ouerladen with moderate labour Idlenesse is to be condemned as the bel-dame of all euil but idlenesse is not onely in doing nothing but also in doing things vnprofitable Eschew euill and do good it is not inough to abstaine from euill but we must do good also Some Playes as they are now in vse are scandalous and scurrillous detract from Vertue adde to Vice and the very May-games of all sin and wickednesse for for the most part they haue nothing in them but scurrillitie or some grosse shewe of doltishnesse to make the sinfull mouth of laughter to gape and often sporting at that which should rather moue pittie and compunction Stages of desolutenesse and baites to entice people to lightnesse For is not Vice set to sale on open Theaters is there not a Sodome of filthinesse painted out and tales of carnall loue adulterie ribaldrie leacherie murther rape interlarded with a thousand vncleane speeches euen common schooles of bawdrie is not this the way to make men ripe in all kinde of villanie and corrupt the manners of the whole world And there wanteth no Art neither to make these bawdie dishes delightfull in taste For are not their Dialogues puft vp with swelling wordes are
worser then Pagans Let this great dutie therefore be considered seeing thou hast store with-hold nothing that is due is not hee a caytiffe that will see his mother dye for hunger and he hath bread to relieue her if he would why the Common-wealth is thy mother euery poore Christian is thy brother wilt thou see them famisht before thy face and not succour them hauing inough Thou hast thy wealth to that end if thou couldest see it and vse it aright Neuerthelesse we see how men of good place and reckening will hide themselues in corners liue priuately onely to keepe their purses that they may be lyable to no imposition and crowde into Cities Boroughs and priuiledge places or like nonresidents rowle vp and downe from one lodging to an other to the intent that being vncertaine where to be had their states may be vnknowne and by this meanes both ouerthrowe hospitalitie defraude the Queene and Common-wealth of necessarie duties and depopulate the countrey Is it not a token of a couctous minde that men of good possessions and faire liuings should breake vp house and soiourne onely with one or two seruants that they may hoorde vp theyr rents when they are sufficientlye able to keepe a good house themselues surely it is a signe of a base condition Furthermore many wealthy Yeomen rich Farmers that are risen vp to goods inough doo tread the same path For wheras erst when they dwelt vpon their owne they kept good houses and were no small stay to the places where they liued are eyther couetous of some vaine-glorious title of gentilitie or otherwise so miserly greedie of wealth for one of the two I know not which thrust themselues in like maner into Cities Corporations and Liberties and yet holde theyr Farmes still in their owne occupying for they haue such long armes that they claspe many great liuings And also lying vpon the aduantage take Farmes ouer their neighbours heads ten yeares before their Leases be expired And what do they with these plurified liuings but place shepheards heards vnderlings and such thred bare tenants in their stockes and that at such vnreasonable rents too that the poore snakes that dwell vnder them are driuen to weake shifts to fare hardly liue barely moyle and toyle the whole yeare to scrape vp theyr rent not sauing at the yeares ende for all theyr paines scarce the price of an old Frise Ierkin for theyr Lorde knowes better then they what profit will arise and how euery thing will fall out and if hee thriue vnder him then doth hee stretch and racke it to the vttermost till at last hee bring the whole gaine into his owne bagge and so by this means can hardly beare ordinarie charges much lesse doo workes of superrerogation being kept downe so cruelly by their greedie Land lords Now these haue not onely theyr meanes brought in vnto them by the sweat of poore mens browes and sleepe in peace and securitie when others watch and labour a great blessing if rightly weighed but will closely and cunningly seeke to shift off all duties by withdrawing them into odde corners Oh that men of such abilitie should haue such Iron rustie hearts to hide their heads shut their hands and whip deuotion from their doores doo they not seeke to subuert and weaken the state as much as they can by with-holding that part of dutie required by the lawe of nature but the greedinesse of gaine causeth vnrelenting hearts for one would possesse all alone O how are men deceiued in their owne estate that being rich are yet euer poore because opinion is neuer satisfied whereas if we onely respect nature no man can be poore Natà r a enim vt ait Philoso paucis minimisque contenta nature is content with necessitie But to bring all this to a head though some bee carried with the streame of pride some with the flouds of desire some prodigall some pinching and though the couetous man gape for more more and like hell mouth neuer satisfied yet will they hide theyr plough-sores