THE FJRST SORT of vaine Politicians are men voide of all vn­derstanding, and like na­ture, and yet repute themselues wise and politicke. CHAP. 1.

THe accursed broode of CHAMS genera­tion, were not con­tented in the Land of Shinar, to make [Page 4]bricke and morter; but ioyning with NIMROD, saide, Let vs make vs a SEM, which signifi­eth a name, euen in despight of the blessing of NOAH bestowed vpon SEM.

All Nations, ages & States, haue bene, and are, much pest­red with the poisonous humour of CHAMS fugitiue & vnsetled seed, who shaking off all yoake of obedience, and prescription of painfull trauel in any peculier calling, neuer think well of the ordinary blessings they reap or may reape, by their due & daily labours: but setting their wittes beyond the pitch and model of their honest vocations, Idlenes the mother of vn­profitable & impertinent busines. ayme at extraordinary matters, the buil­ding to themselues some SEM, or rather instead of a name, some [Page 5]BABEL or house of confusion.

And of names, none can so much please them as the title and stile of wittie, craftie, politi­que trades, immitating heerein the grand deluder: for as Sathan of all names affecteth moste the name of an Angel of light, They which haue least wit affect most the shew of the best wit. & be­ing worst of althings, appeareth moste in the showe of the best: so the simplest and furthest from the light of true wisdome, desire most to seeme (as Hypocrites in religion, being hollowest of har­tie sinceritie, affect moste the show of holinesse) and to be ac­counted wise.

This maketh so many base me­chanicall fellowes, to fall from their lasts and measures, to mea­sure out in their conceits & tri­uial cōferences, the scopes, pur­poses, [Page 6]& intents of the secretest & deepest misteries of the moste profound statistes, and not onely to set a glosse and formall inter­pretation vpon ordinarie oc­currences of the state, and to presse out with them vaine and idle additions & quotations, of their owne addle & worme-ea­ten braines, but touching the ve­ry Edicts, Proclamations, yea, conclusions betwixt the State & forraine Nations, The iudge­mēt that falls vpon pragma­tique inter­medlers with State affaires. to distinguish & point out errors, to set vppon them ominous predictions, and many times (which is the Iudge­ment, such pragmatique and Py­thias like spirits fall into, as SE­NECA noted the improuidence and vnaduisednesse of such per­sons) Emittunt vices per iugulū red­dituras, cast foorth cut-throate [Page 7]wordes which cost them their necks, and vtterly vndoe them.

Idle Marchāts of newes.The better to maintaine this opinion of selfe conceited Poli­cy and wisdome, among the sim­ple sort, they must & will be the onely intelligencers of all new accidents, Quelles nouelles is the onely orisons they vse morning and euening: their onely salutati­ons, their onely graces. They know all things, else how should they bee accounted statesmen, both what is done and spoken in the court, & in the center of the court, and which is wonderfull, that which was neuer done not spoken, and that makes their newes euer new and fresh, for it comes but from the gate of their owne inuentions.

They are priuy to the consul­tations [Page 8]of the Senate: embassages of Princes are familiar with thē: intercourse of marchāts affaires, scarce accounted matters worth the discourse: France, Italie, Spaine, can keep no Parliament, without their intermixture of voyces, nor this state holde anye sect of Parliament, without their verdict: these are the inseperable companions of the realto pillars, the flies of the greate feasts, Epi­cures third course to helpe di­gestiō, superstitious idolaters of Saint PAVL (and yet neuer think of PAVL nor any Apostle) and many of them haue that famous monument in that account as DIOGINES had IOVIS PORTI­CVS in Athens, who tould them, which wondered that he had no house nor corner to eat his meat [Page 9]in; pointing at the gallerie or walking place that was called IOVIS PORTICVS, said, that the people of Athens had builded that to his vse, as a royall man­sion for him, wherein he might dine & sup and take his repast.

And so these make Paules like EVCLIDES or PLATOES schoole (as DIOGINES accounted it, [...] a mispending of much good la­bour & time, & worthyly many times meet with DIOGINES fare, and are faithfull and frequent guests of Duke HVMPHRAY.

And surely as that wise prince who adiudged his corrupt Ser­uant who sould lip-labour and smoake at a deare rate, to be stif­fled with smoake; so might it be wished that these idle busie­marchants of ayre and ventosity [Page 10]of words, might be either prick­ed like bladders, with the sharpe rasor of some seueere lawe, What punish­ment is fit for sellers of smoak & lipla­boured lies & tales. or Camelion like be forced to liue without any other sustenance then ayre, the foode of their de­light.

There are another sorte of vn­letterd ignorants, who affect the title of politicians, and are so ac­counted of giddy muddye, and shallowe conceits, who see no more then that is obuious to their outward eye sight: & iudge all things by their effects con­sider not the meanes by which they were effected: It is an easie matter for a man most vn­lettered, by wicked means to compasse great matters. these are such as by wicked & indirect meanes, compasse many times great mat­ters, whereunto is required small store of learning and arte: for it is an easie matter, for him to [Page 11]burne and make leuell to the ground, a famous city with a bal of wilde fire, who neuer had skil to distinguish the matter where­of that ball was composed, or wit to contriue the like: and as a carelesse creature, that pro­pounds onely to praise his own humour, respecteth not the mis­chiefe may insue, may with great facilitie, set fire to an exquisite peece of ordinance, and thereby beat downe some famous obiect­ed building, who is vtterlye ig­norant of any skilfull part of ar­tillerye: so may one that fell from a cloude, a most stupid animall, by wicked means bring to passe with asmuch ease, his wicked purposes, and make himselfe powerfull of his vngod­ly wishes, bee they neuer so vn­likely, [Page 12]who if hee were set to ma­nage any affaires, that might ad­uance the cōmon good, would bray like an asse, and (admitted to deuising, aduising, or contriuing and putting in action, any com­mendable & deepe designement) stand like an immooueable statua, scarce reseruing the i­mage and representation of a man: For it is vsually spoken of courtiers, and Oratours, bee bould enough, and Courtier e­nough, prate enough, & be law­yer (I meane cogging lawyer & cogging courtier enough) so may it generally be saide, be re­solued to be wicked enough, and feare not to be acounted crafty and worldly, politicke enough, to prooue an Eutrapelus, Apud. Horat. a famous crafty companion, and to exceed [Page 13]others in a watch of worldlye deceit, requireth onely a resolu­tion to be wicked, which wil spe­dily inable any man to proceed Maister in the art of subtilty, and cunning deceit: hence comes it to passe that many pettifogging knaues, many rurall Satyres, and vntutered Hobgoblings, apply­ing their hearts to worldlye wealth, and resoluing to obtain by right or wrong what they so longingly couet & affect, proue suddainely rich, & in that respect the simple people terme any, that by forgerye, cousning, deceite, growe a little wealthier, then their honnest neighbours, peri­lous heads, shrode fellowes, and (which without smiling I can ne­uer cōsider) polliticiās stād in this respect: Mischiefe hath swift wings. mischiefe is well saide to [Page 14]haue swift winges; for when the will of man giueth consent to a­ny euill, a very brute may quickly giue fire to the powder, & matter of any mischieuous purpose. Qui semel verecundiae fines transierit, in signiter esse impudentē oportet: So far the heathen could go, & sure­ly we may ad this, that he which hath cast away all care of consci­ence, Honestie and fidelitie the chiefe pillers of al contracts can haue no feeling or re­spect of honestie and fidelitie, which in all affaires, either pub­lique or priuate, forraine or do­mestique, hold vp Atlas-like the heauen of all ciuil States, & these being not respected, with what facilitie and ease may the subtill Courtier deceaue his brother, murder his father, if they stand in his way of some priuate respect, & make his dearest and bosome-friend, [Page 15]onelye an instrument to mooue forward his wicked pur­poses without anye purpose to helpe him in his greatest necessi­ties: nay, if he think he may proue any obstacle to his rising, or that he can stand no longer as a foot­stoole for him to mount vp to higher honour and dignitie, or a close-stoole to smother and con­uey with coulerable excuses his foulest and impurest Feces of cun­ning & deceite, euen then perfi­deouslie to forsake him, when he is prest with moste vnresistable difficulties.

Among the number of these (that I may not speake of neerer presidents) is ranckt, that rancke smelling Pole-cat of impure and prophane pollicies, RICHARD the third, for it is well knowne, Rich 3 that [Page 16]not so much a supereminēt wit & iudgement in y ^e truest straines of ciuill gouerment, set the crowne on that vsurpers head, as a detest­able resolution to compasse the same by any meanes, by poyson, murder, periurie, barbarous and vnnatural cruelty, execrable slaū ­ders, put a regal Scepter into his hande, and inuironed his tem­ples with a glittering Diadeam.

And a second to him may bee (if not a brother twinne, Alphonsus AL­PHONSVS that foule bumcard-playing Politician, and 100. like to these: those pettie Germane state, affoord plenty of examples to this purpose: what should I say when as the very Carter, vnder whose clouted shooes, Wicked Car­ters may bee accounted politicianst may bee sowed as greate craft when as firme a resolution to villany and [Page 17]mischiefe, is setled in him, can intitle himselfe to his Vncles, brothers, nephewes, land and e­state, and obtain it to, by leading a morice dance or two to hell, with fiue or sixe forsworne good fellowes, himself foreman, a cor­rupt lawyer or two, as many bri­bed witnesses, an ouerseer and a seruant: which often tickles my diafragma, when I heare spruce-heere-at handes recount, conferring most secretly among their priuatest & most hidden obseruations and court collec­tions) the wonderfull wisedome or pollicy of some great courti­ers, in auncient time, what admi­rable matters they haue effected by the deepe reach of their all­peircing wits, when they were noted to haue vsed more ounces [Page 18]of poison, then they had drams of true wisedome, and state lear­ning, in the shutting vp their con­clusions: for thy consider not that which daily experience may guide their obseruation to, with what facility heathenish and sea­red consciences, The differēce betwixt the proceedings of a seered cō science and a Religious man neuer so vnlette­red enter into and dispatch acti­ons of such sauadge and abhor­red qualities, as would make a man touched with the feeling of honesty and a good conscience, stand (were he neuer so politicke & learned) at euery step and pro­gresse of the like attempts, like a multitude of people when vpon some sudden inuasion of the ene­my, all the Beacons of the coun­try are set on fire round about their eares, al amazed, affrighted, bepusled, & distempered euery [Page 19]moment in his mutinous and dis­ordered thoughts, till his plots, his purposes, his proceedings were discouered and betrayed, though to his own ruine and vt­ter vndoing.

