Three proper, and wittie, familiar letters: lately passed betvveene tvvo vniuersitie men: touching the earthquake in Aprill last, and our English refourmed versifying With the preface of a wellwiller to them both.

¶ THREE PROPER , and wittie , familiar Letters : lately passed betwene two Vniuersitie men : touching the Earthquake in Aprill last , and our English refourmed Versifying .

With the Preface of a wellwiller to them both .

IMPRINTED AT LONdon , by H. Bynneman , dwelling in Thames streate , neere vnto Baynardes Castell .

Anno Domini . 1580.

Cum gratia & priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis .

¶ TO THE CVRTEOVS Buyer , by a Welwiller of the two Authours .

CVrteous Buyer , ( for I write not to the enuious Carper ) it was my good happe , as I interpreate it , nowe lately at the fourthe or fifte h●●●e , to bee made acquainted wyth the three ●●●●ters following , by meanes of a faithfull friende , who with much● entreaty had procured the copying of them oute , at Immeritos handes . And I praye you , interprete it for your good happe , so soone after to come so easilye by them , throughe my meanes , who am onely to craue these twoo things at your handes , to thinke friendely of my friendly meaning , and to take them of me wyth this Presumption , In exiguo quandoque cespite latet lepus : and many pretious stones , thoughe in quantitie small yet in qualitie and valewe are esteemed for great . The first , for a good familiar and sensible Letter , sure liketh me verye well , and gyueth some hope of good mettall in the Author , in whome I knowe myselfe to be very good partes otherwise . But shewe me , or Immerito , two Englyshe Letters in Printe , in all pointes equall to the other twoo , both for the matter it selfe , and also for the manner of handling , and saye , wee neuer sawe good Englishe Letter in our liues . And yet I am credibly certified by the foresaide faithfull and honest friende , that himselfe hathe written manye of the same stampe bothe to Courtiers and others , and some of them discoursing vppon matter of great waight and importance , wherein he is said , to be fully as sufficient and hable , as in these schol●erly pointes of Learning . The whiche Letters and Discourses I would very gladly see in Writing , but more gladly in Printe , if it might be obtayned . And at this time to speake my conscience in a worde of these two following , I esteeme them for twoo of the rarest , and finest Treaties , as wel for ingenious deuising , as also for significant vttering , & cleanly conueying of his matter , that euer I read in this Tongue : and I hartily thanke God for bestowing vppon vs some such proper and hable men with their penne , as I hartily thanke the Author himselfe , for vsing his pleasaunte , and witty Talente , with so muche discretion , and with so little harme , contrarye to the veine of moste , whych haue thys singular conceyted grace in writing . If they had bene of their owne setting forth , I graunt you they might haue beene more curious , but beeyng so well , and so sufficiently done , as they are , in my simple iudgement , and hauing so many notable things in them , togither with so greate varietie of Learning , worth the reading , to pleasure you , and to helpe to garnish our Tongue , I feare their displeas●re the lesse . And yet , if they thinke I haue made them a faulte , in not making them priuy to the Publication : I shall be alwayes readye to make them the beste amende●● can , any other friendly waye . Surely , I wishe them bothe hartilye wel in the Lord , and betake you and them to his mercifull gouernemente , hoping , that he will at his pleasure conuerte suche good and diuine gifts as these , to the setting out of his own glory , and the benefite of his Churche . This XIX . of Iune . 1580.

Your , and their vnfayned friend , in the Lorde .

Three proper wittie familiar Letters , lately passed betwene two Vniuersitie men , touching the Earthquake in April last , and our English reformed Versifying .

To my long approoued and singular good frende , Master G. H.

GOod Master H. I doubt not but you haue some great important matter in hande , which al this while restraineth youre Penne , and wonted readinesse in prouoking me vnto that , wherein your selfe nowe faulte . If there bée any such thing in hatching , I pray you hartily , lette vs knowe , before al the worlde sée it . But if happly you dwell altogither in Iustinians Courte , and giue your selfe to be deuoured of secreate Studies , as of all likelyhood you doe : yet at least imparte some your olde , or newe , Latine , or Englishe , Eloquent and Gallant Poesies to vs , from whose eyes , you saye , you kéepe in a manner nothing hidden . Little newes is here stirred● but that olde greate matter still depending . His Honoure neuer better . I thinke the Earthquake was also there wyth you ( which I would gladly learne ) as it was here with vs : ouerthrowing diuers old buildings , and péeces of Churches . Sure verye straunge to be hearde of in these Countries , and yet I heare some saye ( I knowe not howe truely ) that they haue knowne the like before in their dayes . Sed quid vobis videtur magnis Philosophis ? I like your late Englishe Hexameters so excéedingly well , that I also ●nure my Penne sometime in that kinde : whyche I fynd indéede , as I haue heard you often defende in worde , neither so harde , nor so harshe , that it will easily and fairely , yéelde it selfe to oure Moother tongue . For the onely , or chiefest hardnesse , whych seemeth , is in the Accente : whyche sometime gapeth , and as it were yawneth ilfauouredly , comming shorte of that it should , and sometime excéeding the measure of the Number , as in Carpenter , the middle sillable being vsed shorte in speache , when it shall be read long in Uerse , séemeth like a lame Gosling , that draweth one legge after hir : and Heauen , béeing vsed shorte as one sillable , when it is in Uerse , stretched out with a Diastole , is like a lame Dogge that holdes vp one legge . But it is to be wonne with Custome , and rough words must be subdued with Use. For , why a Gods name may not we , as else the Gróekes , haue the kingdome of oure owne Language , and measure our Accentes , by the sounde , reseruing the Quantitie to the Uerse ? Loe here I let you sée my olde vse of toying in Rymes , turned into your artificial straightnesse of Uerse , by this Tetrasticon . I beséech you tell me your fancie , without parcialitie .

See yee the blindefoulded pretie God , that feathered Archer , Of Louers Miseries which maketh his bloodie Game ? Wote ye why , his Moother with a Veale hath coouered his Face ? Trust me , least he my Looue happely chaunce to beholde .

Séeme they comparable to those two , which I translated you ex tempore in bed , the last time we lay togither in Westminster ?

That which I eate , did I ioy , and that which I greedily gorged , As for those many goodly matters leaft I for others .

I would hartily wish , you would either send me the Rules and P●ecepts of Arte , which you obserue in Quantities , or else followe mine , that M. Philip Sidney gaue me , being the very same which M. Drant deuised , but enlarged with M. Sidneys own iudgement , and augmented with my Obseruations , that we might both accorde and agrée in one : leaste we ouerthrowe one an other , and be ouerthrown of the rest . Truste me , you will hardly beléeue what greate good liking and estimation Maister Dyer had of youre Satyricall Verses , and I , since the viewe thereof , hauing before of my selfe had speciall liking of Englishe Versifying , am euen nowe aboute to giue you some token , what , and howe well therein I am able to doe : ●or , to tell you trueth , I minde shortely at conuenient leysure , to sette forth a Booke in this kinde , whyche I entitle , Epithalamion Thamesis , whyche Booke I dare vndertake wil be very profitable for the knowledge , and rare for the Inuention , and manner of handling . For in setting forth the marriage of the Thames : I shewe his first beginning , and offspring , and all the Countrey , that he passe●h thorough , and also describe all the Riuers throughout Englande , whyche came to this Wedding , and their righte names , and right passage , &c. A worke beléeue me , of much labour , wherein notwithstanding Master Holinshed hath muche furthered and aduantaged me , who therein hath bestowed singular paines , in searching oute their firste heades , and sourses : and also in tracing , and dogging oute all their Course , til they fall into the Sea , O Tite , siquid , ego , Ecquid erit pretij ?

But of that more hereafter . Nowe , my Dreames , and dying Pellicane , being fully finished ( as I partelye signified in my laste Letters ) and presentlye to bée imprinted , I wil in haude forthwith with my Fa●ry Queene , whyche I praye you hartily send me with al expedition : and your frendly Letters , and long expected Iudgement wythal , whyche let not be shorte , but in all pointes suche , as you ordinarilye vse , and I extraordinarily desire . Multum vale . Westminster . Quarto Nona● Aprilis 1580. Sed , amabò te , Meum Corculum tibi se ex animo commendat plurimùm : iamdiu mirata , te nihil ad literas suas responsi dedisse . Vide queso , ne id tibi Capitale sit : Mihi certè quidem erit , neq tibi hercle impunè , vt opinor , I●erum vale , & qu●m voles saepè .

Yours alwayes to commaunde IMMERITO .

Postscripte .

I take best my Dreames shoulde come forth alone , being growen by meanes of the Gl●sse , ( running continually in maner of a Paraphrase ) full as great as my Calendar . Therin be some things excellently , and many things wittily discoursed of E. K. and the Pictures so singularly set forth , and purtrayed , as if Michael Angelo were there , he could ( I think ) nor amende the best , nor reprehende the worst . I know you woulde lyke them passing wel . Of my Stemmata Dudleiana , and especially of the sundry Apostrophes therein , addressed you knowe to whome , muste more aduisement be had , than so lightly to sende them abroade : howbeit , trust me ( though I doe neuer very well , ) yet in my owne fancie , I neuer dyd better : Veruntamen te sequor solùm : nunquam verò assequar .

A Pleasant and pitthy familiar discourse , of the Earthquake in Aprill last . To my loouing frende , M. Immerito .

SIgnor Immerito , after as many gentle Godmorrowes , as your self , and your swéete Harte listeth : May it please your Maistershippe to dispense with a poore Oratour of yours , for breaking one principall graund Rule of our olde inuiolable Rules of Rhetorick , in shewing himselfe somewhat too pleasurably disposed in a sad matter : ( of purpose , to méete with A coople of shrewde wittie new marryed Gentlewomen , which were more Inquisitiue , than Capable of Natures works ) I will report you a prettie conceited discourse , that I had with them no longer agoe , than yesternight , in a Gentlemans house , here in Essex . Where being in the company of certaine curteous Gentlemen , and those two Gentlewomen , it was my chaunce to be well occupyed , I warrant you , at Cardes , ( which I dare saye I scarcely handled a whole twelue moonth before ) at that very instant , that the Earth vnder vs quaked , and the house shaked aboue : besides the moouing , and ratling of the Table , and fourmes , where wée sat . Where vpon , the two Gentlewomen hauing continually béene wrangling with all the rest , and especially with my selfe , and euen at that same very moment , making a great loude noyse , and much a doo : Good Lorde , quoth I , is it not woonderful straunge that the delicate voyces of two so propper fine Gentlewoomen , shoulde make such a suddayne terrible Earthquake ? Imagining in good fayth , nothing in the worlde lesse , than that it shoulde be any Earthquake in déede , and imputing that shaking to the suddayne sturring , and remoouing of some cumberous thing or other , in the vpper Chamber ouer our Heades : which onely in effect most of vs noted , scarcely perceyuing the rest , béeing so closely and eagerly set at our game , and some of vs taking on , as they did . But beholde , all on the suddayne th●re commeth stumbling into the Parlour , the Gentleman of the house , somewhat straungely affrighted , and in a manner all agast , and telleth vs , as well as his Head and Tongue woulde giue him leaue , what a woonderous violent motion , and shaking there was of all things in his Hall : sensibly and visibly séene , as well of his owne selfe , as of many of his Seruauntes , and Neighbours there . I straite wayes beginnyng to thinke somewhat more s●riously of the matter : Then I pray you , good Syr , quoth I , send presently one of your seruauntes farther into the Towne , to enquire , if the like h●th happened there , as most likely is , and then must it néedes be some Earthquake . Whereat the good fearefull Gentleman being a little recomforted , ( as misdoubting , and dreading before , I knowe not what in his owne House , as many others did ) and immediately dispatching his man into the Towne , wée had by and by certayne woord , that it was ge●erall ouer all the Towne , and within lesse than a quarter of an howre after , that the very like be happened the next Towne too , being a farre greater and goodlyer Towne . The Gentlewoomens hartes nothing acquaynted with any such Accidentes , were maruellously daunted : and they , that immediately before were so eagerly , and gréedily praying on vs , began nowe forsooth , very demurely , and deuoutely to pray vnto God , and the one especially , that was euen nowe in the House toppe , I beséeche y●u hartily quoth shée , let vs leaue off playing , and fall a praying . By my truely , I was neuer so scared in my lyfe , Me thinkes it maruellous straunge . What good Parte●er ? Cannot you pray to your selfe , quoth one of the Gentlemen , but all the House must heare you , and ring Allin to our Ladyes Mattins ? I sée woomen are euery way v●hement , and affectionate . Your selfe was liker euen nowe , to make a fraye , than to pray : and will you nowe néedes in all hast bée on both your knées ? Let vs , and you say it , first dispute the matter , what daunger , and terror it carryeth with it . God be praysed , it is already ceased , and héere be some present , that are able cunningly , and clearkly to argue the case . I beséeche you master , or mystresse , your zealous and d●uoute Passion a while . And with that turning to me , and smiling a little at the first : Nowe I pray you , Master H. what say you Philosophers , quoth he , to this suddayne Earthquake ? May there not be some sensible Naturall cause therof , in the concauities of the Earth it self , as some forcible and violent Eruption of wynde , or the like ? Yes no doubt , sir , may there , quoth I , as well , as an Intelligible Supernaturall : and peraduenture the great aboundaunce and superfluitie of waters , that fell shortly after Michaelmas last , béeyng not as yet dryed , or drawen vp with the heate of the Sunne , which hath not yet recouered his full attractiue strength and power , might minister some occasion th●reof , as might easily be discoursed by Naturall Philosophie , in what sorte the poores , and ventes , and crannies of the Earth being so stopped , and fylled vp euery where with moysture , that the windie Exhaltations , and Uapors , pent vp as it were in the bowels thereof , could not otherwise get out , and ascende to their Naturall Originall place . But the Termes of Arte , and verye Natures of things themselues so vtterly vnknowen , as they are to most héere , it were a péece of woorke to laye open the Reason to euery on●s Capacitie .