vnder the carpet of liberalitie as now and then to giue an almes against a good time as they call it to beate downe a hard opinion intimating thereby to bee good free-hearted men when all the yeare beside they scrape and clawe it from other by the excessiue prices of theyr badde commodities and by pinching them with many vncharitable gripes and yet will they hide theyr want of loue vnder Vertue and Religion and why so because it carrieth a generall good liking of all men for although many haue no religion at all nor one sparke of a vertuous man yet for all this wil they seeme to loue and embrace it intirely because of the vnspotted simplicitie they see in the true professors thereof and that chiesly because this outward shewe is some meanes to asswage the heate of sharp reprehensions and that vnder colour of this they may liue in some good report of the common sort for if they should not hide the malice within with a shewe of holinesse without but permit the rebellion to rush forth they would be hatefull to others and disquiet theyr owne peace to hold friendship therfore with the world it is expedient for them to be hypocrites and deceiuers and therefore will they performe many Christian duties and communicate with the Saints yea and crowde to the Church doore of true deuotion and both pray and vse good exercises in their families frequent Sermons yea and ride and goe six or seuen miles to heare a good Preacher are not these good things and the very properties of a true Christian yes verily but all this is but done in pollicie to mocke the world how know you that why looke into their course of life if any vaine opportunitie be offred wil theynot follow it if the wicked call to goe will they not run will they not dice carde sweare swagger and be drunke are they not vsurers extortioners proud persons and so cold in charitie that no Christian dutie can heat their loue so it is an casie thing to see their hypocrisie if a man but cast his sight vpon their conuersation And in like manner many at the end of the yeare as a charitable worke will keepe open house and set opē their gates for al the rake-hels loose vagabounds in a countrey and fill idle bellies with their flesh-pots when the poore blind lame and sicke are faine to lye in the depth of miserie without comfort helpe or succour and to what ende is this great superfluitie forsoothe to reioyce for the blessed feast of Christmas Indeede this feaste dooth bring great cause of ioy for that beeing all lost in Adam and heires of damnation are neuerthelesse by the comming of the Messias the sonne of God who tooke on him our flesh at this time of the yeare to vndergoe the wrath of his father due to vs redeemed vs from hell and made vs inheritors of heauen here is cause of ioy
bend himselfe to Art Science Facultie or any kinde of learning if there were not some glory for what moueth the Lawier to beate his wits on Littletons Maximes or to be so earnest to finde out the differences of causes to bring them to a head but glory the Diuine to studie the mysteries of Gods wonders or the Phisition to diue into the secrets of nature if they aymed not at preferment To conclude honour nourisheth Art and for the regard of dignitie do learned men striue to exceede in facultie so that aduancement is the mother of Vertues Common-wealth yet neuerthelesse is it not so tyed within the limits of a circle to keepe there and goe no further I meane in respecting simply the vertues of the Donee as to reward Vertue and nothing but Vertue for the vicious being in want must bee likewise cherished though not for his owne sake hauing nothing in him of worth yet because he is a Christian brother therfore the Apostle willeth vs to do good to all but especially to the vertuous So that a franke minde doth as well march before and leade the way to Vertue as nourish her in whom she is first set The substance of a rich man is not so to be shut â—p that liberalitie cannot open it nor so vnlocked to lye abroad for euery body but a measure to be kept which must bee referred to abilitie for as it is not the part of a liberall man to be too pinching and niggardly as to with-hold from good dutie so is he prodigall that spendeth his faculties vpon flagitious and vile persons or vpon bad and leaud courses but onely where there is a signe of Vertue present or an introduction to a future honestie for the imployment of money is not honest vnlesse it be to some good end neither is he a wise man that is so foole-large in distributing his goods to waste his patrimonie especially vpon such vaine things whereof a short memorie or none at all doth remaine necessitie not prouoking nor shewe of honestie inducing such vnaduaned mispence bringeth nought but ignominie and shame for what credit is it for a man to lash out his mony in feasts playes huntings hawkings and such vaine sports that soone vanish It is the greatest folly that may bee that the thing that a man doth which is honest to endeuour it may no longer be done for as a wise man omitteth not to do good at all times so hee vseth the matter with such moderation