But heerein consisteth the iudgement such ignorant and vn­lettered affectators of the title of Polititians fall into: presumption the ground of ruine. they ma­ny times presuming vpon their owne and other mens false and flattering opinions conceaued of their great wisdom & policie, en­ter by degrees into matters of greater consequence then their slender apprehension s can di­gest, and wrastle through, not vn­like the Mastiffe, which because by chance hee killed a Hare wea­ryed to his iawes by quick sēting hounds, would after chase a fox, [Page 20]and so came home all be torne & rent with briars and brambles: or the ape which by imitation, ha­uing once set fire to a peece cur­rātly, came to inure himself in the like practise, and the peece being stopped & rābd hard of purpose that it might not go off, recoyled to the apes dismenbring: so these hauing encountred with poorer and weaker vnderstandings to their worldly and euill good ad­uantage, not contented to keepe within the compasse of their owne element, stretch their skill & cunning to intermeddle with men of deeper reaches & more searching braines, whose fox­like windings and turnings, they haue no skil to trace or sent out, and therefore returne from their controuersies and strifes, made [Page 21]with such worldly Mrs. of policy, all be scratched and pinched in their fortunes and effates. Yea, many of these foolish Ideots, ha­uing prospered and thriued in some domestick affaires, Ape­like intermeddle with the fire­workes of court businesse, and state occurrences, imploy their wit and wealth in taking parte & adhering to factions, & so many times, being ignorant to hādle & finger as it were the cunning pas­sages & stoppings of state-lear­ning (which depends vpon such exquisit skil and harmony, as the ripe students therin can discern (as the Iewes could by their skil in the Ebrewtung any escape cō ­cerning the history of the bible) if any one strok be out of time or tune) through bould intrusions, [Page 22]disbowell and dismember them­selues and their fortunes: and so much may suffice to haue spo­ken of ignorant and vnskilfull Vsurpers of the title & name of po­licy.

CHAP. 2. A second sort are such as through the priuiledge of their learning and Schollership, attri­bute vnto them-selues the stile of Poli­ticians.

Abderitae peo­ple of Thrace, who were so foolish as they left their coū ­trie through annoyance of Mice. ARistippus being de­maunded of some ABDERITAN in what respect his sonne should bee the better, if he bestowed cost & charges on his learning? answe­red, though in no other behoofe, yet that at the maygames & pub­like sights there might not one [Page 24]stone sit vppon another: and to this alluded Tully in his Oratore, making the same destinction in the degree of excellency, betwixt a learned man and an ignorant, A distinction betwixt a learned man and anignorant. as betwixt an ordinary man and a beast: and questionles the be­nefit of learning and skill in artes and liberall sciences, is of greate and vnualuable estimate, and bringeth to the enioyers thereof, The benefit of learning. many vnspeakable & insencible helpes and furtherances, which as it was wel spoken of the bene­fit of health, Carēdo potius quamfru ēdo distingūtur, their vse is best dis­cerned by their wāt. But learning is like to fire & water, Learning like fire and water for the vse and abuse of it. which are moste necessary for the daily be­hoof of mās life, being moderate­ly & descretly vsed, otherwise ex­perience teacheth y ^e simplest, that [Page 25]if they be applyed to hurtful pur­poses, there are not more dange­rous and dreadfull Elements.

That made Diogines very iustly (in my opinion) to affirme, Man the wi­sest and the foolishest cre­ature. that there was no liuing thing wiser then man, nor any liuing crea­ture foolisher: for when he con­sidered and thought vppon the gouernours of Cities, phisitians, and men excelling in seueral professions of learning, he con­cluded nothing to be more sapi­ent then man; but when he consi­dered in his minde men of little learning in any profession, pro­fessors of all learning, and not a­ble to performe any one good, vndertakers of all difficult and hard enterprises, when he consi­dered the swarme of expounders of dreames, soothsayers, Impo­stors, [Page 26]and deluding artizants, he plainely auouched that nothing was more foolish then man. And surly as there are none wiser then Schollers, & none foolisher then such like schollers, so are there none more profitable to the Common-wealth nor anye more combersome, noisome or troublesom in a state, then schol­lers: which infers well this Ianus­like position, Pessimi homines pessi­ma animalia. pessimi Academici pessi­mi homines. Of all liuing creatures euill men are the worst, and of all men euill Schoole-men are the moste disorderly and hurtfull. The wit of man liable to good and euill

For the wit of man is appliable, and apt to all goodnes, if it be ex­ercised and inured therewith­all, but if it fall from his right kinde to vice, then is a man [Page 27]worse then a brute beaste in re­gard that a beast doth but beastly acording to kinde, A vicious mā worse then a beast. & a mans wit aplyed to a vitious & beastly cu­stome traines vp all the sences, as it were so many workmen, to the practising of naughtie and lewd purposes: and if the wit of a wit­tie man, well seene in arts, and helped and furthered to greater vnderstanding by studye, be ap­plyed to wicked and euill de­signes, A wicked wittie man most dange­rous. it will alwaies be sitting vpon Cockatrices eggs, & hatch and bring forth nothing but ser­pentine and poisonous effectes. with both these sorts of schollers this state is much pestered, for it harbours many foolish, such as seeme & are indeed wise in their owne conceits (such as trouble a whole state with their conceites) & many naughty and lewd wits, [Page 28]that aply their cost & trauel spēt painefully and laboriously in li­berall arts, to the contriuance of their countries massaker and ru­ine, and their owne shame and vt­ter demolition.

That I may not of these speak confusedly & without order, I will reduce the first sort of them to these heades.

And the second sort to these heads.

Either out-landish starters & Ro­uers from their obedience and loyaltie vsually called Iesuites and Semina­ries, or close house-keeping, either vaine-glorious or selfe pleasing, or [Page 29]malignant, enuious, turbulent proiec­tors, and plotters of policies and de­uises. [...] It was well noated of Hesiodus, Idlenes abhorred. that no course of honest trauell was shame-worthy, but idlenes, full of reproach and shame: and certes, if men of fashion and good bringing vp, would duely examine themselues to what honest and profitable seruice and course of labour, they were fit, and accordingly would studi­ously endeuour themselues, they wold make this state hapy & flourishing, & their owne liues com­fortable to themselues and their friends: but the iniquity of these times is such, and so corrupted is this age with cymerian darkenes and selfe will, as many hauing any [Page 30]good parts, thinke scorne in Se­cundis tertijsque consistere. Ambition and aspiring, raig­neth in all mē moste povver­fully. Euery Crowe will build as high as the Eagle, and thereby with Icarus, soaring to high, melt their waxie winges, with the Sunbeames of too lofty aspiring practises, which makes so many of them al theire liues after, The fruites of aspiring. sing Icarus his ditties, Propter humum volito lye groueling in a bare & base estate: for whilst they striue to run out of their father Adams curse, and by him the curse which deriueth it selfe to all mankinde (which was and is euery man in his pro­fession, to get his liuing by the sweat of his browes) they run in­to a greater curse, that is, either through idlenes to get no liuing, or through some euil practise to beget a base liuing.

Of Poets. CHAP. 3.

Poets liues compared to loue.TOuching POETS, their liues and busi­nes may be rightly compared, to the busines of loue: for loue is noated to be the occupa­tion and busines of idle folkes, that haue nothing els to set them selues on worke withall: for as the passion of loue especially in­uades and possesseth such men as are altogether drowned in idle­nes, and so commeth it to passe, Otis si tollas periere cupidi­nis arcus. that while they giue themselues wholy to lazines, they stūble on a subiect, that filleth their heads [Page 32]as full of combrous busines, as e­uer they are able to turne them­selues vnto: so this frensie of po­etastring (for poetry and iudici­ous poets, al worthy spirits alow and loue) still inuadeth the lo­uers of idlenes, for, whilest that wit which is pregnant, A pregnant wit wanting imployment takes hould of naughty cour­ses. wanteth all manner of imployment, it fal­leth into a most troublesome, & inextricable maze of selfe-plea­sing and deluding conceits: for it may & is generally obserued, that they which once fal into the humour of vercifiing, their heads are alwaies ful of as manye cro­chets, as new strooken louers, & surly for the respect & regard the most iudicious haue: of thē, The regard the iudicious haue of vaine poets. they may be compared to instrumēts alwaies out of tune, which yeeld but harsh and iangling accents, [Page 33]and to men duely conuersant in weightie and profitable affaires, they are as flat and tedious, as Iarchthange, which name is no­ted to be the harshest in all the Ebrew pronuntiation, and the respect which the wantonest and vainest heads haue of them, is as of fidlers, who are regar­ded but for a bandy song, at a merry meeting, and when they haue done, are commonly sent away with Butlers grace, when these write best, they are but but busily conuersant, and im­ployed about some ill subiect, which is but [...] a iugling foolish play, Ill, the better acted, the vvorse liked of the good. the better it is per­formed, the worse it is accoun­ted: for: either they write to please idle vaine gentlemen and gentlewomen, and so may bee [Page 34]placed among the number of shitle-cocks, tennis-balles, apes, munkies, baboones parrats, pup­pets, Vaine poets offices. and such like (their office hauing correspondence to no o­other vse & purpose) or els they fashion their wits to the pleasing of a vaine multitude, and rabbell of loose liuers, and prescribe to the ignorant and simple (very ill disposed of themselues) rules, and rudiments of worse liuing: and as the enterludes may be tearmed, Vaine poets and plaiers a­gree in euill the Schoole-houses of vanitie, and wantonnes; so these are the schoolemaisters thereof: and me thinks they (who haue tasted of the sweete fountaine water, run­ning from their Academick mo­thers breasts, by this, if nothing else) shold be deterred from their scribling profession, that they see [Page 35]their writings & conceits sold at a cōmon doore to euery base cō ­panion for a penny. But most of their cōceits are too deere at that rate, and therefore may well bee had in the same request that To­bacco is now, which was wont to be taken of great gentlemen, & gallants, now made a frequent & familiar Companion of euerye Tapster and Horse-keeper. And their conceits are likest Tobacco of any thing: for as that is quick­ly kindled, makes a stinking smoake, & quickly goes out, but leaues an inhering stinke in the nostrils and stomackes of the ta­kers, Conceits sauo­ring of no iudgment or studdie like Tobacco smoke. not to be drawne out, but by putting in a worse fauour, as of Onions and Garlick, (according to the prouerbe: the smel of Gar­licke takes away the stink of dung [Page 36]hils, so the writing of ordinarye Play-bookes, Pamphlets, & such like, may be tearmed the mush­rum cōceptions of idle braines, moste of them are begotte ouer night in Tobacco smoake and muld-sacke, and vttered and deliuered to the worlds presse by the helpe & midwifery of a cau­dle the next morning.