I know well , it is we that you meane , quoth one of the Gentlewomen ( whom for distinction sake , and bicause I imagine they would be loath to be named , I will hereafter call , Mystresse Inquisitiua , and the other , Madame Incredula : ) now I beséeche you , learned Syr , try our wittes a little , and let vs heare a péece of your déepe Uniuersitie Cunning. Séeing you Gentlewomen will allgates haue it so , with a good will , quoth I : and then forsooth , very solemnly pawsing a whyle , most grauely , and doctorally procéeded , as followeth .

The Earth you knowe , is a mightie great huge body , and consisteth of many diuers , and contrarie members , & vaines , and arteries , and concaui●ies , wh●rein to auoide the absurditie of Vacuum , most necessarily be very great store of substantiall matter , and sundry Accidentall humours , & fumes , and spirites , either good , or bad , or mixte . Good they cannot possibly all be , whereout is ingendred so much bad , as namely so many poysonfull , and venemous Hearbes , and Beastes , besides a thousand infectiue , and contagious thinges else . If they be bad , bad you must néedes graunt is subiect to bad , and then can there not , I wa●rant you , want an Obiect , for bad to worke vpon . If mixt , which séemeth most probable , yet is it impossible , that there should be such an equall , and proportionable Temperature , in all , and singular re●pecte● , but sometime the Euill ( in the diuels name , ) will as it were interchaungeably haue his naturall Predominaunt Course , and issue one way , or other . Which euill working vehemently in the partes , and malitiously encountering the good , forcibly tosse●h , and cruelly disturbeth the whole : Which conflict indureth so long , and is fostred with aboundaunce of corrupt putrified Humors , and ylfauoured grosse infected matter , that it must néedes ( as well , or rather as ill , as in mens and womens bodyes ) brust out in the ende into one perillous disease or other , and sometime , for want of Naturall voyding such fe●erous , and flatuous Spirites , as lurke within , into such a violent chill shiuering shaking Ague , as euen nowe you sée the Earth haue . Which Ague , or rather euery fitte thereof , we schollers call grossely , and homely , Terrae motus , a moouing , or sturring of the Earth , you Gentlew●men , that be learned , somewhat more finely , and daintily , Terr● metus , a feare , and agony of the Earth : we being onely mooued , and not terrified , you being onely in a manner terrified , & scarcely mooued therewith . Nowe here , ( and it please you ) lyeth the poynt , and quidditie of the controu●rsie , whether our Motus , or your Metus , be the better , & more consonant to the Principles and Maximes of Philosophy ? the one being manly , and deuoyde of dreade , the other woomannish , and most wo●ully quiuering , and shiuering for very feare . In sooth , I vse not to dissemble with Gentlewoomen : I am slatly of Opinion , the Earth whereof man was immediately made , and not wooman , is in all proportions and similitudes liker vs than you , and when it fortuneth to be distemp●red , and disseas●d , either in part , or in whole , I am p●rsuad●d , and I belé●ue Reason , and Philosophy will beare me out in it , it only mooueth with the very impulsiue force of the malady , and not trembleth , or quak●th for dastardly feare .

Nowe , I beséeche you , what thinke ye , Gentlewomen , by this Reason ? Reason , quoth Madame Incredula : By my truly , I can neither picke out Rime , nor Reason , out of any thing I haue hearde yet . And yet me think●s all should be Gospell , that commeth from you Doctors of Cambridge . But I sée well , all is not Gould , that glist●reth . In déede , quoth Mistresse Inquisitiua , héere is much adooe , I trowe , and little helpe . But it please●h Master H. ( to delight himselfe , and these Gentlemen ) to tell vs a trim goodly Tale of Robinhood , I knowe not what . Or suer if this be Gospell , I dowte , I am not in a good beléefe . Trust me truly , Syr your Eloquence farre pass●th my I●telligence . Did I not tell you aforehand , quo●h I , as muche ? And yet would you néedes presume of your Capacities in such profound mysteries of Philosophie , and Priuiti●s of Nature , as these be ? The very thinking whereof , ( vnlesse happily it be per fidem implicitam , in beléeuing , as the learned beléeue , And saying , It is so , bycause it is so ) is nighe enough , to caste you both into a fitte , or two , of a daungerous shaking feauer , vnlesse you presently séeke some remedie to preuent it . And in earnest , if ye wyll giue me leaue , vpon that small skill I haue in Extrinsecall , and Intrinsecall Physiognomie , & so foorth , I will wager all the money in my poore purse to a pottle of Hyppocrase , you shall both this night , within somwhat lesse than two howers and a halfe , after ye be layed , Dreame of terrible straunge Agues , and Agonyes as well in your owne prettie bodyes , as i● the mightie great body of the Earth . You are very merily disposed , God be praysed , quoth Mistresse Inquisitiua , I am glad to sée you so pleasurable . No doubt , but you are maruellous priuie to our dreames . But I pray you now in a little good earnest , doo you Schollers thinke , that it is the very reason in déede , which you spake of euen now ? There be many of vs , good Mistresse , quoth I , of that opinion : wherin I am content to appeale to the knowledge of these learned Gentlemen here . And some a ●●●ne , of our finest conceited heades defend this Position , ( a very straunge Paradox in my fancie : ) that the Earth hauing taken in too much drinke , & as it were ouer lauish Cups , ( as it hath sensibly done in a maner all this Winter past ) now staggereth● & réeleth , & tottereth , this way and that way , vp & downe , like a drunken man , or wooman ( when their Alebench Rhetorick commes vpon them , & specially the moouing Patheticall figure Pottypôsis , ) & therefore in this forcible sort , you lately sawe , payneth it selfe to vomit vp againe , that so disordereth , and disquieteth the whole body within . And , forsoothe , a fewe new Contradictorie fellowes make no more of it , but a certaine vehement , and passionate néesing , or sobbing , or coffing , wherewithall they say , and as they say , say with great Physicall , and Naturall Reason , The Earth in some place , or other , euer lightly after any great , and suddayne alteration of weather , or diet , is excéedingly troubled , and payned , as namely this very Time of the yeare , after the extréeme pynching colde of Winter , and agayne in Autumne , after the extréeme parching heate of Sommer . But shall I tell you , Mistresse Inquisitiua ? The soundest Philosophers in déede , and very déepest Secretaries of Nature , holde , if it please you , an other Assertion , and maintayne this for truth : ( which at the leastwise , of all other séemeth maruellous reasonable , and is questionl●sse farth●st off from Heresie : ) That as the Earth , vppon it , hath many stately , and boysterous & fierce Creatures , as namely , Men and Women , and diu●rs Beastes , wherof some one is in maner continually at variaunce and fewde with an other , euermore séeking to be reuenged vpon his enimie , which eft soones breaketh forth into profess●d and open Hostilitie : and then consequently followe set battels , & mortall warres : wherin the one partie bendeth all the force of his Ordinance and other Martiall furniture against the other : ●o likewise within it too , it hath also some , as vengibly and frowardly bent , as for Example , Woormes , and Moules , and Cunnyes , and such other valiauntly highminded Creatures , the Sonnes and daughters of Mars , & Bellona ● that nurrish ciuill debate , and contrarie factions amongst them selues : which are seldome , or neuer ended too , without miserable bloudshed , and deadly warre : and then go me their Gunnes lust●ly off ; and the one dischargeth his Péece co●tagious●y at the other : and there is suche a Generall dub a dubbe amongst them , and such horrible Thundering on euery syde , and suche a monstrous cruell shaking of one an others For●es and Castels , that the whole Earth agayne , 〈◊〉 at the least , so muche of the Earth , as is ouer● or néere them , is terribly hoysed , and — No more An●s , or Ifs , for Gods sake , quoth the Madame , and this be your great Doctorly learning . Wée haue euen Enoughe alreadie for our Money : and if you shoulde goe a little farther , I feare mée , you woulde make vs nyghe as ●unning as your selfe : and that woulde bée a great disgrace ●o the Uniuersi●i● . Not a whi●te , gentle Madame , quoth I● , there be of vs , that haue greater store in our bowgets , than we can well occupie our selues , and therefore we are glad as you sée , when by the fauourable , & gratious aspect of son●e bl●ssed Planet , and specially our Mercury , or your Venus , it is our good Fortune , to lighte on such good friendes , as you , and some other good Gentle woomen be , that take pleasure , & comfort in such good things . Wherat Mistresse Inquisitiua , laughing right out , and beginning to demaunde I know not what , ( me thought , shée made , as if it shoulde haue béen some goodly plausible Iest , wherat shée is , and takes her selfe prettily good : ) Well , well , Master H. quoth the Gentleman of the house , now you haue playde your part so cunningly with the Gentlewoomen , ( as I warrant you shall be remembred of Inquisitiua ● when you are gone , and may happely forget her : which I hope , Mistresse Incredula will do sometyme too , by hir leaue : ) I pray you in earnest , let vs men learne some thing of you too : and especially I would gladly heare your Iudgement , and resolution , whether you counte of Earthquakes , as Naturall , or Supernaturall motions . But the shorter , all the better . To whom I made answere , in effect , as followeth :

Master Hs. short , but sharpe , and learned Iudgement of Earthquakes .

TRuely Syr , vnder correction , and in my fancie : The Earthquakes themselues I would saye are Naturall●● as I veryly beléeue the Internall Causes there of , are : I meane those two Causes , which the Logicians call , the Materiall , and the Formall● Marr● , the Exter●●ll ●auses , which are the Efficient and Finall , I take rather of the two , to be sup●rnaturall . I must ●ra●e a little lea●e to l●ye open the matter .

The ●●teriall Cause of Earthquakes , ( as was superficially ●ouche● in the begin●ing of our speache , and is sufficiently proo●ed by Aristotle in the seconde Booke of his Meteor● , ) is no doubt great aboundance of wynde , or stoare of gros●● and ●●y●●●●●●s , and spirites , fast shut vp , & as a man would saye , emprysoned in the Caues , and Dange●ns of the Earth● which winde , or vapors , séeking to be set at libertie , and to get them home to their Naturall lodgings , in a great fume , violently rush out , and as it were , breake prison , which forcible Eruption , and strong breath , causeth an Earthquake . As is excellently , and very liuely expressed of Ouid , as I remember , thus : Vis fera ventorum caecis inclusa cauernis , Exspirare aliquò cupiens , luctataque frustra Liberiore fru● coelo , cùm carcere Rima Nulla foret , toto nec peruia flatibus esset , Extentam tumefecit humum , ceu spiritus oris , Tendere vesicam solet , and so foorth .

The formall Cause , is nothing but the very manner of this same Motion , and shaking of the Earth without : and the violent kinde of striuing , and wrastling of the windes , and Exhalations within : which is , and must néedes be done in this , or that sort , after one fashion , or other . Nowe , syr , touching the other two Causes , which I named Externall : The first immediate Efficient , out of all Question , is God himselfe , the Creatour , and Continuer , and Corrector of Nature , and therefore Supernaturall : whose onely voyce carrieth such a reuerend and terrible Maiestie with it , that the very Earth againe , and highest Mountaines quake & tremble at the sounde and noyse thereof : the text is rife in euery mans mouth : Locutus est Dominus & contremuit Terra : howbeit , it is not to be gainesayd , that is holden of all the auncient Naturall Philosophers , and Astronomers , for the principall , or rather sole Efficient , that the Influence , and heate of the Sunne , and Starres , and specially of the thrée superior Planets , Saturne , Iupiter , and Mars , is a secondarie Instrumentall Efficient of such motions .

The finall , not onely that the wynde shoulde recouer his Naturall place , than which a naturall reasonable man goeth no farther , no not our excellentest profoundest Philosophers themselues : but sometime also , I graunt , to testifie and denounce the secrete wrathe , and indignation of God , or his sensible punishmen● vppon notorious malefactours , or , a threatning Caueat , and forewarning for the inhabitantes , or the like , depending vppon a supernaturall Efficient Cause , and tending to a supernaturall Morall End .

Which End , ( for that I knowe is the very poynt , whereon you stande ) albeit it be acknowledged Supernaturall and purposed , as I sayd , of a supernaturall Cause , to whom nothing at all is impossible , and that can worke supernaturally , and myraculously without ordinarie meanes , and inferiour causes : yet neuerthelesse is , we sée , commonly performed , by the qualifying , and conforming of Nature , and Naturall things , to the accomplishment of his Diuine and incomprehensible determination . For being , as the olde Philosophers call him , very Nature selfe , or as it hath pleased our later schoolemen to terme him , by way of distinction , Natura Naturans , he hath all these secondarie inferiour thinges , the foure Elementes , all sensible , and vnsensible , reasonable , and vnreasonable Creatures , the whole worlde , and what soeuer is contayned in the Compas of the worlde , being the workmanship of his owne hands , and , as they call them , Natura naturata , euer pliable and flexible Instrumentes at his Commaundement : to put in execution such Effectes , either ordinarie or extraordinarie , as shall séeme most requisite to his eternall Prouidence : and now in these latter dayes , very seldome , or in manner neuer worketh any thing so myraculously , and extraordinarily , but it may sensibly appeare , he vseth the seruice and Ministerie of his Creatures , in the atchóeuing thereof . I denie not , but Earthquakes ( as well as many other fearefull Accidentes in the same Number , ) are terrible signes , and , as it were certaine manacing forerunners , and forewarners of the great latter day ; and therefore out of controuersie the more reuerendly to be considered vppon : and I acknowledge considering the Euentes , and sequeles , according to the collection and discourse of mans Reason , they haue séemed to Prognosticate , and threaten to this , and that Citie , vtter ruyne and destruction : to such a Country , a generall plague and pestilence : to an other place , the death of some mightie Potentate or great Prince : to some other Realme or Kingdome , some cruell imminent warres : and sundry the like dreadfull and particular Incidentes , as is notoriously euident by many olde and newe , very famous and notable Histories to that effect . Which of all other the auncient Romaines , long before the Natiuitie of Christ , did most religiously or rather superstitiously obserue , not without a number of solemne Ceremonies , and Hollydayes for the nonce , euer after any Earthquake , making full account of some such great rufull casualtie or other , as otherwhyles fell out in very déede : and namely , as I remember , the yeare Ante bellum Sociale , which was one of the lamentablest , and myserablest warres , that Italy euer sawe : and Plinie , or I knowe not well who , hath such a saying : Roma nunquam tremuit , vt non futurus aliquis portenderetur insignis Euentus .