that he keepeth a store by him to helpe with when occasion is offered How infamous among writers is Comodus Nerâ— Caligula Heliogabalus and other like monsters which exhausted and deuoured infinite treasures in banquets brothel houses and such abhominations was this liberalitie shal they not suffer reproach to the worlds end and shall not all prodigall spend-thrifts that wastfully consume their wealth be partakers of the like shame Surely yes when they are not transferred with the rule of measure to doo that which they may continue to do and sith they haue meanes to do good to raise vp a happie memorie by dedicating theyr beneuolence to posteritie and this was the cause our auntients set forth the picture of a Gentleman with his hands open to signifie that liberalitie was the honour of a Gentleman and that to giue was alwayes heroicall Now what aduantage then hath a rich man that by rewards may purchase immortalitie and outstrip the furie of Vice with good workes if so be hee abandon vaine glory and do that he doeth with sinceritie From a good man gifts passe with a free donation not looking backe for requitall nor blowing the trump when he giueth almes yet can wee not say but gratitude as a hand-maide is euer attendant for though a poore man cannot acquite againe in measure yet is he forced will hee nill hee to confesse a debt beyond measure for a good mind doth alwayes remunerate a good turne Benefacta male locata malefacta arbitrâ— Good deeds misplaced become euill deeds So that it is a great decay of Vertue when the merits of the vertuous are carelesly ouer-passed for when men are ledde by passion not by reason many worthy spirits run out their liues vnprofitably consume their daies in condolement and repent the time spent in science when they might haue gotten some adulterous trade Now I say when Vertue doth knocke at the doore of liberalitie and can haue no entrance no maruell though she be frozen with colde goe a begging from doore to doore but the iniquitie of the time hatcheth many euils in aduancing where Vertue doth not merit in raising vp such as are voyd of all good parts Now wheÌ„ notable imploymens are vnworthily bestowed and giuen by corruptioÌ„ the power of Vertue must needs be weakened and growe colde and be feeble as the Orator saith Malê enim se res habet cum quâ—d virtute effici debet id tentat ur pecunia The matter saith he cannot goe well when the same that should be wrought by Vertue is accomplished by money this ouerturneth all for no man will willingly embrace her if shee bring no aduancement so that in this there lyeth a two folde mischiefe one in the discouraging of learning the other in the corruption for he that buyeth an office must needs sell it againe and by extortion wring the conscience with iniustice and therefore Cato would that no olde officer should be remoued till he dye or for some notable crime For â—aith hee new officers are as hungrie flyes that neuer leaue sucking till their bellies be full whereas the old ones being ful before sucke more faintly so that the oftner they are chaunged the more do they gnawe and sting the Common-wealth and yet what is more common then buying and selling of offices for there is almost now a daies no office but is bought sold offered to him that wil giue most as a bankerout selles his goods for if he can but nickhornnize his name in some ordinary faâ— simile he may step vp to dignitie NaÌ„genus formaÌ„ Regina pecunia donat though he want all good properties intelligible parts If a hungry flye a smatteâ—er either for enuy of the partie that is already possest of some office or to satisfie his desire of priuate gaine for by this it shal be best knowne do seeke vniustly to aspire by crowding and wresting the other out therein lalabour Omnibus neruis by direct and indirect means it may wel be thought he hath opened the gate of his coÌ„scieÌ„ce to corrupt false dealing And therfore if a maÌ„ be not lawfully called it is a point of wisdom to stay haue an vnworthy opinioÌ„ of himselfe be pacified with his present state vntill the vacancie of a place shall importune him to make sute But it often otherwise commeth to passe that money and countenance can promote men of no desert to preferment for instance
diâ—ina humanáque pulchris Diuitijs parent quaâ— qui construxerit ille Clarus erit fortis sapiens etiam Rex Et quicquid volet hoc velâ—ti virtute paratâ—m Sperauit magnae laudi fore So that a man hath all these properties in the vaine opinioÌ„ of the world if so be he be rich but if poore notwithstanding he be stored with good vertues yet is he not reputed as he is hath he mony yea is he rich and hath he great possessions yea why theÌ„ let him be honoured and deemed vertuous gratious and what hee will though in truth and veritie he be nor so nor so Againe is he beggerly hath he no money nor meanes why then let him packe and walke along no penny no Pater noster for hee is as one dead among the liuing though indeede properly this peremptorie sentence ought not to be so applied but rather to Vertue and littrature without which the bodie is dead