They sauour of no study, and lesse iudgement, and leaue to the hearers of them onely, an infect­ing stincke of some lewd practise or speech, set forth for the infor­ming of such wits, as delight in no other studye but folly or wic­kednes, How the com­mon people delight in vile and vaine sports. and will not bee drawne out of their mouthes and mawes (for yron would bee sooner by some disgested then a foolish rib­baldrie tearme by some lost) till [Page 37]from the like impure fountaine, they haue fetched some fresh mud-water of the like, Vaine poets colour their euill purposes vnder the shew of grauitie and authoritie, vvherein they approoue themselues most Diuelish and though most politicke in their ovvne opinions, yet most foolish in the true sense of vn­derstanding. or worse (but better pleasing, if more ob­scure) speach or behauiour, to occupy and fill vp that roome.

But some of these phanaticall heades, to exempt themselues from the number of ballad ma­kers, and ordinary writers of Iigs and such like stuffe, betake themselues to a grauer and more satiricall forme of writing and therefore vnder the pretence of whipping the vices of people, with a pen fuller of gall, as Horace saith. Sublimi flagello, they will either set out in most liuely colours, vvith a vvin­chester rod. all the seue­rall impieties and impurities, which they haue in their liues ran thorough (for it is impossible any should so exactly to a hayre [Page 38]set out such bosome secretes of lewd practises, but such as haue had a deepe finger in the like) or else out of a desire to be accoun­ted great politicians, fet their wits beyond the pitch of the or­dinary tenters, and intermingle not onely (as Horrace saith) Sacra prophanis siluer sacers, with durty potlids, but (thinking that Picto­ribus at que poetis quidlibet audendi is still in force, that painters may play with their pensils with great mens noses, and poets may pish in any mans face) intermeddle with the 2. edged sworde of the state, Many had ra­ther iest away their credits & liues then loose the opinion of a iest. and contrary to Quintilians precept (who placed it among the vertues and graces of wrigh­tings, not to say all a man can) ra­ther then they would be accoun­ted ignorant of the state, & mat­ters [Page 39]concerning the state, they will in their broad tearmes pull the greatest statists by the beards and rather then they will loose a iest in obscurity, fixe it about the Princes Diadem, that it may be knowne and seene of all men, for­getting what they learnd of olde Poet Homer, [...] It is not safe drawing out of Lyons teeth. Both learning and obseruati­on teach the wise to holde their pens and their tongues from princes & potentates affaires.

And if they had attained either learning or obseruation in state affaires, and true policie (the re­pute whereof many of them so much affect) they would houlde their pens from the affaires and actions of statesmen, beeing in­deede the Hectors and Hercules of the common wealth (according to that atribute which was giuen by Homer to Hercules) [...] [Page 40]depulsors of euill, through their wisdome and carefull watching ouer the quiet and welfare therof, from the whole nation. For then they wold haue learned by their reading of histories, Both August­us and Alexā ­der hated to come vpon the tongues & pens of triuiall and common men. (which is the best Booke-help for a student in policy) that both AVGVSTVS and ALEXANDER tooke verie greeuouslie that any thing shold be made of them, and set forth in publique, but after a substantiall sort. And how AV­GVSTVS to the officers of his time signifyed his pleasure, that they should not suffer any point of opprobrie to come vnto his name, by the meeting and comming together of Iesters, Players, and Poets: and as well by obserua­tion in politicke courses, they would haue vnderstood that it is [Page 41]as fit (and more necessarie for the safetie of any state) for the authoritie of Princes and Go­uernors of the common-wealth, The authori­tie of princes and gouernors may not safely admit any de­rogation. euerie where to bee maintained in their royall state, without any manner of spot or touch of de­rogation, either publique spred, or closly insinuated (for in either consists laesa maiestas, or potestas Reipub: a high and capitall of­fence, to the Prince or his poten­tates) as a virgins chastitie, Libelling, and how far the offence therof spreds it selfe. and a great Ladies honour, which may not admitte the least susurres or priuie whisperings of stain or de­famation, and as he that shold be the first author of scādalizing any great Ladies vnspotted worth & reputation of chastity, would be adiudged by the parliament of womē, to some infamous deth, so [Page 42]were it fit that some seueere law might be enacted, Scandalous li­belling & tax­ing of states­men, deserueth the same pu­nishment as the abusers of a chast Ladies honour and re­putation. for the puni­shing of such scandalous libel­ling as is, or may be at any time coloured vnder the name of po­etising, and play-making, Sed re­primo me, onely I cannot con­clude this point without this ingenious and true apologie in my owne behalfe, to shew that my desire is, it may not bee thought that I houlde the skill & art of poetry in base acount, poetry to be beloued▪ u [...] the abusers therof to be punished but onely the abusers of it. Poetry may be both noblemens & schol­lers afternoone, and successiue excercises, & remission from the bent of grauer studies and af­faires.

A speciall rule for poets to obserue.And if any will and must needes make it their profession, let them hould this comicall rule concer­ning [Page 19]the state and statists, Sic haec misceant vt illa non immisceant, Let them so vse their quaint conceits as they may picke no qua rell with the coun­ter.

CHAP. 4. Concerning Tra­uailers.

THat of Horace, Cae­lum non animum mu­tat qui trans mare currit, hee that chan­geth his soyle, chan­geth not his soule, was wel noted of SOCRATES. For SOCRA­TES hearing a certaine person complaining, that his trauelling into strange Countries for lear­ning & knowledge, had nothing auailed him, answered that it chā ­ced vnto him very deseruedly [Page 46]for that he either applyed him­selfe to the company of idle run­agating fellowes or else mew­ed himselfe vp, and kept priuate, as if he tooke phisicke, thinking that the ayre of a strange country would infuse strange languages, riper Witte, What maketh a mans trauell into strange countries pro­fitable, and what vnprofi­table. and Iudgemente without conuersing with such as were wise and iudicious; or else wanted wit to obserue such oc­currences, as the conuersation of wise and graue iudgements did affoord. For one of those three makes a mans trauell fruitlesse, For whosoeuer in any ordinarie profession entendeth to reape a­ny skill and knowledge, by enter­course with other nations, must examine his owne strength of witte, whether it be capable of the skill and art, he intendeth and [Page 47]desireth to attaine, & must settle his affections, and bridle the ap­petites of pleasure and raging extrauagant humors that rule in his nature, What general lie is to be ob­serued of a trauailer. that thereby hee may be able both to resolue himselfe to a studious and paineful course of exercise and obseruation, and also to be wary and circumspect of the choice of his companye, least he light vpon natures, not so skilfull and well seene in the Arte and misterie he couets to learne, as subtill and full of pleasing shewes and delusions, which are by them made both cunning pursnets & hartnets, to inueagle and intrap young nouices by.

This haue manye Iewellers, Phisitians, young vntamed Gen­tlemen, Schollers pregnant, but vnskilfull of the course of the [Page 48]worlde, had woefull experience of.

What parti­culerly is re­quisite for him that intendeth by trauelling to attaine knovvledge in state learning.But they which intend to make progresse by trauelling in the stu­die of state learning, must not onely haue a capacitie fit for the entertaining all stratagemicall plots and deuises, that may be of­fered to their consideration, and abilitie to quell, and suppresse all disordered motions and affectes, but must be throughly insighted both in the Theorie of the princi­pall and most substantial points of all policy, Cunning po­liticians are like true Al­chymists not opē or free to relate their misticall and wel digested positions. and also well experi­mented in the particuler liues, qualities and policies of his owne countrie chiefest and deepest Sta­tists, that thereby in conuersing with profounder iudgements a­broad (who vse not in their dis­courses to make Academical lec­tures [Page 49]and comments, but mistically and as it were in a cloude to inuolue their quaint conceits and purpo­ses, they may be able in the tur­ning of a hand, to vnfolde and dis­couer, that which may be con­veyed to their quicke vnderstan­ding, worthy obseruation, and giue vnto them they conuerse withall, a taste of the like iudge­ment, The learned and skilfull af­fecte the con­uersation of their like. and insight anto politicke affaires, which breedes in great wits & men of deeper vnderstan­ding mutual content and satisfac­tion, and workes through the ve­ry marrowe and pericran yon of the wisest and soundest heads, and lastly must be furnished with such iudgement, as may make him able in a moment, to discerne a redde from a stammell, and not to spend either time or coste vppon any [Page 50]vain-glorious, friuolous, delu­ding mountibankes, and showe­makers of policy, and state-lear­ning.

