ALTHOVGH your skill in Physike make you write that (a) (a) Letter to M. T. H. pag. 10. much fasting causeth a vertigo , or giddines of the braine , yet could I haue wished that you had read fasting those few lines of my Treatise which concerne your selfe ; perhaps that which now you mistake as vttered to your reproach , would haue seemed spoken rather in your Honour . For you might haue perceaued that in my short Censure you so much repine at , I did deuide the three degrees of comparision betwixt your three most commendable qualities , Valour , Learning , Wit. I gaue the positiue to your Valour , which I did suppose was famous , though not being acquainted with your particuler exploites , I could not inlarge my selfe in your military praises . The comparatiue I did assigne to your Pen , which is better knowne vnto me , and seeming to deserue precedence , I termed more famous , praising your curious stile , which though ouer light for a graue Deuine , I was willing to winke thereat , thinking such a gaudy attire might beseme a courtly Writer . To your Wit I did reserue the superlatiue degree , whose high pitch , with an allusion to your name I did expresse vnder the metaphor of a soaring Byrd . Neither did my dull capacity then mark how nigh a kin to a Buzzard the soaring Byrd was I did allude vnto . My conceipt , which you acknowledg to be simple , did without any fraud sincerly ayme at your praise . If I did prefer your Wit and Learning , before your Valour , you haue no iust cause of offence ; for I praised in you those things most , which are most proper to men , giuing you Excellency before some men in those qualities , by which all men exceed brute beastes : which apprehension of your Witt , if it did extenuate in my thoughts the iust value of your courage , I might excuse my error with a verse of Cato , Ingenio pollet cui vim natura negauit . with which kind of stuffe you fill your margent .

2. But now your Counter-snarle maketh me fall into the account , and find the true cause why so mild a censure might driue you into so great fitts of cholar : your ambitious thoughts soare so high in the conceipt of your owne Worth , that meane commendations cannot reach them . You must haue (b) (b) Countersn . p. 3. Pandora's box with all guifts in the superlatiue degree bequeathed vnto you . You say , you will not (c) (c) pag. 20. vndertake to be so cunning a star-gazer as to determine whether Mars or Mercurie had the predominance in your natiuity , which also may be the cause that you say I cannot distinguish betwixt a Helmet and a Couentrie Cap , because I did crowne you rather with Mercuries Hat , then Mars his Helmet . Though you speake much against praising ones selfe both in text and margent , where you cite a verse of Cato against that folly , Nec te collaudes , nec te culpaueris ipse ; yet you are so vnmindfull of the very next verse , Hoc faciunt stulti , quos gloria vexat inanis , that you play Miles gloriosus almost in euery page of your Pamphlet . Your skill in Logicke hath made as (d) (d) pa. 60. tall Logitians as my selfe to scratch the best poule they had for an answer . Your conceipt is so exquisit that you can vnderstand (e) (e) pag. 58. not only the argument , but euen the most artificiall conueyance of the best writers ; your memory is so miraculous , that you are able (f) (f) pag. 59. to cyte more then a peece of S. Austen at the table without a prompter , insinuating that you haue the larg volumes of that learned Father without booke . Your martiall valour hath made (g) (g) pa. 20. your enemies feele the sharpnes of your sword , though such hath bene your happines , that your enemies haue bene few . I confesse my pen , though desirous to spread it selfe in your praise within the compasse of truth , durst not reach the high pitch of this your self-flattering flight .

3. And now seing you prouoke me therunto , though I be loath to meddle with your Mars , yet thus much I will adde , that your Letter wherin I found token of Wit , gaue me iust cause to suspect your Valour . First because therin you declare what a most dismall terrour of death hath possessed your thoughts , in prudent contempt wherof Fortitude doth consist . You confesse (h) (h) Letter to M. T. H. pag. 3. that the horrour of the gun-powder plot doth still liuely represent before you , euen in my dreams ( say you ) and imprint in my most serious thoughts that furious blast , which I my selfe , my poore selfe , should haue sensibly felt . Had you detested that wicked treason , as a bloudy massacre of so many worthy Peeres of the Realme , had you trembled therat as at an (i) (i) Conters . 67. Erynnicall attempt against his sacred Maiesty & his Royall issue , with a moderate feeling of your priuate danger , such a fit might haue beseemed a Knight . Now the only cause of your tears and fears are , I , poore I , which II's had that powder put out , the common wealth had not lost any whit of her sight .