although it liue What cannot this humpish elemeÌ„t bring to passe can it not couer a masse of ill humors and cause the son to betray his owne Father as a leaud fellow said once If my Father were a hangman my mother a harlot my self no better yet if I haue mony I am liked wel inough and neuer toucht with their misdeeds so that there is no vice that wealth doth not smother a rich man as proud as Tarquine as cruell as Nero as doggish as Tymon as couetous as Diues and as foolish as Lobellinus yet all these vices are hid with greatnesse and though counterfeit mettall yet with a true stampe may currantly passe but a poore man in whom is great wisedome and many good parts Si res angusta domi if coyne be wanting he is despised reiected and neuer vsed in exployting waightie matters so that a man is neuer thought wise learned vnlesse he be rich and swim in the streame of wealth and though he speake well and to the purpose yet is he neuer gracious as the Poet saith Rara tenui facundia panno A poore mans speech is seldome pleasant and wisedome vnder a ragged coate seldome canonicall which the Philosopher wel found when offring to presse into the presence with his simple weedes was shut out by a grim Cerberus but shifting his cloathes was admitted without repulse wherefore comming before the king hee turned all his obeysance vpon his owne cloathes saying I must honour them that honour me for my cloutes brought that to passe which all my Philosophie could neuer accomplish And thus is the rich beautie of the minde measured by a beggers weede and gay apparell preferred before a minde well qualified so the rude opinion lookes at nothing but the outward picture and magnifie an ignorant Asse so he haue a gay coate set him on a high seate where by silence he may seeme wise for the wisedome of a man saith Salomon is knowne by his speech But as by knocking on a vessell the cracke if any be wil soone be seene so if toucht with an argument his crackt vnderstanding will soone be manifest Great places are possest with men of weake iudgement that haue no iotte of worthinesse but wealth and worldly fame and can serue for no other vse but for a Nomenclator to tell the clocke call a spade a spade and recken vp the proper names of things yet if trimly spunged vp in some formality though he haue litle wit and small honestie it is inough to raise him vp to some dignitie but when such an one is exalted into the imparatiue moode how moodie his maistership is so toade-swolne with pride and ambitioÌ„ that he is ready to burst in sunder so rapt vp in conceit of his high place that he vtterly forgets his first creation Oh it is a world of sport to heare how some such clouting beetles rowle in their loblogicke and intrinsicate into the maior of the matter with such hide bound reasons that he makes a pittifull learned face one spreads his armes cleares his throate as who should say attend attend for now hee speakes whose conclusions are vnanswerable but finding the proposition too deepe for his shallow wit suddenly starts backe and briefly huddles vp his headlesse matter An other shakes his emptie head and diues into the bottome of his bottomelesse braines to finde some intricate and tedious circumstance into which when he is entered hee cannot finde a period and full rest so many Tautokogies and itterations come into the way that vnlesse some Ariadne lend a threed to pull him out of Dedalus laborinth hee must needs be lost or at leastwise when he is gotten out is so myred with his owne slyme that he becommeth a scorne to wise men in laying open his owne weakenesse yet who more talkatiue and readie to stop the mouthes of men able to speake then such insencible tatlers for drunken fortune hath this opinioÌ„ of it selfe that looke whatsoeuer it speaketh is authenticall and droppeth froÌ„ the mouth like the Oracles of Appollo There is nothing therefore so holy so pure so honest so chaste but money will corrupt violate and batter downe so that these emptie bottles apish gestures and anticke faces if wealthy rich well monied all grosse imperfections are ouershadowed So that wheÌ„ men are sotted in the alluremeÌ„ts of this life dedicate their whole labours to so wicked a saint they soone loose the vse of their goods become partially affected if passion rule not reason all goes to wracke for if either prodigallitie rule the purse whereby the mind is strongly carried into temporarie ioy or so gripple and couetous as to doo nothing but scrape in the dunghill of this world why these extreames doo so vrge the opinion that they headlong run at randome into all licentious and loose liuing in so much as they do not perceiue to what ende they are aduanced aboue other men and made so rich among a company of beggers Many there be the more is the pittie that although God hath abundantly multiplyed his blessings vpon them that they cannot iustly say they want any worldly thing yet bee they so neere to holde fast that which they haue that they doo as it were single themselues from all common duties and lay aside that regarde of the publique good which theyr conscience and priuate abilitie doth instantly tye them vnto let vs note them a little who will sooner shift and wrangle off honest duties then they will they not brabble and sophisticate for verye small payments and will they not wrest and winde lawes to their owne sence if they may saue but a penny and beare the repulse of superiour rebukes theÌ„ to part with ought shall contradict their froward nature is this the dutie of good subiects do these seeke the peace of the state doth not the Heathen man say Non solum nobis natisumus we are not borne for our selues alone but for our countrey also shall Christians be