Now forasmuch as many haue a good will to learne, and want wit to conceaue, and abilitie to temper their affections, and mai­ster and ouer-rule their vnbridled partes, and many hauing a good and ready wit, and abilitie to fit their humours to all occasions, yet diuert, and incline both their wit & will to sinister & bye cour­ses, the former sorte prooue no­thing wiser but in shew, the other onely wiser in wicked and crafty contriuances, and yet both must returne great states-men and po­liticians. V [...]ine and formal trauailers compared to vvanton and foolish acade­mickes. The former like fresh gentlemen Academickes, who af­ter they haue learned by heart, but [Page 51] Porpheries predicables, and predica­ments, & by a sophisticated argu­ment can include (scarce con­clude) their fathers sculliō at their return home in Bocardo, think thē ­selues learned enough, but more like base timerous motly Crosse wearers (for they are not worthy the title of Soldiers) such as Alex­ander had at the siege or [...] or rock in the Indies, so impregnable as they admired, but feared to ven­ter vpon it) who hauing looked vp­pon the coūtry, A description of prating souldiers and Braggarts. whether they were prest to wage war in, and gotten by heart the names of the chiefe Commanders, leaders, Captaines, Leiftennants, and such like, re­turne with as great a brag, as if by their vertue and prowesse, Sa. Do­mingo, or some other hould of spe­ciall note had bene taken: and set­ting [Page 53]vpon their faces some scuruy Deuill-like visards of sternesse, & taking into their mouthes canon oathes, will among the simpler vppon their ale-benches, be ac­counted the onely powder and shot-men, & expertest martialists of ten thousand, being indeede as we commōly cal them hot-shots, and haue more skill in the letting off a duzzen rigglesworthes dags well fild with sacke, then in dis­charging one Calliuer, and know the way better, and had rather march by night to the Iland of Cranes, then sayle by day to the East or West Indies: so these first sorte of foolish trauellers, if they can but recite the names of many faire townes they haue past tho­rough, Bragging tra­uellers des­bribed. giue their friend at their returne a french salutatiō (though [Page 52]it be with a french bow in the hams) and cut their meat after an Italian fashion, weare their hat & feather after a Germaine hufty, tell with a good grace, or rather bould face, not a hundred & fifty merry tales, (for then they would take away the gentleman fooles office) but fiue hundred lies, pur­chase with those lies and cogges good cloathes, and alter the fa­shion often: they must and wilbe esteemed the onely wise, learned, languaged politicians: and great reason, for why, among men of the simpler and smoother condi­tion, who think any man (though but as wise as a Parrat, that can change his lāguage very learned) they sticke not to giue out, that they are close and priuate, or ra­ther priuy intelligencers (and yet [Page 54]their continuall prating & taking all occasions to keepe their new found tongues, Continuall prating, an argument of follie and small iudge­ment. in euerlasting motion, shewes that they doe neither intelligere, nor can giue any intelligence of worthy note) and that they may dispend of some worthy Senators purse (who neuer heard of their names) so many Crownes per annum, and there-vpon fill for more likeli­hood sake, their pockets full of amorous loue lines, and taylors and tauernes vnpaid reckonings, and seale them vp as if they were letters of speciall coherence and intelligence, lately poasted, not sent, from some great out-landish fauourites: Braging tra­uelers dis­cribed. and many times a­mong weaker iudgements (not vnlike pettie broking marchants that trade in the enterchange of [Page 55]brooches, currals, hobbi-horses, painted babies, and dogges, who when they come into the country giue out they are substantial mar­chants, and so passe for currant, in the beliefe of the simpler (beeing where they dwel and are knowne, accounted and called but plaine pedlers:) through such sleight de­lusions, they gaine the opinion of wise and politicke linguists; but when they meet with any of worthe, iudgement, and repute, they are held (as they are) base mimicke anticke affectators and meere fashion-mongers.

But these affecting Politicians are least offensiue to the state, bee­ing onely selfe pleasers of their owne vaine & idle humours, ex­cept in this regard they bee hurt­ful, that beeing like Cipresse trees, [Page 56]neither good for building, nor bearing fruite: with their faire leaues they ouershadow better mens roomes and places. Idle men in a common vvealth like Cipresse trees. Fruges consumere nati, fruitles consumers of wealth and words.

The latter sorte of trauellers are more troublesome and noysome to the common wealth, for they hauing both wit and abilitie to ad to their studie in state-learning good & profitable obseruations, by trauelling into other countries and returning not onely well fur­nished with many helpes of lear­ned and forraine languages, Discontented vvittie and po­liticke trauel­lers dangerous and noisome to any cōmon vvealth. but with substantiall matter of dis­course disgested out of such gene­rall occurrences as haue happe­ned in those partes, where they spent their time, thinke now there is but one step betwixt them [Page 57]and the chaire of state: and there­fore scorne to conuerse with Pe­nelopes handmaides, will courte none but Penelope herselfe, wher­as if they were admitted to any high place of gouernement, in the common wealth, and put to the test of true iudgement and knowledge in the state, they wold prooue so far from Troy-weight as being ballanced with a true, wise and experienced states-man, in any perticuler, great & weigh­tie busines, they would not proue currant to passe in any the leaste affaires of a thousand, that shold be propounded. They imagine not what difference is betwixt Platoes cups and tables, and his cuppitees and tabletees, the one fit for euery ordinary scholler to discourse of, the other able to [Page 58]cōfound the deepest iudgements and profoundest artistes.

The ordinarie and generall propositions maximees, and en­ter course of state affaires, Onely vvise experienced statesmen to be admitted to the graue and vveightie af­faires of the common-vvealth. is mat­ter of discourse for the trauailer and Student in pollicye, but the cuppitees & tablettees as it were of particuler I deas, and designe­ments, in & belonging to a state, is only matter for the ripest and moste experienced states-men, to discouer, intermeddle, & dispute of.

Euerie man that can looke (as DEMOSTHENES saide to the A­THENIANS of PHILOXENVS his arriual) against a candle, may not thinke his eyes firme enough to gaze against the Sun: onely of the deepe discerning politician it must be saide, tam cernit acutim [Page 59]quam aut aquila aut serpens Epidau­rius, such as haue such insight in­to the State as by indirections they can finde directions out, though they were hid fathome deepe.

Euerie man can say that a good Chyrurgion must some­times launch deepe, sometimes infuse oyle into a wound, but none but a perfect & skilful chy­rurgiā cātel when to distinguish those different times and seasons. Euerie Apothecarie & hearbist can discourse that this hearb is good for that greefe, and that for another, but to draw poison from the roote, and to make a pleasant sallet from the vpper part of one and the selfe same hearb, belong­eth onely to a most skilfull & ex­perienced Phisition: so these by [Page 60]reading, obseruation and confe­rence, had with learned & wise­men abroad, can relate that it is prescribed sometimes to haue as graue a countenance as Phoci on or Democritus, Not to know much, but to mode rate the knovvledge of much, is true knovvledge. and that Lyourg us himselfe allowed, sometimes a merry and cheereful behauiour: but when to be sad of gesture, & when to smile, and giue place to mirth, and laughter, they can hardly prescribe themselues that moderation. For their mirth and pleasant Iocondnes moste com­monly tasteth of Scurilitie, wan­tonnes and apish effeminatenes: & their sadnesse ful of affectation and harboring, not so deepe, as dangerous matters touching the state.

They haue obserued by reading good histories and conference, [Page 61]that IVLIVS CAESAR said, that matters of high enterprise, He is truly wise that can distinguish rightly the times and sea­sons of vsing his theorie in perti cular acti­ons. be­cause they are subiect vnto great and vncertain dangers, ought to be executed and dispatched out of hand, and no aduise and deli­beration to be taken of them, in regard that to the going through with busines of that nature, cele­ritie dooth greatly helpe: the casting in of many demurres to matters of great peril, doth pluck a man back from hardy & aduen­turing: and they haue obserued- & can discourse by the reading and conference on the contrary, that DOMITIVS CORBVLO v­sed much to say, Domitius Cor­bulo his opi­nion of vvar. that a mans ene­mies in battaile were to be ouer­come with a carpenters squaring axe, that is to say soking lye, one peece after another, and by both [Page 62]these obseruations laide toge­ther, can perhaps at their returne in their conferences drawe out these conclusions, that a Statse­man either in matters of war or imployments of peace, must sometimes be sudden, sometimes full of deliberation, sometimes slowe, sometimes peremptorie, and resolute: but if they were ad­mitted to particuler designe­ments of such or the like state dif­ficulties, as often happen to the deuiding Iudgement of graue & experienced States-men, either in matters of peace or war, they would be as farre to seeke when to cut with a cōmon axe, which goes through at the first chop, & when to vse the squaring axe, which worketh the same effect by little and little, as how to vse [Page 63]the Carpenters Square, or Axe, without cutting their legges off.

If therefore they would accor­ding to SOCRATES his precept, (who thoght it most against reasō for any man to set vp any handy­craft or occupation before such time as he had throughly learned the same, or for a Seafaring man to sit and holde the Sterne of a ship, before hee had full and per­fect experience in the feate of Marinership) applye themselues to the skilfull and expert Card­men of a state, Men that in­tend to proue skilfull in anye course must apply them­selues to the most skilfull & experienced in euery kinde. and become as it weare their apprentises before they set their hands and heads to the contriuance and making of curious nests of boxes & exqui­site drawers & cubberds, belong­ing to the secret learning of pub­lique gouernement; obseruing [Page 64]PLVTARCHS rule, vidēntes sequi po­tius quam caecos ducere, followe the sound rather then like a lame cripple leade the blinde, they might then happilye attaine in time, that which vaine-glorie detayneth) profunditie of iudge­ment and expect skill in mana­ging the weightiest affaires of the common wealth.