But yet , notwithstanding , dare not I aforehand presume thus farre , or arrogate so much vnto my selfe , as to determine precisely and peremptorily of this , or euery the like singular Earthquake , to be necessarily , and vndoubtedly a sup●rnaturall , and immediate fatall Action of God , for this , or that singular intent , when as I am sure , there may be a sufficient Naturall , eyther necessarie or contingent Cause in the very Earth it selfe : and there is no question , but the selfe same Operation in Genere , or in specie , may at one tyme , procéeding of one Cause , and referred to one End , be preternaturall , or supernaturall : at another tyme , procéeding of an other , or the same Cause , and referred to an other End , but Ordinarie , and Naturall . To make shorte , I cannot sée , and would gladly learne , howe a man on Earth , should be of so great authoritie , and so familiar acquaintance with God in Heauen , ( vnlesse haply for the nonce he hath lately intertained some few choice singular ones of his priuie Counsell ) as to be able in such specialties , without any iustifyable certificate , or warrant ) to reueale hys incomprehensible mysteries , and definitiuely to giue ●entence of his Maiesties secret and inscrutable purposes . As if they had a key for all the lockes in Heauen , or as if it were as cleare and resolute a case , as the Eclipse of the Sunne , that darkened all the Earth , or at the least all the Earth in those Countries , at Christes Passion , happening altogether prodigiously and Metaphysically in Plenilunio , not according to the perpetuall course of Nature , in Nouilunio : in so much that Dionisius Areopagita , or some other graunde Philosopher , vpon the suddayne contemplation thereof , is reported in a certaine Patheticall Ecstasie to haue cryed out , Aut rerum Natura patitur , aut Mundi machina destruetur : as my minde giueth me , some of the simpler , and vnskilfuller sort , will goe nye to doe vpon the present sight , and agony of this Earthquake . Marry the Errour I graunt , is the more tollerable , though perhappes it be otherwhiles , ( and why not euen nowe , ) a very presumptuous Errour in déede , standing only vpon these two weake and deceitfull groundes , Credulitie and Ignoraunce : if so be inwardly ( not onely in Externall shewe , after an Hypocriticall , and Pharisaicall manner ) it certainly doo vs good for our reformation , and amendment , and séeme to preach● vnto vs , Paenitentiam agite , ( as in some respect euery suche straunge and rare Accident may séeme : ) how Ordinarie , and Naturall so euer the Cause shall appeare otherwise to the best learned : especially , as the Earthquake shall be knowne to endure a longer , or a shorter Tyme , or to be more or lesse generall , in more , or fewer places . Which two differences , touching the quantitie of Tyme , and Place , after I had a little more fully prosecuted , alledging certaine particuler Examples thereof , howe in some places huge Castels , in some Townes , in some great and mightie Cities , in some Shires and Seigniories , and Prouinces , in some whole Countryes , and Regions haue béen perillously mooued and shaken therewith : in one place , a long time together : in an other place , not so long , or at seuerall and parted times : in another , very short , as● God be thanked here euen nowe : and finally by the way , shewing a thirde and most notable difference of all , ( as well for the present or imminent terrour and daunger , as otherwise ) by the sundry species , and formes which Aristotle , Plinie , and other Meteorologicians haue set downe of Experience , as they haue heard , or read , or séen the earth to quake , to sturre , and hoyse vp Houses , Walles , Towers , Castelles , Churches , Minsters , whole Townes , whole Cities , whole Prouinces , without farther harme : to ruinate and ouerthrowe , and destroy some : to yawne and gape , and open lyke a graue , and cons●quently to swallow vp and deuour other : and sometime also to drinke vp whole riuers , and mightie bigge running waters withall , or to chaunge and alter their common woonted course some other way : to sinke and fall downewardes : to cast out and vomitte vp either huge vaste heapes , as it were Mountaines of Earth , or large Ilandes in the mayne Sea , neuer remembred , or séen before : or great ouer flowing waters , and fountaynes : or hotte scalding sulphurous lakes : or burning sparkles and flames of fire : to make a horrible hissing , gnashing , ratling , or some like woonderfull straunge noyse , ( which all Effectes are credibly reported , and constantly auouched , of our most famous & best allowed Philosophers ) a fewe such particularities , and distinctions , compendiously and familiarly coursed ouer . The good Gentleman gaue me hartily , as appeared , very great thankes , and tolde me plainly , he neuer either read , or heard halfe so much of Earthquakes before : confessing withall , that he yéelded resolutely to my opinion : that an Earthquake might as well be supposed a Naturall Motion of the Earth , as a preternaturall , or supernaturall ominous worke of God : and that he thought it hard , and almost impossible , for any man , either by Philosophie , or Diuinitie , euermore to determine flatly the very certaintie either way . Which also in conclusion was the verdit , and finall resolution of the greater and sager part of the Gentlemen present : & namely of an auncient learned common Lawyer , that had béen Graduate , and fellow of a Colledge in Cambridge , in Quéene Mari●s dayes . Who tooke vpon him , to knit vp the matter , & as he said , determine the controuersie , with the authoritie of all the naturall Philosophers , old or newe , Heathen or Christian , Catholique or Protestant , that euer he read , or heard tell of . Th●re Physickes quoth he , are in euery mans hands : they are olde enoug● to speake for them selues , and wée are young enough to turne our Bookes . They that haue Eyes and Tongues , let them sée , and reade . But what say you nowe , quoth I , to the staying and quieting of the Earthe , béeing once a moouing ? May it not séeme a more myraculous woorke , and greater woonderment , that it shoulde so suddainely staye againe , being mooued , than that it shoulde so suddainely mooue , beyng quiet and still ? Mooue or turne , or shake me a thing in lyke order , be it neuer so small , and lesse than a pynnes Head , in comparison of the great mightie circuite of the Earth , and sée if you shall not haue much more a doo to staye it presently , béeing once sturred , than to stu●re it at the very first . Whereat the Gentleman smyling , and looking merrily on the Gentlewoomen , héere is a schoole poynt , quoth he , that by your leaues , I beléeue will poase the better scholler of you both . But is it not more than tyme , thynke ye , wée were at Supper ? And if you be a hungered , Maister H. you shall thanke no body but your selfe , that haue holden vs so long with your profounde and clerkly discourses , whereas our manner is to suppe at the least a long howre before this tyme . Beyng set , and newe occasion of spéeche ministered , our Supper put the Earthquake in manner out of our myndes , or at the least wise , out of our Tongues : sauing that the Gentlewoomen , nowe and then pleasauntly tyhyhing betweene them selues , especially Mystresse Inquisitiua , ( whose minde did still runne of the drinking , and Néesing of the Earth , ) repeated here , and there , a broken péece of that , which had béen already sayde before Supper . With déepe iudgement no doubt , and to maruellous great purpose , I warrant you a●ter the manner of woomen Philosophers , and Diuines .

And this summarily in Effect was our yesternyghtes graue Meteorologicall Conference , touching our Earthquake here in the Country : which being in so many neighbour Townes , and Uillages about vs , as I heare say of this morning , maketh me presuppose , the like was wyth you also at London , and elsewhere farther ●f . And then forsoothe , must I desire Maister Immerito , to send me within a wéeke or two , some odde fresh paulting thréehalfepennie Pamphlet for newes : or some Balductum Tragicall Ballet in Ryme , and without Reason , setting out the right myserable , and most wo●ull estate of the wicked , and damnable worlde at these perillous dayes , after the deuisers best manner : or whatsoeuer else shall first take some of your braue London Eldertons in the Head . In earnest , I could wishe some learned , and well aduized Uniuersitie man , woulde vndertake the matter , and bestow some paynes in déede vppon so famous and materiall an argument . The generall Nature of Earthquakes by definition , and the speciall diuersitie of them by diuision , beyng perfectly knowen : ( a thing soone done ) and a complete Induction of many credible and autenticall , both olde and newe , diuine and prophane , Gréeke , Lattine , and other Examples , ( with discretion , and iudgement , compyled and compared togither ) being considerately and exactly made , ( a thing not so easily done ) much no doubt myght be alledged too or fro , to terrifie or pacifie vs , more or lesse . If it appeare by generall Experience , and the foresayde Historicall Induction of particulars , that Earthquakes , sine omni exceptione , are ominous , and significatiue Effectes , as they saye of Comets , and carrie euer some Tragicall and horrible matter with or after them : as eyther destruction of Townes and Cities , or decay of some mightie Prince , or some particular , or generall plague , warre , or the lyke , ( vt supra ) whatsoeuer the Materiall , or Formall cause be , Natural , or supernaturall , ( howbeit for myne owne part I am resolued , as wel for the one , as for the other , that these two I speake of , both Matter and Fourme , are rather Naturall in both , than otherwise ) it concerneth vs , vpon the vewe of so Effectuall and substaunciall euidence , to conceiue seriously , and reuerently of the other two Causes : the first , supreme Efficient , whose Omnipotent Maiestie hath nature self , and all naturall Creatures at commaundement : and the last finall , which we are to iudge of as aduisedly , and prouidently , as possibly we can , by the consideration , & comparison of Circumstances , the tyme when : the place where ? the qualities , and dispositions of the persons , amongst whom such , and such an Ominous token is giuen . Least happily through ouer great credulitie , and rashnesse , we mistake Non causam pro causa , and sophistically be entrapped Elencho Finium . Truely , I suppose , he had néede be an excellent Philosopher , a reasonable good Historian , a learned Diuine , a wise discrete man , and generally , such a one as our Doctor Still , & Doctor Byng are in Cambridge , that shoulde shew himselfe accordingly in this argument , and to the iudgement and contentation of the wisest , perfourme it exactly . My selfe remember nothing to the contrarie , either in Philosophie , or in Histories , or in Diuinitie either , why I may not safely & lawfully subscribe to the iudgement of the noble Italian Philosopher , and most famous learned Gentleman , whilest he liued , Lord of Mirandola , and Erle of Concordia , Counte Ioannes Franciscus Picus , in my opinion , very considerately , and partly Philosophically , partly Theologically set downe , in the sixt Chapter of his sixt Booke , against Cogging deceitfull Astrologers , and Southsayers , De rerum Praenotione , pro veritate Relligionis , contra Superstitiosas vanitates . In which Chapter , ( if happely you haue not read it already , ) you shall finde m●ny , but specially these thrée notable places , most effectuall and directly pertinent to the very purpose . The first more vniuersal● . Naturae opere fieri non potest , vt Ostentis , vt Monstris magni illi , seu dextri , seu sinistri euentus portendantur , & ab aliqua pendeant proxima causa , quae & futura etiam proferat . Impostura Daemonum , vt id fiat , videri potest . Sed & plaeraque non monstrosa , non prodigiosa per se●e , pro monstri● tamen , & portentis , haberi possunt , & solent à quibusdam , quibus Rerum Natura non satis comperta est , causarum enim ignoratio , noua in re Admirationem parit . Propter quam , philosophari homines capisse , in exordys primae philosophiae scribit Aristoteles . Wherein those two seuerall points , Impostura Daemonum , and Ignoratio causaerum , are no doubt maruellous probable , and moste worthy bothe presentlye to bée noted nowe , and more fully to be discussed hereafter : appearing vnto me the verie right principall Causes of so manye erroneous opinions , and fantasticall superstitious dreames in this , and the like behalfe .

The seconde more speciall , as it were hitting the white in déede , and cleauing the Pinne in sunder .

Idem in Terraemotibus etiam , quod in fulguribus , fulminibusque interpretandis , obseruauit Antiquitas . Cuius Reiliber , Graeco eloquio , nuper ad manus peruenit , in Orpheum relatus Autorem : sed perabsurdum nimis , vt quod frequentissimè fit , pro vario terrae anhelitu , pro ventorum v●●lentia , vaporumque conductione , ( marke you that ? ) ex e● rerum futurarum significationem petere , quorum nec effectus esse possunt , nec causa , praeterq forte mortis inferendae illis , qui fulmen exceperit , aut qui terrarum hiatu perierit . Sed nec ab eadem proxima deduci causa possunt , à qua & futurae pendeant res , vt supra deductum est .

And then shortly after , the thirde , moste agréeable to the seconde , as flatlye determining on my side , and as directlye concluding the same position as may be .

Nec sanè Orpheus ille , si tamen Orpheus fuit , vllam affert omninò causam , cur quispiam ex terrae motibus , vrbium , hominum , regionum euenta praesagire possit . Solùm va●● narrat arbitrio : si terrae contigerit motus , nocti , si aestate , si hyeme , si ●urora , si interdus , quid portendatur : Quae certè , & saniore possunt a●bitrio refelli , & Experientiae testimonio , vt arbitror , non secus irrideri , ac supra Tagis portenta irrisimus , Haruspicinae Autoris .