4. No lesse want of Nobility and Valour doe you shew in desiring , that the most superlatiue seuerity , and sharpest research may be prosecuted against Catholicks , especially (k) (k) Letter pag. 4. Priests and Iesuites , whom you terme the Viperous brood of those mercilesse hell-hounds , Quibus , say you , ipsa misericordia me viuo numquam ignosceret , whom mercie it self should be thought cruell euer to forgiue . Execution in these cases were better then disputation . How gladly I would see the one may appeare by my forward attempt of the other . And in your margent you make a verse that excedeth no lesse in fury then in feet , stulta est clementia perituro parcere funi . Thus we may be sure , that as long as your Patrimonie lasteth , ropes shall not want to hang vs ; yea rather then the mercie of the Prince should spare vs , you seeme ready to play the executioner your selfe . Can any noble bloud harbour in that hart , that is so greedy of their innocent bloud who detest that bloudy plott , more , and for higher respects then your self ? The (l) (l) Corpora magnanimo satis est prostrasse leoni . Lyon spareth his prostrate enemy , wheras (m) (m) At lupus & turpes instant morientibus vrsi . you long to teare out our harts , in which you cannot find any sinne , besides an ouer feruent desire to help you to heauen .

5. Which my charitie and respect towards you the world will more admire , seeing you protest in that Letter (n) (n) Lett. p. 5. to detest irreconciliably all the incendiaries of the Romish forge , so your snarling stile pleaseth to tearme vs according to your manner , not our (o) (o) Quibusdam canibus innatum est , vt ex sola consuetudine latrent . merit . You will reckon it , you say , amongst (p) (p) pag. 4. your capitall and dreadfull sinnes , if you doe not your best both by sword and pen to reueng that treason , signifying , that you mean with these two weapons to make hauock both of our soules & bodyes , working our temporall death by the one , our eternall by the other . If this be your meaning , I do not meruaile that in your Kitish affection you directed vnto Catholick ladyes a Letter fraught with falshood , and prophane arguments against truth , which preuayling might haue caused the death of their soules . You thought such rare Creatures as you tearme them , an easy and obuious prey , being for the most part vnlearned , not knowing that they had learned of Christ to ioyne (q) (q) Mat. 10. the wisdome of the serpent , with the simplicitie of the doue . That you had that cruell intent , you giue me iust cause to think by the vow which you are ready to make (r) (r) pag. ● . neuer to forgiue vs ( did not your protestant Charitie giue you a restraint ) vntill you heare our pardon pronounced by the mouth of the most supreme Iudg , when forsooth we shall haue great need of your pardon . But though you were restrained in your text , you take liberty in your margent , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . saying in Greeke , you will forgiue vs neither in this world , nor in the world to come , & in a Latin verse , Ante leues ergo pascentur in aethere cerui ; Staggs in the ayre shall sooner fly and feed . Let him make the case his owne that censureth me for ouer much bitternes . Thus you .

6. Can there be greater cruelty then the desire of our eternall perdition , to vow it with your mouth , and seeke it with your penne ? You say in your excuse , that the diuell could not deny pellem pro pelle , but your Protestant Charitie seemeth to exceed the diuells cruelty , not content to haue had the skins of those that would haue had yours : you seeke also that their soules , yea the soules of others that professe the same faith may be damned for the sinnes of those few . Is this Protestant charitie ? Tantae ne animis caelestibus irae ? I cannot beleiue that indeed such barbarous desires lodge in your brest . I thinke your passionate pen exceeded your angrie wishes : yet you cannot deny , but it was charity in me to wink at such vnworthy writing , and , notwithstanding your protested irreconciliable hatred against vs , to vse you with all due respect , not laying the blemishes to your Valour and Nobility , which I might ; yea I let both your sword and your penne , our professed enimies , passe without touch , yea rather with praise .