Apothecaries haue many bun­dles of moste eccellent receipts hanging vp in their shops, such as they know haue cured manye seuerall malladies: and they vn­derstand which receite cured one sicke of a feauer, which the stopping of the liuer, which a ca­thare, but yet beeing not able to iudge whether the cathare pro­ceeded from a colde and humid fluxe, or a hot & drie distemper in [Page 65]the liuer or lungs, or what origi­nall cause and predominant qua­litie the Feuer and other seuerall diseases-did proceede, dare not presume without the speciall di­rection of the Doctor, whose ap­prooued skill and long experi­ēce hath attained to the depth of all causes, to minister any maner of Phisicke to patient and ill af­fected bodies: and surely if these could obserue the Apothecaries rule, Discontent & pride, ouer-throvve many good parts. to be contented to be mini­string handes to the Doctors in policie and State-learning, they might then perhaps proceede in time to the pulse of the State af­faires, a degree further then the discreete and wise Apothecaries euer aspire vnto: or if not so, they may settle themselues in a com­mendable course of some honest [Page 66]and warrantable account, to their owne comfortes, and the good (in some measureand de­gree) of the common wealth. But when like quick-saluers they striue to be accounted doctors, because they haue trauailed be­yond sea, and skimbd vp two or three excellent receipts, they drawe to themselues either by vaine-glory, such discredit as quicke-saluers haue in all theyr vndertakings, or run (through discontentment that they may not haue such dignitie and pro­motion as they desire, and they onely think they deserue) into such base offices and courses, as discredits and disables all the worth and repute which either their trauailing or study might bring vnto them, and so become [Page 67]not as the other sort of trauailers were, like timerous, but like lu­stie sturdy souldiers, who hauing bene in many hot skirmishes, & behaued themselues by sea or land like gallant tall men, yet are far from true skill and millitarie discipline, because they may not haue that place and commaund which belongeth to a man, not onely of a stout courage, but an experte and skilfull commander, betake themselues to piracie or robbing by the high way, the high way to their vndooing: so these (application I neede make little) the meanest vnderstanding and conceit can apply it, and I would they whome it most con­cernes, would apply it to their hearts, and prooue wiser in their courses, not profusely and prodigally abusing those [Page 68]good parts, which if they were purged with the fire of stayednes from vanitie, would shine and glitter about them, like the pu­rest armour, Learning well vsed brings both honour and de­fence. both to their excee­ding glory and exaltation, and also to the defence and propul­satiō of many indignities, which they through their owne folly sustaine; so these I say by fayling of their vnderserued longings, fall either to the secret profession and practising with young Gen­tlemen, such Aretin, or such co­nicatching mountebancke-like-tricks, as they haue learned be­yond the seas, as drowne and dis­apoint the fruites of all their tra­uell and dilligent observations, made about state busines.

CHAP. 5. Touching Seminaries and Iesuits.

NVnc venio ad grauissi­mam et atrocissimam querelam nō meam sed reipub. grauissimam in respect of the fol­lye and weakenesse of some, atrocissimam in respecte of the obstinate peruersenes and wilfull resolution of others of this coat and profession: The vnnatu­ralnes of our countrimen vvhich becom Iesuits. It was saide of Romulus, that hee grewe hardye, rough and sterne, being cast out to be bred of hardy, fierce & sauadge beasts, [Page 70]and that was no maruaile: and it is set down likewise that Methri­dates turned poysonous hearbes and receipts into wholesome nu­triment, by inuring his bodie to take and eat poyson, & that was no maruaile:

But for men bred of the sweete milke of their mother country, to turne bloody and murderous cut-throats of her prosperitie, and flourishing e­state: for men trained vp among the wholesome and pure nutri­ments of sweete and profitable instructions, to be either by va­nitie seduced, or through despe­rate wilfulnes resolued, to ex­cercise vnrecouerably their wits and studies, in the contriuance of nothing but poyson, and poysonnous plottes and de­uises, [Page 71]and Serpent-like to rippe vppe the bowels of their owne natiue parent and milke-gi­uing soyle: these are Execranda prodigia, & prodigiosa monstra, Exe­crable prodegies, & prodigious and fearfull abbortiue monsters of nature.

2. sortes of monsters or monstrous Seminaries.I haue implicitiuely noted two sorts of these monsters: The former, of them are preg­nant, but weake vnderstandings, pregnant and appliable to euil, as wax in sommer, ready of it owne accorde to sticke to any matter: but to good, honest and profita­ble courses, either concerning themselues, or their country, pregnant but in constant & vnsetled wits how affected. as waxe in winter, brickle and hard and of much difficultie to bee wrought, with either alluring perswasions, or chafing inforce­ments, [Page 72]and like children to goe from schoole; vppon the report of many gay and pleasing sights to be seene beyond the seas they are wonne to leaue the land with an apple, but to sit stil at home in some stade and honest professi­on, like children hard to be won with gould to goe to schoole, and sit all day in security and qui­et, learning that which may ad­uance their good for euer: and when they are drawne out be­yond seas, and haue pleased their eyes with the sight of such de­luding masse-shewes, and such like trumpery, as are euery where obuious, and haue got a smacke of that obsceene, impure, and la­zie life, they prooue like mon­grell dogges, A description of a lazie life. rather perswaded (according to that saying of the [Page 73]Poets Canis a corio nūquam abster rebitur vncto, a cur cannot bee whipt from the Curriers grease-box, lo lie knawing in a chimney corner of some Monestery or Abby (sweeete bones) then like painful hounds to be regarded, & esteemed for their skil in senting and laborious following and prosecuting of any commen­dable practise, and course of li­uing.

And surely I am verily perswa­ded, that neither the touch of conscience, nor the sense & fee­ling of any religion, euer drewe these into that damnable and vn­twineable traine and owsell of perdition, Idlenes and vnlavvfull ple­sures dravv many to that vvicked course of life, and the profession of being Semina­ties. but onely a pleasing humour of delighting their senses with vaine and forraine fashions, mixt with a moste per­nicious [Page 74]resolution, to sticke on­ly to that custome and habit of life, which they had found most repleat, with oylie, sluggish, mo­nasticall securitie. Discontent & ouer-weening conceit of wit vndoes many a worthy spi­rit. The other sort are drawne out of this land and her obedinence, or with pleasing shews (for they wel cā distinguish shewes from substance) but with a prophane and enuious discon­tent, to see some others (not so wise in their conceits, as them­selues) mounted vp to the seat of honour and preferment about the state; for being not able tho­rough rancord malice and swel­ling of heart, contracted and ga­thered by misconceite of their own worth and learning, in affaires of the state, The mischiefe of enuie. to subdue the insurging affects & inundations of pride, to that order and obe­dience as may make their good [Page 75]partes seruiceable to men of higher place, and by degrees mi­nister occasions by their dutifull and painfull endeauours of their promotion & dignitie, they will and must needs trauaile (because Nemo Propheta in patria noe priest is long regarded (as they say) in his owne pulpit) to the popes grace, that onely roiall M. and soueraigne lord & maintai­ner of learning, and learned, wise, politicke artists. And wil it please you in one view to see what pre­ferment and reckoning this sub­til painted sheath of scholler-like promotions bestoweth on such his followers as goe out of this Gods grace, into that warm sun? The acount surely that Caesar had of Rhimerales, for Proditionem a­mo proditores odi is the popes posie and position concerning Eng­lish [Page 76]starters, from their loyall and naturall faith & alleagiance: hee loues the Pies tales, Trecherie lo­ued, but the betrayers ha­ted. but the Pye is most bitter, distastful & vnsauorie. And therefore hee regardeth them as men doe poysonous Ar­rowes, which they shoot at their enemies. Traitors re­garded of their Maisters as poysonous Arrovves. If the arrowes hit the partie they are shot at, they shall be surely broken, if they hit ano­ther standing by, they shall bee surely broken: if they hit not the body but light on the cloake or hat of him they are shot at, they shall bee surely broken: (vnlesse happilye they light vppon such a foole as sometimes is reported when hee was strooken through the nose, to haue puld out the mans Arrowe patientlye, and by the way of priuate counsell, to haue told him in his eare, that if he shot so againe, he wold break [Page 77]his Arrow) but they meete with no such noses of waxe as will be so iested with all; for the verye ayming with their venemous and irrilegious purposes & plots, at the States heart and peaceable gouernment, lay­eth them open to vtter brea­king: and though they neuer hit (as I trust none of that abhorred, vnnatural, & diabolical crew shal euer hit so faire a white) their ve­ry intent and purpose exposeth them to moste milde and iust pu­nishmēt. Wil you see yet further the account is had of them by the Pope, The pope a false dice-play­er, vvith our poore coun­trimens liues. the same that debost Gamsters & deceitfull dice-play­ers, haue of yong nouices newly come to their lands: they drawe them in with a supper or two, let them win for their better incou­ragement three or foure bowtes [Page 78]of smal worth, & suddenly when they finde that they are through­ly tickled and pleased with their nibling successe, they let downe the mouse-trappe, cog in two or three false and vnlawfull Dice, & wipe their yong gallant of all his golde, and send him like Aristip­pus, his [...] his golden sheep either to some Iasons fleece, or desperat enterprise, or home into their coūtry to vnfleece his poor tenants for a new supply: In like maner deleth the pope with their liues, as the false Gamsters deale with young gamsters golde; giue them pleasing content for a time but with a purpose to make them by desperate aduenture game a­way their dearest blood.

Medeas Goulden Fleece is fayned by the poets to haue giuen many worthy and heroick spirits, occa­sion [Page 79]to aduēture to their destruc­tion; as being kept by Gyants, fi­erie dragons, & such like horrid monsters, as may more at large in their poetical fictions appeare but our English true Golden-Fleece, hath caused the popes to send ouer more foolish hardy ad­uenturers to the Stigian Lake of perdition; & yet could neuer get one locke of it through all their deuises and demonical attempts. And can they thinke whome hee vseth in so desperate and vnlikely aduentures, that they are regar­ded of the Pope their M a. when hee sendeth them to fight with Lyons, and death-spitting Dra­gons (for such are, as euery childe doth note) the supporters of the peace & tranquilitie of england) nay, with the Lyon of the house of IVDA who hath so taken [Page 80]into his protection and defence, both the heart and the head of this states welfare, with all her sweete and princely branches (which God for euer prosper & establish) as if legions of deuils and deuilish spirits should dayly seeke to ouerthrowe them, they should not be able to pull one lock, nay to hurt one haire of her flourishing & peace maintaining Solomon, or any of his most reli­gious & al religious hearts com­forting-seed and issue.

