PRotogenes can know Apelles by his line though he se him not , and wise men can consider by the Penn the aucthoritie of the writer thoughe they know him not . the Rubie is discerned by his pale rednes , and who hath not hard that the Lyon is knowne by hys clawes . though Aesopes craftie crowe be neuer so defil●…e decked , yet is his double dealing esely desiphered : & though men neuer so perfectly pollish there wrytings with others sentences , yet the simple truth wil discouer the shadow of ther follies : and bestowing euery fether in the bodye of the right M. tourne out the naked dissembler into his owen cote , as a spectacle of follye to all those which can rightlye Iudge what imperfections be . There came to my hands lately a litle ( woulde God a wittye ) pamphelet , baring a fayre face as though it were the scoole of a buse but being by me aduisedly wayed I fynd it the oftscome of imperfections , the writer fuller of wordes then iudgement , the matter certaiuely as ridiculus as serius . asuredly his mother witte wrought this wonder , the child to disprayse his father the dogg to byte his mayster for his dainty morcell . but I se ( with Seneca ) that the wrong is to be suffered , since he disprayseth , who by costome hath left to speake well . but I meane to be short : and teach the Maister what he knoweth not , partly that he may se his own follie , and partly that I may discharge my promise , both binde me . therefore I would wish the good scholmayster to ouer looke his abuses againe with me , so shall he see an ocean of inormities which begin in his first prinsiple in the disprayse of poetry . And first let me familiarly consider with this find faulte what the learned haue alwayes esteemed of poetrie . Seneca theughe a stoike would haue a poeticall sonne , and amongst the auncientest Homer was no les accompted then Humanus deus . what made Alexander I pray you esteme of him so much ? why allotted he for his works so curious a closset ? was ther no fitter vnter prop for his pillow them a simple pamphelet ? in all Darius cofers was there no Iewell so costly ? forsoth my thinks these two ( the one the father of Philosophers , the other the cheftaine of chiualrie ) were both deceiued if all were as a Gosson would wish them , yf poets paynt naughte but palterie toyes in vearse , their studies tended to folishnesse , and in all their indeuors they did naught els but agendo nihil agere . Lord howe Virgils poore gnatt pricketh him , and how Ouids fley byteth him , he can beare no bourde , he hath raysed vp a new sect of serius stoikes , that can abide naught but their owen shadowe , and alow nothing worthye , but what they conceaue . Did you neuer reade ( my ouer wittie frend ) that vnder the persons of beastes many abuses were dissiphered ? haue you not reason to waye ? that whatsoeuer ether Virgil did write of his gnatt , or Ouid of his fley : was all couertly to declare abuse ? but you are ( homo literatus ) a man of the letter little sauoring of learning , your giddy brain made you leaue your thrift , and your abuses in London some part of your honestie . You say that Ports are subtil , if so , you haue learned that poynt of them , you can well glose on a trifleling text . but you haue dronke perhaps of Lethe , your gramer learning is out of your head , you forget your Accidence , you remember not , that vnder the person of Aeneas in Virgil the practice of a dilligent captaine is discribed vnder the shadow of byrds , beastes and trees , the follies of the world were disiphered , you know not , that the creation is signified in the Image of Prometbeus , the fall of pryde in the person of Narcissus , these are toyes because they sauor of wisedome which you want . Marke what Campanus sayth , Mira fabularum vanitas sed quae si introspiciantur videri possunt non vanoe . The vanitie of tales is wonderful , yet if we aduisedly looke into them they wil seme & proue wise , how wonderful are the pithie poemes of Cato ? the curious comidies of Plautus ? how brauely discouereth Terence our imperfection in his Eunuch ? how neatly dissiphereth he Danus ? how plea sauntly paynteth he out Gnatho ? whom if we should seeke in our dayes , I suppose he would not be farr from your parson . But I see you woulde seeme to be that which you are not , and as the prouerb sayth Nodum in Cirpo quaerere : Poetes you say vse coullors to couer ther incouiences , and wittie sentences to burnish theyr bawdery , and you diuinite to couer your knauerye . But tell mee truth Gosson speakest thou as thou thinkest ? what coelers findest thou in a Poete not to be admitted ? are his speaches vnperfect ? sanor they of inscience . I think if thou hast any shame thou canst not but like & approue them , are ther gods displesant vnto thee ? both Saturne in his maiesty moue thee ? doth Iuno with her riches displease thee ? doth Minerua with her weapon discomfort thee ? doth Apollo with his harping harme thee ? thou mayst say nothing les then harme thee because they are not , and I thinke so to because thou knowest