what a happie memorie is this how ought this feast to be celebrated in magnifying the Almightie and lauding his name for so great a benefite but what a commemoration is here when they turne true ioy into carnall iollitie doth this true ioy stand in eating drinking rioting feasting mumming masking dauncing dicing carding and such like that taste wholly of Heathens superstition is God honoured by this nay rather is hee not more dishonoured at that time of the yeare then all the yeare beside So that a counterfeit ioy is set vp in stead thereof meditation and mercifull workes are pulled downe and Epicurisme set vp which doth vsurpe and imperiously beare rule ouer all holy desires for in this is theyr deuotion in vnlawfull and sinfull pleasures to gurmandize and waste in excesse the good blessings of GOD and these men will not sticke to lash out a whole masse of money in dedicating feastes to diuell Bacchus and maintaine Playes in theyr houses as silthy as the Lupercalia in Rome spend whole nights and dayes in reuelling and toaste themselues by theyr great fires and as the Poet sayeth Regificâ— luxn paratae epulae haue their Tables furnished at exceeding and princely charges to stuffe the guts and feede the belley and wish with Polmixe that they had throates as long as Cranes so that they might taste their sweets with more leisure In so much that by this vnreasonable excesse and gluttony in a fewe daies wast out that riotously that would relieue many poore people if measurably bestowed Thus I saye like Epicures they consecrate the memorie of this blessed feast with such a ioy as sauours altogether of the drosse and slime of the earth and this is liberalitie forsooth charitie and Christian loue when it is but prodigallitie vain-glory and hypocrisie Moreouer although they be too too slacke in honest duties yet will they scotch at no charge may bring pleasure or holde vp some vaine-glorious memorie as in building great houses to be christned by their names when many of them are but as Absolons pillar a monument of folly a spectacle of vanitie and a prey of time many chimnies little smoake large roomes wherein a man may walke and chawe his melancholy for want of other repast and neuer be put to the charges to buye a tooth-picker And to what ende is this great building and cunning Architect but to stand in the gaze of the world and make the passenger cry out with admiration O domus antiqua hen quam dispari dominari Domino O gallant house full well do I see How vnlike a Lord hath lordship on thee Indeed here is the two-folde benefit it yeelds not only in setting many poore labouring men a worke but also a Princely edifise and stately building is a great honour to a kingdome But such are worthie blame that ouerthrowe their state by building not being able to vse one roome well of those many they build for if a man of reasonable wealth fall into this humour of building gay houses if he did small good before is now vtterly vnable to do any at al his new foundation hath eaten vp all his olde meanes this is the simple pollicie of some men that loue to begger themselues to please the eye Againe how prouident men are to graft their childreÌ„ into great stocks that may not easily be striken with the thunder-claps of aduersitie though the stocke be neuer so rotten infected blasted with Vice yet if rich and mightie it is inough and surely this Ethicall pollicie were highly to be aduanced if so be that our continuiâ—g Citie were here but seeing all things are fraile momentaine short and transitorie that we â—annot certainly number to morrow among the dayes of our life what a meere madnesse is this to be so in loue with the flattering smiles of this life and so myred in the dunghill of pleasures as to doate so much vpon it for verily men seeke their owne danger wheÌ„ they make the thing that is indifferent to be vnlawfull do they not with Orpheus catch the ayre seeke the shadow loose the substance win earth and loose heauen Yet these aboriginies carth bred wormes with high lookes and insolent bragges will stand vpoÌ„ termes of gentilitie and deriue their pedigree euen from Cadwallader the last king of the Britons wheÌ„ in sadnes they are not so much as sprinkled with one true drop of gentle bloud neither one propertie of a Gentleman vnlesse it should only stand in wealth great possessions which is contrary to our former assertion for if true gentrie be a mind excellently deckt with rare vertues not only by propagation of nature but by