The popes pit­tie towards our countrie­men when they are han­ged for treasonWill you see yet further the regard is had of them by the Pope? they are trained vp & nou­rished (as was noted before) as dogs, to make him sporte by putting them vpon Lyons, and when their skins are puld ouer their eares by the tallents of vp­right [Page 81]lawes and Iustice of the state, hee gets (like a woman with childe of two twins, laughter for the fall of them, whome he fedde and fatted but to the shambles, and disdaine for their il successe) into his growning chayre, and pittieth them, thus:

I sent not for these English flies, their seruice was vnsought for, and sought for onely as flies seeke after bloody meate; & now if they haue met with the butch­ers flap, Tomeris his rewarde is iustly-falne vpon them: sanguine satiantur qui sanguinem sitierunt: they greedilye hunted after a shamefull seruice, and they are paide with the wages of a sham­full and ignominious death and destruction.

These and the like words haue [Page 82]beene noted to haue proceeded vpon the death and hanging of many of our Roomes deerest children, from the mouthes of those blood-sucking antichristi­an tiraunts: Will you see yet fur­ther (for I would gladly reclaime my deere countrimen that haue entered into that exorbitant course the very Pinfould of dan­gers (and deterre all others from entertayning the like discontents & seducements by vnmasking & laying open the fruits & assured profits may be expected to arise to any of that sect) the best regard is had of them by the Pope, The pope v­s [...]th English Seminaries as Curtizans do their loues. euen the same that curtizans haue of young prodigals, who so long as their purses are filled with duc­kets, and spur-royalls, shall want no royall entertainement, are [Page 83]made ducklings at their lips and laps; kissed, imbraced, fed with all amorous musicall sweet varie­ties of pleasures, and inchanting delights, Vbi caeperint esse invtiles, eijciuntur foras, when they haue spent all, stand behinde the dore for a cipher or warning peece; & not onely so, but vpon the least displesure, are thrust out of dores al betatterd and forlorne in their estates, smotherd not with kisses but with griefe, and besmeared with shamefull reproaches, and disdainefull tearmes, in stead of sugered and hony salutations: so these whilest their heads are full fraughted with dānable plots & practises to aduance the Popes supremacy & regallity, they shall want neither gould nor goulden words: nothing can be too deare [Page 84]or to daintye for them, till they are thrust into deathes snare: but if they misse of their wicked and vnchristian like purposes, (as they haue euer hetherto praysed be the keeper of Israel, and euer shall while Israel prayseth the protector of Iaccobs house) their accounts shal be at their returne (if euer they doe returne) as of olde and ouer-spent horses tur­ned to graze in some pennurious pasture for breede and trayning vp of others to the like offices, who if they boldlye attempt and be intercepted of their moste ab­hominable and hellish vndermi­ning treasons, they meete with Dyricks diet, Dirickes dyet prepared for Traytors. a bitter Cup prepa­red and stilled out of the venefi­call hearbs of their owne, either vnsetled, or discontented and as­piring [Page 85]braines.

Obiections fondly made cōcerning the death of Seminaries.And heere I must needes take occasion to answere the fond & friuolous obiections that many idle & troublesome heads make concerning the death of Semina­ries, and Iesuites, casting out, that they dye for the testimonie of a good conscience, and their Reli­giō sake, therby taxing the cruel­ty of this state, & the late queenes rigor, and the seueritie of some, especiallye that moste religious pillar of Gods truth, the now de­funct, L. B. The papists tearme our re­ligion a newe found & Cecillian Religion: because that worthy Sena­tor vnder the late Queene was a most re­solute defen­der of the same wise and worthy Counsel­lor of this state, tearming the Re­ligion which we vnder her grati­tious and soules-releeuing go­uernment professed, a new found and Cecillian religion (O hap­pie title, a title that wil be recor­ded in the register of eternal me­mory [Page 86] aere plus quā adamantino to his, and his posterities euerla­sting fame.

True it is which fewe doe con­ceaue or rightly vnderstand (for to reason of the antiquitie of our religion, The reason why the lawe take; the goods & part of the lands from Recu­sants. is neither befitting my function nor scope) that the rea­son why any lawe was enacted, to take from recusants their goods, and 2-parts of their lands, deri­ued it selfe from this palpable proofe, that Recusants were not contented to inioy the liberty of their religion and conscience, but most of them became bye Se­minaries and Masse-priests (sent ouer by their Cayphardicall M. to breed sedition and distur­bance of this Realmes peace and quiet) reuolters in heart from their soueraigne alleagiance, and [Page 87]were indeede flatly reconciled to the Pope and his iurisdiction, and supremacie.

For the Romish Churche houlde an opinion, The opinion of the Church of Rome tou­ching recon­cilement to the pope. that for a Catholike (as they terme them) to come to Churche before re­concilement to the Pope, was but Scismaticall, but to come to Church and to be intermin­gled with vs in deuine seruice & participating of the holy Sacra­ments, after reconciliation to the Pope, and his supremacie, (and to be so reconciled to the Pope) what is it by their owne testimonie, but preferring the popes authoritie before their na­turall princes (which is treason in the highest degree) was plain­ly hereticall, damnable, and vt­terly vnpardonable; whereupon [Page 88]the wisdome of the state at that time (for huic illae lachrymae, the ti­tle of the Cecillian Religion came) perceauing, that howsoe­uer by the priuate & secret abso­lutiō of the Iesuit & house priest, it could not bee challingingly prooued and euicted, that they which refrayned our Church, were reconciled to the Pope, and renounced her Maiestis pow­er and supreame authoritie, yet ex consequenti it was as cleere as light at noone day, that all they which obstinatelye refused the holy communion and deuine seruice, were directly reconciled to the Pope. And therfore her Maiestie (as now our gratious & deare Lord and Soueraigne stands affected) loth to shed the blood of so many subiects, held it [Page 89]sit in policie for the better and safer preseruation of this Realm in peace and tranquilitie, onelye to curbe and keepe downe Recu­sants from growing mightie, powerfull, and rich (being intest­ine ill willers to his royall per­son and imperial state and digni­tie) by the depriuation of their goods and losse of part of their Landes: and like a wise and reli­gious Chyrurgian (vt metus ad omnes, animaduersio adpau [...]cos per­veniret) to cut off only the infec­ting and poysoning partes and members, which are these Iesuits and Seminaries, the seducers of the peoples hearts not from Re­ligion, but from their naturall pyetie and soueraigne duetie & allegiance. Now let it be weigh­ed in equall ballance, whether [Page 90]those times and those courses thē held, or which now vnder his Maiesties flourishing & succee­ding (but more exceeding lye peaceable) gouernement, are held against Seminaries and Iesuites, Sauour of crueltie or desire of blood, or any other humour then a religious policie, to keep in vp­right tearmes, & in perfect tem­per and tune, the sweete harmo­ny of this states happye regi­ment. And thus much shal suffice to haue spoken of Seminaries & Iesuites, wherin that I haue som­what digressed, let no man mar­uaile, it stands within the cheefe scope of my subiect which is po­licie, and this is one point of po­licie, which is the most affected to Popery (for many of them are full of these kinde of obiections) [Page 91]would duely obserue, they would answer by this their own weake, wanton, and very womannish obiections, concerning these and the like cases.

CHAP. 6. Concerning Pro­iectors.

PRoiectors! why, what are they? A Description of proiectors. I noted 2. sortes of them: they are your onely, not onely politicians, but directers & plot­ters of state-busines (or rather continual makers of busines, and trouble to the state gouernours) without whome the state cannot stand (or rather for whome the state gouernours cannot stand or rest in quiet.

If you desire to know them bet­ter, they are such as haue not like Philosophers made a proiection of goulde, but caste awaye their goulden thrifte and estates thorough some loose and indi­rect courses; and to repaire it a­gaine, take the direct lineway to the court, proiecters like fisher-men- like fishermen (because they haue hard, there is no fishing to the Sea, nor seruice to the Court toicaste about with their hookes and nettes for a newe goulden promised estate.

If you desire to knowe them further, they are Pedlers, or Pedling informers of the State, men that haue lapped vp from the vommit of other mens wits, some excrements of Court-phra­ses, and thereuppon turne Fac­tors about the court & contriue [Page 95]Proiects and strange deuises of tobaco-pipes, Cardas finas, brown paper, french wares, dunghill shrids, and a thousand of the like conceites, to trouble the State withall, wherein they labour and trot vp & down as busily as Bees, carrying all the worlde in con­ceite, that they haue such spe­ciall imployments about the State, as will let them rest neither night nor day.

And truly they are right Mar­chants, for the trading to the East and West Indies gets but a li­uing, and their trading from their lodgings to the Court with a bundell of papers, and from the Courte to their Lodgings begets them, like East and West voyages, a yearely, yea daylie reuennewe. For to [Page 96]the expectation of their prospe­rous and happye successe, ma­ny healthes are drunk, and much good cheere dayly tasted: Their Mercer, their Taylor, their Shoo­maker, their ostes, their patients, are drawne by hoopes of their court aduentures, & faire shewes and pretenses to trust and furnish them with all necessaries, ad vic­tum et vestitum, and are induced to let their fingers bee keyes of their coffers while all is spent; but when their patients and their Creditors through ouer-long deferring (for their proiects are like the houre Saturne, that fini­sheth his course but once in three yeares, nay these scarce one of them thriue or come forward once in three liues) are rubde to the quicke; either a new nayle [Page 97]must driue out the other, or else being known to be silēced and their proiects eiected as matters vnworthy to passe the Seates of graue Audience, much lesse the seates of allow­ance, they spitefullye fret and fume, and in their secret cor­ners mutter, that fewe or none of the state were able to vn­derstand, or sound to the depth of their proiects.