them not . For wot thou that in the person of Saturne our decaying yeares are signified , in the picture of angry Iuno , our affections are dissiphered , in that person of Minerua is our understanding signified , both in respect of warre , as policie . when they faine that Pallas was begotten of the braine of Iupiter their meaning is none other , but that al wisedome ( as the learned say ) is from aboue , and commeth from the father of Lights : in the portrature of Apollo all knowledge is denocated . so that , what so they wrot , it was to this purpose , in the way of pleasure to draw men to wisedome : for seing the world in those daies was vnperfect , yt was necessary that they like good Phisions : should so frame their potions , that they might be appliable to the quesie stomaks of their werish patients . but our studientes by your meanes haue made shipwrack of theyr labors , our schoolemaisters haue so offended that by your iudgement they shall subire pae nam capitis for teaching poetry , the vniuersitie is litle beholding to you , al their practices in teaching are frivolus . Witt hath wrought that in you , that yeares and studie neuer setled in the heàds of our sagest doctors . No meruel though you disprayse poetrye , when you know not what it meanes . Erasmus will make that the path waye to to knowledge which you disprayse , and no meane fathers vouchsafe in their seriouse questions of deuinitie , to inserte poeticall sensures . I think if we shal wel ouerloke the Philosophers , we shal find their iudgements not halfe perfect , Poetes you saye fayle in their fables , Philosophers in the verye secrets of Nature . Though Plato could wish the expulsion of Poetes from his well publiques , which he might doe with reason , yet the wisest had not all that same opinion , it had bene better for him to haue sercht more narowly what the soule was , for his difinition was verye frivolus , when he would make it naught els but Substantiam intelectu predictam . if you say that Poetes did labour about nothing , tell me ( I besech you ) what wonders wroughte those your dunce Doctors in ther reasons de ente et non ente ? in theyr definition of no force , and les witt ? how sweate they power soules in makinge more things then cold be ? that I may vse your owne phrase , did not they spende one candle by seeking another . Democritus , Epicurus , with ther scholler Metrodorus how labored they in finding out more worlds than one ? your Plato in midst of his presisnes wrought that absurdite that neuer may be redd in Poets , to make a yearthly creature to be are the person of the creator , and a corruptible substaunce , an incomprehensible God : for determining of the principall causes of all thinges , a made them naughte els but an Idea which if it be conferred wyth the truth , his sentence will sauour of Inscience . but I speake for Poetes , I answeare your abuse , therefore I will disproue , or disprayse naught , but wish you with the wise Plato , to disprayse that thing you offend not in . Seneca sayth that the studdie of Poets , is to make children ready to the vnderstanding of wisedom , and the our auneients did teache artes Eleutberias . i. liberales , because the instructed children by the instrument of knowledg in time became homines liberi . i. Philosophye . it may be that in reding of poetry , it happened to you as it is with the Oyster , for she in her swimming receiueth no ayrs , and you in your reeding lesse instruction it is reported that the shepe of Enboia want ther gale , and one the contrarye side that the beastes of Naxus haue distentum fel. Men hope that scollers should haue witt brought vpp in the Uniuersite , but your sweet selfe with the cattell of Enboia , since you left your College haue lost your learning . you disprayle Max iminns Tirius pollicey , and that thinge that that he wrott to manifest learned Poets meaning , you atribute to follye . O holyhedded man , why may not Iuno resemble the ayre ? why not Alexander valour ? why not Vlisses pollice ? will you haue all for you owne tothe ? must men write that you maye know theyr meaning ? as though your wytt were to wrest all things ? Alas simple Irus . begg at knowledge gate awhile , thou haste not wonne the mastery of learning . weane thy selfe to wisedome , and vse thy tallant in zeale not for enuie , abuse not thy knowledge in dispraysing that which is pereles : I shold blush from a player , to become an enuiouse preacher , if thou hadst zeale to preach , if for Sions sake thou coldst not holde thy tougue , thy true dealing were prayse worthy , thy reuolting woulde counsell me to reuerence thee . pittie weare it , that poetrye should be displaced , full little could we want Buchannans workes , and Boetius comfortes may not be banish●…d . what made Erasmus labor in Euripides tragedies ? did he indeuour by painting them out of Greeke into Latine to manifest sinne vnto vs ? or to confirme vs in goodues ? Labor ( I pray thee ) in Pamphelets more prayse worthy , thou haste not saued a Senator , therefore not