7 Another token could I alledg that you want knightly Prowesse , namely your singuler dexterity in the vse of the feminine weapon . A barking curre seldome bites ; scarce shall you find one valiant of his hands , that doth delight to skirmish with words ; he semeth to want the courage of valiant Hector to fight in his owne defence , that like snarling Hecuba seekes verball reuenge . You cannot deny your barking language , which as you shame not to professe in the title : so likwise you fayle not to performe in your Treatise : the first Paragraph wherof not able to number threescore lines chargeth the Church of Rome with all these reproaches , Her artificiall shaddowes , vgly shape , counterfet colours , wrinkled deformities , bainfull lust , forging and forcing the countenance of Antiquitie , impious positions , whorish practises , vsurping impudency , impudent vsurpation , a shrewish , distracted , malecontent in her franticke mood , pulling , hailing , spurning , scratching , & tearing all that stands in her way , though neuer so noble by descent , eminent in place , profound in Iudgment , famous for ●●●rning , skilfull in tongues , that if they refuse to daunce a round in her Orgious Anticke , she wil be sure they shal not passe without a broken head or blacke eie . Her suborned Pandars , whifling Agents , venemous crudities , maleuolous aspersions , surfeyted stomakes , infectious dregs , and Hellish drugs cast out of her sulphurious pit .

8. These and other snarles you sound out within the compasse of few lines ; if ( as you say ) (s) (s) Counters . p. 24. he which bringeth a great army into the feild without victuals or munition , is like to goe by the worst , you that muster an army of reproaches against the Church without the munition of any proofe , without any bit of reason to maintaine and make them good , what may you expect ? I feare you will goe by the worst title that men of your Order haue , to be thought a taller man of your tougne then of your hands . You make a long discourse of the (t) (t) pag. 19. bushells of salt you eate in forren countries , Enumerat miles vulnera . which made you so wise , that you neuer ran on the pikes of needlesse dangers : you speake much of your warres , but litle of your wounds ; the cause wherof I do thinke was indeed your Heedines , which I doe commend , (v) (v) p. 68. Periti bellatoris est non minùs scire fugiendi artem quàm pugnandi . and allow that principle of valour you set downe in latin ( u ) that a good souldier should know as well how to runn away , as to fight , which I meane to practise if you challenge me to the field , as the Poesy of your Snarle , Comitantur praelia praelum , may seeme to threaten .

9. I cannot think that your not being giuen to quarells is the reason you sleep in a sound skin , except feare make your tongue lesse vnruly then your pen . You are ready to giue me the lye in defence of a Hang-man , (x) (x) pag. 16. because I said he put a Priest to death in Oxford : you quarrell with me about a crabb : (z) (z) pag. 39. Doth he not deserue , say you of me , the wood of the crabb , that is angry with the crabb of the wood ? I know not what should make such sowre stuffe so sweet to your mouth , that you are iealous it should come nigh vnto mine , that you seeme ready to giue me the bastinado for only naming the Crabb after you , without adding any syllable of mine owne . Well , you see that I was sparing in my censure both of your witt and valour , your Knighthood keeping my pen in awe that he who shall peruse my lines which you traduce as respectlesse , will find I did not vtter one word without due regard of that Honorable Order . I did forbeare to thrust at you because you were a Knight , though you came on my pen , still seeking some Minister on whome I might lay the wound of your inexcusable vntruthes .