Will you now know who are their retayners? Lice and Mice are said by DIOGINES to be poore mens retainers & followers, Vaine & trou­blesome pro­iectors Retay­ners. but these haue lief­tenāts, captaines, caualiers, gē ­tlemen of the sprucest stamp & edition to attend them earelie and late, whereby the graue & ponderous affaires & busines [Page 98]of the state is very intollera­bly many times combred and tediously wronged.

The second sort of proiect­ors, are such as the Philoso­pher spoake of, but to a bet­ter end; who were euer to­wards wiuing and yet mari­ed not, that were alwaies in a readines to saile on the sea, and yet tooke no Shippe, that addressed themselues to enter into the busines of the common wealth, & yet entred not into anye honest imploy­ments at all, that had prepared and framed (but like women dum moliunter et comuntur an­nus est, while they are a dressing and a drawing, one may ride to yorke) themselues to be in the Court, and to liue in house-holde [Page 99]with men of high State & great power, and yet were loath forsooth to be tyed to subiection, & daily attendance.

And yet not-withstanding they will be dayly Courtiers and Politicke directors too. For either they will frame & apply themselues, though in no wise to be daily attendants and seruants (for that's too grosse, and too abhorring from the french strayne) but to be followers and direc­tors, Tutors and Instructors of young noble-men, such as are rawe and vntrained in the subtil courses of this age, pre­ferring alwaies matters of pleasures and delight to their pitchie aprehensions, & in that respect proue no better many [Page 100]times then their panders, or if they cannot thriue so to their full content, they vulture-like seeke out the cadauera, and ceaze vpon the soares of dis­contented nobles, and pre­scribe them lessons & precepts of more discontentment and enuie.

And to gaine neerer en­gagement with them, Dangerous & mischieuous proiectors they will be euer feeding their hu­mors with the pleasing Syrene songes of their good parts, & extraordinarie skill and dexte­ritie in state businesse, and set­ting before them their admi­red valours, their worthy and highly extolled-boūties, & ly­beralities, and so by degrees draw thē with the twine threds of their owne delights, (for [Page 101]these proiectors are casters of their netts, alwaies into trou­bled (waters) into an ouer­weaning conceite of their owne worthes, and vnreue­rent and vndue regardes of other their equalls, honest, studious, and faithfull ende­uors about the states welfare, and neuer leaue, making them like Fish, catch at the baites of dishonorable and ignoble misconceiuings, till they are strooke with the deadlye hookes of their owne, too to much, but ouer late pittyed and lamented destruction and ruine.

These are the verie viperous Phalangia and Cantherides of Nobilitie: The Phylosophers called such men [...] the [Page 102]little pushes and pimples of glory, and rightly: for as they through their continuall itch bred perpetuall vnrest, and vn­quietnes to such as were af­fected with them, so doe these preceptors of vaine glory and discontent, beget in noble and free spirits nothing but an it­ching humour of putting them forward to desperate and Polipus-like practises, be­ing made by their plotters, & instructers but the stages and actors of their wickedly cōtri­ued, either malicious or vaine­glorious or ambitious purpo­ses, and like pushes they in the end prooue vnto them, for when they breake out into publique note and viewe, the filthe and matter of their long [Page 103]harbored & hidden hearts mo­tions, runs about the vnspot­ted & vnblemisht faces of their fames, & honor, and so infects them, that the scarres & Cica­trices thereof can hardly euer be salued & healed vp againe: but I rather liken such men to impostumes in the throat or stomack, which as experience teacheth vs, are not seene nor discerned, but take a man suddainely when the worlde thinkes all sounde and healthfull within the party diseased, and breake out in a moment, with such a­boundance of corruption, as dispatcheth him before his friends, who stand all amazed at the suddaine mischance, can conceaue which way to seeke [Page 104]remedie, or what remedie to apply.

So these harboring and setling by their false surmises, and crude and imperfect sug­gestions, within the stomackes and mawes of noble Gentle­men, corrupt impostumes of enuy and rancoure, applye flegmaticke matter and dayly formentall exasperations of indisgested misprisions, and vnkinde aspersions, which be­ing suffered to feede within them to a ripenes, breake forth suddainely into such disorder, (euen when all is thought soūd at the coare of their firme and faithfull allegiance) as irreco­uerably casteth them away, & leaues their friends, to vtter a­mazednesse and discomfort. [Page 105] Hos tu Romane caueto, God keepe all true and Noble hearts from such pro­iectors, plotters & Politicians.

CHAP. 7. Concerning substan tiall States-men.

THere are many can talk very free­ly of incountring with Lyons, and wrastling with Beares, who dare looke neither in the face. And as many that vainely will predicate and boast of great learning and vnderstanding in the deepest affaires of the State, who can not guide the Triremes much lesse the Quinquiremes of [Page 108]of any weightie imployment. The ouerweening conceite whereof, maketh some who haue read ouer a peece of A­ristotles politicks, to deeme it no vsurpation, to ascribe vnto themselues the title of Politi­cians. And if they haue turned ouer some few leaues of ISO­CRATES short precepts, or but 4 sides of SEXTVS IVLIVS FRON­TINVS, his foure bookes of Stratagems, superciliose contra­hunt frontem, They cast their heads ouer the left shoulder, they thinke themselues seated and enthroaned in the brest of MINERVA, bred in APPOL­LO his braines, and able to mannage any publike affaires: verie substantiall States-men.

But little doe they know what deepe and secret miste­ries, [Page 109]are to be found in Court-learning, and how different from Schoole tearmes.

The differēce betwixt court learning and Schoole-lear­ning.Schollers in their professi­ons are all of them to bee re­uerenced & respected in their seuerall degrees of excellen­cie, yet they must vnderstand that they who wade into the depth of generallities, cannot be fit instruments of particu­ler imployments, especiallye concerning worldlye affaires, much lesse the occasions and occurrence; of the common-wealth. For although in the Theoricke they vnderstand, & can out of their vnderstan­ding discourse at full, many of them, of many things that oc­curre in their printed Authors touching Peace and Warre, [Page 110]yet the want of experience de­priueth them of that fitnes and agilitie in the performance of those matters, which to some by a secret instinct of na­ture, helpt with continuall practise, comes so ready, as when they are conuersant in state-imployments, seeme to be like fish in the Sea, In loco proprio, as contrary wise meere profest schollers admitted to any courtly function, Why meere profest schol­lers are not fit for publique action and im­ployment. about a Prince and his state, bewray most of them a sheepish stupi­ditie, the best of them a want of spirit and dexteritie, which addes to all actions in euerie outward profession such a grace, as they who are admit­ted to any publique designe­ments without it, seeme but [Page 111] Sutores vltra crepidam: and I must make bould to say (thogh I wish aswell to letters and the Muses as any vnlearned well-willer of them can) that if Princes in their behauiours & causes politicke, should stand to schoole arguments, Princes beha­uiours & acti­ons must de­pend vpon lawes, not ar­guments. order (the strict obseruation where­of makes a Prince moste emi­nent, especially in his courte) would often times beg at his gates and wander like a banisht vagabond.

For howsoeuer the gouern­ment of court and common-wealth came from the rules of philosophie, & to them must indeed refer their offpring, yet because the treaties of Philo­sophers consist in a generall consideration of thinges, they [Page 112]leaue to euerie one that rea­deth them a scope of his owne opinion and interpretation, whereas the Lawes and per­ticuler obseruations confir­med and established in either court or the vniuersall state, make them cease as Philoso­phicall discourses to bee ad­iudged opinitiuely tru or false, for they set downe positiuely this is granted and approoued by generall consent of the wisest and profoundest Sta­tists good or badde, and so fouldes vs within assured boundes, which if wee might passe in breach, as schollers turne them vp and downe in the vncertaintie of their opi­nions & argumentations, our natures would range infinitely [Page 113]into all enormities, and dis­orders.

Princes affaires must not be ordered by a free discourse of reason, but the gouernment of their estates must bee tyed, ei­ther to the customes, Lawes, & municipall statutes of their countries already established & ratified; or to the profound and discerning iudgement of discreete, wise, and experien­ced rulers, which being gran­ted, they whose skill consists more in what they haue read, then what they haue with a digested Iudgement obserued conuenient for euerie functi­on and office of publique go­uernment, cannot bee reputed fit for the managing of Court businesse, beeing indeede de­priued [Page 114]of the chiefest helpe of their seuerall imployments, which is a iudgement prest & alwaies prouided, distingui­shingly to order, settle and dispose all affaires and occur­rences of a State, which can­not be in him that is continu­ally incombred, and enfolded within the multiplicitie of contemplatiue studies.

For though varietie of rea­ding and turning ouer many learned authors, is a great help to all other scholer-like pro­fessions; as diuinitie, Socrates his opinion of booke lerning how hurtfull to the iudg­ment of great statesmen. phisicke, law, yet nothing hinders more a states-mans attaining of per­fection in the skil & mistery of state-learning, then the con­foūding himselfe & his iudge­ment, with multifarious intri­catenes [Page 115]of book cōceits: for if the light of iudgement (which in all conclusions and negoti­ations, is most preualent) bee inueloped & inclouded with­in the mists of many diuerse, scatterd & vncollected opini­ons, and opinitiue saies & sen­tences, what can it publiquely produce, or performe worthy the repute of a perfect and all sufficient Statist? I doe not exclude all Schollers from the busines and affaires of the State, but my reason chiefely importeth, that e­uery man who is well seene in STRATAGEMICALL dis­courses, and the study of State-learning, may not think that sufficient to inable him in the excecution of publique [Page 116]affaires, but an exact exami­nation must bee had of the strength and abilitie of his iudgement, who intendeth to applie himselfe to graue and weightie causes in anye pub­lique function and duetie, for surely it cannot bee imagined that any man who is not most plentifullie inritched, A discerning iudgement. principally to be required in a states-man. and in­dued with this moste vnualua­ble treasure of a discerning, obseruing and applying iudgement (which seldom possesseth men ouer-busied and out-spi­rited in contemplatiue stu­dies) can bee fitte for the tra­ding and negotiating in pub­lique affaires of the common-wealth.