A moste excellent sounde Iudgement in my conceit : and ful wel beséeming so Honorable and admirabl● a Witte , as out of Question , Picus Mirandula had : who b●ing yet scarcely thirty yeres of age , for his singularitie in al kind of knowleege , as wel diuine as prophane , was in Italy and France● as Paulus Iouius reporteth , surnamed Phoenix , as the odde , and in effecte the onely singular learned man of Europe : and to make shorte : suche a one , in moste respectes , as I woulde wis●e nowe to be tempering with this newe notorious incident : staying my selfe in the meane while vpon this probable and reasonable Interim of his : and preferring it before al the friuolous coniecturall Allegations , and s●rmises , that o●ce counterfaite , and reasonlesse Orphes oppose to the contrarye . But , Iesu , what is all this to Master Immerito ? For soothe I knowe not by what mischaunce , these miserable balde odious thrée halfe penny ●ellowes , alas , a company of silly béetleheaded Asses , came into my minde , that wil néedes be sturring , and taking on in euerye suche rare and vnaccustomed euent , as if they sawe farther in a Milstone , than all the worlde besides , whereas euerie man , that hathe but halfe an eye in his ●ead● séeth them to be more blinde , than anye Buzzarde , or Bayarde , Scribimus indocti , doctique Poemata passim , and surely , as the worlde goeth nowe in Englande , rather the firste , for aught I sée , than the laste . O interim miseras Musas , & miserabiles : Where the faulte shoulde rest , viderint Oculi , atque capitae Reip. Mihi quidem ist hic , neque seritur admodùm , neque metitur . Non valdè me● nou●s Bibliotheca libros desiderat , s●ipsa , id est , quos ha●et , veteribus contenta est . Quid plura ? T● vale , mi Immerito , atque ita tibi persuade , Aliquid esse eum , qui istorum longè est dissimilimus , quos Typographi nostri habent venales maximè . Commende mée . to thine owne good selfe , and tell thy dying Pellicane , and thy Dreames from me , I wil nowe leaue dreaming any longer of them , til with these eyes I sée them forth indéede : And then againe , I imagine your Magnificenza , will holde vs in suspense as long for your nine Englishe Commoedies , and your Latine Stemmata Dudleiana : whiche two shal go for my money , when all is done : especiallye if you woulde but bestow one seuennights pollishing and trimming vppon eyther . Whiche I praye th●e hartily d●e , for my pleasure , if not for the●r sake , nor thine owne profite . My Schollers Loue , or Reconcilement of contraries , is shrunke in the wetting : I hadde purposed to haue dispatched you a Coppie thereof , long ere this : but , no remedie , hitherto it hath alwayes gone thus with me : Some newe occasion , or other , euer carrieth me from one matter to another , & will neuer suffer me to finishe eyther one or other . And truly , Experto crede , it is as true a Uerse as euer was made , since the first Uerse , that euer was made : Pluribus intentus minor est ad singula sensus : whiche my Anticosmopolita , thoughe it gréeue him , can best testifye , remayning still as we saye , in statu , quo , and neither an inche more forward , nor backewarde , than he was fully a twelue-month since in the Courte , at his laste attendaunce vpon my Lorde there . But the Birde that will not sing in Aprill , nor in May , maye peraduenture sing in September : and yet me thinkes , Sat cit● , si sat bene , if I coulde steale but one poore fortnight , to peruse him ouer afreshe , and coppy him out anewe . Whiche I hope in God to compasse shortly . But I besé●ch you , what Newes al this while at Cambridge ? That was wont to be euer one great Question . What ? Det mihi Mater ipsa bonam veniam , eius vt aliqua mihi liceat Secreta , vni cuidam de eodem gremio obsequentissimo filio , reuelare : & sic pauci● hab●to . Nam aliàs fortasse pluribus : nunc non placet , non vacat , molestum asset . Tully , and Demosthenes nothing so much studyed , as they were wonte : Liuie , and Salust possiblye rather more than lesse : Lucian neuer so much : Aristotle muche named , but little read : Xenophon and Plato , reck●ed amongest Discoursers , and conceited Superficiall fellowes : much verball and sophisticall iangling : little ●ubtile and effectuall disputing : noble and roy●ll Eloquence , the best an● persuasiblest Eloquence : no such Orators againe , as re●headded A●gelles : An excéeding greate difference , betwéene the countenaunces , and portes of those , that are braue and gallaunt , and of those , that are basely , or meanly apparelled : betwene the learned , and vnlearned , Tully , and Tom Tooly , in effect none at all .

Matchiauell a great man : Castilio of no small reputation : P●trach , and Boccace in euery mans mouth : Galateo ● and Guazz● neuer so happy : ouer many acquainted with Vnico Are●●no : The French and Italian when so highlye regarded of Scholiers ? The Latine and Greeke , when so lightly ? The Queene mother at the beginning , or ende of euery● conference : many bargaines of Mounsieur : Shymeirs a noble gallant fellowe : all inquisitiue after Newes , newe Bookes , newe Fashions , newe Lawes , newe Officers , and some after newe Elementes , and some after newe Heauens , and Helles to . Turkishe affaires familiarly knowen : Castels builded in the Ayre : muche adoe , and little helpe : Iacke would faine be a Gentlemanne : in no age so little so muche made of , euery one highly in his owne fauour , thinking no mans penny , so good siluer as his own : Something made of Nothing , in spite of Nature : Numbers made of Ciphars , in spite of Arte : Geometricall Proportion seldome , or neuer vsed , Arithmeticall ouermuch abused : Oxen and Asses ( notwithstandiug the absurditie it séemed to Plautus ) draw both togither in one , and the same Yoke : Conclusio ferè sequitur deteriorem partem . The Gospell taughte , not learned : Charitie key colde : nothing good , but by Imputation : the Ceremoniall Lawe , in worde abrogated : the Iudiciall in effecte disanulled : the Morall indéede abandoned : the Lighte , the Lighte in euery mans Lippes , but marke me their eyes , and tell me , if they looke not liker Howlets , or Battes , than Egles : as of olde Bookes , so of auntient Uertue , Honestie , Fidelitie , Equitie , newe Abridgementes : euery day freshe span newe Opinions : Heresie in Diuinitie , in Philosophie , in Humanitie , in Manners , grounded muche vpon heresay : Doctors contemned : the Text knowen of moste , vnderstood of fewe , magnified of all , practised of none : the Diuell not so hated , as the Pope : many Inuectiues , small amendment : Skill they say controlled of Will : and Goodnesse mastered of Goods : but Agent , and Patient muche alike , neither Barrell greatly better Herring : No more adoe aboute Cappes and Surplesses : Maister Cartwright nighe forgotten : The man you wot of , conformable , with his square Cappe on his rounde heade : and Non resident at pleasure : and yet Non-residents neuer better bayted , but not one the fewer , either I beléeue in Acte , or I beléeue , in Purpose . A number of our preachers sibbe to French Souldiors , at the first , more than Men , in the end , lesse than Women . Some of our pregnantest and soonest ripe Wits , of Hermogenes mettall for al the world : Olde men and Counsailours amongst Children : Children amongst Counsailours , and olde men : Not a f●we ●ubble faced Iani , and chaungeable Camelions : ouer-manye Clawbackes , and Pickethanks : Réedes shaken of euerie Wind : Iackes of bothe sides : Aspen leaues : painted Sheathes , and Sepulchres : Asses in Lions skins : Dunglecockes : slipperye Eles : Dormise : I blush to thinke of some , that wéene themselues as fledge as the reste , being , God wot , as kallowe as the rest : euery yonker to speake of as politique , and as great a Commonwealths man as Bishoppe Gardner , or Doctor Wutton at the least : as if euerie man nowe adayes hauing the ●raming of his own Horoscope , were borne in decimo coeli domicilio , and had al the Wit , Wisedome , and Worshippe in the world at commaundement . Sed heus in aurem : Meministin' quod ait Varro ? Omnes videmur nobis esse belli , festiui , saperdae , cùm sumus Canopi : Dauid , Vlisses , and Solon , fayned themselues fooles and madmen : our fooles and madmen faine themselues Dauids , Vlisses , and Solons : and would goe nigh to deceiue the cunningest , and best experienced Metaposcopus in a country : It is pity faire weather should euer do hurt , but I know what peace and qui●tnes hath done with some melancholy pickstrawes in the world : as good vnspoken as vnamended . And wil you néedes haue my Testimoniall of youre ol●e Controllers new behauior ? A busy and dizy heade , a brazen forehead : a l●dden braine : a woodden wit : a copper face : a stony breast : a factious and eluish hearte : a founder of nouelties : a confounder of his owne , and his friends good gifts : a morning bookeworm , an afternoone maltworm : a right Iuggler , as ful of his sleights , wyles , fetches , casts of Legerdemaine , toyes to mocke Apes withal , odde shiftes , and knauish practizes , as his skin can holde . He often telleth me , he looueth me as himselfe , but out lyar out , thou lyest abhominably in thy throate . Iesu , I had nigh hand forgotten one thing , that ywis somtime I think often ynough vpon : Many Pupils , Iackemates , and Hayle fellowes wel met , with their Tutors , and by your leaue , some too , because forsooth they be Gentlemen , or great heires , or a little neater and gayer than their fellowes , ( shall I say it for shame ? beléeue me , t is too true ) their very own Tutors . Ah mala Licentia , ab initio non fuit sic . Stulta est omnis iuuenilis Doctrina , sine virili quadam Disciplina . Quasi verò pauperioribus duntaxat pueris , ac non multò magis generosa , atque nobili Iuuentuti conueniat , pristinae illius Institutionis , atque Educationis seueritas , & ingenuae , & prudentis , & cruditae , & cum Tutoris personae , tum pupillo , etiam ipsi perquam accomodatae . Vsquequaque sapere oportet : id erit telum acerrimum . Caetera faerè , vt ●●lim : Bellum inter Capita , & membra continuatum : 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 publicis defensa scholis , priuatis confirmata parietibus , omnibus loc●s ostentata , Scire tuum nihil est , nisi te scire , hoc sciat alter . Pl●●imi passim fit Pecunia , Pudor parui penditur : Nihili habentur Literae : Mihi crede , credendum nulli : O amice , amicus nemo . Quid tu interim ? Quomodo te inquies geris ? Quomodo ? Optimum est aliena frui insania . Video : taceo , rideo : Dixi. Et tame● addam , quod ait Satyricus ille : Vi●●endum est rectè , tum propter plurima , tum his Praecip●è causis , vt linguas Mancipiorum Contemnas .

E meo municipio , Postridie quàm superiores de Terraemotu sermones haberentur , id est , ni fallor , Aprilis septimo , Vesperi . With as manye gentle Goodnightes , as be letters in this tedious Letter .

Nosti manum tanquam tuam .

POSTSCRIPTE .

This Letter may only be shewed to the two odde Gentlemen you wot of . M●rry I would haue those two to see it , as sone as you may conueniently . Non multis d●rmio : no● multis scr●bo : non cupio placere multis : Alij alios numeros la●dant , praeferunt , venerantur : Ego ferè apud nos , ferè apud vos Trinitatem . Verbum sapientisat : nosti caetera : & tres Charites habes ad vnguem .

A Gallant familiar Letter , containing an Answere to that M. Immerito , with sundry proper examples , and some Precepts of our Englishe reformed Versifying . To my very friend M. Immerito .

SIgnor Immerito , to passe ouer youre néedelesse complaint , wyth the ●●sidue of your preamble ( for of the Earthquake I presuppose you haue ere this receyued my goodly discourse ) and withall to let my la●●●nglishe Hexametres goe as light●ye as they came : I cannot choose , but thanke and honour the good Aungell , ( whether it were Gabriell or some other ) that put so good a motion into the heads of those two excellent Gentlemen M. Sidney , and M. Dyer , the two very Diamondes of hir Maiesties Courte for many speciall and rare qualities : as to helpe forwarde our new famous enterprise for the Exchanging of Barbarous and Balductum Rymes with Artificial Uerses : the one being in manner of pure and fine Goulde , the other but counterfet , and base ylfauoured Copper . I doubt not but their liuelie example , and Practise , wil preuaile a thousand times more in short space , than the dead Aduertizement , and persuasion of M. Ascham to the same Effecte : whose Scholemaister notwithstanding I reuerence in resp●ct of so learned a Motiue . I would gladly be acquainted with M. Drants Prosodye , and I beséeche you , commende me to good M. Sidneys iudgement , and gentle M. Immeritos Obseruations . I hope your nexte L●tters , which I daily exspect , wil bring me in farth●r familiaritie & acquaintance with al thrée . Mine owne Rules and Precepts of Arte , I beléeue wil fal out not greatly repugnant , though peraduenture somewhat different : and yet am I not so resolute , but I can be content to res●rue the Coppying out and publishing therof , vntil I haue a little better consulted with my pillowe , and taken some farther aduize of Madame Sperienza . In the meane , take this for a general Caueat , and say I haue reuealed one great mysterie vnto you : I am of Opinion , there is no one more regular and iustifiable dir●ction , eyther for the assured , and infallible Certaintie of our English Artificiall Prosodye particularly , or generally to bring our Language into Arte , and to frame a Grammer or Rhetorike thereof : than first of all vniuersally to agrée vpon one and the same Ortographie , in all pointes conformable and proportionate to our Common Natural Prosodye : whether Sir Thomas Smithes in that respect be the most perfit , as surely it must néedes be very good : or else some other of profounder Learning , & longer Experience , than Sir Thomas was , shewing by necessarie demonstration , wherin he is defectiue , wil vndertake shortely to supplie his wantes , and make him more absolute . My selfe dare not hope to hoppe after him , til I sée something or other , too , or fro , publickely and autentically established , as it were by a generall Counsel , or acte of Parliament : and then peraduenture , standing vppon firmer grounde , for Companie sake , I may aduenture to do as other do . Interim , credit me , I dare geue no Preceptes , nor set downe any Certaine General Arte : and yet sée my boldenesse , I am not greatly squaimishe of my Particular Examples , whereas he that can but reasonably skil of the one , wil giue easily a shreude gesse at the other : considering that the one fetcheth his original and offspring from the other . In which respecte , to say troth , we Beginners haue the start , and aduauntage of our Followers , who are to frame and conforme both their Examples , and Precepts , according to that President which they haue of vs : as no doubt Homer or some other in Greeke , and Ennius , or I know not who else in Latine , did preiudice , and ouerrule those , that followed them , as well for the quantities of syllables , as number of féete , and the like : their onely Examples going for current payment , and standing in steade of Lawes , and Rules with the posteritie . In so much that it séem●d a sufficient warrant ( as still it doth in our Common Grammer schooles ) to make 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , and 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , in Vnus long , because the one hath 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , and the other , Vnus homo nobis , and so consequently in the rest . But to let this by-disputation passe , which is already so throughly discoursed and can●assed of the best Philosophers , and namely Aristotle , that poynt vs , as it were with the forefinger , to the very fountaines and head springes of Artes , and Artificiall preceptes , in the Analitiques , and Metaphysikes : most excellently set downe in these foure Golden Termes , the famoussest Termes to speake of in all Logique and Philosophie , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 : shall I nowe by the way sende you a Ianuarie gi●t in Aprill : and as it w●re shewe you a Christmas Gambowlde after Easter ? Were the manner so very fine , as the matter is very good , I durst presume of an other kinde of Plaudite and Gramercie , than now I will : but being as it is , I beséeche you , set parcialitie aside , and tell me your maisterships fancie .