worthye a Lawrell wreth , thou hast not ( in disprouing poetry ) reproued an abuse , and therfore not worthy commendation . Seneca sayth that Magna vitae pars elabitur male agentibus , maxima nihill agentibus , tota alind agentibus , the most of our life ( sayd he ) is spent ether in doing euill , or nothing , or that wee should not , and I would wish you weare exempted from this sensure , geue eare but a little more what may be said for poetrie , for I must be briefe , you haue made so greate matter that I may not stay on one thing to long , lest I leaue an other vntouched . And first whereas you say , the Tullie in his yeres of more iudgement despised Poetes , harke ( I pray you ) what he worketh for them in his oration pro Archia poeta ( but before you heare him least you fayle in the incounter , I would wysh you to to followe the aduise of the dasterdlye I●…neumon of Aegipt , who when shee beholdeth the Aspis her enemye to drawe nighe , calleth her fellowes together , bismering her selfe with claye , against the byting and stroke of the serpent , arme your selfe , cal your witts together : want not your wepons , lest your inperfect iudgement be rewardede with Midas eares . you had neede play the night burd now , for you day Owl hath misconned his parte , and for to who now a dayes he cryes foole you : which hath brought such a sort of wondering birds about your eares , as I feare me will chatter you out of your Iuey bush . the worlde shames to see you , or els you are afrayde to shew your selfe . you thought poetrye should want a patron ( I think ) when you fyrste published this inuectiue , but yet you fynd al to many euen preter expectationem , yea though it can speake for it self , yet her patron Tullie now shall tell her tale , Haec studia ( sayth he ) adolescentiam alunt , Senectutem oblectant , secundas , res ornant , aduersis perfugium ac Solatium prebent , delectant domi , non impediunt foris , peruoctant nobiscum , peregriantur , rustic antur . then will you disprayse that which all men commend ? you looke only vp on the refuse of the abuse , nether respecting the importance of the matter nor the weight of the wryter . Solon can fayne himselfe madde , to further the Athenians . Chaucer in pleasant vain can rebuke sin vncontrold , & though he be lauish in the letter , his sence is serious . who in Rome lamented noc Roscius death ? & canst thou suck no plesure out of thy M. Claudians writings ? hark , what Cellarius a learned father attributeth to it . acuit memoriam ( saith he ) it profiteth the memory . yea & Tully atributeth it for prais to Archias that vpon any theame he cold versify extempory . who liketh not of the promptnes of Ouid ? who not vnworthely cold bost of himself thus Quicquid conabar dicere versus erat . who then doothe not wonder at poetry ? who thinketh not that it procedeth from aboue ? what made the Chians & Colophonians fal to such controuersy ? Why seke the Smirnians , to recouer from the Salamini ans the prais of Homer ? al wold haue him to be of ther city , I hope not for harme , but because of his knoledge . Themistocles desireth to be acquainted with those with could best discipher his praises . euen Marius himselfe , tho neuer so cruel , accompted of Plotinus poems . what made Aphricanus esteme Eunius ? why did Alexander giue prais to Achilles but for the prayses which he found written of hym by Homer ? Why estemed Pompie so muche of Theophanes Mitilet●…s or Brutus so greatlye the wrytinges 〈◊〉 Accius ? Fuluius was so great a fauorer of poetry , that after the Aetolian warres , he attributed to the Muses those spoiles that belonged to Mars , in all the Romaine conquest , hardest thou euer of a slayne Poete ? nay rather the Emperours honored them , beautified them with benefites , & decked their sanctuaries which sacrifice . Pindarus colledg is not fit for spoil of Alexander ouercome , nether feareth poetry the persecutors sword . what made Austin so much affectate the heauenly fury ? not folly , for if I must needes speake , illnd non ausim affirmare , his zeale was , in setting vp of the house of God , not in affectate eloquence , he wrot not , he accompted not , he honnored not , so much that ( famous poetry ) whyche we prayse , without cause , for if it be true that Horace reporteth in his booke de arte poetica , all the answeares of the Oracles weare in verse . among the precise Iewes , you shall find Poetes , and for more maiestie Sibilla will prophesie in verse . Hiroaldus can witnes with me , that Dauid was a poet , and that his vayne was in imitating ( as S. Ierom witnesseth ) Horace , Flaccus , & Pinda rus , somtimes his verse runneth in an I am bus foote , anone he hath recourse to a Saphi er vaine , aliquando , semipede ingreditur . ask Iosephus , and he wil tel you that Esay , Iob and Salomon , voutsafed poetical practises , for ( if Origen and he fault ) not theyre verse was Hexameter , and pentameter . Enquire of Cassiodorus , he will say that all the beginning of Poetrye proceeded from the Scripture . Paulinus tho the