10. One thing you cannot brooke ( which I will not deny I spake , as I well might without any disgrace to your Knight-hood or iniury vnto truth ) that I termed your Cursory lines ( so you name your elucubrations , that you say smell of the lampe (a) (a) p. 62. an vnlearned Letter . You appeale to (b) (b) p. 10. Parnassus , and would wash away this staine with Helicons water : you take Sanctuary amongst the sacred Sisters of whose familiarity you bragge that were it not that infirmity doth suppresse the virility of your spirit , you could perhaps readily shew as many of their fauours , as I can , though I seeke and search all the corners of my deske . I will not contend with you about Parnassus , neyther do I enuy your familiarity with the Poeticall Sisters of Apollo his quire , vnto whome ( though in my childehood I knew them , yet ) since I could number thrice fiue yeares of my lyfe I haue bene a stranger , my tyme hath bene spent and my delight settled in more worthy and grauer studdy of Philosophicall and Theologicall verities ; want of which in your cursory lines ( as you tearme them ) made me call them an vnlearned Letter : and your appealing to Parnassus and bragging of the many fauours affoarded vnto you by the Sacred Systers , cannot proue your said Letter to be learned in such sense as I tearmed it vnlearned .

11. I would be loath to be so full as you seeme to be of those waters which flowe so fast from your penne , as they ouerrun your paper , your marginall verses drowning the truth of your text . Sobrietie might smile to see the Poetrie of the one , snarle at the Prose of the other ; though sometymes euen when they iarre most , a man shall find truth in neyther . The first sentence of your Snarle shal be witnesse thereof , which may serue as a perspectiue vnto the rest : there you say , that heresie in all ages hath contriued artificiall shaddowes , which your marginall muse gain-sayeth in a Latin verse .

Importing , that witty impiety wanteth art : A manifest vntruth as the world knoweth , yet no lesse notoriously false is your Prose , that the countenance of venerable Antiquitie is the artificiall colour wherewith Heresie doth paint herselfe . For that Heresie in former ages still disclaymed from venerable Antiquity , still refused to stand to the Tradition of Ancestours , still varnished her wrincled deformityes with faire places of Scripture , as is your Protestant practice , you would not now be to learne , were your knowledge in Ecclesiasticall Hystoryes equall to your skill in Poeticall fables . Thus you fight with your text against your margent , with your margent against your text , with both against the truth , nay sometymes your Muse is so madde that in a Poeticall fury , she not only crosseth your text , but also woundeth your honour . Such are the verses you bestow on your Indian weed . (d) (d) pag. 38. foeda Tobacciferi quid vult contagio fumi ? Praeter inauditam per tua membra luem . which verses may giue a shrewd suspition that you who haue byn a great friend therof , are tainted with that infamous disease .

12. But Syr the Learning with want wherof I charged your Letter , is neyther Parnassian , nor Poeticall , nor prophane , but sacred , holy , diuine , which not Apollo but Christ teacheth , water which not Helicon , but Scripture yieldeth , gotten not by light familiarity with sacred sisters , but by diligent & exact reading of Holy Fathers , in whose writings what a stranger you are , this my Letter will sufficiently discouer . It will appeare that you reuile the learned muses of the Christian Church , whome you neuer read : the doctrines which they most clearly deliuer you dare affirme were not taught but by Heathens & Hobgoblius ; the interpretations they deriue from the fontaine of Scripture you say were fecht from the pit of Hell . These things shall be made cleare in the Chapters that follow : now to dispach all your toyes , before we enter into more serious matter , I will shew the vanity of your weake assaults against my Treatise , which you seeke to disgrace , that the comparison of your pouerty , with my (e) (e) pag. 11. nullity , may purchase you the title of mediocrity . You tearme my booke a (f) (f) pag. 5. little pretty Pigmey ; yet like one besieging a stronge fortresse you ride thrice about it , seeking where you may make a breach to enter , battering the lines therof first with flies , then with fyes , finally with lyes .