A New yeeres Gift to my old friend Maister George Bilchaunger : In commendation of three most precious Accidentes , Vertue , Fame , and Wealth : and finally of the fourth , A good Tongue . V●r●ue sendeth a man to Renowne , Fame lendeth Aboundaunce , Fame with Aboundaunce maketh a man thrise blessed and happie . So the Rewarde of Famous Vertue makes many wealthy , And the Regard of We●lthie Vertue makes many blessed : O' blessed Vertue blessed Fame , bl●ssed Aboundaunce , O ●●●t I had you ●h●ee , wi●h th● losse of thirtie Come●●●●mentes . Nowe farewell Mistresse , whom lately I loued aboue all , These be my three bonny lasses , these be my three bonny Ladye● , Not the like Trinitie againe , saue onely the Trinitie aboue all : Worship and Honour , first to the one , and then to the other . A thousaud good leaues be for euer graunted Agrippa . For squibbing and declayming against many fruitlesse Artes , and Craftes , deuisde by the Diuls and Sprites , for a torment , And for a plague to the world : as both Pandora , Prometheus , And that cursed good bad Tree , can testifie at all times . Meere Gewegawes and Bables , in comparison of these . Toyes to mock Apes , and Woodcockes , in comparison of these . Iugling castes , and knicknackes , in comparison of these . Yet behinde there is one thing , worth a prayer at all tymes , A good Tongue , in a mans Head , A good Tongue in a woomans . And what so precious matter , and foode for a good Tongue , As blessed Vertue , blessed Fame , blessed Aboundaunce . L' Enuoy . Maruell not , what I meane to send these Verses at Euensong : On Neweyeeres Euen , and Oldyeeres End , as a Memento : Trust me , I know not a ritcher Iewell , newish or oldish , Than blessed Vertue , blessed Fame● blessed Abundaunce , O blessed Vertue , blessed Fame , blessed Aboundaunce , O that you had these three , with the losse of Fortie Val●tes ●

He that wisheth , you may liue to see a hundreth Good Newe yeares , euery one happier , and merrier , than other .

Now to requite your Blindfolded pretie God , ( wherin by the way I woulde gladly learne , why , Th● , in the first , Y● in the first , and thirde , H● , and My , in the last , being shorte , M● , alone should be made longer in the very same ) Imagin me to come into a goodly Kentishe Garden of your old Lords , or some other Noble man , and spying a florishing Bay Trée there , to demaunde ex tempore , as followeth : Thinke vppon Petrarches Arbor vittoriosa , tiromfale , Onor d' Imperadori , e di Poete : and perhappes it will aduaunce the wynges of your Imagination a degrée higher : at the least if any thing can be added to the loftinesse of his conceite , whom gentle Mistresse Rosalinde , once reported to haue all the Intelligences at commaundement , and an other time● Christened her , Segnior Pegaso .

Encomium Lauri . WAat might I call this Tree ? A Laurell ? O bonny Laurell : Needes to thy bowes will I bow this knee , and vayle my bonetto : Who , but thou , the renowne of Prince , and Princely Poeta : Th' one for Crowne , for Garland th' other thanketh Apollo . Thrice happy Daphne : that turned was to the Bay Tree , Whom such seruaun●es serue , as challenge seruice of all men . Who chiefe Lorde , and King of Kings , but th' Emperour only ? And Poet of right stampe , ouerawith th' Emperour himselfe . Who , but knowes Aretyne , was he not halfe Prince to the Princes . And many a one there liues , as nobly minded at all poyntes . Now Farewell Bay Tree , very Queene , and Goddesse of all trees , Ritchest perle to the Crowne , and fayrest Floure to the Garland . Faine wod I craue , might I so presume , some farther aquaintaunce , O that I might ? but I may not : woe to my destinie therefore . Trust me , not one more loyall seruaunt longes to thy Personage , But what sayes Daphne ? Non omni dormio , worse lucke : Yet Farewell , Farewell , the Reward of those , that I honour : Glory to Garden : Glory to Muses : Glory to Vertue . Partim Ioui , & Palladi , Partim Apollini & Musis .

But séeing I must néedes bewray my store , and set open my shoppe wyndowes , nowe I pray thée , and coniure thée by all thy amorous Regardes , and Exorcismes of Loue , call a Parliament of thy Sensible , & Intelligible powers together , & tell me , in Tom Trothes earnest , what Il fecondo , & famoso Poeta , Messer Immerito , sayth to this bolde Satyriall Libell lately deuised at the instaunce of a certayne worshipfull Hartefordshyre Gentleman , of myne olde acquayntaunce : in Gratiam quorundam Illustrium Anglofrancitalorum , hic & vbique apud nos volitantium . Agedùm verò , nosti homines , tanquam tuam ipsius cutem .

Speculum Tuscanismi . Since Galateo came in , and Tusc●●isme gan vsurpe , Vanitie aboue all : Villanie next her , Statelynes Empresse . No man , but Minion , Stowte , Lowte , Plaine , swayne , quoth a Lording : No wordes but valorous , no workes but woomanish onely . For life Magnificoes , not a beck but glorious in shew , In deede most friuolous , not a looke but Tuscanish alwayes . His cri●ging side necke , Eyes glauncing , Fisnamie smirking ● With forefinger kisse , and braue embrace to the footewarde . Largebelled Kodpeasd Dublet , vnkodpeased halfe hose , Straite to the dock , like a shirte , and close to the britch , like a diueling . A little Apish Hatte , cowched fast to the pate , like an Oyster , French Camarick Ruffes , deepe with a witnesse , starched to the purpose . Euery one A per se A , his termes , and braueries in Print● Delicate in speach , queynte in araye : conceited in all poyntes : In Courtly guyles , a passing singular odde man , For Gallantes a braue Myrrour , a Primerose of Honour , A Diamond for nonce , a fellowe perelesse in England . Not the like Discourser for Tongue , and head to be found out : Not the like resolute Man , for great and serious affayres , Not the like Lynx , to spie out secretes , and priuities of States . Eyed , like to Argus , Earde , like to Midas , Nosd , like to Naso , Wingd , like to Mercury , fittst of a Thousand for to be employde , This , nay more than this doth practise of Italy in one yeare . None doe I name , but some doe I know , that a peece of a tweluemonth● Hath so perfited outly , and inly , both body , both soule , That none for sense , and senses , halfe matchable with them . A Vulturs smelling , Apes i●sting , sight of an Eagle , A spiders touching , Har●●● h●aring , might o● a Lyon . Compoundes of wisedome , witte , prowes , bountie , behauiour , All galla●t Vertues , all qualities of body and soule : O thrice tenne hundreth thousand times blessed and happy , Blessed and happy Trauaile , Trauailer most blessed and happy . Penatibus He●ruscis laribusq●e nostris Inquili●i● :

Tell me in good sooth , doth if not too euidently appeare , that this English Poet wanted but a good patterne before his ●yes , as it might be some delicate , and choyce elegant Poe●●e of good M. Sidneys , or M. Dvers , ( ouer very Castor , & Pollux for ●ach and many greater matters ) when this trimme géere was in hatching : Much like some Gentlewooman , I coulde name in England , who by all Phisick and Phystognomie too , might as well haue brought forth all goodly faire children , as they haue now some ylfauored and deformed , had they at the tyme of their Conception , had in sight , the amiable and gallant beautifull Pictures of Adonis , Cupido , Ganymedes , or the like , which no doubt would haue wrought such ●éepe impression in their fantasies , and imaginations , as their children , and perhappes their Childrens children too , myght haue thanked them for , as long as they shall haue Tongues in their beades .

But myne owne leysure fayleth me : and to say troth , I am lately become a maruellous great straunger at myne olde Mistresse Poetries , being newly entertayned , and dayly employed in our Emperour Iustinians seruice ( sauing that I haue alreadie addressed a certaine pleasurable , and Morall Politique Naturall mixte deuise , to his most Honourable Lordshippe , in the same kynde , wherevnto my next Letter , if you please mée well , may perchaunce make you priuie : ) marrie nowe , if it lyke you in the meane while , for varietie sake , to sée howe I taske a young Brother of myne , ( whom of playne Iohn , our Italian Maister hath Cristened his Picciolo Giouannibattista , ) Lo here ( and God will ) a péece of hollydayes exercise . In the morning I gaue him this Theame out of Ouid , to translate , and varie after his best fashion .

Dum fueris foelix multos numerabis Amicos , Tempora si fuerint nubila , solus eris . Aspicis , vt veniant ●d can●●da tecta columbae ? Accipiat nullas fordid● Turris A●es ?

His translation , or rather Paraphrase before dinner , was first this : 1. Whilst your Bearnes are fatte whilst Cosers stuffd with aboundaunce , Freendes will abound : If bearne ware bare , then adie●●ir a Goddes name See ye the Doo●es● they breede , and feede in gorgeous Houses : Scarce one Dooue doth loue to remaine in ruinous Houses ,

And then fors●oth th●●● t● make proofe of his facultie In P●●●●meters too 〈◊〉 a 〈…〉 withall .

2. Whilst your Ritches abound , your friends will play the Place●oe● , If your wealth doe decay , friend , like a feend , will away , Dooues light , and delight in goodly fairetyled houses : If your House be but olde . Dooue to remoue be ye bolde .

And the last and largest of all , this : 3. If so be goods encrease , then dayly encreaseth a goods friend . If so be goods decrease , then straite decreaseth a goods friend . Then God night goods friend , who seldome prooueth a good friend , Giue me the goods , and giue me the good friend , take ye the goods friend . Douehouse , and Louehouse , in writing differ a letter : In deede scarcely so much , so resembleth an other an other . Tyle me the Doouehouse trimly , and gallant , where the like storehouse● Fyle me the Doouehouse : leaue it vnhansome , where the like poorehouse ? Looke to the Louehouse : where the resort is , there is a gaye showe : Gynne port , and mony fayle : straight sports and Companie faileth .

Beléeue me , I am not to be charged with aboue one , or two of the Uerses : and a foure or fiue wordes in the rest . His afternoones Theame was borrowed out of him , whom one in your Coate , they say , is as much beholding vnto , as any Planet , or Starre in Heauen is vnto the Sunne : and is quoted as your self best remember , in the Glose of your October .

Giunto Alessandro ala famosa tomba Del fero Achille , suspirando disse , O fortunato , che sichiara tromba Trouasti .

Within an houre , or there aboutes , he brought me these foure lust . e Hexameters , altered since not past in a worde , or two .

Noble Alexander , when he came to the tombe of Achille● , Sighing spake with a bigge voyce : O thrice blessed Achilles . That such a Trump , so great , so loude , so glorious hast found , As the renowned , and surprizing Archpoet Homer .

Uppon the viewe whereof , Ah my Syrrha , quoth I here is a gallant exercise for you in déede : we haue had a little prettie triall of you Latin , and Italian Translation : Let me sée now I pray , what you can 〈◊〉 your owne Tongue : And with that , reaching a certaine famous Booke , called the newe Shephardes Calender : I turned to Willyes , and Thomalins Emblemes , in Marche : and bad him make them eyther better , or worse in English verse . I gaue him an other howr●s respite : but before I looked for him , he suddainely rushed vpon me , and gaue me his deuise , thus formally set downe in a faire péece of Paper .

1. Thomalins Embleme . Of Honny , and of Gaule in Loue there is store , The Honny is much , but the Gaule is more . 2. Willyes Embleme . To be wize , and eke to Loue , Is graunted scarce to God aboue . 3. Both combined in one . Loue is a thing more fell , than full of Gaule , than of Honny , And to be wize , and Loue , is a worke for a God , or a Goddes peere .

With a small voluntarie Supplement of his owne , on the other side , in commendation of hir most gratious , and thrice excellent Maiestie : Not the like Virgin againe , in Asia , or Afric , or Europe , For Royall Vertues , for Maiestie , Bountie , Behauiour . Raptim , vti vides . In both not passing a worde , or two , corrected by mée . Something more I haue of his ; partly that very day begun , and partly continued since : but yet not so perf●tly finished , that I dare committe the viewe , and examination thereof , to Messer Immeritoes Censure , whom after those same two incomparable and myraculous Gemini , Omni exceptione maiores , I recount , and chaulk vppe in the Catalogue of our very principall Englishe Aristarchi . Howbeit , I am nigh halfe perswaded , that in tyme ( siquidem vltima primis respondeant ) for length , bredth , and depth , it will not come far behinde your Epithalamion Thamesis : the rather , hauing so fayre a president , and patterne before his Eyes , as I warrant him , and he presumeth to haue of that : both Master Collinshead , and M. Hollishead too , being togither therein . But euer , & euer , me thinkes your great Catoes , Ecquid erit pretij , and our little Catoes , Res age quae prosunt , make suche a buzzing , & ringing in my head , that I haue little ioy to animate , & encourage either you , or him to goe forward , vnlesse ye might make account of some certaine ordinarie wages , at at the leastwise haue your meate , and drinke for your dayes workes . As for my selfe , howsoeuer I haue toyed , and tri●led heretofore , I am nowe taught , and I trust I shall shortly learne , ( no remedie , I must of méere necessitie giue you ouer in the playne fielde ) to employ my trauayle , and tyme wholly , or chiefely on those studies and practizes , that carrie as they saye , meate in their mouth , hauing euermore their eye vppon the Title De pane lucrando , and their hand vpon their halfpenny . For , I pray now , what saith M. Cuddie , alias you know who , in the tenth AEglogue of the foresaid famous new Calender ?