byshop of Nolanum yet voutsafe the name of a Poet , and Ambrose tho he be a patriarke in mediolan●… loueth versifing Beda shameth not the science that shamelesse Gosson misliketh reade ouer Lactantius , his proofe is by poetry . & Paul voutsafeth to ouerlooke Epimenides let the Apostle preach at Athens he disdaineth not of Aratus authorite . it is a pretye sentence yet not so prety as pithy . Poetana scitur or ator fit as who should say , Poetrye commeth from aboue from a heauenly seate of a glorious God vnto an excellent creature man , an orator is but made by exercise . for if wee examine well what befell Ennius amonge the Romans , and Hesiodus among his contrimen the Gretians , howe they came by theyr knowledge whence they receued their heauenly furye , the first will tell vs that sleping vpon the Mount of Parnassus he dreamed that he receiued the soule of Homer into him , after the which he became a Poete , the next will assure you that it commeth not by labor , nether that night watchings bringeth it , but that we must haue it thence whence he fetched it with was ( he saith ) from a wel of the Muses with Cabelimus calleth Porum , a draught whereof drewe him to his perfection , so of a shephard he becam an eloquent poet . wel then you see that it commeth not by exercise of play making , nether insertion of gawds , but from nature , and from aboue : and I hope that Aristotle hath sufficiently taught you : that Natura nihil fecit frustra . Perseus was made a poete diuino furore percitus and whereas the poets wer●… sayde to call for the Muses helpe thermening was no other as Iodocus Badius reporteth , but to call for heauenly in spiration from aboue to direct theyr endedeuors . nether were it good for you to sette light by the name of a port since the oftspring from whence he commeth is so heauenly . Sibil la in hir answers to Aeneas against hir will as the poet telleth vs was possessed with thys fury , ye wey consideratly but of the writing of poets , & you shal se that when ther matter is most heauenly , their stile is most lo●…tye . a strange token of the wonderfull efficacy of the same . I would make a long discourse vn to you of Platoes 4. furies but I leue them it pitieth me to bring a rodd of your owne making to beate you wythal . But mithinks while you heare thys I see you swallowe down your owne spittle for reuenge , where ( God wot ) my wryting sauoreth not of enuye . in this case I coulde wyshe you fare farre otherwyse from your foe yf you please I wyll become your frende and see what a potion or receypt I can frame fytt for your diet . and herein I will proue my selfe a prac tiser , before I purdge you , you shall take a preparatiue to dis burden your heauy hedde of those grose follis you haue conceued : but the receipt is bitter , therfore I would wysh you first to tasteu your mouth with the Suger of perseuerance : for ther is a cold collop y● must downe your throate yet suche a one as shall chaunge your complection quit . I wyll haue you therfore to tast first of the cold riuer Phricus , in Thratia which as Aristotle reporteth changeth blacke into white , or of Scamandar , which maketh gray yalow that is of an e●…ous man a wel minded person , reprehending of zeale that wherin he hath sinned by folly , & so being prepard , thy purgation wyll worke more easy , thy vnderstandinge wyll be more persit , thou shalt blush at thy abuse , and reclaime thy selfe by force of argument so will thou proue of clene recouered patient , and I a perfecte practiser in framing so good a potion . this broughte to passe I with the wil seeke out some abuse in poetry , which I wil seeke for to disproue by reason first pronounced by no smal birde euen Aristotle himself Poetae ( sayth he ) multà mentiuntur and to further his opin●…on seuer Cato putteth in his cencure .

Admiranda canunt sed non credenda poetae . these were sore blemishes if obiected rightly and heare you may say the streme runues a wronge , but if it be so by you leue . I wyll bring him shortly in his right chanel . My answere shall not be my owne , but a learned father shall tell my tale , if you wil know his name men call him Lactantius : who in hys booke de diuinis institutionibus reesoneth thus . I suppose ( sayth he ) Poets are full of credit , and yet it is requesite for those that wil vnderstand them to be admonished , that among them , not onely the name but the matter beareth a show of that it is not : forlif sayth he we examine the Scriptures litter allye nothing will seeme more falls , and if we way Poetes wordes and not ther meaning , our learning in them wil be very mene you see nowe that your Catoes iudgement as of no force and that all your obiections you make agaynst poetrye be of no valor yet lest you should be altogether discoraged I wyll helpe you forwarde a little more , it pities me to consider the weaknes of your cause I wyll therfore make your strongest reason , more strong and after I haue builded it vp destroy it agayn . Poets you confesse are eloquent but you reproue them in their wantonnesse , they write of no wisedom , you may say their tales are frivolus , they prophane holy thinges , they seeke nothing to the perfection of our soules . theyr practise is in other things , of lesse force : to this obiection I answer no otherwise then Horace doeth in his booke de arte poetica where he wryteth thus .