13. First you search how often I haue named the fly or spider , (g) (g) pag. 12. noting in your margent that those two creatures one with the other haue beene forteene tymes put into my whole treatise , together charging the same with soloecismes , incongruities of speach , iesting at a parenthesis which you call iobbing in my first sentence , that many a good mans dogge , say you , hath broken his leg ouer a lesse stile . I must confesse sir I doe not bumbast my bookes with your fustian phrases , nor builde my stile as you do of strange trees cut from forraine forrests ; that sure I am , none will acknowledge your language to be English , except you get a Parliament to naturalize it . My drift in writing is not to bee admired , but vnderstood , which makes mee not sticke to vtter my mind rather in a crabbed then a new created phrase thinking it lesse harme that a cauelling curre pricke his foote , then any learned man breake his head . To climbe vnto my meaning I am more curious that my doctrine bee true , then my speach smooth , thinking the booke written in a stile good inough , when wordes are so laide in order , & lines drawne in such compasse that they keep iust proportion with their center , to wit truth , towardes which I did presuppose the hartes of those worthy Gentlemen vnto whome I wrote did so mainly incline , that the thornes of my phrases had it beene more crabbed than one iobbing parenthesis can make it , would not hold them backe from perusing my Treatise . Neyther can I say , that therein I haue beene deceiued of my hope .

14. But I haue bene , you say ( h ) for want of a good mydwife fiue yeares in trauaile with my lisping Pigmey : wheras you whelped in few months your snarling puppye : to which I might answere that a hastie bich bringeth forth blind whelps . The seeliest birds are soonest flush (i) (i) Sanctius his animal mentisque capacius altae . . Natures perfectest worke in many yeares arriueth vnto mature ripenes ; Minerua's , fruitfull plant is long a growing , wheras many barren trees spring vp a pace .

My fortune is not like yours , to haue still a good midwyfe at hand : the smoake of your chimney inuiting learned Ministers to your table , who , as you seeme to confesse , (k) (k) p. 61. lend you their helping-hand in the prompt deliuerie of your Impes . Wherin you compare your selfe to Iupiter , who was faine to send for Vulcan & his hatchet , before Pallas could come into the world ; without the help of these Vulcans & their sharp hatchets , that hewed it out of your head , you might perchance haue bene more yeares in building your faire Pallas , then I spent on my litle Pinnace , though those that know me , can tell , that after I seriously vndertook the task , I was not about it so many months as yow name yeares . In busines of this nature I desire to make no more hast , then good speed , Sat citò , si sat bene . The thing is dispatched soone that is perfourmed well . None are more subiect to shamefull falles , then such as ride post , as your cursorie lines seeme to doe in the slippery veyne of writing .

15. I know the Fathers eye is a partiall ●udge in the beautie of his owne Childe , yet you giue me good hope that my Creatures will not seeme deformed , where learning with indifferencie shall passe her censure , seeing your curious and carping sight , which the least flye could not escape , hath not bene able to shew therin any true fault . Were not Canon-shot wanting to batter the sides of my Pinnace , the substance of my discourse , your (l) (l) puerilis sane & augusti pectoris reprehensio . Arnob. l. 1. con . gentes childish squibbs would not flye so fast at the saile of my stile : you that accuse me of leaden art , could you haue found in my answere , leaden sentences to haue made bulletts against me , you would not haue sought to cracke my credit with fourteen flyes , with solaecismes , & incongruities of speach . Sure I am the most iudicious Censurers esteeme some few such seeming faults not to be (m) (m) vt facit factem naeuus , quod dicitur , venustiorem : sic vitia quaedam orationis audiunt figurae & ornamenta . blemishes but rather ornaments in the purest writers , both of the Latin and Grecian language . The stile is childish which still feareth the rod , not daring to depart one sillable from the rules of Grammar : neither would you be so sollicitous about a Solaecisme were not the terrour of Eaton schoole still fresh in your memorie . As in a consort of sweet voyces a discord now and then doth make the musick more pleasing ; so the (n) (n) solaecismi sunt apud politissimos vtruisque l●nguae . worthyest writers haue left some iobbs passe in their workes , which do rather delight then offend a Iudicious reader . Thus might I defend solaecismes and incongruities of speach , which yet you obiect without any proofe . Truly Syr , these trifling cauills force me to confesse , that you had reason to call me Buzzard , (i) (i) pag. 21. for comparing you to a soaring bird of the Eagle-kind , who thus houer ouer my booke to catch flyes , that one cannot so soone light one my paper , but you haue it straight in your margent . This then is your first assault or batterie to my phrase with flyes .