Piers , I haue piped erst so long with payne , That all myne Oten reedes been rent , and wore , And my poore Muse hath spent hir spared store , Yet little good hath got , and much lesse gayne . Such pleasaunce makes the Grashopper so poore , And ligge so layde , when winter doth her strayne . The Dapper Di●ties , that I woont denize , To feede youthes fancie , and the flocking fry , Delighten much : what I the be●t for thy ? They han the pleasure , I a s●lender prize . I bea●e the hushe , the birdes to them doe flye , What good thereof to Cuddy can arise ?

But M●ster C●lli●● Cloute is not euery body , and albeit his olde Companions , Master Cuddy , & Master Hobbmoll ●e as little beholding to their Mistresse Poetrie , as euer you w●st : yet he peraduenture , by the meanes of hir speciall fauour , and some personall priuiledge , may happely liue by dying Pellicanes ● and purchase great landes , and Lordshippes , with the money , which his Calendar and Dreames haue , and will affourde him . Extra iocum , I like your Dreames passingly well : and the rather , bicause they sauour of that singular extraordinarie veine and inuention , whiche I euer fancied moste , and in a manner admired onelye in Lucian , Petrarche , Aretine , Pasquill , and all the most delicate , and fine conceited Grecians & Italians : ( for the Romanes to speake of , are but verye Ciphars in this kinde : ) whose chiefest endeuour , and drifte was , to haue nothing vulgare , but in some respecte or other , and especially in liuely Hyperbolicall Amplifications , rare , queint , and odde in euery pointe , and as a man woulde saye , a degrée or two at the leaste , aboue the reache , and compasse of a common Schollers capacitie . In whiche respecte notwithstanding , as well for the singularitie of the manner , as the Diuinitie of the matter , I hearde once a Diuine , preferre Saint Iohns Reuelation before al the veriest Maetaphysicall Visions , & iollyest conceited Dreames or Extasies , that euer were deuised by one or other , howe admirable , or superexcellent soeuer they séemed otherwise to the worlde . And truely I am so co●firmed in this opinion , that when I bethinke me of the verie notablest , and moste wonderful Propheticall , or Poeticall Uision , that euer I read , or hearde , me séemeth the proportion is so vnequall , that there hardly appeareth anye semblaunce of Comparison : no more in a manner ( specially for Poets ) than doth betwéene the incomprehensible Wisedome of God , and the sensible Wit of Man . But what néedeth this digression betwéene you and me ? I dare saye you wyll holde your selfe reasonably wel satisfied , if youre Dreames be but as well estéemed of in Englande , as Petrarches Visions be in Italy : whiche I assure you , is the very worst I wish you . But , sée , how I haue the Arte Memoratiue at commaundement . In good faith I had once againe nigh forgotten your Faerie Queene : howbeit by good chaunce , I haue nowe sent hir home at the laste , neither in better nor worse case , than I founde hir . And must you of necessitie haue my Iudgement of hir in déede ? To be plaine , I am voyde of al iudgement , if your Nine Comoedies , whervnto in imitation of Herodotus , you giue the names of the Nine Muses , ( and in one mans fansie not vnworthily ) come not néerer Ariostoes Comoedies , eyther for the finenesse of plausible Elocution , or the rarenesse of Poetical Inuention , than that Eluish Queene doth to his Orlando Furioso , which notwithstanding , you wil néedes séeme to emulate , and hope to ouergo , as you flatly professed your self in one of your last Letters . Besides that you know , it hath bene the vsual practise of the most exquisite and odde wittes in all nations , and specially in Italie , rather to shewe , and aduaunce themselues that way , than any other : as namely , those thrée notorious dyscoursing heads , Bibiena , Machiauel , and Aretine did , ( to let Bembo and Ariosto pa●●e ) with the great admiration , and wonderment of the whole countrey : being in déede reputed matchable in all points , both for conceyt of Witte , and eloquent decyphering of matters , either with Aristophanes and Menander in Gréek , or with Plautus and Terence in Latin , or with any other , in any other tong . But I wil not stand greatly with you in your owne matters . If so be the Faerye Queene be fairer in your eie than the Nine Muses , and Hobgoblin runne away with the Garland ●rom Apollo : Marke what I saye , and yet I will not say that I thought , but there an End for this once , and fare you well , till God or some good Aungell putte you in a better minde .

And yet , bicause you charge me somewhat suspitiously● with an olde promise , to deliuer you of that iealousie , I am so farre from hyding mine owne matters from you , that loe , I muste a néedes be reuealing my friendes secreates , now an honest Countrey Gentleman , sometimes a Scholler : At whose request , I bestowed this pawlting ●ungrely Rime vpon him , to present his Maistresse withall . The parties shall bée namelesse ; sauing , that the G●ntlewomans true , or counterfaite Christen name , must necessarily be bewrayed .

of one , but wo●lde as well in Writing , as in Speaking , haue them vsed , as Monosyllaba , thus : heavn , seaevn , a leavn , as Maister Ascham in his Toxophilus doth Yrne , commonly written Yron : Vp to the pap his string did he pull , his shafte to the harde yrne .

Especially the difference so manifestly appearing by the Pronunciation , betwéene these twoo , a leavn a clocke and a leaven of Dowe , whyche lea — ven admitteth the Diastole , you speake of . But sée , what absurdities thys yl fauoured Orthographye , or rather Pseudography , hathe ingendred : and howe one errour still bréedeth and begetteth an other . Haue wée not , Mooneth , for Moonthe : sithence , for since : whilest , for whilste : phantasie , for phansie : euen , for evn : Diuel , for Divl : God hys wrath , for Goddes wrath : and a thousande of the same stampe : wherein the corrupte Orthography in the moste , hathe béene the sole , or principall cause of corrupte Prosodye in ouer many ?

Marry , I confesse some wordes we haue indéede , as for example , fayer , either for beautifull , or for a Marte : ayer , bothe pro acre , and pro haeredè , for we say not Heire , but plaine Aire for him to ( or else Scoggins Aier were a poore iest ) whiche are commonly , and maye indifferently be vsed eyther way●s . For you shal as well , and as ordinarily heare fayer , as faire , and Aier , as Aire , and bothe alike : not onely of diuers and sundrye persons , but often of the very same : otherwhiles vsing the one , otherwhiles the other : and so died , or dyde : spied , or spide : tryed , or tride : fyer , or fyre : myer , or myre : wyth an infinyte companye of the same sorte : sometime Monosyllaba , sometime Polysyllaba .

To conclude both pointes in one , I dare sweare priuately to your selfe , and will defende publiquely againste any , it is neither Her●sie , nor Paradox , to sette downe , and stande vppon this assertion , ( notwithstanding all the Preiudices and Presumptions to the contrarie , if they were tenne times as manye mo● ) that it is not , either Position , or Dipthong , or Diastole , or anye like Grammer Schoole Deuice , that doeth , or can indéede , either make long or short , or encrease , or diminish the number of Sillables , but onely the common allowed , and receiued Prosodye : taken vp by an vniuersall consent of all , and continued by a generall vse , and Custome of all . Wherein neuerthelesse I grant , after long aduise , & diligent obseruation of particulars , a certain Uniform Analogie , and Concordance , being in processe of time espyed out . Sometime this , sometime that , hath béen noted by good wits in their Analyses , to fall out generally alyke ? and as a man woulde saye , regularly in all , or moste wordes : as Position , Dipthong , and the like : not as firste , and essentiall causes of this , or that effecte , ( here lyeth the point ) but as Secundarie and Accidentall Signes , of this , or that Qualitie .

It is the vulgare , and naturall Mother Prosodye , that alone worketh the feate , as the onely supreame Foundresse , and Reformer of Position , Dipthong , Orthographie , or whatsoeuer else : whose Affirmatiues are nothing worth , if she once conclude the Negatiue : and whose secundae intentiones muste haue their whole allowance and warrante from hir primae . And therefore in shorte , this is the verie shorte , and the long : Position neither maketh shorte , nor long in oure Tongue , but so farre as we can get hir good leaue . Peraduenture , vppon the diligent suruewe , and examination of Particulars , some the like Analogie and Uniformity , might be founde oute in some other respecte , that shoulde as vniuersally and Canonically holde amongst vs , as Position doeth with the Latines and Gréekes . I saye , ( peraduenture , ) bycause , hauing not yet made anye speciall Obseruation , I dare not precisely affirme any generall certaintie : albeit I presume , so good and sensible a Tongue , as ours is , béeyng wythall so like itselfe , as it is , cannot but haue something equipollent , and counteruaileable to the beste Tongues , in some one such kinde of conformitie , or other . And this forsooth is all the Artificial Rules and Precepts , you are like to borrowe of one man at this time .

Sed amabo te , ad Corculi tui delicatissimas Literas , propediem , quam potero , accuratissimè : tot interim illam exquisitissimis salutibus , atque salutationibus impertiens , quot habet in Capitulo , capill●s semiaureos , semiargenteos , semig emmeos . Quid quaeris ? Per tuam Venerem altera Rosalindula est : eamque non alter , sed idem ille , ( tua , vt ante , bona cum gratia ) copiosè amat Hobbinolus . O mea Domina Immerito , mea bellissima Collina Clouta , multo plus plurimùm salue , atque vale .

You knowe my ordinarie Postscripte : you may communicate as much , or as little , as you list , of these Patcheries , and fragments , with the two Gentlemen : but there a straw , and you loue me : not with any else , friend or foe , one , or other : vnlesse haply you haue a special desire to imparte some parte hereof , to my good friend M. Daniel Rogers : whose curtesies are also registred in my Marble b●●ke . You know my meaning .

Nosti manum & stylum .

¶ TWO OTHER , very commendable Letters , of the same mens writing : both touching the foresaid Artificiall Versifying , and certain other Particulars : More lately deliuered vnto the Printer .

IMPRINTED AT LONdon , by H. Bynneman , dwelling in Thames streate , neere vnto Baynardes Castell .

Anno Domini . 1580.

Cum gratia & priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis .

¶ To the Worshipfull his very singular good friend , Maister G. H. Fellow of Trinitie Hall in Cambridge .

GOod Master G. I perceiue by your most curteous and frendly Letters your good will to be no lesse in déed , than I alwayes estéemed . In recompence wherof , think I beséech you , that I wil spare neither spéech , nor wryting , nor aught else , whensoeuer , and wheresoeuer occasion shal be offred me : yea , I will not stay , till it be offred , but will séeke it , in al that possibly I may . And that you may perceiue how much your Counsel in al things preuaileth with me , and how altogither I am ruled and ouer-ruled thereby : I am now determined to alter mine owne former purpose , and to subscribe to your aduizement : being notwithstanding resolued stil , to abide your farther resolution . My principal doubts are these . First , I was minded for a while to haue intermitted the vttering of my writings : leaste by ouer-much cloying their noble eares , I should gather a contempt of my self , or else séme rather for gaine and commoditie to doe it , for some swéetnesse that I haue already tasted . Then also me séemeth the work too base for his excellent Lordship , being made in Honour of a priuate Personage vnknowne , which of some yl-willers might be vpbra●ded , not to be so worthie , as you knowe she is : or the matter not so weightie , that it should be offred to so weightie a Personage : or the like . The selfe former Title stil liketh me well ynough , and your fine Addition 〈◊〉 lesse . If these , and the like doubtes , maye be of importaunce in your séeming , to frustrate any parte of your aduice , I béeséeche you , without the leaste selfe loue of your own purpose , councell me ●or the best : and the rather doe it faith●ullye , and carefully , for that , in all things I attribute so muche to your iudgement , that I am euermore content to ad●●hil●te mine owne determinations , in respecte thereof . And indéede for your selfe to , it sitteth with you now , to call your wits , & senses togither , ( which are alwaies at call ) when occasion is so fairely offered of Estimation and Preferment . For , whiles the yron is hote , it is good striking , and minds of Nobles varie , as their Estates . Verùm ne quid durius .

I pray you bethinke you well ●ereof , good Maister G. and forthwith write me those two or thrée special points and caueats for the nonce , De quibus in superioribus illis mellitissimis , longissimisque Litteris tuis . Your desire to heare of my late béeing with hir Maiestie , muste dye in it selfe . As for the twoo worthy Gentlemen , Master Sydney , and Master Dyer , they haue me , I thanke them , in some vse of familiarity : of whom , and to whome , what speache passeth for youre credite and estimation , I leaue your selfe to conceiue , hauing alwayes so well conceiued of my vnfained affection , and zeale towardes you . And nowe they haue proclaimed in their 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , a generall surceasing and silence of balde Rymers , and also of the verie best to : in steade whereof , they haue by authotie of their whole Senate , prescribed certaine Lawes and rules of Quantities of English sillables , for English Verse : hauing had thereof already greate practi●e , and drawen mée to their faction . Newe Bookes I heare of none , but only of one , that writing a certaine Booke , called The Schoole of Abuse ● and dedicating it to Maister Sidney , was for hys labor scorned : if at leaste it be in the goodnesse of that nature to scorne . Suche follie is it , not to regarde aforehande the inclination and qualitie of him , to whome wée dedicate oure Bookes . Suche mighte I happily incurre , entituling My Slomber , and the other Pamphlets , vnto his honor . I meant them rather to Maister Dyer . But I am , of late , more in loue wyth my Englishe Uersifying , than with Ryming : whyche I should haue done long since , if I would then haue followed your councell . Sed te solum iam tum suspicabar cum● Aschanio sapere : nunc Aulam video egregios alere Poëtas Anglicos . Maister E. K. hartily desireth to be commended vnto your Worshippe : of whome , what accompte he maketh , youre selfe shall hereafter perceiue , by hys paynefull and dutifull Uerses of your selfe .