integritie of qualities not in beautie but in Vertue not in riches but in honor not in pride but in comelinesse not in costly and curious diet but feeding the hungry and cloathing the naked not in sumptuous building ioyning house to land kin to kin with respectiue marriages but onely in the true possession of Vertue then albeiâ—a man wallow in wealth liue in pleasure fare daintie goe princely hung with pearle sweetly perfumed hawkes horses hounds and in a word haue whatsoeuer pomp glorie his hart can wish or the world affoord yet if he be not noble in Vertues but ignoble in vices and haue not those good parts that carry a vnion of good mens praises he is but pirat latro a theefe and a robber and all his rich paintings goodly buildings are but monuments of shame and basenesse Is not Vertue then more honorable then riches doth it not raise a man to immortalitie doth not riches ouerthrow his happinesse if not duly ouer-watcht with Temperance and if so be a rich man looke narrowly into his state and cast vp his accounts well he shall finde himselfe a very bankerout and to owe more then he is worth for why hath hee more plentie of bastardly riches then other men but that hee is a bayliffe steward Feoffer in trust to dispose lay out in almes and charitable workes Now then if hee apply them to his owne vse what reckning can he make or how wil he answer it at the great assises when it shall be obiected by the king of glory When I was naked you cloathed mee not when I was hungry you fed me not c. Goe into euerlasting fire c. And therfore these great rich men of the world haue obiects before theyr eyes and are hemde in with poore on euery side heere is one crying for bread there an other for cloathes the sicke to bee visited the lame and infirme to be comforted the straunger to be lodged so that they cannot turne their eyes no way but they haue motions to stirre vp charitie and wofull clamors sounding into their eares of want and yet had diuers of them rather doo any thing then relieue theyr necessities to giue tenne pound for a Hawke then ten pence to cloathe the naked The Rauen forsakes her young
ones assoone as they are hatcht because seeing them of an other hew thinkes them of an other kind so in like maner some rich men looke aloft snuffe fume at their poore brethren and cast off all deuosion brotherly loue because seeing them humbled and brought lowe in the world iudge them vtterly vnhappie when verily they are not only of one selfe-same issue parent but also more acceptable to God in their base estate theÌ„ they in all their royaltie Is it not lamentable to see a number of poore winterstarued people lye pining in miserie which might bee relieued if it were but with the surplusage of their vaine expences and comforted with that which they wastfully consume For do but view these kinde of men and you shall see they will spare for no cost to build faire houses as I said before though they impouerish themselues for euer galleries bowling-allies walkes and whatsoeuer may bring delight to ride with great retinew to shew their pompe and maintaine their quarrels to feede idle bellies with their flesh pots that are no sooner vp but run to vaine sports but if a poore man be fallen into want or an honest cause craue some reliefe a penny is as hardly gotten from them as fire out of a flint stone or if it doth at last come it is many times more for fashion to shunne reproach then for charitie to the cause But some perhaps will say it is my owne and may I not do with mine owne what I will but t is neither so nor so for it is not thine thou art put in trust to laie it out to helpe and succour thy poore needy brother Perhaps thou wilt say againe I brought him not to beggery did I lame him did I vnparell him or did I vnhouse him wherfore then should I recompence him whom I neuer wronged Are Bees bounde to gather honey for droanes and must I keepe life in rattes and myce and such vermine as are bred by the infection of a plentious yeare Indeed they are made poore but t is because thou art rich that thereby thou mightest exercise thy loue for there shall be poore alwayes to set charitie a worke yet some are so farre from loue as they fall into barbarous cruelty that they had rather cut their throats then cherish them with beneuolence as it is recorded of a B. B. of Constance that vnder colour of giuing almes assembled all the poore in the countrey together shut them vp in a barne set fire to it and burnt them vp together counting it a worke meritorious and no doubt for so doing he was cannonized a saint by the impietie of Antichrist If one of these Bacchanalls deliuer to his steward a great summe of mony to lay out in domesticke affaires and he lauish it out in ryoting drunkennesse and leaud company will not his maister pull his coate ouer his eares brand him for a knaue and turne him out at his gates no doubt he would be as rigorous as so leaude a prancke should deserue why then how do they thinke to escape being bailiffes and stewards to the Lorde of Lordes who hath committed his treasure to them with a charge to laie it out in