I cannot leaue Tirtheus pollicy vntouched , who by force of his pen could incite men to the defence of theyr countrye . if you require of the Oracle of Apollo what successe you shal haue : respondet bellicoso numine lo now you see your obiections my answers , you behold or may perceiue manifestlye , that Poetes were the first raysors of cities , prescribers of good lawes , mayntayners of religion , disturbors of the wicked , aduancers of the wel disposed , inuentors of laws , & lastly the very fot paths to knowledg . & understanding ye if we shold beleue Herome he wil make Platos ex iles honest men , & his pestiferous poets good preachers : for he accounteth Orpheus Museus , & Linus , Christians , therefore Virgil ( in his 6. boke of Aeneiados wher he lernedly describeth the iourny of Aeneas to Elisum ) asserteneth vs , that among them that were ther for the zeale they beare toward there country , ther wer found Quinque pij vates et Phaebo digna loquti but I must answer al obiections , I must fil euery nooke . I must arme my self now , for here is the greatest bob I can gather out of your booke forsoth Ouids abuses , in descrybing whereof you labour very vehementlye termig him letcher , & in his person dispraise all poems , but shall on mans follye destroye a vniuerlsal commodity ? what gift what perfit knowledg hath ther bin , emong the professors of with ther hath not bin a bad , on the Angels haue sinned in heauen , Ada & Eue in earthly paradise , emong the holy apostles vngratious Iudas . I reson not that al poets are holy but I af firme the poetry is a heauenvly gift , a perfit gift then with I know not greater plesure . & surely if I may speak my mind I thik we shal find but few poets if it were exactly wayd what they oughte to be your Muscouian straungers , your Scithian monsters wonderful by one Eurus brought vpon one stage in ships made of Sheepeskins , wyll not proue you a poet nether your life alow you to bee of that learning if you had wisely wayed the abuse of poetry if you had reprehended the foolish fantasies of our poets nomine non re which they bring forth on stage , my self wold haue liked of you & allowed your labor . but I perceiue nowe that all red colloured stones are not Rubies , nether is euery one Alexandar that hath a stare in his cheke , al lame men are not Vulcans , nor hooke nosed men . Ciceroes nether each professer a poet , I abhore those poets that sauor of ribaldry , I will with the zealous admit the expullcion of suche enormities poetry is dispraised not for the folly that is in it , but for the abuse whiche manye ill Wryters couller by it . Beleeue mee the magestrats may take aduise , ( as I knowe wisely can ) to roote out those odde rymes which runnes in euery rascales mouth . Sauoring of rybaldry , those foolishe ballets , that are admitted , Make poets good and godly practises to be refused . I like not of a wicked Nero that wyll expell Lucan , yet admit I of a zealous gouernour that wil seke to take away the abuse of poetry . I like not of an angrye Augustus which wyll banishe Ouid for enuy , I loue a wise Senator , which in wisedome wyll correct him and with aduise burne his follyes : vnhappy were we yf like poore Scaurus we shoulde find Tiberius that wyll put vs to death for a tragedy making but most blessed were we , if we might find a iudge that seuerely would amende the abuses of Tragedies , but I leaue the reformation thereof to more wyser than my selfe , And retourne to Gosson whom I wyshe to be fully perswaded in this cause , and therefore I will tell hym a prety story , which Iustin wryteth in the prayse of poetrye . The Lacedemonians when they had loste many men in diuers incountryes with theyr enemyes soughte to the Oracles of Apollo requiring how they myght recouer theyr losses , it was answered that they mighte ouercome if so be that they could get an Athenian gouernor , whereupon they sent Orators vnto the Athenians humbly requesting them that they woulde appoynt them out one of theyr best captaynes : the Athenians owinge them old malice , sent them in steede of a soldado vechio a scholar of the Muses . in steede of a worthy warrior a poore poet , for a couragious Themistocles a silly Tirthetus , a man of great eloquence and singuler wytte , yet was he but a lame lymde captaine more fit for the coche then the field , the Lacedemonians trusting the Oracle , receued the champion , and fearing the gouernment of a stranger , made him ther Citizen . which once don and he obteining the Dukdome , he assended the theater , and ther very learnedly , wyshing them to forget theyr folly , and to thinke on victory they being acuate by his eloquence waging battail won the fielde . Lo now you see that the framing of