For, as DEMOSTHENES saide of pronountiation in an [Page 117]Oratour, so may I say in a States-man, that iudgement is the first, the second, and the last, yea all in all requisite, without which no man, neuer so well seene either in booke-learning, or obseruations in any publique busines, can be able to proue excellent, or al­most fit to rule the Horses of the sun, or pull in and let out, as the necessitie and circum­stance of time, place, and per­sons doe require, the raines of any state gouernment. Manye by the verie helpe of nature with­out any greate insight of Schoole-lear­ning, haue prooued throughout all ages woor­thy and excel­lent States-mē

There haue bene many no­ted in all states, euen by the instinct and helpe of Nature and experience, to haue proo­ued most excellent and woor­thy common-wealths-men, hauing had small or little furni­shing of booke learning.

And questionlesse a man may well applying himselfe to the study of State-affaires, be furthered by conuersing & rea­ding of Historicall and Stra­tagemicall studies, that hath an excellent witte and Iudge­ment to applye and make vse of the same in his particular af­faires, without much ex­pence of time; but it is impos­sible for anye Man, neuer so much backed with the instru­ctions of politicke Authors, without this speciall guift of iudgement, in obseruing eue­rie fit & conuenient Particu­lar, touching his seuerall im­ployments, to prooue excel­lent in the study & profession of perfect State-knowledge: and whosoeuer shall bee ad­mitted to state imployments [Page 119]rawly vpon booke rules, with­out long experience & obser­uation, shall be found to sinck vnder the burden of their deep vndertakinges, & make them­selues & their liues both a per­petuall slauery & vexation, & a cōtinual mockery & scorne. For like rash and headdy cap­taines imployments (that may be said rather cursibus quam vic­toriis nationes peragrare, course through, rather then conquer many nations) so will all their actions appeare, & be approo­ued to the wisest & experien­cedst Statists most slightly per­formed. For how is it possi­ble for a mā that intendeth to learne & draw out the scitua­tion of any countrye, to take a perfect and exact description of the particulers, by ma­king certaine suddaine ran­ging, [Page 120]sleight & cursory notes of the same? no man of sense or iudgement doth conceaue it possible.

What to bee considered in plotting, de­scribing, and setting foorth seuerall coun­tries and soilesFor there is required to the exact Cosmography of any country, a due and careful ob­seruation of many perticulars in perticulars, which cannot be had by running, but by walking stayedly and steadily throughout, and by resting & residing sometimes, thereby to gather and distinguish to his conceit the seuerall groues, the Paludes, the vallies, the mountaines, the campestrian and siluestrian soiles and scitu­ations. No more is it possible for any man to prooue an ex­act Map-man, in the perfect skill and vnderstanding of the seuerall affaires of any State, [Page 121]except by the pensil of his ob­seruation and experience, he haue chauked & pointed out the mountanous occurrences, of and concerning the Prin­ces & nobles behauiours, the vallies of the peoples orders, and disorders, with fit preuen­tions and aduisements con­cerning all, both Siluestrian, and Campestrian, rurall, and vrbane occasions, as also haue a full and generall insight, in­to all the particular veines and mines, as it were of forraine and hom-bred customes and commodities.

And who can recollect and draw all these accidents and a thousand more, properlye and most necessarily belon­ging to a perfect & compleat [Page 122]substantial States-mans vnder­standing, to their seueral lines and places, without an extra­ordinarye reach and applying iudgement, which must be the hand to direct the pensill of e­uerie necessarie and fit occur­rēce. It is the heat of cleere and pure burning iudgement, which like fire seuereth & de­uideth vpon all occasions the drosse from the pure golde, which distinguisheth solide pearles frō liquid haile-stones, manacles from bracelets, bu­sines of incombrance and in­snaring designements from imployments full of honour, credit, safetie, and reputation. It is iudgement, which maketh a mā admitted to the state ab­solutely powerfull, like a per­fect [Page 123]Phisition, instructed with al maner of perfect skil, to ap­ply a soueraigne and precious salue, to euery particular sore of the common-wealth. This discerning iudgement, will teach and instruct him infalli­blye that hath obtained the same, how to behaue himselfe in all the courses and affayres of his life, in such sort, as hee shall moste easilye distinguish errors from truth, and deuide that which is profitable and conuenient from that which is hurtfull and offensiue to his future and present e­state.

This will enforme him, when all schoole-points will faile him (like false friendes in aduersitie) how to beare [Page 124]himself in the most dangerous & doubtful times, that his life shalbe subiect vnto. Good pre­cepts and in­structions of Philosophers, necessarie rules for ordi­narie conuer­sations.

For although good pre­cepts of wise men, and lear­ned instructions of philoso­phers, are firme grounds to set a ciuill man in the right way, for his ordinary conuersation, and the directions of pro­found Politicians may verye well, (by adding thereunto his owne wary obseruations) point out a fit and correspon­dent behauiour for al sorts of people, and which in gesture, speeche, and outward graces and complements, may suffici­ently warrant his cariage to Prince, to Parents, to friends, to seruants, to superiours, to inferiours, yet let him knowe [Page 125]if euer he shall be admitted to the managing many doubtful & scrupulous points of a pub­like state, wherin shall depend either the ruin or the preserua­tion of the weale publique, or if not so, a great rent or stroak may be giuen by ill aduise, as contrarywise a great heape of honour may arise to himselfe, and good to the common-wealth, by wise and well suc­ceeding counsell, therein to haue a cleere iudgement, far surpassing all others, wherby he may be able to vnderstand, of many courses, which (acor­ding to the diuersitie of many mens opinions) shalbe pro­pounded: which is not onely the likeliest, but certainely the best, argues not a man wel red [Page 126]in books, or studiously cōuer­sant in other mens directions, and obseruations, (for many accidents fall out and are offe­red to the consideration of a man occupied in the deep de­signes of the common-wealth whereof he shall finde no likelihood of example, or pat­terne to cut out his present ac­tions by) but a singular emi­nencie of wit and iudgement, diuinely inspired from God a­boue. And whosoeuer can be able to cast, not onely an eye­sight but an insight into the behauiour and cariage of such a man, vppon whome God hath bestowed this discerning and all-deuiding iudgement, his seuerall actions and re­spects shall not seeme to him [Page 127]actions smelling of lanthorne and candle, or sauouring of learned authors & discourses (for many, yea most who can say much more (as I noa­ted) out of ancient histories & booke-obseruations, often see lesse in diiudicating perticular state-cases) but the behauiours respects & cariages of a man through his quicke and Eagle-like-sight of iudgement, firm­ly resolued in al doubtful cau­ses, to sticke to one course: for that is the very life of al State-wisedome, suddainely and in a trice, to attaine to a resolu­tion in al determinations pro­pounded. For many are in shewe very wise, in confe­rence very profound, in maters of difference very acute & sub­til, [Page 128]banding to and froe now one reason, then an other, and those very plausible and likely, but for want of this iudgement or rather iudicious resolution (which in a statesman hath the prime and principall seat, when sentence definitiuely is to be pronounced, cannot so easily sticke to one course and proiect, as finde out many.

And yet many of these nimble-headed and quicke-conceited wisemen, (which I neuer maruell at, because I knowe by experience that the greatest hindrance to per­fect wisedome is to be puffed vp with a high conceit of ones owne wit and proper vnder­standing) hauing inflamed braines and heated imaginati­ons, [Page 129]to a promptnes and volu­bilitie of speach, account, in respect of themselues, all o­thers fooles: so excellēt seemes to them the lightning (for I cannot call it light) of their wit and reasoning (for I cannot call it reason and iudgement) and halfe drunken facultie of belching out at their ordina­ries & pots, ordinarie & triui­all conceits: and happily (that I may giue the best of them some respect) for the inuenti­on of many plots and strata­gems, these hot braines, are far excellenter, then iudicious and deepe reaching and ex­perienced Statists, but when they come to the execution of weighty causes: such as may either helpe or hinder them [Page 130]for euer, either in publike or their owne priuate negotiati­ons, such a dizinesse, and dim darnesse ouer-shadowes the true light of iudgemēt (which is by them sildom exercised) as you may obserue them (like birds in Snow) fall when the Sunne is at the highest of his strength, into moste apparant dangers, and run with fierce speede into their aduersaries nets. And thus much may suf­fice to haue spokē as wel of the painted professors of State-learning, as of the true and perfect Statistes of any religious common-wealth, with their seueral habits, shewes, offices, & distinctiue faculties, wherin if (according to the little skill and perspection, which by [Page 131]God and nature is infused in­to my vnderstanding) I haue shott neare the marke of your content, my content and satis­faction superaboundeth.

Howsoeuer, the errors I haue committed you must attribute to my distractions, the fruites of a weak & sicke body, which according to the rules of phy­losophie, many times alter the temperature of the minde, & where any thing dooth either deesse in necessariis, or abundare in superfluis, want in matter or abound in forme, you must supplye with the swift winges of your loue, the defects of the one, & prune of, with the skil­ful knife of your discretion & applicatorye iudgement, the sarmenting & ouer-spreading boughes of the other.

With these I commend my loue to your louing entertain­ment, wishing that (although they are but Pans-reade and rurall-songes, they might (as matters set downe by the pen of APOLLO) sound sweetlye in your apprehension, & giue to your conceite most consen­ting musicke, pleasure, & de­light.

In my next (so you shall bee plesed to accept these in good worth) I wil streine the strings of my best witts, to giue you a relish of sweeter harmony.