such mercifull workes as he hath appointed and they runne with it to the market of vanities and expend it in prodigall vses Surely it will bee a mad reckening when they shall come in with Item in Pheasants Patriges Woodcockes sawses sops delicates for the body so much Item in strange fashions and new fangles for my backe so much vpon dogges so much in vaine building so much and such like I suppose this bill of Items will bee scarce pleasing to theyr maister that hath put them in so great trust Then seeing God hath made thee rich and thy brother poore be neuer the more pust vp with pride and disdaine but studiâ— how thou mayest discharge so great a reckning as thou hast to make think this with thy self he that made me rich could haue made me poore it is in his bountie not my deseruing I do but possesse that of which an other is owner who can disinherit me when he will why then should I bragge as if it were mine owne and though my brother be poore yet peraduenture he is richer to God then I I see no difference betweene vs we are both of one moulde â—aue that I haue more chaffe and rubbish then hee which is scattered with euery gust of winde so that if hee well consider his state and expostulate with himselfe in this manner that loade of riches that is now so heauie will be more easily borne The Poets faine that Plutus the god of money is lame when he commeth but hath wings swiftly to depart signifying that as riches are long in getting so they are suddealy lost and therefore a man should be rich in charitie and poore in desire and impart the benefite to the needments and necessitie of other For as there is a diuine coherence between the members of the bodie though they haue all a distinct and peculiar office yet they all minister to the common societie so in like manner we being members of that bodie whereof Christ is the head ought to bend our actiuitie for the health welfare of the same and to beare such a mutuall coniunction and simpathie as feeling members to open the bowels of compassion on such as are in want and this onely is Vertues Common wealth Neuerthelesse there be some well disposed and very forward to all good duties in saying till it come to doing but then they winch like a gald horse ô they cannot away with charge If my abilitie saith one would answere my willingnesse I would do this and that or if I had so much wealth I would relieue the poore better they should not goe emptie handed or if I had so much wit and such means I would countenance good causes with the beautie of honor and so do they vaunt of that they would do and yet do not that they should do I demaund what good doest thou with that little thou hast thou art wise and politique or at least thou thinkest so how doest thou vse it if thou art vnfaithfull in a litle no doubt thou wouldest be so in a great deale for as he is inconfident to whom mony is deliuered vpoÌ„ trust to pale to an other doth either keep it back all or deliuer but halfe so hee that hath much or litle doth not dispose it as he oght is not worthy to be trusted with more Perhaps thou wilt say such a maÌ„ is of great wealth and he doth litle good or none at all why then should I that am of lesser value do any thing this is no excuse for thee nor cause of suspence for thou art to looke to thy owne dutie and not weaken thy owne charitie by the negligence of other men An other wil boast of that litle he doth and be the trumpe of his
owne praise saying I giue thus much weekly to the poore and do this and that good but he is to examine himselfe if it be according to his wealth and place or no for otherwise an other man doth as much that is farre behind in substance and with whom hee would bragge without measure in comparatiue termes but some thinke if they do a little good though it be nothing in liew of their state or if they doo not a great deale of hurt by pilling powling strife factions and such like troubles they haue done so much good that God is bound to paie them somewhat back again But according to the Poet Est quodam prodireteâ—â—s sinon datur vltra Here could I enter in a field of matter more then much But ghesse that all is out of frame and long it hath bene such Although it were better to be occupied in practising those bookes alreadie written then to write more this last age being so full that it doth exceed all other yet the necessitie of times by reason of controuersies do prouoke the learned to spende their labours that way and not only so but in explaining the scriptures and discoursing of Sciences which worke is not only necessary but commendable whereby a generall good is brought in this godly vse of writing cannot be disliked of any vertuous man But forasmuch as some are diuersly affected they obserue not this decorum before noted but fall into vaine iangling and so conceited of their owne wits and haue so many crotchets in their heads that they publish great volumes of nice and curious questions ambiguities doubts as many of the Asse-stronomers that are very inquisitiue to knowe if the world were created in the Spring or Autumne the night before the