common welthes , & defence therof , proceedeth from poets , how dare you therfore open your mouth against them ? how can you disprayse the preseruer of a countrye ? you compare Homer to Methecus , cookes to Poetes , you shame your selfe in your vnreueren similituds , you may see your follyes verbum sapienti sat . where as Homar was an ancient poet , you disalow him , and accompte of those of lesser iudgement . Strabo calleth poetry , primam sapientiam . Cicero in his firste of hys Tusculans attributcth the inuencion of philosophy , to poets . God keepe vs from a Plato that should expel such men . pittie were it that the memory of these valiant victours should be hidden , which haue dyed in the behalfe of ther countryes : miserable were our state yf we wanted those worthy volumes of poetry could the learned beare the losse of Homer ? or our younglings the wrytings of Mantuan ? or you your volumes of historyes ? beleue me yf you had wanted your Mysteries of nature , & your stately storyes , your booke would haue scarce bene fedde wyth matter . if therefore you will deale in things of wisdome , correct the abuse , honor the science , renewe your schoole , crye out ouer Hierusalem wyth the prophet , the woe that he pronounced , wish the teacher to reforme hys lyfe , that his weake fcholler may proue the wyser , cry out against vnsaciable desyre in rich men , tel the house of Iacob theyr iniquities , lament with the Apostle the want of laborers in the Lords vineyards , cry out on those dume doggs that will not barke , wyll the mightye that they ouermayster not the poore , and put downe the beggers prowde heart by thy perswasions . Thunder oute wyth the Prophete Micha the mesage of the LORD , and wyth hym desyre the Iudges to heare thee , the Prynces of Iacob to hearken to thee , and those of the house of Israell to vnderstande then tell them that they abhorre iudgement , and preuent equitie , that they iudge for rewardes , and that theyr priests teach for hyre , and the prophets thereof prophesie for money , and yet that they saye the Lorde is wyth them , and that no euil can befall them , breath out the sweete promises to the good , the cursses to the badde , tell them that a peeace muste needes haue a warre , and that God can rayse vp another Zenacharib , shew than that Salamons kingdome was but for a season and that aduersitie cometh ere we espye it . these be the songes of Sion , these be those rebukes which you oughte to add to abuses recouer the body , for it is sore , the appedices thereof will easely be reformed , if that wear at a staye , but other matter call me and I must not staye vpon this onely , there is an easier task in hand for me , and that which if I may speak my conscience , fitteth my vain best , your second abuse Gosson , your second abuse your disprayses of Musik , which you vnaduisedly terme pyping : that is it wyll most byte you , what so is a ouerstay of life , is displesant to your person , musik may not stand in your presence , whereas all the learned Philosophers haue alwayes had it in reuerence . Homar commendeth it highly , referring to the prayses of the Gods whiche Gosson accompteth folishnesse , looke vppon the harmonie of the Heauens ? hange they not by Musike ? doe not the Spheares moue ? the primus motor gouerne . be not they inferiora corpora affected quadam sumpathia and agreement ? howe can we measure the debilitie of the patient but by the disordered motion of the pulse ? is not man worse accompted of when he is most out of time ? is there any thinge that more affecteth the sence ? doth there any pleasure more acuat our vnderstanding . can the wonders that hath wroughte and which you your selfe confesse no more moue you ? it fitteth well nowe that the learned haue sayd , musica requirit generosum animum which since it is fat from you , no maruel though you fauor not that profession . it is reported of the Camelion that shee can chaunge her selfe vnto all coollors saue whyte , and you can accompte of all thinges saue such as haue honesty . Plutarch your good Mayster may bare me witnes , that the ende whereto Musick was , will prooue it prayes worthy , O Lorde howe maketh it a man to remember heauenly things . to wonder at the works of the creator , Eloquence can stay the souldiars sworde from slayinge an Orator , and shall not musike be magnified which not onely saueth the bodye but is a comfort to the soule ? Dauid reioyseth singeth and prayseth the Lorde by the Harpe , the Simbale is not remoued from his sanc tuary , the Aungels syng gloria in excelsis . Surely the imagination in this present instant , calleth me to a deepe consideration of my God . looke for wonders where musike worketh , and wher harmonie is ther foloweth increcible delectation . the bowels of the earth yeld . where the instrument soundeth and Pluto cannot keepe Proserpina if Orphe us recorde . The Seas shall not swallowe Arion whilst he singeth , nether shall hee perish while he harpeth , a doleful tuner yf a di ing musition can moue a Monster of the sea . to mourne . a Dolphin respectet a heauenlye recorde . call your selfe home therefore and reclayme thys follye , it is to foule to bee admitted , you may not mayntaine it . I hadd well hoped you woulde in all these thynges haue wiselye admytted the thyng , and disalowe naughte but the abuse , but I see your mynde in your wrytinge was to penn somewaht you knowe not what , and to confyrme it I wot not howe , so that your selfe hath hatched vs an Egge yet so that it hath blest vs wyth a monsterus chickin , both wythoute hedde , and also tayle , lyke the Father , full of imperfection and lesse zeale . well marke yet a lyttle more , beare with me though I be bytter , my loue is neuer the lesse for that I haue learned of Tullye , that Nulla remedia tam faciunt dolorem quam quae sunt salutaria , the sharper medycine the better it cures , the more you see your follye , the sooner may you amende it . Are not the straines in Musike to tickle and delyght the eare ? are not our warlike instruments to moue men to valor ? You confesse they mooue vs , but yet they delight not our eares , I pray you whence grew that poynt of Phylosophy ? it is more then euer my Mayster taught mee , that a thynge of sounde shoulde not delyghte the eare . belyke yee suppose that men are monsters , withoute eares , or else I thyake you wyll saye they heare with theire heeles , it may bee so , for indeede when wee are are delighted with Musike , it maketh our heart to scypp for ioye , and it maye bee perhaps by assending from the heele to the hygher partes , it may moue vs , good policy in sooth , this was of your owne coyning your mother neuer taught it you , but I wyll not deale by reason of philosophye wyth you for that confound your sences , but I can asure you this one thinge , that this principle will make the wiser to mislike your inuention , it had bene a fitter iest for your howlet in your playe , then an ornament in your booke . but since you wrote of abuses we may licence you to lye a little , so the abuse will be more manifest . lord with how goodly a cote haue you clothed your conceiptes , you abound in storyes but impertinent , they bewray your reeding but not your wisedom would God they had bin well aplyed . But now I must play the musitian right nolesse buggs now come in place but pauions and mesures , dumps & fancies & here growes a great question , what musick Homer vsed in curing the diseased gretians , it was no dump you say , & so think I , for that is not apliable to sick men , for it fauoreth Malancholie . I am sure , it was no mesure , for in those days they were not such good dansers for soth them what was it ? if you require me . if you name me the instrument , I wyl tel you what was the musik , mean while a gods name let vs both dout , that it is no part of our saluation to know what it was nor how it went ? when I speak wyth Homer next you shall knowe his answere . But you can not be content to erre but you must maintain it to . Pithagoras you say alowes not that musik is decerned by eares , but hee wisheth vs to assend vnto the sky & marke that harmony . surely thys is but one doctors opinion ( yet I dislike not of it ) but to speake my conscience my thinkes musike best pleaseth me when I heare it , for otherwise the catterwalling of Cats , were it not for harmonie : should more delight mine eies then the tunable voyces of men . but these things are not the chiefest poynts you shote at , ther s somewhat els sticketh in your stomak God graunt it hurt you not , from the daunce you runn to the pype , from 7. to 3. which if I shoulde add I beleeue I coulde wrest out halfe a score inconueniences more out of your booke . our pleasant consortes do discomfort you much , and because you lyke not thereof , they arr discomendable , I haue heard it is good to take sure fotinge when we trauel vnknowen countryes , for when we wade aboue our shoe latchet Appelles wyll reprehende vs for coblers , if you had bene a father in musick and coulde haue decerned of tunes I would perhaps haue like your opinion sumwhat where now I abhor it , if you wear a professor of that practise . I would quickly perswade you , that the adding of strings to our instrument make the sound more hermonious , and that the mixture of Musike maketh a better concent . but to preach to is to perswad the brut beastes , I wyl not stand long in thys point although the dignitye thereof require a volume , but howe learned men haue esteemed this heauenly gift , if you please to read you shall see . Socrates in hys old age will not disdain to learn the science of Musik among child ren , he can abide their corrections to , so much accounted he that , with you contemn , so profitable thought he y● , with you mislik . Solon wil esteme so much of the knowledg of singing , that he wil soner forget to dye them to sing . Pithagoras liks it so wel that he wil place it in Greace . and Aristoxenus will saye that the soule is musik . Plato ( in his booke de legibus ) will affirme that it can not be handled without all scie●…ces , the Lacedemonians & Cretensis wer sturred to warre by Anapestus foote , and Timotheus with the same incensed kinge Alexander to batel , ye yf Boetyus fitten not , on Tauromitanus ( by this Phrigian sound ) hastened to burn a house wher a strumpet was hidden , so litle abideth this heauenvly harmony our humane filthines , that it worketh wonders as you may perceue most manifestly by the history of Agamemnon who going to the Troian war , left at home a musitian the playde the Do●…ian tune , who with the foote Spondeus preserued his wife Clitemnestra in chastity & ho nesty , wherfore she cold not bee deflowred by Aegistus , before he had wickedly slain the musitian . so that as the magnetes draweth Ior ne , & the Theamides ( with groweth in Aegipt ) driueth it away : so musik calleth to it selfe al honest plesures , & dispelleth from it all vaine misdemanors . that matter is so plentiful that I cannot find wher to end , as for beginnings they be infinite , but these shall suffice . I like not to long circumstances wher les doe serue . only I wish you to accompt wel of this heauenvly concent , with is ful of perfettiō , proceding from aboue , drawing his original from the motion of that stars , from the agrement of the planets , from the whisteling winds & from al those celestial circles , where is ether perfit agreement or any Sumphonia . but as I like musik so admit I not of thos that depraue the same your pipers are as odius to mee as your selfe , nether alowe I your harpinge merye beggers : although I knewe you my selfe a professed play maker , & a paltry actor . since which that windmil of your wit hath bin tornd so long wyth the wynde of folly , that I fear me we-shall see the dogg returne to his vomit , and the clensed sow to her myre , and the reformed scholemayster to hys old teaching of follye . beware it be not so , let not your booke be a blemish to your own profession . Correct not musik therfore when it is praies worthy , least your worthlesse misliking bewray your madnes . way the abuse and that is matter sufficient to serue a magistrates animaduersion . heere may you aduise well , and if you haue any stale rethorik florish vpon thys text , the abuse is , when that is a pplyed to wantonnesse , which was created to shewe Gods worthinesse . When that shamefull resorts of shameles curtezanes in sinful sonnets , shall prophane vertue these are no light sinnes , these make many goodmen lament , this cauleth parents hate there right borne children , if this were reformed by your policie I should esteme of you as you wysh . I feare me it fareth far other wyse , latet anguis in herba , vnder your fare show of conscience take heede you cloake not your abuse , it were pittie the learned should be ouerseene in your simplenesse , I feare me you will be politick wyth Machanel not zealous as a prophet . Well I will not stay long vpon the abuse , for that I see it is to manifest , the remembraunce thereof is discommendable among the godly , and I my self am very loth to bring it in memory . to the wise aduised reader these mai suffice , to flee the Crocodel before hee commeth , lest we be bitten , and to auoyde the abuse of musik , since we se it , lest our-misery be more When we fall into folly . ●…ctus piscaror sapit , you heare open confession , these abuses are disclaimed by our Gosson , he is sory that hee hath so leudlye liued , & spent the oyle of his perfection in vnsauery Lampes he hath Argus eyes to watch him now , I wold wish him beware of his Iflington , and such lyke resorts , if now he retourne from his repentedlye to his old folly , Lord how fo●…e wil be his fall , men know more then they speak if they be w●…e , I feare me some will 〈◊〉 that readeth this , if he be bitten , wold God Gosson at that instant might haue a watchman . but I see it were needelesse ; perhaps 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and then what auayleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 , I 〈◊〉 this poynt 〈◊〉 I know further of your mynde , mean while I must talke a little wyth you about y● , thyrd abuse , ●…or the ●…ater co●…ens of pypers , theyr 〈◊〉 ( as you terme them ) be players , & I thinke as you doe , for your experience is suf ficient to enforme me . but here I must loke about me , quacunque te tig●…ris vlcus est , here is a task that requireth a long treatis , and what my opinion is of players ye now shall plainly perceue . I must now lerch my wits , I see this shall passe throughe many seuere sensors handling , I must aduise me what I write , and write that I would wysh . I way wel the seriousnes of the cause , and regarde verymuch the Iudges of my endeuor , whom if I could I would perswade , that I woulde not nourish abuse , nether mayntaine that which should be an vniuersall discomoditye . I hope they wil not iudge before they read , nether condemne without occasion The wisest wil alwais carry to eares , in that they are to diserue two indifferent causes , I meane not to hold you in suspēc , ( seuere Iudges ) if you gredely expect my verdit brefely this it is .