Thus muche was written at Westminster yesternight : but comming this morning , béeyng the sixtéenth of October , to Mystresse Kerkes , to haue it deliuered to the Carrier , I receyued youre letter , sente me the l●ste wéeke : whereby I p●rc●iue you otherwhiles continue your old exercise of Uersifying in English : whych glorie I had now thought shoulde haue bene onely ours héere at London , and the Court.

Truste me , your Uerses I like passingly well , and enuye your hidden paines in this kinde , or rather maligne , and grudge at your selfe , that woulde not once imparte so muche to me . But once , or twice , you make a breache in Maister Drants Rules : quod tamen condonabimus tanto Poetae , tuaeque ipsius maximae in his rebus autoritati . You shall sée when we méete in London , ( whiche , when it shall be , certifye vs ) howe fast I haue followed after you , in that Course : beware , leaste in time I ouertake you . Veruntamen te solùm sequar , ( vt saepenumerò sum professus , ) nunquam sanè assequar , dum viuam . And nowe requite I you with the like , not with the verye best , but with the verye shortest , namely with a fewe Iambickes : I dare warrant , they be precisely perfect for the féete ( as you can easily iudge ) and varie not one inch from the Rule . I will imparte yours to Maister Sidney , and Maister Dyer , at my nexte going to the Courte . I praye you , kéepe mine close to your selfe , or your verie entire friendes , Maister Preston , Maister Still , and the reste .

Iambicum Trimetrum . VNhappie Verse , the witnesse of my vnhappi● state , Make thy selfe fluttring wings of thy fast flying Thought , and fly forth vnto my Loue , whersoeuer she be : Whether lying reastlesse in heauy bedde , or else Sitting so cheerelesse at the cheerfull boorde , or else Playing alone carelesse on hir heauenlie Virginals . If in Bed , tell hir , that my eyes can take no reste : If at Boorde , tell hir , that my mouth can eate no meate : If at hir Virginals , tel hir , I can heare no mirth . Asked why ? say : Waking Loue suffereth no sleepe : Say , that raging Loue dothe appall the weake stomacke : Say , that lamenting Loue marreth the Musicall . Tell hir , that hir pleasures were wonte to lull me asleepe : Tell hir , that hir beautie was wonte to feede mine eyes : Tell hir , that hir sweete Tongue was wonte to make me mirth● Nowe doe I nightly waste , wanting my kindely reste : Nowe doe I dayly starue , wanting my liuely foode : Nowe doe I alwayes dye , wanting thy timely mirth . And if I waste , who will bewaile my heauy chaunce ? And if I starue , who will record my cursed end ? And If I dye , who will saye : this was , Immerito ?

I thought once agayne here to haue made an ende , with ● heartie Vale , of the best fashion : but loe , an ylfauoured myschaunce . My last farewell , whereof I made great accompt , and muche maruelled you shoulde make no mention thereof , I am nowe tolde , ( in the Diuels name ) was thorough one mans negligence quite forgotten , but shoulde nowe vndoubtedly haue béene sent , whether I hadde come , or no. Seing it can now be no otherwise , I pray you take all togither , wyth all their faultes : and nowe I hope , you will vouchsafe mée an answeare of the largest size , or else I tell you true , you shall bée verye déepe in my debte : notwythstandyng , thys other swéete , but shorte letter , and fine , but fewe Uerses . But I woulde rather I might yet sée youre owne good selfe , and receiue a Reciprocall farewell from your owne sw●et● mouth .

Ad Ornatissimum virum , multis iamdiu nominibus clarissimum , G. H. Immerito sui , mox in Gallias nauigaturi , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . SIc malus egregium , sic non inimicus Amicum : Sicque nouus veterem iubet ipse Poëta Poëtam , Saluere , ac calo post secula multa secundo Iam reducem , calo mage , quàm nunc ipse , secundo Vtier . Ecce Deus , ( modò sit Deus ille , renixum Qui vocet in scelus , & iuratos perdat amores ) ● Ecce Deus mihi clara dedit modò signa Mari●us , Et sua veliger● lenis parat AEquora Ligno , Mox sulcanda , suas etiam pater AE●lus Ira● Ponit , & ingentes animos Aquil●nis — Cuncta vijs sic apta meis : ego solus ineptus . Nam mihi nescio quo mens saucia vul●ere , dudum Fluctuat ancipiti Pelago , dum Na●ita pr●ram Inualidam validu● rapit huc Amor , & rapit illuc . Consilijs Ratio melioribus vsa , decusque Immortale leui diffessa Cupidinis Arcu . Angimur hoc dubio , & portu vexamur in ipso . Magne pharetrati nunc t● contemptor Amoris , ( Id tibi Dij nomen precor haud impu●e remittant ) Hos nodos exsolue , & eris mihi magnus Apollo . Spiritus ad summos , scio , te generosus Honores Exstimulat , maiusque docet spirare Poëtam , Quàm leuis est Amor , & tamen haud leuis est Amor omnis . Ergo nihil lauds reputa● aequale per●nni , Praeque sacrosancta splendoris imagine tanti , Caetera , quae vecors , vti Numina , vulg●● a●orat , Praedia , Amicitias , vrbana peculia , Nummos , Quaeque placent oculis , form●● , spectacula , Amores Conculcare soles , vt humum , & ludibria sensus . Digna meo certè Haruejo sententia , digna Oratore amplo , & generoso pectore , quam non Stoica formidet veterum Sapientia vinclis Sancire ●ternis : sapor haud ●amen omnibus idem . Dicitur effaeti proles facunda Laërtae , Quamlibet ignoti iactata per aequora Caeli , Inque procelloso longùm exsul gurgite ponto , Prae tamen amplexu lachrymosae Coniugis , Ortus Caelestes Diuûmque thoros sprenisse beatos . Tantùm Amor , & Mulier , vel Amore potentior . Illum Tu tamen illudis : ●ua Magnificentia tanta est : Praeque subumbrata Splendoris Imagi●e tanti , Praeque illo Meritis fam●sis nomine parto , Caetera , quae Vecors , vti N●mina , vnlgus adorat , Praedia , Amicitias , armenta , peculia , nummos . Quaeque placent oculis , f●rmas , spectacula , Amores . Quaeque placent ori , quaeque auribus , omnia temnis . Nae tu grande sapis , Sapor at sapienti● non est : Omnis & in paruis benè qui scit de sipuisse , Saepe supercilijs palman● sapientilius ●ufer● . Ludit Aristippum m●dò ●●trïca Tur●a Sophorum . Mitia purpureo moderantem verb● Tyranno Ludit Aristippus dictamina vana Sophorum , Quos leuis emensi male torquet Culici● vmbra : Et quisquis placuisse Stude● Her●ibus alt●● , Desipuisse studet , ●ic gratia cre●●it ineptis . Denique Laurigeris quisqùis s●●a tempora vittis , Insignire volet , Populoque placere fa●enti , Desipere insanus discit , turpemque pudend● Stultitia laudem quaerit . P●ter Ennius vnu● Dictus in innumeris sapiens : laudatur at ips●● Carmina vesano fudisse liquentio vino . Nec tu pace tua , nostri Cato Maxime sacli , Nomen honorati sacrum m●reare Poëlae , Quantamuis illustre canas , & nobile Carmen , Ni stultire velis , sic Sultorum omnia plena . Tuta sed in medio superest via gurgite , n●m Qui Nec reliquis nimiùm v●lt desipuisse vid●ri , Nec sapuisse nimis , Sapientem dixeris vnum . Hinc te merserit vndae , illinc combusserit Ignis . Nec tu delici●s nimis aspernare fluentes , Nec sero Dominam , venient●m in vota , nec Auru● Si sapis , ablatum , ( Curijs ea , Fabricisque Linque viris miseris miseranda Sophismata : quondam● Grande sui decus ij , nostri sed dedecus aeui : ) Nec sectare nimis . Res vtraque crimine plena . Hoc bene qui callet , ( si quis tamen hoc bene callet ) Scribe , vel invito sapientem hunc Socra●e solum . Vis facit vna p●os : Instos facit altera : & altra Egregiè cordata , ac fortia pectora : verùm Omne tulit punctum , qui miscuit vtile dulci Dij mihi , dulce diu dederant : verùm vtile nunque : Vtile nunc etiam , ô vtinam quoque dulce dedissent . Dij mihi , ( quippe Dijs aeq●i●alia maxima par●is ) Ni nimis inuid●ant morta●●bus esse ●●●tis , Dulce si●●●l tribuisse queant , simul vtile : tanta Sed Fortuna tua est : pariter quaeque vtile , quaeque Dulce dat ad placitum : saeuo nos sydere nati Quaesitum imus eam per inhospita Caucasa longè● Perque Pyrem●●os montes , Babilonaque turpem , Quòd si quaesitum nec ibi invenerimus , inge●s AEquor inexhaustis permensi erroribus , vltrâ Fluctibus in medijs s●cij quaeremus Vlyssis . Passibus inde Deam fessis comit abimur aegram , Nobile cui furtum qu●renti defuit orbis . Namque sin● pudet in patrio , tenebrisque pudendis Non nimis ingenio Iuuonem infoelice , virentes , Officijs frustra deperdere vilibus Annos , Frugibus & vacuas speratis cernere spicas . Ibimus ergo statim : ( quis eunti fausta precetur ? ) Et pede Clibosas f●sso calcabimus Alpes . Q●is dabit interea condit a● rore Britanno , Quis tibi Litterulas ? quis carmen amore petulcum● Musa sub O●balij desueta cac●mine monti● , Flebit inexhausto tam long a silentia planctu , Lug●bitque sacrum lachrymis Helicona tacentem . Harueiusque bonus , ( charus licet omnibus idem , Idque suo merito , prope suauior omnibus vnus● ) Angelus & Gabriel , ( qu●muis co●itatus amicis Innumeris , geniûmque choro stipatus amaeno Immerito tamen vnum absentem saepe requiret , Opt●bitque , Vtinam meus hî● Edmundus adesset , Qui noua scripsisset , nec Amores conticuiss●● , Ipse s●os , & saepe animo , verbisque benignis Fausta precaretur : Deus illum al●quando reducat &c. Plura vellem per Ch●●ites , sed non lic●t per Musas . Vale , Vale plurimù● , Mi amabilissime Harucie , meo curdi , meorum omnium longè charissime .

I was minded also to haue sent you some English verses : or Rymes , for a farewell : but by my Troth , I haue no spare time in the world , to thinke on such Toyes , that you knowe will demaund a fréer head , than mine is presently . I beséeche you by all your Curtesies , and Graces , let me be answered , ere I goe : which will be , ( I hope , I feare , I thinke ) the next wéeke , if I can be dispa●chéd of my Lorde . I goe thither , as sent by him , and maintained most what of him : and there am to employ my time , my body , my minde , to his Honours seruice . Thus with many superhartie Commendations , and Recommendations to your selfe , and all my friendes with you , I ende my last Farewell , not thinking any more to write vnto you , before I goe : and withall committing to your faith●ull Credence the eternall Memorie of our euerlasting friendship , the in●ialable Memorie of our vnspotted friendshippe , the sacred Memorie of our vowed friendship : which I beseech you Continue with vsuall writings , as you may , and of all things let me heare some Newes from you . As gentle M. Sidney , I thanke his good Worship , hath required of me , and so promised to doe againe . Qui ●●onet , vt facias , quod iam facis , you knowe the rest . You may alwayes send them most safely to me by Mistresse Kerke , and by none other . So once againe , and yet once more● Farewell most hartily , mine owne good Master H. and loue me , as I loue you , and thinke vpon poore Immerito , as he thinketh vppon you .

Leycester House . This .5 . of October . 2579.

Per mare , per terras , Viuus , mortuusque , Tuus Immerito .

To my verie Friende , M. Immerito .