day and how Moses could write credibly of the worlds creation liuing so many yeares after as thougâ— God could not as well tell him what was passed as he did the Prophets what was to come and such deep secrets as thogh God had called them to counsel In like maner some are busied in Natiuities Destinies Dreames Palmestrie and Phisiognamie in a word who is able to expresse the foolish curiositie of some men that are neuer satisfied in these vaine idle studies but spend whole yeares in searching after doubts and fallacies and in the mean time ouerpasse those things which he hath vouchsafed to reueale vnto vs sufficient for vs to know Noli altum sapere it is no time well spent to soare so high in things shut vp from common vnderstanding and reason and chiefly seeing they are no ground of faith nor meanes to edification But by this the Romaine marchant hath fetched in his greatest gaine I meane by false reuâ—lations and fond opinions as Purgatorie the Econimicall gouernment of the heauenly powers the mansions and chambers in heauen the degrees of Angels and Archangels Cherubins and Seraphins and a thousand other fond imaginations foysted in among them by their schoole dunces which they falsely deriue from Dionisius Ariopagita one of the seuentie Disciples so that by these intricate fallacies and subtill silogisâ—â—es wherewith they are maintained many poore soules are insnared and cast headlong into a laborinth of blinde superstition This curiositie therefore is a daungerous disease and a sore that must be healed least it fester and run ouer the whole body Others there bee that haue such a leaprosie of wit that they to disquiet and trouble the estate seeke for innouation and displant all good order established not onely thereby amazing the weake Christians but also alinating the hearts of many from their due obedience Touching these that carpe at the present discipline I will say little onely this much by the way that although many things may bee misliked in a pollitique state not seeme so precisely good to them that looke a farre off with slight imagination yet may be wel permitted and tollerated in pollicie to keepe peace and quietnesse so be it the fundamentall properties stand fast which otherwise could not but bring much confusion and disorder and therefore it is no sure opinion as the learned suppose to goe about to change lawes and breake downe discipline which is alreadie established least all comelinesse and good order be therewith ouerthrowne Some do nought else but scrape the puddle of contentions to finde matter to wrangle though they haue no cause to carpe Alter rixatur de lana sâ—pe caprina propugnat nugis armatus And these are so ambitious of their sophisticall vaine of wrangling that they put their brabbles in print to the view of the world and out of the rancour and malice of their hearts spew and belch outscandals slaunders rumors and false reports by that meanes kindle flambes of contentions in a peaceable state and distemper the quietnesse of mens affections and this is chiefly bent against good men for the qualitie of grudging enuie is to be sicke with sorrow and virulent hate at the prosperitie of other for hee that is exhorted by the desert of Vertue is subiect to scandalls and the back-biting of the uious But the hauen I intend to harbourin is to speake somewhat of those vaine idle wanton Pamphlets and lasciuious loue-bookes which as fire-brands inflame the concupiscence of youth for in my opinion nothing doth more corrupt and wither greene and tender wits then such vnsauoury and vituperable bookes as hurtful to youth as Machauile to age a plaugh dangerous and as common as dangerous The lazie Monkes fat-headed Friers in whom was nought but sloath idlenes bred this contagion for lining in pleasure ease and not interrupted with cares they had time inough to vomit out their doltish rediculous fables this was the subtiltie of SataÌ„ theÌ„ to occupie Christian wits in Heathens foolery but now this age is more finer mens wits are clarified the dulnesse of that time is thrust out an other method is brought in fine phrases Inkchorn-termes swelling words bumbasted out with the flocks of sundry languages with much pollished and new-made eloquence with these daintie cates they furnish and set out their filthy and vicious bookes now what do they but tye youth in â— setters of lust keepe them in the thoughts of loue for do they not with glosing words tickle and stirre vp the affections to be conceited of some fond passion to be more vngraciously subtill and doo they not labour in vaine cunning to infect and poison delicate youthâ— are not there idle Poems of carnall loue lust and â—nchaste arguments the very nurses of abuse by which the minde is drawne to many pestilent wishes For when as young folkes haue licked in the sweete iuice of these stinking bookes their conuersation and manners are so tainted and spotted with Vice that they can neuer be so cleane washed but some filthy dregges will remaine behinde I may liken them to fawning curres that neuer barke till they bite or a gaye painted coffer full