LIberalissimo Signor Immerito , in good soothe my poore Store-house will presently affourd me nathing , either to recompence , or counteruaile your gentle Masterships , long , large , lauish , Luxurious , Laxatiue Letters withall , ( now a Gods name , when did I euer in my life , hunt the Letter before ? but , belike , there s no remedie , I must néedes be euen with you once in my dayes , ) but only for soothe , a fewe Millions of Recommendations , and a running Coppie of the Uerses enclosed . Which Uerses , ( extra iocum ) are so well done in Lattin by two Doctors , and so well Translated into English by one odde Gentleman , and generally so well allowed of all , that chaunced to haue the perusing of them : that trust mée , G.H. was at the first hardly intreated , to shame himselfe , and tru●ly , now blusheth , to sée the ●irst Letters of his name , stande so néere their Names , as of necessitie they must . You know that Greeke prouerb , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , and many colours , ( as in a manner euery thing else ) that seuerally by themselues , séeme reasonably good , and freshe ynough , beyng compared , and ouermatched wyth their betters , are maruellously disgraced , and as it were , dashed quite oute of Countenaunce . I am at this inst●n● , very busilye , and hotly employed in certaine greate and seri●us affayres : whereof , notwithstanding ( for all youre vowed , and long exp●rimented s●cre●●● ) you are not like to heare a worde more at the moste , till I my selfe sée a World more at the leaste . And therefore , for this once I beséech you ( notwithstanding your greate expectation of I knowe not what Uolumes for an aunsweare ) content your good selfe , with these Presentes , ( pardon me , I came lately out of a Scriueners shop ) and in li●u of many gentle Farewels , & goodly God be wyes , at your departure : gyue me once againe leaue , to playe the Coun●aylour a while , if it be but to iustifie your liberall Mastershippes , Nostri Cato maxime sacli : and I con●ure you by the Contents of the Uerses , and Rymes ●nclosed , and by al th● good , and bad Spirites , that attende vpon the Authors themselues , immediatly vpon the contemplation thereof , to abandon all other fooleries , and honour Uertue , the onely immortall and suruiuing Accident amongst so manye mortall , and euer-perishing Substaunces . As I strongly presume , so good a Terte , so clearkly handeled , by thrée so famous Doctours , as olde Maister Wythipole , and the other two bée , m●y easily , and will fully perswade you , howsoeuer you tush at the fourths vnsutable Paraphrase . But a worde or two , to your large , lauishe , laxatiue Letters , and then for thys time , Adieu . Of my credite , youre doubtes are not so redoubted , as youre selfe ●uer suspiciously imagine : as I purpose shortely to aduize you more at large . Your hotte yron , is so hotte , that it striketh mée to the hearte , I dar● not come neare to strike it : The Tyde tarryeth no mann● , but manye a good manne is fayne to tarry the Tyde . And I knowe some , whyche coulde be content to bée theyr own Caruers , that are gladde to thanke other for theyr courtesie : But Beggars , they saye , muste be no choosers .

Your new-founded 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 I honoure more , than you will or can suppose : and make greater accompte of the twoo worthy Gentlemenne , than of two hundreth Dionisij Areopagitae , or the verye notablest Senatours , that euer Athens dydde affourde of that number .

Your Englishe Trimetra I lyke better , than perhappes you will easily beléeue : and am to requite them wyth better , or worse , at more conuenient leysure . Marry , you must pardon me , I fin●e not your warrant so sufficiently good , and substauntiall in Lawe , that it can persuade me , they are all , so precisely perfect for the Féete , as your selfe ouer-partially wéene , and ouer-confidently auouche : especiallye the thirde , whyche hathe a foote more than a Lowce ( a wonderous deformitie in a righte and pure Senarie ) and the sixte , whiche is also in the same Predicament , vnlesse happly one of the féete be sawed off wyth a payre of Syncopes : and then shoulde the Orthographie haue testified so muche : and in steade of H●au●nli Virgin●ls , you should ha●e written , Hea●nl● Virgn●ls : & Virgn●ls againe in the ninth , & should ha●e made a Curtoll of Imm●r●t● in the laste : being all notwithstandyng vsuall , and tollerable ynoughe , in a mixte , and licentious Iambicke : and of two euilles , better ( no doubte ) the fyrste , than the laste : a thyrde superfluous sillable , than a dull Spondee . Then me thinketh , you haue in my fancie somwhat too many Spondees beside : and whereas Trochee sometyme presumeth in the firste place , as namely in the second Uerse , Make thy , whyche thy , by youre Maistershippes owne authoritie muste néedes be shorte , I shall be faine to supplye the office of the Arte Memoratiue , and putte you in minde of a pretty Fable in Abstemio the Italian , implying thus much , or rather thus little in effect .

A certaine lame man beyng invited to a solempne Nuptiall Feaste , made no more adoe , but sate me hym roundlye downe foremoste at the hyghest ende of the Table . The Master of the feast , suddainly spying his presumption , and hansomely remoouing him from thence , placed me this haulting Gentleman belowe at the nether ●nd of the bourd : alledging for his defence the common verse : Sedes nulla datur● praeterquam sexta Trochae● : and pleasantly alluding to this foote , which standing vppon two syllables , the one long , the other short , ( much like , of a like , his guestes féete ) is alwayes thrust downe to the last place , in a true Hexameter , and quite thrust out of doores in a pure , and iust Senarie . Nowe Syr , what thinke you● I began to thinke with my selfe , when I began to reade your warrant first : so boldly , and venterously set downe in so formall , and autentique wordes , as these , Precisely perfit , and not an inch from the Rule ? Ah Syrrha , and Iesu Lord , thought I , haue we at the last gotten one , of whom his olde friendes and Companions may iustly glory , In eo solùm peccat , quòd nihil peccat : and that is yet more exacte , and precise in his English Comicall Iambickes , than ●uer M. Watson himselfe was in his Latt●n Tragicall Iambickes , of whom M. Ascham reporteth , that he would neuer to this day suffer his famous Absolon to come abrode , onely because Anapaestus in Locis paribus , is twice , or thrice vsed in steade of Iambus ? A small fault , ywisse , and such a one in M. Aschams owne opinion , as perchaunce woulde neuer haue béene espyed , no neither in Italy , nor in Fraeùnce . But when I came to the curious scanning , and fingering of euery foote , & s●llable : Lo here , quoth I , M. Watsons Anapaestu● for all the worlde . A good horse , that trippeth not once in a iourney : and M. Immerito doth , but as M. Watson , & in a manner all other Iambici haue done before him : marry he might haue spared his preface , or at the least , that same restrictiue , & streightlaced t●rme , Precisely , and all had béen well enough : and I assure you , of my selfe , I beléeue , no péece of a fault marked at all . But this is the Effect of warrantes , and perhappes the Errour may rather procéede of his Master , M. Drantes Rule , than of himselfe . Howsoeuer it is , the matter is not great , and I alwayes was , and will euer continue of this Opinion , Pauca multis condonanda vitia Virtutibus , especially these being no Vitia neither , in a common and licencious Iambicke . Verùm ista obiter , non quidem contradicendi animo , aut ●tiam corrigendi mihi crede : sed nostro illo Academico , pristinoque more ratiocinandi . And to saye trueth , partely too , to requite your gentle courtesie in beginning to me , and noting I knowe not what breache in your gorbellyed Maisters Rules : which Rules go for good , I perceiue , and kéepe a Rule , where there be no better in presence . My selfe neither sawe them , nor heard of them before : and therefore will neither praise them , nor dispraise them nowe : but vppon the suruiewe of them , and farther conference , ( both which I desire ) you shall soone heare one mans opinion too or fro . Youre selfe remember , I was wonte to haue some preiudice of the man : and I still remaine a fauourer of his deserued , and iust commendation . Marry in these poyntes , you knowe , Partialitie in no case , may haue a foote : and you remember mine olde Stoicall exclamation● Fie on childish affection , in the discoursing , and deciding of schoole matters . This I say , because you charge m● with an vnknowne authoritie : which for aught I know yet , may as wel be either vnsufficient , or faultie , as otherwise : and I dare more than halfe promise , ( I dare not saye , warrant ) you shall alwayes in these kinde of controuersies , ●inde me nighe hande answerable in mine owne defence . Reliqua omnia , quae de hac supersunt Anglicorum versuum ratione , in aliud tempus reseruabimus , ociosum magis . Youre Latine Farewell is a goodly braue yonkerly péece of work , and Goddilge yée , I am alwayes maruellously beholding vnto you , for your bountifull Titles : I hope by that time I haue béen resident a yeare or twoo in Italy , I shall be better qualifyed in this kind , and more able to requite your lauishe , and magnificent liberalitie that way . But to let Titles and Tittles passe , and come to the very pointe in déede , whiche so neare toucheth my lusty Trauayler to the quicke , and is one of the praedominant humors that raigne in our common Youths : Heus mi tu , bone proce , magne muli●rcularum amator , egregie Pamphile , eum aliquando tandem , qui t● manet , qui mulierosos omnes , qui vniuersam Faeministarum sectam , Respice finem . And I shal then be content to appeale to your owne learned experience , whether it be , or be not , too too true : quod dici solet àme saepe : àte ipso nonnunque : ab expertis omnibus quotidie : Amare amarum : Nec deus , vt perhibent , Amor est , sed amaror , & error : & quicquid in eandem solet sententiam Empiric●̄s aggregari . Ac scite mihi quidem Agrippa Ouidianam illam , de Arte Amandi , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 videtur correxisse , meritóque , de Arte Meretricandi , inscripsisse . Nec verò inepte alius , Amatores Alchumistis comparauit , aureos , argenteosque montes , atque fontes lepidè somniantibus , sed interim miserè immanibus Carbonum fumis propemodum occaecatis , atque etiam suffocatis : praeterque celebratum illum Adami Paradisum , alium esse quendam praedicauit , stultorum quoque Amatorumque mirabilem Paradisum : illum verè , hunc phantasticè , fanaticeque beatorum . Sed haec alias , fortassis vberiùs . Credite me , I will neuer linne baityng at you , til I haue rid you quite of this yonkerly , & womanly humor . And as for your spéedy and hasty trauell : me thinks I dare stil wager al the Books & writings in my study , which you know , I estéeme of greater value , than al the golde & siluer in my purse , or chest , that you wil not , ( and yet I muste take héede , how I make my bargaine with so subtile and intricate a Sophister ) that you shall not , I saye , bée gone ouer Sea , for al your saying , neither the next , nor the nexte wéeke . And then peraduenture I may personally performe your request , and bestowe the swéetest Farewell , vpon your swéetmouthed Mashippe , that so vnswéete a Tong , and so sowre a paire of Lipp●s can affoorde . And , thinke you I will leaue my Il Pellegrino so ? No I trowe . My Lords Honor , the expectation of his friendes , his owne credite and preferment , tell me , he muste haue a moste speciall care , and good r●garde of employing his trauaile to the best . And therfore I am studying all this fortnight , to reade him suche a Lecture in Homers Odysses , and Virgils AEneads , that I dare vndertake he shall not néede any further instruction , in Maister Turlers Trauayler , or Maister Zuingers Methodus Apodemica : but in his whole trauaile abroade , and euer after at home , shall shewe himselfe as verie liuelye and absolute picture of Vlysses and AEneas . Wherof I haue the stronger hope he muste néedes proue a most capable and apt subiecte ( I speake to a Logician ) hauing the selfe same Goddesses and Graces attendant vpon his body and mind , that euermore guided them , & their actions : especially the ones Minerua , and the others Venus : that is ( as one Doctor expoundeth it ) the pollitique head , and wise gouernement of the one : and the amiable behauiour , and gratious courtesie of the other : the two verye principall , and moste singular Companions , of a right Trauailer : and as perhaps one of oure subtile Logicians woulde saye , the two inseparable , and indivisible accidents of the foresaide Subiects . De quibu● ipsis , caeterisque omnibus artifici● Apodemici instrumentis : inprimisque de Homerica illa , diuinaque herba 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ) qua Vlissem suum Mercurius , aduersus Cyrcea & pocula , & carmina , & venena , morbosque omnes praemuniuit : & coram , vti spero , breui : & longè , vti soleo , copiosius : & fortasse etiam , aliquantò , quàm soleo , cum subtiliùs , tum verò Polliticè , Pragmaticeque magis . Interim tribus eris syllabis contentus , ac valebis . Trinitie Hall , stil in my Gallerie . 23. Octob. 1579. In haste .

Yours , as you knowe . G. H.

Certaine Latin Verses , of the frailtie and mutabilitie of all things , sauing onely Vertue : made by M. Doctor Norton , for the righ● Worship●●●● , M. Thomas Sackford , Master of Requestes vnto hir Maiestie . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Th. TEmpora furtiuo morsu laniantur amaena , S Sensim florescunt , occubitura breui . A Anni vere salit , Senio mox conficiendus , C Cura , labor ditant , non ●ademque premunt ? F Fallax , vel vigili studio Sapientia parta : O Oh , & magnatum gloria saepe iacet , R Res inter varias fluimus , ruimusque gradatim : D. Dulcia Virtutis praemia sola manent .

The same paraphrastically varied by M. Doctor Gouldingam● at the request of old● M. Wythipoll of Ipswiche . T. TEmpora furtiuo labuntur dulcia cursu , S Subsiduntque breuî , quae viguere diu . A Autumno capitur , quicquid nouus educat annus : C Curta Iuuentutis gaudia , Fata secant . F Fallax Ambitio est , atque anxia cura tenendi , O Obscurum decus , & nomen inane Soph● . R Res Fo rs humanas incerto turbine voluit , D. Dulcia Virtutis praemia sola manent .

Olde Maister Wythipols owne Translation . OVr merry dayes , by theeuish bit are pluckt , a●d torne aw●y , And euery lustie growing thing , in short ti●● doth decay . The pleasaunt Spring times ioy , how soone it groweth olde ? And wealth that gotten is with care , doth noy as much , be bolde . No wisedome had with Trauaile great , is for to trust in deede , For great Mens state we see decay , and fall downe like a weede . Thus by degrees we fleete ; and sinke in worldly things full fast , But Vertues sweete and due rewardes stande sure in euery blast .

The same Paraphrastically varied by Master G. H. at M. Peter Wythipolles request , for his Father . THese pleasant dayes , and Monthes , and yeares , by stelth do passe apace , And do not things , that florish most , soone fade , and lose their grace ? Iesu , how soone the Spring of yeare , and Spring of youthfull rage , Is come , and gone , and ouercome , and ouergone with age ? In paine is gaine , but doth not paine as much detract from health , As it doth adde vnto our store , when most we roll in wealth ? Wisedome hir selfe must haue hir doome , and grauest must to graue , And mightiest power sib to a flower : what then remaines to craue ? Nowe vp , now downe , we flowe , and rowe in seas of worldly cares , Vertue alone eternall is , and shee the Laurell weares . L' Enuoy . Soone said , soone writ , soone learnd : soone trimly done in prose , or vers● : Beleeud of some , practizd of fewe , from Cradle to their Herse . Virtut●●non tibi Feci .

M. Peter Wythipoll .

Et Virtuti , & mihi : Virtuti , ad laudem : Mihi , ad vsum .

FINIS .